STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and among STREICHER MOBILE FUELING, INC. (Buyer), H&W PETROLEUM CO., INC. (the Company) and EUGENE WAYNE WETZEL, MARY KAY WETZEL, SHARON HARKRIDER, WILLIAM M. HARKRIDER II, W. M. HARKRIDER TESTAMENTARY TRUST, HARKRIDER...
Execution
Copy
Exhibit
2.1
by
and among
XXXXXXXXX
MOBILE FUELING, INC.
(Buyer),
H&W
PETROLEUM CO., INC.
(the
Company)
and
XXXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXX, XXXX XXX XXXXXX, XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX,
XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXXXXX XX,
X. X. XXXXXXXXX TESTAMENTARY TRUST, XXXXXXXXX DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC.
AND W
& H INTERESTS
(Shareholders)
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
I
|
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
1.1
|
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
1.2
|
OTHER
DEFINITIONS
|
7
|
ARTICLE
II
|
PURCHASE
AND SALE; CLOSING
|
7
|
2.1
|
PURCHASE
AND SALE
|
7
|
2.2
|
PURCHASE
PRICE
|
8
|
2.3
|
THE
CLOSING
|
8
|
2.4
|
PURCHASE
PRICE ADJUSTMENT
|
9
|
ARTICLE
III
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDERS
|
10
|
3.1
|
DUE
ORGANIZATION AND CAPITALIZATION OF THE COMPANY
|
10
|
3.2
|
AUTHORIZATION
OF TRANSACTION
|
10
|
3.3
|
NO
RESTRICTIONS AGAINST TRANSFER
|
10
|
3.4
|
SUBSIDIARIES
|
11
|
3.5
|
BROKERS’
FEES
|
11
|
3.6
|
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
|
11
|
3.7
|
SUBSEQUENT
EVENTS
|
11
|
3.8
|
ABSENCE
OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES
|
13
|
3.9
|
CREDITORS;
BANKRUPTCY, ETC
|
13
|
3.10
|
LEGAL
COMPLIANCE
|
13
|
3.11
|
LICENSES
AND PERMITS
|
13
|
3.12
|
TITLE
TO ASSETS
|
13
|
3.13
|
INVENTORY
|
14
|
3.14
|
TAX
MATTERS
|
14
|
3.15
|
INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY
|
15
|
3.16
|
CONTRACTS
|
16
|
3.17
|
ACCOUNTS
AND NOTES RECEIVABLE
|
16
|
3.18
|
ACCOUNTS
AND NOTES PAYABLE
|
17
|
3.19
|
INSURANCE
|
17
|
3.20
|
CLAIMS
AND PROCEEDINGS
|
17
|
3.21
|
EMPLOYEES
|
17
|
3.22
|
EMPLOYEE
BENEFITS
|
18
|
3.23
|
BUSINESS
RELATIONS
|
19
|
3.24
|
ENVIRONMENTAL,
HEALTH, AND SAFETY MATTERS
|
19
|
3.25
|
BANK
ACCOUNTS
|
20
|
3.26
|
WARRANTIES
|
20
|
3.27
|
INSIDER
INTERESTS
|
20
|
3.28
|
SHARES
|
21
|
3.29
|
DISCLOSURE
|
21
|
-i-
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
IV
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
|
21
|
4.1
|
ORGANIZATION
OF BUYER
|
21
|
4.2
|
AUTHORIZATION
OF TRANSACTION
|
21
|
4.3
|
NO
RESTRICTIONS AGAINST TRANSACTION
|
22
|
4.4
|
BROKERS
|
22
|
4.5
|
INVESTMENT
|
22
|
4.6
|
COMPLIANCE
WITH LAW
|
22
|
ARTICLE
V
|
PRE-CLOSING
COVENANTS
|
22
|
5.1
|
GENERAL
|
23
|
5.2
|
NOTICES
AND CONSENTS
|
23
|
5.3
|
OPERATION
OF BUSINESS
|
23
|
5.4
|
FULL
ACCESS
|
24
|
5.5
|
NOTICE
OF DEVELOPMENTS
|
24
|
5.6
|
CONFIDENTIALITY;
NO SHOP
|
25
|
5.7
|
STANDSTILL
|
25
|
5.8
|
RESTRICTIONS
ON TRANSFER
|
25
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
|
26
|
6.1
|
GENERAL
|
26
|
6.2
|
LITIGATION
SUPPORT
|
26
|
6.3
|
TRANSITION
|
26
|
6.4
|
SALES
VOLUME
|
26
|
6.5
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
27
|
6.6
|
NON-COMPETE;
NON-SOLICITATION
|
27
|
6.7
|
BROKER’S
FEES
|
28
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
CONDITIONS
TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
|
28
|
7.1
|
CONDITIONS
TO OBLIGATION OF BUYER
|
28
|
7.2
|
CONDITIONS
TO OBLIGATION OF THE SHAREHOLDERS
|
30
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
SURVIVAL
OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
32
|
8.1
|
SURVIVAL
|
32
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
INDEMNIFICATION
AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
|
32
|
9.1
|
INDEMNITY
|
32
|
9.2
|
LIMITATION
OF LIABILITY
|
33
|
9.3
|
INDEMNIFICATION
PROCEDURES
|
33
|
9.4
|
RIGHT
OF SET-OFF
|
35
|
9.5
|
OTHER
REMEDIES
|
35
|
-ii-
TABLE
OF
CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE
X
|
TAX
MATTERS
|
36
|
10.1
|
TAX
PERIODS ENDING ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING DATE
|
36
|
10.2
|
TAX
PERIODS BEGINNING BEFORE AND ENDING AFTER THE CLOSING DATE
|
36
|
10.3
|
COOPERATION
ON TAX MATTERS
|
37
|
10.4
|
TAX
SHARING AGREEMENTS
|
37
|
10.5
|
CERTAIN
TAXES
|
37
|
ARTICLE
XI
|
TERMINATION
|
37
|
11.1
|
TERMINATION
OF AGREEMENT
|
37
|
11.2
|
EFFECT
OF TERMINATION
|
38
|
ARTICLE
XII
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
38
|
12.1
|
NO
THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES
|
38
|
12.2
|
ENTIRE
AGREEMENT
|
38
|
12.3
|
SUCCESSION
AND ASSIGNMENT
|
38
|
12.4
|
COUNTERPARTS
|
39
|
12.5
|
HEADINGS
|
39
|
12.6
|
NOTICES
|
39
|
12.7
|
GOVERNING
LAW
|
40
|
12.8
|
AMENDMENTS
AND WAIVERS
|
40
|
12.9
|
SEVERABILITY
|
40
|
12.10
|
EXPENSES
|
40
|
12.11
|
CONSTRUCTION
|
40
|
12.12
|
INCORPORATION
OF EXHIBITS AND DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
|
41
|
12.13
|
SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE
|
41
|
12.14
|
ARBITRATION
|
41
|
SCHEDULES
|
|
Schedule
1.1(a)
|
Related
Party Receivables
|
Schedule
1.1(b)
|
Buy-back
Accounts
|
Schedule
1.1(c)
|
Related
Party Liabilities
|
Schedule
1.1(d)
|
Retained
Liabilities
|
Schedule
3.1
|
Foreign
Qualification and Trade Names
|
Schedule
3.3
|
No
Restrictions Against Transfer
|
Schedule
3.7
|
Subsequent
Events
|
Schedule
3.8
|
Letters
of Credit and Off Balance Sheet Liabilities
|
Schedule
3.10
|
Non-Compliance
|
Schedule
3.11
|
Licenses
and Permits
|
Schedule
3.12(a)
|
Title
to Assets
|
Schedule
3.12(b)
|
Shareholder
Ownership and Licenses of Assets
|
Schedule
3.12(c)
|
Fixed
Assets
|
-iii-
Schedule
3.12(d)
|
Real
Property
|
Schedule
3.12(e)
|
Leased
Property
|
Schedule
3.13
|
Inventory
|
Schedule
3.14
|
Tax
Matters
|
Schedule
3.15(a)
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Schedule
3.15(d)
|
Intellectual
Property Agreements
|
Schedule
3.16
|
Contracts
|
Schedule
3.18
|
Accounts
and Notes Payable
|
Schedule
3.19
|
Insurance
|
Schedule
3.20
|
Claims
and Proceedings
|
Schedule
3.21(a)
|
Current
Employees
|
Schedule
3.21(b)
|
Delinquent
Payments to Employees
|
Schedule
3.22(a)
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
Schedule
3.22(b)
|
Administration
and Compliance of Employee Plans
|
Schedule
3.23
|
Business
Relations
|
Schedule
3.24
|
Environmental,
Health and Safety Matters
|
Schedule
3.25
|
Bank
Accounts
|
Schedule
3.27
|
Insider
Interests
|
EXHIBITS
A
|
Capitalization
of the Company
|
B-1
|
Adjusted
EBITDA Calculation
|
B-2
|
Target
Gross Margin
|
B-3
|
Target
Lubricants Volume
|
C
|
Form
of Promissory Note
|
D-1
|
Company
Financial Statements
|
D-2
|
Xxxxxxxxx
Financial Statements
|
E
|
Form
of Legal Opinion of Shareholders’
Counsel
|
-iv-
This
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”)
is
entered into as of September 7, 2005, by and among XXXXXXXXX MOBILE FUELING,
INC., a Florida corporation (“Buyer”),
H&W PETROLEUM CO., INC., a Texas corporation (the “Company”)
and
XXXXXX XXXXX. XXXXXX, XXXX XXX XXXXXX, XXXXXX XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXXX X. XXXXXXXXX
XX, X. X. XXXXXXXXX TESTAMENTARY TRUST, XXXXXXXXX DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC.,
a
Texas corporation (“Xxxxxxxxx”)
AND W
& H INTERESTS (collectively the “Shareholders”).
Buyer
and the Shareholders are referred to collectively herein as the “Parties.”
RECITALS
A. The
Company is engaged in the marketing and distribution of petroleum products,
including lubricants and fuels, with operating locations in Houston, Lufkin,
Freeport, Waco, Waxahachie and Longview, Texas and the Company intends to
purchase assets from Xxxxxxxxx, a related entity, that is engaged in the
marketing and distribution of chemicals, including dry cleaning solvents,
and
other petroleum products in Texas (collectively, the “Business”).
B. The
Shareholders own, as set forth on Exhibit
A
hereto,
all of the outstanding shares of the Company’s capital stock (collectively, the
“Shares”).
C. Buyer
desires to acquire from the Shareholders and the Shareholders desire to sell
to
Buyer all of the Shares owned by the Shareholders, on the terms and subject
to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
AGREEMENT
Now,
therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises herein
made,
and in consideration of the representations, warranties, and covenants herein
contained, the Parties agree as follows.
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Certain
Definitions.
In
addition to the definitions set forth elsewhere in this Agreement, as used
herein, the following terms (whether used in singular or plural forms) will
have
the following meanings:
“Actual
Gross Margin”
means
the sum of the Company’s actual Lubricants Products Gross Margin during the
Performance Period and the actual Xxxxxxxxx Products Gross Margin during
the
Performance Period, as calculated at the end of the Performance
Period.
“Actual
Lubricants Volume”
means
the Company’s actual number of gallons of Lubricants Products sold to customers
as calculated at the end of the Performance Period.
1
“Add-Back
Items”
means
certain income or expense items of the Company credited to or charged against
the operations of the Company and credited to or charged against the operations
of Xxxxxxxxx, as shown in the Financial Statements.
“Adjusted
EBITDA”
means
the net profit before taxes plus interest plus income taxes plus depreciation
and amortization plus Add-Back Items plus Non-Recurring Items plus Other
Adjustments, for the Company and Xxxxxxxxx calculated from the Financial
Statements and in the manner set forth on Exhibit
B-1
attached
hereto, which is subject to change based on completion of Buyer’s due diligence
concerning the Company and adjustments made by the Company, which will be
mutually agreed upon by Buyer and the Company at Closing.
“Adverse
Consequences”
means
all actions, suits, proceedings, hearings, investigations, charges, complaints,
claims, demands, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, damages,
dues, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid in settlement, Liabilities,
obligations, Taxes, liens, losses, expenses, and fees, including court costs,
arbitration filing and hearing fees, and reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses.
“Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any Person, as applicable, any of (a) a manager, director,
officer or stockholder or equity holder of such Person, (b) a spouse,
parent, sibling or descendant of such Person (or a spouse, parent, sibling
or
descendant of any director or officer of such Person) and (c) any
other
Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person.
The term “control” includes, without limitation, the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct the management and policies of a Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
All Shareholders, including Xxxxxxxxx, are deemed to be Affiliates of the
Company.
“Buy-back
Accounts”
means
those accounts sold to, or on behalf of, the Customer’s customers that are
delivered to such customers under contractually described buy back arrangements
with such customers, as set forth on Schedule
1.1(b).
“Closing
Date Balance Sheet”
means
an unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date that includes
the Xxxxxxxxx Assets transferred to the Company prior to Closing and that
is
prepared by the Company and approved by the Buyer at Closing.
