PURCHASE AGREEMENT by and among STAFFING HOLDING LLC, as Seller STAFFMARK MERGER LLC, as Merger Sub STAFFMARK INVESTMENT LLC, as the Company SF HOLDING CORP. STEPHENS-SM LLC and CBS PERSONNEL HOLDINGS, INC., as Buyer Dated as of December 19, 2007
Exhibit 99.1
Execution
Copy
by and among
STAFFING HOLDING LLC, as Seller
STAFFMARK MERGER LLC, as Merger Sub
STAFFMARK INVESTMENT LLC, as the Company
SF HOLDING CORP.
XXXXXXXX-SM LLC
and
CBS PERSONNEL HOLDINGS, INC.,
as Buyer
as Buyer
Dated as of December 19, 2007
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS |
1 | |||
Section 1.1 Definitions |
1 | |||
ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE OF UNITS |
12 | |||
Section 2.1 Purchase and Sale of Units |
12 | |||
Section 2.2 Closing |
12 | |||
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES |
14 | |||
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of Sellers |
14 | |||
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of Buyer |
31 | |||
Section 3.3 No Other Representations or Warranties |
45 | |||
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS |
46 | |||
Section 4.1 Conduct of the Company’s Business |
46 | |||
Section 4.2 Publicity |
49 | |||
Section 4.3 Confidentiality |
49 | |||
Section 4.4 Access to Information |
49 | |||
Section 4.5 Filings and Authorizations |
50 | |||
Section 4.6 Reasonable Best Efforts |
50 | |||
Section 4.7 Termination of Agreements |
51 | |||
Section 4.8 Tax Matters |
51 | |||
Section 4.9 Resignations |
53 | |||
Section 4.10 Disclosure Letters |
53 | |||
Section 4.11 Non-Solicitation |
54 | |||
Section 4.12 Workers’ Compensation. |
54 | |||
Section 4.13 No Negotiation |
55 | |||
ARTICLE V CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE |
56 | |||
Section 5.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer |
56 | |||
Section 5.2
Conditions to Obligations of Sellers |
57 | |||
ARTICLE VI TERMINATION |
58 | |||
Section 6.1 Termination of Agreement |
58 | |||
Section 6.2 Effect of Termination |
59 | |||
ARTICLE VII SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION |
59 | |||
Section 7.1 Survival of Representations |
59 |
i
Section 7.2 Indemnification |
60 | |||
Section 7.3 Method of Asserting Claims, Etc |
61 | |||
Section 7.4 Limitation on Liability |
62 | |||
Section 7.5 Losses Net of Insurance, Etc |
62 | |||
Section 7.6 Sole Remedy; Waiver |
63 | |||
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS |
63 | |||
Section 8.1 Assignment; Binding Effect |
63 | |||
Section 8.2 Choice of Law |
64 | |||
Section 8.3 Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial |
64 | |||
Section 8.4 Notices |
64 | |||
Section 8.5 Headings |
65 | |||
Section 8.6 Fees and Expenses |
65 | |||
Section 8.7 Entire Agreement |
66 | |||
Section 8.8 Interpretation |
66 | |||
Section 8.9 Waiver and Amendment |
66 | |||
Section 8.10 Third-party Beneficiaries |
66 | |||
Section 8.11 Specific Performance |
66 | |||
Section 8.12 Severability |
67 | |||
Section 8.13 No Consequential Losses |
67 | |||
Section 8.14 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures |
67 | |||
Section 8.15 No Right of Setoff |
67 | |||
Section 8.16 Releases |
67 |
Exhibits: | ||
A
|
Form of Compass Management Services Agreement | |
B
|
Form of Xxxxxxxx Management Services Agreement | |
C
|
Form of Stockholders’ Agreement |
ii
THIS PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into and effective as of the 19th day of December,
2007, by and among STAFFING HOLDING LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Seller”), STAFFMARK
MERGER LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Merger Sub”), STAFFMARK INVESTMENT LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (the “Company”), SF HOLDING CORP., an Arkansas corporation
(“Xxxxxxxx”), XXXXXXXX-SM LLC, an Arkansas limited liability company (“Xxxxxxxx-SM”), and CBS
PERSONNEL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxxx owns all of the issued and outstanding Class A Preferred Units (as defined
herein) and a majority of the Class B Preferred Units (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxxx-SM owns a majority of the issued and outstanding Common Units (as defined
herein);
WHEREAS, Xxxxxxxxxxx (as defined herein) and Xxxxxxx (as defined herein), together, own all
the issued and outstanding Participating Units (as defined herein);
WHEREAS, prior to the Closing, Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx-SM will cause the Company to be merged
into and with Merger Sub, with the Company surviving (the “Pre-Closing Merger”), such that
immediately prior to the Closing, all issued and outstanding membership units of the Company (the
“Units”) will be legally and beneficially owned by Seller; and
WHEREAS, Buyer desires to purchase at Closing, and Seller Parties desire that Buyer purchase
from Seller at the Closing, all the Units, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing, the representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the adequacy
and receipt of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1 Definitions. Capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings set
forth in this Agreement. In addition, for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms,
when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Section 1.1.
“Action” means any action, claim, complaint, investigation, petition, suit, or arbitration,
whether civil or criminal, at law or in equity by or before any Governmental Entity.
“Affiliate” means a Person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries,
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified Person. A Person shall
be deemed to control another Person if such first Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the
power to direct, or cause the direction of, the management and policies of such other Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
“Affiliated Group” means any affiliated group within the meaning of section 1504(a) of the
Code or any similar group (including a combined or unitary group) defined under a similar provision
of state, local or foreign law relating to Income Tax.
“Agreement” means this Agreement, as the same may be amended or supplemented, together with
all Exhibits, the Company Disclosure Letter and the Buyer Disclosure Letter.
“Balance Sheet Date” means December 31, 2006.
“Xxxxxxxxxxx” means Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, an individual residing in the State of Tennessee.
“Basket” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.
“Breach” means any breach of, or any inaccuracy in, any representation or warranty or any
breach of, or failure to perform or comply with, any covenant or obligation, in or of this
Agreement, or any event which with the passing of time or the giving of notice, or both, would
constitute such a breach, inaccuracy or failure.
“Xxxxxxx” means Xxxx Xxxxxxx, an individual residing in the State of Texas.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banks are
required to be closed in New York, New York.
“Buyer” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer Balance Sheet” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of Buyer and its
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006.
“Buyer Claims” means all claims by Buyer Indemnified Parties for indemnity under this
Agreement (whether or not arising out of a third-party claim).
“Buyer Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(n)(i).
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“Buyer Disclosure Letter” shall mean the disclosure letter of the Buyer referred to in, and
delivered to the Seller pursuant to, this Agreement.
“Buyer Dispute Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(c)(i).
“Buyer ERISA Affiliate” means an employer, other than Buyer’s Subsidiaries, that, together
with Buyer, is, or at any time for which any relevant statute of limitations remains open was,
considered a “single employer” under Section 414 of the Code.
“Buyer Final Closed Tax Year” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(l)(ii).
“Buyer Financial Statements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).
“Buyer Indemnified Parties” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
“Buyer Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property owned or licensed from third
parties by the Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
“Buyer Interim Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(g).
“Buyer Leases” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(k)(i).
“Buyer Plans” means each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
ERISA), including, but not limited to, each pension, profit sharing, 401(k), severance, welfare,
disability, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock option, employment, change-in-control,
retention, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements,
whether or not subject to ERISA and that is maintained, sponsored or entered into by the Company or
its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
“Buyer Shares” means 1,168,243 shares of Buyer’s Class A common stock and 760,846 shares of
Buyer’s Class B common stock.
“Buyer’s Business” means the business of Buyer and its Subsidiaries as conducted in the
ordinary course of business immediately prior to the date hereof.
“Claim Notice” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
“Class A Preferred Units” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
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“Class B Preferred Units” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
“Closing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Closing Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Collateral Source” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
“Common Units” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Company Audited Financial Statements” means the audited balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006 together with the audited consolidated statements of income of
the Company and its Subsidiaries for the period then ended.
“Company Balance Sheet” means the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006.
“Company Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(n)(i).
“Company Disclosure Letter” means the disclosure letter of the Company referred to in, and
delivered to Buyer pursuant to, this Agreement.
“Company Enterprise Value” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
“Company Final Closed Tax Year” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(l)(ii).
“Company Financial Statements” means the Company Unaudited Financial Statements and the
Company Audited Financial Statements.
“Company Indebtedness to be Repaid” means all Indebtedness, if any, of the Company and its
Subsidiaries outstanding immediately prior to Closing.
“Company Intellectual Property” means the Intellectual Property owned or licensed from third
parties by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
“Company Interim Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth within the definition of
Company Unaudited Financial Statements.
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“Company Interim Balance Sheet Date” means the date of the Company Interim Balance Sheet.
“Company Leased Real Property” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(k)(i).
“Company Leases” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(k)(i).
“Company Plans” means each “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
ERISA), including, but not limited to, each pension, profit sharing, 401(k), severance, welfare,
disability, deferred compensation, stock purchase, stock option, employment, change-in-control,
retention, fringe benefit, bonus, incentive agreements, programs, policies or other arrangements,
whether or not subject to ERISA and that is maintained, sponsored or entered into by the Company or
its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employee of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
“Company Significant Customers” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(aa).
“Company Unaudited Financial Statements” means, collectively, (i) the unaudited balance sheet
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of each of December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December
31, 2006 and the unaudited consolidated statements of income of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for the periods then ended, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet (the “Company Interim
Balance Sheet”) and unaudited consolidated statement of income of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as of and for the ten (10) months ended October 31, 2007.
“Company’s Business” means the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as conducted in
the ordinary course of business immediately prior to the date hereof.
“Compass Management Services Agreement” means a management services agreement between Buyer
and Compass Group Management LLC, dated as of the Closing Date and substantially in the form of
Exhibit A attached hereto.
“Company Workers’ Compensation Policies” shall have the meaning set forth in Section
3.1(t)(i)(2)
“Confidentiality Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
“Contract” means any written or oral contract, agreement, commitment, franchise, indenture,
lease, purchase order or license.
“Copyrights” means all copyrights (including all registrations and applications to register
the same, and all unregistered copyrights).
5
“Eligible Transaction Expenses” means all expenses incurred prior to the Closing by or on
behalf of the Seller Parties or the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
“Employment Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(n)(i)(1).
“Encumbrance” means any lien, security interest, option, pledge, mortgage, deed of trust,
hypothecation, conditional sale, restriction on transfer of title or voting or other encumbrance of
any nature whatsoever, except for any restrictions on transfer generally arising under any
applicable federal or state securities Laws.
“Equity Consideration” means $47,899,279.87, comprised of the Buyer Shares.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“Executive Employment Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)(viii).
“GAAP” means, with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, United States generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied by the Company and, with respect to the Buyer
and its Subsidiaries, United States generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
by the Buyer.
“Governmental Authorization” means licenses, permits, approvals, certifications, consents and
listings of all Governmental Entities required, and all exemptions from requirements to obtain or
apply for any of the foregoing, for the conduct of the Company’s Business or the Buyer’s Business,
as applicable, as currently conducted and the operation of the facilities used in such business.
“Governmental Entity” means any United States federal or state government, or any foreign
government, or any agency, bureau, board, commission, court, department, tribunal or
instrumentality thereof.
“Governmental Filings” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(e).
“Income Tax” means any Tax imposed on or determined in whole or part with reference to income,
gross receipts, profits, or similar measure, including any interest, penalty or other addition with
respect thereto.
“Indebtedness” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person: (i) indebtedness of
such Person or its Subsidiaries for borrowed money; (ii) obligations of such Person or its
Subsidiaries as lessee under any leases which are required to be capitalized in accordance with
GAAP; (iii) all liabilities and obligations secured by any Encumbrance on any property owned by
such Person or its Subsidiaries; (iv) all liabilities
6
and obligations under any interest rate
protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest rate option agreement, interest rate
swap agreement or other similar agreement designed to protect such Person or its Subsidiaries
against fluctuations in interest rates; (v) all indebtedness of such Person or its Subidiaries for
the deferred purchase price of property, or the deferred purchase price for services, (vi) all
interest, fees, charges, prepayment premiums and penalties, and other expenses owed with respect to
Indebtedness described in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v), and (vii) all Indebtedness
referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (vi) which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by
any of such Person and its Subsiidaries in any manner.
“Indemnified Party” shall mean the party entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 7.2.
“Indemnifying Party” shall mean, if Buyer Indemnified Parties are being indemnified, the
Seller and, if Seller Indemnified Parties are being indemnified, the Buyer.
“Independent Accounting Firm” means the Cincinnati, Ohio office of Ernst & Young, or, if such
firm declines or ceases to so serve, a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public
accountants upon which Buyer and the Seller shall have mutually agreed.
“Intellectual Property” means all Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights and Trade Secrets and all
other intellectual property rights in any jurisdiction, to the extent recognized under the Laws of
such jurisdiction.
“Knowledge of Buyer” means the knowledge of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxx, each of whom will be deemed to have knowledge of a
particular fact or other matter if: (a) such Person is actually aware of such fact or other matter;
or (b) it is reasonable to expect that such Person would discover or otherwise become aware of such
fact or other matter in the performance of his or her job responsibilities in the ordinary course
of business.
“Knowledge of Seller Parties” means the knowledge of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxx
XxXxxxxx, each of whom will be deemed to have knowledge of a particular fact or other matter
if: (a) such Person is actually aware of such fact or other matter; or (b) it is reasonable to
expect that such Person would discover or otherwise become aware of such fact or other matter in
the performance of his or her job responsibilities in the ordinary course of business.
“Labor Laws” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(o)(v)(4).
“Law” means any statute, code, rule, regulation, order, ordinance, judgment or decree or other
pronouncement of any Governmental Entity having the effect of law.
“Losses” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).
7
“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Person, any change or event that has a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, results of operations or financial condition of
such Person, other than any change or event resulting from, relating to or arising out of (i)
general economic conditions in any of the markets or geographical areas in which such Person
operates; (ii) any change in economic conditions or the financial, banking, currency or capital
markets in general (whether in the United States or any other country or in any international
market) or changes in currency exchange rates or currency fluctuations; (iii) any calamity or other
conditions generally affecting any of the industries in which such Person operates; (iv) acts of
God or other calamities, national or international political or social conditions, including the
engagement by any country in hostilities, whether commenced before or after the date hereof, and
whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any
military or terrorist attack; (v) the announcement of, or the taking of any action contemplated by,
this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby, including by reason of the identity of
Buyer or any communication by Buyer regarding the plans or intentions of Buyer with respect to the
conduct of the Company’s Business; (vii) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, any item
or items set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter (without taking into account any supplements
thereto); or (viii) with respect to the Buyer and its Subsidiaries, any item or items set forth in
the Buyer Disclosure Letter (without taking into account any supplements thereto).
“Material Interest” means direct or indirect beneficial ownership (as defined in Rule 13d 3
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) of voting securities or other voting interests
representing at least 20% of the outstanding voting power of a Person or equity securities or other
equity interests representing at least 20% of the outstanding equity securities or equity interests
in a Person.
“Merger Sub” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Notice Period” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
“Order” means any order, writ, injunction, judgment, plan or decree of a Governmental Entity.
“ordinary course of business” or “in the ordinary course” means an action taken by a Person
will be deemed to have been taken in the “ordinary course of business” or “in the ordinary course”
only if:
(a) such action is consistent with past practices of such Person and taken in the ordinary
course of such Person’s normal operations and practices; and
(b) such action is not required to be authorized by the board of directors of such Person (or
by any Person or group of Persons exercising similar authority) and is not required to be
specifically authorized by the parent company (if any) of such Person.
8
“Outside Date” means February 28, 2008.
“Participating Units” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(d).
“Patents” means all U.S. and foreign patents and patent applications, including divisions,
continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, and any extensions thereof.
“Permitted Encumbrance” means (i) Encumbrances incurred or deposits made in the ordinary
course of business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types
of social security or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and
appeal bonds, bids, leases, government Contracts, performance and return of money bonds and similar
obligations; (ii) inchoate mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’, materialmen’s,
warehousemen’s and other Encumbrances which have arisen in the ordinary course of business; (iii)
Encumbrances for current Taxes not yet delinquent; (iv) requirements and restrictions of zoning,
building and other Laws, rules and regulations; (v) statutory liens of landlords for amounts not
yet due and payable; (vi) liens arising under conditional sales contracts and equipment leases with
third parties entered into in the ordinary course of business; (vii) Encumbrances which,
individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to impair, in any material respect, the
continued use of, or materially detract from the value of, the assets or properties currently used
in the ordinary course of business; (ix) Encumbrances resulting from securities Laws; and (x) with
respect to Buyer and its Subsidiaries, Encumbrances in respect of its Indebtedness for borrowed
money.
“Person” means an association, a corporation, an individual, a partnership, a limited
liability company, a trust, or any other entity or organization, including a Governmental Entity.
“Pre-Closing Taxes” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).
“Prior Period Return” means any Tax Return related to Income Tax required or permitted to be
filed for a taxable period that ends on or prior to the Closing Date.
“Related Person” means, with respect to any Person,
(a) any Person that directly or indirectly controls, or is directly or indirectly controlled
by, such Person;
(b) any Person that holds a Material Interest in such Person;
(c) each Person that serves as a director, manager or officer of such Person (or in a similar
capacity);
(d) any Person in which such Person holds a Material Interest;
9
(e) any Person with respect to which such Person serves as a general partner or a trustee (or
in a similar capacity); and
(f) each member of the Family of each individual described in clause (c) hereof, where
“Family” of an individual includes (i) such individual’s spouse, (ii) each parent, child, sibling,
nephew or niece of such individual or such individual’s spouse, and (iii) any other natural person
who resides with such individual.
