ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG NEXCEN BRANDS, INC., NEXCEN FIXED ASSET COMPANY, LLC, NEXCEN BRAND MANAGEMENT, INC., WV IP HOLDINGS, LLC, AND ICONIX BRAND GROUP, INC. DATED AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2008
Execution
Copy
BY
AND AMONG
NEXCEN
BRANDS, INC.,
NEXCEN
FIXED ASSET COMPANY, LLC,
NEXCEN
BRAND MANAGEMENT, INC.,
WV
IP HOLDINGS, LLC,
AND
DATED
AS OF SEPTEMBER 29, 2008
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
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||
ARTICLE
I. Definitions and Usage
|
1
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1.1
|
Definitions
|
1
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1.2
|
Usage
|
9
|
ARTICLE
II. Purchase and Sale of Business and Assets
|
10
|
|
2.1
|
Purchase
and Sale of Assets
|
10
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2.2
|
Excluded
Assets
|
10
|
2.3
|
Assumed
Liabilities
|
11
|
2.4
|
Excluded
Liabilities
|
11
|
2.5
|
Delivery
of Certain Assets
|
13
|
ARTICLE
III. Purchase Price; Payment; Assumption of
Obligations
|
13
|
|
3.1
|
The
Closing
|
13
|
3.2
|
Purchase
Price
|
13
|
3.3
|
Payment
|
13
|
3.4
|
Allocation
|
13
|
3.5
|
Nonassignable
Contracts
|
14
|
3.6
|
Accounts
Receivable.
|
14
|
ARTICLE
IV. Representations and Warranties of the Sellers and
Parent
|
15
|
|
4.1
|
Organization
and Good Standing.
|
15
|
4.2
|
Enforceability;
Authority.
|
16
|
4.3
|
Consents;
Approvals.
|
16
|
4.4
|
Financial
Statements
|
17
|
4.5
|
Title
to Assets
|
17
|
4.6
|
Sufficiency
of Assets.
|
17
|
4.7
|
Insolvency
Proceedings
|
17
|
4.8
|
Taxes.
|
18
|
4.9
|
Labor
Relations; Compliance
|
18
|
4.10
|
Employee
Benefits
|
18
|
4.11
|
Litigation;
Orders.
|
18
|
4.12
|
Compliance
With Laws; Government Authorizations.
|
19
|
4.13
|
Operation
of the Business
|
19
|
4.14
|
Material
Contracts.
|
20
|
4.15
|
Insurance
|
20
|
4.16
|
Leased
Property
|
20
|
4.17
|
Intellectual
Property.
|
21
|
4.18
|
Affiliate
Transactions
|
22
|
4.19
|
Brokers
or Finders
|
22
|
4.20
|
Suppliers
|
22
|
4.21
|
License
Agreements.
|
22
|
4.22
|
Third
Party License Agreements
|
24
|
i
ARTICLE
V. Representations and Warranties of Buyer
|
24
|
|
5.1
|
Existence
and Good Standing; Authorization.
|
24
|
5.2
|
Consents
and Approvals; No Violations
|
24
|
5.3
|
Litigation
|
25
|
5.4
|
Brokers’
or Finders’ Fees
|
25
|
5.5
|
Adequacy
of Funds
|
25
|
5.6
|
Insolvency
Proceedings
|
25
|
ARTICLE
VI. Pre-Closing Covenants
|
26
|
|
6.1
|
Efforts
to Closing
|
26
|
6.2
|
Conduct
of the Business
|
27
|
6.3
|
Access
and Investigation
|
27
|
6.4
|
Notice
of Developments
|
27
|
6.5
|
Public
Disclosure or Communications.
|
28
|
6.6
|
Employee
Matters.
|
28
|
6.7
|
Exclusivity
|
29
|
ARTICLE
VII. Post-Closing Covenants
|
30
|
|
7.1
|
Transfer
Taxes
|
30
|
7.2
|
Nonsolicitation.
|
30
|
7.3
|
Further
Assurances
|
31
|
7.4
|
Confidentiality
|
31
|
7.5
|
Access
to Records
|
31
|
7.6
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
31
|
7.7
|
S-X
Cooperation
|
32
|
ARTICLE
VIII. Conditions Precedent to Buyer’s Obligation to
Close
|
32
|
|
8.1
|
Truth
of Representations and Warranties.
|
32
|
8.2
|
Performance
of Agreements
|
32
|
8.3
|
Certificate
|
32
|
8.4
|
No
Injunction
|
32
|
8.5
|
Governmental
and Other Approvals
|
33
|
8.6
|
No
Material Adverse Effect
|
33
|
8.7
|
Closing
Deliverables
|
33
|
ARTICLE
IX. Conditions Precedent to Sellers’ and Parent’s Obligation to
Close
|
34
|
|
9.1
|
Truth
of Representations and Warranties
|
34
|
9.2
|
Performance
of Agreements
|
34
|
9.3
|
Certificate
|
34
|
9.4
|
No
Injunction
|
34
|
9.5
|
Closing
Deliverables.
|
34
|
ARTICLE
X. Termination
|
34
|
|
10.1
|
Right
to Terminate
|
34
|
10.2
|
Effect
of Termination
|
35
|
ii
ARTICLE
XI. Indemnification; Remedies
|
35
|
|
11.1
|
Survival
|
35
|
11.2
|
Indemnification
by Parent
|
36
|
11.3
|
Indemnification
by Buyer
|
36
|
11.4
|
Limitation
on Liability.
|
37
|
11.5
|
Other
Indemnification Provisions.
|
37
|
11.6
|
Procedure
for Indemnification - Third Party Claims.
|
38
|
11.7
|
Procedure
for Indemnification - Other Claims
|
39
|
ARTICLE
XII. MISCELLANEOUS
|
39
|
|
12.1
|
Notices
|
39
|
12.2
|
Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest
|
41
|
12.3
|
No
Third Party Beneficiaries
|
41
|
12.4
|
Bulk
Sales Law
|
41
|
12.5
|
Expenses
|
41
|
12.6
|
Waiver
and Amendment
|
41
|
12.7
|
Severability
|
41
|
12.8
|
Remedies
Cumulative
|
41
|
12.9
|
Counterparts
|
41
|
12.10
|
Governing
Law; Jurisdiction
|
42
|
12.11
|
Specific
Performance
|
42
|
12.12
|
Disclosure
Schedules
|
42
|
iii
This
Asset Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”)
is
entered into as of September 29, 2008, by and among NexCen Brands, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (“Parent”),
NexCen Fixed Asset Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
(“NFAC”),
NexCen Brand Management, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“NBM”),
WV IP
Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“WV
IP
Holdings,”
and
with NFAC, and NBM, each individually, a “Seller,”
and
collectively, the “Sellers”),
and
Iconix Brand Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Sellers own certain assets used in the conduct of the Business (as defined
below); and
WHEREAS,
the Sellers desire to sell, and Buyer desires to purchase from the Sellers,
the
assets of the Business, and to assume certain liabilities associated therewith,
on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements set forth in this Agreement, and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged,
the
parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
Definitions
and Usage
“Affiliate”
of
any
Person means any Person which, directly or indirectly controls or is controlled
by that Person, or is under common control with that Person. For the purposes
of
this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meaning, the terms
“controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any
Person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly of the power to direct
or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
through ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.
“Allocation
Schedule”
is
defined in Section
3.4.
“Assumed
Contracts”
means
the Contracts that are listed in Schedule
1.1,
together with any other Contacts that the Buyer specifically consents in writing
to assume at Closing.
“Assumed
Liabilities”
is
defined in Section
2.3.
“Balance
Sheet Date”
is
defined in Section
4.4(a).
“Basket”
is
defined in Section
11.4(a).
“Books
and Records”
means
all books and records of the Sellers relating exclusively to and necessary
for
the operation of the Business as it is currently operated, including files,
documents, correspondence, cost and pricing information, accounting records,
supplier lists and records, operating manuals, operating procedures, marketing
research, training materials, training records, maintenance and inspection
reports, equipment lists, repair notes and archives, sales and marketing
materials.
“Business”
means
the business that relates to the Waverly brand, products and services, the
Gramercy brand products and services and the Village brand products and
services, including the licensing of the Waverly Intellectual Property, the
Gramercy Intellectual Property and the Village Intellectual Property for use
in
connection with the manufacture, sale and distribution of fabric and other
goods
and including the use of any of the Purchased Assets in connection with the
operation thereof or performance of the Sellers, as applicable, under any
License Agreement.
“Business
Day”
means
any day other than (a) Saturday or Sunday or (b) any other day on which banks
in
New York, New York are permitted or required to be closed.
“Business
Employee”
shall
mean each employee (including employees on approved leaves of absence, sick
leave and vacation leave) who is listed on Schedule
6.6(a)
and
Schedule
6.6(b).
“Buyer”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer
Indemnified Parties”
is
defined in Section
11.2.
“Buyer
Nonsolicitation Period”
means
(x) in the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Article
X
hereof,
the period from the date hereof until September 24, 2013, and (y) in the event
the Closing occurs, the period from the date hereof until three (3) years from
the Closing Date.
“Cap”
is
defined in Section
11.4(b).
“Closing”
is
defined in Section
3.1.
“Closing
Date”
means
the date on which the Closing actually takes place.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
“Contract”
means
any contract, license, sublicense, permit, mortgage, purchase order, indenture,
loan agreement, note, lease, sublease, agreement, obligation, commitment,
understanding, instrument or other arrangement or any commitment to enter into
any of the foregoing (in each case, whether written or, if known to the Sellers
and binding, oral).
“Damages”
means
any loss, liability, claim, damage, expense (including reasonable attorneys’
fees and costs), whether or not involving a third party claim, provided,
however,
that
other than with respect to Damages payable to a third party pursuant to a third
party claim, Damages shall not include any special, incidental, indirect,
collateral, consequential, exemplary, punitive or statutorily multiplied losses
or damages of the other party or any other Person (whether or not such party
or
Person has been advised of the possibility of damages and in each case
whatsoever arising (whether in contract, tort (including negligence or breach
of
contract or statutory duty) or otherwise).
2
“Disclosure
Schedules”
is
defined in the first paragraph of Article
IV.
“Employee
Benefit Plan”
means
any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and any other
employee benefit or fringe benefit plan, program or arrangement of any kind
(whether written or oral).
“Employment
Terms”
is
defined in Section
6.6(a).
“Encumbrances”
means
any liens, pledges, claims, mortgages, charges, options, preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or similar rights, title retention agreements,
easements, encroachments, leases, subleases, covenants, security interests
and
restrictions and encumbrances of any kind or nature whatsoever. For the
avoidance of doubt, “Encumbrances” shall not be deemed to include any licenses
of Intellectual Property.
“ERISA”
means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA
Affiliate”
means,
with respect to any entity, any trades or businesses (whether or not
incorporated) that are treated as a single employer with such entity under
Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“Exchange
Act”
means
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Excluded
Assets”
is
defined in Section
2.2.
“Excluded
Liabilities”
is
defined in Section
2.4.
“Financial
Statements”
is
defined in Section
4.4(a).
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles for financial reporting in the United
States, applied on a consistent basis.
“Government
Authority”
means
any domestic or foreign national, state, multi-state or municipal or other
local
government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof, including
any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory or taxing
authority thereunder or any judicial authority (or any department, bureau or
division thereof).
“Government
Authorization”
means
any approval, consent, license, permit, waiver, or other authorization issued,
granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any
Government Authority or pursuant to any Legal Requirement.
“Gramercy
Intellectual Property”
means
the Gramercy Trademarks and other Intellectual Property owned by the Sellers
that relates to products sold under the Gramercy Trademarks and is used in
the
Business.
3
“Gramercy
Trademarks”
is
defined in Section
4.17(a).
“Indebtedness”
means
(a) indebtedness of the Sellers for borrowed money or with respect to deposits
or advances of any kind (other than advances due from customers incurred in
the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice), (b) all
obligations of the Sellers evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar
instruments, (c) all obligations of the Sellers upon which interest charges
are
paid, (d) all obligations of the Sellers in respect of capitalized leases and
obligations of the Sellers for the deferred purchase price of goods or services
(other than trade payables or accruals incurred in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice), (e) all obligations in respect
of
banker’s acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account of
the Sellers, (f) all indebtedness or obligations of the types referred to in
the
preceding clauses (a) through (e) of any other Person secured by any Encumbrance
on any assets of the Sellers, even though the Sellers have not assumed or
otherwise become liable for the payment thereof, (g) all guarantees by the
Sellers of obligations of the type described in clauses (a) through (f) above
of
any other Person, and (h) payment obligations in respect of interest under
any
interest rate swap or other hedge agreement or arrangement entered into by
the
Sellers with respect to any Indebtedness described in clauses (a) through (g)
above.
“Indemnified
Party”
is
defined in Section
11.3.
“Indemnitor”
is
defined in Section
11.6(a).
“Insurance
Policies”
is
defined in Section
4.15.