“Closing
Date Inventory List”
means a
list of the Xxxxxxxxx Inventory as of the Closing Date listed by category
of
item, and indicating, for each such category, the value of such Xxxxxxxxx
Inventory as agreed by the Company and Buyer.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Current
Assets”
means
the current assets of the Company on the Closing Date Balance Sheet that
are
realizable and properly classified, reduced by (A) Ineligible Accounts
Receivable, (B) any related party receivables set forth on Schedule
1.1(a),
and (C)
those items of inventory that Buyer and the Company mutually agree to be
non-saleable.
“Current
Liabilities”
means
the current Liabilities of the Company shown on the Closing Date Balance
Sheet
reduced by (A) any related party Liabilities set forth on Schedule
1.1(c)
and (B)
any Retained Liabilities, and increased by (C) any unrecorded accounts payable
or accrued Liabilities identified by Buyer prior to the Closing Date, (D)
any
letters of credit and reserves, including but not limited to fuel tax reserves,
identified by Buyer prior to the Closing Date, and (E) the asset removal
obligation related to underground storage tankage. All of the auditing fees
and
other costs attributable to the 2005 Audited Financials will be deemed to
be
Current Liabilities of the Company at the Closing Date even if some or all
of
such fees and costs would ordinarily not be accrued until after the Closing
Date.
2
“Employee
Pension Benefit Plan”
will
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(2) of ERISA.
“Employee
Welfare Benefit Plan”
will
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(1) of ERISA.
“Environmental,
Health, and Safety Requirements”
will
mean all federal, state, local and foreign statutes, regulations, ordinances
and
other provisions having the force or effect of law, all judicial and
administrative orders and determinations, all contractual obligations and
all
common law concerning public health and safety, worker health and safety,
and
pollution or protection of the environment, including without limitation
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, each
as
amended and as now or hereafter in effect.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means
each entity which is treated as a single employer with the Shareholders for
purposes of Code Section 414.
“GAAP”
means
United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect from
time to
time, applied on a consistent basis.
“Governmental
Entity”
means
any court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority
or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, Federal, state, county or
local.
“Gross
Margin”
means
the sum of the Company’s Lubricants Products gross revenues minus cost of goods
sold for Lubricants Products and the Xxxxxxxxx Products gross revenues minus
cost of goods sold for Xxxxxxxxx Products, for a particular period.
“Xxxxxxxxx
Assets”
means
those certain assets purchased and liabilities, if any, assumed by the Company
from Xxxxxxxxx pursuant to an agreement in the form agreed upon by the
Parties.
“Xxxxxxxxx
Inventory”
means
all of the inventory of Xxxxxxxxx, including, but not limited to, kerosene,
dry-cleaning solvents and other cleaning supplies.
“Xxxxxxxxx
Products”
means
all of the products previously sold to customers by Xxxxxxxxx in the Ordinary
Course of Business.
3
“Hazardous
Substance”means
(i)
those substances defined in or regulated under the following United States
federal statutes and their state counterparts, as each may be amended from
time
to time, and all regulations thereunder: the Hazardous Materials Transportation
Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking
Water Act, the Atomic Energy Act, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and
Rodenticide Act and the Clean Air Act; (ii) petroleum and petroleum
products, including crude oil and any fractions thereof; (iii) natural gas,
synthetic gas, and any mixtures thereof; (iv) polychlorinated biphenyls,
asbestos and radon; and (v) any other contaminant, substance, material or
waste
regulated by any governmental or regulatory authority pursuant to any
Environmental, Health and Safety Requirement.
“Ineligible
Accounts Receivables”
means
those accounts receivable of the Company that the Company and Buyer mutually
determine to be uncollectible as of the Closing Date. In making this
determination, items reported as “ineligibles” in the Company’s revolving line
of credit borrowing base as of the Closing Date, or which are classified
as
ineligible for inclusion in the borrowing base for Buyer’s revolving line of
credit as of that date, shall be presumed to be uncollectible, except for
(A)
Buy-back Accounts as shown on Schedule
1.1(b)
and (B)
accounts receivable balances classified as over ninety (90) days past due
as of
the Closing Date which are due from active customers who also have accounts
receivable balances as of the Closing Date that are less than ninety (90)
days
past due, which balances are attributable to customers that the Company and
Buyer mutually agree not to be credit risks.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
(a) all inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not
reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent
applications, and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances,
continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and reexaminations
thereof, (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names,
and
corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations,
and
combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, and
all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (c) all
copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications, registrations,
and
renewals in connection therewith, (d) all mask works and all applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (e) all trade secrets
and
confidential business information (including ideas, research and development,
know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production processes
and
techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and
supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing
plans
and proposals), (f) all computer software (including data and related
documentation), (g) all other proprietary rights, and (h) all copies and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).
“Legal
Requirements”
means
applicable common law and any statute, ordinance, code or other law, rule,
regulation, order, technical or other standard, requirement or procedure
enacted, adopted, promulgated, applied or followed by any Governmental Entity,
including any judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or decree of any court,
judge, justice or magistrate, including any bankruptcy court or judge, and
any
order of or by any Governmental Entity.
“Liability”
means
any liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted,
whether
absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated
or
unliquidated, and whether due or to become due), including any liability
for
Taxes.
4
“Liens”
means
any security interest, pledge, bailment (in the nature of a pledge or for
purposes of security), mortgage, deed of trust, the grant of a power to confess
judgment, conditional sale and title retention agreement (including any lease
in
the nature thereof), charge, encumbrance, easement, reservation, restriction,
cloud, right of first refusal or first offer, option, or other similar
arrangement or interest in real or personal property.
“Lubricants
Products”
means
all of the Company’s lubricants products sold to customers in the Ordinary
Course of Business, the gallons and Gross Margins of which are included in
the
Company’s internal financial statements under the following captions: (a)
Industrial Oil, (b) Motor Oil, (c) Greases/Gear Oil, (d) Private Label-Tex
brand, and (e) Other, plus the gallons and the Gross Margin of the lubricants
products attributable to SMF Services, Inc. d/b/a Shank Services, a subsidiary
of Buyer, as set forth on Exhibits
B-2 and B-3.
“Material
Adverse Change”
means,
with respect to any Person, any material adverse change in the business,
operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), operating results,
liabilities, customer, supplier or employee relations or business prospects
of
such Person.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means,
with respect to any Person, a material adverse effect on the business,
operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), operating results,
liabilities, customer, supplier or employee relations or business prospects
of
such Person.
“Multi-Employer
Plan”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3(37) of ERISA.
“Multiple
Employer Plan”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 413 of the Code.
“Non-Compete
Period”
means
the period beginning with the Closing Date and ending on the later of
(i) the third anniversary of the Closing Date or (ii) for Shareholders
employed by the Company or Buyer following the Closing, the later of the
third
anniversary of the Closing Date or one year following the termination of
employment with the Company or Buyer.
“Non-Recurring
Items”
means
those certain one-time income or expense items of the Company credited to
or
charged against the operations of the Company and credited to or charged
against
the operations of Xxxxxxxxx, as shown in the Financial Statements.
“Ordinary
Course of Business”
means
the ordinary course of business consistent with past custom and practice
(including with respect to type, quantity and frequency).
“Other
Adjustments”
means
those certain income or expense items of the Company credited to or charged
against the operations of the Company and credited to or charged against
the
operations of Xxxxxxxxx, which are identified and quantified by Buyer prior
to
the Closing Date.
“Performance
Period”
means
the two (2) year period beginning on the first day of the first complete
month
following the Closing Date.
“Permitted
Lien”
means
(i) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable or being contested in
good
faith by appropriate proceedings and for which there are adequate reserves
on
the books, (ii) workers or unemployment compensation Liens arising
in the
Ordinary Course of Business; (iii) mechanic’s, materialman’s, supplier’s,
vendor’s or similar Liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business securing
amounts that are not delinquent, and (iv) zoning ordinances, easements
and
other restrictions of legal record affecting real property which would be
revealed by a survey and would not, individually or in the aggregate, materially
interfere with the usefulness of such real property to the
Business.
5
“Person”
will be
construed broadly and will include an individual, a partnership, a corporation,
a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust,
a
joint venture, an unincorporated organization, or a Governmental Entity (or
any
department, agency, or political subdivision thereof).
“Plans”
means
any (a) qualified or non-qualified Employee Pension Benefit Plan (including
any Multiple Employer Plans or Multi-Employer Plans), (b) Employee
Welfare
Benefit Plan, or (c) employee benefit, fringe benefit, vacation, bonus
plan
or other plan, program or arrangement, whether or not subject to ERISA and
whether or not funded.
“Purchase
Price Multiple”
means
four and one-half (4.5).
“Retained
Liabilities”
means
any of the Company’s Liabilities not incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business
including but not limited to those set forth on Schedule
1.1(c)
hereto.
“Subsidiary”
means
any corporation with respect to which a specified Person (or a Subsidiary
thereof) owns a majority of the common stock or has the power to vote or
direct
the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority of the
directors.
“Target
Gross Margin”
means
the sum of the Company’s target Lubricants Products Gross Margin during the
Performance Period and the target Xxxxxxxxx Products Gross Margin during
the
Performance Period, in the amount and calculated in the manner set forth
in
Exhibit
B-2.
“Target
Lubricants Volume”
means
the Company’s target number of gallons of Lubricants Products sold to customers
during the Performance Period calculated in the manner set forth in Exhibit
B-3.
“Tax”
means
any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits,
environmental (including taxes under Code Section 59A), customs duties, capital
stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar),
unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales, use,
transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, estimated,
or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or
addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return
or
statement relating to Taxes, including any disclosure schedule or attachment
thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
6
1.2 Other
Definitions.
The
following terms are defined in the Sections indicated:
Term
|
Section
|
2005
Audited Financials
|
3.6
|
Adjustment
Amount
|
2.4
|
Arbitrator
|
12.14
|
Authorizations
|
3.11
|
Business
|
Recitals
|
Buyer
|
Preface
|
Buy-back
Payment
|
2.2(a)
|
Buyer
Indemnified Parties
|
9.1
|
Buyer
Note
|
2.2
|
Closing
|
2.3
|
Closing
Date
|
2.3
|
Company
|
Recitals
|
Company
Indemnified Parties
|
9.1
|
Company
Financial Statements
|
3.6
|
Financial
Statements
|
3.6
|
Xxxxxxxxx
|
Preface
|
Xxxxxxxxx
Inventory Payment
|
2.2(b)
|
Xxxxxxxxx
Financial Statements
|
3.6
|
Indemnified
Party
|
9.3
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
9.3
|
Intellectual
Property Agreements
|
3.15(d)
|
Latest
Balance Sheets
|
3.6
|
Latest
Company Balance Sheet
|
3.6
|
Latest
Xxxxxxxxx Balance Sheet
|
3.6
|
Leased
Property
|
3.12(e)
|
Losses
|
9.1
|
Party
|
Preface
|
Plan
|
3.22
|
Purchase
Price
|
2.2
|
Shareholders
|
Preface
|
Shares
|
Recitals
|
Third
Party Claim
|
9.3
|
ARTICLE
II
PURCHASE
AND SALE; CLOSING
2.1 Purchase
and Sale.
Upon
the basis of the representations and warranties, for the consideration, and
on
and subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer agrees to
purchase and accept from each of the Shareholders, and each of the Shareholders
agrees to sell, convey, transfer and deliver to Buyer at Closing, all of
his or
her Shares (which will constitute all of the outstanding capital stock of
the
Company) free and clear of any and all liens, security interests, claims,
charges, encumbrances and rights of others whatsoever.
7
2.2 Purchase
Price.
(a) Buyer
agrees to pay to the Shareholders at the Closing the purchase price calculated
in accordance with Section 2.2(b) (the “Purchase
Price”),
by
delivery of:
(i) Three
Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,300,000.00) of the Purchase Price
in
cash payable by wire transfer, less any amounts attributable to unpaid Buy-back
Accounts which are classified as ineligible for inclusion in the borrowing
base
for Buyer’s revolving line of credit as of that date (the “Buy-back
Payment”);
and
(ii) the
balance of the Purchase Price in one or more deferred payment promissory
notes
in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit
C
(the
“Buyer
Note”).
The
Buyer Note is subject to the Adjustment Amount, if any, as set forth in Section
2.4.
(b) In
addition to the amounts set forth in Section 2.2(a), Buyer agrees to pay
to the
Company at the Closing cash payable by wire transfer for the Xxxxxxxxx Inventory
in the amount set forth on the Closing Date Inventory List and agreed upon
by
Buyer and the Company at Closing (the “Xxxxxxxxx
Inventory Payment”).
(c) The
Purchase Price will be allocated among the Shareholders in accordance with
their
rights and preferences under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, which
allocations are set forth on Exhibit
A
hereto.
The Purchase Price will be allocated among the Shareholders in accordance
with
their rights and preferences under the Company’s Articles of Incorporation,
which allocations are set forth on Exhibit
A
hereto.