“Representatives” shall mean, with respect to any Person, any director, manager, officer,
employee, principal, agent, consultant, advisor, or other representative of such Person or its
Subsidiaries, including legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors.
“Seller” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Seller ERISA Affiliate” means an employer, other than the Company and its Subsidiaries, that,
together with Seller is, or at any time for which any relevant statute of limitations remains open
was, considered a “single employer” under Section 414 of the Code.
“Seller Parties” means, collectively, Seller, Merger Sub, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx-SM and, prior to
and at, but not after, the Closing, the Company.
“Seller’s Portion” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).
“Xxxxxxxx” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Xxxxxxxx Management Services Agreement” means a management services agreement between Buyer
and Xxxxxxxx, dated as of the Closing Date and substantially in the form of Exhibit B
attached hereto.
“Xxxxxxxx-SM” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Stockholders’ Agreement” means a stockholders’ agreement, to be dated as of the Closing Date,
by and among Buyer, Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC and Seller, substantially in the form of
Exhibit C attached hereto.
“Straddle Period” means any taxable period with respect to Income Taxes that includes, but
does not end on, the Closing Date.
“Straddle Period Returns” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8(a).
“Subsidiary” of any Person means, on any date, any Person (i) the accounts of which would be
consolidated with and into those of the applicable Person in
10
such Person’s consolidated financial
statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP as of such date or
(ii) of which securities or other ownership interests representing more than fifty percent of the
equity or more than fifty percent of the ordinary voting power or, in the case of a partnership,
more than fifty percent of the general partnership interests or more than fifty percent of the
profits or losses of which are, as of such date, owned, controlled or held by the applicable Person
or one or more subsidiaries of such Person. Unless otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement,
the terms “Subsidiary” and “Subsidiaries” shall mean, when used with respect to the Company, all
Subsidiaries of the Company other than Seller and Merger Sub.
“Tax” means any foreign, federal, state, county or local income, sales and use, excise,
franchise, real and personal property, gross receipt, capital stock, production, business and
occupation, disability, employment, payroll, severance, unclaimed property subject to escheat Laws,
or unemployment or other withholding tax or other tax, duty, fee, assessment or charge imposed by
any taxing authority, including any interest, addition of Tax or penalties related thereto.
“Tax Return” means any return, report, declaration, information return or other document
required to be filed with any Tax authority with respect to Taxes, including any amendments
thereof.
“Terminating Contracts” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.
“Trademarks” means all U.S. and foreign trademarks, service marks, trade names and Internet
domain names, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing, and all registrations
and applications relating to the foregoing.
“Trade Secrets” means all U.S. and foreign trade secrets, proprietary know-how and other
confidential and proprietary information.
“Transition Services Agreement”
means an agreement between Buyer and Xxxxxxxx Investments Holdings LLC (“SIH”), an Arkansas limited liability company,
dated as of the Closing Date, pursuant to which SIH will provide, or cause to be provided, to Buyer and its Subsidiaries those accounting,
legal, and information technology services which have historically been provided to the Company and its Subsidiaries by Affiliates of
Xxxxxxxx at costs, including overhead allocations, not to exceed costs borne by the Company and its Subsidiaries historically
for such services, for a period of not less than 45 days (but only to the extent the SIH personnel providing such services do
not become employees of Buyer prior to the end of such 45 day period) and more than 180 days from and after the Closing
(with such extensions as the parties may agree), and subject to such other terms and conditions as Buyer and Seller shall reasonably
and in good faith agree.
11
“Treasury Regulations” means the regulations promulgated by the Department of Treasury of the
United States in respect of the Code.
“Units” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“Workers’ Compensation Actions” means, with respect to any Person, Actions brought by
employees of or other service providers to such Person or its Subsidiaries who are covered under
such Person’s workers’ compensation insurance policies to the extent reflected on loss run reports
for such policies.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF UNITS
Section 2.1 Purchase and Sale of Units.
(a) Buyer and the Seller Parties hereby agree that, upon the terms and subject to the
satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions hereof, at the Closing and as of the
close of Company’s Business on the Closing Date, Seller shall sell, assign, transfer and convey to
Buyer and Buyer shall purchase, acquire and accept from Seller, all of Seller’s rights, title and
interests in and to all of the Units, free and clear of all Encumbrances.
(b) Buyer shall pay, as consideration for the Units pursuant to Section 2.1(a), an amount
equal to the sum of the Company Indebtedness to be Repaid plus the Equity Consideration (the
"Company Enterprise Value”), payable as provided in Section 2.2(c).
Section 2.2 Closing.
(a) The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall be
held at the offices of Squire, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P., located at 000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx, at 10:00 a.m., eastern standard time, on the third Business Day following
the satisfaction or waiver, if permissible, of the conditions to Closing set forth in Article V
(other than conditions which by their nature can be satisfied only at Closing), or on such other
date as Buyer and Seller mutually agree (the “Closing Date”).
(b) Deliveries by Seller Parties. At the Closing, Seller Parties shall deliver, or cause to
be delivered, to Buyer:
(i) the original certificate or certificates evidencing the Units, duly executed in blank or
together with a duly executed stock transfer form;
12
(ii) a certificate, dated the Closing Date and executed by the Seller, certifying that the
conditions to Buyer’s obligation to consummate the Closing under Section 5.1(a) have been
satisfied;
(iii) a certificate of good standing (or equivalent certificate) for the Company and each of
its Subsidiaries for the jurisdiction of its organization, together with a certified copy of the
certificate of organization (or equivalent organizational document) (and all amendments thereto)
for each such entity, in each case issued by the applicable Secretary of State as of a recent date;
(iv) a certificate of the Seller certifying, individually and in the aggregate, the amount of
Company Indebtedness to be Repaid and the holder or holders thereof, together with payoff letters
executed by the applicable lender and the Company that, with respect to the applicable Company
Indebtedness to be Repaid, certify the amount of such Indebtedness to be Repaid, unconditionally
commit to the release of all Encumbrances, if any, securing such Company Indebtedness to be Repaid
and are otherwise reasonably acceptable to Buyer;
(v) a certificate of the Seller certifying, individually and in the aggregate, the Eligible
Transaction Expenses, together with support therefore reasonably satisfactory to Buyer;
(vi) the Company Audited Financial Statements;
(vii) the Stockholders’ Agreement executed by Seller;
(viii) employment agreements, dated as of the Closing Date, between the Buyer and each of Xxxx
Xxxxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, executed by such employees (the “Executive Employment Agreements”)
and in substantially the form agreed by such executives and Buyer prior to the date of this
Agreement;
(ix) general releases, executed by each of Xxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx, as to those matters set
forth in Section 8.16;
(x) the Transition Services Agreement executed by Xxxxxxxx;
(xi) certified copies of the resolutions of the managers (or other applicable governing body)
of Seller and the Company, authorizing and approving this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(xii) incumbency certificates relating to each Person executing any document executed and
delivered to Buyer by Seller or Company pursuant to the terms hereof.
13
(c) Deliveries by Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer shall:
(i) pay to each applicable holder of Company Indebtedness to be Repaid such portion thereof
that is owing to such holder as set forth in the certificate of the Seller delivered to Buyer
pursuant to Section 2.2(b)(iv), by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or
accounts designated by such holder prior to Closing;
(ii) deliver to the Seller, certificate evidencing the Buyer Shares;
(iii) deliver to the Seller, a certificate, dated the Closing Date and executed by the Buyer,
certifying that the conditions to Seller’s obligation to consummate the Closing under Section
5.2(a) have been satisfied;
(iv) deliver to the Seller, the Stockholders’ Agreement executed by Compass Group
Diversified
Holdings LLC and Buyer;
(v) deliver to the Seller, the Executive Employment Agreements executed by Buyer;
(vi) deliver to the Seller, the Transition Services Agreement executed by Buyer;
(vii) deliver to the Seller, the Xxxxxxxx Management Services Agreement executed by Buyer;
(viii) deliver to Seller, copies of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Buyer,
authorizing and approving this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement; and
(ix) deliver to Seller, an incumbency certificate relating to each Person executing any
document executed and delivered to Seller by Buyer pursuant to the terms hereof.
(d) At the Closing, Buyer and Compass Group Management LLC shall have executed the Compass
Management Services Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
Section 3.1 Representations and Warranties of Seller Parties. Each of the Seller Parties
represents and warrants to Buyer as follows:
(a) Due Organization and Good Standing; Authority. The Company is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. The Company is qualified or
otherwise authorized to act as a
14
foreign limited liability company and is in good standing under
the Laws of each jurisdiction specified in Section 3.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and is
not required under applicable Law to be qualified or authorized to act as a foreign corporation in
any other jurisdiction, except where the failure to be so qualified or authorized would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has requisite power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to carry on the Company’s Business, except where the failure
to have such power and authority would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(b) Authorization of Transactions.
(i) Each of the Seller Parties the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and
perform its obligations under this Agreement, and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance by each such Seller Party of this Agreement and
its consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by
necessary company action on the part of each such Seller Party and no other proceedings on the part
of any such Seller Party are necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by each
such Seller Party of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(ii) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Seller Parties and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Buyer, constitutes, a valid and binding
obligation of each such Seller Party, enforceable against each such Seller Party in accordance with
its terms, except that such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or
other similar Laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies
of creditors and general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in
equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(c) No Conflict or Violation. Except as set forth on Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, the execution, delivery and performance by Seller Parties of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) assuming all
Governmental Filings have been obtained or made, violate or conflict with, or give any Governmental
Entity or other Person the right to challenge any of the contemplated transactions or to exercise
any remedy or obtain any relief under, any Law or Order to which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, or any of the assets owned or used by any of them, is subject, (ii) violate or
conflict with any of the terms or requirements of, or give any Governmental Entity the right to
revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held
by either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or that otherwise relates to the Company’s
Business or to any of the assets owned or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii)
conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of, or constitute a default (or an event which
with notice or lapse of time or both
15
would become a default) under, or result in or permit the
acceleration of any liability under, or result in or permit the termination, amendment or
cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance on any of the property or assets of
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any Company Contract or Company Lease or other
agreement to which any of the Seller Parties, the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries is a
party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties are bound
or affected); or (iv) violate the certificate of organization or operating agreement (or other
applicable organization documents) of any of the Seller Parties, the Company or any of the
Company’s Subsidiaries; except, in the case of clause (iii), for such conflicts, violations,
breaches, defaults, accelerations or terminations (other than with respect to consents required
under Company Leases) as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or materially impair or delay any Seller Parties’
ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Capital Structure and Ownership of Units. As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized
and issued equity interests of the Company (“Units”) consist of (i) 53,000,000 Common Units (the
“Common Units”), (ii) 37,500,000 Class A Preferred Units (the “Class A Preferred Units”), (iii)
22,500,000 Class B Preferred Units (the “Class B Preferred Units”) and (iv) 1,556,722 Participating
Units (the “Participating Units”), all of which Units have been duly authorized and validly issued
and none of which Units have been issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or other similar rights. Except for certain options to acquire 586,024 Common Units at
$.20 per Common Unit expiring September 30, 2010, which options will not, at Closing, constitute
options to acquire Units or other equity securities of the Company, the Company has no other equity
securities authorized, issued or outstanding, and there are no agreements, options, warrants or
other rights or arrangements existing or outstanding that provide for the sale, issuance or
transfer of any
of the foregoing by Seller Parties or the Company (other than this Agreement). Xxxxxxxx is,
as of the date hereof, the record and beneficial owner of 42,201,369.86 Class A Preferred Units,
representing 100% of the outstanding Class A Preferred Units, and 17,896,508 Class B Preferred
Units, representing approximately 73.13% of the outstanding Class B Preferred Units. Xxxxxxxx-SM
is, as of the date hereof, the record and beneficial owner of 50,225,000 Common Units, representing
approximately 95.44% of the outstanding Common Units. Xxxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx are, as of the date
hereof, the record and beneficial owners of, in the aggregate, 1,556,722 Participating Units,
representing 100% of the outstanding Participating Units. At Closing, Seller will be the record
and beneficial owner of all of the issued and outstanding Units. At Closing, the Units purchased
by Buyer from Seller will constitute all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of the
Company, and good title to all of the Units will be conveyed to Buyer, with the Units then being
free and clear of all Encumbrances except for those created by Buyer or arising out of ownership of
the Units by Buyer.
(e) Governmental Filings. No filings or registration with, notification to, or authorization,
consent, waiver or approval of any Governmental Entity (collectively, “Governmental Filings”) are
required in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Seller
Parties, except (i) as set forth in
16
Section 3.1(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter and (ii) such
other Governmental Filings, the failure of which to be obtained would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or materially impair
or delay any Seller Parties’ ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Subsidiaries. Section 3.1(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a list of each
Subsidiary of the Company, including its name, and its jurisdiction of organization or formation.
Each Subsidiary of the Company (including, as of the date hereof, Seller and Merger Sub) is validly
existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization or formation and is in good
standing in each other jurisdiction specified in Section 3.1(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
and is not required by applicable Law to be qualified or authorized in any other jurisdiction,
except where the failure to be so qualified or authorized would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary of the Company
(including, as of the date hereof, Seller and Merger Sub) are owned directly or indirectly by the
Company and, as of the Closing, will be free and clear of all Encumbrances, and there is no
subscription, option, warrant, call right, agreement or commitment relating to the issuance, sale,
delivery, transfer or redemption by any Subsidiary of the Company (including, as of the date
hereof, Seller and Merger Sub), including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding
security or other instrument, of the capital stock or other equity interest of any Subsidiary of
the Company (including, as of the date hereof, Seller and Merger Sub), other than any such
subscription, option, warrant, call right, agreement or commitment in favor of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries.
(g) Company Financial Statements.
(i) Seller Parties have delivered to Buyer a true and complete copy of the Company Unaudited
Financial Statements. Except as disclosed in Section 3.1(g)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
the Company Unaudited Financial Statements (including all notes and schedules contained therein or
annexed thereto, if any) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and, except where so noted,
fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein, subject to year-end audit
adjustments, the absence of cash flow statements and the absence of notes thereto.
(ii) At Closing, Seller Parties shall have delivered to Buyer a true and complete copy of the
Company Audited Financial Statements. Except as disclosed in Section 3.1(g)(ii) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, the Company Audited Financial Statements (including all notes and schedules
contained therein or annexed thereto, if any) will have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and,
except where so noted, will fairly present the financial condition and results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the periods referred to therein.
17
(h) No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (i) as reflected or reserved against in the Company
Unaudited Financial Statements (or any notes thereto), (ii) as set forth in Section 3.1(h) of the
Company Disclosure Letter and (iii) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business since the Company Interim Balance Sheet Date, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has, or at Closing will have, any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or
not accrued, contingent or otherwise.
(i) Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(i) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, there are currently no Actions (other than Workers’ Compensation Actions) pending or, to
the Knowledge of Seller Parties, threatened (whether orally or in writing) against the Company or
its Subsidiaries or any director, officer, employee or agent (in their capacities as such) of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, that are reasonably expected to result in payment by the Company and
its Subsidiaries of more than $50,000 individually or to which any of the assets of Company or its
Subsidiaries is subject, or to which any of the Units is subject, or which relates to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the consummation thereof, or that challenges the
validity or enforceability of this Agreement or seek to enjoin or prohibit consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, or that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making
illegal or otherwise interfering with, any of the transactions contemplated hereby. To the
Knowledge of Seller Parties, no event has occurred or circumstance exists that may give rise to or
serve as a basis for the commencement of any such Action. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(i) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any
Order that is not generally applicable to all Persons or to Persons in businesses similar to the
Company’s Business.
(j) Personal Property. Except as may be reflected in the Company Unaudited Financial
Statements, the Company and its Subsidiaries have valid title, free and clear of all Encumbrances
(except for Permitted Encumbrances), to all the
tangible personal property material to the Company’s Business, except for such tangible
personal property that has been disposed of in the ordinary course of business.
(k) Real Property.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any real property. Section 3.1(k)
of
the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth (i) the location of all real property directly or
indirectly leased to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Company Leased Real Property”)
pursuant to a lease, sublease or other similar agreement under which any one or more of the Company
and its Subsidiaries is the lessee or sublessee (collectively, the “Company Leases”) and (ii) a
list of all Company Leases. Copies of all Company Leases, together with any modifications,
extensions, amendments and assignments thereof, have heretofore been, or prior to Closing will have
been, furnished or made available to Buyer. Except as disclosed in Section 3.1(k) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, any lessor or
sublessor under any of the Company Leases (“Lessor”) is in default in any material respect under
any of the Company Leases.
18
Except as disclosed in Section 3.1(k) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
no Lessor has made a written claim of default by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any
of the Company Leases nor, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, does there exist any condition
which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, would constitute a default under any such
Company Leases in any material respect.
(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, since the Balance Sheet Date,
received any notice of violation of any applicable building, zoning, subdivision, health and safety
or other Laws and, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, there is no basis for the issuance of any
such notice or the taking of any action for any such violation.
(iii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, since the Balance Sheet Date,
received notice from any Governmental Entity with respect to any of the Leased Real Property: (i)
that any building or structure thereon, any equipment therein or the operation or maintenance
thereof violates any Law; or (ii) that any condemnation proceeding is pending or threatened.
