ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT DATED JUNE 5, 2007 BY AND AMONG ASTRIS ENERGI INC. AND 2062540 ONTARIO, INC. AND MKU CANADA INC.
EXECUTION
COPY
DATED
JUNE 5, 2007
BY
AND AMONG
AND
2062540
ONTARIO, INC.
AND
MKU
CANADA INC.
EXECUTION
COPY
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Section
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Page
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I
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ARTICLE
1. PURCHASE OF ACQUIRED ASSETS
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1
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1.1.
Acquired Assets
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1
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1.2
Excluded Assets
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4
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ARTICLE
2. ASSUMPTION OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS
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4
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2.1.
Assumed Liabilities
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4
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ARTICLE
3. PURCHASE PRICE
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5
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3.1.
Purchase Price to be Paid at Closing
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5
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3.2.
Allocation
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6
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3.3.
Escrow Agreement
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6
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ARTICLE
4. CLOSING
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7
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4.1.
Time and Place
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7
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4.2.
Transactions at Closing
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7
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ARTICLE
5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
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8
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5.1.
Organization
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8
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5.2.
Authority
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9
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5.3.
No Conflicts; No Consents
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9
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5.4.
Capitalization.
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10
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5.5
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests
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11
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5.6.
Financial Statements; SEC Documents; 10(b)-5
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12
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5.7.
Absence of Certain Changes
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13
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5.8.
Properties and Assets
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14
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5.9.
Accounts Receivable
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15
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5.10.
Inventory
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15
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5.11.
Real Property; Facilities
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15
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5.12.
Equipment
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16
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5.13.
Contracts
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16
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5.14.
Intellectual Property
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17
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5.15.
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities
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21
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-i-
5.16.
Absence of Third Party Rights
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21
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5.17.
Compliance with Other Agreements, Laws, Etc
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22
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5.18.
Health, Safety and Environmental Matters
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22
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5.19.
Employees
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23
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5.20.
Litigation
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26
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5.21.
Taxes.
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26
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5.22.
Potential Conflicts of Interest
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27
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5.23.
Insurance
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27
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5.24.
Bank Accounts, Signing Authority, Powers of Attorney
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28
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5.25.
Suppliers and Customers
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28
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5.26.
Employment of Officers, Employees
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28
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5.27.
Minute Books
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28
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5.28.
Brokers
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29
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5.29.
Preparation of Proxy Statement
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29
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5.30.
Fairness Opinion
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29
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5.31.
Securities Matters
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29
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5.32.
Disclosure
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30
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ARTICLE
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER
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30
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6.1.
Organization
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30
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6.2.
Authority
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30
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6.3.
No Conflicts; No Consents
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31
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6.4.
Governmental Consents and Filings
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31
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6.5.
Brokers
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31
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ARTICLE
7. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CLOSING
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32
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7.1.
Full Access
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32
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7.2.
Carry on in Regular Course
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32
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7.3.
No Pay Increases, Etc
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32
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7.4.
Contracts and Commitments; Indebtedness
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32
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7.5.
No Sale of Assets; No Change of Corporate Structure
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33
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7.6.
Insurance
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33
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7.7.
Preservation of Organization
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34
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7.8.
No Default
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34
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7.9.
Compliance with Laws
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34
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-ii-
7.10.
Advice of Change
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34
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7.11.
Securities
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34
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7.12.
Intracompany Accounts
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35
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7.13.
Tax
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35
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7.14.
No Solicitation
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35
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ARTICLE
8. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
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36
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8.1.
Hiring Employees
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36
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8.2.
Allocation of Employee Benefit Plan Responsibilities
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37
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8.3.
Access to Books and Records.
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37
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8.4.
Future Use of Name
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37
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8.5.
Satisfaction of Conditions
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37
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8.6.
Collection of Receivables
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38
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8.7.
Shareholders Meeting; Proxy Statement
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38
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8.8.
Non-Competition Agreement
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39
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ARTICLE
9. BUYER’S CLOSING CONDITIONS
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40
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9.1.
Accuracy of Representations and Warranties
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40
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9.2.
Sellers’ Performance
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40
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9.3.
Delivery of Resolutions, Certificates, etc.
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41
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9.4.
Consents to Assignment and Estoppel Certificate
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41
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9.5.
Litigation.
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41
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9.6.
Title Insurance Policies
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41
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9.7.
I.M.I. Letter Agreement; Xxxxxx Debentures and Warrants
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41
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9.8.
Governmental and Other Approvals
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42
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9.9.
Fairness Opinion
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42
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9.10.
Opinion of the Seller’s Counsel
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42
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9.11.
Transfer of Subsidiary Shares
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42
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9.12.
Waivers
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42
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9.13.
No Material Adverse Effect
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42
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9.14. Employee,
Etc. Matters
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42
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9.15.
Tax Matters
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43
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9.16. Approval of Documentation
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43
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9.17.
Side Letter
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43
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9.18.
Liens Released
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43
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9.19.
Bulk Sales Act
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44
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9.20.
Dissent Rights
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44
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-iii-
ARTICLE
10. SELLERS’ CLOSING CONDITIONS
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44
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10.1.
Accuracy of Representations and Warranties
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44
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10.2.
Buyer’s Performance
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44
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ARTICLE
11. INDEMNIFICATION
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45
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11.1.
Indemnity by the Sellers.
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45
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11.2.
Indemnity by the Buyer
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46
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11.3.
Time Limitations
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46
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11.4.
Materiality Standards; Dollar Thresholds.
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47
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11.5.
Claims
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48
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11.6.
Method and Manner of Paying Claims
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49
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11.7.
Straddle Claims
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49
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11.8.
Insurance Proceeds
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49
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11.9
Allocation of Environmental Liabilities.
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50
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ARTICLE
12. TERMINATION
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50
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12.1.
Termination of Agreement
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50
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12.2.
Effect of Termination
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51
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ARTICLE
13. MISCELLANEOUS
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52
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13.1.
Transaction Expenses
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52
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13.2.
Confidentiality
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52
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13.3.
Other Agreements Superseded; Waiver and
Modification, Etc
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53
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13.4.
Further Assurances
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53
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13.5.
Representations and Warranties, Indemnities
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53
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13.6.
Recovery of Litigation Costs
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54
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13.7.
Notices
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54
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13.8.
Law Governing
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55
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13.9.
Successors; Assignability
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56
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13.10.
Time of Essence
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56
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13.11.
Counterparts
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56
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13.12.
Parties in Interest
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56
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13.13.
References
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56
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13.14.
Headings; Date
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56
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-iv-
13.15.
Construction
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56
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13.16.
Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process
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57
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13.17.
Public Statements or Releases
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57
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13.18.
Waiver of Jury Trial
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57
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ARTICLE
14. GLOSSARY
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57
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14.1.
Defined Terms
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57
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Exhibits
A-1
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Accounts
Receivable
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A-2
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Equipment
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A-3
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Real
Property Tenant Leases
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A-4
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Equipment
Leases
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A-5
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IP
Agreements
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B
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Listed
Assets
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C
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Form
of Xxxx of Sale
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D
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Forms
of Intellectual Property Assignments
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E
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Form
of Waivers
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F
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Form
of Assumption Agreement
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G
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Form
of Legal Opinion
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-v-
This
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated June 5, 2007, is entered into by and among
MKU
Canada Inc., a
corporation incorporated under
the
laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada (the “Buyer”),
and
Astris
Energi Inc.,
a
corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada
(“Astris”)
and
2062540
Ontario Inc.,
a
corporation organized under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada
(“Ontario”,
and
together with Astris, the “Sellers”,
and
each individually called a “Seller”).
RECITALS:
WHEREAS,
the
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary are in the business of developing and selling
fuel cells (the “Business”);
WHEREAS,
each
Seller desires to sell substantially all of its Assets, including those related
to the Business (subject to the exclusions stated herein) on the terms set
forth
herein;
WHEREAS,
the
Buyer
desires to purchase substantially all of the Sellers’ Assets, including those
related to the Business (subject to such exclusions) on the terms set forth
herein; and
WHEREAS,
Article
14 contains definitions of certain terms used herein.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual agreements, provisions and covenants contained
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article
1.
Purchase of Acquired Assets
1.1.
Acquired Assets.
Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth herein, each of the Sellers shall sell,
transfer, assign and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer shall purchase or
accept from the Sellers, free and clear of all Liens (except Permitted Liens),
all of the Sellers’ property and assets, real, personal or mixed, tangible and
intangible, of every kind and description, wherever located (subject to the
exclusions stated herein) (the “Acquisition”),
including the following:
(a) Cash.
All of
the Sellers’ cash and cash equivalents on hand and in depositories and accounts
on the Closing Date provided to Astris by Buyer and/or its Affiliates pursuant
to the Note, or otherwise.
(b) Accounts
Receivable. The
Sellers’ trade accounts receivable (billed and unbilled) and miscellaneous
receivables generated prior to the date of this Agreement, including those
listed on Exhibit
A-1,
but
only to the extent such receivables are not collected on or before the Closing
Date, and all of the Sellers’ trade accounts receivable (billed and unbilled)
and miscellaneous receivables generated on or after the date of this Agreement
and prior to the Closing Date (the “Accounts
Receivable”).
-1-
(c) Equipment.
All
machinery, installations, equipment, furniture, tools, spare parts, supplies,
materials and tangible other personal property of the Sellers other than
Inventory, including those items described on Exhibit A-2
hereto,
with such additions thereto and deletions therefrom as may hereafter arise
in
the ordinary course of business prior to the Closing consistent with each of
the
Seller’s obligations under Article 7 (the “Equipment”).
(d) Inventories.
All raw
materials, work in process, finished goods, supplies, parts and other inventory
of any kind of the Sellers, whether located on any of the Sellers’ premises,
suppliers’ premises, in transit or elsewhere, and all rights of the Sellers with
respect thereto (the “Inventory”).
(e) Real Property Tenant Leases.
Each of
the Sellers’ interest as tenant in the leases of the real property described on
Exhibit
A-3,
together with (i) all rights, privileges, prepaid rent, deposits and
credits under such leases, whenever accruing (such leases and related properties
being herein collectively called the “Real
Property Tenant Leases”);
(ii) all Improvements situated thereon owned by the Sellers; and
(iii) all existing easements, licenses and other rights with respect to
other real property, to the extent such easements, licenses and other rights
are
used or held by the Sellers in connection with such leased real property. The
premises covered by the Owned Real Property and the Real Property Tenant Leases
are herein collectively called the “Listed
Premises.”
(f) Equipment Leases.
Each of
the Sellers’ interest as lessee in the leases of personal property listed in
Exhibit
A-4,
together with all rights, privileges, prepaid rent, deposits and credits of
the
lessee under such leases, whenever accruing (herein collectively called the
“Equipment
Leases”).
(g) Promotional Rights.
All
marketing or promotional designs, sales literature, brochures, advertisements,
concepts, literature, rights against other Persons in respect of the any of
the
foregoing and any other promotional Assets used or useful or developed or
acquired for use in connection with the Business (collectively, the
“Promotional
Rights”).
(h) Proprietary Rights.
All
proprietary rights of the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary related to the
Business, including any and all formulas, know-how, patents, patent rights,
pending patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trademark and service
xxxx registrations and registration applications, trade names, trade name
registrations, logos, trade dress, domain names, copyrights, copyright
registration applications, copyright registrations, technology, know-how, trade
secrets, inventions, models, processes, formulas, techniques, designs, licenses,
pricing policies, information as to the identities or requirements of customers
or potential customers, market information, market analyses, marketing plans,
operating or management policies, procedures and forms, computer software and/or
computer operating procedures and all other proprietary rights of the Sellers
and the Seller Subsidiary, including without limitation those rights listed
in
Section 5.14(a) of the Seller Disclosure, (collectively, the “Proprietary
Rights”)
and
all documentation related thereto in whatever form.
-2-
(i) Contracts.
The
contracts and agreements (i) listed on Schedule
5.13
and
(ii) entered
into by either of the Sellers following the date hereof and prior to Closing,
which the Buyer has approved in writing (the “Miscellaneous
Contracts”).
(j) IP
Agreements.
The
contracts and licenses listed on Exhibit
A-5
(the
“IP
Agreements”).
(k) Contract
Rights and Claims.
All
rights, remedies and claims (whenever arising) of each of the Sellers under
Contracts with customers, suppliers, insurers or any other Person (whether
or
not set forth elsewhere in this Section 1.1 and whether or not similar to
the things set forth elsewhere in this Section 1.1), and all notes,
evidences of indebtedness, purchase orders and deposits and rights and claims
to
refunds and adjustments of any kind, held by the Sellers.
(l) General
Rights and Claims.
In
addition to the rights and claims described in Section 1.1(k) above, all other
rights, claims and causes of action, whether known or unknown, of each of the
Sellers against third parties of any nature.
(m) Books
and Records.
Copies
of all records (whether in written or other form) of any kind presently in
or
hereafter coming into the care, custody or control of either Seller (including
any such records held by others on behalf of either Seller) including records
relating to the past, present or future operation of the Business, purchase
and
sales records, all blueprints and specifications, personnel and labor relations
records, records relating to Environmental Requirements and Hazardous Materials,
accounting and financial records, maintenance records, operating and management
manuals, computer systems and software documentation, disks, tapes and other
computer storage media and the information stored thereon, blank forms, plans
and surveys of the Listed Premises, plans and designs of buildings, structures,
fixtures and equipment and records (whether in written or other form) relating
to the Promotional Rights or Proprietary Rights included in the Acquired
Assets.
(n) Permits, Etc.
All
permits, licenses, franchises, concessions, consents, authorizations, approvals,
registrations, filings and other similar acts of or made with any Governmental
Entity held by the Sellers (collectively, “Permits”)
that
may lawfully be assigned or transferred, subject, however, to any action by
such
Governmental Entity that may be required in connection with such assignment
or
transfer.
(o) Prepaid Items, Credits, Etc.
All
prepaid insurance, prepaid taxes, credits, deposits and other prepaid items
or
favorable balances of any kind in favor of the Sellers, to the extent any of
such items may lawfully be assigned or transferred.
-3-
(p) Goodwill.
All
goodwill of or associated with the Business or the Seller Subsidiary, including
the exclusive right to use the name “Astris” after Closing.
(q) Shares.
Any and
all equity interests held by Ontario in Astris s.r.o. (the “Subsidiary
Shares”).
(r) All Property Not Elsewhere Described.
All
other Assets of the Sellers of every kind, character and description as of
the
Closing, wherever located, whether or not set forth elsewhere in this
Section 1.1 and whether or not similar to the things set forth elsewhere in
this Section 1.1.
Subject
to the exclusion of the Excluded Assets (as defined below), the Assets set
forth
in Sections 1.1(a) through (r) are herein called the “Acquired
Assets.”
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the transfer of the Acquired Assets pursuant
to
this Agreement will not include the assumption of any liabilities or obligations
in respect thereof unless the Buyer expressly assumes such liability or
obligation pursuant to Section 2.1.
1.2
Excluded Assets.
Notwithstanding
anything in Section 1.1, the Acquired Assets shall not include any of the
following (the “Excluded
Assets”):
(a) Listed Assets.
The
Assets described in Exhibit
B.
(b) Rights Hereunder.
All
rights and claims of the Sellers under this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents.
(c) Nontransferable Permits.
Any
Permit the transfer or purported transfer of which would violate applicable
Law.
Article
2.
Assumption of Certain Obligations
2.1.
Assumed Liabilities.
Anything
in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding, at the Closing the Buyer
shall not assume any liability or obligation of any nature of the Sellers (or
the Seller Subsidiary) whatsoever, except for those liabilities that are set
forth on Schedule
2.1 (collectively,
the “Assumed
Liabilities”).
For
the avoidance of doubt, except as set forth on Schedule
2.1
the
Buyer shall have no liability with respect to the following claims, liabilities
or obligations:
(a) Any
liability or obligation of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary;
(b) Any
Tax
liability of any other Person for which the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
are
or may be liable, by operation of Law, as a transferee or successor, by
Contract, or otherwise;
-4-
(c) Any
claims, liabilities or obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement or any
Contract to be entered into pursuant hereto;
(d) Any
claims, liabilities or obligations of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
under
any Contract other than as expressly set forth in Schedule
2.1,
notwithstanding that such Contract may be disclosed in the Seller Disclosure
Schedule or otherwise known to the Buyer or that a Seller’s or the Seller
Subsidiary’s claims and rights under such Contract may be included in the
Acquired Assets;
(e) Any
claims, liabilities or obligations of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
with
respect to the employment of any employee or group of employees, or the terms
thereof, whether union or nonunion, whether the claim, liability or obligation
calls for performance or observance before, at or after the Closing and whether
the claim, liability or obligation arises from a collective bargaining agreement
or other form of Contract (whether oral or written and whether express or
implied in fact or in law) or any past practice or custom or otherwise, it
being
understood and agreed that the Buyer will itself be specifying the terms on
which it offers employment to any individual to whom it, in its sole discretion,
chooses to offer employment and will not be bound by any term of employment
in
effect at or at any time prior to the Closing;
(f) Any
claim, liability or obligation arising from or related to any of the Excluded
Assets; and
(g) Any
fee
or expense to be borne by the Sellers pursuant to
Section 13.1.
Any
liability or obligation of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary, other than
the
Assumed Liabilities, shall be referred to herein as the “Excluded
Liabilities”.
Article
3.
Purchase Price
3.1.
Purchase Price to be Paid at Closing.
At
the
Closing, the Buyer shall:
(a)
|
pay
to the Sellers the sum of Three Million Sixty-Four Thousand Three
Hundred
Seventy-Three Dollars (US$3,064,373) in cash (the “Cash
Purchase Price”);
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(b)
|
deliver
an executed consent by Green Shelters Innovations, Ltd. (“GSI”)
pursuant to which GSI agrees to grant to Astris the right and option
to
purchase (the “Option”)
all or any portion of the 4,248,750 Common Shares, issued to GSI
on March
16, 2007 and any other Common Shares acquired by GSI prior to Closing.
Astris may exercise the Option by delivering to the Buyer within
thirty
(30) days following the Closing Date One Dollar (US$1.00) with a
notice
specifying the number of Common Shares subject to the Option that
Astris
desires to purchase from GSI;
|
-5-
(c)
|
deliver
evidence of the cancellation of those certain secured convertible
debentures issued by Astris (the “Debentures”)
to Acme Global Inc. (“Acme”)
in the principal amounts of:
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(i)
One
Million Two Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars (US$1,225,000);
and
(ii)
Three Hundred Eighty Thousand Dollars (Canadian) (CA$380,000).
(d)
|
deliver
evidence of cancellation of that certain secured convertible promissory
note dated April 30, 2007 issued by Astris in favor of GSI (the
“Note”)
with a maximum principal amount of Six Hundred Thousand Dollars
(US$600,000), which, subject to its terms and conditions, may be
converted
into Common Shares when due and payable; it being understood that
any and
all amounts due thereunder shall be deemed satisfied in
full.
|
The
consideration listed in 3.1(a) - (d) above shall collectively be referred to
as
the “Purchase
Price”.
