STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT Dated as of June 22, 2007 Among JONES APPAREL GROUP, INC., JONES APPAREL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., BARNEYS NEW YORK, INC., ISTITHMAR BENTLEY HOLDING CO. And ISTITHMAR BENTLEY ACQUISITION CO.
Exhibit
10.1
EXECUTION
COPY
Dated
as
of June 22, 2007
Among
XXXXX
APPAREL GROUP, INC.,
XXXXX
APPAREL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC.,
BARNEYS
NEW YORK, INC.,
ISTITHMAR
BENTLEY HOLDING CO.
And
ISTITHMAR
BENTLEY ACQUISITION CO.
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i
Table
of Contents
(continued)
Page
ii
Table
of Contents
(continued)
Page
iii
Table
of Contents
(continued)
Page
iv
Table
of Defined Terms
2004
Audited Financial Statements
|
12
|
2005
Audited Financial Statements
|
12
|
2006
Audited Financial Statements
|
12
|
Accounting
Firm
|
5
|
Acquisition
|
2
|
Actual
Capital Expenditures
|
4
|
Affected
Employees
|
41
|
Affiliate
|
63
|
Affiliated
Group
|
19
|
Agreement
|
1
|
Alternative
Financing
|
39
|
Alternative
Transaction
|
45
|
Audited
Financial Statements
|
12
|
Base
Purchase Price
|
2
|
business
day
|
63
|
CapEx
Plan
|
4
|
CBAs
|
15
|
Claim
Notice
|
59
|
Closing
|
2
|
Closing
Date
|
2
|
Code
|
3
|
Company
|
1
|
Company
By-laws
|
8
|
Company
Certificate
|
8
|
Company
Common Stock
|
1
|
Company
Disclosure Letter
|
7
|
Company
Facility
|
21
|
Company
Leased Real Property
|
21
|
Company
Leased Real Property Permits
|
22
|
Company
Leases
|
21
|
Company
Plans
|
16
|
Company
Severance Plans
|
17
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
40
|
Contest
|
48
|
Contract
|
11
|
Current
Assets
|
3
|
Current
Liabilities
|
4
|
Debt
Financing
|
31
|
Direct
Claim
|
59
|
Effect
|
8
|
Employee
|
15
|
Employment
Agreement
|
1
|
Environmental
Laws
|
15
|
Equity
Financing
|
31
|
v
Table
of Defined Terms
(continued)
Page
Equity
Funding Letter
|
31
|
ERISA
|
16
|
Estimated
Actual Capital Expenditures
|
3
|
Estimated
Closing Net Working Capital
|
3
|
Estimated
Closing Statement
|
3
|
Excess Amount | 5 |
Exchange
Act
|
12
|
Final
Actual Capital Expenditures
|
5
|
Final
Adjustment
|
7
|
Final
Closing Net Working Capital
|
5
|
Final
Closing Statement
|
5
|
Financial
Statements
|
12
|
Financing
|
31
|
Financing
Commitments
|
31
|
Financing
Modification Requirements
|
38
|
GAAP
|
3
|
Governmental
Authority
|
11
|
Guarantee
|
31
|
HSR
Act
|
11
|
Indebtedness
|
10
|
Indemnified
Party
|
59
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
59
|
Initial
Payment
|
3
|
Initial
Window Termination Date
|
44
|
Initiation
Date
|
39
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
24
|
IRS
|
17
|
IT
Systems
|
24
|
Key
Personnel
|
34
|
Knowledge
of the Selling Parties
|
63
|
Laws
|
14
|
Liabilities
|
12
|
Lien
|
63
|
Losses
|
56
|
Major
Supplier
|
25
|
Marketing
Period
|
39
|
Material
Adverse Effect
|
8
|
Multiemployer
Plan
|
17
|
Net
Working Capital
|
3
|
Notice
of Disagreement
|
5
|
Notice
of Superior Transaction
|
53
|
Order
|
13
|
Organizational
Documents
|
9
|
Outside
Date
|
52
|
vi
Table
of Defined Terms
(continued)
Page
Parent
Acquisition Proposal
|
46
|
Parent
Acquisition Transaction Notice
|
46
|
Permits
|
14
|
Permitted
Liens
|
63
|
person
|
63
|
Policies
|
23
|
Potential
Acquirer
|
45
|
Potential
Superior Transaction Notice
|
45
|
Pre-Closing
Covenants
|
56
|
Pre-Closing
Period Taxes
|
47
|
Pre-Closing
Straddle Taxes
|
47
|
Proceeding
|
13
|
Purchase
Price
|
2
|
Purchaser
|
1
|
Purchaser
Guarantor
|
31
|
Purchaser
Indemnified Persons
|
56
|
Purchaser
Parent
|
1
|
Purchaser
Termination Fee
|
55
|
Purchaser’s
Proposed Calculations
|
5
|
Purchasing
Parties
|
1
|
Related
Documents
|
63
|
Related
Person
|
25
|
Representatives
|
5
|
Required
Information
|
37
|
Restraints
|
50
|
SEC
|
12
|
Section
2.10 Contracts
|
13
|
Seller
|
1
|
Seller
Indemnified Persons
|
58
|
Seller
Parent
|
1
|
Seller
Parent Termination Fee
|
55
|
Selling
Parties
|
1
|
Shares
|
1
|
Straddle
Period
|
47
|
Subsidiary
|
64
|
Superior
Transaction
|
45
|
Target
Capital Expenditures
|
4
|
Target
Net Working Capital
|
4
|
Tax
Indemnitee
|
46
|
Tax
Returns
|
19
|
Taxes
|
19
|
Third
Party Claim
|
59
|
Transaction
Expenses
|
2
|
vii
Table
of Defined Terms
(continued)
Page
Transition
Services Agreement
|
37
|
Unaudited
Financial Statements
|
12
|
Withholding
Amount
|
7
|
viii
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as of June 22, 2007, among
XXXXX APPAREL GROUP, INC., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Seller Parent”),
XXXXX APPAREL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (“Seller”, and
collectively with Seller Parent, the “Selling Parties”), BARNEYS NEW
YORK, INC., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), ISTITHMAR BENTLEY
HOLDING CO., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser Parent”) and ISTITHMAR
BENTLEY ACQUISITION CO., a Delaware corporation (“Purchaser” and together
with Purchaser Parent, the “Purchasing Parties”).
WHEREAS,
Seller is a wholly owned Subsidiary of Seller Parent;
WHEREAS,
Purchaser is a wholly owned Subsidiary of Purchaser Parent;
WHEREAS,
Seller is the record and beneficial owner of 1,000 shares (the “Shares”)
of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Company Common
Stock”), which constitutes all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock, voting interests and equity securities (and rights to acquire
capital stock, voting interests or equity securities) of the
Company;
WHEREAS,
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, Purchaser Parent and
Xxxxxx Xxxxx have entered into an agreement (the “Employment Agreement”)
pursuant to which Xxxxxx Xxxxx has agreed, among other things, to continue
his
employment with the Company after the purchase of the Shares by Purchaser
on the
terms and conditions set forth therein; and
WHEREAS,
Purchaser desires to purchase from Seller, and Seller desires to sell to
Purchaser, all of the Shares, on the terms and subject to the conditions
contained herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
Purchase
and Sale of Shares; Closing
SECTION
1.01. Purchase and Sale of the
Shares. (a) On the terms and subject to the conditions
of this Agreement, at the Closing Seller shall sell, transfer and deliver
to
Purchaser, and Purchaser shall purchase from Seller, the Shares, free and
clear
of any lien, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, easement,
conditional sale or other title retention agreement, pledge, hypothecation,
assessment, lease, levy, charge, transfer restriction, right of first offer,
right of first refusal, option, preemptive right, voting trust or agreement,
proxy or set off or other adverse claim of any kind or nature, whether arising
by agreement, statute or otherwise for an aggregate purchase price, payable
jointly by the Purchasing Parties, of $825,000,000 (the “Base Purchase
Price”), as adjusted in accordance with Sections 1.03, 1.04
and
1.05 and taking into account Section 1.01(b)
(such adjusted amount, the “Purchase Price”). The purchase and
sale of the Shares is referred to in this Agreement as the
“Acquisition”.
(b) The
Purchase Price shall be reduced by any Transaction
Expenses. “Transaction Expenses” shall mean all expenses of
the Company incurred prior to or on the Closing in connection with the
preparation of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, to the extent not paid prior to the Closing or accrued
or
recorded as a liability in Net Working Capital, including the cost of any
audits
of the Financial Statements and fees and disbursements of lawyers, financial
advisors, accountants and other advisors and service providers; provided,
however, that such Transaction Expenses shall not include any expenses
incurred in connection with the Financing.
SECTION
1.02. Closing. (a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Acquisition
(the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of Cravath, Swaine &
Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, at 9:00 a.m.
(New York City
time) on the fifth business day after the conditions set forth in
Article VII have been satisfied or waived (excluding those conditions
intended to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to satisfaction or waiver
of such conditions at the Closing) or at such other time or place upon which
the
parties may agree; provided, however, that notwithstanding the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII as of any
date, the Purchasing Parties shall not be required to effect the Closing
until
the earlier of (i) a date during the Marketing Period specified by the
Purchasing Parties on no less than three business days’ notice to Seller Parent
and (ii) the third business day after the final day of the Marketing Period
(subject, in each case, to the satisfaction or waiver of all the conditions
set
forth in Article VII of this Agreement, as of the date determined pursuant
to this proviso); and provided, further, that the Purchasing
Parties shall give Seller Parent five business days prior notice of the date
on
which they propose that the Closing shall occur. The date on which
the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the “Closing
Date”. The Closing shall be deemed to occur as of the close of
business on the Closing Date or at such other time as the parties may
agree.
(b) At
the Closing, Seller Parent and Seller shall deliver, or cause to be delivered,
to Purchaser:
(i)
certificates representing the Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied
by
stock powers duly endorsed in blank in proper form for transfer, with
appropriate transfer tax stamps, if any, affixed;
(ii)
a certificate or certificates covering the matters specified in
Sections 7.02(a)(iv), 7.02(b) and 7.02(c);
(iii) a
copy of each Related Document to which Seller Parent and each of its
Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) is a party, duly
executed by Seller Parent or its Subsidiaries, as applicable;
(iv)
the letters of resignation required by Section 5.02; and
(v)
a certificate from Seller Parent and Seller dated as of the Closing Date
to the
effect that neither Seller Parent nor Seller is a foreign person for purposes
of
Section 1445 of the United States Internal Revenue Code, as amended (the
“Code”).
(c) At
the Closing, the Purchasing Parties shall deliver to Seller Parent:
(i)
by wire transfer to a bank account designated in writing by Seller Parent
(such
designation to be made at least two business days prior to the Closing Date),
immediately available funds in an amount equal to the initial payment
(determined as provided in Section 1.03(b) below, the “Initial
Payment”);
(ii)
a certificate or certificates covering the matters specified in
Sections 7.03(a) and 7.03(b); and
(iii) a
copy of each Related Document to which the Purchasing Parties and each of
their
Affiliates is a party, duly executed by the Purchasing Parties or their
Affiliates, as applicable.
(d) All
proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by
the
Selling Parties or the Company in connection with the Closing shall be
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Purchasing Parties,
and all
proceedings to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by
the
Purchasing Parties in connection with the Closing shall be reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to Seller Parent. All proceedings
to be taken and all documents to be executed and delivered by any person
at the
Closing shall be deemed to have been taken and executed simultaneously, and
no
such proceedings shall be deemed taken nor any such documents deemed executed
or
delivered until all have been taken, executed and delivered.
SECTION
1.03. Purchase Price
Adjustment. (a) In order to calculate the Initial
Payment, not later than two business days prior to the Closing Date, Seller
Parent will prepare and deliver to Purchaser (i) an estimated unaudited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the close of business on
the
business day immediately preceding the Closing Date, prepared in accordance
with
United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), applied
in all respects consistently with the audited balance sheet of the Company
as at
February 3, 2007 (the “Estimated Closing Statement”), and (ii) a
certificate signed on behalf of Seller Parent by an authorized officer of
Seller
Parent certifying that the balance sheet set forth in the Estimated Closing
Statement was prepared on the basis described in clause (i) above and
setting forth (A) the estimated amount of the Net Working
Capital derived from the Estimated Closing Statement (the “Estimated Closing
Net Working Capital”), (B) an estimate of the Actual Capital
Expenditures (the “Estimated Actual Capital Expenditures”), and
(C) the amount of the Initial Payment. “Net Working
Capital” shall mean the excess of (a) the consolidated Current Assets
of the Company as of the close of business on the business day immediately
preceding the Closing Date, over (b) the consolidated Current
Liabilities of the Company as of such date. “Current Assets”
means all categories of current assets set forth as line items on
the Estimated
Closing Statement, as determined in accordance with Section 1.03(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter, specifically including all cash and cash equivalents
and excluding fair market value of derivatives and intercompany/affiliate
balances and deferred tax assets. “Current Liabilities” means
all
categories
of current liabilities set forth as line items on the Estimated Closing
Statement, as determined in accordance with Section 1.03(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, specifically excluding all debt, fair market value of
derivatives, accrued interest, intercompany/affiliate payables and accrued
income Taxes. “Actual Capital Expenditures” shall mean the gross
capital expenditures (excluding all tenant allowances or similar lease
incentives which offset gross capital expenditures) paid in cash from May
6,
2007 through the close of business on the last business day immediately prior
to
the Closing Date. “Target Capital Expenditures” shall mean the gross
capital expenditures (excluding all tenant allowances or similar lease
incentives which offset gross capital expenditures), the payment of which
is
provided for in the Company’s capital expenditure plan set forth in Section
1.03(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “CapEx Plan”), from May 6,
2007 through the fiscal month ending immediately prior to the Closing Date
plus an amount equal to (A) the amount of the gross capital expenditures
(excluding all tenant allowances or similar lease incentives which offset
gross
capital expenditures), the payment of which is provided for in the CapEx
Plan,
for the fiscal month in which the Closing Date occurs multiplied by (B)
the number of days elapsed in the fiscal month up through and including the
last
business day immediately prior to the Closing Date divided by (C) the
number of days in such fiscal month. Set forth on Section 1.03(a) of
the Company Disclosure Letter is an example showing how the Initial Payment
would be adjusted and Final Adjustment would be calculated based on certain
stated assumptions relating to the capital expenditure adjustment described
below. Such assumptions are provided solely for the purpose of
illustrating these calculations.
(b) The
Initial Payment shall be an amount equal to the Base Purchase Price adjusted
as
follows:
(i) if
the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital is less than $108,000,000 (the
“Target Net Working Capital”), an amount equal to the excess of the
Target Net Working Capital over the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital
shall
be deducted in calculating the Initial Payment;
(ii) if
the Target Net Working Capital is less than the Estimated Closing Net Working
Capital, an amount equal to the excess of the Estimated Closing Net Working
Capital over the Target Net Working Capital shall be added in calculating
the
Initial Payment;
(iii) if
the Estimated Actual Capital Expenditures are less than Target Capital
Expenditures, an amount equal to the excess of the Target Capital Expenditures
over the Estimated Actual Capital Expenditures shall be deducted in calculating
the Initial Payment; and
(iv) if
the Target Capital Expenditures are less than the Estimated Actual Capital
Expenditures, an amount equal to the excess of the Estimated Actual Capital
Expenditures over the Target Capital Expenditures shall be added in calculating
the Initial Payment;
provided
that if after giving effect to the
adjustments in clauses (i) through (iv) above, the Initial Payment would
exceed
$840,000,000, then such excess amount (the “Excess
Amount”)
shall be payable if and to the extent required by Section 1.04 and the Initial
Payment shall be equal to $840,000,000.
(c) (i) Within
45 days after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall prepare and deliver to
Seller Parent a consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of the close
of
business on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date prepared
in
accordance with GAAP, applied in all respects consistently with the audited
balance sheet of the Company as at February 3, 2007 (the “Final Closing
Statement”).
(ii) When
Purchaser delivers the Final Closing Statement, Purchaser shall also deliver
to
Seller Parent a certificate signed on behalf of Purchaser by an authorized
officer of Purchaser, certifying that the balance sheet set forth in the
Final
Closing Statement was prepared on the basis described in Section 1.03(c)(i)
above and setting forth Purchaser’s calculations, based on the Final Closing
Statement (“Purchaser’s Proposed Calculations”), of (A) the amount
of Net Working Capital (the “Final Closing Net Working Capital”),
(B) the amount of the Actual Capital Expenditures (the “Final Actual
Capital Expenditures”) and (C) the amount of the Final
Adjustment.