Buyer will pay to the Shareholders that portion of the Buy-back Payment in
cash
that equals the amount of the payment(s) made by any customer on a Buy-back
Account, which payment(s) shall be made as soon as practicable after receipt
of
payment from the customer but in no event later than ten (10) days after
such
receipt.
(d) The
Purchase Price will be the sum of (i) the Adjusted EBITDA times the Purchase
Price Multiple plus (ii) the Current Assets less the Current Liabilities
as
shown on the Closing Date Balance Sheet; provided,
however,
the
Purchase Price will not be less than Three Million Three Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($3,300,000.00). As used in this Agreement, the term “Purchase Price”
will include the amount of the Buy-back Payment.
2.3 The
Closing.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”)
will
take place at the offices of The Xxxxxx Xxxx Company or such other place,
and at
such time and on such date, as is mutually agreed upon by the Parties following
the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the obligations of the Parties
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (other than conditions
with
respect to actions the respective Parties will take at the Closing itself)
or
such other date as Buyer and the Shareholders may mutually determine (the
“Closing
Date”).
8
2.4 Purchase
Price Adjustment.
(a) The
“Adjustment
Amount”
will be
calculated as of the end of the Performance Period.
(b) The
“Adjustment
Amount”
will be
zero if the Actual Gross Margin is equal to or greater than the Target Gross
Margin and the Actual Lubricants Volume is equal to or greater than the Target
Lubricants Volume.
(c) If
the
Actual Gross Margin is less than the Target Gross Margin and/or the Actual
Lubricants Volume is less than the Target Lubricants Volume, the “Adjustment
Amount”
will be
the greater
of the
following:
(i) the
quotient of the Purchase Price divided
by the
Target Gross Margin times
the
amount that the Target Gross Margin exceeds
the
Actual Gross Margin; or
(ii) the
quotient of the Target Gross Margin divided
by the
Target Lubricants Volume times
the
amount that the Target Lubricants Volume exceeds the Actual Lubricants
Volume.
(d) Within
thirty (30) days after the end of the Performance Period, Buyer will prepare
and
deliver to the Shareholders (i) the Actual Gross Margin and Actual
Lubricants Volume of the Company for the Performance Period and (ii) its
calculation of the Adjustment Amount, if any. If the Shareholders disagree
with
any of the information or calculations provided by Buyer, then the Shareholders
may, within ten (10) days after delivery of such information or calculation
to
them, deliver a notice to Buyer stating the existence and nature of such
disagreement. Any such notice of disagreement will specify those items or
amounts as to which the Shareholders disagree. If such notice of disagreement
is
delivered by the Shareholders, then the Parties will use their best efforts
to
reach agreement on the disputed items or amounts within ten (10) days after
Buyer’s receipt of such notice. If the Parties have not reached agreement within
ninety (90) days after the expiration of the Performance Period, the
Shareholders (as a group) may submit the matter to a regionally recognized
accounting firm, other than the firm that regularly represents Buyer, the
Company or any Shareholder, for review and resolution, with instructions
to
complete the review as promptly as practicable. The resolution of such
accounting firm will be conclusive and binding on the Parties hereto. If
the
result of the review is a decrease of the Adjustment Amount of five percent
(5%)
or more from the Adjustment Amount as calculated by Buyer, the cost of such
review will be borne by Buyer; in all other cases, the cost of the review
will
be borne by Shareholders.
(e) If
the
Purchase Price is reduced pursuant to this Section 2.4, then the aggregate
amount due under the Buyer Notes (including principal and accrued interest)
will
be reduced by the Adjustment Amount in proportion to the Shareholders’
respective holdings of Shares as set forth on Exhibit
A
hereto.
In no event shall the Adjustment Amount exceed the aggregate amount due under
the Buyer Notes (including accrued interest).
9
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SHAREHOLDERS
As
a
material inducement to Buyer to enter into and perform its obligations under
this Agreement, the Company and each of the Shareholders jointly and severally
represent and warrant to Buyer (except for those representations and warranties
in Section 3.28 which are made solely by the Shareholders) as set forth
below:
3.1 Due
Organization and Capitalization of the Company.
The
Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Texas, and is qualified to do business
in every jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify could have a Material
Adverse Effect. Schedule
3.1
lists
all of the jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified to do business
as a
foreign corporation. Schedule
3.1
sets
forth all names under which the Company has conducted the Business. The
Shareholders own directly all of the capital stock of the Company, including
all
common stock, all preferred stock and all equity securities issued by the
Company, all of which is being conveyed to Buyer in exchange for the Purchase
Price. No other Person has any right to or interest in the outstanding capital
stock of the Company and there are no issued and outstanding, or otherwise
committed, options, warrants, or other rights, contingent or otherwise, to
purchase, acquire or own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock or any
other
equity interest in the Company.
3.2 Authorization
of Transaction.
The
Company has all requisite power and authority to own and operate the Business
and to carry on the Business as now conducted. Each Shareholder and the Company
have all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and
any and all documents or instruments necessary or appropriate in order to
effectuate fully the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all related
transactions and to perform his, her or its obligations under this Agreement.
This Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been
duly and validly authorized by all necessary action (corporate or otherwise)
on
the part of the Shareholders and/or the Company, and this Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by such Shareholder and/or the Company, and
constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of such Shareholder
and/or
the Company, enforceable against such Shareholder and/or the Company in
accordance with its terms and conditions.
3.3 No
Restrictions Against Transfer. Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.3,
neither
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement nor the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by the Shareholders or
the
Company, will (a) violate any law to which the Shareholders or the
Company
or the Business is subject, (b) violate any provision of the Articles
of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (c) conflict with, result
in a
breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create
in
any Party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require
any
notice under, any contract, agreement, instrument or other document to which
any
Shareholder or the Company is a party or (d) result in the imposition
of
any Lien upon any of the assets of the Business. Except as set forth on
Schedule
3.3,
neither
the Shareholders nor the Company is required to give any notice to, make
any
filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any
Governmental Entity or any consent or approval of any other Person in order
for
the Shareholders or the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement or in order for Buyer to conduct the Business in the ordinary
course following the Closing Date.
10
3.4 Subsidiaries. The
Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any stock, partnership interest
or
joint venture interest in, or any security issued by, any other
Person.
3.5 Brokers’
Fees.
The
Company and the Shareholders do not have any Liability or obligation to pay
any
fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the Shareholders’
obligation to The Xxxxxx Xxxx Company.
3.6 Financial
Statements.
Exhibit
D-1
contains
(i) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company at June 30, 2005 (the
“Latest
Company Balance Sheet”)
and
the related unaudited statement of operations and cash flows of the Company
for
the twelve (12) months ended June 30, 2005, and (ii) the audited balance
sheet of the Company at June 30, 2004 and the audited statement of operations
and cash flows of the Company for the year ended June 30, 2004, accompanied
by
the audit report from Xxxxx & Rode, LLP, Certified Public Accountants
(collectively, the “Company
Financial Statements”).
Exhibit
D-2
contains
the balance sheet of Xxxxxxxxx at June 30, 2005 prepared by Xxxxxxxxx (the
“Latest
Xxxxxxxxx Balance Sheet,”
and
together with the Latest Company Balance Sheet, the “Latest
Balance Sheets”)
and
the statement of operations and cash flows of Xxxxxxxxx for the nine months
ended June 30, 2005 prepared by Xxxxxxxxx (collectively, the “Xxxxxxxxx
Financial Statements,”
and
together with the Company Financial Statements, the “Financial
Statements”).
Each
of the Financial Statements (including the notes thereto) have been prepared
in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered thereby, present fairly the financial condition of the Company and
Xxxxxxxxx, respectively, as of such dates and the results of operations of
the
Company for such periods, are correct and complete, and are consistent with
the
books and records of the Company and Xxxxxxxxx, respectively (which books
and
records are correct and complete). Since June 30, 2004, except as required
by
applicable law, there has been no change in any accounting principle, procedure
or practice followed by the Company or in the method of applying any such
principle, procedure or practice. The Company will cause to be prepared,
at its
expense, the audited balance sheet of the Company at June 30, 2005 and the
audited statement of operations and cash flows of the Company for the year
ended
June 30, 2005, accompanied by the audit report from Xxxxx & Rode, LLP,
Certified Public Accountants (the “2005
Audited Financials”).
3.7 Subsequent
Events.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
3.7,
since
June 30, 2004, the Company and Xxxxxxxxx have conducted its operations and
business in the Ordinary Course of Business consistent with past practices,
and
the Company has not suffered any Material Adverse Change. Since that date,
except as set forth on Schedule
3.7:
(a) the
Company has not sold, leased, transferred, or assigned any of its assets,
tangible or intangible, other than for a fair consideration in the Ordinary
Course of Business;
11
(b) the
Company has not entered into any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or
series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) outside the
Ordinary Course of Business or that is otherwise material to the
Company;
(c) no
party
(including the Company) has accelerated, terminated, modified, or canceled
any
agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related agreements,
contracts, leases, and licenses) involving more than $10,000 in the aggregate
to
which the Company is a party or by which any of them is bound;
(d) the
Company has not imposed any Lien upon any of its assets, tangible or
intangible;
(e) the
Company has not made any capital expenditure (or series of related capital
expenditures) outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(f) the
Company has not made any capital investment in, any loan to, or any acquisition
of the securities or assets of, any other Person (or series of related capital
investments, loans, and acquisitions) outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(g) the
Company has not issued any note, bond, or other debt security or created,
incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money or
capitalized lease obligation involving more than $10,000 in the
aggregate;
(h) there
has
been no change made or authorized in the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of
the Company;
(i) the
Company has not issued, sold, or otherwise disposed of any of its capital
stock,
or granted any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or obtain
(including upon conversion, exchange, or exercise) any of its capital
stock;
(j) the
Company has not declared, set aside, or paid any dividend or made any
distribution with respect to its capital stock (whether in cash or in kind)
or
redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired any of its capital
stock;
(k) the
Company has not made any loan to, or entered into any other transaction with,
any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course
of
Business;
(l) the
Company has not increased the compensation or benefits payable to its directors,
officers, and employees other than scheduled increases in the Ordinary Course
of
Business;
(m) the
Company has not made any change in its accounting, collection or payment
practices; and
(n) neither
the Company nor any Shareholder has committed or agreed to any of the
foregoing.
12
3.8 Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities.
The
Company has no Liabilities, except for (a) Liabilities reflected in
the
liabilities section of the Latest Balance Sheets, (b) Liabilities
under any
agreements, contracts, commitments, licenses or leases listed on Schedule 3.16,
(c)
Liabilities resulting from the letters of credit and other off balance sheet
items listed on Schedule 3.8
and
(d) Liabilities which have arisen since the date of the Latest Balance
Sheets in the Ordinary Course of Business.
3.9 Creditors;
Bankruptcy, Etc. Neither
any Shareholder nor the Company is involved in any proceeding by or against
any
Shareholder or the Company as a debtor in any court under the United States
Bankruptcy Code or any other insolvency or debtors’ relief act, whether state or
federal, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, assignee,
sequestrator or other similar official of any Shareholder or the
Company.
3.10 Legal
Compliance.
The
Company and its predecessors and Affiliates have complied with all applicable
laws (including rules, regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments,
orders, decrees, rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state, local,
and
foreign governments (and all agencies thereof). Except as set forth on
Schedule
3.10,
no
action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim,
demand, or notice has been filed or commenced, or to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened against any of them alleging any failure so to comply.
3.11 Licenses
and Permits.
Schedule
3.11
contains
a list of all federal, state, county, and local governmental licenses,
certificates, registrations, authorizations and permits (collectively,
“Authorizations”)
held
or applied for by the Company. The Company has complied with the terms and
conditions of all such Authorizations, no violation of any such Authorization
or
the laws or rules governing the issuance or continued validity thereof has
occurred and all of such Authorizations are in full force and effect. No
additional Authorization is required from any federal, state, county, or
local
government agency or body thereof in connection with the conduct of the business
of the Company.
3.12 Title
to Assets.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.12(a),
(i) the Company owns good and marketable title, free and clear of
all Liens
(other than Permitted Liens), to all of the assets of the Business, including,
upon consummation of the asset purchase from Xxxxxxxxx, all of the Xxxxxxxxx
Assets, and (ii) the assets of the Business as of the date hereof include
all
assets, properties and interests in properties presently used for the conduct
of
the Business by the Company.
(b) The
facilities, machinery, equipment, vehicles, tanks and other tangible assets
of
the Company are in good condition and repair (subject to routine maintenance
and
repair for similar assets of like age), fit for their particular purpose,
and
are usable in the Ordinary Course of Business. The Company owns or leases
under
valid leases all machinery, equipment, vehicles, tanks and other tangible
assets
used in the conduct of the Business as conducted as of the date hereof and
represented on the Latest Balance Sheets. Except as set forth on Schedule
3.12(b),
no
Shareholder owns or licenses any assets used in or related to the
Business.
