EXHIBIT 10.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION AND MERGER (this
"Agreement") is made as of the 20th day of December 1996, by and among PalEx,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("PalEx"), Main Street Capital Partners, L.P., a
Texas limited partnership ("Main Street"), Ridge Resource Acquisition
Corporation, a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of PalEx
("Subsidiary"), Ridge Pallets, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Company"), and
the individual stockholders of the Company identified on Schedule A to this
Agreement (the "Stockholders").
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the respective stockholders and Boards of Directors of Subsidiary
and the Company (collectively referred to as the "Constituent Corporations")
deem it advisable and in the best interests of the Constituent Corporations and
their respective stockholders that Subsidiary merge (the "Merger") with and into
the Company;
WHEREAS, PalEx is entering into other agreements substantially similar to
this Agreement with each of Fraser Industries, Inc., a Texas corporation
("Fraser"), and Interstate Pallet, Co., a Virginia corporation ("Interstate"
and, together with the Company and Fraser, collectively referred to as the
"Founding Companies"), which agreements provide for the merger of subsidiaries
of PalEx with and into Fraser and Interstate simultaneously with the Merger; and
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of PalEx, Subsidiary and the Company have
approved and adopted this Agreement and intend this transaction to qualify as a
tax-free transaction under the provisions of Section 368 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and
sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1. THE MERGER. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2), Subsidiary
shall be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the Delaware
General Corporation Law ("DGCL") and the Florida Business Corporation Act and
the separate existence of Subsidiary shall cease. The Company shall be the
surviving party in the Merger and is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
"Surviving Corporation." The Merger will be effected in a single transaction.
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SECTION 1.2. EFFECTIVE TIME OF MERGER. The Merger shall become effective
(the "Effective Time") at such time as shall be stated in certificates of Merger
(the "Certificates of Merger") to be filed with the Secretary of State of the
States of Delaware and Florida. The Constituent Corporations will cause the
Certificates of Merger to be executed and delivered to the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware and the Secretary of State of the State of Florida on or
before the Closing Date (as defined in Article III).
SECTION 1.3. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION, BY-LAWS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND
OFFICERS OF SURVIVING CORPORATION; BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS OF PALEX. At
the Effective Time of the Merger:
(a) An Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation with the same
provisions as the Company's Articles of Incorporation then in effect shall be
filed and shall become the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation, and subsequent to the Effective Time, such Articles of
Incorporation shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until amended as provided by law;
(b) The By-laws of the Company then in effect shall become the By-laws of
the Surviving Corporation, and subsequent to the Effective Time, such By-laws
shall be the By-laws of the Surviving Corporation until they shall thereafter be
duly amended;
(c) The Boards of Directors of PalEx and the Surviving Corporation shall
consist of the persons identified on SCHEDULE 1.3(C) hereto. The Board of
Directors of PalEx and the Surviving Corporation shall hold office subject to
the laws of the State of Delaware and of the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-laws of the Surviving Corporation; and
(d) The officers of PalEx and the Surviving Corporation shall be the
persons identified on SCHEDULE 1.3(D) hereto, each of such officers to serve
until such officer's successor is duly elected and qualified, subject to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of PalEx and the
Surviving Corporation and the terms of any employment agreement executed by any
such officer.
SECTION 1.4. EFFECT OF MERGER. The identity, existence, purposes, powers,
objects, franchises, privileges, rights and immunities of the Company shall
continue unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger and the corporate franchises,
existence and rights of Subsidiary shall be merged with and into the Company, as
the Surviving Corporation. At the Effective Time of the Merger, the separate
existence of Subsidiary shall cease and, in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, the Surviving Corporation shall possess all the rights, privileges,
immunities and franchises, of a public as well as of a private nature, and all
property, real, personal and mixed, and all debts due on whatever account,
including subscriptions for shares, all taxes, including those due and owing and
those accrued, and all other choses in action, and all and every other interest
of or belonging to or due to the Company and Subsidiary shall be taken and
deemed to be transferred to, and vested in, the Surviving Corporation without
further act or deed; and all property, rights and privileges, powers and
franchises and all and every other interest shall be thereafter as effectually
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the property of the Surviving Corporation as they were of the Company and
Subsidiary; and the title to any real estate, or interest therein, whether by
deed or otherwise, under the laws of the state of incorporation vested in the
Company or Subsidiary, shall not revert or be in any way impaired by reason of
the Merger. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, following the Merger
the Surviving Corporation shall be responsible and liable for all the
liabilities and obligations of Subsidiary and PalEx and any claim existing, or
action or proceeding pending, by or against the Company or Subsidiary may be
prosecuted as if the Merger had not taken place, or the Surviving Corporation
may be substituted in their place. Neither the rights of creditors nor any liens
upon the property of the Company or Subsidiary shall be impaired by the Merger,
and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Subsidiary shall attach
to the Surviving Corporation and may be enforced against such Surviving
Corporation to the same extent as if said debts, liabilities and duties had been
incurred or contracted by such Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF STOCK
SECTION 2.1. MANNER OF CONVERSION. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any action on the part of PalEx, Subsidiary, the Company or
any of the Stockholders:
(a) The shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company
(the "Company Stock") that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time, automatically shall be deemed to represent (i) the right to
receive that number of shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of
PalEx ("PalEx Common Stock") set forth in SCHEDULE 2.1 and (ii) the right to
receive the amount of cash set forth in SCHEDULE 2.1. As of the Effective Time,
all shares of Company Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate representing any such shares of Company Stock shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive that number of
shares of PalEx Common Stock and cash to be issued in consideration therefore
upon surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.2.
(b) All shares of Company Stock that are held by the Company as treasury
stock, if any, shall be canceled and retired and no shares of PalEx Common Stock
or other consideration shall be delivered or paid in exchange therefor.
(c) Each share of capital stock of Subsidiary issued and outstanding and
owned by PalEx shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of PalEx, be converted into one share of common stock, $.01 par value, of the
Company, as the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION 2.2. EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES FOR CONSIDERATION. At the Closing
(as defined in Article III), the Stockholders shall deliver to PalEx the
original certificates representing the Company Stock, duly endorsed in blank by
the Stockholders or accompanied by blank stock powers. The Stockholders agree
promptly to cure any deficiencies with respect to the endorsement of the
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certificates or other documents of conveyance with respect to such Company
Stock. Upon surrender of such certificates, the Stockholders shall be entitled
to receive certificates representing the number of shares of PalEx Stock and the
amount of cash set forth in SCHEDULE 2.1, which shall be delivered on the
Consummation Date (as defined in Article III).
ARTICLE III
THE CLOSING AND CONSUMMATION DATE
On the date of execution of the underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting
Agreement") relating to the initial public offering of PalEx Stock (the "IPO"),
the parties shall take all actions necessary (i) to effect the Merger
(including, if permitted by applicable state law, the filing with the
appropriate state authorities of the Certificates of Merger which shall become
effective on the Consummation Date (as defined below)) and (ii) to effect the
conversion and delivery of shares referred to in Section 2.2 (hereinafter
referred to as the "Closing"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such actions shall not
include the actual completion of the Merger or the conversion and delivery of
the shares referred to in Article II, which actions shall be taken on the
Consummation Date. The Closing shall take place at a location mutually agreeable
to the Company and PalEx. The date on which the Closing shall occur shall be
referred to as the "Closing Date." On the Consummation Date, the Certificates of
Merger shall be filed with the appropriate state authorities, or if already
filed shall become effective, and all transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall occur and be deemed to be completed. The Consummation Date shall
be the date on which the closing of the IPO occurs. During the period from the
Closing Date to the Consummation Date, this Agreement may only be terminated by
the parties if the Underwriting Agreement is terminated pursuant to the terms of
such agreement or as otherwise expressly provided herein.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE STOCKHOLDERS
The Company and Stockholders represent and warrant to PalEx as follows:
SECTION 4.1. ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION. The Company is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Florida and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on its business as it
is now being conducted. The Company is qualified to do business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties owned, leased or operated
by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification
necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing will
not, when taken together with all other such failures, have a material adverse
effect on the business, operations, properties, assets, condition (financial or
other), results of operations or prospects of the Company (a "Company Material
Adverse Effect"). True, accurate and complete copies of the Company's Articles
of Incorporation and By-laws, in each
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case as in effect on the date hereof, including all amendments thereto, have
heretofore been delivered to PalEx.
SECTION 4.2. CAPITALIZATION.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 5,000,000
shares of Company Stock and no shares of preferred stock. As of December 20,
1996, 549,500 shares of Company Stock and no shares of preferred stock were
issued and outstanding. All of such issued and outstanding shares are validly
issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. The
Stockholders own beneficially and of record all of the shares of the Company
Stock, which constitutes all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company, and, except as described in SCHEDULE 4.2, such Company Stock is owned
free and clear of all liens, claims or encumbrances of any nature. As a result
of the Merger, the Stockholders will convey and transfer to PalEx good and
marketable title to the Company Stock owned by them.
(b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.2 attached hereto, as of the date
hereof there were no outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, contracts,
commitments, understandings, restrictions, arrangements, rights or warrants,
including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security,
instrument or other agreement to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued,
delivered or sold, additional shares of the capital stock of the Company or
obligating the Company to grant, extend or enter into any such agreement or
commitment or obligating any of the Stockholders to convey or transfer any
Company Stock. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or
understandings to which the Company or any of the Stockholders is a party or is
bound with respect to the voting of any shares of capital stock of the Company.
SECTION 4.3. NO SUBSIDIARIES. The Company has no subsidiaries and, except
as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3, it does not own any capital stock of any
corporation or any interest in any partnership, joint venture or limited
liability company.
SECTION 4.4. AUTHORITY; NON-CONTRAVENTION; APPROVALS.
(a) The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement
has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company and by the
Stockholders, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are
necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the
Stockholders, and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery hereof
by PalEx and Main Street, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of
the Company and the Stockholders, enforceable against the Company and the
Stockholders in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be
subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors' rights generally
and (ii) general equitable principles.
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(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of the Company
and the Stockholders do not violate, conflict with or result in a breach of any
provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse
of time or both, would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination
of, or accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of
termination or acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien,
security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of
the Company under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) the articles
of incorporation or by-laws of the Company (ii) any statute, law, ordinance,
rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order, injunction, writ, permit or license
of any court or governmental authority applicable to the Company or any of its
properties or assets, or (iii) any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of
trust, license, franchise, permit, concession, contract, lease or other
instrument, obligation or agreement of any kind to which the Company or any of
the Stockholders is now a party or by which any of the Stockholders or the
Company or any of its properties or assets may be bound or affected. The
consummation by the Company and the Stockholders of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not result in any violation, conflict, breach, right of
termination or acceleration or creation of liens under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of the items described in clauses (i) through (iii) of
the preceding sentence, subject, in the case of the terms, conditions or
provisions of the items described in clause (iii) above, to obtaining (prior to
the Effective Time) consents required from commercial lenders, lessors or other
third parties. Excluded from the foregoing sentences of this paragraph (b),
insofar as they apply to the terms, conditions or provisions of the items
described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first sentence of this paragraph (b),
are such violations, conflicts, breaches, defaults, terminations, accelerations
or creations of liens, security interests, charges or encumbrances that would
not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
(c) Except for (i) the filing in connection with the IPO of a registration
statement on Form S-1 (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and
Exchange Commission ("SEC") pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933
Act"), (ii) the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by the SEC and filings
with various state blue sky authorities, and (iii) the making of the Merger
Filings with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and the Secretary
of State of the State of Florida in connection with the Merger, no declaration,
filing or registration with, or notice to, or authorization, consent or approval
of, any governmental or regulatory body or authority is necessary for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the Stockholders or
the consummation by the Company and the Stockholders of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION 4.5. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The audited financial statements for
the fiscal year ended July 28, 1996 and unaudited interim financial statements
of the Company for the three months ended October 27, 1996 (collectively, the
"Company Financial Statements") have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis (except as may be
indicated therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly present the financial
position of the Company as of the dates thereof and the results of its
operations and changes in financial position for the periods then ended,
subject, in the case of the unaudited interim financial statements, to normal
year-end and audit adjustments and any other adjustments described therein.