The
Purchase Price will be paid as provided in Section 4.2.
3.2.
Allocation.
The
Sellers and the Buyer agree that the Purchase Price shall be allocated among
the
Acquired Assets in accordance with Schedule
3.2 (to
be
delivered prior to the Closing) and
the
Buyer and Sellers shall each effect their tax filings in accordance with such
allocation.
3.3.
Escrow Agreement.
At
the
Closing, the Sellers, the Buyer and a solicitor chosen jointly by the Buyer
and
Astris (the “Escrow
Agent”),
shall
enter into an escrow agreement (the “Escrow
Agreement”)
pursuant to which Buyer shall deposit into a trust account of the Escrow Agent
One Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars (Canadian) (CA$125,000) (which amount
shall be in addition to the Purchase Price) allocated as follows: (i) One
Hundred Thousand Dollars (Canadian) (CA$100,000) shall be used as a legal
contingency fund for a period of 12 months after the Closing for any litigation
instituted against the directors of Astris; and (ii) the balance of up to
Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars (Canadian) (CA$25,000) available to be used for
Astris’ legal costs for the Acquisition once Astris has incurred Seventy-Five
Thousand Dollars (Canadian) (CA$75,000) of such costs (with evidence thereof
provided to the Buyer) (collectively, the “Legal
Funds”).
Any
amount of the Legal Funds remaining on the first anniversary of the Closing
shall be released from escrow to the Buyer.
-6-
Article
4.
Closing
4.1.
Time and Place.
The
closing of the transfer and delivery of all documents and instruments necessary
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”)
shall
be held five (5) Business Days after the satisfaction (or waiver by the party
entitled to waiver) of all closing conditions set forth in Article 9 and Article
10, or on such other date and time as shall be mutually agreed to by the Buyer
and the Sellers, at the offices of Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxxx LLP, 0000 X Xxxxxx, XX,
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000. The date on which the Closing is actually held hereunder
is referred to herein as the “Closing
Date”.
The
Closing will be deemed to be effective for purposes of this Agreement as of
the
opening of business on the Closing Date.
4.2.
Transactions at Closing.
(a)
At
the Closing, the Sellers shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Buyer:
(i)
such
deeds, bills of sale, general conveyances, certificates of title and other
instruments of assignment or transfer with respect to the Acquired Assets as
the
Buyer may reasonably request and as may be necessary to vest in the Buyer or
its
nominee(s) good record (where applicable) and marketable title to all of the
Acquired Assets, in each case free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted
Liens; these transfer instruments will include (a) one or more Bills of
Sale in the form of Exhibit C,
and
(b) Assignment of Trademarks, Assignment of Patents and Patent
Applications, and Assignment of Copyrights in the forms set forth as
Exhibit D;
(ii)
certificates (if any) representing the Subsidiary Shares, duly endorsed to
Buyer;
(iii)
the
closing certificates referred to in Article 9;
(iv)
employment agreements in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer, duly
executed by each Person listed on Schedule
4.2(a)(iv)
(collectively, the “Employment
Agreements”);
(v)
the
Legal Opinion;
(vi)
the
Fairness Opinion;
(vii)
the
Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Sellers;
(viii)
that certain Side Letter dated as of the date herewith between the Buyer and
Astris, duly executed by Astris;
(ix)
copies of each acknowledgment and agreement, in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit
E,
duly
executed by Acme Global Inc., Cornell Capital Partners, LP and Ardour Capital
(the “Waivers”);
and
-7-
(x)
an
assignment and assumption agreement, a form of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit
F
(the
“Assumption
Agreement”),
duly
executed by each Seller.
(b) At
the
Closing the Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Sellers:
(i)
the
Assumption Agreement, duly executed by the Buyer;
(ii)
the
Cash Purchase Price, less the amount due to Jiri Nor to satisfy in full any
outstanding debt owed by either Seller or the Seller Subsidiary to him
(“Nor
Repayment”),
by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account that has been
designated in writing for such purpose by Astris (with Astris making such
designation at least 48 hours prior to the Closing);
(iii)
the
Debentures and the Note, each marked canceled;
(iv)
the
Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Buyer; and
(v)
the
closing certificates referred to in Article 10.
(c) At
the
Closing, the Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Legal Funds by
wire transfer to the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of the Escrow
Agreement.
(d) At
the
Closing, the Buyer shall deliver or cause to be delivered the Nor Repayment
by
wire transfer to an account that has been designated by Jiri Nor in writing
for
such purpose.
Article
5.
Representations and Warranties of the Sellers
Each
Seller, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows
as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, subject to any exceptions noted
in
the applicable section of the Seller Disclosure Schedule delivered concurrently
herewith (the “Seller
Disclosure Schedule”):
5.1.
Organization.
Each
Seller is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada. The Seller Subsidiary is
a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of its jurisdiction of organization. Each Seller and the Seller Subsidiary
are
qualified as foreign organizations in each jurisdiction in which the Assets
or
business operations of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary requires such
qualification (as applicable), except for those jurisdictions where the failure
to so qualify individually and in the aggregate would not reasonably be expected
to have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
-8-
5.2.
Authority.
(a) Each
Seller has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver
this Agreement and the other documents, agreements and instruments to be
executed and delivered in connection with this Agreement (the “Transaction
Documents”)
to
which it is a party and to consummate the Acquisition, subject to receipt of
the
Shareholder Approval (as defined in Section 5.2(b)). The execution and delivery
by each Seller of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and the
consummation by each Seller of the Acquisition have been duly authorized by
all
necessary corporate action on the part of such Seller, subject to receipt of
the
Shareholder Approval (as defined in Section 5.2(b)). Each Seller has duly
executed and delivered this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, and this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents constitute its respective legal, valid
and binding obligations, enforceable against it in accordance with their terms
subject, as to enforcement, to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to
general equitable principles.
(b) Each
of
the board of directors of Astris (its “Board
of Directors”)
and
the board of directors of Ontario, at a meeting duly called and held, duly
and
unanimously adopted resolutions, (i) approving this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents to which such Seller is a party and the Acquisition
contemplated by this Agreement, and (ii) recommending that such Seller’s
shareholders approve the Acquisition at a duly called special meeting of the
shareholders (in the case of Astris, such shareholder approval of the
Acquisition shall be referred to herein as, the “Shareholder
Approval”).
Such
resolutions are sufficient to authorize the Acquisition and accordingly, no
takeover statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to apply
to the Sellers with respect to this Agreement, the Transaction Documents or
the
Acquisition contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) The
only
votes of holders of any class or series of the Sellers’ capital stock necessary
in connection with this Agreement or to consummate the Acquisition contemplated
by this Agreement is the approval of the Acquisition by the holders of 66 2/3%
of the total votes cast at a meeting of the shareholders of Astris and of
Ontario, each called in accordance with each of their respective by-laws and
at
which a quorum as prescribed by each of their respective by-laws is present.
5.3.
No Conflicts; No Consents.
(a) Except
as
described in Section 5.3 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, the execution and
delivery by each Seller of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to
which
it is a party do not, and the consummation by each Seller of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and such Transaction Documents 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 result
in the creation of any Lien (other than Liens arising from acts of the Buyer
or
its affiliates) upon any properties or assets of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary under, any provision of (i) either Seller’s articles of
incorporation, by-laws or the comparable charter or organizational documents
of
the Seller Subsidiary, (ii) any Contract to which any Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of their respective properties or assets
is bound, or (iii) any judgment, order or decree or Law applicable to any Seller
or the Seller Subsidiary or their respective properties or assets.
-9-
(b) No
consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization (“Consent”)
of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, or permit from, any Governmental
Entity is required to be obtained or made by or with respect to the Sellers
or
the Seller Subsidiary in connection with the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and any Transaction Documents to which any of them is a party
or the consummation of the Acquisition, other than (A) the filing with the
U.S.
Securities Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
of a
proxy or information statement relating to the Shareholder Approval by Astris’
shareholders, (B) such filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the “Exchange
Act”),
as
may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Transaction Documents
and
the Acquisition, (C) the filing on SEDAR with the ASC of the notice of meeting,
management information circular, form of proxy and any other documents sent
to
Astris’ shareholders in connection with Astris’ annual and special meeting to
obtain Shareholder Approval, and (D) the filing with the Czech Commercial
Court
in
respect of the transfer of the Subsidiary Shares.
5.4.
Capitalization.
(a) Astris.
The
authorized capital stock of Astris consists of an unlimited number of Common
Shares. As of the date of this Agreement, 55,118,431 Common Shares were issued
and outstanding. Other than the foregoing, there are no other shares of a class
or series of capital stock of Astris authorized or outstanding. All of the
issued and outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free of preemptive rights.
All of the issued and outstanding Common Shares were issued in compliance with
any preemptive rights and any other statutory or contractual rights of any
shareholders of Astris and in compliance with all applicable securities Laws.
As
of the date hereof 3,818,840 Common Shares are reserved for issuance upon the
exercise of outstanding options granted pursuant to Astris’ option plans, no
Common Shares are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of any outstanding
options granted outside of any such option plans, and 16,071,730 Common Shares
are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants. Section
5.4(a) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a correct, true and complete
list of each Person who, as of the close of business on the date hereof, holds
an option under any option plan or otherwise or a warrant, indicating with
respect to each option and warrant then outstanding, the number of Common Shares
subject to such option or warrant, the grant date and exercise price of such
option or warrant, and the vesting schedule and expiration of such option or
warrant. The only security issuable upon exercise of outstanding options or
warrants is Common Shares. Except as set forth in Section 5.4(a) of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, there are not as of the date hereof, and there will not
be,
any subscriptions, outstanding or authorized options, warrants, convertible
securities, calls, rights (including preemptive rights), commitments or any
other agreements of any character to which Astris is a party, or by which it
may
be bound, requiring it to issue, transfer, sell, purchase, redeem or acquire
any
shares of their respective capital shares or any securities or rights
convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or evidencing the right
to
subscribe for, any shares of capital stock, or requiring them to give any Person
the right to receive any benefit or rights similar to any rights enjoyed by
or
accruing to the holders of shares of capital stock or any rights to participate
in the equity or net income of Astris. There are no shareholder agreements,
voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Astris is a party
or by which it is bound or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, between or among
its shareholders, with respect to the transfer or voting of any capital stock
of
Astris.
-10-
(b) Ontario.
The
authorized capital stock of Ontario
consists
of an unlimited number of common shares (the “Ontario
Common Shares”).
As of
the date of this Agreement, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Shares were issued and
outstanding. Other than the foregoing, there are no other shares of a class
or
series of capital stock of Ontario authorized or outstanding. All of the issued
and outstanding Ontario Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free of preemptive rights.
All of the issued and outstanding Ontario Common Shares were issued in
compliance with any preemptive rights and any other statutory or contractual
rights of any shareholders of the Ontario and in compliance with all applicable
securities Laws. Section 5.4(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth
a
correct, true and complete list of each Person who, as of the close of business
on the date hereof, holds an option under any option plan or otherwise or a
warrant, indicating with respect to each option and warrant then outstanding,
the number of Ontario Common Shares subject to such option or warrant, the
grant
date and exercise price of such option or warrant, and the vesting schedule
and
expiration of such option or warrant. The only security issuable upon exercise
of outstanding options or warrants is Ontario Common Shares. Except as set
forth
in Section 5.4(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, there are not as of the
date hereof, and there will not be, any subscriptions, outstanding or authorized
options, warrants, convertible securities, calls, rights (including preemptive
rights), commitments or any other agreements of any character to which Ontario
is a party, or by which it may be bound, requiring it to issue, transfer, sell,
purchase, redeem or acquire any shares of their respective capital shares or
any
securities or rights convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, or
evidencing the right to subscribe for, any shares of capital stock, or requiring
them to give any Person the right to receive any benefit or rights similar
to
any rights enjoyed by or accruing to the holders of shares of capital stock
or
any rights to participate in the equity or net income of Ontario. There are
no
shareholder agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings
to
which Ontario is a party or by which it is bound or between or among its
shareholders, with respect to the transfer or voting of any capital stock of
Ontario.
5.5
Subsidiaries; Equity Interests.
(a) Ontario
is the only Subsidiary of Astris. All of the issued and outstanding Ontario
Common Shares are owned by Astris. The Seller Subsidiary is the only Subsidiary
of Ontario. The Subsidiary Shares constitute 100% of the outstanding equity
of
the Seller Subsidiary, and such equity has been validly issued, is fully paid
and non-assessable and is 100% owned by Ontario, and as of the Closing, will
be
free and clear of all Liens.
-11-
(b) Except
for Astris’ interest in Ontario and Ontario’s interest in the Seller Subsidiary,
the Sellers do not and, as of the Closing Date, will not own, directly or
indirectly, any capital stock, membership interest, partnership interest, joint
venture interest or other equity interest in any Person.
5.6.
Financial Statements; SEC Documents; 10(b)-5.
(a) Included
in Section 5.6 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule are copies of (i) the
audited consolidated balance sheets of Astris in each of the years 2004 through
2006, inclusive (such audited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31,
2006, the “Most
Recent Balance Sheet”),
and
the related consolidated audited statements of income and retained earnings
and
cash flows, respectively, of Astris, for the fiscal years ended on such dates,
accompanied by the audit reports thereon of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Partners LLP,
the
Sellers’ independent public accountants, and (ii) the unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of Astris as of March 31, 2007 (the “Interim
Balance Sheet”),
and
the related consolidated unaudited statements of income and retained earnings
and cash flows, respectively, of the Sellers, for the three (3) month period
ended on such date. Each of such financial statements is true and correct and
has been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with
prior periods; each of such balance sheets fairly presents the financial
condition of each of the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary as of its respective
date; and each of such statements of income and retained earnings and cash
flows, respectively, fairly presents the results of operations and retained
earnings, or cash flows, as the case may be, of the Sellers and the Seller
Subsidiary for the period covered thereby; in each case, subject, with respect
to the unaudited financial statements referred to in clause (ii) of this
section, to the absence of footnote disclosure and to normal, recurring
end-of-period adjustments, the effect of which, both individually and in the
aggregate, will not be material.
(b) Since
January 1, 2000, the Sellers have filed all reports, schedules, forms,
statements and other documents required to be filed by them with the SEC under
the Exchange Act (all of the foregoing filed prior to the date hereof or amended
after the date hereof and all exhibits included therein and financial statements
and schedules thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, being
hereinafter referred to as the “SEC
Documents”).
The
Sellers have delivered to the Buyer or made available through the SEC’s website
at xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx,
true
and complete copies of the SEC Documents. As of their respective dates, the
financial statements of the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary (as applicable)
disclosed in the SEC Documents (the “Financial
Statements”)
complied as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto. No other information provided by or on behalf of the Sellers or the
Seller Subsidiary to the Buyer which is not included in the SEC Documents,
including, without limitation, information referred to in this Agreement,
contains any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
-12-
(c)
The
SEC Documents do not include any untrue statements of material fact, nor do
they
omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein necessary to
make
the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
(d) Since
January 1, 2000 the Sellers have filed all prescribed documents on SEDAR (the
“Sedar
Documents”).
All
of the Sedar Documents were materially accurate and did not contain any untrue
statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
5.7.
Absence of Certain Changes.
Since
the
date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet and subject to changes resulting from
the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, there has not been:
(i) any
material change in the assets, liabilities, business, or prospects of the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or in its or their relationships with
suppliers, customers, or other Persons with which it or they do business;
(ii) any
change in the sales or income of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary, other
than in the ordinary course of business;
(iii)
any
acquisition or disposition by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary of any
material asset or property, unless agreed to by Astris and Buyer;
(iv) any
damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by insurance;
(v) any
declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or any other distributions
in respect of any shares of capital stock or other equity interest of the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary;
(vi) any
issuance of any shares of the capital stock or other equity interest of the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or any direct or indirect redemption, purchase,
or other acquisition by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary of any such capital
stock or other equity interest, save and except for the issuance of the Note;
(vii) any
loss
of the services of any officer or key employee or consultant, or any increase
or
enhancement in the compensation, pension, or other benefits payable or to become
payable by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary to any of their respective
officers or key employees or consultants, or any bonus payments or arrangements
made to or with any of them;
-13-
(viii) any
forgiveness or cancellation of any debt or claim by the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary or any waiver of any right of material value;
(ix) any
entry
by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary into any transaction with any
Affiliates;
(x) any
incurrence by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary of any obligations or
liabilities, whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise (including
without limitation liabilities as guarantor or otherwise with respect to
obligations of others), other than obligations and liabilities incurred in
the
ordinary course of business with Persons other than Affiliates of the Sellers
or
the Seller Subsidiary;
(xi) any
incurrence or imposition of any Lien on any of the Assets of the Sellers or
the
Seller Subsidiary; or
(xii) any
discharge or satisfaction by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary of any Lien
or
payment by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary of any obligation or liability
(fixed or contingent) other than (A) current liabilities included in the
Most Recent Balance Sheet, (B) current, immaterial liabilities to Persons
other than Affiliates of the Sellers or their Subsidiaries incurred since the
date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business, and
(C) current liabilities incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby and listed in Section 5.7 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule.
5.8.
Properties and Assets.
(a) The
Assets of the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary are, and as of the Closing
Date,
the Acquired Assets will be, adequate and sufficient to conduct the Business
as
currently conducted. The Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary have good and
marketable title to all of their respective Assets, including without limitation
all those reflected in the Most Recent Balance Sheet and the Acquired Assets
(except for Assets sold, consumed, or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary
course of business since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet), all free
and clear of Liens other than Permitted Liens. At the Closing, the Sellers
will
transfer to the Buyer good and marketable title to all of the Acquired Assets,
in each case free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted
Liens.
(b) True
and
complete copies of (A) all deeds, evidences of ownership and surveys of or
pertaining to the Owned Real Property and (B) all instruments, agreements and
other documents evidencing, creating or constituting any Liens on any of the
Listed Premises have been delivered to Buyer. The Sellers warrant to the Buyer
that, at the time of Closing, the Owned Real Property shall be free and clear
of
all Liens other than those identified in Section 5.8(b) of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule. The Seller Subsidiary is the sole owner of the Owned Real
Property.
-14-
5.9.
Accounts Receivable.
All
Accounts Receivable that are reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet or
on
the accounting records of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary as of the Closing
Date represent or will represent valid obligations arising from sales actually
made or services actually performed by the Sellers in the ordinary course of
business. Except to the extent paid prior to the Closing Date, such Accounts
Receivable are or will be as of the Closing Date current and collectible net
of
the respective reserves shown on the Most Recent Balance Sheet (which reserves
are adequate and calculated consistent with past practice and will not represent
a material adverse change in the composition of such Accounts Receivable in
terms of aging). There is no contest, claim, defense or right of setoff, other
than returns in the ordinary course of business of the Sellers, under any
Contract with any account debtor of an Account Receivable relating to the amount
or validity of such Account Receivable. Section 5.9 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Accounts
Receivable as of the date of the Interim Balance Sheet, which list sets forth
the aging of each such Account Receivable.
5.10.
Inventory.