13
(c) Schedule
3.12(c)
lists
and specifies the locations of the fixed assets of the Business. At all times
during which the Company owned the assets of the Business, none of the assets
of
the Business was located (or, in the case of the vehicles, garaged) at any
place
other than the places set forth on Schedule
3.12(c),
except
for (i) periods in which such assets were in transit to the Company
in the
Ordinary Course of Business and (ii) periods in which such assets
were
being repaired off premises in the Ordinary Course of Business.
(d) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.12(d),
the
Company does not own, and has never owned since its incorporation, any real
property.
(e) Schedule
3.12(e)
contains
a brief description of all real and personal property leased by the Company
(the
“Leased
Property”),
the
name of the lessor and any requirement of consent of the lessor to assignment,
if any. The Leased Property constitutes all real properties used or occupied
by
the Company in connection with the Business. With respect to the Leased
Property, the Company is the owner and holder of all of the leasehold estates
purported to be granted by such lease and each lease is in full force and
effect
and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company. The Company
has
delivered to Buyer true and complete copies of all leases referred to in
Schedule
3.12(e).
With
respect to the Leased Property, (i) no portion thereof is subject to any
pending
condemnation proceeding and there is no threatened condemnation proceeding
with
respect thereto; (ii) no notice of any increase in the assessed valuation
of the
Leased Property and no notice of any contemplated special assessment has
been
received by the Company since June 30, 2005, and (iii) the physical condition
of
the Leased Property is sufficient to permit the continued conduct of the
Business as presently conducted subject to the provision of usual and customary
maintenance and repair performed in the Ordinary Course of Business with
respect
to similar properties of like age and construction.
3.13 Inventory. The
inventory of the Company (not including the Xxxxxxxxx Inventory) includes,
but
is not limited to, diesel fuel, gasoline, lubricants, oil, filters, pumps,
supplies, and other manufactured and purchased parts, as set forth on the
Latest
Balance Sheets and the changes thereto reflected on the books and records
of the
Company since the date of the Latest Balance Sheets in the Ordinary Course
of
Business. Such inventory and the Xxxxxxxxx Inventory is fit for the purpose
for
which it was procured or manufactured, subject to any reserves set forth
on the
Latest Balance Sheets and the changes thereto reflected on the books and
records
of the Company since the date of the Latest Balance Sheets in the Ordinary
Course of Business, as set forth on Schedule 3.13,
and is
all merchantable. The Company has all rights and title to its inventory,
none of
which is has been consigned to the Company by any other person or entity.
3.14 Tax
Matters. Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.14,
since
January 1, 1999, the Company (A) has timely paid all Taxes required
to be
paid by the Company through the date hereof (including any Taxes shown due
on
any Tax Return) and (B) has filed in a timely manner (within any
applicable extension periods) all Tax Returns required to be filed by the
Company with the appropriate Governmental Entities in all jurisdictions in
which
such Tax Returns are required to be filed, and all such Tax Returns are true
and
complete. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.14,
(i) no Liens have been filed and neither the Shareholders nor the
Company
have been notified by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority
that any issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by the Internal
Revenue Service or any other taxing authority in connection with any Tax
Return
of the Company, and no waivers of statutes of limitations have been given
or
requested with respect to the Company; (ii) there are no pending audits
of
any Tax Returns of the Company; (iii) no unresolved deficiencies or
additions to Taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed against the Company
; (iv) the Company has made full and adequate provision (x) on
the
Latest Balance Sheets for all Taxes payable by it for all periods prior to
the
date of the Latest Balance Sheets and (y) on its books for all Taxes
payable by it for all periods beginning on or after the date of the Latest
Balance Sheets; (v) the Company has not nor will it incur any Tax
Liability
from and after the date of the Latest Balance Sheets other than Taxes incurred
in the Ordinary Course of Business; (vi) both the Shareholders and
the
Company have complied in all respects with all applicable laws relating to
the
collection or withholding of Taxes (such as sales Taxes or withholding of
Taxes
from the wages of employees) and the Company is not liable for any Taxes
for
failure to comply with such laws; (vii) the Company is not now nor
has it
been a party to any Tax sharing agreement; (viii) the Company has
no
obligation to make any payments that will be non-deductible under, or would
otherwise constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of, Section 280G
of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign income
Tax law); (ix) the Company has not agreed to and is not required to
make
any adjustments pursuant to Section 481 of the Code, and the Internal Revenue
Service has not proposed any such adjustments or changes in the accounting
methods of the Company; (x) the Company has no liability for the Taxes
of
any Person (other than itself) under any provision of applicable law or
regulation, by contract, as transferee or successor, or otherwise;
(xi) upon consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
none of the assets of the Business will be subject to the “anti-churning” rules
of Code Section 197(f)(9); and (xii) each of the Shareholders is a “US Person”
for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
14
3.15 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule
3.15(a)
contains
a complete list of all of the Company’s Intellectual Property and their
designation (e.g., trademark, copyright, patent, etc.) owned or used by the
Company, together with all federal and state registration numbers and pending
application numbers.
(b) The
Company owns or has the right to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement,
or permission all Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of the
business of the Company as presently conducted. Each item of Intellectual
Property to be owned or used by Buyer immediately prior to the Closing hereunder
will be owned or available for use by Buyer on identical terms and conditions
immediately subsequent to the Closing hereunder. The Company has taken all
necessary action to maintain and protect each item of Intellectual Property
that
it owns or uses.
(c) The
Company has not interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise
come into conflict with any Intellectual Property rights of third parties,
and
neither the Company nor any of the Shareholders have ever received any charge,
complaint, claim, demand, or notice alleging any such interference,
infringement, misappropriation, or violation (including any claim that the
Company must license or refrain from using any Intellectual Property rights
of
any third party). To the Company’s knowledge and to the knowledge of each of the
Shareholders, no third party has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual Property
rights of the Company.
15
(d) Schedule
3.15(d)
lists
all agreements regarding the Intellectual Property (the “Intellectual
Property Agreements”)
and
the Company has provided Buyer with copies of the Intellectual Property
Agreements. Except as set forth in Schedule
3.15(d),
the
Intellectual Property Agreements will be assumed by, and will become valid
agreements of Buyer without the requirement that any consent to assignment
be
obtained.
(e) There
is
no item of Intellectual Property that any third party owns and that the Company
uses pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement or permission.
3.16 Contracts.
(a) Schedule
3.16
contains
a list of all written or oral contracts, commitments, leases and other
agreements (including, without limitation, promissory notes, loan agreements,
and other evidences of indebtedness, guarantees, agreements with distributors,
suppliers, dealers, franchisors and customers, service agreements and vendor
contracts) to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its
properties are bound pursuant to which the obligations thereunder of either
party thereto are, or are contemplated as being, $5,000 or more, together
with
any personal guarantees of the foregoing made by the Shareholders or either
of
them. The Shareholders have delivered to Buyer a correct and complete copy
of
each of the contracts listed on Schedule
3.16,
together with all amendments, waivers or other changes thereto, and a written
summary setting forth the terms and conditions of each oral agreement referred
to in Schedule
3.16.
(b) Each
agreement, lease, license, contract or commitment disclosed on Schedule
3.16
is valid
and enforceable against the Company and the other parties thereto, except
as
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
and
other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights,
and laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive
relief
or other equitable remedies. Except as specifically disclosed in Schedule
3.16,
the
Company has performed in all material respects all obligations required to
be
performed by it and is not in default under or in breach of or in receipt
of any
claim of default or breach under any such agreement, lease, license, contract
or
commitment to which it is a party; and no event has occurred which with the
passage of time or the giving of notice or both would result in a default
or
breach under any such document. No other party to any agreement, lease, license,
contract, or commitment to which the Company is a party is in default under
or
in breach of such document and no event has occurred which with the passage
of
time or giving of notice or both would result in a default or breach under
any
such document. If and to the extent that the Company has entered into any
marketing or other arrangements which provide any customer or group of customers
a discount or other terms that are more favorable than those provided to
the
Company’s customers generally, such arrangements are fully described in
Schedule
3.16.
3.17 Accounts
and Notes Receivable.
The
accounts and notes receivable reflected on the Latest Balance Sheets and
the
Company’s books and records (net of allowances for doubtful accounts as
reflected thereon) were generated in the Ordinary Course of Business from
actual
business transactions, were and are valid receivables, and have been collected
or are current and collectible in the Ordinary Course of Business subject
to no
valid counterclaims or set-offs, at the aggregate recorded net amount thereof
as
shown on the Latest Balance Sheets or the Company’s books and records, as
applicable.
16
3.18 Accounts
and Notes Payable.
There
are
no accounts or notes payable by the Company that are more than sixty (60)
days
past due as of the Closing Date except those listed on Schedule
3.18
which
are the subject of a bona fide dispute. All accounts payable and notes payable
by the Company to third parties as of the Closing Date arose in the Ordinary
Course of Business.
3.19 Insurance.
Schedule
3.19
lists
and briefly describes each insurance policy, self insurance arrangement and
bonding arrangement maintained by the Company with respect to its properties,
assets and business (including, without limitation, any bonding arrangement
required under any contract or applicable law), and all currently pending
claims
thereunder. All of such insurance policies and bonding arrangements are in
full
force and effect, and the Company is not in default with respect to its
obligations under any of such insurance policies or bonding arrangements
and the
Company has not received any notification of cancellation or modification
of any
of such insurance policies or bonding arrangements nor is any claim outstanding
which could be expected to cause a material increase in the Company’s insurance
rates. There are no facts or circumstances which exist that might relieve
any
insurer under such insurance policies or bonding arrangements of its obligations
to satisfy in full claims thereunder. The Company maintains insurance coverage
of a type and amount customary for entities of similar size engaged in similar
lines of business.
3.20 Claims
and Proceedings.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
3.20,
the
Company (a) is not subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment,
order,
decree, ruling, or charge and (b) is not a party or, to the knowledge
of
any of the Shareholders, is not threatened to be made a party to any action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation of, in, or before any court or
quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or
foreign
jurisdiction or before any arbitrator. None of the Shareholders have any
reason
to believe that any such action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation
may
be brought or threatened against the Company.
3.21 Employees.
(a) Schedule
3.21(a)
lists
all current employees of the Company, their permanent classifications (if
applicable), their hourly rates of compensation or base salaries (as
applicable), and the commencement date of their employment. The Company has
complied in all material respects with all laws relating to the hiring of
employees and the employment of labor, including provisions thereof relating
to
immigration and citizenship (including proper completion and processing of
Forms
I-9 for employees), wages, hours, equal opportunity, collective bargaining
and
the payment of social security and other Taxes. There are no labor relations
problems with respect to the Company (including, without limitation, any
union
organization activities, threatened or actual strikes or work stoppages or
material grievances). There is no criminal activity or the prior conviction,
indictment, guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere on the part of the Company’s
employees or any other actual or alleged activity or actions of any such
employees that could reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability
of
any such employee, the Company or Buyer from providing services to any current
or potential customers.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
3.21(b),
(i) the Company is not delinquent in payments to any of the employees
for
any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses or other direct compensation for
any
services performed by them to date or amounts required to be reimbursed to
such
employees and, in the event of termination of the employment of any such
employees by the Company or Buyer, neither the Buyer nor the Company will
by
reason of anything done prior to the Closing, including by oral or written
contract or agreement, practice or statement in an employee handbook, be
liable
to any of such employees for severance pay or any other payments other than
ordinary wages and benefits earned through the date of such termination,
(ii) there is no unfair labor practice complaint against the Company
pending before the National Labor Relations Board or any other Governmental
Entity, (iii) there is no labor strike, material dispute, slowdown
or
stoppage actually pending or threatened against or involving the Company,
(iv) no labor union currently represents the employees of the Company,
(v) no labor union has taken any action with respect to organizing
the
employees of the Company, and (vi) neither any grievance that might
result
in a Material Adverse Effect nor any arbitration proceeding arising out of
or
under collective bargaining agreements is pending and no claim thereto has
been
asserted against the Company.
17
3.22 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Employee
Benefit Plans.
Schedule
3.22(a)
sets
forth a true and complete list of all of the Company’s Plans (i) that cover
any present or former employees of the Company (A) that are or ever
were
maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company or (B) with
respect
to which the Company is or ever was obligated to contribute or has any Liability
or potential Liability, whether direct or indirect or (ii) with respect
to
which the Company has any Liability or potential Liability on account of
the
maintenance or sponsorship thereof or contribution thereto by any present
or
former ERISA Affiliate of the Company.
