ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the “Agreement”) is
dated as of September 28, 2007 (the “Agreement Date”),
and is entered into by and between NutraCea, Inc., a California corporation
having its principal place of business at 0000 X. 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000,
Xxxxxxx, XX, 00000 (“Buyer”), Vital Living, Inc., a
Nevada corporation with its principal place of business at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, and those subsidiaries of Vital Living,
Inc.
whose names are subscribed on the signature page of this Agreement (Vital
Living, Inc. and such subsidiaries referred to collectively as
“Seller”). Capitalized terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Exhibit A attached
hereto.
BACKGROUND
A. Seller
develops and markets nutritional supplements and nutraceutical products
for
distribution, including through healthcare practitioners. Buyer is a
health science company that has proprietary intellectual property that
processes
and converts rice bran into ingredients that have various applications
in food
products.
B. Seller
desires to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Seller,
substantially all of the assets used by Seller in its business.
C. As
an inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement, concurrently herewith
certain stockholders of Seller have entered into an agreement with Buyer,
in the
form separately provided to Seller (a “Voting
Agreement”), pursuant to which each such person has agreed, among
other things, to vote the shares of capital stock of Seller owned by such
person
to approve this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
AGREEMENT
Accordingly,
the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
SALE
AND PURCHASE OF ASSETS
SECTION
1.01
Purchase
and Sale of Acquired Assets.
(a) On
the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing
Date
Seller shall sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer
shall purchase from Seller all the right, title and interest of Seller
in, to
and under the Acquired Assets in consideration of the payment by Buyer
of the
Purchase Price (the “Acquisition”) Seller shall
deliver the Acquired Assets free and clear of all Liabilities, and Encumbrances,
except as Seller and Buyer may mutually agree in writing.
(b) Buyer
shall not acquire any Excluded Assets and shall not assume or become obligated
with respect to any Retained Liabilities, Liabilities related to any Excluded
Assets, or any Liabilities of Seller arising out of the conduct of the
Business,
Seller’s other business or the Acquired Assets before the Closing
Date. Buyer shall set forth the Assumed Liabilities on the
Schedule 1.01(b) hereto. Effective as of the Closing, Buyer
shall assume, pay and discharge when due the Assumed Liabilities.
(c) Buyer
will not assume any liability, responsibility or obligations to any employee
of
Seller, including without limitation, in connection with compensation or
compensation plans, benefit plans, options or equity plans, severance or
termination pay, insurance or other employment related costs relating to
Seller
or its employees or any other Retained Liabilities, and Seller shall indemnify
and hold harmless Buyer and its representatives against any and all such
Retained Liabilities. Retained Liabilities shall remain the sole
responsibility of and shall be retained, paid, performed and discharged
solely
by Seller:
SECTION
1.02 Closing;
Purchase Price.
(a) Closing. The
completion of this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall
take place at the offices of Buyer. The Closing shall be scheduled to
occur two (2) business days following the satisfaction or written waiver
of the
last of the closing conditions set forth in Article V, or on such other
date as
the parties may determine. The date on which the Closing occurs is
referred to herein as the “Closing Date.”
(b) Delivery. At
the Closing, Seller shall sell, transfer, assign, convey and deliver to
Buyer
the Acquired Assets, Buyer shall pay the Purchase Price to Seller, and
the
parties shall deliver the agreements, certificates, opinions and other
documents
required to be delivered pursuant to Article V of this Agreement (the
“Collateral Agreements”). If at the Closing
Date Buyer does not obtain all rights to one or more items of the Acquired
Assets, then the Acquired Assets in question and all income (if any) and
other
benefits and rights arising therefrom shall be held by Seller in trust
for Buyer
absolutely until such time as Buyer shall have obtained all rights therein
and
thereto. Seller hereby grants to Buyer and undertakes as of the
Closing to hold upon trust for Buyer the entire interest of Seller in and
to any
part of the Acquired Assets which cannot be assigned by Seller hereunder
together with the entire benefits of such rights including, without limitation,
all proceeds, money and other rights and benefits to which the Seller is
beneficially or legally entitled in respect of the use of such Acquired
Assets;
and from and after the Closing, Seller shall promptly pay to Buyer when
received
all monies received by Seller with respect to any Acquired Asset or any
claim or
right or any benefit arising thereunder.
(c) Purchase
Price. At the Closing, NutraCea will deliver the purchase price
for the Acquired Assets. The purchase price will consist of (i) One
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000) (the “Closing
Payment”) payable by check or by electronic funds transfer to
the bank account in the United States of America designated by Seller in
writing, (ii) the cancellation by Buyer of indebtedness of Seller, its
Subsidiaries and VTLV LLC and VTLV II LLC (and cancellation of any rights
such
LLC entities may have relating to Buyer) to Buyer as of the Closing Date,
including without limitation all of Seller’s Senior Secured Convertible Notes
held by Buyer (the “Notes”), in an aggregate principal
amount of approximately $4,226,000, and any right to receive any accrued
but
unpaid interest under the Notes though the Closing Date, and (iii) the
cancellation (by delivery to Seller for redemption for no additional
consideration) of 1,000,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock of Seller
held by
Buyer (the Notes and such shares referred to collectively as the
“Senior Securities” or the “VL
Securities”) (collectively, the “Purchase
Price”).
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(d) Allocation
of Purchase Price. The Purchase Price shall be allocated among
the Acquired Assets as reasonably determined by Buyer, in accordance with
applicable Treasury Regulations. Except in the event of a subsequent
adjustment to the Purchase Price which adjustment shall be reflected in
the
allocation hereunder in a manner consistent with the Treasury Regulations,
neither Seller nor Buyer shall file any return or take a position with
any
taxing authority that is inconsistent with any allocation pursuant
hereto.
ARTICLE
II.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF VITAL LIVING
For
purposes of the representations and
warranties in this Article II, the term “Seller” will
mean, as applicable, VL and any Subsidiary that holds any of the Acquired
Assets. Seller hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that except as
set forth in a disclosure letter separately delivered by Seller to Buyer
contemporaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, which
identifies the particular Sections of this Agreement to which such disclosure
relates (the “Disclosure Letter”), and except as
disclosed in Seller’s last filed reports on Form 10-KSB or Form 10-QSB before
the date of this Agreement:
SECTION
2.01 Organization. Seller
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under
the laws of the State of Nevada, with full power and authority to own and
operate the Business and to enter into this Agreement, the Collateral Agreements
and the other agreements and instruments contemplated hereby and to perform
its
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
have
been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of Seller,
subject to approval by Seller’s stockholders as contemplated by this
Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Seller and constitutes the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of
Seller,
except as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization,
SECTION
2.02 Power
and Authority. Seller is qualified to do business in
each jurisdiction where such qualification is required in order to conduct
the
Business and to sell and transfer the Acquired Assets to
Buyer. Seller has the power to enter into and perform its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement. Seller’s execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and all other agreements and instruments
executed
or to be executed by Seller in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement
and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have
been
duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of Seller’s board of
directors.
SECTION
2.03 inding
Agreement. This Agreement has been approved by the board
of directors of Seller and by all necessary corporate action on the part
of
Seller, other than approval of the Agreement by the shareholders of
Seller. This Agreement and all other agreements and instruments
executed or to be executed by Seller in connection with or pursuant to
this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement constitute, or will constitute when executed and delivered, the
legal,
valid and binding obligations of Seller, enforceable against Seller in
accordance with their respective terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization or similar
laws
affecting creditors’ rights and to general equitable principles.
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SECTION
2.04 Government
Filings. Seller has made all filings with applicable
Governmental Authorities and obtained all assignments (including invention
assignments from its employees) necessary to claim and protect its rights
in all
Intellectual Property included in the Acquired Assets. There is no
requirement applicable to Seller or to make any filing with, or to obtain
any
Permit of, any Governmental Authority as a condition to the lawful performance
by Seller of its obligations hereunder.
SECTION
2.05 Absence
of Conflicts and Consent Requirements. The execution and delivery
of this Agreement by Seller and performance of Seller’s obligations hereunder do
not: (a) conflict with or violate Seller’s Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws;
(b) violate or, alone or with notice or the passage of time, result in
the
breach or the termination of, or otherwise give any contracting party the
right
to terminate or declare a default under, the terms of any written agreement
relating to the Business or the Acquired Assets to which Seller is a party
or by
which any of the Acquired Assets may be bound (other than the requirement
to
obtain the consent of third parties under those certain Assigned Contracts
that
are identified in the Disclosure Letter as requiring such consent), or
(c)
violate any judgment, order, decree, or any law, statute, regulation or
other
judicial or governmental restriction to which Seller is
subject. There is no requirement applicable to Seller or to make any
filing with, or to obtain any permit, authorization, consent or approval
of, any
Governmental Authority as a condition to the lawful performance by Seller
and of
its obligations hereunder, except for the filing of the definitive Proxy
Statement with the SEC.
SECTION
2.06 Title
to AssetsError! Bookmark not
defined.. The Asset Schedule delivered by Seller to
Buyer before the Agreement Date sets forth each item that is included,
or
required to be included, in the Acquired Assets. Seller has exclusive
good and marketable title to the Acquired Assets, in each case free and
clear of
all Encumbrances, and Seller is not obligated to make payments (in any
form,
including royalties, milestones and other contingent payments) to third
parties
for use of any intellectual property rights with respect to the development,
manufacture, use, sale, import or commercialization of any of the Products
in
the ordinary course of the Business as presently conducted or as contemplated
to
be conducted. There are no Encumbrances on, related to, secured by or
outstanding against, or third party interests in, the Acquired Assets,
except
Encumbrances pursuant to the Notes.
SECTION
2.07 Condition
of Assets. The Acquired Assets are all
of the assets required for or useful in the operation of Seller’s Business as it
is presently conducted by Seller. No Acquired Assets have been
disposed of other than sales or use in the ordinary course of
business. All tangible assets included in the Acquired Assets are in
good operating condition and repair, free from any defects (except such
minor
defects as do not interfere with the use thereof in the conduct of the
normal
operations of Seller), have been maintained consistent with the standards
generally followed in the industry and are sufficient to carry on the Business
of Seller.
