AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER by and among BANKRATE, INC., FASTFIND, LLC, WESCOCO, LLC and THE MEMBERS OF WESCOCO, LLC Dated as of November 20, 2005
Exhibit
10.1
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
by
and among
BANKRATE,
INC.,
FASTFIND,
LLC,
WESCOCO,
LLC
and
THE
MEMBERS OF WESCOCO, LLC
Dated
as
of November 20, 2005
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
||
DEFINITIONS |
1
|
|
ARTICLE II
|
THE MERGER |
3
|
Section
2.01
|
The
Merger
|
3
|
Section
2.02
|
Closing;
Location; Time
|
3
|
Section
2.03
|
Filing
of Certificate of Merger; Definition of Effective Time
|
3
|
Section
2.04
|
Effects
of the Merger
|
4
|
Section
2.05
|
Further
Assurances
|
4
|
Section
2.06
|
Certificate
of Formation and Operating Agreement of The Surviving Company
|
4
|
Section
2.07
|
Managers
of The Surviving Company
|
4
|
Section
2.08
|
Officers
of The Surviving Company
|
4
|
ARTICLE
III
|
MERGER
CONSIDERATION/PURCHASE PRICE; ADJUSTMENT AND DELIVERY OF MERGER
CONSIDERATION/PURCHASE PRICE
|
4
|
Section
3.01
|
The
Merger Consideration/Purchase Price
|
4
|
Section
3.02
|
Delivery
of the Purchase Price; Other Payments
|
5
|
Section
3.03
|
Adjustment
to the Merger Consideration/Purchase Price
|
5
|
Section
3.04
|
Withholding
Rights
|
7
|
Section
3.05
|
No
Further Ownership Rights in The Surviving Company Membership Interests
after the Effective Time
|
7
|
Section
3.06
|
Dissenters
Rights
|
7
|
Section
3.07
|
Options
|
7
|
ARTICLE
IV
|
EFFECT
OF THE MERGER ON THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS OF THE SUB AND
FASTFIND
|
8
|
Section
4.01
|
Effect
of Merger on Membership Interests
|
8
|
ARTICLE
V
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE MEMBERS
|
8
|
Section
5.01
|
Organization,
Standing and Power
|
8
|
Section
5.02
|
Certificate
of Formation; Limited Liability Company Agreement
|
8
|
Section
5.03
|
FastFind
has No Subsidiaries and Owns No Equity Interests in Any
Person
|
8
|
Section
5.04
|
Ownership
of Members
|
9
|
Section
5.05
|
The
Members and FastFind Approve and Adopt this Agreement
|
9
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
||
Section
5.06
|
FastFind
has Authority to Enter Into this Agreement and Engage in the
Transactions
|
9
|
Section
5.07
|
FastFind
and the Members have Validly Executed and Delivered this
Agreement
|
9
|
Section
5.08
|
Capital
Structure
|
9
|
Section
5.09
|
Financial
Statements
|
10
|
Section
5.10
|
No
Conflicts
|
10
|
Section
5.11
|
No
Governmental Entity Consents
|
11
|
Section
5.12
|
Brokers
|
11
|
Section
5.13
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
11
|
Section
5.14
|
Material
Contracts
|
13
|
Section
5.15
|
Taxes
|
14
|
Section
5.16
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
15
|
Section
5.17
|
Banking
Relationships
|
15
|
Section
5.18
|
Title
to Properties
|
15
|
Section
5.19
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
16
|
Section
5.20
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
17
|
Section
5.21
|
Litigation
|
20
|
Section
5.22
|
Compliance
with Applicable Laws
|
20
|
Section
5.23
|
Permits
|
20
|
Section
5.24
|
Environmental
Matters
|
20
|
Section
5.25
|
Insurance
|
21
|
Section
5.26
|
Certain
Payments
|
21
|
Section
5.27
|
Funded
Indebtedness
|
21
|
ARTICLE
VI
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BANKRATE AND SUB
|
21
|
Section
6.01
|
Organization,
Standing and Power
|
21
|
Section
6.02
|
Sub
|
21
|
Section
6.03
|
Bankrate
and Sub have Authority to Enter Into this Agreement and Engage
in the
Transactions
|
22
|
Section
6.04
|
Bankrate
and Sub have Validly Executed and Delivered this Agreement
|
22
|
Section
6.05
|
No
Conflicts
|
22
|
Section
6.06
|
No
Government Entity Consents are Necessary
|
22
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
||
Section
6.07
|
Brokers
|
22
|
Section
6.08
|
Availability
of Funds
|
23
|
Section
6.09
|
Solvency
|
23
|
Section
6.10
|
Acquisition
for Investment
|
23
|
ARTICLE
VII
|
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS; NO DISCUSSIONS WITH OTHERS;
ACCESS TO
INFORMATION; AND EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE THE TRANSACTIONS; HIRING
OF
EMPLOYEES
|
23
|
Section
7.01
|
Conduct
of Business of FastFind
|
23
|
Section
7.02
|
Permits
Transferred to FastFind and/or its Agents
|
25
|
Section
7.03
|
No
Discussions with Others
|
25
|
Section
7.04
|
Voting
Agreement By execution of this Agreement, FastFind’s Board of Managers and
the Members hereby agree to vote their respective FastFind
Membership
Interests in favor of the Transactions
|
26
|
Section
7.05
|
Access
to Information; Confidentiality
|
26
|
Section
7.06
|
Commercially
Reasonable Efforts; Notification
|
26
|
Section
7.07
|
Bankrate’s
Hiring of FastFind’s Employees
|
27
|
Section
7.08
|
Books
and Records
|
27
|
Section
7.09
|
Use
of Financials for SEC Filings
|
27
|
ARTICLE
VIII
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
27
|
Section
8.01
|
Indemnification
|
27
|
ARTICLE
IX
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
|
33
|
Section
9.01
|
Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect The Merger
|
33
|
Section
9.02
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Bankrate and Sub
|
33
|
Section
9.03
|
Conditions
to Obligation of FastFind
|
34
|
Section
9.04
|
Closing
Conditions
|
35
|
ARTICLE
X
|
TERMINATION
|
35
|
Section
10.01
|
Termination
|
35
|
Section
10.02
|
Failure
to Close Due to Governmental Approvals
|
36
|
Section
10.03
|
Effect
of Termination
|
36
|
ARTICLE
XI
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
36
|
Section
11.01
|
Notices
|
36
|
Section
11.02
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
38
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
||
Section
11.03
|
Interpretation
|
38
|
Section
11.04
|
Severability
|
38
|
Section
11.05
|
Public
Announcements
|
38
|
Section
11.06
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
38
|
Section
11.07
|
Shareholder
Litigation
|
38
|
Section
11.08
|
Counterparts
|
38
|
Section
11.09
|
Amendment
|
39
|
Section
11.10
|
Extension:
Waiver
|
39
|
Section
11.11
|
Assignment;
Binding Effect
|
39
|
Section
11.12
|
Governing
Law
|
39
|
Section
11.13
|
Exhibits
|
39
|
Section
11.14
|
Enforcement
Jurisdiction
|
40
|
Section
11.15
|
Arbitration
|
40
|
Section
11.16
|
JURY
WAIVER
|
41
|
Section
11.17
|
Bankrate’s
Right to Conduct Other Activities
|
41
|
Section
11.18
|
Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
41
|
This AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER
(this
"Agreement")
is
made and entered into as of November 20, 2005, by and among: (i) BANKRATE,
INC.,
a Florida corporation ("Bankrate"),
(ii)
FASTFIND, LLC, a Delaware corporation and
a
wholly owned subsidiary of Bankrate ("Sub"),
(iii)
WESCOCO
LLC,
a
Delaware limited liability company d/b/a “FastFind” ("FastFind"),
and
(iv) each of the members of FastFind set forth on Schedule
1
attached
to this Agreement (collectively, the "Members").
Capitalized
terms used in this Agreement, to the extent not defined in the text of the
Agreement, shall have the meaning set forth in Article I of this
Agreement.
RECITALS:
A. Bankrate,
Sub, FastFind and the Members desire that Sub merge with and into FastFind
(the
"Merger")
and
consummate the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement ((the Merger
together with such other transactions shall collectively be referred to as
the
"Transactions")
on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
B. FastFind
and the Members (i) determined that the Merger and the Transactions are fair
to
and in the best interests of FastFind and the Members and (ii) have each
approved this Agreement and the Transactions.
C. Sub
and
Bankrate have each approved this Agreement and the Transactions.
D. Bankrate,
Sub, FastFind and the Members desire to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Transactions and
also to prescribe various conditions to the consummation of the
Transactions.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, Bankrate,
Sub, FastFind and the Members agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
As
used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth
below:
"Affiliate"
of any
Person means another Person that directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with,
such first Person.
"Bankrate
Material Adverse Effect"
means
(i) a material adverse effect on the ability of Bankrate or Sub to perform
its
obligations under this Agreement or (ii) a material adverse effect on the
ability of Bankrate or Sub to consummate the Transactions.
"Code"
means
the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Date
of the Notice of Claim"
means
the date that the Notice of Claim is deemed delivered pursuant to Article
VIII.
"FastFind
Material Adverse Effect"
means
(i) any change, effect, event, occurrence or state of facts that is materially
adverse to the business, assets, financial condition or results of operations
of
FastFind, taken as a whole, other than effects relating to (A) changes, effects,
events, occurrences or circumstances that generally affect the industries in
which FastFind operates, and that do not have a materially disproportionate
impact on FastFind, taken as a whole, (B) general economic, financial or
securities market conditions in the United States or elsewhere, or (C) the
announcement of this Agreement or the Transactions, (ii) a material adverse
effect on the ability of FastFind to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or (iii) a material adverse effect on the ability of FastFind to
consummate the Transactions.
1
"FastFind
Membership Interests"
means
all of the issued and outstanding common units of FastFind.
"Funded
Indebtedness"
means
all principal and interest owing by FastFind as of the Effective Time with
respect to the funded indebtedness listed on the Exhibit
5.27
attached
hereto, including any prepayment premiums or penalties related to any of the
foregoing.
"Intellectual
Property" means
any
or all of the following and all rights in, or arising out of: (i) all United
States, international and foreign patents and applications therefor and all
reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions, provisionals, continuations and
continuations-in-part thereof; (ii) all inventions (whether patentable or not),
invention disclosures, improvements, trade secrets, proprietary information,
know how, technology, technical data and customer lists, and all documentation
relating to any of the foregoing; (iii) all copyrights, copyright registrations
and applications therefor, and all other rights corresponding thereto throughout
the world; (iv) all industrial designs and any registrations and applications
therefor throughout the world; (v) all trade names, logos, common law trademarks
and service marks, trademark and service xxxx registrations and applications
therefor throughout the world; (vi) all databases and data collections and
all
rights therein throughout the world; (vii) all moral and economic rights of
authors and inventors, however denominated, throughout the world; (viii) any
similar or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing anywhere in the world;
and
(ix) all domain names.
"Judgment"
means
any judgment, order or decree.
“Knowledge”
means
the actual knowledge of T. Xxxx XxXxxxxx, Xxxx X. Xxxx and Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx.
"Law"
means
any statute, law (including common law), ordinance, rule or
regulation.
"Liens"
means
all pledges, liens, charges, mortgages, encumbrances and security interests
of
any kind or nature whatsoever.
"Member
Representative"
means
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, who has been designated and appointed by the Members to be their
representative, with power and authority to act on behalf of, and to bind,
all
of the Members in connection with this Agreement and the Transactions.
"Net
Working Capital" means
(a)
all assets minus
(b) all
liabilities (other than Funded Indebtedness).
"Person"
means
any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, company, limited liability
company, trust, joint venture, association, Governmental Entity (as defined
in
Section 5.11) or other entity.
2
"Purchase
Price"
shall
mean (1) $10,000,000 minus
(2)
Funded Indebtedness, and shall be subject to further adjustment pursuant to
Section 3.03 hereof.
"Registered
Intellectual Property" means
all
United States, international and foreign: (i) patents and patent applications
(including provisional applications) listed on Exhibit
5.19(F)
and (ii)
registered trademarks, applications to register trademarks, intent-to-use
applications, or other registrations or applications related to trademarks
listed on Exhibit
5.19(F).
"Return"
means
all Federal, state, local, provincial and foreign Tax returns, declarations,
statements, reports, schedules, forms and information returns and any amended
Tax return relating to Taxes filed or required to be filed by
FastFind.
"Subsidiary"
of any
Person means another Person, an amount of the voting securities, other voting
ownership or voting partnership interests of which is sufficient to elect at
least a majority of its board of managers or other governing body (or, if there
are no such voting interests, 50% or more of the equity interests of which)
is
owned directly or indirectly by such Person.
"Taxes"
means
all forms of taxation, whenever created or imposed, and whether of the United
States or elsewhere, and whether imposed by a local, municipal, governmental,
state, foreign, Federal or other Governmental Entity, or in connection with
any
agreement with respect to Taxes, including all interest, penalties and additions
imposed with respect to such amounts.
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
Section
2.01 The
Merger.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "Delaware
Corporate Law"),
at
the Effective Time (as defined in Section 2.03(B)), (A) Sub shall be merged
with
and into FastFind, (B) the separate corporate existence of Sub shall thereupon
cease and (C) FastFind shall be the surviving limited liability company of
the
Merger (the "Surviving
Company").
Section
2.02 Closing;
Location; Time.
(A) Location
of the Closing.
The
closing of the Transactions (the "Closing")
shall
take place at the offices of Gunster, Yoakley & Xxxxxxx, P.A. in West Palm
Beach, Florida.
(B) Date
and Time of the Closing.
The
Closing shall be held as promptly as practicable following the satisfaction
of,
or waiver by the party entitled to satisfaction of, all conditions precedent
to
the Transactions specified in this Agreement, and, in any event, no later than
November 30, 2005.
The
date
on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the
"Closing
Date."
Section
2.03 Filing
of Certificate of Merger; Definition of Effective Time.
(A) Filing
of Certificate of Merger.
Prior
to the Closing, Bankrate shall prepare, and on the Closing Date, or as soon
as
practicable thereafter, Bankrate and FastFind shall file with the Secretary
of
State of the State of Delaware, a Certificate of Merger and all other documents
or recordings required to effectuate the Merger in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the Delaware Corporate Law (collectively, the "Certificate
of Merger").
3
(B) Effective
Time of the Merger.
The
Merger shall become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger is
duly
filed or at such later time as Bankrate and FastFind shall agree and specify
in
the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective is referred
to
as the "Effective
Time").
Section
2.04 Effects
of the Merger.