(b) Administration
and Compliance of the Plans.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.22(b),
with
respect to each Plan:
(i) all
required, declared or discretionary (in accordance with past practices)
payments, premiums, contributions, reimbursements or accruals for all periods
ending prior to or as of the Closing Date have been made or properly accrued
on
the Latest Balance Sheets or, with respect to accruals properly made after
the
date of the Latest Balance Sheets, on the books and records of the
Company;
(ii) the
Company has timely deposited all amounts withheld from employees for pension,
welfare or other benefits into the appropriate trusts or accounts;
(iii) except
as
may be required under laws of general application, the Plan does not obligate
the Company to provide any employee or former employee, or their spouses,
family
members or beneficiaries, any post-employment or post-retirement health or
life
insurance, accident or other “welfare-type” benefits;
(iv) if
the
Plan is a “group health plan” within the meaning of Section 5000 of the Code,
the Plan has been maintained in compliance with Section 4980B of the Code
and
Title I, Subtitle B, Part 6 of ERISA (collectively, “COBRA”)
and no
tax payable on account of Section 4980B of the Code has been or is expected
to
be incurred;
(v) the
Company has provided Buyer with true and complete copies, to the extent
applicable, of all documents pursuant to which such Plan is maintained and
administered, the two most recent annual reports (Form 5500 and attachments)
and
financial statements therefore, all governmental rulings, determinations,
and
opinions (and pending requests therefore), and if such Plan provides
post-retirement or post-employment health and life insurance, accident, or
other
“welfare-type” benefits, the most recent valuation of the present and future
obligations under such Plan. The foregoing documents accurately reflect all
material terms of such Plan.
18
3.23 Business
Relations.
The
Shareholders neither know nor have any reason to believe that any customer
or
supplier of the Company will cease to do business with the Company after
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby in the same manner and
at
the same levels as previously conducted with the Company. Schedule
3.23
sets
forth a listing of the ten largest customers and suppliers of the Company
for
each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2003 and 2004 and to date for fiscal
year 2005.
3.24 Environmental,
Health, and Safety Matters.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
3.24,
(a) The
Company and its predecessors and Affiliates have complied and are in compliance
with all Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(b) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company and its Affiliates
have
obtained and complied with, and are in compliance with, all permits, licenses
and other authorizations that are required pursuant to Environmental, Health,
and Safety Requirements for the occupation of its facilities and the operation
of its business; a list of all such permits, licenses and other authorizations
is set forth in the disclosure schedules.
(c) The
Company and its predecessors or Affiliates have not received any written
or oral
notice, report or other information regarding any actual or alleged violation
of
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, or any liabilities or potential
liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise),
including any investigatory, remedial or corrective obligations, relating
to any
of them or its facilities arising under Environmental, Health, and Safety
Requirements.
(d) None
of
the following exists at any property or facility owned or operated by the
Company: (i) underground storage tanks, (ii) asbestos-containing
material in any form or condition, (iii) materials or equipment containing
polychlorinated biphenyls, (iv) landfills, surface impoundments, or
disposal areas, or (v) soil, groundwater, surface water or indoor air
contamination, by any release of any Hazardous Substance.
(e) The
Company and its predecessors or Affiliates have not treated, stored, disposed
of, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, transported, handled, or released
any substance, including without limitation any hazardous substance, or 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 would give
rise to liabilities, including any liability for response costs, corrective
action costs, personal injury, property damage, natural resources damages
or
attorney fees, pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, the Solid Waste Disposal
Act, as amended or any other Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
19
(f) Neither
this Agreement nor the consummation of the transaction that is the subject
of
this Agreement will result in any obligations for site investigation or cleanup,
or notification to or consent of government agencies or third parties, pursuant
to any of the so-called “transaction-triggered” or “responsible property
transfer” Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(g) The
Company and its predecessors or Affiliates have not, either expressly or
by
operation of law, assumed or undertaken any liability, including without
limitation any obligation for corrective or remedial action, of any other
Person
relating to Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(h) No
facts,
events or conditions relating to the past or present facilities, properties
or
operations of the Company or any of its predecessors or Affiliates will prevent,
hinder or limit continued compliance with Environmental, Health, and Safety
Requirements, give rise to any investigatory, remedial or corrective obligations
pursuant to Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, or give rise
to any
other liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated or
otherwise) pursuant to Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, including
without limitation any relating to onsite or offsite releases or threatened
releases of hazardous materials, substances or wastes, personal injury, property
damage or natural resources damage.
3.25 Bank
Accounts.
Schedule
3.25
contains
a (i) list of all banks or other financial institutions with which the Company
has an account or maintains a safe deposit box, showing the type and account
number of each such account and safe deposit box and the names of the persons
authorized as signatories thereon or to act or deal in connection therewith
and
(ii) the names of all Persons holding general or special powers of
attorney
from the Company.
3.26 Warranties.
Except
for warranty claims that are immaterial and in the Ordinary Course of Business
of the Company, there is no outstanding claim against the Company for breach
of
product or service warranty to any customer. No state of facts exists, and
no
event has occurred, which forms the basis of any present claim against the
Company for liability on account of any express or implied warranty to any
third
party in connection with products sold or services provided by the
Company.
3.27 Insider
Interests.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
3.27,
and
except for compensation to regular employees of the Company, no current or
former Affiliate of the Company is now, or has been in the last five (5)
years,
(i) a party to any transaction or contract with the Company,
(ii) indebted to the Company, or (iii) the direct or indirect
owner of
an interest in any Person which is a present or potential competitor, supplier,
lessor, or customer of the Company (other than non-affiliated holdings in
publicly held companies), nor does any such Person receive income from any
source other than the Company which should properly accrue to the Company.
Except as set forth on Schedule
3.27
and
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, neither the Shareholders nor any
Affiliate thereof is a guarantor or otherwise liable for any Liability
(including indebtedness) of the Company.
3.28 Shares.
The
Shareholders are the record and beneficial owners of the Shares, and own
and
hold, and will on the Closing Date own, hold and convey to Buyer, good and
valid
title to such Shares, free and clear of all Liens. Each of the Shareholders
has
full right and power to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to
Buyer
as provided in this Agreement.
20
3.29 Disclosure.
(a) No
representation or warranty of the Company or the Shareholders in this Agreement
(including the disclosure schedules attached hereto) misstates a material
fact,
or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements herein
or
therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not
misleading.
(b) There
is
no fact known to the Company or the Shareholders that has specific application
to the Company or the Business (other than general economic or industry
conditions) that materially adversely affects or, as far as the Company or
the
Shareholders can reasonably foresee, materially threatens, the assets, business,
prospects, financial condition, or results of operations of the Company or
the
Business that has not been set forth in this Agreement, including the disclosure
schedules attached hereto.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
As
a
material inducement to the Shareholders to enter into and perform their
obligations under this Agreement, Buyer represents and warrants to the
Shareholders as follows:
4.1 Organization
of Buyer.
Buyer
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under
the laws of the State of Florida and is qualified to do business in every
jurisdiction where a failure to do so would have an adverse effect on Buyer’s
ability to consummate this transaction.
4.2 Authorization
of Transaction. Buyer
has
all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
any
and all documents and instruments necessary or appropriate in order to
effectuate fully the terms and conditions of this Agreement and all related
transactions and to perform its obligations under this Agreement. This Agreement
has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Buyer
and has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and constitutes the valid
and
legally binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance
with its terms and conditions, except as limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application
affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights, and laws relating to the
availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable
remedies.
4.3 No
Restrictions Against Transaction. Neither
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement nor the consummation
of the transactions contemplated thereby, nor compliance by Buyer with any
of
the provisions thereof, will (i) violate, conflict with, or result
in a
material breach of any provision of, or constitute a default (or an event
which,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under any
of
the terms, conditions or provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of Buyer, or under any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, or
other
agreement to which Buyer is bound, or by which Buyer or any of their respective
properties or assets may be bound or affected, which in either case would
prevent the consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated hereby,
or
(ii) violate any law applicable to Buyer or any of its properties
or assets
so as to prevent Buyer’s consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
No consent or approval by, notice to, or registration with, any Governmental
Entity or any consent or approval of any other Person is required on the
part of
Buyer in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the
consummation by Buyer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
so as
to prevent Buyer’s consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
21
4.4 Brokers.
Buyer
does not have any Liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions
to any
broker, finder, or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement.
4.5 Investment.
Buyer
is acquiring the Shares for Buyer’s own account for investment only, and not
with a view towards their distribution. In making its determination to purchase
the Shares, Buyer is not relying on any representations of the Company,
Shareholders or their respective Affiliates other than those expressly set
forth
in this Agreement.
4.6 Compliance
with Law.
Buyer
has and will comply with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign
laws
and rules and regulations promulgated thereunder in connection with negotiation,
execution and consummation of this Agreement, including but not limited to
applicable securities and other laws regulating the disclosure of this Agreement
and its consummation. No action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation,
charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice of any failure so to comply has
been
filed, initiated, authorized or commenced against Buyer or any of Buyer’s
Affiliates.
ARTICLE
V
PRE-CLOSING
COVENANTS
The
Parties agree as follows with respect to the period between the execution
of
this Agreement and the Closing.
5.1 General.
Each of
the Parties will use his, her or its reasonable best efforts to take all
action
and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in order to consummate
and
make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including
satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in
Article VII below).
5.2 Notices
and Consents.
Each of
the Parties will give any notices to third parties, and will use its reasonable
best efforts to obtain any third party consents, that the other party may
reasonably request, including but not limited to the matters referred to
in
Sections 3.3 and 4.3.
5.3 Operation
of Business.
The
Company will, and the Shareholders will cause the Company to, preserve
substantially intact its business organization and present relationships
with
its customers, suppliers and employees and to maintain all of its insurance
currently in effect. The Company will not take, and the Shareholders will
not
cause or permit the Company to take, any action that could reasonably be
expected to have an adverse effect on the Company or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. Without the prior written consent of Buyer,
which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, the Company will not engage
in
any practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction outside the
Ordinary Course of Business. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing:
22
(a) the
Company will not sell, lease, transfer, or assign any assets, tangible or
intangible, other than for a fair consideration in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(b) the
Company will not enter into any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or
series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) outside the
Ordinary Course of Business or that is otherwise material to the
Company;
(c) the
Company will not accelerate, terminate or cancel any agreement, contract,
lease,
or license (or series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses)
involving more than $10,000 to which the Company is a party or by which it
is
bound;
(d) the
Company will not impose any Lien upon any of its assets, tangible or
intangible;
(e) the
Company will not make any capital expenditure (or series of related capital
expenditures) outside the Ordinary Course of Business or in excess of $50,000
in
the aggregate;
(f) the
Company will not make any capital investment in, any loan to, or any acquisition
of the securities or assets of, any other Person (or series of related capital
investments, loans, and acquisitions) outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(g) the
Company will not issue any note, bond, or other debt security or create,
incur,
assume, or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money or capitalized lease
obligation outside of the Ordinary Course of Business or involving more than
$25,000 in
the
aggregate;
(h) the
Company will not merge with any other company, consolidate or sell or consent
to
the sale of any of the material assets of the Company or acquire any material
assets outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(i) the
Company will not authorize or effect any change in its Articles of Incorporation
or Bylaws;
(j) the
Company will not issue, sell or otherwise dispose of any of its capital stock,
or grant any option, warrant or other right to purchase or obtain (including
upon conversion, exchange or exercise) of any of its capital stock;
(k) the
Company will not declare, set aside, or pay any dividend or make any
distribution with respect to its capital stock (whether in cash or in kind)
or
redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock, except for
the
guaranteed preferred dividend payable to Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx as the
same
may come due in the Ordinary Course of Business;
23
(l) the
Company will not make any loan to, or enter into any other transaction with,
any
of its directors, officers and employees outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(m) the
Company will not increase the compensation or benefits payable to its officers,
directors or employees other than scheduled increases in the Ordinary Course
of
Business;
(n) the
Company will not make any change in its accounting, collection or payment
practices; and
(o) neither
the Company nor any Shareholder will commit or agree to do any of the
foregoing.
5.4 Full
Access.
The
Company and each of the Shareholders will permit, and the Shareholders will
cause the Company to permit, representatives of Buyer to have full access,
upon
request, at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to interfere
with
the normal business operations of the Company, to all premises, properties,
personnel, books, records (including Tax records), contracts, and documents
of
or pertaining to the Company.
5.5 Notice
of Developments.
The
Shareholders will give prompt written notice to Buyer of any adverse development
in its business, operations, financial condition or results of operation.
The
Shareholders will give prompt written notice to Buyer of any adverse development
causing a breach of any of the Shareholders’ representations and warranties
contained herein. No disclosure by the Shareholders pursuant to this Section
5.5
will be deemed to amend or supplement the disclosure schedules hereto or
to
prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach of warranty, or breach of covenant
if and to the extent that such disclosure permits Buyer to declare a breach
of
this Agreement and its obligations to close the transactions contemplated
hereby, provided,
however,
that a
decision by Buyer to close such transactions notwithstanding any such disclosure
shall be a waiver of any claims for breach on account of the matters
disclosed.
5.6 Confidentiality;
No Shop.