(d) During
the 30-day period following receipt by Seller Parent of the Final Closing
Statement, Seller Parent, any of its directors or officers, Employees or
any
investment banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant, lender, agent
or
other representative (collectively, “Representatives”) retained by it or
any of its Subsidiaries shall be permitted to review information of Purchaser
and its Representatives relating to the Final Closing Statement. The
Final Closing Statement shall become final and binding upon the parties on
the
30th day following delivery thereof, unless Seller Parent gives written notice
of its disagreement with the Final Closing Statement or with the accuracy
of any
of Purchaser’s Proposed Calculations (the “Notice of Disagreement”) to
Purchaser prior to such date, which shall specify the nature of any disagreement
so asserted. If a Notice of Disagreement is given by Seller Parent in
a timely manner, then the Final Closing Statement (as revised in accordance
with
this sentence) shall become final and binding upon Seller Parent and Purchaser
on the earlier of (i) the date Seller Parent and Purchaser resolve in
writing any differences they have with respect to the matters specified in
the
Notice of Disagreement and (ii) the date any disputed matters specified in
the Notice of Disagreement are finally resolved in writing by a nationally
recognized independent public accounting firm as shall be agreed upon by
the
parties hereto in writing, which shall not be Purchaser’s or Seller Parent’s or
any of their respective Affiliates’ independent accountants, and which the
parties currently expect will be Deloitte & Touche (the
“Accounting Firm”). During the 15-day period following the
delivery of a Notice of Disagreement, Seller Parent and Purchaser shall seek
in
good faith to resolve in writing any differences that they may have with
respect
to the matters specified in the Notice of Disagreement. If, at the
end of such 15-day period, Seller Parent and Purchaser are unable to so resolve
any such differences, Seller Parent and Purchaser shall submit to the Accounting
Firm for resolution any and all matters that remain in dispute and that were
included in the Notice of Disagreement. The Accounting Firm, acting
as experts and not as arbitrators, shall be instructed to render its
determination of all matters submitted to it within 15 days following
submission. Purchaser and Seller Parent agree that they shall be
bound by the determination of the Accounting Firm. Judgment may be
entered upon the determination of the Accounting Firm in any court having
jurisdiction over the party against which such determination is to be
enforced. The Accounting Firm shall not be authorized or permitted to
make any determination as to the accuracy of Section 2.07 or any other
representation or warranty in this Agreement or as to compliance by the Company,
Seller Parent or Seller with any of their covenants in this Agreement (other
than in Sections 1.03 and 1.04). Any determinations by the
Accounting Firm, and any work or analyses performed by the Accounting Firm,
in
connection with its resolution of any dispute under Sections 1.03 and 1.04
shall not be admissible in evidence in any suit, action or proceeding between
the parties, other than to the extent necessary to enforce payment obligations
under Section 1.04. The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm
incurred pursuant to this Section 1.03 shall be borne 50% by Seller Parent
and 50% by Purchaser. The fees and disbursements of Seller Parent’s
advisors incurred in connection with the Final Closing Statement and any
Notice
of Disagreement shall be borne by Seller Parent, and the fees and expenses
of
Purchaser’s advisors incurred in connection with the Final Closing Statement and
any Notice of Disagreement shall be borne by Purchaser.
SECTION
1.04. Purchase
Price Settlement. (a) Subject to paragraph (b)
below, (i) in the event that the Final Closing Net Working Capital is less
than the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital, Seller Parent shall, within
five
business days following the determination of the Final Closing Net Working
Capital pursuant to Section 1.03, pay to Purchaser an amount in cash equal
to the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital minus the Final Closing Net
Working
Capital by wire transfer of immediately available U.S. funds to the account
or
accounts specified in writing by Purchaser no less than three business
days
prior to such date;
(ii) in
the
event that the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital is less than the Final
Closing Net Working Capital, the Purchasing Parties shall or shall cause
the
Company to, within five business days following the determination of the
Final
Closing Net Working Capital pursuant to Section 1.03, pay to Seller Parent
an amount in cash equal to the Final Closing Net Working Capital minus
the
Estimated Closing Net Working Capital by wire transfer of immediately available
U.S. funds to the account or accounts specified in writing by Seller Parent
pursuant to Section 1.02(c)(i);
(iii) in
the
event that the Final Actual Capital Expenditures are less than the Estimated
Actual Capital Expenditures, Seller Parent shall, within five business
days
following the determination of the Final Actual Capital Expenditures pursuant
to
Section 1.03, pay to Purchaser an amount in cash equal to the Estimated
Actual Capital Expenditures minus the Final Actual Capital Expenditures
by wire
transfer of immediately available U.S. funds to the account or accounts
specified in writing by Purchaser no less than three business days prior
to such
date; and
(iv) in
the
event that the Estimated Actual Capital Expenditures are less than
the Final Actual Capital Expenditures, the Purchasing Parties shall
or shall cause the Company to, within five business days following the
determination of the Final Actual Capital Expenditures pursuant to
Section 1.03, pay to Seller Parent an amount in cash equal to the Final
Actual Capital Expenditures minus the Estimated Actual Capital Expenditures
by
wire transfer of immediately available U.S. funds to the account or accounts
specified in writing by Seller Parent pursuant to
Section 1.02(c)(i).
(b) The
payments specified above in paragraph (a) above shall be calculated on
a net
basis and made in one net payment (i.e., so that only one payment will
be made
between Seller Parent and the Purchasing Parties that takes account of
all such
payments) and, if there was an Excess Amount pursuant to Section 1.03(b),
such
net payment shall be subject to the following adjustments:
(i) if
the
net amount payable pursuant to clauses (a)(i) through (iv) above is payable
by
Seller Parent and is greater than the Excess Amount, then such net amount
payable by Seller Parent shall be reduced by the Excess Amount;
(ii) if
the
net amount payable pursuant to clauses (a)(i) through (iv) above is payable
by
Seller Parent and is equal to the Excess Amount, then no amount shall be
payable
by Seller Parent;
(iii) if
the
net amount payable pursuant to clauses (a)(i) through (iv) above is payable
by
Seller Parent and is less than the Excess Amount, then the Purchasing Parties
shall or shall cause the Company to pay to Seller Parent an amount equal
to the
Excess Amount minus the net amount otherwise payable by Seller Parent;
and
(iv) if
the
net amount payable pursuant to clauses (a)(i) through (iv) above is payable
by
the Purchasing Parties, then the Purchasing Parties shall or shall cause
the
Company to pay to Seller Parent an amount equal to such net amount plus
the
Excess Amount.
(c) The
adjustment to the Purchase Price after Closing pursuant to this
Section 1.04 is referred to herein as the “Final
Adjustment”. Following the Closing through the resolution of any
adjustment to the Purchase Price contemplated by this Section 1.04,
Purchaser shall afford, and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries
to
afford, to Seller Parent and any accountants, counsel or financial advisors
retained by Seller Parent in connection with the determination of the Final
Closing Net Working Capital and the Final Actual Capital Expenditures,
reasonable access during normal business hours to all the properties, books,
contracts, personnel and records of the Company, its Subsidiaries and its
Representatives relevant to the adjustment contemplated by this
Section 1.04.
SECTION
1.05. Withholding Taxes. Purchaser
shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Purchase Price such amounts
as
Purchaser is required to deduct and withhold under the Code, or any provision
of
state, local or foreign Tax Law, with respect to the making of payment of
such
Purchase Price (the “Withholding Amount”). To the extent the
amounts are so withheld by Purchaser, such withheld amounts shall be treated
for
all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to Seller Parent and shall
be
timely paid by Purchaser to the appropriate Taxing authority.
Representations
and Warranties Relating to the Company
Except
as
set forth in the disclosure letter delivered by Seller Parent to the Purchasing
Parties dated as of the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure
Letter”) (each section of which qualifies the correspondingly numbered
representation, warranty or covenant to the extent specified therein and
such
other representations, warranties or covenants to the extent it is readily
apparent that a matter in such section is relevant to such other representation,
warranty or covenant), each Selling Party, jointly and severally, represents
and
warrants to the Purchasing Parties as follows:
SECTION
2.01. Organization, Standing and Corporate
Power. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (a) is a
corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the jurisdiction
in
which it is incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and (b) has all
requisite corporate or limited liability company, as the case may be, power
and
authority to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of
the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its
business
or the ownership, leasing or operation of its properties or other assets
makes
such qualification or licensing necessary, other than in such jurisdictions
where the failure to be so qualified or licensed individually or in the
aggregate has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Material Adverse
Effect” shall mean any state of facts, circumstance, event, change,
development, effect or occurrence (any such item, an “Effect”) (i) that
is materially adverse to the business, consolidated results of operations,
assets, properties or financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (ii) that impairs in any material respect the ability
of
either Selling Party or the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or prevents or materially impedes, interferes with, hinders or
delays
the consummation of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions
contemplated hereby, except, in the case of clause (i) above, for any
Effect to the extent such Effect results from or is attributable to (A) any
change in conditions in the United States, foreign or global economy or
capital
or financial markets generally, including any change in interest or exchange
rates, (B) any change in conditions (including any change in general legal,
regulatory, political, economic or business conditions or any change in
GAAP)
in, or otherwise generally affecting, the industry in which the Company
and its
Subsidiaries conduct business, (C) the negotiation, execution, announcement
or pendency of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby,
including any impact thereof on relationships, contractual or otherwise,
with
any customers, suppliers, distributors, partners or employees, (D) any act
of terrorism or war (whether threatened, pending or declared), (E) any
action taken by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries
with the written consent of either of the Purchasing Parties or (F) any
failure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to meet projections (it
being
understood that, without limiting the applicability of the provisions contained
in clause (A) or (B) above, the cause or causes of any such failure
may be deemed either alone or in combination with other events to constitute
a
Material Adverse Effect and may be taken into account in determining whether
a
Material Adverse Effect has occurred); except in the case of clause (A),
(B) or (D), to the extent such Effect has a disproportionate effect on the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, when compared to other companies
operating in the same industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries
conduct
business; it being understood and agreed that for purposes of
Section 2.04(b), the definition of the term “Material Adverse Effect” shall
not include the exception set forth in the preceding
clause (C). The Company has made available to the Purchasing
Parties true and complete copies of the certificate of incorporation of the
Company as in effect on the date of this Agreement (the “Company
Certificate”) and the By-laws of the Company as in effect on the date of
this Agreement (the “Company By-laws”), and each equivalent
organizational document for each of the Company’s Subsidiaries (the Company
Certificate and the Company By-laws, together with such equivalent
organizational documents of the Company’s Subsidiaries, the “Organizational
Documents”).
SECTION
2.02. Subsidiaries. Section 2.02
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all
the
Subsidiaries of the Company and, for each such Subsidiary, the state of
incorporation or formation. All the outstanding shares of capital
stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each such Subsidiary are
duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and are owned, directly
or indirectly, by the Company free and clear of any lien, encumbrance, mortgage,
deed of trust, security interest, easement, conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, pledge, hypothecation, assessment, lease, levy, charge,
transfer restriction, right of first offer, right of first refusal, option,
preemptive right, voting trust or agreement, proxy or set off or other adverse
claim of any kind or nature, whether arising by agreement, statute or otherwise,
and free of any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose
of
such capital stock or other equity or voting interests. Except for
the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries,
the Company does not beneficially own, directly or indirectly, any capital
stock
of, or other equity or voting interests in, any person.
SECTION
2.03. Capital Structure;
Indebtedness. (a) The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 1,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 1,000
shares
of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, none of which were
held by
the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, and no shares of Company
Common
Stock will be (x) subject to a right of repurchase by the Company,
(y) subject to forfeiture back to the Company or (z) subject to
transfer or lock-up restrictions, in each of cases (x), (y) and (z),
following the consummation of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) There
are no outstanding options or other rights to purchase or receive Company
Common
Stock. Other than the Shares and the shares of capital stock, or
other equity voting interests in the Company’s Subsidiaries held by the Company
or another Subsidiary of the Company, (i) there are not issued, reserved
for issuance or outstanding any (A) shares of capital stock of, or other
equity or voting interests in, the Company or its Subsidiaries,
(B) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of capital stock of, or other
equity
or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
(C) options, calls, warrants or other rights to acquire from the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries any capital stock of, or other equity or voting
interests in, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for
capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries, (ii) there exists no obligation of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries to issue any capital stock of, or other equity or voting
interests in, or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable
for
capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries and (iii) there are no outstanding stock appreciation
rights, rights to receive shares of Company Common Stock or shares of capital
stock of or other equity or voting interests in any Subsidiary of the Company,
on a deferred basis or otherwise, or other rights that are linked in any
way to
the value of Company Common Stock or shares of capital stock of, or other
equity
or voting interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company issued or granted
by the
Company or any Subsidiary.
(c) All
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to preemptive
rights. There are no Contracts of any kind to which the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound, other than the Operating
Agreement of Barneys Asia Co. LLC, a copy of which has been provided to the
Purchasing Parties, that obligate the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire (i) shares of capital stock of, or
other equity or voting interests in, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or
(ii) options, warrants or other rights to acquire shares of capital stock
of, or other equity or voting interests in, or securities convertible into
or
exchangeable for capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in,
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries is a party to any voting Contract with respect to the voting
of
any such securities, other than the Operating Agreement of Barneys Asia Co.
LLC,
a copy of which has been provided to the Purchasing Parties. There
are no irrevocable proxies and no voting Contracts (or Contracts to execute
a
written consent or a proxy) with respect to any shares of Company Common
Stock
or any other voting securities of the Company.
(d) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have no outstanding
Indebtedness. “Indebtedness” with respect to any person means,
without duplication, (i) the principal of, accrued and unpaid interest on,
and any prepayment or similar penalties and expenses in respect of,
(A) indebtedness of such person for money borrowed (but excluding trade
accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities) and
(B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar
instruments for the payment of which such person is responsible or liable
(but
excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities);
(ii) all obligations of such person issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property and all conditional sale obligations of such
person
(but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities);
(iii) all obligations of such person as lessee under leases that are
capitalized in accordance with GAAP (but excluding capitalized tenant allowances
and step rents contained in the Company Leases); (iv) all obligations,
contingent or otherwise, of such person under letters of credit, surety
bonds
and similar instruments, in each case to the extent such obligations would
be
required to appear on the balance sheet of such person in accordance with
GAAP
(but excluding obligations relating to letters of credit listed in Section
5.09
of the Company Disclosure Letter and similar obligations incurred between
the
date hereof and the Closing Date in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice); (v) all obligations of such person under or pursuant
to
interest rate cap contracts, swap contracts, foreign currency exchange
contracts
or other hedging or similar contracts (including any breakage or associated
fees), but excluding obligations relating to hedging contracts listed in
Section
5.09 of the Company Disclosure Letter and similar obligations incurred
between
the date hereof and the Closing Date in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice; (vi) all obligations of the type referred to
in clauses (i) through (v) of any person for which such person is
responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor, surety
or
otherwise; and (vii) all obligations of the type referred to in
clauses (i) through (vi) of other persons secured by any Lien on any
property or asset of such person (whether or not such obligation is assumed
by
such person).
SECTION
2.04. Authority;
Noncontravention. (a) The Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company
and the consummation of the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the compliance by the Company with the provisions of
this
Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on
the
part of the Company, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the
Company are necessary to authorize or approve this Agreement or to consummate
the Acquisition or the other transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming
the
due authorization, execution and delivery by each of the other parties hereto,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in
effect).
(b) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the consummation
of the
Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
compliance with the provisions hereof do not and will not, conflict with,
or
result in any violation or breach of, or constitute a default (with or
without
notice or lapse of time or both) under, or give rise to a right of consent,
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation, or to the
loss of a
benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties
or other assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under (i) the
Organizational Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
(ii) any note, loan or credit agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage,
indenture, lease or other contract, agreement, instrument, obligation or
license
(each, including all amendments thereto, a “Contract”) to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or is bound or any of their
respective properties or other assets is bound by or subject to or otherwise
under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any rights or benefits
or
(iii) subject to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in
Section 2.05, any Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or their respective properties or other assets, other than, in the case
of
clauses (ii) and (iii), any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults,
rights, results, losses or Liens that individually or in the aggregate
have not
had and are not reasonably likely to have an Effect described in clause
(ii) of
the definition of Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
2.05. Governmental Approvals. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, action by or in respect of,
or
registration, declaration or filing with, any domestic or foreign (whether
supranational, national, federal, state, provincial, local or otherwise)
government or any court, administrative, regulatory or other governmental
agency, commission or authority or any nongovernmental self-regulatory
agency,
commission or authority (each, a “Governmental Authority”) is required by
or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection
with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation
by
the Company of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement, except for (a) those required to be made pursuant to the
Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR
Act”) and (b) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations, permits, actions, notifications and filings
the
failure of which to be obtained or made individually or in the aggregate
have
not had and are not reasonably likely to have an Effect described in clause
(ii)
of the definition of Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
2.06. No Undisclosed
Liabilities. (a) Neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has any liabilities of any nature, whether accrued, absolute,
contingent, known, unknown or otherwise (the “Liabilities”), except for
(i) Liabilities disclosed in the balance sheet dated as of February 3,
2007 included in the Financial Statements, (ii) Liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of business since February 3, 2007, (iii) Liabilities
under Contracts that relate to obligations that have not yet been performed,
and
are not required to be performed, (iv) obligations relating to guarantees
by the Company of its Subsidiaries’ obligations
under
the Company Leases listed on Section 2.06
of the Company Disclosure Letter, and (v) obligations under letters of
credit and hedging contracts disclosed pursuant to
Section 5.09. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries
maintains any “off-balance sheet arrangement” within the meaning of
Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the “SEC”).