All
items
included in the Inventory consist of a quality and quantity usable and, with
respect to finished goods, saleable, in the ordinary course of business of
the
Sellers except for obsolete items and items of below-standard quality, all
of
which have been written off or written down to net realizable value in the
Most
Recent Balance Sheet. Neither the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary are in
possession of any inventory not owned by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
(as applicable), including goods already sold. All of the Inventories have
been
valued at the lower of cost or market value on a first in, first out basis.
Inventories now on hand that was purchased after the date of the Most Recent
Balance Sheet was purchased in the ordinary course of business of the Sellers
or
the Seller Subsidiary (as applicable) at a cost not exceeding market prices
prevailing at the time of purchase. The quantities of each item of Inventory
(whether raw materials, work-in-process or finished goods) are not excessive
but
are reasonable in the present circumstances of the Sellers.
5.11.
Real Property; Facilities.
(a) Section 5.11(a)
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a correct legal description, street
address and tax parcel identification number of all tracts, parcels and
subdivided lots in which the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary have an
ownership interest (such parcels of land, together with all Improvements
situated thereon, all privileges and appurtenances thereto and all existing
easements, licenses and other rights with respect to other real property, to
the
extent such easements, licenses and other rights are used or held by the Sellers
and/or the Seller Subsidiary in connection with such parcel, collectively,
the
“Owned
Real Property”).
(b) Section 5.11(b)
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a correct legal description and
street address in which the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary has a leasehold
interest and an accurate description (by location, name of lessor, date of
Lease
and term expiry date) of all Real Property Tenant Leases.
-15-
(c) To
the
knowledge of the Sellers: (i) the use of the Listed Premises and Owned Real
Property for the various purposes for which they are presently being used is
permitted as of right under all applicable zoning legal requirements and is
not
subject to "permitted nonconforming" use or structure classifications; (ii)
all
Improvements are in compliance with all applicable Requirements of Law,
including those pertaining to zoning, building and the disabled, are in good
repair and in good condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted, and are free
from
latent and patent defects; (iii) no part of any Improvement encroaches on any
real property not included in the Listed Premises and/or the Owned Real
Property, and there are no Improvements primarily situated on adjoining property
which encroach on any part of the Listed Premises and/or the Owned Real
Property; (iv) the real property for each item of Owned Real Property abuts
on
and has direct vehicular access to a public road or has access to a public
road
via a permanent, irrevocable, appurtenant easement benefiting such real property
and comprising a part of the Owned Real Property, is supplied with public or
quasi-public utilities and other services appropriate for the operation of
the
Improvements located thereon and is not located within any flood plain or area
subject to wetlands regulation or any similar restriction; and (v) there is
no
existing or proposed plan to modify or realign any street or highway or any
existing or proposed eminent domain proceeding that would result in the taking
of all or any part of any Improvements or that would prevent or hinder the
continued use of any Improvements as heretofore used in the conduct of the
Business.
5.12.
Equipment.
(a) Section 5.12(a)
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct list of
each
capital asset of the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary having a book or fair
market value in excess of Ten Thousand U.S. dollars (US$10,000). There are
no
defects in any such capital assets as to title.
(b) Each
item
of Equipment is sold to the Buyer on an “as is” basis. Except as disclosed in
Section 5.12(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, all Equipment used in
each Seller's or the Seller Subsidiary’s business is in the possession of Seller
or the Seller Subsidiary, respectively.
5.13.
Contracts.
Section 5.13
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all
Contracts to which the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary are a party, or by
or to
which the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or any of the Acquired Assets are
bound or subject, and specifically includes without limitation:
(a) agreements
with any current officer, director, employee, consultant, or shareholder, or
any
partnership, corporation, joint venture, or any other entity in which any such
Person has an interest;
-16-
(b) agreements
with any labor union or association representing any employee;
(c) agreements
for the provision of services by or to the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary;
(d) bonds
or
other security agreements provided by any party in connection with the business
of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary;
(e) agreements
for the purchase or other acquisition or the sale or other disposition of assets
or properties, in each case other than in the ordinary course of business,
or
for the grant to any Person of any preferential rights to purchase any of such
assets or properties;
(f) joint
venture agreements relating to the assets, properties, or business of the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or by or to which any of their assets or
properties is bound or subject;
(g) agreements
under which the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary agree to indemnify any party,
to share any tax liability of any party, or to refrain from competing with
any
party;
(h) agreements
with regard to Indebtedness; or
(i) any
other
Contract, whether or not made in the ordinary course of business.
All
of
the Contracts listed in Section 5.13 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule are
in full force and effect, and none of the Sellers, the Seller Subsidiary or
any
other party thereto, is in default under or breach of any of them, nor does
any
event or condition exist that after notice or lapse of time or both could
constitute a default thereunder or breach thereof on the part of a Seller or
the
Seller Subsidiary, or any other party thereto. Other than as set out in Section
5.13 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no approval, consent, or waiver of
or by
any Person is needed in order that the contracts listed in Section 5.13 of
the Seller Disclosure Schedule continue in full force and effect following
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and no such
Contract includes any provision, the effect of which may be to terminate (or
give rise to a right of termination under) such Contract, to give rise to,
enlarge, or accelerate any obligations of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
thereunder, or to give additional rights to any other Person, upon or by reason
of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The
Sellers have delivered to the Buyer true and complete copies of all such
Contracts.
5.14.
Intellectual Property.
(a) Section 5.14(a)
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule provides a non-exhaustive list of the
Proprietary Rights. Except as set forth in Section 5.14(a) of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary own, or are
licensed or authorized or otherwise have the full and unrestricted exclusive
right to use, without the payment of royalties or other consideration, all
Proprietary Rights, and except for the IP Agreements, no other Intellectual
Property rights, privileges, licenses, contracts, or other agreements,
instruments, or evidences of interests relating to Intellectual Property (other
than for off-the-shelf software programs that have not been customized for
use
by a Seller or the Seller Subsidiary) are necessary to or used in the conduct
of
the Business.
-17-
(b) In
any
instance where the Proprietary Rights arise under a license or similar agreement
(other than for off-the-shelf software programs that have not been customized
for use by a Seller or the Seller Subsidiary), this is indicated in
Section 5.14(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule and such rights are
licensed exclusively to Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary except as indicated
in Section 5.14(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule. Except for
Proprietary Rights indicated as owned by a third party and used by a Seller
or
the Seller Subsidiary under a license or similar agreement as set forth in
Section 5.14(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no other Person has an
interest in or right or license to use any of the Proprietary Rights. No
Government Entity has any right to the Proprietary Rights of a Seller or the
Seller Subsidiary. To the knowledge of Sellers, none of the Proprietary Rights
is being infringed by others, or is subject to any outstanding order, decree,
judgment, or stipulation. No litigation (or other proceeding in or before any
Governmental Entity or arbitral body apart from current and anticipated
proceedings before a relevant jurisdiction’s patent or trademark office or other
government intellectual property office, including outstanding Office Actions,
solely in respect of any pending patent applications of the Sellers’ Registered
Intellectual Property) relating to the Proprietary Rights is pending (apart
from
any such proceedings of which the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary may not
yet
have received notice), or threatened, nor, to the knowledge of Sellers, is
there
any basis for any such litigation or proceeding. The Sellers and the Seller
Subsidiary maintain reasonable security measures for the preservation of the
secrecy and proprietary nature of their respective trade secrets or other
confidential information included in the Proprietary Rights.
(c) None
of
the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary has infringed or made unlawful use of,
and
are not infringing or making unlawful use of, any Intellectual Property or
other
proprietary or confidential information of any other Person; and (ii) the
activities of the Sellers’ and the Seller Subsidiary’s current and former
employees and contractors in connection with their employment or contractual
relationship with a Seller and/or the Seller Subsidiary (as applicable) did
not
and do not violate any agreements or arrangements that any such employees or
consultants had or have with any former employer or any other Person. No actual,
or to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened litigation (or other proceeding
in or
before Governmental Entity or arbitratory body) charging any Seller or the
Seller Subsidiary with infringement or unauthorized or unlawful use of any
patent, trademark, service xxxx, trade name, logo, copyright, trade secret,
or
other proprietary right is pending, or threatened (including, without
limitation, as indicated by the receipt of any notice of any other Person’s
Intellectual Property); nor to the knowledge of the Sellers, is there any basis
for any such litigation or proceeding.
-18-
(d) Section
5.14(d) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth each officer, director,
employee and consultant that has been employed, contracted or retained by the
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary who has executed a written Contract with
the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary that assigns to such Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary all rights to any inventions, improvements, discoveries or
information relating to the Business. No former or current director, officer,
employee or consultant has any claim of ownership with respect to the
Proprietary Rights developed during the period of time such Person was employed
or provided consulting services to the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary, or
otherwise.
(e) To
the
extent that any Proprietary Rights have been developed or created by any Person
other than the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary (and apart from off-the-shelf
software programs that have not been customized for use by a Seller of the
Seller Subsidiary), the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary (as applicable) have
either (i) obtained ownership of, so as to be the exclusive owner of, all
such Proprietary Rights by operation of law or by valid assignment of any such
rights or (ii) has obtained a license under or to such Proprietary Rights
which are set forth in Section 5.14(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to the knowledge of the
Seller, no officer, director, employee, or consultant of either Seller or the
Seller Subsidiary is obligated under or bound by any agreement or instrument,
or
any judgment, decree, or order of any court or administrative agency, that
(i) conflicts or may conflict with his or her agreements and obligations to
use his or her best efforts to promote the interests of the Sellers and/or
Seller Subsidiary, (ii) conflicts or may conflict with the business or
operations of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary, or (iii) restricts or
may restrict the use or disclosure of any information that may be useful to
the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary.
(f) Section
5.14(f) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists all Contracts between a Seller
and/or Seller Subsidiary and any other Person wherein or whereby (i) such Seller
or the Seller Subsidiary have agreed to, or assumed, any obligation or duty
to
warrant, indemnify, reimburse, hold harmless, guaranty or otherwise assume
or
incur any obligation or liability, or provide a right of rescission, with
respect to the infringement or misappropriation by such Seller and/or the Seller
Subsidiary or such other Person of the Intellectual Property of any Person
other
than the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or (ii) the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary have granted any rights or interest to any Person in the Proprietary
Rights or any portion thereof.
(g) Neither
the Seller nor the Seller Subsidiary has received notice of any allegation,
nor
is there any basis for either the Seller or the Seller Subsidiary to suspect,
that any (i) product, technology, service or publication of the Sellers or
the Seller Subsidiary, (ii) material published or distributed by the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary, or (iii) conduct or statement of the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary constitutes a defamatory statement or material,
false advertising or otherwise violates any Law.
(h) Neither
this Agreement nor any transactions to be accomplished pursuant to this
Agreement will result in the Buyer’s granting any rights or licenses with
respect to the Proprietary Rights of the Sellers and
the
Seller Subsidiary or
the
Buyer to any Person pursuant to any contract to which the Seller or
the
Seller Subsidiary are
a
party or by which any of the Assets are bound. Neither the execution of this
Agreement nor the consummation of the transaction contemplated hereby, shall
give rise to or otherwise result in a Seller or the
Seller Subsidiary (or
the
Buyer) having any obligation to pay
any
royalties (any increase or royalties) to any third party or other Person after
the Closing.
-19-
(i) All
of
the Proprietary Rights are subsisting, and, to the knowledge of Sellers, valid
and in full force and effect (except with respect to applications), and has
not
expired or been cancelled or abandoned. All necessary documents and certificates
in connection with such Seller Registered Intellectual Property have been filed
with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other authorities in the
United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be, for the purposes
of
avoiding abandonment, prosecuting and maintaining of such Seller Registered
Intellectual Property. Section 5.14(i) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists
all actions, including without limitation, Office Actions, that must be taken
by
the Company within ninety (90) days following the date of this Agreement,
including the payment of any registration, maintenance, renewal fees, annuity
fees and taxes or the filing of any documents, applications, certificates for
the purposes of maintaining, perfecting or preserving or renewing any of the
Seller Registered Intellectual Property.
(j) Except
for Office Actions and any amendments which may have been filed in response
thereto, neither the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary is a party to any
settlements, covenants not to xxx, consents, decrees, stipulations, judgments
or
orders resulting from Actions which permit third parties to use any of the
Seller Registered Intellectual Property.
(k) Other
than marketing plans and names of customers or under an appropriate
confidentiality or nondisclosure agreement or contractual provision relating
to
confidentiality and nondisclosure, there has been no disclosure to any third
party of material confidential or proprietary information or trade secrets
of
the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary related to any product currently being
marketed, sold, licensed or developed by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary.
(l) The
assignment of the Proprietary Rights to the Buyer will not require the consent
of any Governmental Entity or other Person. No Contract to which Seller or
the
Seller Subsidiary gives any Person any rights to the Intellectual Property
of
Buyer or any of Buyer’s Affiliates as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The consummation of transactions
contemplated hereby will not result in any impairment of the Proprietary Rights,
or any amendment, alteration or termination of any Contract relating to the
Proprietary Rights other than Buyer becoming the owner of the Proprietary
Rights.
(m) All
IP
Agreements are in full force and effect, and none of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary is in material breach of or has failed to perform under, any of
such
contracts, licenses or agreements to which it is party and, to the knowledge
of
the Sellers, no other party to any such contract, license or agreement is in
material breach thereof or has failed to perform thereunder. The consummation
of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, will neither violate nor result
in the breach, modification (except for the Buyer becoming the owner of the
Proprietary Rights subject thereto), cancellation, termination or suspension
of
the IP Agreements. Following the Closing Date, the Buyer will be permitted
to
exercise all of the rights of the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary under
the
IP Agreements to the same extent any the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary,
as the case may be, would have been able to had the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement not occurred and without the payment of any additional amounts
or
consideration other than ongoing fees, royalties or payments which such Seller
or the Seller Subsidiary (as the case may be) would otherwise be required to
pay.
-20-
(n) All
Proprietary Rights will be fully transferable, alienable or licensable by the
Buyer from and after the Closing Date without restriction and without payment
of
any kind to any Person.
(o) The
parties acknowledge that tests on Sellers’ technology were performed during the
course of the Buyer’s due diligence prior to the date hereof, and that those
results were delivered by Sellers to the Buyer prior to the date hereof (the
“Tests”).
The
Sellers represent and warrant that the formulas delivered pursuant to Section
9.6 include the true and complete formulas that were used by Sellers and/or
the
Seller Subsidiary in their products such as X0, X0 and stacks and which products
perform at least at the performance levels obtained during the
Tests.
5.15.
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.
To
the
knowledge of the Sellers, except to the extent reflected or reserved against
in
the Interim Balance Sheet, or incurred with Persons other than any Affiliate
of
the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business after
the date of that balance sheet and described in Section 5.15 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, none of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary have any
liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
or otherwise (including without limitation liabilities, as guarantor or
otherwise, in respect of obligations of others).
5.16.
Absence of Third Party Rights.
Except
as
described in Section 5.16 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule:
The
execution of this Agreement does not trigger, give rise to, accelerate or
enhance any rights of any third party, or obligation of the Sellers to any
third
party. The Buyer has no obligation to any Person holding any warrant for shares
of any Seller or Seller Subsidiary by the execution of this Agreement, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise.
-21-
5.17.
Compliance with Other Agreements, Laws, Etc.
The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary have complied with, and are in compliance
with, (a) all Requirements of Law applicable to them, (b) all
unwaived terms and provisions of all Contracts to which each Seller and/or
the
Seller Subsidiary are a party, or by which such Seller and/or the Seller
Subsidiary or any of their properties are subject, and (c) their respective
charter or governing documents, each as amended to date; in the case of the
preceding clauses (a) and (b), excepting only any such noncompliances that,
both
individually and in the aggregate, have not resulted and will not result in
any
Seller Material Adverse Effect. Neither of the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary
has been charged with, or to the best of its knowledge, been under investigation
with respect to, any violation of any provision of any Requirement of Law.
The
Seller and the Seller Subsidiary have and maintain, and, Section 5.17 of
the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct list of, all
Permits and other similar acts of or made with all Governmental Entities as
are
necessary or desirable for the conduct of their respective businesses or in
connection with the ownership or use of their respective properties, all of
which are in full force and effect, true and complete copies of all of which
have previously been delivered to the Buyer, and none of which will be affected
by the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.18.
Health, Safety and Matters.
(a) Section
5.18 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth any Hazardous Material which
is present in, on, or under to any property that any of the Sellers or the
Seller Subsidiary have at any time owned, operated, occupied, leased or used
(including both the land and improvements thereon) (the “Disclosed
Materials”).
Other
than the Disclosed Materials, there is no other Hazardous Material which is
present in, on, or under to any property that any of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary have at any time owned, operated, occupied, leased or used (including
both the land and improvements thereon) and no reasonable likelihood exists
that
any other Hazardous Material will come to be present in, on, or under any
properties owned, operated, occupied, leased or used at any time (including
both
land and improvements thereon) by any of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary.
The Disclosed Materials are present only in laboratories leased or owned by
the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary. None of the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary
has transported, stored, used, manufactured, disposed of, sold, released or
exposed its employees or any other Person to any Hazardous Material (including
the Disclosed Materials), or arranged for the disposal, discharge, storage
or
release of any Hazardous Material (including the Disclosed Materials), and
do
not currently engage in any of the foregoing activities, in violation of any
applicable Environmental Law or other Law.
(b) No
approvals are required to be obtained by any of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary under any Environmental Laws. The Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary
have been and are in compliance in all material respects with all other
limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements,
obligations, schedules and timetables contained in the Environmental Laws or
contained in any regulation, code, plan, order, decree, judgment, notice or
demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder.
-22-
(c) No
action
or proceeding is pending, or threatened (whether orally or in writing)
concerning any Environmental Law, Hazardous Material (including the Disclosed
Materials) or any Hazardous Materials (including the Disclosed Materials)
activity of either Seller or the Seller Subsidiary. Neither Seller nor the
Seller Subsidiary is aware of any fact or circumstance that could involve them
in any environmental litigation or impose upon either Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary any environmental liability.
5.19.
Employees.
(a) The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary are in material compliance with all Laws
respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment, collective bargaining, pay equity, occupational health and safety,
workers’ compensation and wages and hours and has not and is not engaged in any
unfair labour practice.
(b) No
unfair
labour practice, complaint or grievance against a Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary is pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened against
a
Seller or the Seller Subsidiary with respect to their businesses.
(c) None
of
the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary has ever been, a party to or bound by
any
labour or collective bargaining agreement and there are no labour or collective
bargaining agreements which pertain to their employees. Neither Seller nor
the
Seller Subsidiary is currently engaged in any labour negotiation nor do they
have knowledge of any organizational effort by or on behalf of any labour union
on behalf of their employees.
(d) No
grievance which might have an adverse effect upon the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary or conduct of their businesses exists, no arbitration proceeding
arising out of or under any collective agreements is pending, and no claim
therefore has been asserted.