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SECTION 4.6. ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as disclosed in
SCHEDULE 4.6 attached hereto, the Company did not have at October 27, 1996, nor
has it incurred since that date, any liabilities or obligations (whether
absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) of any nature, except (a)
liabilities, obligations or contingencies (i) which are accrued or reserved
against in the Company Financial Statements or reflected in the notes thereto or
(ii) which were incurred after October 27, 1996 and were incurred in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, and (b)
liabilities and obligations which are of a nature not required to be reflected
in the Company Financial Statements prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied and which were incurred in
the normal course of business and are described on SCHEDULE 4.6. SCHEDULE 4.6
includes a reasonable estimate by the Company and the Stockholders of the
maximum amount which may become payable with respect to any such liabilities
which are contingent.
SECTION 4.7. ACCOUNTS AND NOTES RECEIVABLE. SCHEDULE 4.7 sets forth an
accurate list of the accounts and notes receivable of the Company as of December
19, 1996, including any such amounts which are not reflected in the Company's
balance sheet. Receivables from and advances to employees, the Stockholders and
any entities or persons related to or affiliated with the Stockholders are
separately identified on SCHEDULE 4.7. SCHEDULE 4.7 also sets forth an accurate
aging of all accounts and notes receivable as of November 30, 1996 showing
amounts due in 30-day aging categories. The trade and other accounts receivable
of the Company which are classified as current assets on the October 27, 1996
balance sheet are bona fide receivables, were acquired in the ordinary course of
business, are stated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
and, subject to the reserve for doubtful accounts, need not be written-off as
uncollectible.
SECTION 4.8. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Since July 28, 1996,
there has not been any material adverse change in the business, operations,
properties, assets, liabilities, condition (financial or other), results of
operations or prospects of the Company, nor, except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.8
has there been:
(i) any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) alone or in the aggregate, materially adversely affecting
the properties or business of the Company;
(ii) any change in the authorized capital stock of the Company or in its
securities outstanding or any change in the Stockholders' ownership
interests or any grant of any options, warrants, calls, conversion
rights or commitments;
(iii) any declaration or payment of any dividend or distribution in
respect of the capital stock or any direct or indirect redemption,
purchase or other acquisition of any of the capital stock of the
Company;
(iv) any increase in the compensation payable or to become payable by the
Company to the Stockholders or any of its officers, directors,
employees, consultants or agents,
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except for ordinary and customary bonuses and salary increases for
employees in accordance with past practice;
(v) any work interruptions, labor grievances or claims filed, or any
proposed law, regulation or event or condition of any character
materially adversely affecting the business or future prospects of
the Company;
(vi) any sale or transfer, or any agreement to sell or transfer, any
material assets, properties or rights of the Company to any person,
including, without limitation, the Stockholders and their
affiliates;
(vii) any cancellation, or agreement to cancel, any indebtedness or other
obligation owing to the Company;
(viii)any increase in the Company's indebtedness, other than accounts
payable incurred in the ordinary course of business;
(ix) any plan, agreement or arrangement granting any preferential rights
to purchase or acquire any interest in any of the assets, property
or rights of the Company or requiring consent of any party to the
transfer and assignment of any such assets, property or rights;
(x) any purchase or acquisition of, or agreement, plan or arrangement to
purchase or acquire, any property, rights or assets outside of the
ordinary course of the Company's business;
(xi) any waiver of any material rights or claims of the Company;
(xii) any material breach, amendment or termination of any material
contract, agreement, license, permit or other right to which the
Company is a party or any of its property is subject; or
(xiii)any transaction by the Company outside the ordinary course of
business.
SECTION 4.9. LITIGATION. Except as disclosed in the SCHEDULE 4.9 attached
hereto, there are no claims, suits, actions or proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company or any of the Stockholders, threatened against,
relating to or affecting the Company or any of the Stockholders, before any
court, governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentality or
authority, or any arbitrator that seek to restrain the consummation of the
Merger or which could reasonably be expected, either alone or in the aggregate
with all such claims, actions or proceedings, to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.9 attached hereto, neither the Company
nor any of the Stockholders is not subject to any judgment, decree, injunction,
rule or order of any court, governmental department, commission, agency,
instrumentality or authority, or
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any arbitrator which prohibits or restricts the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or would have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.10. REGISTRATION STATEMENT. To the best of the Company's and
Stockholders' knowledge and belief, none of the information to be supplied by
the Company for inclusion in the Registration Statement will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
SECTION 4.11. NO VIOLATION OF LAW. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.11
attached hereto, the Company is not in violation of nor has it been given notice
or been charged with any violation of, any law, statute, order, rule,
regulation, ordinance or judgment (including, without limitation, any applicable
environmental law, ordinance or regulation) of any governmental or regulatory
body or authority, except for violations which, in the aggregate, could not
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.11 attached hereto, as of the date of this Agreement, no
investigation or review by any governmental or regulatory body or authority is
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, nor has any
governmental or regulatory body or authority indicated an intention to conduct
the same, other than, in each case, those the outcome of which, as far as
reasonably can be foreseen, will not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The
Company has all permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and
other governmental authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to conduct
their businesses as presently conducted (collectively, the "Company Permits"),
except for permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders,
authorizations, consents and approvals the absence of which, alone or in the
aggregate, would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not
in violation of the terms of any Company Permit, except for delays in filing
reports or violations which, alone or in the aggregate, would not have a Company
Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.12. COMPLIANCE WITH AGREEMENTS. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE
4.12 attached hereto, the Company is not in breach or violation of or in default
in the performance or observance of any term or provision of, and no event has
occurred which, with lapse the of time or action by a third party, could result
in a default under, (a) the charter, by-laws or similar organizational
instruments of the Company or (b) any contract, commitment, agreement,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease, bond, license, approval or
other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound or to
which any of its property is subject, which breaches, violations and defaults,
in the case of clause (b) of this SECTION 4.12, would have, in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.13. TAXES.
(a) The Company has (i) duly filed with the appropriate governmental
authorities or will have when due all Tax Returns required to be filed for all
periods ending on or prior to the Effective Time, other than those Tax Returns
the failure of which to file would not have a Company Adverse
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Effect and such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete in all material
respects, and (ii) duly paid in full or made adequate provision for the payment
of all Taxes for all periods ending at or prior to the Effective Time. The
liabilities and reserves for Taxes reflected in the Company Financial Statements
are adequate to cover all Taxes for all periods ending at or prior to the
Effective Time and there are no material liens for Taxes upon any property or
asset of the Company thereof, except for liens for Taxes not yet due. There are
no unresolved issues of law or fact arising out of a notice of deficiency,
proposed deficiency or assessment from the IRS or any other governmental taxing
authority with respect to Taxes of the Company which, if decided adversely,
singly or in the aggregate, would have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The
Company is not a party to any agreement providing for the allocation or sharing
of Taxes with any entity that is not, directly or indirectly, a wholly-owned
corporate subsidiary of Company. Neither the Company nor any of its corporate
subsidiaries has, with regard to any assets or property held, acquired or to be
acquired by any of them, filed a consent to the application of Section 341(f) of
the Code. The Company made a valid election under Section 1362(a) of the Code,
effective May 23, 1994, to be taxed as an S corporation under the Code. As of
immediately prior to the Closing, the Company qualifies as an S corporation
within the meaning of Subchapter S of the Code.
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Taxes" shall mean all taxes,
including, without limitation, income, gross receipts, excise, property, sales,
employment, withholding, social security, occupation, use, service, service use,
license, payroll, franchise, transfer and recording taxes, fees and charges,
windfall profits, severance, customs, import, export, employment or similar
taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments imposed by the United States,
or any state, local or foreign government or subdivision or agency thereof,
whether computed on a separate, consolidated, unitary, combined or any other
basis, and such term shall include any interest, fines, penalties or additional
amounts and any interest in respect of any additions, fines or penalties
attributable or imposed or with respect to any such taxes, charges, fees, levies
or other assessments.
(c) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Tax Return" shall mean any
return, report or other document or information required to be supplied to a
taxing authority in connection with any Taxes.
SECTION 4.14. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS; ERISA.
(a) Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.14 attached hereto, at the date
hereof, the Company does not maintain or contribute to any material employee
benefit plans, programs, arrangements and practices (such plans, programs,
arrangements and practices of the Company being referred to as the "COMPANY
PLANS"), including employee benefit plans within the meaning set forth in
Section 3(3) of ERISA, or other similar material arrangements for the provision
of benefits (excluding any "MULTI-EMPLOYER PLAN" within the meaning of Section
3(37) of ERISA or a "MULTIPLE EMPLOYER PLAN" within the meaning of Section
413(c) of the Code). SCHEDULE 4.14(A) attached hereto lists all Multi-employer
Plans and Multiple Employer Plans which the Company maintains or to which it
makes contributions. The Company does not have any obligation to create any
additional such plan or to amend any such plan so as to increase benefits
thereunder, except as required under the terms
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of the Company Plans, under existing collective bargaining agreements or to
comply with applicable law.
(b) Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.14 attached hereto, (i) there have
been no prohibited transactions within the meaning of Section 406 or 407 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code with respect to any of the Company Plans that
could result in penalties, taxes or liabilities which, singly or in the
aggregate, could have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (ii) except for
premiums due, there is no outstanding material liability, whether measured alone
or in the aggregate, under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any of the Company
Plans, (iii) neither the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation nor any plan
administrator has instituted proceedings to terminate any of the Company Plans
subject to Title IV of ERISA other than in a "STANDARD TERMINATION" described in
Section 4041(b) of ERISA, (iv) none of the Company Plans has incurred any
"ACCUMULATED FUNDING DEFICIENCY" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section
412 of the Code), whether or not waived, as of the last day of the most recent
fiscal year of each of the Company Plans ended prior to the date of this
Agreement, (v) the current present value of all projected benefit obligations
under each of the Company Plans which is subject to Title IV of ERISA did not,
as of its latest valuation date, exceed the then current value of the assets of
such plan allocable to such benefit liabilities, based upon reasonable actuarial
assumptions currently utilized for such Company Plan, (vi) each of the Company
Plans has been operated and administered in all material respects in accordance
with applicable laws during the period of time covered by the applicable statute
of limitations, (vii) each of the Company Plans which is intended to be
"QUALIFIED" within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined
by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified and such determination has
not been modified, revoked or limited by failure to satisfy any condition
thereof or by a subsequent amendment thereto or a failure to amend, except that
it may be necessary to make additional amendments retroactively to maintain the
"QUALIFIED" status of such Company Plans, and the period for making any such
necessary retroactive amendments has not expired, (viii) with respect to
Multi-employer Plans, the Company has not made or suffered a "COMPLETE
WITHDRAWAL" or a "PARTIAL WITHDRAWAL," as such terms are respectively defined in
Sections 4203, 4204 and 4205 of ERISA and, to the best knowledge of the Company,
no event has occurred or is expected to occur which presents a material risk of
a complete or partial withdrawal under said Sections 4203, 4204 and 4205, (ix)
to the best knowledge of the Company, there are no material pending, threatened
or anticipated claims involving any of the Company Plans other than claims for
benefits in the ordinary course, and (x) the Company has no current material
liability, whether measured alone or in the aggregate, for plan termination or
complete withdrawal or partial withdrawal under Title IV of ERISA based on any
plan to which any entity that would be deemed one employer with the Company
under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code contributed during the
period of time covered by the applicable statute of limitations (the "COMPANY
CONTROLLED GROUP PLANS"), and the Company does not reasonably anticipate that
any such liability will be asserted against the Company. None of the Company
Controlled Group Plans has an "ACCUMULATED FUNDING DEFICIENCY" (as defined in
Section 302 of ERISA and 412 of the Code).