(b) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities or obligations
to
indemnify any of their respective directors, officers or other representatives
under any of the Organizational Documents with respect to matters arising
prior
to the Closing Date.
SECTION
2.07. Financial
Statements. (a) Section 2.07(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter includes a correct and complete copy of (i)(A) the
audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
as at
January 29, 2005, together with the audited consolidated statements of
income and cash flows for the periods from February 1, 2004 to December 19,
2004 and December 20, 2004 to January 29, 2005 (the “2004 Audited
Financial Statements”), (B) the audited consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and its Subsidiaries as at January 28, 2006, together with the
audited consolidated statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal
year
ended January 28, 2006 (the “2005 Audited Financial Statements”),
and (C) the audited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as at February 3, 2007, together with the audited consolidated
statements of income and cash flows for the fiscal year ended February 3,
2007 (the “2006 Audited Financial Statements”, and together with the 2004
Audited Financial Statements and the 2005 Audited Financial Statements,
the
“Audited Financial Statements”), in each case audited by BDO Xxxxxxx, LLP
and (ii) the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as at May 5, 2007, together with the unaudited consolidated
statement of income and cash flows for the three months ended May 5, 2007,
reviewed by BDO Xxxxxxx, LLP (the “Unaudited Financial Statements”, and
together with the Audited Financial Statements, the “Financial
Statements”). The Financial Statements were prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout all periods
involved, and fairly present the consolidated financial position and the
consolidated results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its
Subsidiaries, in each case as of the dates and for the periods referred
to
therein, subject, in the case of the Unaudited Financial Statements, to
(A) normal year end adjustments in accordance with the Company’s and its
Subsidiaries’ ordinary course of business and (B) the absence of footnote
disclosures required by GAAP. The information set forth on
Section 2.07(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter was prepared from the
books and records of Seller Parent and its Subsidiaries.
(b) None
of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is required to file periodic reports
with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange
Act”).
SECTION
2.08. Absence of Certain Changes or
Events. Since February 3, 2007, (a) the Company and its
Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice and (b) through the date of this Agreement,
there has not been any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate, has
had or
is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect. No Selling Party,
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action between
February 3, 2007 and the date of this Agreement that, if taken after the
date of this Agreement, would constitute a breach of any of clauses (i),
(ii), (iii), (v), (vi), (viii), (ix), (x), (xiii), (xiv) or (xix) of
Section 5.01(a).
SECTION
2.09. Litigation. Except with
respect to Employees and Labor and Employee Benefit Plans, which are the
subject
of Sections 2.13 and 2.14, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no
claim, suit, action, investigation or other legal, administrative or arbitral
proceeding (a “Proceeding”) (a) pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Selling Parties, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or
any of their respective properties or other assets, except for any such
Proceeding involving claims (i) for only monetary damages not exceeding
$200,000 or (ii) that would be covered by insurance policies maintained by
or for the benefit of the Company and its Subsidiaries, or (b) relating to
the Acquisition, this Agreement or any of the other transactions contemplated
hereby. There is no material judgment, decree, injunction, rule or
order of any Governmental Authority (an “Order”) or arbitrator
outstanding against, or, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, material
Proceeding, notice of violation, order of forfeiture or complaint by any
Governmental Authority involving, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION
2.10. Contracts. (a) Section 2.10
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement,
a
true and complete list of, and the Company has made available to the Purchasing
Parties true and complete copies of (collectively, “Section 2.10
Contracts”):
(i) each
Contract, other than purchase orders, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
involving, or reasonably expected to involve, aggregate annual payments
by or to
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of more than $1,000,000, other than
any
Contract (A) set forth on Section 2.13 or 2.14 of the Company
Disclosure Letter or (B) of the type described in
Section 2.10(a)(ix);
(ii) (A) all
Contracts pursuant to which any Indebtedness of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries is outstanding or may be incurred and (B) all Contracts
involving any “keep well” arrangements or pursuant to which the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries has agreed to maintain any financial statement condition
of
another person;
(iii) all
Contracts pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has agreed
not to, or which, following the consummation of the Acquisition, could restrict
the ability of the Purchasing Parties, including the Company and its
Subsidiaries, to compete with any person in any business or in any geographic
area or to engage in any business or other activity, including any restrictions
relating to “exclusivity” or any similar requirement in favor of any person
other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or pursuant to which any
benefit is required to be given or lost as a result of so competing or
engaging;
(iv) all
Contracts pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party
(A) granting another party “most favored nation” or similar status or
(B) granting another party, or that grants the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, license to, or franchise in respect of, any material right,
property or asset;
(v) all
joint venture, limited liability company, partnership or other similar
Contracts
(including all amendments thereto) in which the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries holds an interest;
(vi) all
Contracts relating to the acquisition or disposition of any business, operations
or division (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise)
to
the extent any unresolved claims or actual or contingent express obligations
of
any party thereunder remain;
(vii) all
Contracts containing outstanding material obligations relating to the settlement
of any Proceeding involving the Company or its Subsidiaries;
(viii) all
employment agreements between a Selling Party, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Employee of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, on the other hand; or
(ix) all
Contracts between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand,
and a
Major Supplier, on the other hand, other than purchase orders.
(b) Each
of the Section 2.10 Contracts is valid and binding on the Company or its
Subsidiary, and to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, is in full force
and
effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in
violation of or in default under (nor, to the Knowledge of the Selling
Parties,
does there exist any condition which upon the passage of time or the giving
of
notice or both would cause such a violation of or default under) any
Section 2.10 Contract to which it is a party or by which they or any of
their respective properties or other assets are bound, other than
inconsequential defaults or violations.
(c) Section 2.10(c)
of the Company Disclosure Letter lists, as of the date of this Agreement,
each
claim in excess of $100,000 made by any party in connection with any
Section 2.10 Contract which has not been settled as of the date of this
Agreement, and an explanation of the status of such claim, including relevant
dates, amounts and impact on caps, baskets and deductibles under any indemnity
thereunder.
SECTION
2.11. Compliance with Laws. Except
with respect to Environmental Laws, Employees and Labor, Employee Benefit
Plans
and Taxes, which are the subject of Sections 2.12, 2.13, 2.14 and 2.15,
respectively, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including each and
all
of their operations, practices, properties and assets) is, and since January
1,
2005, has been, in material compliance with (a) all statutes, laws,
ordinances, rules, regulations, judgments, orders and decrees of any
Governmental Authority (collectively, “Laws”) and Orders applicable to
it, its personnel, properties or other assets or its business or operations,
including Laws relating to consumer finance or the extension of credit and
(b) all permits, licenses, variances, exemptions, authorizations, operating
certificates, franchises, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities
(collectively, “Permits”) issued to the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries. None of the Company and its Subsidiaries have received,
since January 1, 2005, a notice or other written communication alleging or
relating to a possible material violation of any Law or Order applicable
to it,
its personnel, properties or other assets or its businesses or
operations. The Company and its Subsidiaries have in effect all
material Permits necessary for them to own, lease or operate their properties
and other assets and to carry on their business operations as now
conducted. There is no Proceeding pending, nor has the Company or its
Subsidiaries received any written notice from any Governmental Authority,
to
revoke, cancel, refuse to renew or adversely modify any material
Permit.
SECTION
2.12. Environmental
Matters. (a) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental
Laws, and there is no environmental Proceeding existing or pending, or,
to the
Knowledge of the Selling Parties, threatened, against or affecting the
Company
or any of its Subsidiaries alleging material noncompliance with, or that
has
resulted in or is reasonably likely to result in Liability under, Environmental
Laws. For purposes of this Agreement, “Environmental Laws”
shall mean all applicable Laws in effect as of the Closing and
applicable
Permits and licenses relating to the protection of the environment, natural
resources or human health and safety.
(b) The
Selling Parties have made available to the Purchasing Parties copies of
all
material environmental, health and safety reports, audits, assessments
or other
material communications or documentation relating to environmental, health
or
safety matters in their possession relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries,
or any property owned, operated or leased by the Company and its Subsidiaries,
including any material Phase I or Phase II Environmental Site Assessments,
asbestos surveys or abatement reports, indoor air quality studies or remediation
reports, or site assessment or remediation plans.
SECTION
2.13. Employees and
Labor. (a) Section 2.13(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of the date
of
this Agreement, of all collective bargaining agreements and any labor union
contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (including
any extensions of such agreements or agreements to extend such agreement
or
agreements pending negotiation) and all collective bargaining agreements
and
labor union contracts currently being negotiated as of the date of this
Agreement which are or would be applicable to any employees of the Company
or
its Subsidiaries (each, an “Employee” and such agreements, collectively,
“CBAs”). As of the date of this Agreement, no CBA has expired
without being either (x) renewed or (y) extended pending
negotiations. As of the date of this Agreement, neither the Company
nor any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in negotiations with any labor
organization as the collective bargaining representative of any Employees
for an
initial collective bargaining agreement. To the Knowledge of the
Selling Parties, as of the date of this Agreement, (i) no officer or Employee
is
being represented by a works’ council or a labor organization other than those
that are parties to the CBAs and (ii) there are no labor unions, except
UNITE
HERE or its subordinate Joint Boards or local unions, presently engaging
in any
organizing activity with respect to any Employee. There are, and for
the three years preceding the date of this Agreement there have been, no
strikes, organized slowdowns, work stoppages or lockouts or other material
labor
disputes pending, or to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, threatened
against
or involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b) Each
of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in material compliance with all Laws
applicable to the Company and its Subsidiaries regarding the terms and
conditions of employment or other employment-related matters, including without
limitation Laws relating to discrimination, fair labor standards, wage and
hour,
terms and conditions of employment practices and occupational health and
safety
or wrongful discharge, and as of the date of this Agreement there are no
material complaints, lawsuits or other Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Selling Parties, threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries
brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former
Employee or any class of the foregoing, relating to any such Laws, or alleging
breach of any express or implied contract of employment or wrongful termination
of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious
conduct in connection with the employment relationship.
(c) As
of the date of this Agreement, no material grievance, arbitration demand
or
Proceeding, whether or not filed pursuant to a CBA, is pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Selling Parties, is threatened, against the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries that involves an attempt by any labor organization to
extend
its jurisdiction or representation rights, or (except in the case of CBAs
listed
on Section 2.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter and the labor
organizations that are parties thereto) apply its collective bargaining
agreement to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
SECTION
2.14. Employee Benefit
Plans. (a) Section 2.14(a) of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as of the date of
this
Agreement, of all “employee benefit plans” as defined in Section 3(3) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”)
and all other material compensation, bonus, pension, profit sharing, deferred
compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase,
stock
option, phantom stock or other equity-based, retirement, post-retirement
health
or life insurance, vacation, disability, death benefit, hospitalization,
medical, employment, retention, consulting, change in control, salary
continuation, termination, severance or other employee benefit plans, programs,
policies, practices, arrangements, agreements, funds, commitments or payroll
practices maintained, sponsored or contributed to or required to be maintained,
sponsored or contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries contributes or is obligated
to
contribute or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any
Liability (including a Liability arising out of an indemnification, guarantee,
hold harmless or similar agreement), with respect to any current or former
Employee, officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or any
beneficiary or dependent thereof, other than Multiemployer Plans and CBAs
(the
“Company
Plans”). None of the Company Plans provides for post-employment
life or health insurance benefits or coverage for any participant or any
beneficiary of a participant, except as may be required under the Consolidated
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, or at the expense
of the
participant or the participant’s beneficiary. There has been no
written communication to Employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries that
promises or guarantees such Employees retiree health or life insurance
benefits
or other retiree death benefits on a permanent basis. As of the date
of this Agreement, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has
announced
any intent or commitment to create or implement any additional employee
benefit
plan or to amend, modify or terminate any Company Plan. Each Company
Plan that is an employee welfare benefit plan may by its terms be amended
or
terminated on and after the Closing Date without the incurrence of any
material
cost or Liability by the Company or its Subsidiaries (it being understood
that
the obligations of Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.08 hereof apply
notwithstanding the foregoing representation).
(b) True,
correct and complete copies of the following documents with respect to
each of
the Company Plans have been made available to the Purchasing Parties by
the
Company, to the extent applicable: (i) such Company Plan (or,
with respect to any Company Plan that is not in writing, a written description
of the terms thereof), all amendments thereto and related trust documents,
insurance contracts or other documentation of any related funding arrangement,
and amendments thereto, (ii) the most recent Forms 5500 and all schedules
thereto and the two most recent annual reports, actuarial reports and/or
financial reports, (iii) the most recent Internal Revenue Service (the
“IRS”) determination letter, if applicable, and any communication from
or
with the IRS relating to such letter or the subject matter thereof,
(iv) summary plan descriptions, if applicable, (v) any material
communication between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and any
Governmental Authority and (vi) communications that are not themselves
Company
Plans or CBAs, with one or more participants in any Company Plan, that
would
reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in
material
Liability to the Company in excess of the Company’s obligations under any
Company Plan or CBA.
(c) Section 2.14(c)
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement,
a
true and complete list of each “multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of
Section 3(37) and Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA) maintained or
contributed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to contribute or has any
Liability (a “Multiemployer Plan”). For purposes of this
Agreement, the term “Multiemployer Plan” shall be deemed to include the Barneys
Retail/Employees Union Health Fund. Neither the Company nor any of
its Subsidiaries has (i) incurred, or is reasonably likely to incur, a
“complete withdrawal” or a “partial withdrawal” (as such terms are defined in
Sections 4203 and 4205, respectively, of ERISA) with respect to any
Multiemployer Plan or (ii) received any notice, as of the date of this
Agreement, or otherwise reasonably expects that any Multiemployer Plan
is or
will be “insolvent” or in “reorganization” (within the meaning of
Sections 4241 and 4245, respectively, of ERISA). The Company has
provided the Purchasing Parties with the most recent estimates requested
by the
Company (it being understood that no such estimates were requested by the
Company in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby) of the potential withdrawal liability to which the Company or any
Subsidiary would be subject if the Company or any Subsidiary were to withdraw
from each Multiemployer Plan.
(d) Section 2.14(d)
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list, as
of the
date of this Agreement, of (i) each Company Plan that provides severance,
termination, retention, change in control or similar benefits (the “Company
Severance Plans”) and (ii) the levels of Employees who participate in
each such Company Severance Plan.
(e) Neither
the Company nor its Subsidiaries (i) maintains or contributes to, or has
maintained or contributed to, (x) any “employee benefit plan” (other than a
Multiemployer Plan) within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA that is
subject to Section 302 or Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code
or (y) any “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of
Sections 4063/4064 of ERISA or Section 413(c) of the Code or
(ii) has incurred or, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, is
reasonably likely to incur, any Liability pursuant to Section 412 of the
Code or Title I or Title IV of ERISA (other than Liability for premiums to
the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation arising in the ordinary course of
business). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, in
the past five years, engaged in any transaction described in Section 4069
or 4212(c) of ERISA that would reasonably be expected to result in the
incurrence of a Liability by the Company or its Subsidiaries on or after
the
Closing.
(f) Each
Company Plan has been maintained in all material respects in accordance
with its
terms and in compliance in all material respects with all provisions of
ERISA,
the Code (including in each case rules and regulations thereunder) and
other
applicable Laws with respect to such Company Plan. Other than routine
claims for benefits, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Selling
Parties, threatened material audit or material Proceeding relating to any
Company Plan. With respect to each Company Plan for which financial statements
are required by ERISA, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, there has
been
no material adverse change in the financial status of such Company Plan
since
the date of the most recent such statements provided to the Purchasing
Parties
by the Company. To the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, no
“prohibited transaction,” breach of fiduciary duty or similar action or omission
has resulted in or is reasonably likely to result in the imposition of
any
material Liability, Tax or penalty on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
or
in any requirement for the posting of security with respect to a Company
Plan or
imposition of any Lien on the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
with respect to a Company Plan, under ERISA, the Code or other applicable
Law.
(g) Each
Company Plan that is intended to qualify under Section 401 of the Code has
been given a favorable determination letter from the IRS with respect to
such
qualification, and, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, nothing has
occurred with respect to the operation of the Company Plans that has caused
or
is reasonably likely to cause the loss of such qualification or exemption
or the
imposition of any material Liability, penalty or Tax under ERISA or the
Code.
(h) Except
for failures to make contributions that individually or in the aggregate
would
not reasonably be expected to result in material Liability to the Company
or any
of its Subsidiaries, all contributions (including all employer contributions
and
employee salary reduction contributions) required to have been made by
the
Company or its Subsidiaries under any of the Company Plans (or in the case
of
any Multiemployer Plan, the applicable CBA or other governing Contract)
or by
Law to any funds or trusts established under a Company Plan or Multiemployer
Plan or in connection therewith have been made by the due date thereof
(including any valid extensions) and any payments not yet due have been
accurately reflected in the consolidated balance sheet included in the
Financial
Statements.