(l) Taxes.
(i) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (A) all
Tax
Returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account
extensions), all Taxes shown to be due thereon have been timely paid (taking into account
extensions), and all such Tax Returns correctly reflect the amount of Tax due; (B) there are no
pending, current or, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, threatened (either orally or in writing)
claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations for the assessment or collection of Taxes
with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (C) there are no Encumbrances for Taxes
(other than Permitted Encumbrances) against the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets; and
(D) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has executed or filed with any Tax
authority any agreement extending the period for assessment or collection of any material Income
Taxes.
(ii) The United States federal and state Income Tax Returns of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries subject to such Taxes have been audited by the IRS or relevant state tax authorities
or are closed by the applicable statute of limitations for all taxable years through December 31,
2003 (the “Company Final Closed Tax Year”) (except Pennsylvania, which is closed for all taxable
years through December 31, 1999). Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, all deficiencies proposed as a result of such audits have been paid, reserved against or
settled. Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure Letter describes all adjustments to the United
States federal Income Tax Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or all
adjustments related to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Income Tax Returns
filed by any group of corporations including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for all taxable
years since the Final Closed Tax Year, and the resulting deficiencies, if any, proposed by the IRS.
Except as described in Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and other than waivers or
19
extensions that have lapsed, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has given or been
requested to give waivers or extensions (or is or would be subject to a waiver or extension given
by any other Person) of any statute of limitations relating to the payment of Taxes for which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may be liable.
(iii) To the Knowledge of Seller Parties, there exists no proposed tax assessment against the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries except as disclosed in the Balance Sheet or in Section 3.1(l) of
the Company Disclosure Letter. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, all material Taxes that the Company 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 or other Person.
(iv) All Tax Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries are true, correct and
complete in all material respects as to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Company and each
Subsidiary is in compliance with all state unemployment tax laws and regulations and no Subsidiary
has been created, or registered in a state, for the purpose of reducing the aggregate state
unemployment tax liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries. There is no tax sharing agreement
that will require any payment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this
Agreement.
(v) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any extensions of time within
which to file any Tax Return. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l) of the Company Disclosure
Letter, no claim has ever been made in writing by an authority in a jurisdiction where the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by
that jurisdiction, nor, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, is there any factual or legal basis for
any such claim.
(vi) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has agreed, nor to the Knowledge
of
Seller Parties is required, to make any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a
change in accounting method or otherwise that will affect the liability of the Company or its
Subsidiaries for Taxes, (ii) has made an election, nor to the Knowledge of Seller Parties is
required, to treat any asset as owned by another person pursuant to the provisions of Section
168(f) of the Code or as tax-exempt bond financed property or tax-exempt use property within the
meaning of section 168 of the Code, (iii) has made any of the foregoing elections nor to the
Knowledge of Seller Parties is required to apply any of the foregoing rules under any comparable
state or local tax provision, and (iv) owns any material assets that were financed directly or
indirectly with, or that directly or indirectly secure, debt the interest on which is tax-exempt
under section 103(a) of the Code.
(vii) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has applied for a ruling relating to
Taxes from any taxing authority nor entered into any closing agreement with any taxing authority.
20
(viii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has delivered to Buyer correct and complete
copies of Federal Income Tax Returns, and has made available to Buyer all state Income Tax Returns,
filed on behalf of Company and Subsidiary for the three most recent taxable years ending prior to
the date of this Agreement.
(ix) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, nor has any of them ever had, a
“permanent establishment” in any foreign country, as such term is defined in any applicable Tax
treaty or convention between the United States and such foreign country, nor has any of them
otherwise taken steps that have exposed, or will expose, it to the taxing jurisdiction of a foreign
country.
(x) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged, directly or indirectly, in a
transaction that is a “listed transaction” as defined in Treasury Regulations §1.6011-4(b)(2).
(xi) The Company is classified as a partnership, and each Company Subsidiary is classified as
a partnership or as a disregarded entity, for United States federal and state Tax purposes, and
will remain so classified through the Closing Date.
(xii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(l)(xii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
Company
and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all “unclaimed funds” and “escheat” laws in each
jurisdiction where it operates.
(m) Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(m) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, since the Balance Sheet Date, the Company’s Business has been conducted only in
the ordinary course and there has not been any:
(i) damage, destruction, loss, forfeiture or other event or events (whether or not covered by
insurance) that have had a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(ii) issuance by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any capital stock or other equity
interests of or in the Company or its Subsidiaries or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase
or acquisition by any of them of any such capital stock or other equity interests, or any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or distribution on any such capital stock or
other equity interests;
(iii) amendment to any certificate of organization or operating agreement (or equivalent
documents) of any of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(iv) payment of or commitment to pay any increase in bonuses, salaries or other compensation,
or any change of control, severance or employment termination payments, by the Company or its
Subsidiaries to any of their
21
directors, officers or employees (except for non-material increases in
the ordinary course of business);
(v) adoption of, or increase (other than non-material increases in the ordinary course of
business) in the payments to or benefits under, any profit sharing, bonus, deferred compensation,
savings, insurance, pension, retirement or other employee benefit plan of the Company or its
Subsidiaries;
(vi) entry into, termination of, or receipt of notice of termination of, by the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, (i) any license, agency, sales representative, joint venture or similar
Contract, (ii) any employment, consulting, severance or similar Contract with any officer,
director, manager, member or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other
Contract or transaction unless involving a total remaining commitment by or to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries of less than $100,000;
(vii) sale, lease or other disposition by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any asset or
property material to the Company’s Business, or mortgage, pledge or imposition of any Encumbrance
on any asset or property material to the Company’s Business by the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(viii) cancellation or waiver by the Company or its Subsidiaries of any claims or rights of
the Company or its Subsidiaries material to the Company’s Business;
(ix) change in the accounting methods, policies or practices of the Company or its
Subsidiaries; or
(x) agreement, whether oral or written, by the Company or its Subsidiaries to do any of the
foregoing.
(n) Company Contracts.
(i) Section 3.1(n)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of, and Seller
Parties and the Company have provided or made available to Buyer true and complete copies of (or in
the case of any oral Contract, a true and complete summary of), the Contracts in effect as of the
date of this Agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, which are in the
categories listed below (collectively, the “Company Contracts”):
(1) any employment agreement, management consulting agreement or
similar Contract (other than
at-will employment arrangements) (“Employment Agreements”), requiring payment by the Company or its
Subsidiaries of base annual salary in excess of $125,000;
(2) any Contract evidencing Indebtedness in excess of $50,000;
22
(3) any license agreement pursuant to which any of the Company or
its Subsidiaries (i) has
acquired the right to use any Intellectual Property, other than software and other Intellectual
Property that is generally commercially available, or (ii) has granted to any third party any
license to use any Company Intellectual Property;
(4) any Contract with current or former employees, consultants,
or contractors regarding the
appropriation or the nondisclosure of any Company Intellectual Property, excluding non-disclosure
agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(5) any Contract for capital expenditures or the acquisition or
construction of fixed assets
for the benefit and use of the Company or its Subsidiaries, expected to require payments for the
fiscal year ending December 31, 2007 or any fiscal year thereafter, for each such year in excess of
$100,000;
(6) any Contract containing a covenant not to compete that
impairs the ability of the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries to freely conduct the Company’s Business as such business is conducted
on the date hereof in any geographic area or any line of business;
(7) Contracts in amounts in excess of $100,000 for the future
purchase or lease by the Company
or any Subsidiary of Company of or of finished products purchased for resale, materials, supplies,
equipment or services;
(8) joint venture, partnership or license agreements;
(9) each Contract that was not entered into in the ordinary
course of business pursuant to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries continues to incur expenditures or be entitled to
receipts in excess of $100,000 per year;
(10) each collective bargaining agreement and other Contract with
any labor union or other
employee representative of a group of employees;
(11) each Contract which provides for payment by the Company or
its Subsidiaries of
commissions or similar payments (other than to employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries in the
ordinary course of business);
(12) each power of attorney that is currently effective and
outstanding;
(13) each written warranty, guaranty or other similar undertaking
with respect to contractual
performance extended by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of
business;
23
(14) each Contract entered into other than in the ordinary course
of business that contains or
provides for an express undertaking by the Company or any Subsidiary of Company to be responsible
for consequential damages;;
(15) each amendment, supplement, and modification (whether oral
or written) in respect of any
Contract of the type described in subsections (1) through (16) of this Section 3.1(n)(i); and
(16) any outstanding binding commitment to enter into any
Contract of the type described in
subsections (1) through (16) of this Section 3.1(n)(i).
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(n)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter,
(i) each
Company Contract and Company Lease (A) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company or
its Subsidiary party thereto and (B) assuming such Company Contract or Company Lease is binding and
enforceable against the other parties thereto, is enforceable against the Company or its
Subsidiary, as applicable, and, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, the other parties thereto,
except that such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar Laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and general
principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of
the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought, and (ii) neither the Company nor any
of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, any other Person a party thereto, is
in breach of or default under any Company Contract, except, in each case set forth in clause (ii),
where such breach or default, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(n)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither
the
Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received from any other Person, any notice (whether oral or
written) regarding any actual or alleged material violation or material breach of, or default
under, any Company Contract by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(o) Labor. No labor strike or general work stoppage against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, threatened (whether orally or in
writing); and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any pending labor
dispute or Action which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect
to the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 3.1(o) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is bound by any agreement with
any labor organization (covered by the National Labor Relations Act) and, to the Knowledge of
Seller Parties, no union organizing activities involving any such labor organization is pending or
threatened (whether orally or in writing).
(p) Compliance With Law and Governmental Authorizations.
24
(i) Except for Laws relating or attributable to Taxes and employee benefits, which shall be
governed exclusively by Section 3.1(l) and Section 3.1(q), respectively, and except as set forth in
Section 3.1(p)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the Company and its Subsidiaries are operating
the Company’s Business in material compliance with all applicable Laws. Neither the Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has, since the Balance Sheet Date, received any written or oral notice from
a Governmental Entity of any violation or alleged violation of any Laws or Orders. All reports,
filings and returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
with any Governmental Entity have been filed except for such instances of noncompliance that would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its
Subsidiaries.
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(p)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
Company
and its Subsidiaries have all Governmental Authorizations required in order to conduct the
Company’s Business as currently conducted, all of which Governmental Authorizations are in full
force and effect. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is, and at all times during the two
(2)-year period preceding the date of this Agreement has been, operating in compliance therewith,
except for such instances of noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(p)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all
applications required by Governmental Entities to have been filed at any time during the one
(1)-year period preceding the date of this Agreement on behalf of each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries for the renewal of Governmental Authorizations have been duly and timely filed with
the appropriate Governmental Entities, and all other filings required to have been made with
respect to such Governmental Authorizations have been duly and timely made with the appropriate
Governmental Entities, except where the failure to so file would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(iv) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(p)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the
Governmental Authorizations listed in Section 3.1(p)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Letter
collectively constitute all the Governmental Authorizations necessary to permit each of the Company
and each of its Subsidiaries to lawfully conduct the Company’s Business as currently conducted,
each of which Governmental Authorizations is in full force and effect.
(q) Employee Benefit Plans.
(i) Section 3.1(q) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each severance
plan
or agreement and each other material Company Plan.
(ii) Each Company Plan has been established and administered in all material respects in
accordance with its terms and applicable Law,
25
including, as to each Company Plan that is subject to
United States Law, ERISA and the Code, except that, in a situation in which a Company Plan is
required to comply with a provision of applicable Law, but is not yet required to be amended to
reflect that provision, each such Company Plan has been administered in all material respects in
accordance with that Law.
(iii) Each Company Plan that is an “employee pension benefit plan” (within the
meaning of
ERISA Section 3(2)) of the Company and its Subsidiaries has received a favorable determination
letter as to its qualification. No event has occurred or circumstance exists that could reasonably
be expected to give rise to disqualification or loss of tax-exempt status of any Company Plan or a
related trust. No Company Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA.
(iv) With respect to each Company Plan, (i) no material Action is pending or, to the
Knowledge
of Seller Parties, has been threatened either orally or in writing against the Company or its
Subsidiaries, and (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, no facts or circumstances exist that
reasonably could give rise to any material Action
(v) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(q) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and except for
any
transaction bonuses payable to Company employees that were put in place prior to Closing for which
Seller Parties shall remain solely responsible, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby shall not, (i) entitle any current or former employee or officer of the Company and its
Subsidiaries to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any other payment or (ii) accelerate
the time of payment or vesting, or materially increase the amount of compensation due any such
employee or officer.
(vi) Neither Seller Parties nor any ERISA Affiliate of Seller Parties has, at any time for
which any relevant statute of limitations remains open, (i) maintained or contributed to any
employee pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Code § 412 or (ii) been required to
contribute to, or incurred any withdrawal
liability within the meaning of ERISA § 4201 to, any multiemployer plan as defined in ERISA §
3(37) that would reasonably be expected to become a liability of the Company and its Subsidiaries
or Buyer.
(vii) Seller Parties and each ERISA Affiliate of Seller Parties have complied in all material
respects with the notice and continuation coverage requirements of § 4980B of the Code and the
regulations thereunder, including, without limitation, the “M&A regulations” issued as Treasury
Regulations § 54.4980B-9, with respect to each Benefit Plan that is, or was during any taxable year
of Seller Parties or any ERISA Affiliate of Seller Parties for which the statute of limitations on
the assessment of federal income taxes remains open, by consent or otherwise, a group health plan
within the meaning of § 5000(b)(1) of the Code.
26
(viii) With respect to each Company Plan that is not subject to United States Law, each such
plan required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in all material respects
by compliance with applicable Law.
(r) Intellectual Property.
(i) Section 3.1(r)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all material
Company Intellectual Property.
(ii) Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries, or as set forth in Section
3.1(r)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (a) to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, the conduct of
the Company’s Business does not infringe or otherwise violate any Person’s Intellectual Property,
(b) there is no material claim pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, threatened (whether
orally or in writing) against the Company or its Subsidiaries alleging such infringement or other
violation, and (c) to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, no Person is infringing or otherwise
violating any Company Intellectual Property, (d) no material claims are pending or, to the
Knowledge or Seller Parties, threatened (whether orally or in writing) against any Person by the
Company or its Subsidiaries alleging such infringement or other violation, and (e) the Company
Intellectual Property is all the Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of the Company’s
Business as it is currently conducted.
(s) Brokers’ Fees. Other than Xxxxxxxx Inc., no broker, investment banker, financial advisor
or other person is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or
commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of any of the Seller Parties, the Company or the Company’s
Subsidiaries, for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Buyer have or will have any
liability.
(t) Insurance.
(i) Section 3.1(t)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(1) sets forth a true and complete list and brief description of
all insurance policies and
other Contracts carried by or covering the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to the
Company’s Business and their respective assets and properties, including all self-insurance
arrangements, if any; and
(2) identifies each such policy or other Contract that provides,
or has provided, workers’
compensation coverage with respect to historical claims of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(collectively, the “Company Workers’ Compensation Policies”).
(ii) Prior to Closing, the Seller Parties will have delivered or otherwise made available to
Buyer a true and complete copy of (i) each
27
policy of insurance and other Contact set forth on
Section 3.1(t)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter, and (ii) each pending application, if any, of
the Company and any of its Subsidiaries for such policies of insurance. The Seller Parties have
delivered or otherwise made available to Buyer a true and complete copy of all loss runs from those
policies of insurance set forth on Section 3.1(t)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, which loss
runs contain specific claim information, including name of claimant, type of injury, date of
injury, details on amounts paid and incurred.
(iii) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(t)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Letter:
(1) each policy of insurance and other Contract set forth on
Section 3.1(t)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter is currently in effect;
(2) there are no periods for which such policies do not provide
coverage;
(3) such policies are sufficient for compliance with all Laws
applicable to the Company and
its Subsidiaries and the Company’s Business and with requirements to maintain insurance contained
in Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is
bound; and
(4) immediately following Closing, such policies will continue in
full force and effect and
will cover claims made against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries arising out of occurrences or
events that occurred prior to Closing; and
(5) such policies do not provide for any retrospective premium
adjustment or other
experience-based liability on the part of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(iv) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(t)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Letter, with
respect
to each policy of insurance and other Contract set forth on Section 3.1(t)(i) of the Company
Disclosure Letter :
(1) none of the Seller Parties, the Company or any of the
Company’s Subsidiaries has received
(A) any refusal of coverage or any notice that a defense will be afforded with reservation of
rights, or (B) any notice of cancellation or any other written indication that any insurance policy
is no longer in full force or effect or will not be renewed or that the issuer of any policy is not
willing or able to perform its obligations thereunder;
(2) the Company and its Subsidiaries have paid, or caused to be
paid, all premiums due, and
have otherwise performed all of their respective obligations, thereunder; and
28
(3) the Company and its Subsidiaries have given notice to the
insurer of all claims of which
they are actually aware that may be insured thereby.
(v) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(t)(v) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all
reserves
for self-insurance claims are properly and accurately reflected, in accordance with GAAP, in the
applicable Unaudited Company Financial Statements.
(vi) Except as set forth in Section 3.1(t)(vi) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are
no
letters of credit or other collateral posted or pledged, or required to be posted or pledged, to or
for the benefit of any Person with respect to Company Workers’ Compensation Policies.