The
Merger shall have the effects set forth in the Delaware Corporate Law. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, at the Effective Time: (A) all the
properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of FastFind and Sub shall
vest in the Surviving Company; and (B) all debts, liabilities and duties of
FastFind and Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving
Company.
Section
2.05 Further
Assurances.
FastFind and each Member agrees that if, at any time after the Effective Time,
Bankrate or FastFind believes or is advised that any further deeds, assignments
or assurances are reasonably necessary or desirable to vest, perfect, confirm
or
continue in the Surviving Company, Sub or Bankrate title to any property or
any
right of FastFind as provided in this Agreement, Bankrate and any of its
officers are hereby authorized by FastFind and each Member to execute and
deliver all such proper deeds, assignments and assurances and do all other
things necessary or desirable to vest, perfect, confirm or continue title to
such property or rights in the Surviving Company, Sub or Bankrate and otherwise
to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, in the name of FastFind or
otherwise.
Section
2.06 Certificate
of Formation and Operating Agreement of FastFind.
(A) Certificate
of Incorporation.
The
Certificate of Formation of the Surviving Company shall be amended at the
Effective Time, without any further action on the part of FastFind or Sub,
as
approved by Bankrate and, as so amended, such Certificate of Formation shall
be
the Certificate of Formation of the Surviving Company until thereafter changed
or amended as provided therein or by applicable Law.
(B) Operating
Agreement.
The
Operating Agreement of the Surviving Company shall be amended at the Effective
Time without any further action on the part of FastFind or Sub, as approved
by
Bankrate.
Section
2.07 Managers
of the Surviving Company.
Subject
to requirements of applicable Law, Bankrate shall elect the managers of the
Surviving Company.
Section
2.08 Officers
of the Surviving Company.
Subject
to requirements of applicable Law, Bankrate shall elect the officers of the
Surviving Company.
ARTICLE
III
MERGER
CONSIDERATION/PURCHASE PRICE; ADJUSTMENT AND DELIVERY OF
MERGER
CONSIDERATION/PURCHASE PRICE
Section
3.01 The
Merger Consideration/Purchase Price.
Subject
to Section 3.02 and Article VIII, and in consideration of consummating the
Transactions, each of the Members shall receive its pro rata share of cash
in an
amount equal to the Purchase Price.
4
Section
3.02 Delivery
of the Purchase Price; Other Payments.
Subject
to the adjustments set forth in Section 3.03 hereof, Sub shall pay an aggregate
of $10,000,000 on the Closing Date as follows:
(A) Delivery
of the Purchase Price.
(i) Purchase
Price Delivered to the Members.
At the
Closing, Sub shall deliver by wire transfer of same day funds, to an account
designated by the Member Representative, an amount equal to the Purchase Price
less
the
Indemnification Escrow Cash for the benefit of the Members.
(ii) Purchase
Price Delivered to the Escrow Agent.
At the
Closing, Sub shall deliver to Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx LLP, as escrow
agent (the "Escrow
Agent"),
by
wire transfer of same day funds, Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000.00) of the
Purchase Price (the "Indemnification
Escrow Cash").
The
Indemnification Escrow Cash shall be disbursed solely in accordance with the
terms of the Escrow Agreement (as defined below).
(iii) Payment
of Funded Indebtedness.
Contemporaneously with the Effective Time, Sub shall directly repay in full
all
outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest and all other amounts
represented by FastFind to be owing with respect to the Funded
Indebtedness.
(iv) Disbursement
of the Indemnification Escrow Cash; Escrow Agreement.
The
Indemnification Escrow Cash shall be applied and disbursed in accordance with
the terms and provisions of the Escrow Agreement substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit
3.02(A)(iv)
(the
"Escrow
Agreement").
Section
3.03 Adjustment
to the Merger Consideration/Purchase Price.
(A) Draft
Closing Balance Sheet and Draft Closing Net Working Capital.
(i) Draft
Closing Balance Sheet.
Within
thirty (30) calendar days following the Closing Date, the Surviving Company
will
prepare a balance sheet for FastFind as of the Closing Date (the "Draft
Closing Balance Sheet").
(ii) Draft
Closing Balance Sheet Prepared in Accordance with GAAP and the Pre-Closing
Balance Sheet.
The
Draft Closing Balance Sheet shall be prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
applied on a basis consistent with that used in preparing FastFind’s unaudited
balance sheet as of September 30, 2005 attached to this Agreement as
Exhibit
3.03(A)
(the
"Pre-Closing
Balance Sheet").
(iii) The
Surviving Company 's Delivery of Draft Closing Balance Sheet and Draft Closing
Date Net Working Capital.
The
Surviving Company shall deliver the Draft Closing Balance Sheet (and the related
worksheets, working papers, notes, schedules and other documents prepared in
connection with the Draft Closing Balance Sheet) and its calculation of the
Net
Working Capital of FastFind as of the Closing Date (the "Draft
Closing Date Net Working Capital")
to the
Member Representative not later than sixty (60) calendar days following the
Closing Date.
(B) Review
by the Member Representative and its Accountants.
Within
thirty (30) calendar days following the receipt by the Member Representative
of
the Draft Closing Balance Sheet (and the related worksheets, working papers,
notes, schedules and other documents prepared in connection with the Draft
Closing Balance Sheet) from the Surviving Company, the Member Representative
shall provide to Surviving Company a report indicating its agreement or
objections to the Draft Closing Balance Sheet and the Draft Closing Date Net
Working Capital (the "FastFind Report").
5
(C) Cooperation.
For
purposes of preparing the Draft Closing Balance Sheet and during the period
of
any dispute referred to in Section 3.03(D) below, the Member Representative,
Bankrate and their respective accountants and representatives shall fully
cooperate with each other, and provide each other full access to the books,
records, facilities and employees of the Surviving Company, insofar as each
party has possession or control of the foregoing, in each case to the extent
required to enable the parties, with the assistance of their respective
accountants and representatives, to prepare or review the Draft Closing Balance
Sheet. Bankrate agrees that following the Closing it will not take any actions
with respect to the accounting books, records, policies and procedures of the
Surviving Company that would affect the preparation of the Draft Closing Balance
Sheet or the FastFind Report.
(D) Agreement
on Closing Balance Sheet.
(i) Agreement
of the Parties.
Within
fifteen (15) calendar days of the receipt by the Member Representative of the
FastFind Report, the Member Representative and Bankrate shall endeavor to agree
on any matters in dispute.
(ii) Decision
by Independent Accounting Firm.
If the
Member Representative and Bankrate are unable to agree on any matters in dispute
within fifteen (15) calendar days after receipt of the FastFind Report, the
matters in dispute will be submitted for resolution to a "big four" accounting
firm selected by lot (other than KPMG LLP or Ernst & Young LLP) (the
"Independent
Accounting Firm")
to
make a final determination in accordance with the guidelines and procedures
set
forth in this Agreement. The Member Representative and Bankrate shall instruct
the Independent Accounting Firm to not assign a value to any item in dispute
greater than the greatest value for such item assigned by the Member
Representative, on the one hand, or Bankrate, on the other hand, or less than
the smallest value for such item assigned by the Member Representative, on
the
one hand, or Bankrate, on the other hand. The Member Representative and Bankrate
shall also instruct the Independent Accounting Firm to make its determination
based solely on presentations by the Member Representative and Bankrate which
are in accordance with the guidelines and procedures set forth in this Agreement
(i.e., not on the basis of an independent review). Within thirty (30) calendar
days of such submission, the Independent Accounting Firm shall determine and
issue a written report to Bankrate and the Member Representative. Bankrate
and
the Member Representative shall cooperate with each other and each other's
representatives to enable the Independent Accounting Firm to render a decision
as promptly as possible.
(iii) Fees.
The
fees and disbursements of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be billed to
Bankrate; provided, however, each of FastFind and Bankrate shall be responsible
for paying such fees in inverse proportion as they prevail on matters decided
by
the Independent Accounting Firm, which proportionate allocations shall also
be
determined by the Independent Accounting Firm, as arbitrators, at the time
such
determination of the Independent Accounting Firm is rendered on the submitted
dispute(s). All amounts owed by FastFind pursuant to this Section 3.03(D)(iii)
Bankrate shall be included in the Purchase Price adjustment set forth in Section
3.03(E).
6
(iv) Closing
Balance Sheet.
The
balance sheet incorporating the resolution of matters in dispute (if any) is
referred to as the "Closing
Balance Sheet".
The
adjustment to the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 3.03(E), based on the
Closing Balance Sheet, (the "Purchase
Price Adjustment")
shall
have the legal effect of an arbitral award and shall be final, binding and
conclusive on the parties to this Agreement.
(E) Purchase
Price Adjustment Based on Closing Date Net Working Capital.
(i) Adjustment
if the Closing Date Net Working Capital is Greater than Zero.
If the
Net Working Capital of the Surviving Company, as disclosed in the Closing
Balance Sheet (the "Closing
Date Net Working Capital"),
is
greater
than
zero, then (a) the Purchase Price shall be increased by the amount of such
Net
Working Capital and (b) Bankrate shall immediately pay such amount plus interest
thereon from the Closing Date at the rate of 8% per annum to the Member
Representative, for the benefit of the Members.
(ii) Adjustment
if the Closing Date Net Working Capital is Less than Zero.
If the
Closing Date Net Working Capital is less
than
zero, then (a) the Purchase Price shall be decreased by the amount of such
Net
Working Capital deficit and (b) each of the Members, through the Member
Representative, shall instruct the Escrow Agent to immediately pay to Bankrate
such Member’s pro-rata portion of such Net Working Capital deficit, plus
interest thereon from the Closing Date at the rate of 8% per annum, from the
Indemnification Escrow Cash.
Section
3.04 Withholding
Rights.
The
Member Representative shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the
consideration otherwise payable to any Member pursuant to this Agreement such
amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the
making of such payment under the Code, or under any provision of state, local
or
foreign tax Law. If the Member Representative withholds amounts in accordance
with this Section
3.04,
such
amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been
paid
to the Member.
Section
3.05 No
Further Ownership Rights in FastFind Membership Interests after the Effective
Time.
The
Purchase Price paid in accordance with the terms of this Article III upon
conversion of any FastFind Membership Interests shall be deemed to have been
paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such FastFind Membership
Interests. After the Effective Time, there shall be no registration of transfers
on the membership interest transfer books that were outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time.
Section
3.06 Dissenters
Rights.
Members
may be entitled to dissenters' rights under the Delaware Corporate Law. At
the
Effective Time, all membership interests held by dissenting Members shall
automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and such Member shall
cease
to have any rights with respect to such membership interests, except for rights
in accordance with the provisions of the Delaware Corporate Law.
Section
3.07 Options.
FastFind
shall take all actions necessary to ensure that FastFind will not, at the time
of the Closing, be bound by any options, warrants, rights, convertible or
exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock rights, “stock appreciation rights”,
stock-based performance units or other rights or agreements which would entitle
any Person, other than Bankrate and the Sub, to own any ownership interests
of
FastFind or to receive any payment in respect thereof at any time after the
Closing Date.
7
ARTICLE
IV
EFFECT
OF THE MERGER ON THE MEMBERSHIP INTERESTS OF THE SUB AND
FASTFIND
Section
4.01 Effect
of Merger on Membership Interests.
At the
Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any further action on
the
part of Bankrate, Sub, FastFind, the Members or any holder of any membership
interests of Sub:
(A) Membership
Interests of Sub Convert to Membership Interests of the Surviving
Company.
As of
the Effective Time, each issued and outstanding membership interest of Sub
(the
"Sub
Membership Interests")
shall
be converted into and become one (1) fully paid and nonassessable membership
interest of the Surviving Company.
(B) Cancellation
of FastFind Treasury Membership Interests.
As of
the Effective Time, all FastFind Membership Interests that are owned by FastFind
if any, shall
automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist. No cash or other
consideration shall be delivered or deliverable in exchange for such FastFind
Membership Interests.
(C) Cancellation
of FastFind Membership Interests.
As of
the Effective Time, all FastFind Membership Interests shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and shall cease to exist, and
each Member shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the
right to receive the Purchase Price in accordance with Article III, without
interest. FastFind has not issued certificates representing FastFind Membership
Interests.
ARTICLE
V
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE MEMBERS
The
Members, jointly and severally, represent
and warrant to Bankrate and Sub that:
Section
5.01 Organization,
Standing and Power.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.01,
FastFind is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the jurisdiction in which it is organized and has full limited liability
company power and authority and possesses all material licenses, permits and
approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold its properties
and assets and to conduct its businesses as presently conducted. FastFind is
duly qualified to do business in each jurisdiction where the nature of its
business or the ownership or leasing of its properties makes such qualification
necessary.
Section
5.02 Certificate
of Formation; Limited Liability Company Agreement.
Exhibit
5.02(A)
is a
true and complete copy of the Certificate of Formation of FastFind, as amended
to the date of this Agreement (as so amended, the "FastFind
Certificate of Formation").
Exhibit
5.02(B)
is a
true and complete copy of FastFind’s Limited Liability Company Agreement, as
amended to the date of this Agreement (as so amended, the "FastFind LLC
Agreement").
FastFind is not in violation of any of the provisions of the FastFind
Certificate of Formation or the FastFind LLC Agreement.
Section
5.03 FastFind
has No Subsidiaries and Owns No Equity Interests in Any
Person.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.03,
FastFind has never had nor does it currently have any Subsidiaries, nor has
FastFind owned or does it currently own, directly or indirectly, any capital
stock, membership interest, partnership interest, joint venture interest or
other equity interest in any Person.
8
Section
5.04 Ownership
of Members.
Each of
the Members owns the respective number of membership interests of FastFind
as
set forth in Schedule
1. Immediately
prior to Closing, the Members shall:
(A) have
good
and marketable title to and own, beneficially and of record, One Hundred Percent
(100%) of the FastFind Membership Interests;
(B) own
the
FastFind Membership Interests free and clear of all Liens of any nature
whatsoever; and
(C) have
full
voting power over all of the FastFind Membership Interests, subject to no proxy,
operating agreement (other than the FastFind LLC Agreement), voting trust or
other agreement relating to the voting of any of the FastFind Membership
Interests.
Other
than this Agreement or the FastFind LLC Agreement, there is no agreement between
FastFind and/or any of the Members and any other Person with respect to the
disposition, pledge or hypothecation of any of the FastFind Membership Interests
or otherwise relating to the FastFind Membership Interests.
Section
5.05 The
Members and FastFind Approve and Adopt this Agreement.