(i) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
Acquisition or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement will
(i) entitle any Employee or any director or independent contractor of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, or increase any, severance, change
in
control, termination or other compensation or benefits; (ii) increase the
amount or value of any benefit or compensation otherwise payable or required
to
be provided to any such Employee, director or independent contractor;
(iii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting or trigger any payment or
funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of any such compensation or
benefits under, or trigger any other material obligation pursuant to any
Company
Plan; or (iv) result in any amount failing to be deductible by reason of
Section 280G of the Code.
(j) On
or following the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, none of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries would reasonably
be
expected to incur any Liability under Title IV of ERISA as a result of
being
treated as a single employer with Seller Parent or its Affiliates (other
than
the Company and its Subsidiaries) for purposes of Section 414(b), (c),
(m) or
(o) of the Code or Section 4212(c) or 4069 of ERISA.
SECTION
2.15. Tax
Matters. (a) Each of the Company, its Subsidiaries and
any consolidated, combined, unitary, affiliated or aggregate group of which
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a member (an “Affiliated Group”)
has timely filed (taking into account any extension of time within which
to
file) all material federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise
Tax
Returns required to be filed by it and has paid all Taxes shown to be due
on
such Tax Returns, and all such Tax Returns are true and complete in all
material
respects. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Taxes”
shall mean all federal, state and local, domestic and foreign,
income,
employment, withholding, escheats, property, unclaimed property, real property
transfer, transfer gains, transfer, sales, excise and other taxes, tariffs
or
governmental charges of any nature whatsoever, including any interest,
penalties
or additions with respect thereto, imposed by any Governmental Authority,
including any Liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described
above as a result of being a member of an Affiliated Group or as a result
of
being party to any tax sharing agreement with any of the Selling Parties,
any of
their Subsidiaries, or any member of any such Affiliated Group, or as a
result
of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any such other person
with
respect to the payment of any amounts of the type described above, and
(ii) “Tax Returns” shall mean any return, declaration, report, claim
for refund, or information return or statement relating to taxes, including
any
schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment
thereof.
(b) No
deficiencies for any Taxes have been proposed, asserted or assessed against
the
Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any Affiliated Group that are still
pending
and none of the Selling Parties, the Company or its Subsidiaries is currently
involved with or has received any notice of any threatened or proposed
Tax
audit, examination, refund litigation, investigation, claim, administrative
proceeding or adjustment in controversy with respect to the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries.
(c) The
federal income Tax Returns of the Affiliated Group of which the Company and
its
Subsidiaries are currently a member have been examined by and settled with
the
IRS (or the applicable statute of limitations has expired) for all years
through
December 31, 2004.
(d) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted either a “distributing
corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (in each case, within the meaning of
Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for
tax-free treatment under Section 355(e) of the Code (A) in the two
years preceding the date of this Agreement or (B) in a distribution that
could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions”
(within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the
Acquisition.
(e) No
material claim has been made by any Tax authority in a jurisdiction where
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has not filed a Tax Return that it is
or may
be subject to Tax by such jurisdiction, nor to the Knowledge of the Selling
Parties is any such assertion threatened.
(f) As
of the date of this Agreement, there is no outstanding request for any
extension
of time within which to pay any Taxes or file any Tax Returns, and no
waiver,
extension or comparable consent regarding the application of the statute
of
limitations with respect to any Taxes or Tax Return is outstanding, nor
is any
request for any such waiver or consent pending.
(g) As
of the date of this Agreement, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries
have
withheld and paid all Taxes required to be withheld in connection with
any
amounts paid or owing to any employee, creditor, independent contractor
or other
third party except where failure to do so has not had and is not reasonably
likely to have, individually or in the aggregate with any other such
failure or
failures, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its
Subsidiaries has complied with all information reporting and backup withholding
obligations with respect to such payments.
(h) The
Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation
within
the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period
specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(i) There
are no Liens (other than Permitted Liens) for Taxes upon the Company
and its
Subsidiaries.
(j) Neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, with respect to the income and
activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries, have been required to
file any
foreign Tax Returns.
(k) None
of the Selling Parties, with respect to the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries, or the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, has agreed to
make,
nor is required to make, any adjustments with respect to any taxable period
ending after the Closing Date pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code or any
similar provision of state or local law by reason of a change in accounting
method initiated by it or any other relevant party. To the Knowledge
of the Selling Parties, the IRS has no currently outstanding proposed adjustment
or change in accounting with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries,
and
none of the Selling Parties, the Company or its Subsidiaries has any application
pending with any Governmental Authority requesting permission for any changes
in
Tax accounting methods that relate to the business or assets of the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries.
(l) None
of the Selling Parties (with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries),
the
Company, or its Subsidiaries has “participated” in a “reportable transaction”
within the meaning of Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4(b).
SECTION
2.16. Real
Estate. (a) None of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries owns any real property.
(b) Section 2.16(b)
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true, correct and complete
list of
the common address and current use of all real property leased, subleased,
licensed or otherwise used or occupied (whether as a tenant, subtenant,
or
pursuant to other occupancy arrangements) by the Company and its Subsidiaries
(collectively, the “Company Leased Real Property”) pursuant to leases,
subleases, licenses and other occupancy agreements, including all amendments,
modifications and supplements with respect to any of the foregoing (the
“Company Leases”) under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a
tenant, subtenant or occupant, and for each Company Lease indicates whether
or
not the consent of the landlord will be required in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company or one of
its Subsidiaries (either directly or indirectly) holds a valid and existing
leasehold or subleasehold interest, as applicable, in the Company Leased
Real
Property under each of the Company Leases. The Selling Parties have
delivered or made available to the Purchasing Parties true, correct and
complete
copies of each of the Company Leases. With respect to each Company
Lease: (i) such Company Lease is, and, assuming the receipt of
the consents set forth in Section 2.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter
and
the provision of any notices required under the Company Leases, upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will be,
(A) in full force and effect, (B) the legal, valid, and binding
obligation of the Company or the applicable Subsidiary, and (C) current
with respect to rent and other sums and charges payable by the Company
or such
Subsidiary pursuant to the Company Lease, (ii) none of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries is in material default, taking into account any notice
and
cure period, under such Company Lease, to the Knowledge of the Selling
Parties,
no other party to a Company Lease is in material default, taking into account
any notice and cure period, under such Company Lease and, to the Knowledge
of
the Selling Parties, no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of
time,
or both, would constitute a material breach or default by the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries or permit termination under such Company Lease by any
party
thereto, (iii) the terms of such Company Lease have not been modified in
any respect, except to the extent that such modifications are set forth
in the
documents previously delivered or made available to the Purchasing Parties
or
disclosed to the Purchasing Parties in Section 2.16(b) of the Company
Disclosure Letter, and none of the Selling Parties, the Company
or its Subsidiaries is currently in negotiations with any landlord to cancel
or
terminate any Company Lease prior to the end of the stated term of such
Company
Lease, (iv) none of the Selling Parties, the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries has assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in
trust or
granted any security interest in its leasehold interest in such Company
Lease,
and, other than the Company Leases, none of the Company Leased Real Property
is
subject to any lease, sublease, license or other agreement which grants,
from
the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, to any other person, any right
to the
use, occupancy or enjoyment of such Company Leased Real Property or any
part
thereof and (v) each guaranty by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, if
any, with respect to a Company Lease is in full force and
effect.
(c) None
of the Selling Parties, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received
written notice of any violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
of any
existing Law, applicable to any store, distribution facility or warehouse
facility operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to a
Company Lease (each, a “Company Facility”), which violation would be
reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the present use and operation
of the Company Leased Real Property.
(d) None
of the Selling Parties, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received
written notice of and, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, there are
no
pending condemnation or eminent domain Proceedings that affect any Company
Leased Real Property.
(e) None
of the Selling Parties, the Company or its Subsidiaries has received written
notice of any Proceeding and, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties,
there is
no Proceeding threatened or pending against the Company or its Subsidiaries
with
respect to any rights or interests of the Company or its Subsidiaries in
any
portion of the Company Leased Real Property. None of the Selling
Parties, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice
of
the existence of any outstanding or pending Order and, to the Knowledge
of the
Selling Parties, there are no extant Orders relating to the lease, use,
occupancy or operation by the Company or its Subsidiaries of the Company
Leased
Real Property, which Orders would be reasonably likely to materially adversely
affect the present use and operation of the Company Leased Real
Property.
(f) To
the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, the current use of the Company Leased
Real
Property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries does not violate any
instrument of record affecting such Company Leased Real Property, which
violations would be reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the
present
use and operation of the Company Leased Real Property. Since January
1, 2005,
no material damage or destruction has occurred with respect to any of the
Company Leased Real Property which has not been substantially repaired
prior to
the date of this Agreement.
(g) All
Permits required to be obtained by the Company or its Subsidiaries, if
any
(collectively, the “Company Leased Real Property Permits”), to continue
the present use and operation of the Company Leased Real Property, have
been
issued to the Company or such Subsidiary and are, as of the date of this
Agreement, in full force and effect, except for any lapses, terminations
or
non-issuances of Company Leased Real Property Permits which would not reasonably
be likely to materially adversely affect the present use and operation
of the
Company Leased Real Property. None of the Selling Parties, the
Company or its Subsidiaries has received any written notice from a Governmental
Entity having jurisdiction over the Company Leased Real Property threatening
a
suspension, revocation or cancellation of any Company Leased Real Property
Permit that would be reasonably likely to materially adversely affect the
present use and operation of the Company Leased Real Property as a
whole.
SECTION
2.17. Terminated Leases. None of
the Company or any Subsidiary has, or will have, any Liability of any kind
related to the closing of any Company Facility with respect to which the
Company
or any of its Subsidiaries has terminated, or prior to the Closing Date will
terminate, its leasehold or subleasehold interest, except to the extent reserved
against in the balance sheet dated February 3, 2007 or disclosed in the
notes to the Financial Statements. None of the Selling Parties, the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any such Liability
(whether actual, pending or threatened).
SECTION
2.18. Sufficiency of Assets; Shared Assets and
Services. The Company or its Subsidiaries have, and, assuming the
provision of services under the Transition Services Agreement, following
the
Closing will have, good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, or license
or right to use all of the assets necessary, and such assets are in such
condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) as is sufficient,
in all
material respects, to operate the business of the Company and its
Subsidiaries after the Closing Date in substantially the same manner as
presently conducted. Section 2.18 of the Company Disclosure
Letter contains a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement
of
(i) all the material assets used or held for use by the Company or its
Subsidiaries that the Selling Parties or their Affiliate (other than the
Company
and its Subsidiaries) owns, leases, licenses, has a right to use or otherwise
uses and (ii) the material services provided by the Selling Parties or
their Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) to the Company
and its Subsidiaries.
SECTION
2.19. Insurance. (a) Section 2.19(a)
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth an accurate and complete list
of the
policies of insurance maintained as of the date of this Agreement by or
for the
benefit of the Company and its Subsidiaries (including any policies of
insurance
maintained for purposes of providing benefits such as workers’ compensation and
employers’ liability coverage) (collectively, the “Policies”) as well as
a description of all risks that the Company and its Subsidiaries designate
as
“self-insured”. To the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, as of the
date of this Agreement no insurer on any such Policy has been declared
insolvent
or placed in receivership, conservatorship or liquidation.
(b) Section 2.19(b)
of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all pending claims
as of
the date of this Agreement (including with respect to insurance obtained
but not
currently maintained) and the claims history (for filed claims) for the
Company
and its Subsidiaries since January 1, 2005 (including with respect to insurance
obtained but not currently maintained), in each case with respect to each
claim
(or series of related claims) involving amounts in excess of
$250,000. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been
refused any insurance coverage with respect to any material aspect of its
operations, nor has its coverage been limited in any material respect by
any
insurance carrier to which it, or either of the Selling Parties on its
behalf,
has applied for insurance. As of the date of this Agreement, there is
no claim by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or by either of the
Selling
Parties on its behalf, pending under any such Policies as to which coverage
has
been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such
Policies.
SECTION
2.20. Intellectual
Property. (a) Section 2.20 of the Company Disclosure
Letter set forth the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ trademark status as of the
date of this Agreement. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries
owns, or is validly licensed or otherwise has the right to use, all Intellectual
Property Rights that are used in the conduct of the business of the Company
and
its Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted
Liens. No trademark that is material to the Company’s business as
currently conducted is subject to lapse or abandonment. All right,
title and interest to the “Barneys” and “Barneys New York” trademarks are owned
by the Company and are not subject to any Liens (other than Permitted Liens)
or
licenses.
(b) To
the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has infringed upon or misappropriated in any material respect
any
Intellectual Property Rights of any other person. As of the date of
this Agreement, no material claims are pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Selling Parties, threatened that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
infringing or misappropriating the rights of any person with regard to any
Intellectual Property Right.
(c) To
the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, no person or persons are infringing
in any
material respect the rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with
respect to any Intellectual Property Right owned by the Company or any
of its
Subsidiaries. As of the date of this Agreement, no material claims
are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Selling Parties, are threatened
against
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with regard to the ownership by
the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any Intellectual Property
Rights.
(d) As
used in this Agreement, “Intellectual Property Rights” shall mean
patents, trademarks (registered or unregistered), trade secrets, copyrights,
trade names, domain names, service marks, brand names, trade dress, and
other
indications of origin, together with the goodwill associated with the foregoing
and registrations of, and applications to register, the foregoing, including
any
extension, modification or renewal of any such registration or
application.
(e) The
IT Systems owned or licensed by the Company and its Subsidiaries together
with
the IT Systems to be used by Seller Parent or any of its Subsidiaries in
the
performance of their obligations under, or which the Purchasing Parties
are to
be provided the benefit of pursuant to the terms of, the Transition Services
Agreement constitute all the IT Systems that are material to the conduct
of the
business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. As
used in this Agreement, “IT Systems” shall mean computer software
programs, including all source code and object code therein and all designs
and
documentation related thereto.
(f) All
renewal and maintenance fees that are due and payable for the Intellectual
Property Rights used by the Company have been paid and, to the Knowledge
of the
Selling Parties, all Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company
and its
Subsidiaries are valid, subsisting and enforceable.
SECTION
2.21. Company Proprietary Credit
Card. (a) Each of the “Barneys” credit card accounts
has been solicited, originated, created, maintained, and serviced by the
Company
and its Subsidiaries in compliance, in all material respects, with (i) the
applicable credit card Contract between the Company or its applicable Subsidiary
and the person for whom such account has been established and to whom such
credit card has been issued and (ii) the applicable policies, procedures
and practices pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
manages
its rights, title and interest in and to such accounts and receivables
related
to such account and underwrites, establishes, administers, processes, services,
collects, terminates or charges-off such accounts and such
receivables.
(b) Prior
to the date of this Agreement, the Company has made available to the Purchasing
Parties true and complete copies of each form of credit card Contract and
other
documentation provided to holders of “Barneys” credit cards, and each such form
contains all material terms of the Contract between the Company or its
applicable Subsidiary and such holder.
(c) The
Company and its Subsidiaries have reasonable procedures and protections in
place
regarding the collection, use and dissemination of personal data or other
information concerning customers. Since January 1, 2005 there has
been no material breach with respect to the systems of the Company and its
Subsidiaries resulting in the loss of personal data or other information
concerning customers.
SECTION
2.22. Transactions with
Affiliates. None of the Selling Parties or any of their
Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) or any executive
officer or director, as applicable, of the Company or its Subsidiaries
or any
member of his or her immediate family or any of his or her Affiliates (each
a
“Related Person”) (a) owes any amount to the Company or its
Subsidiaries (other than in respect of extensions of credit in the ordinary
course of business for goods or services purchased from the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries or advances for travel expenses), nor does the Company
or its
Subsidiaries owe any amount to, nor has the Company or its Subsidiaries
committed to make a loan or extend or guarantee credit to or for the benefit
of,
any Related Person (other than in respect of extensions of credit in the
ordinary course of business for goods or services purchased from the Company
or
any of its Subsidiaries or advances for travel expenses), other than payments
of
salaries and benefits in the ordinary course and intercompany Indebtedness
to be
terminated pursuant to Section 5.12 or (b) is involved in any business
arrangement (other than employment or acting as a director) or other
relationship with the Company or its Subsidiaries in which such Related
Person
had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest, other than
(i) sales of goods or services by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to
any Related Person in the ordinary course of business, (ii) extensions
of credit
related to such sales, (iii) advances for travel expenses, (iv) the shared
services described in Section 2.18, (v) intercompany Indebtedness to be
terminated pursuant to Section 5.12 and (vi) purchases by the Company or
its Subsidiaries of goods for resale from Seller Parent or its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION
2.23. Major Suppliers. None of the
Selling Parties, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged, as
of the
date of this Agreement, in any material dispute with any Major
Supplier. During the period from February 3, 2007 to the date of this
Agreement, no Major Supplier has terminated or materially reduced or indicated
its intention to terminate or materially reduce (as compared to the same
period
in the prior year) its business relations with the Company or its Subsidiaries
or requested any material and adverse change in the terms on which it supplies
merchandise for the Company or its Subsidiaries. A “Major
Supplier” means any merchandise vendor to the Company or its Subsidiaries to
whom the Company or its Subsidiaries paid, in the aggregate, more than
$3,000,000 during the fiscal year ended February 3, 2007.