(u) Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries shown on
the Company Financial Statements or arising thereafter represent, or will represent, as applicable,
valid obligations of the respective account debtors arising from arm’s length sales actually made
or services actually performed in the ordinary course of business. None of such accounts
receivable is subject to assignment, claim, lien or security interest of any character or claim for
credit, setoff, allowance, adjustment or counterclaim by the account debtor. Neither Company nor
any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of the bankruptcy or insolvency of the debtor of
any such account receivable that has not been properly reserved for in the Company Unaudited
Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. None of such accounts receivable is evidenced by a
judgment or chattel paper. Unless paid prior to the Closing Date, except as set forth in Section
3.1(u) of the Company Disclosure Letter, the accounts receivable will be current net of the
respective reserves shown on the Company Interim Balance Sheet or on the accounting records of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the Closing Date (which reserves are adequate and
calculated consistent with past practice in accordance with GAAP). There is no contest, claim, or
right of set-off that are not reserved for under any Contract with any obligor of an accounts
receivable relating to the amount or validity of such accounts receivable, as so reserved.
(v) Environmental Matters. To the Knowledge of Seller Parties, there are no hazardous
substances, materials or pollutants located or managed in, on, or under any of the Leased Real
Properties in violation of environmental Laws.
(w) Related Party Transactions. Section 3.1(w) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a
list of (i) all material Contracts between any of the Seller Parties or any Related Person of any
of the Seller Parties (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries), on the one hand, and either
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and (ii) all other outstanding material
arrangements (other than employment arrangements) between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the
one hand, and any of the Seller Parties or any Related Person of any of the Seller Parties, on the
other hand.
29
(x) Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. The real and tangible personal property of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as whole, are adequate for the uses to which they are being put
and such assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and as of the Closing will be sufficient
for the continued conduct of the Company’s Businesses following the Closing in substantially the
same manner as currently conducted, subject to such changes as are implemented in accordance with
Article IV. Except as set forth on Section 3.1(x) of the Company Disclosure Letter, all
properties and assets used in the Company’s Business are owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(y) Books and Records. The material books of account, all minute books and all stock record
books of the Company and its Subsidiaries have been made available to Buyer and its
representatives. Except as set forth on Section 3.1(y) of the Company Disclosure Letter, such
books and records are complete and correct in all material respects and have been maintained in
accordance with sound business practices. At the Closing, except as set forth on Section 3.1(y) of
the Company Disclosure Letter, all of such books and records will be in the possession of the
Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable.
(z) Certain Payments. During the three (3)-year period ending on the date of this Agreement,
neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge of Seller Parties, any
director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has directly or
indirectly (a) made any contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kick back or
other payment to any Person, private or public, regardless of form, whether in money, property or
services (i) in return for favorable treatment in securing business, (ii) to pay for favorable
treatment for business secured, (iii) in return for special concessions or for special concessions
already obtained, for or in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) in violation
of any Law or Order, or (b) established or maintained any fund or asset on behalf of the Company or
its Subsidiaries that has not been recorded in the books and records of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, as applicable.
(aa) Customers. Set forth in Section 3.1(aa) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a list of
the twenty (20) largest customers of the Company and its Subsidiaries in terms of annual gross
sales for the trailing twelve (12)-month period ended September 30, 2007 (the “Company Significant
Customers”). Except as set forth in Section 3.1(aa) of the Company Disclosure Letter, as of the
date hereof, no Company Significant Customer has notified,
either orally or in writing, Seller Parties or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that
such customer intends to terminate its business relationship with the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries or materially decrease the amount of services it purchases from the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(bb) Acquisition of Buyer Shares for Investment. Seller Parties have such knowledge and
experience in financial and business matters that they are capable of evaluating the merits and
risks of Seller accepting Buyer Shares as consideration for the Units, can bear the economic risk
of its investment in the Buyer Shares and can afford to lose their entire investment in the Buyer
Shares, have been
30
furnished the materials relating to Buyer and the Buyer Shares that they have
requested, and have been provided by Buyer the opportunity to ask questions of the officers and
management employees of Buyer and its Subsidiaries and to acquire additional information about the
Buyer Business. Seller is acquiring the Buyer Shares for investment and not with a view toward or
for sale in connection with any distribution thereof, or with any present intention of distributing
or selling the Buyer Shares. Each of the Seller Parties agrees that the Buyer Shares may not be
sold, transferred, offered for sale, pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of without
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except pursuant to an exemption from
such registration available under such Act. Seller Parties’ acknowledgement in this paragraph
shall not affect the remedies otherwise available to Seller with respect to Buyer’s liability for
breach of its representations and warranties under this Agreement.
(cc) No Reliance. Each of the Seller Parties acknowledges that an independent investigation
of the financial condition, liabilities, results of operations and projected operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries and the nature and condition of their respective properties and assets
and of the Buyer’s Business has been conducted by it or on its behalf, which investigation shall
have no effect on the remedies otherwise available to Seller under this Agreement. In making the
determination to proceed with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Seller Parties have
relied on both the results of such independent investigation and the representations and warranties
set forth in Section 3.2. Seller Parties acknowledge that none of Buyer or its Affiliates nor any
other Person has made any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy or
completeness of any information regarding Buyer or its Subsidiaries, the Buyer’s Business or other
matters that is not expressly and specifically included in this Agreement.
Section 3.2 Representations and Warranties of Buyer. Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as
follows:
(a) Due Organization and Good Standing; Authority. Buyer is duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware. Buyer is qualified or otherwise
authorized to act as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing under the Laws of
each jurisdiction in which it is required under applicable Law to be qualified or authorized to
act as a foreign corporation, except where the failure to be so qualified or authorized would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its
Subsidiaries. Each of Buyer and its Subsidiaries has requisite power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to carry on the Buyer’s Business, except where the failure to have
such power and authority would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
(b) Authorization of Transactions.
(i) Buyer has the requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its
obligations under this Agreement, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The
execution, delivery and performance by
31
Buyer of this Agreement and its consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by necessary company action
on the part of Buyer and no other proceedings on the part of Buyer are necessary to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement or to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(ii) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and, assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery by Seller Parties, constitutes, a valid and binding
obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
Laws now or hereafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and
general principles of equity (whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the
discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
(c) No Conflict or Violation. Except as set forth on Section 3.2(c) of the Buyer Disclosure
Letter, the execution, delivery and performance by Buyer of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) assuming all Governmental Filings have
been obtained or made, violate or conflict with, or give any Governmental Entity or other Person
the right to challenge any of the contemplated transactions or to exercise any remedy or obtain any
relief under, any Law or Order to which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of the assets
owned or used by any of them, is subject, (ii) violate or conflict with any of the terms or
requirements of, or give any Governmental Entity the right to revoke, withdraw, suspend, cancel,
terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization that is held by either Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries or that otherwise relates to Buyer’s Business or to any of the assets owned or used by
Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, (iii) conflict with, or result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become a
default) under, or result in or permit the acceleration of any liability under, or result in or
permit the termination, amendment or cancellation of, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance
on any of the property or assets of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, any Buyer
Contract or Buyer Lease or other agreement to which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or
by which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties are bound or affected); or
(iv) violate the certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or similar documents) of Buyer or any
of its Subsidiaries; except, in the case of clause (iii), for such conflicts, violations,
breaches, defaults, accelerations or terminations as would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries or materially impair or delay
Buyer’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Capital Structure and Ownership of Buyer. As of the date of this Agreement, the authorized
capital stock of Buyer consists solely of (i) 5,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock, of which
2,573,267.56 shares are duly and validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable;
(ii) 5,000,000 shares of Class B Common Stock, of which 1,675,904 shares are duly and validly
issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable; and (iii) 2,000,000 shares of Class C Common
Stock, of which 154,533 shares are duly and validly issued and outstanding,
32
fully paid and
non-assessable. No other class or series of capital stock of Buyer is or has been authorized.
Except as set forth in Section 3.2(d) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, Buyer has no other equity
securities authorized, issued or outstanding, and there are no agreements, options, warrants or
other rights or arrangements existing or outstanding that provide for the sale, issuance or
transfer of any of the foregoing by Buyer (other than this Agreement). At Closing, good title to
all of the Buyer Shares will be conveyed to Seller, with the Buyer Shares then being free and clear
of all Encumbrances except for those created by Seller or arising out of ownership of the Buyer
Shares by Seller.
(e) Governmental Filings. No Governmental Filings are required in connection with the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer, except (i) as set forth in Section
3.2(e) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, and (ii) such other Governmental Filings, the failure of
which to be obtained would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries or materially impair or delay Buyer’s ability to consummate
the transactions contemplated hereby.
(f) Subsidiaries. Section 3.2(f) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter contains a list of
each Subsidiary of Buyer, including its name, and its jurisdiction of organization or formation.
Each Subsidiary of Buyer is validly existing and in good standing in its jurisdiction of
organization or formation and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which it is
required by applicable Law to be qualified or authorized, except where the failure to be so
qualified or authorized would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or
other equity interests of each Subsidiary of Buyer are owned directly or indirectly by Buyer, and
there is no subscription, option, warrant, call right, agreement or commitment relating to the
issuance, sale, delivery, transfer or redemption by any Subsidiary of Buyer (including any right of
conversion or exchange under any outstanding security or other instrument) of the capital stock or
other equity interest of any Subsidiary of Buyer (other than any such subscription, option,
warrant, call right, agreement or commitment in favor of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries).
(g) Buyer Financial Statements. Buyer has delivered or made available to Seller Parties a
true and complete copy of the audited balance sheet of
Buyer and its Subsidiaries as of each of December 31, 2004, December 31, 2005, December 31,
2006 and the audited consolidated statements of income of Buyer and its Subsidiaries for the
periods then ended, and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet (the “Buyer Interim Balance
Sheet”) and unaudited consolidated statement of income of Buyer and its Subsidiaries as of and for
the ten (10) months ended October 31, 2007 (collectively, the “Buyer Financial Statements”).
Except as disclosed in Section 3.2(g) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, the Buyer Financial
Statements (including all notes and schedules contained therein or annexed thereto, if any) have
been prepared in accordance with GAAP and, except where so noted, fairly present the financial
condition and results of operations of Buyer and its Subsidiaries as of the dates and for the
periods referred to therein, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to year-end audit
adjustments, the absence of cash flow statements and the absence of notes thereto.
33
(h) No Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (i) as reflected or reserved against in the Buyer
Financial Statements (or any notes thereto), (ii) as set forth in Section 3.2(h) of the Buyer
Disclosure Letter and (iii) for liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business since the date of the Buyer Interim Balance Sheet Date, neither Buyer nor any of its
Subsidiaries has, or at Closing will have, any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or
not accrued, contingent or otherwise.
(i) Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(i) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter,
there are currently no Actions (other than Workers’ Compensation Actions) pending or, to the
Knowledge of Buyer, threatened (whether orally or in writing) against Buyer or its Subsidiaries or
any director, officer, employee or agent (in their capacities as such) of Buyer or its
Subsidiaries, that are reasonably expected to result in payment by Buyer and its Subsidiaries of
more than $50,000 individually or to which any of the assets of Buyer or its Subsidiaries is
subject, or to which any of the Buyer Shares is subject, or which relates to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or the consummation thereof, or that challenges the validity or
enforceability of this Agreement or seek to enjoin or prohibit consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, or that may have the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or
otherwise interfering with, any of the transactions contemplated hereby. To the Knowledge of
Buyer, no event has occurred or circumstance exists that may give rise to or serve as a basis for
the commencement of any such Action. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(i) of the Buyer Disclosure
Letter, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order that is not generally
applicable to all Persons or to Persons in businesses similar to the Buyer’s Business.
(j) Personal Property. Except as may be reflected in the Buyer Financial Statements, Buyer
and its Subsidiaries have valid title, free and clear of all Encumbrances (except for Permitted
Encumbrances), to all the tangible personal property material to the Buyer’s Business, except for
such tangible personal property that has been disposed of in the ordinary course of business.
(k) Real Property.
(i) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any real property. Except as disclosed in
Section 3.2(k) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, neither Buyer nor, to the Knowledge of Buyer, any
lessor or sublessor under any real property directly or indirectly leased to Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries is in default in any material respect under any lease, sublease or other similar
agreement under which any one or more of Buyer and its Subsidiaries is the lessee or sublessee
(“Buyer Leases”). Except as disclosed in Section 3.2(k) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, no Lessor
has made a written claim of default by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries under any nor, to the
Knowledge of Buyer, does there exist any condition which, with the passage of time or the giving of
notice, would constitute a default under any of the Buyer Leases in any material respect.
(ii) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has, since the Balance Sheet Date, received any
notice of violation of any applicable building,
34
zoning, subdivision, health and safety or other
Laws and, to the Knowledge of Buyer, there is no basis for the issuance of any such notice or the
taking of any action for any such violation.
(iii) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has, since the Balance Sheet Date, received
notice from any Governmental Entity with respect to any of the real property leased or subleased by
any of them: (i) that any building or structure thereon, any equipment therein or the operation or
maintenance thereof violates any Law; or (ii) that any condemnation proceeding is pending or
threatened.
(l) Taxes.
(i) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, (A) all Tax
Returns
of Buyer and its Subsidiaries have been timely filed (taking into account extensions), all Taxes
shown to be due thereon have been timely paid (taking into account extensions), and all such Tax
Returns correctly reflect the amount of Tax due; (B) there are no pending, current or, to the
Knowledge of Buyer, threatened (either orally or in writing) claims, actions, suits, proceedings or
investigations for the assessment or collection of Taxes with respect to Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries; (iii) there are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than Permitted Encumbrances) against
Buyer’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets; and (iv) neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has
executed or filed with any Tax authority any agreement extending the period for assessment or
collection of any material Income Taxes.
(ii) The United States federal and state Income Tax Returns of Buyer and each of its
Subsidiaries subject to such Taxes have been audited by the IRS or relevant state tax authorities
or are closed by the applicable statute of limitations for all taxable years through December 31,
2003 (the “Buyer Final Closed Tax Year”). Except as set forth in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer
Disclosure Letter, all deficiencies proposed as a result of such audits have been paid, reserved
against or settled. Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter describes
all adjustments to the United States federal Income Tax Returns filed by Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries or all adjustments related to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to Income
Tax Returns filed by any group of corporations including Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries for all
taxable years since the Final Closed Tax Year, and the resulting deficiencies, if any, proposed by
the IRS. Except as described in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, and other than
waivers or extensions that have lapsed, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has given or been
requested to give waivers or extensions (or is or would be subject to a waiver or extension given
by any other Person) of any statute of limitations relating to the payment of Taxes for which Buyer
or any of its Subsidiaries may be liable.
(iii) To the Knowledge of Buyer, there exists no proposed tax assessment against Buyer or any
of its Subsidiaries except as disclosed in the Balance Sheet or in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer
Disclosure Letter. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, all
material Taxes that Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries is or was required by Law to withhold or
collect have been duly withheld
35
or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the
proper Governmental Entity or other Person.
(iv) All Tax Returns filed by (or that include on a consolidated basis) Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries are true, correct and complete in all material respects as to Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries.
(v) Since the Final Closed Tax Year, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a
member of an Affiliated Group (other than the Affiliated Group of which Buyer is the common parent)
filing a consolidated federal Income Tax Return, nor taken any other action that could result in
liability for Taxes of an affiliated group (other than the Affiliated Group of which Buyer is the
common parent) under Treas. Reg. §1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign
law), including as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise. Except as set forth in
Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is
currently the beneficiary of any extensions of time within which to file any Tax Return. Except as
set forth in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, no claim has ever been made in writing
by an authority in a jurisdiction where Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns
that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, nor, to the Knowledge of Buyer, is
there any factual or legal basis for any such claim.
(vi) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding
corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in
Code Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
(vii) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has agreed, nor to the Knowledge of
Buyer
is required, to make any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a change in
accounting method or otherwise that will affect the liability of Buyer or its Subsidiaries for
Taxes, (ii) has made an election, nor to the Knowledge of Buyer is required, to treat any asset as
owned by another person
pursuant to the provisions of Section 168(f) of the Code or as tax-exempt bond financed
property or tax-exempt use property within the meaning of section 168 of the Code, (iii) has made
any of the foregoing elections nor to the Knowledge of Buyer is required to apply any of the
foregoing rules under any comparable state or local tax provision, and (iv) owns any material
assets that were financed directly or indirectly with, or that directly or indirectly secure, debt
the interest on which is tax-exempt under section 103(a) of the Code.
(viii) The contemplated transactions, either alone or in conjunction with any other
transaction that Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries may have entered into or agreed to, will not give
rise to any federal income tax liability under section 355(e) of the Code for which Buyer or any of
its Subsidiaries may in any way be held liable.
36
(ix) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any “Gain Recognition
Agreements”
as such term is used in the Treasury Regulations promulgated under Section 367 of the Code.
(x) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, there are no
liens
for Taxes (other than for current Taxes that are not yet due and payable or are being contested in
good faith) upon the assets of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries.
(xi) Neither Buyer nor any Subsidiary has applied for a ruling relating to Taxes from any
taxing authority nor entered into any closing agreement with any taxing authority.
(xii) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is, or has ever been, a “United States
real
property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(xiii) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has, nor has any of them ever had, a
“permanent establishment” in any foreign country, as such term is defined in any applicable Tax
treaty or convention between the United States and such foreign country, nor has any of them
otherwise taken steps that have exposed, or will expose, it to the taxing jurisdiction of a foreign
country.