(e) No
notice
has been received by any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary of any complaint which
has not been resolved filed by any of its employees claiming that they have
violated the Employment
Standards Act
(Ontario) or the Human
Rights Code (Ontario)
(or any applicable employee or human rights or similar legislation in the other
jurisdictions in which any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary operates), or of
any
complaints or proceedings which have not been resolved of any kind involving
any
Seller or the Seller Subsidiary or, to their knowledge, after due inquiry,
any
of the employees of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary before any labour
relations board. There are no outstanding orders or charges against a Seller
or
the Seller Subsidiary under the Occupational
Health and Safety Act
(Ontario) (or any applicable health and safety legislation in the other
jurisdictions in which any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary carries on business).
All levies, assessments and penalties made against any Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary pursuant to the Workplace
Safety and Insurance Act
(Ontario) (and any applicable workers’ compensation legislation or similar
legislation in the other jurisdictions in which any Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary carries on business) have been paid by the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary and such Seller or the Seller Subsidiary has not be reassessed under
any such legislation except such as have been resolved.
-23-
(f) Except
as
disclosed in Section 5.19 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, all vacation pay
(including all banked vacation pay), bonuses, commissions and other employee
benefit payments of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary are reflected and
have
been accrued in the books and records of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary.
(g) The
aggregate amount of salaries, pensions, bonuses, or other remuneration of any
nature paid or payable by the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary to or for its
present or former officers, directors, shareholders, employees or Persons not
dealing at arm’s length with then shall not be unreasonably changed without the
prior written consent of the Buyer.
(h) Except
as
disclosed in Section 5.19 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no salaries,
pensions, bonuses, or other remuneration of any nature is payable by the Sellers
or the Seller Subsidiary to any Person not dealing at arm’s length with any
present or former director, officer, shareholder or employee of the Sellers
or
the Seller Subsidiary.
(i) Section
5.19 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule identifies each retirement, pension,
bonus, stock purchase, profit sharing, stock option, deferred compensation,
severance or termination pay, insurance, medical, hospital, dental, vision
care,
drug, sick leave, disability, salary continuation, legal benefits, unemployment
benefits, vacation, incentive or other compensation plan or arrangement or
other
employee benefit plan that is maintained or otherwise contributed to, or
required to be contributed to, by the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary for
the
benefit of employees or former employees of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
(collectively, the “Employee
Plans”)
and a
true and complete copy of each Employee Plan has been furnished to the Buyer.
Each Employee Plan has been maintained in compliance with its terms and with
the
requirements prescribed by any and all Laws that are applicable to such Employee
Plan. Except as set forth in the Section 5.19 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule:
(i)
|
all
contributions to and payments from each Employee Plan that may have
been
required to be made in accordance with the terms of any such Employee
Plan, or with the recommendation of the actuary for such Employee
Plan,
and, where applicable, with the Laws that govern such Employee Plan,
have
been made in a timely manner;
|
(ii)
|
all
material reports, returns and similar documents (including applications
for approval of contributions) with respect to any Employee Plan
required
to be filed with any Governmental Entity or distributed to any Employee
Plan participant have been duly filed on a timely basis or
distributed;
|
-24-
(iii)
|
to
the knowledge of the Sellers, after due inquiry, there are no pending
investigations by any Governmental Entity involving or relating to
an
Employee Plan, threatened or pending claims (except for claims for
benefits payable in the normal operation of the Employee Plans),
suits or
proceedings against any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary in respect
of any
Employee Plan or assertions of any rights or claims to benefits under
any
Employee Plan that could give rise to a liability nor are there any
facts
that could give rise to any liability in the event of such investigation,
claim, suit or proceeding;
|
(iv)
|
no
notice has been received by either of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
of any complaints or other proceedings of any kind involving a Seller,
the
Seller Subsidiary or any of the employees of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary before any pension board or committee relating to any
Employee
Plan or to the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary;
and
|
(v)
|
the
assets of each Employee Plan are at least equal to the liabilities
of such
Employee Plans based on the actuarial assumptions utilized in the
most
recent valuation performed by the actuary for such Employee Plan,
and
Buyer will not incur any liability with respect to any Employee Plan
as a
result of the transaction of purchase and sale contemplated
herein.
|
(j) Except
as
described in the Seller Disclosure Schedule, neither the Sellers nor the Seller
Subsidiary have made any contract with any labour union or employee association
nor made commitments to or conducted negotiations with any labour union or
employee association with respect to any future agreements and, there are no
current attempts to organize or establish any labour union or employee
association with respect to any employees of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary, nor is there any certification of any such union with regard to
a
bargaining unit. There are no grievances against either of the Sellers or the
Seller Subsidiary for which the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary have received
written notice under any collective agreement.
(k) No
notice
has been received by either of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary of any
complaint filed by any of its employees claiming that the Seller has violated
any Laws applicable to employee or human rights, or of any complaints or
proceedings of any kind involving the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or any
of
the employees of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary before any labour
relations board, except as disclosed in the Seller Disclosure Schedule. All
levies, assessments and penalties made against the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary pursuant to any Laws applicable to workers' compensation have been
paid and neither the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary has been assessed under
any such legislation during the past ten (10) years.
(l) Except
as
disclosed in Section 5.19 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, all accruals for
unpaid vacation pay, premiums for employment insurance, health premiums, Canada
Pension Plan premiums, accrued wages, salaries and commissions and employee
benefit plan payments have been properly reflected in the Sellers’ financial
statements, books and records.
-25-
5.20.
Litigation.
No
litigation, arbitration, action, suit, proceeding, or investigation (whether
conducted by any judicial or regulatory body, arbitrator, or other Person)
is
pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened, against any Seller
or
the Seller Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Sellers, is there any basis
therefor.
5.21.
Taxes.
(a) For
purposes of this Section 5.21, the following definitions shall
apply:
(i) “Tax”
and
“Taxes” shall mean any or all Canadian federal, provincial, local or foreign
(i.e. non-Canadian) income, gross receipts, real property gains, goods and
services, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupations,
premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital shares,
franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment,
disability, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer,
registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum, or other taxes,
levies, governmental charges or assessments of any kind whatsoever, including,
without limitation, any estimated tax payments, interest, penalties or other
additions thereto, whether or not disputed.
(ii) “Tax
Return” shall mean any return, declaration, report, estimate, information return
or statement, or claim for refund relating to, or required to be filed in
connection with any Taxes, including information returns or reports with respect
to withholding at source or payments to third parties, and any schedules or
attachments thereto or amendments of any of the foregoing.
(b) The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary have filed on a timely basis all Tax Returns
required to be filed. All such Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all
respects. All Taxes due from or payable by any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary
for periods (or portions thereof) ending on or prior to the date hereof and
the
Closing Date, as applicable, have been paid. All installments or other payments
on account of Taxes that relate to periods for which Tax Returns are not yet
due
have been paid on a timely basis. None of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary
is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file
any
Tax Return. Section 5.21(b) of the Seller Disclosure Schedule contains a
complete and accurate summary of all Canadian federal or provincial income
tax
assessments for Astris’ fiscal years ended December 31, 2001 through December
31, 2005, and Ontario’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2005.
(c) Sellers
have withheld, collected and paid to the proper Government Entity all Taxes
required to have been withheld, collected and paid in connection with (i)
amounts paid, credited or owing to any employee, independent or dependent
contractor, creditor, shareholder, non-resident of Canada or other third party,
and (ii) goods and services received from or provided to any
Person.
-26-
(d) No
steps
are being taken by any Governmental Entity to assess any additional Taxes
against any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary for any period for which Tax Returns
have been filed and there are no actual or pending investigations of the Seller
relating to Taxes. The Buyer has been, or will be forthwith upon request,
provided with correct and complete copies of all Tax Returns of the Sellers
and
the Seller Subsidiary, together with any notices of assessment, examination
reports or statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by any
Seller or the Seller Subsidiary, for all taxable periods for which the statute
of limitations ahs not yet closed and any correspondence relating
thereto.
5.22.
Potential Conflicts of Interest.
No
officer or director of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary (a) owns, directly
or indirectly, any interest (excepting not more than 1% shares holdings for
investment purposes in securities of publicly held and traded companies) in,
or
is an officer, director, employee, or consultant of, any Person that is a
competitor, lessor, lessee, customer, or supplier of, or a borrower from or
lender to, any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary; (b) owns, directly or
indirectly, in whole or in part, any tangible or intangible property that any
Seller or the Seller Subsidiary is using or the use of which is necessary for
the Business; or (c) has any cause of action or other claim whatsoever against,
or owes any amount to, any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary, other than claims
by
directors or employees of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary (as applicable)
incurred in the ordinary course of business, such as for unpaid director’s fees,
accrued vacation pay, accrued benefits under employee benefit plans, and similar
matters and agreements, as set forth on Section 5.22 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule.
5.23.
Insurance.
Section 5.23
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists the policies of theft, fire, liability,
workmen’s compensation, life, property and casualty, and other insurance owned
or held by the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary. Such policies of insurance
are
maintained with financially sound and reputable insurance companies, funds,
or
underwriters, and are of the kinds, cover such risks, and are in such amounts
and with such deductibles and exclusions, as are consistent with prudent
business practice. All such policies are in full force and effect; are
sufficient for compliance by the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary with all
Requirements of Law and of all agreements to which any Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary is a party; are valid, outstanding, and enforceable policies and
provide that they will remain in full force and effect through the respective
dates set forth in the Seller Disclosure Schedule (all of which are, and will
continue to be, effective during the period from the date hereof to Closing);
and will not in any way be affected by, or terminate or lapse by reason of,
the
execution of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
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5.24.
Bank Accounts, Signing Authority, Powers of Attorney.
Section 5.24
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all
bank, brokerage, and other accounts, and all safe-deposit boxes, of the Sellers
and the Seller Subsidiary and the Persons with signing or other authority to
act
with respect thereto. Except as so listed, none of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary has any account or safe deposit box in any bank, and no Person has
any power, whether singly or jointly, to sign any checks on behalf of any Seller
or the Seller Subsidiary, to withdraw any money or other property from any
bank,
brokerage, or other account of any Seller or the Seller Subsidiary, or to act
under any agency or power of attorney granted by any Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary at any time for any purpose. Section 5.24 of the Seller
Disclosure Schedule also sets forth the names of all Persons authorized to
borrow money or sign notes on behalf of the Sellers or the Seller
Subsidiary.
5.25.
Suppliers and Customers.
Section 5.25
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists the ten largest suppliers and ten
largest customers of each Seller and the Seller Subsidiary during the preceding
twelve-month period. The relationships of each Seller and the Seller Subsidiary
with their respective suppliers and customers are good commercial working
relationships, and no supplier or customer of material importance to the
Business has canceled or otherwise terminated, or threatened in writing to
cancel or terminate, its relationship with such Seller or the Seller Subsidiary
(as applicable) or has during the last twelve months decreased materially,
or
threatened to decrease or limit materially, its services, supplies, or materials
to such Seller and the Seller Subsidiary or their usage or purchase of the
services or products of such Seller or the Seller Subsidiary, except for normal
cyclical changes related to customers’ businesses. Neither Seller has knowledge
or reason to know that any such supplier or customer intends to cancel or
otherwise substantially modify its relationship with a Seller or the Seller
Subsidiary (as applicable) or to decrease materially or limit its services,
supplies, or materials to a Seller or the Seller Subsidiary (as applicable),
or
its usage or purchase of a Seller’s and/or the Seller Subsidiary’s services or
products, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
not
adversely affect the relationship of the Business with any such supplier or
customer.
5.26.
Employment of Officers, Employees.
Section 5.26
of the Seller Disclosure Schedule lists the name and current annual salary
and
other compensation payable by each Seller or the Seller Subsidiary to each
exempt non-hourly employee, officer and director of the Sellers and the Seller
Subsidiary (as applicable) (including but not limited to wages, salary,
commissions, normal bonus, profit sharing, deferred compensation, and other
compensation).
5.27.
Minute Books.
The
minute books of each Seller and the Seller Subsidiary have been made available
to the Buyer for inspection and each accurately record therein all material
actions taken by each Seller’s board of directors and by the Seller Subsidiary’s
boards of directors, all committees thereof, and their respective
shareholders.
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5.28.
Brokers.
Other
than as described in Section 5.28 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule, no finder,
broker, agent, or other intermediary has acted for or on behalf of any Seller
in
connection with the negotiation, preparation, execution, or delivery of this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
5.29.
Preparation of Proxy Statement
The
Proxy
Statement (as defined below) and other materials distributed to the Astris
shareholders in connection with the Acquisition, including any amendments or
supplements thereto, will comply in all material respects with the provisions
of
Astris’ by-laws and all applicable requirements of Law (including all of the
proxy rules of the SEC) and the requirements of the OBCA. The Proxy Statement
and any other proxy materials will not, (i) at the time that it or any amendment
or supplement thereto is mailed to Astris’ shareholders, (ii) at the time of the
Shareholders Meeting (as defined below) or (ii) at the Closing, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except
that no representation is made by Sellers with respect to information that
is
supplied in writing by the Buyer expressly for inclusion in the Proxy
Statement.
5.30.
Fairness Opinion.
Sellers
have received the opinion of Corporate Valuation Services Limited, dated the
date of this Agreement (the “Fairness
Opinion”),
to
the effect that, as of such date, the consideration to be received in the
Acquisition is fair from a financial point of view to the Sellers, a signed
copy
of which opinion has been delivered to the Buyer.
5.31.
Securities Matters.
(a) Astris
is
a "reporting issuer" in the Province of Alberta and no other Canadian
jurisdiction and Ontario is not a “reporting issuer” in any Canadian
jurisdiction, within the meaning of the applicable securities Laws in such
jurisdictions. Neither Seller is in default of any material requirements of
applicable securities Laws.
(b) Neither
Seller is currently subject to any issuer cease trade orders imposed by any
securities commission in Canada.
(c) Equity
Transfer & Trust Company at its principal office in the City of Toronto is
the duly appointed registrar and transfer agent of Astris with respect to the
Common Shares.
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(d) No
securities commission, including the SEC, or any other securities commission
or
similar regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending
trading of any securities of Astris.
(e)
As of
the date of this Agreement, no insider of Astris has advised Astris of an
intention to sell any securities of Astris within the next 90 days.
5.32. Disclosure
No
representation or warranty of the Sellers in this Agreement (including the
exhibits and schedules hereto) or in any other agreement, instrument,
certificate, or other document delivered by the Sellers in connection with
this
Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated hereby contains or
will
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state
a
material fact required to be stated herein or therein or necessary to make
the
statements contained herein or therein not false or misleading or necessary
in
order to provide a prospective purchaser of the Business with proper and
complete information as to the business, condition, operations, and prospects
of
the Business. There is no fact that the Sellers have not disclosed to the Buyer
in writing that materially adversely affects, or is reasonably likely to affect
materially and adversely, the business or condition (financial or otherwise)
of
the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary, the Business and/or the Acquired
Assets or the ability of the Sellers to perform their respective obligations
under this Agreement or to consummate any of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
Article
6.
Representations and Warranties of the Buyer
The
Buyer
represents and warrants to the Sellers as follows as of the date hereof and
as
of the Closing:
6.1.
Organization.
The
Buyer
is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada with corporate power and authority
to enter into this Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents, and to
perform all of the respective obligations hereunder and thereunder (as
applicable).
6.2.
Authority.
(a) The
Buyer
has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which it is a party and to consummate
the Acquisition. The execution and delivery by the Buyer of this Agreement
and
the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Buyer of the Acquisition
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Buyer, subject to receipt of the approval of its shareholders. The Buyer has
duly executed and delivered this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to
which it is a party, and this Agreement and the Transaction Documents to which
it is a party constitute its legal, valid and binding obligations, enforceable
against it in accordance with their terms subject, as to enforcement, to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general equitable
principles.
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(b) The
board
of directors of the Buyer, at a meeting duly called and held, duly and
unanimously adopted resolutions (i) approving this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents to which it is a party and the Acquisition contemplated
by
this Agreement, and (ii) recommending that Buyer’s shareholders approve the
Acquisition. Such resolutions are sufficient to render inapplicable to the
Sellers, this Agreement, the Transaction Documents and the Acquisition
contemplated by this Agreement any state takeover law or other applicable Law
that might otherwise prohibit the consummation of the Acquisition. No takeover
statute or similar statute or regulation applies or purports to apply to Buyer
with respect to this Agreement, the Transaction Documents or the Acquisition
contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) The
Buyer
is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GSI.
6.3.
No Conflicts.
The
execution and delivery by the Buyer of this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents to which it is a party do not, and the consummation by the Buyer
of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such Transaction Documents
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 result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of the Buyer or any of its affiliates or Subsidiaries
under, any provision of (i) the Buyer’s articles of incorporation or the Buyer’s
by-laws, (ii) any Contract to which Buyer or by which its properties or assets
is bound, or (iii) any judgment, order or decree or Law applicable to Buyer
or
its properties or assets.
6.4.
Governmental Consents and Filings.
Except
for the notification to be filed under the Investment Canada Act and any filings
required by the Exchange Act, no Consent of, or registration, declaration or
filing with, or permit from, any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained
or made by or with respect to the Buyer in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and any Transaction Documents to
which it is a party or the consummation of the Acquisition other than those
that
may be required solely by reason of a Seller’s (as opposed to any other third
party’s) participation in the Acquisition and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and by the Transaction Documents.
6.5.
Brokers.
The
Buyer
has not retained, utilized or been represented by any broker or finder in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
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Article
7.
Conduct of Business Pending Closing
Each
Seller agrees to, from and after the date of this Agreement and until the
Closing or termination of this Agreement, and shall cause the Seller Subsidiary
to (as applicable), perform the covenants set forth in this
Article 7.
7.1.
Full Access.
Each
Seller and the Seller Subsidiary shall afford to the Buyer and its authorized
representatives full access during normal business hours to all properties,
books, records, contracts, documents, employees, consultants and representatives
of the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary and a full opportunity to make such
investigations as the Buyer shall desire to make of the Business or with respect
to the Acquired Assets and Assumed Liabilities, provided that such access does
not unreasonably disrupt the normal operations of the Business, and each Seller
and the Seller Subsidiary shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Buyer
and its authorized representatives all such information as the Buyer may
reasonably request.
7.2.
Carry on in Regular Course.
Each
Seller and the Seller Subsidiary shall maintain its owned and leased properties
consistent with past practice, and make all necessary renewals and replacements
thereto, and they will conduct its operations in the ordinary and usual course
of business consistent with past practice in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable Laws, maintain all of the respective accounting methods,
policies, procedures, practices or principles used by the Sellers, pay its
debts
and Taxes when due (subject to good faith disputes over such debts), pay or
perform other material obligations when due, and, to the extent consistent
therewith, with no less diligence and effort than would be applied in the
absence of this Agreement.
7.3.
No Pay Increases, Etc.
None
of
the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary shall grant any increase in the rates
of
pay of any employee, nor grant any increase or enhancement in the benefits
under
any employee benefit plan or pension plan or other contract or commitment;
and
none of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary shall increase or otherwise enhance
the compensation payable or to become payable to any employee, or increase
or
otherwise enhance any bonus, insurance, pension or other employee benefit plan,
payment or arrangement made to, for or with any such employee.