SECTION
2.24. Brokers and Other
Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, other than Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., the fees and expenses of
which will be paid by Seller Parent, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s,
financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made
by or
on behalf of the Company.
Representations
and Warranties
Relating
to Selling Parties and the Shares
Except
as
set forth in the Company Disclosure Letter, each Selling Party, jointly
and
severally, represents and warrants to the Purchasing Parties as
follows:
SECTION
3.01. Organization, Standing and Corporate
Power. Seller Parent is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the Laws of Pennsylvania and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now
being
conducted. Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the Laws of Delaware and has all requisite corporate
power and authority to carry on its business as now being
conducted.
SECTION
3.02. Authority;
Noncontravention. (a) The Selling Parties have all
requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement,
and each Selling Party and each of its Affiliates has, or prior to the
execution
thereof, will have, all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver
each Related Document to which such Selling Party or such Affiliate is
a party
or will be a party, and to consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and each Related Document to which it is a party or will be a
party by
the Selling Parties and their respective Affiliates (to the extent a party
thereto), and the consummation of the Acquisition and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, and the compliance by the Selling Parties
and
their respective Affiliates (to the extent a party thereto) with the provisions
of this Agreement and each Related Document to which it is a party or will
be a
party have been (and in the case of the Related Documents, will be) duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Selling
Parties
and their respective Affiliates (to the extent a party thereto) and no
other
corporate proceedings on the part of the Selling Parties and their respective
Affiliates (to the extent a party thereto) are necessary to authorize or
approve
this Agreement or the Related Documents to which such Selling Party or
Affiliate
is a party or will be a party, or to consummate the Acquisition or the
other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by the Selling Parties and, assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto, constitutes
a
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Selling Parties, enforceable
against
the Selling Parties in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
and
other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time
in effect). Each Related Document to which a Selling Party or its
Affiliate is a party or will be a party has been or will be duly executed
and
delivered by such Selling Party or such Affiliate (to the extent a party
thereto) and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the
other parties hereto, constitutes or will constitute a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the applicable Selling Party or its Affiliate, enforceable
against
such Selling Party or its Affiliate in accordance with its terms (subject
to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to
time in effect).(b) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Related Document to which
it
is a party or will be a party does not, and the consummation of the Acquisition
and the other transactions contemplated hereby and the performance of its
obligations and compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof do not
and
will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or constitute
a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or give
rise
to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation,
or to
the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon
any of
the properties or other assets of the Selling Parties or any of their Affiliates
(to the extent a party thereto) under (i) their Organizational Documents,
(ii) any Contract to which the Selling Parties or their respective
Affiliates (as applicable) are party or are bound or any of their respective
properties or other assets is bound by or subject to or otherwise under
which
the Selling Parties have any rights or benefits, or (iii) subject to the
governmental filings and other matters referred to in Section 3.03, any Law
applicable to the Selling Parties or their Affiliates (as applicable) or
properties or other assets, other than, in the case of clauses (i), (ii)
and (iii) above, any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights,
results, losses or Liens that individually or in the aggregate are not
reasonably likely to impair in any material respect the ability of the
Selling
Parties to perform their obligations under this Agreement or the Related
Documents or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay
the
consummation of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement or the Related Documents to which such Selling Party or
Affiliate
is a party or will be a party.
SECTION
3.03. Governmental Approvals. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, action by or in respect of,
or
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is
required
by or with respect to the Selling Parties or their Affiliates in connection
with
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Related Document to
which it
is a party or will be a party, by the Selling Parties or their Affiliates
or the
consummation by the Selling Parties or their Affiliates of the Acquisition
or
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Related
Documents to which it is a party or will be a party, except for (a) those
required to be made pursuant to the HSR Act, (b) the filing with the SEC of
such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with
this
Agreement or the Related Documents, the Acquisition and the other transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby and (c) such other consents, approvals,
orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations, permits, actions, notifications
and
filings the failure of which to be obtained or made individually or in
the
aggregate have not had and are not reasonably likely to have an Effect
described
in clause (ii) of the definition of Material Adverse Effect.
SECTION
3.04. Litigation. As of the date of
this Agreement, there is no Proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Selling Parties, threatened against or affecting the Selling Parties or any
of
their Affiliates that individually or in the aggregate is reasonably likely
to
impair in any material respect the ability of the Selling Parties or any
of
their Affiliates to perform their obligations under this Agreement or any
Related Document to which any of them is a party or will be a party or prevent
or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of
the
Acquisition or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or
any Related Document to which any of them is a party or will be a party,
nor is
there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order of any Governmental
Authority or arbitrator outstanding, or, to the Knowledge of the Selling
Parties, investigation, Proceeding, notice of violation, order of forfeiture
or
complaint by any Governmental Authority involving the Selling Parties or
any of
their Affiliates that individually or in the aggregate is reasonably likely
to
impair in any material respect the ability of the Selling Parties or any
of
their Affiliates to perform their obligations under this Agreement or any
Related Document to which any of them is a party or will be a party or prevent
or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of
the
Acquisition or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
or
any Related Document to which any of them is a party or will be a
party.
SECTION
3.05. Brokers and Other
Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, other than Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., the fees and expenses of
which will be paid by Seller Parent, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s,
financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made
by or
on behalf of the Selling Parties or the Company.
SECTION
3.06. The Shares. Seller has good
and valid title to the Shares, free and clear of any lien, encumbrance,
mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, easement, conditional sale
or other
title retention agreement, pledge, hypothecation, assessment, lease, levy,
charge, transfer restriction, right of first offer, right of first refusal,
option, preemptive right, voting trust or agreement, proxy or set off or
other
adverse claim of any kind or nature, whether arising by agreement, statute
or
otherwise. Assuming Purchaser has the requisite power and authority
to be the lawful owner of the Shares, upon delivery to Purchaser at the
Closing
of certificates representing the Shares, duly endorsed by Seller for transfer
to
Purchaser, and upon Seller Parent’s receipt of the Closing Date Amount, good and
valid title to the Shares will pass to Purchaser, free and clear of any
lien,
encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, easement, conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, pledge, hypothecation, assessment,
lease, levy, charge, transfer restriction, right of first offer, right
of first
refusal, option, preemptive right, voting trust or agreement, proxy or
set off
or other adverse claim of any kind or nature, whether arising by agreement,
statute or otherwise, other than those arising from acts of Purchaser or
its
Affiliates. Other than this Agreement, the Shares are not subject to
any voting trust agreement or other Contract, including any Contract restricting
or otherwise relating to the voting, dividend rights or disposition of
the
Shares.
Representations
and Warranties of the Purchasing Parties
Each
of
the Purchasing Parties, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to
the
Selling Parties as follows:
SECTION
4.01. Organization, Standing and Corporate
Power. Each Purchasing Party is an entity duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing, to the extent applicable, under the Laws of
the
State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to
carry
on its business as now being conducted.
SECTION
4.02. Authority;
Noncontravention. (a) Each Purchasing Party and each
of its respective Affiliates (as applicable) has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and has, or prior to the
execution thereof, will have, all requisite power and authority to execute
and
deliver each Related Document to which such Purchasing Party or such Affiliate
is a party or will be a party, and to consummate the Acquisition and the
other
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the
Financing. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each
Related Document to which it is a party, or will be a party by the Purchasing
Parties and their respective Affiliates (to the extent a party thereto) and
the
consummation of the Acquisition and any of the other transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, including the Financing, and the compliance by the
Purchasing Parties and their respective Affiliates with the provisions of
this
Agreement and each Related Document to which such Purchasing Party or such
Affiliate is a party or will be a party have been (and in the case of the
Related Documents, will be) duly authorized by all necessary corporate or
other
action on the part of the Purchasing Parties and their respective Affiliates,
and no other corporate or other proceedings on the part of the Purchasing
Parties or any of their respective Affiliates is necessary to authorize or
approve this Agreement or any Related Document to which such Purchasing Party
or
such Affiliate is a party or will be a party, or to consummate the Acquisition
or the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the
Financing. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Purchasing Parties and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
by the other parties hereto, constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of the Purchasing Parties, enforceable against the Purchasing Parties in
accordance with its terms (subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other Laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect). Each
Related Document to which a Purchasing Party or any of its respective Affiliates
is a party or will be a party has been or will be duly executed and delivered
by
such Purchasing Party and such Affiliates (as applicable), and constitutes
or
will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of such Purchasing
Party
and such Affiliates (as applicable), enforceable against such Purchasing
Party
and such Affiliates (as applicable) in accordance with its terms (subject
to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization,
moratorium and other Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to
time in effect).
(b) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Related Document to which
a
Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates is a party or will be a party
does
not, and the consummation of the Acquisition and any of the other transactions
contemplated hereby, including the Financing, and the performance of their
obligations and compliance with the provisions hereof and thereof do not
and
will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or constitute
a default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or give
rise
to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation,
or to
the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien upon
any of
the properties
or other assets of such Purchasing Party or any of
its Affiliates (as applicable) under (i) the Organizational Documents of
such Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates (as applicable), (ii) any
Contract to which such Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates (as applicable)
is a party or is bound or any of their respective properties or other assets
is
bound by or subject to or otherwise under which such Purchasing Party or
any of
its Affiliates (as applicable) has any rights or benefits or (iii) subject
to the governmental filings and other matters referred to in Section 4.03,
any Law applicable to such Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates (as
applicable) or properties or other assets, other than, in the case of
clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, any such conflicts, violations,
breaches, defaults, rights, results, losses or Liens that individually or
in the
aggregate are not reasonably likely to impair in any material respect the
ability of such Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates (as applicable)
to
perform their obligations under this Agreement or any Related Document to
which
such Purchasing Party or such Affiliate is a party or will be a party, or
prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation
of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Financing, or any Related Document to which such
Purchasing Party or such Affiliate is a party or will be a party.29
SECTION
4.03. Governmental Approvals. No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, action by or in respect of,
or
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required
by or with respect to the Purchasing Parties or their respective Affiliates
(as
applicable) in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or
any Related Document to which a Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates
is a
party or will be a party, by such Purchasing Party or such Affiliate or the
consummation by the Purchasing Parties of the Acquisition or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Financing, or
any
Related Document to which such Purchasing Party or such Affiliate is a party
or
will be a party, except for (i) those required to be made pursuant to the
HSR Act and (ii) such other consents, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations, permits, actions, notifications and filings
the
failure of which to be obtained or made individually or in the aggregate
is not
reasonably likely to impair in any material respect the ability of such
Purchasing Party or its Affiliates (as applicable) to perform their obligations
under this Agreement or any Related Document to which such Purchasing Party
or
such Affiliate is a party or will be a party, or prevent or materially impede,
interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Acquisition or any
of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Financing,
or any Related Document to which such Purchasing Party or such Affiliate
is a
party or will be a party.
SECTION
4.04. Litigation. As of the date of
this Agreement, there is no Proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of the
Purchasing Parties, threatened against or affecting the Purchasing Parties
or
any of their respective Affiliates that individually or in the aggregate
is
reasonably likely to impair in any material respect the ability of the
Purchasing Parties or their respective Affiliates to perform their obligations
under this Agreement or any Related Documents to which a Purchasing Party
or any
of its Affiliates is a party or will be a party or prevent or materially
impede,
interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation of the Acquisition or any
of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Financing,
or any Related Document to which a Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates
is
a party or will be a party, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction,
rule
or order of any Governmental Authority or arbitrator outstanding, or, to
the
knowledge of the Purchasing Parties, investigation, Proceeding, notice of
violation, order of forfeiture or complaint by any Governmental Authority
involving the Purchasing Parties or any of their respective Affiliates that
individually or in the aggregate is reasonably likely to impair in any material
respect the ability of the Purchasing Parties or their respective Affiliates
to
perform their obligations under this Agreement or any Related Document to
which
a Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates is a party or will be a party,
or
prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder or delay the consummation
of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Financing, or any Related Document to which a
Purchasing Party or any of its Affiliates a party or will be a
party.
SECTION
4.05. Sufficient Funds. The
Purchasing Parties have delivered to Seller Parent true and complete copies
of
(i) an executed commitment letter from Purchaser Guarantor (the “Equity
Funding Letter”) to provide equity financing in an aggregate amount
of at least $345,500,000 (the “Equity Financing”) and
(ii) executed debt commitment letters from Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
(the “Financing Commitments”), pursuant to which Citigroup Global Markets
Inc. has agreed to provide or cause to be provided at least $505,000,000
at
Closing (the “Debt Financing”, and, together with the Equity Financing,
the “Financing”). The Purchasing Parties have disclosed and
made available to the Selling Parties all other agreements, arrangements
or
understandings (whether oral or written) related to the Financing,
provided that the Purchasing Parties may redact in such documents the fee
amounts payable to their financing sources under the Financing
Commitments. Such fee amounts are customary for debt financings
similar to the Debt Financing. Except as otherwise permitted by this
Agreement, none of the Equity Funding Letter or Financing Commitments has
been
or will be amended or modified, and the respective commitments contained
in the
Equity Funding Letter and the Financing Commitments have not been withdrawn
or
rescinded in any respect as of the date of this Agreement. Except to
the extent amended in accordance with its terms, the Equity Funding Letter
is in
full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Purchasing Parties that are party thereto and the other party
thereto. Each of the Financing Commitments is in full force and
effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchasing Parties
and, to the knowledge of the Purchasing Parties, the other parties
thereto. As of the date of this Agreement, no event has occurred
which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a
default
or breach on the part of the Purchasing Parties or their respective Affiliates
under any term or condition of the Equity Funding Letter or the Financing
Commitments. There are no conditions precedent relating to the
funding of the full amount of the Financing, other than as set forth in the
Equity Funding Letter and the Financing Commitments. As of the date
of this Agreement, the Purchasing Parties have no reason to believe that
any of
the conditions relating to the funding of the full amount of the Financing
will
not be satisfied on or prior to the Closing Date. The Purchasing
Parties have fully paid any and all commitment fees or other fees required
by
the Financing Commitments to be paid on or prior to the date of this Agreement
and shall in the future pay any such fees as they become due. The
Financing, when funded in accordance with the Equity Funding Letter and the
Financing Commitments, will provide Purchaser with funds sufficient to
consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and to pay all related fees and expenses. The fees and
expenses of the Purchasing Parties in connection with the Acquisition, the
Financing and any related transactions will not exceed the amount set forth
on
Section 4.05 of the Company Disclosure Letter.
SECTION
4.06. Guarantees. The Purchasing
Parties have delivered to Seller Parent the limited guarantee of Istithmar
PJSC
(“Purchaser Guarantor”), dated as of the date hereof, with respect to
certain matters as specified therein (the “Guarantee”), which Guarantee
is in full force and effect and is a legal, valid and binding obligation
of
Purchaser Guarantor.
SECTION
4.07. Brokers and Other
Advisors. No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other person, other than Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx Company, the fees and expenses
of
which will be paid by the Purchasing Parties, is entitled to any broker’s,
finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements
made by or on behalf of the Purchasing Parties.
SECTION
4.08. No Additional
Representations. The Purchasing Parties acknowledge that they and
their Representatives have been permitted full and complete access to the
books
and records, facilities, equipment, contracts and other properties and assets
of
or with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company that it
and
its Representatives have desired or requested to see or review, and that
it and
its Representatives have had a full opportunity to meet with the officers
and
employees of the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company to discuss the
business of the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company. The
Purchasing Parties acknowledge that none of the Selling Parties, the Company,
their respective Representatives or any other person has made any representation
or warranty, expressed or implied, with respect to the Company and the
Subsidiaries of the Company or the accuracy or completeness of any information
regarding the Company and the Subsidiaries of the Company furnished or made
available to the Purchasing Parties and their Representatives, except as
expressly set forth in this Agreement, and none of the Selling Parties, the
Company, their respective Representatives or any other person shall have
or be
subject to any Liability to the Purchasing Parties or any other person resulting
from the distribution to the Purchasing Parties, or the Purchasing Parties’ use
of, any such information, including any information, documents or material
made
available in any “data rooms” or management presentations or in any other form
in expectation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
SECTION
4.09. No Distribution. The Shares
being acquired by Purchaser hereunder are being acquired for Purchaser’s own
account, for investment only and not with a view to any public distribution
thereof, and Purchaser shall not offer to sell or otherwise dispose of the
Shares so acquired by it in violation of any of the registration requirements
of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder. Purchaser acknowledges that the Selling
Parties have informed it that the Shares have not been registered under the
Securities Act and may not be sold until they have been registered, unless
an
exemption from such registration is available.