SECTION
2.08 Assumed
Contracts. The contracts or other agreements
constituting the Assumed Contracts were entered into in the ordinary course
of
business and are in full force and effect in accordance with their
terms. Seller has provided to Buyer true and complete copies of all
Assumed Contracts. Seller is not in default of any Assumed Contract
and, to Seller’s Knowledge, each other party to any Assumed Contract is not in
default thereof, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of
time
would constitute a breach or default. Subject to obtaining necessary
consents or approvals, Seller has all requisite power and authority to
assign to
Buyer the rights of Seller under all Assumed Contracts. Section 2.08
of the Disclosure Letter lists all agreements pursuant to which the Company
has
granted any license or other right or interest to any third party with
respect
to the Acquired Assets or received a license or other right or interest
in
respect of the Acquired Assets. Except as disclosed on the Disclosure
Letter there are no options, rights, licenses or interests of any kind
relating
to the Acquired Assets.
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SECTION
2.09 Litigation. There
are no Actions filed or commenced by or before any court, arbitrator or
any
governmental or administrative agency with respect to the Business or any
of the
Acquired Assets, and there are no orders, injunctions, awards, judgments
or
decrees outstanding against, affecting or relating to the Business or any
of the
Acquired Assets.
SECTION
2.10 No
Violation; Consents. Seller is not subject to and is not
a party to any mortgage, lien, lease, agreement, contract, instrument,
Law, or
any other restriction of any kind or character, which (i) materially and
adversely affects the Business or financial condition of the Acquired Assets,
or
(ii) would prevent consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or would be violated or breached in any material respect by
consummation of such transactions, or (iii) would prevent Seller from complying
in any material respect with the terms, conditions and provisions of the
Agreement, or (iv) would materially and adversely affect the ability of
Buyer to
operate the Business and Acquired Assets after the Closing on substantially
the
same basis as theretofore operated by Seller, or (v) except as expressly
set
forth in the Disclosure Letter, would require the consent of any third
party to
the transactions contemplated herein.
SECTION
2.11 TaxesError!
Bookmark not defined.. Seller has paid all taxes due or
assessed and owed by it with respect to the Business and Acquired Assets
being
sold hereunder which are due and payable as of the date hereof or which
will be
due for all periods before the Closing Date, and will duly file all federal,
state, local and other returns and pay any taxes which are required to
be filed
or paid and which are applicable to the period prior to the
Closing. Seller shall bear and pay any and all sales, use, personal
property, ad valorum and transfer Taxes arising out of the transfer of
the
Acquired Asset to Buyer hereunder. Buyer is not assuming any tax
liabilities arising with respect to the Business and Acquired Assets for
any
period before the Closing Date.
SECTION
2.12 Financial
StatementsError! Bookmark not
defined.. The Financial Statements included in the
Disclosure Materials and all other financial information provided to Buyer
by
Seller fairly and accurately represent in all material respects the financial
condition and operation of the Business as of the dates stated therein
in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied. Other than as disclosed on Seller’s Financial Statements,
Seller does not have any liabilities or obligations relating to the Business
and
Acquired Assets of any nature other than commercial liabilities and obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice
and none of which has or will have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business
or
the Acquired Assets. The Inventory is merchantable and fit for the
purpose for which it was procured or manufactured. No portion of the
Inventory is slow-moving, damaged, defective unusable, unsaleable or
obsolete.
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SECTION
2.13 SEC
Reports. Seller has filed all reports required to be
filed by it under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), including pursuant to Section 13(a)
or 15(d) thereof, for the three years preceding the date hereof (or such
shorter
period as Seller was required by law to file such material) (the foregoing
materials, together with the Seller’s Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the year
ended December 31, 2006, and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the
quarter
ended March 31, 2007 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-QSB for the quarter
ended June 30, 2007, and Seller’s definitive Proxy Statement, when filed with
the SEC, being collectively referred to herein as the "SEC
Reports" and, together with the documents filed as exhibits to
Seller's Registration Statement on Form SB-2, as amended, the
"Disclosure Materials") on a timely basis or has
received a valid extension pursuant to Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act
of
such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration
of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports
complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities
Act of
1933, as amended, and the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of
the SEC
promulgated thereunder, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. All material agreements to which Seller is a party or to
which the properties or assets of Seller are subject as of the date of
the
applicable SEC Report have been filed as exhibits to the SEC
Reports. The financial statements of Seller included in the SEC
Reports (the “Financial Statements”) comply in all
material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules
and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as in effect at the time of
filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved, except as may
be
otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto,
and
fairly present in all material respects the financial position of Seller
and its
consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the results of operations
and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited
statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. Except as
disclosed in the Disclosure Materials, since June 30, 2007, (a) there has
been
no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably
be
expected to have or result in a material adverse effect on the assets,
business,
operations, financial condition, liquidity or prospects of Seller and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the Business or the Acquired Assets
("Material Adverse Effect"), (b) Seller has not
incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (x) liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice
and
(y) liabilities not required to be disclosed in filings made with the SEC,
(c)
Seller has not altered its method of accounting or the identity of its
auditors
and (d) Seller has not declared or made any payment or distribution of
cash or
other property to its stockholders or officers or directors (other than
in
compliance with existing Seller stock option plans) with respect to its
capital
stock, or purchased, redeemed (or made any agreements to purchase or redeem)
any
shares of its capital stock.
SECTION
2.14 Customer
Deposits. The Disclosure letter contains a true, correct
and complete list of all customer deposits and advance payments received
by
Seller or to be received by Seller before the Closing for products and
services
to be sold or rendered after the Closing.
6
SECTION
2.15 InsuranceError!
Bookmark not defined.. Seller has maintained and will
continue to maintain in force insurance coverage that it reasonably believes
is
adequate to protect the Business and Acquired Assets through the Closing
Date. The Disclosure Letter set forth each policy of insurance
applicable to the Business or the Acquired Assets.
SECTION
2.16 Licenses,
Permits and Compliance with Law. Seller
holds all governmental or regulatory licenses, certificates, permits,
franchises, approvals, authorizations, exemptions, registrations and rights
(“Permits”) that are necessary to operate the Business
as presently operated, and before the Closing Seller will have taken all
actions
and obtained all consents that are required in order to transfer to Buyer
at the
Closing all such Permits. There are no violations of any zoning,
building, fire or health code or any other statute, ordinance, rule or
regulation applicable to the Business or all or any part of the Acquired
Assets,
and Seller has no Knowledge of any such claim or assertion by a Governmental
Authority.
SECTION
2.17 Environmental
Matters.
(a) As
used herein, “Environmental Law” means any federal,
state or local statutes, laws, regulations, ordinances, guidelines and
similar
provisions whether or not having the force or effect of law, all judicial
and
administrative orders and determinations, all contractual obligations to
a
Governmental Authority and all applicable common law or other Laws relating
to
pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient
air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), including
any law or regulation concerning public health and safety, worker health
and
safety, and pollution or protection of the environment, including all those
relating to the presence, use, production, generation, handling, transportation,
treatment, storage, disposal, distribution, labeling, testing, processing,
discharge, release, threatened release, control, or cleanup of any hazardous
materials, substances or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides,
pollutants, contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or byproducts,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise or radiation or otherwise relating
to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of any Hazardous
Material
or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of any Hazardous Material.
(b) No
underground storage tanks and no amount of any substance that has been
designated by any Governmental Authority or by applicable Law to be radioactive,
toxic, hazardous or otherwise a danger to health or the environment, including,
without limitation, PCBs, asbestos, petroleum, urea-formaldehyde and all
substances listed as hazardous substances pursuant to the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended
(“CERCLA”), or defined as a hazardous waste pursuant
to the United States Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as
amended,
and the regulations promulgated pursuant to said laws, but excluding office
and
janitorial supplies (a “Hazardous
Material”), are present, as a result of the
actions of Seller or any Affiliate of Seller, or, to Seller’s Knowledge, as a
result of any actions of any third party or otherwise, in, on or under
any
property, including the land and the improvements, ground water and surface
water thereof that Seller at any time owned, operated, occupied or
leased. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, none of the
following exists at any property or facility owned or operated by Seller
and
used in the Business: (a) underground storage tanks; (b) asbestos-containing
material in any form or condition; (c) materials or equipment containing
polychlorinated biphenyls; or (d) landfills, surface impoundments or other
disposal areas.
7
(c) (i) Seller
has not transported, stored, used, manufactured, disposed of, released
or
exposed its employees or others to Hazardous Materials in violation of
any Law
in effect on or before the Closing, and (ii) Seller has not disposed of,
transported, sold, used, released, exposed its employees or others to or
manufactured any product containing a Hazardous Material (collectively
“Hazardous Materials
Activities”) in violation of any rule,
regulation, treaty or statute promulgated by any Governmental Authority
in
effect before or as of the date hereof to prohibit, regulate or control
Hazardous Materials or any Hazardous Materials Activity.
(d) There
are no environmental approvals, permits, licenses, clearances or consents
material to and necessary for the conduct of the Business as such activities
and
businesses are currently being conducted by Seller.
(e) No
material action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment procedure,
writ or
injunction is pending, and to Seller’s Knowledge, no material action,
proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment procedure, writ or injunction
has
been threatened by any Governmental Authority against Seller in a writing
delivered to Seller concerning any Hazardous Material or any Hazardous
Materials
Activity. Seller is not aware of any fact or circumstance which
reasonably could be expected to involve Seller or any of the Acquired Assets
in
any environmental litigation or impose upon Seller any environmental
liability. To Seller’s Knowledge, no current or prior owner of any
property leased, used, occupied or possessed by Seller has received any
notice
or other communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a governmental
body, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that such current
or
prior owner of any property leased, used, occupied or possessed by Seller
and
relating to the Business or Acquired Assets has not complied with, or is
not in
compliance with, any Environmental Law.
(f) Seller
has not received any notice, report or other information regarding any
Liability, including any investigatory, remedial or corrective obligations,
relating to the Business or relating to the facilities used in the Business
which are owned or leased by Seller and arising under Environmental
Laws.