(xiv) Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged, directly or indirectly, in a
transaction that is a “listed transaction” as defined in Treasury Regulations §1.6011-4(b)(2).
(m) Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth in Section 3.2(m) of the Buyer Disclosure
Letter, since the Balance Sheet Date, the Buyer’s Business has been conducted only in the ordinary
course and there has not been any:
(i) damage, destruction, loss, forfeiture or other event or events (whether or not covered by
insurance) that have had a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries;
(ii) issuance by Buyer or its Subsidiaries of any capital stock or other equity interests of
or in Buyer or its Subsidiaries (except pursuant to Buyer’s Amended 1999 Stock Option Plan) or any
direct or indirect redemption (except of capital stock of Buyer issued pursuant to the Buyer 2000
Stock Option Plan), purchase or acquisition by any of them of any such capital stock or other
equity interests, or any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or distribution on
any such capital stock or other equity interests;
(iii) amendment to any certificate of organization or operating agreement (or equivalent
documents) of any of Buyer or its Subsidiaries;
(iv) payment of or commitment to pay any increase in bonuses, salaries or other compensation,
or any change of control, severance or
37
employment termination payments, by Buyer or its
Subsidiaries to any of their directors, officers or employees (except for non-material increases in
the ordinary course of business);
(v) adoption of, or increase (other than non-material increases in the ordinary course of
business) in the payments to or benefits under, any profit sharing, bonus, deferred compensation,
savings, insurance, pension, retirement or other employee benefit plan of Buyer or its
Subsidiaries;
(vi) entry into, termination of, or receipt of notice of termination of, by Buyer or any of
its Subsidiaries, (i) any license, agency, sales representative, joint venture or similar Contract,
(ii) any employment, consulting, severance or similar Contract with any officer, director, manager,
member or employee of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) any other Contract or transaction
unless involving a total remaining commitment by or to Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries of less
than $100,000;
(vii) sale, lease or other disposition by Buyer or its Subsidiaries of any asset or property
material to the Buyer’s Business, or mortgage, pledge or imposition of any Encumbrance on any asset
or property material to the Buyer’s Business by Buyer or its Subsidiaries;
(viii) cancellation or waiver by Buyer or its Subsidiaries of any claims or rights of Buyer or
its Subsidiaries material to the Buyer’s Business;
(ix) change in the accounting methods, policies or practices of Buyer or its Subsidiaries; or
(x) agreement, whether oral or written, by Buyer or its Subsidiaries to do any of the
foregoing.
(n) Buyer Contracts.
(i) Section 3.2(n)(i) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of the Contracts in
effect as of the date of this Agreement to which Buyer
or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, which are in the categories listed below (collectively,
the “Buyer Contracts”):
(1) any employment agreement, management consulting agreement or
similar Contract (other than
at-will employment arrangements) (“Employment Agreements”), requiring payment by Buyer or its
Subsidiaries of base annual salary in excess of $125,000;
(2) any Contract evidencing Indebtedness in excess of $50,000;
(3) any license agreement pursuant to which any of Buyer or its
Subsidiaries (i) has acquired
the right to use any Intellectual Property,
38
other than software and other Intellectual Property
that is generally commercially available, or (ii) has granted to any third party any license to use
any Buyer Intellectual Property;
(4) any Contract with current or former employees, consultants,
or contractors regarding the
appropriation or the nondisclosure of any Buyer Intellectual Property, excluding non-disclosure
agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;
(5) any Contract for capital expenditures or the acquisition or
construction of fixed assets
for the benefit and use of Buyer or its Subsidiaries, expected to require payments for the fiscal
year ending December 31, 2007 or any fiscal year thereafter, for each such year in excess of
$100,000;
(6) any Contract containing a covenant not to compete that
impairs the ability of Buyer or any
of its Subsidiaries to freely conduct the Buyer’s Business as such business is conducted on the
date hereof in any geographic area or any line of business;
(7) Contracts in amounts in excess of $100,000 for the future
purchase or lease by Buyer or
any of its Subsidiaries of material, supplies, equipment, or services or finished products
purchased for resale;
(8) joint venture, partnership or license agreements;
(9) each Contract that was not entered into in the ordinary
course of business pursuant to
which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries continues to incur expenditures or be entitled to receipts
in excess of $100,000 per year;
(10) each collective bargaining agreement and other Contract with
any labor union or other
employee representative of a group of employees;
(11) each Contract which provides for payment by Buyer or its
Subsidiaries of commissions or
similar payments (other than to employees of Buyer or its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of
business);
(12) each power of attorney that is currently effective and
outstanding;
(13) each written warranty, guaranty or other similar undertaking
with respect to contractual
performance extended by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(14) each Contract entered into other than in the ordinary course
of business that contains or
provides for an express undertaking by Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries to be responsible for
consequential damages;;
39
(15) each amendment, supplement, and modification (whether oral
or written) in respect of any
Contract of the type described in subsections (1) through (16) of this Section 3.2(n)(i); and
(16) any outstanding binding commitment to enter into any
Contract of the type described in
subsections (1) through (16) of this Section 3.2(n)(i).
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(n)(ii) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter,
(i) each Buyer
Contract and Buyer Lease (A) constitutes a valid and binding obligation of Buyer or its Subsidiary
party thereto and (B) assuming such Buyer Contract or Buyer Lease is binding and enforceable
against the other parties thereto, is enforceable against Buyer or its Subsidiary, as applicable,
and, to the Knowledge of Buyer, the other parties thereto, except that such enforcement may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar Laws relating to or
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and general principles of equity (whether considered
in a proceeding at law or in equity) and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought, and (ii) neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge
of Buyer, any other Person a party thereto, is in breach of or default under any Buyer Contract,
except, in each case set forth in clause (ii), where such breach or default, would not reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(n)(iii) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, neither
Buyer
nor any of its Subsidiaries has received from any other Person, any notice (whether oral or
written) regarding any actual or alleged material violation or material breach of, or default
under, any Buyer Contract by Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
(o) Labor. No labor strike or general work stoppage against Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries
is pending or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, threatened (whether orally or in writing); and neither
Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any pending labor dispute or Action which would
reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries. Neither Buyer nor
any of its Subsidiaries is bound by any agreement with any labor organization (covered by the
National Labor Relations Act) and, to the Knowledge of Buyer, no union organizing activities
involving any such labor organization is pending or threatened (whether orally or in writing).
(p) Compliance With Law and Governmental Authorizations.
(i) Except for Laws relating or attributable to Taxes and employee benefits, which shall be
governed exclusively by Section 3.2(l) and Section 3.2(q), respectively, and except as set forth in
Section 3.2(p)(i) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, Buyer and its Subsidiaries are operating the
Buyer’s Business in material compliance with all applicable Laws. Neither Buyer nor any of its
Subsidiaries has, since
40
the Balance Sheet Date, received any written or oral notice from a
Governmental Entity of any violation or alleged violation of any Laws or Orders. All reports,
filings and returns required to be filed by or on behalf of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries with
any Governmental Entity have been filed except for such instances of noncompliance that would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
(ii) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(p)(ii) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, Buyer and
its
Subsidiaries have all Governmental Authorizations required in order to conduct the Buyer’s Business
as currently conducted, all of which Governmental Authorizations are in full force and effect.
Each of Buyer and its Subsidiaries is, and at all times during the two (2)-year period preceding
the date of this Agreement has been, operating in compliance therewith, except for such instances
of noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with
respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Except as set forth in Section 3.2(p)(iii) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, all
applications required by Governmental Entities to have been filed at any time during the one
(1)-year period preceding the date of this Agreement on behalf of each of Buyer and its
Subsidiaries for the renewal of Governmental Authorizations have been duly and timely filed with
the appropriate Governmental Entities, and all other filings required to have been made with
respect to such Governmental Authorizations have been duly and timely made with the appropriate
Governmental Entities, except where the failure to so file would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries.
(iv) Buyer and its Subsidiaries have all the Governmental Authorizations necessary to permit
each of them to lawfully conduct the Buyer’s Business as currently conducted. All such
Governmental Authorizations is in full force and effect.
(q) Employee Benefit Plans.
(i) Each Buyer Plan has been established and administered in all material respects in
accordance with its terms and applicable Law, including, as to each Buyer Plan that is subject to
United States Law, ERISA and the Code, except that, in a situation in which a Buyer Plan is
required to comply with a provision of applicable Law, but is not yet required to be amended to
reflect that provision, each such Buyer Plan has been administered in all material respects in
accordance with that Law.
(ii) Each Buyer Plan that is an “employee pension benefit plan” (within the meaning
of ERISA
Section 3(2)) of Buyer and its Subsidiaries has received a favorable determination letter as to its
qualification. No event has occurred or circumstance exists that could reasonably be expected to
give rise to disqualification or loss of tax-exempt status of any Buyer Plan or a related trust.
No Buyer Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA.
41
(iii) With respect to each Buyer Plan, (i) no material Action is pending or, to the
Knowledge
of Buyer, has been threatened either orally or in writing against Buyer or its Subsidiaries, and
(ii) to the Knowledge of Buyer, no facts or circumstances exist that reasonably could give rise to
any material Action
(iv) Neither Buyer nor any ERISA Affiliate of Buyer has, at any time for which any relevant
statute of limitations remains open, (i) maintained or contributed to any employee pension benefit
plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or Code § 412 or (ii) been required to contribute to, or incurred
any withdrawal liability within the meaning of ERISA § 4201 to, any multiemployer plan as defined
in ERISA § 3(37) that would reasonably be expected to become a liability of Buyer and its
Subsidiaries or Buyer.
(v) Buyer and each ERISA Affiliate of Buyer have complied in all material respects with the
notice and continuation coverage requirements of § 4980B of the Code and the regulations
thereunder, including, without limitation, the “M&A regulations” issued as Treasury Regulations §
54.4980B-9, with respect to each Benefit Plan that is, or was during any taxable year of Buyer or
any ERISA Affiliate of Buyer for which the statute of limitations on the assessment of federal
income taxes remains open, by consent or otherwise, a group health plan within the meaning of §
5000(b)(1) of the Code.
(vi) With respect to each Buyer Plan that is not subject to United States Law, each such plan
required to be registered has been registered and has been maintained in all material respects by
compliance with applicable Law.
(r) Intellectual Property. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries, or as set
forth in Section 3.2(r) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, (a) to the Knowledge of Buyer, the conduct
of the Buyer’s Business does not infringe or otherwise violate any Person’s Intellectual Property,
(b) there is no material claim pending or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, threatened (whether orally or
in writing) against Buyer or its Subsidiaries alleging such infringement or other violation, and
(c) to the Knowledge of Buyer, no Person is infringing or otherwise violating any Buyer
Intellectual Property, (d) no material claims are pending or, to the Knowledge or Buyer, threatened
(whether orally or in writing) against any Person by Buyer or its Subsidiaries alleging such
infringement or other violation, and (e) the Buyer Intellectual Property is all the Intellectual
Property necessary for the operation of the Buyer’s Business as it is currently conducted.
(s) Brokers’ Fees. Other than Compass Group Management LLC, the maximum fees and commissions
to whom will not exceed $1,232,490, no broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other person
is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made
by or on behalf of Buyer or its Subsidiaries, for which Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries have or
will have any liability.
42
(t) Insurance. Section 3.2(t) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and
complete list of all insurance policies and other Contracts carried by or covering the Buyer
and its Subsidiaries with respect to the Buyer’s Business and their respective assets and
properties, including all self-insurance arrangements, if any. Such policies, when taken
together, provide adequate insurance coverage for the assets and operations of the Buyer and
its Subsidiaries for the risks to which they are exposed in the ordinary course of business,
and are sufficient for compliance in all material respect with applicable Law and Buyer
Contracts.
(u) Accounts Receivable. All accounts receivable of Buyer and its Subsidiaries
shown on the
Buyer Financial Statements or arising thereafter represent, or will represent, as applicable, valid
obligations of the respective account debtors arising from arm’s length sales actually made or
services actually performed in the ordinary course of business. Except for Permitted Encumbrances,
none of such accounts receivable is subject to assignment, claim, lien or security interest of any
character or claim for credit, setoff, allowance, adjustment or counterclaim by the account debtor.
Neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of the bankruptcy or insolvency
of the debtor of any such account receivable that has not been properly reserved for in the Buyer
Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP. None of such accounts receivable is evidenced by a
judgment or chattel paper. Unless paid prior to the Closing Date, the accounts receivable will be
current net of the respective reserves shown on the Buyer Interim Balance Sheet or on the
accounting records of Buyer or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, as of the Closing Date (which
reserves are adequate and calculated consistent with past practice in accordance with GAAP). There
is no contest, claim, or right of set-off that are not reserved for under any Contract with
any obligor of an accounts receivable relating to the amount or validity of such accounts
receivable, as so reserved.
(v) Environmental Matters. To the Knowledge of Buyer, there are no hazardous
substances,
materials or pollutants located or managed in, on, or under any of the Leased Real Properties in
violation of environmental Laws.
(w) Condition and Sufficiency of Assets. The real and tangible personal property
of Buyer and
its Subsidiaries, taken as whole, are adequate for the uses to which they are being put and such
assets of Buyer and its Subsidiaries are and as of the Closing will be sufficient for the continued
conduct of the Buyer’s Businesses following the Closing in substantially the same manner as
currently conducted, subject to such changes as are implemented in accordance with Article IV.
(x) Books and Records. The material books of account, all minute books and all
stock record
books of Buyer and its Subsidiaries are complete and correct in all material respects and have been
maintained in accordance with sound business practices.
(y) Certain Payments. During the three (3)-year period ending on the date
of this Agreement,
neither Buyer nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Knowledge of Buyer, any director, officer,
agent or employee of Buyer or any of its
43
Subsidiaries, has directly or indirectly (a) made any
contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kick back or other payment to any
Person, private or public, regardless of form, whether in money, property or services (i) in return
for favorable treatment in securing business, (ii) to pay for favorable treatment for business
secured, (iii) in return for special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for
or in respect of Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, or (iv) in violation of any Law or Order, or (b)
established or maintained any fund or asset on behalf of Buyer or its Subsidiaries that has not
been recorded in the books and records of Buyer or its Subsidiaries, as applicable.
(z) Customers. Set forth in Section 3.2(z) of the Buyer Disclosure
Letter is a list of the
twenty (20) largest customers of the Buyer and its Subsidiaries in terms of annual gross sales for
the trailing twelve (12)-month period ended September 30, 2007 (the “Buyer Significant Customers”).
Except as set forth in Section 3.2(z) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter, as of the date hereof, none
of the Buyer Significant Customers has notified, either orally or in writing, Buyer or any of its
Subsidiaries that such customer intends to terminate its business relationship with Buyer or any of
its Subsidiaries or materially decrease the amount of services it purchases from Buyer or any of
its Subsidiaries.
(aa) Acquisition of Units for Investment. Buyer has such knowledge and
experience in
financial and business matters that it is capable of evaluating the merits and risks of Buyer’s
purchase of the Units. Buyer confirms that it can bear the economic risk of its investment in the
Units and can afford to lose its entire investment in the Units, has been furnished the materials
relating to Buyer’s purchase of the Units which it has requested, and Seller Parties have provided
Buyer the opportunity
to ask questions of the officers and management employees of the Company and to acquire
additional information about the business and financial condition of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Buyer is acquiring the Units for investment and not with a view toward or for sale
in connection with any distribution thereof, or with any present intention of distributing or
selling such Units. Buyer agrees that the Units may not be sold, transferred, offered for sale,
pledged, hypothecated or otherwise disposed of without registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, except pursuant to an exemption from such registration available under such Act.
Buyer’s acknowledgement in this paragraph shall not affect the remedies otherwise available to
Buyer with respect to Seller Parties’ liability for breach of its representations and warranties
under this Agreement.
(bb) No Reliance. Buyer acknowledges that it has conducted an independent
investigation of
the financial condition, liabilities, results of operations and projected operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries and the nature and condition of their respective properties and assets and of
the Company’s Business, which investigation shall have no effect on the remedies otherwise
available to Buyer under this Agreement. In making the determination to proceed with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, Buyer has relied on both the results of its own
independent investigation and the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3.1. Buyer
acknowledges that none of Seller Parties, the Company or their respective Affiliates nor any other
Person has made any representation or warranty, express or
44
implied, as to the accuracy or
completeness of any information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company’s Business
or other matters that is not expressly and specifically included in this Agreement.
(cc) Related Party Transactions. Section 3.2(cc) of the Buyer Disclosure
Letter sets forth a
list of (i) all material Contracts between any Related Person of Buyer, on the one hand, and either
the Buyer or any of its Subsidiaries, on the other hand, and (ii) all other outstanding material
arrangements (other than employment arrangements) between the Buyer or its Subsidiaries, on the one
hand, and any Related Person of Buyer, on the other hand.
Section 3.3 No Other Representations or Warranties.
(a) Except for the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.1, neither Seller
Parties nor any other Person on behalf of Seller Parties or any of their respective Affiliates
makes any express or implied representation or warranty with respect to Seller Parties, the
Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their respective Affiliates or with respect to any
other information provided to Buyer, its Affiliates or Representatives in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby. Neither Seller Parties nor any other Person will have or be
subject to any liability or other obligation to Buyer, its Affiliates or Representatives or any
Person resulting from the sale of the Units to Buyer or Buyer’s use of, or the use by any of
Buyer’s Affiliates or Representatives of, any such information, including any information,
documents, projections, forecasts of other material made available to Buyer, its Affiliates or
Representatives in certain “data rooms”, offering memorandum or management presentations in
expectation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, unless any such information is
expressly and specifically included in a representation or warranty contained in Section 3.1.