“Intellectual
Property”
means
all of the following in any domestic or foreign jurisdiction: (i) know-how,
designs, patterns (including samples, mock-ups, prototypes and finished
products), design rights, press books, promotional materials, artwork, vendor
numbers, sketches, methods and processes, customer and supplier information,
trade secrets and technical knowledge, (ii) letters patent, patents, patent
applications, (iii) software, data and databases, (iv) trade dress, trade names,
trademarks, service marks, Internet domain names, logos, slogans, together
with
registrations and applications for registrations of any of the foregoing, and
any goodwill associated with the foregoing, (v) copyrights, copyrightable works,
and moral rights, together with registrations and applications for registrations
of any of the foregoing, (vi) any other confidential information, in each case
to the extent protectable by applicable law and (vii) and any and all
proprietary rights in any of the foregoing, arising under common law, Contract
or otherwise.
“Inventory”
means
the consumable inventory of the Sellers, wherever located, including, without
limitation, all finished goods, work in process, raw materials, spare parts
and
all other materials and supplies to be used or intended for use by the Business,
but not including the Waverly Archives.
“IRS”
means
the United States Internal Revenue Service and, to the extent relevant, the
United States Department of the Treasury.
“Knowledge”
means
(a)
with respect to the Sellers, the actual knowledge of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Xxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, after due inquiry of those individuals
responsible for the matter being represented or warranted and (b) with respect
to Buyer, the actual knowledge of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, after due inquiry of those
individuals responsible for the matter being represented or
warranted. The
terms
“know” and “knows” and like terms will have correlative
meanings.
4
“Leased
Real Property”
means
all leasehold or subleasehold estates and other rights to use or occupy any
land, buildings, structures, improvements, fixtures, or other interest in real
or immovable property that is used in the Business.
“Leases”
means
all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other agreements (written
or
oral), including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other
agreements with respect thereto, pursuant to which the Sellers hold any Leased
Real Property that is used in the Business.
“Legal
Requirement”
means
any U.S. federal, state, local, municipal, international, multinational or
other
administrative order, constitution, law, ordinance, principle of common law,
regulation, rule, statute or treaty.
“Lender”
means
BTMU Capital Corporation.
“License
Agreement”
means
each Contract between the Sellers and any Person pursuant to which the Sellers
have granted that Person the right to design, manufacture, sell or distribute
goods under any of the Waverly Intellectual Property, Gramercy Intellectual
Property or Village Intellectual Property owned by the Sellers.
“Licensee”
means
a
Person who has entered into and as of the Closing Date is a party to a License
Agreement with the Sellers.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
means
any change, effect, event, occurrence, state of facts or development that (1)
has or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Business, financial condition or results of operations of the Purchased Assets
or (2) would reasonably be expected to prevent or materially impede the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided,
however,
that
with respect to clause (1) only, none of the following shall be deemed to
constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” or shall be considered in determining
whether a “Material Adverse Effect” has occurred: (i) changes in general
economic or political conditions that do not disproportionately and adversely
affect the Business (as compared to businesses of comparable size); (ii) any
actions by the Sellers required by this Agreement or consented to by Buyer;
(iii) changes in the industry in which the Business operates that do not
disproportionately and adversely affect the Business; or (iv) changes in Legal
Requirements applicable to the Purchased Assets.
“Material
Contracts”
is
defined in Section
4.14(a).
“NBM”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“NFAC”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
5
“Order”
means
any award, decision, injunction, judgment, order, ruling, subpoena or verdict
entered, issued, made or rendered by any court, administrative agency or other
Government Authority or by any arbitrator.
“Organizational
Documents”
means
with respect to any entity, the certificate or articles of incorporation or
formation, as applicable, operating agreement, bylaws or other governing
documents of such entity.
“Parent”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Payoff
Amount”
means
the amount set forth in the Payoff Letter necessary to repay certain
Indebtedness to be repaid at Closing.
“Payoff
Letter”
means
the letter or letters provided by the Lender to the Sellers in connection with
the repayment of certain Indebtedness to be repaid at Closing.
“Permitted
Encumbrances”
means
(i) mechanics’, material men’s or similar inchoate Encumbrances arising or
incurred in the ordinary course of business relating to liabilities not yet
due
and payable; (ii) Encumbrances for current taxes not yet delinquent, or the
validity of which is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings,
which proceedings have the effect of preventing foreclosure or enforcement
of
such Encumbrances and where adequate reserves are established and maintained
in
accordance with GAAP; (iii) Encumbrances or Pledges in connection with workmen’s
compensation, unemployment insurance or other social security obligations;
and
(iv) deposits to secure the performance of bids, trade contracts, leases,
statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
obligations of alike nature incurred in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
“Person”
means
an individual, partnership, corporation, business trust, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated association, joint venture or other entity or a Government
Authority.
“Personal
Property”
means
the computer hardware, fixtures and furniture owned by the Sellers and listed
in
Schedule
1.1(p).
“Prepaid
Expenses”
as
of
any date means payments made by the Sellers or any of their Affiliates with
respect to the Business or the Purchased Assets, which constitute prepaid
expenses in accordance with GAAP.
“Proceeding”
means
any action, arbitration, audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit
(whether civil, criminal, administrative, judicial or investigative, whether
formal or informal, and whether public or private) commenced, brought, conducted
or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any Government Authority or
arbitrator.
“Purchase
Price”
is
defined in Section
3.2.
“Purchased
Accounts Receivable”
is
defined in Section
3.6(b).
6
“Purchased
Assets”
means
all of the Sellers’ right, title, and interest in and to all of the assets that
are primarily used or intended primarily for use in the Business, whether
tangible or intangible, material or immaterial, real or personal and wherever
located and by whomever possessed (other than the Excluded Assets), including,
without limitation, (i) the Waverly Archives and Waverly Intellectual Property,
and all rights thereto, (ii) the Gramercy Intellectual Property, and all rights
thereto, (iii) the Village Intellectual Property, and all rights thereto, (iv)
the Personal Property, (v) the Assumed Contracts, (vi) the License Agreements,
including all rights contained in License Agreements that expressly or by their
nature survive expiration or termination, (vii) Third Party License Agreements,
including all rights contained in the Third Party License Agreements that
expressly or by their nature survive expiration or termination, (viii) the
Books
and Records, (ix) all proceeds paid or payable by any insurance provider for
any
Purchased Asset that is destroyed or damaged after the date hereof and prior
to
the Closing under insurance policies covering or relating to Purchased Assets
or
Assumed Contracts and (x) all prepaid assets of the Business (including the
pro
rata
portion
of advances or guaranteed minimum royalty and advertising payments credited
against royalties earned on or after the Closing Date under the Assumed
Contracts or the pro
rata portion
of payments under terminated license agreements related to the Waverly Archives
and Waverly Intellectual Property, the Gramercy Intellectual Property, and
the
Village Intellectual Property due on or after the Closing Date).
“Representative”
means,
with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, manager, employee,
agent, consultant, advisor, accountant, financial advisor, legal counsel or
other representative of that Person.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, together with the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Securities”
is
defined in Section
4.5(b).
“Seller
Account Receivable”
is
defined in Section
3.6.
“Seller
Indemnified Party”
is
defined in Section
11.3.
“Sellers”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Seller
Information”
means
any data and information relating to the business, customers, financial
statements, conditions or operations of the Business, in each case which is
confidential in nature and not generally known to the public.
“Studio
IP”
is
defined in Section
2.5.
“Subleased
Property”
means
that portion of the Leased Real Property leased pursuant to the Agreement of
Lease dated July 24, 2007 between Xxxxxxx Management Corp., Normandy 000 0xx
Xxx
LLC and NexCen Consumer Brands Management, Inc. which is currently occupied
and
used by Sellers in the Business, such portion being commonly known as 000 Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx 000 xxx 000, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000.
7
“Subsidiary”
means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation or other Person of which securities
or other interests having the power to elect a majority of that corporation’s or
other Person’s board of directors or similar governing body, or otherwise having
the power to direct the business and policies of that corporation or other
Person (other than securities or other interests having such power only upon
the
happening of a contingency that has not occurred), are held by the Person or
one
or more of its Subsidiaries.
“Tax”
means
any tax (including, without limitation, any income tax, license tax, margin
tax,
branch profits tax, capital gains tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax,
estimated tax, value-added tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, transfer
tax,
payroll tax, social security tax or withholding tax, escheat or abandoned
property liability), and any related fine, penalty, interest or addition to
tax
with respect thereto, imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority
of any Government Authority or payable pursuant to any tax-sharing agreement
relating to the sharing or payment of any such tax.
“Tax
Return”
means
any return (including any information return), report, statement, schedule,
notice, form or other document or information filed with or submitted to, or
required to be filed with or submitted to, any Government Authority in
connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any
Tax.
“Termination
Date”
is
defined in Section
10.1(b).
“Third
Party License Agreement”
means
a
license agreement between the Sellers and any Person (“Third Party Licensor”)
pursuant to which the Sellers have been granted the right to use Intellectual
Property of the Third Party Licensor in connection with the
Business.
“Transferred
Employee”
is
defined in Section
6.6(a).
“Transfer
Taxes”
is
defined in Section
7.1.
“Village
Intellectual Property”
means
the Village Trademarks and other Intellectual Property owned by the Sellers
that
relates to products sold under the Village Trademarks and is used in the
Business.
“Village
Trademarks”
is
defined in Section
4.17(a).
“Waverly
Archives”
means
all products, samples, computer-aided designs, designs, drawings, paintings,
illustrations, patterns, fabrics, artwork, advertising, books, prints, video
and
audio related to the Waverly Intellectual Property, the Gramercy Intellectual
Property or the Village Intellectual Property, and all other such materials
that
relate to the Business, including the materials held in the Sellers’ libraries
(e.g.,
sample
books and related sampling in Sellers’ design studios) that relate to the
Waverly Intellectual Property, the Gramercy Intellectual Property or the Village
Intellectual Property.
“Waverly
Composite Trademarks”
is
defined in Section
4.17(a).
8
“Waverly
Copyright”
means
a
copyright for any design or work used in the Business by the Sellers or by
a
Licensee, for which the Sellers possess a registration or for which the Sellers
are the applicant of a registration.
“Waverly
Intellectual Property”
means
the Waverly Trademarks (and any immaterial unregistered trademarks), the Waverly
Composite Trademarks, the Waverly Copyrights, all designs licensed by the
Sellers to Licensees under License Agreements and other Intellectual Property
owned by the Sellers, other than the Gramercy Intellectual Property and the
Village Intellectual Property, and is used in the Business.
“Waverly
Trademarks”
is
defined in Section
4.17(a).
“WV
IP
Holdings”
is
defined in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
1.2 Usage.
(a) Interpretation.
In this
Agreement, unless a clear contrary intention appears: (i) the singular number
includes the plural number and vice versa; (ii) reference to any Person includes
such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors
and assigns are not prohibited by this Agreement, and reference to a Person
in a
particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity or individually;
(iii) reference to any gender includes each other gender; (iv) reference to
any
agreement, document or instrument means such agreement, document or instrument
as amended or modified and in effect from time to time in accordance with the
terms thereof; (v) reference to any Legal Requirement means such Legal
Requirement as amended, modified, codified, replaced or reenacted, in whole
or
in part, and in effect at the time particular acts or conditions of compliance
are to be determined, including rules and regulations promulgated thereunder,
and reference to any section or other provision of any Legal Requirement means
that provision of such Legal Requirement in effect at the time a particular
act
or condition of compliance is to be determined and constituting the substantive
amendment, modification, codification, replacement or reenactment of such
section or other provision; (vi) “hereunder,” “hereof,” “hereto,” and words of
similar import shall be deemed references to this Agreement as a whole and
not
to any particular Article, Section or other provision hereof; (vii) “including”
(and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the
generality of any description preceding such term; (viii) “or” is used in the
inclusive sense of “and/or”; (ix) with respect to the determination of any
period of time, “from” means “from and including” and “to” means “to but
excluding”; and (x) references to documents, instruments or agreements shall be
deemed to refer as well to all addenda, exhibits, schedules or amendments
thereto.
(b) Legal
Representation of the Parties.
This
Agreement was negotiated by the parties with the benefit of legal
representation, and any rule of construction or interpretation otherwise
requiring this Agreement to be construed or interpreted against any party shall
not apply to any construction or interpretation hereof.
9
ARTICLE
II.
Purchase
and Sale of Business and Assets
2.1 Purchase
and Sale of Assets.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Sellers agree to sell,
assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Buyer as of the Closing Date, and Buyer
agrees to purchase and take assignment and delivery from the Sellers as of
the
Closing Date, all of Sellers’ right, title and interest in and to the Purchased
Assets, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than the Permitted Encumbrances
and to assume the Assumed Liabilities.
2.2 Excluded
Assets.
