AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION among PROMANA SOLUTIONS, INC. CROWNBUTTE ACQUISITION SUB INC. and CROWNBUTTE WIND POWER, INC. July 2, 2008
Exhibit
2.1
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
among
PROMANA
SOLUTIONS, INC.
CROWNBUTTE
ACQUISITION SUB INC.
and
July 2,
2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ARTICLE
I THE
MERGER
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
The
Merger
|
1
|
1.2
|
The
Closing
|
1
|
1.3
|
Actions
at the Closing
|
2
|
1.4
|
Additional
Actions
|
2
|
1.5
|
Conversion
of Company Securities
|
2
|
1.6
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
3
|
1.7
|
Fractional
Shares
|
3
|
1.8
|
Options
and Warrants
|
4
|
1.9
|
Escrow
|
4
|
1.10
|
Certificate
of Incorporation and ByLaws
|
4
|
1.11
|
No
Further Rights
|
4
|
1.12
|
Closing
of Transfer Books
|
4
|
1.13
|
Post-Closing
Adjustment
|
5
|
1.14
|
Exemption
from Registration
|
5
|
ARTICLE
II REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
|
5
|
|
2.1
|
Organization,
Qualification and Corporate Power
|
6
|
2.2
|
Capitalization
|
6
|
2.3
|
Authorization
of Transaction
|
6
|
2.4
|
Noncontravention
|
6
|
2.5
|
Subsidiaries
|
7
|
2.6
|
Financial
Statements
|
7
|
2.7
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
7
|
2.8
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
7
|
2.9
|
Tax
Matters
|
8
|
2.10
|
Assets
|
9
|
2.11
|
Owned
Real Property
|
9
|
2.12
|
Real
Property Leases
|
9
|
2.13
|
Contracts
|
9
|
2.14
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
10
|
2.15
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
11
|
2.16
|
Insurance
|
11
|
2.17
|
Litigation
|
11
|
2.18
|
Employees
|
11
|
2.19
|
Employee
Benefits
|
11
|
2.20
|
Environmental
Matters
|
13
|
2.21
|
Legal
Compliance
|
14
|
2.22
|
Permits
|
14
|
2.23
|
Certain
Business Relationships with Affiliates
|
14
|
2.24
|
Brokers’
Fees
|
14
|
2.25
|
Books
and Records
|
14
|
2.26
|
Intellectual
Property
|
14
|
2.27
|
Disclosure
|
15
|
2.28
|
Duty
to Make Inquiry
|
15
|
ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT AND THE ACQUISITION
SUBSIDIARY
|
15
|
|
3.1
|
Organization,
Qualification and Corporate Power
|
15
|
3.2
|
Capitalization
|
16
|
3.3
|
Authorization
of Transaction
|
16
|
3.4
|
Noncontravention
|
17
|
3.5
|
Subsidiaries
|
17
|
3.6
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
17
|
3.7
|
Compliance
with Laws
|
17
|
3.8
|
Financial
Statements
|
18
|
3.9
|
Absence
of Certain Changes
|
18
|
3.10
|
Litigation
|
18
|
3.11
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
18
|
3.12
|
Tax
Matters
|
19
|
3.13
|
Assets
|
19
|
3.14
|
Owned
Real Property
|
20
|
3.15
|
Real
Property Leases
|
20
|
3.16
|
Contracts
|
20
|
3.17
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
21
|
3.18
|
Powers
of Attorney
|
21
|
3.19
|
Insurance
|
21
|
3.20
|
Warranties
|
21
|
3.21
|
Employees
|
22
|
3.22
|
Employee
Benefits
|
22
|
3.23
|
Environmental
Matters
|
23
|
3.24
|
Permits
|
24
|
3.25
|
Certain
Business Relationships with Affiliates
|
24
|
3.26
|
Tax-Free
Reorganization
|
24
|
3.27
|
Split-Off
|
25
|
3.28
|
Brokers’
Fees
|
25
|
3.29
|
Disclosure
|
25
|
3.30
|
Interested
Party Transactions
|
25
|
3.31
|
Duty
to Make Inquiry
|
25
|
3.33
|
Minute
Books
|
25
|
3.34
|
Board
Action
|
25
|
ARTICLE
IV COVENANTS
|
26
|
|
4.1
|
Closing
Efforts
|
26
|
4.2
|
Governmental
and Thirty Party Notices and Consents
|
26
|
4.3
|
[Intentionally
Omitted]
|
26
|
4.4
|
Operation
of Company Business
|
26
|
4.5
|
Access
to Company Information
|
27
|
4.6
|
Operation
of Parent Business
|
27
|
4.7
|
Access
to Parent Information
|
29
|
4.8
|
Expenses
|
29
|
4.9
|
Indemnification
|
29
|
4.10
|
Quotation
of Merger Shares
|
29
|
4.11
|
Name
Change
|
29
|
4.12
|
Split-Off
|
30
|
4.14
|
Parent
Board; Amendment of Charter Documents
|
30
|
4.15
|
Information
Provided to Company Stockholders
|
30
|
4.16
|
No
Registration
|
30
|
4.17
|
No
Shorting
|
30
|
ARTICLE
V CONDITIONS
TO CONSUMMATION OF MERGER
|
30
|
|
5.1
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligations
|
30
|
5.2
|
Conditions
to Obligations of the Parent and the Acquisition
Subsidiary
|
31
|
5.3
|
Conditions
to Obligations of the Company
|
32
|
ARTICLE
VI INDEMNIFICATION
|
33
|
|
6.1
|
Indemnification
by the Company Stockholders
|
33
|
6.2
|
Indemnification
by the Parent
|
33
|
6.3
|
Indemnification
Claims by the Parent
|
33
|
6.4
|
Survival
of Representations and Warranties
|
35
|
6.5
|
Limitations
on Parent’s Claims for Indemnification
|
35
|
ARTICLE
VII DEFINITIONS
|
36
|
|
ARTICLE
VIII TERMINATION
|
38
|
|
8.1
|
Termination
by Mutual Agreement
|
38
|
8.2
|
Termination
by Operation of Law
|
38
|
8.3
|
Termination
for Failure to Perform Covenants or Conditions
|
38
|
8.4
|
Effect
of Termination or Default; Remedies
|
38
|
8.5
|
Remedies;
Specific Performance
|
39
|
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
|
39
|
|
9.1
|
Press
Releases and Announcements
|
39
|
9.2
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
39
|
9.3
|
Entire
Agreement
|
39
|
9.4
|
Succession
and Assignment
|
39
|
9.5
|
Counterparts
and Facsimile Signature
|
39
|
9.6
|
Headings
|
39
|
9.7
|
Notices
|
39
|
9.8
|
Governing
Law
|
40
|
9.9
|
Amendments
and Waivers
|
40
|
9.10
|
Severability
|
40
|
9.11
|
Submission
to Jurisdiction
|
40
|
9.12
|
Construction
|
41
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A Form
of Split-Off Agreement
Exhibit
B Form
of Escrow Agreement
Exhibit
C Signatories
to Lock-Up Agreements
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND
REORGANIZATION (this “Agreement”), dated as of July 2, 2008, by and among
ProMana Solutions, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Parent”), Crownbutte
Acquisition Sub Inc., a North Dakota corporation (the “Acquisition Subsidiary”),
and Crownbutte Wind Power, Inc., a North Dakota corporation (the
“Company”). The Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary and the Company
are each a “Party” and referred to collectively herein as the
“Parties.”
WHEREAS,
this Agreement contemplates a merger of the Acquisition Subsidiary with and into
the Company, with the Company remaining as the surviving entity after the merger
(the “Merger”), whereby the stockholders of the Company will receive common
stock of the Parent in exchange for their capital stock of the
Company;
WHEREAS,
simultaneously with the closing of the Merger, the Parent will close a private
placement of a minimum of 1,000,000 (the “Minimum Amount”) and a maximum of
10,000,000 units of securities of the Parent, at the purchase price of $1.00 per
unit (the “PPO Price”), each unit consisting (after giving effect to the Stock
Split (as defined below)) of one share of Parent’s Common Stock (as defined
below) and a warrant to purchase one share of
Parent Common Stock, exercisable for a period of two years at an exercise price
of $2.50 per unit, on the terms and conditions described in the Confidential
Private Placement Memorandum dated June 17, 2008 (the “Private Placement
Offering”); and
WHEREAS,
contemporaneously with the closing of the Merger, the Parent intends to
split-off its existing business and its wholly owned subsidiary, Pro Mana
Technologies, Inc., a New Jersey corporation (“Split-Off Subisdiary”), through
the assignment of all of Parent’s assets and liabilities to, and the sale of all
of the outstanding capital stock of, Split-Off Subsidiary (the “Split-Off”) upon
the terms and conditions of a split-off agreement by and among the Parent, the
Company, the Split-Off Subsidiary and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx (each
a “Buyer,” and collectively the “Buyers”), substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached
hereto (the “Split-Off Agreement”); and
WHEREAS,
the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary and the Company desire that the Merger
qualify as a “plan of reorganization” under Section 368(a) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and not subject the holders of
equity securities of the Company to tax liability under the Code;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties and covenants
herein contained, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt,
adequacy and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Parties hereto,
intending legally to be bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
THE
MERGER
1.1 The
Merger. Upon and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Acquisition Subsidiary shall merge with and into the Company at
the Effective Time (as defined below). From and after the Effective
Time, the separate corporate existence of the Acquisition Subsidiary shall cease
and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation in the Merger (the
“Surviving Corporation”). The “Effective Time” shall be the time at
which the Articles of Merger (the “Articles of Merger”) and other appropriate or
required documents prepared and executed in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the North Dakota Business Corporation Act (the “BCA”) are filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of North Dakota. The Merger
shall have the effects set forth in the applicable provisions of the
BCA.
1.2 The
Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Gottbetter &
Partners, LLP in New York, New York commencing at 10:00 a.m. local time on July
2, 2008, or, if all of the conditions to the obligations of the Parties to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby have not been satisfied or
waived by such date, on such mutually agreeable later date as soon as
practicable (and in any event not later than three (3) business days) after the
satisfaction or waiver of all conditions (excluding the delivery of any
documents to be delivered at the Closing by any of the Parties) set forth in
Article V hereof (the “Closing Date”).
1.3 Actions at the
Closing. At the Closing:
(a) the
Company shall deliver to the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary the various
certificates, instruments and documents referred to in Section 5.2;
(b) the
Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary shall deliver to the Company the various
certificates, instruments and documents referred to in Section 5.3;
(c) the
Surviving Corporation shall file the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of
State of the State of North Dakota;
(d) each
of the stockholders of record of the Company immediately prior to the Effective
Time (collectively, the “Company Stockholders”) shall, if requested by the
Parent, deliver to the Parent the certificate(s) representing his, her or its
Company Shares (as defined below);
(e) each
Company Stockholder shall be entitled to receive the Initial Shares (as defined
below) in accordance with Section 1.5 and the applicable holders of Warrants (as
defined below) shall be entitled to receive Parent Warrants (as defined below),
as contemplated by Section 1.8(d);
(f) the
Parent shall deliver to the Company (i) evidence that the Parent’s board of
directors is authorized to consist of three individuals, (ii) evidence of the
resignations or termination of all individuals who served as directors and/or
officers of the Parent immediately prior to the Closing Date, (iii) evidence of
the appointment of three directors to serve immediately following the Closing
Date, who shall have been designated by the Company, and (v) evidence of the
appointment of such executive officers of the Parent to serve immediately
following the Closing Date as shall have been designated by the Company;
and
(g) the
Parent, Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx (the “Indemnification Representative”) and Gottbetter
& Partners, LLP (the “Escrow Agent”) shall execute and deliver the Escrow
Agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Escrow Agreement”),
and the Parent shall deliver to the Escrow Agent a certificate for the Escrow
Shares (as defined below) being placed in escrow on the Closing Date pursuant to
Section 1.9.
1.4 Additional
Actions. Promptly after the effectiveness of the Stock Split,
the Parent shall deliver issue and evidencing the Initial Shares to the Company
Stockholders and the Parent Warrants to the applicable holders of Warrants, in
each case in amounts adjusted to reflect the Stock Split. If at any
time after the Effective Time the Surviving Corporation shall consider or be
advised that any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances or any other
acts or things are necessary, desirable or proper (a) to vest, perfect or
confirm, of record or otherwise, in the Surviving Corporation, its right, title
or interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges, powers, franchises,
properties or assets of either the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary or (b)
otherwise to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, the Surviving Corporation
and its proper officers and directors or their designees shall be authorized (to
the fullest extent allowed under applicable law) to execute and deliver, in the
name and on behalf of either the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary, all such
deeds, bills of sale, assignments and assurances and do, in the name and on
behalf of the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary, all such other acts and
things necessary, desirable or proper to vest, perfect or confirm its right,
title or interest in, to or under any of the rights, privileges, powers,
franchises, properties or assets of the Company or the Acquisition Subsidiary,
as applicable, and otherwise to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement.
1.5 Conversion of Company
Securities. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and
without any action on the part of any Party or the holder of any of the
following securities:
-2-
(a) Each
share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Company
Shares”) issued and outstanding, on a fully-diluted basis, immediately prior to
the Effective Time (other than Company Shares owned beneficially by the Parent
or the Acquisition Subsidiary and Dissenting Shares (as defined below)) shall be
converted into and represent the right to receive (subject to the provisions of
Section 1.6) such number of shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share,
of the Parent (“Parent Common Stock”) as is equal to the Common Conversion Ratio
(as defined below). An aggregate of 18,100,000 shares of Parent
Common Stock and warrants to purchase 7,100,000 shares of Parent Common
Stock shall be issued
to the security holders of the Company in connection with the Merger (after
giving effect to the Stock Split).
(b) The
“Common Conversion Ratio” shall be obtained by dividing (i) 25,200,000 shares of
Parent Common Stock by (ii) the total number of outstanding Company Shares
immediately prior to the Effective Time on a fully diluted basis after giving
pro forma effect to the exercise of all outstanding common stock purchase
warrants (“Warrants”), the exercise of all outstanding options to purchase
Company Shares (“Options”) and the conversion or exercise of all other rights to
acquire Company Shares. The parties agree that the Common Conversion
Ratio shall be one (1) share of Parent Common Stock for every one Company
Share. The Company Stockholders shall be
entitled to receive immediately 95% of the shares of
Parent Common Stock into which their Company Shares were converted pursuant to
this Section 1.5 (the “Initial Shares”) pro rata in accordance with their
respective holdings of Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing; the
remaining 5% of the shares of Parent
Common Stock into which their Company Shares were converted pursuant to this
Section 1.5, rounded to the nearest whole number (with 0.5 shares rounded
upward to the nearest whole number) (the “Escrow Shares”), shall be deposited in
escrow pursuant to Section 1.9 and shall be held and disposed of in accordance
with the terms of the Escrow Agreement and, if and as released from escrow, will
be distributed to the Company Stockholders pro rata according to their holdings
of the Initial Shares as of the Closing. The Initial Shares and the
Escrow Shares shall together be referred to herein as the “Merger
Shares.”
(c) Each
issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the
Acquisition Subsidiary shall be converted into one validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable share of common stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
1.6 Dissenting
Shares.
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Dissenting Shares” means Company Shares held as of
the Effective Time by a Company Stockholder who has not voted such Company
Shares in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and with
respect to which appraisal shall have been duly demanded and perfected in
accordance with Section 10-19.1-87 of the BCA and not effectively withdrawn or
forfeited prior to the Effective Time. Dissenting Shares shall not be
converted into or represent the right to receive shares of Parent Common Stock
unless such Company Stockholder’s right to appraisal shall have ceased in
accordance with the BCA. If such Company Stockholder has so forfeited
or withdrawn his, her or its right to appraisal of Dissenting Shares, then,
(i) as of the occurrence of such event, such holder’s Dissenting Shares
shall cease to be Dissenting Shares and shall be converted into and represent
the right to receive the Merger Shares issuable in respect of such Company
Shares pursuant to Section 1.5, and (ii) promptly following the
occurrence of such event, the Parent shall deliver to such Company Stockholder a
certificate representing 95% of the Merger Shares to which such holder is
entitled pursuant to Section 1.5 (which shares shall be considered Initial
Shares for all purposes of this Agreement) and shall deliver to the Escrow Agent
a certificate representing the remaining 5% of the Merger Shares to which such
holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.5 (which shares shall be
considered Escrow Shares for all purposes of this Agreement).