Other
than the approval by FastFind's Board of Managers and the Members, no other
action is required on the part of FastFind or the Members to approve and adopt
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
Transactions.
Section
5.06 FastFind
has Authority to Enter Into this Agreement and Engage in the
Transactions.
The
execution, delivery and performance by FastFind of this Agreement and the
ancillary agreements to be entered into by FastFind pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement (the "Ancillary
Agreements"),
and
the consummation by FastFind of the Transactions: (A) are within the requisite
limited liability company powers of FastFind; (B) not in contravention of the
terms of the FastFind Certificate of Formation and the FastFind LLC Agreement;
and (C) have been duly authorized and approved by the FastFind Board of Managers
and the Members, and by all necessary limited liability company action on the
part of FastFind. No other proceedings on the part of FastFind are necessary
to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance by FastFind of this Agreement,
the Ancillary Agreements and the Transactions.
Section
5.07 FastFind
and the Members have Validly Executed and Delivered this
Agreement.
FastFind and the Members have each duly executed and delivered this Agreement,
and the Ancillary Agreements to be entered into by FastFind and/or the Members
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall have been duly and validly
executed and delivered by FastFind and/or the Members, as applicable. This
Agreement constitutes, and upon their execution and delivery, such Ancillary
Agreements will constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation, of FastFind
and/or the Members, as applicable, enforceable against FastFind and/or each
Member in accordance with their respective terms, except as may be limited
by
bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws affecting creditor’s rights generally and
general principles of equity.
Section
5.08 Capital
Structure.
(A) Breakdown
of Authorized Membership Interests.
There
are 20,000 membership interests of FastFind authorized, all of which are issued
and outstanding. As of the date of this Agreement, no other securities of
FastFind were issued, reserved for issuance, or outstanding.
9
(B) FastFind
Membership Interests Validly Issued.
The
FastFind Membership Interests, are, duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid
and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase
option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription
right or any similar right under any provision of the Delaware Corporate Law,
the FastFind Certificate of Formation, the FastFind LLC Agreement or any
Contract (as defined in Section 5.10(B)) to which FastFind is a party or
otherwise bound, providing for the issuance, disposition or acquisition of
any
equity interests of FastFind.
(C) No
Voting FastFind Debt Exists.
There
are not any bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of FastFind having
the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having
the right to vote) on any matters on which holders of FastFind Membership
Interests may vote ("Voting
FastFind Debt").
(D) No
Obligation to Issue Additional Equity or Similar Rights.
Except
as set forth above in Sections 5.08(A) and 5.08(B), as of the date of this
Agreement, there are not any options, warrants, rights, convertible or
exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock rights, “stock appreciation rights”,
stock-based performance units, commitments, contracts, arrangements or
undertakings of any kind to which FastFind is a party or by which FastFind
is
bound:
(i) obligating
FastFind to issue, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, delivered or sold,
additional membership interests of FastFind or other equity interests in, or
any
security convertible or exercisable for or exchangeable into any of membership
interests of FastFind or other equity interest in FastFind or any Voting
FastFind Debt,
(ii) obligating
FastFind to issue, grant, extend or enter into any such options, warrant, call,
right, security, commitment, contract, arrangement or undertaking, or
(iii) that
give
any Person the right to receive any economic benefit or right similar to or
derived from the economic benefits and rights occurring to holders of FastFind’s
membership interests.
(E) No
Obligation to Redeem Membership Interests of FastFind.
There
are not any outstanding contractual obligations of FastFind to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any membership interests of FastFind. At the time
of
the Closing, there will not be outstanding any rights, warrants, options or
other securities entitling the holders thereof to purchase, acquire or otherwise
receive any membership interests of FastFind (or any other securities
exercisable for or convertible into such Membership Interests).
Section
5.09 Financial
Statements.
FastFind has furnished Bankrate with copies of its (i) audited financial
statements as of December 31, 2004 and (ii) unaudited financial statements
as of
September 30, 2005, prepared in accordance with GAAP (the "Financials").
The
Financials are consistent with the books and records of FastFind. The Financials
are correct in all material respects. The Financials present fairly, in all
material respects, the financial condition and operating results of FastFind
as
of the dates and during the periods indicated therein. There has been no change
in FastFind accounting policies, except as described in the Financials.
Section
5.10 No
Conflicts.
The
execution and delivery by FastFind and the Members of this Agreement or any
of
the Ancillary Agreements to be entered into by FastFind or any Member(s)
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, and the consummation of the
Transactions, will not conflict with or result in any violation of or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to
loss
of a material benefit under, or to increased, additional, accelerated or
guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, or result in the creation
of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of FastFind under, any
provision of:
10
(A) the
FastFind Certificate of Formation or the FastFind LLC Agreement;
(B) any
Material Contract (as defined in Section 5.14), lease, license, indenture,
note,
bond, agreement, permit, concession, franchise or other instrument (a
"Contract")
to
which the Members or FastFind is a party or by which any of their respective
properties or assets is bound, or
(C) any
Judgment or Law applicable to the Members, FastFind or their respective
properties or assets, subject to the filings and other matters referred to
in
Section 5.11.
Section
5.11 No
Governmental Entity Consents.
No
consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization ("Consent")
of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from, any Federal, state,
local or foreign government or any court of competent jurisdiction, (a
"Governmental
Entity")
is
required to be obtained or made by or with respect to FastFind in connection
with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Transactions, other than:
(A) the
filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State
of
Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of the other
jurisdictions in which FastFind is qualified to do business,
(B) compliance
with and such filings as may be required under applicable environmental Laws,
(C) such
filings as may be required in connection with the Taxes described in Section
5.15, and
(D) such
other items as are set forth in Exhibit
5.11(D).
Section
5.12 Brokers.
No
broker, investment banker, financial adviser or other Person is entitled to
any
broker’s, finder’s, financial adviser's or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf
of
FastFind.
Section
5.13 Absence
of Certain Changes or Events.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.13,
from
September 30, 2005, to the date of this Agreement, FastFind has conducted its
business only in the ordinary course, and during such period there has not
been
any:
(A) event,
change, effect or development that, individually or in the aggregate, has had
or
could reasonably be expected to have a FastFind Material Adverse
Effect;
(B) declaration,
setting aside or payment of any dividend or other distribution (whether in
cash,
equity or property) with respect to any membership interests of FastFind or
any
repurchase for value by FastFind of any membership interests of
FastFind;
(C) split,
combination or reclassification of any membership interests of FastFind or
any
issuance or the authorization of any issuance of any other securities in respect
of, in lieu of or in substitution for membership interests of
FastFind;
11
(D) granting
of any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any membership interests
of
FastFind or other securities of FastFind;
(E) (1)
granting to any employee, executive officer, or manager of FastFind any increase
in compensation, (2) granting to any executive officer or manager of FastFind
any increase in severance or termination pay, (3) entering into any employment,
consulting, indemnification, severance or termination agreement, or any other
Material Contract, with any such executive officer or manager, (4)
establishment, adoption, entering into or amendment in any material respect
of
any collective bargaining agreement or FastFind Benefit Plan (as defined in
Section 5.20), (5) agreeing to provide any severance benefits to any employee,
executive officer, or manager of FastFind, or (6) taking any action to
accelerate any rights or benefits, or make any material determinations not
in
the ordinary course of business consistent with prior practice, under any
collective bargaining agreement or FastFind Benefit Plan;
(F) any
change in accounting methods, principles or practices by FastFind materially
affecting the consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of
FastFind, except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP;
(G) any
material revaluation by FastFind of any of its assets;
(H) any
material change in FastFind’s pricing policies;
(I) any
liability incurred other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice, or any borrowing of monies in excess of $25,000 in the
aggregate;
(J) any
making of any loan, advance or capital contribution to, or investment in, any
Person;
(K) any
Contract with respect to any acquisition, sale or transfer of any material
asset
of FastFind;
(L) any
material damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance,
affecting its assets, properties or business;
(M) any
entry
into, amendment of, or relinquishment, termination or nonrenewal by FastFind
of
any Material Contract other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(N) any
payment or discharge of any material encumbrance;
(O) any
material elections with respect to Taxes by FastFind or settlement or compromise
by FastFind of any material Tax liability or refund;
(P) any
sale,
disposition, transfer or license to any Person of any FastFind Intellectual
Property Rights (as defined below) other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(Q) any
deferral of the payment of any accounts payable other than in the ordinary
course of business, or in an amount which is not material, or any discount,
accommodation or other concession made other than in the ordinary course of
business, in order to accelerate or induce the collection of any receivable;
or
(R) any
labor
dispute or claim of unfair labor practices.
12
Section
5.14 Material
Contracts.
Except
for this Agreement and the Material Contracts listed in Exhibit
5.14,
FastFind is not a party or subject to any of the following (whether oral or
in
writing):
(A) any
material reseller, marketing, sales representative or similar Contract under
which any third party is authorized to sell, market or take orders for any
of
FastFind’s products or services;
(B) any
Contract in which FastFind has granted or received exclusive sales, distribution
or marketing rights, rights of refusal, rights of first negotiation or similar
rights with respect to any product or service;
(C) any
Contract providing for the development of any material technology or
Intellectual Property rights, independently or jointly, for it, other than
consultants and contractors of FastFind on FastFind’s standard forms for such
Contracts;
(D) any
joint
venture or partnership Contract, any Contract relating to a limited liability
company or any other Contract which has involved, or is reasonably expected
to
involve, a sharing of revenues, profits, cash flows, expenses or losses by
it
with any other party;
(E) any
Contract for or relating to the employment or hiring for services of any of
its
managers, officers, members or key employees;
(F) any
Contract or trust deed encumbering any of its assets or properties, any
promissory note, any credit line, credit facility, loan agreement or other
Contract for the borrowing of money pursuant to which it may borrow or loan
funds, any security agreement encumbering any of its assets or properties,
any
security agreement encumbering any asset or property of a third party for its
benefit, any guarantee by it of any obligation or indebtedness of another party
or any guarantee of any of its obligations or indebtedness, and any Contract
for
a leasing transaction of a type required to be capitalized in accordance with
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 13 of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board;
(G) any
Contract under which it is lessee of or holds or operates any items of tangible
personal property or real property owned by any third party and under which
payments to such third party exceed $50,000.00 per annum, and any Contract
for
the sale, purchase or disposition of any real property;
(H) any
Contract for the sale, licensing or leasing by or to it of any assets,
properties, products, services or rights having a value in excess of $50,000.00
or which is material to FastFind’s business;
(I) any
Contract or plan (including any options, warrants, rights, convertible or
exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock rights, “stock appreciation rights”, or
stock-based performance units) relating to the sale, issuance, grant, exercise,
award, purchase, repurchase or redemption of any membership interests of
FastFind or any options, warrants, convertible notes or other rights to purchase
or otherwise acquire any membership interests of FastFind, other securities
or
options, warrants or other similar rights;
(J) any
Contract pursuant to which FastFind has acquired a material business or entity,
or assets of a business or entity, whether by way of merger, consolidation,
purchase of stock, purchase of assets, license or otherwise;
13
(K) any
other
Contract to which FastFind is a party or by which FastFind or any of FastFind’s
assets or properties are bound (i) that is material to the financial condition
and results of operations of FastFind taken as a whole or (ii) that involves
a
future financial commitment by it in excess of $50,000; or
(L) any
Contract between FastFind and any Governmental Entity or any
Permit.
All
Contracts listed in Exhibit
5.14
shall be
collectively referred to as the "Material
Contracts". Neither
FastFind nor, to the Knowledge of FastFind, any other party, is in material
breach or default under any Material Contract.
Each
FastFind Education Insertion Orders, Online Advertising Agreements, Master
Marketing Agreements/Lead Purchase Agreements identified on Exhibit
5.14 that
involves less than $50,000 in future consideration is
materially identical other than for particular information about the other
party
entering into such agreement (name, address, contact person, etc.), pricing
information and information about the particular campaign (as
applicable).
Section
5.15 Taxes.
(A) Returns
are Timely Filed.
FastFind has timely filed all Returns relating to Taxes required to be filed
by
or on behalf of FastFind on or before the Closing, with any Tax authority,
such
Returns are true, correct and complete in all material respects, and FastFind
has paid all Taxes shown to be due on such Returns.
(B) Withholdings.
FastFind has withheld with respect to its employees all federal and state income
Taxes, Taxes pursuant to the Federal Insurance Contribution Act, Taxes pursuant
to the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, Taxes pursuant to the exercise, deemed
exercise, transfer, cancellation and/or termination of the options, and other
Taxes required to be withheld.
(C) No
Delinquencies, Deficiencies or Waivers.
(i) No
deficiencies for Taxes have been claimed, proposed or assessed in writing by
any
Governmental Entity for which FastFind may have any liability;
(ii) There
are
no pending or, to the Knowledge of FastFind, threatened audits, suits,
proceedings, actions, investigations or claims for or relating to any liability
in respect of Taxes with respect to FastFind;
(iii) There
are
no matters under discussion by FastFind with any Governmental Entity with
respect to Taxes that may result in an additional amount of Taxes for which
FastFind may have any liability or which may attach to the assets and properties
of FastFind; and
(iv) FastFind
has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to
any
extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(D) No
Audits.
To the
Knowledge of FastFind, no audit or other examination of any Return of FastFind
by any Tax authority is presently in progress, nor has FastFind been notified,
orally or in writing, of any request for such an audit or other examination
or
any Tax authority’s intent to request such an audit or other examination.
14
(E) No
Adjustments Proposed.
To the
Knowledge of FastFind, no adjustment relating to any Returns filed by FastFind
has been proposed in writing formally or informally by any Tax authority to
FastFind or any representative thereof that is reasonably likely to be material
to FastFind.
(F) No
Liability for Unpaid Taxes.
FastFind has no liability for unpaid Taxes which have not been accrued for
or
adequately reserved on the Financials in accordance with GAAP, whether asserted
or unasserted, contingent or otherwise, which is material to
FastFind.
(G) FastFind
is Not a USRPHC.
Since
its inception, FastFind has not been a "United States real property holding
corporation," as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code and in Section
1.897-2(b) of the Regulations.
(H) No
Liens for Taxes.
There
are no material Liens for Taxes (other than taxes not yet due and payable)
upon
any of the assets of FastFind.
(I) No
Consolidated Filings.
FastFind has not been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated
federal income Tax Return.
(J) No
Tax
Allocations or Sharing.
FastFind is not a party to any income Tax allocation or sharing
agreement.
(K) Tax
Information Provided to Bankrate.
FastFind has made available to Bankrate correct and complete copies of all
federal income tax returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies
assessed against or agreed to by FastFind within the past three (3)
years.