Pursuant to this Agreement, Buyer is not acquiring, and the Sellers shall retain
all assets, rights and properties not used or intended for use in the Business
(except that, for the avoidance of doubt, no asset, right or property set forth
in clause (i) through (ix) of the definition of Purchased Assets shall be
retained by the Sellers), and, as such, they are not included
in
the Purchased Assets (collectively, the “Excluded
Assets”),
including, without limitation:
(a) Assets
that are owned by licensees of the Sellers;
(b) All
assets relating to the Employee Benefit Plans, whether or not held in
trust;
(c) All
Contracts that have terminated or expired prior to the Closing Date, except
those rights contained in License Agreements that expressly or by their nature
survive expiration or termination;
(d) Any
and
all of the Sellers’ rights in any Contract representing an intercompany
transaction between a Seller and an Affiliate of a Seller;
(e) Sellers’
corporate minute books and records, such other books and records as pertain
to
the organization, existence or capitalization of the Sellers and duplicate
copies of such records as are necessary to enable the Sellers to file its tax
returns and reports, as well as any other records or materials relating to
the
Sellers generally and not involving or relating to the Purchased
Assets;
(f) Claims
for and rights to receive Tax refunds, and any notes, worksheets, files or
documents relating thereto with respect to any period prior to the Closing
Date;
(g) all
proceeds paid or payable by any insurance provider for any Purchased Asset
that
is destroyed or damaged prior to the Closing Date under insurance policies
covering or relating to Purchased Assets or Assumed Contracts;
(h) the
Inventory;
(i) subject
to Section
3.6,
the
Sellers’ rights to receive any payments from third parties arising from the
operation of the Business prior to the Closing;
(j) the
Seller Accounts Receivable;
10
(k) any
of
the Parent’s or Sellers’ brands, other than those included in any of the Waverly
Intellectual Property, Gramercy Intellectual Property or Village Intellectual
Property;
(l) All
rights of the Sellers under this Agreement, any agreement, certificate,
instrument or other document executed and delivered by the Sellers or Buyer
in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or any side agreement
between the Sellers and Buyer entered into on or after the date of this
Agreement;
and
(m) Those
assets which are used in both the Business and non-Business related operations
of the Parent and the Sellers which are all set forth on Schedule
2.2(m).
2.3 Assumed
Liabilities.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing,
Buyer shall assume and agree to pay, honor, discharge and perform when due,
(1)
any and all of the Sellers’ liabilities, commitments and obligations (a) arising
under the Assumed Contracts on or after the Closing Date; (b) arising out of
the
operation of the Business to the extent such obligations are incurred on or
after the Closing Date and are based on Buyer’s (or its Affiliates’, or its or
their respective assignees’ or transferees’) use or ownership of the Purchased
Assets; and (2) the other liabilities, commitments and obligations expressly
identified on Schedule
2.3 (collectively,
the “Assumed
Liabilities”).
2.4 Excluded
Liabilities.
Except
as and to the extent expressly provided in Section
2.3,
Buyer
is not agreeing to, and shall not, assume any other liability, obligation,
undertaking, expense or agreement of the Sellers of any kind, character or
description, whether absolute, contingent, known, unknown, accrued, liquidated,
unliquidated, contingent, executory or otherwise, and whether arising prior
to
or following the Closing, and the execution and performance of this Agreement
shall not render Buyer liable for any such liability, obligation, undertaking,
expense or agreement (all of such liabilities and obligations shall be referred
to herein as the “Excluded
Liabilities”).
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Excluded Liabilities
shall
include, and Buyer will not assume or be liable for:
(a) Any
obligation to pay, reimburse or credit a Licensee or a customer of the Sellers
in respect of a chargeback that arose in connection with the Sellers’ shipment
and sale of merchandise to a customer;
(b) Any
liability or obligation of WV IP Holdings under the Second Amended and Restated
Brand Management Agreement dated August 15, 2008, with NBM;
(c) Any
liability or obligation with respect to any Excluded Asset, whether arising
prior to or after the Closing Date;
(d) Except
as
expressly assumed in Section
2.3,
any
liability, claim or obligation, contingent or otherwise, arising out of the
operation of the Business or the ownership or use of any of the Purchased Assets
prior to the Closing Date;
(e) Any
liability or obligation arising out of any Contract that is not an Assumed
Contract;
11
(f) Any
Indebtedness of the Sellers (other than Indebtedness arising under an Assumed
Contract);
(g) Any
of
the Sellers’ liabilities or obligations for expenses or fees incident to or
arising out of the negotiation, preparation, approval or authorization of this
Agreement or the consummation (or preparation for the consummation) of the
transactions contemplated hereby (including all attorneys’ and accountants’
fees, and any financial advisory or brokerage fees);
(h) Any
Damages or obligation of the Sellers or Parent from claims arising out of
previous negotiations or agreements relating to the sale of the
Business;
(i) Any
liability or obligation of the Sellers for any Taxes that accrue for any period
on or after Closing, regardless of when assessed, excluding Taxes that relate
to
the operation of the Business arising after the Closing;
(j) Except
as
set forth in Section
6.6,
any
liability or obligation arising at any time relating to any employee, director
or former employee or director of the Sellers, including any liability for
accrued wages, vacation, sick or holiday pay and allowances, any other paid
time
off and any liabilities under employment, severance, change of control or
similar agreements or arrangement;
(k) Except
as
set forth in Section
6.6,
any
duty, obligation or liability arising at any time under or relating to any
Employee Benefit Plan or any employee benefit plan, program or arrangement
at
any time maintained, sponsored or contributed or required to be contributed
to
by Parent or the Sellers or any ERISA Affiliate of Parent or the Sellers or
with
respect to which Parent, the Sellers or any ERISA Affiliate has or had any
liability or potential liability;
(l) Except
as
set forth in Section
6.6,
any
liability or obligation relating to current or former employees of Sellers,
including without limitation any liabilities or obligations under any
employment, consulting or non-competition agreement, change of control
agreement, indemnity agreement, any retention or performance-based bonus or
other compensation agreement, and any similar agreements, whether written or
oral, and any liabilities or obligations arising out of the termination by
Sellers of any of its employees in anticipation or as a consequence of, or
following, consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including under the WARN Act;
(m) Any
violation of any Legal Requirement, breach of warranty, tort or infringement
by
the Sellers or any Affiliate of the Sellers;
(n) Any
liability or obligation arising out of any infringement or other unlawful use
by
the Sellers or any Person acting under the direction or control of the Sellers
of any Sellers’ Intellectual Property owned or held by any Person;
and
(o) Any
liability or obligation of the Sellers arising out of any litigation,
proceeding, or claim by any Person relating to the Business as conducted on
or
prior to the Closing Date, whether or not such litigation, proceeding, or claim
is pending, threatened, or asserted before, on, or after the Closing
Date.
12
2.5 Delivery
of Certain Assets.
At the
Closing, Sellers shall deliver all of their right, title and interest in the
Purchased Assets directly to Studio IP Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited
liability company, and an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer to be
formed by Buyer immediately prior to Closing (“Studio
IP”).
The
parties hereto acknowledge and agree that notwithstanding this Section
2.5,
all of
the Purchased Assets, including the Purchased Assets subject to this
Section
2.5,
are
being acquired by the Buyer hereunder and the delivery by Sellers of the
Purchased Assets, subject to this Section
2.5,
to
Studio IP shall be deemed to be a delivery of such Purchased Assets initially
to
the Buyer followed by a contribution of such Purchased Assets by Buyer to the
capital of Studio IP.
ARTICLE
III.
Purchase
Price; Payment; Assumption of Obligations
3.1 The
Closing.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”)
will
take place at the offices of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxx 00xx
Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at such other place as Buyer and the Sellers
mutually agree, at 10:00 A.M. local time, on the second Business Day after
the
conditions to Closing set forth in Articles
VIII
and
IX
have
been satisfied or waived by the party entitled to waive such condition, other
than conditions that, by their terms, cannot or are not required to be satisfied
until the Closing (provided
that all
such conditions are satisfied at the Closing), or at such other place, date
and/or time as the parties may mutually agree. The effective time of the Closing
shall be deemed to be 12:01 A.M. on the Closing Date.
3.2 Purchase
Price.
Subject
to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, in reliance on the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of the Sellers contained
herein, and in full payment and consideration for the sale, conveyance,
assignment, transfer and delivery of the Purchased Assets by the Sellers to
Buyer, Buyer shall pay a total amount of Twenty Six Million Dollars
($26,000,000) (the “Purchase
Price”),
payable as hereinafter provided, and Buyer shall assume the Assumed
Liabilities.
3.3 Payment.
At
Closing, Buyer shall (a) pay to the Lenders the Payoff Amount (which in no
event
will exceed the Purchase Price) by wire transfer of immediately available funds
to the accounts specified in the Payoff Letter, (b) pay the Sellers the
difference, if any, between the Purchase Price less
the
Payoff Amount by wire transfer
of
immediately available funds to accounts specified by the Sellers prior to the
Closing Date and (c) assume the Assumed Liabilities.
3.4 Allocation.
The
Sellers
and Buyer agree to allocate the Purchase Price among the Purchased Assets in
accordance with the allocation schedule to be prepared no later than ninety
(90)
days after the date hereof (the “Allocation
Schedule”).
If
the parties are unable to agree on the final Allocation Schedule within ninety
(90) days after the date hereof, an independent third-party appraiser selected
by the Sellers, and acceptable to Buyer, the fees of which shall be borne
equally by the Sellers and Buyer, shall resolve the allocation of the
consideration to any items with respect to which there is a dispute between
the
parties. In the absence of manifest error, the determination of the Allocation
Schedule by the third party appraiser shall be final and binding on all parties
and shall not be subject to contest. Each of the parties hereto agree that:
(i)
none of the parties shall take a position on any Tax Return (including IRS
Form
8594) that is in any way inconsistent with the Allocation Schedule without
the
written consent of the other party or unless specifically required by an
applicable Government Authority; and (ii) they shall promptly advise each other
regarding the existence of any Tax audit, controversy or litigation related
to
the Allocation Schedule. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing contained herein
shall prevent Buyer or the Sellers from settling any proposed deficiency or
adjustment by any Government Authority based upon or arising out of the
Allocation Schedule, and neither Buyer nor the Sellers shall be required to
litigate before any court any such proposed deficiency or adjustment by any
Government Authority challenging the Allocation Schedule.
13
3.5 Nonassignable
Contracts.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, to the extent that the
assignment hereunder by the Sellers to Buyer of any Assumed Contract is not
permitted or is not permitted without the consent of any other party to such
Assumed Contract, this Agreement shall not be deemed to constitute an assignment
of any such Assumed Contract if such consent is not given or if such assignment
otherwise would constitute a breach of, or cause a loss of contractual benefits
under, any such Assumed Contract, and Buyer shall assume no obligations or
liabilities under any such Assumed Contract. The Sellers shall advise Buyer
in
writing on the date hereof with respect to any Assumed Contract which the
Sellers know or have substantial reason to believe will or may not be assigned
to Buyer hereunder at the Closing. Without in any way limiting Sellers’
obligation to make reasonable efforts to obtain all consents and waivers
necessary for the sale, transfer, assignment and delivery of the Assumed
Contracts and the Purchased Assets to Buyer hereunder, if any such consent
relating to an Assumed Contract is not obtained or if such assignment is not
permitted irrespective of consent and if the Closing shall occur, the Sellers
shall cooperate with Buyer following the Closing Date in any reasonable
arrangement, excluding payment of money by the Sellers to Buyer, designed to
provide Buyer with the rights and benefits (subject to the obligations) under
such Assumed Contract, including enforcement for the benefit of Buyer of any
and
all rights of the Sellers against any other party arising out of any breach or
cancellation of any such Assumed Contract by such other party and, if requested
by Buyer, acting as an agent on behalf of Buyer or as Buyer shall otherwise
reasonably require.
3.6 Accounts
Receivable.
(a) Buyer
acknowledges that all accounts receivable in respect solely of amounts due
for
periods prior to the Closing Date shall remain the property of the Sellers
(the
“Seller
Accounts Receivable”)
and
that Buyer shall not acquire any beneficial right or interest therein. Buyer
shall promptly forward to the Sellers all proceeds received by Buyer in respect
of all Seller Accounts Receivable, plus such portion of the proceeds received
by
Buyer in respect of the Purchased Accounts Receivable as provided for in
Section
3.6(c).
(b) Subject
to the allocation set forth in Section
3.6(c),
the
Sellers shall promptly forward to Buyer all proceeds from accounts receivable
relating to the Business that are received by the Sellers on or after the
Closing Date, other than proceeds from the Seller Accounts Receivable (all
such
accounts receivable other than the Seller Accounts Receivable being referred
to
as the “Purchased
Accounts Receivable”).
14
(c) For
purposes of determining the amount of proceeds from any Purchased Accounts
Receivable payable pursuant to Section
3.6(a)
or
Section
3.6(b),
where
such Purchased Accounts Receivable are paid on a periodic basis and are payable
for a period (such as a fiscal quarter) that begins but does not end prior
to
the Closing Date, (x) the Sellers shall be paid, or retain, as applicable,
such
portion of the Purchased Accounts Receivable as is equal to the entire amount
of
proceeds received in respect of such Purchased Accounts Receivable multiplied
by
a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in such period ending
on
the day immediately prior to the Closing Date and the denominator of which
is
the number of days in the entire period for which such Purchased Accounts
Receivable is paid and (y) Buyer shall be paid, or retain, as applicable, the
balance of such proceeds.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section
3.6,
promptly following the Closing, Buyer shall either set up its own post office
box or make other arrangements for the collection of the accounts receivable
generated by the Business following the Closing and will direct Licensees of
the
Business to make payment to such post office box or provide them with
appropriate notice regarding the place of payment and related
instructions.