(a) Each
Party and its respective representatives and Affiliates will keep strictly
confidential the existence and terms of this Agreement, except as otherwise
required by any applicable law or by the terms of this Agreement; provided,
however,
that
(a) a Party may use and disclose any such information once it has
been
publicly disclosed (other than by such Party in breach of its obligations
under
this Section 5.6) or which rightfully has come into the possession of such
Party
(other than from the other Party), and (b) to the extent that it may
become
compelled by Legal Requirements to disclose any of such information, such
Party
may disclose such information if it has afforded the other Party the opportunity
to obtain an appropriate protective order or other satisfactory assurance
of
confidential treatment for the information compelled to be
disclosed.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Company and the Shareholders authorize Buyer to issue
a press
release announcing the execution of this Agreement and to include this Agreement
or a description of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby
in a
confidential offering memorandum which may be used by Buyer in any non-public
financing, the proceeds of which would be used to partially finance the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement, and each Party authorizes the
other
Party to disclose the existence of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to third parties for the purpose of obtaining
the
third party consents required hereunder.
24
(c) If
any
Party or its Affiliates is required by law to make any disclosure regarding
the
transactions contemplated herein, such Party advises the other Parties, at
least
five (5) Business Days (to the extent practicable) before making such
disclosure, of the nature and content of the intended disclosure.
(d) From
the
date of this Agreement through the earlier of (i) ninety (90) days following
the
date hereof or (ii) the Closing Date, Sellers will not, and will cause their
agents and Affiliates not to, directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit,
engage
in discussions with or provide any information to any person or group concerning
any sale or other disposition of the assets or capital stock of the Company.
The
Sellers will promptly communicate to the other Parties any inquiries or
communications concerning any such transaction that they receive or of which
they become aware.
5.7 Standstill.
Each of
the Shareholders, the Company and its officers and directors will refrain
from,
either directly or indirectly, trading in the common stock of Buyer from
the
date of this Agreement until the earlier of (a) the date on which Buyer publicly
discloses this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby; (b) each
of
the Shareholders, the Company and its officers and directors receive written
consent from Buyer permitting such trading; or (c) this Agreement is terminated
in accordance with Article XI hereof; provided, however, that each of the
Shareholders and the Company acknowledge that federal and state security
laws
may restrict their ability to trade Buyer common stock even after the
termination of this standstill provision.
5.8 Restrictions
on Transfer.
Prior
to Closing, the Shareholders will not sell, transfer, pledge or xxxxx x Xxxx
in,
or otherwise dispose or encumber, directly or indirectly, any of the Shares
or
any ownership interest in the Company without the prior written consent of
Buyer.
ARTICLE
VI
POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
The
Parties agree as follows with respect to the period following the
Closing:
6.1 General.
In case
at any time after the Closing any further action is necessary or desirable
to
carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of the Parties will take such
further action (including the execution and delivery of such further instruments
and documents) as the other Party reasonably may request, all at the sole
cost
and expense of the requesting Party (unless the requesting Party is entitled
to
indemnification therefor under Article IX). The Shareholders acknowledge
and agree that from and after the Closing, Buyer will be entitled to possession
of all documents, books, records (including Tax records), agreements, and
financial data of any sort relating to the Company.
6.2 Litigation
Support.
In the
event and for so long as any Party actively is contesting or defending against
any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint,
claim,
or demand in connection with (a) any transaction contemplated under this
Agreement or (b) any fact, situation, circumstance, status, condition,
activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to
act,
or transaction on or prior to the Closing Date involving the Company, each
of
the other Parties will cooperate with him, her or it and his, her or its
counsel
in the contest or defense, make available their personnel, and provide such
testimony and access to their books and records as will be necessary in
connection with the contest or defense, upon reasonable notice and at such
reasonable times during regular business hours as the Party from whom such
cooperation is sought may reasonably require, all at the sole cost and expense
of the contesting or defending Party (unless the contesting or defending
Party
is entitled to indemnification therefor under Article IX below in
which
case the rights and obligations of the Parties will be determined as set
forth
in Article IX).
25
6.3 Transition.
None of
the Shareholders will take any action that is designed or intended to have
the
effect of discouraging any lessor, licensor, customer, supplier, or other
business associate of the Company from maintaining the same business
relationships with the Company after the Closing as it maintained with the
Company prior to the Closing. Each of the Shareholders will refer all customer
inquiries relating to the business of the Company to Buyer from and after
the
Closing.
6.4 Sales
Volume.
From
the Closing Date and during the Performance Period, Buyer will use its
reasonable best efforts, together with the efforts of the continuing Company
personnel who are engaged in the lubricants sales program, to achieve the
Target
Gross Margin. During the Performance Period, Buyer will use reasonable efforts
to maintain Lubricants Products Gross Margins in conformity with accepted
business and financial principles.
6.5 Confidentiality.
(a) Beginning
on the Closing Date in perpetuity, the Shareholders will keep confidential
all
of the Company’s confidential and proprietary information and materials and any
of the terms of this Agreement and will not make use of any such information
for
any of the Shareholders’ own purpose or for the benefit of any Person (other
than the Company). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
no
Shareholder will be required to maintain as confidential any information
or
material which:
(i) is
now,
or hereafter becomes, through no act or failure to act on the part of such
Shareholder which would constitute a breach of this Section 6.5, generally
known or available to the public;
(ii) is
furnished to such Shareholder by a third party after the Closing Date, who
is
not under obligations of confidentiality to any other Shareholder, without
restriction on disclosure;
(iii) is
made
public by the Company after the Closing Date;
(iv) is
disclosed with the written approval of Buyer;
(v) is
required to be disclosed by law, order, or similar compulsion; provided,
however,
that,
such disclosure will be limited to the extent so required or compelled; and
provided,
further,
that
the Shareholder required to disclose such confidential information and material
will give Buyer notice of such disclosure and cooperate with Buyer in seeking
suitable protection; or
26
(vi) is
disclosed pursuant to or in connection with any legal proceeding involving
the
Parties; or
(vii) is
provided by a Shareholder to his or her professional advisers , including
his or
her attorneys, accountants, financial , tax, investment or other professional
advisers to facilitate their advice to such Shareholder.
(b) No
Party
will make any statements, observations or opinions or communicate any
information (whether oral or written) that disparages or is likely in any
way to
harm the reputation of the business of another Party or its Affiliates or
that
is inconsistent with the purpose and intent of this Agreement.
6.6 Non-Compete;
Non-Solicitation.
(a) During
the Non-Compete Period, the Shareholders will not and will cause their
Affiliates not to, without the prior written consent of Buyer, directly or
indirectly, (i) hinder the business of the Company or its Affiliates
or
(ii) own, manage, control, participate in, consult with, render services
for, or in any manner engage in or represent any business within any Restricted
Territory that is competitive with the business of the Company as such business
is conducted at the Closing Date. As used in this Agreement, “Restricted
Territory”
means
the areas in the United States in which Buyer is doing business at the Closing
Date and, with respect to Shareholders employed by the Company or Buyer
following the Closing Date, during the period of employment and on the date
of
termination of employment.
For
purposes hereof, a business shall be deemed “competitive with the business of
the Company” if it is engaged in the sales, marketing or distribution of fuels,
lubricants, dry-cleaning solvents or other petroleum products sold by the
Company.
Nothing
herein will prohibit any Shareholder from being a passive owner, in the
aggregate with the other Shareholders, of not more than 2% of the outstanding
stock of any class of a corporation which is publicly traded, so long as
the
Shareholders have no active participation in the business of such
corporation.
(b) During
the Non-Compete Period, the Shareholders will not directly or indirectly
through
another Person (i) induce or attempt to induce any employee of the
Company
to leave the employ of the Company, or in any way interfere with the
relationship between the Company and any employee or consultant thereof,
(ii) hire or engage as a consultant or otherwise any person who is
or was
an employee or consultant of the Company until six months after such
individual’s employment relationship with the Company has been terminated or
(iii) induce or attempt to induce any customer, supplier, subcontractor,
licensee or other business relation of the Company to cease doing business
with
the Company or Buyer, or in any way interfere with the relationship between
any
such customer, supplier, subcontractor, licensee or business relation, on
the
one hand, and the Company or Buyer, on the other hand.
27
(c) To
the
extent that any court concludes that any provision of Section 6.5(a) or (b)
is
void or voidable, the court will reform such provision(s) to render the
provision(s) enforceable, but only to the extent necessary to render the
provision(s) enforceable and only in view of the Parties’ express desire that
the Company be protected to the greatest extent possible under applicable
law
from improper competition and/or the misuse or disclosure of trade secrets
and/or confidential information.
6.7 Broker’s
Fees. Each
of
the Parties will be responsible for, and will hold each of the other Parties
harmless against, any fees or commissions for which such Party is liable
to any
broker, finder or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, the Shareholders will be responsible for
all
fees and commissions payable to The Xxxxxx Xxxx Company with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
7.1 Conditions
to Obligation of Buyer.
The
obligation of Buyer to consummate the transactions to be performed by it
in
connection with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following
conditions:
(a) the
representations and warranties of the Shareholders set forth in Article III
will be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date;
(b) the
Shareholders will have performed and complied with all of their covenants
hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;
(c) all
statutory requirements for the valid consummation by the Shareholders of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will have been fulfilled and
all
authorizations, consents and approvals, including but not limited to the
third-party consents specified on Schedule
3.3,
will
have been obtained in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer;
(d) all
approvals of Buyer’s Board of Directors and shareholders necessary for the
consummation of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will
have been obtained;
(e) no
action, suit, or proceeding will be pending or threatened before any court
or
quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or
foreign
jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (i) prevent consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) cause
any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following
consummation, (iii) affect adversely the right of Buyer to own the
Shares
and to control the Company, or (iv) affect adversely the right of
the
Company to own its assets and to operate its businesses (and no such injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge will be in effect);
(f) the
Shareholders will have delivered to Buyer a certificate to the effect that
each
of the conditions specified above in Section 7.1(a)-(e) and specified
below
in Section 7.1(r) is satisfied in all respects;
28
(g) the
Shareholders will have delivered to Buyer (i) a copy of the Articles
of
Incorporation of the Company certified by an appropriate authority of the
State
of Texas, (ii) a copy of the Bylaws of the Company certified by the
Company’s Secretary, (iii) a copy of the resolutions of the Board of
Directors of the Company, approving the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement certified by the Company’s Secretary, and (iv) a certificate of
good standing of the Company certified by the appropriate authority of the
State
of Texas and all other states in which the Company is qualified to do
business;
(h) Buyer
will have received from legal counsel to the Shareholders an opinion in form
and
substance as set forth in Exhibit
E
attached
hereto, addressed to Buyer, and dated as of the Closing Date;
(i) Buyer
will be satisfied in all material respects with the results of its due diligence
regarding the Company, including but not limited to all customer and vendor
contracts and agreements related thereto;
(j) Buyer
will have received the resignations, effective as of the Closing, of each
director and officer of the Company other than those whom Buyer will have
specified in writing at least five (5) business days prior to the
Closing;
(k) Buyer
will have obtained on terms and conditions satisfactory to it the consent
of
lender on Buyer’s senior credit facility and the consent of the holders of
Buyer’s 10% Senior Secured Promissory Notes due August 1, 2008 and 10% Senior
Secured Promissory Notes due January 24, 2010 to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(l) The
Shareholders will have caused the Company to deliver the Closing Date Balance
Sheet to Buyer;
(m) The
Shareholders will have caused the Company to transfer to the Shareholders
all of
the Company’s Retained Liabilities and to obtain a release of the Company from
any liability associated with such Retained Liabilities from the third parties
that are party thereto;
(n) X.
X.
Xxxxxx and Buyer will have entered into a mutually acceptable Employment
and
Non-Compete Agreement whose provisions shall include, among others, a term
of
not less than three years; the participation by X. X. Xxxxxx in all benefits
programs provided to the senior personnel of Buyer; the initial grant of
a
non-qualified option to purchase common stock of Buyer under the terms of
its
employee stock option plan; and contain non-compete and non-solicitation
provisions satisfactory to Buyer;
(o) Buyer
will obtain new leases on the facilities leased by the Company from Shareholders
and Affiliates, in form and substance satisfactory to Buyer, effective as
of the
Closing Date;
(p) As
calculated in accordance with Section 2.2, the Purchase Price is not less
than
Three Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($3,300,000.00);
29
(q) The
Company shall have acquired from Xxxxxxxxx and shall own, the Xxxxxxxxx Assets,
pursuant to an agreement in substantially the form agreed upon by the Parties;
(r) The
Company shall deliver evidence to Buyer that the real property set forth
on
Schedule
3.12(d)
has been
contributed or otherwise assigned to the Shareholders and/or their Affiliates;
and
(s) The
Company will have delivered the Closing Date Inventory List to
Buyer.
Buyer
may
waive any condition specified in this Section 7.1 if it executes a writing
so
stating at or prior to the Closing.
7.2 Conditions
to Obligation of the Shareholders.