(b) The
Company shall give the Parent prompt notice of any written demands for appraisal
of any Company Shares, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments
that relate to such demands received by the Company. The Company
shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Parent, make any payment
with respect to any demands for appraisal of Company Shares or offer to settle
or settle any such demands.
1.7 Fractional
Shares. No certificates or scrip representing fractional
Initial Shares shall be issued to Company Stockholders on the surrender for
exchange of certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented Company Shares converted into Merger Shares pursuant to Section 1.5
(“Certificates”) and such Company Stockholders shall not be entitled to any
voting rights, rights to receive any dividends or distributions or other rights
as a stockholder of the Parent with respect to any fractional Initial Shares
that would have otherwise been issued to such Company
Stockholders. In lieu of any fractional Initial Shares that would
have otherwise been issued, each former Company Stockholder that would have been
entitled to receive a fractional Initial Share shall, on proper surrender of
such person’s Certificates, receive such whole number of Initial Shares as is
equal to the precise number of Initial Shares to which such Company Stockholder
would be entitled, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number (with a
fractional interest equal to 0.5 rounded upward to the nearest whole number);
provided that each such Company Stockholder shall receive at least one Initial
Share.
-3-
1.8 Options and
Warrants.
(a) As
of the Effective Time, all Options to purchase Company Shares issued by the
Company, whether vested or unvested, shall be canceled and exchanged for options
to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock (“Parent Options”) without further
action by the holder thereof. Each Parent Option shall constitute an
option to acquire such number of shares of Parent Common Stock as is equal to
the number of Company Shares subject to the unexercised portion of the Option
multiplied by the Common Conversion Ratio (with any fraction resulting from such
multiplication to be rounded to the nearest whole number, and with 0.5 shares
rounded upward to the nearest whole number). The exercise price per
share of each Parent Option shall be equal to the exercise price of the Option
prior to conversion divided by the Common Conversion
Ratio. .
(b) As
soon as practicable after the Effective Time, the Parent or the Surviving
Corporation shall take appropriate actions to collect the Options and the
agreements evidencing the Options, which shall be deemed to be canceled and
shall entitle the holder to exchange the Options for Parent Options in the
Parent.
(c) The
Company shall cause the termination, as of the Effective Time, of any and all
outstanding Warrants to purchase capital stock of the Company which remain
unexercised and the Parent shall, at Closing, issue new warrants (the “Parent
Warrants”) in substitution for the Warrants, on substantially the same terms and
conditions of the Warrants, but representing the right to acquire such number of
shares of Parent Common Stock as is equal to the number of Company Shares
subject to the unexercised portion of the Warrant multiplied by the Common
Conversion Ratio (with any fraction resulting from such multiplication to be
rounded to the nearest whole number, and with 0.5 shares rounded upward to the
nearest whole number).
(d) The
Parent shall take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a
sufficient number of shares of Parent Common Stock for delivery upon exercise of
(i) the Parent Options to be issued for the Options and (ii) the Parent Warrants
to be issued for the Warrants, in accordance with this
Section 1.8.
1.9 Escrow. On
the Closing Date, the Parent shall deliver to the Escrow Agent certificates
(issued in the name of the Escrow Agent or its nominee) representing the Escrow
Shares, as described in Section 1.5, for the purpose of securing the
indemnification obligations of the Company Stockholders set forth in this
Agreement. The Escrow Shares shall be held by the Escrow Agent
pursuant to the Escrow Agreement. The Escrow Shares shall be held as
a trust fund and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process
or any other judicial process of any creditor of any Party, and shall be held
and disbursed solely for the purposes and in accordance with the terms of the
Escrow Agreement.
1.10 Certificate of Incorporation
and Bylaws.
(a) The
certificate of incorporation of the Company in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation until duly amended or repealed.
(b) The
bylaws of the Company in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until duly amended or
repealed.
1.11 No Further
Rights. From and after the Effective Time, no Company Shares
shall be deemed to be outstanding, and holders of Certificates shall cease to
have any rights with respect thereto, except as provided herein or by
law.
-4-
1.12 Closing of Transfer
Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the
Company shall be closed and no transfer of Company Shares shall thereafter be
made. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the
Parent or the Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for
Merger Shares in accordance with Section 1.5, subject to Section 1.9
and to applicable law in the case of Dissenting Shares.
1.13 Post-Closing
Adjustments. In the event that, during the period commencing
from the Closing Date and ending on the first anniversary of the Closing Date,
the Parent or the Surviving Corporation incurs any Loss (as defined below) with
respect to, in connection with, or arising from any Parent Liabilities (as
defined below), then promptly following the filing by the Parent with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) of a quarterly report relating to
the most recent completed quarter for which such determination has been made,
the Parent shall issue to the Company Stockholders and/or their designees such
number of shares of Parent Common Stock as would result from dividing (x) the
whole dollar amount representing such Losses by (y) $0.50. The limit
on the aggregate number of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable under this
Section 1.13(a) shall be 2,000,000 shares. As used in this Section 1.13: (a)
“Loss” shall mean any and all costs and expenses, including reasonable
attorneys’ fees, court costs, reasonable accountants’ fees, and damages and
losses, net of any insurance proceeds actually received by the Party suffering
the Loss with respect thereto; (b) “Claims” shall include, but are not limited
to, any claim, notice, suit, action, investigation or other proceedings (whether
actual or threatened); and (c) “Parent Liabilities” shall mean all Claims
against and liabilities, obligations or indebtedness of any nature whatsoever of
Split-Off Subsidiary, whenever accruing, and of the Parent and the Acquisition
Subsidiary, accruing on or before the Closing Date (whether primary, secondary,
direct, indirect, liquidated, unliquidated or contingent, matured or unmatured),
including, but not limited to (i) any breach by the Parent or the Acquisition
Subsidiary of any of their respective representations or warranties set forth in
Article III herein, (ii) any litigation threatened, pending or for which a basis
exists against the Parent or any Parent Subsidiary (as defined in this
Agreement); (iii) any and all outstanding debts owed by the Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary; (iv) any and all internal or employee related disputes, arbitrations
or administrative proceedings threatened, pending or otherwise outstanding; (v)
any and all liens, foreclosures, settlements, or other threatened, pending or
otherwise outstanding financial, legal or similar obligations of the Parent or
any Parent Subsidiary; (vi) any and all Taxes (as defined below) for which the
Parent or any of its direct or indirect assets may be liable or subject, for any
taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date,
including, without limitation, any and all Taxes resulting from or attributable
to the Parent’s ownership or operation of Split-Off Subsidiary’s assets; (vii)
any and all Taxes for which the Parent or its direct or indirect assets may be
liable or subject (including, without limitation, the interests and assets of
the Surviving Corporation and any Parent Subsidiary) as a consequence of the
Parent’s acquisition, formation, capitalization, ownership, and Split-Off of
Split-Off Subsidiary, whether related to a taxable period (or portion thereof)
ending on or after the Closing Date; and (viii) all fees and expenses incurred
in connection with effecting the adjustments contemplated by this Section 1.13,
as such Parent Liabilities are determined by the Parent’s independent auditors,
on a quarterly basis. Any shares of Parent Common Stock that are
issued under this Section 1.13 shall be issued to the Company Shareholders pro
rata according to their respective holdings of the Initial Shares as of the
Closing.
1.14 Exemption from
Registration. The Parent and the Company intend that the
shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to Section 1.5 hereof
or upon exercise of Parent Options and Parent Warrants, if applicable, granted
pursuant to Section 1.8 hereof or upon the provisions of Section 1.13 hereof, in
each case in connection with the Merger, will be issued in a transaction exempt
from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities
Act”), by reason of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act, Rule 506 of Regulation D
promulgated by the SEC thereunder and/or Regulation S promulgated by the
SEC.
ARTICLE
II
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The
Company represents and warrants to the Parent that the statements contained in
this Article II are true and correct, except as set forth in the disclosure
schedule provided by the Company to the Parent on the date hereof and accepted
in writing by the Parent (the “Disclosure Schedule”). The Disclosure
Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the numbered and
lettered paragraphs contained in this Article II. The inclusion
of any item on the Disclosure Schedule shall constitute disclosure for all
purposes under this Agreement, and shall not be construed as an indication of
the materiality or lack thereof of such item.
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2.1 Organization, Qualification
and Corporate Power. The Company is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in corporate and tax good standing under the
laws of the State of North Dakota. The Company is duly qualified to
conduct business and is in corporate and tax good standing under the laws of
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its businesses or the ownership or
leasing of its properties requires such qualification, except where the failure
to be so qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has
not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect (as defined below). The Company has all requisite corporate
power and authority to carry on the businesses in which it is engaged and to own
and use the properties owned and used by it. The Company has
furnished or made available to the Parent complete and accurate copies of its
certificate of incorporation and bylaws. The Company is not in
default under or in violation of any provision of its certificate of
incorporation, as amended to date, or its bylaws, as amended to
date. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Material Adverse
Effect” means a material adverse effect on the assets, business, financial
condition, or results of operations or future prospects of the Company taken as
a whole.
2.2 Capitalization. The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 100,000,000 shares of common
stock and no shares of preferred stock. As of the date of this
Agreement, 18,100,000 Company Shares were issued and outstanding and no
preferred shares were issued and outstanding, and no Company Shares or preferred
shares were held in the treasury of the Company. As of the date of
this Agreement, there were no issued and outstanding Options to purchase Company
Shares and 7,100,000 Warrants to purchase Company
Shares. Section 2.2 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list of (i) all stockholders of the Company,
indicating the number and class of Company Shares held by each stockholder, and
(ii) all stock option plans and other stock or equity-related plans of the
Company. All of the issued and outstanding Company Shares are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of all preemptive
rights. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants,
rights, agreements or commitments to which the Company is a party or which are
binding upon the Company providing for the issuance or redemption of any of its
capital stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to the
Company. Other than as listed in Section 2.2 of the Disclosure
Schedule, there are no agreements to which the Company is a party or by which it
is bound with respect to the voting (including without limitation voting trusts
or proxies), registration under the Securities Act, or sale or transfer
(including without limitation agreements relating to pre-emptive rights, rights
of first refusal, co-sale rights or “drag-along” rights) of any securities of
the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no agreements
among other parties, to which the Company is a party and by which it is bound,
with respect to the voting (including without limitation voting trusts or
proxies) or sale or transfer (including without limitation agreements relating
to rights of first refusal, co-sale rights or “drag-along” rights) of any
securities of the Company. All of the issued and outstanding Company
Shares were issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities
laws.
2.3 Authorization of
Transaction. The Company has all requisite power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder. The execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement and, subject to the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the
Merger by no less than a majority of the votes represented by the outstanding
Company Shares entitled to vote on this Agreement and the Merger (the
“Stockholder Approval”), the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the board of directors of the Company
(i) determined that the Merger is fair and in the best interests of the
Company and the Company Stockholders, (ii) adopted this Agreement in
accordance with the provisions of the BCA, and (iii) directed that this
Agreement and the Merger be submitted to the Company Stockholders for their
adoption and approval and resolved to recommend that the Company Stockholders
vote in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the
Merger. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms.
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2.4 Noncontravention. Subject
to receipt of Stockholder Approval and the filing of the Articles of Merger as
required by the BCA, neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby, will (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the certificate
of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, as amended to date, (b) require
on the part of the Company any filing with, or any permit, authorization,
consent or approval of, any court, arbitrational tribunal, administrative agency
or commission or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency (a
“Governmental Entity”), except for such permits, authorizations, consents and
approvals for which the Company is obligated to use its Reasonable Best Efforts
(as defined below) to obtain pursuant to Section 4.2(a), (c) conflict with,
result in a breach of, constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time
or both) a default under, result in the acceleration of obligations under,
create in any party the right to terminate, modify or cancel, or require any
notice, consent or waiver under, any contract or instrument to which the Company
is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of its assets is
subject, except for (i) any conflict, breach, default, acceleration,
termination, modification or cancellation in any contract or instrument set
forth in Section 2.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, for which the Company is
obligated to use its Reasonable Best Efforts to obtain waiver, consent or
approval pursuant to Section 4.2(b), (ii) any conflict, breach, default,
acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation which would not have a
Company Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby or (iii) any notice, consent or
waiver the absence of which would not have a Company Material Adverse Effect and
would not adversely affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, (d) result in the imposition of any Security Interest (as defined
below) upon any assets of the Company or (e) violate any order, writ,
injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any
of its properties or assets. For purposes of this Agreement:
“Security Interest” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance,
charge or other lien (whether arising by contract or by operation of law), other
than (i) mechanic’s, materialmen’s, and similar liens, (ii) liens
arising under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security,
retirement, and similar legislation, and (iii) liens on goods in transit
incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, in each case arising in the
Ordinary Course of Business (as defined below) of the Company and not material
to the Company; and “Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of
the Company’s business, consistent with past custom and practice (including with
respect to frequency and amount).
2.5 Subsidiaries.
(a) The
Company has no Company Subsidiaries. For purposes of this Agreement,
a “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, joint venture or other
entity in which a Party has, directly or indirectly, an equity interest
representing 50% or more of the equity securities thereof or other equity
interests therein; a “Company Subsidiary” is a Subsidiary of the
Company.
(b) [Intentionally
Omitted]
(c) Except
as set forth in Section 2.5(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not
control directly or indirectly or have any direct or indirect equity
participation or similar interest in any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust or other business association which is
not a Company Subsidiary.
2.6 Financial
Statements. The Company has provided or made available to the
Parent the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of and for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 (such balance sheet of the
Company as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, the “Company
Balance Sheet”), and the related consolidated statements of operations and cash
flows (the “Company Financial Statements”). The “Company Balance
Sheet Date” shall mean December 31, 2007. The Company Financial Statements have
been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting
principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered
thereby, present truly and fairly in all material respects the assets,
liabilities, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
Company as of the respective dates thereof and for the periods referred to
therein, and are consistent in all material respects with the books and records
of the Company.
2.7 Absence of Certain
Changes. Since the Company Balance Sheet Date, and except as
set forth in Section 2.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, (a) to the knowledge of the
Company, there has not occurred any event or development which,
individually or in the aggregate, has had, or could reasonably be expected to
have in the future, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (b) the Company
has not taken any of the actions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (m) of
Section 4.4.
2.8 Undisclosed
Liabilities. The Company does not have any liability (whether
known or unknown, whether absolute or contingent, whether liquidated or
unliquidated and whether due or to become due), except for (a) liabilities
shown on the Company Balance Sheet referred to in Section 2.6,
(b) liabilities which have arisen since the Company Balance Sheet Date in
the Ordinary Course of Business and (c) contractual and other liabilities
incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business which are not required by GAAP to be
reflected on a balance sheet.
-7-
2.9 Tax
Matters.
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(i) “Taxes”
means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other similar assessments or
liabilities, including without limitation income, gross receipts, ad valorem,
premium, value-added, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use,
transfer, withholding, employment, unemployment insurance, social security,
business license, business organization, environmental, workers compensation,
payroll, profits, license, lease, service, service use, severance, stamp,
occupation, windfall profits, customs, duties, franchise and other taxes imposed
by the United States of America or any state, local or foreign government, or
any agency thereof, or other political subdivision of the United States or any
such government, and any interest, fines, penalties, assessments or additions to
tax resulting from, attributable to or incurred in connection with any tax or
any contest or dispute thereof.
(ii) “Tax
Returns” means all reports, returns, declarations, statements or other
information required to be supplied to a taxing authority in connection with the
Taxes.
(b) Except
as set forth in Section 2.9 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has filed on
a timely basis all Tax Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax
Returns were complete and accurate in all material respects. The
Company is not and has never been a member of a group of corporations with which
it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined or unitary Tax
Returns, other than a group of which only the Company is or was a
member. The Company has paid on a timely basis all Taxes that were
due and payable. The unpaid Taxes of the Company for tax periods
through the Company Balance Sheet Date do not exceed the accruals and reserves
for Taxes (excluding accruals and reserves for deferred Taxes established to
reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the Company
Balance Sheet. The Company does not have any actual or potential
liability for any Tax obligation of any taxpayer (including without limitation
any affiliated group of corporations or other entities that included the Company
during a prior period) other than the Company. All Taxes that the
Company is or was required by law to withhold or collect have been duly withheld
or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper
Governmental Entity.