(e) Buyer
and
the Sellers shall provide to each other access to files, records and books
of
account for the purpose of verifying any funds that have been remitted to each
to verify collection and disposition of the proceeds of the accounts receivable
in accordance with this Section
3.6.
ARTICLE
IV.
Representations
and Warranties of the Sellers and Parent
Each
Seller, and Parent, as applicable, hereby represents and warrants to Buyer
that
the statements contained in this Article
IV
are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Article
IV
except
to the extent any representation or warranty speaks as of a different date,
which representations and warranties shall be true and correct only as of such
date), except as set forth in the disclosure schedules (the “Disclosure
Schedules”)
accompanying this Agreement.
4.1 Organization
and Good Standing.
(a) Parent
is
duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
its
state of incorporation.
(b) Each
Seller is duly incorporated or formed, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of its state of incorporation or formation. Each Seller has
all
requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and
authority to own, lease and operate its assets and properties and to carry
on
the Business as currently conducted. Each Seller has obtained all Government
Authorizations necessary to the ownership or operation of its properties or
the
conduct of the Business, except where the failure to obtain such Government
Authorizations would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or would only give rise to an
Excluded Liability.
15
4.2 Enforceability;
Authority.
(a) Parent
has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement, to consummate the sale of the Purchased Assets and otherwise to
perform its obligations hereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the
consummation of the sale of the Purchased Assets and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly authorized and approved by
its
board of directors, and no other corporate action on the part of Parent is
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by Parent and the consummation by Parent of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent
and, assuming the due execution of this Agreement by Buyer, constitutes the
valid and binding obligation of Parent enforceable against it in accordance
with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium, receivership and similar laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable principles.
(b) Each
Seller has all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable,
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, to consummate the
sale of the Purchased Assets and otherwise to perform its obligations hereunder
and consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery
and
performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the sale of the Purchased
Assets and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been
duly authorized and approved by each of its board of managers, members, and
board of directors, as applicable, and no other limited liability company,
corporate, or member, as applicable, action on the part of the Sellers is
necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by each Seller and the consummation by each Seller of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each Seller and, assuming the due execution of this Agreement
by
Buyer, constitute the valid and binding obligation of each Seller enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, receivership and similar laws affecting
the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable
principles.
4.3 Consents;
Approvals.
Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.3,
the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby do not and will not:
(a) violate
or conflict with the provisions of the Organizational Documents of Parent or
any
Seller;
(b) violate
any Legal Requirement or Order to which Parent or any Seller is subject or
by
which any of their properties or assets are bound;
(c) require
any permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to, or filing
with any Government Authority or other Person; or
(d) result
in
the acceleration or modification of any obligations under, constitute a
violation or breach of, or (with or without due notice or lapse of time or
both)
a default under, or result in the creation of any Encumbrance upon any of the
Purchased Assets under any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any
Indebtedness or Contract of Parent or any Seller; excluding from the foregoing
clauses (b), (c) and (d), permits, consents, approvals, notices and filings,
the
absence of which, and violations, breaches, defaults and Encumbrances the
existence of which, individually or in the aggregate, would not or would not
reasonably be expected to materially adversely impact the operation of the
Business or ownership of the Purchased Assets.
16
4.4 Financial
Statements.
(a) Attached
hereto as Schedule
4.4(a)
are the
unaudited pro
forma
combined
balance sheets and statements of operations of the Business, Liabilities and
Operations of NexCen Brand Management, Inc. (the “Financial
Statements”)
as of,
and for the 12 months ended, June 30, 2008 (the “Balance
Sheet Date”).
The
Financial Statements include all normal monthly closing entries. The Financial
Statements do not include all of the necessary footnotes and disclosures
required in accordance with GAAP. The balance sheets and statements of
operations remain subject to adjustment, which may be material, for asset
impairments and loan restructuring costs which are under evaluation but have
not
been recorded.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.4(b),
there
are no material liabilities (whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted,
absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, due
or
to become due, including any liability for Taxes) of the Business except for
(i)
liabilities set forth on the Financial Statements and (ii) liabilities that
have
arisen after the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices.
4.5 Title
to Assets.
Except
for Excluded Assets, each Seller has good and marketable title to, a valid
and
subsisting license to use, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of the
Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Encumbrances other than Permitted
Encumbrances. All of the Personal Property is in good operating condition and
repair (with the exception of normal wear and tear), and is free from defects
other than minor defects that do not interfere with the present use thereof
in
the conduct of normal operations.
4.6 Sufficiency
of Assets.
Except
for the Excluded Assets, the Purchased Assets comprise all of the assets,
properties and rights of every type and description, real, personal, mixed,
tangible and intangible that are used or intended for use in the conduct of
the
Business as it is currently conducted. The Purchased Assets include all of
the
assets, properties and rights of every type and description, real, personal,
mixed, tangible and intangible reasonably necessary for Sellers’ performance of
its obligations under the License Agreements (in substantially the same manner
as currently conducted by Sellers).
4.7 Insolvency
Proceedings.
No
insolvency proceedings of any kind, including, without limitation, bankruptcy,
receivership, reorganization, composition or arrangement with creditors,
voluntary or involuntary, affecting the Sellers or the Purchased Assets are
pending or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened. No Seller has made an
assignment for the benefit of creditors or taken any action with a view to,
or
that would constitute a valid basis for, the institution of any such insolvency
proceedings.
17
4.8 Taxes.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.8,
the
Sellers have filed all Tax Returns that they were required to file on or before
the date of this Agreement or the Closing Date, as applicable; all such Tax
Returns were correct and complete in all material respects; and all material
Taxes owed by the Sellers (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been
paid. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.8,
no
Seller is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any
Income Tax Return. Each Seller has withheld and paid all Taxes required to
have
been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or other third party, and all
Forms W-2 and 1099 required with respect thereto have been properly completed
and timely filed. There are no Encumbrances on any of the Purchased Assets
that
arose in connection with the failure (or alleged failure) to pay any
Tax.
(b) There
is
no material dispute or claim concerning any Tax liability of the Sellers either
(A) claimed or raised by any Governmental Authority in writing or (B) as to
which the Sellers’ have Knowledge based upon personal contact with any agent of
such Governmental Authority.
4.9 Labor
Relations; Compliance.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.9,
no
Seller is a party to any written or oral employment agreement with any of
Business Employee. The Sellers have not experienced any strikes, material
grievances, claims of unfair labor practices or other collective bargaining
disputes. No Seller has engaged in any unfair labor practices under the National
Labor Relations Act or any similar foreign, state or local law. There is no
collective bargaining agreement or bargaining relationship with any labor
organization, and, there are no organizational efforts presently being made
or
to the Sellers’ Knowledge threatened by or on behalf of any labor union with
respect to the Business.
4.10 Employee
Benefits.
Schedule
4.10
includes
a list of all material Employee Benefit Plans maintained or contributed to
by
Parent or the Sellers for the benefit of the Business Employees, and each other
material employee benefit plan, program or arrangement, whether or not subject
to ERISA, which is made or maintained with or for the benefit of the Business
Employees.
4.11 Litigation;
Orders.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.11(a),
there
is no Proceeding at law or in equity by any Person or any Proceeding by or
before any Government Authority pending or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge,
threatened, against the Sellers or the Purchased Assets and to the Seller’s
Knowledge there is no basis for any such Proceeding.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule 4.11(b),
to the
Sellers’ Knowledge, (i) there is no Order to which the Sellers or any of
the Purchased Assets is subject, and (ii) the Sellers are in compliance
with each Order to which they or any of the Purchased Assets is
subject.
18
4.12 Compliance
With Laws; Government Authorizations.
(a) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.12(a),
each
Seller is in compliance in all material respects with each material Legal
Requirement that is applicable to the conduct or operation of the Business
or
the ownership of the Purchased Assets.
(b) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.12(b),
no
Seller has received any written notice from any Government Authority or any
other Person regarding any actual, alleged, possible or potential violation
of,
or failure to comply with, any Legal Requirement applicable to the
Business.
(c) Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.12(c),
each
License Agreement sets forth provisions requiring the Licensee to manufacture,
label, tag, package, merchandise, promote, sell, distribute and advertise its
licensed products in accordance with all applicable national, state and local
laws and regulations, and not to manufacture such licensed products with slave,
child or prison labor.
(d) Each
Seller possesses all material Government Authorizations necessary for the
ownership of its properties and the conduct of the Business as currently
conducted. Further, (i) to the Sellers’ Knowledge, all such Government
Authorizations are in full force and effect and (ii) no Seller has received
any
written notice of any event, inquiry, investigation or proceeding threatening
the validity of such Government Authorizations.
4.13 Operation
of the Business.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.13,
as of
the date of this Agreement, there has not been any change, event or condition
of
any character since December 31, 2007, that has had or would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.13,
and
without limiting the generality of the foregoing, since December 31, 2007,
each
Seller has operated the Business in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice, and during such time period, each Seller has
not:
(a) entered
into any Material Contract outside the ordinary course of business;
(b) made
material modifications to, or terminated or cancelled any Material Contract
outside the ordinary course of business;
(c) transferred,
assigned, or granted any license or sublicense of any rights under or with
respect to any Intellectual Property Right, other than in the ordinary course
of
business consistent with past practice;
(d) made
any
capital expenditure (or series of related capital expenditures) either involving
more than $100,000, individually, or $250,000, in the aggregate, or outside
the
ordinary course of business;
(e) suffered
any extraordinary losses or waived any rights of material value, whether or
not
in the ordinary course of business;
(f) experienced
any material damage, destruction, or loss (whether or not covered by insurance)
to the Purchased Assets; or
(g) committed
to do any of the foregoing.
19
4.14 Material
Contracts.
(a) Schedule 4.14(a)
contains
a complete and correct list, as of the date of this Agreement, of the following
Contracts pertaining to the Business to which each Seller is a party or by
which
each Seller is bound (collectively, the “Material
Contracts”):
(i) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of Personal Property
to
or from a Person providing for annual lease payments in excess of
$50,000;
(ii) any
agreement under which the consequences of a default or termination would have
a
Material Adverse Effect;
(iii) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the furnishing or receipt of
services, the performance of which will extend over a period of more than one
year, or which involves consideration in excess of $50,000 per
year;
(iv) any
collective bargaining agreements;
(v) any
material agreements relating to the Waverly Intellectual Property, Gramercy
Intellectual Property or Village Intellectual Property, including, without
limitation, the License Agreements; and
(vi) any
settlement, conciliation or similar agreement pursuant to which the Business
will have any liabilities or obligations after the execution of this
Agreement.
(b) The
Sellers have delivered to Buyer a correct and complete copy of each written
Material Contract (as amended to date) and a written summary setting forth
the
material terms and conditions of each oral Material Contract. Except as
disclosed in Schedule 4.14(b),
each
Material Contract is in full force and effect and no Seller is in material
violation or material breach of or in material default under any Material
Contract. No Seller has, nor to the Sellers’ Knowledge, has any other party to
any Material Contract, breached or provided any written notice of an intent
to
breach, any provision thereof. Except as disclosed in Schedule
4.14(b),
the
Sellers have paid in full or accrued all amounts due under each Material
Contract for periods on or prior to the date hereof.
4.15 Insurance.
Schedule 4.15
sets
forth an accurate and complete summary of each insurance policy providing for
liability exposure (including policies providing property, casualty, liability
and workers’ compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements) to which
each Seller is currently a party, a named insured or otherwise the beneficiary
of coverage (“Insurance
Policies”)
with
respect to the Purchased Assets. All such Insurance Policies are in full force
and effect. Since January 1, 2008, Seller has paid all premiums due thereunder
and, except as set forth in Schedule 4.15,
no
notice (whether oral or written) of cancellation of any such coverage or
increase in premiums thereof has been received by the Sellers.
4.16 Leased
Property.
Schedule
4.16
sets
forth the address of each parcel of Leased Real Property, and a true and
complete list of all Leases for each such parcel of Leased Real Property
principally used in the Business. The Leased Real Property set forth on
Schedule
4.16
constitutes all of the real property principally used by the Sellers in the
conduct of the Business. Except as set forth on Schedule
4.16,
(a) no
material default by the Sellers or, to the Sellers’ Knowledge, the applicable
landlord exists under any Lease which has not been cured or waived, (b) the
Sellers have not subleased, licensed or otherwise granted any Person the right
to use or occupy such Leased Real Property or any portion thereof, (c) each
Lease is legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect
and
(d) the Sellers are not a parties to any agreement or option to purchase any
real property or interest therein with respect to the Business.
20
4.17 Intellectual
Property.
(a) Schedule
4.17(a)
contains
an accurate and complete list (i) by country or jurisdiction of (A) all
registrations owned by the Sellers (and applications for registration) of all
Waverly brand domain names of which the Sellers are the registrant or of which
a
third party is the registrant for the benefit of the Sellers; (B) all
registrations and applications for registration of, and all material
unregistered, trademarks, trade names, service marks, logos and slogans owned
by
the Sellers for use in the ownership, operation or maintenance of the Purchased
Assets or in the operation of the Business (the “Waverly
Trademarks”);
(C)
all Waverly Copyrights; (D) all trademarks using the word “Gramercy” owned by
the Sellers (the “Gramercy
Trademarks”);
and
(E) all trademarks using the word “Village” owned the Sellers (the “Village
Trademarks”)
and
(ii) all unregistered trademarks which use a Waverly Trademark with one or
more
other words, numbers, symbols or logos which are currently licensed to a
Licensee under a License Agreement in the Business (the “Waverly
Composite Trademarks”).