(L) No
Distributions.
FastFind has not distributed equity of another Person, or has had its membership
interests distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported
or
intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 of the Code or
Section 361 of the Code within the last two (2) years.
Section
5.16 Affiliate
Transactions.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.16,
there
are no contracts, commitments, agreements, borrowings, arrangements or other
transactions between either FastFind and any (a) officer or manager of FastFind,
(b) record or beneficial owner of the voting securities of FastFind, or (c)
other affiliate of such officer, manager, Member or beneficial owner of FastFind
Membership Interests.
Section
5.17 Banking
Relationships. Exhibit
5.17
sets
forth the names and locations of all banks, trust companies, savings and loan
associations and other financial institutions at which FastFind maintains any
safe deposit boxes or accounts and the names of all Persons authorized to draw
thereon or make withdrawals therefrom.
Section
5.18 Title
to Properties.
(A) Real
Property Ownership and Leases.
FastFind does not own any real property interests. Exhibit
5.18
sets
forth a list of all leases of real property used primarily in the operation
of
the FastFind business. FastFind is in material compliance with the terms of
such
real property leases and, to the Knowledge of FastFind such leases are valid
and
effective in accordance with their respective terms, and there is not, under
any
of such leases, any existing default or event of default (or event which with
notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default) that would give
rise to a material claim against Bankrate.
15
(B) Valid
Ownership or Leasehold of Property.
FastFind has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased properties
and
assets, valid leasehold interests in, all of the material tangible properties
and assets, real, personal and mixed, used in FastFind’s business or shown on
the Financials.
Section
5.19 Intellectual
Property.
(A) FastFind
Intellectual Property Rights.
Except
as set forth on Exhibit
5.19(A),
FastFind owns, or has a valid right or license to use all Intellectual Property
currently used in the conduct of FastFind’s business (such Intellectual Property
being collectively referred to as the "FastFind
Intellectual Property Rights"). "FastFind
Owned Intellectual Property Rights" means
FastFind Intellectual Property Rights that are owned or licensed exclusively
to
FastFind.
(B) FastFind’s
Licenses.
Exhibit
5.19(B)
sets
forth a list of all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements as to which
FastFind is a party and pursuant to which FastFind grants to any Person any
rights to use any FastFind Intellectual Property Right.
(C) No
Restrictions on Use or Licensing of FastFind Owned Intellectual Property
Rights.
No
FastFind Owned Intellectual Property Right is subject to any outstanding
judgment, injunction, order, decree or agreement restricting the use thereof
by
FastFind or restricting the licensing thereof by FastFind to any
Person.
(D) No
Conflicts with this Agreement and the Transactions.
Neither
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement nor the consummation
of the Transactions will, in accordance with their terms: (i) constitute a
material breach of or material default under any contract to which FastFind
is a
party governing any FastFind Intellectual Property Right; or (ii) cause any
material restriction on FastFind’s right to use, or the forfeiture or
termination of (or give rise to a right of forfeiture or termination of), any
FastFind Intellectual Property Right.
(E) No
Infringement or Litigation.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.19(E),
neither
the development, marketing, license, sale or distribution of any FastFind’s
products or business method violates any contract between the FastFind and
any
other Person or, to the Knowledge of FastFind, infringes or misappropriates
any
Intellectual Property Right of any third party. Except as set forth in
Exhibit
5.19(E),
there
is no pending or, to the Knowledge of FastFind, threatened claim or litigation
contesting the validity, ownership or right of FastFind to exercise any FastFind
Intellectual Property Right or to use, develop, manufacture, market, license,
sell or distribute any FastFind product. Except as set forth in Exhibit
5.19(E),
FastFind has not received any written or, to the Knowledge of FastFind, oral
notice asserting that any FastFind Intellectual Property Right or FastFind
product or business method conflicts with the rights of any other Person.
Notwithstanding anything set forth in this Agreement or Exhibit
5.19(E)
to the
contrary, to the Knowledge of FastFind, no FastFind Intellectual Property Right
or FastFind product or business method infringes or misappropriates any
Intellectual Property Right of any third party or conflicts with the rights
of
any other Person.
(F) Registered
Intellectual Property.
Exhibit
5.19(F)
sets
forth all Registered Intellectual Property. All necessary registration,
maintenance and renewal fees currently due in connection with Registered
Intellectual Property have been made and all necessary documents, recordations
and certificates in connection with such Registered Intellectual Property have
been filed with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other authorities
in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the
purposes of maintaining such Registered Intellectual Property, except, in each
case, as would not have a material impact on such item of Registered
Intellectual Property.
16
(G) No
Employee Violations or Assignments.
FastFind has not received any written or, to the Knowledge of FastFind, oral
notice that any employee or consultant of FastFind: (1) is in material violation
of any term or covenant of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement,
invention assignment agreement, nondisclosure agreement, non-competition
agreement or any other contract, agreement, arrangement, commitment or
undertaking with any other party by virtue of such employee’s or consultant’s
being employed by, or performing services for, FastFind or using trade secrets
or proprietary information of others without permission; or (ii) has developed
any technology, software, or other copyrightable, patentable or otherwise
proprietary work for FastFind that is subject to any agreement under which
such
employee or consultant has assigned or otherwise granted to any other Person
any
rights (including Intellectual Property rights) in or to such technology,
software or other copyrightable, patentable or other proprietary
work.
(H) Assignment
by Employees to FastFind.
All
employees and consultants of FastFind that have materially contributed to the
development of FastFind Owned Intellectual Property have executed and delivered
an agreement regarding the protection of such proprietary information and the
assignment of inventions to FastFind.
(I) Internet
Domain Names.
Exhibit
5.19(I)
sets
forth all Internet domain names used in FastFind’s business.
Section
5.20 Employee
Benefit Plans.
(A) No
ERISA Affiliates.
Other
than Wescoco Investors, LLC, there is no entity, trade or business that has
been
or is a member with FastFind of a group described in Code Section 414(b), (c),
(m) or (o), or Section 4001(b)(1) of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act
of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”),
or
that is a member of the same “controlled group” with FastFind pursuant to ERISA
Section 4001(a)(14). Other than FastFind, there is no entity, trade or business
that has been or is a member with Wescoco Investors, LLC of a group described
in
Code Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o), or ERISA Section 4001(b)(1), or that
is a
member of the same “controlled group” with Wescoco Investors, LLC pursuant to
ERISA Section 4001(a)(14).
(B) FastFind
Employee Benefit Plans.
FastFind has listed in Exhibit
5.20(B),
and, in
addition thereto, has delivered or made available to Bankrate prior to the
execution of this Agreement copies (and will continue to make the same available
to Bankrate after execution of this Agreement and after the Closing, where
necessary) of any and all pension, retirement, profit-sharing, deferred
compensation, Options, employee stock ownership, severance pay, vacation, bonus,
or other incentive plan, all other written employee programs, arrangements,
or
agreements, including any employment agreement which may itself contain such
provisions, all medical, vision, dental, or other health plans, all life
insurance plans, and all other employee benefit plans or fringe benefit plans,
including “employee benefit plans” as that term is defined in ERISA Section
3(3), currently adopted, maintained by, participated in, sponsored in whole
or
in part by, or contributed to by FastFind for the benefit of FastFind’s
employees, retirees, dependents, spouses, directors, independent contractors,
or
any other beneficiaries (collectively “Participants”)
under
which such Participants are eligible to participate or receive benefits
(collectively, the “FastFind
Benefit Plans”).
The
FastFind Benefit Plans documents delivered or made available to Bankrate by
FastFind include true and
complete copies of each plan, together with any amendments thereto, any trust
agreements associated with a FastFind
Benefit Plan,
together with any amendments thereto, any insurance or annuity contracts with
respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan,
all
current summary plan descriptions with respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan together
with any summaries of material modifications thereto, all Internal Revenue
Service Forms 5500 (or variations thereof) together with any Schedule B and
any
other attachment thereto filed with respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan
(for
each of the three most recent plan years for which filings have been made),
all
certified actuarial statements (for each of the three most recent plan years
for
which such statements have been prepared) with respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan,
any
auditor's reports (for each of the three most recent plan years for which
reports have been issued) with respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan,
all
current agreements or contracts entered into with any third party administrator
or trustee with respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan,
and all
current agreements or contracts with any investment manager or investment
advisor with respect to any FastFind
Benefit Plan.
17
(C) Administration
of FastFind Benefit Plans.
Except
as otherwise provided for or disclosed elsewhere in this Agreement, FastFind,
and, to FastFind’s knowledge, its agents, the trustees and other fiduciaries of
the FastFind Benefit Plans, have, at all times, complied in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of the FastFind Benefit Plans, the
Code
and ERISA and with all agreements relating to the administration of such
FastFind Benefit Plans. Except as otherwise provided for or disclosed elsewhere
in this Agreement, each FastFind Benefit Plan has been administered and
communicated to the Participants and beneficiaries in all material respects
in
accordance with its provisions, and all required annual reports, filings,
disclosures, or other communications, which have been required to be made to
the
Participants and beneficiaries, other employees, the IRS, the U.S. Department
of
Labor, or any other applicable governmental agency, in connection with each
Plan, pursuant to the Code, ERISA, or other applicable statute or regulation,
have been made in a timely manner and no material liability has been incurred
on
account of delinquent or incomplete compliance or failure to comply with such
requirements. All amendments and actions required to bring the FastFind ERISA
Plans into conformity with all of the applicable provisions of ERISA and other
applicable Laws have been made or taken with respect to those provisions of
ERISA and other applicable Laws for which the time period for amendment or
actions expired on or before the Closing Date. Any bonding required with respect
to any FastFind Benefit Plan in accordance with applicable provisions of ERISA
has been obtained and is in full force and effect. Each FastFind ERISA Plan,
which is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has
heretofore received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue
Service, and FastFind is not aware of any circumstances likely to result in
revocation of any such favorable determination letter(s).
(D) Other
Representations and Warranties Regarding FastFind Benefit Plans.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
5.20(D):
(i) There
are
no actions, suits, investigations, arbitrations, or proceedings pending against
any FastFind Benefit Plan, against the assets of any of the trusts under such
plans or the plan sponsor or the plan administrator or against any agent or
fiduciary of any FastFind Benefit Plan with respect to the operation of such
plans (other than routine benefit claims);
18
(ii) Neither
FastFind nor, to FastFind’s knowledge, any disqualified person (as defined in
Section 4975 of the Code) have engaged in a transaction with respect to any
FastFind Benefit Plan that, assuming the taxable period of such transaction
expired as of the date hereof, would subject FastFind, or, to FastFind’s
knowledge, its agents, the trustees or the other fiduciaries of the FastFind
Benefit Plans to
a Tax
imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or any penalty under Section 502(i)
of ERISA;
(iii) There
have been no governmental audits of any FastFind Benefit Plan within the last
six (6) years that has resulted in any material penalties, fines, excise taxes,
additional benefit accruals, and there are no threatened or pending governmental
audits as of the date hereof and as of the date of Closing; and
(iv) FastFind
will not issue any membership interests, Options or amend or terminate any
FastFind Benefit Plan subsequent to the date of this Agreement without the
written consent of Bankrate except as may be necessary to honor any pre-existing
contract or to maintain the qualification of such FastFind Benefit Plan in
which
case FastFind shall promptly notify Bankrate of such issuance, amendment or
termination in writing prior to its implementation.
(E) No
FastFind Pension Plans or Pension Plan Liability.
FastFind has never maintained, adopted, sponsored, or contributed to, and does
not have any liability or potential liability under or with respect to, any
multiemployer plan (as such term is defined in ERISA Section 3(37) or
4001(a)(3)) or any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in
ERISA Section 3(2)) subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA, or otherwise
has any liability or potential liability under Title IV of ERISA.
(F) No
Wescoco Investors, LLC Benefit Plans.
Wescoco
Investors, LLC has never maintained, adopted, sponsored, or contributed to,
and
does not have any liability or potential liability under or with respect to:
(i)
any multiemployer plan (as such term is defined in ERISA Section 3(37) or
4001(a)(3)) or any employee pension benefit plan (as such term is defined in
ERISA Section 3(2)) subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA, or otherwise
has any liability or potential liability under Title IV of ERISA; (ii) any
other
employee pension benefit plan; or (iii) any employee welfare benefit plan (as
such term is defined in ERISA Section 3(1)).
(G) Retiree
Health and Benefit Plans.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
5.20(G),
FastFind does not have any liability for retiree health and life benefits under
any of the FastFind Benefit Plans and if there are any such plans, there are
no
restrictions on the rights of FastFind to amend or terminate any such retiree
health or benefit Plan without incurring any post-termination liability
thereunder, except for administrative costs and professional fees to terminate
same).
(H) Effect
of Transactions.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
5.20(H),
neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
Transactions will (i) result in any payment (including severance, unemployment
compensation, golden parachute, change of control, or otherwise) becoming due
to
any director or any employee of FastFind under any FastFind Benefit Plan or
otherwise, (ii) increase any benefits otherwise payable under any FastFind
Benefit Plan, or (iii) result in any acceleration of the time of payment or
vesting of any such benefit.
(I) Entitlements.
Except
as disclosed in Exhibit
5.20(I),
the
actuarial present values of all accrued deferred compensation entitlements
(including entitlements under any executive compensation, supplemental
retirement, or employment agreement) of employees and former employees of any
FastFind and respective beneficiaries, other than entitlements accrued pursuant
to funded retirement plans subject to the provisions of Sections 401(a), have
been fully reflected on the FastFind Financials to the extent required by and
in
accordance with GAAP.
19
(J) No
Membership Interests of FastFind are Assets of FastFind Benefit
Plans.
Except
as
disclosed in Exhibit
5.20(J),
no
membership interests or other security issued by FastFind forms or has formed
a
part of the assets of any FastFind Benefit Plan.
Section
5.21 Litigation.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.21,
there
is no suit, action or proceeding pending, or to the Knowledge of FastFind,
threatened against FastFind nor is there any Judgment outstanding against
FastFind.
Section
5.22 Compliance
with Applicable Laws.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.22, FastFind
is in compliance, in all material respects, with all Laws which affect the
business, business practice or any owned or leased real or personal property
of
FastFind, including those relating to occupational health and safety and the
environment. FastFind has not received any written communication from a
Governmental Entity alleging that FastFind is not in compliance in any material
respect with any applicable Law. Neither FastFind, nor, to the Knowledge of
FastFind, any of its Affiliates, (i) is conducting as of the date of this
Agreement any internal investigation with respect to any alleged act or omission
relating to the business, business practice or any owned or leased real or
personal property of FastFind, or (ii) is planning to make a voluntary
disclosure to any Governmental Authority with respect thereto.