(g) Except
as disclosed in the Disclosure Letter, with respect to the Business or
at
facilities used in the Business, Seller has not treated, stored, disposed
of,
arranged for or permitted the disposal of, transported, handled, or released
any
substance, including any hazardous substance, owned or operated any property
or
facility (and no such property or facility is contaminated by any such
substance) in a manner that has given or could give rise to liabilities
of
Seller, including any liability for response costs, corrective action costs,
personal injury, property damage, natural resources damages or attorney
fees,
pursuant to CERCLA or the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended
("SWDA") or any other Environmental Law. To
the Knowledge of Seller, no facts, events or conditions relating to the
past or
present facilities, properties or operations of Seller will prevent, hinder
or
limit continued compliance with Environmental Laws, give rise to any
investigatory, remedial or corrective obligations pursuant to Environmental
Laws, or give rise to any other liabilities pursuant to Environmental Laws,
including any relating to onsite or offsite releases or threatened releases
of
hazardous materials, substances or wastes, personal injury, property damage
or
natural resources damage.
8
(h) To
the Knowledge of Seller, neither this Agreement nor the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will result in any obligations
for
site investigation or cleanup, or notification to or consent of any Governmental
Authority or third party.
(i) With
regard to the Business, Seller has not, either expressly or by operation
of law,
assumed or undertaken any Liability, including any obligation for corrective
or
remedial action, of any other person or entity relating to Environmental
Law.
SECTION
2.18 Product
Liability. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Letter,
there are no actions, suits, inquiries, proceedings or investigations by
or
before any Governmental Authority pending or, to the knowledge of Seller,
threatened, against or involving Seller relating to any product alleged
to have
been sold by or through Seller and alleged to have been defective or improperly
designed, manufactured or labeled.
SECTION
2.19 Product
Warranty. Each product included in the Acquired Assets
sold, leased, or delivered by Seller has been in conformity with all applicable
contractual commitments and all express and implied warranties, and Seller
has
no liability (and there is no basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand
against
any of them giving rise to any liability) for replacement or repair thereof
or
other damages in connection therewith. No product included in the
Acquired Assets sold, leased, or delivered by Seller is subject to any
guaranty,
warranty, or other indemnity beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions
of sale or lease. The Disclosure Letter includes copies of the
standard terms and conditions of sale by Seller (containing applicable
guaranty,
warranty, and indemnity provisions).
SECTION
2.20 Intellectual
Property.
(a) The
Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all Seller registered
Intellectual Property and specifies, where applicable, the jurisdictions
in
which each such item of Seller registered Intellectual Property has been
issued
or registered and lists any proceedings or actions before any court, tribunal
(including the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the
“PTO”) or equivalent authority anywhere in the world)
related to any of the Seller registered Intellectual Property.
(b) Except
as set forth in of the Disclosure Letter, no Seller Intellectual Property
or
Product is subject to any proceeding or outstanding decree, order, judgment,
contract, license, agreement, or stipulation restricting in any manner
the use,
transfer, or licensing thereof by Seller, or which may affect the validity,
use
or enforceability of such Seller Intellectual Property or Products.
(c) Except
as set forth in of the Disclosure Letter, each item of Seller registered
Intellectual Property is valid and subsisting, all necessary registration,
maintenance and renewal fees currently due in connection with such Seller
registered Intellectual Property have been made and all necessary documents,
records and certificates in connection with such Seller registered Intellectual
Property have been filed with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark
or other
authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case
may be,
for the purposes of maintaining such Seller registered Intellectual
Property. There are no actions that must be taken by Seller within
sixty (60) days of the Closing Date, including, without limitation, the
payment
of any registration, maintenance or renewal fees or the filing of any documents,
applications or certificates for the purposes of maintaining, perfecting
or
preserving or renewing any Seller Registered Intellectual Property.
9
(d) The
Seller Intellectual Property constitutes all the Intellectual Property
used in
and/or necessary to the conduct of the Business, including, without limitation,
the development, manufacture, use, import and sale of
Products. Seller is the exclusive owner of all Intellectual Property
used in connection with the operation or conduct of the Business, including,
without limitation, the sale, distribution or provision of any Products,
free
and clear of all Encumbrances and has the right to use all such assets
without
payment to a third party.
(e) Except
as set forth in the Disclosure Letter, (i) no Products or any Intellectual
Property incorporated into any Products were developed by or with the assistance
of any third party. To the extent that any Intellectual Property has
been developed or created independently or jointly by a third party for
Seller
or is incorporated into any of the Products, Seller has a written agreement
with
such third party with respect thereto and Seller thereby either (i) has
obtained
ownership of, and is the exclusive owner of, or (ii) has obtained a perpetual,
non-terminable license (sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently
conducted and as proposed to be conducted) to all such third party’s
Intellectual Property in such work, material or invention by operation
of law or
by valid assignment, to the fullest extent necessary to permit Seller’s use,
licensing, disposition, distribution and ownership of the Products without
limit
or restriction in any manner.
(f) Seller
has not transferred ownership of, or granted any exclusive license with
respect
to, any Intellectual Property that is or was Seller Intellectual Property,
to
any third party, or permitted Seller’s rights in such Seller Intellectual
Property to lapse or enter the public domain.
(g) The
Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all contracts,
licenses and agreements to which Seller is a party: (i) with respect to
Seller
Intellectual Property licensed or transferred to any third party; or (ii)
pursuant to which a third party has licensed or transferred any Intellectual
Property to Seller.
(h) All
contracts, licenses and agreements relating to either (i) Seller Intellectual
Property or (ii) Intellectual Property of a third party licensed to Seller,
are
in full force and effect. The consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement will neither violate nor result in the breach, modification,
cancellation, termination or suspension of such contracts, licenses and
agreements or cause the forfeiture, modification or termination or give
right of
forfeiture, modification or termination of any Seller Intellectual Property
or
in any way impair the right of Seller to use, sell, license or dispose
of or to
bring any action for the infringement of any Seller Intellectual Property
or
portion thereof. Seller is in compliance in all material respects
with, and has not materially breached any term of any such contracts, licenses
and agreements and, to the Knowledge of Seller, all other parties to such
contracts, licenses and agreements are in compliance in all material respects
with, and have not materially breached any term of, such contracts, licenses
and
agreements. Following the Closing Date, Buyer will be
permitted to exercise all of Seller’s rights under such contracts, licenses and
agreements to the same extent Seller would have been able to had the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred and without the
payment
of any additional amounts or consideration other than ongoing fees, royalties
or
payments which Seller would otherwise be required to pay. Neither
this Agreement nor the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
the assignment to Buyer of any contracts or agreements to which the Seller
is a
party, will result in (i) Buyer granting to any third party any right to
or with
respect to any Intellectual Property right owned by, or licensed to, Buyer,
(ii)
Buyer being bound by, or subject to, any non-compete or other restriction
on the
operation or scope of Buyer’s business, or (iii) Buyer being obligated to pay
any royalties or other material amounts to any third party in excess of
those
payable by Seller prior to the Closing other than ongoing fees, royalties
or
payments Seller would otherwise be required to pay prior to the
Closing.
10
(i) The
operation of the Business of Seller as such business currently is conducted
or
is reasonably contemplated to be conducted, including (i) Seller’s, development,
manufacture, distribution, marketing or sale of the Products, and (ii)
the
Seller’s use of any product, ingredient, device or process, has not, does not
and will not infringe or misappropriate the Intellectual Property of any
third
party, constitute unfair competition or trade practices under the laws
of any
jurisdiction or violate any license or agreement between Seller and any
third
party.
(j) Seller
has not received notice from any third party that the operation of the
Business
of Seller or any act, product or service of Seller, infringes or misappropriates
the Intellectual Property of any third party or constitutes unfair competition
or trade practices under the laws of any jurisdiction.
(k) Neither
the development, manufacture, marketing, license, sale nor use of any product,
technology or service included in the Acquired Assets violates or will
violate
any license or agreement with any third party or infringes or will infringe
any
intellectual property of any third party. Except as set forth in the
Disclosure Letter, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller threatened
(either orally or in writing), claim or litigation contesting the validity,
ownership or right to use, sell, license or dispose of any Seller Intellectual
Property nor, to the Knowledge of Seller, is there any valid basis for
any such
claim, nor has Seller received any notice asserting that any Seller Intellectual
Property or the proposed use, sale, license or disposition thereof conflicts
or
will conflict with the rights of any other person, nor is there any basis
for
any such assertion.
(l) To
the Knowledge of Seller, no person has infringed or is infringing or
misappropriating any Seller Intellectual Property.
SECTION
2.21 Assumed
Contracts. All Assumed Contracts are in
written form. Seller has performed all of the obligations required to
be performed by it and is entitled to all benefits under, and is not in
default
in respect of, any of the Assumed Contracts. Each Assumed contract is
in full force and effect, unamended except as disclosed to Buyer, and there
exists no material default or material event of default or event,
occurrence, condition or act, with respect to Seller or to Seller’s knowledge
with respect to the other contracting party, which, with the giving of
notice,
the lapse of time or the happening of any other event or conditions, would
become a material default or material event of default under an Assumed
Contract. True, correct and complete copies of all Assumed Contracts
have been delivered to Buyer.
11
SECTION
2.22 Absence
of Certain Changes. Seller
has conducted the Business only in the usual and ordinary course consistent
with
past practice and there has not been: (i) any damage, destruction, loss
or other
change in the condition of the Acquired Assets, except for normal wear
and tear;
(ii) any sale or transfer of any of the Acquired Assets other than in the
ordinary course of business; and (iii) any liability incurred by Seller
with
regard to the Acquired Assets, contingent or otherwise, other than trade
accounts, operating expenses, obligations under executory contracts incurred
for
fair consideration, or taxes accrued with respect to operations during
such
period, all incurred in the ordinary course of business.
SECTION
2.23 Preferences. The
following statements will be, after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated hereby, upon each distribution, if any, of any assets or property
of Seller to the stockholders of Seller after the Closing, true and
correct:
(a) The
aggregate value of all assets and properties of Seller, at their respective
then
present fair saleable values, exceeds the amount of all the debts and
Liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent, subordinated, unmatured
and unliquidated liabilities) of Seller. In determining the present
fair saleable value of Seller’s contingent liabilities (such as litigation,
guarantees and pension plan liabilities), Seller has considered such liabilities
that could possibly become actual or matured liabilities.
(b) Seller
is not insolvent as such term is used in Section 548 of the Bankruptcy
Code and
any applicable fraudulent transfer or fraudulent conveyance laws, statutes,
rules or regulations applicable to Seller.
(c) The
Purchase Price received by Seller in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby constitutes reasonably equivalent consideration for
the
Purchased Assets.