-11-
(c) SCHEDULE 4.14 attached hereto contains a true and complete summary or
list of or otherwise describes all employment contracts and employee benefit
arrangements with all employees of the Company.
SECTION 4.15. LABOR MATTERS. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.15 attached
hereto, (a) there are no significant controversies pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened between the Company and any of its employees, (b)
none of the Company's employees is represented by a labor union or covered by a
collective bargaining agreement, and to the knowledge of the Company, there are
no organizational efforts and no campaign is under way to establish such
representation or coverage, (c) the Company has, to the knowledge of the
Company, complied in all material respects with all laws relating to the
employment of labor, including, without limitation, any provisions thereof
relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining, and the payment of social
security and similar taxes, and (d) no person has, to the knowledge of the
Company, asserted that the Company is liable in any material amount for any
arrears of wages or any taxes or penalties for failure to comply with any of the
foregoing, except for such controversies, organizational efforts, non-compliance
and liabilities which, singly or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.16. ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
(a) To the best of the Company's and Stockholders' knowledge and belief,
except as set forth in SCHEDULE 4.16 attached hereto, (i) the Company has
conducted its businesses in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws,
including, without limitation, having all permits, licenses and other approvals
and authorizations necessary for the operation of their respective businesses as
presently conducted, (ii) none of the properties owned by the Company contain
any Hazardous Substance as a result of any activity of the Company in amounts
exceeding the levels permitted by applicable Environmental Laws, (iii) the
Company has not received any notices, demand letters or requests for information
from any Federal, state, local or foreign governmental entity or third party
indicating that the Company may be in violation of, or liable under, any
Environmental Law in connection with the ownership or operation of its business,
(iv) there are no civil, criminal or administrative actions, suits, demands,
claims, hearings, investigations or proceedings pending or threatened, against
the Company relating to any violation, or alleged violation, of any
Environmental Law, (v) no reports have been filed, or are required to be filed,
by the Company concerning the release of any Hazardous Substance or the
threatened or actual violation of any Environmental Law, (vi) no Hazardous
Substance has been disposed of, released or transported in violation of any
applicable Environmental Law from any properties owned by the Company as a
result of any activity of the Company during the time such properties were
owned, leased or operated by the Company, (vii) there have been no environmental
investigations, studies, audits, tests, reviews or other analysis regarding
compliance or non-compliance with any applicable Environmental Law conducted by
or which are in the possession of the Company relating to the activities of the
Company which are not listed on SCHEDULE 4.16 attached hereto prior to the date
hereof, (viii) there are no underground storage tanks on, in or under any
properties owned by the Company and no underground storage tanks have been
closed or removed from any of such properties during the time such properties
were
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owned, leased or operated by the Company, (ix) there is no asbestos or asbestos
containing material present in any of the properties owned by the Company, and
no asbestos has been removed from any of such properties during the time such
properties were owned, leased or operated by the Company, and (x) neither the
Company nor any of its respective properties are subject to any material
liabilities or expenditures (fixed or contingent) relating to any suit,
settlement, court order, administrative order, regulatory requirement, judgment
or claim asserted or arising under any Environmental Law, except for violations
of the foregoing clauses (i) through (x) that, singly or in the aggregate, would
not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) As used herein, "ENVIRONMENTAL LAW" means any Federal, state, local or
foreign law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, code, license, permit,
authorization, approval, consent, legal doctrine, order, judgment, decree,
injunction, requirement or agreement with any governmental entity relating to
(x) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment (including,
without limitation, air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water
supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other
natural resource) or to human health or safety or (y) the exposure to, or the
use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing,
handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of Hazardous Substances, in
each case as amended and as in effect on the Closing Date. The term
Environmental Law includes, without limitation, (i) the Federal Comprehensive
Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Superfund
Amendments and Reauthorization Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of
1972, the Federal Clean Air Act, the Federal Clean Water Act, the Federal
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (including the Hazardous and
Solid Waste Amendments thereto), the Federal Solid Waste Disposal and the
Federal Toxic Substances Control Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and
Rodenticide Act, the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, each as
amended and as in effect on the Closing Date, and (ii) any common law or
equitable doctrine (including, without limitation, injunctive relief and tort
doctrines such as negligence, nuisance, trespass and strict liability) that may
impose liability or obligations for injuries or damages due to, or threatened as
a result of, the presence of, effects of or exposure to any Hazardous Substance.
(c) As used herein, "HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means any substance presently or
hereafter listed, defined, designated or classified as hazardous, toxic,
radioactive, or dangerous, or otherwise regulated, under any Environmental Law.
Hazardous Substance includes any substance to which exposure is regulated by any
government authority or any Environmental Law including, without limitation, any
toxic waste, pollutant, contaminant, hazardous substance, toxic substance,
hazardous waste, special waste, industrial substance or petroleum or any
derivative or by-product thereof, radon, radioactive material, asbestos or
asbestos containing material, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, lead or
polychlorinated biphenyls.
SECTION 4.17. TITLE TO ASSETS. The Company has good and marketable title
in fee simple to all its real property and good title to all its leasehold
interests and other properties, as reflected in the most recent balance sheet
included in the Company Financial Statements, except for the assets which are to
be sold or dividended to the Stockholders pursuant to Section 6.4 and properties
and assets that have been disposed of in the ordinary course of business since
the date of such balance
-13-
sheet, free and clear of all mortgages, liens, pledges, charges or encumbrances
of any nature whatsoever, except (i) the lien for current taxes, payments of
which are not yet delinquent, (ii) such imperfections in title and easements and
encumbrances, if any, as are not substantial in character, amount or extent and
do not materially detract from the value, or interfere with the present use of
the property subject thereto or affected thereby, or otherwise materially impair
the Company's business operations (in the manner presently carried on by the
Company), and (iii) except for such matters which, singly or in the aggregate,
could not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All
leases under which the Company leases any substantial amount of real or personal
property have been delivered to PalEx and are in good standing, valid and
effective in accordance with their respective terms, and there is not, under any
of such leases, any existing default or event which with notice or lapse of time
or both would become a default other than defaults under such leases which in
the aggregate will not cause a Company Material Adverse Effect
SECTION 4.18. INSURANCE. SCHEDULE 4.18 sets forth an accurate list as of
September 30, 1996 of all insurance policies carried by the Company and of all
insurance claims or losses in excess of $50,000 or material workmen's
compensation claims received for the past five (5) policy years. Also attached
to SCHEDULE 4.18 are true, complete and correct copies of all of the Company's
insurance policies, covering at least the past three years. None of such
policies is a "claims made" policy. The insurance policies set forth on SCHEDULE
4.18 provide adequate coverage against the risks involved in the Company's
business. Such policies are currently in full force and effect.
SECTION 4.19. INTEREST IN CUSTOMERS AND SUPPLIERS AND RELATED-PARTY
TRANSACTIONS. Except as described on SCHEDULE 4.19, no Stockholder, officer,
director or affiliate of the Company (i) possesses, directly or indirectly, any
financial interest in, or is a director, officer, employee or affiliate of, any
corporation, firm, association or business organization that is a client,
supplier, customer, lessor, lessee or competitor of the Company, or (ii) is a
party to an agreement or relationship, that involves the receipt by such person
of compensation or property from the Company other than through a customary
employment relationship.
SECTION 4.20. BUSINESS RELATIONS. SCHEDULE 4.20 contains an accurate list
of all customers of the Company representing five percent (5%) or more of the
Company's revenues for the twelve (12) months ended July 28, 1996 and the three
(3) months ended October 27, 1996. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.20, since
July 30, 1995, none of the Company's significant customers has canceled or
substantially reduced its purchases from the Company, nor are any of such
customers threatening to do so. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.20, since July
30, 1995, the Company has not experienced any difficulties in obtaining any
inventory items necessary to the operation of its business, and, to the
knowledge of the Company and the Stockholders, no such shortage of supply of
inventory items is threatened or pending. To the knowledge of the Company and
the Stockholders, no customer or supplier of the Company will cease to do
business with, or substantially reduce its purchases from, the Company after the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, which cessation or
reduction would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect. The Company is not required to provide any bonding or other
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financial security arrangements in any material amount in connection with any
transactions with any of its customers or suppliers.
SECTION 4.21. DISCLOSURE. The Stockholders have fully provided PalEx with
all the information that PalEx has requested in analyzing whether to consummate
the Merger. To the best of the Company's and Stockholders' knowledge and belief,
none of the information so provided nor any representation or warranty of the
Stockholders contained in this Agreement contains any untrue statement regarding
a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements made herein or in the information provided, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
SECTION 4.22. TRADEMARKS AND INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COMPLIANCE. Company
owns or has the right to use, without any material payment to any other party,
all of its patents, trademarks (registered or unregistered), trade names,
service marks, copyrights and applications ("Intellectual Property Rights") and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not alter or
impair such rights in any material respect. To the best of the Company's and
Stockholders' knowledge and belief, no claims are pending by any person with
respect to the ownership, validity, enforceability or use of any such
Intellectual Property Rights challenging or questioning the validity or
effectiveness of any of the foregoing which claims could reasonably be expected
to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION 4.23. NO IMPLIED REPRESENTATIONS. Notwithstanding anything
contained in this Article or any other provision of this Agreement or any of the
related documents, it is the explicit understanding of each party hereto that
the Company and the Stockholders are not making any representation or warranty
whatsoever, express or implied, other than those representations and warranties
of the Company and the Stockholders in this Agreement and the related documents.
It is understood that any estimates, projections or other predictions which
otherwise have been provided to PalEx are not and shall not be deemed to be
representations or warranties of the Company or the Stockholders, but as the
good faith estimates and assumptions of the Company and the Stockholders
intended to be reasonable at the time made concerning the most likely course of
the Company and its businesses. The Company, the Stockholders and PalEx
acknowledge that there are uncertainties inherent in attempting to make such
estimates, projections and other predictions, that the Company, the Stockholders
and PalEx are familiar with such uncertainties, that the Company, the
Stockholders and PalEx are taking full responsibility for making their own
evaluation of the adequacy and accuracy of all estimates, projections and other
predictions so furnished to them, and that neither PalEx, the Stockholders nor
any of the Founding Companies shall have any claim against anyone with respect
thereto.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES of PalEx and SUBSIDIARY
PalEx and Subsidiary represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
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SECTION 5.1. ORGANIZATION AND QUALIFICATION.