The
obligation of the Shareholders to consummate the transactions to be performed
by
them in connection with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following
conditions:
(a) The
representations and warranties of Buyer set forth in Article IV will
be
true and correct at and as of the Closing Date;
(b) Buyer
will have performed and complied with all of its covenants hereunder in all
material respects through the Closing;
(c) No
action, suit, or proceeding will be pending or threatened before any court
or
quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or
foreign
jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (i) prevent consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) cause
any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following
consummation (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge
will be in effect);
(d) All
statutory requirements for the valid consummation by Buyer of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement will have been met, including but not limited
to
any required disclosure of this Agreement or such transactions under applicable
securities laws;
(e) All
authorizations, consents and approvals for the valid consummation by Buyer
of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that are required by law
shall
been obtained;
(f) Buyer
will have delivered to the Shareholders a certificate to the effect that
each of
the conditions specified above in Section 7.2(a)-(c) is satisfied in all
respects;
(g) Buyer
will have received from Wachovia Bank, N.A., Buyer’s principal lender, consent
to make the Buy-back Payment to the Shareholders in accordance with Section
2.2;
(h) The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to the Shareholders, with copies
to
Buyer, duly executed releases, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
to
the Shareholders, the guarantees executed by either or both of the Shareholders
in respect of indebtedness of the Company and set forth on Schedule
3.27;
and
30
(i) the
following additional deliveries will be made at the Closing by
Buyer:
(i) the
Purchase Price, in accordance with Section 2.2(a);
(ii) the
Xxxxxxxxx Inventory Payment, in accordance with Section 2.2(b);
(iii) Buyer
will have duly executed and delivered to each of the Shareholders, a Buyer
Note
in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C
hereto.
The
Shareholders may waive any condition specified in this Section 7.2 if they
execute a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE
VIII
SURVIVAL
OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
8.1 Survival.
Each
statement, representation, warranty, indemnity, covenant and agreement made
by
the Shareholders in this Agreement and in any document, disclosure schedule,
certificate or other instrument or writing delivered by or on behalf of the
Shareholders or the Company pursuant to this Agreement or in connection herewith
will be deemed the joint and several statement, representation, warranty,
indemnity, covenant and agreement of the Shareholders. Each Shareholder agrees
that, notwithstanding any examination made by or on behalf of Buyer, the
knowledge of Buyer or any of the respective officers, directors, shareholders,
employees or agents of Buyer, or the acceptance by any Party of any certificate
or opinion, in each case with respect to the Company, all statements,
representations, warranties, indemnities, covenants and agreements made by
the
Shareholders will survive the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby for a period of twenty-four (24) months following the Closing Date,
except that the representations and warranties made in Section 3.14
hereof
regarding Taxes and Section 3.22 regarding Employee Benefits matters
will
survive until the expiration of the application of statutes of limitations,
and
that the representations and warranties made in Section 3.24 hereof
regarding Environmental Matters will survive for a period of six (6) years
following the Closing Date. Any Party’s right to commence a claim for
indemnification under Article
IX
for a
breach of any representation or warranty will be made on or prior to the
date,
if any, on which the survival period for such representation or warranty
expires. The representations, warranties, covenants and obligations of the
respective Parties, and the rights and remedies that may be exercised by
any of
them, will not be limited or otherwise affected by or as a result of any
information furnished to, or any investigation made by or knowledge of, any
of
the Parties or any of their representatives.
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
9.1 Indemnity.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Article IX, each Shareholder will
indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and each officer, director, and Affiliate
of
Buyer, including without limitation, the Company or any successor of Buyer
(collectively, the “Buyer
Indemnified Parties”)
from
and against all demands, claims, causes of action, assessments, including
any
federal or state tax audits, losses, damages, liabilities and costs and
expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and any
expenses incident to the investigation or enforcement of this Article IX
(collectively, “Losses”),
that
the Buyer Indemnified Parties may suffer, sustain or become subject to by
reason
of or arising out of (i) any breach of any covenant or agreement of
the
Company or the Shareholders contained in this Agreement, (ii) any
inaccuracy in any representation or warranty of the Shareholders contained
in
this Agreement and in any document, disclosure schedule, certificate or other
instrument or writing delivered by or on behalf of the Shareholders pursuant
to
this Agreement or in connection herewith, (iii) the conduct of the
Business
and the operations of the Company prior to the Closing Date, and (iv) any
Retained Liability.
31
(b) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Article IX, Buyer will indemnify
and
hold harmless the Shareholders (collectively, the “Company
Indemnified Parties”)
from
and against all Losses, that the Company Indemnified Parties may suffer,
sustain
or become subject to by reason of or arising out of (i) any breach
of any
covenant or agreement of Buyer contained in this Agreement, (ii) any
inaccuracy in any representation or warranty of Buyer contained in this
Agreement, and (iii) the conduct of the Business and the operations of the
Company after the Closing Date.
9.2 Limitation
of Liability.
Neither
the Company and the Shareholders nor Buyer, will have aggregate liability
(for
indemnification or otherwise) to the other arising under this Agreement in
excess of the Purchase Price, as adjusted, and no Party will have any liability
hereunder until the aggregate claims under this Agreement against such Party
exceeds one percent (1%) of the Purchase Price, as adjusted, at which point
the
breaching Party shall be liable for all of such Party’s Losses; provided,
however,
that
the threshold described herein shall not apply to (a) any claims by Buyer
against the Company or the Shareholders for Losses relating to Retained
Liabilities, or (b) the calculation and application of the Adjustment Amount
to
the Buyer Notes, if any, as provided in Section 2.4 of this Agreement and
the
Buyer Notes.
9.3 Indemnification
Procedures.
(a) For
purposes of this Section 9.3, “Indemnified
Party”
will
mean (i) each Buyer Indemnified Party when being indemnified by the Shareholders
pursuant to Section 9.1(a), and (ii) each Company Indemnified Party when
being
indemnified by Buyer pursuant to Section 9.1(b), and “Indemnifying Party” will
mean (x) the Shareholders when indemnifying any Buyer Indemnified Party pursuant
to Section 9.1(a), and (y) Buyer when indemnifying any Company Indemnified
Party
pursuant to Section 9.1(b).
32
(b) The
obligations and liabilities of an Indemnifying Party under this Article IX
with respect to Adverse Consequences arising from claims of any third party
which are subject to the indemnification provided for under Section 9.1
(“Third
Party Claims”)
will
be governed by and contingent upon the following terms and conditions: if
an
Indemnified Party will receive notice of any Third Party Claim, the Indemnified
Party will notify each Indemnifying Party promptly of such Third Party Claim;
provided, however,
that the
delay or failure to provide such notice will not release the Indemnifying
Party
from any of its obligations under this Article IXX unless (and then
solely
to the extent) the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by the delay or failure.
Any
Indemnifying Party will have the right to defend the Indemnified Party against
the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory
to the
Indemnified Party so long as (A) the Indemnifying Party notifies the
Indemnified Party in writing within fifteen (15) days after the Indemnified
Party has given notice of the Third Party Claim that the Indemnifying Party
will
undertake the defense of such claim, (B) the Indemnifying Party provides
the Indemnified Party with evidence reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified
Party that the Indemnifying Party will have the financial resources to defend
against the Third Party Claim and fulfill its indemnification obligations
hereunder, and (C) the Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of
the Third
Party Claim actively and diligently. The Indemnified Party may participate
in
the defense of such claim with co-counsel of its choice; provided,
however,
that
the fees and expenses of the Indemnified Party’s counsel will be at the expense
of the Indemnified Party unless (A) the Indemnifying Party has agreed
in
writing to pay such fees and expenses, (B) the Indemnifying Party
has
failed to assume the defense and employ counsel as provided herein or (C) a
claim will have been brought or asserted against the Indemnifying Party as
well
as the Indemnified Party, and such Indemnified Party will have been advised
in
writing by counsel that there may be one or more factual or legal defenses
available to it that are in conflict with those available to the Indemnifying
Party, in which case such co-counsel will be at the expense of the Indemnifying
Party; provided,
however,
that
the Indemnifying Party will not be required to pay the fees and expenses
of more
than one separate principal counsel (and one appropriate local counsel) for
all
Indemnified Parties. If, within such 15-day period, the Indemnifying Party
does
not assume the defense of such matter or fails to defend the matter in the
manner set forth above, the Indemnified Party may defend against the matter
in
any manner that it reasonably may deem appropriate and the Indemnifying Party
will reimburse the Indemnified Party promptly and periodically for the costs
of
defending against such claim (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses)
and the Indemnifying Party will remain responsible for the Liability the
Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out of, relating to,
in the
nature of, or caused by the claim to the fullest extent provided herein,
provided,
however,
that
the Indemnified Party may not consent to the entry of any judgment with respect
to the matter or enter into any settlement with respect to such matter without
the consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent may not be unreasonably
withheld. In the event the Indemnifying Party exercises the right to undertake
any defense against any a Third Party Claim as provided above, the Indemnified
Party will cooperate with the Indemnifying Party in such defense and make
available to the Indemnifying Party at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, all
witnesses, pertinent records, materials and information in the Indemnified
Party’s possession or under the Indemnified Party’s control relating thereto as
is reasonably required by the Indemnifying Party. Similarly, in the event
the
Indemnified Party is, directly or indirectly, conducting the defense against
any
such Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party will cooperate with the
Indemnified Party in such defense and make available to the Indemnified Party,
at the Indemnifying Party’s expense, all such witnesses, records, materials and
information in the Indemnifying Party’s possession or under the Indemnifying
Party’s control relating thereto as is reasonably required by the Indemnified
Party.
(c) An
Indemnified Party will give each Indemnifying Party notice of any matter
(other
than a Third Party Claim) which an Indemnified Party has determined has given
or
would reasonably be expected to give rise to a right of indemnification under
Section 9.3, within sixty (60) days of such determination, stating the amount
of
the Adverse Consequences, if known, and method of computation thereof, a
brief
description of the facts upon which such claim is based and containing a
reference to the provisions of this Agreement in respect of which such right
of
indemnification is claimed or arises; provided, however,
that the
delay or failure to provide such notice will not release the Indemnifying
Party
from any of its obligations under this Article IX unless (and then
solely
to the extent) the Indemnifying Party is prejudiced by the delay or
failure.
33
(d) If,
after
the amount of the claim is specified by the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying
Party objects to any such claim, including without limitation, a dispute
or
objection to the obligation to indemnify for the claim at all, it may give
written notice to the Indemnified Party within thirty (30) days of the later
of
receipt of the Indemnified Party’s notice of claim or the specification by the
Indemnified Party of the amount of the claim, advising the Indemnified Party
of
its objection. If no such notice is timely received from the Indemnifying
Party
by the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party will be entitled to payment
from
the Indemnifying Party in the amount of the Adverse Consequences arising
out of
the claim specified in its notice of claim. If the Indemnifying Party advises
the Indemnified Party within such thirty (30) day period that it objects
to such
claim, the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party will promptly meet
and
use their best efforts to settle the dispute in writing. If the Indemnified
Party and the Indemnifying Party are unable to reach agreement within sixty
(60)
days after the Indemnifying Party objects to the claim, then the disputed
portion of the claim will be submitted to arbitration under Section 12.14.
If it
is determined that the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification with
respect to the dispute submitted, the Indemnified Party will be entitled
to
obtain payment from the Indemnifying Party within thirty (30) days in the
amount
determined by the Arbitrator.
(e) The
Parties hereby agree that the foregoing provisions of this Article IX
will
be the sole and exclusive means of recovery of a Party hereto or any other
Person entitled to indemnification for third party claims under this
Article IX, and will preclude the exercise of any other rights or
remedies
available to a Party hereto or any other Person hereunder at law or in equity;
provided, however, the Parties agree that any limitations on damages set
forth
in this Agreement and any applicable statutes of limitation will apply to
all
remedies and means of recovery, except for claims involving fraud or willful
misconduct.
9.4 Right
of Set-Off.
After
final adjudication of any claim by Buyer under this Agreement, Buyer may
set off
any amount to which it may be entitled under this Article IX against amounts
otherwise payable under the Buyer Notes. The exercise of such right of set-off
by Buyer in good faith, whether or not ultimately determined to be justified,
will not constitute an event of default under the Buyer Notes or any instrument
securing a Buyer Note. Neither the exercise of nor the failure to exercise
such
right of set-off will constitute and election of remedies or limit Buyer
in any
manner in the enforcement of any other remedies that may be available to
it.
9.5 Other
Remedies.
The
foregoing indemnification provisions are in addition to, and not in derogation
of, any statutory, equitable, or common law remedy (including without limitation
any such remedy arising under Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements)
any Party may have with respect to the Company or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement except that any limitations on damages set forth in this
Agreement and any applicable statutes of limitation will apply to all remedies
and means of recovery, except for claims involving fraud or willful misconduct
If and to the extent that any Shareholder has now or in the future any right
to
make any claim for indemnification against the Company by reason of the fact
that he or she was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company
prior
to the Closing Date, such right is hereby waived, surrendered and released,
provided,
however,
that if
and to the extent that any such claim (including any claim for judgments,
damages, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid in settlement, losses, expenses,
or otherwise) is based on any applicable statute or the Company’s Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws and is not related, directly or indirectly, to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, the Shareholder’s right to
bring such claim against the Company shall be unaffected hereby.