SECTION
4.10. Withholding. The Purchasing
Parties are not aware of any basis for, or facts that would give rise to
a basis
for, determination of any Withholding Amount within the meaning of Section
1.05
of this Agreement.
Covenants
SECTION
5.01. Conduct of
Business.
(a) Conduct
of Business by the Company. During the period from the date of
this Agreement to the Closing Date, except (A) as expressly permitted by
Section 5.01 of the Company Disclosure Letter, (B) as consented to in
writing by the Purchasing Parties (which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, delayed or conditioned), (C) as expressly required or permitted
by this Agreement or (D) as required by applicable Law, the Seller Parent
shall cause the Company and each of the Company’s Subsidiaries to (i) carry
on its businesses and operations in all material respects in the ordinary
course
consistent with past practice, (ii) continue all advertising, pricing,
sales, inventory, receivables, payables, customer credit and proprietary
credit
card operations and currency hedging practices, in all material respects
in the
32
ordinary
course consistent with past practice (to the extent consistent with this
Section 5.01(a)) and (iii) use its reasonable best efforts to preserve
intact its assets, brands, licenses, technology, Intellectual Property Rights
and business organizations, keep available the services of its current officers
and Employees and preserve in all material respects in accordance with past
practice its relationships with suppliers, licensors, licensees, distributors
and others having business dealings with it and maintain its franchises,
rights
and Permits, with the intention that its goodwill and ongoing business shall
be
unimpaired as of the Closing Date. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing
Date, except as consented to in writing by the Purchasing Parties or as
expressly permitted by the applicable subsection of Section 5.01 of the
Company Disclosure Letter or as expressly required or permitted by this
Agreement or as required by applicable Law, the Seller Parent will not permit
the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries to:
(i) (A) declare,
set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether
in
cash, stock, property or other assets) in respect of, any of its capital
stock,
or other equity or voting interests, other than dividends or distributions
by
the Company or a direct or indirect wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company
to
its parent, (B) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock, or
other equity or voting interests, or issue or authorize the issuance of any
other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares
of its
capital stock, or other equity or voting interests, or (C) purchase, redeem
or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock, or other equity or voting
interests or any other securities of the Company or its Subsidiaries or any
warrants, options or other rights to acquire any such shares or other
securities;
(ii) issue,
deliver, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber or subject to any lien,
encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest, easement, conditional
sale or other title retention agreement, pledge, hypothecation, assessment,
lease, levy, charge, transfer restriction, right of first offer, right of
first
refusal, option, preemptive right, voting trust or agreement, proxy or set
off
or other adverse claim of any kind or nature, whether arising by agreement,
statute or otherwise, any shares of its capital stock, any other equity or
voting interests or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for,
or any
warrants, options or other rights to acquire or receive, any such shares,
interests or securities or any “phantom” stock, “phantom” stock rights or
awards, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance units or any other
rights that are linked in any way to the price of Company Common Stock or
the
value of the Company or any part thereof;
(iii) amend
or modify the Company Certificate or Company By-laws or the comparable
charter
or organizational documents of any Subsidiary of the Company;
(iv) acquire
any assets (including equity or debt securities), individually, in excess
of
$200,000 or, in the aggregate, in excess of $1,000,000, other than assets
acquired in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(v) sell,
lease, license, mortgage, sell and leaseback or otherwise encumber or subject
to
any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) or otherwise dispose of any of its
properties or other assets or any interest therein to a third party, other
than
(A) the sale of assets having a market value not in excess of $300,000
individually or $500,000 in the aggregate and (B) sales of
inventory or other assets in the ordinary course of business consistent
with
past practice;
(vi) (A) incur
or assume any Indebtedness (other than any incurrence of Indebtedness
(1) associated with the issuance of letters of credit on behalf of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which letters of credit are issued in
the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (2) associated
with foreign currency transactions entered into in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice or (3) owing to Seller Parent or its
Subsidiaries that will be terminated in accordance with Section 5.12) or
issue or sell any debt securities or warrants, options or other rights to
acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
(B) make any loans, advances (other than in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice) or capital contributions to, or investments
in,
any other person, other than the Company or any direct or indirect wholly
owned
Subsidiary of the Company;
(vii) incur
any capital expenditure, or any Liabilities in connection therewith, in excess
of $750,000 except to the extent such expenditure, obligation or Liability
is
reflected on the Company’s capital expenditure plan set forth in Section
5.01(a)(vii) of the Company Disclosure Letter; provided, that the
Purchasing Parties shall not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition their
consent to any request by Seller Parent with respect to the
foregoing;
(viii) make
any amendment, change or other modification to the policies, procedures or
practices of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in respect of which it
(A) manages its rights, title and interest in and to the “Barneys” credit
card accounts and receivables related to such accounts or (B) underwrites,
establishes, administers, processes, services, collects, terminates or
charges-off such accounts and such receivables other than, in the case of
clause (A) or (B), (1) as required by Law, (2) increases in late
fees payable by cardholders, (3) in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice or (4) other immaterial amendments, changes
or modifications; provided, that the Purchasing Parties shall not
unreasonably withhold, delay or condition their consent to any request by
Seller
Parent with respect to the foregoing;
(ix) except
(A) as required by the terms of any Company Plan, Multiemployer Plan or
CBA as
in effect on the date of this Agreement, (B) increases in cash compensation
in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) increases
to
retain any Employee that has notified the Company or its Subsidiaries that
he or
she intends to terminate his or her employment with the Company or its
Subsidiaries, (D) the entry into of employment agreements with new hires
in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (E) any amendment
to any Company Plan that is made to maintain the qualified status of such
Company Plan or its continued compliance with applicable Law, (1) increase
the
compensation (including bonuses or other benefits) payable or to become
payable
to any of the directors of the Company, Employees of the Company at the
level of
senior vice president and above or the Creative Director of the Company
(collectively, the “Key Personnel”); (2) enter into, terminate, adopt,
materially amend or materially increase the benefits under any Company
Plan or,
other than any such entry, termination, adoption, amendment or increase
that
results in an increase to employer contributions of not more than 3%, any
Multiemployer Plan, or enter into any plan or arrangement that would be
considered a Company Plan if it were in existence on the date of this Agreement;
or (3) accelerate, fund or secure the vesting or payment of compensation
(including bonuses or other benefits under any Company Plan); provided,
that (I) the exception in clause (D) hereof shall not apply with respect
to the
Key Personnel, provided that the Purchasing Parties shall not
unreasonably withhold, delay or condition their consent to any request
by the
Company to take any of the actions that would otherwise have been permitted
if
clause (D) did apply to Key Personnel and shall be deemed to have consented
to
the action so requested if the Purchasing Parties have not responded by
the end
of the third business day following the date of such request and (II) the
exceptions in clauses (B) and (C) hereof shall only apply with respect
to the
Key Personnel to the extent that the increases described therein together
do not
exceed $35,000 for any individual or $175,000 in the aggregate (for the
avoidance of doubt, this Section 5.01(a)(ix) shall not pertain to any action
by
any director or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that
such
director or employee is required to take, or to refrain from taking, in
accordance with his or her fiduciary duties as a trustee or fiduciary of
a
Multiemployer Plan);
(x) terminate
(other than for cause) any of the Key Personnel;
(xi) enter
into any transaction with or for the benefit of any Related Person other
than
(i) sales of goods or services by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
to any
Related Person in the ordinary course of business, (ii) extensions of credit
related to such sales, (iii) advances for travel expenses, (iv) the shared
services described in Section 2.18, (v) intercompany Indebtedness to be
terminated pursuant to Section 5.12 and (vi) purchases by the Company or
its Subsidiaries of goods for resale from Seller Parent or its
Subsidiaries;
(xii) enter
into, assume or amend in any material respect, terminate or waive, or assign
any
material rights under any Section 2.10 Contract or other Contract or
commitment that would be a Section 2.10 Contract if entered into, or if
such amendment, termination or waiver was effected, prior to the date hereof,
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice;
(xiii) make,
change or rescind any material election with respect to Taxes (other than
to the
extent consistent with past practice) or enter into any settlement or compromise
of any material Tax liability or refund;
(xiv) except
as required by GAAP or applicable Law, make any change in its fiscal year,
revalue any of its material assets or make material changes in financial
or tax
accounting methods, principles or practices;
(xv) materially
modify, amend, terminate or permit the lapse of any material lease relating
to
any Company Leased Real Property except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice;
(xvi) enter
into any lease relating to any property that would be Company Leased Real
Property if such lease were entered into as of the date of this
Agreement;
(xvii) fail
to maintain the Policies or any replacement insurance policies upon any
of its
assets or properties in such amounts and of such kinds comparable to those
in
effect as of the date of this Agreement, fail to properly report to the
applicable insurer any Proceeding or other matter that would be covered
under
the Policies as of the date of this Agreement or take any action that would
prejudice the ability of the Company to obtain insurance policies equivalent
to
the Policies after the Closing;
(xviii)
change in any material respect the policies or practices regarding the
inventory, accounts receivable or accounts payable or fail to manage its
working
capital in accordance with past practice;
(xix) adopt
or approve a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger,
consolidation, restructuring, or other restructuring;
(xx) allow
to lapse, or fail to make any applications for renewal as and when required,
of
any Permits necessary for the conduct of its business or the operation of
any of
its facilities;
(xxi) transfer
any asset (other than cash) of the Company or its Subsidiaries to any of
the
Selling Parties or their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and
its
Subsidiaries) or cease providing any service currently provided by the Selling
Parties or their respective Affiliates (other than the Company and its
Subsidiaries) to the Company and its Subsidiaries; or
(xxii) resolve,
authorize, agree or commit to take any of the foregoing actions.
(b) Certain
Tax Matters. (i) The Selling Parties, the Company and its
Subsidiaries will cause any tax sharing agreement or similar arrangement
with
respect to Taxes involving the Company or its Subsidiaries to be terminated
effective as of the Closing Date, to the extent any such agreement or
arrangement relates to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and after
the
Closing Date the Company shall have no obligation under any such agreement
or
arrangement for any past, present, or future period; (ii) Seller shall
deliver to the Purchasing Parties a non-foreign affidavit dated as of the
Closing Date, sworn under penalty of perjury and in form and substance required
under the Treasury Regulations issued pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code
stating that Seller is not a “Foreign Person” as defined in Section 1445 of
the Code; and (iii) all transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration and other such Taxes, and all conveyance fees, recording charges
and other fees and charges (including any penalties and interest) incurred
in
connection with consummation of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, shall be paid by Seller Parent and
Seller when due, and the Selling Parties will, at their own expense, file
all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such
Taxes, fees and charges, and, if required by applicable law, the Purchaser
will,
and will cause its Affiliates to, join in the execution of any such Tax Returns
and other documentation.
SECTION
5.02. Resignations. At the Closing,
the Selling Parties shall cause to be delivered to the Purchasing Parties
duly
signed letters of resignation from each member of the Board of Directors
and
each officer of the Company and its Subsidiaries that is specified on
Schedule 5.02 of the Purchasing Parties Disclosure Schedule or that may be
designated by the Purchasing Parties in a letter delivered to Seller Parent
no
later than the business day prior to the Closing, each to be effective
as of the
Closing.
SECTION
5.03. Support Services. Other than
the services provided under the Transition Services Agreement between Seller
Parent and the Purchasing Parties (the “Transition Services Agreement”)
substantially in the form set forth in Section 5.03 of the Company
Disclosure Letter, the Purchasing Parties acknowledge that all the support
services disclosed in Section 2.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter will be
terminated as of the Closing Date.
SECTION
5.04. Financing. (a) Prior
to the Closing, the Company shall provide and shall cause each Subsidiary
of the
Company and their respective Representatives to provide, and each Selling
Party
shall cause the Company and each Subsidiary of the Company and their respective
Representatives to provide, all cooperation in connection with the Debt
Financing reasonably requested by the Purchasing Parties, provided that
such requested cooperation does not unreasonably interfere with the ongoing
operations of the Selling Parties and their Subsidiaries (including the Company
and its Subsidiaries), including (i) participation in meetings,
presentations, road shows, due diligence sessions and sessions with rating
agencies, (ii) assisting with the preparation of materials for rating
agency presentations and offering documents, private placement memoranda,
bank
information memoranda, prospectuses, business projections and similar documents
required in connection with the Debt Financing, including execution and delivery
of customary representation letters in connection with bank information
memoranda, (iii) executing and delivering, as of the Closing, any pledge
and security documents, other definitive financing documents, other certificates
or documents as may be reasonably requested by the Purchasing Parties (including
a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer of the Company with respect
to
solvency matters) and otherwise reasonably facilitating the pledging of
collateral, (iv) as promptly as practical, furnishing the Purchasing
Parties and their financing sources with financial and other pertinent
information regarding the Company as may be reasonably requested by the
Purchasing Parties, including all related financial statements, and financial
data and other information of the type and form customarily included in private
placements under Rule 144A under the Securities Act to consummate the
offering(s) of debt securities contemplated by the Financing Commitments
(the
“Required Information”), (v) using reasonable best efforts to
(y) obtain accountants’ comfort letters, accountants’ consents and legal
opinions and (z) with respect to any properties for which the Purchasing
Parties’ lenders request surveys and/or mortgagee title insurance, using
reasonable best efforts to obtain title insurance in customary form for
commercial real estate transactions and providing the Purchasing Parties
and
their agents with reasonable access to the applicable properties in connection
with the Purchasing Parties’ surveys, in either of clause (y) or (z), at
the Purchasing Parties’ expense, as reasonably requested by the Purchasing
Parties; (vi) permitting the prospective lenders involved in the Debt
Financing to identify and evaluate the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets,
cash management and accounting systems, policies and procedures relating
thereto
for the purposes of establishing collateral arrangements; (vii) permitting
the Purchasing Parties to perform an appraisal of the inventory of the Company
and its Subsidiaries customary for the type of financing contemplated by
the
Debt Financing; (viii) without limitation of Section 5.06, using
reasonable best efforts to obtain waivers, consents, estoppels and approvals
from other parties to Company Leases and Contracts and to arrange discussions
among the Purchasing Parties and their financing sources with other parties
to
material leases, encumbrances and contracts, and (ix) taking all reasonable
actions necessary to permit the consummation of the Financing contemplated
by
the Financing Commitments; provided, that none of the Selling Parties or
any of their Subsidiaries (including the Company and its Subsidiaries) shall
be
required to pay any commitment or other similar fee or incur any other liability
in connection with the Debt Financing. The Purchasing Parties shall,
promptly
upon request by the Seller Parent, reimburse Seller Parent for all reasonable
out-of-pocket costs incurred by the Selling Parties or any of their Subsidiaries
(including the Company and its Subsidiaries) in connection with such
cooperation, including any payments or concessions made in connection with
clauses (viii) and (ix) above. The Purchasing Parties shall indemnify
and hold harmless the Selling Parties, their Subsidiaries (including the
Company
and its Subsidiaries) and their respective Representatives from and against
any
and all losses suffered or incurred by them in connection with (1) any action
taken by them at the request of the Purchasing Parties pursuant to this Section
5.04 or in connection with the arrangement of the Debt Financing and (2)
any
information utilized in connection therewith (other than information provided
by
the Selling Parties and their Subsidiaries (including the Company and its
Subsidiaries)). All non-public or otherwise confidential information
regarding the Company obtained by the Purchasing Parties pursuant to this
Section 5.04 shall be kept confidential in accordance with the
Confidentiality Agreement; provided, however, that the Purchasing
Parties and their Representatives shall be permitted to disclose information
as
necessary and consistent with customary practices in connection with the
Debt
Financing upon the prior written consent of Seller Parent (such consent not
to
be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed). The Selling
Parties shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries and their Representatives
to update, when requested by the Purchasing Parties, any such Required
Information to be included in an offering document to be used in connection
with
such Financing in order to ensure that such Required Information does not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements contained therein not
misleading.