Section
5.23 Permits.
Except
as set forth in Exhibit
5.23, FastFind
holds all material licenses, franchises, permits, certificates, approvals and
authorizations from Governmental Entities, or required by Governmental Entities
to be obtained, in each case necessary for the conduct of its business,
including, without limitation, the sale of its products (collectively,
"Permits").
To
the Knowledge of FastFind, FastFind is in compliance in all material respects
with the terms of all Permits. To the Knowledge of FastFind, all such Permits
have are in full force and effect, and all rights and entitlements pursuant
to
such Permits are vested in FastFind. To the Knowledge of FastFind, FastFind
has
not committed any act or failed to act in a manner which could result in the
revocation or suspension of any such Permit or in any disciplinary action
relating to such Permit. FastFind has not received any written notice to the
effect that a Governmental Entity was considering the amendment, termination,
revocation or cancellation of any Permit. All such Permits are renewable by
their terms or in the ordinary course of business.
Section
5.24 Environmental
Matters.
(A) Hazardous
Material.
No
underground storage tanks and no amount of any substance that has been
designated by any Governmental Entity or by applicable federal, state or local
law to be radioactive, toxic, hazardous or otherwise a danger to health or
the
environment, including, without limitation, PCBs, asbestos, petroleum,
urea-formaldehyde and all substances listed as hazardous substances pursuant
to
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of
1980, as amended, or defined as a hazardous waste pursuant to the United States
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, and the regulations
promulgated pursuant to said laws, but excluding office and janitorial supplies
(a "Hazardous
Material") are
present, as a result of the actions of FastFind, or as a result of any actions
of any third party or otherwise, in, on or under any property, including the
land and the improvements, ground water and surface water thereof that FastFind
has at any time owned, operated, occupied or leased.
20
(B) Environmental
Liabilities.
No
material action, proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment procedure, writ
or
injunction is pending, and to the Knowledge of FastFind, no material action,
proceeding, revocation proceeding, amendment procedure, writ or injunction
has
been threatened by any Governmental Entity against FastFind in a writing
delivered to FastFind concerning any Hazardous Material. FastFind is not aware
of any fact or circumstance that reasonably could be expected to involve
FastFind in any environmental litigation or impose any environmental
liability.
Section
5.25 Insurance.
FastFind has policies of insurance and bonds of the type and in amounts
customarily carried by persons conducting business or owning assets similar
to
those of the FastFind’s business. There is no material claim pending under any
of such policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied
or
disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds. All premiums due and
payable under all such policies have been paid and FastFind is otherwise in
compliance in all material respects with the terms of such policies and bonds.
To the Knowledge of FastFind, there has been no threatened termination of,
or
material premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.
Section
5.26 Certain
Payments.
Since
the beginning of the periods covered in the Financials, neither FastFind nor,
to
the Knowledge of FastFind, any of its managers, officers, managers, Affiliates
or employees has given, offered, paid, promised to pay or authorized payment
of
any money, any gift or anything of value, in each case with the purpose of
influencing any act or decision of the recipient in his or her official capacity
or inducing the recipient to use his or her influence to affect an act or
decision of a government official or employee, to any (a) governmental official
or employee, (b) political party or candidate thereof, or (c) Person while
knowing that all or a portion of such money or thing of value would be given
or
offered to a governmental official or employee or political party or candidate
thereof.
Section
5.27 Funded
Indebtedness. Exhibit
5.27 sets
forth all of the outstanding principal and accrued and unpaid interest and
all
other amounts owing with respect to the Funded Indebtedness.
ARTICLE
VI
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BANKRATE AND SUB
Bankrate
and Sub, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to the Members
that:
Section
6.01 Organization,
Standing and Power.
Bankrate is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of Florida and has full corporate power and authority to conduct its businesses
as presently conducted. Sub is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of Delaware and has full corporate power and authority
to conduct its businesses as presently conducted.
Section
6.02 Sub.
(A) Sub's
Sole Purpose is to Enter into this Agreement.
Since
the date of its formation, Sub has not carried on any business or conducted
any
operations other than the execution of this Agreement, the performance of its
obligations pursuant to this Agreement and matters ancillary to its obligations
pursuant to this Agreement.
21
(B) Sub’s
Membership Interests.
All of
the authorized membership interests of Sub have been validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable and are owned by Bankrate free and clear of any
Lien.
Section
6.03 Bankrate
and Sub have Authority to Enter Into this Agreement and Engage in the
Transactions.
The
execution, delivery and performance by Bankrate and Sub of this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements, and the consummation by Bankrate and Sub of the
Transactions are: (A) within the requisite corporate or limited liability
company powers, as applicable, of Bankrate and Sub; (B) are not in contravention
of the terms of Bankrate and Sub's organizational documents; and (C) have been
duly authorized and approved by all necessary corporate action on the part
of
Bankrate and Sub. No other proceedings on the part of Bankrate or Sub are
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance by Bankrate
and
Sub of this Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements, and the Transactions.
Section
6.04 Bankrate
and Sub have Validly Executed and Delivered this
Agreement.
Bankrate and Sub have each duly executed and delivered this Agreement, and
the
Ancillary Agreements to be entered into by Bankrate and/or Sub pursuant to
the
terms of this Agreement shall have been duly and validly executed and delivered
by Bankrate and/or Sub, as applicable. This Agreement constitutes, and upon
their execution and delivery, such Ancillary Agreements will constitute, the
legal, valid and binding obligation, of Bankrate and/or Sub, as applicable,
enforceable against Bankrate and/or Sub in accordance with their respective
terms, except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws
affecting creditor’s rights generally and general principles of equity.
Section
6.05 No
Conflicts.
The
execution and delivery by each of Bankrate and Sub of this Agreement, do not,
and the consummation of the Transactions and compliance with the terms of this
Agreement will not, conflict with, or result in any violation of or default
(with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to
loss
of a material benefit under, or to increased, additional, accelerated or
guaranteed rights or entitlements of any Person under, or result in the creation
of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Bankrate or any of its
Subsidiaries under, any provision of (i) the charter or organizational documents
of Bankrate or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any material Contract to which
Bankrate or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their
respective properties or assets is bound or (iii) subject to the filings and
other matters referred to in Section 6.06, any material Judgment or Law
applicable to Bankrate or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective properties
or assets.
Section
6.06 No
Government Entity Consents are Necessary.
No
Consent of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity
is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to Bankrate or any
Bankrate Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, other than (i) the
filing with the SEC of such reports as may be required in connection with this
Agreement and the Transactions, (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (iii) such other
items
as are set forth in Exhibit
6.06.
Section
6.07 Brokers.
No
broker, investment banker, financial adviser or other Person, is entitled to
any
broker’s, finder’s, financial adviser’s or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the Transactions based upon arrangements made by or on behalf
of
Bankrate.
22
Section
6.08 Availability
of Funds.
Buyer
has
cash available to enable it to consummate on a timely basis the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
Section
6.09 Solvency.
Immediately after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, FastFind shall be able to pay its debts as they become due and shall
own property which has a fair saleable value greater than the amounts required
to pay their respective debts (including a reasonable estimate of the amount
of
all contingent liabilities). Immediately after giving effect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, FastFind shall have adequate capital to carry
on
its business. No transfer of property is being made and no obligation is being
incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
with
the intent to hinder, delay or defraud either present or future creditors of
Bankrate or FastFind.
Section
6.10 Acquisition
for Investment.
The
FastFind Membership Interests acquired by Bankrate pursuant to this Agreement
are being acquired for investment only and not with a view to any public
distribution thereof, and Bankrate will not offer to sell or otherwise dispose
of the FastFind Membership Interests so acquired by it, in violation of any
of
the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
any
comparable state law.
ARTICLE
VII
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS; NO DISCUSSIONS WITH
OTHERS;
ACCESS TO INFORMATION; AND EFFORTS TO CONSUMMATE THE
TRANSACTIONS;
HIRING OF EMPLOYEES
Section
7.01 Conduct
of Business of FastFind.
(A) Conduct
of Business by FastFind.
Except
for matters set forth in Exhibit
7.01(A)
or
otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement
to the Effective Time, FastFind shall conduct its business in the usual, regular
and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as previously conducted
and
use all reasonable efforts to preserve intact its current business organization,
keep available the services of its current officers and employees and keep
its
relationships with customers, suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors
and
others having business dealings with them to the end that its goodwill and
ongoing business shall be unimpaired at the Effective Time. In addition, and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except for matters set forth
in Exhibit
7.01(A)
or
otherwise expressly permitted by this Agreement, from the date of this Agreement
to the Effective Time, FastFind shall not do any of the following without the
prior written consent of Bankrate:
(i) (1)
declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions
in
respect of, any of the FastFind Membership Interests, (2) split, combine or
reclassify any of the FastFind Membership Interests or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for shares of the FastFind Membership Interests, or (3) purchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire any shares of the FastFind Membership Interests or any other
securities of FastFind or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such
membership interests or other securities;
(ii) issue,
deliver, sell or grant (1) any membership interests of FastFind, (2) any Voting
FastFind Debt or other voting securities, (3) any securities convertible into
or
exchangeable for, or any options, warrants or rights to acquire, any such
membership interests, Voting FastFind Debt, voting securities or convertible
or
exchangeable securities or (4) any options, warrants, rights, convertible or
exchangeable securities, "phantom" stock rights, “stock appreciation rights”,
stock-based performance units;
23
(iii) amend
the
FastFind Certificate of Formation, the FastFind LLC Agreement or other
comparable charter or organizational documents;
(iv) acquire
or agree to acquire (1) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing
a
substantial equity interest in or portion of the assets of, or by any other
manner, any business or any corporation, partnership, joint venture, association
or other business organization or division thereof or (2) any assets that are
material, individually or in the aggregate, to FastFind, taken as a
whole;
(v) enter
or
agree to enter into any joint venture or other strategic business arrangement
with another Person;
(vi) enter
into or terminate any Material Contract, or make any change in any Material
Contract, other than the renewals of Material Contracts without material adverse
changes of terms;
(vii) (1)
grant
to any executive officer, manager, or member of FastFind any increase in
compensation, (2) grant to any executive officer or manager of FastFind any
increase in severance or termination pay, (3) enter into any employment,
consulting, indemnification, severance or termination agreement, or any other
Material Contract, with any such executive officer or manager, (4) establish,
adopt, enter into or amend in any material respect any collective bargaining
agreement or FastFind Benefit Plan or (5) take any action to accelerate any
rights or benefits, or make any material determinations not in the ordinary
course of business consistent with prior practice, under any collective
bargaining agreement or FastFind Benefit Plan;
(viii) make
any
change in accounting methods, principles or practices materially affecting
the
reported consolidated assets, liabilities or results of operations of FastFind,
except insofar as may have been required by a change in GAAP;
(ix) sell,
lease (as lessor), license or otherwise dispose of or subject to any Lien any
properties or assets, except sales of inventory and excess or obsolete assets
in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, but in no event
involving a sale price or value in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000.00);
(x) (1)
incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of
another Person, guarantee any debt securities of another Person, enter into
any
"keep well" or other agreement to maintain any financial statement condition
of
another Person or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of
any
of the foregoing, except under existing lines of credit or for short-term
borrowings incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, or (2) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or
investments in, any other Person;
(xi) make
or
agree to make any new capital expenditure or expenditures that, individually,
is
in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) or, in the aggregate, are in
excess of Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00);
24
(xii) make
or
change any material Tax election or settle or compromise any material Tax
liability or refund or amend any Tax returns;
(xiii) (1)
pay,
discharge or satisfy any claims, liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued,
asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the payment,
discharge or satisfaction, in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice, (2) cancel any material indebtedness (individually or in the
aggregate) owed to FastFind or waive any claims or rights of substantial value
or (3) waive the benefits of, or agree to modify in any manner, any
confidentiality, standstill or similar agreement to which FastFind is a party;
(xiv) enter
into or carry out any transaction with any legal Affiliate of
FastFind; or
(xv) authorize
any of, or commit or agree to take any of, the foregoing actions.
(B) Other
Actions.
FastFind and Bankrate shall not, and Bankrate shall not permit any of its
Subsidiaries to, take any action that would, or that could reasonably be
expected to, result in (i) a breach of any of the representations and warranties
of such party set forth in this Agreement, or (iii) any condition to the Merger
set forth in Article VI not being satisfied.
(C) Advice
of Changes.
Each
party shall promptly advise the other party orally and in writing of any change
or event that has or could reasonably be expected to have a FastFind Material
Adverse Effect or Bankrate Material Adverse Effect, as the case may
be.
Section
7.02 Permits
Transferred to the Surviving Company and/or its Agents.
FastFind and the Members shall take all actions necessary to transfer, assign,
issue, have issued, or convey the Permits to the Surviving Company and/or its
agents, and otherwise ensure that, at the Effective Time, the Permits have
been
duly and validly issued to the Surviving Company and/or its agents, as
applicable, are in full force and effect, and all rights and entitlements
pursuant to such Permits are vested in the Surviving Company and/or its agents,
as applicable.
Section
7.03 No
Discussions with Others.
(A) No
Solicitation or Consideration of Third Party Offers.
From
the date of the execution of this Agreement until the earlier of the Closing
Date, or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms, neither
FastFind nor any Member, nor any of their respective Affiliates, officers,
managers, employees, agents or advisors, shall, directly or indirectly, solicit
offers from, negotiate with or in any manner encourage or consider any proposal
of any other Person or entity (a "Third
Party")
relating to the acquisition of an ownership interest in FastFind, or of the
assets of FastFind, in whole or in part, through purchase, merger,
consolidation, share exchange or otherwise, or any other business combination
involving FastFind (collectively, a "Third
Party Offer").
(B) Notice
to Bankrate of Third Party Offers.
If any
of the Members, FastFind, or FastFind’s Affiliates, officers, managers,
employees, agents or advisors receives any communication regarding any Third
Party Offer after the date hereof and prior to the earlier of the
Closing Date, or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms,
then the Member Representative shall immediately notify Bankrate of the receipt
of such Third Party Offer.
25
Section
7.04 Voting
Agreement By
execution of this Agreement, FastFind’s Board of Managers and the Members hereby
agree to vote their respective FastFind Membership Interests in favor of the
Transactions.
Section
7.05 Access
to Information; Confidentiality.
(A) FastFind
Shall Provide Bankrate Access to Information.