SECTION
2.24 Brokers,
Finders, Etc. Seller has not employed any broker,
finder, consultant or other intermediary in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement who might be entitled to a fee or commission
in
connection with such transactions.
SECTION
2.25 Disclosures. No
representation or warranty by Seller in this Agreement, nor any statement,
certificate, document, schedule or exhibit hereto furnished or to be furnished
by or on behalf of Seller pursuant to this Agreement or in connection with
transactions contemplated hereby, contains or shall contain any untrue
statement
of material fact or omits or shall omit a material fact necessary to make
the
statements contained therein not misleading. All statements and
information contained in any certificate, instrument, document, schedule,
or
exhibit delivered by or on behalf of Seller shall be deemed representations
and
warranties by Seller.
12
ARTICLE
III.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF NUTRACEA
Buyer
represents and warrants to Seller, as of the date hereof, as
follows:
SECTION
3.01 Organization,
Authority, Execution, Delivery and Enforceability. Buyer
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under
the laws of California with its principal place of business in Arizona
with the
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to perform
its
obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby have been duly
authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of
Buyer. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer
and constitutes the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of Buyer,
except
as limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance, and any other laws of general application affecting
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and as limited by laws relating to
the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief, or other equitable
remedies. Buyer is not subject to, or bound
by, any provision of: (i) its bylaws and articles of incorporation or similar
organizational documents, each as amended through the date of this Agreement,
(ii) any mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note, shareholders’ agreement, bond,
indenture, license, permit, trust, custodianship, or other instrument,
agreement
or restriction, or (iii) any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree
of any
Governmental Authority that would prevent, or be violated by, or under
which
there would be a default as a result of, nor is the consent of any person
required for, the execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this
Agreement
and the obligations contained herein, including without limitation, the
purchase
of the Acquired Assets. No filing with, and no permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any Governmental Authority is necessary for the
consummation by Buyer of the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION
3.02 No
Other Buyer Representations or Warranties. Except for
the representations and warranties contained in this Article, neither Buyer
nor
any other Person makes any other express or implied representation or warranty
on behalf of Buyer. Buyer expressly make any representation or
warranty concerning the tax consequences of the transaction contemplated
by this
Letter to Seller or its shareholders.
ARTICLE
IV.
COVENANTS
SECTION
4.01 Publicity. Buyer
and Seller shall consult with each other and agree before issuing any initial
press release or otherwise making any initial public statement with respect
to
the Acquisition and this Agreement and shall not issue any such press release
or
make any such public statement prior to such agreement, except as may be
required by applicable law, in which case reasonable efforts to consult
with the
other party hereto shall be made prior to such release or public
statement. The parties shall coordinate the timing of the initial
public announcement of the execution and delivery of this
Agreement. After the initial announcement of the execution of this
Agreement, the parties shall make such public announcements as they individually
determine including any required by law or applicable stock exchange
requirements, and shall attempt to cooperate and keep each informed concerning
the content of any material public announcements concerning this Agreement
and
the Acquisition and, where reasonably practicable, permit the other party
to
review such public announcements prior to their distribution.
13
SECTION
4.02
Access to Information;
Confidentiality. Seller shall afford the Buyer and its
accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access during
normal
business hours to the Acquired Assets and the properties, books, records
and
personnel of Seller for inspection and copying, to obtain all information
concerning the Business and the Acquired Assets, as Buyer may reasonably
request, and to consult with management employees of Seller relating to
the
Business. No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation
pursuant to this Section shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation
or warranty contained herein or the conditions to the obligations of the
parties
hereto to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION
4.03 Further
Assurances. Each of Seller and Buyer shall from time to
time after the Closing, without additional consideration, execute and deliver
such further instruments and take such other action as may be reasonably
requested by the other party to make effective the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement including without limitation the registration or recordation
of
the transfer of the Intellectual Property into the name of
Buyer. With respect to all documents, information and other materials
included in the Acquired Assets, in addition to paper and other tangible
copies,
Seller shall, upon Buyer’s request, also provide to Buyer electronic copies of
such documents, information and other materials to the extent such copies
are in
Seller’s possession or can be obtained through commercially reasonable
efforts.
SECTION
4.04 Proxy
Statement; Other Filings.
(a) As
promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement, (i) Seller
shall
prepare and file with the SEC at its expense a proxy statement (the
“Proxy Statement”) to be sent to the stockholders of
Seller in connection with the meeting of the stockholders of Seller to
consider
the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Acquisition (the
“Seller Stockholders’ Meeting”), and shall also
prepare and make with the SEC such other filings as may be required under
applicable federal law. Buyer shall use all commercially reasonable
efforts to cooperate in such preparation and filing and shall provide such
information as Seller may reasonably request for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement. Seller shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
respond to any comments of the SEC promptly and to resolve any unresolved
comments, and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to its stockholders
at
the earliest practicable time. Seller shall notify Buyer promptly
upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff and of any request
by
the SEC or its staff or any other Governmental Authority for revisions
to the
Proxy Statement, and shall supply the other party or parties hereto with
copies
of all correspondence between such party or any of its representatives,
on the
one hand, and the SEC, or its staff or any other Governmental Authority,
on the
other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement. All out of pocket
expenses associated with the preparation of the Proxy Statement incurred
by
Seller, or by Buyer when acting pursuant to a request made by Seller, including
without limitation, any costs associated with a fairness opinion, a proxy
solicitation or other professional services provided to Seller, shall be
borne
solely by Seller. If any such expenses are borne by Buyer, Seller
shall reimburse Buyer, in full on demand, as the case may be.
14
(b) The
Proxy Statement shall also include the recommendation of the Board of Directors
of Seller in favor of adoption and approval of this Agreement and the
Acquisition.
SECTION
4.05 Meetings
of Stockholders. Seller shall take all action necessary
in accordance with Nevada Law and its Certificate of Incorporation and
Bylaws to
convene the Seller Stockholders’ Meeting to be held as promptly as reasonably
practicable, for the purpose of voting upon this Agreement and the
Acquisition. Seller shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to
solicit from its stockholders proxies in favor of the adoption and approval
of
this Agreement and the Acquisition. The Board of Directors of Seller
shall recommend that the stockholders of Seller vote in favor of the adoption
and approval of this Agreement and the Acquisition at the Seller Stockholders’
Meeting. In addition, the Proxy Statement shall include a
statement to the effect that the Board of Directors of Seller has recommended
that the stockholders of Seller vote in favor of approval and adoption
of this
Agreement and the Acquisition.
SECTION
4.06 No
Other Discussions. Buyer will devote substantial time
and effort and incur substantial expenses conducting due diligence and
preparing
the Agreement and other documentation in connection with the
Acquisition. Accordingly, to induce Buyer to commit its resources to
this effort, from the Agreement Date until the Closing Date (or if earlier)
termination of the Agreement (the “Exclusive Period”),
Seller will not, directly or indirectly, through any representative or
otherwise, and will not allow any officer or director of Seller or any
other
person on its behalf, to (i) solicit, initiate, or encourage submission
of any
Alternative Transaction, or (ii) engage in any discussions with or furnish
any
information with respect to the foregoing to any person or any entity,
or
furnish any non-public information to any person or entity that has made
any
proposal with respect to any such Alternative Transaction. In
addition, Seller agrees to immediately cease and cause to be terminated
any such
contacts or negotiations with third parties. Seller shall immediately
notify Buyer of all inquiries related to an Alternative Transaction, including
information as to the identity of the party making the proposal and the
specific
terms of such proposal.
SECTION
4.07
Notice of Buyer of Any Seller Acquisition
Proposal. During the Exclusive Period, as promptly as
practicable and in any event within twenty-four (24) hours, Seller shall
advise
Buyer orally and in writing of any request received by Seller for non-public
information which Seller reasonably believes could lead to a Seller Acquisition
Proposal or of any Seller Acquisition Proposal, the material terms and
conditions of such request or Seller Acquisition Proposal, and the identity
of
the person or group making any such request or Seller Acquisition
Proposal. Seller shall keep Buyer informed in all material respects
of the status and details (including material amendments or proposed amendments)
of any such request or Seller Acquisition Proposal.
SECTION
4.08 Superior
Offer. Notwithstanding anything in this
Agreement to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent the
Board of
Directors of Seller, before the stockholders of Seller have approved this
Agreement and the Acquisition, from withholding, withdrawing, amending
or
modifying its recommendation in favor of the adoption and approval of this
Agreement and the Acquisition by the stockholders of Seller if (i) a Superior
Offer is made to Seller and is not withdrawn, (ii) neither Seller nor
any of its representatives shall have violated in any material respect
the
provisions of this Agreement, and (iii) the Board of Directors of Seller
concludes in good faith, after consultation with its outside legal counsel,
that, in light of such Superior Offer, the withholding, withdrawal, amendment
or
modification of such recommendation is required in order for the Board
of
Directors of Seller comply with its fiduciary obligations to the stockholders
of
Seller under applicable Law.
15
SECTION
4.09
Legal Requirements. Each of Buyer and Seller
shall take all reasonable actions necessary or desirable to comply promptly
with
all legal requirements which may be imposed on them with respect to the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including
furnishing all information required in connection with approvals of or
filings
with any Governmental Authority, and prompt resolution of any litigation
prompted hereby) and will promptly cooperate with and furnish information
to any
party hereto necessary in connection with any such requirements imposed
upon any
of them in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement.
SECTION
4.10 Third
Party Consents. Seller shall cooperate with Buyer and
shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consents, waivers
and approvals required under any of Seller’s agreements, contracts, licenses or
leases included in the Acquired Assets. in connection with the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall continue such
cooperation until at least 90 days after the Closing Date.