The
Sellers (a) own all Waverly Trademarks, Waverly Copyrights, Gramercy Trademarks,
Village Trademarks and, to Sellers’ Knowledge, all Waverly Composite Trademarks
and (b) own or have the valid right to use all other Waverly Intellectual
Property that is used in the operation of the Business as currently operated
and
as may be necessary or otherwise required to perform the Sellers’ obligations
under any or all License Agreements, including, without limitation, all designs
licensed or sublicensed to Licensees under License Agreements. Except as set
forth in Schedule
4.17(a),
the
Sellers’ registrations, filings and issuances for the Waverly Trademarks,
Gramercy Trademarks, Village Trademarks and Waverly Copyrights remain in full
force and effect in all jurisdictions in which they are registered. Except
as
set forth in Schedule
4.17(b),
there
is no pending or, to Sellers’ Knowledge, threatened, claim by any Person
involving the Waverly Intellectual Property, Village Intellectual Property
or
Gramercy Intellectual Property.
(b) Except
as
otherwise set forth in Schedule
4.17(b),
(i) to
Sellers’ Knowledge, neither the operation of the Business nor the past or
present use of the Waverly Intellectual Property, Gramercy Intellectual Property
or Village Intellectual Property, whether by the Sellers or any Licensee under
(and in accordance with the terms of) a License Agreement, infringes,
misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property right of any
Person, and (ii) no claim has been asserted in writing, or to Sellers’
Knowledge, orally that (A) the use of the Waverly Intellectual Property,
Gramercy Intellectual Property or Village Intellectual Property by the Sellers
or a Licensee, in a manner consistent with past practice, or in a manner
consistent with the operation of the Business as currently conducted by the
Sellers or by Licensee under a License Agreement, does or may infringe or
misappropriate the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person, or (B) the
performance by the Sellers or a Licensee under any License Agreement,
or by a
Licensee in connection with its performance of a License Agreement, does or
may
infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate the Intellectual Property rights
of any Person. Except as set forth in Schedule
4.17(b),
(i) to
Sellers’ Knowledge, no Person is engaging in any activity that infringes,
misappropriates or otherwise violates any of the Waverly Intellectual Property,
Village Intellectual Property or Gramercy Intellectual Property and (ii) there
is no pending claim by the Sellers against any Person relating to any matter
described in the preceding clause, and the Sellers are not in material breach
of, or default under, any term of any License Agreement and, except as set
forth
in Schedule
4.17(b),
to
Sellers’ Knowledge, no Licensee is in material breach of the applicable License
Agreement or in material default thereunder. The word “material” as used in the
previous sentence and in Section
4.22
below
means (x) any default in payment or (y) any default which is non-curable or
if
not cured within the time period specified in a subject agreement would permit
the non-defaulting party to terminate the subject agreement.
21
(c) Except
for the License Agreements set forth on Schedule
4.21(a)
or as
set forth in Schedule
4.17(c),
the
Sellers have not granted any license, franchise,
permit
or right to any Person to use any of the Waverly Intellectual Property, the
Gramercy Intellectual Property, or the Village Intellectual
Property.
4.18 Affiliate
Transactions. Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.18,
(a)
there are no Assumed Contracts
between
the Sellers, on the one hand, and any employee or director or any family member
or Affiliate of the
Sellers,
on
the other hand, other than employment agreements entered into in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice; and (b) there are no loans
or
other indebtedness owing by any such employee of the Sellers or any family
member or Affiliate
of any
such Person to the Sellers.
4.19 Brokers
or Finders.
Except
for fees and expenses payable to Rothschild Inc. (the payment of which shall
be
the sole responsibility of Sellers and Parent), no agent, broker, firm or other
Person acting on behalf of Parent or the Sellers is, or will be, entitled to
any
investment banking, commission, broker’s or finder’s fees from any of the
parties hereto, or from any Affiliate of any of the parties hereto, in
connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
4.20 Suppliers. Except
for the suppliers named in Schedule
4.20,
the
Sellers have not purchased in connection the Business, from any single
supplier,
goods or services for which the aggregate purchase price exceeds 5% of the
total
amount of goods and services purchased by the Sellers between January 1, 2008,
and August 31, 2008. Since January 1, 2008, there has not been any termination,
cancellation or material curtailment of the business relationship, with
respect
to the
Business, of the Sellers with any supplier named in Schedule
4.20
or any
material and adverse (to the Sellers) change in any material term (including
credit terms) of the supply agreements or related arrangements with any such
supplier. No supplier named in Schedule
4.20
has
advised the Sellers that with respect
to the
Business, it intends, or has threatened, to cancel or otherwise terminate the
business relationship of such supplier with the Sellers or any Licensee or
that
with respect to the Business, it intends to modify materially and adversely
(to
the Sellers) its business relationship with the Sellers or any Licensee or
to
decrease materially or limit materially its supply to the Sellers or any
Licensee.
4.21 License
Agreements.
(a) Schedule
4.21(a)
sets
forth an accurate and complete list of (i) each License Agreement (including
all
amendments thereto) to which the Sellers are a party, the term of which is
currently in effect,
or for
which a sell-off period is presently in effect after expiration or termination
of the License Agreement, (ii) those License Agreements pursuant to which,
to
Sellers’ Knowledge, any Licensee under any such License Agreement has granted a
license to another Person to manufacture and sell goods under or otherwise
utilize the Waverly Intellectual Property and (iii) all proposed License
Agreements that are currently in active negotiation. All License Agreements
which are set forth in Schedule
4.21(a)
are
collectively referred to as “Current
License Agreements.”
22
(b) All
Current License Agreements are in writing and there are no oral modifications
or
oral amendments to any Current License Agreement. The Sellers have made
available to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all of its Current
License Agreements, including all amendments thereto, set forth in Schedule
4.21(a).
Each
Current License Agreement contains commercially reasonable quality control
provisions protecting the rights of the Sellers in the Intellectual Property
covered thereby. Sellers have examined, monitored or otherwise policed, to
the
extent deemed prudent by Sellers and in accordance with the customary practices
in the industry in which Sellers participate, the activities of all of the
Licensees under the Assumed Contracts to verify that the products manufactured,
sold or offered for sale under the Intellectual Property licensed to such
Licensees pursuant to the Assumed Contracts meet, in all material respects,
the
quality control standards and requirements for use of such Intellectual Property
set forth in such Assumed Contracts Except as set forth in Schedule
4.21(b),
the
Sellers have not received written
notice, or to Sellers’ Knowledge, oral notice, from a Licensee, and have no
Knowledge of any facts to the effect that such Licensee (i) intends not to
continue its relationship with the Sellers upon the expiration of such Current
License Agreement, (ii) has breached or intends to breach such Current License
Agreement or intends not to perform in such a manner as would prejudice, in
any
material respect, the rights of the Sellers under such Current License
Agreement, (iii) claims that such Current License Agreement has been breached
by
any other party thereto which would prejudice, in any material respect, the
rights of the Sellers under such Current License Agreement, (iv) currently
intends to exercise its right to terminate its Current License Agreement or
(v) currently intends to exercise its right to “buyout” its Current License
Agreement.
(c) The
Current License Agreements are the valid and enforceable obligations of Sellers
and, to Sellers’ Knowledge, the other parties thereto, except as such
enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium or other
similar laws presently or hereafter in effect, affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally, general equitable principles and public policy to
the extent so determined by the court in the specific instance. The consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the
termination of any Current License Agreement pursuant to its terms. Except
as
set forth on Schedule
4.21(c),
to
Sellers’ Knowledge, no Person that is a party to a Current License Agreement has
materially or consistently failed to make any payments required thereunder
when
due.
(d) Except
as
set forth in Schedule
4.21(d),
all
obligations of the Sellers required to be performed in connection with the
Current License Agreements have been duly performed in all material
respects.
23
(e) Schedule
4.21(e)
sets
forth for the period from August 31, 2007, through August 31, 2008, the names
of
the Licensees with the ten (10) largest aggregate license fees payable in such
period.
4.22 Third
Party License Agreements.
Schedule
4.22
sets
forth each Third Party License Agreement currently in effect. Except as set
forth on Schedule
4.22,
to
Sellers’ Knowledge, there are no pending material defaults on the part of the
Sellers or any Third Party Licensor under any Third Party License Agreement.
Except as set forth on Schedule
4.22,
the
Sellers have obtained all Consents required of Third Party Licensors so as
to
permit Licensees to use Intellectual Property of each Third Party Licensor,
where such use is authorized under a License Agreement.
ARTICLE
V.
Representations
and Warranties of Buyer
Buyer
hereby represents and warrants to Parent and the Sellers that the statements
contained in this Article
V
are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this
Article
V
except
to the extent any representation or warranty speaks as of a different date,
which representations and warranties shall be true and correct only as of such
date), except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedules delivered by Buyer to
the
Sellers and attached hereto.
5.1 Existence
and Good Standing; Authorization.
(a) Buyer
is
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
state of its incorporation, organization or formation, as
applicable.
(b) Buyer
has
all requisite corporate power and authority, as applicable, to execute and
deliver this Agreement, to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate
the purchase of the Purchased Assets, the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities,
and the other transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Buyer and the consummation by Buyer of the
transactions contemplated hereby, have been duly authorized and approved by
its
board of directors, as applicable, and no other corporate or stockholder action
on the part of Buyer is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Buyer or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by each of Buyer, and, assuming the due execution of this Agreement
by
Parent and the Sellers, this Agreement constitutes the valid and binding
obligations of Buyer enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium,
receivership and similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally, and general equitable principles.
5.2 Consents
and Approvals; No Violations.
The
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Buyer and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not:
24
(a) violate
or conflict with any provisions of the Organizational Documents of
Buyer;
(b) violate
any Legal Requirement or Order of any court or Government Authority to which
Buyer is subject or by which any of its respective material properties or assets
are bound;
(c) require
any permit, consent or approval of, or the giving of any notice to, or filing
with any Government Authority by Buyer on or prior to the Closing Date;
and
(d) result
in
a violation or breach of, conflict with, constitute (with or without due notice
or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation, payment or acceleration) under, or result in the creation of
any
Encumbrance upon any of the material properties or assets of Buyer under any
of
the terms, conditions or provisions of any material note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, license, permit, agreement, lease, license agreement or any other
instrument or obligation to which Buyer is a party, or by which it or any of
its
respective properties or assets may be bound; and excluding from the foregoing
clauses (b), (c) and (d) permits, consents, approvals, notices and filings
the
absence of which, and violations, breaches and defaults the existence of which,
would not impair to any material extent the ability of Buyer to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
5.3 Litigation.
(a) There
are
no Proceedings pending, or, to the Knowledge of Buyer, threatened which would
prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
(b) There
is
no Order to which Buyer is subject which would prevent, enjoin, alter or
materially delay any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
5.4 Brokers’
or Finders’ Fees.
Except
for fees and expenses payable to Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Company (the payment of which
shall be for the sole responsibility of Buyer), no agent, broker, firm or other
Person acting on behalf of Buyer is, or will be, entitled to any investment
banking, commission, broker’s or finder’s fees from any of the parties hereto,
or from any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with
any
of the parties hereto, in connection with any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
5.5 Adequacy
of Funds.
Buyer
has on hand, and will continue to have on hand through the Closing Date, freely
available funds sufficient to pay the Purchase Price in full and to satisfy
the
other obligations of Buyer under this Agreement.
5.6 Insolvency
Proceedings.
No
insolvency proceedings of any kind, including, without limitation, bankruptcy,
receivership, reorganization, composition or arrangement with creditors,
voluntary or involuntary, affecting Buyer are pending or, to Buyer’s Knowledge,
threatened. Buyer has not made an assignment for the benefit of creditors or
taken any action with a view to, or that would constitute a valid basis for,
the
institution of any such insolvency proceedings.
25
ARTICLE
VI.
Pre-Closing
Covenants
6.1 Efforts
to Closing.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer agrees to use its
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions as may
reasonably be necessary to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby
and
to cause the conditions set forth in Article
IX
to be
satisfied, and Parent and each Seller agrees to use its reasonable best efforts
to take, or cause to be taken, all actions as may reasonably be necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to cause the conditions
set
forth in Article
VIII
to be
satisfied. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Parent or the
Sellers shall give or cause to be given any notices to third parties required
to
be given pursuant to any Assumed Contract to which it is a party as a result
of
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each Seller
shall
use its reasonable best efforts to obtain prior to the Closing, and deliver
to
Buyer at or prior to the Closing, all consents, waivers and approvals required
to be obtained under each Assumed Contract to which it is a party or by which
it
is bound, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer. Buyer shall
use
its reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each Seller in its efforts to
obtain the aforementioned consents, including by providing such information
as
the other contracting parties may reasonably request.
6.2 Conduct
of the Business.