(b) The
Purchasing Parties shall use, and shall cause their Affiliates to use, their
reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to
do, or
cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to arrange the
Debt
Financing on the terms and conditions described in the Financing Commitments
(provided that the Purchasing Parties may replace or amend the Financing
Commitments to add lenders, lead arrangers, bookrunners, syndication agents
or
similar entities who had not executed the Financing Commitments as of the
date
hereof, or otherwise replace or amend the Financing Commitments so long as
(a) after such actions, the Financing Commitments do not include any
additional conditions precedent that are not contained in the Financing
Commitments provided to Seller Parent as of the date of this Agreement, other
than inconsequential additional conditions, and (b) such actions are not
reasonably likely to delay, or diminish the likelihood of, the Purchasing
Parties obtaining the Debt Financing (clauses (a) and (b) together being
referred to as the “Financing Modification Requirements”); for purposes
of this Agreement, the term “Financing Commitments” shall be deemed to
include any such replacement or amended financing), including using reasonable
best efforts to (i) maintain in effect the Financing Commitments or any
Alternative Financing, (ii) satisfy on a timely basis all conditions
applicable to the Purchasing Parties to obtaining the Financing set forth
therein (including by consummating the equity financing contemplated by the
Equity Funding Letter), (iii) negotiate and enter into definitive
agreements with respect thereto on the terms and conditions contemplated
by the
Financing Commitments (including the related flex provisions) or any Alternative
Financing, (iv) consummate the Debt Financing on the terms and conditions
contemplated by the Financing Commitments or any Alternative Financing at
or
prior to Closing and (v) complete an appraisal of the inventory of the Company
and its Subsidiaries customary for the type of financing contemplated by
the
Debt Financing as soon as practicable. In the event any portion of
the Debt Financing becomes unavailable on the terms and conditions contemplated
in the Financing Commitments, the Purchasing Parties shall use
their
reasonable best efforts to arrange to obtain alternative financing from
alternative sources in an amount sufficient to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement on terms and conditions that are not materially
less beneficial to the Purchasing Parties than those contained in the Financing
Commitments as in effect on the date of this Agreement as determined in the
reasonable good faith judgment of the Purchasing Parties and consistent with
the
Financing Modification Requirements (any such alternative financing actually
obtained by the Purchasing Parties, “Alternative Financing”) as promptly
as practicable following the occurrence of such event but no later than the
last
day of the Marketing Period. Nothing in this Agreement shall prohibit
the Purchasing Parties from entering into agreements relating to the Financing
or the operation of the Purchasing Parties, including adding other equity
providers or operating partners, subject in each case to the Financing
Modification Requirements. The Purchasing Parties shall have the
right to amend the Financing Commitments or any Alternative Financing in
their
sole discretion; provided that such amendments are consistent with the
Financing Modification Requirements.
(c) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Marketing Period” shall mean the first
period of 30 consecutive calendar days after the Initiation Date
(i) throughout which (A) the Purchasing Parties and their Debt
Financing sources shall have the Required Information (provided that any
such
Required Information to be included in an offering document to be used in
connection with such Debt Financing shall be updated as reasonably requested
to
ensure that the Required Information does not contain any untrue statement
of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the
statements contained therein not misleading) and (B) nothing has occurred
and no condition exists that would cause any of the conditions set forth
in
Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 to fail to be satisfied, assuming the
Closing were to be scheduled for any time during such 30 consecutive
calendar day period, and (ii) at the end of which the conditions set forth
in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 shall be satisfied. For
purposes of this Agreement, “Initiation Date” shall mean the earliest
date on which both (x) the Company shall have delivered or caused to be
delivered the Required Information to the Purchasing Parties and their financing
sources and (y) the Purchasing Parties shall have completed an appraisal
of the
inventory of the Company and its Subsidiaries customary for the type of
financing contemplated by the Debt Financing. The Purchasing Parties
shall keep Seller Parent informed on a reasonably current basis of the status
of
its efforts to arrange the Debt Financing and provide to Seller Parent copies
of
documents related to the Debt Financing as Seller Parent reasonably requests;
provided that the Purchasing Parties may redact in such documents the fee
amounts payable to their financing sources under the Financing
Commitments. The Purchasing Parties shall give Seller Parent prompt
notice of any material breach by any party of the Financing Commitments of
which
the Purchasing Parties become aware, or any termination of the Financing
Commitments.
SECTION
5.05. Access to Information;
Confidentiality. Subject to applicable Laws relating to the
exchange of information, the Seller Parent shall, and shall cause the Company,
each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective Representatives to,
afford, upon reasonable advance notice, to the Purchasing Parties and the
Purchasing Parties’ Representatives, reasonable access during normal business
hours during the period prior to the Closing Date or the termination of
this
Agreement to all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ properties and other
assets, books, contracts, records (including accountants’ work papers and Tax
Returns), directors, officers, Employees and attorneys and, during such
period,
Seller Parent shall, and
shall
cause the Company, each of its Subsidiaries and each of their respective
Representatives to, furnish promptly to the Purchasing Parties all other
information concerning the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ business, properties
and personnel as the Purchasing Parties may reasonably request. As
soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the
Company
shall request an updated estimate of the potential withdrawal liability to
which
the Company or any Subsidiary would be subject if the Company or any Subsidiary
were to withdraw from each Multiemployer Plan and shall promptly furnish
to the
Purchasing Parties any information it receives in response to such
request. Except for disclosures expressly permitted by the terms of
the confidentiality agreement, dated as of October 19, 2006, between an
Affiliate of the Purchasing Parties and Seller Parent (as it may be amended
from
time to time, the “Confidentiality Agreement”). The Purchasing Parties
shall hold, and shall cause their Representatives and financing sources to
hold,
all information received from the Selling Parties and the Company, directly
or
indirectly, under this Agreement or otherwise in confidence in accordance
with
the Confidentiality Agreement.
SECTION
5.06. Reasonable Best
Efforts. (a) Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of the parties agrees to use,
except as otherwise provided below, its reasonable best efforts to take,
or
cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper
or
advisable to consummate, in the most expeditious manner reasonably practicable,
the Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
including using reasonable best efforts to accomplish the
following: (i) the taking of all acts necessary to cause the
conditions to Closing to be satisfied as promptly as reasonably practicable,
(ii) the obtaining of all necessary actions or nonactions, waivers,
consents, approvals, orders and authorizations from, and the giving of any
necessary notices to, Governmental Authorities and the making of all necessary
registrations, declarations and filings (including filings with Governmental
Authorities, if any), and the taking of all acts as may be necessary to obtain
any such action, nonaction, waiver, consent, approval, order or authorization,
(iii) the obtaining of all necessary consents from any third party required
by any Contract or Company Lease; provided, however, that the
Purchasing Parties and their Affiliates shall not be required to, and the
Selling Parties and their Affiliates shall not be required to, make any material
payment or provide any material value, enter into any Contract (or amend
any
existing Contract) that is materially disadvantageous to the Selling Parties
and
their Affiliates or the Purchasing Parties and their Affiliates or otherwise
take any other action that is adverse to the Selling Parties or their Affiliates
or the Purchasing Parties or their Affiliates in any material respect, and
(iv) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to
consummate the transactions contemplated by, and to fully carry out the purposes
of, this Agreement.
(b) In
addition to and without limitation of the foregoing, each of Seller Parent
and
Purchaser undertakes and agrees to file as promptly as practicable after
the
date of this Agreement all necessary filings pursuant to the HSR Act with
the
United States Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the
United
States Department of Justice (and shall file as promptly as practicable
any form
or report required by any other Governmental Authority relating to antitrust,
competition, trade or other regulatory matters). Each of Purchaser
and the Company shall (i) respond as promptly as practicable to any
inquiries or requests received from any Governmental Authority for additional
information or documentation and (ii) not extend any waiting period under
the HSR Act or enter into any Contract with any Governmental Authority
not
to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except with the
written consent of the other parties hereto. Each party hereto shall
(x) promptly notify the other party of any written communication to that
party or its Affiliates from any Governmental Authority concerning this
Agreement or the Acquisition and, subject to applicable Law, permit the other
party to review in advance any proposed written communication to any of the
foregoing, (y) not agree to participate, or to permit its Affiliates to
participate, in any substantive meeting or discussion with any Governmental
Authority with respect to any filings, investigation or inquiry concerning
this
Agreement or the Acquisition unless it consults with the other party in advance
and, to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority, gives the other
party the opportunity to attend and participate thereat, and (z) furnish
the other party with copies of all correspondence, filings and communications
(and memoranda setting forth the substance thereof) between them and their
Affiliates and their respective Representatives, on the one hand, and any
Governmental Authority or members of their respective staffs, on the other
hand,
with respect to this Agreement and the Acquisition (except that the Selling
Parties and the Company shall be under no obligation of any kind to provide
the
Purchasing Parties documents, material or other information relating to the
valuation of the Company or to alternatives to the proposed Acquisition and
this
Agreement, and the Purchasing Parties shall not be obligated to disclose
to the
Selling Parties or the Company any nonpublic information about the Purchasing
Parties’ or their Affiliates’ existing business or operations).
SECTION
5.07. Public Announcements. The
Purchasing Parties and Seller Parent shall consult with each other before
issuing, and give each other the opportunity to review and comment upon,
any
press release or other public statements with respect to this Agreement,
the
Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and
shall not issue any such press release or make any such public statement
without
the consent of the other party, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld
or
delayed, except as may be required by applicable Law, court process or by
obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with any national securities
exchange or national securities quotation system. The parties agree
that the initial press releases to be issued with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be in the forms heretofore agreed to
by the
parties and in the case of Seller Parent’s initial press release, shall not
constitute a solicitation under Section 5.13.
SECTION
5.08. Employee
Matters. (a) During the period beginning on the
Closing Date and ending on December 31, 2008, Employees who continue their
employment with Purchaser or its Affiliates (including the Company after
the
Closing Date) after the Closing Date (“Affected Employees”) shall receive
compensation and employee benefits that are no less favorable in the aggregate
than the compensation and benefits such Affected Employees received immediately
prior to the Closing, other than equity-based compensation. Without
limiting the foregoing, during the period beginning on the Closing Date
and
ending on December 31, 2008, Purchaser shall, or shall cause the Company
to,
maintain the Company Severance Plans or a severance plan or plans of Purchaser
providing substantially the same benefits to Affected Employees as would
have
been provided to such Affected Employees under the Company Severance Plans
in
which they participated immediately prior to the Closing (or, to the extent
that
Affected Employees participated in the Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Plan immediately
prior to
the Closing, a severance plan or plans of Purchaser providing substantially
the
same benefits payable under substantially the same circumstances to Affected
Employees as would have been provided to such Affected Employees under
the Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Plan), and shall not amend or permit the amendment of any such
plans
in a manner that is adverse to any Affected Employee.
(b) From
and after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall, or shall cause its Affiliates
(including the Company after the Closing) to, (i) honor, in accordance with
their terms, all Company Plans, all existing Contracts with Company or its
Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Affected Employee, on the other hand,
and
all obligations, including any rights or benefits arising as a result of
the
Acquisition (either alone or in combination with any other event), other
than
with respect to equity-based compensation, (ii) recognize all the Affected
Employees’ accrued and unused vacation and other paid time-off benefits
consistent with the terms of the vacation or similar policies of the Company
and
any of its Subsidiaries as in effect immediately prior to the Closing,
(iii) pay all annual bonuses that are payable to Affected Employees under
the annual bonus plans applicable to the Affected Employees, including the
annual bonus plans as in effect as of immediately prior to the Closing, with
respect to the fiscal year in which the Closing occurs, including bonuses
accrued before the Closing Date under such annual bonus plans to the extent
that
such accruals are accurately reflected in the Final Closing Statement and
(iv) with respect to any Affected Employee whose employment with Purchaser
or its Affiliates is terminated by the Company without cause prior to the
payment of the annual bonuses in clause (iii), pay such Affected Employees
a pro rated target bonus under such annual bonus plans, such pro ration to
be
based on the number of days that have elapsed prior to such termination in
the
fiscal year in which the Closing occurs (provided that with respect to
each Affected Employee such payment shall be offset by any duplicative benefit
in the nature of bonus pay provided to such Affected Employee by the Company
pursuant to any severance plan, employment agreement or other arrangement
then
in effect and provided, further that the foregoing is intended to
apply solely with respect to duplicative payments in the nature of bonus
pay and
that nothing in this sentence is intended or shall be construed or applied
to
restrict Purchaser’s obligation to provide or cause to be provided, as the case
may be, both (x) severance benefits that are not in the nature of bonus pay
and (y) pro rated target bonuses, as required pursuant to
Section 5.08(a) and this Section 5.08(b), respectively).
(c) For
purposes of each employee benefit plan of Purchaser or its Affiliates in
which
any Affected Employee is eligible to participate after the Closing, including
for purposes of eligibility, vesting and benefit levels and accruals, Purchaser
shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, treat the service of such Affected
Employee with the Company and any of its Subsidiaries (or any predecessor
employer) prior to the Closing as service with Purchaser and its
Affiliates. Purchaser shall, or shall cause its Affiliates to, waive
any pre-existing condition exclusions, evidence of insurability provisions,
waiting period requirements or any similar provision under any of the welfare
plans maintained by Purchaser or any of its
Affiliates
in which Affected Employees participate following the Closing Date to the
extent
such limitations and restrictions were waived or satisfied under the applicable
Company Plan immediately prior to the Closing Date. In addition,
Affected Employees shall receive credit for any co-payments, deductibles
and
annual out-of-pocket expenses incurred under the welfare plans of the Company
or
any of its Affiliates during the calendar year in which the Closing Date
occurs,
but prior to the Closing Date, for purposes of the corresponding co-payments,
deductibles and annual out-of-pocket expenses under welfare plans of Purchaser
or any of its Affiliates for the calendar year in which the Closing Date
occurs.
(d) The
Purchasing Parties agree that any agreement they have entered into or may
enter
into prior to Closing with any director, officer or Employee of the Company
or
its Subsidiaries or the Creative Director of the Company will not become
effective until the Closing.
(e) The
Company shall promptly notify the Purchasing Parties of any entry into,
termination of, adoption of, material amendment of or material increase of
the
benefits under the Multiemployer Plans referenced in Section 5.01(a)(2) of
the
Company Disclosure Letter.
SECTION
5.09. Letters of Credit and Hedging
Contracts. (a) Section 5.09 of the Company
Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all letters of
credit
and hedging contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party
as of the date of this Agreement, which shall be updated in writing by Seller
Parent prior to Closing. On or before the Closing Date, Purchaser
shall, or shall cause a Subsidiary of Purchaser to, provide the Selling Parties
with a stand-by letter of credit issued by a bank reasonably acceptable to
the
Selling Parties against any loss, payment or reimbursement obligation arising
from any outstanding letter of credit issued for the benefit of the Company
or a
Subsidiary of the Company or any foreign exchange hedging contract of the
Company or its Subsidiaries that is guaranteed by Seller Parent or its
Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries). The
Purchasing Parties shall indemnify the Selling Parties and their Subsidiaries
against all claims and Liabilities arising under any such letter of credit
or
hedging contract from and after the Closing Date.
(b) For
so long as Purchaser is in compliance with its obligations under
Section 5.09(a), each Selling Party shall, and shall cause their respective
Affiliates to, maintain in full force and effect and perform its obligations
under each letter of credit that is issued for the benefit of the Company
or a
Subsidiary of the Company and each guarantee by Seller Parent or its Affiliate
of a foreign exchange hedging contract of the Company or its Subsidiary
following the Closing until such letter of credit or hedging contract expires
or
is terminated by (i) such Selling Party at the request of Purchaser or
(ii) the counterparty thereto. At the time of Closing, Seller
Parent and its Subsidiaries (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries)
may
remove the Company and its Subsidiaries from its letter of credit facility
and
terminate any arrangements to provide credit support to the Company and its
Subsidiaries under any letters of credit or guarantees and the Company and
its
Subsidiaries will cooperate in terminating such credit
support. Following the Closing, Seller Parent and its Subsidiaries
shall no longer provide any credit support to the Company, other than any
outstanding letters of credit and hedging arrangements required to be maintained
pursuant to this Section 5.09(b) (so long as the Purchasing Parties are in
compliance with their obligations under Section 5.09(a)).
SECTION
5.10. Release of Lease
Guarantees. On or before the Closing Date, (i) Purchaser
shall use reasonable best efforts to arrange, at its sole cost and expense,
for replacement arrangements, effective as of the Closing Date, for all
lease
guarantees provided by the Selling Parties or any of their Subsidiaries
(other
than the Company and its Subsidiaries) for the benefit of the Company or
any of
its Subsidiaries with respect to any Leased Property, which guarantees
are
listed in Section 5.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, including such
reasonable and customary replacement guarantees or letters of credit, as
the
applicable landlord shall require and (ii) Purchaser shall use reasonable
best efforts to obtain releases from the applicable landlords indicating
that
the Selling Parties and their Subsidiaries shall have no Liability with
respect
to such lease guarantee effective as of the Closing Date, in each case
reasonably satisfactory to the Selling Parties. The Purchasing
Parties shall indemnify the Selling Parties and their Subsidiaries against
all
claims, Liabilities, damages, Liens, judgments, and expenses arising out
of,
involving, or in connection with any such lease guarantee from and after
the
Closing Date.
SECTION
5.11. Further Assurances. From
time to time, as and when requested by any party, each party shall execute
and
deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, all such documents and
instruments and shall take, or cause to be taken, all such further or other
actions (subject to Section 5.06), as such other party may reasonably deem
necessary or desirable to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including, in the case of the Selling Parties, executing and
delivering to the Purchasing Parties such assignments, deeds, bills of sale,
consents and other instruments as the Purchasing Parties or their counsel
may
reasonably request as necessary or desirable for such purpose.