(a) PalEx is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the state of Delaware and has the requisite power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on
its business as it is now being conducted. True, accurate and complete copies of
each of PalEx's Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, as in effect on the
date hereof, including all amendments thereto, have heretofore been delivered to
the Company.
(b) Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has the requisite power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry on
its business as it is now being conducted. Subsidiary is qualified to do
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the properties
owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it
makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified
and in good standing will not, when taken together with all other such failures,
have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, assets,
condition (financial or other), results of operations or prospects of
Subsidiary. True, accurate and complete copies of each of Subsidiary's
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, as in effect on the date hereof,
including all amendments thereto, have heretofore been delivered to the Company.
SECTION 5.2. CAPITALIZATION.
(a) The authorized capital stock of PalEx consists of (i) 30,000,000
shares of PalEx Common Stock, of which 1,071,389 shares were outstanding as of
December 20, 1996, and (ii) 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.01
per share, none of which was issued and outstanding as of December 20, 1996. All
of the issued and outstanding shares of PalEx Common Stock are validly issued
and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
(b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 5.2 attached hereto, as of the date
hereof, there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, calls, contracts,
commitments, understandings, restrictions, arrangements, rights or warrants,
including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding security,
instrument or other agreement obligating PalEx to issue, deliver or sell, or
cause to be issued, delivered or sold, additional shares of the capital stock of
PalEx or obligating PalEx to grant, extend or enter into any such agreement or
commitment, except that PalEx declared a stock split prior to executing this
Agreement which resulted in Main Street owning 1,021,389 shares and Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxx, Xx. owning 50,000 shares of PalEx Common Stock. There are no voting
trusts, proxies or other agreements or understandings to which PalEx is a party
or is bound with respect to the voting of any shares of capital stock of PalEx.
The shares of PalEx Common Stock issued to stockholders of the Company in the
Merger will be at the Effective Time duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable and free of preemptive rights.
-16-
SECTION 5.3. NO SUBSIDIARIES. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 5.3, PalEx
has no subsidiaries and it does not own any capital stock of any corporation or
any interest in any partnership, joint venture or limited liability company.
SECTION 5.4. AUTHORITY; NON-CONTRAVENTION; APPROVALS.
(a) PalEx and Subsidiary have full corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been approved by the Board of Directors and stockholders of PalEx
and Subsidiary, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of PalEx or
Subsidiary are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the consummation by PalEx and Subsidiary of the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
PalEx and Subsidiary, and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery hereof by the Company and the Stockholders, constitutes a valid and
legally binding agreement of PalEx and Subsidiary enforceable against each of
them in accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject
to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii)
general equitable principles.
(b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by PalEx and Subsidiary
does not violate, conflict with or result in a breach of any provision of, or
constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a default) under, or result in the termination of, or
accelerate the performance required by, or result in a right of termination or
acceleration under, or result in the creation of any lien, security interest,
charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of PalEx or
Subsidiary under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of (i) the charter
or by-laws of PalEx or Subsidiary, as applicable, (ii) any statute, law,
ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, decree, order, injunction, writ, permit
or license of any court or governmental authority applicable to PalEx or
Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or assets or (iii) any note,
bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, license, franchise, permit,
concession, contract, lease or other instrument, obligation or agreement of any
kind to which PalEx or Subsidiary is now a party or by which PalEx or Subsidiary
or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or affected. The
consummation by PalEx and Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated hereby
will not result in any violation, conflict, breach, right of termination or
acceleration or creation of liens under any of the terms, conditions or
provisions of the items described in clauses (i) through (iii) of the preceding
sentence, subject, in the case of the terms, conditions or provisions of the
items described in clause (ii) above, to obtaining (prior to the Effective Time)
PalEx Required Statutory Approvals (as defined in Section 5.4(c)) and, in the
case of the terms, conditions or provisions of the items described in clause
(iii) above, to obtaining (prior to the Effective Time) consents required from
commercial lenders, lessors or other third parties. Excluded from the foregoing
sentences of this paragraph (b), insofar as they apply to the terms, conditions
or provisions of the items described in clauses (ii) and (iii) of the first
sentence of this paragraph (b), are such violations, conflicts, breaches,
defaults, terminations, accelerations or creations of liens, security interests,
charges or encumbrances that would not, in the aggregate, have
-17-
a material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, assets,
condition (financial or other), results of operations or prospects of PalEx or
Subsidiary (a "PalEx Material Adverse Effect").
(c) Except for (i) the filing of the Registration Statement the SEC
pursuant to the 1933 Act, (ii) the declaration of the effectiveness thereof by
the SEC and filings with various state blue sky authorities, and (iii) the
making of the Merger Filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
and the Secretary of State of the State of Florida in connection with the
Merger, the filings and approvals referred to in clauses (i) through (iii) are
collectively referred to as the "PALEX REQUIRED STATUTORY APPROVALS", no
declaration, filing or registration with, or notice to, or authorization,
consent or approval of, any governmental or regulatory body or authority is
necessary for the execution and delivery of this Agreement by PalEx or
Subsidiary or the consummation by PalEx or Subsidiary of the transactions
contemplated hereby, other than such declarations, filings, registrations,
notices, authorizations, consents or approvals which, if not made or obtained,
as the case may be, would not, in the aggregate, have a PalEx Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 5.5. ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except as disclosed to
the Company in writing, neither PalEx nor Subsidiary have incurred any
liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise)
of any nature, except those incurred in connection with the Merger, this
Agreement, the agreements with the other Founding Companies and the IPO. Except
as contemplated by the foregoing, PalEx and Subsidiary have not engaged in any
business activities of any type or kind whatsoever, nor entered into any
agreements nor is it bound by any obligation or undertaking.
SECTION 5.6. LITIGATION. There are no claims, suits, actions or
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of PalEx or Subsidiary, threatened
against, relating to or affecting PalEx or Subsidiary, before any court,
governmental department, commission, agency, instrumentality or authority, or
any arbitrator that seek to restrain or enjoin the consummation of the Merger or
the IPO or which could reasonably be expected, either alone or in the aggregate
with all such claims, actions or proceedings, to have a PalEx Material Adverse
Effect.
SECTION 5.7. NO VIOLATION OF LAW. PalEx is not in violation of, nor has it
been given notice or been charged with any violation of, any law, statute,
order, rule, regulation, ordinance, or judgment (including, without limitation,
any applicable environmental law, ordinance or regulation) of any governmental
or regulatory body or authority.
SECTION 5.8. AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. Except for the ownership by Main
Street of shares of PalEx Common Stock and Main Street's obligations and rights
under Section 7.3, no transaction has occurred and no transaction is now
proposed to which PalEx is or will be a party, in which any current affiliate of
Main Street has a direct or indirect material interest.
-18-
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING THE MERGER
SECTION 6.1. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS BY THE COMPANY PENDING THE MERGER. Except
as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, after the date hereof and prior to
the Closing Date or earlier termination of this Agreement, unless PalEx shall
otherwise agree in writing, the Company shall:
(a) conduct its businesses in the ordinary and usual course and consistent
with past practice;
(b) not (i) amend or propose to amend its charter or by-laws, (ii) split,
combine or reclassify its outstanding capital stock or (iii) declare, set aside
or pay any dividend or distribution payable in cash, stock, property or
otherwise, except for the payment of dividends or distributions described in
SCHEDULE 6.1;
(c) not, except for shares issued to the Ridge Pallets, Inc. Profit
Sharing Plan in connection with the transaction described in Section 7.13
hereof, issue, sell, pledge or dispose of, or agree to issue, sell, pledge or
dispose of, any additional shares of, or any options, warrants or rights of any
kind to acquire any shares of, its capital stock of any class or any debt or
equity securities convertible into or exchangeable for such capital stock.
(d) not (i) incur or become contingently liable with respect to any
indebtedness for borrowed money other than (A) borrowings in the ordinary course
of business or (B) borrowings to refinance existing indebtedness on terms
comparable with or better than those at the date hereof, (ii) redeem, purchase,
acquire or offer to purchase or acquire any shares of its capital stock or any
options, warrants or rights to acquire any of its capital stock or any security
convertible into or exchangeable for its capital stock, (iii) take or fail to
take any action which action or failure would cause the Company or the
Stockholders (except to the extent of any cash received in the Merger) to
recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the
consummation of the Merger, (iv) sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any assets
or businesses other than sales in the ordinary course of business or (v) enter
into any contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement with respect to any of
the foregoing;
(e) use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact its business
organizations and goodwill, keep available the services of its present officers
and key employees, and preserve the goodwill and business relationships with
customers and others having business relationships with it and not engage in any
action, directly or indirectly, with the intent to adversely impact the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(f) confer on a regular and frequent basis with one or more
representatives of PalEx to report operational matters of materiality and the
general status of ongoing operations;
-19-
(g) not enter into or amend any employment, severance, special pay
arrangement with respect to termination of employment or other similar
arrangements or agreements with any directors, officers or key employees, except
in the ordinary course and consistent with past practice;
(h) not adopt, enter into or amend any bonus, profit sharing,
compensation, stock option, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, health
care, employment or other employee benefit plan, agreement, trust, fund or
arrangement for the benefit or welfare of any employee or retiree, except as
required to comply with changes in applicable law or in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practices; and
(i) maintain with financially responsible insurance companies insurance on
its tangible assets and its businesses in such amounts and against such risks
and losses as are consistent with past practice.
SECTION 6.2. CONTROL OF THE COMPANY'S OPERATIONS. Nothing contained in
this Agreement shall give to PalEx, directly or indirectly, rights to control or
direct the Company's operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the
Effective Time, the Company shall exercise, consistent with the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision of its
operations.
SECTION 6.3. NO - SHOP.
(a) After the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time or earlier
termination of this Agreement, the Company and the Stockholders shall not, and
the Company shall use its best efforts to cause any officer, director or
employee of, or any attorney, accountant, investment banker, financial advisor
or other agent retained by it not to, initiate, solicit, negotiate, encourage or
provide non-public or confidential information to facilitate, any proposal or
offer to acquire all or any substantial part of the business and properties of
the Company or any capital stock of the Company, whether by merger, purchase of
assets or otherwise, whether for cash, securities or any other consideration or
combination thereof, or enter into any joint venture or partnership or similar
arrangement.
(b) The Company and the Stockholders (i) acknowledge that a breach of any
of their covenants contained in this Section 6.3 will result in irreparable harm
to PalEx which will not be compensable in money damages; and (ii) agree that
such covenant shall be specifically enforceable and that specific performance
and injunctive relief shall be a remedy properly available to the other party
for a breach of such covenant.
-20-
SECTION 6.4. DIVIDEND OR SALE OF NONPRODUCTIVE ASSETS. The Company shall,
prior to the Closing Date, either dividend to the Stockholders or sell for cash
the assets listed on SCHEDULE 6.4. If the Company sells such assets, it shall
apply the proceeds from such sale to the reduction of outstanding debt. Any such
dividend shall not affect the total consideration due the Stockholders
hereunder; any such sale and reduction of the Company's debt shall affect the
allocation of the consideration to be received by the Stockholders in the Merger
in the manner described in SCHEDULE 2.1.
ARTICLE VII
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
SECTION 7.1. ACCESS TO INFORMATION.