7.4.
Contracts and Commitments; Indebtedness.
(a) Neither
the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary shall enter into any lease, sublease,
contract or commitment, or engage in any transaction binding on the Sellers
and/or the Seller Subsidiary or affecting the Acquired Assets (i) whether
or not in the usual and ordinary course of business, incur any capital
expenditure in excess of $5,000 or make any contract or commitment which could
involve the payment by the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary of more than
$5,000 during the course of such contract, commitment or transaction, or
(ii) whether or not in the usual and ordinary course of business, would
obligate the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary for a duration of more than
one year.
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(b) Neither
the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary shall incur any indebtedness for borrowed
money or guarantee any such indebtedness, or make any loans, advances or capital
contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, including the Subsidiary,
or 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.
7.5.
No Sale of Assets; No Change of Corporate Structure.
(a) Neither
the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary shall sell or otherwise dispose of any
Asset (other than the sale of inventory in the ordinary course of
business).
(b) Neither
the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary shall:
(i) adopt
a
plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Sellers and/or
the Seller Subsidiary (other than the Acquisition);
(ii) adopt
any
amendment, modification or repeal, or propose to, or permit or consent to,
any
amendment, modification or repeal of the Sellers’ or the Seller Subsidiary’s
respective articles of incorporation or by-laws (or the equivalent
organizational documents, as the case may be) or alter through merger,
liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or in any other fashion the corporate
structure or ownership of any the Subsidiary; or
(iii) make
any
acquisition, by means of merger, consolidation, acquisition of all or
substantially all of the assets, capital shares or equity interests, or
otherwise, of any Person, or make any disposition or assignment, of any of
its
Common Shares, material assets or properties or permit any of their assets
or
properties to be subject to any Liens.
7.6.
Insurance.
The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary shall maintain through the Closing Date
insurance of the type and in the amounts as is consistent with the insurance
described in Section 5.23 of the Seller Disclosure Schedule. The Sellers
and the Seller Subsidiary shall cooperate with the Buyer so that the Buyer
can
arrange insurance coverage for the Business to be in effect after the Closing
Date, including providing the Buyer with all information in the Sellers and/or
the Seller Subsidiary possession that is reasonably requested by the Buyer
in
connection with the arrangement of such insurance coverage.
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7.7.
Preservation of Organization.
The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary shall use their best efforts (i) to
preserve their business organization intact, (ii) to keep available to the
Buyer the Assumed Employees and (iii) to preserve for the Buyer the
Sellers’ and the Seller Subsidiary’s present relationships of the Business with
their suppliers and customers.
7.8.
No Default.
Neither
the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary shall do any act or omit to do any act,
or
permit any act or omission to act, that will cause a breach of any of the
Assumed Contracts.
7.9.
Compliance with Laws.
The
Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary shall comply with all Requirements of
Law
applicable with respect to the Business or the Acquired Assets or as may be
required for the valid and effective transfer of the Acquired Assets to the
Buyer as contemplated by this Agreement.
7.10.
Advice of Change.
The
Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary will promptly advise the Buyer in writing
of any material adverse change in the business, financial condition, operations,
Assets or prospects of the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary or the Business
of which the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary has or obtains knowledge.
7.11.
Securities.
Except
as
provided in this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, neither the Sellers
nor the Seller Subsidiary will:
(a) issue,
deliver, sell, dispose of, pledge or otherwise encumber, or authorize or propose
the issuance, sale, disposition or pledge or other encumbrance of any additional
shares of capital stock of any class or any other kind of equity interest,
or
any securities or rights convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for,
or
evidencing the right to subscribe for any shares of capital stock or other
kind
of equity interest, or any rights, warrants, options, calls, commitments or
any
other agreements of any character to purchase or acquire any shares of capital
stock or any securities or rights convertible into, exchangeable for, or
evidencing the right to subscribe for, any shares of capital stock or other
kind
of equity interest;
(b) redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire, or propose to redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire, any of its outstanding equity, including any shares of capital stock;
or
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(c) split,
combine, subdivide or reclassify any of its equity, including any shares of
capital stock or declare, set aside for payment or pay any dividend, or make
any
other actual, constructive or deemed distribution in respect of any equity,
including shares of capital stock or otherwise make any payments to shareholders
or equity holders in their capacity as such.
7.12.
Intracompany Accounts
The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary shall eliminate any intracompany accounts
relating to the Business immediately prior to the Closing without any payment.
7.13.
Tax.
Each
of
the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary shall timely file all of its Tax Returns
that are due (taking all timely filed extension requests into account) on or
before the Closing Date, all such Tax Returns shall be true, correct and
complete and the Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary shall timely pay all Taxes
required to be filed by any of them (whether or not shown on any Tax Return).
Prior to the Closing Date, neither the Sellers nor the Seller Subsidiary shall
make or change any election with respect to Taxes, change any accounting method
in respect of Taxes, file any amended Tax Return, surrender any claim for refund
in respect of Taxes, or settle or compromise any assessment, audit,
investigation, claim or contest in respect of Taxes, in each case without the
prior written consent of Buyer, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
7.14.
No Solicitation.
(a) The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary have ceased and terminated, and have directed
each of their respective officers, directors, employees, investment bankers,
attorneys or other advisors or representatives to cease and terminate, all
activities, discussions, solicitations, communications or negotiations with
any
Third Party (as defined below) with respect to any Competing Transaction (as
defined below). The Sellers shall not, nor shall it permit the Seller Subsidiary
to, nor shall it authorize or permit any officer, director or employee of,
or
any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or representative of, the
Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary to (i) solicit, accept or initiate, encourage,
or facilitate, directly or indirectly, any inquiries relating to, or the
submission of, any proposal or offer, whether in writing or otherwise, from
any
Person other than the Buyer or any Affiliates thereof (any such other Person,
a
“Third
Party”)
to
acquire any of the Assets, whether pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other
business combination or other transaction, sale of equity, sale of assets,
tender offer, exchange offer or similar transaction or series of related
transactions (any transaction or series of transactions with the foregoing
effect, a “Competing
Transaction”);
(ii)
participate or engage in any discussions or negotiations with any Third Party
regarding any Competing Transaction, or furnish to any Third Party any
information or data with respect to or access to the assets or properties of
the
Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary in connection with a Competing Transaction,
or take any other action to facilitate the making of any proposal that
constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Competing
Transaction; (iii) withdraw, modify or amend in any way adverse to the Buyer
its
recommendation to the Sellers’ shareholders that they approve this Agreement and
the Acquisition; or (iv) enter into any agreement with respect to any Competing
Transaction, approve or recommend or resolve to approve or recommend any
Competing Transaction, or enter into any agreement requiring it to abandon,
terminate or fail to consummate the Acquisition or the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
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(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing Section 7.14(a) or anything to the contrary in this Agreement,
if
Astris receives (in the absence of any violation of Section 7.14(a)) a bona
fide, unsolicited written proposal or offer for a Competing Transaction prior
to
the receipt of the Shareholder Approval that has not been withdrawn, which
Astris’ board of directors, acting in good faith (after consultation with
outside counsel and financial advisor), determines by majority vote (excluding
any members of such board of directors that are not independent of the Third
Parties making such offer for a Competing Transaction) (i) is reasonably likely
to result in terms which are more favorable from a financial point of view
to
the holders of Common Shares than the Acquisition; (ii) is reasonably capable
of
being consummated within a reasonable period of time; and (iii) for which
financing, to the extent required, is committed, then Astris’ board of directors
may, in response to such unsolicited proposal or offer and subject to compliance
with Section 7.14(a) and (b), withdraw its recommendation to Astris’
shareholders that they approve this Agreement and the Acquisition; provided
however, that Astris’ board of directors shall only be permitted to withdraw its
recommendation as is required to comply with its fiduciary duties, as determined
in good faith by a majority of its board of directors of, in accordance with
written advice from outside legal counsel. Astris shall provide a copy of such
written advice of outside legal counsel to the Buyer prior to taking any such
actions.
Article
8.
Additional Covenants
8.1.
Hiring Employees.
(a) At
the
Closing the Buyer will offer employment to those employees set forth on
Schedule
8.1(a)
on
substantially the same terms and conditions of employment as are then applicable
to such employees. The employees accepting such offer or entering into an
Employment Agreement are referred to below as the “Assumed
Employees”.
(b) The
Sellers shall retain all responsibility for all employees of the Sellers other
than the Assumed Employees. Nothing in this Agreement shall obligate the Buyer
to (i) make any offer of employment to anyone other than an employee set
forth on Schedule
8.1(a),
(ii) to provide continued employment to any Assumed Employee for any
specified period of time following the Closing Date, or (iii) to maintain
the same terms of employment (including compensation and benefits) for any
specified period of time following the Closing Date.
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8.2.
Reserved.
8.3.
Access to Books and Records.
(a) The
Buyer
and the Sellers each agree to preserve and protect, (and the Sellers agree
to
cause the Seller Subsidiary prior to Closing) to preserve and protect, all
books, records, files and data referred to in Section 1.1(m),
(i) maintained for the preparation of Tax Returns for a period of seven (7)
years after the Closing Date, and (ii) other than those described in (i)
above, for a period of six (6) years after the Closing Date.
(b) The
Buyer
and the Sellers each agree not to destroy (and the Sellers agree to cause the
Seller Subsidiary not to destroy prior to the Closing), any books, records,
files or data that are subject to this Section 8.3 (i) for the periods
described in clause (a) of this Section 8.3 and (ii) thereafter,
without giving at least thirty (30) days' prior notice to the other party.
Upon
receipt of such notice, such other party may (i) cause to be delivered to
it the records intended to be destroyed, at such other party's expense or
(ii) notify the first party that such other party will pay the cost of
storing and maintaining such books and records (including any necessary costs
of
moving such books and records to a location under control of such other
party).
(c) The
Sellers and the Seller Subsidiary will keep all information referred to in
this
Section 8.3 confidential in accordance with Section 13.3.
8.4.
Future Use of Name.
The
Sellers agree that on and after the Closing Date the Buyer shall have all of
the
Sellers’ and the Seller Subsidiary’s rights (if any) to use, and neither Seller
shall have the right to use, the words “Astris Energi, Inc.”, “MC250
POWERSTACK”, “LABCELL 50”, “LABCELL 200”, “BC500”, “TL5 TEST LOAD”, “TL6 TEST
LOAD”, “E6 Generator”, “E7 Generator”, “E8 Generator”, or any other name that is
deceptively or confusingly similar to “Astris Energi Inc.” or “Astris”, in
conducting any business endeavor. Astris agrees to forthwith file articles
of
amendment to change its name to delete the word “Astris” as soon as reasonably
practicable after the Closing.
8.5.
Satisfaction of Conditions.
The
Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary shall use their best efforts to cause
the
conditions set forth in Article 9 to be satisfied as promptly as
practicable, and in any case will not intentionally take any action, or
intentionally bring about any circumstance, that would prevent such a condition
from being satisfied. The Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
cause the conditions set forth in Article 10 to be satisfied as promptly as
practicable, and in any case will not intentionally take any action, or
intentionally bring about any circumstance, that would prevent such a condition
from being satisfied.
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8.6.
Collection of Receivables.
From
and
after the Closing, the Buyer shall have the right and authority to collect
for
its own account all accounts receivable and other items that are included in
the
Acquired Assets and to endorse with the name of the Sellers and/or the Seller
Subsidiary any checks or drafts received with respect to any such accounts
receivable or other items. The Sellers agree to deliver promptly to the Buyer
all cash, checks or other property received directly or indirectly by the
Sellers with respect to such receivables and other items, including any amounts
payable as interest.
8.7.
Shareholders Meeting; Proxy Statement.
The
Sellers shall:
(a) (i)
use
all commercially reasonable efforts to promptly prepare and, no later than
fifteen (15) business days after the date of this Agreement, file with the
SEC a
proxy statement complying with all applicable requirements of Law (including
all
of the proxy rules of the SEC and information circular requirements under the
OBCA and applicable securities Laws) for the purposes of considering and taking
action upon this Agreement (the “Proxy
Statement”),
(ii)
obtain and furnish the information required to be included by it in the Proxy
Statement and, after consultation with Buyer, respond promptly to any comments
made by the SEC with respect to the Proxy Statement and any preliminary version
thereof, and (iii) undertake to obtain the Shareholder Approval;
(b) include
in the Proxy Statement the unanimous recommendation of the Board of Directors
of
Astris that the shareholders of Astris vote in favor of the approval of this
Agreement and the Acquisition and use its best efforts to solicit from the
shareholders of Astris proxies in favor of adoption of this Agreement and
approval of the Acquisition for the Shareholders Meeting;
(c) duly
call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its shareholders
for
the purpose of obtaining the Shareholder Approval (the “Shareholders
Meeting”),
such
meeting to be held not later than thirty (30) days following the filing of
the
definitive Proxy Statement with the SEC and ASC; and
(d) if
at any
time prior to the Shareholders Meeting any information relating to the Sellers,
or the Seller Subsidiary, officers or directors, should be discovered which
should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, so
that it would not include any misstatement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, Astris shall promptly
notify the Buyer and shall promptly file an appropriate amendment or supplement
describing such information with the SEC and ASC and, to the extent required
by
Law, disseminate it to the shareholders of Astris.
The
Buyer
shall, upon request, furnish Astris with all information concerning it and
its
Affiliates as Astris may deem reasonably necessary or advisable in connection
with Astris preparing the Proxy Statement, and Buyer shall be entitled to review
and approve the statements made regarding such matters prior to filing with
the
SEC and ASC. If at any time prior to the Shareholders Meeting any information
relating to the Buyer, or any of its Affiliates, officers or directors, should
be discovered by the Buyer which should be set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Proxy Statement, so that it would not include any misstatement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, the Buyer shall promptly notify Astris and Astris shall promptly
file an appropriate amendment or supplement describing such information with
the
SEC and ASC and, to the extent required by Law, disseminate it to the
shareholders of Astris.
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8.8.
Non-Competition Agreement.
(a) In
consideration of the Acquisition contemplated hereunder and other valuable
consideration, for a period of five (5) years after the Closing Date (the
“Non-Compete
Period”),
neither of the Sellers (or their successors) shall, anywhere in the
world:
(i) directly
or indirectly, engage in the marketing, development, manufacturing,
distribution, licensing, divestiture, or sale of any Restricted Product;
(ii)
directly or indirectly, engage in the marketing, development, manufacturing,
distribution, licensing, divestiture, or sale of alkaline fuel cells;
(iii)
conduct
or manage, or own any stock or other ownership interest in, any business or
enterprise that conducts business or operations which are the same as,
substantially similar to or otherwise competitive with a business which develops
or sells alkaline fuel cells; or
(iv)
otherwise directly or indirectly compete with
a
business which develops or sells alkaline fuel cells.
(b) During
the Non-Compete Period, neither of the Sellers shall, directly or indirectly,
cause or attempt to cause (A) any client, customer or supplier or prospective
customer or supplier of Buyer to terminate or materially reduce its business
with Buyer, (B) any officer, employee or consultant of the Buyer to resign
or
sever a relationship with the Buyer or any of its Affiliates or (C) otherwise
interfere with any relationships, contractual or otherwise, the Buyer has with
any officer, employee, consultant, client, customer, supplier, prospective
customer or supplier. In addition, during the Non-Compete Period and thereafter,
neither of the Sellers shall directly or indirectly, disclose (unless compelled
by judicial or administrative process) or use any proprietary, non-public,
confidential or secret information directly relating to the Restricted Products
or Acquired Assets.
(c) The
parties hereto recognize that the Laws and public policies of the various
states, provinces, countries and other governments jurisdictions may differ
as
to the validity and enforceability of covenants similar to those set forth
in
this Section. It is the intention of the parties that the provisions of this
Section be enforced to the fullest extent permissible under the Laws and
policies of each jurisdiction in which enforcement may be sought, and that
the
unenforceability (or the modification to conform to such Laws or policies)
of
any provisions of this Section shall not render unenforceable, or impair, the
remainder of the provisions of this Section. Accordingly, if any provision
of
this Section shall be determined to be invalid or unenforceable, such invalidity
or unenforceability shall be deemed to apply only with respect to the operation
of such provision in the particular jurisdiction in which such determination
is
made and not with respect to any other provision or jurisdiction.
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(d) The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the provisions hereof are reasonable
and that any remedy at Law for any breach of the provisions of this Section
would be inadequate, and Sellers hereby consent to the granting by any court
of
an injunction or other equitable relief, without the necessity of actual
monetary loss being provided, in order that the breach or threatened breach
of
such provisions may be effectively restrained.
Article
9.
Buyer’s Closing Conditions
The
obligations of the Buyer to purchase and pay for the Acquired Assets and perform
its obligations at the Closing are subject to the satisfaction, at or before
the
Closing, of all the conditions set forth in this Article 9. The Buyer may
waive any or all of such conditions in whole or in part without prior notice.
No
such waiver of a condition shall, however, constitute a waiver by the Buyer
of
any of its other rights or remedies, at law or in equity, if either Seller
shall
breach or be in default under any of its representations, warranties or
covenants made under or pursuant to this Agreement.
9.1.
Accuracy of Representations and Warranties.
All
representations and warranties made pursuant to Article 5 shall have been
true and correct in all material respects (without giving duplicative effect
to
any materiality qualifier set forth in the text of such representation or
warranty) as of the date hereof, and shall be true and correct in all material
respects (without giving duplicative effect to any materiality qualifier set
forth in the text of such representation or warranty) at and as of the Closing
as though made at and as of that time and each Seller shall have delivered
to
the Buyer a certificate to that effect, duly executed by an authorized officer
of such Seller.
9.2.
Sellers’ Performance.
Each
Seller shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects
(without giving duplicative effect to any materiality qualifier set forth in
the
text of such covenant or agreement) with all covenants and agreements required
by this Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or before
the Closing and each Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate
to
that effect, duly executed by an authorized officer of such Seller.
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9.3.
Delivery of Resolutions, Certificates, etc.
Each
Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer the following documents: (i) a
certified copy of the resolutions duly adopted by such Seller’s board of
directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the Acquisition, (ii) a certified copy of the resolutions duly adopted
by
such Seller’s shareholders adopting this Agreement and the Acquisition, (iii) a
certificate of status for such Seller issued by the Ministry of Consumer and
Business Services, of the Province of Ontario, Canada, and dated as of the
Closing Date, and (iv) a notarial copy of the constating documents of such
Seller and its by-laws.
9.4.
Consents to Assignment and Estoppel Certificate.
All
agreements and consents to the assignment of the Assumed Contracts, and all
waivers of termination, cancellation and other rights, necessary, or deemed
by
the Buyer to be advisable, shall have been obtained by each Seller and delivered
to the Buyer, and none of such agreements, consents or waivers shall be
conditioned upon the giving of any consideration by the Buyer or any change
in
the terms of such Assumed Contracts. Each Seller shall have obtained and
furnished to Buyer Estoppel Certificates in a form satisfactory to the Buyer
from the landlords of Real Property Tenant Leases.
9.5.