(c) Except
as set forth in Section 2.9 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has
delivered or made available to the Parent complete and accurate copies of all
federal income Tax Returns, examination reports and statements of deficiencies
assessed against or agreed to by the Company since the date of the Company’s
incorporation in North Dakota (the “Organization Date”). No
examination or audit of any Tax Return of the Company by any Governmental Entity
is currently in progress or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or
contemplated. The Company has not been informed by any jurisdiction
that the jurisdiction believes that the Company was required to file any Tax
Return that was not filed. The Company has not waived any statute of
limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to an extension of time with respect
to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(d) The
Company: (i) has not been a United States real property holding corporation
within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable
period specified in Section 897(c)(l)(A)(ii) of the Code; (ii) has not
made any payments, is not obligated to make any payments, or is not a party to
any agreement that could obligate it to make any payments that may be treated as
an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code;
(iii) does not have any actual or potential liability for any Taxes of any
person (other than the Company) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of federal, state, local or foreign law), or as a
transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise; or (iv) is not and has
not been required to make a basis reduction pursuant to Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-20(b) or Treasury Regulation
Section 1.337(d)-2(b).
(e) None
of the assets of the Company: (i) is property that is required to be
treated as being owned by any other person pursuant to the provisions of former
Section 168(f)(8) of the Code; (ii) is “tax-exempt use property”
within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code; or (iii) directly or
indirectly secures any debt the interest on which is tax exempt under
Section 103(a) of the Code.
-8-
(f) The
Company has not undergone a change in its method of accounting resulting in an
adjustment to its taxable income pursuant to Section 481 of the
Code.
(g) No
state or federal “net operating loss” of the Company determined as of the
Closing Date is subject to limitation on its use pursuant to Section 382 of
the Code or comparable provisions of state law as a result of any “ownership
change” within the meaning of Section 382(g) of the Code or comparable
provisions of any state law occurring prior to the Closing Date.
2.10 Assets. The
Company owns or leases all tangible assets reasonably necessary for the conduct
of its businesses as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be
conducted. Except as set forth in Section 2.10 of the Disclosure
Schedule, each such tangible asset is free from material defects, has been
maintained in accordance with normal industry practice, is in good operating
condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear) and is suitable for the
purposes for which it presently is used. Except as set forth in
Section 2.10 of the Disclosure Schedule, no asset of the Company (tangible or
intangible) is subject to any Security Interest.
2.11 Owned Real
Property. Except as set forth in Section 2.11 of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own any real property.
2.12 Real Property
Leases. Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule lists all
real property leased or subleased to or by the Company and lists the term of
such lease, any extension and expansion options, and the rent payable
thereunder. The Company has delivered or made available to the Parent
complete and accurate copies of the leases and subleases listed in
Section 2.12 of the Disclosure Schedule. With respect to each
lease and sublease listed in Section 2.12 of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) the
lease or sublease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and
effect;
(b) the
lease or sublease will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in
full force and effect immediately following the Closing in accordance with the
terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to the Closing;
(c) neither
the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party is in breach
or violation of, or default under, any such lease or sublease, and no event has
occurred, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened, which,
after the giving of notice, with lapse of time or otherwise, would constitute a
breach or default by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any other
party under such lease or sublease;
(d) the
Company has not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or
encumbered any interest in the leasehold or subleasehold; and
(e) to
the knowledge of the Company, there is no Security Interest, easement, covenant
or other restriction applicable to the real property subject to such lease,
except for recorded easements, covenants and other restrictions which do not
materially impair the current uses or the occupancy by the Company of the
property subject thereto.
2.13 Contracts.
(a) Section
2.13 of the Disclosure Schedule lists the following agreements (written or oral)
to which the Company is a party as of the date of this Agreement:
(i) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of personal property
from or to third parties providing for lease payments in excess of $25,000 per
annum or having a remaining term longer than 12 months;
-9-
(ii) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the purchase or sale of products
or for the furnishing or receipt of services (A) which calls for
performance over a period of more than one year, (B) which involves more
than the sum of $25,000, or (C) in which the Company has granted
manufacturing rights, “most favored nation” pricing provisions or exclusive
marketing or distribution rights relating to any products or territory or has
agreed to purchase a minimum quantity of goods or services or has agreed to
purchase goods or services exclusively from a certain party;
(iii) any
agreement which, to the knowledge of the Company, establishes a partnership or
joint venture;
(iv) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) under which it has created, incurred,
assumed or guaranteed (or may create, incur, assume or guarantee) indebtedness
(including capitalized lease obligations) involving more than $25,000 or under
which it has imposed (or may impose) a Security Interest on any of its assets,
tangible or intangible;
(v) any
agreement concerning confidentiality or noncompetition;
(vi) any
employment or consulting agreement;
(vii) any
agreement involving any officer, director or stockholder of the Company or any
affiliate (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”)) thereof (an “Affiliate”);
(viii) any
agreement or commitment for capital expenditures in excess of $25,000, for a
single project (it being represented and warranted that the liability under all
undisclosed agreements and commitments for capital expenditures does not exceed
$100,000 in the aggregate for all projects);
(ix) any
agreement under which the consequences of a default or termination would
reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;
(x) any
agreement which contains any provisions requiring the Company to indemnify any
other party thereto (excluding indemnities contained in agreements for the
purchase, sale or license of products entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business);
(xi) any
other agreement (or group of related agreements) either involving more than
$25,000 or not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; and
(xii) any
agreement, other than as contemplated by this Agreement, relating to the sales
of securities of the Company to which the Company is a party.
(b) The
Company has delivered or made available to the Parent a complete and accurate
copy of each agreement listed in Section 2.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule. With respect to each agreement so listed, and except as set
forth in Section 2.13 of the Disclosure Schedule: (i) the
agreement is legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect;
(ii) the agreement will continue to be legal, valid, binding and
enforceable and in full force and effect immediately following the Closing in
accordance with the terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to the Closing;
and (iii) neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
other party, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any such agreement,
and no event has occurred, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, is
threatened, which, after the giving of notice, with lapse of time or otherwise,
would constitute a material breach or default by the Company or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any other party under such contract.
2.14 Accounts
Receivable. All accounts receivable of the Company reflected
on the Company Balance Sheet are valid receivables subject to no setoffs or
counterclaims and are current and collectible (within 90 days after the date on
which it first became due and payable), net of the applicable reserve for bad
debts on the Company Balance Sheet. All accounts receivable reflected
in the financial or accounting records of the Company that have arisen since the
Company Balance Sheet Date are valid receivables subject to no setoffs or
counterclaims and are collectible (within 90 days after the date on which it
first became due and payable), net of a reserve for bad debts in an amount
proportionate to the reserve shown on the Company Balance
Sheet.
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2.15 Powers of
Attorney. Except as set forth in Section 2.15 of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding powers of attorney executed on
behalf of the Company.
2.16 Insurance. Section 2.16
of the Disclosure Schedule lists each insurance policy (including fire, theft,
casualty, general liability, workers compensation, business interruption,
environmental, product liability and automobile insurance policies and bond and
surety arrangements) to which the Company is a party. Such insurance
policies are of the type and in amounts customarily carried by organizations
conducting businesses or owning assets similar to those of the
Company. There is no material claim pending under any such policy as
to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriter of
such policy. All premiums due and payable under all such policies
have been paid, the Company is not liable for retroactive premiums or similar
payments, and the Company is otherwise in compliance in all material respects
with the terms of such policies. The Company does not have any
knowledge of any threatened termination of, or material premium increase with
respect to, any such policy. Each such policy will continue to be
enforceable and in full force and effect immediately following the Effective
Time in accordance with the terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time.
2.17 Litigation. As of the date of this
Agreement, there is no action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or
investigation before any Governmental Entity or before any arbitrator (a “Legal
Proceeding”) which is pending or has been threatened in a writing received by
the Company against the Company which (a) seeks either damages in excess of
$10,000 individually, or $25,000 in the aggregate, or (b) if determined
adversely to the Company, could have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Company Material Adverse Effect.
2.18 Employees.
(a) Section
2.18 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all employees of the Company
whose annual rate of compensation exceeds $100,000 per year, along with the
position and the annual rate of compensation of each such
person. Section 2.18 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a list of
all employees of the Company who are a party to a non-competition agreement with
the Company; copies of such agreements have previously been delivered to the
Parent. To the knowledge of the Company, no key employee or group of
employees has any plans to terminate employment with the Company.
(b) The
Company is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, and
does not have experienced any strikes, grievances, claims of unfair labor
practices or other collective bargaining disputes. To the knowledge
of the Company, no organizational effort has been made or threatened, either
currently or within the past two years, by or on behalf of any labor union with
respect to employees of the Company. To the knowledge of the Company,
there are no circumstances or facts which could individually or collectively
give rise to a suit based on discrimination of any kind.
2.19 Employee
Benefits.
(a) For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(i) “Employee
Benefit Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA), any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA), and any other written or oral plan, agreement or
arrangement involving direct or indirect compensation, including without
limitation insurance coverage, severance benefits, disability benefits, deferred
compensation, bonuses, stock options, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock
appreciation or other forms of incentive compensation or post-retirement
compensation.
(ii) “ERISA”
means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
-11-
(iii) “ERISA
Affiliate” means any entity which is, or at any applicable time was, a member of
(1) a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b)
of the Code), (2) a group of trades or businesses under common control (as
defined in Section 414(c) of the Code), or (3) an affiliated service
group (as defined under Section 414(m) of the Code or the regulations under
Section 414(o) of the Code), any of which includes or included the
Company.
(b) Section 2.19(b)
of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Employee
Benefit Plans maintained, or contributed to, by the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate (collectively, the “Company Plans”). Complete and accurate
copies of (i) all Company Plans which have been reduced to writing,
(ii) written summaries of all unwritten Company Plans, (iii) all
related trust agreements, insurance contracts and summary plan descriptions, and
(iv) all annual reports filed on IRS Form 5500, 5500C or 5500R and (for all
funded plans) all plan financial statements for the last five plan years for
each Company Plan, have been delivered or made available to the
Parent. Each Company Plan has been administered in all material
respects in accordance with its terms and each of the Company and the ERISA
Affiliates has in all material respects met its obligations with respect to such
Company Plan and has made all required contributions thereto. The
Company, each ERISA Affiliate and each Company Plan are in compliance in all
material respects with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code
and the regulations thereunder (including without limitation Section 4980B
of the Code, Subtitle K, Chapter 100 of the Code and Sections 601
through 608 and Section 701 et seq. of ERISA). All filings and
reports as to each Company Plan required to have been submitted to the Internal
Revenue Service or to the United States Department of Labor have been duly
submitted.
(c) To
the knowledge of the Company, there are no Legal Proceedings (except claims for
benefits payable in the normal operation of the Company Plans and proceedings
with respect to qualified domestic relations orders) against or involving any
Company Plan or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Company
Plan that could give rise to any material liability.
(d) All
the Company Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code have received determination letters from the Internal Revenue Service
to the effect that such Company Plans are qualified and the plans and the trusts
related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a)
and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such determination letter has been
revoked and revocation has not been threatened, and no such Company Plan has
been amended since the date of its most recent determination letter or
application therefor in any respect, and no act or omission has occurred, that
would adversely affect its qualification or materially increase its
cost. Each Company Plan which is required to satisfy
Section 401(k)(3) or Section 401(m)(2) of the Code has been tested for
compliance with, and satisfies the requirements of, Section 401(k)(3) and
Section 401(m)(2) of the Code for each plan year ending prior to the
Closing Date.
(e) Neither
the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever maintained an Employee Benefit Plan
subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA.
(f) At
no time has the Company or any ERISA Affiliate been obligated to contribute to
any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of
ERISA).
(g) There
are no unfunded obligations under any Company Plan providing benefits after
termination of employment to any employee of the Company (or to any beneficiary
of any such employee), including but not limited to retiree health coverage and
deferred compensation, but excluding continuation of health coverage required to
be continued under Section 4980B of the Code or other applicable law and
insurance conversion privileges under state law. The assets of each
Company Plan which is funded are reported at their fair market value on the
books and records of such Company Plan.
(h) No
act or omission has occurred and no condition exists with respect to any Company
Plan maintained by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate that would subject the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate to (i) any material fine, penalty, tax or
liability of any kind imposed under ERISA or the Code or (ii) any contractual
indemnification or contribution obligation protecting any fiduciary, insurer or
service provider with respect to any Company Plan.
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(i) No
Company Plan is funded by, associated with or related to a “voluntary employee’s
beneficiary association” within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the
Code.
(j) Each
Company Plan is amendable and terminable unilaterally by the Company at any time
without liability to the Company as a result thereof and no Company Plan, plan
documentation or agreement, summary plan description or other written
communication distributed generally to employees by its terms prohibits the
Company from amending or terminating any such Company Plan.
(k) Section
2.19(k) of the Disclosure Schedule discloses each: (i) agreement with any
stockholder, director, executive officer or other key employee of the Company
(A) the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are
materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company
of the nature of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(B) providing any term of employment or compensation guarantee or
(C) providing severance benefits or other benefits after the termination of
employment of such director, executive officer or key employee;
(ii) agreement, plan or arrangement under which any person may receive
payments from the Company that may be subject to the tax imposed by
Section 4999 of the Code or included in the determination of such person’s
“parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code; and
(iii) agreement or plan binding the Company, including without limitation
any stock option plan, stock appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan,
stock purchase plan, severance benefit plan or Company Plan, any of the benefits
of which will be increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be
accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the
basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
accruals for vacation, sickness and disability expenses are accounted for on the
Company Balance Sheet and are adequate and materially reflect the expenses
associated therewith in accordance with GAAP.
2.20 Environmental
Matters.
(a) The
Company has complied with all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below),
except for violations of Environmental Laws that, individually or in the
aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company
Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened civil or criminal litigation, written notice of
violation, formal administrative proceeding, or investigation, inquiry or
information request by any Governmental Entity, relating to any Environmental
Law involving the Company, except for litigation, notices of violations, formal
administrative proceedings or investigations, inquiries or information requests
that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Environmental Law” means any federal, state or local law,
statute, rule or regulation or the common law relating to the environment,
including without limitation any statute, regulation, administrative decision or
order pertaining to (i) treatment, storage, disposal, generation and
transportation of industrial, toxic or hazardous materials or substances or
solid or hazardous waste; (ii) air, water and noise pollution;
(iii) groundwater and soil contamination; (iv) the release or
threatened release into the environment of industrial, toxic or hazardous
materials or substances, or solid or hazardous waste, including without
limitation emissions, discharges, injections, spills, escapes or dumping of
pollutants, contaminants or chemicals; (v) the protection of wild life,
marine life and wetlands, including without limitation all endangered and
threatened species; (vi) storage tanks, vessels, containers, abandoned or
discarded barrels, and other closed receptacles; (vii) health and safety of
employees and other persons; and (viii) manufacturing, processing, using,
distributing, treating, storing, disposing, transporting or handling of
materials regulated under any law as pollutants, contaminants, toxic or
hazardous materials or substances or oil or petroleum products or solid or
hazardous waste. As used above, the terms “release” and “environment”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”).
(b) Set
forth in Section 2.20(b) of the Disclosure Schedule is a list of all
documents (whether in hard copy or electronic form) that contain any
environmental reports, investigations and audits relating to premises currently
or previously owned or operated by the Company (whether conducted by or on
behalf of the Company, and whether done at the initiative of the Company or
directed by a Governmental Entity) which were issued or conducted during the
past five years and which the Company has possession of or access
to. A complete and accurate copy of each such document has been
provided to the Parent.
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(c) To
the knowledge of the Company, there is no material environmental liability with
respect to any solid or hazardous waste transporter or treatment, storage or
disposal facility that has been used by the Company.
2.21 Legal
Compliance. The Company, and the conduct and operations of its
business, is in compliance with each applicable law (including rules and
regulations thereunder) of any federal, state, local or foreign government, or
any Governmental Entity, except for any violations or defaults that,
individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.