(a) The Company shall afford to PalEx and Subsidiary and their
accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives (the "PALEX
REPRESENTATIVES") and PalEx and Subsidiary shall afford to the Company and its
accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other representatives (the "COMPANY
REPRESENTATIVES") full access during normal business hours throughout the period
prior to the Effective Time to all of their respective properties, books,
contracts, commitments and records (including, but not limited to, financial
statements and Tax Returns) and, during such period, shall furnish promptly to
one another all due diligence information requested by the other party. PalEx
and Subsidiary shall hold and shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause
the PalEx Representatives to hold, and the Company shall hold and shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Company Representatives to hold, in strict
confidence all non-public information furnished to it in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except that each of PalEx,
Subsidiary and the Company may disclose any information that it is required by
law or judicial or administrative order to disclose.
(b) In the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with its
terms, each party shall promptly redeliver to the other all non-public written
material provided pursuant to this Section 7.1 and shall not retain any copies,
extracts or other reproductions of such written material. In the event of such
termination, all documents, memoranda, notes and other writings prepared by
PalEx and Subsidiary or the Company based on the information in such material
shall be destroyed (and PalEx, Subsidiary and the Company shall use their
respective reasonable best efforts to cause their advisors and representatives
to similarly destroy their documents, memoranda and notes), and such destruction
(and reasonable best efforts) shall be certified in writing by an authorized
officer supervising such destruction.
(c) The Company shall promptly advise PalEx in writing of any change or
the occurrence of any event after the date of this Agreement having, or which,
insofar as can reasonably be foreseen, in the future may have, any Company
Material Adverse Effect.
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SECTION 7.2. REGISTRATION STATEMENT. PalEx and the Founding Companies
shall file with the SEC as soon as is reasonably practicable after the date
hereof the Registration Statement and shall use all reasonable efforts to have
the Registration Statement declared effective by the SEC as promptly as
practicable. PalEx shall also take any action required to be taken under
applicable state blue sky or securities laws in connection with the issuance of
PalEx Common Stock. PalEx and the Company shall promptly furnish to each other
all information, and take such other actions, as may reasonably be requested in
connection with making such filings. The information provided and to be provided
by PalEx and the Company, respectively, for use in the Registration Statement
shall be true and correct in all material respects without omission of any
material fact which is required to make such information not false or misleading
as of the date thereof and in light of the circumstances under which given or
made.
SECTION 7.3. EXPENSES AND FEES. Main Street shall pay the fees and
expenses of the independent public accountants and legal counsel to PalEx and
all filing, printing and other reasonable, documented fees and expenses
associated with the IPO up to $1,250,000. PalEx shall pay or reimburse Main
Street from the proceeds of the IPO for such fees and expenses in excess of
$1,250,000. Neither the Company nor the Stockholders will be liable for any
portion of the above expenses in the event the IPO is not closed. PalEx shall
also pay (i) the underwriting discounts and commissions payable in connection
with the sale of PalEx Common Stock in the IPO, (ii) the fees payable to Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx & Associates and Xx. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, as detailed on SCHEDULE 7.3 and
(iii) the fees and expenses incurred in delivering the tax opinion set forth in
Section 9.2(d). All other costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party
incurring such expenses.
SECTION 7.4. AGREEMENT TO COOPERATE. Subject to the terms and conditions
herein provided, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to
take, or cause to be taken, all action and to do, or cause to be done, all
things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION 7.5. PUBLIC STATEMENTS. Except as may require by law, no party
hereto shall issue any press release or any written public statement with
respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby without the
prior written consent of PalEx and the Company.
SECTION 7.6. NOTIFICATION OF CERTAIN MATTERS. Each of the Company, the
Stockholders and PalEx agrees to give prompt notice to each of the others of,
and to use their respective reasonable best efforts to prevent or promptly
remedy, (i) the occurrence or failure to occur or the impending or threatened
occurrence or failure to occur, of any event which occurrence or failure to
occur would be likely to cause any of its representations or warranties in this
Agreement to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect at any time from
the date hereof to the Effective Time, or any of the information supplied by it
for use in the Registration Statement to be untrue in any material respect or to
omit any material fact, at any time from the date hereof until 25 days following
the Closing, and (ii) any material failure on its part to comply with or satisfy
any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it
hereunder; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the delivery
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of any notice pursuant to this Section 7.6 shall not limit or otherwise affect
the remedies available hereunder to the party receiving such notice.
SECTION 7.7. DIRECTORS' AND OFFICERS' INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) After the Effective Time, PalEx shall, to the fullest extent permitted
under applicable law, indemnify and hold harmless, each present and former
director, officer and agent of the Company (each, together with such person's
heirs, executors or administrators, an "INDEMNIFIED PARTY" and collectively, the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTIES") against any costs or expenses (including reasonable
attorneys fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
amounts paid in settlement in connection with any claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, arising out of, relating to or in connection with any action or
omission of PalEx occurring prior to the Effective Time (including, without
limitation, acts or omissions in connection with such persons serving as an
officer, director or other fiduciary in any entity if such service was at the
request or for the benefit of the Company). In the event of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether arising before or after the
Effective Time), (i) PalEx shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
selected by the indemnified parties, which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to PalEx, promptly after statements therefor are received, (ii)
PalEx will cooperate in the defense of any such matter, and (iii) any
determination required to be made with respect to whether an indemnified party's
conduct complies with the standards set forth under the DGCL or other applicable
statutes and PalEx's or the Surviving Corporation's respective Certificates of
Incorporation or By-Laws shall be made by independent legal counsel acceptable
to PalEx as the case may be, and the indemnified party; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
PalEx shall not be liable for any settlement effected without its written
consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).
(b) In the event that PalEx or any of its successors or assigns (i)
consolidates with or merges into any other person and shall not be the
continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or
(ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any
person, then and in each such case, proper provisions shall be made so that the
successors and assigns of PalEx shall assume the obligations set forth in this
Section 7.7.
SECTION 7.8. CORRECTIONS TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT. Prior to the
effectiveness of the IPO, and until the expiration of the 25th day thereafter,
each of the Company, the Stockholders and PalEx shall correct promptly any
information provided by it to be used specifically in the Registration Statement
that shall have become false or misleading in any material respect and shall
take all steps necessary to file with the SEC and have declared effective or
cleared by the SEC any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement so
as to correct the same and to cause the Prospectus included within such
Registration Statement as so corrected to be disseminated to the extent required
by applicable law.
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SECTION 7.9. PREPARATION AND FILING OF TAX RETURNS.
(a) Each party hereto shall, and shall cause its affiliates to, provide to
each of the other parties hereto such cooperation and information as any of them
reasonably may request in filing any return, amended return or claim for refund,
determining a liability for Taxes or a right to refund of Taxes or in conducting
any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes. Such cooperation and
information shall include providing copies at no cost to the requesting party of
all relevant portions of relevant returns, together with relevant accompanying
schedules and relevant work papers, relevant documents relating to rulings or
other determinations by taxing authorities and relevant records concerning the
ownership and tax basis of property, which such party may possess. Each party
shall make its employees reasonably available on a mutually convenient basis at
its cost to provide explanation of any documents or information so provided.
Subject to the preceding sentence, each party required to file returns pursuant
to this Agreement shall bear all costs of filing such returns.
(b) Each of the Company, PalEx and the Stockholders shall comply with the
tax reporting requirements of Section 1.368-3 of the Treasury Regulations
promulgated under the Code, and shall treat the transaction as a tax-free
reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code unless otherwise required by
law. The parties have independently determined and hereby agree that the
transaction constitutes a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the
Code and specifically that:
(i) Neither the Company nor PalEx is an investment company as
defined in Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.
(ii) The fair market value of the assets of the Company exceeds the
sum of its liabilities, plus the amount of liabilities, if any, to which
the assets are subject.
(iii) The Company is not under jurisdiction of a court in a Title 11
or similar case within the meaning of Section 368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.
(iv) The fair market value of the PalEx Common Stock and other
consideration received by the Stockholders, will be approximately equal to
the fair market value of the Company Stock surrendered in the Merger.
(v) There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing between PalEx
and the Company that was issued, acquired, or will be settled at a
discount.
(vi) None of the compensation received by any Stockholder-employee
of the Company after the Merger will be separate consideration for, or
allocable to, any of their securities of the Company. None of the shares
of PalEx Common Stock received by the Stockholders in the Merger will be
separate consideration for, or allocable to, any employment agreement; and
the compensation paid to the Stockholders in their capacity as employees
including, but not limited to, amounts paid pursuant to the employment
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agreements between the Company and the Stockholders and incentive
compensation in the form of stock options, will be for services actually
rendered and will be commensurate with amounts paid to third parties
bargaining at arm's-length for similar services.
(vii) The proposed Merger is effected through the laws of the United
States, a State thereof or the District of Columbia.
(viii)The proposed Merger is being undertaken for reasons germane to
the business of the Company.
SECTION 7.10. COVENANTS CONCERNING TAXES.
(a) (i) The Stockholders shall pay (and shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless PalEx, as the Surviving Corporation, from and against liability with
respect to) any and all Taxes, interest, penalties and additions to Taxes that
are imposed on them or the Company: (i) attributable to the taxable income of
the Company for all taxable periods during which the Company was an S
corporation (the "S Corporation Period"); and (ii) as a result of the Company's
S election being treated as invalid or ineffective for any reason or such
election being revoked or terminated prior to the Merger.
(ii) The Surviving Corporation, shall pay or cause to be paid (and
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Stockholders from and against
liability with respect to) any and all Taxes, interest, penalties and additions
to Taxes attributable to the taxable income of the Surviving Corporation for the
period after the Merger (the "C Corporation Period").
(b) If the Stockholders receive notice of an intention by a taxing
authority to audit any return of the Stockholders that includes any item of
income, gain, deduction, loss or credit reported by the Company with respect to
the S Corporation Period that the Stockholders have reason to believe may affect
the Surviving Corporation's tax returns during the C Corporation Period, the
Stockholders shall inform the Surviving Corporation, in writing, of the audit
promptly after receipt of such notice. If the Stockholders receive notice from a
taxing authority of any proposed adjustment for which the Surviving Corporation
may be required to indemnify hereunder (a "Proposed Adjustment"), the
Stockholders shall give notice to the Surviving Corporation of the Proposed
Adjustment promptly after receipt of such notice from a taxing authority. Within
twenty (20) days following its receipt of such notice, the Surviving Corporation
shall give notice to the Stockholders of its determination as to whether it
desires the Stockholders to contest such Proposed Adjustment. Upon such request
the Stockholders, at their option and upon written notice to the Surviving
Corporation within ten (10) days after their receipt of the notice described in
the preceding sentence, shall (i) contest the Proposed Adjustment at the
Surviving Corporation's expense and permit the Surviving Corporation to
participate in (but not to control) such proceedings, or (ii) permit the
Surviving Corporation to contest the Proposed Adjustment (including pursuing all
administrative and judicial appeals and demands). The Surviving Corporation
shall pay to the Stockholders on demand all reasonable costs and expenses
(including reasonable attorneys' and accountants' fees)
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that the Stockholders may incur in contesting such Proposed Adjustments. The
Stockholders shall not make, accept or enter into a settlement or other
compromise, with respect to any Taxes indemnified hereunder, or forego or
terminate any proceeding undertaken hereunder without the consent of the
Surviving Corporation, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
Stockholders will reasonably assist if the Surviving Corporation contests any
Proposed Adjustment.