Litigation.
There
shall be no investigation, notice, litigation, arbitration or proceeding pending
or threatened for the purpose of enjoining or preventing the consummation of
this Agreement or claiming that the consummation of this Agreement is illegal
or
improper or which, if decided adversely, would adversely affect the right of
the
Buyer to own and enjoy the full use and operation of the Acquired Assets or
the
Business in the manner theretofore used and operated if and when the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated.
9.6.
Delivery of Formulas and Manufacturing Processes.
Jiri
Nor
shall have delivered to the Person designated by the Buyer all written
representations of the formula(s) relating to the
composition of the electrodes and accompanying manufacturing processes and
operating procedures which
Sellers and/or Seller Subsidiary has used to produce fuel cell stacks.
9.7.
I.M.I. Letter Agreement; Xxxxxx Debentures and Warrants.
(a) Written
notice of termination has been delivered to I.M.I. by Astris in connection
with
that certain Letter Agreement by and between I.M.I. and Astris, dated November
29, 2001, and such notice has not been rescinded, and will be effective 60
days
after the date thereof.
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(b) All
of
the debentures and warrants held by Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx shall be cancelled and
evidence of such cancellation (in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer)
shall have been delivered to the Buyer.
9.8.
Governmental and Other Approvals.
The
Buyer
shall have been furnished with evidence satisfactory to it of the timely consent
or approval of, filing with or notice to, and the expiration of the waiting
periods imposed by, each Governmental Entity or other Person (whether or not
governmental in character) that is required or, in the Buyer’s reasonable
discretion, reasonably necessary in connection with the execution or delivery
of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
or
the ownership or operation of the Acquired Assets, including without limitation
all consents and approvals described on Schedule 5.13 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule, and all such consents to be on terms reasonably acceptable to the
Buyer.
9.9.
Fairness Opinion.
The
Fairness Opinion shall have been delivered, and shall have not been withdrawn,
rescinded or modified.
9.10.
Opinion of the Seller’s Counsel.
The
Buyer
shall have received such legal opinion from each Seller’s Canadian solicitors
dated the Closing Date, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit
G (the
“Legal
Opinion”).
9.11.
Transfer of Subsidiary Shares.
The
Buyer
shall have received such documents as its attorneys shall consider necessary
to
transfer the Subsidiary Shares to the Buyer or its nominee and confirm Ontario’s
ownership of its wholly owned subsidiary, the Seller Subsidiary, and all
requirements of the laws of the Czech Republic shall be fulfilled as to
Ontario’s ownership of the Seller Subsidiary.
9.12.
Waivers.
The
Waivers shall be in full force and effect and shall not have been modified,
rescinded or withdrawn.
9.13. No
Material Adverse Effect.
There
shall not have occurred or exist a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
9.14. Employee,
Etc. Matters.
The
Employment Agreements shall be in full force and effect and the Buyer shall
be
satisfied, in its sole discretion, that sufficient employees of the Sellers
and
the Seller Subsidiary will accept the Buyer’s offers of employment to permit
efficient and businesslike operations of the Business. Each of the persons
set
forth on Schedule 4.2(a)(iv) shall have executed and delivered to Buyer such
other documents concerning the termination of their employment with Sellers
and
their acceptance of employment with Buyer as Buyer may request.
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Sellers
shall have delivered to the Buyer satisfactory evidence that as of the Closing
Date all of the employees of the Sellers have been paid in full, including,
all
vacation pay, and that all prescribed amounts have been withheld and remitted
to
the applicable taxation authority.
9.15.
Tax Matters.
Each
Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer satisfactory evidence and confirmation
that all Canadian and Ontario taxes due and payable prior to the Closing Date,
including withholding tax, GST, PST and corporate tax, and any Taxes due and
payable prior to the Closing Date by the Seller Subsidiary, have been paid
in
full.
The
Sellers and the Buyer shall have executed and delivered all necessary election
forms pursuant to the Excise
Tax Act and
the
Income
Tax Act
so as to
limited the taxes payable by the parties on closing all in form satisfactory
to
the parties hereto and their counsel.
9.16. Approval of Documentation.
(a) Each
Seller shall have delivered to the Buyer all deliverables required under Section
4.2(a), and such other certificates, instruments, opinions and other documents
as the Buyer may reasonably request, and the form and substance of all
certificates, instruments, opinions and other documents delivered to the Buyer
under this Agreement shall be satisfactory in all reasonable respects to the
Buyer and its counsel.
(b) The
Shareholder Approval shall have been obtained in accordance with applicable
Law
and Astris’ by-laws.
9.17.
Side Letter.
Astris
shall have delivered to the Buyer the Side Letter, duly executed by
Astris.
9.18.
Liens Released.
The
Buyer
shall have received satisfactory evidence that all Liens, save and except for
Permitted Liens, against the Acquired Assets have been released. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx’x lien shall have been released in connection with the transaction
described in Section 9.7(b).
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9.19.
Bulk Sales Act.
The
Buyer
and Sellers shall execute and deliver a waiver whereby they shall waive the
necessity for compliance by the Buyer with the provisions of the Bulk
Sales Act (Ontario)
and the Sellers shall deliver to the Buyer an indemnity whereby the Sellers
shall jointly and severally indemnify and save the Buyer harmless from and
against any costs, damages and expenses (including, actual legal fees, GST
and
disbursements) which the Buyer may suffer or incur as a result of the Sellers’
failure to comply with the provisions of the Bulk
Sales Act (Ontario).
9.20.
Dissent Rights.
Holders
of no more than 5% of the total issued and outstanding shares of Astris shall
have exercised their dissent rights pursuant to Section 185 of the
OBCA.
Article
10.
Sellers’ Closing Conditions
The
obligations of each Seller to sell and deliver the Acquired Assets to the Buyer
and perform their other obligations at the Closing are subject to the
satisfaction, at or before the Closing, of all the conditions set forth in
this
Article 10. The Sellers may waive any or all of such conditions in whole or
in part without prior notice. No such waiver of a condition shall, however,
constitute a waiver by the Sellers of any of their other rights or remedies,
at
law or in equity, if the Buyer shall breach or be in default under any of its
representations, warranties or covenants made under or pursuant to this
Agreement.
10.1.
Accuracy of Representations and Warranties.
All
representations and warranties made pursuant to Article 6 shall have been
true and correct in all material respects (without giving duplicative effect
to
any materiality qualifier set forth in the text of such representation or
warranty) as of the date hereof, and shall be true and correct in all material
respects (without giving duplicative effect to any materiality qualifier set
forth in the text of such representation or warranty) at and as of the Closing
as though made at and as of that time and the Buyer shall have delivered to
the
Sellers a certificate to that effect, duly executed by an authorized officer
of
the Buyer.
10.2.
Buyer’s Performance.
The
Buyer
shall have performed, satisfied and complied in all material respects (without
giving duplicative effect to any materiality qualifier set forth in the text
of
such covenant or agreement) with all covenants and agreements required by this
Agreement to be performed, satisfied or complied with by it at or before the
Closing and the Buyer shall have delivered to the Sellers a certificate to
that
effect, duly executed by an authorized officer of the Buyer.
-44-
Article
11.
Indemnification
If
the
Closing occurs, but not otherwise, the provisions of this Article 11 shall
apply.
11.1.
Indemnity by the Sellers.
Subject
to the provisions of Sections 11.3 through 11.9, the Sellers, jointly and
severally, agree to indemnify, defend and hold the Buyer and its Affiliates
harmless from and with respect to any and all claims, liabilities, losses,
damages, diminution in value, costs and expenses, including the reasonable
fees
and disbursements of counsel (collectively, the “Losses”),
related to or arising directly or indirectly out of any of the
following:
(a) any
inaccuracies in any representation or warranty made by the Sellers in this
Agreement or any failure or breach by either Seller of any covenant, obligation,
or undertaking made by such Seller in this Agreement;
(b) except
for the Assumed Liabilities, and whether or not the event, circumstance or
fact
giving rise to Losses also constitutes a breach of any of the representations
or
warranties or covenants of the Sellers, any and all claims, liabilities and
obligations arising out of the operation of the Business or the use of the
Acquired Assets in the operation thereof or any business carried on by the
Sellers or any of their predecessors on or prior to the Closing Date (whether
asserted before or after the Closing Date), including the
following:
(i)
|
any
actual or alleged liability for (x) death or injury to person or
property arising as a result of any actual or alleged defect in any
product sold or manufactured or service rendered by any Seller and/or
the
Seller Subsidiary on or prior to the Closing Date or (y) any warranty
or similar claims arising out of defects in any product sold or services
performed by a Seller and/or the Seller Subsidiary on or prior to
the
Closing Date;
|
(ii)
|
any
claims, liabilities and obligations arising from the Excluded
Liabilities;
|
(iii)
|
any
violation on or prior to the Closing Date of any Requirement of Law
or any
order, judgment, writ, injunction, decree or similar command of any
Governmental Entity;
|
(c) except
for the Assumed Liabilities, any claim by, or liability or obligation to any
employee of the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary in connection with his
or
her employment or termination of employment on or prior to the Closing Date
by a
Seller or the Seller Subsidiary;
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(d) any
actual or asserted liability for Taxes of any Seller and/or the Seller
Subsidiary, or any entity in which any Seller and/or the Seller Subsidiary
have
a direct or indirect interest; provided, that (i) any real property Taxes,
personal property Taxes or similar ad valorem
Taxes
levied with respect to the Acquired Assets attributable to any Tax period that
includes but ends after the Closing Date (each, a “Straddle
Period”),
shall
be apportioned between the each of the Sellers and the Buyer based on the number
of days of the applicable Tax period that fall on or before the Closing Date
(the “Pre-Closing
Tax Period”)
and
the number of days that fall after the Closing Date (the “Post-Closing
Tax Period”),
and
(ii) each Seller shall be liable for the portion of such Taxes that is
attributable to the Pre-Closing Tax Period, and the Buyer shall be liable for
the portion of such Taxes that is attributable to the Post-Closing Tax Period;
(e) any
claim, liability or obligation relating to any broker or finder retained or
utilized by the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary or representing the Sellers
and/or the Seller Subsidiary in connection with the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement;
(f) any
Taxes
of any other Person for which the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary is or
may
be liable as a result of the application of Law, as a transferee or successor,
by contract, or otherwise; or
(g) any
Excluded Asset.
11.2.
Indemnity by the Buyer
Subject
to the provisions of Sections 11.3 through 11.9, the Buyer agrees to indemnify,
defend and hold the Sellers and their Affiliates harmless from and with respect
to any and all Losses, related to or arising directly or indirectly out of
any
of the following:
(a) any
inaccuracies in any representation or warranty made by the Buyer in this
Agreement or any failure or breach by the Buyer of any covenant, obligation
or
undertaking made by the Buyer in this Agreement (including without limitation
any failure by the Buyer to pay or perform any of the Assumed Liabilities);
or
(b) any
claim, liability or obligation relating to any broker or finder retained or
utilized by the Buyer or representing the Buyer in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
11.3.
Time Limitations.
(a) Neither
the Sellers nor the Buyer shall be liable to the other under this Article 11
for
any claim relating to a breach of any representation or warranty referred to
in
Section 11.1(a) or Section 11.2(a) or any claim arising under Section 11.1(d)
unless:
(i) in
the
case of any claim arising under any of Sections 5.1 - 5.4, 5.6 - 5.7(i) - (x)
and (xii), 5.9 - 5.13, 5.15, 5.17, 5.20, 5.22 - 5.27, 5.29 - 5.32 or Sections
6.1 - 6.4 (each a “Specified
Misrepresentation Claim”),
the
claim is asserted in writing by the party seeking indemnification no later
than
the first (1st) anniversary of the Closing Date; and
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(ii) in
the
case of any claim arising under Section 5.21 or any claim arising under Section
11.1(d) or Section 11.1(f) (each a “Tax
Claim”),
not
later than three (3) months after the expiration of the applicable statute
of
limitations with respect to the tax matter to which the Tax Claim relates,
as
such limitation period may be extended from time to time.
Any
(x) claim for indemnification arising under Section 11.1(a) or Section
11.2(a) other than a Specified Misrepresentation Claim or a Tax Claim, and
(y) any claim for indemnification under Sections 11.1(b) (other than a
Tax Claim), 11.1(c), 11.1(d), 11.1(e), or 11.2(b), may be made at any time
in
the future, subject to any applicable statute of limitations.
11.4.
Materiality Standards; Dollar Thresholds.
(a) For
purposes of determining those Losses arising from breaches of representations,
warranties or covenants which will be subject to indemnification under this
Article 11, the Buyer and the Sellers have agreed to use predictable dollar
thresholds as provided in this Section 11.4. Accordingly, the Buyer and the
Sellers agree that with respect to any representation, warranty or covenant
referred to in Section 11.1(i) or 11.2(i), if such representation, warranty
or
covenant contains a materiality qualification (e.g., “material,” “materially,”
“material to the Business,” “Seller Material Adverse Effect”, “in all material
respects,” or similar qualifiers), such materiality qualification shall be
disregarded and only the dollar thresholds stated in this Section 11.4 will
apply.
(b) Neither
the Sellers nor the Buyer shall be liable to the other for any Specified
Misrepresentation Claim until aggregate Losses exceed ten thousand U.S. dollars
(US$10,000), and once exceeded, all Losses (beginning with the first dollar)
shall be indemnified (“Minor
Claims”).
(c) No
claim
for indemnification under Section 11.1 or Section 11.2, other than a Specified
Misrepresentation Claim, shall be subject to any threshold amount.
(d) In
the
event that the Sellers are required to indemnify and save harmless the Buyer
or
its Affiliates pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any Losses suffered
or
incurred, the combined liability of the Sellers will not exceed a maximum
aggregate amount equal to the Cash Purchase Price.
(e) The
Buyer
agrees that it shall have no indemnification claim relating to the performance
of Astris’ products except for claims arising in connection with a breach of
Section 5.14(o).
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11.5.
Claims.
(a) Any
party
seeking indemnification (the “Indemnified
Party”)
shall
promptly notify the other party hereto obligated to provide indemnification
hereunder (the “Indemnifying
Party”)
of any
action, suit, proceeding, demand or breach (a “Claim”)
with
respect to which the Indemnified Party claims indemnification, provided
that
failure of the Indemnified Party to give such notice shall not relieve any
Indemnifying Party of its obligations under this Article 11 except to the
extent, if at all, that such Indemnifying Party shall have been prejudiced
thereby. If such Claim relates to any action, suit, proceeding or demand
instituted against the Indemnified Party by a third party (a “Third
Party Claim”),
upon
receipt of such notice from the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall
be entitled to participate in the defense of such Third Party Claim. The
Indemnifying Party may assume the defense of such Third Party Claim, and in
the
case of such an assumption the Indemnifying Party shall have the authority
to
negotiate, compromise and settle such Third Party Claim provided
that:
(i) the
Indemnifying Party confirms in writing that it is obligated to indemnify the
Indemnified Party with respect to such Third Party Claim;
(ii) the
Indemnified Party does not give the Indemnifying Party written notice that
it
has determined, in the exercise of its reasonable discretion, that matters
of
corporate or management policy or a conflict of interest make separate
representation by the Indemnified Party's own counsel advisable;
and
(iii) the
Indemnifying Party establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Indemnified
Party that the Indemnifying Party has (and will continue to have) adequate
financial resources to satisfy and discharge such action or claim.
The
Indemnified Party shall retain the right to employ its own counsel and to
participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim, the defense of which has
been assumed by the Indemnifying Party pursuant hereto, but the Indemnified
Party shall bear and shall be solely responsible for its own costs and expenses
in connection with such participation.
(b) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.5, (i) no Indemnifying Party
shall be entitled to settle any Third Party Claim without the Indemnified
Party's prior written consent unless as part of such settlement the Indemnified
Party is released in writing from all liability with respect to such Third
Party
Claim and (ii) no Indemnified Party shall be entitled to settle any Third Party
Claim without the Indemnifying Party's prior written consent unless as part
of
such settlement the Indemnifying Party is released in writing from all liability
with respect to such Third Party Claim, other than the related claim for
indemnification under this Article 11.
(c) In
the
event one party hereunder should have a claim for indemnification that does
not
involve a Third-Party Claim, the party seeking indemnification shall promptly
send notice of such Claim to the other party. If the latter disputes such Claim,
such dispute shall be resolved by agreement of the parties.
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11.6.
Method and Manner of Paying Claims.
Subject
to the Indemnifying Party's right pursuant to Section 11.5 to defend, negotiate,
compromise and settle a Third Party Claim, the amount of any Claim shall be
paid
by the Indemnifying Party forthwith on demand. The unpaid balance of a Claim
shall bear interest at the Prime Rate plus 600 basis points from the date notice
thereof is given by the Indemnified Party to the Indemnifying Party; provided
that the Indemnifying Party shall only be obligated to pay interest on that
portion of such Claim ultimately determined to be owed to the Indemnified Party.
11.7.
Straddle Claims.
With
respect to the indemnification obligations of the Sellers and the Buyer under
this Article 11, to the extent that any matter, event or occurrence exists
both before and after the Closing Date, such that the Buyer, on the one hand,
and the Sellers, on the other hand, could both be entitled to indemnification
with respect thereto, the respective indemnification obligations of the Buyer,
on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other hand, shall be equitably
apportioned between the Buyer, on the one hand, and the Sellers, on the other
hand, based on respective lengths of time, comparative opportunity to correct
or
prevent such matter or occurrence, whether or not the underlying matter or
occurrence also gives rise to a breach of any of the representations and
warranties made by any party to this Agreement or other equitable
factors.
11.8.
Insurance Proceeds.
(a) No
Indemnified Party shall be obligated to pursue or collect from any insurer
prior
to making a claim for indemnification pursuant to this Article 11 and no
Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to postpone performance of any
indemnification obligation under this Article 11 while an insurance claim
is pending. However, without limiting any of the provisions of
Sections 11.1 through 11.7, in connection with any matter subject to
indemnification under this Article 11, all parties shall cooperate with
each other in giving notice of any claim to any insurer (including an insurer
of
an Indemnified Party) and shall provide reasonable assistance in the collection
of any such claim; provided, however, that there is no duty to provide notice,
cooperate or assist with respect to an Indemnified Party's insurance policies
(including the Insurance Policies) where the Indemnified Party determines in
its
sole discretion that such notice, cooperation or assistance could invalidate
any
portion of the coverage available under such policy or result in the imposition
of retroactive premiums or prospective premium increases. In addition, if an
Indemnified Party makes such a determination after it has notified its insurer,
it shall be entitled to retract such notice.
(b) If
an
Indemnified Party actually receives insurance proceeds, the amount for which
such Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Article 11
shall be reduced appropriately. In the event an Indemnified Party receives
insurance proceeds after being paid by the Indemnifying Party with respect
to an
indemnifiable matter under this Article 11, the Indemnified Party will
remit such proceeds to the Indemnifying Party, up to the amount previously
paid
by the Indemnifying Party with respect to such matter. Nothing in this Section
11.8 shall be deemed to waive or limit the subrogation rights of any
insurer.
-49-
11.9
Allocation of Environmental Liabilities.