Seller Parties disclaim any and all other representations and warranties, whether express or
implied.
(b) Except for the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.2, neither Buyer nor
any other Person on behalf of Buyer or any of their respective Affiliates makes any express or
implied representation or warranty with respect to Buyer or its Subsidiaries or Affiliates or with
respect to any other information provided to Seller Parties, their Affiliates or Representatives in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby. Neither Buyer nor any other Person will have
or be subject to any liability or other obligation to Seller Parties, their Affiliates or
Representatives or any Person resulting from the issuance of the Buyer Shares to Seller or Seller
Parties’ use of, or the use by any of Seller Parties’ Affiliates or Representatives of, any such
information, including any information, documents, projections, forecasts of other material made
available to Seller Parties, their Affiliates or Representatives in certain “data rooms”, offering
memorandum or management presentations in expectation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, unless any such information is expressly and specifically included in a representation
or warranty contained in Section 3.2. Buyer disclaims any and all other representations and
warranties, whether express or implied.
45
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
Section 4.1 Conduct of the Company’s and Buyer’s Businesses.
(a) Conduct of Company’s Business. Seller Parties hereby represent, warrant, acknowledge and
agree that, during the period from October 31, 2007 until the earlier of the Closing or the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.1, except as (i) required by applicable
Law, (ii) set forth in Section 4.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter or (iii) consented
to by Buyer in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), Seller
Parties have caused, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to, conduct the Company’s
Business in the ordinary course of business and, in connection therewith, subject to the foregoing,
have not permitted and shall not permit the Company or its Subsidiaries to:
(i) authorize or effect any amendment to or change its certificate of incorporation, by-laws
or other organizational documents;
(ii) issue or authorize the issuance of any equity interests or equity securities, or grant
any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or obtain any of its equity securities or issue,
sell or otherwise dispose of any of its equity securities;
(iii) issue any note, bond or other debt security, or create, incur, assume or guarantee any
Indebtedness, other than advances or draws under existing Indebtedness in the ordinary course of
business or Indebtedness between the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(iv) enter into any material Contract, or materially amend or modify any existing material
Contract;
(v) except in the ordinary course of business, sell, lease, transfer, mortgage, pledge or
otherwise dispose of or encumber any of the property or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries,
and other than pursuant to existing contracts or commitments;
(vi) make any capital expenditure, or commitments therefor, in the aggregate in excess of
$300,000;
(vii) cancel, compromise or settle any material claim, or intentionally waive or release any
material rights, of the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(viii) adopt, enter into, amend, alter or terminate any Company Plan, except as required under
applicable Law, any existing Company Plan or any existing Employment Agreement;
46
(ix) adopt, enter into, amend, alter or terminate any employment agreement with any employee
or grant or agree to grant any increase in the wages, salary, bonus or other compensation,
remuneration or benefits of any employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries, except for
non-material increases in the ordinary course of business;
(x) make any changes to their accounting principles or practices, other than as may be
required by Law or GAAP in the jurisdictions of incorporation of the relevant Company or
Subsidiary;
(xi) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets, other than as a
result of the Pre-Closing Merger) any corporation, partnership or other business organization or
division thereof or collection of assets constituting all or substantially all of a business or
business unit, or enter into any joint venture, partnership or other similar arrangement or form
any other new arrangement for the conduct of the Company’s Business;
(xii) permit, to the extent within its control, any insurance policy naming the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries as a beneficiary or a loss payable payee to be canceled or terminated or any of
the coverage applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereunder to lapse, unless,
simultaneously with such termination, cancellation or lapse, replacement policies providing
substantially similar coverage are in full force and effect;
(xiii) make material concessions to, or materially modify, material supplier or customer
Contracts;
(xiv) make any loans or advances to any Person, other than advances for employee expenses in
the ordinary course of business and loans between the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(xv) terminate any Company Lease or close any branches other than such terminations or
closings, if any, set forth on Section 4.1(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(xvi) make any payment, or distribute its or their property or assets, to or as directed by
any of the Seller Parties or any Related Person of any of the Seller Parties, whether pursuant to
any Contract (including the Terminating Contracts) or otherwise;
(xvii) other than the Eligible Transaction Expenses, incur any expenses in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(xviii) agree to take any of the actions prohibited by the foregoing clauses (i) through
(xvii).
47
(b) Conduct of Buyer’s Business. Buyer hereby represents, warrants, acknowledges and agrees
that, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the
termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 6.1, except as (i) required by applicable
Law, (ii) required to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii)
consented to by Buyer in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
Buyer
shall conduct the Buyer’s Business in the ordinary course of business and, in connection
therewith, subject to the foregoing, shall not permit the Company or its Subsidiaries to:
(i) authorize or effect any amendment to or change its certificate of incorporation, by-laws
or other organizational documents;
(ii) issue or authorize the issuance of any equity interests or equity securities, or grant
any options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or obtain any of its equity securities or issue,
sell or otherwise dispose of any of its equity securities;
(iii) issue any note, bond or other debt security, or create, incur, assume or guarantee any
Indebtedness, other than advances or draws under existing Indebtedness in the ordinary course of
business or Indebtedness between the Company and its Subsidiaries;
(iv) make any changes to their accounting principles or practices, other than as may be
required by Law or GAAP in the jurisdictions of incorporation of the relevant Company or
Subsidiary;
(v) acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) any corporation,
partnership or other business organization or division thereof or collection of assets constituting
all or substantially all of a business or business unit, or enter into any joint venture,
partnership or other similar arrangement or form any other new arrangement for the conduct of the
Company’s Business; and
(vi) agree to take any of the actions prohibited by the foregoing clauses (i) through (v).
(c) Other than the right to consent or withhold consent with respect to the matters set forth
in (a) and (b) above, nothing contained herein shall give Buyer any right to manage, control,
direct or be involved in the management of the Company or its Subsidiaries or the Company’s
Business, or Seller Parties or the Company any right to manage, control, direct or be involved in
the management of the Buyer or its Subsidiaries or the Buyer’s Business, prior to the Closing.
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Section 4.2 Publicity. The Seller and Buyer shall coordinate and consult with each
other before issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon, giving due
consideration to all reasonable additions, deletions or changes suggested in connection therewith,
any press release or other public statements with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (provided that such coordination and consultation shall not be deemed to constitute a
consent right), except for (a) press releases issued or filings made by Buyer and/or its Affiliate,
Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC, consistent with such Affiliate’s past practices, and (b)
disclosures in satisfaction of, or otherwise required by, applicable Law or securities exchange
rules (including by making a public announcement through issuance of a press release or other
reasonable means), provided that Buyer shall give Seller prior notice of each such disclosure, if
any, made prior to Closing.
Section 4.3 Confidentiality. Buyer and its Representatives shall treat all nonpublic
information obtained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby as
confidential in accordance with the terms of (i) that certain letter agreement signed by Buyer for
the benefit of the Company and its Affiliates, and (ii) that certain letter agreement signed by the
Company in favor of Buyer and its Affiliates, each dated as of December 18, 2006 (together, the
"Confidentiality Agreement”). The terms of the Confidentiality Agreement are hereby incorporated
by reference and shall continue in full force and effect until the Closing, at which time such
Confidentiality Agreement shall terminate. If this Agreement is, for any reason, terminated prior
to the Closing, the Confidentiality Agreement shall continue in full force and effect as provided
in Section 6.2 hereof in accordance with its terms.
Section 4.4 Access to Information.
(a) Subject to Section 4.4 hereof, until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this
Agreement, Seller Parties shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to afford the
Representatives of Buyer reasonable access during normal business hours to the officers, directors,
employees, agents, properties, offices and other facilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
their books and records, and shall furnish Buyer with such financial, operating and other data and
information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries, as Buyer, through its
Representatives, may reasonably request. In exercising its rights hereunder, Buyer shall conduct
itself so as not to interfere in the conduct of the Company’s Business prior to Closing. Buyer
acknowledges and agrees that any contact by Buyer and its Representatives with officers, employees,
customers or agents of the Company and its Subsidiaries hereunder shall be arranged and supervised
by the Seller, unless the Seller otherwise expressly consents with respect to any specific contact.
(b) After the Closing, upon reasonable written notice, Buyer shall furnish or cause to be
furnished to the Seller and its Representatives access, during normal business hours, such
information and assistance relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries as is reasonably necessary
in connection with financial reporting and accounting matters, the preparation and filing of any
Tax Return, the defense of any Tax claim or assessment, in connection with any disclosure
obligation or the defense of any
49
Action, in each case to the extent relating to the Company and its
Subsidiaries (such information, the “Company Information”). In the event that Buyer intends to
destroy or otherwise dispose of any of the Company Information that is less than seven (7) years
old at the time of such intended destruction or disposition prior to January 31, 2013, Buyer shall
first notify Seller in writing of such intended destruction or other disposition and, if requested
by Seller within 10 days of delivery of such notification, deliver such Company Information to or
as directed by Seller. The Seller shall reimburse Buyer and the Company for reasonable
out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in assisting the Seller pursuant to this Section 4.4(b).
Section 4.5 Filings and Authorizations. Seller Parties, on the one hand, and Buyer,
on the other hand, shall, and shall cause their Affiliates to, promptly file or cause to be filed
all Governmental Filings required by applicable Law to be filed in order to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. Each of Buyer and Seller Parties further agree that they shall,
and shall cause their Affiliates to, comply with any antitrust, trade competition, investment or
control reporting or similar Law or regulation of any Governmental Entity with competent
jurisdiction. Each of Buyer and the Seller agrees to cooperate with and promptly to consult with,
to provide any reasonably available information with respect to, and to provide, subject to
appropriate confidentiality provisions, copies of all presentations and filings to any Governmental
Entity to the other party or its counsel.
Section 4.6 Commercially Reasonable Best Efforts.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions herein provided, except as otherwise provided
in, and without limiting any other obligations of the parties under, this Agreement, each of the
parties hereto agrees to use its commercially reasonable best efforts to take or cause to be taken
all action, to do or cause to be done and to assist and cooperate with the other party hereto in
doing all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate
and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated
hereby, including, but not limited to: (i) the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the
obligations of any of the parties hereto; (ii) the obtaining of applicable consents, waivers or
approvals of any third parties; (iii) the defending of any Actions, whether judicial or
administrative, challenging this Agreement or the performance of the obligations hereunder; and
(iv) the execution and delivery of such instruments, and the taking of such other actions as the
other party hereto may reasonably require in order to carry out the intent of this Agreement.
Without limiting the foregoing, Seller Parties shall use their commercially reasonable best efforts
to obtain, prior to Closing, and will assist and cooperate with Buyer after Closing in obtaining,
consents to all of the Company Leases set forth in Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(b) Each party hereto shall promptly inform the others of any communication from any
Governmental Entity regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If any party
or Affiliate thereof receives a request for additional information or documentary material from any
such Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then such
party shall use its
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commercially reasonable best efforts to make, or cause to be made, as soon as
practicable and after consultation with the other party, an appropriate response in compliance with
such request.
Section 4.7 Termination of Agreements. On and as of the Closing, except for (i) this
Agreement and (ii) those Contracts, if any, set forth on Section 4.7 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, all Contracts between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any of the
Seller Parties or any Related Person or any of the Seller Parties (other than the Company and its
Subsidiaries), on the other hand (the “Terminating Contracts”) shall, in the case of such Contracts
of the Seller Parties, be terminated at Closing without any further force and effect and, in the
case of such Contracts of Related Persons of the Seller Parties, be terminated by or at the
direction of the applicable Seller Party, and there shall be no further liabilities or obligations
of any of the relevant parties thereunder. Buyer agrees to take and to cause the Company and its
Subsidiaries to take any action following the Closing that would be required to give effect to the
termination of the Terminating Contracts.
Section 4.8 Tax Matters.
(a) Tax Returns and Tax Payments. Except as provided in Section 4.8(c) with respect
to Income Tax Returns for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before the Closing
Date, Buyer shall cause to be prepared and filed any Tax Returns with respect to the Company and
its Subsidiaries that are due subsequent to the Closing Date. Any Tax Return for a taxable period
ending before the Closing Date (a “Prior Period Return”), and any Tax Return for a taxable period
beginning before, and ending after, the Closing Date (a “Straddle Period Return”) shall be
prepared, where relevant, in a manner consistent with the Company’s past practices except as
otherwise required by applicable law. Taxes (other than Income Taxes) for a Straddle Period shall
be allocated between the pre-Closing and post-Closing portions of a Straddle Period based on the
ratio of the number of days in the pre-Closing and post-Closing portions of such period. Seller
shall be responsible for Taxes for the taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date,
including Seller’s Portion of a Straddle Period, except to the extent such Taxes were reflected in
the Company Interim Balance Sheet (“Pre-Closing Taxes”), and Seller shall be entitled to any refund
of such Taxes; provided, however, that in the case of employment or payroll Taxes , the amount of
such Taxes reflected on the Company Interim Balance Sheet shall be adjusted under GAAP in
accordance with the Company’s historic practices to properly reflect any wages paid by the Company,
or any payments of such Taxes made by the Company, between the date of the Company Interim Balance
Sheet and the Closing Date. Buyer shall be responsible for all Taxes for the periods ending after
the Closing Date (other than Seller’s Portion of a Straddle Period) and Buyer shall be entitled to
any refund of such Taxes (other than a refund attributable to Seller’s Portion of a Straddle
Period). If any party or its Affiliate receives a refund (or credit against a Tax payment
obligation) to which another party is entitled under this Section 4.8, the party that received the
refund (or credit against a Tax payment obligation) shall pay over the amount thereof to the party
entitled thereto within five (5) Business Days after receipt (or request for application as a
credit against a Tax payment obligation). Buyer shall provide to the
Seller all Prior Period Returns and all Straddle Period Returns
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(including a computation of
Seller’s Portion of any Tax that is due) at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the due date for
such returns, including extensions, for the Seller’s review. Any dispute between Buyer and the
Seller as to the proper reporting of an item on a Prior Period Return or a Straddle Period Return
shall be resolved by the Independent Accounting Firm, whose decision shall be binding on both Buyer
and Seller. Seller shall pay Seller’s Portion of any Tax due to Buyer no later than five (5)
Business Days prior to the due date of any Prior Period Return or Straddle Period Return. Seller’s
Portion of such Tax shall be reduced by any such Prior Period or Straddle Period Taxes that are
included in current liabilities as reflected in the Company Interim Balance Sheet.
(b) Tax Proceedings. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
agreement, and except as provided in Section 4.8(c), Buyer shall have the sole right to control and
make all decisions regarding interests in any Tax audit or administrative or court proceeding
relating to Prior Period Returns or Straddle Period Returns, including selection of counsel and
selection of a forum for such contest, provided, however, that in the event such audit or
proceeding relates to Taxes for which Seller is responsible and has agreed to indemnify Buyer, the
Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries, as applicable, (A) Seller shall cooperate in the conduct of
any audit or proceeding relating to such period, (B) the Seller shall have the right (but not the
obligation) to participate in such audit or proceeding at the Seller’s expense, (C) neither Buyer,
Company nor any Company Subsidiary shall enter into any agreement with the relevant taxing
authority pertaining to such Taxes without the prior written consent of the Seller, which consent
shall not unreasonably be withheld, and (D) Buyer, Company or any Company Subsidiary may, without
the written consent of the Seller, enter into such an agreement provided that Buyer, Company and
such Company Subsidiary, as applicable, shall have agreed in writing to accept responsibility and
liability for the payment of such Taxes and to forego any indemnification under this Agreement with
respect to such Taxes.
(c) Certain Income Tax Returns and Tax Proceedings. With respect to Income Tax
Returns for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before the Closing Date, Seller
shall cause to be prepared (and Buyer shall cooperate in the filing of) any Tax Returns with
respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries that are due subsequent to the Closing Date. Seller
agrees that all income, gain, loss, deduction, and credits with respect to the business operations
of the Company and its Subsidiaries for taxable periods (or portions thereof) ending on or before
the Closing Date will be included in the Income Tax Returns of Seller (or Seller’s members), and
that Seller (or Seller’s members) will be responsible for all Income Taxes related thereto. Any
such Income Tax Return shall be prepared, where relevant, in a manner consistent with the Company’s
past practices except as otherwise required by applicable law. Seller shall provide to the Buyer
all such Income Tax Returns at least ten (10) Business Days prior to the due date for such returns,
including extensions, for the Buyer’s review. Any dispute between Buyer and the Seller as to the
proper reporting of an item on an Income Tax Return governed by this Section 4.8(c) shall be
resolved by the Independent Accounting Firm, whose decision shall be binding on both Buyer and
Seller. Seller (or the members of Seller) shall be responsible for the payment of all Taxes
associated with such Income
Tax Returns. All items of income, gain, loss, deduction, and credit shall be determined
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on
the basis of a closing of the books of the Company as of the Closing Date. With respect to Income
Tax Returns for taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date, Seller shall have the sole
right to control and make all decisions regarding interests in any Tax audit or administrative or
court proceeding relating to such Tax Returns, including selection of counsel and selection of a
forum for such contest, provided, however, that (A) Buyer shall cooperate in the conduct of
any audit or proceeding relating to such period, (B) Buyer shall have the right (but not the
obligation) to participate in such audit or proceeding at the Buyer’s expense, and (C) neither
Seller, the Company, nor any Company Subsidiary shall enter into any agreement with the relevant
taxing authority (if such agreement could adversely affect Buyer, the Company, or any Company
Subsidiary with respect to any taxable period ending subsequent to the Closing Date) pertaining to
such Taxes without the prior written consent of the Buyer, which consent shall not unreasonably be
withheld.