2.22 Permits. Section
2.22 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all material permits,
licenses, registrations, certificates, orders or approvals from any Governmental
Entity (including without limitation those issued or required under
Environmental Laws and those relating to the occupancy or use of owned or leased
real property) (“Permits”) issued to or held by the Company. Such
listed Permits are the only material Permits that are required for the Company
to conduct its business as presently conducted except for those the absence of
which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably
be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Each such
Permit is in full force and effect and, to the knowledge of the Company, no
suspension or cancellation of such Permit is threatened and, to the knowledge of
the Company, there is no reasonable basis for believing that such Permit will
not be renewable upon expiration. Each such Permit, to the knowledge
of the Company, will continue in full force and effect immediately following the
Closing.
2.23 Certain Business
Relationships with Affiliates. Except as listed in Section
2.23 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Affiliate of the Company (a) owns any
material property or right, tangible or intangible, which is used in the
business of the Company, (b) has any claim or cause of action against the
Company, or (c) owes any money to, or is owed any money by, the
Company. Section 2.23 of the Disclosure Schedule describes any
transactions involving the receipt or payment in excess of $25,000 in any fiscal
year between the Company and any Affiliate of the Company thereof which have
occurred or existed since the Organization Date, other than employment
agreements.
2.24 Brokers’
Fees. The Company 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, except as listed in Section 2.24 of
the Disclosure Schedule.
2.25 Books and
Records. The minute books and other similar records of the
Company contain complete and accurate records in all material respects of all
actions taken at any meetings of the Company’s stockholders, board of directors
or any committees thereof and of all written consents executed in lieu of the
holding of any such meetings.
2.26 Intellectual
Property.
(a) The
Company owns, is licensed or otherwise possesses legally enforceable rights to
use, license and exploit all issued patents, copyrights, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, trade secrets, and registered domain names and all
applications for registration therefor (collectively, the “Intellectual Property
Rights”) and all computer programs and other computer software, databases,
know-how, proprietary technology, formulae, and development tools, together with
all goodwill related to any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Intellectual
Property”), in each case as is necessary to conduct their respective businesses
as presently conducted, the absence of which would be considered reasonably
likely to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Section
2.26(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth, with respect to all issued
patents and all registered copyrights, trademarks, service marks and domain
names registered with any Governmental Entity by the Company or for which an
application for registration has been filed with any Governmental Entity by the
Company, (i) the registration or application number, the date filed and the
title, if applicable, of the registration or application and (ii) the names
of the jurisdictions covered by the applicable registration or
application. Section 2.26(b) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies
each agreement currently in effect containing any ongoing royalty or payment
obligations of the Company in excess of $25,000 per annum with respect to
Intellectual Property Rights and Intellectual Property that are licensed or
otherwise made available to the Company.
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(c) Except
as set forth on Section 2.26(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, all Intellectual
Property Rights of the Company that have been registered with any Governmental
Entity are valid and subsisting, except as would not reasonably be expected to
have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As of the Effective Date, in connection
with such registered Intellectual Property Rights, all necessary registration,
maintenance and renewal fees will have been paid and all necessary documents and
certificates will have been filed with the relevant Governmental
Entities.
(d) The
Company is not, and will not as a result of the consummation of the Merger or
other transactions contemplated by this Agreement be, in breach in any material
respect of any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to the
Intellectual Property Rights of the Company, or any licenses, sublicenses or
other agreements as to which the Company is a party and pursuant to which the
Company uses any patents, copyrights (including software), trademarks or other
intellectual property rights of or owned by third parties (the “Third Party
Intellectual Property Rights”), the breach of which would be reasonably likely
to result in a Company Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Except
as set forth on Section 2.26(e) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not
been named as a defendant in any suit, action or proceeding which involves a
claim of infringement or misappropriation of any Third Party Intellectual
Property Right and the Company has not received any written notice of any actual
or alleged infringement, misappropriation or unlawful or unauthorized use of any
Third Party Intellectual Property Right.
(f) To
the knowledge of the Company, except as set forth on Section 2.26(f) of the
Disclosure Schedule, no other person is infringing, misappropriating or making
any unlawful or unauthorized use of any Intellectual Property Rights of the
Company in a manner that has a material impact on the business of the Company,
except for such infringement, misappropriation or unlawful or unauthorized use
as would not be reasonably expected to have a Company Material Adverse
Effect.
2.27 Disclosure. No
representation or warranty by the Company contained in this Agreement, and no
statement contained in the Disclosure Schedule or any other document,
certificate or other instrument delivered or to be delivered by or on behalf of
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, contains or will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact
necessary, in light of the circumstances under which it was or will be made, in
order to make the statements herein or therein not misleading. The
Company has disclosed to the Parent all material information relating to the
business of the Company or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
2.28 Duty to Make
Inquiry. To the extent that any of the representations or
warranties in this Article II are qualified by “knowledge” or “belief,” the
Company represents and warrants that it has made due and reasonable inquiry and
investigation concerning the matters to which such representations and
warranties relate, including, but not limited to, diligent inquiry by its
directors, officers and key personnel.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT
AND
THE ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY
Each of
the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary represents and warrants to the Company
that the statements contained in this Article III are true and correct,
except as set forth in the disclosure schedule provided by the Parent and the
Acquisition Subsidiary to the Company on the date hereof and accepted in writing
by the Company (the “Parent Disclosure Schedule”). The Parent
Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the
numbered and lettered paragraphs contained in this
Article III. The inclusion of any item on the Disclosure
Schedule shall constitute disclosure for all purposes under this Agreement, and
shall not be construed as an indication of the materiality or lack thereof of
such item.
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3.1 Organization, Qualification
and Corporate Power. The Parent is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Nevada and the Acquisition Subsidiary is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of North
Dakota. The Parent is duly qualified to conduct business and is in
corporate and tax good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the
nature of its businesses or the ownership or leasing of its properties requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good
standing would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect (as defined
below). The Parent has all requisite corporate power and authority to
carry on the businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties
owned and used by it. The Parent has furnished or made available to
the Company complete and accurate copies of its certificate of incorporation and
bylaws. Neither the Parent nor the Acquisition Subsidiary is in
default under or in violation of any provision of its certificate of
incorporation, as amended to date, or its bylaws, as amended to
date. For purposes of this Agreement, “Parent Material Adverse
Effect” means a material adverse effect on the assets, business, condition
(financial or otherwise), or results of operations of the Parent and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
3.2 Capitalization. At
the Effective Time, but prior to giving effect to the issuance of the Merger
Shares or any Parent Options or Parent Warrants, the Stock Split or the Share
Contribution (as defined below), the authorized capital stock of the Parent will
consist of 300,000,000 shares of Parent Common Stock, of which 101,528,107
shares will be issued and outstanding, and 25,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
$0.001 par value per share, of which no shares are outstanding. The
Parent Common Stock is presently eligible for quotation on the “Pink Sheets” and
is not subject to any notice of suspension or delisting. All of the
issued and outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of all preemptive
rights. Except as contemplated by the Transaction Documentation (as
hereinafter defined) and by the Private Placement Offering or as described in
Section 3.2 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding or
authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements or commitments to which the
Parent is a party or which are binding upon the Parent providing for the
issuance or redemption of any of its capital stock. There are no
outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights
with respect to the Parent. Except as contemplated by the Transaction
Documentation and by
the Private Placement Offering, there are no agreements to which the Parent is a
party or by which it is bound with respect to the voting (including without
limitation voting trusts or proxies), registration under the Securities Act, or
sale or transfer (including without limitation agreements relating to
pre-emptive rights, rights of first refusal, co-sale rights or “drag-along”
rights) of any securities of the Parent. There are no agreements
among other parties, to which the Parent is not a party and by which it is not
bound, with respect to the voting (including without limitation voting trusts or
proxies) or sale or transfer (including without limitation agreements relating
to rights of first refusal, co-sale rights or “drag-along” rights) of any
securities of the Parent. All of the issued and outstanding shares of
Parent Common Stock were issued in compliance with applicable federal and state
securities laws. The Merger Shares to be issued at the Closing
pursuant to Section 1.5 hereof, when issued and delivered in accordance with the
terms hereof and of the Articles of Merger, shall be duly and validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable and free of all preemptive rights and will be
issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities
laws. At the Effective Time, after giving effect to (i) the surrender
by the Buyers of 9,510,273 aggregate shares of Parent Common Stock and warrants
to purchase 1,252,819 aggregate shares of Parent Common Stock (the
“Share Contribution”) in connection with the Split-Off and (ii) the vesting and
issuance of 5,400,000 shares of restricted stock held by Xxxx Xxxxx, the
President of the Parent, which vest upon closing of the Merger, but prior to
giving effect to the issuance of the Merger Shares or any Parent Options or
Parent Warrants or to the Stock Split, there will be 97,417,834 shares of Parent
Common Stock issued and outstanding.
3.3 Authorization of
Transaction. Each of the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary
has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
(in the case of the Parent) the Split-off Agreement and the Escrow Agreement and
to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. Split-Off
Subsidiary has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver the
Split-Off Agreement and to perform its obligations thereunder. The execution and
delivery by the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary of this Agreement and (in
the case of the Parent) the Split-Off Agreement and the Escrow Agreement, and
the agreements contemplated hereby and thereby (collectively, the “Transaction
Documentation”), and the execution by Split-Off Subsidiary of the Split-Off
Agreement and the consummation by the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary and
Split-Off Subsidiary of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby have
been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part
of the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary and Split-Off Subsidiary,
respectively. Each of the documents included in the Transaction
Documentation has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Parent,
the Acquisition Subsidiary or Split-Off Subsidiary, as the case may be, and
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Parent, the Acquisition
Subsidiary or Split-Off Subsidiary, as the case may be, enforceable against them
in accordance with its terms.
-16-
3.4 Noncontravention. Subject
to the filing of the Articles of Merger as required by the BCA, neither the
execution and delivery by the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or Split-Off
Subsidiary, as the case may be, of this Agreement or the Transaction
Documentation, nor the consummation by the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or
Split-Off Subsidiary, as the case may be, of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, will (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary
or Split-Off Subsidiary, as the case may be, (b) require on the part of the
Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or Split-Off Subsidiary, as the case may be,
any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
Governmental Entity, (c) conflict with, result in breach of, constitute
(with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under, result in
the acceleration of obligations under, create in any party any right to
terminate, modify or cancel, or require any notice, consent or waiver under, any
contract or instrument to which the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or
Split-Off Subsidiary, as the case may be, is a party or by which either is bound
or to which any of their assets are subject, except for (i) any conflict,
breach, default, acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation which
would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) any
notice, consent or waiver the absence of which would not have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect and would not adversely affect the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, (d) result in the imposition of any
Security Interest upon any assets of the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary or
(e) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or Split-Off
Subsidiary or any of their properties or assets.
3.5 Subsidiaries.
(a) The
Parent has no Subsidiaries other than the Acquisition Subsidiary and Split-Off
Subsidiary. Each of the Acquisition Subsidiary and Split-Off
Subsidiary is an entity duly organized, validly existing and in corporate and
tax good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization. The Acquisition Subsidiary was formed solely to
effectuate the Merger, Split-Off Subsidiary was formed solely to effectuate the
Split-Off, and neither of them has conducted any business operations since its
organization. The Parent has delivered or made available to the
Company complete and accurate copies of the charter, bylaws or other
organizational documents of the Acquisition Subsidiary and Split-Off
Subsidiary. The Acquisition Subsidiary has no assets other than
minimal paid-in capital, it has no liabilities or other obligations, and it is
not in default under or in violation of any provision of its charter, bylaws or
other organizational documents. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Acquisition Subsidiary are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. All shares of the Acquisition Subsidiary are owned by the
Parent free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than restrictions
under the Securities Act and state securities laws), claims, Security Interests,
options, warrants, rights, contracts, calls, commitments, equities and
demands. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants,
rights, agreements or commitments to which the Parent or the Acquisition
Subsidiary is a party or which are binding on any of them providing for the
issuance, disposition or acquisition of any capital stock of the Acquisition
Subsidiary or Split-Off Subsidiary (except as contemplated by this Agreement and
the Split-Off Agreement). There are no outstanding stock
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to the Acquisition
Subsidiary. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements
or understandings with respect to the voting of any capital stock of the
Acquisition Subsidiary.
(b) At
all times from March 9, 2004 (inception) through the date of this Agreement, the
business and operations of the Parent have been conducted exclusively through
the Parent and the Split-Off Subsidiary.
(c) The
Parent does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct or indirect
participation or similar interest in any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust or other business association which is
not a Subsidiary.
3.6 [Intentionally
Omitted]
3.7 Compliance with
Laws. Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries:
(a) and
the conduct and operations of their respective businesses, are in compliance
with each applicable law (including rules and regulations thereunder) of any
federal, state, local or foreign government, or any Governmental Entity, except
for any violations or defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, have not
had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect;
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(b) has
complied with all federal and state securities laws and regulations, including
being current in all of its reporting obligations under such federal and state
securities laws and regulations;
(c) has
not, and the past and present officers, directors and Affiliates of the Parent
have not, been the subject of, nor does any officer or director of the Parent
have any reason to believe that the Parent or any of its officers, directors or
Affiliates will be the subject of, any civil or criminal proceeding or
investigation by any federal or state agency alleging a violation of securities
laws;
(d) has
not been the subject of any voluntary or involuntary bankruptcy proceeding, nor
has it been a party to any material litigation;
(e) has
not, and the past and present officers, directors and Affiliates have not, been
the subject of, nor does any officer or director of the Parent have any reason
to believe that the Parent or any of its officers, directors or Affiliates will
be the subject of, any civil, criminal or administrative investigation or
proceeding brought by any federal or state agency having regulatory authority
over such entity or person;
(f) does
not and will not on the Closing, have any liabilities, contingent or otherwise,
including but not limited to notes payable and accounts payable, and is not a
party to any executory agreements; and
(g) is
not a “blank check company” as such term is defined by Rule 419 of the
Securities Act.
3.8 Financial
Statements. The Parent has provided or made available to the
Company the unaudited consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of and for
the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 and an unaudited consolidated
balance sheet (the “Parent Balance Sheet”) of the Company as of and for the
three months ended March 31, 2008 (the “Parent Balance Sheet Date”), and the
related consolidated statements of operations and cash flows (the “Parent
Financial Statements”). The Parent Financial Statements have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods covered thereby, present truly and fairly in all material respects the
assets, liabilities, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows
of the Parent as of the respective dates thereof and for the periods referred to
therein, and are consistent in all material respects with the books and records
of the Parent.
3.9 Absence of Certain
Changes. Since the Parent Balance Sheet Date, (a) there has
occurred no event or development which, individually or in the aggregate, has
had, or could reasonably be expected to have in the future, a Parent Material
Adverse Effect and (b) neither the Parent nor the Acquisition Subsidiary has
taken any of the actions set forth in paragraphs (a) through (m) of Section
4.6.
3.10 Litigation. Except
as disclosed in the Parent Balance Sheet, as of the date of this Agreement,
there is no Legal Proceeding which is pending or, to the Parent’s knowledge,
threatened against the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent which, if
determined adversely to the Parent or such Subsidiary, could have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner
challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or delay the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. For purposes of this Section 3.10,
any such pending or threatened Legal Proceedings where the amount at issue
exceeds or could reasonably be expected to exceed the lesser of $10,000 per
Legal Proceeding or $25,000 in the aggregate shall be considered to possibly
result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect hereunder.
3.11 Undisclosed
Liabilities. None of the Parent and its Subsidiaries has any
liability (whether known or unknown, whether absolute or contingent, whether
liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to become due), except for
(a) liabilities shown on the balance sheet contained in the Parent Balance
Sheet, (b) liabilities which have arisen since the date of the balance
sheet contained in the Parent Balance Sheet in the Ordinary Course of Business
which do not exceed $1,000.00 in the aggregate and (c) contractual and
other liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business which are not
required by GAAP to be reflected on a balance sheet.
-18-
3.12 Tax
Matters.