FastFind shall provide to Bankrate, and its officers, employees, accountants,
counsel, financial advisers and other representatives, reasonable access during
normal business hours and upon reasonable notice during the period prior to
the
Effective Time to all their respective properties, books, contracts,
commitments, personnel and records. During such period, FastFind shall furnish
promptly to Bankrate all information concerning its business, properties and
personnel as Bankrate may reasonably request.
(B) Disclosure
of Information is Subject to the Confidentiality Agreement.
All
information exchanged pursuant to this Agreement shall be subject to the
confidentiality agreement between FastFind and Bankrate (the "Confidentiality
Agreement")
and
each of the Members agrees to be bound by such terms of the Confidentiality
Agreement to which FastFind is bound, and to be jointly and severally liable
for
any breach of the Confidentiality Agreement by FastFind and/or any
Member.
Section
7.06 Commercially
Reasonable Efforts; Notification.
(A) Upon
the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the
parties shall take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause
to be
done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most
expeditious manner practicable, the Transactions, and shall take all action
necessary to ensure that the Transactions may be consummated as promptly as
practicable on the terms contemplated by this Agreement.
(B) Without
limiting the generality of Section 7.06(A), the parties to this Agreement
shall:
(i) obtain
all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from
Governmental Entities, make all necessary registrations and filings (including
filings with Governmental Entities, if any), and take all reasonable steps
as
may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action
or
proceeding by, any Governmental Entity;
(ii) file
the
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
and
make all other necessary filings to effectuate the Merger;
(iii) use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary consents, approvals
or
waivers from third parties;
(iv) defend
any lawsuits or other legal proceedings, whether judicial or administrative,
challenging this Agreement or the consummation of the Transactions, including
seeking to have any stay or temporary restraining order entered by any court
or
other Governmental Entity vacated or reversed; and
26
(v) executing
and delivering any additional instruments necessary to consummate the
Transactions and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
(C) FastFind
shall give prompt notice to Bankrate, and Bankrate or Sub shall give prompt
notice to FastFind, of (i) any representation or warranty made by it contained
in this Agreement becoming untrue or inaccurate in any respect or (ii) the
failure by it to comply with or satisfy in any material respect with any
covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it under
this Agreement; provided,
however,
that no
such notification shall affect the representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties
under this Agreement.
Section
7.07 Bankrate’s
Hiring of FastFind’s Employees.
Bankrate
will offer to all employees of FastFind immediately prior to the Effective
Time
(such employees being referred to as "Continuing
Employees")
continued employment with FastFind.
Section
7.08 Books
and Records.
From and
after the Closing, Bankrate shall, and shall cause FastFind to, provide Member
Representative and its authorized representatives with reasonable access (for
the purpose of examining and copying), during normal business hours, to the
books and records of FastFind with respect to periods prior to the Closing
Date
in connection with any legitimate matter whether or not relating to or arising
out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including
preparation of the FastFind's Tax Return for periods ending on or before the
Closing Date). Unless otherwise consented to in writing by the Member
Representative (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), Bankrate
shall not, for a period of five years following the Closing Date, destroy,
alter
or otherwise dispose of any material books and records of FastFind, or any
portions thereof, relating to periods prior to the Closing Date without first
offering to surrender to the Member Representative (on behalf of the Members)
such books and records or such portions thereof. The parties shall cooperate
fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by each party and at the
requesting party's expense, in connection with any audit, litigation or other
proceeding with respect to Taxes.
Section
7.09 Use
of Financials for SEC Filings.
Following the Closing, the Member Representative shall use commercially
reasonable efforts to cause FastFind’s accountants to consent to the use of
FastFind’s Financials in any filing or filings that Bankrate is required to make
pursuant to Rule 3.05 of Regulation S-X. In the event that FastFind's
accountants do not provide such consent in a timely manner, Bankrate and the
Member Representative shall select a mutually acceptable accounting firm to
prepare an audit of FastFind's Financials for the fiscal year ending December
31, 2004 that are suitable for filing pursuant to Rule 3.05 of Regulation S-X.
The fees and expenses incurred to prepare an audit of FastFind's Financials
for
the fiscal year ending December 31, 2004 that are suitable for filing pursuant
to Rule 3.05 of Regulation S-X shall be paid from the Indemnification Escrow
Cash.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
8.01 Indemnification.
(A) Bankrate's
Indemnification.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in Subsection 8.01(H), Bankrate shall indemnify
and
hold harmless the Members against and in respect of any and all direct and
indirect damages, claims, judgments, losses, liabilities and reasonable expenses
(including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys fees and expenses,
reasonable paralegal fees and expenses, reasonable investigative fees and
expenses and sales and use taxes imposed on such amounts) (collectively,
"Damages")
suffered
by the Members, which may arise out of or be in respect of: (i) any
breach or violation of this Agreement by Bankrate or Sub; (ii) any falsity,
inaccuracy or misrepresentation in any Bankrate or Sub representation, warranty
or covenant set forth in this Agreement or any Exhibit or Schedule to this
Agreement; (iii) any fraud, willful misconduct or criminal acts of Bankrate
or
Sub (including any manager, officer or employee of Bankrate or Sub, or agent
of
any such manager, officer or employee); or (iv) enforcing this Agreement and
all
actions, suits, proceedings, claims and demands incident to the
foregoing.
27
(B) Members'
Indemnification.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in Subsection 8.01(G), each of the Members, jointly
and severally, shall indemnify and hold harmless Bankrate, Sub, the Surviving
Company, and each of their respective Affiliates, managers, officers, members,
shareholders, employees, agents, attorneys, heirs, legal representatives,
successors and assigns (collectively, the "Bankrate
Group"),
against and in respect of any and all Damages suffered by the Bankrate Group,
which may arise out of or be in respect of: (i) any breach or violation of
this
Agreement by FastFind or any Member; (ii) any falsity, inaccuracy or
misrepresentation in any FastFind or Member representation, warranty or covenant
set forth in this Agreement or any Exhibit or Schedule to this Agreement; (iii)
Bankrate's reliance or actions based on any actions or representations of the
Member Representative and any actions or representations of the Member
Representative; (iv) any fraud, willful misconduct or criminal acts of FastFind
(including any manager, officer or employee of FastFind or agent of any such
manager, officer or employee) or any Member; (v) claims made against the
Bankrate Group asserting an alleged violation of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,385,594
and/or 6,611,816 by FastFind prior to the Closing, even if FastFind or the
Bankrate Group prevail against such claims; (vi) claims made against the
Bankrate Group asserting an alleged violation of either or both of U.S. Patent
Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816 by the Bankrate Group including any portion of,
or
the entire, two-year period following the Closing (solely if the Bankrate Group
has substantially continued the business methods and practices employed by
FastFind during the pre-Closing periods upon which an alleged violation of
either or both of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816 is based), even
if
the Bankrate Group prevail against such claims; (vii) items set forth on
Exhibit
5.19
and
marked with an asterisk; and (viii) the documented expenses of Bankrate, if
any,
in an amount not to exceed $100,000, incurred in connection with attempting
to
formulate a business method and practices to avoid an alleged violation of
either or both of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,385,594 and 6,611,816. Without limiting
the
generality of the foregoing, nothing in this Agreement is intended to provide
indemnification by the Members pursuant to this Agreement to any individual
or
entity that was an Affiliate of FastFind only prior to the Closing or
individuals or entities serving prior to the Closing as FastFind's managers,
officers, members, employees, agents, or attorneys and their legal
representatives, successors or assigns.
(C) Indemnified
Party Shall Provide Notice of Claim(s).
Upon
obtaining knowledge of facts or circumstances which may give rise to a right
of
indemnification, the party seeking indemnification (the "Indemnified
Party")
shall
promptly notify each party from whom indemnity is sought pursuant to this
Section 8.01 (the "Indemnifying
Parties"),
in
writing and in reasonable detail, of such facts or circumstances which may
give
rise to a right of indemnification pursuant to this Agreement, the identity
of
any third party claimants, a description of the claim, demand, action or
proceeding, if any, out of which the Damages arise, a description of the
Damages, and the amount of the Damages ("Notice
of Claim");
provided, however, that no failure or delay by the Indemnified Party in the
performance of the foregoing shall reduce or otherwise affect the obligation
of
the Indemnifying Parties to indemnify and hold the Indemnified Party harmless
except to the extent that such failure or delay prejudices the Indemnifying
Parties' rights or its ability to defend against such claim, demand, complaint,
action or proceeding.
28
(D) Third-Party
Claims.
If the
claim or demand set forth in the Notice of Claim relates to a claim or demand
asserted by a third party (a "Third
Party Claim"):
(i) Indemnified
Party May Elect that Indemnifying Parties Defend a Claim or Demand, at the
Indemnifying Parties' Expense.
The
Indemnifying Parties may assume the defense of any Third Party Claim. If the
Indemnifying Parties assume the defense of such claim or demand: (1) the
Indemnifying Parties will assume the defense of such claim or demand, including
the employment of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party to
defend such claim or demand, (2) the Indemnifying Parties shall pay all fees,
costs and disbursements in connection with the defense of such claim or demand,
including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, reasonable paralegal fees
and
expenses, reasonable investigative fees and expenses and sales and use taxes
imposed on such amounts; and (3) the Indemnified Party shall have the right
to
participate in the defense of any such Third Party Claim at its sole cost and
expense. The Indemnified Party shall make available to the Indemnifying Parties
or such Indemnifying Parties' representatives all records and other materials
reasonably required by them for their use in contesting any Third Party Claim
and shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Parties in connection therewith.
(ii) The
Indemnified Party May Defend a Claim or Demand, at the Indemnifying Parties'
Expense.
In the
event that the Indemnifying Party does not assume the defense of such claim
or
demand, then such Indemnified Party may, but shall not be obligated to, defend
such claim or demand and the Indemnifying Parties shall pay all reasonable
fees,
costs and disbursements in connection with the defense of such claim or demand,
including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, reasonable paralegal fees
and
expenses, reasonable investigative fees and expenses and sales and use taxes
imposed on such amounts of one counsel selected by the Indemnified Party and
reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying Parties. The Indemnifying Parties
shall make available to the Indemnified Party or such Indemnified Party's
representatives all records and other materials reasonably required by them
for
their use in contesting any Third Party Claim and shall cooperate with the
Indemnified Party in connection therewith.
(iii) Certain
Third Party Claims.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a Third Party Claim contemplated
by Sections 8.01(B)(v) or 8.01(B)(vi) above, the Indemnifying Party and the
Indemnified Party shall mutually agree upon one counsel on or prior to December
15, 2005 and shall mutually determine the defense of such claim or demand on
or
prior to January 13, 2006. The Indemnifying Party shall reimburse the
Indemnified Party for the first $250,000 of the reasonable attorneys fees and
expenses, reasonable paralegal fees and expenses, reasonable investigative
fees
and expenses and sales and use taxes imposed on such amounts, and 75% of such
fees, costs, taxes and charges in excess of $250,000, in connection with the
defense of such claim or demand under Sections 8.01(B)(v) or 8.01(B)(vi) above
and only to the extent incurred during the two-year period following the Closing
(which will be disbursed from the Indemnification Escrow Cash). Notwithstanding
the first sentence of this paragraph, but subject to the following two
sentences, the Indemnified Party shall control the defense of a Third Party
Claim contemplated by Sections 8.01(B)(v) or 8.01(B)(vi) at such time as the
Escrow Indemnification Cash is exhausted or, if earlier, on the later of (x)
the
first anniversary of the date hereof and (y) such time, if any, that the
Indemnified Party has made claims for indemnification in accordance with this
Agreement in excess of the Members' maximum indemnification obligations set
forth in this Agreement for such claims (e.g. once the Indemnified Party claims
more than $2,000,000 pursuant to a Third Party Claim contemplated by Sections
8.01(B)(v), 8.01(B)(vi) and/or 8.01(B)(viii) above, the Indemnified Party shall
control the defense of any such claim or demand). The Indemnifying Party must
consent to the settlement of a Third Party Claim contemplated by Section
8.01(B)(vi) if such settlement (x) does not provide for a "per lead" royalty
during the two-year period following the Closing that is financially materially
the same to the "per lead" royalty in such settlement for periods following
such
two-year period or (y) provides for a lump sum settlement for the two-year
period following the Closing. Moreover, in the event that a Third Party Claim
contemplated by Section 8.01(B)(v) is not settled by the execution of a "per
lead" royalty or licensing arrangement that is financially materially the same
to a "per lead" royalty or licensing arrangement consummated in connection
with
the settlement of a Third Party Claim contemplated by Section 8.01(B)(vi) (or
such other settlement arrangement reasonably acceptable to the Indemnifying
Party), then the Indemnifying Party shall assume the defense of any Third Party
Claim contemplated by Section 8.01(B)(v), and shall be responsible for all
fees,
costs and disbursements in connection with such Third Party Claim contemplated
by Section 8.01(B)(v) (which fees, costs and disbursements will be disbursed
from the Indemnification Escrow Cash), with any settlement thereof subject
to
the consent of the Indemnified Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld).
29
(E) Determination
of Indemnification Amount.
As soon
as is reasonably practicable after the full and final settlement or the entering
of a final and non-appealable judgment regarding a Third Party Claim, the
Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Parties shall endeavor to agree upon
the
amount, if any, to which the Indemnified Party is entitled under this Section
8.01. In the event that the Indemnifying Parties and the Indemnified Party
are
unable to reach agreement upon the right of the Indemnified Party to
indemnification hereunder, or upon the amount of any such indemnification
hereunder, either the Indemnified Party or the Indemnifying Parties may submit
such dispute for resolution based on this Section 8.01 in accordance with
Section 11.15 of this Agreement. The amount of such indemnification determined
pursuant to this Subsection 8.01(E) (the "Indemnification
Amount")
shall
be binding upon the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Parties.
(F) Payment
of Indemnification Amount.
The
Indemnifying Parties shall deliver, or shall cause the Escrow Agent to deliver,
as applicable, to the Indemnified Party, an amount that is equal to the
Indemnification Amount, and as limited by Subsections 8.01(G) and 8.01(H) below,
within ten (10) calendar days after the determination of the Indemnification
Amount.
(G) Limitations
to Members' Indemnity.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement:
(i) Maximum
Indemnification of Each Member.
Each
Member's maximum indemnification of the Indemnified Parties for Damages pursuant
to this Section 8.01 shall be limited to such Member's pro rata portion of
the
Indemnification Escrow Cash. At Bankrate’s request, the Member Representative
will provide Bankrate the necessary information to determine each Member's
pro
rata portion of the Indemnification Escrow Cash.
(ii) Maximum
Indemnification by All Members.