(d) Tax Cooperation. The parties shall make available to each other (and to their
respective accountants and attorneys) any and all books and records and other documents and
information in their possession or control relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries and shall
cause the reasonable cooperation of their employees, as reasonably requested by the party seeking
such information or assistance, for the purpose of any Tax examination or Tax controversy.
Section 4.9 Resignations. If and to the extent requested by Buyer, the Seller shall,
at or prior to Closing, obtain the written resignations of each director and officer of the Company
and its Subsidiaries, effective as of the Closing Date.
Section 4.10 Disclosure Letters. The disclosures in the Company Disclosure Letter and in
the Buyer Disclosure Letter (together, the “Disclosure Letters”) to this Agreement, and those in
any supplements thereto, must relate only to the representations and warranties in the Section of
the applicable Disclosure Letter to which they expressly relate and not to any other representation
or warranty in the applicable Disclosure Letter. The inclusion of information in any Section of
the applicable Disclosure Letter shall expressly not be deemed to constitute an admission by
Seller Parties or Buyer or otherwise imply that any such matter is material, has or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or Buyer, or
their respective Subsidiaries, or creates a measure for, or further defines the meaning of,
materiality or Material Adverse Effect with respect to the Company or Buyer, or their respective
Subsidiaries, and their correlative terms for the purposes of this Agreement. No disclosure on the
applicable Disclosure Letter relating to a possible breach or violation of any contract or Law
shall be construed as an admission or indication that a breach or violation exists or has actually
occurred. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of
the Agreement in accordance with Article VI, Seller Parties and Buyer shall periodically supplement
or amend the applicable Disclosure Letter with respect to
any matter hereafter arising or discovered after the delivery of the applicable Disclosure Letter
pursuant to this Agreement, should any such matter require any change in the applicable Disclosure
Letter if the applicable Disclosure Letter were dated the date of the occurrence or discovery of
any such matter. No such supplement or amendment shall be deemed to
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modify or amend this Agreement
for the purposes of satisfying the condition to Closing set forth in Section 5.1(a); provided,
however, that if Buyer has permitted the Closing to occur, then Buyer shall be deemed to have
waived its rights under Section 5.1(a), but shall nonetheless be entitled to indemnification
pursuant to Article VII hereof, with respect to any and all matters disclosed pursuant to any such
supplement or amendment at or prior to the Closing but only to the extent that such matters arose
from events or circumstances that occurred or arose after, and were not reasonably foreseeable on,
the date of this Agreement.
Section 4.11 Non-Solicitation.
(a) During the two (2)-year period following the date hereof, Seller Parties will not, and
will not permit any of their Affiliates to, (i) solicit any Person who was or is at any time during
the one-year period ending on the Closing Date a customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to provide personnel staffing services to such Person, or in any way assist any Person to do, or
attempt to do, the foregoing, whether by ownership, control, management, operation or such Person
or otherwise; or (ii) solicit or recruit for hire, directly or indirectly, any Person who was or is
at any time during the one-year period ending on the Closing Date an employee of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or (iii) in any way disparage Buyer or the Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or other Affiliates, or the officers, directors, managers or employees of any of them;
provided, however, that such restrictions shall not preclude Seller Parties or any of their
Affiliates from (x) publishing a general advertisement of employment opportunities within Seller
Parties or any of their Affiliates, or from hiring any individual who favorably responds to such an
advertisement, or (y) hiring employees or former employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries who
contact Seller Parties or any of their Affiliates of their own accord.
(b) The parties acknowledge and agree that the provisions of this Section 4.11 are reasonable
and necessary to protect the legitimate business interests of the parties. Neither party shall
contest that the other party’s remedies at law for any Breach or threat of Breach by the other
party or any of its Subsidiaries of the provisions of this Section 4.11 will be inadequate, and
that the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent Breaches of the
provisions of this Section 4.11 and to enforce specifically such terms and provisions, in addition
to any other remedy to which the parties may be entitled at law or in equity.
(c) If any of the provisions of this Section 4.11 shall for any reason be held by a court of
competent jurisdiction to be excessively broad as to duration, scope, activity or subject, then
such provision shall be construed by limiting and
reducing it, so as to be valid and enforceable to the extent compatible with the applicable
law or the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 4.12 Workers’ Compensation.
(a) Seller Parties shall, at all times from and after the date of this Agreement through the
Closing Date, cause the Company and its Subsidiaries to:
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(i) maintain, or cause to be maintained,
in effect all Company Workers’ Compensation Policies in effect as of the date of this Agreement;
(ii) promptly pay or reimburse, or cause to be paid or reimbursed, when due all claims made in
respect of such Company Workers’ Compensation Policies; and (iii) maintain, or cause to be
maintained, in effect all letters of credit and other collateral posted or pledged to any Person in
respect of such Company Workers’ Compensation Policies.
(b) From and after the Closing, Seller shall cause all letters of credit and other collateral,
if any, posted or pledged to or for the benefit of any Person with respect to Company Workers’
Compensation Policies covering pre-December 1, 2003 workers’ compensation liabilities of the
Company and its Subsidiaries to be maintained in effect as may be required by the beneficiaries
thereof.
(c) From and after the Closing, Buyer shall administer all claims and shall pay all remaining
claims and claim costs in respect of the Company Workers’ Compensation Policies in respect of
post-November 30, 2003 claims (the “Post-2003 Claims”), and Seller shall administer and pay all
claims and claim costs in respect of the Company Workers’ Compensation Policies in respect of
pre-December 1, 2003 workers’ compensation claims (the “Pre-2004 Claims”); provided, however, that
Buyer shall (i) cause the Company to reimburse Seller for all payments in respect of Pre-2004
Claims up to, in the aggregate, $6,600,026, with such reimbursements (the “Reimbursed Amounts”) to
be made by the Company promptly upon receipt from time to time from Seller of invoices (which
invoices shall be accompanied by evidence, reasonably satisfactory to the Company, of the
underlying payments, and (ii) on the date that is two (2) years after the date of this Agreement,
promptly pay to or as directed by Seller that amount, if any, by which $6,600,026 exceeds the
aggregate of the Reimbursed Amounts, provided, however, that such payment shall in no way affect
Seller’s ongoing obligation to administer and pay claims and claim costs in respect of pre-2004
Claims. In the event that the payments made by Buyer or, after the Closing, the Company to the
Seller or to the applicable insurance company or companies exceed, in the aggregate, $6,600,026,
Seller shall, promptly upon receipt from time to time from Buyer of written notice of such excess
payments (which notice shall be accompanied by evidence, reasonably satisfactory to Seller, of the
underlying payments) pay to Buyer the amount of such excess.
Section 4.13 No Negotiation. Until the earlier of the Closing or such time, if any,
as this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article VI, Seller Parties will not, and will cause
their Affiliates and the Company and its Subsidiaries not to, and shall instruct each of their
respective
Representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit or initiate any inquiries, offers,
bids or proposals or participate in negotiations or discussions, or enter into any agreements with,
or provide any non-public material information in connection therewith to, any other Person (other
than Buyer), with respect to the sale of the Company’s Business, the sale of all or a substantial
portion of the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of the Units or the equity
interests of its Subsidiaries, or any merger, consolidation, business combination or similar
transaction involving either the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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Section 4.14 Tax Allocation of Acquisition Consideration. For purposes of each
party’s reporting of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to the IRS, the parties shall
in good faith agree to a schedule allocating the acquisition consideration.
ARTICLE V
CONDITIONS OF PURCHASE
Section 5.1 Conditions to Obligations of Buyer. The obligations of Buyer to effect
the Closing shall be subject to the following conditions except to the extent waived in writing by
Buyer:
(a) Representations and Warranties and Covenants of Seller Parties.
(i) The representations and warranties of Seller Parties contained in this Agreement that are
qualified by “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect” shall be true and correct in all respects,
and the representations and warranties of Seller Parties contained in this Agreement that are not
so qualified must have been true and correct in all material respects as of the date of this
Agreement, and shall be true and correct in all material respects, in each case, as of the Closing
Date as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations and warranties that
expressly speak as of an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true as of
such specified date), without giving effect to any supplement to the applicable Disclosure Letter;
(ii) Seller Parties shall have in all material respects performed the obligations and complied
with the covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to
the Closing; and
(iii) Seller Parties shall have made each delivery required pursuant to Section 2.2(b).
(b) No Prohibition. No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by
any Governmental Entity which prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
and there shall be no order or
injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect preventing the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
(c) Third-Party Consents. Each of the consents identified in Section 5.1(c)2 of
the Company Disclosure Letter must have been obtained and must be in full force and effect.
2 | Buyer Note: Buyer is not currently aware of any consents to be listed on schedule 5.1(c). |
56
(d) PeopleSoft Transfer. Seller Parties shall have caused their rights and interests in that
certain Software Licenses and Services Agreement, dated December 6, 1996, as amended, with
PeopleSoft, Inc. to have been transferred to the Company.
(e) Letters of Credit. All letters of credit and other collateral, if any, required to be
posted or pledged to or for the benefit of any Person with respect to Company Workers’ Compensation
Policies covering pre-2004 workers’ compensation liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries
shall have been so posted or pledged by or on behalf of the Seller Parties, and the aggregate face
value of all letters of credit and other collateral, if any, required to be posted or pledged to or
for the benefit of any Person with respect to Company Workers’ Compensation Policies covering
post-2003 workers’ compensation liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries shall not exceed
$36.8 million.
(f) Payoff Letters. Seller Parties shall have delivered, or caused to be delivered, to Buyer
payoff letters reasonably acceptable to Buyer evidencing the repayment of indebtedness for borrowed
money of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the release of all liens in respect thereof, as of
the Closing.
(g) Pre-Closing Merger.3
(i) The respective managers and members of the Company, the Seller and Merger Sub shall have
approved, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act
(the “LLC Act”) and their respective operating agreements and in form and manner reasonably
acceptable to Buyer, the Pre-Closing Merger and, in respect thereof, a merger agreement.
(ii) A certificate of merger shall have been executed by all the parties thereto, filed with
the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the LLC Act, and confirmed as having been
accepted by the Delaware Secretary of State with an effective date not less than one day prior to
the Closing Date.
(iii) Buyer shall have received an opinion of Seller’s Delaware counsel to the effect that
the
Pre-Closing Merger was and remains effective
under applicable Delaware law, including Section 18-209 of the LLC Act, and, collectively with
all actions taken by the members and managers of the Company and the Seller with respect thereto,
fully complies in all respects with the requirements of the respective operating agreements of the
Company and the Seller, which opinion will otherwise be in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer.
Section 5.2 Conditions to Obligations of Seller Parties. The obligations of Seller
Parties to effect the Closing shall be subject to the following conditions except to the extent
waived in writing by the Seller:
3 | Buyer Note: Subject to further review by Buyer’s securities counsel. |
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(a) Representations and Warranties and Covenants of Buyer.
(i) The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be true and
correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though made on and as of the Closing
Date (except for representations and warranties that expressly speak as of an earlier date, such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such
specified date);
(ii) Buyer shall have in all material respects performed the obligations and complied with the
covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the
Closing; and
(iii) Buyer shall have made each delivery required pursuant to Section 2.2(c).
(b) No Prohibition. No statute, rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by
any Governmental Entity which prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby,
and there shall be no order or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction in effect preventing
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE VI
TERMINATION
Section 6.1 Termination of Agreement. This Agreement may be terminated at any time
prior to the Closing Date as follows:
(a) by mutual written consent of Buyer and the Seller;
(b) (i) by Buyer if any of the conditions in Section 5.1 has not been satisfied as of the
Outside Date or if satisfaction of such a condition is or becomes impossible (other than through
the failure of Buyer to comply with its obligations under this Agreement) and Buyer has not waived
such condition on or before
the Outside Date; or (ii) by the Seller, if any of the conditions in Section 5.2 has not been
satisfied as of the Outside Date or if satisfaction of such a condition is or becomes impossible
(other than through the failure of Seller Parties to comply with their obligations under this
Agreement) and the Seller has not waived such condition on or before the Outside Date.
(c) by either Buyer or the Seller, upon written notice to the other, if any court of competent
jurisdiction or other competent Governmental Entity shall have issued a statute, rule, regulation,
order, decree or injunction or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or
otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such statute, rule,
regulation, order, decree or injunction or other action shall have become final and non-appealable,
unless the failure to consummate the Closing because of such action by a Governmental Entity shall
be due
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to the failure of the party seeking to terminate this Agreement to have fulfilled any of its
obligations under this Agreement.
Section 6.2 Effect of Termination. In the event of termination of this Agreement by
a party hereto pursuant to Section 6.1 hereof, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given, if
Buyer is the terminating party, by Buyer to the Seller or, if the Seller is the terminating party,
by the Seller to the Buyer, and this Agreement shall thereupon terminate and become void and have
no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of any party hereto, and the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be abandoned without further action by the parties hereto,
except that the provisions of Section 4.3 and Article VIII shall survive the termination of this
Agreement; provided, however, that if such termination shall result from the material Breach by a
party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement, Seller Parties or Buyer, as the case may be, shall be fully liable for any and all
Losses of the other party as a result of such Breach or failure.
ARTICLE VII
SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7.1 Survival of Representations. The representations, warranties and
covenants (to the extent that such covenants relate to the performance of obligations prior to
Closing) in this Agreement shall survive the Closing solely for purposes of this Article VII and
shall terminate, together with Buyer’s or Seller Parties’ (as applicable) right to seek
indemnification for Breaches thereof, on the date that is twelve (12) months after the Closing
Date; provided, however, that (i) the representations and warranties under Sections
3.1(a), 3.1(b), 3.1(d), 3.2(a), 3.2(b) and 3.2(d) shall survive indefinitely, and (ii) the
representations and warranties under Sections 3.1(l) and 3.2(l) shall survive until the date that
is 30 days after
the date the underlying obligation is barred by the applicable period of limitation under
federal and state laws relating thereto (as such period may be extended by waiver). The parties
agree that no claims or causes of action may be brought against Buyer or Seller Parties based upon,
directly or indirectly, any of the representations, warranties or covenants (to the extent that
such covenants relate to the performance of obligations prior to Closing) contained in this
Agreement after the applicable survival period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the foregoing time
limitations shall not apply to any claims with respect to which the claiming party has delivered to
the other party a written indemnification claim prior to the expiration of the applicable time
period in accordance with the provisions thereof. The covenants contained in this Agreement which
relate to the performance of obligations after the Closing shall survive the Closing for the
periods contemplated by their terms.
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Section 7.2 Indemnification.
(a) From and after the Closing Date and subject to the other limitations set forth in this
Article VII, Xxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx-SM and Seller agree to, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold
harmless Buyer, the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries and their respective directors, managers,
officers, employees, agents and other Representatives and Affiliates (collectively, the “Buyer
Indemnified Parties” and, individually, a “Buyer Indemnified Party”) against and in respect of any
and all actual out-of-pocket losses, claims, damages, liabilities, interest, penalties, judgments,
settlements and reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable costs of defense and reasonable
legal fees and expenses) or diminution in value (“Losses”), resulting or arising from (i) any
Breaches of Seller Parties’ representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or any
certificate delivered pursuant hereto, (ii) any nonfulfillment of or failure to comply with any
covenant of Seller Parties set forth in this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant
hereto, (iii) any brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions or similar payments based upon any
agreement or understanding made, or alleged to have been made, by any Person with Seller Parties,
the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries in connection with any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement; (iv) any Pre-Closing Taxes; (v) the amount, if any, by which Eligible
Transaction Expenses exceed $2,000,000; (vi) the Pre-Closing Merger; and (vii) any Action against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by or on behalf of any member or members of the Company as
of the date of this Agreement not a party to this Agreement, to the full extent to which such
Losses would have been avoided had such member or members executed this Agreement and been subject
to Section 8.16 hereof.
(b) From and after the Closing Date and subject to the other limitations set forth in this
Article VII, Buyer shall indemnify and hold harmless Seller and its directors, managers, officers,
employees, agents and other Representatives and Affiliates (collectively, the “Seller Indemnified
Parties” and, individually, a “Buyer Indemnified Party”, with the Seller Indemnified Parties and
the Buyer Indemnified Parties each being an “Indemnified Party” and, collectively, the “Indemnified
Parties”) against and in respect of any and all Losses resulting or arising from (i) any Breaches
of
Buyer’s representations and warranties set forth in this Agreement or any certificate
delivered pursuant hereto, or (ii) any nonfulfillment of or failure to comply with any covenant of
Buyer set forth in this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto.
(c) Seller Parties hereby waives any right of indemnity or contribution from the Company and
its Subsidiaries in connection with any indemnification obligation Seller Parties may have under
this Agreement and agree that they will not interpose as a defense to any indemnity claim made by
any Buyer Indemnified Party hereunder the pre-Closing conduct, knowledge or negligence of the
Company and/or its Subsidiaries.
(d) Buyer shall indemnify Seller for Losses in connection with the Tax and audit proceedings
set forth in Section 3.2(l) of the Buyer Disclosure Letter (but only to the extent arising from
payments in respect thereof that exceed
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reserves accrued therefore by Buyer as of the Interim
Balance Sheet Date and that are not reimbursable by third parties).