Except
as otherwise contemplated by or expressly provided in this Agreement, from
the
date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, the Sellers shall conduct the
Business in the ordinary and normal course of business, consistent with past
practice and use commercially reasonable efforts to preserve and maintain the
ongoing operations, organization and assets of the Business and maintain the
goodwill of the Business’ Licensees, customers and others having business
relations with the Sellers. Further, and without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing, during the period from the date hereof to the Closing Date, except
as
may be first approved by Buyer in writing, or as is otherwise contemplated
by or
expressly provided in this Agreement or as set forth on Schedule
6.2,
the
Parent and each Seller shall not:
(a) Amend
the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other organizational documents or
alter through merger, liquidation, reorganization, restructuring or in any
other
fashion the corporate structure or ownership of any Seller;
(b) As
it
relates to any Seller, acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating
with, or by purchasing a substantial portion of the stock or assets of, or
by
any other manner, any business or corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association or other business organization or division thereof, or any assets
that are material, individually or in the aggregate;
(c) Cancel,
encumber, or in any way discharge, terminate, adversely modify or amend or
impair any Assumed Contract other than in the ordinary course of business,
or
commit any act or fail to take any action that would cause a material breach
of
any such Assumed Contract;
(d) Waive,
modify, alter, reduce or compromise any amounts payable by any
Licensee;
26
(e) Sell
or
dispose of any of the Purchased Assets except for immaterial sales or other
dispositions in the ordinary course of business;
(f) Create
or
suffer or permit the creation of any Encumbrance (other than Permitted
Encumbrances) on any of the Purchased Assets or with respect thereto, unless
such Encumbrance will be discharged prior to Closing;
(g) Take
any
action that would reasonably be expected to prevent Parent or the Sellers from
consummating the transactions contemplated in this Agreement;
(h) Knowingly
violate any Legal Requirement, statute, rule, governmental regulation or order
of any court or Government Authority (whether federal, state or
local);
(i) Take,
or
fail to take, any other action which would reasonably be expected to result
in a
material breach or inaccuracy in any of the representations or warranties of
Parent or the Sellers contained in this Agreement;
(j) Except
in
the ordinary course of business, enter into any Contract or agreement that
would
be required to be listed as a Material Contract or Assumed Contract if such
Contract or agreement were in effect on the date hereof; provided
that the
Sellers shall in no event enter into a License Agreement (other than implied
licenses arising in the ordinary course of business) without the prior written
consent of Buyer;
(k) Adopt
a
plan of complete or partial liquidation or resolutions providing for or
authorizing such a liquidation or dissolution, merger, consolidation,
restructuring, recapitalization or reorganization of any Seller;
(l) Settle
or
compromise any litigation related to the Purchased Assets in which a Seller
is a
defendant (whether or not commenced prior to the date of this Agreement) or
settle, pay or compromise any claims not required to be paid; or
(m) Agree
or
commit, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any of the actions specified
in
the foregoing clauses.
6.3 Access
and Investigation.
The
Sellers will permit Buyer and its appropriate Representatives to have reasonable
access, prior to the Closing Date, to the Purchased Assets at the Sellers’
properties and to the Books and Records of the Sellers during normal working
hours and upon reasonable notice, to familiarize itself with the Sellers’
properties, business and operating and financial conditions.
6.4 Notice
of Developments.
Parent
and the Sellers shall promptly advise Buyer, and Buyer shall promptly advise
the
Sellers, in writing of any (a) event, circumstance or development that results
(or would result on the Closing Date) in a breach of any representation or
warranty made by it in this Agreement and (b) any material failure of Parent,
the Sellers or Buyer, as the case may be, to comply with or satisfy any
condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it hereunder;
provided
that no
disclosure pursuant to this Section 6.4
shall be
deemed to amend or supplement any provision of this Agreement or any disclosure
schedule hereto, or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach of warranty
or breach of covenant.
27
6.5 Public
Disclosure or Communications.
Between
the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, except to the extent required
by applicable Legal Requirements (including, without limitation, the listing
requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market and securities laws applicable to
Parent), none of Buyer or the Sellers shall issue any press release or public
announcement of any kind concerning the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement without the prior written consent of Buyer, on the one hand, and
Parent and the Sellers on the other. In the event any such public announcement,
release or disclosure is required by applicable Legal Requirements (including,
without limitation, the rules of the Nasdaq Global Market and securities laws
applicable to Parent), the Sellers or Parent, as applicable, will provide,
to
the extent practicable under the circumstances, the Buyer reasonable opportunity
to comment on any such announcement, release or disclosure prior to the making
thereof. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that Parent shall be required to file
a
Current Report on Form 8-K disclosing the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and attaching as an exhibit thereto a copy of this
Agreement.
6.6 Employee
Matters.
(a) Business
Employees.
Immediately after the date of this Agreement, Buyer shall offer employment
to
each Business Employee set forth on Schedule
6.6(a).
Buyer
shall reimburse Seller for severance obligations (if any) arising as a result
of
the rejection of Buyer’s offer of employment by any Business Employee. Buyer
shall cause each offer of employment to a Business Employee pursuant to this
Section
6.6(a)
to
provide for (i) an annual salary or hourly wage rate (as applicable), (ii)
annual and long-term bonus and incentive compensation opportunities (other
than
incentive compensation opportunities related to the transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement), and (iii) employee benefit plans, programs and arrangements
(collectively “Employment
Terms”)
that
are substantially comparable, in the aggregate, to those provided to Buyer’s
employees in similar positions. In addition, Buyer may offer employment to
the
Business Employees set forth on Schedule
6.6(b),
on
terms to be mutually agreed upon, at the Buyer’s sole discretion. Buyer shall
reimburse Seller for severance obligations (as set forth on Schedule
6.6(c)),
actually paid by Sellers or Parent, arising as a result of the rejection of
Buyer’s offer of employment by any Business Employee or arising as a result of
Buyer’s failure to offer employment to any Business Employee if such Business
Employee is terminated by Seller within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date.
Any Business Employee who accepts Buyer’s offer of employment pursuant to this
Agreement shall be a “Transferred
Employee.”
Nothing herein shall restrict the right of Buyer or a Subsidiary of Buyer to
terminate the employment of any Transferred Employee after the Closing Date.
Any
reimbursement of severance obligations by Buyer to Seller, as set forth above,
shall occur within ten (10) days of a reimbursement request from
Seller.
(b) Benefits
Liabilities.
Effective from and after the Closing, Buyer and its Affiliates shall assume
and
be solely responsible for all employment and employee benefits-related
Liabilities that arise on or after the Closing Date and that relate to any
Transferred Employee (or any dependent or beneficiary of such Transferred
Employee) and no Seller nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have any Liability
with respect to any such Transferred Employee (or any dependent or beneficiary
of such Transferred Employee) that relates to such Transferred Employee’s
employment with Buyer or any of its Affiliates. Buyer shall credit all
Transferred Employees for all accrued and unused vacation for the calendar
year
ended December 31, 2008.
28
(c) Buyer
Employee Benefit Plans.
Effective as of the Closing Date, except as otherwise provided in this
Article
VI,
each
Transferred Employee shall cease to participate in any Seller Benefit Plan
(other than as a former employee of the Sellers and its Subsidiaries to the
extent, if any, permitted by the terms of such Seller Benefit Plan). Effective
from and after the Closing, Buyer shall, or shall cause its applicable
Subsidiaries to, establish or have in effect Employee Benefit Plans for the
benefit of the Transferred Employees (and their dependents and beneficiaries)
in
accordance with the requirements of this Article
VI
and
Buyer’s and its Subsidiaries’ offers of employment. From and after the Closing
Date, Buyer shall, and shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to, recognize
the
service of the Transferred Employees prior to the Closing Date with the Sellers
or any of their Affiliates and any of their respective predecessors as service
with Buyer for the purposes of eligibility and vesting under the Buyer Employee
Benefit Plans, including eligibility to participate, vesting and benefit
accrual, except to the extent the recognition of such service would result
in
the duplication of benefits for the same period of service. From and after
the
Closing Date, each Transferred Employee shall immediately be eligible to
participate, without any waiting time, in any and all Buyer Employee Benefit
Plans. With respect to any Buyer Employee Benefit Plan that is a medical,
dental, other health, life insurance or disability plan, Buyer shall, and shall
cause its Subsidiaries to, to the extent permitted by such Buyer Employee
Benefit Plan, (i) waive or cause to be waived any pre-existing condition
exclusions and requirements that would result in a lack of coverage of any
pre-existing condition of a Transferred Employee (or any dependent thereof)
that
would have been covered under the Seller Employee Benefit Plan in which such
Transferred Employee (or eligible and enrolled dependent thereof) was a
participant immediately prior to the Closing Date, and credit or cause to be
credited any time accrued against applicable waiting periods relating to such
pre-existing condition, (ii) ensure that any medical, dental or other health
expenses incurred by a Transferred Employee (or family member thereof) in the
calendar year that includes the Closing Date is recognized for purposes of
calculating any deductible, co-payment, out-of-pocket maximum, benefit
limitations or similar provisions for such calendar year under the Buyer
Employee Benefit Plans and (iii) waive any health eligibility, actively-at-work
or medical examination requirements under the Buyer Employee Benefit Plans.
Buyer agrees to cause its tax-qualified 401(k) plan for U.S. employees to allow
each Transferred Employee who has one or more account balances in Sellers’
tax-qualified 401(k) plan to make a “direct rollover” of such account balances
(including promissory notes evidencing all outstanding loans but excluding
any
Parent stock) from Sellers’ 401(k) plan if such Transferred Employee elects to
make such a rollover.
6.7 Exclusivity.
From
and after the date hereof, neither Parent nor any Seller shall (and Parent
and
each Seller will not cause or permit any of their subsidiaries to) directly
or
indirectly (i) solicit, initiate, encourage or knowingly facilitate any
inquiries or the submission of any proposal or offer from any Person relating
to
the acquisition of any capital stock or other voting securities, or any portion
of the Purchased Assets, of WV IP Holdings (including any acquisition structured
as a merger, consolidation or share exchange or other similar transaction)
or
(ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, furnish any
information with respect to, assist or participate in, or facilitate in any
other manner any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek any of the
foregoing. Parent and Sellers shall, within two (2) Business Days, notify Buyer
if any such proposal or offer, or any inquiry or contact with any Person with
respect thereto, is made and shall, in any such notice to Buyer, indicate in
reasonable detail the identity of the offeror and the terms and conditions
of
any proposal or offer.
29
ARTICLE
VII.
Post-Closing
Covenants
7.1 Transfer
Taxes.
All
stamp, transfer, documentary, sales and use, registration and other similar
taxes and fees (including any penalties and interest) incurred in connection
with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (collectively,
the
“Transfer
Taxes”)
shall
be paid one half by the Buyer and one half by the Sellers.
7.2 Nonsolicitation.
(a) For
a
period of three (3) years from the Closing Date, Parent and each Seller and
their Affiliates will not directly or indirectly, on its own behalf, as an
agent
of, on behalf of or in conjunction with, or as a member, partner or shareholder
of, any other firm, corporation or other entity or Person:
(i) induce
or
attempt to induce any employee, officer, manager or director of the Buyer to
terminate his or her employment with Buyer or in any way interfere with the
relationship between Buyer and any such individual, or
(ii) induce
or
attempt to induce any former licensee, independent contractor, manufacturer
or
supplier of the Sellers with respect to the Business, to terminate his or her
business relationship, as applicable, with Buyer or its Affiliates.
(b) During
the Buyer Nonsolicitation Period, Buyer and Buyer’s Affiliates shall not
directly or indirectly, on its own behalf, as an agent of, on behalf of or
in
conjunction with, or as a member, partner or shareholder of, any other firm,
corporation or other entity or Person induce or attempt to induce any employee,
officer, manager or director of Parent or the Sellers or any of Sellers’
Affiliates to leave his or her respective place of employment or in any way
interfere with the relationship between such Seller and any such individual;
provided,
however,
that
this Section
7.2(b)
shall
not apply to a general solicitation or advertisement not directed at employees
of the Parent or any Seller.
Notwithstanding
the restrictions in this Section
7.2,
Buyer
shall have the right to hire directly or indirectly any employee of Seller
who
worked primarily in the Business and is listed in Schedule
6.6.
(c) Buyer
and
the Sellers will be entitled (without limitation of any other remedy) to
specific performance and/or injunctive relief with respect to any breach or
threatened breach of the covenants in this Section
7.2,
without
the need to post any bond. If any court of competent jurisdiction at any time
deems the time periods for the foregoing covenants too lengthy or the scope
of
the covenants too broad, the restrictive time periods will be deemed to be
the
longest period permissible by law, and the scope will be deemed to comprise
the
broadest scope permissible by law under the circumstances. It is the intent
of
the parties to protect and preserve the Business and the Purchased Assets and
therefore the parties agree and direct that the time period and scope of the
foregoing covenants will be the maximum permissible duration (not to exceed
three (3) years) and size.
30
7.3 Further
Assurances.
From
time to time following the Closing, Buyer shall execute and deliver, or cause
to
be executed and delivered, to the Sellers such other instruments and documents
as the Sellers may reasonably request or as may be otherwise necessary to more
effectively consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Following the
Closing, the Sellers agree to forward to Buyer any correspondence or other
communications addressed to the Sellers received by it that relates to the
Purchased Assets or Assumed Liabilities.