The
Members' aggregate indemnification of the Indemnified Parties for Damages
pursuant to this Article VIII shall be limited to the amount of the
Indemnification Escrow Cash and shall be paid exclusively from the
Indemnification Escrow Cash pursuant to this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement.
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, the Members' aggregate
indemnification of the Indemnified Parties for Damages pursuant to this Article
VIII shall not be limited to the amount of the Indemnification Escrow Cash
and
shall not be paid exclusively from the Indemnification Escrow Cash for any
Damages related to, arising out of or in connection with any of the following
(collectively, the "Exceptional
Damages"):
30
(1) Sections
5.03, 5.04, 5.05, 5.06, 5.07, 5.08, 5.12, 5.15 or 5.16;
(2) fraud,
willful misconduct, or criminal acts of FastFind or any Member;
(3) representations
and warranties of the Members in Article V hereof which were, to the Knowledge
of FastFind, untrue or inaccurate in any material respect as of the Closing
Date;
(4) claims
made under Section 8.01(B)(v);
(5) claims
made under Section 8.01(B)(vi); and/or
(6) claims
made under Section 8.01(B)(vii).
In
the
case of clause (4) above, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to recover
all
Exceptional Damages under clause (4) if they consist of a "per lead" royalty
or
licensing arrangement (so long as the "per lead" royalty or licensing
arrangement for pre-Closing periods is financially materially the same as the
"per lead" royalty or licensing arrangement for post-Closing periods). In the
case of clause (5) above, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to recover
25%
of all Exceptional Damages that consist of a "per lead" royalty or licensing
fee
paid by the Bankrate Group for leads originated from xxxxxxxx.xxx on or after
the Closing through December 31, 2007, subject to a maximum recovery amount
of
$500,000. In no event shall the Indemnified Party be entitled to recover
Exceptional Damages and other Damages in excess of the Purchase Price.
(iii) Minimum
Damages Accrued Before Duty to Indemnify Arises.
The
Members shall not indemnify the Bankrate Group for any Damages (other than
Damages pursuant to Section 8.01(B)(v), 8.01(B)(vi) and 8.01(B)(viii) hereof)
until the aggregate amount of Damages of the Bankrate Group exceeds Three
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000.00), and then only for the amount of such
aggregate Damages exceeding Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
($300,000).
(iv) Indemnification
Periods.
The
Members will indemnify the Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article VIII
for
all Damages arising from claims or demands occurring within one (1) year of
the
Closing Date, provided that the Indemnified Party provided the Member
Representative with notice of such claim or demand within one (1) year of the
Closing Date; except that the Members shall indemnify the Bankrate Group for
Exceptional Damages provided that the Bankrate Group provides the Member
Representative with a Notice of Claim of such Exceptional Damage(s) (x) in
the
case of clauses (3), (5) and (6) of the definition of Exceptional Damages,
at
any time on or before December 31, 2007 and (y) in the case of clauses (1),
(2)
and (4) of the definition of Exceptional Damages, at any time on or before
December 31, 2008.
(H) Limitations
to Bankrate's Indemnity.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this
Agreement:
31
(i) Minimum
Damages Accrued Before Duty to Indemnify Arises.
Bankrate shall not indemnify the Members for any Damages until the aggregate
amount of Damages of the Members exceeds Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
($300,000.00), and then only for the amount of such Damages exceeding Three
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($300,000).
(ii) Maximum
Indemnification by Bankrate.
Bankrate's indemnification of the Members for Damages pursuant to this Section
8.01 shall be limited to the amount of the Indemnification Escrow Cash.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Bankrate's indemnification of the Members for
Damages pursuant to this Section 8.01 shall not be limited to the amount of
the
Indemnification Escrow Cash for any Damages related to, arising out of or in
connection with Bankrate or Sub's fraud, willful misconduct, criminal acts
or
failure to make payments to the Members pursuant to Article III.
(iii) Indemnification
Periods.
Bankrate will indemnify the Members pursuant to this Section 8.01 for all
Damages arising from claims or demands occurring within one (1) year of the
Closing Date, provided that the Members provided Bankrate with notice of such
claim or demand within one (1) year of the Closing Date; except that Bankrate
shall indemnify the Members for Damages related to or arising out of the
following, provided that the Member Representative provides the Bankrate Group
with a Notice of Claim of such Damages, at any time on or before ninety (90)
days past the applicable Statute of Limitations of any breach of this Agreement
by Bankrate constituting fraud or intentional misrepresentation.
(I) Determination
of Damages.
The
amount of any and all Damages under this Article VIII shall be determined net
of
(i) the net present value of any Tax benefits reasonably expected to be realized
(calculated using a discount rate of 8%) by any party seeking indemnification
hereunder arising from the deductibility of any such Damages and (ii) any
amounts recovered or recoverable by the Indemnified Party under insurance
policies, indemnities or other reimbursement arrangements with respect to such
Damages. Each party hereby waives, to the extent permitted under its applicable
insurance policies, any subrogation rights that its insurer may have with
respect to any indemnifiable Damages. Any indemnity payment under this Agreement
shall be treated as an adjustment to the Purchase Price for Tax purposes. In
no
event shall the Bankrate Group be entitled to recover or make a claim for any
amounts in respect of consequential, incidental or indirect damages, lost
profits or punitive damages and, in particular, no "multiple of profits" or
"multiple of cash flow" or similar valuation methodology shall be used in
calculating the amount of any Damages.
(J) Exclusive
Remedy.
(i) Except
for rights, claims and causes of action it may have relating to fraud, the
Bankrate Group acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the Closing, its
sole and exclusive remedy with respect to any and all claims relating to the
subject matter of this Agreement shall be pursuant to the indemnification
provisions set forth in this Article VIII. In furtherance of the foregoing,
the
Bankrate Group hereby waives, from and after the Closing, to the fullest extent
permitted under applicable law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action
it may have against FastFind or its Members relating to the subject matter
of
this Agreement arising under or based upon any federal, state, local or foreign
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation or otherwise except for rights,
claims and causes of action it may have relating to fraud. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Bankrate Group shall
have no right to indemnification under this Article VIII with respect to any
Damages or alleged Damages if the Bankrate Group shall have requested a
reduction in the Net Working Capital reflected on the Closing Balance Sheet
on
account of any matter forming the basis for such Damage or alleged Damage and
shall have agreed, or the Independent Accounting Firm shall have determined,
that no such reduction is appropriate.
32
(ii) The
FastFind Group acknowledges and agrees that, from and after the Closing, except
for Bankrate’s failure to pay the Purchase Price, its sole and exclusive remedy
with respect to any and all claims relating to the subject matter of this
Agreement shall be pursuant to the indemnification provisions set forth in
this
Article VIII or Section 3.03. In furtherance of the foregoing, the FastFind
Group hereby waives, from and after the Closing, to the fullest extent permitted
under applicable law, any and all rights, claims and causes of action it may
have against Bankrate or its officers and directors relating to the subject
matter of this Agreement arising under or based upon any federal, state, local
or foreign statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation or
otherwise.
ARTICLE
IX
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
Section
9.01 Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect The Merger.
The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Transactions is subject to
the
satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(A) No
Injunctions or Restraints.
No
temporary judgment issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or other law
preventing the consummation of the Merger shall be in effect; provided,
however,
that
prior to asserting this condition, subject to Section 9.02, each of the parties
shall have used all commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the entry of
any
such injunction or other order and to appeal as promptly as possible any such
judgment that may be entered.
Section
9.02 Conditions
to Obligations of Bankrate and Sub.
The
obligations of Bankrate and Sub to effect the Transactions are further subject
to the following conditions:
(A) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the Members in this Agreement shall be true
and correct, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date as
though made on the Closing Date, except to the extent of changes or developments
contemplated by the terms of this Agreement and to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which
case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct, on and
as of
such earlier date), except for breaches of such representations and warranties
and covenants that, in the aggregate, together with all information disclosed
in
any supplements, modifications and updates to the Schedules by FastFind prior
to
the Closing as permitted by this Agreement, would not have a FastFind Material
Adverse Effect. Bankrate shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of
FastFind by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of
FastFind and on behalf of the Members by the Member Representative to such
effect.
(B) Performance
of Obligations of FastFind.
FastFind shall have performed all obligations required to be performed by it
under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, except for breaches of
such covenants that, in the aggregate, would not have a FastFind Material
Adverse Effect, and Bankrate shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of FastFind by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer
of
FastFind and on behalf of the Members by the Member Representative to such
effect.
33
(C) No
Litigation.
There
shall not be pending any suit, action or proceeding by any Governmental Entity
or any other Person,
(i) challenging
the acquisition by Bankrate or Sub of any FastFind Membership Interests,
(ii) seeking
to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Transactions,
(iii) seeking
to obtain from FastFind, Bankrate or Sub any damages in relation to FastFind
relating to the Transactions,
(iv) seeking
to prohibit or limit the ownership or operation by FastFind, Bankrate, or any
of
their respective subsidiaries of any material portion of the business or assets
of FastFind, Bankrate, or any Subsidiary of Bankrate of any material portion
of
the business or assets of FastFind, Bankrate, or any Subsidiary of Bankrate,
or
to compel FastFind, Bankrate, or any Subsidiary of Bankrate to dispose of or
hold separate any material portion of the business or assets of FastFind,
Bankrate, or any Subsidiary of Bankrate, as a result of the Merger or any other
Transaction,
(v) seeking
to impose limitations on the ability of Bankrate to acquire or hold, or exercise
full rights of ownership of, any membership interests of FastFind,
or
(vi) seeking
to prohibit Bankrate or any of its Subsidiaries from effectively controlling
in
any material respect the business or operations of FastFind.
(D) Resignation
of FastFind Officers and Managers.
Each of
FastFind’s officers and managers shall have submitted their resignations from
their position as a manager and/or officer of FastFind.
(E) Escrow
Agreement.
The
Members shall have executed and delivered to Bankrate the Escrow
Agreement.
(F) Affiliate
Transactions.
All
contracts, commitments, agreements, borrowings, arrangements and other
transactions between FastFind and any (a) officer or manager of FastFind, (b)
record or beneficial owner of the FastFind Membership Interests, (c) of the
Members, (d) other affiliate of such officers, manager, beneficial owner or
Member shall be terminated.
(G) Member
Representative.
The
Members shall have executed and delivered to Bankrate an agreement appointing
a
Member Representative in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
9.02(G).
(H) Legal
Opinion.
FastFind’s legal counsel shall have delivered to Bankrate a legal opinion in a
form reasonably acceptable to Bankrate.
Section
9.03 Conditions
to Obligation of FastFind.
The
obligation of FastFind to effect Transactions is further subject to the
following conditions:
(A) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of Bankrate and Sub in this Agreement shall
be
true and correct, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date
as
though made on the Closing Date, except to the extent of changes or developments
contemplated by the terms of this Agreement and to the extent such
representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date (in which
case such representations and warranties shall be true and correct, on and
as of
such earlier date), except for breaches of such representations and warranties
and covenants that, in the aggregate, together with all information disclosed
in
any supplements, modifications and updates to the Schedules by Bankrate prior
to
the Closing as permitted by this Agreement, would not have a Bankrate Material
Adverse Effect. FastFind shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of
each of Bankrate and Sub by the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial
Officer of each Bankrate and Sub to such effect.
34
(B) Performance
of Obligations of Bankrate and Sub.
Bankrate and Sub shall have performed all obligations required to be performed
by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, except for
breaches of such covenants that, in the aggregate, would not have a Bankrate
Material Adverse Effect, and FastFind shall have received a certificate signed
on behalf of each of Bankrate and Sub by an officer of each of Bankrate and
Sub
to such effect.
(C) Escrow
Agreement.
Bankrate shall have executed and delivered to the Member Representative the
Escrow Agreement.
(D) Legal
Opinion.
Bankrate’s legal counsel shall have delivered to the Members a legal opinion in
a form reasonably acceptable to the Members.
Section
9.04 Closing
Conditions.
FastFind, the Members, Bankrate and Sub will use commercially reasonable efforts
to cause each of the conditions set forth in Article IX to be satisfied as
soon
as reasonably practicable, but in all events on or prior to November 30, 2005
ARTICLE
X
TERMINATION
Section
10.01 Termination.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this Agreement may be
terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, in accordance with the
terms
of this Agreement:
(A) by
mutual
written consent of Bankrate and the Member Representative;
(B) by
either
(i) Bankrate and the Sub, on the one hand, or (ii) FastFind and the Members,
on
the other hand, by giving written notice to the other, only upon the following
conditions:
(i) if
the
Merger is not consummated on or before November 30, 2005 (the "Outside
Date"),
unless the failure to consummate the Merger by the Outside Date is the result
of
a knowing and willful breach of this Agreement by the parties seeking to
terminate this Agreement that has prevented the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby; or
(ii) if
any
Governmental Entity issues an order, decree or ruling or takes any other action
permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the Transactions
and
such order, decree, ruling or other action shall have become final and
nonappealable.
(C) by
FastFind and the Members:
35
(i) if
Bankrate or Sub breaches or fails to perform in any material respect any of
its
representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement, which
breach or failure to perform (i) would give rise to the failure of a condition
set forth in Section 9.03(A) and (ii) in the case of a covenant breach, cannot
be or has not been cured within ten (10) calendar days after the giving of
written notice to Bankrate and Sub of such breach (provided that FastFind and
the Members are not then in material breach of any representation, warranty
or
covenant contained in this Agreement); or
(ii) immediately,
if there exists or arises any pending or threatened suit, action or proceeding
set forth in Section 9.02(D);
(D) by
Bankrate and Sub, if prior to the Closing, FastFind supplements, modifies,
or
updates the Schedules and Exhibits as permitted in accordance with Section
11.13
and Bankrate reasonably determines that such supplements, modifies, or updates
are materially adverse to FastFind, Bankrate or Sub.
(E) by
Bankrate and Sub, if FastFind or the Members breaches or fails to perform in
any
material respect any of its representations, warranties or covenants contained
in this Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (1) would give rise to
the
failure of a condition set forth in Section 9.02(B) or 9.02(C), and (2) in
the
case of a covenant breach, cannot be or has not been cured within ten (10)
calendar days after the giving of written notice to FastFind of such breach
(provided that Bankrate is not then in material breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement).