(c) If the Surviving Corporation receives notice of an intention by a
taxing authority to audit any return of the Surviving Corporation that includes
any item of income, gain, deduction, loss or credit reported by the Surviving
Corporation with respect to the C Corporation Period that the Surviving
Corporation has reason to believe may affect the Stockholders' tax returns
during the S Corporation Period, the Surviving Corporation shall inform the
Stockholders in writing, of the audit promptly after receipt of such notice. If
the Surviving Corporation receives notice from a taxing authority of any
proposed adjustment for which the Stockholders may be required to indemnify the
Surviving Corporation hereunder (a "Surviving Corporation Proposed Adjustment"),
the Surviving Corporation shall give notice to the Stockholders of the Surviving
Corporation Proposed Adjustment promptly after receipt of such notice from a
taxing authority. Upon receipt of such notice from the Surviving Corporation,
the Stockholders may, by in turn giving prompt written notice to the Surviving
Corporation, request that the Surviving Corporation contest such Surviving
Corporation Proposed Adjustment. If the Stockholders request that any Surviving
Corporation Proposed Adjustment be contested, then the Surviving Corporation
shall contest the Surviving Corporation Proposed Adjustment (including pursuing
all administrative and judicial appeals and processes) at the Stockholders'
expense and shall permit the Stockholders to participate in (but not to control)
such proceeding.
(d) The parties shall cooperate fully with each other in all matters
relating to Taxes and in the determination of amounts payable hereunder. In the
case of disagreement as to the course of action to be pursued in dealing with
taxing authorities (including, without limitation, matters with respect to
preparation and filing of tax returns, conduct of audits, and proceedings in
courts), the decision of the party (the Surviving Corporation, on the one hand,
or the Stockholders, on the other hand) who will economically benefit from or be
burdened by the course of action (or in the case both parties benefit and/or are
burdened, the decision of the party with the greatest benefit or burden) shall
control.
SECTION 7.11. REGISTRATION RIGHTS.
(a) If at any time or times after the date hereof but prior to the third
anniversary of the Effective Time, PalEx shall determine to register any of its
securities (for itself or for any holder of securities of PalEx) under the 1933
Act or any successor legislation (other than the Registration Statement or a
registration relating to stock option plans, employee benefit plans or a
transaction pursuant to Rule 145 under the Act), and in connection therewith
PalEx may lawfully register the PalEx Common Stock held by the Stockholders and
Main Street, PalEx will promptly give written notice thereof to the Stockholders
and Main Street and will include in such registration and effect the
registration under the 1933 Act of all Registrable Securities (as hereinafter
defined )that the
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Stockholders and Main Street may request in writing by notice delivered to PalEx
within 20 days after receipt by the Stockholders and Main Street of the notice
given by PalEx; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in connection with any such offering by
PalEx of any of its securities, no such registration of Registrable Securities
shall be required if the managing underwriter, if any, for PalEx advises it in
writing that including all or part of the Registrable Shares in such offering
will materially adversely affect the proposed offering and jeopardize PalEx 's
ability to sell its own securities in such offering. If such managing
underwriter advises PalEx that, in its opinion, part of the Registrable
Securities may be included in such offering without materially adversely
affecting the proposed offering, then PalEx shall be obligated to include such
lesser number of Registrable Securities in such offering, which shares shall be
taken from those owned and held by a group consisting of the Stockholders, Main
Street and other holders of PalEx Common Stock having registration rights that
are PARI PASSU with those of the Stockholders and Main Street, and such
limitation shall be imposed upon the Stockholders and such other holders pro
rata on the basis of the total number of shares of PalEx Common Stock owned by
the Stockholders, Main Street and such other holders or obtainable by them upon
the exercise of rights with respect to other securities owned by them. All
expenses of such registration and offering shall be borne by the Company, except
that the Stockholders and Main Street shall bear underwriting commissions and
discounts attributable to their Registrable Securities being registered and the
fees and expenses of separate counsel, if any, for such Stockholders and Main
Street. The Stockholders and Main Street shall be entitled to an unlimited
number of registrations under this Section 7.11.
(b) For the purposes of this Section 7.11, the term "Registrable
Securities" shall mean (i) the PalEx Common Stock currently held by Main Street,
(ii) PalEx Common Stock to be issued in connection with the Merger, and (iii)
any PalEx Common Stock issued or issuable with respect to the shares identified
in (i) and (ii) above by way of a stock dividend or stock split or in connection
with a combination of shares, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other
reorganization.
(c) Whenever, under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7.11, PalEx
is required hereunder to register Registrable Securities, PalEx shall as
expeditiously as possible:
(i) Prepare and file with the SEC a registration statement with
respect to the Registrable Securities that complies with all requirements
of the Act;
(ii) Prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements
to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection
therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement
effective and to comply with the provisions of the Act with respect to the
sale of securities covered by such registration statement for the period
necessary to complete the proposed public offering (but in no event for a
period in excess of ninety (90) days);
(iii) Furnish to each Stockholder such copies of each preliminary
and final prospectus and such other documents as each such Stockholder may
reasonably request to facilitate the disposition of such Stockholder's
Registrable Securities;
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(iv) Enter into an underwriting agreement with customary terms and
provisions as reasonably agreed by PalEx and the proposed underwriter, if
any, of the offering,
(v) Use its best efforts to register and qualify the Registrable
Securities covered by such registration statement under applicable state
securities or "blue-sky" laws, provided that PalEx shall not be required
in connection therewith or as a condition thereto to qualify to do
business as a foreign corporation in any such jurisdiction wherein it is
not so qualified; and
(vi) Furnish to each selling Stockholder a signed counterpart,
addressed to the Stockholders, of
(A) an opinion of counsel to PalEx, and
(B) comfort letter(s) signed by the independent public
accountants who have certified PalEx's financial
statements included in the registration statement,
in each case, covering substantially the same matters with respect to the
registration statement (and the prospectus included therein) and (in the case of
the accountant's letter) with respect to events subsequent to the date of the
financial statements, as are customarily covered in opinions of issuer's counsel
and in accountant's letters delivered to the underwriters in underwritten public
offerings of securities.
(d) PalEx shall have the right to select the managing underwriter or
underwriters for any underwritten offering made pursuant to a registration under
this Section 7.11.
(e) In connection with any underwritten offering by PalEx in which the
Stockholders participate, the Stockholders shall, if requested by the managing
underwriter or underwriters thereof, agree not to sell any of their Registrable
Securities or any other securities of PalEx owned by such Stockholders in any
transaction other than pursuant to such underwritten offering for a period
beginning 60 days prior to the date PalEx and the underwriter reasonably expect
the registration statement to become effective, and for such period after the
effective date of the registration statement as is agreed upon by the
underwriters and PalEx (not to exceed 180 days), provided that the PalEx's
officers and directors and each holder of 5% or more of PalEx's issued and
outstanding PalEx Stock also agree to such limitations.
(f) PalEx may delay any underwritten offering pursuant to Section 7.11
when a condition or pending transaction exists the disclosure of which would
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the proposed
offering.
(g) PalEx will indemnify each Stockholder, each of its officers, directors
and partners, and each other person, if any, who controls such Stockholder
within the meaning of the Section 15
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of the 1933 Act, against any losses, claims, damages, expenses, or liabilities
to which such persons may become subject under the 1933 Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or action in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement or any
preliminary prospectus or final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto on
the effective date thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and will reimburse
such persons for any legal or any other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, however, that PalEx will not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises
out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, or any
preliminary prospectus or final prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto,
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to PalEx
through an instrument duly executed by such person specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.
It shall be a condition precedent to the obligation of PalEx to include in
any registration statement any Registrable Securities then held by a Stockholder
that PalEx shall have received an undertaking, satisfactory to it and the
managing underwriter or underwriters, from each Stockholder to indemnify and
hold harmless (in the same manner and to the same extent as set forth in the
preceding paragraph) PalEx, each director of PalEx, each officer of PalEx who
shall sign such registration statement and the managing underwriter or
underwriters and any person who controls such Underwriters or PalEx within the
meaning of the 1933 Act, with respect to any statement or omission from such
registration statement, any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained
therein, or any amendment or supplement thereto, if such statement or omission
was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to PalEx
through an instrument duly executed by the Stockholder specifically for use in
the preparation of such registration statement, preliminary prospectus or final
prospectus or such amendment or supplement thereto.
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party of notice of the
commencement of any action involving a claim referred to in the preceding
paragraphs in this Section 7.11, such indemnified party will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party, give written notice
to the latter of the commencement of such action. In case any such action is
brought against an indemnified party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in and to assumed the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense
thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party for
any legal or other expenses incurred by the latter in connection with the
defense thereof.
SECTION 7.12. RULE 144 REPORTING. With a view to making available the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC that may permit the sale of
PalEx Common Stock to the public without registration, PalEx agrees to use its
best efforts to:
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(i) make and keep public information regarding PalEx available as those
terms are understood and defined in Rule 144 under the 1933 Act, at all times
from and after 90 days following the effective date of the first registration
under the 1933 Act filed by PalEx for an offering of its securities to the
general public;
(ii) file with the SEC in a timely manner all reports and other documents
required of PalEx under the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act at any time after it has
become subject to such reporting requirements; and
(iii) so long as a Stockholder owns any restricted PalEx Common Stock,
furnish to each Stockholder forthwith upon written request a written statement
by PalEx as to its compliance with the reporting requirements of Rule 144 (at
any time from and after 90 days following the effective date of the first
registration statement filed by PalEx for an offering of its securities to the
general public), and of the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act (at any time after it has
become subject to such reporting requirements), a copy of the most recent annual
or quarterly report of PalEx, and such other reports and documents so filed as a
Stockholder may reasonably request in availing itself of any rule or regulation
of the SEC allowing a Stockholder to sell any such shares without registration.
SECTION 7.13. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN COMPANY DEBT. Upon the consummation of
the Merger and closing of the IPO, PalEx shall, on the Consummation Date, use a
portion of the proceeds from the IPO to repay in full certain indebtedness of
the Company as listed in SCHEDULE 7.12.
SECTION 7.14 CONTRIBUTION TO COMPANY PROFIT SHARING PLAN. PalEx shall make
a one-time contribution of PalEx Common Stock to the Ridge Pallets Inc. Profit
Sharing Plan (the "Plan") concurrently with the consummation of the IPO. PalEx
shall contribute that number of shares of PalEx Common Stock with a value equal
to $618,750 based on a price per share of PalEx Common Stock equal to the
mid-point of the estimated pricing range as set forth in the preliminary
prospectus relating to the IPO, adjusted to reflect a discount of 25%. The
contribution of PalEx Common Stock shall be allocated among the Company's
employees based on the terms of the Plan.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
The Stockholders and PalEx each make the following covenants:
SECTION 8.1. PALEX LOSSES.