Section 7.3 Method of Asserting Claims, Etc. All claims for indemnification by any
Indemnified Party hereunder shall be asserted and resolved as set forth in this Section 7.3. In
the event that any written claim or demand for which an Indemnifying Party would be liable to any
Indemnified Party hereunder is asserted against or sought to be collected from any Indemnified
Party by a third party, such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party of such
claim or demand in a written notice that describes such claim or demand in reasonable detail,
including the sections of this Agreement which form the basis for such claim or demand and the
amount or the estimated amount thereof (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final amount
of such claim and demand) along with copies of all written evidence thereof (the “Claim Notice”).
The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days from the personal delivery or mailing of the
Claim Notice (the “Notice Period”) to notify the Indemnified Party whether or not it desires to
defend the Indemnified Party against such claim or demand. An election to assume the defense of
such claim or demand shall not be deemed to be an admission that the Indemnifying Party is liable
to the Indemnified Party in respect of such claim or demand. All costs and expenses incurred by
the Indemnifying Party in defending such claim or demand shall be a liability of, and shall be paid
by, the Indemnifying Party; provided, however, that the amount of such expenses
shall be a liability of the Indemnifying Party hereunder subject to the limitations set forth in
this Article VII. In the event that the Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party within
the Notice Period that it desires to defend the Indemnified Party against such claim or demand,
except as hereinafter provided, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend the
Indemnified Party by appropriate proceedings. If any Indemnified Party desires to participate in,
but not control, any such defense or settlement, it may do so at its sole cost and expense. The
Indemnified Party shall not settle a claim or demand without the consent of the Indemnifying Party,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Indemnifying Party shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, settle,
compromise or offer to settle or
compromise any such claim or demand on a basis which would result in the imposition of a
consent order, injunction or decree that would restrict the future activity or conduct of the
Indemnified Party or any subsidiary or Affiliate thereof. If the Indemnifying Party elects not to
defend the Indemnified Party against a claim or demand for which the Indemnifying Party has an
indemnification obligation hereunder, whether by not giving the Indemnified Party timely notice as
provided above or otherwise, then the amount of any such claim or demand, or, if the same be
contested by the Indemnified Party, then that portion thereof as to which such defense is
unsuccessful (and the reasonable costs and expenses pertaining to such defense) shall be the
liability of the Indemnifying Party hereunder, subject to the limitations set forth in this Article
VII. To the extent the Indemnifying Party shall control or participate in the defense or
settlement of any third-party claim or demand, the Indemnified Party will give the Indemnifying
Party and its counsel access to, during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice, the
relevant business records and other documents, and shall permit them to consult with the employees
and counsel of the Indemnified Party. The Indemnified Party shall use its reasonable best efforts
in the defense of all such claims. Any notice of a claim by reason
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of any of the representations,
warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement shall state specifically the representation,
warranty, or covenant with respect to which the claim is made, the facts giving rise to an alleged
basis for the claim, and the amount of the liability asserted against the Indemnifying Party by
reason of the claim.
Section 7.4 Limitation on Liability. Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement
to the contrary, any Indemnified Party’s right to indemnification pursuant to Sections 7.2(a) and
7.2(b) hereof shall be limited to claims as to which Buyer or the Seller, as applicable, has
delivered a valid Claim Notice on or prior to the termination of the applicable representation,
warranty or covenant pursuant to Section 7.1 hereof. Notwithstanding any provision in this
Agreement to the contrary, no Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification for Losses
pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(i) hereof with respect to Breaches of representations and warranties
(other than the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b), 3.1(d),
3.1(g)(i) (but only to the extent the representations and warranties contained therein relate to
the Company Interim Balance Sheet), 3.1(l), 3.2(a), 3.2(b), 3.2(d), 3.2(g) (but only to the extent
the representations and warranties contained therein relate to the Buyer Interim Balance Sheet),
3.2(l) and 4.1(a) hereof) unless and until the aggregate amount of all such Losses incurred by the
applicable Indemnified Parties for which the Seller Parties or the Buyer, as applicable, would, but
for this sentence, be liable under this Agreement exceeds an amount equal to $500,000 (the “Basket
Amount”), at which point the applicable Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to seek
indemnification only for the amount by which such Losses exceed the Basket Amount.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, in no event shall the aggregate amount
of all Claims for which:
(a) Seller Parties are liable pursuant to (i) Section 7.2(a)(i) (other than as a
result of
Breaches of the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1(a), 3.1(b), 3.1(d),
3.1(g)(i) (but only to the extent the
representations and warranties contained therein relate to the Company Interim Balance Sheet),
3.1(l) and 4.1(a)) exceed an amount equal to five percent (5.0%) of the Company Enterprise Value,
and (ii) Section 7.2(a) (other than Buyer Claims covered by Section 7.4(a)(i)) exceed an amount
equal to the Company Enterprise Value less the aggregate amount of all Buyer Claims covered by
Section 7.4(a)(i); and
(b) Buyer is liable pursuant to (i) Section 7.2(b)(i) (other than as a result of
Breaches of
the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.2(a), 3.2(b), 3.2(d), 3.2(g) (but only
to the extent the representations and warranties contained therein relate to the Buyer Interim
Balance Sheet) and 3.2(l)) exceed an amount equal to five percent (5.0%) of the Equity
Consideration, and (ii) Section 7.2(a) (other than Buyer Claims covered by Section 7.4(b)(i))
exceed an amount equal to the Equity Consideration less the aggregate amount of all Seller Claims
covered by Section 7.4(b)(i).
Section 7.5 Losses Net of Insurance, Etc. The amount of any Loss for which
indemnification is provided under Section 7.2 shall be net of (i) any amounts
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recovered by the
Indemnified Party pursuant to any indemnification by or indemnification or other agreement with any
third party, (ii) any insurance proceeds or other cash receipts or sources of reimbursement
received as an offset against such Loss (each source named in clauses (i) and (ii), a “Collateral
Source”), (iii) an amount equal to the Tax benefit, if any, available to or taken by the
Indemnified Party attributable to such Loss and (iv) any specific accruals or reserves (or
overstatement of liabilities in respect of actual liability) of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
The parties shall take and shall cause their Affiliates to take all reasonable steps to mitigate
any Loss upon becoming aware of any event that would reasonably be expected to, or does, give rise
thereto, including incurring costs only to the minimum extent necessary to remedy a Breach that
gives rise to the Loss. The parties acknowledge and agree that no right of subrogation shall
accrue or inure to the benefit of any Collateral Source hereunder. The Indemnifying Party may
require an Indemnified Party to assign the rights to seek recovery pursuant to the preceding
sentence; provided, that the Indemnifying Party will then be responsible for pursuing such
recovery at its own expense. If the amount to be netted hereunder from any payment required under
Section 7.2 is determined after payment by the Indemnifying Party of any amount otherwise required
to be paid to an Indemnified Party to this Article VII, the Indemnified Party shall repay to the
Indemnifying Party, promptly after such determination, any amount that the Indemnifying Party would
not have had to pay pursuant to this Article VII had such determination been made at the time of
such payment.
Section 7.6 Sole Remedy; Waiver. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the
remedies provided for in this Agreement shall be the parties’ sole and exclusive remedy with
respect to the subject matter of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. In
furtherance of the foregoing, the parties hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, any and all other rights, claims and causes of action (including rights of
contribution, if any) known or unknown, foreseen or unforeseen, which exist or may arise in
the future, that they may have against Indemnified Parties arising under or based upon any
national, federal, state or local statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or judicial decision
(including, without limitation, any such statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or judicial
decision relating to environmental matters, or warranty of title, in rem
entitlements, or arising under or based upon any securities law, common law or otherwise). This
Section 7.6 shall survive Closing.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 8.1 Assignment; Binding Effect. This Agreement and the rights hereunder are
not assignable unless such assignment is consented to in writing by both Buyer and Seller Parties
and, subject to the preceding clause, this Agreement and all the provisions hereof shall be binding
upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and
permitted assigns; provided, however, Buyer
63
may assign its rights under this Agreement for
collateral security purposes, without consent of any party, to any lender or lenders providing
financing to Buyer and/or Compass Group Diversified Holdings LLC.
Section 8.2 Choice of Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the Laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the laws that might
otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws thereof.
Section 8.3 Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process; Waiver of Jury Trial. ALL
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS BROUGHT AGAINST THE PARTIES ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT, OR
ANY OBLIGATIONS HEREUNDER, SHALL BE BROUGHT IN ANY STATE OR FEDERAL COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION
IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK IN MANHATTAN, BY EXECUTING AND DELIVERING THIS AGREEMENT, THE PARTIES,
IRREVOCABLY (I) ACCEPT GENERALLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION AND VENUE OF THESE
COURTS; (II) WAIVE ANY OBJECTIONS WHICH SUCH PARTY MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE TO THE LAYING OF VENUE
OF ANY OF THE AFORESAID ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT
BROUGHT IN THE COURTS REFERRED TO IN CLAUSE (I) ABOVE AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVE AND
AGREE NOT TO PLEAD OR CLAIM IN ANY SUCH COURT THAT SUCH ACTION OR PROCEEDING BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH
COURT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM; (III) AGREE THAT SERVICE OF ALL PROCESS IN
ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT MAY BE MADE BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN
RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO SUCH PARTY AT THEIR RESPECTIVE ADDRESSES PROVIDED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION
8.4; AND (IV) AGREE THAT SERVICE AS PROVIDED IN CLAUSE (III) ABOVE IS SUFFICIENT TO CONFER PERSONAL
JURISDICTION OVER SUCH PARTY IN ANY SUCH PROCEEDING IN ANY SUCH COURT, AND OTHERWISE CONSTITUTES
EFFECTIVE AND BINDING SERVICE IN EVERY RESPECT. THE PARTIES UNCONDITIONALLY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVE
THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY SUCH JUDICIAL PROCEEDING OR OTHER ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR
RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT.
Section 8.4 Notices. All notices, requests, demands and other communications under
this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered
personally or sent by facsimile transmission or by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested, with postage prepaid) to the parties at the following addresses (or at such other
address for a party as shall be specified by like notice):
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If to Buyer, to:
CBS Personnel Holdings, Inc.
000 Xxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
000 Xxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
with copies to:
Compass Group Diversified Holdings, LLC
00000 Xxxxxxx xx xx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
00000 Xxxxxxx xx xx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Fax: (000) 000-0000
and:
Squire, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P.
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax: 000.000.0000
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxx 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Fax: 000.000.0000
If to Seller Parties, to:
Staffing Holding LLC
c/x Xxxxxxxx Capital Partners LLC
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Jr.
Fax: 000.000.0000
c/x Xxxxxxxx Capital Partners LLC
000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Jr.
Fax: 000.000.0000
Section 8.5 Headings. The headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for
convenience only and shall not be considered in interpreting or construing any of the provisions
contained in this Agreement.
Section 8.6 Fees and Expenses. If the Closing does not occur, each party hereto shall
bear its own costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby. If the Closing does occur, Buyer shall bear all costs and expenses
(including investment advisory and legal fees and expenses) incurred by each of Buyer, Seller
Parties and the Company in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
subject to Seller Parties’ indemnification obligation pursuant to Section 7.2(a)(v) hereof.
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Section 8.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits, the Company
Disclosure Letter and the Buyer Disclosure Letter) constitutes the entire agreement between the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings between the parties with respect to such subject matter; provided,
however, for the sake of clarity, it is understood that this Agreement shall not supersede
the terms and provisions of the Confidentiality Agreement, which shall survive and remain in effect
until expiration or termination thereof in accordance with their respective terms and this
Agreement.
Section 8.8 Interpretation.
(a) When a reference is made to an Article, Section or Schedule, such reference shall be to an
Article, Section or Schedule of or to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
(b) Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(c) Unless the context requires otherwise, words using the singular or plural number also
include the plural or singular number, respectively, and the use of any gender herein shall be
deemed to include the other gender.
(d) References to “dollars” or “$” are to U.S. dollars.
(e) The terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words
refer to
this entire Agreement.
(f) This Agreement was prepared jointly by the parties hereto and no rule that it be construed
against the drafter will have any application in its construction or interpretation.
Section 8.9 Waiver and Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, modified or
supplemented only by a written mutual agreement executed and delivered by Buyer and Seller Parties.
Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any failure of any party to comply with any
obligation, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived by the party entitled to the
benefits thereof only by a written instrument signed by the party granting such waiver, but such
waiver or failure to insist upon strict compliance with such obligations, covenant, agreement or
condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with respect to, any subsequent or other
failure.
Section 8.10 Third-party Beneficiaries. This Agreement is for the sole benefit of the
parties hereto and their permitted assigns and nothing herein express or implied shall give or be
construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and such permitted assigns, any
legal or equitable rights hereunder.
Section 8.11 Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that if any of the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
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specific terms or were
otherwise Breached, irreparable damage would occur, no adequate remedy at law would exist and
damages would be difficult to determine, and that the parties shall be entitled to specific
performance of the terms hereof, in addition to any other remedy at law or equity.
Section 8.12 Severability
.. If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any such provision to any person
or circumstance shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect by a court of
competent jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other
provision hereof.
Section 8.13 No Consequential Losses. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF THIS
AGREEMENT, IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT FOR PUNITIVE DAMAGES OR ANY
SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY KIND OR NATURE, REGARDLESS OF THE
FORM OF ACTION THROUGH WHICH SUCH DAMAGES ARE SOUGHT. IN NO EVENT SHALL ANY PARTY BE LIABLE UNDER
THIS AGREEMENT FOR LOST PROFITS, EVEN IF UNDER APPLICABLE LAW, SUCH LOST PROFITS WOULD NOT BE
CONSIDERED CONSEQUENTIAL OR SPECIAL DAMAGES.
Section 8.14 Counterparts; Facsimile Signatures. This Agreement may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which when executed, shall be deemed to be an original and all
of which together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument binding upon all of the parties
hereto notwithstanding the fact that all parties are not signatory to the original or the same
counterpart. For purposes of this Agreement, facsimile signatures shall be deemed originals, and
the parties agree to exchange original signatures as promptly as possible.
Section 8.15 No Right of Setoff. No party hereto nor any Affiliate thereof may deduct
from, set off, holdback or otherwise reduce in any manner whatsoever any amount owed to it
hereunder or pursuant to any other agreement against any amounts owed hereunder or pursuant to any
other agreement by such Persons to the other party hereto or any of such other party’s Affiliates.
Section 8.16 Releases. Subject to and in consideration of the purchase by Buyer of
the Units pursuant to this Agreement, effective as of the Closing, each member of the Company
executing this Agreement, including Xxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxxx-SM, for itself and its Related Persons,
hereby releases and forever discharges Buyer, the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries and their
respective individual, joint or mutual, past, present and future Representatives, successors and
assigns (individually a “Releasee” and collectively, the “Releasees”) from any and
all claims, demands, Actions or causes of action (including those arising out of or in any way
related to any federal, state or local law applicable to the Pre-Closing Merger or prohibiting
discrimination on the basis of age, race, color, religion, disability, sex, national origin,
citizenship or other protected classification, including, without limitation, claims under Title
VII, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and the
Americans
With Disabilities Act), Orders, obligations, rights of indemnification,
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contribution or
subrogation, contracts, agreements, debts and liabilities whatsoever, whether known or unknown, by
statute, at law and in equity (the “Released Claims”) which such member or its Related
Persons now has, has ever had or may hereafter have against the respective Releasees (i) arising
contemporaneously with or prior to the Closing or (ii) on account of or arising out of any matter,
cause or event occurring contemporaneously with or prior to the Closing and, in either case,
related to the ownership of the Units, service as an officer or director of the Company or any
Subsidiary of the Company, the Company Business or the affairs of the Company or any Subsidiary of
the Company, including all such Released Claims arising under or in connection with any financing,
guaranty or other financial accommodation (and all subrogation rights that may arise in the future
on account thereof), investment, advance, loan, lease, provision of goods or services, Contract
(including any certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational documents) or other
undertaking or transaction entered into with or on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary of the
Company by any of the Seller Parties; provided, however, that nothing contained
herein shall operate to release any obligation (i) of Buyer, the Company and any Subsidiary or the
Company arising pursuant to this Agreement or any document executed and delivered pursuant to this
Agreement, or (ii) pursuant to any employment arrangement for events arising on or after the
Closing or for accrued salary and benefits earned through the Closing. Each of the undersigned
members of the Company acknowledges that it or its Related Persons may hereafter discover claims or
facts in addition to or different from those which it now knows or believes to exist with respect
to the subject matter of this release and which, if known or suspected at the time of executing
this release, may have materially affected its willingness to enter into this release.
Nevertheless, each such member hereby waives, for itself and its Related Persons, any right, claim,
or cause of action that might arise as a result of such different or additional claims or facts.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank.]
68
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement
to be executed the day and year first above written.
SELLER PARTIES | ||||||
STAFFING HOLDING LLC | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Title: Manager | ||||||
STAFFMARK MERGER LLC | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Title: Manager | ||||||
STAFFMARK INVESTMENT LLC | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Title: Manager | ||||||
SF HOLDING CORP. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Title: Vice President | ||||||
XXXXXXXX-SM LLC | ||||||
By: SF Holding Corp., manager | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx | ||||||
Title: Vice President | ||||||
BUYER | ||||||
CBS PERSONNEL HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
Name: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||||||
Title: President |