SECTION
4.11 Covenants. Buyer
and Seller will cooperate and use their good faith efforts to satisfy the
conditions to closing described below and, upon satisfaction of such conditions,
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION
4.12 Seller
Covenants. From the Agreement Date until the Closing,
Seller will:
(a) use
its best efforts to protect the Acquired Assets, cooperate with Buyer concerning
protection of intellectual property rights and customer relationships relating
to the Acquired Assets and take such actions as Buyer may reasonably request
relating to protection of such assets, and effect no transfer, sale, assignment,
lease, license or Encumbrance of or on any of the Acquired Assets (other
than
product sales in the ordinary course of Seller’s business);
(b) engage
in no transactions materially inconsistent with its representations and
warranties in this Agreement;
(c) use
its best efforts to obtain, before the Closing, the written consent of
all third
parties necessary for Seller to consummate the Acquisition and to transfer
and
assign the Acquired Assets to Buyer;
(d) to
obtain all consents, approvals, and authorizations that are required under
any
applicable law, rule or regulation;
(e) notify
Buyer promptly upon receipt of any communication or legal process which
commences or threatens litigation against Seller, its business, or any
of the
Acquired Assets;
16
(f) provide
Buyer, whether before or after the Closing, with any further documents
that
Buyer reasonably requests relating to the Acquired Assets or the Business
or to
carry into effect the Acquisition;
(g) pay
any sales, use or other taxes as a result of the Acquisition;
(h) upon
the Closing, cease use of the intellectual property included in or relating
to
the Acquired Assets without Buyer's prior written consent; and
(i) from
the date hereof until the Closing, preserve and operate its business in
the
ordinary course and will not enter into any transaction or agreement or
take any
action out of the ordinary course or enter into any transaction or make
any
commitment involving an expense or capital expenditure by Seller relating
to the
Acquired Assets, in excess of $10,000, without Buyer’s prior written consent,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
SECTION
4.13 Buyer
Covenants. Buyer agrees that from the Agreement Date
until the Closing, subject to its rights described herein not to consummate
the Agreement, it will:
(a) use
all reasonable efforts to conduct its business in such a manner so as to
not be
in material breach of the representations and warranties made to Seller
herein;
(b) notify
Seller promptly upon receipt of any communication or legal process which
commences or threatens litigation relating to the Acquired Assets or the
transactions contemplated hereby; and
(c) retain
those employees who are identified in Section 4.13 of the Disclosure Letter
on
the terms set forth therein, for up to the periods of time set forth
therein.
SECTION
4.14 Assignment
of Contracts. Seller has set forth in the Disclosure
Letter all third party consents that are required in order to transfer
and
assign any of the Assumed Contracts or any other Acquired Asset. To
the extent the assignment of any contract, commitment, or other asset to
be
assigned to Buyer pursuant to the provisions hereof shall require the consent
of
any other person, this Agreement shall not constitute a contract to assign
the
same if an attempted assignment would constitute a breach thereof or give
rise
to any right of acceleration or termination. Seller shall use best
efforts to procure consents to any such assignment prior to
Closing. If any such consent is not obtained, Seller shall cooperate
with Buyer in any reasonable arrangement designed by Buyer to provide Buyer
the
benefit of any such contract, agreement, commitment, or other asset, including
enforcement of any and all rights of Seller against the other party thereto
arising out of breach or cancellation thereof by such party or
otherwise.
SECTION
4.15 Business
and Goodwill Preservation. Except as otherwise requested
by Buyer, and without making any commitments on Buyer’s behalf, Seller shall use
its best efforts in the normal course of business to preserve for Buyer
the
goodwill of the customers of Seller and others having business relations
with
it. Seller will conduct its business in the normal, usual manner, and
will use its best efforts to preserve the Acquired Assets
intact. Seller will, at all times from the date hereof until Closing,
maintain and keep its property in good repair, working order, and condition;
maintain proper business and accounting records; and maintain existing
insurance
on its properties. Seller and Shareholders shall notify Buyer of any
event or transaction of which they become aware prior to Closing that could
materially Buyer, Seller or the Acquired Assets in an adverse
manner. In addition, Seller shall provide Buyer with a copy of its
monthly financial statements covering the Business and Acquired Assets
promptly
after the close of each month prior to Closing. Seller and Buyer also
agree to use commercially reasonable good faith efforts to develop mutually
agreeable marketing arrangements to support and enhance product development
and
sales.
17
ARTICLE
V.
CLOSING
CONDITIONS
SECTION
5.01 Conditions
to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the
Acquisition. The respective obligations of each party to
this Agreement to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
shall
be subject to the satisfaction or fulfillment, at or before the Closing,
of the
following conditions:
(a) Stockholder
Approval. This Agreement and the Acquisition shall have been
approved by the requisite vote under applicable law by the stockholders
of
Seller.
(b) Proxy
Statement. No proceeding relating to the Proxy Statement or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been initiated or
threatened in writing by the SEC.
(c) No
Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued,
promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule, regulation, executive
order,
decree, injunction or other order which is in effect and which has the
effect of
making the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise prohibiting
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) No
Injunctions or Restraints. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order issued by any court of competent
jurisdiction or other legal restraint or prohibition preventing the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be in effect, nor shall any
proceeding brought by a Governmental Authority seeking any of the foregoing
be
pending.
SECTION
5.02 Additional
Conditions to Obligations of Seller. The obligation of
Seller to effect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall
be
subject to the satisfaction or fulfillment, at or before the Closing, of
each of
the following conditions, any of which may be waived, in writing, exclusively
by
Seller:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Buyer
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the date of this Agreement, and as of the Closing Date with the same
force
and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
(b) Agreements
and Covenants. Buyer shall have performed or complied in all
material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement
to be performed or complied with by Buyer on or before to the Closing
Date.
18
(c) Certificate
of Buyer. Seller shall have received a certificate executed by a
duly authorized officer of Buyer to the effect that, as of the Closing
Date,
each of the conditions specified in Sections 5.02(a) and (b) have been
satisfied.
(d) Delivery
of Purchase Price. Buyer shall have delivered the Closing Payment
and the VL Securities for cancellation.
SECTION
5.03 Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer. The obligations
of Buyer to consummate and effect the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction or fulfillment, at or before
the
Closing Date, of each of the following conditions, any of which may be
waived,
in writing, exclusively by Buyer:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Seller
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the date of this Agreement, with the same force and effect as if
made on
and as of the Closing Date.
(b) Agreements
and Covenants. Seller shall have performed or complied in all
material respects with all agreements and covenants required by this Agreement
to be performed or complied with by Seller on or before to the Closing
Date.
(c) Certificate
of Seller. Buyer shall have received a certificate executed by a
duly authorized officer of Seller to the effect that, as of the Closing
Date,
each of the conditions specified in Sections 5.03(a) and (b) have been
satisfied.
(d) Collateral
Agreements. Seller shall have executed and delivered the
Collateral Agreements, including without limitation, the following documents
requested by Buyer, in each case in customary form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer: (i) a xxxx of sale, in customary form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer; (ii) instruments of assignment and assumption;
(iii) instruments of assignment of patents; (iv) instruments of assignment
of
copyrights; (v) instruments of assignments of trademarks; and (vi) such
other
instruments, certificates and agreements as Buyer may reasonably request
in
order to effectively transfer to Buyer all of the Acquired Assets.
(e) Material
Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect relating to the
Business or relating to the Acquired Assets shall have occurred and be
continuing.
(f) Proceedings
Satisfactory. On the Closing Date, all actions, proceedings,
instruments and documents required by Seller to effect the Acquisition
and all
other related matters shall have been completed to the reasonable satisfaction
of Buyer.
(g) Noncompetition
Agreement. If requested by Buyer, Seller and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
shall have entered into a customary Noncompetition Agreement in such form
and
substance as is reasonably satisfactory to Buyer.
19
ARTICLE
VI.
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER, TERMINATION FEE
SECTION
6.01 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time before the Closing Date, whether
before
or after adoption and approval of this Agreement and approval of the Agreement
by the stockholders of Seller:
(a) by
mutual written consent duly authorized by the Boards of Directors of Buyer
and
Seller;
(b) by
either Seller or Buyer if the Acquisition shall not have been
consummated by (i) if the SEC does not review the preliminary Proxy Statement,
January 31, 2008, and (ii) if the SEC does review the preliminary Proxy
Statement, March 31, 2008, provided, however, that the right to terminate
this
Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.01(b) shall not be available to any
party
whose action or failure to act has been a principal cause of or resulted
in the
failure of the Acquisition to occur on or before such date and such action
or
failure to act constitutes a material breach of this Agreement;
(c) by
either Seller or Buyer if a Governmental Authority shall have issued an
order,
decree or ruling or taken any other action, in any case having the effect
of
permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Acquisition,
which order, decree or ruling is final and nonappealable;
(d) by
either Seller or Buyer if the required approvals of the stockholders of
Seller
contemplated by this Agreement shall not have been obtained by reason of
the
failure to obtain the required vote upon a vote taken at a meeting of
stockholders duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement
thereof; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement
pursuant
to this Section 6.01(d) shall not be available to Seller where the failure
to
obtain approval of Seller’s stockholders shall have been caused by the action or
failure to act of Seller and such action or failure to act constitutes
a
material breach of this Agreement;
(e) by
Seller, upon a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or
agreement on the part of Buyer set forth in this Agreement, or if any
representation or warranty of Buyer shall have become untrue in any material
respect, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Section 5.02(a)
or
5.02(b) hereof would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or
as of the
time such representation or warranty shall have become untrue, provided,
however, that if such inaccuracy in the representations and warranties
of Buyer
or breach by Buyer is curable by Buyer through the exercise of its commercially
reasonable best efforts, then Seller may not terminate this Agreement pursuant
to this Section 6.01(e) for thirty (30) calendar days after delivery of
written
notice from Seller to Buyer of such breach, provided that Buyer continues
to
exercise its best efforts to cure such breach (it being understood that
Seller
may not terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.01(e) if such
breach
by Buyer is cured during such thirty (30) calendar day period);
(f) by
Buyer, upon a material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or
agreement on the part of Seller set forth in this Agreement, or if any
representation or warranty of Seller shall have become untrue in any material
respect, in either case such that the conditions set forth in Section 5.03(a)
or
5.03(b) hereof would not be satisfied as of the time of such breach or
as of the
time such representation or warranty shall have become untrue, provided,
however, that if such inaccuracy in Seller’s representations and warranties or
breach by Seller is curable by Seller through the exercise of its commercially
reasonable best efforts, then Buyer may not terminate this Agreement pursuant
to
this Section 6.01(f) for thirty (30) days after delivery of written notice
from
Buyer to Seller of such breach, provided Seller continues to exercise its
best
efforts to cure such breach (it being understood that Buyer may not terminate
this Agreement pursuant to this Section 6.01(f) if such breach by Seller
is
cured during such thirty (30) calendar day period);
20
(g) by
Buyer if a Buyer Triggering Event shall have occurred.
SECTION
6.02 Fees
and Expenses; Termination Payment.