(a) The Stockholders agree to indemnify and hold harmless PalEx and its
directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents and attorneys from,
against and in respect of any and all PalEx Losses (as defined below) suffered,
sustained, incurred or required to be paid by any of them
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by reason of (i) any representation or warranty made by the Company or the
Stockholders in or pursuant to this Agreement being untrue or incorrect in any
respect; (ii) any failure by the Company or the Stockholders to observe or
perform their covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or any other
agreement or document executed by them in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby; and (iii) any liability under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or
other Federal or state law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, arising
out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact relating to the Company or the Stockholders contained in any
preliminary prospectus, relating to the IPO, the Registration Statement or any
prospectus forming a part thereof, or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission to state therein a
material fact relating to the Company or the Stockholders required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and not
provided to PalEx or its counsel by the Company or the Stockholders; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that such indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of PalEx to the
extent that such untrue statement (or alleged untrue statement) was made in, or
omission (or alleged omission) occurred in, any preliminary prospectus and the
Stockholders provided, in writing, corrected information to PalEx or its counsel
for inclusion in the final prospectus prior to distributing such prospectus, and
such information was not so included. This Section 8.1 is intended to indemnify
PalEx and its directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents and
attorneys from the results of their negligence. The Stockholders' obligations
pursuant to this Section 8.1 shall expire one (1) year after the Closing, except
with respect to (x) obligations under Sections 4.13 and 7.10 hereof, which shall
survive until the earlier of (A) the expiration of the applicable periods
(including any extensions) of the respective statutes of limitation applicable
to the payment of the Taxes or (B) the completion of the final audit and
determinations by the applicable taxing authority and final disposition of any
deficiency resulting therefrom; and (y) solely to the extent that PalEx actually
incurs liability under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, the obligations under
clause (iii) above shall survive until the expiration of any applicable statute
of limitations with respect to such claims.
(b) "PalEx Losses" shall mean all damages (including, without limitation,
amounts paid in settlement with the Stockholders' consent, which consent may not
be unreasonably withheld), losses, obligations, liabilities, claims,
deficiencies, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees), penalties, fines, interest and monetary sanctions, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred to comply with
injunctions and other court and agency orders, and other costs and expenses
incident to any suit, action, investigation, claim or proceeding or to establish
or enforce the rights of PalEx or such other persons to indemnification
hereunder.
SECTION 8.2. STOCKHOLDERS LOSSES.
(a) PalEx agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Stockholders, for and
in respect of any and all Stockholders Losses (as defined below) suffered,
sustained, incurred or required to be paid by the Stockholders by reason of (i)
any representation or warranty made by PalEx in or pursuant to this Agreement
being untrue or incorrect in any respect; (ii) any failure by PalEx to observe
or perform its covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement or any other
agreement
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or document executed by it in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby; or (iii) any liability under the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or other Federal
or state law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, arising out of or based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
relating to PalEx or any of the Founding Companies other than the Company
contained in any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement or any
prospectus forming a part thereof, or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto, or arising out of or based upon any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact relating to PalEx or any of the Founding Companies
other than the Company required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. This Section 8.2 is intended to indemnify the
Stockholders from the results of their negligence. PalEx's obligations under
this Section 8.2 shall expire one year after Closing, except that, if the
Stockholders actually incur liability under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, the
obligations under clause (iii) above shall survive until the expiration of any
applicable statute of limitations with respect to such claims.
(b) "Stockholder's Losses" shall mean all damages (including, without
limitation, amounts paid in settlement with the consent of PalEx, which consent
may not be reasonably withheld), losses, obligations, liabilities, claims,
deficiencies, costs and expenses (including, without limitation, reasonable
attorneys' fees), penalties, fines, interest and monetary sanctions, including,
without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and costs incurred to comply with
injunctions and other court and agency orders, and other costs and expenses
incident to any suit, action, investigation, claim or proceeding or to establish
or enforce the right of the Stockholders to indemnification hereunder.
SECTION 8.3. NOTICE OF LOSS. A notice setting forth in reasonable detail
the breach or other matter which is asserted shall be promptly given to the
Indemnifying Party (as defined below) and, if such matter arises out of a suit,
action, investigation, proceeding or claim, such notice shall be given within
thirty (30) days after the Indemnified Party (as defined below) has knowledge of
the matter. The failure of the Indemnified Party to give notice hereunder shall
not release the Indemnifying Party from its obligations under this Article VIII,
except to the extent the Indemnifying Party is actually prejudiced by such
failure to give prompt notice. With respect to PalEx Losses, the Stockholders
shall be the Indemnifying Party and PalEx and its respective directors,
officers, employees, representatives, agents and attorneys shall be the
Indemnified Parties. With respect to Stockholders Losses, PalEx shall be the
Indemnifying Party and the Stockholders shall be the Indemnified Party.
SECTION 8.4. RIGHT TO DEFEND. Upon receipt of notice of any matter for
which indemnification might be claimed by an Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying
Party shall be entitled to defend, contest or otherwise protect against any such
matter at its own cost and expense, and the Indemnified Party must cooperate in
any such defense or other action. The Indemnified Party shall have the right,
but not the obligation, to participate at its own expense in defense thereof by
counsel of its own choosing, but the Indemnifying Party be entitled to control
the defense unless the Indemnified Party has relieved the Indemnifying Party
from liability with respect to the particular matter or the Indemnifying Party
fails to assume defense of the matter. In the event the
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Indemnifying Party shall fail to defend, contest or otherwise protect in a
timely manner against any matter, the Indemnified Party shall have the right,
but not the obligation, thereafter to defend, contest or otherwise protect
against the same and make any compromise or settlement thereof and recover the
reasonable cost thereof from the Indemnifying Party including, without
limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees, disbursements and all amounts paid as a
result of such suit, action, investigation, claim or proceeding or the
compromise or settlement thereof; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party
must send a written notice to the Indemnifying Party of any such proposed
settlement or compromise, which settlement or compromise the Indemnifying Party
may reject, in its reasonable judgment, within ten (10) days of receipt of such
notice. Failure to reject such notice within such ten (10) day period shall be
deemed an acceptance of such settlement or compromise. The Indemnified Party
shall have the right to effect a settlement or compromise over the objection of
the Indemnifying Party; provided, that if (i) the Indemnifying Party is
contesting such claim in good faith or (ii) the Indemnifying Party has assumed
the defense from the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party waives any right
to indemnity therefor. If the Indemnifying Party undertakes the defense of such
matters, the Indemnified Party shall not, so long as the Indemnifying Party does
not abandon the defense thereof, be entitled to recover from the Indemnifying
Party any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the Indemnified Party
in connection with the defense thereof other than the reasonable costs of
investigation undertaken by the Indemnified Party with the prior written consent
of the Indemnifying Party.
SECTION 8.5. COOPERATION. Each of PalEx, the Company and the Stockholders
and each of their affiliates, successors and assigns shall cooperate with each
other in the defense of any suit, action, investigation, proceeding or claim by
a third party and, during normal business hours, shall afford each other access
to their books and records and employees relating to such suit, action,
investigation, proceeding or claim and shall furnish each other all such further
information that they have the right and power to furnish as may reasonably be
necessary to defend such suit, action, investigation, proceeding or claim.
SECTION 8.6. EXCLUSIVE REMEDY. The indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 shall be the exclusive remedy in any action seeking damages or any
other form of monetary relief brought by any party to this Agreement against
another party, provided that, nothing herein shall be construed to limit the
right of a party, in a proper case, to seek injunctive relief for a breach of
this Agreement.
SECTION 8.7. LIMITATION UPON INDEMNITY.
(a) Neither the Stockholders nor PalEx shall be entitled to
indemnification from the other under the provisions of this Article VIII until
such time as the claims subject to indemnification by such party exceed, in the
aggregate, Three Hundred Sixty Thousand Dollars ($360,000) (the "Indemnity
Deductible").
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(b) The aggregate indemnification obligations of the Stockholders under
Article VIII shall be limited to the obligations in excess of the Indemnity
Deductible but not more than Thirty-Six Million Dollars ($36,000,000); PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, if the per share price of the PalEx Common Stock is less than the per
share price of the PalEx Common Stock issued in the IPO, the foregoing limit on
indemnity obligations shall be reduced by the difference in such prices
multiplied by the number of shares of PalEx Common Stock issued to the
Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement.
ARTICLE IX
CLOSING CONDITIONS
SECTION 9.1. CONDITIONS TO EACH PARTY'S OBLIGATION TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
The respective obligations of each party to effect the Merger shall be subject
to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date and continued fulfillment as
of the Consummation Date of the following conditions:
(a) the Underwriting Agreement related to the IPO shall have been
executed;
(b) the Registration Statement shall have become effective in accordance
with the provisions of the Securities Act, and no stop order suspending such
effectiveness shall have been issued and remain in effect and no proceeding for
that purpose shall have been instituted by the SEC or any state regulatory
authorities;
(c) no preliminary or permanent injunction or other order or decree by any
federal or state court which prevents the consummation of the IPO or the Merger
shall have been issued and remain in effect;
(d) no action shall have been taken, and no statute, rule or regulation
shall have been enacted, by any state or federal government or governmental
agency in the United States which would prevent the consummation of the Merger
or make the consummation of the Merger illegal; and
(e) all material governmental and third party waivers, consents, orders
and approvals required for the consummation of the Merger and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been obtained and be in effect.
SECTION 9.2. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
Unless waived by the Company, the obligation of the Company to effect the Merger
shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Closing Date and
continued fulfillment as of the Consummation Date of the following additional
conditions:
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(a) PalEx and Subsidiary shall have performed in all material respects its
agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed on or prior to
the Closing Date and the representations and warranties of PalEx and Subsidiary
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
on and as of the date made and on and as of the Closing Date as if made at and
as of such date, and the Company shall have received a certificate of the chief
executive officer of PalEx and Subsidiary to that effect;
(b) no governmental authority shall have promulgated any statute, rule or
regulation which, when taken together with all such promulgations, would
materially impair the value to the Stockholders of the Merger;
(c) the Company shall have received an opinion from the legal or
accounting advisors to PalEx, at the expense of PalEx, that the Merger will
constitute a tax-free reorganization under Section 368 of the Code, in which
regard the Company and the Stockholders shall provide representations reasonably
required by such advisors in providing such opinion;
(d) All conditions to the merger of the other Founding Companies, on
substantially the same terms as provided herein, with subsidiaries of PalEx
shall have been satisfied or waived by the applicable party.
SECTION 9.3. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS OF PALEX TO EFFECT THE MERGER.
Unless waived by PalEx, the obligations of PalEx to effect the Merger shall be
subject to the fulfillment at or prior to the Effective Time of the additional
following conditions:
(a) the Company shall have performed in all material respects its
agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed on or prior to
the Closing Date and the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects on and as
of the date made and on and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such
date, and PalEx shall have received a Certificate of the President or Vice
President - Finance of the Company to that effect;
(b) the Stockholders shall have performed in all material respects their
agreements contained in this Agreement required to be performed on or prior to
the Closing Date and the representations and warranties of the Stockholders
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
on and as of the date made and on and as of the Closing Date as if made at and
as of such date, and PalEx shall have received a Certificate of each Stockholder
to that effect;
(c) PalEx shall have received an opinion governed by, and interpreted in
accordance with, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law
(1991) from Holland & Knight, special counsel to the Company, dated the Closing
Date, reasonably satisfactory to PalEx and Subsidiary or their counsel;
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(d) PalEx shall have received "COMFORT" letters in customary form from the
Company's independent public accountants, dated the effective date of the
Registration Statement and the Closing Date (or such other date reasonably
acceptable to PalEx) with respect to certain financial statements and other
financial information included in the Registration Statement and any subsequent
changes in specified balance sheet and income statement items, including total
assets, working capital, total stockholders' equity, total revenues and the
total and per share amounts of net income; and
(e) no governmental authority shall have promulgated any statute, rule or
regulation which, when taken together with all such promulgations, would
materially impair the value to PalEx of the Merger.