(a) The
provisions of this Section 11.9 are the result of mutual compromise and
represent an allocation of responsibility and risk for Environmental Liabilities
as between the Sellers and the Buyer. Each party has given weight to these
matters in entering into the Agreement and setting the purchase price. The
Sellers and the Buyer intend that the allocation of risk and responsibility
for
Environmental Liabilities in this Section 11.9 and other provisions of this
Agreement shall be given full effect.
(b) Sellers
shall retain and be solely responsible for all Environmental Liabilities
relating to the Business (including without limitation the Acquired Assets)
and
the Seller Subsidiary that existed prior to the Closing Date (collectively,
“Sellers’
Retained Environmental Liabilities”);
and
(c) Buyer
shall assume and be solely responsible for all Environmental Liabilities
relating to the Acquired Assets and the Seller Subsidiary arising after, and
only after, the Closing Date (collectively, “Buyer’s
Assumed Environmental Liabilities”).
This
Section 11.9 shall survive Closing and shall be binding on the parties’
transferees, purchasers, successors and assigns, as well as future tenants,
operators and licensees.
Article
12.
Termination
12.1.
Termination of Agreement.
The
parties may terminate this Agreement as provided below:
(a) the
Buyer
and the Sellers may terminate this Agreement by mutual written consent at any
time prior to the Closing;
(b) so
long
as the Buyer is not in material breach of any representations or warranties
under Article 6, or of any covenant, agreement or undertaking of the Buyer
herein, the Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to
the
Sellers at any time prior to the Closing in the event:
(i) either
of
the Sellers are in material breach (without giving duplicative effect to any
materiality qualifier contained in the text of such covenant, agreement or
undertaking) of any covenant, agreement or undertaking contained in this
Agreement and such material breach is not cured within ten (10) days after
written notice from the Buyer of such breach; or
(ii) the
representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in Article 5, shall
have been breached or been inaccurate in any material respect (without giving
duplicative effect to any materiality qualifications contained in the text
of
such representation or warranty), in either case only to the extent that such
material breach or inaccuracy of representation or warranty is not cured within
ten (10) days after the date of the applicable notice;
-50-
(c) so
long
as neither Seller is in material breach of any representations or warranties
under Article 5, or of any covenant, agreement or undertaking herein, the
Sellers may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Buyer
at
any time prior to the Closing in the event:
(i) the
Buyer
is in material breach (without giving duplicative effect to any materiality
qualifier contained in the text of such covenant, agreement or undertaking)
of
any covenant, agreement or undertaking contained in this Agreement and such
material breach is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice from
the Sellers of such breach; or
(ii) the
representations and warranties of the Buyer contained in Article 6 shall have
been breached or been inaccurate in any material respect (without giving
duplicative effect to any materiality qualifications contained in the text
of
such representation or warranty), in either case only to the extent that such
material breach or inaccuracy of representation or warranty is not cured within
thirty (30) days after the date of the applicable notice;
(d) the
Buyer
may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Sellers at any
time
prior to the Closing if the Closing has not occurred on or before July 31,
2007
by reason of the failure to occur of any closing condition under Article 9
(unless the failure results primarily from the Buyer itself breaching any
representation, warranty or covenant contained in this Agreement);
and
(e) the
Sellers may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the Buyer
at
any time prior to Closing if the Closing has not occurred on or before July
31,
2007, by reason of the failure to occur of any closing condition under Article
10 (unless the failure results primarily from the Sellers themselves breaching
any representation, warranty or covenant contained in this
Agreement).
12.2.
Effect of Termination.
(a) In
the
event of the termination or abandonment of this Agreement pursuant to Section
12.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without
any
liability on the part of any party hereto or its affiliates, directors, or
officers thereof other than pursuant to the provisions of this Section 12.2;
provided, that nothing contained in this Section 12.2 shall relieve any party
from liability for any fraud or the intentional breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement occurring
prior to termination.
(b) In
the
event of termination of this Agreement without consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby
by the
Buyer pursuant to Section 12.1(b) or 12.1(d), or if Astris’ board of directors
withdraws its recommendation of the Acquisition pursuant to Section 7.14(b)
then
the Sellers:
(i)
shall
pay Buyer by wire transfer of immediately available funds a nonrefundable fee
in
the amount equal to the greater of (x) the aggregate amount previously advanced
by GSI, and its Affiliates, to Astris pursuant to the Note and (y) $500,000
(the
“Termination
Fee”)
concurrently with termination; and
-51-
(ii)
the
Note shall become immediately due and payable to the Buyer in accordance with
its terms.
(c) The
parties acknowledge and agree that the Buyer and its Affiliates have incurred
significant expense in negotiation and entering into this Agreement and that
if
terminated in the context of facts giving rise to the payment of the Termination
Fee, (i) the Termination Fee shall be deemed liquidated damages appropriate
in
such circumstances and not in the nature of a penalty, and (ii) the payment
of
the Termination Fee also shall be deemed an appropriate measure of liquidated
damages to compensate the Buyer for expenses associated with the transactions
contemplated hereby, and not in the nature of a penalty.
Article
13.
Miscellaneous
13.1.
Transaction Expenses.
(a) Subject
to compliance by Sellers of their obligations pursuant to Section 9.15 hereof,
Buyer shall pay all applicable transfer taxes arising out of the sale of the
Acquired Assets (collectively, “Transfer
Taxes”).
(b) The
Sellers shall use reasonable efforts to minimize the amount of all such Transfer
Taxes and shall cooperate in providing the Buyer with making any appropriate
tax
elections requested by the Buyer and in providing any other documentation
reasonably requested by the Buyer. The party that is required by applicable
law
to make the filings, reports or returns and to handle any audits or
controversies with respect to any applicable Transfer Taxes shall do so, and
the
other party shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary.
(c) Whether
or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, each
party shall (except as otherwise specified in Sections 3.3 and 12.2) pay
its own fees and expenses incident to the negotiation, preparation, execution,
delivery and performance hereof, including the fees and expenses of its counsel,
accountants and other experts and any broker or finder engaged or alleged to
have been engaged by such party.
13.2.
Confidentiality.
(a) Until
the
Closing or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms,
whichever first occurs, the Buyer and the Sellers will treat the terms and
existence of this Agreement and the information disclosed to it by the Sellers
and/or the Seller Subsidiary in accordance with the terms of the Confidentiality
Agreement by and between Astris and the Buyer’s Affiliate dated as of August 9,
2006 (the “Confidentiality
Agreement”).
In
the event of such a termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 12.1,
the terms of the Confidentiality Agreement shall be applicable according to
its
terms.
-52-
(b)
Following
the Closing, the Sellers shall keep confidential, and shall cause their
Affiliates and instruct their officers, directors, employees and advisors to
keep confidential, all non-public information relating to the Business, the
Acquired Assets and the Assumed Liabilities, except as required by Law and
except for information that becomes public other than as a result of a breach
of
this Section 13.2. If Sellers determine that a disclosure is required by Law,
Sellers shall promptly notify Buyer of such determination reasonably in advance
of making any such disclosure, so that Buyer may take such actions as it desires
to prevent such disclosure and/or protect such confidential information. Sellers
agree to cooperate with Buyer in taking such actions to prevent such disclosure
and/or protect such confidential information, at Buyer’s request, and at Buyer’s
expense.
13.3.
Other Agreements Superseded; Waiver and
Modification, Etc.
This
Agreement supersedes all prior agreements or understandings, written or oral,
between the Sellers and/or the Seller Subsidiary on the one hand and the Buyer
or any Affiliate of the Buyer on the other hand relating to any form of
acquisition of the Business (including the letter of intent by and between
Astris and GSI dated as of April 13, 2007, as amended by that letter agreement
dated May 31, 2007 (collectively, the “LOI”)),
and
incorporates the entire understanding of the parties with respect thereto.
This
Agreement may be amended or supplemented only by a written instrument signed
by
the party against whom the amendment or supplement is sought to be enforced.
The
party benefited by any condition or obligation may waive the same, but such
waiver shall not be enforceable by another party unless made by written
instrument signed by the waiving party.
13.4.
Further Assurances.
The
Sellers agree, at any time at or after the Closing, at their own expense, to
execute, acknowledge and deliver any further deeds, assignments, conveyances
and
other assurances, documents and instruments of transfer reasonably requested
by
the Buyer, and to take any other action consistent with the terms of this
Agreement that may reasonably be requested by the Buyer, for the purpose of
assigning, transferring, granting, conveying and confirming to the Buyer, or
reducing to the Buyer’s possession, any or all of the Acquired Assets.
13.5.
Representations and Warranties, Indemnities.
(a) The
representations and warranties made in this Agreement or made in writing
pursuant hereto shall survive the Closing and be enforceable notwithstanding
any
due diligence conducted, any investigation of or knowledge with respect to
the
matters covered thereby by or on behalf of any party to whom they are made.
The
Sellers and the Buyer acknowledge that the other is entering into this
Agreement, and will consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, in reliance
upon the express representations and warranties of the other party made in
this
Agreement or made in a writing delivered pursuant hereto. The indemnifications
set forth in Article 11 are intended to transfer the risk of the matters
covered to the Indemnifying Party, irrespective of any knowledge that the
Indemnified Party has with respect to the matters covered.
-53-
(b) If
(i)
any representation or warranty of the Sellers becomes untrue between the
execution of this Agreement and the Closing Date, as a result of an event beyond
the date of control of the Sellers (as applicable) (i.e., an event that was
not
directly or indirectly a result of either Seller’s or any of their respective
officer’s or director’s, actions or failures to act) and (ii) the Seller
notifies the Buyer in writing of such breach, then the Buyer may, in its sole
discretion, choose to (x) terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section
12.1(b)(ii) herein or (y) waive its rights under the Agreement in connection
with such breach.
13.6.
Recovery of Litigation Costs.
If
any
legal action or any arbitration or other proceeding is brought for the
enforcement of this Agreement, or because of an alleged dispute, breach, default
or misrepresentation in connection with any provision of this Agreement, the
successful or prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable
attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in that action or proceeding, in
addition to any other relief to which it may be entitled.
13.7.
Notices.
Any
notice under or relating to this Agreement shall be given in writing and shall
be deemed sufficiently given and served for all purposes when personally
delivered or transmitted by facsimile or three Business Days after a writing
is
deposited in the United States or Canadian mail, first class postage or other
charges prepaid and registered, addressed as follows:
(a) If
to the
Buyer:
MKU
Canada Inc.
c/o
Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx LLP
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
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With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxx LLP
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
0000
X
Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
And
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx LLP
Attention:
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
(b) If
to the
Sellers:
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
0000-0
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X0X0
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
2062540
Ontario Inc.
Attention:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
0000-0
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
X0X0X0
Facsimile:
000-000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Lang
Xxxxxxxx LLP
Attention:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
BCE
Place
000
Xxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx,
XX X0X 0X0
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
13.8.
Law Governing.
This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of
the
State of New York excluding the application of any of its choice of law rules
that would result in the application of the laws of another
jurisdiction.
-55-
13.9.
Successors; Assignability.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns of the parties hereto. Neither
party may assign its rights hereunder without the prior written consent of
the
other party, except that the Buyer may assign this Agreement and its rights
hereunder to one or more of its lenders as collateral security. Any purported
assignment contrary to the provisions of this Section 13.9 shall be void
and of no force or effect.
13.10.
Time of Essence.
Time
is
of the essence of this Agreement and all of the terms, conditions and provisions
hereof.
13.11.
Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and each such executed
counterpart shall be deemed to be an original instrument, but all such executed
counterparts together shall constitute one and the same instrument. One party
may execute one or more counterparts other than that or those executed by
another party, without thereby affecting the effectiveness of any such
signatures.
13.12.
Parties in Interest.
Nothing
in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer any rights or
remedies under or by reason of this Agreement on any Person other than the
parties to this Agreement and their respective permitted successors and assigns,
nor is anything in this Agreement intended to relieve or discharge any
obligation of any third Person to any party hereto or give any third Person
any
right of subrogation or action over against any party hereto.
13.13.
References.
Unless
expressly indicated to the contrary, all references herein to Articles, Sections
and Exhibits refer to the specified part of this Agreement. All terms such
as
“herein,” “hereby” or “hereunder” refer to this Agreement as a
whole.
13.14.
Headings; Date.
The
headings used in this Agreement are provided for convenience only and this
Agreement shall be interpreted as though they did not appear herein.
13.15.
Construction.
(a) This
Agreement has been negotiated and prepared jointly by both parties and their
attorneys, and shall not be construed for or against either party but shall
be
given a fair and reasonable construction in accordance with the intention of
the
parties.
-56-
(b) Any
reference herein to the Seller Subsidiary’s obligations, duties and/or actions
shall be interpreted to include an express obligation of the Sellers to cause
the Seller Subsidiary to perform such obligation, duty or action prior to the
Closing.
13.16.
Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process.
The
parties consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state courts for New York
in connection with any action arising out of or relating to this Agreement
or,
at the option of the party bringing the action or proceeding, the federal courts
for New York. The parties agree that venue is proper in and waive any objection
that they may now or in the future have to any action being brought in any
of
these courts, and agree not to plead or claim that any action brought in any
of
these courts has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The parties further
waive personal service of any summons, complaint or other process in connection
with such action and agree that service may be made by any means permitted
or
prescribed in this Agreement for delivery of notices or by any means permitted
by applicable law.
13.17.
Public Statements or Releases.
Immediately
after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the parties will issue
joint
press releases in the form previously agreed. Each of the parties hereto agrees
that prior to the Closing no party to this Agreement will make, issue or release
any public announcement, statement or acknowledgement of the existence of,
or
reveal the status of, this Agreement or the transactions provided for herein,
without first obtaining the consent of the other party hereto. Nothing contained
in this Section 13.17 shall prevent either party from making such disclosures
about this Agreement as such party may consider necessary to satisfy such
party's legal or contractual obligations.
13.18.
Waiver of Jury Trial.
EACH
PARTY HERETO WAIVES ITS RIGHTS TO A JURY TRIAL WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION OR
CLAIM ARISING OUT OF ANY DISPUTE IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT, ANY
AGREEMENT, CONTRACT OR OTHER DOCUMENT OR INSTRUMENT EXECUTED IN CONNECTION
HEREWITH, OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Article
14.
Glossary
14.1.
Defined Terms
As
used
in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth
below:
Affiliate
- a
Person (1) that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, another Person,
or (2) that beneficially owns or holds 5% or more of any class of the
voting shares of another Person, or (3) 5% or more of the voting shares (or
in the case of a Person that is not a corporation, 5% or more of the equity
interest) of which is beneficially owned or held by another Person. The term
“control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or
otherwise.
-57-
Agreement
- this
Asset Purchase Agreement, including the Exhibits hereto and the Seller
Disclosure Schedule, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with
its terms.
Asset
- any
interest in any property of any kind, including money, wherever located, whether
personal, real or mixed, whether tangible or intangible and whether or not
reflected or of a nature that would be reflected in a balance
sheet.
Assumed
Contracts
- the
Real Property Tenant Leases, Equipment Leases, Miscellaneous Contracts, and
IP
Agreements.
Business
Day
- any
day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a permitted or required bank holiday
in
the State of New York and the Province of Ontario.
Buyer
Material Adverse Effect -
any
material adverse effect on the Buyer's ability to perform its obligations under
this Agreement and the Transaction Documents.
Common
Shares - means
the
common shares of Astris, no par value.
Contract
- any
agreement, contract, lease, license, promissory note, conditional sales
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, commitment, undertaking,
instrument or arrangement of any kind, whether or not in writing, under which
(in each case) any obligation is legally enforceable against any Person, Asset
or right. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any agreement,
commitment, undertaking or arrangement of any kind with a Governmental Entity
shall constitute a “Contract” whether it was entered into voluntarily or
pursuant to applicable law or in settlement of a claim or possible claim by
such
Governmental Entity, or otherwise.
Environmental Laws
-
any
common law or federal, state, provincial, local or foreign statute, treaty,
convention, agreement, ordinance, rule, regulation, policy, guidelines,
standards, Permit or Order, and all amendments thereto, and any administrative
settlements, relating to the protection of human health, safety, wildlife or
the
environment, including, without limitation, all requirements pertaining to:
(i)
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, handling, treatment, storage
and
disposal of Hazardous Materials; (ii) the reporting, investigation and
remediation of Releases of Hazardous Materials into any media, including soil,
groundwater, surface water and air; (iii) the health and safety of employees
in
the workplace or of any member of the public; (iv) natural resources; (vi)
wetlands; and (vii) endangered or threatened species or habitats.
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Environmental
Liabilities -
all
past, present and future claims, of any kind or nature, contingent or otherwise,
foreseeable or unforeseeable, suits, causes of actions, demands, losses, damages
(including foreseeable and unforeseeable consequential damages, lost profits,
lost rents, punitive damages, natural resource damages and diminution of
property value), liabilities, fines, penalties, costs, taxes, charges, liens,
judicial proceedings, orders, judgments, settlements, administrative proceedings
(including notices of non-compliance, charges, directives, demands, requests
for
information, compliance orders and consent decrees), remedial actions and
compliance requirements (including reporting, investigation, monitoring,
response, abatement, restoration and cleanup), third party claims (including
tort, personal injury, economic and property claims) and expenses (including
reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses, costs of defense, and costs of experts
and consultants) related to or arising out of, indirectly or directly, in whole
or in part, alleged violations of any Environmental Laws, any Releases of
Hazardous Materials or the environmental condition of the Acquired
Assets.
GAAP
-
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied that are (a)
consistent with the principles promulgated or adopted by the Financial
Accounting Standards Board and its predecessors in effect for the applicable
period of the Seller, and (b) such that a "big four" accounting firm would,
insofar as the use of accounting principles is pertinent, be in a position
to
deliver an unqualified opinion as to financial statements in which such
principles have been properly applied.
Governmental Entity
- any
federal, state, local, provincial or foreign government or any political
subdivision thereof or any department, commission, board, bureau, agency, court,
panel or other instrumentality of any kind of any of the foregoing.
Hazardous
Material
- any
substance which is listed, regulated or defined as a hazardous substance,
hazardous material, toxic substance, hazardous waste, hazardous chemical,
carcinogen, mutagen, reproductive toxicant, explosive substance, corrosive
substance, flammable or ignitable substance, or pollutant or contaminant under
any Environmental Laws, including, without limitation, (i) radioactive
substances; (ii) asbestos; (iii) radon gas; (iv) polychlorinated biphenyls
(PCBs); (v) petroleum (including crude oil and any fractions thereof) and
petroleum products, and any additives thereto (including MTBE); (vi) natural
or
synthetic gas or any mixture thereof, (vii) medical or infectious waste; (viii)
lead-based paint; (ix) urea foam insulation; and (x) Microbial
Matter.
Improvements
- all
plants, buildings, structures, fixtures and improvements of all kinds situated
on the Listed Premises.
including
- shall
in each instance mean “including, but not limited to”; the included items do not
limit the scope of the more general terms, and the listed included items are
covered whether or not they are within the scope of the more general terms.