(a) Each
of the Parent and its Subsidiaries has filed on a timely basis all Tax Returns
that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns were complete and
accurate in all material respects. Neither the Parent nor any of its
Subsidiaries is or has ever been a member of a group of corporations with which
it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined or unitary Tax
Returns, other than a group of which only the Parent and its Subsidiaries are or
were members. Each of the Parent and its Subsidiaries has paid on a
timely basis all Taxes that were due and payable. The unpaid Taxes of
the Parent and its Subsidiaries for tax periods through the Parent Balance Sheet
Date do not exceed the accruals and reserves for Taxes (excluding accruals and
reserves for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between
book and Tax income) set forth on such balance sheet. Neither the
Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has any actual or potential liability for any
Tax obligation of any taxpayer (including without limitation any affiliated
group of corporations or other entities that included the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries during a prior period) other than the Parent and its
Subsidiaries. All Taxes that the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is
or was required by law to withhold or collect have been duly withheld or
collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper Governmental
Entity.
(b) The
Parent has delivered or made available to the Company complete and accurate
copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination reports and statements of
deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries since March 9, 2004 (which was the date of the Parent’s
incorporation). No examination or audit of any Tax Return of the
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Entity is currently in
progress or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened or
contemplated. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has been
informed by any jurisdiction that the jurisdiction believes that the Parent or
its Subsidiaries was required to file any Tax Return that was not
filed. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any
statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to an extension of time
with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(c) Neither
the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) has been a United States real
property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the
Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(l)(A)(ii) of
the Code; (ii) has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or
is a party to any agreement that could obligate it to make any payments that may
be treated as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code;
(iii) has any actual or potential liability for any Taxes of any person
(other than the Parent and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation
Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of federal, state, local or
foreign law), or as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise; or
(iv) is or has been required to make a basis reduction pursuant to Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-20(b) or Treasury Regulation
Section 1.337(d)-2(b).
(d) None
of the assets of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) is property
that is required to be treated as being owned by any other person pursuant to
the provisions of former Section 168(f)(8) of the Code; (ii) is
“tax-exempt use property” within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code;
or (iii) directly or indirectly secures any debt the interest of which is
tax exempt under Section 103(a) of the Code.
(e) Neither
the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has undergone a change in its method of
accounting resulting in an adjustment to its taxable income pursuant to
Section 481 of the Code.
(f) No
state or federal “net operating loss” of the Parent determined as of the Closing
Date is subject to limitation on its use pursuant to Section 382 of the
Code or comparable provisions of state law as a result of any “ownership change”
within the meaning of Section 382(g) of the Code or comparable provisions
of any state law occurring prior to the Closing Date.
3.13 Assets. Each
of the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary owns or leases all tangible assets
necessary for the conduct of its businesses as presently conducted and as
presently proposed to be conducted. Each such tangible asset is free
from material defects, has been maintained in accordance with normal industry
practice, is in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and
tear) and is suitable for the purposes for which it presently is
used. No asset of the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary (tangible
or intangible) is subject to any Security Interest.
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3.14 Owned Real
Property. Except as set forth in Section 3.14 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any
real property.
3.15 Real Property
Leases. Section 3.15 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule lists
all real property leased or subleased to or by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries and lists the term of such lease, any extension and expansion
options, and the rent payable thereunder. The Parent has delivered or
made available to the Company complete and accurate copies of the leases and
subleases listed in Section 3.15 of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule. With respect to each lease and sublease listed in
Section 3.15 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule:
(a) the
lease or sublease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and
effect;
(b) the
lease or sublease will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in
full force and effect immediately following the Closing in accordance with the
terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to the Closing;
(c) neither
the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Parent, any
other party, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any such lease or
sublease, and no event has occurred, is pending or, to the knowledge of the
Parent, is threatened, which, after the giving of notice, with lapse of time or
otherwise, would constitute a breach or default by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Parent, any other party under such
lease or sublease;
(d) neither
the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned, transferred, conveyed,
mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any interest in the leasehold or
subleasehold; and
(e) to
the knowledge of the Parent, there is no Security Interest, easement, covenant
or other restriction applicable to the real property subject to such lease,
except for recorded easements, covenants and other restrictions which do not
materially impair the current uses or the occupancy by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries of the property subject thereto.
3.16 Contracts.
(a) Section
3.16 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule lists the following agreements (written
or oral) to which the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as of the
date of this Agreement:
(i) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of personal property
from or to third parties;
(ii) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the purchase or sale of products
or for the furnishing or receipt of services;
(iii) any
agreement establishing a partnership or joint venture;
(iv) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) under which it has created, incurred,
assumed or guaranteed (or may create, incur, assume or guarantee) indebtedness
(including capitalized lease obligations) or under which it has imposed (or may
impose) a Security Interest on any of its assets, tangible or
intangible;
(v) any
agreement concerning confidentiality or noncompetition;
(vi) any
employment or consulting agreement;
(vii) any
agreement involving any current or former officer, director or stockholder of
the Parent or any Affiliate thereof;
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(viii) any
agreement under which the consequences of a default or termination would
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect;
(ix) any
agreement which contains any provisions requiring the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries to indemnify any other party thereto (excluding indemnities
contained in agreements for the purchase, sale or license of products entered
into in the Ordinary Course of Business);
(x) any
other agreement (or group of related agreements) either involving more than
$5,000 or not entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; and
(xi) any
agreement, other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Private Placement
Offering and the Split-Off, relating to the sales of securities of the Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries to which the Parent or such Subsidiary is a
party.
(b) The
Parent has delivered or made available to the Company a complete and accurate
copy of each agreement listed in Section 3.16 of the Parent Disclosure
Schedule. With respect to each agreement so
listed: (i) the agreement is legal, valid, binding and
enforceable and in full force and effect; (ii) the agreement will continue
to be legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect
immediately following the Closing in accordance with the terms thereof as in
effect immediately prior to the Closing; and (iii) neither the Parent nor
any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Parent, any other party, is
in breach or violation of, or default under, any such agreement, and no event
has occurred, is pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, is threatened,
which, after the giving of notice, with lapse of time or otherwise, would
constitute a breach or default by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or, to
the knowledge of the Parent, any other party under such contract.
3.17 Accounts
Receivable. All accounts receivable of the Parent and its
Subsidiaries reflected on the Parent Balance Sheet are valid receivables subject
to no setoffs or counterclaims and are current and collectible (within 90 days
after the date on which it first became due and payable), net of the applicable
reserve for bad debts on the Parent Balance Sheet. All accounts
receivable reflected in the financial or accounting records of the Parent that
have arisen since the Parent Balance Sheet Date are valid receivables subject to
no setoffs or counterclaims and are collectible (within 90 days after the date
on which it first became due and payable), net of a reserve for bad debts in an
amount proportionate to the reserve shown on the Parent Balance
Sheet.
3.18 Powers of
Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney executed
on behalf of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
3.19 Insurance. Section 3.19
of the Parent Disclosure Schedule lists each insurance policy (including fire,
theft, casualty, general liability, workers compensation, business interruption,
environmental, product liability and automobile insurance policies and bond and
surety arrangements) to which the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is a
party. Such insurance policies are of the type and in amounts
customarily carried by organizations conducting businesses or owning assets
similar to those of the Parent and its Subsidiaries. There is no
material claim pending under any such policy as to which coverage has been
questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriter of such policy. All
premiums due and payable under all such policies have been paid, neither the
Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries may be liable for retroactive premiums or
similar payments, and the Parent and its Subsidiaries are otherwise in
compliance in all material respects with the terms of such
policies. The Parent has no knowledge of any threatened termination
of, or material premium increase with respect to, any such
policy. Each such policy will continue to be enforceable and in full
force and effect immediately following the Closing in accordance with the terms
thereof as in effect immediately prior to the Closing.
3.20 Warranties. No
product or service sold or delivered by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries is
subject to any guaranty, warranty, right of credit or other indemnity other than
the applicable standard terms and conditions of sale of the Parent or the
appropriate Subsidiary, which are set forth in Section 3.20 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule.
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3.21 Employees.
(a) Section
3.21 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all employees of the
Parent and each of its Subsidiaries, along with the position and the annual rate
of compensation of each such person. Each current or past employee of
the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries has entered into a
confidentiality/assignment of inventions agreement with the Parent or such
Subsidiaries, a copy or form of which has previously been delivered to the
Company. Section 3.21 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a
list of all employees of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries who are a party
to a non-competition agreement with the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries;
copies of such agreements have previously been delivered to the
Company. To the knowledge of the Parent, no employee or group of
employees has any plans to terminate employment with the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(b) Neither
the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective
bargaining agreement, nor have any of them experienced any strikes, grievances,
claims of unfair labor practices or other collective bargaining
disputes. The Parent has no knowledge of any organizational effort
made or threatened, either currently or since the date of organization of the
Parent, by or on behalf of any labor union with respect to employees of the
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
3.22 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Section 3.22(a)
of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all
Employee Benefit Plans maintained, or contributed to, by the Parent, any of its
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of the Parent (a “Parent ERISA Affiliate”)
(collectively, the “Parent Plans”). Complete and accurate copies of
(i) all Parent Plans which have been reduced to writing, (ii) written
summaries of all unwritten Parent Plans, (iii) all related trust
agreements, insurance contracts and summary plan descriptions, and (iv) all
annual reports filed on IRS Form 5500, 5500C or 5500R and (for all funded plans)
all plan financial statements for the last five plan years for each Parent Plan,
have been delivered or made available to the Parent. Each Parent Plan
has been administered in all material respects in accordance with its terms and
each of the Parent, its Subsidiaries and the Parent ERISA Affiliates has in all
material respects met its obligations with respect to such Parent Plan and has
made all required contributions thereto. The Parent, each of its
Subsidiaries, each Parent ERISA Affiliate and each Parent Plan are in compliance
in all material respects with the currently applicable provisions of ERISA and
the Code and the regulations thereunder (including without limitation
Section 4980B of the Code, Subtitle K, Chapter 100 of the Code and
Sections 601 through 608 and Section 701 et seq. of
ERISA). All filings and reports as to each Parent Plan required to
have been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service or to the United States
Department of Labor have been duly submitted.
(b) To
the knowledge of the Parent, there are no Legal Proceedings (except claims for
benefits payable in the normal operation of the Parent Plans and proceedings
with respect to qualified domestic relations orders) against or involving any
Parent Plan or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Parent Plan
that could give rise to any material liability.
(c) All
the Parent Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code have received determination letters from the Internal Revenue Service
to the effect that such Parent Plans are qualified and the plans and the trusts
related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a)
and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such determination letter has been
revoked and revocation has not been threatened, and no such Parent Plan has been
amended since the date of its most recent determination letter or application
therefor in any respect, and no act or omission has occurred, that would
adversely affect its qualification or materially increase its
cost. Each Parent Plan which is required to satisfy
Section 401(k)(3) or Section 401(m)(2) of the Code has been tested for
compliance with, and satisfies the requirements of, Section 401(k)(3) and
Section 401(m)(2) of the Code for each plan year ending prior to the
Closing Date.
(d) Neither
the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, nor any Parent ERISA Affiliate has ever
maintained an Employee Benefit Plan subject to Section 412 of the Code or
Title IV of ERISA.
(e) At
no time has the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent ERISA Affiliate
been obligated to contribute to any “multiemployer plan” (as defined in
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA).
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(f) There
are no unfunded obligations under any Parent Plan providing benefits after
termination of employment to any employee of the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries (or to any beneficiary of any such employee), including but not
limited to retiree health coverage and deferred compensation, but excluding
continuation of health coverage required to be continued under
Section 4980B of the Code or other applicable law and insurance conversion
privileges under state law. The assets of each Parent Plan which is
funded are reported at their fair market value on the books and records of such
Parent Plan.
(g) No
act or omission has occurred and no condition exists with respect to any Parent
Plan maintained by the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent ERISA
Affiliate that would subject the Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or any Parent
ERISA Affiliate to (i) any material fine, penalty, tax or liability of any kind
imposed under ERISA or the Code or (ii) any contractual indemnification or
contribution obligation protecting any fiduciary, insurer or service provider
with respect to any Parent Plan.
(h) No
Parent Plan is funded by, associated with or related to a “voluntary employee’s
beneficiary association” within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the
Code.
(i) Each
Parent Plan is amendable and terminable unilaterally by the Parent at any time
without liability to the Parent as a result thereof and no Parent Plan, plan
documentation or agreement, summary plan description or other written
communication distributed generally to employees by its terms prohibits the
Parent from amending or terminating any such Parent Plan.
(j) Section
3.22(j) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule discloses
each: (i) agreement with any stockholder, director, executive
officer or other employee of the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (A) the
benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which are materially altered,
upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries of the nature of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (B) providing any term of employment or compensation guarantee
or (C) providing severance benefits or other benefits after the termination
of employment of such director, executive officer or employee;
(ii) agreement, plan or arrangement under which any person may receive
payments from the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries that may be subject to the
tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or included in the determination of
such person’s “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code; and
(iii) agreement or plan binding the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries,
including without limitation any stock option plan, stock appreciation right
plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan, severance benefit plan or
Parent Plan, any of the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of
the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of the benefits
of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. The accruals for vacation, sickness and disability
expenses are accounted for on the Parent Balance Sheet and are adequate and
materially reflect the expenses associated therewith in accordance with
GAAP.
3.23 Environmental
Matters.
(a) Each
of the Parent and its Subsidiaries has complied with all applicable
Environmental Laws, except for violations of Environmental Laws that,
individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. There is no
pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent, threatened civil or criminal
litigation, written notice of violation, formal administrative proceeding, or
investigation, inquiry or information request by any Governmental Entity,
relating to any Environmental Law involving the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, except for litigation, notices of violations, formal
administrative proceedings or investigations, inquiries or information requests
that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Set
forth in Section 3.23(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule is a list of all
documents (whether in hard copy or electronic form) that contain any
environmental reports, investigations and audits relating to premises currently
or previously owned or operated by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries
(whether conducted by or on behalf of the Parent or its Subsidiaries or a third
party, and whether done at the initiative of the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries or directed by a Governmental Entity or other third party) which
were issued or conducted during the past five years and which the Parent has
possession of or access to. A complete and accurate copy of each such
document has been provided to the Company.
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(c) The
Parent is not aware of any material environmental liability of any solid or
hazardous waste transporter or treatment, storage or disposal facility that has
been used by the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries.
3.24 Permits. Section
3.24 of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all permits,
licenses, registrations, certificates, orders or approvals from any Governmental
Entity (including without limitation those issued or required under
Environmental Laws and those relating to the occupancy or use of owned or leased
real property) (“Parent Permits”) issued to or held by the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries. Such listed permits are the only Parent Permits that
are required for the Parent and any of its Subsidiaries to conduct their
respective businesses as presently conducted except for those the absence of
which, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably
be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each such
Parent Permit is in full force and effect and, to the knowledge of the Parent,
no suspension or cancellation of such Parent Permit is threatened and there is
no basis for believing that such Parent Permit will not be renewable upon
expiration. Each such Parent Permit will continue in full force and
effect immediately following the Closing.
3.25 Certain Business
Relationships with Affiliates. No Affiliate of the Parent or
of any of its Subsidiaries (a) owns any property or right, tangible or
intangible, which is used in the business of the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries, (b) has any claim or cause of action against the Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries, or (c) owes any money to, or is owed any money by,
the Parent or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 3.25 of the
Parent Disclosure Schedule describes any transactions involving the receipt or
payment in excess of $1,000 in any fiscal year between the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries and any Affiliate thereof which have occurred or existed since the
beginning of the time period covered by the Parent Financial
Statements.
3.26 Tax-Free
Reorganization.
(a) The
Parent (i) is not an “investment company” as defined in
Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code; (ii) has no present
plan or intention to liquidate the Surviving Corporation or to merge the
Surviving Corporation with or into any other corporation or entity, or to sell
or otherwise dispose of the stock of the Surviving Corporation which the Parent
will acquire in the Merger, or to cause the Surviving Corporation to sell or
otherwise dispose of its assets, all except in the ordinary course of business
or if such liquidation, merger or disposition is described in
Section 368(a)(2)(C) or Treasury Regulation Section 1.368-2(d)(4) or
Section 1.368-2(k); and (iii) has no present plan or intention,
following the Merger, to issue any additional shares of stock of the Surviving
Corporation or to create any new class of stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
(b) The
Acquisition Subsidiary is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Parent, formed solely
for the purpose of engaging in the Merger, and will carry on no business prior
to the Merger.