Section
10.02 Failure
to Close Due to Governmental Approvals.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 10.01, if FastFind, the Member
Representative and Bankrate each agree that if all of the conditions to the
parties' obligations to Close the Transactions have been satisfied or waived
as
of the Outside Date, other than the receipt of Government approvals set forth
in
Section 5.23 (the "Governmental
Approvals")
or the
expiration or termination of the waiting period with respect to such
Governmental Approvals, neither FastFind, the Members or Bankrate may terminate
this Agreement without first providing the other party with ten (10) calendar
days' written notice of its intention to terminate. During such ten (10) day
period, the parties shall cause its counsel to confer with the other parties'
counsel in an attempt to agree on the likelihood of a timely and successful
resolution of all such issues relating to the applicable Governmental Approvals
or waiting period. Following such ten (10) day period, neither FastFind, the
Members or Bankrate shall terminate this Agreement unless such party reasonably
believes, based upon the likely time period necessary to resolve the applicable
Governmental Approvals issues, the likelihood of successfully resolving such
Governmental Approvals without conditions, obligations or agreements which
adversely effect such party, and other relevant factors, that not terminating
this Agreement could cause effects which are material and adverse to it in
comparison to the size and nature of the Transactions.
Section
10.03 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event of termination of this Agreement by either FastFind or Bankrate as
provided in Section 10.01 or 10.02, this Agreement shall forthwith become void
and have no effect, without any liability or obligation on the part of Bankrate,
Sub or FastFind, other than Section 7.03, this Section 10.03 and Article XI,
which provisions shall survive such termination, and except to the extent that
such termination results from the willful and knowing breach by a party of
any
representation, warranty or covenant set forth in this Agreement. Nothing in
this Article X shall be deemed to impair the right of any party to compel
specific performance by another party of its obligations under this
Agreement.
36
ARTICLE
XI
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
11.01 Notices.
All
notices, requests, consents, claims, demands and other communications required
or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be (as elected
by the person giving such notice) hand delivered by messenger or courier service
or mailed by registered or certified mail (postage prepaid), return receipt
requested, addressed to:
(A) if
to
Bankrate or Sub, to
Bankrate,
Inc.
00000
X.X. Xxxxxxx 0, Xxxxx 000,
Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
with
a
copy to:
Gunster,
Yoakley & Xxxxxxx, P.A.
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xx., Xxxxx 000 Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
(B) if
to
FastFind, to
FastFind,
Inc.
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, #0-000
Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention:
T. Xxxx XxXxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxx
with
a
copy to:
Wescoco
Investors, LLC
00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
and
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx LLP
2290
First National Building
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
(C) if
to the
Member Representative, to
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
c/o
Wescoco Investors, LLC
00000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000
37
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Xxxx LLP
2290
First National Building
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
or
to
such other address as any party may designate by notice complying with the
terms
of this Section. Each such notice shall be deemed delivered (a) on the
date
delivered, if by messenger or courier service; and (b) either upon the date
of
receipt or refusal of delivery, if mailed.
Section
11.02 Fees
and Expenses.
Except
as provided below, all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
Transactions shall be paid by the party incurring such fees or expenses, whether
or not the Merger is consummated.
Section
11.03 Interpretation.
When a
reference is made in this Agreement to a Section or Article, such reference
shall be to a Section or Article of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for reference
purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation
of
this Agreement. Each party to this Agreement has participated in the drafting
of
this Agreement, which each party acknowledges and agrees is the result of
extensive negotiations among the parties. Whenever the words "include,"
"includes" or "including" are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed
to be
followed by the words "without limitation". Any matter disclosed in any Exhibit
or Schedule shall be deemed disclosed only for the purposes of the specific
Exhibit or Schedule of this Agreement to which such Exhibit or Schedule
relates.
Section
11.04 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is or becomes illegal, invalid or unenforceable
in
any respect under the law of any jurisdiction, neither the legality, validity
or
enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement nor the legality,
validity or enforceability of such provision under the law of any other
jurisdiction shall in any way be affected or impaired thereby. If any provision
of this Agreement may be construed in two or more ways, one of which would
render the provision invalid or otherwise voidable or unenforceable and another
of which would render the provision valid and enforceable, such provision shall
have the meaning which renders it valid and enforceable.
Section
11.05 Public
Announcements.
Except
as required by law, prior to the Closing Date, any public statement or proposed
press release pertaining to this Agreement or the Transactions shall be mutually
prepared and approved by Bankrate and FastFind.
Section
11.06 Transfer
Taxes.
All
stock transfer, real estate transfer, documentary stamp, recording and other
similar Taxes (including interest, penalties and additions to any such Taxes)
("Transfer Taxes") incurred in connection with the Transactions shall be paid
by
either Sub or FastFind, and FastFind shall cooperate with Sub and Bankrate
in
preparing, executing and filing any Returns with respect to such Transfer
Taxes.
Section
11.07 Shareholder
Litigation.
FastFind shall give Bankrate the opportunity (at Bankrate's expense), but
Bankrate shall not be obligated, to participate in the defense or settlement
of
any Member litigation against FastFind and its managers relating to any of
the
Transactions; provided, however, that no such settlement shall be agreed to
without Bankrate’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
38
Section
11.08 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, all of which shall be
considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when one or
more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties and delivered to
the
other parties.
Section
11.09 Amendment.
The
provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, supplemented, waived or changed
orally, but only by a writing signed by FastFind, the Member Representative
and
Bankrate and making specific reference to this Agreement.
Section
11.10 Extension:
Waiver.
At any
time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b)
waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement or in any document delivered pursuant to this Agreement or (c) waive
compliance with any of the agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement.
Any agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall
be
valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party. The failure or delay of any party at any time to require performance
by
another party of any provision of this Agreement, even if known, shall not
affect the right of such party to require performance of that provision or
to
exercise any right, power or remedy under this Agreement. Any waiver by any
party of any breach of any provision of this Agreement should not be construed
as a waiver of any continuing or succeeding breach of such provision, a waiver
of the provision itself, or a waiver of any right, power or remedy under this
Agreement. No notice to or demand on any party in any circumstance shall, of
itself, entitle such party to any other or further notice or demand in similar
or other circumstances.
Section
11.11 Assignment;
Binding Effect.
Neither
this Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations under this
Agreement shall be assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of law or
otherwise by any of the parties without the prior written consent of the other
parties, except that Sub may assign, in its sole discretion, any of or all
its
rights, interests and obligations under this Agreement to Bankrate or to any
direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of Bankrate, but no such assignment
shall relieve Sub of any of its obligations under this Agreement. Any purported
assignment without such consent shall be void. Subject to the preceding
sentences, all the terms and provisions of this Agreement will be binding upon,
inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective
administrators, personal representatives, legal representatives, heirs,
successors and permitted assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section
11.12 Governing
Law.
This
Agreement, the Ancillary Agreements and the Transactions shall be governed
by,
and construed and enforced in accordance with, the internal laws of the State
of
Delaware without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
Section
11.13 Exhibits.
The
disclosures in the Exhibits
hereto
are to be taken as relating to the representations and warranties of FastFind
and the Members as a whole. The inclusion of information in any of such
Schedules and Exhibits hereto shall not be construed as an admission that such
information is material to any of FastFind or the Members. In addition, matters
reflected in such Schedules and Exhibits are not necessarily limited to matters
required by this Agreement to be reflected in such Schedules and Exhibits.
Such
additional matters are set forth for informational purposes only and do not
necessarily include other matters of a similar nature. Prior to the Closing,
FastFind shall have the right to supplement, modify or update the Schedules
and
Exhibits to reflect changes and developments after the date hereof. Any such
supplements, modifications and updates shall be subject to Bankrate's rights
under Section 9.02(A) and shall have the effect of modifying the representations
and warranties made by FastFind and the Members herein from and after the
Closing for purposes of the provisions of Article VIII above.
39
Section
11.14 Enforcement
Jurisdiction.
FastFind, the Members, Sub and Bankrate agree that irreparable damage would
occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not
performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.
It
is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in the Courts of the State of Florida
or any Federal court located in the State of Florida, this being in addition
to
any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In addition,
each of the parties hereto (A) consents to submit itself to the personal
jurisdiction of the Courts of the State of Florida or any Federal court located
in the State of Florida in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement
or
any Transaction, (B) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such
personal jurisdiction by motion or other request for leave from any such court,
and (C) agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement
or
any Transaction in any court other than a Court of the State of Florida or
any
Federal court sitting in the State of Florida.
Section
11.15 Arbitration.
(A) In
case
of a dispute, controversy or claim arising out of, relating to or in connection
with this Agreement, including any dispute regarding its validity or
termination; FastFind, the Members, Sub and Bankrate, as applicable, shall
attempt in good faith to agree upon the rights of the respective parties with
respect to each such claim within sixty (60) calendar days of receipt of notice
of such claim. If the applicable parties should so agree, a memorandum setting
forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed by such parties.
(B) If
no
such agreement can be reached after good faith negotiation lasting not longer
than sixty (60) calendar days after the receipt of notice of such claim, any
of
the applicable parties may demand binding arbitration of the matter unless
the
amount of the damage or loss is at issue in pending litigation with a third
party, in which event arbitration shall not be commenced until such amount
is
ascertained or both parties agree to arbitration. Arbitration shall be
administered by the American Arbitration Association (the "AAA")
and
shall be conducted by three neutral arbitrators, two of whom shall be practicing
attorneys and the third of whom shall be a certified public accountant, each
having experience in the business of FastFind. Within fifteen (15) calendar
days
of commencement of arbitration, Sub and Bankrate, on one hand, and FastFind
and/or the Member Representative, on the other hand, shall each select one
neutral qualified arbitrator. Within ten (10) calendar days of their
appointment, the two neutral arbitrators so selected shall select the third
neutral qualified arbitrator from a list of arbitrators provided by the AAA
having experience in the area of the business of FastFind. The third arbitrator
shall act as chair of the arbitration panel. If the arbitrators selected by
the
parties are unable or fail to agree upon the third arbitrator, the third
arbitrator shall be selected by the AAA. The arbitrators shall set a limited
time period and establish procedures designed to reduce the cost and time for
discovery while allowing the parties an opportunity, adequate in the sole
judgment of the arbitrators, to discover relevant information from the opposing
parties about the subject matter of the dispute. Any dispute regarding
discovery, or the relevance or scope thereof, shall be determined by the chair
of the arbitration panel and shall be governed by the Federal Rules of Civil
Procedure. The decision of a majority of the three arbitrators as to the
validity and amount of any claim shall be binding and conclusive upon the
parties to this Agreement. The award by the arbitrators shall be in writing,
shall be signed by a majority of the arbitrators and shall include a statement
of written findings of fact and conclusions regarding the reasons for the
disposition of any claim.
40
(C) Judgment
upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in any court having
jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be held in Xxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx
under the Commercial Arbitration Rules then in effect of the AAA. The
arbitrators shall designate which party is the prevailing party in the dispute,
taking into account, among other factors, the amount in dispute and the amount
of the award. The non-prevailing party shall pay all costs and fees associated
with the arbitration. "Costs and fees" for purposes of this subsection mean
all
reasonable pre-award expenses of the arbitration, including the arbitrators’
fees, administrative fees, travel expenses, out of pocket expenses such as
copying and telephone, witness fees and reasonable attorneys’ fees.
(D) By
agreeing to arbitration, the parties do not intend to deprive any court with
jurisdiction of its ability to issue a preliminary injunction, attachment or
other form of provisional remedy in aid of the arbitration and a request of
such
provisional remedies by a party to a court shall not be deemed a waiver of
the
agreement to arbitrate.
Section
11.16 JURY
WAIVER.
IN ANY
CIVIL ACTION, COUNTERCLAIM, OR PROCEEDING, WHETHER AT LAW OR IN EQUITY, WHICH
ARISES OUT OF, CONCERNS, OR RELATES TO THIS AGREEMENT, ANY AND THE TRANSACTIONS,
THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AGREEMENT, OR THE RELATIONSHIP CREATED BY THIS
AGREEMENT, WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR OTHERWISE,
TRIAL SHALL BE TO A COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION AND NOT TO A JURY. EACH
PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY. ANY
PARTY MAY FILE AN ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OR A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT WITH ANY
COURT, AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT
OF
THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY. NEITHER PARTY HAS MADE OR RELIED
UPON ANY ORAL REPRESENTATIONS TO OR BY ANY OTHER PARTY REGARDING THE
ENFORCEABILITY OF THIS PROVISION. EACH PARTY HAS READ AND UNDERSTANDS THE EFFECT
OF THIS JURY WAIVER PROVISION. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT HAS BEEN ADVISED
BY ITS OWN COUNSEL WITH RESPECT TO THE TRANSACTION GOVERNED BY THIS AGREEMENT
AND SPECIFICALLY WITH RESPECT TO THE TERMS OF THIS SECTION.
Section
11.17 Bankrate’s
Right to Conduct Other Activities.
FastFind and Members hereby acknowledge that Bankrate and its affiliates are
considering transactions with other companies, some of which may be competitive
with FastFind’s business. Neither Bankrate or its affiliates or their respective
directors, employees, agents, partners, officers or other representatives shall
be liable for any claim arising out of, related to, or based upon (i) the
investment by Bankrate in, or the acquisition by Bankrate of, any entity
competitive with FastFind or (ii) actions taken by Bankrate or its affiliates
or
any director, employee, agent, partner, officer or other representative of
Bankrate or its affiliates to assist any such competitive company or to evaluate
or enter into a transaction with such competitive company.
Section
11.18 Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement, taken together with its Exhibits and Schedule 1, (a) constitute
the
entire agreement, and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both
written and oral, among the parties with respect to the Merger and other
Transactions and (b) are not intended to confer upon any Person other than
the
parties any rights or remedies.
41
Section
11.19 Unconditional
Guarantee.
Bankrate hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees the punctual performance
of
Sub's obligations hereunder, including Sub's obligation to deliver the funds
required by Section 3.01(A) hereof, for so
long
as any sums remain payable by Sub to the Members or any of the obligations
of
Sub under this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything contained in this Section
to
the contrary, Bankrate shall be entitled to all defenses, counterclaims and
offsets available to Sub.
[remainder
intentionally left blank]
42
Bankrate,
Sub, FastFind, and the Members have duly executed this Agreement, all as of
the
date first written above.
BANKRATE,
INC.
By: /s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Title:
President
& Chief Executive Officer
|
WESCOCO
LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Title:
Manager
|
FastFind,
LLC
By:
/s/
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Name:
Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxx
Title:
President
& Chief Executive Officer
|
MEMBERS
WESCOCO
INVESTORS LLC
By:
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Its:
Manager
/s/
T. Xxxx XxXxxxxx
T.
Xxxx XxXxxxxx
/s/
Xxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxx
X. Xxxx
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx
|
43