7.4 Confidentiality.
From
and after the date hereof, for a period of seven (7) years, and except as may
be
required by law or legal process (including applicable securities laws and
the
Nasdaq Global Market), the Sellers shall, and shall cause each of its Affiliates
to, treat as confidential and use commercially reasonable efforts to safeguard
and not to use, except as expressly agreed in writing by Buyer, or to the extent
the same is or becomes in the public domain or otherwise known by the public
other than by any act or omission of the Sellers, any and all Seller Information
included within the Purchased Assets, including the Waverly Intellectual
Property, Gramercy Intellectual Property, and Village Intellectual Property,
in
each case using the standard of care necessary to prevent the unauthorized
use,
dissemination or disclosure of such Seller Information; provided,
that
from and after the date hereof until the Closing, this provision shall not
restrict the Sellers from using such Seller Information in the ordinary course
of business, consistent with past practice. For purposes of this Section
7.4,
from
and after the date hereof, confidential information included within the
Purchased Assets shall be deemed to be “Seller Information” notwithstanding the
fact that such information was available to or in the possession of the Sellers
or any of the Sellers’ Affiliates prior to the Closing.
7.5 Access
to Records.
For
three (3) years after the Closing, each party will permit the other parties
and
their Affiliates reasonable access on not less than five (5) Business Days
prior
written notice, during normal business hours, at the sole cost and expense
of
the requesting party and in a manner that will not unreasonably interfere with
the normal operations of the providing party, to and the right to make copies
of
the books and records of such party relating only to the Purchased Assets
existing prior to Closing and in such providing party’s possession or control;
provided,
however,
that
the requesting party shall only use such information (a) to protect or enforce
its rights or perform its obligations under this Agreement and any agreements
entered into among the parties in connection herewith or (b) in connection
with
tax or other regulatory filings, litigation or financial reporting. In addition,
the providing party will make available to the requesting party or its
Affiliate, upon reasonable request and to the extent still employed by the
providing party in a manner that will not unreasonably interfere with the normal
operations of the providing party, personnel who are familiar with any such
matter requested.
7.6 Employee
Benefit Plans.
Buyer
shall not assume, sponsor, contribute to, or be obligated to contribute to
any
Employee Benefit Plans of the Sellers. Sellers and Parent shall indemnify and
hold Buyer harmless from and against any liabilities or obligations arising
under or relating to any Employee Benefit Plans. Sellers and their ERISA
Affiliates shall be responsible for compliance with Section 4980B of the Code
and Sections 601 through 609 of ERISA and for providing healthcare continuation
coverage to all former employees of the Sellers and their respective Qualified
Beneficiaries, as defined in ERISA.
31
7.7 S-X
Cooperation.
In
connection with Buyer’s financial reporting requirements under Rule 3-05 of
Regulation S-X (on Form 8-K or Form 8-K/A), the Sellers agree to (i)
provide Buyer with access to (during normal business hours and in an manner
so
as not to interfere with the normal operations of the Sellers), and make copies
of (at Buyer’s expense), all books and records of the Sellers relating to the
Purchased Assets, and (ii) use their reasonable efforts to assist Buyer in
connection with Buyer’s review of such books and records. In connection with the
foregoing, the Sellers will authorize their auditors to provide all work papers
related to the Purchased Assets to Buyer. Buyer shall reimburse the Sellers
for
all costs incurred by the Sellers in connection with the Sellers’ obligations
under this Section
7.7.
ARTICLE
VIII.
Conditions
Precedent to
Buyer’s
Obligation to Close
Buyer’s
obligation to purchase the Purchased Assets and Buyer’s obligation to take the
other actions required to be taken by Buyer at the Closing is subject to the
satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following conditions
(any of which may be waived by Buyer, in whole or in part):
8.1 Truth
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of Parent and each Seller contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and on
and
as of the Closing Date (other than those representations or warranties that
expressly relate to an earlier date, which representations and warranties shall
be true and correct as of such earlier date), except in each case for such
failures to be true and correct which have not had and would not reasonably
be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (it being agreed that any
“materiality,” “Material Adverse Effect” or similar qualification in such
representations and warranties shall be disregarded in determining any
inaccuracies for purposes of this Section
8.1
other
than the first sentence of Section
4.13
which
shall be read with “Material Adverse Effect” included as written).
8.2 Performance
of Agreements.
Each of
the covenants and agreements of Parent and each Seller to be performed or
complied with by it at or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the terms
hereof, shall have been performed or complied with in all material
respects.
8.3 Certificate.
Parent
and each Seller shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate, dated the Closing
Date and executed by or on behalf of Parent and each Seller, certifying as
to
the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1
and
8.2
of this
Agreement.
8.4 No
Injunction.
No
court or other Government Authority shall have issued an Order, which shall
then
be in effect, restraining or prohibiting the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
32
8.5 Governmental
and Other Approvals.
All of
the governmental and third-party consents and approvals set forth on
Schedule
8.5
shall
have been received and shall be in full force and effect. Buyer shall have
received copies of releases of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted
Encumbrances) against any asset, property or right of the Purchased Assets.
8.6 No
Material Adverse Effect.
From
the date hereof to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any Material
Adverse Effect (excluding, for this purposes, the matters contemplated by clause
(2) of the definition of “Material Adverse Effect”); provided
that for
purposes of determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect for
purposes of this Section
8.6,
the
following shall not be deemed to constitute a “Material Adverse Effect” and
shall not be considered in determining whether a “Material Adverse Effect” has
occurred: with respect to a particular Licensee, any payment default by such
Licensee to the extent such amount is not more than 30 days past due and the
aggregate amount of which is not materially greater than historical delinquent
payments in a given month by such Licensee.
8.7 Closing
Deliverables.
In
addition to any other documents to be delivered or actions to be taken under
other provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, Parent or the Sellers shall
deliver to Buyer:
(a) The
Payoff Letters reflecting all outstanding Indebtedness related to the Business
to be repaid at Closing and any necessary releases as may be reasonably required
to evidence the satisfaction of the Indebtedness related to the
Business.
(b) One
or
more executed bills of sale in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer transferring to Buyer all Personal Property included in the Purchased
Assets.
(c) One
or
more executed assignment and assumption agreement(s) in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer assigning to Buyer the Assumed
Contracts.
(d) A
certified copy of the resolutions of Parent and each Seller authorizing the
execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement by Parent and each Seller
and the consummation of the transactions provided for herein.
(e) An
executed assignment and assumption of the Intellectual Property included in
the
Purchased Assets and such instruments and other documents, in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to Buyer (including with respect to notarization or
legalization by apostile in accordance with the requirements of the applicable
Government Authorities), reasonably requested by Buyer to effectuate and record
with the applicable Government Authorities the transfer of the Intellectual
Property included in the Purchased Assets from the Sellers to
Buyer.
(f) A
sublease in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer and Sellers for the
Subleased Property.
33
ARTICLE
IX.
Conditions
Precedent to Sellers’ and Parent’s
Obligation
to Close
All
obligations of Parent and each Seller under this Agreement are subject to the
fulfillment of each of the following conditions, any or all of which may be
waived in whole or in part by Parent or the Sellers, in their sole
discretion:
9.1 Truth
of Representations and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement shall be
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing
Date (other than those representations or warranties that expressly relate
to an
earlier date, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct
as
of such earlier date).
9.2 Performance
of Agreements.
Each of
the covenants and agreements of Buyer to be performed or complied with by Buyer
at or prior to the Closing Date pursuant to the terms hereof shall have been
duly performed or complied with in all material respects.
9.3 Certificate.
Buyer
shall each have delivered to the Sellers a certificate, dated the Closing Date
and executed by or on behalf of Buyer, certifying as to the satisfaction of
the
conditions set forth in Sections 9.1
and
9.2
of this
Agreement.
9.4 No
Injunction.
No
court or other Government Authority shall have issued an Order, which shall
then
be in effect, restraining or prohibiting the completion of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
9.5 Closing
Deliverables.
At the
Closing, Buyer shall deliver to, or on behalf of, the Sellers the
following:
(a) The
Purchase Price as provided in Sections
3.2
and
3.3.
(b) One
or
more assignment and assumption agreement(s) assuming the Assumed Contracts
and
the Assumed Liabilities executed by Buyer, in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Sellers.
(c) A
certified copy of the resolutions of Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement by Buyer and the consummation of the
transactions provided for herein.
(d) A
sublease in form and substance satisfactory to the Buyer and Sellers for the
Subleased Property.
ARTICLE
X.
Termination
10.1 Right
to Terminate.
This
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby may be terminated at any
time
prior to the Closing:
34
(a) by
the
mutual written consent of Buyer and Parent;
(b) by
either
Buyer or Parent, if the Closing shall not have occurred by October 31, 2008
(the
“Termination
Date”);
(c) by
either
Buyer or Parent, if a court of competent jurisdiction or other Government
Authority shall have issued a nonappealable final order, decree or ruling or
taken any other action, in each case having the effect of permanently
restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated
hereby, except if the party relying on such order, decree or ruling or other
action has not complied with their obligations under this
Agreement;
(d) by
Parent, if there has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant
or
agreement on the part of Buyer set forth in this Agreement that causes the
conditions set forth in Article
IX
to
become incapable of fulfillment by the Termination Date, unless waived by
Parent; and
(e) by
Buyer,
if there has been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or
agreement on the part of Parent and each Seller set forth in this Agreement
that
causes the conditions set forth in Article
VIII
to
become incapable of fulfillment by the Termination Date, unless waived by Buyer;
provided,
however,
that
the party exercising its right to so terminate this Agreement pursuant to
Section 10.1(b),
10.1(d)
or
10.1(e)
shall
not have been responsible for such failure for the Closing to occur through
a
material breach of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or
agreements contained in this Agreement.
10.2 Effect
of Termination.
In the
event of the termination of this Agreement as provided in this Article
X,
this
Agreement shall become null and void and of no further force or effect, and
there shall be no liability or obligation hereunder on the part of Parent,
each
Seller or Buyer, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees,
members, partners, Affiliates, agents, representatives, heirs, administrators,
executors, successors or assigns, except the obligations of the parties to
this
Agreement under Article
XII
hereof
and this Section
10.2
shall
survive any such termination. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein
shall relieve any party from liability for any willful breach of any of their
covenants, agreements, representations or warranties contained in this Agreement
prior to termination of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
XI.
Indemnification;
Remedies
11.1 Survival.
All
representations and warranties made by Parent, each Seller or Buyer in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until
the first anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Survival
Date”),
other
than in the case of fraud and except as to any matters with respect to which
a
bona fide written claim shall have been made or action at law or in equity
shall
have been commenced before such date, in which event survival shall continue
(but only with respect to, and to the extent of, such claim or action);
provided,
however,
that
the representations and warranties (i) in Section
4.8
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect until the expiration of the
applicable statutes of limitations (including all periods of extension, whether
automatic or permissive), (ii) in Section
4.17
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect until the third (3rd)
anniversary of the Closing Date, and (iii) in Sections
4.1,
4.2,
4.5,
4.19,
5.1
and
5.4
(the
“Core
Representations”)
shall
survive and remain in full force and effect indefinitely. Each covenant and
agreement of Parent, each Seller and Buyer contained in this Agreement, which
by
its terms is required to be performed in whole or in part after the Closing
Date, shall survive the Closing and remain in full force and effect until such
covenant or agreement is performed.
35
11.2 Indemnification
by Parent.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Article
XI,
Parent
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates and their
managers, members, officers, directors, agents, attorneys and employees,
(hereinafter “Buyer
Indemnified Parties”)
from
and against any and all Damages incurred or sustained by Buyer Indemnified
Parties as a result of:
(a) the
breach of any representation or warranty of Parent or any Seller contained
in
this Agreement or in any certificate or other instrument furnished by Parent
or
any Seller to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement;
(b) the
breach of, default under or nonfulfillment of any covenant, obligation or
agreement of Parent or any Seller under this Agreement or the agreements and
instruments contemplated herein;
(c) a
claim
for Damages asserted with respect to the ownership or use of the Excluded
Assets;
(d) any
liability or obligation that is not an Assumed Liability, including the Excluded
Liabilities; and
(e) any
and
all actions, suits, or proceedings, incident to any of the
foregoing.
11.3 Indemnification
by Buyer.
Subject
to the limitations set forth in this Article
XI,
Buyer
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Parent and its Affiliates, including
each Seller, and their respective managers, officers, directors, agents,
attorneys and employees (hereinafter “Seller
Indemnified Parties”
and,
together with Buyer Indemnified Parties, an “Indemnified
Party”)
from
and against any and all Damages incurred or sustained by any of Seller
Indemnified Parties as a result of:
(a) the
breach of any representation or warranty of Buyer contained in this Agreement
or
any certificate or other instrument furnished by Buyer to the Sellers pursuant
to this Agreement;
(b) the
breach of, default under or non-fulfillment of any covenant, obligation or
agreement of Buyer under this Agreement or in the agreements and instruments
contemplated herein;
(c) the
operation of the Business and the ownership of the Purchased Assets by Buyer
or
its Affiliates following the Closing;
36
(d) any
Assumed Liability; and
(e) any
and
all actions, suits, or proceedings incident to any of the
foregoing.