Indebtedness
- as
applied to any Person, means (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed
money, whether current or funded, or secured or unsecured, (b) all
indebtedness of such Person for the deferred purchase price of property or
services represented by a note or other security, (c) all indebtedness of
such Person created or arising under any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement (even if the rights and remedies of the seller or lender
under such agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or
sale
of specific property), (d) all indebtedness of such Person secured by a purchase
money mortgage or other Lien to secure all or part of the purchase price of
property subject to such mortgage or other Lien, (e) all obligations of such
Person under leases that have been or must be, in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, recorded as capital leases in respect of which
such Person is liable as lessee, (f) any liability of such Person in respect
of
banker’s acceptances or letters of credit, and (g) all indebtedness referred to
in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), or (f) above that is directly or indirectly
guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or
otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which such Person
has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.
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Intellectual
Property -
all
patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trademark and service
xxxx registrations and registration applications, trade names, trade name
registrations, logos, trade dress, domain names, copyrights, copyright
registration applications, copyright registrations, technology, know-how, trade
secrets, inventions, processes, formulas, techniques, and rights of
publicity.
knowledge
or
to
the knowledge of Sellers
or
similar expressions - (i) with respect to any Person who is an individual,
the actual knowledge of such Person, (ii) with respect to any other Person,
the actual knowledge of the officers and directors or managers of such Person
and other individuals that have a similar position or have similar powers and
duties as the officers and senior management of such Person, and (iii) in
the case of each of (i) and (ii), the knowledge of facts that such individuals
should have after due inquiry. For this purpose, “due inquiry” with respect to
any matter means inquiry of and consultations with (A) the officers and
directors or managers of such Person and other individuals that have a similar
position or have similar powers and duties as such officers and directors or
managers, (B) other employees of and the advisors to such Person, including
legal counsel and outside auditors, who have principal responsibility for the
matter in question or are otherwise likely to have information relevant to
the
matter, and (C) the shareholders or members owning more than five percent (5%)
of the equity interests, by vote or value, of such Person.
Law
-
any
law, statute, order, decree, consent decree, judgment, rule, regulation,
ordinance or other pronouncement having the effect of law whether in the United
States, any foreign country, or any domestic or foreign state, county, city
or
other political subdivision or of any Governmental Entity, including, without
limitation, the Ontario
Business Corporations Act
(“OBCA”)
and
the Alberta Securities Commission (“ASC”).
Lien
- any
mortgage, deed of trust, Lien, lien, security interest, retention of title
or
lease for security purposes, pledge, charge, equity, claim, easement, right
of
way, covenant, condition or restriction, leasehold interest or any right of
any
kind of any other Person in or with respect to any Asset.
-60-
Microbial
Matter -
fungi,
bacterial or viral matter which reproduces through the release of spores or
the
splitting of cells or other means, including without limitation, mold, mildew
and viruses, whether or not such Microbial Matter is living.
Office
Actions -
those
official actions of a relevant jurisdiction’s patent and trademark office or
other government intellectual property office.
Order
- any
judgment, order, decree, writ, injunction, ruling or opinion of any Governmental
Entity or of any arbitrator or arbitration panel.
Permitted
Liens
- any
Lien that (i) is listed in Section 14.1 of the Seller Disclosure
Schedule, (ii) arises out of Taxes not yet due and payable or the validity
of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;
provided
that
Permitted Liens shall not include (a) voluntary mortgages, deeds of trust,
security instruments or other liens or (b) mechanics liens, tax liens,
attachments, and similar liens.
Person
- an
individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, trust,
association or unincorporated organization, or a Governmental
Entity.
Prime
Rate
- the
rate per annum (calculated on the basis of a 360 day year consisting of 12,
30
day months) at a rate per annum equal to the "Prime Rate" as set forth from
time
to time in The
Wall Street Journal.
Release
-
any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping, migration, leaching, placing, discarding, dumping or disposing of
any
Hazardous Material (including the Disclosed Materials) into the environment
(including the abandonment of barrels, containers or other closed receptacles
containing any Hazardous Materials (including the Disclosed
Materials)).
Restricted
Products
- (i)
MC250 POWERSTACK, LABCELL 50, LABCELL 200, BC500, TL5 TEST LOAD, TL6 TEST LOAD,
E6 Generator, E7 Generator, and E8 Generator; (ii) any product substantially
similar, in design or purpose, to those products listed in (i); and (iii) other
products that compete with alkaline fuel cells or derivative products or
applications.
Requirement of Law
- any
federal, state, local, provincial or foreign statute, law, regulation, Order,
duty under common law or condition, term or requirement of any Permit, including
in each case, without limitation, those relating to the environment, Hazardous
Materials, employee health and safety, consumer protection, civil or human
rights, labor relations, employment discrimination, zoning or buildings or
their
electrical, plumbing and other systems.
SEDAR
- the
System for Electronic, Data Analysis and Retrieval of the Canadian Securities
Administration.
Seller
Material Adverse Effect -
any
material adverse effect on (i) the business, financial condition, Assets or
prospects of the Sellers or the Seller Subsidiary or (ii) either of the Sellers’
ability to perform its obligations under this Agreement and the Transaction
Documents.
-61-
Seller
Subsidiary -
Astris
s.r.o., an entity organized under the laws of the Czech Republic, with its
principal place of business at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
X0X 0X0.
Sellers’
Registered Intellectual Property -
all of
each Seller’s and the Seller Subsidiary’s (i) patents and pending patent
applications, including any and all extensions, continuations,
continuations-in-part, divisions, reissues, reexaminations, substitutes,
renewals, and foreign counterparts thereof; (ii) trademark registrations and
pending trademark registration applications; and (iii) copyright registrations
and pending copyright registration applications.
Side
Letter -
a side
letter by and between Astris and the Buyer, in form and substance satisfactory
to the Buyer, pursuant to which Buyer shall be entitled to fifty percent (50%)
of any proceeds attributable to the monetization of residual tax losses of
the
Sellers or Sellers’ business.
Subsidiary
-
any
Person in which either Seller holds directly or indirectly a majority of the
voting power or the ability directly or indirectly to designate, appoint or
elect a majority of the directors or Persons performing similar functions,
or
that the Sellers effectively controls directly or indirectly by any means or
that is or under GAAP should be treated as a subsidiary in the Sellers’
financial statements.
Tax
or
Taxes
and,
with
correlative meaning,
Taxable or Taxing
- any
provincial, federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, franchise,
estimated, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, sales, good and services, use,
transfer, registration, value added, excise, natural resources, severance,
stamp, withholding, occupation, premium, windfall profit, environmental,
customs, duties, real property, personal property, capital shares, net worth,
intangibles, social security, unemployment, disability, payroll, license,
employee, or other tax or similar levy, of any kind whatsoever, whether computed
on a separate or consolidated, unitary or combined basis or in any other manner,
including any interest, penalties, or additions to tax in respect of the
foregoing, whether disputed or not, and including any obligations to indemnify
or otherwise assume or succeed to the Tax liability of any other
Person.
Tax
Return
- any
return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return, or other
document (including any related or supporting estimates, elections, schedules,
statements, or information or any amendment thereof) filed or required to be
filed in connection with the determination, assessment, or collection of any
Tax
or the administration of any laws, regulations, or administrative requirements
relating to any Tax.
-62-
The
following terms are defined in the sections referenced below.
Defined
Term
|
Section
|
|
Accounts
Receivable
|
1.1(b)
|
|
Acme
|
3.1(c)
|
|
Acquired
Assets
|
1.1
|
|
Acquisition
|
Recitals
|
|
Affiliate
|
14.1
|
|
Agreement
|
14.1
|
|
ASC
|
14.1
|
|
Asset
|
14.1
|
|
Assumed
Contracts
|
14.1
|
|
Assumed
Employees
|
8.1(a)
|
|
Assumed
Liabilities
|
2.1
|
|
Assumption
Agreement
|
4.2(a)(x)
|
|
Astris
|
Preamble
|
|
Board
of Directors
|
5.2(b)
|
|
Business
|
Recitals
|
|
Business
Day
|
14.1
|
|
Buyer
|
Preamble
|
|
Buyer
Material Adverse Effect
|
14.1
|
|
Buyer’s
Assumed Environmental Liabilities
|
11.9(c)
|
|
Cash
Purchase Price
|
3.1(a)
|
|
Claim
|
11.5(a)
|
|
Closing
|
4.1
|
|
Closing
Date
|
4.1
|
|
Common
Shares
|
14.1
|
|
Competing
Transaction
|
7.14(a)
|
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
13.2(a)
|
|
Consent
|
5.3(b)
|
|
Contract
|
14.1
|
|
Disclosed
Materials
|
5.18(a)
|
|
Debentures
|
3.1(c)
|
|
Employee
Plans
|
5.19(i)
|
|
Employment
Agreements
|
4.2(a)(iv)
|
|
Environmental
Laws
|
14.1
|
|
Environmental
Liabilities
|
14.1
|
|
Equipment
|
1.1(c)
|
|
Equipment
Leases
|
1.1(f)
|
|
Escrow
Agent
|
3.3
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
3.3
|
|
Exchange
Act
|
5.3(b)
|
|
Excluded
Assets
|
1.2
|
|
Excluded
Liabilities
|
2.1
|
|
Fairness
Opinion
|
5.30
|
-63-
Financial
Statements
|
5.6(b)
|
|
GAAP
|
14.1
|
|
Governmental
Entity
|
14.1
|
|
GSI
|
3.1(b)
|
|
Hazardous
Material
|
14.1
|
|
Improvements
|
14.1
|
|
including
|
14.1
|
|
Indebtedness
|
14.1
|
|
Indemnified
Party
|
11.5(a)
|
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
11.5(a)
|
|
Intellectual
Property
|
14.1
|
|
Interim
Balance Sheet
|
5.6(a)
|
|
Inventory
|
1.1(d)
|
|
IP
Agreements
|
1.1(j)
|
|
knowledge
|
14.1
|
|
Law
|
14.1
|
|
Legal
Funds
|
3.3
|
|
Legal
Opinion
|
9.10
|
|
Lien
|
14.1
|
|
Listed
Premises
|
1.1(e)
|
|
LOI
|
13.3
|
|
Losses
|
11.1
|
|
Microbial
Matter
|
14.1
|
|
Miscellaneous
Contracts
|
1.1(i)
|
|
Minor
Claims
|
11.4(b)
|
|
Most
Recent Balance Sheet
|
5.6(a)
|
|
Non-Compete
Period
|
8.8(a)
|
|
Nor
Repayment
|
4.2(b)(ii)
|
|
Note
|
3.1(d)
|
|
OBCA
|
14.1
|
|
Office
Actions
|
14.1
|
|
Ontario
|
Preamble
|
|
Ontario
Common Shares
|
5.4(b)
|
|
Option
|
3.1(b)
|
|
Order
|
14.1
|
|
Owned
Real Property
|
5.11(a)
|
|
Permits
|
1.1(n)
|
|
Permitted
Liens
|
14.1
|
|
Person
|
14.1
|
|
Post-Closing
Tax Period
|
11.1(d)
|
|
Pre-Closing
Tax Period
|
11.1(d)
|
|
Prime
Rate
|
14.1
|
|
Promotional
Rights
|
1.1(g)
|
|
Proprietary
Rights
|
1.1(h)
|
|
Proxy
Statement
|
8.7(a)
|
|
Purchase
Price
|
3.1(d)
|
-64-
Real
Property Tenant Leases
|
1.1(e)
|
|
Release
|
14.1
|
|
Restricted
Products
|
14.1
|
|
Requirement
of Law
|
14.1
|
|
SEC
|
5.3(b)
|
|
SEC
Documents
|
5.6(b)
|
|
SEDAR
|
14.1
|
|
Sedar
Documents
|
5.6(d)
|
|
Seller(s)
|
Preamble
|
|
Seller
Disclosure Schedule
|
5
|
|
Seller
Material Adverse Effect
|
14.1
|
|
Seller
Subsidiary
|
14.1
|
|
Sellers’
Retained Environmental Liabilities
|
11.9(b)
|
|
Sellers’
Registered Intellectual Property
|
14.1
|
|
Shareholder
Approval
|
5.2(b)
|
|
Shareholders
Meeting
|
8.7(c)
|
|
Side
Letter
|
14.1
|
|
Specified
Misrepresentation Claim
|
11.3(a)(i)
|
|
Straddle
Period
|
11.1(d)
|
|
Subsidiary
|
14.1
|
|
Subsidiary
Shares
|
1.1(q)
|
|
Tax
or Taxes
|
14.1
|
|
Tax
Claim
|
11.3(a)(ii)
|
|
Tax
Return
|
14.1
|
|
Termination
Fee
|
12.2(b)(i)
|
|
Tests
|
5.14(o)
|
|
Third
Party
|
7.14(a)
|
|
Third
Party Claim
|
11.5(a)
|
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
13.1(a)
|
|
Transaction
Documents
|
5.2
|
|
Waivers
|
4.2(a)(ix)
|
[Signature
pages follow.]
-65-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Asset Purchase
Agreement.
Seller: | ASTRIS ENERGI INC. | |
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Xxxx X. Nor
|
|
Name: |
Xxxx X. Nor |
|
Title: |
President and CEO |
|
|
||
Seller: | 2062540 ONTARIO INC. | |
By: |
/s/
Xxxx X. Nor
|
|
Name: |
Xxxx X. Nor |
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
||
Buyer: | MKU CANADA INC. | |
By: |
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Name: |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx |
|
Title: |
President |
|
|
EXECUTION
COPY
GUARANTY
AND CONSENT
THIS
GUARANTY AND CONSENT (this
“Guaranty
and Consent”),
dated
as of June 5, 2007 of GREEN
SHELTERS INNOVATIONS LTD.
(“GSI”)
in
favor of ASTRIS
ENERGI INC.,
a
corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada
(the
“Company”)
and
2062540
ONTARIO, INC. a
corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada
(“Ontario”,
and
together with the Company, the “Seller”).
WHEREAS,
MKU
Canada Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Xxxxxxxx xx
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx (“Buyer”),
is a
wholly-owned subsidiary of GSI;
WHEREAS,
Buyer
and the Seller are parties to the Asset Purchase Agreement, dated as of the
date
hereof (the “APA”);
WHEREAS,
part of
the consideration of the purchase price to be paid under the Asset Purchase
Agreement is the grant of an option to Astris to purchase the common shares
of
Astris held by GSI for $1.00 (the “Option”);
WHEREAS,
Buyer
has requested GSI to provide a guaranty in favor of the Company on the terms
and
conditions hereinafter provided, and consent to the grant of the
Option;
WHEREAS,
GSI is
willing to enter into this Guaranty and Consent to induce the Company to
enter
into the APA;
WHEREAS,
all
capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
given such terms in the APA.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
GSI
hereby agrees:
Section
1. Guaranty
by GSI.
(a) From
and after the date hereof, GSI guarantees the due and punctual payment of
all
amounts due to the Seller under the terms of the APA, when the same shall
become
due and payable, in each case after any applicable grace periods or notice
requirements, according to the terms of such agreements and the due and punctual
performance of the Buyer’s performance of its obligations under the APA, and the
Assumption Agreement; provided,
however,
that
GSI shall not be liable to make any payment until fifteen (15) Business Days
(as
used herein, a “Business
Day”
shall
refer to a day other than a Saturday or a Sunday on which commercial banks
are
open for business in New York City) following receipt by GSI of written notice
from the Seller that a payment of an amount is due thereunder. GSI’s obligations
under this Guaranty and Consent shall be subject to all defenses available
to
the Buyer (under the APA or otherwise), other than bankruptcy or insolvency
of
the Buyer, and nothing contained herein shall be construed to be a waiver
by GSI
of notice and demand for payment required hereunder.
Seller
is
not required to first bring an action against the Buyer to establish its
right
to receipt of payment under the APA.
(b) GSI
shall
be subrogated to all rights of the Seller in respect of any amounts paid
by GSI
pursuant to the provisions of this Guaranty and Consent; provided, however,
that
GSI shall be entitled to enforce, or to receive any payments arising out
of or
based upon, such right of subrogation only after the amounts due under the
APA
to the
Seller thereunder have been paid in full.
(c) This
is a
continuing Guaranty and all obligations to which it applies or may apply
under
the terms hereof shall be conclusively presumed to have been created in reliance
hereon. This Guaranty and Consent shall terminate upon the earlier of the
full
discharge of the obligations of the Buyer contained in the APA and the
Assumption Agreement, or the termination of the APA, in accordance with its
terms.
Section
2. Consent.
GSI
hereby consents to grant the Option to the Sellers at the Closing, in accordance
with the terms of the APA.
Section
3.1. Notices.
All
notices to GSI under this Guaranty and Consent and copies of all notices
to the
Buyer under the APA shall, until GSI furnishes written notice to the contrary,
be in writing and mailed, faxed or delivered to GSI at:
Green
Shelters Innovations Ltd.
00,
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx
Building, Office
701,
1066
Nicosia,
Cyprus
Attention:
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxx
XxXxxxxxx LLP
0000
X
Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 2006
Attention:
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq.
Section
3.2. Governing
Law.
This
Guaranty and Consent shall be construed and enforced in accordance with,
and
governed by, the laws of the State of New York, United States of America
without
regard to principles of conflicts of law thereof which may require the
application of the law of another jurisdiction (other than Section 5-1401
of the New York General Obligations Law).
2
Section
3.3. Interpretation.
The
headings of the sections and other subdivisions of this Guaranty and Consent
are
inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute a part
hereof.
Section
3.4. Attorney's
Cost.
GSI
agrees to pay all reasonable attorney's fees and disbursements and all other
reasonable and actual costs and expenses which may be incurred by the Seller
in
the enforcement of this Guaranty and Consent, or the obligations of the Buyer
under the APA.
Section
3.5. Currency
of Payment.
Any
payment to be made by GSI shall be made in the same currency as designated
for
payment in the APA, as the case may be, and such designation of the currency
of
payment is of the essence.
Section
3.6. Successions
or Assignments.
This
Guaranty and Consent shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns
of
the Seller who shall have the rights of the Seller hereunder. This Guaranty
and
Consent is binding upon GSI and its successors and permitted assigns. GSI
may
not assign any of its obligations hereunder except to an Affiliate.
Section
3.7. Headings.
The
headings in this Guaranty and Consent are for convenience of reference only
and
shall not constitute a part of this Guaranty and Consent for any other purpose
or be given any substantive effect.
Section
3.8. Remedies
Cumulative.
Each
and every right and remedy of Company hereunder shall be cumulative with
any
other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law
or in
equity.
Section
3.9. Severability.
Any
provision of this Guaranty and Consent that may be determined by competent
authority to be prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as
to
such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or
unenforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions hereof, and
any
such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate
or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.
Section
3.10. Amendments.
This
Guaranty and Consent may be amended, waived or otherwise modified only with
the
written consent of GSI and Astris.
[Signature
Pages Follow.]
3
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, GSI, by its officer duly authorized, intending to be legally
bound, has caused this Guaranty and Consent to be duly executed and delivered
as
of the date first above written.
GREEN SHELTERS INNOVATIONS, LTD. | ||
|
|
|
By: |
/s/
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Title: Director |
||
4