(c) Immediately
prior to the Merger, the Parent will be in control of Acquisition Subsidiary
within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.
(d) Immediately
following the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will hold at least 90% of the
fair market value of the net assets and at least 70% of the fair market value of
the gross assets held by the Company immediately prior to the Merger (for
purposes of this representation, amounts used by the Company to pay
reorganization expenses, if any, will be included as assets of the Company held
immediately prior to the Merger).
(e) The
Parent has no present plan or intention to reacquire any of the Merger
Shares.
(f) The
Acquisition Subsidiary will have no liabilities assumed by the Surviving
Corporation and will not transfer to the Surviving Corporation any assets
subject to liabilities in the Merger.
(g) Following
the Merger, the Surviving Corporation will continue the Company’s historic
business or use a significant portion of the Company’s historic business assets
in a business as required by Section 368 of the Code and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder.
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(h) The
Split-Off Agreement will constitute a legally binding obligation among the
Parent, Split-Off Subsidiary and Buyers prior to the Effective Time; immediately
following consummation of the Merger, the Parent will distribute the stock of
Split-Off Subsidiary to Buyers in cancellation of the Purchase Price Shares (as
such term is defined in the Split-Off Agreement); no property other than the
capital stock of Split-Off Subsidiary will be distributed by the Parent to
Buyers in connection with or following the Merger; upon execution of the
Split-Off Agreement, Buyers will have no right to sell or transfer the Purchase
Price Shares to any person without the Parent’s prior written consent, and the
Parent will not consent (nor will it permit others to consent) to any such sale
or transfer; upon execution of the Split-Off Agreement, there will be no other
plan, arrangement, agreement, contract, intention or understanding, whether
written or verbal and whether or not enforceable in law or equity, that would
permit Buyers to vote the Purchase Price Shares or receive any property or other
distributions from the Parent with respect to the Purchase Price Shares other
than the capital stock of Split-Off Subsidiary.
3.27 Split-Off. As
of the Effective Time, the Parent will have discontinued all of its business
operations which it conducted prior to the Effective Time by closing the
transactions contemplated by the Split-Off Agreement. Upon the
closing of the transactions contemplated by the Split-Off Agreement, the Parent
will have no liabilities, contingent or otherwise, in any way related to its
pre-Effective Time business operations or to Split-Off Subsidiary.
3.28 Brokers’
Fees. Except as set forth on Section 3.28 of the Parent
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Parent nor the Acquisition Subsidiary has 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.
3.29 Disclosure. No
representation or warranty by the Parent contained in this Agreement, and no
statement contained in the any document, certificate or other instrument
delivered or to be delivered by or on behalf of the Parent pursuant to this
Agreement, contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary, in light of the
circumstances under which it was or will be made, in order to make the
statements herein or therein not misleading. The Parent has disclosed
to the Company all material information relating to the business of the Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries or the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
3.30 Interested Party
Transactions. Except for the Split-Off Agreement, to the
knowledge of the Parent, no officer, director or stockholder of the Parent or
any “affiliate” (as such term is defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange
Act) or “associate” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the Securities
Act) of any such person currently has or has had, either directly or indirectly,
(a) an interest in any person that (i) furnishes or sells services or products
that are furnished or sold or are proposed to be furnished or sold by the Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) purchases from or sells or furnishes to the
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries any goods or services, or (b) a beneficial
interest in any contract or agreement to which the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party or by which it may be bound or
affected. Neither the Parent nor any of its Subsidiaries has extended
or maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed an
extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan to or for any director or
executive officer (or equivalent thereof) of the Parent or any of its
Subsidiaries.
3.31 Duty to Make
Inquiry. To the extent that any of the representations or
warranties in this Article III are qualified by “knowledge” or “belief,” the
Parent represents and warrants that it has made due and reasonable inquiry and
investigation concerning the matters to which such representations and
warranties relate, including, but not limited to, diligent inquiry by its
directors, officers and key personnel.
3.32 Minute
Books. The minute books and other similar records of the
Parent and each of its Subsidiaries contain, in all material respects, complete
and accurate records of all actions taken at any meetings of directors (or
committees thereof) and stockholders or actions by written consent in lieu of
the holding of any such meetings since the time of organization of each such
corporation through the date of this Agreement. The Parent has
provided true and complete copies of all such minute books and other similar
records to the Company’s representatives.
3.33 Board
Action. The Parent’s Board of Directors (a) has unanimously
determined that the Merger is advisable and in the best interests of the
Parent’s stockholders and is on terms that are fair to such Parent stockholders
and (b) has caused the Parent, in its capacity as the sole stockholder of the
Acquisition Subsidiary, and the Board of Directors of the Acquisition
Subsidiary, to approve the Merger and this Agreement by unanimous written
consent.
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ARTICLE
IV
COVENANTS
4.1 Closing
Efforts. Each of the Parties shall use its best efforts, to
the extent commercially reasonable (“Reasonable Best Efforts”), to take all
actions and to do all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including without limitation using
its Reasonable Best Efforts to ensure that (i) its representations and
warranties remain true and correct in all material respects through the Closing
Date and (ii) the conditions to the obligations of the other Parties to
consummate the Merger are satisfied.
4.2 Governmental and Third-Party
Notices and Consents.
(a) Each
Party shall use its Reasonable Best Efforts to obtain, at its expense, all
waivers, permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations from Governmental
Entities, and to effect all registrations, filings and notices with or to
Governmental Entities, as may be required for such Party to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to otherwise comply with all
applicable laws and regulations in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) The
Company shall use its Reasonable Best Efforts to obtain, at its expense, all
such waivers, consents or approvals from third parties, and to give all such
notices to third parties, as are required to be listed in Section 2.4 of
the Disclosure Schedule.
4.3 [Intentionally
Omitted]
4.4 Operation of Company
Business. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, during the
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Company
shall conduct its operations in the Ordinary Course of Business and
in material compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and, to the
extent consistent therewith, use its Reasonable Best Efforts to preserve intact
its current business organization, keep its physical assets in good working
condition, keep available the services of its current officers and employees and
preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers and others having business
dealings with it to the end that its goodwill and ongoing business shall not be
impaired in any material respect. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall not, without the
written consent of the Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed):
(a) issue
or sell, or redeem or repurchase, any stock or other securities of the Company
or any Warrants, Options or other rights to acquire any such stock or other
securities (except pursuant to the conversion or exercise of convertible
securities or Options or Warrants outstanding on the date hereof), or amend any
of the terms of (including without limitation the vesting of) any such
convertible securities or Options or Warrants;
(b) split,
combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock; declare, set aside or pay
any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any
combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock;
(c) create,
incur or assume any indebtedness for borrowed money (including obligations in
respect of capital leases) except in the Ordinary Course of Business or in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; assume,
guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether directly,
contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other person or entity; or
make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any
other person or entity;
(d) enter
into, adopt or amend any Employee Benefit Plan or any employment or severance
agreement or arrangement or (except for normal increases in the Ordinary Course
of Business for employees who are not Affiliates) increase in any manner the
compensation or fringe benefits of, or materially modify the employment terms
of, its directors, officers or employees, generally or individually, or pay any
bonus or other benefit to its directors, officers or employees;
-26-
(e) acquire,
sell, lease, license or dispose of any assets or property, other than purchases
and sales of assets in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(f) mortgage
or pledge any of its property or assets or subject any such property or assets
to any Security Interest (except in connection with senior debt in existence on
the date of this Agreement);
(g) discharge
or satisfy any Security Interest or pay any obligation or liability other than
in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(h) amend
its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents;
(i)
change in any material respect its accounting methods, principles or
practices, except insofar as may be required by a generally applicable change in
GAAP;
(j)
enter into, amend, terminate, take or omit to take any action that would
constitute a violation of or default under, or waive any rights under, any
material contract or agreement;
(k) institute
or settle any Legal Proceeding;
(l)
take any action or fail to take any action permitted by this
Agreement with the knowledge that such action or failure to take action would
result in (i) any of the representations and warranties of the Company set
forth in this Agreement becoming untrue in any material respect or (ii) any
of the conditions to the Merger set forth in Article V not being satisfied;
or
(m)
agree in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions.
4.5 Access to Company
Information.
(a) The
Company shall permit representatives of the Parent to have full access (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, financial and
accounting records, contracts, other records and documents, and personnel of or
pertaining to the Company.
(b) Each
of the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary (i) shall treat and hold as
confidential any Company Confidential Information (as defined below),
(ii) shall not use any of the Company Confidential Information except in
connection with this Agreement, and (iii) if this Agreement is terminated
for any reason whatsoever, shall return to the Company all tangible embodiments
(and all copies) thereof which are in its possession. For purposes of
this Agreement, “Company Confidential Information” means any information of the
Company that is furnished to the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary by the
Company in connection with this Agreement; provided, however, that it
shall not include any information (A) which, at the time of disclosure, is
available publicly other than as a result of non-permitted disclosure by the
Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or their respective directors, officers or
employees, (B) which, after disclosure, becomes available publicly through
no fault of the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary or their respective
directors, officers or employees, (C) which the Parent or the Acquisition
Subsidiary knew or to which the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary had access
prior to disclosure, provided that the source of such information is not known
by the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary to be bound by a confidentiality
obligation to the Company, or (D) which the Parent or the Acquisition
Subsidiary rightfully obtains from a source other than the Company, provided
that the source of such information is not known by the Parent or the
Acquisition Subsidiary to be bound by a confidentiality obligation to the
Company.
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4.6 Operation of Parent
Business. Except as contemplated by this Agreement, during the
period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, the Parent shall
(and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to) conduct its operations in the
Ordinary Course of Business and in material compliance with all applicable laws
and regulations and, to the extent consistent therewith, use its Reasonable Best
Efforts to preserve intact its current business organization, keep its physical
assets in good working condition, keep available the services of its current
officers and employees and preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers
and others having business dealings with it to the end that its goodwill and
ongoing business shall not be impaired in any material
respect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to
the Effective Time, the Parent shall not (and shall cause each of its
Subsidiaries not to), without the written consent of the Company:
(a) issue
or sell, or redeem or repurchase, any stock or other securities of the Parent or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such stock or other securities,
except as contemplated by, and in connection with, the Transaction Documentation
and Private Placement Offering;
(b) split,
combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock; declare, set aside or pay
any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any
combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, except as contemplated by,
and in connection with, the Stock Split;
(c) create,
incur or assume any indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital
leases); assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible
(whether directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other
person or entity; or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments in, any other person or entity;
(d)
enter into, adopt or amend any Parent Plan or any employment or severance
agreement or arrangement or increase in any manner the compensation or fringe
benefits of, or materially modify the employment terms of, its directors,
officers or employees, generally or individually, or pay any bonus or other
benefit to its directors, officers or employees;
(e) acquire,
sell, lease, license or dispose of any assets or property (including without
limitation any shares or other equity interests in or securities of any
Subsidiary of the Parent or any corporation, partnership, association or other
business organization or division thereof), except as contemplated by, and in
connection with, the Split-Off;
(f)
mortgage or pledge any of its property or assets or subject any such
property or assets to any Security Interest;
(g) discharge
or satisfy any Security Interest or pay any obligation or liability other than
in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(h) amend
its charter, by-laws or other organizational documents;
(i)
change in any material respect its accounting methods, principles or practices,
except insofar as may be required by a generally applicable change in
GAAP;
(j)
enter into, amend,
terminate, take or omit to take any action that would constitute a violation of
or default under, or waive any rights under, any contract or
agreement;
(k) institute
or settle any Legal Proceeding;
(l)
take any action or fail to take
any action permitted by this Agreement with the knowledge that such action or
failure to take action would result in (i) any of the representations and
warranties of the Parent and/or the Acquisition Subsidiary set forth in this
Agreement becoming untrue in any material respect or (ii) any of the
conditions to the Merger set forth in Article V not being satisfied;
or
(m) agree
in writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions.
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4.7 Access to Parent
Information.
(a) The
Parent shall (and shall cause the Acquisition Subsidiary to) permit
representatives of the Company to have full access (at all reasonable times, and
in a manner so as not to interfere with the normal business operations of the
Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary) to all premises, properties, financial
and accounting records, contracts, other records and documents, and personnel of
or pertaining to the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary and Split-Off
Subsidiary.
(b) The
Company (i) shall treat and hold as confidential any Parent Confidential
Information (as defined below), (ii) shall not use any of the Parent
Confidential Information except in connection with this Agreement, and
(iii) if this Agreement is terminated for any reason whatsoever, shall
return to the Parent all tangible embodiments (and all copies) thereof which are
in its possession. For purposes of this Agreement, “Parent
Confidential Information” means any information of the Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary that is furnished to the Company by the Parent or its Subsidiaries in
connection with this Agreement; provided, however, that it
shall not include any information (A) which, at the time of disclosure, is
available publicly other than as a result of non-permitted disclosure by the
Company or its directors, officers or employees, (B) which, after
disclosure, becomes available publicly through no fault of the Company or its
directors, officers or employees, (C) which the Company knew or to which
the Company had access prior to disclosure, provided that the source of such
information is not known by the Company to be bound by a confidentiality
obligation to the Parent or any Subsidiary of the Parent or (D) which the
Company rightfully obtains from a source other than the Parent or a Subsidiary
of the Parent, provided that the source of such information is not known by the
Company to be bound by a confidentiality obligation to the Parent or any
Subsidiary of the Parent.
4.8 Expenses. The
costs and expenses of the Parent and the Company (including legal fees and
expenses of the Parent and the Company) incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be payable at Closing
from the proceeds of the Private Placement Offering.
4.9 Indemnification.
(a) The
Parent shall not, for a period of three years after the Effective Time, take any
action to alter or impair any exculpatory or indemnification provisions now
existing in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company for the
benefit of any individual who served as a director or officer of the Company at
any time prior to the Effective Time, except for any changes which may be
required to conform with changes in applicable law and any changes which do not
affect the application of such provisions to acts or omissions of such
individuals prior to the Effective Time.
(b) From
and after the Effective Time, the Parent agrees that it will, and will cause the
Surviving Corporation to, indemnify and hold harmless each present and former
director and officer of the Company (the “Indemnified Executives”) against any
costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines,
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or amounts paid in settlement incurred in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining
to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, whether
asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the fullest
extent permitted under North Dakota law (and the Parent and the Surviving
Corporation shall also advance expenses as incurred to the fullest extent
permitted under North Dakota law, provided the Indemnified Executive to whom
expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to repay such advances if it is
ultimately determined that such Indemnified Executive is not entitled to
indemnification).
4.10 Quotation of Merger
Shares. The Parent shall (a) take whatever steps are necessary
to cause the Merger Shares (and any shares of Parent Common Stock that may be
issued pursuant to Section 1.13) to be eligible for quotation on the Pink
Sheets, and (b) use Reasonable Best Efforts to cause the Parent Common Stock to
be traded on the OTC Bulletin Board as soon as practicable.
4.11 Name
Change. The Parent shall take all necessary steps to enable it
to change its corporate name to such name as is agreeable to the Company as of
the Effective Time, if the Parent has not already done so prior to the Effective
Time.
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4.12 Split-Off. The
Parent shall take, and shall cause the Acquisition Subsidiary to take, whatever
steps are necessary to enable it to effect the Split-Off prior to or as of the
Effective Time.
4.13 Stock
Split. The Parent shall take all necessary steps to cause the
Stock Split to be effective as soon as practicable after the Effective
Time.
4.14 Parent Board; Amendment of
Charter Documents. The Parent shall take such actions as are
necessary to authorize the Parent’s Board of Directors to consist of three
members.