(a) General. Except
as set forth in this Section 6.02, all fees and expenses incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid
by
the party incurring such expenses, whether or not the Acquisition is
consummated.
(b) Termination
Payment. If this Agreement is terminated, this Agreement (other
than as set forth below in this Section 6.02(b) and in Article VIII) shall
become void and of no effect with no liability or obligation on the part
of any
party hereto (or of any of its directors, officers, employees, agents,
legal and
financial advisers or other representatives); provided however except as
otherwise provided herein, no such termination shall relieve any party
hereto of
any liability for damages resulting from any willful or intentional breach
of
this Agreement and for the following payments:
|
(i)
|
Notwithstanding
any limitation on payments due from Seller to Buyer contained
in this
Agreement, Seller hereby agrees to and shall, pay to Buyer or
its order in
the circumstances set forth in Section 6.02(b)(ii) below a termination
fee, which will be fully earned, of $250,000 (“Termination
Fee”), payable by wire transfer of same day
funds.
|
|
(ii)
|
The
Termination Fee shall be paid by Seller to Buyer or its order
no later
than two (2) business days after the first to occur of (x) a
Seller
Acquisition Transaction and (y) the occurrence of a Buyer Triggering
Event.
|
|
(iii)
|
All
other amounts payable under clause (i) of this paragraph shall
be paid by
Seller to Buyer or its order within two (2) business days after
demand.
|
21
ARTICLE
VII.
SURVIVAL
SECTION
7.01 Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The
representations, warranties and covenants of Buyer and Seller shall expire
upon
the Closing and shall be of no further force or effect.
ARTICLE
VIII.
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
8.01 Notices. All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall
be
deemed given upon receipt if delivered personally, three (3) business after
deposit in the mails if sent if mailed by registered or certified mail
(return
receipt requested), or one (1) business day after deposit with a reputable
overnight express courier (charges prepaid) or transmitted by facsimile
(with
confirmation of transmittal), to the parties at the following addresses
(or at
such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
if
to
Seller, to:
Vital
Living, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xx.
Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx
Traurig
0000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxx, Esq.
if
to
Buyer:
0000
X.
00xx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
with
a
copy to:
Weintraub
Genshlea Chediak
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, 00xx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Facsimile: (000)
000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
22
SECTION
8.02 Descriptive
Headings. The descriptive headings herein are inserted
for convenience only and are not intended to be part of or to affect the
meaning
or interpretation of this Agreement.
SECTION
8.03 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall
be
considered one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when
one or
more such counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered
to
the other party.
SECTION
8.04
Entire Agreement. This Agreement along with
the Exhibits contain the entire agreement and understanding between the
parties
hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements. Neither party shall be liable or bound to any other party
in any manner by any representations, warranties or covenants relating
to such
subject matter except as specifically set forth herein.
SECTION
8.05 Fees
and Expenses. Unless otherwise specifically provided
herein regardless of whether or not the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement are consummated, each party shall bear its own fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
SECTION
8.06 Governing
Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury Trial. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the
State of Arizona, exclusive of its choice-of-law rules. In any action
between the parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Collateral
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby: (a) each of the parties consents to the non-exclusive
jurisdiction and venue of Arizona state courts and the United States District
Court for the judicial district in which Phoenix, Arizona is located; (b)
if any
such action is commenced in any state court, then, subject to applicable
law and
rules of civil procedure, no party shall object to the removal of such
action to
any federal court located in the relevant Federal District; (c) each party
irrevocably waives the right to trial by jury.
SECTION
8.07 Dispute
Resolution. The parties agree that the
exclusive means for resolving any dispute arising out of or relating to
this
Letter shall be binding arbitration to be held in Phoenix, Arizona, pursuant
to
the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration
Association. If the parties cannot agree on a single arbitrator, then
each party shall select one arbitrator, and the two arbitrators so selected
shall appoint the third arbitrator. The parties shall each pay
one-half of the costs of the arbitrators. The arbitration shall be
resolved as soon as reasonably possible.
SECTION
8.08 Successors
and Assigns; Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of the parties hereto,
their successors and permitted assigns (for the avoidance of doubt Buyer
shall
be free to assign this agreement to any of its Affiliates without the need
for
consent but this Agreement shall not be assigned by Seller without Buyer’s prior
written consent), and notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement,
nothing
in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon
any
other person or persons who is not a party to this Agreement any right,
benefits
or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.
23
SECTION
8.09 Severability. In
the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the
application thereof in any circumstances, is held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable in any respect for any reason, the parties shall negotiate
in good
faith with a view to the substitution therefore of a suitable and equitable
solution in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and enforceable,
the
intent and purpose of such invalid provision; provided, however, that the
validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other
respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be in
any way
impaired thereby, it being intended that all of the rights and privileges
of the
parties hereto shall be enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
SECTION
8.10 No
Waiver. No failure or delay by either party to exercise
or enforce any rights conferred on it by this Agreement shall be construed
or
operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise of
any
right, power or privilege or further exercise thereof operate so as to
bar the
exercise or enforcement thereof at any time or times.
SECTION
8.11 Bulk
Transfer Laws. Seller shall indemnify and hold Buyer
harmless from and against any and all Losses incurred by Buyer in respect
of
Seller’s compliance or noncompliance with any bulk transfer or similar laws
applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
[Remainder
of page intentionally left blank]
24
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the parties hereto have executed this Asset Purchase Agreement as of the
date
first written above.
NUTRACEA,
INC.
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||
By:
|
||
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
|
||
Title:
CEO
|
||
VITAL
LIVING, INC.
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
||
SUBSIDIARY
|
||
Subsidiary
Name:
|
||
By:
|
||
Name:
|
||
Title:
|
EXHIBIT
A
DEFINITIONS
“Action”
or
“Actions”
means any claim, suit, proceeding, arbitration, inquiry or investigation
pending
or brought by any Governmental Authority.
“Acquired
Assets” means all of
the assets owned or licensed by Seller (including subsidiaries) that are
useful
or that may be used in conducting the Business, including without
limitation:
(i) Equipment. Such
items of tangible operating assets relating to the Business or the other
Acquired Assets, including equipment, fixtures, furniture, equipment, computers,
software, tools, supplier, vehicles and leasehold improvements, machinery,
tools, computer hardware and software, computer programming, vehicles,
furniture, fixtures and similar tangible personal property employed by
Seller in
the conduct of the Business as the same may exist at the Closing, as are
described in the Schedule of Acquired Assets separately delivered by Seller
to
Buyer before the Agreement Date (the “Asset
Schedule”), and any other assets of like character used in the
operation of the Business added or substituted prior to the
Closing with Buyer’s written
consent (all of such property being hereinafter sometimes
referred to as the "Equipment");
(ii) Inventory. Such
items, if any, of merchandise, supplies, raw materials, work in process,
packaging, finished goods and other inventories of the Business as of the
close
of business immediately before the Closing Date, as are set forth on the
Asset
Schedule (all of such properties being hereinafter sometimes referred to
as the
"Inventory");
(iii) Assumed
Contracts. Any Contracts (whether or not in writing) of Seller or
by which Seller or any of the Acquired Assets are bound, that are related
to, or
are necessary to or useful in the operation of the Business, including
without
limitation distribution or similar agreements relating to any of the Products,
and non-disclosure, confidentiality and inventions assignment agreements
or
contracts (or portions of agreements that contain such provisions) with
all
former and current employees and consultants of Seller, to the extent related
to
the Acquired Assets, all as set forth on the Asset Schedule (collectively
“Assumed Contracts”), any claims, rights and causes of
action of Seller against third parties related to the Business, and all
rights
and interest of Seller in, to and under the Assumed Contracts;
(iv) Permits. All
easements, franchises, permits, licenses, consents, marketing approvals,
authorizations, and certificates of all regulatory, administrative, and
other
governmental agencies and bodies issued to or held by Seller and which
relate to
the operation of the Business or products sold as part of the Business,
including without limitation those listed on the Asset Schedule
(“Permits”); provided, that any Permits that are not
transferable shall be so identified on the Asset Schedule and shall not
be
included in the Assets transferred to Buyer;
1
(v) Goodwill. The
goodwill associated with the Business and books, records, general files,
papers,
documents and information of the Business or relating to the Business,
including
without limitation all customer lists, customer information, supplier and
distributor information, and data used in connection with the Business;
the
exclusive right of Buyer to represent itself as carrying on the Business
previously conducted by Seller, and all rights in and title to the trade
names
of the Business (and any related web sites) (including without limitation
xxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx and xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx) and any and
all trade or service marks, patents, copyrights and other Intellectual
Property,
regardless of whether protected with formal patents, trademarks or the
like,
customer and supplier lists, telephone numbers, plans (including engineering
plans and drawings), processes, technical know-how, research and development
data and the like used in the Business, manuals, documents, all computer
hardware and software relating to the Business, including systems supporting
documentation and program code, all books and records of every kind or
nature
whatsoever regarding the Business, and all other assets, rights and properties,
operations and business of Seller, of every kind, nature, character,
description, tangible and intangible, real, personal and mixed, that are
owned
by Seller and used in the Business;
(vi) Products,
Intellectual Property. All proprietary and intellectual property
rights of Seller embodied in or associated with the products listed on
the Asset
Schedule (the “Products”) or the Business and
including all right, title and interest and to any and all additional
formulations, including without limitation:
A) All
intellectual property of Seller used in the Business, goodwill associated
therewith, licenses and sublicenses granted and obtained with respect thereto,
and rights thereunder, remedies against infringements thereof and rights
to
protection of interests therein; and all intellectual property rights embodied
or disclosed in all inventions, patents, patent applications and rights
to file
patent applications owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by Seller
relating to the Business, together with all ancillary rights thereto, including
the right to xxx for damages by reason of past infringement of any such
rights
including (i) the patents and patent applications listed on the Asset Schedule,
(ii) any patent application(s) filed as a continuation, division, or
continuation-in-part of the patent application(s) described in clause (i),
patents issuing therefrom and reissues, reexaminations and extensions of
such
patents, (iii) any patent application(s) filed in respect of the inventions
that