34
ARTICLE
X
TAX
MATTERS
The
following provisions will govern the allocation of responsibility as between
Buyer and Shareholders for certain tax matters following the Closing
Date:
10.1 Tax
Periods Ending on or Before the Closing Date.
Buyer
will prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed all Tax
Returns for the Company for all periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date
which are filed after the Closing Date. Buyer will permit the Company to
review
and comment on each such Tax Return described in the preceding sentence prior
to
filing. The Shareholders will reimburse Buyer for Taxes of the Company with
respect to such periods within fifteen (15) days after payment by Buyer or
the
Company of such Taxes to the extent such Taxes are not reflected in the reserve
for Tax Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established
to
reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) in the Closing Date
Balance Sheet. In the event the Company receives any refund for Taxes with
respect to such periods, Buyer will pay to the Shareholders within fifteen
(15)
days after receipt of such refund by Buyer or the Company, an amount equal
to
such refund.
10.2 Tax
Periods Beginning Before and Ending After the Closing Date.
Buyer
will prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed any Tax
Returns of the Company for Tax periods which begin before the Closing Date
and
end after the Closing Date. The Shareholders will pay to Buyer within fifteen
(15) days after the date on which Taxes are paid with respect to such periods
an
amount equal to the portion of such Taxes which relates to the portion of
such
Taxable period ending on the Closing Date to the extent such Taxes are not
reflected in the reserve for Tax Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred
Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income)
in
the Closing Date Balance Sheet. In the event the Company receives any refund
for
Taxes with respect to such periods, Buyer will pay to the Shareholders within
fifteen (15) days after receipt of such refund by Buyer or the Company, an
amount equal to such refund. For purposes of this Section 10.2, in the case
of
any Taxes that are imposed on a periodic basis and are payable for a Taxable
period that includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date, the portion
of such
Tax which relates to the portion of such Taxable period ending on the Closing
Date will (a) in the case of any Taxes other than Taxes based upon or related
to
income or receipts, be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire
Taxable period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number
of
days in the Taxable period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator
of
which is the number of days in the entire Taxable period, and (b) in the
case of
any Tax based upon or related to income or receipts be deemed equal to the
amount which would be payable if the relevant Taxable period ended on the
Closing Date. Any credits relating to a Taxable period that begins before
and
ends after the Closing Date will be taken into account as though the relevant
Taxable period ended on the Closing Date. All determinations necessary to
give
effect to the foregoing allocations will be made in a manner consistent with
prior practice of the Company.
35
10.3 Cooperation
on Tax Matters.
(a) Buyer,
the Company and the Shareholders will cooperate fully, as and to the extent
reasonably requested by the other Party, in connection with the filing of
Tax
Returns pursuant to this Article X and any audit, litigation or other proceeding
with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation will include the retention and (upon
the
other Party’s request) the provision of records and information which are
reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and
making
employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional
information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Shareholders
agree to deliver all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent
to
the Company relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing
Date.
(b) Buyer
and
the Shareholders further agree, upon request, to use their best efforts to
obtain any certificate or other document from any governmental authority
or any
other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax
that
could be imposed (including, but not limited to, with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby).
(c) Buyer
and
the Shareholders further agree, upon request, to provide the other Party
with
all information that either Party may be required to report pursuant to Section
6043 of the Code and all Treasury Department Regulations promulgated
thereunder.
10.4 Tax
Sharing Agreements.
All tax
sharing agreements or similar agreements with respect to or involving the
Company will be terminated as of the Closing Date and, after the Closing
Date,
the Company will not be bound thereby or have any liability
thereunder.
10.5 Certain
Taxes.
All
transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other such Taxes
and
fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection with this
Agreement (including any gains or transfer Tax and any similar tax imposed
in
any state or political subdivision), will be paid by the Shareholders when
due,
and the Shareholders will, at their own expense, file all necessary Tax Returns
and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary, sales,
use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees, and, if required by
applicable law, Buyer will, and will cause its Affiliates to, join in the
execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation.
ARTICLE
XI
TERMINATION
11.1 Termination
of Agreement.
Certain
of the Parties may terminate this Agreement as provided below:
(a) Buyer
and
a majority in interest of the Shareholders may terminate this Agreement by
mutual written consent at any time prior to the Closing;
36
(b) Buyer
may
terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Shareholders at
any
time up and until Closing if Buyer is not satisfied with the results of its
continuing business, legal, environmental, and accounting due diligence
regarding the Company, and Buyer’s execution of this Agreement with the
disclosure schedules attached hereto shall not in any way provide evidence
of
Buyer’s satisfaction with, and will not foreclose Buyer’s right to terminate
this Agreement in accordance with this Section 11.1(b) on account of, its
due
diligence regarding the Company;
(c) Buyer
may
terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Shareholders at
any
time prior to the Closing (i) in the event any of the Shareholders has breached
any material representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement
in any material respect, Buyer has notified the Shareholders of the breach,
and
the breach has continued without cure for a period of fifteen (15) days after
the notice of breach or (ii) if the Closing will not have occurred on or
before
September 30, 2005, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under
Section 7.1 hereof (unless the failure results primarily from Buyer itself
breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this
Agreement); and
(d) the
Shareholders may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to Buyer
at
any time prior to the Closing (i) in the event Buyer has breached any material
representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement in any
material respect, any of the Shareholders has notified Buyer of the breach,
and
the breach has continued without cure for a period of fifteen (15) days after
the notice of breach or (ii) if the Closing will not have occurred on or
before
September 30, 2005, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under
Section 7.2 hereof (unless the failure results primarily from any of the
Shareholders themselves breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement).
11.2 Effect
of Termination.
If any
Party terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 11.1 above, all
rights
and obligations of the Parties hereunder will terminate without any Liability
of
any Party to any other Party (except for any Liability of any Party then
in
breach).
ARTICLE
XII
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 No
Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement will not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than
the
Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
12.2 Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement (including the documents referred to herein) constitutes the entire
agreement among the Parties and supersedes any prior understandings, agreements,
or representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, to the extent
they
related in any way to the subject matter hereof.
12.3 Succession
and Assignment.
This
Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties named
herein and their respective successors and permitted assigns. No Party may
assign either this Agreement or any of his or its rights, interests, or
obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of Buyer and the
Shareholders; provided,
however,
that
Buyer may (i) assign any or all of its rights and interests hereunder
to
one or more of its Affiliates and (ii) designate one or more of its
Affiliates to perform its obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases
Buyer nonetheless will remain responsible for the performance of all of its
obligations hereunder).
37
12.4 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which will
be
deemed an original but all of which together will constitute one and the
same
instrument.
12.5 Headings.
The
section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience
only
and will not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
12.6 Notices.
All
notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder will
be
in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder
will be deemed duly given if (and then two business days after) it is sent
by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid,
and
addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If
to the Shareholders:
|
c/o X. X. Xxxxxx
H&W
Petroleum Co., Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
Copy
to:
|
Xxxxxx & Bate, L.L.P.
P.
O. Box 450
000
X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attn:
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
If
to Buyer:
|
Xxxxxxxxx
Mobile Fueling, Inc.
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
Copy
to:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP
0000
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
S. Xxx Xxxxx, Jr.
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
Any
Party
may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder
to
the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any other means
(including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service, facsimile,
ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice, request, demand,
claim,
or other communication will be deemed to have been duly given unless and
until
it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any Party may change the
address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications
hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties notice in the manner
herein set forth.
38
12.7 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the domestic
laws
of the State of Florida without giving effect to any choice or conflict of
law
provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any
jurisdiction other than the State of Florida.
12.8 Amendments
and Waivers.
No
amendment of any provision of this Agreement will be valid unless the same
will
be in writing and signed by Buyer and the Shareholders. No waiver by any
Party
of any default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder,
whether intentional or not, will be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent
default, misrepresentation, or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or
affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent
such
occurrence.
12.9 Severability.
Any
term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any
situation in any jurisdiction will not affect the validity or enforceability
of
the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability
of
the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other
jurisdiction.
12.10 Expenses.
Each of
the Parties and the Company will bear his or its own costs and expenses
(including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby. The Shareholders agree that the
Company has not borne or will bear any of the Shareholders’ costs and expenses
(including any of their legal fees and expenses) in connection with this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior
written consent of Buyer.
12.11 Construction.
The
Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this
Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation
arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties
and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring
any
Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
Any reference to any federal, state, local, or foreign statute or law will
be
deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
unless
the context requires otherwise. The word “including” will mean including without
limitation. The Parties intend that each representation, warranty, and covenant
contained herein will have independent significance. If any Party has breached
any representation, warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect,
the
fact that there exists another representation, warranty, or covenant relating
to
the same subject matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity)
which
the Party has not breached will not detract from or mitigate the fact that
the
Party is in breach of the first representation, warranty, or
covenant.
12.12 Incorporation
of Exhibits and Disclosure Schedules.
The
exhibits and disclosure schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated
herein by reference and made a part hereof.
39
12.13 Specific
Performance.
Each of
the Parties acknowledges and agrees that the other Parties would be damaged
irreparably in the event any of the provisions of this Agreement are not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or otherwise are breached.
Accordingly, each of the Parties agrees that the other Parties will be entitled
to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of
this
Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and the terms and
provisions hereof in any action instituted in any court of the United States
or
any state thereof having jurisdiction over the Parties and the matter (subject
to the provisions set forth in Section 12.14), in addition to any other remedy
to which they may be entitled, at law or in equity.
12.14 Arbitration
(a) Any
dispute between the Parties shall be resolved by binding arbitration in Broward
County, Florida or Xxxxxx County, Texas in accordance with the following
provisions; provided, however, that either Party may seek injunctive relief
from
any to preserve the status quo pending arbitration.
(a) Any
Party
may submit any dispute to arbitration by giving written notice to the other
Parties to such dispute. Within twenty (20) business days after receipt of
such
notice, the Parties shall mutually select an arbitrator. If the Parties shall
fail to reach agreement on an arbitrator, either Party may request the American
Arbitration Association to appoint the arbitrator (the agreed upon or appointed
arbitrator, the “Arbitrator”).
The
Arbitrator shall be experienced in corporate and financial matters and shall
be
impartial and unrelated, directly or indirectly, so far as employment of
services is concerned to either of the Parties or any of their respective
affiliates; provided that, to the extent the dispute concerns matters of
environmental law and/or environmental science, then the Arbitrator must
be
trained and knowledgeable in such matters.
(b) The
Arbitrator shall investigate the facts and shall hold hearings at which the
parties may conduct limited discovery (provided, however, that depositions
shall
not be permitted in any such arbitration), present evidence and arguments,
be
represented by counsel and conduct cross examination. The arbitration process
and proceedings shall be governed by Federal Rules of Evidence. The Arbitrator
shall render a written decision on the matter presented to him or her as
soon as
practicable after his or her appointment and in any event not more than
forty-five (45) days after such appointment. The decision of the
Arbitrator, which may include equitable relief, shall be final and binding
on
the Parties hereto, and judgment upon the decision may be entered in any
court
having jurisdiction thereof. If the Arbitrator shall fail to render a decision
within such forty-five (45) day period, either Party may institute such action
or proceeding in such court as shall be appropriate in the circumstances
and
upon the institution of such action, the arbitration proceeding shall be
terminated and shall be of no further force and effect. The prevailing party
(in
the arbitration or in the court proceeding, as applicable) shall be awarded
reasonable attorneys’ fees, expert and non-expert witness costs and expenses,
and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the arbitration,
and
the fees and costs of the Arbitrator shall be borne by the non-prevailing
Party
unless, in either case, the Arbitrator or the court, as the case may be for
good
cause determine otherwise. In resolving any dispute, the Arbitrator shall
apply
the provisions of this Agreement, without varying therefrom in any respect.
The
Arbitrator shall not have the power to add to, modify or change any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
40
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
date
first above written.
BUYER:
XXXXXXXXX
MOBILE FUELING, INC.
By:/s/Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
Chairman
and Chief Executive Officer
SHAREHOLDERS:
/s/Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
XXXXXX
XXXXX XXXXXX
/s/Xxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx
XXXX
XXX
XXXXXX
/s/Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
XXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX
/s/Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx XX
XXXXXXX
X. XXXXXXXXX XX
XXXX
XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX
By: /s/Xxxx
Xxx Wetzel________
Xxxx
Xxx
Xxxxxx, her attorney-in-fact
X.
X.
XXXXXXXXX TESTAMENTARY TRUST
By:/s/Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxx Xxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Trustee
By:/s/Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx XX
Name:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx XX
Title:
Trustee
By:/s/Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Title:
Trustee
XXXXXXXXX
DISTRIBUTING COMPANY, INC.
By:/s/Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx XX
Name
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx XX
Title:
President
W
&
H
INTERESTS
By:
/s/X.
X. Xxxxxx
Name
E X.
Xxxxxx
Title:
Partner
THE
COMPANY:
H&W
PETROLEUM CO., INC.
By:
/s/Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Title:
Chairman
& Chief Executive Officer