4.15 Information Provided to
Company Stockholders. The Company shall prepare, with the
cooperation of the Parent, information to be sent to the holders of Company
Shares in connection with receiving their approval of the Merger, this Agreement
and related transactions. Such information shall constitute a
disclosure of the offer and issuance of the shares of Parent Common Stock to be
received by the Company Stockholders in the Merger. The Parent and
the Company shall each use Reasonable Best Efforts to cause information provided
to such holders to comply with applicable federal and state securities laws
requirements. Each of the Parent and the Company agrees to provide
promptly to the other such information concerning its business and financial
statements and affairs as, in the reasonable judgment of the providing party or
its counsel, may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the information
sent, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, and to cause its counsel and
auditors to cooperate with the other’s counsel and auditors in the preparation
of the information to be sent to the holders of Company Shares. The
Company will promptly advise the Parent, and the Parent will promptly advise the
Company, in writing if at any time prior to the Effective Time either the
Company or the Parent shall obtain knowledge of any facts that might make it
necessary or appropriate to amend or supplement the information sent in order to
make the statements contained or incorporated by reference therein not
misleading or to comply with applicable law. The information sent
shall contain the recommendation of the Board of Directors of the Company that
the holders of Company Shares approve the Merger and this Agreement and the
conclusion of the Board of Directors of the Company that the terms and
conditions of the Merger are advisable and fair and in the best interests of the
Company and such holders. Anything to the contrary contained herein
notwithstanding, the Company shall not include in the information sent to such
holders any information with respect to the Parent or its affiliates or
associates, the form and content of which information shall not have been
approved by the Parent in its reasonable discretion prior to such
inclusion.
4.16 No
Registration. For a period of 12 months following the
Effective Time, the Parent shall not register, nor shall it take any action to
facilitate registration, under the Securities Act, the Merger
Shares. In addition, the Company shall use its Reasonable Best
Efforts to cancel any agreements, understandings or undertakings to register
Company securities under the federal securities laws, which agreements,
understandings or undertakings might otherwise survive the Closing.
4.17 No
Shorting. The Company shall use its Reasonable Best Efforts to
ensure that each Company Stockholder agrees that it will not, for a period
commencing on the date hereof and terminating one year after the Effective Time,
directly or indirectly, effect or agree to effect any short sale (as defined in
Rule 200 under Regulation SHO of the Exchange Act), whether or not against the
box, establish any “put equivalent position” (as defined in Rule 16a-1(h) under
the Exchange Act) with respect to the Parent Common Stock, borrow or pre-borrow
any shares of Parent Common Stock, or grant any other right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with respect to the Parent Common Stock or
with respect to any security that includes, relates to or derives any
significant part of its value from the Parent Common Stock or otherwise seek to
hedge its position in the Parent Common Stock (each, a “Prohibited
Transaction”).
ARTICLE
V
CONDITIONS
TO CONSUMMATION OF MERGER
5.1 Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligations. The respective obligations of each Party to
consummate the Merger are subject to the satisfaction of the following
conditions:
(a) this
Agreement and the Merger shall have received the approval of at least 94.5% of
the votes represented by the outstanding Company Shares entitled to vote on this
Agreement and the Merger;
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(b) satisfactory
completion by the Parent and the Company of all necessary legal due
diligence
(c) the
closing of the Minimum Amount of the Private Placement Offering.
5.2 Conditions to Obligations of
the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary. The obligation of
each of the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary to consummate the Merger is
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by the Parent) of the following
additional conditions:
(a) the
number of Dissenting Shares shall not exceed 5.5% of the aggregate number of
outstanding Company Shares as of the Effective Time;
(b) the
Company shall have obtained (and shall have provided copies thereof to the
Parent) all waivers, permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, and
effected all of the registrations, filings and notices, referred to in
Section 4.2 which are required on the part of the Company, except for any
the failure of which to obtain or effect does not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect
on the ability of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement;
(c) the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (when
read without regard to any qualification as to materiality or Company Material
Adverse Effect contained therein) shall be true and correct as of the date of
this Agreement and shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as though
made as of the Effective Time (provided, however, that to the
extent such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date,
such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier
date), except for any untrue or incorrect representation and warranty that,
individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Company Material Adverse Effect
or a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(d) the
Company shall have performed or complied with its agreements and covenants
required to be performed or complied with under this Agreement as of or prior to
the Effective Time, except when any non-performance or non-compliance does not
have a Company Material Adverse Effect or a material adverse effect on the
ability of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(e) no
Legal Proceeding shall be pending wherein an unfavorable judgment, order,
decree, stipulation or injunction 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 judgment, order, decree, stipulation or injunction
shall be in effect;
(f) the
Company shall have delivered to the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary a
certificate (the “Company Certificate”) to the effect that each of the
conditions specified in clauses (a) and (b) (with respect to the Company’s
due diligence of the Parent) of Section 5.1 and clauses (a) through (e)
(insofar as clause (e) relates to Legal Proceedings involving the Company)
of this Section 5.2 is satisfied in all respects;
(g) the
individuals set forth on Exhibit C to this
Agreement shall have entered into agreements with the Parent pursuant to which
they shall have agreed to certain restrictions on the sale or other disposition
of the Parent Common Stock received by them in connection with the Merger for a
period of 12 months following the Closing Date;
(h) the
Company Stockholders shall have agreed not to engage in any Prohibited
Transactions; and
(i) the
Parent shall reasonably cooperate with the Company in connection with the
Private Placement Offering, including, without limitation, causing its outside
counsel to issue a legal opinion as may be required pursuant to that certain
placement agency agreement that was executed in connection
therewith.
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5.3 Conditions to Obligations of
the Company. The obligation of the Company to consummate the
Merger is subject to the satisfaction of the following additional
conditions:
(a) the
Parent shall have obtained (and shall have provided copies thereof to the
Company) all of the waivers, permits, consents, approvals or other
authorizations, and effected all of the registrations, filings and notices,
referred to in Section 4.2 which are required on the part of the Parent or
any of its Subsidiaries, except for any the failure of which to obtain or effect
does not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect or a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties to consummate
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) the
representations and warranties of the Parent set forth in this Agreement (when
read without regard to any qualification as to materiality or Parent Material
Adverse Effect contained therein) shall be true and correct as of the date of
this Agreement and shall be true and correct as of the Effective Time as though
made as of the Effective Time (provided, however, that to the
extent such representation and warranty expressly relates to an earlier date,
such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier
date), except for any untrue or incorrect representation and warranty that,
individually or in the aggregate, do not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect
or a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) each
of the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary shall have performed or complied
with its agreements and covenants required to be performed or complied with
under this Agreement as of or prior to the Effective Time, except when any
non-performance or non-compliance does not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect
or a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(d) no
Legal Proceeding shall be pending wherein an unfavorable judgment, order,
decree, stipulation or injunction 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 judgment, order, decree, stipulation or injunction
shall be in effect;
(e) the
Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate (the “Parent
Certificate”) to the effect that each of the conditions specified in claus (b)
(with respect to the Parent’s due diligence of the Company) of Section 5.1 and
clauses (a) through (d) (insofar as clause (d) relates to Legal
Proceedings involving the Parent, the Acquisition Subsidiary or Split-Off
Subsidiary) of this Section 5.3 is satisfied in all respects;
(f)
the total number of shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding
at the Effective Time shall be as set forth in the last sentence Section
3.2;
(g) the
parent shall have filed with Nasdaq a notice pursuant to SEC Rule 10b-17 of its
intention to effect a one-for-65.723 reverse stock split (the “Stock Split”) to
its shareholders of record on the Effective Date;
(h) the
Parent’s Board of Directors shall be authorized to consist of three
members;
(i)
contemporaneously with the closing of the Merger, the Parent, Split-Off
Subsidiary and each Buyer shall execute and deliver the Split-Off Agreement,
which Split-Off is effective simultaneous with the Effective Time;
(j)
the Parent shall have changed its name to such name as is acceptable to the
Company and
(k) the
Company shall reasonably cooperate with the Parent in connection with the
Private Placement Offering, including, without limitation, causing its outside
counsel to issue a legal opinion as may be required pursuant to that certain
placement agency agreement that was executed in connection
therewith.
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ARTICLE
VI
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Indemnification by the
Company Stockholders. The Company Stockholders receiving the
Merger Shares pursuant to Section 1.5 shall indemnify the Parent in respect
of, and hold it harmless against, loss, liability, deficiency, damages, expense
or cost (including without limitation amounts paid in settlement, interest,
court costs, costs of investigators, fees and expenses of attorneys,
accountants, financial advisors and other experts, and other expenses of
litigation) (“Damages”) incurred or suffered by the Surviving Corporation or the
Parent resulting from:
(a) any
misrepresentation, breach of warranty or failure to perform any covenant or
agreement of the Company contained in this Agreement or the Company
Certificate;
(b) any
failure of any Company Stockholder to have good, valid and marketable title to
the issued and outstanding Company Shares issued in the name of such Company
Stockholder, free and clear of all Security Interests; or
(c) any
claim by a stockholder or former stockholder of the Company, or any other person
or entity, seeking to assert, or based upon: (i) ownership or rights to
ownership of any shares of stock of the Company; (ii) any rights of a
stockholder (other than the right to receive the Merger Shares pursuant to this
Agreement or appraisal rights under the applicable provisions of the BCA),
including any option, preemptive rights or rights to notice or to vote;
(iii) any rights under the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the
Company; or (iv) any claim that his, her or its shares were wrongfully
repurchased by the Company.
6.2 Indemnification by the
Parent.
(a) The
Parent shall indemnify the Company Stockholders in respect of, and hold them
harmless against, any and all Damages incurred or suffered by the Company
Stockholders resulting from any misrepresentation, breach of warranty or failure
to perform any covenant or agreement of the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary
contained in this Agreement or the Parent Certificate.
(b) The
post-Closing adjustment mechanism set forth in Section 1.13 is intended to
secure the indemnification obligations of the Parent under this Agreement and
shall be the exclusive means for the Company Stockholders to collect any Damages
for which they are entitled to indemnification under this Article
VI. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the post-Closing
adjustment set forth in Section 1.13 shall not be limited in any way by this
Article VI.
6.3 Indemnification Claims by
the Parent.
(a) In
the event the Parent is entitled, or seeks to assert rights, to indemnification
under Section 6.1, the Parent shall give written notification to the Company
Stockholders of the commencement of any suit or proceeding relating to a third
party claim for which indemnification pursuant to this Article VI may be
sought. Such notification shall be given within 20 business days
after receipt by the Parent of notice of such suit or proceeding, and shall
describe in reasonable detail (to the extent known by the Parent) the facts
constituting the basis for such suit or proceeding and the amount of the claimed
damages; provided, however, that no
delay on the part of the Parent in notifying the Company Stockholders shall
relieve the Company Stockholders of any liability or obligation hereunder except
to the extent of any damage or liability caused by or arising out of such
failure. Within 20 days after delivery of such notification, the
Company Stockholders may, upon written notice thereof to the Parent, assume
control of the defense of such suit or proceeding with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Parent; provided that the Company Stockholders may not
assume control of the defense of a suit or proceeding involving criminal
liability or in which equitable relief is sought against the
Parent. If the Company Stockholders do not so assume control of such
defense, the Parent shall control such defense. The party not
controlling such defense (the “Non-Controlling Party”) may participate therein
at its own expense; provided that if the Company Stockholders assume control of
such defense and the Parent reasonably concludes that the Company Stockholders
and the Parent have conflicting interests or different defenses available with
respect to such suit or proceeding, the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
to the Parent shall be considered “Damages” for purposes of this
Agreement. The party controlling such defense (the “Controlling
Party”) shall keep the Non-Controlling Party advised of the status of such suit
or proceeding and the defense thereof and shall consider in good faith
recommendations made by the Non-Controlling Party with respect
thereto. The Non-Controlling Party shall furnish the Controlling
Party with such information as it may have with respect to such suit or
proceeding (including copies of any summons, complaint or other pleading which
may have been served on such party and any written claim, demand, invoice,
billing or other document evidencing or asserting the same) and shall otherwise
cooperate with and assist the Controlling Party in the defense of such suit or
proceeding. The Company Stockholders shall not agree to any
settlement of, or the entry of any judgment arising from, any such suit or
proceeding without the prior written consent of the Parent, which shall not be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided that the consent of the Parent shall
not be required if the Company Stockholders agree in writing to pay any amounts
payable pursuant to such settlement or judgment and such settlement or judgment
includes a complete release of the Parent from further liability and has no
other materially adverse effect on the Parent. The Parent shall not
agree to any settlement of, or the entry of any judgment arising from, any such
suit or proceeding without the prior written consent of the Company
Stockholders, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
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(b) In
order to seek indemnification under this Article VI, the Parent shall give
written notification (a “Claim Notice”) to the Company Stockholders which
contains (i) a description and the amount (the “Claimed Amount”) of any Damages
incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred by the Parent, (ii) a statement
that the Parent is entitled to indemnification under this Article VI for
such Damages and a reasonable explanation of the basis therefor, and (iii) a
demand for payment (in the manner provided in paragraph (c) below) in the
amount of the Claimed Amount. The Parent shall also deliver a copy of
the Claim Notice to the Escrow Agent.
(c) Within
20 days after delivery of a Claim Notice, the Company Stockholders shall deliver
to the Parent a written response (the “Response”) in which the Company
Stockholders shall: (i) agree that the Parent is entitled to
receive all of the Claimed Amount (in which case the Company Stockholders and
the Parent shall deliver to the Escrow Agent, within three days following the
delivery of the Response, a written notice executed by both parties instructing
the Escrow Agent to distribute to the Parent such number of Escrow Shares as
have an aggregate Value (as defined below) equal to the Claimed Amount),
(ii) agree that the Parent is entitled to receive part, but not all, of the
Claimed Amount (the “Agreed Amount”) (in which case the Company Stockholders and
the Parent shall deliver to the Escrow Agent, within three days following the
delivery of the Response, a written notice executed by both parties instructing
the Escrow Agent to distribute to the Parent such number of Escrow Shares as
have an aggregate Value (as defined below) equal to the Agreed Amount) or
(iii) dispute that the Parent is entitled to receive any of the Claimed
Amount. If the Company Stockholders in the Response disputes its
liability for all or part of the Claimed Amount, the Company Stockholders and
the Parent shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 6.3(d) for the
resolution of such dispute (a “Dispute”). For purposes of this
Article VI, the “Value” of any Escrow Shares delivered in satisfaction of
an indemnity claim shall be $0.50 per Escrow Share (subject to equitable
adjustment in the event of any stock split, stock dividend, reverse stock split
or similar event affecting the Parent Common Stock since the Closing Date),
multiplied by the number of such Escrow Shares.
(d) During
the 60-day period following the delivery of a Response that reflects a Dispute,
the Company Stockholders and the Parent shall use good faith efforts to resolve
the Dispute. If the Dispute is not resolved within such 60-day
period, the Company Stockholders and the Parent shall discuss in good faith the
submission of the Dispute to a mutually acceptable alternative dispute
resolution procedure (which may be non-binding or binding upon the parties, as
they agree in advance) (the “ADR Procedure”). In the event the
Company Stockholders and the Parent agree upon an ADR Procedure, such parties
shall, in consultation with the chosen dispute resolution service (the “ADR
Service”), promptly agree upon a format and timetable for the ADR Procedure,
agree upon the rules applicable to the ADR Procedure, and promptly undertake the
ADR Procedure. The provisions of this Section 6.3(d) shall not
obligate the Company Stockholders and the Parent to pursue an ADR Procedure or
prevent either such Party from pursuing the Dispute in a court of competent
jurisdiction; provided that, if the Company Stockholders and the Parent agree to
pursue an ADR Procedure, neither the Company Stockholders nor the Parent may
commence litigation or seek other remedies with respect to the Dispute prior to
the completion of such ADR Procedure. Any ADR Procedure undertaken by
the Company Stockholders and the Parent shall be considered a compromise
negotiation for purposes of federal and state rules of evidence, and all
statements, offers, opinions and disclosures (whether written or oral) made in
the course of the ADR Procedure by or on behalf of the Company Stockholders, the
Parent or the ADR Service shall be treated as confidential and, where
appropriate, as privileged work product. Such statements, offers,
opinions and disclosures shall not be discoverable or admissible for any
purposes in any litigation or other proceeding relating to the Dispute (provided
that this sentence shall not be construed to exclude from discovery or admission
any matter that is otherwise discoverable or admissible). The fees
and expenses of any ADR Service used by the Company Stockholders and the Parent
shall be considered to be Damages; provided, that if the Company Stockholders
are determined not to be liable for Damages in connection with such Dispute, the
Parent shall pay all such fees and expenses. The Parent and the
Company Stockholders shall deliver to the Escrow Agent, promptly following the
resolution of the Dispute (whether by mutual agreement, pursuant to an ADR
Procedure, as a result of a judicial decision or otherwise), a written notice
executed by both parties instructing the Escrow Agent as to what (if any)
portion of the Escrow Shares shall be distributed to the Parent (which notice
shall be consistent with the terms of the resolution of the
Dispute).