ARTICLE X
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION 10.1. TERMINATION. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Closing Date under the following conditions:
(a) The Company shall have the right to terminate this Agreement:
(i) if the Merger is not completed by April 1, 1997 otherwise than
on account of delay or default on the part of the Company or the
Stockholders or any of their affiliates or associates;
(ii) if the Merger is enjoined by a final, unappealable court order
not entered at the request or with the support of the Company or any of
the Stockholders or any of their affiliates or associates;
(iii) if PalEx or Subsidiary (A) fails to perform in any material
respect any of their respective material covenants in this Agreement and
(B) does not cure such default in all material respects within 30 days
after written notice of such default is given to PalEx and Subsidiary; or
(iv) if PalEx fails to complete its acquisitions of Fraser or
Interstate.
(b) PalEx shall have the right to terminate this Agreement:
(i) if the Merger is not completed by April 1, 1997 otherwise than
on account of delay or default on the part of PalEx or any of its
stockholders or any of their affiliates or associates;
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(ii) if the Merger is enjoined by a final, unappealable court order
not entered at the request or with the support of PalEx or any of its 5%
stockholders or any of their affiliates or associates;
(iii) if the Company (A) fails to perform in any material respect
any of its material covenants in this Agreement and (B) does not cure such
default in all material respects within 30 days after written notice of
such default is given to the Company by PalEx;
(iv) if the Stockholders (A) fail to perform in any material respect
any of their material covenants in this Agreement and (B) do not cure such
default in all material respects within 30 days after written notice of
such default is given to the Stockholders by PalEx; or
(v) if PalEx fails to complete its acquisitions of Fraser or
Interstate.
SECTION 10.2. EFFECT OF TERMINATION. In the event of termination of this
Agreement by either PalEx or the Company, as provided in Section 10.1, this
Agreement shall forthwith become void and there shall be no further obligation
on the part of the Company, Subsidiary, PalEx or their respective officers or
directors (except the obligations set forth in this Section 10.2 and in Sections
7.1, 7.3 and 7.5, all of which shall survive the termination). Nothing in this
Section 10.2 shall relieve any party from liability for any breach of this
Agreement.
SECTION 10.3. AMENDMENT. This Agreement may not be amended except by
action taken by the parties' respective Boards of Directors or duly authorized
committees thereof and then only by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of
each of the parties hereto and in compliance with applicable law.
SECTION 10.4. WAIVER. At any time prior to the Effective Time, the parties
hereto may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or
other acts of the other parties hereto, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties contained herein or in any document delivered
pursuant thereto and (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions contained herein. Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any
such extension or waiver shall be valid if set forth in an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of such party.
ARTICLE XI
SECURITIES ACT REPRESENTATIONS AND TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS
The PalEx Common Stock to be acquired by each of the Stockholders pursuant
to this Agreement is being acquired solely for such Stockholder's own account,
for investment purposes only, and with no present intention of distributing,
selling or otherwise disposing of it in connection with a distribution.
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SECTION 11.1. ECONOMIC RISK; SOPHISTICATION. Each of the Stockholders
represents and warrants to PalEx that he or she is an "accredited investor" as
defined in Regulation D promulgated under the 1933 Act (except the Stockholders
listed on SCHEDULE 11.1 who are not "accredited investors" within such
definition, which such Stockholders have been advised by an attorney, financial
advisor or other person experienced in transactions of this type, which advisor
is Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Associates, Inc.); that he or she is able to bear the
economic risk of an investment in the PalEx Common Stock acquired pursuant to
this Agreement and can afford to sustain a total loss of such investment and has
such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that he or she
is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of the proposed investment in the
PalEx Common Stock; and that he has had an adequate opportunity to ask questions
and receive answers from the officers of PalEx concerning any and all matters
relating to the transactions described herein including, without limitation, the
background and experience of the current and proposed officers and directors of
PalEx, and the plans for the operations of the business of PalEx.
SECTION 11.2. TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS.
(a) Except for transfers to immediate family members who agree to be bound
by the restrictions set forth in this Section 11.2 (or trusts for the benefit of
the Stockholders or family members, the trustees of which so agree), and except
for sales in accordance with Section 7.11, for a period of two (2) years from
the Closing, the Stockholders shall not (a) sell, assign, exchange, transfer,
encumber, pledge, distribute or otherwise dispose of (i) any shares of PalEx
Common Stock received by the Stockholders in the Merger, or (ii) any interest
(including, without limitation, an option to buy or sell) in any such shares of
PalEx Common Stock, in whole or in part, and no such attempted transfer shall be
treated as effective for any purpose; or (b) engage in any transaction, whether
or not with respect to any shares of PalEx Common Stock or any interest therein,
the intent or effect of which is to reduce the risk of owning the shares of
PalEx Common Stock acquired pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof (including, by way of
example and not limitation, engaging in put, call, short-sale, straddle or
similar market transactions). The certificates evidencing the PalEx Common Stock
delivered to the Stockholders pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Agreement will
bear a legend substantially in the form set forth below and containing such
other information as PalEx may deem necessary or appropriate:
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE SOLD,
ASSIGNED, EXCHANGED, TRANSFERRED, ENCUMBERED, PLEDGED, DISTRIBUTED OR
OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF, AND THE ISSUER SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO GIVE EFFECT
TO ANY ATTEMPTED SALE, ASSIGNMENT, EXCHANGE, TRANSFER, ENCUMBRANCE,
PLEDGE, DISTRIBUTION OR OTHER DISPOSITION, PRIOR TO_____________, 1999.
UPON THE WRITTEN REQUEST OF THE HOLDER OF THIS CERTIFICATE, THE ISSUER
AGREES TO REMOVE THIS RESTRICTIVE LEGEND (AND ANY STOP ORDER PLACED WITH
THE TRANSFER AGENT) AFTER THE DATE SPECIFIED ABOVE.
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(b) Main Street will execute an agreement to restrict the transfer of its
shares of PalEx Common Stock in a manner identical to the restrictions included
in this Article XI.
ARTICLE XII
EMPLOYMENT AND NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS
At the Closing, each of the Stockholders shall execute and deliver an
employment and noncompetition agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 12
and Main Street shall execute a noncompetition agreement with substantially the
same terms.
ARTICLE XIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 13.1. BROKERS. The Company represents and warrants that no broker,
finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder's or other fee
(except for the fee described in SCHEDULE 13.1) or commission in connection with
the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company. PalEx represents and warrants
that no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage,
finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the Merger or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or
on behalf of PalEx or its stockholders (other than underwriting discounts and
commission to be paid in connection with the IPO).
SECTION 13.2. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if delivered personally, mailed by
registered or certified mail (return receipt requested) or sent via facsimile to
the parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as
shall be specified by like notice):
(a) If to PalEx or Subsidiary, to:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
Chief Executive Officer
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
with a copy to:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxxx & Xxxxx L.L.P.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
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(b) If to the Company, to:
Ridge Pallets, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx 00 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention: X.X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxx X.X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Holland & Knight
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxx 00000
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000-0000
92 Lake Wire
Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
SECTION 13.3. INTERPRETATION. The headings contained in this Agreement are
for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless a contrary intention
appears, (i) the words "HEREIN", "HEREOF" and "HEREUNDER" and other words of
similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular
Article, Section or other subdivision and (ii) reference to any Article or
Section means such Article or Section hereof. No provision of this Agreement
shall be interpreted or construed against any party hereto solely because such
party or its legal representative drafted such provision.
SECTION 13.4. MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement (including the documents and
instruments referred to herein) (a) constitutes the entire agreement and
supersedes all other prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof and
(b) shall not be assigned by operation of law or otherwise, except that PalEx
may assign this Agreement to any other wholly-owned subsidiary of PalEx. THIS
AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED IN ALL RESPECTS, INCLUDING VALIDITY, INTERPRETATION
AND EFFECT, BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE APPLICABLE TO CONTRACTS
EXECUTED AND TO BE PERFORMED WHOLLY WITHIN SUCH STATE.
SECTION 13.5. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which
shall constitute one and the same agreement.
SECTION 13.6. PARTIES IN INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure solely to the benefit of each party hereto, and except as set forth in
Section 8.1(a), nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to
confer upon any other person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever
under or by reason of this Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be signed as
of the date first written above.
MAIN STREET CAPITAL PALEX, INC.
PARTNERS, L.P.
By: Main Street Advisory Partners, By:/S/ XXXXX XXXXXXXX
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
By: Main Street Merchant Partners, Title:Chief Executive Officer
By:/S/ XXX X. XXXXXXXXX
Name: Xxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title: Managing Director
RIDGE ACQUISITION CORPORATION
By:/S/ XXXXX XXXXXXXX
Name: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Title: Chief Executive Officer
RIDGE PALLETS, INC.
By:/S/ X. X. XXXXXXX, XX.
Name: X. X. Xxxxxxx, Xx.
Title:Chief Executive Officer
STOCKHOLDERS
/S/ X. X. XXXXXXX, XX.
X. X. Xxxxxxx, Xx., Trustee of the
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xx. Revocable
Trust, dated September 14, 1994
/S/ XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xx., Trustee of
the Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xx. Revocable
Trust dated December 30, 1994
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/S/ X. X. XXXX, III
X. X. Xxxx, III
/S/ XXXXX X. XXXXXX
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx
/S/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
/S/ XXXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
/S/ XXXX Q. XXXXXXX
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx
/S/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXXX
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
/S/ XXXXX X. XXXXXXX
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
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SCHEDULE 2.1
MANNER OF CONVERSION
At the Closing, the Stockholders shall receive the Cash Component (as
defined below) and the Ridge Stock Component (as defined below). For purposes of
the Agreement, the terms Cash Component and Ridge Stock Component shall have the
following meanings:
(a) Cash Component shall mean (i) the cash of approximately $4.5 million
(based upon the actual amount of the accumulated adjustments account)
payable to the Ridge Stockholders from the proceeds of the IPO, and (ii)
assumption of the Adjusted Indebtedness (defined below). The term
Adjusted Indebtedness shall mean the result obtained by subtracting from
the Company's total indebtedness as of the Closing Date indebtedness
incurred and cash expenditures made after April 28, 1996 specifically to
fund capital expenditures after such date.
(b) Ridge Stock Component shall mean the number of shares of PalEx
Common Stock received by the Ridge Stockholders, which shall be
determined by applying the following formula:
RIDGE STOCK REFERENCE VALUE
Ridge Stock Component= 6,000,000 x Sum of Fraser, Ridge and
Interstate Stock Reference
Values
WHERE the Founding Companies Stock Reference Values will be
determined by subtracting from each Founding Company's Enterprise
Value ($36 million for Fraser and Ridge, $4.8 million for
Interstate) each Founding Company's Cash Component.
Each of the Founding Companies shall have the right to reduce their
respective Stock Component calculated above by returning shares of PalEx Common
Stock. The Founding Company shall receive 2.77778 options to purchase PalEx
Common Stock at the IPO price for each share of PalEx Common Stock returned. The
reduction of the Stock Component by a Founding Company shall not affect the
Stock Component of the other Founding Companies which shall be calculated as if
such reduction had not occurred.
A Founding Company shall exercise such right to return stock by written
notice to PalEx no later than three (3) days prior to the printing of the
Preliminary Prospectus in connection with the IPO.