11.4 Limitation
on Liability.
(a) Neither
Parent nor Buyer shall have any liability for Damages arising solely under
Section
11.2(a)
or
Section
11.3(a),
respectively, and neither Seller Indemnified Parties nor Buyer Indemnified
Parties shall have the right to seek indemnification under Section
11.2(a)
or
Section
11.3(a)
respectively until the aggregate amount of the Damages incurred exceeds $250,000
(the “Basket”),
provided
that the
Basket shall not apply to (i) any Damages (and there shall be first dollar
liability) resulting from any breach of the Core Representations or Section
4.8
and (ii)
any Damages resulting from any breach of Sections
4.17
or
4.21;
provided,
further,
that no
Buyer Indemnified Party shall have the right to seek indemnification under
Section
11.3(a)
for a
breach of Section
4.17
or
4.21
until
the aggregate amount of the Damages incurred exceeds $50,000, after which the
Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification in the full amount of
the
Damages (subject to the limitations on recovery and recourse set forth in this
Article
XI).
After
the Basket is exceeded, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to
indemnification for the amount of its Damages that exceeds the Basket, subject
to the limitations on recovery and recourse set forth in this Article
XI.
(b) The
aggregate liability of Parent, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other, for
all
Damages arising solely under Section
11.2(a)
or
Section
11.3(a),
as
applicable, shall not exceed Two Million Six Hundred Thousand ($2,600,000)
(the
“Cap”);
provided,
that
the Cap shall not apply to any breach of (i) the Core Representations or
Section
4.8,
(ii)
Section
4.17,
for
which the aggregate liability for Damages hereunder shall not exceed Ten Million
Dollars ($10,000,000), or (iii) Section
4.21,
for
which the aggregate liability for Damages hereunder shall not exceed Ten Million
Dollars ($10,000,000).
(c) Indemnification
of the Buyer Indemnified Parties pursuant to Section
11.2
on
account of any Damages shall be reduced by the amount of any tax
benefit actually
recognized by Buyer or any of its Affiliates as a result of such Damages. The
Buyer Indemnified Parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts to claim
and
recognize all such tax benefits.
(d) Buyer
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to mitigate any and all Damages
that would otherwise be indemnifiable hereunder.
11.5 Other
Indemnification Provisions.
(a) To
the
extent that any representations and warranties of Parent, any Seller or Buyer,
as applicable, have been breached, thereby entitling the non-breaching party
to
indemnification pursuant to Section
11.2(a)
or
Section
11.3(a)
hereof,
it is expressly agreed and acknowledged by the parties that solely for purposes
of calculation of the monetary amount of Damages in connection with any right
to
indemnification, the representations and warranties of Parent and each Seller
on
the one hand and Buyer on the other, as applicable, that have been breached
shall be deemed not qualified by any references therein to materiality generally
or to whether or not any breach or inaccuracy results in a Material Adverse
Effect.
37
(b) Following
the Closing, the parties’ rights to indemnification pursuant to this
Article
XI
shall,
except for equitable relief with respect to, and specific performance of ,
covenants that survive the Closing, be the sole and exclusive remedy available
to the parties with respect to any matter arising under or in connection with
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, other than for claims
of
fraud.
11.6 Procedure
for Indemnification - Third Party Claims.
(a) Any
Indemnified Party making a claim for indemnification under this Article
XI
shall
notify the indemnifying party (an “Indemnitor”)
of the
claim in writing promptly after receiving written notice of any action, lawsuit,
proceeding, investigation or other claim against it (if by a third party),
describing the claim, the amount thereof (if known and quantifiable), and the
basis thereof; provided
that the
failure to so notify an Indemnitor on a timely basis shall not relieve the
Indemnitor of its obligations hereunder except to the extent that such failure
shall have caused the Damages for which the Indemnitor becomes obligated to
be
greater than such Damages would have been had the Indemnified Party given the
Indemnitor prompt notice hereunder. Any Indemnitor shall be entitled to
participate in the defense of such action, lawsuit, proceeding, investigation
or
other claim giving rise to an Indemnified Party's claim for indemnification
at
such Indemnitor's expense, and at its option (subject to the limitations set
forth below) shall be entitled to assume the defense thereof by appointing
counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party to be the lead counsel
in
connection with such defense; provided further,
that:
(i) the
Indemnified Party shall be entitled to participate in the defense of such claim
and to employ counsel of its choice for such purpose; provided
that the
fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be borne by the Indemnified
Party, except that the Indemnitor shall pay fees and expenses of separate
counsel to the Indemnified Party that (x) are incurred prior to the date the
Indemnitor effectively assumes control of such defense or (y) are incurred
by
the Indemnified Party because the Indemnitor is also a party to such action
and
the Indemnified Party determines in good faith that joint representation would
be inappropriate;
(ii) the
Indemnitor shall not be entitled to assume control of such defense and shall
pay
the fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party if
(A) the claim for indemnification relates to or arises in connection with
any criminal proceeding, action, indictment, allegation or investigation; (B)
the Indemnified Party reasonably believes that an adverse determination with
respect to the action, lawsuit, investigation, proceeding or claim giving rise
to such claim for indemnification would be detrimental to or materially injure
the Indemnified Party’s reputation or future business prospects; (C) the
claim seeks an injunction or equitable relief against the Indemnified Party;
(D)
upon petition by the Indemnified Party, the appropriate court rules that the
Indemnitor failed or is failing to vigorously prosecute or defend such claim
or
(E) the Indemnified Party reasonably believes that the Loss relating to such
claim for indemnification could exceed the maximum amount that such Indemnified
Party could be entitled to recover under the applicable provisions of
Article
IX;
and
(b) if
the
Indemnitor assumes control of the defense of any such claim, the Indemnitor
shall obtain the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (which shall
not
be unreasonably withheld) before entering into any settlement of a claim or
ceasing to defend such claim if, pursuant to or as a result of such settlement
or cessation, injunctive or other equitable relief will be imposed against
the
Indemnified Party or if such settlement does not expressly and unconditionally
release the Indemnified Party from all liabilities and obligations with respect
to such claim, with prejudice.
38
11.7 Procedure
for Indemnification – Other Claims
.
In the
event any Indemnified Party should have a claim against any Indemnitor that
does
not involve a third party claim being asserted against or sought to be collected
from the Indemnified Party, the Indemnified Party shall deliver notice of such
claim with reasonable promptness to the Indemnitor, stating the basis or grounds
in this Agreement for the indemnity and the amount of the Indemnified Party’s
claim to the extent then known and quantifiable. The Indemnitor
shall
have 30 calendar days after their receipt of such claim to (i) agree to the
amount or method of determination set forth in such claim and pay such amount
to
the Indemnified Party in immediately available funds or (ii) provide the
Indemnified Party with written notice that it disputes either its obligation
to
provide the indemnification sought in such notice or the amount of the
Indemnified Party’s claim. If the Indemnitor delivers a notice disputing the
basis for or amount of the claim, the Indemnitor and the Indemnified Party
shall
negotiate in good faith to resolve the matter. In the event that the controversy
is not resolved within 30 calendar days of the giving of a notice by the
Indemnitor disputing the claim, the parties thereafter may pursue any and all
available remedies at law (subject to the limitations and conditions provided
in
this Agreement).
ARTICLE
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
12.1 Notices.
All
notices, consents, waivers, and other communications under this Agreement must
be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when (a) delivered
by
hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) sent by telecopier (with
written confirmation of receipt); provided
that a
copy is mailed by registered mail, return receipt requested, or (c) received
by
the addressee, if sent by a nationally recognized overnight delivery service
(receipt requested), in each case to the appropriate addresses and telecopier
numbers set forth below (or to such other addresses and telecopier numbers
as a
party may designate by notice to the other parties):
39
If
to the
Parent or the Sellers:
NexCen
Brands, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
00xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxx
Xxx
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Xxxxxxxx
& Xxxxx LLP
000
00xx
Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention:
Xxxx
X.
Director, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
If
to
Buyer:
Iconix
Brand Group
0000
Xxxxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxx
Xxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
With
a
copy to:
Blank
Rome LLP
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention:
Xxxxxx
X.
Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Facsimile:
(000)
000-0000
12.2 Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest.
This
Agreement and the certificates, exhibits, schedules, documents, instruments
and
other agreements specifically referred to herein or therein or delivered
pursuant hereto or thereto: (a) constitute the entire agreement among the
parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior
agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, (b) are not intended to confer upon any
other Person, either explicitly or implicitly, any equitable or legal rights
or
remedies of any nature whatsoever hereunder, and (c) shall not be assigned
by
operation of law or otherwise without the written consent of the other parties
hereto; provided
that
Buyer may assigns its rights and obligations under this Agreement to any
Affiliate of Buyer, without consent of Parent or Sellers; provided,
however,
that
notwithstanding the foregoing, Buyer shall remain obligated to perform all
of
Buyer’s obligations under this Agreement if not performed by such Affiliate.
40
12.3 No
Third Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any Person other than
the
parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
12.4 Bulk
Sales Law.
Buyer
hereby waives compliance by the Sellers with the provisions of any so-called
bulk transfer laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the sale of the
Purchased Assets.
12.5 Expenses.
Except
as specifically provided in this Agreement, whether or not the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, each party hereto shall bear
their own costs, expenses and fees incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
12.6 Waiver
and Amendment.
Any
representation, warranty, covenant, term or condition of this Agreement which
may legally be waived, may be waived, or the time of performance thereof
extended, at any time by the party hereto entitled to the benefit thereof and
any term, condition or covenant hereof may be amended by the parties hereto
at
any time. Any such waiver, extension or amendment shall be evidenced by an
instrument in writing executed on behalf of the appropriate party by a Person
who has been authorized by such party to execute waivers, extensions or
amendments on their behalf. No waiver by any party hereto, whether express
or
implied, of its rights under any provision of this Agreement shall constitute
a
waiver of such party’s rights under such provisions at any other time or a
waiver of such party’s rights under any other provision of this Agreement. No
failure by any party hereto to take any action against any breach of this
Agreement or default by another party shall constitute a waiver of the party’s
right to enforce any provision of this Agreement or to take action against
such
breach or default or any subsequent breach or default by such other
party.
12.7 Severability.
Any
term or provision of this Agreement which is invalid or unenforceable will
be
ineffective to the extent of such invalidity or unenforceability without
rendering invalid or unenforceable the remaining rights of the Person intended
to be benefited by such provision or any other provisions of this
Agreement.
12.8 Remedies
Cumulative.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred
upon a party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other
remedy conferred hereby, or by law or equity upon such party, and the exercise
by a party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other
remedy.
12.9 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
constitute an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one
instrument. Any signature page delivered by a facsimile machine shall be binding
to the same extent as an original signature page with regard to any agreement
subject to the terms hereof or any amendment thereto.
41
12.10 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction.
(a) The
interpretation and construction of this Agreement, and all matters relating
hereto, shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York, including
Sections 5-1401 and 5-1402 of the New York General Obligations Law.
(b) Each
of
the parties agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this
Agreement shall be brought in the courts of the State of New York or the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York and, by execution
and delivery of this Agreement, each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits
itself in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts in any legal action or
proceeding arising out of this Agreement. Each of the parties hereto hereby
irrevocably waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the
laying of venue of any of the aforesaid actions or proceedings arising out
of or
in connection with this Agreement brought in the courts referred to in the
preceding sentence. Each party hereto hereby consents to process being served
in
any such action or proceeding by the mailing of a copy thereof to the address
set forth in Section 12.1
hereof
below their name and agrees that such service upon receipt shall constitute
good
and sufficient service of process or notice thereof. Nothing in this paragraph
shall affect or eliminate any right to serve process in any other manner
permitted by applicable Legal Requirements.
12.11 Specific
Performance.
The
parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of
the
provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their
specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is accordingly agreed that the
parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches
of
this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this
Agreement, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled pursuant
to the terms of this Agreement, at law or in equity.
12.12 Disclosure
Schedules.
Capitalized terms used in the Disclosure Schedules which are defined herein
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms herein unless otherwise defined
in the Disclosure Schedules. Nothing in the Disclosure Schedules constitutes
an
admission of any liability of Parent, each Seller or Buyer to any party or
an
admission against interest. The disclosure of a matter in any Disclosure
Schedule shall be deemed a disclosure with respect to each representation or
warranty made herein to the extent applicable, if, and to the extent that,
the
relevance of an exception to such other representation or warranty is reasonably
apparent based on the plain meaning of such exception. Where the terms of a
contract or other disclosure item have been summarized or described in a
Disclosure Schedule, such summary or description does not purport to be a
complete statement of the material terms of the contract or other
item.
[REMAINDER
OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE
FOLLOWS]
42
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have each executed and delivered this Asset
Purchase Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
NEXCEN
BRANDS, INC.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
NEXCEN
FIXED ASSET COMPANY, LLC
|
||
By:
|
NexCen
Brands, Inc., its Managing
Member
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
|
NEXCEN
BRAND MANAGEMENT, INC.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
President
|
|
WV
IP HOLDINGS, LLC
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|