-34-
(e) Notwithstanding
the other provisions of this Section 6.3, if a third party asserts (other
than by means of a lawsuit) that the Parent is liable to such third party for a
monetary or other obligation which may constitute or result in Damages for which
the Parent may be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article VI,
and the Parent reasonably determines that it has a valid business reason to
fulfill such obligation, then (i) the Parent shall be entitled to satisfy
such obligation, with prior notice to but without prior consent from the Company
Stockholders, (ii) the Parent may subsequently make a claim for
indemnification in accordance with the provisions of this Article VI, and
(iii) the Parent shall be reimbursed, in accordance with the provisions of
this Article VI, for any such Damages for which it is entitled to
indemnification pursuant to this Article VI (subject to the right of the
Company Stockholders to dispute the Parent’s entitlement to indemnification, or
the amount for which it is entitled to indemnification, under the terms of this
Article VI).
(f) For
purposes of this Section 6.3 and the last two sentences of
Section 6.4, any references to the Company Stockholders (except provisions
relating to an obligation to make or a right to receive any payments provided
for in Section 6.3 or Section 6.4) shall be deemed to refer to the
Indemnification Representative. The Indemnification Representative
shall have full power and authority on behalf of each Company Stockholder to
take any and all actions on behalf of, execute any and all instruments on behalf
of, and execute or waive any and all rights of, the Company Stockholders under
this Article VI. The Indemnification Representative shall have
no liability to any Company Stockholder for any action taken or omitted on
behalf of the Company Stockholders pursuant to this
Article VI.
6.4 Survival of Representations
and Warranties. All representations and warranties contained
in this Agreement, the Company Certificate or the Parent Certificate shall
(a) survive the Closing and any investigation at any time made by or on
behalf of the Parent or the Company and (b) shall expire on the date one
year following the Closing Date. If the Parent delivers to the
Company Stockholders, before expiration of a representation or warranty, either
a Claim Notice based upon a breach of such representation or warranty, or a
notice that, as a result a legal proceeding instituted by or written claim made
by a third party, the Parent reasonably expects to incur Damages as a result of
a breach of such representation or warranty (an “Expected Claim Notice”), then
such representation or warranty shall survive until, but only for purposes of,
the resolution of the matter covered by such Expected Claim Notice.
6.5 Limitations on Parent’s
Claims for Indemnification.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein, the Parent shall not be entitled to recover, or
be indemnified for, Damages arising out of a misrepresentation or breach of
warranty set forth in Article II unless and until the aggregate of all such
Damages paid or payable by the Company Stockholders collectively exceeds
$100,000 (the “Damages Threshold”) and then, if such aggregate threshold is
reached, the Parent shall only be entitled to recover for Damages in excess of
such respective threshold; and in no event shall any Company Stockholder be
liable under this Article VI for an aggregate amount, whether paid in cash or in
shares of Parent Common Stock, greater than the product of the number of Escrow
Shares held on account of such Company Stockholder, pursuant to Section 1.5
above, multiplied by the Value. For purposes of the preceding
sentence, each Escrow Share delivered by a party in payment of his, hers or its
obligations under this Article VI shall be valued at the Value.
(b) The
Escrow Agreement is intended to secure the indemnification obligations of the
Company Stockholders under this Agreement and shall be the exclusive means for
the Parent to collect any Damages under this Article VI for which it is entitled
to indemnification under this Article VI.
-35-
(c) Except
with respect to claims based on fraud, after the Closing, the rights of the
Company Stockholders and the Parent under this Article VI and the Escrow
Agreement shall be the exclusive remedy of the Parent with respect to claims
resulting from or relating to any misrepresentation, breach of warranty or
failure to perform any covenant or agreement contained in this
Agreement.
(d) No
Company Stockholder shall have any right of contribution against the Surviving
Corporation with respect to any breach by the Company of any of its
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements. The amount of
Damages recoverable by the Parent under this Article VI with respect to an
indemnity claim shall be reduced by (i) any proceeds received by the Parent
with respect to the Damages to which such indemnity claim relates, from an
insurance carrier and (ii) the amount of any tax savings actually realized
by the Parent, for the tax year in which such Damages are incurred, which are
clearly attributable to the Damages to which such indemnity claim relates (net
of any increased tax liability which may result from the receipt of the
indemnity payment or any insurance proceeds relating to such
Damages).
ARTICLE
VII
DEFINITIONS
For
purposes of this Agreement, each of the following defined terms is defined in
the Section of this Agreement indicated below.
Defined Term
|
Section
|
|
Acquisition
Subsidiary
|
Introduction
|
|
ADR
Procedure
|
6.3(d)
|
|
ADR
Service
|
6.3(d)
|
|
Affiliate
|
2.13(a)(vii)
|
|
Agreed
Amount
|
6.3(c)
|
|
Agreement
|
Introduction
|
|
Articles
of Merger
|
1.1
|
|
BCA
|
1.1
|
|
Buyer
|
Introduction
|
|
CERCLA
|
2.20(a)
|
|
Certificates
|
1.7
|
|
Claim
Notice
|
6.3(b)
|
|
Claimed
Amount
|
6.3(b)
|
|
Claims
|
1.13
|
|
Closing
|
1.2
|
|
Closing
Date
|
1.2
|
|
Code
|
Introduction
|
|
Common
Conversion Ratio
|
1.5(b)
|
|
Company
|
Introduction
|
|
Company
Balance Sheet
|
2.6
|
|
Company
Balance Sheet Date
|
2.6
|
|
Company
Certificate
|
5.2(f)
|
|
Company
Confidential Information
|
4.5(b)
|
|
Company
Financial Statements
|
2.6
|
|
Company
Liabilities
|
1.13(c)
|
|
Company
Material Adverse Effect
|
2.1
|
|
Company
Plans
|
2.19(b)
|
|
Company
Shares
|
1.5(a)
|
|
Company
Stockholders
|
1.3(d)
|
|
Company
Subsidiary
|
2.5(a)
|
|
Contemplated
Transactions
|
8.2
|
|
Controlling
Party
|
6.3(a)
|
|
Current
Report
|
4.3
|
-36-
Defined Term
|
Section
|
|
Damages
|
6.1
|
|
Damages
Threshold
|
6.5(a)
|
|
Defaulting
Party
|
8.5
|
|
Disclosure
Schedule
|
Article II
|
|
Dispute
|
6.3(c)
|
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
1.6(a)
|
|
Effective
Time
|
1.1
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plan
|
2.19(a)(i)
|
|
Environmental
Law
|
2.20(a)
|
|
ERISA
|
2.19(a)(ii)
|
|
ERISA
Affiliate
|
2.19(a)(iii)
|
|
Escrow
Agent
|
1.3(g)
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
1.3(g)
|
|
Escrow
Shares
|
1.5(b)
|
|
Exchange
Act
|
2.13(a)(vii)
|
|
Expected
Claim Notice
|
6.4
|
|
GAAP
|
2.6
|
|
Governmental
Entity
|
2.4
|
|
Indemnification
Representative
|
1.3(g)
|
|
Indemnified
Executives
|
4.9(b)
|
|
Initial
Shares
|
1.5(b)
|
|
Intellectual
Property
|
2.26(a)
|
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
2.26(a)
|
|
Legal
Proceeding
|
2.17
|
|
Loss
|
1.13
|
|
Split-Off
Subsidiary
|
Introduction
|
|
Merger
|
Introduction
|
|
Merger
Shares
|
1.5(b)
|
|
Minimum
Amount
|
Introduction
|
|
Non-Controlling
Party
|
6.3(a)
|
|
Non-Defaulting
Party
|
8.5
|
|
Options
|
1.5(b)
|
|
Ordinary
Course of Business
|
2.4
|
|
Organization
Date
|
2.9(c)
|
|
Parent
|
Introduction
|
|
Parent
Balance Sheet
|
3.8
|
|
Parent
Balance Sheet Date
|
3.8
|
|
Parent
Certificate
|
5.3(e)
|
|
Parent
Common Stock
|
1.5(a)
|
|
Parent
Confidential Information
|
4.7(b)
|
|
Parent
Disclosure Schedule
|
Article
III
|
|
Parent
ERISA Affiliate
|
3.22(a)
|
|
Parent
Financial Statements
|
3.8
|
|
Parent
Liabilities
|
1.13(c)
|
|
Parent
Material Adverse Effect
|
3.1
|
|
Parent
Options
|
1.8(a)
|
|
Parent
Permits
|
3.24
|
|
Parent
Plans
|
3.22(a)
|
|
Parent
Stockholders
|
1.13(b)
|
|
Parent
Warrants
|
1.8(c)
|
|
Party
|
Introduction
|
|
Permits
|
2.22
|
|
PPO
Price
|
Introduction
|
|
Private
Placement Offering
|
Introduction
|
-37-
Defined Term
|
Section
|
|
Prohibited
Transaction
|
4.17
|
|
Reasonable
Best Efforts
|
4.1
|
|
Response
|
6.3(c)
|
|
SEC
|
1.13
|
|
Securities
Act
|
1.14
|
|
Security
Interest
|
2.4
|
|
Share
Contribution
|
3.2
|
|
Split-Off
|
Introduction
|
|
Split-Off
Agreement
|
Introduction
|
|
Stock
Split
|
5.3(g)
|
|
Stockholder
Approval
|
2.3
|
|
Subsidiary
|
2.5(a)
|
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
1.1
|
|
Tax
Returns
|
2.9(a)(ii)
|
|
Taxes
|
2.9(a)(i)
|
|
Third
Party Intellectual Property Rights
|
2.26(d)
|
|
Transaction
Documentation
|
3.3
|
|
Value
|
6.3(c)
|
|
Warrants
|
1.5(b)
|
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
8.1 Termination by Mutual
Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated at any time by
mutual consent of the Parties, provided that such consent to terminate is in
writing and is signed by each of the Parties.
8.2 Termination by Operation of
Law. This Agreement may be terminated by any Party hereto if
there shall be any statute, rule or regulation that renders consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Contemplated Transactions”)
illegal or otherwise prohibited, or a court of competent jurisdiction or any
government (or governmental authority) shall have issued an order, decree or
ruling, or has taken any other action restraining, enjoining or otherwise
prohibiting the consummation of such transactions and such order, decree, ruling
or other action shall have become final and nonappealable.
8.3 Termination for Failure to
Perform Covenants or Conditions. This Agreement may be
terminated prior to the Effective Time:
(a) by
the Parent and the Acquisition Subsidiary if: (i) any of the conditions set
forth in Section 5.2 hereof have not been fulfilled in all material respects by
the Closing Date; (ii) the Company shall have failed to observe or perform
any of its material obligations under this Agreement or (iii) as otherwise
set forth herein; or
(b) by
the Company if: (i) any of the conditions set forth in Section 5.3 hereof
have not been fulfilled in all material respects by the Closing Date;
(ii) the Parent or the Acquisition Subsidiary shall have failed to observe
or perform any of their material respective obligations under this Agreement or
(iii) as otherwise set forth herein.
8.4 Effect of Termination or
Default; Remedies. In the event of termination of this
Agreement as set forth above, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and
there shall be no liability on the part of any Party hereto, provided that such
Party is a Non-Defaulting Party (as defined below). The foregoing
shall not relieve any Party from liability for damages actually incurred as a
result of such Party’s breach of any term or provision of this
Agreement.
-38-
8.5 Remedies; Specific
Performance. In the event that any Party shall fail or refuse
to consummate the Contemplated Transactions or if any default under or breach of
any representation, warranty, covenant or condition of this Agreement on the
part of any Party (the “Defaulting Party”) shall have occurred that results in
the failure to consummate the Contemplated Transactions, then in addition to the
other remedies provided herein, the non-defaulting Party (the “Non-Defaulting
Party”) shall be entitled to seek and obtain money damages from the Defaulting
Party, or may seek to obtain an order of specific performance thereof against
the Defaulting Party from a court of competent jurisdiction, provided that the
Non-Defaulting Party seeking such protection must file its request with such
court within forty-five (45) days after it becomes aware of the Defaulting
Party’s failure, refusal, default or breach. In addition, the
Non-Defaulting Party shall be entitled to obtain from the Defaulting Party court
costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees incurred in connection with or in pursuit
of enforcing the rights and remedies provided hereunder.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Press Releases and
Announcements. No Party shall issue any press release or
public announcement relating to the subject matter of this Agreement without the
prior written approval of the other Parties; provided, however, that any
Party may make any public disclosure it believes in good faith is required by
applicable law, regulation or stock market rule (in which case the disclosing
Party shall use reasonable efforts to advise the other Parties and provide them
with a copy of the proposed disclosure prior to making the
disclosure).
9.2 No Third Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any rights or
remedies upon any person other than the Parties and their respective successors
and permitted assigns; provided, however, that
(a) the provisions in Article I concerning issuance of the Merger
Shares and Article VI concerning indemnification are intended for the
benefit of the Company Stockholders and (b) the provisions in
Section 4.9 concerning indemnification are intended for the benefit of the
individuals specified therein and their successors and assigns.
9.3 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, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.4 Succession and
Assignment. This Agreement shall 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 its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written
approval of the other Parties; provided that the Acquisition Subsidiary may
assign its rights, interests and obligations hereunder to a wholly-owned
subsidiary of the Parent (other than Split-Off Subsidiary).
9.5 Counterparts and Facsimile
Signature. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement
may be executed by facsimile signature.
9.6 Headings. The
section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only
and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this
Agreement.
9.7 Notices. All
notices, requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication
hereunder shall be deemed duly delivered four business days after it is sent by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or one
business day after it is sent for next business day delivery via a reputable
nationwide overnight courier service, in each case to the intended recipient as
set forth below:
-39-
If
to the Company or the Company Stockholders:
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
|
Copy
to (which copy shall not constitute notice hereunder):
Gottbetter
& Partners, LLP
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
If
to the Parent or
the
Acquisition Subsidiary (prior to the Closing):
ProMana
Solutions, Inc.
00
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx
Xxxxx, Chief Executive Officer
|
Copy
to (which copy shall not constitute notice hereunder):
Gottbetter
& Partners, LLP
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
|
Any Party
may give any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder
using any other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger
service, telecopy, telex, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice,
request, demand, claim or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly
given unless and until it actually is received by the Party for whom it is
intended. 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.
9.8 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without giving effect
to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State of New
York or any other
jurisdiction) that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdictions
other than those of the State of New York.
9.9 Amendments and
Waivers. The Parties may mutually amend any provision of this
Agreement at any time prior to the Effective Time. No amendment of
any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in
writing and signed by all of the Parties. No waiver of any right or
remedy hereunder shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed
by the Party giving such waiver. No waiver by any Party with respect
to any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder
shall 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.
9.10 Severability. Any
term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any
situation in any jurisdiction shall 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. If the final judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or
unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making the determination of
invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to limit the term or
provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or
unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and
enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or
unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so
modified.
9.11 Submission to
Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties (a) submits to the
jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in the County of New York in
the State of New York in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or
proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, and (c) agrees
not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this
Agreement in any other court. Each of the Parties waives any defense
of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of any action or proceeding so brought
and waives any bond, surety or other security that might be required of any
other Party with respect thereto. Any Party may make service on
another Party by sending or delivering a copy of the process to the Party to be
served at the address and in the manner provided for the giving of notices in
Section 9.7. Nothing in this Section 9.11, however, shall
affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner
permitted by law.
-40-
9.12 Construction.
(a) The
language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the
Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall
be applied against any Party.
(b) Any
reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law shall be deemed
also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the
context requires otherwise.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
-41-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization as of the date first above written.
PROMANA
SOLUTIONS, INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxx
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
ACQUISITION
SUBSIDIARY:
|
|
CROWNBUTTE
ACQUISITIONSUB INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxx
|
Name:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxx
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
COMPANY:
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|