are the subject of the invention disclosures described in clause (C) and
(iv)
any foreign counterpart to the patent(s) and patent application(s) described
in
clauses (i)-(iii) (including divisions, continuations, confirmations, additions,
renewals or continuations-in-part of such patent applications), patents
issuing
therefrom and extensions thereof) (collectively, the
“Patents”); and all Internet domain names, Internet
and World Wide Web URLs or addresses, and related rights, related to the
Acquired Assets or otherwise used in the Business;
2
B) all
know-how, information, techniques, methodologies, modifications, improvements,
works of authorship, procedures, processes, designs and data (whether or
not
protectable under patent, copyright, trade secrecy or similar laws)
that: (i) are conceived, discovered, developed, created or reduced to
practice or tangible medium of expression by Seller or any of Seller’s employees
or consultants or are developed or acquired (by ownership or by license)
for use
in the Business at any time prior to the Closing Date and (ii) relate to
or are
used or useful in the design, formulation, development, delivery, manufacture,
testing or use of any of the Products or relating to the Business, together
with
all ancillary rights thereto, including the right to xxx for damages by
reason
of past infringement or misappropriation of any such rights (collectively,
the
“Information”);
C) all
notebooks, records and other media embodying the Information, including,
without
limitation, those relating to each Product, any and all additional formulations
for each Product, therapeutic and medicinal uses for each Product and all
regulatory files (including correspondence with regulatory authorities)
for each
Product, assays, test methods, batch records, analytical methods any master
files and studies in relation thereto for each Product, all prior versions
of
the Information and all other data, information and know-how, that has
been
developed by or for Seller and is necessary or useful to manufacture
Products;
(vii) Copyrights. All
copyrights relating to the Products or the Business (including without
limitation relating to the book The 7 Habits of Healthy
Living);
(viii) Trademarks. The
GreensFIRST, Red Alert, Red Fiber Plus, Herbal Cleanse, Alka Fizz, Dream
Protein, Complete Essentials, ReliefFIRST, ReliefFIRST Cream, Healthy Living
Kit, Meal Replacement Kit, Wellness Watchers International, Healthy Living
Program, Doctors For Living, and any other xxxx relating to any product
or
service that Buyer may designate and that is included in the Business,
and all
trademark and service xxxx registrations for such marks, together with
the
goodwill of the business associated with such marks and all other rights
appurtenant to such marks including, without limitation the registrations
and
applications listed on the Asset Schedule (collectively, the
“Trademarks”);
(ix) Marketing
Authorizations. all authorizations, registrations, filings,
permits, licenses, franchises, orders, approvals, concessions, consents
and
other regulatory approvals issued by any national, supra-national, regional,
state or local regulatory agency, department, bureau, commission, council
or
other Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, the U.S. Food
and
Drug Administration, to Seller or otherwise controlled by Seller (or any
Affiliates) as required for (a) the importation, marketing, promotion,
pricing
and sale of products relating to the Business or (b) a purchaser of such
products relating to the Business to seek reimbursement from private or
public
health insurance organizations, as well as all related regulatory filings
(including all related correspondence)(collectively, the “Marketing
Authorizations”);
3
(x) Data
Relating to Product Testing. all data, information, publications
and other materials of Seller embodying or relating to the clinical and
non-clinical (including but not limited to in vitro and animal) testing
of
products relating to the Business performed by or on behalf of Seller and
field
experience with products relating to the Business that is necessary or
useful
for making regulatory filings for, or marketing of, such products;
(xi) Causes
of Action. all of Seller’s right, title and interest to claims
and causes of action relating to the Acquired Assets;
(xii) Other
Assets. All other assets of Seller employed in
the conduct of the Business, whether real, personal, tangible,
intangible or mixed and whether or not reflected in the Financial Statements
or
in the books or records of Seller, as may be set forth on the Asset Schedule,
including all books, records and files (including, to the extent permitted
by
law or if authorized by the effected employees, all personnel files), rights
under executory contracts and purchase and sale orders to be assumed by
Buyer
hereunder (including all written contracts, orders and arrangements between
Seller and third parties existing at the Closing Date for the supply of
goods
and services for use in the Business), any prepaid expenses to the extent
properly assignable to Buyer and relating to periods subsequent to the
Closing
Date, permits and licenses to the extent transferable under law and all
agreements for the lease of equipment, vehicles and office furniture listed
in
the Asset Schedule.
(xiii) Other
Mutually Agreed-Upon Assets. Such other assets or categories of
assets as Buyer and Seller shall mutually agree in writing.
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any Person, any Person which, directly or indirectly,
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the specified
Person. For purposes of this definition, the term “control” as
applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of
the
power to direct or cause the direction of the management of that Person,
whether
through ownership of voting securities or otherwise.
“Alternative
Transaction” means
proposals or offers from any corporation, partnership, persons or group
relating
to any Seller Acquisition Proposal or any acquisition, purchase or option
to
purchase any of the business, any portion of the assets, or debt or equity
securities of Seller, or any merger, consolidation, recapitalization or
other
business combination of any kind involving Seller, or any other transaction
that
is incompatible with the Acquisition.
“Assumed
Liabilities” means those Liabilities of Seller that Buyer expressly agrees
to assume as part of the Acquisition, including (i) direct obligations
arising
after the Closing Date (and not related to actions or omissions of Seller
before
the Closing Date) pursuant to the Assumed Contracts, and (ii), such
other Liabilities as Buyer may set forth on Schedule 1.01(b)
hereto.
“Business”
means the business of Seller (including both Vital Living, Inc. and the
Subsidiaries) concerning the development, marketing distribution and sale
of
food and nutritional products and nutritional supplements and nutraceuticals
products.
4
“Buyer
Triggering Event” shall
be deemed to have occurred if: (i) the Board of Directors of Seller shall
for
any reason have withdrawn or shall have amended or modified in a manner
adverse
to Buyer its recommendation in favor of the adoption and approval of this
Agreement and the Acquisition; (ii) Seller shall have failed to include
in the
Proxy Statement the recommendation of the Board of Directors of Seller
in favor
of the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the Acquisition; (iii)
the
Board of Directors of Seller shall have approved or recommended any Seller
Acquisition Proposal; (iv) Seller shall have entered into any letter of
intent
or similar document or any agreement, contract or commitment accepting
any
Seller Acquisition Proposal; (v) a tender or exchange offer relating to
securities of Seller shall have been commenced by a person unaffiliated
with
Buyer, and Seller shall not have sent to its security holders pursuant
to Rule
14e-2 promulgated under the Securities Act, within ten (10) business days
after
such tender or exchange offer is first published sent or given, a statement
that
Seller recommends rejection of such tender or exchange offer; or (vi) Seller
shall have breached in any material respect the terms of Section 4.07 hereof,
or
(vii) the stockholders of Seller shall have failed to approve the
Agreement.
“Code” means
the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Contracts” means
all
contracts, agreements, leases, licenses, commitments, sales and purchase
orders,
and other arrangements or instruments relating to the Business or any other
Acquired Asset, whether written or oral.
“Encumbrance”
means any lien (statutory or otherwise), claim, charge, option, security
interest, pledge, mortgage, restriction, easement, financing statement
or
similar encumbrance of any kind or nature whatsoever (including any conditional
sale or other title retention agreement and any lease having substantially
the
same effect as any of the foregoing and any assignment or deposit arrangement
in
the nature of a security device).
“Exchange
Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
“Excluded
Assets” shall mean all assets of Seller other
than the Acquired Assets, including any (i) cash and accounts receivable
of
Seller relating to the Business, (ii) qualifications to transact business
as a
foreign corporation, arrangements with registered agents relating to foreign
qualifications, taxpayer and other identification numbers, seals, minute
books,
stock transfer books, and other documents relating to the organization,
maintenance, and existence of Seller as a corporation, (iii) all directors’ and
officers’ insurance policies, and refunds paid or payable in connection with the
cancellation or discontinuance of any such insurance policies, (iv) cash
and
cash equivalents of Seller, (v) raw materials unless specifically listed
in the
Asset Schedule, and (vi) any other asset relating to the Business that
Buyer
designates as Excluded Assets before the Closing Date. Excluded
Assets also includes all leases of real property, if there are any such
leases,
to which Seller is a party or is otherwise bound, unless Buyer expressly
includes such leases in the Acquired Assets.
“Governmental
Authority” means any national, state, or local, legislature, governmental
agency, governmental body, administrative agency, court or commission or
other
governmental authority or instrumentality.
5
"Governmental
Liabilities" shall include all claims, demands, losses, fees, fines,
penalties, taxes, interest and other Liabilities owed to any Governmental
Authority.
“Indemnifiable
Event” means (A) any breach of a covenant or inaccuracy or untruth of a
representation or warranty of Seller in this Agreement, (B) taxes,
assessments or other governmental charges arising from Seller's business
through
the Closing Date, (C) any claim alleging liability against Seller or Buyer
for any act or omission of Seller or its directors, officers or employees
or
circumstance relating to Seller's business arising before the Closing Date
or
the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, (D) any claim of
infringement or violation of the intellectual property rights of a third
party
or failure of Seller to be the owner of the Acquired Assets without any
liens or
other Encumbrances or otherwise to have good title to the Acquired Assets,
(E) any claim or cause of action alleging liability related to any past
agreement with any of Seller's employees or independent contractors or,
any
agreement between Seller and any third party relating to the Acquired Assets,
(F) any claim or cause of action by or on behalf of a creditor of Seller
asserting liability against Buyer, as purchaser of the Acquired Assets,
or
seeking to impose any lien or any other Encumbrance upon any of the Acquired
Assets, for obligations of Seller, (G) any noncompliance with any applicable
bulk sales or similar laws, (H) any expenses in excess of $5,000 that are
incurred by Buyer to obtain consents of third parties to assignment or
transfer
of the Acquired Assets, (I) any fees, expenses or other payments incurred
or
owed by Seller to any brokers, financial advisors or comparable other Persons
retained or employed by it in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, or (J) any Retained Liability.
“Intellectual
Property” means any or all of the following and all rights in, arising out
of, or associated therewith, relating to the Business or any Acquired
Asset: (i) all United States, international and foreign patents
and applications therefor and all reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions,
provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part thereof; (ii) all
inventions (whether patentable or not), invention disclosures, improvements,
trade secrets, proprietary information, know how, technology, technical
data and
customer lists, and all documentation relating to any of the foregoing;
(iii) all copyrights, copyrights registrations and applications therefor,
and all other rights corresponding thereto throughout the world; (iv) all
industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor throughout
the world; (v) all trade names, logos, common law trademarks and service
marks,
trademark and service xxxx registrations and applications therefor throughout
the world and all Internet domain names, Internet and World Wide Web URLs
or
addresses, associated with the Business, the Products or other Acquired
Assets;
(vi) all databases and data collections and all rights therein throughout
the world; (vii) all moral and economic rights of authors and inventors,
however denominated, throughout the world, and (viii) any similar or
equivalent rights to any of the foregoing anywhere in the world.
“Knowledge”
means (i) with respect to Seller, the actual knowledge of any officer of
Seller
after due inquiry, and (ii) with respect to Buyer, the actual knowledge
of any
officer of Buyer after due inquiry.
“Law”
or “Laws” means any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law,
ordinance, regulation, rule, code, order, judgment, decree or other requirement
of law.
6
“Liability”
or
“Liabilities” means any and all debts, liabilities and obligations of any
type or nature whatsoever, whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent,
matured or unmatured, determined or determinable, including, without limitation,
those arising under any Law, Action or governmental order and those arising
under any contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or
undertaking.
"Loss"
shall mean any liability,
injury, damage, expense, cost, fine or penalty resulting from any action,
proceeding, demand, assessment, judgment or award (including without limitation
costs of investigation, prosecution, defense or settlement), including
attorneys
fees, costs and expenses related thereto.
“Material
Adverse Effect” when used with reference to an entity, the Acquired Assets
or the Business means (i) any change, event, violation, inaccuracy, circumstance
or effect that is materially adverse to the business, assets (including
intangible assets), capitalization, financial condition or results of operations
of such entity, assets or business and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
(ii)
the commencement of any voluntary insolvency proceedings involving Seller,
or
any involuntary insolvency proceeding filed against Seller that is not
discharged, dismissed or terminated within sixty (60) days after commencement,
(iii) the commencement or initiation of any plan of arrangement with, assignment
for the benefit of, or similar agreement with Seller’s creditors whether or not
involving any judicial proceedings, or (iv) circumstance, change or event
that
materially impairs Buyer’s ability to utilize the Acquired Assets in
substantially the same manner as Seller before the date of this Agreement
(excluding any effect on Buyer’s ability to do so by virtue of facts and
circumstances unique to Buyer); provided, however, that in no event shall
(i) a decrease in such entity’s stock price by itself constitute a Material
Adverse Effect, or (ii) any change, event, violation, inaccuracy,
circumstance or effect that results from (A) the public announcement or
pendency of the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby,
(B) changes generally affecting the industry in which such entity currently
operates or conducts business, or (C) changes generally affecting the United
States economy, constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
“Person”
means any individual, group, corporation, partnership or other organization
or
entity (including any Governmental Authority).
“Retained
Liabilities” means the following Liabilities of Seller: (a) all
Liabilities for any actions or omissions by Seller or any of Seller’s directors,
officers or employees, either before or after the Closing Date; (b) all
Liabilities relating to any Assumed Contract or any other agreement to
which
Seller is a party relating to periods before the Closing Date; (c) all
Liabilities which are unrelated to the Acquired Assets or the Business
to be
acquired by Buyer pursuant hereto, including, without limitation, all
Liabilities to shareholders of Seller; (d) any trade payable, debt to,
or loan
or line of credit from, any Person; (e) except as may be separately agreed
to in
writing by Buyer and Seller, any accrued and unpaid salaries and wages,
vacation
pay, sick pay, and/or paid time off of any employee, officer, partner,
and/or
director of Seller, and/or any employee benefit plan accruals of any kind;
(f)
any Governmental Liability; (g) except as may be separately agreed to in
writing
by Buyer and Seller, any of Seller's employee plans and agreements and/or
any
Liability of any kind related thereto; (h) all Liabilities of Seller under
this
Agreement or any other certificate, instrument or other agreement entered
into
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; (i) all Liabilities
of
Seller or any successor thereto for any breach of this Agreement by Seller,
or
any representation or warranty of Seller contained herein; (j) any liability
for
any and all Taxes relating to the periods before the Closing Date; (k)
any
liability under any currently pending or past Proceedings; (l) any Liability
for
personal injury or property damage that relates to the Business occurring
on or
prior to the Closing Date; (m) any Liability under products liability,
strict
liability, or express or implied warranty claims relating to services or
products sold by Seller; (n) any risk of loss to any of the Acquired Assets
on
or before the Closing Date; (o) any Liability of Seller for any expenses
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; (p)
except
as may be separately agreed to in writing by Buyer and Seller, any Liability,
responsibility or obligations to any employee of Seller, including without
limitation, in connection with employment agreements or employment arrangements,
compensation or compensation plans, benefit plans, options or equity plans,
severance or termination pay, insurance or other employment related costs
relating to Seller or its employees; or (q) any other Liability of Seller
arising out of the conduct of Seller's business or the Acquired Assets
before
the Closing Date.
0
“XXX”
xxxxx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities
Act” means the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Subsidiaries”
means any corporation, limited liability company, general or limited
partnership, joint venture, business trust, unincorporated association
or other
business enterprise or entity controlled by Seller, directly or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, including without limitation Doctors
For
Nutrition, Inc.; MAF Bionutritionals, LLC; Nature’s System, Inc.;
E-Nutraceuticals, Inc; N-Fat, Inc.; and Wellness Watchers Systems
LLC.
“Seller
Acquisition Proposal”
means any offer or proposal (other than an offer or proposal by Buyer)
relating
to any Seller Acquisition Transaction.
“Seller
Acquisition Transaction” means any transaction or series of related
transactions (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement)
involving: (A) any acquisition or purchase from Seller or any of its affiliates
by any person or “group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) of ten percent (10%)
or more
in interest of the total outstanding voting securities of Seller, or any
tender
offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any person
or
“group” (as defined under Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder) beneficially owning ten percent (10%)
or
more in interest of the total outstanding voting securities of Seller,
or any
merger, consolidation, business combination or similar transaction of Seller
or
any of Seller’s affiliates with or into another entity pursuant to which the
stockholders of Seller immediately preceding such transaction hold less
than
fifty percent (50%) of the equity interests in the surviving or resulting
entity
of such transaction; or (B) any sale, lease (other than in the ordinary
course
of business), exchange, transfer, license (other than in the ordinary course
of
business), acquisition or disposition of five percent (5%) or more of the
Acquired Assets.
“Superior
Offer ” shall mean an
unsolicited, bona fide written offer made by an unrelated third party to
consummate any of the following transactions: (i) a merger,
consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, or similar transaction
involving Seller, pursuant to which the stockholders of Seller immediately
preceding such transaction hold less than fifty percent (50%) of the equity
interest in the surviving, resulting or acquiring entity of such transaction;
(ii) a sale or other disposition by Seller of all or substantially all
of the
Acquired Assets, or (iii) the acquisition by any person or group (including
by
way of a tender offer or an exchange offer or issuance by Seller), directly
or
indirectly, of beneficial ownership or a right to acquire beneficial ownership
of shares representing in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the voting power
of
the then outstanding shares of capital stock of Seller, in each of the
above
cases on terms that the Board of Directors of Seller determines, in its
reasonable judgment after written advice from its financial advisors, to
be more
favorable to the Seller stockholders from a financial point of view than
the
terms of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however,
that any such offer shall not be deemed to be a “Superior Offer
” if any financing required to consummate the
transaction
contemplated by such offer is not committed and is not likely in the judgment
of
the Board of Directors of Seller to be obtained by such third party on
a timely
basis.
8
“Tax”
or “Taxes” means any and all federal, state, local and foreign taxes,
assessments and other governmental charges, duties, impositions and liabilities
relating to taxes, including taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts,
income, profits, sales, use and occupation, and value added, ad valorem,
transfer, franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture, employment, excise
and
property taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed
with
respect to such amounts and any obligations under any agreements or arrangements
with any other person with respect to such amounts and including any liability
for taxes of a predecessor entity.
“Third
Party” means a Person who or which is neither a party nor an Affiliate of
a
party.
“Treasury
Regulations” means the
Treasury Regulations (including Temporary Regulations) promulgated by the
United
States Department of Treasury with respect to the Code or other federal
tax
statutes.
(b) The
following terms have the meanings set forth in the Sections set forth
below:
Term
|
Section
|
Acquired
Assets
|
1.01(a)
|
Acquisition
|
1.01
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
Agreement
Date
|
Preamble
|
Asset
Schedule
|
1.01(a)
|
Assumed
Contracts
|
1.02(a)
|
Buyer
|
Preamble
|
Buyer
Triggering Event
|
6.01(h)
|
Closing
|
1.02(a)
|
Closing Date |
1.02(a)
|
Closing
Payment
|
1.2(c)
|
Collateral
Agreements
|
1.02(b)
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
4.06
|
Excluded
Assets
|
1.01(b)
|
Information
|
1.01(a)
|
Losses
|
7.02(a)
|
Notes
|
1.02(b)
|
Proxy
Statement
|
4.04(a)
|
Purchase
Price
|
1.03(d)
|
Seller
|
Preamble
|
Seller
Acquisition Proposal
|
4.07(b)
|
Seller
Acquisition Transaction
|
4.07(b)
|
Seller
Stockholders’ Meeting
|
4.04(a)
|
Seller
Triggering Event
|
6.01(g)
|
Senior
Securities
|
1.02(b)
|
9
(c) In
the event of an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises,
this
Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties and no
presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any
party by
virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
(d) The
definitions of the terms herein shall apply equally to the singular and
plural
forms of the terms defined. Whenever the context may require, any
pronoun shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine and neuter
forms. The words “include”, “includes” and “including” shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation”. The word
“will” shall be construed to have the same meaning and effect as the word
“shall”. Unless the context requires otherwise (A) any definition of
or reference to any agreement, instrument or other document herein shall
be
construed as referring to such agreement, instrument or other document
as from
time to time amended, supplemented or otherwise modified (subject to any
restrictions on such amendments, supplements or modifications set forth
herein);
(B) any reference herein to any Person shall be construed to include the
Person’s successors and assigns; (C) the words “herein”, “hereof” and
“hereunder”, and words of similar import, shall be construed to refer to this
Agreement in its entirety and not to any particular provision hereof; and
(D)
all references herein to Articles, Sections, Exhibits or Schedules shall
be
construed to refer to Articles, Sections, Exhibits and Schedules of this
Agreement.
10