SECTION
5.12. Intercompany
Arrangements. The Selling Parties and the Purchasing Parties
acknowledge and agree that, as of the Closing, any contract, lease, license,
commitment, account or arrangement (other than those entered pursuant to
the
terms of this Agreement) between the Company or its Subsidiaries, on the
one
hand, and the Selling Parties or any of their Subsidiaries (exclusive of
the
Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Closing), on the other hand, shall
be
terminated and be of no further force or effect, notwithstanding any terms
thereof to the contrary, other than accounts payable relating to purchases
by
the Company or its Subsidiaries of goods for resale from Seller Parent or
its
Subsidiaries pursuant to agreements or arrangements disclosed in Section
5.12 of
the Company Disclosure Letter, to the extent reflected (along with the related
inventory) in determining Net Working Capital. The Selling Parties
and their Affiliates shall retain, satisfy, terminate and/or convert to equity
all pre-Closing intercompany payables, receivables, obligations, Contracts
or
other Liabilities, other than accounts payable relating to purchases by the
Company or its Subsidiaries of goods for resale from Seller Parent or its
Subsidiaries.
SECTION
5.13. No
Solicitation. (a) The parties hereto shall not, and
shall cause their Subsidiaries (including, in the case of the Selling Parties,
the Company) and their respective Representatives and Subsidiaries not to
(i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage any inquiries or the making of
any offer or proposal regarding any Alternative Transaction or (ii) enter
into, continue or participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding,
or
furnish to any person any nonpublic information relating to the Company in
connection with, or otherwise cooperate with a person or group making any
offer
or proposal regarding any Alternative Transaction or (iii) execute or enter
into any letter of intent, memorandum of understanding, agreement in principle,
merger agreement, acquisition agreement, option agreement, joint venture
agreement, partnership agreement or other similar Contract constituting,
providing for or related to any Alternative Transaction other than, in the
case
of the Selling Parties, in connection with the termination of this Agreement
as
provided for in Section 8.01(g).
(b) Notwithstanding
the provisions of Section 5.13(a), in response to a bona fide inquiry,
proposal or offer relating to any Alternative Transaction received after
the
date of this Agreement and prior to July 22, 2007 (the “Initial Window
Termination Date”), and such bona fide inquiry, proposal or offer was
unsolicited after the date of this Agreement, the Selling Parties may furnish
information relating to the Company and its Subsidiaries (so long as all
such
information
has previously been made available to the Purchasing Parties or is made
available to the Purchasing Parties prior to or concurrently with the time
it is
made available to such person or group), or enter into discussions or
negotiations with, the person or group that has made such unsolicited bona
fide
inquiry, proposal or offer (the “Potential Acquirer”) provided that each
of the following conditions are met: (i) such person or group first
executes a confidentiality agreement substantially in the form of, and with
terms no less favorable to the Selling Parties than, the Confidentiality
Agreement, (ii) the Selling Parties and their Subsidiaries have theretofore
complied with this Section 5.13 in all respects, (iii) the Board of
Directors of Seller Parent determines in good faith (after consultation with
its
outside financial advisor and outside counsel) that such unsolicited bona
fide
inquiry, proposal or offer constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to
a
Superior Transaction and (iv) the Selling Parties have provided the
Purchasing Parties with prior written notice (any such notice, a “Potential
Superior Transaction Notice”) (A) that any information is requested or
any discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated relating to an
Alternative Transaction, (B) of the identity of the Potential Acquirer and
any other terms of such request, inquiry or Alternative Transaction (which
notice shall include any written materials containing such communication)
and
(C) of its intent to take any such action.
(c) Without
limiting Section 5.13(a), if the Selling Parties or any of their respective
Affiliates or any of their respective Representatives participates in
discussions or negotiations with, or provides information to, a Potential
Acquirer, the Selling Parties will keep the Purchasing Parties advised on
a
substantially current basis of any material developments with respect
thereto.
(d) The
Selling Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates and their
respective Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated
any
existing activities, discussions, or negotiations with any persons other
than
the Purchasing Parties and their Affiliates conducted prior to the date hereof
with respect to any Alternative Transaction.
(e) For
purposes of this Agreement, “Alternative Transaction” means any
(i) direct or indirect acquisition (other than any acquisition of the
shares of Seller Parent) of any of the Shares or any other voting or equity
interest in the Company by any person (including by means of a spin-off,
split-off or public offering), (ii) merger, consolidation,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution or similar transaction directly
or
indirectly involving the Company, (iii) direct or indirect sale or other
disposition of all or a substantial portion of the assets of the Company,
and
(iv) other transaction that would reasonably be expected to impede,
interfere with, prevent, materially delay or limit the economic benefit to
the
Purchasing Parties of, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
provided, however, that the term Alternative Transaction shall not
include a transaction contemplated by a Parent Acquisition
Proposal.
(f) For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Superior Transaction” means any
Alternative Transaction that (i) if consummated would result in the
acquisition, directly or indirectly, by any person (other than the Purchasing
Parties) of at least 50% of the Shares or of the assets of the Company,
(ii) is on terms that the Board of Directors of Seller Parent has
determined in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its outside
financial advisor and outside counsel) are more favorable to Seller Parent
from
a financial point of view than this Agreement and (iii) which the Board of
Directors of Seller Parent has determined in good faith (after consultation
with
its outside financial advisor and outside counsel) is reasonably capable
of
being consummated.
(g) For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Parent Acquisition Proposal” shall mean
any bona fide inquiry, proposal or offer relating to, or that is reasonably
likely to lead to, a transaction which results in a third party or group
of
third parties owning directly or indirectly more than 50% of the voting
securities of Seller Parent (or of the shares of the surviving entity in
a
merger or the direct or indirect parent of the surviving entity in a merger)
or
all or substantially all of the assets of Seller Parent.
(h) If
Seller Parent intends to furnish information relating to the Company and
its
Subsidiaries or enter into discussions or negotiations with, the person or
group
that has made a Parent Acquisition Proposal, Seller Parent shall provide
the
Purchasing Parties with prior written notice (any such notice, a “Parent
Acquisition Transaction Notice”) (A) that any information is
requested or any discussions or negotiations are sought to be initiated relating
to such Parent Acquisition Proposal, (B) of the identity of the potential
acquirer and any other terms of such Parent Acquisition Proposal (which notice
shall include any written materials containing such communication) and
(C) of its intent to take any such action; provided that Seller
Parent shall not be required to provide such notice for a Parent Acquisition
Proposal that would allow the Acquisition to be consummated and would not
impede
or delay the consummation of the Acquisition.
(i) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, in no event shall the Selling
Parties be required to close the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
prior to the Initial Window Termination Date (or, if a Potential Superior
Transaction Notice or Parent Acquisition Transaction Notice has been given
to
Buyer in accordance with Section 5.13(b) or (h), respectively, on or prior
to the Initial Window Termination Date, prior to August 11, 2007).
SECTION
5.14. Lease Estoppel. To the
extent permissible under the terms of those leases set forth on
Section 5.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter, Seller Parent or the Company
shall request and use reasonable best efforts to obtain a lessor’s estoppel
certificate substantially in the form of the lessor’s estoppel certificate set
forth in Section 5.14 of the Company Disclosure Letter in accordance with
each of such leases.
Tax
Matters
SECTION
6.01. Tax
Indemnification. (a) Seller Parent and Seller shall be
jointly and severally responsible for and shall pay, and shall jointly
and
severally indemnify and hold the Purchasing Parties, the Company and their
respective Subsidiaries (each a “Tax Indemnitee”) harmless from, any and
all Taxes levied or imposed on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in
respect
of its income, business, property or operations or for which the Company
or any
of its Subsidiaries may otherwise be liable (i) that are allocated to
Seller Parent and Seller pursuant to Section 6.02; (ii) for which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries may otherwise be liable as a result
of being
included in a consolidated group of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
was a member prior to the Closing Date pursuant to Treasury Regulations
Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous provision of state, local or foreign Tax
Law; (iii) that arise from or relate to the breach by the Selling Parties
of Section 2.15(k); or (iv) that are attributable to the failure to
pay any real estate transfer taxes in any period prior to the Closing Date
or to
any breach of Section 5.01(b)(iii).
(b) Amounts
payable pursuant to this Section 6.01 shall be determined so as to hold the
Tax Indemnitee harmless on an after-tax basis. For this purpose, any tax
benefits shall be computed based on the amount of any benefit actually realized;
provided, however, that if a Tax benefit attributable to an amount
paid pursuant to this Section 6.01 is actually realized after the payment
date of such amount paid, the party realizing such Tax benefit shall promptly
pay it to the other party.
(c) Any
indemnity payment required to be made by Seller Parent or Seller pursuant
to
this Article VI shall be paid to the Purchasing Parties no later than five
business days prior to the date on which Tax with respect to such item would
be
due.
SECTION
6.02. Apportionment of
Taxes. (a) In order to apportion appropriately any
Taxes relating to a period that includes the Closing Date, Seller Parent,
Seller
and Purchaser shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, elect with
the
relevant Taxing authority to treat for all purposes the Closing Date as the
last
day of a taxable period of the Company, and such period shall be treated
as a
period ending prior to or on the Closing Date for purposes of this
Agreement.
(b) Seller
Parent and Seller shall be liable for any Pre-Closing Period
Taxes. For purposes of this Agreement, “Pre-Closing Period
Taxes” means, except to the extent reflected in the determination of Net
Working Capital:
(i) with
respect to Taxes imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with
respect to taxable periods ending prior to or on the Closing Date, all Taxes
due
for such taxable period (regardless of whether such Taxes are due and payable
at
Closing); and
(ii) with
respect to Taxes imposed upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with
respect to taxable periods beginning before and ending after the Closing
Date
(each, a “Straddle Period”), the portion of any such Taxes that is
allocable to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date
(such
Taxes, the “Pre-Closing Straddle Taxes”), determined in accordance with
the following:
(A) In
the case of Taxes that are either (1) based upon or related to income,
receipts or shareholders’ equity or (2) imposed in connection with any
sale, transfer or assignment or any deemed sale, transfer or assignment
of
property (real or personal, tangible or intangible), including any transaction
contemplated by this Agreement (regardless of whether such transaction
occurs
before or after the Closing Date) or undertaken to implement this Agreement,
Pre-Closing Period Straddle Taxes shall be deemed equal to the amount that
would
be payable if the Tax year ended on the Closing Date. For purposes of
this clause (A), any exemption, deduction, credit or other item that is
calculated on an annual basis shall be allocated to the portion of the
Straddle
Period ending on the Closing Date on a pro rata basis determined by
multiplying the entire amount of such item allocated to the Straddle Period
by a
fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar days in the
portion
of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of
which
is the number of calendar days in the entire Straddle Period.
(B) In
the case of Taxes (other than those described in clause (A) above) imposed
on a periodic basis with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries
or
otherwise measured by the level of any item, Pre-Closing Straddle Taxes shall
be
deemed to equal (1) the aggregate amount of such Taxes for the entire
Straddle Period (or, in the case of Taxes determined on an arrears basis,
the
amount of such Taxes for the immediately preceding Tax period) multiplied
by (2) a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of calendar
days in the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date and
the
denominator of which is the number of calendar days in the entire Straddle
Period.
SECTION
6.03. Tax
Returns. (a) (i) Seller Parent and Seller shall
be responsible for the timely filing (taking into account any extensions
received from the relevant tax authorities) of all Tax Returns required by
Law
(A) to be filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on or prior to
the Closing Date, or (B) to include the Company and its Subsidiaries in a
consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return filed by Seller Parent, Seller
or
any Affiliate (other than any Tax Indemnitee) with respect to any taxable
period
ending prior to or including the Closing Date; (ii) such Tax Returns shall
be
true, correct and complete in all material respects; and (iii) to the extent
any
Taxes indicated as due and payable on such Tax Returns constitute Pre-Closing
Period Taxes or are the responsibility of the Seller Parent and Seller pursuant
to this Agreement, such Taxes shall be paid or will be paid by the Seller
Parent
and Seller as and when required by Law. Unless a different treatment
of any item is required by an intervening change in applicable Law, (x) such
Tax
Returns shall be prepared on a basis consistent with those prepared for prior
taxable periods on the Closing Date and (y) no Tax Returns with respect to
pre-Closing period Taxes shall be amended if such amendment could adversely
affect the Purchasing Parties or the Company or any of their respective
Subsidiaries in any taxable period ending after the Closing
Date.
(b) The
Company, or, where applicable, its Subsidiaries, shall be responsible for
the
timely filing (taking into account any extensions received from the relevant
tax
authorities) of Tax Returns which are required by Law to be filed by any
the
Company or its Subsidiaries after the Closing Date.
SECTION
6.04. Survival. All obligations and
representations under this Article VI and Section 2.15(k) shall
survive the Closing hereunder and continue until 30 days following the
expiration of the statute of limitations, including any applicable extensions
or
waivers thereof, on assessment of the relevant Tax.
SECTION
6.05. Contest. (a) For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Contest” is any audit, Proceeding or other
dispute with respect to any Tax matter that affects the Company or any
of its
Subsidiaries. Unless Purchaser has previously received written notice
from Seller Parent of the existence of such Contest, Purchaser shall promptly
give written notice to Seller Parent of the existence of any Contest relating
to
a Tax matter that is or may be Seller Parent’s, Seller’s or their Affiliate’s
full or shared responsibility under this Agreement, but no failure to give
such
notice shall relieve Seller Parent, Seller or such Affiliate of any Liability
hereunder except to the extent, if any, that the rights of Seller Parent,
Seller
or such Affiliate with respect to such claim are actually
prejudiced. Unless Seller Parent has previously received written
notice from Purchaser of the existence of such Contest, Seller Parent shall
promptly give written notice to Purchaser of the existence of any
Contest.
(b) Purchaser,
on the one hand, Seller Parent on the other, agrees, in each case at no cost
to
the other party, to cooperate with the other and the other’s representatives in
a prompt and timely manner in connection with any Contest. Such
cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, making available to the
other
party, during normal business hours, all books, records, returns, documents,
files, other information (including, without limitation, working papers and
schedules), officers or employees (without substantial interruption of
employment) or other relevant information necessary or useful in connection
with
any Contest requiring any such books, records and files.
(c) In
the case of any Contest relating to a Tax matter arising in a period ending
on
or before the Closing Date, Seller Parent shall have the right to represent
the
Company’s interests in, to employ counsel of its choice at its expense, and to
control the conduct of such Contest. Seller Parent shall have the
right to settle or dispose of any Contest relating to such Tax matter;
provided, however, that no settlement or other disposition of any
Contest that may have an adverse effect on any Taxes payable by the Purchasing
Parties, the Company or any of their respective Subsidiaries during any taxable
period ending after the Closing Date in any manner or to any extent (including,
but not limited to, the imposition of income tax deficiencies, the reduction
of
asset basis or cost adjustments and the reduction of loss or credit carryovers),
except if such effect would be de minimis, shall be agreed to without the
Purchasing Parties’ prior written consent, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
(d) In
the case of any Contest relating to a Tax Return for a Straddle Period, but
only
to the extent such Tax matter relates to Taxes for which Seller Parent may
be
required to indemnify Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement, Purchaser and
Seller
Parent shall jointly represent their interests in any Contest, shall employ
counsel of their mutual choice and shall cooperate with the other and the
other’s representatives in a prompt and timely manner in connection with any
Contest. The parties shall mutually agree on any settlement or other
disposition of the Contest. Any such Contest expenses shall be shared
by the parties to the extent they relate to a Tax matter, shall be borne
by
Purchaser and Seller Parent in the same proportion as such related Taxes
are
borne economically by Purchaser and Seller Parent.
(e) Purchaser
shall have the right to control the conduct of any Contest in its sole
discretion with respect to any other Tax matter.
SECTION
6.06. Cooperation on Tax
Matters. After the date of the Agreement, Seller Parent,
Purchaser, and the Company shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates
to, cooperate fully as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other
party, (a) with regard to any qualification or filing requirements or
similar requirements relating to Taxes for the purpose of minimizing such
Taxes,
and (b) in connection with the filing of Tax Returns of the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries and any audit, litigation or other Proceeding with
respect
to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include, but not be limited to, the retention
and (upon the other party’s request) the provision of records and information
reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other Proceeding and
making
Employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional
information and explanation of any material provided hereunder. The
Company, Seller Parent and Purchaser shall (i) retain all books and records
with respect to Tax matters pertinent to each of the Company and its
Subsidiaries relating to any taxable period beginning before the Closing
Date
until expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified
by
Purchaser or Seller Parent, any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable
periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered into with
any
Tax authority and (ii) give the other party reasonable written notice prior
to transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and records and,
if the
other party so requests, shall allow the requesting party to take possession
of
such books and records.
SECTION
6.07. Tax Effect of Indemnification
Payments. All indemnification payments made pursuant to
Article VI shall be treated for all Tax purposes as adjustments to the
consideration paid with respect to the Shares.
Conditions
Precedent
SECTION
7.01. Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to
Effect the Acquisition. The respective obligation of each party
hereto to effect the Acquisition is subject to the satisfaction or waiver
by
such party on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Antitrust. The
waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the Acquisition
under
the HSR Act shall have been terminated or shall have expired.
(b) No
Injunctions or Restraints. No (i) Order (whether temporary,
preliminary or permanent) or other legal restraint issued by any Governmental
Authority or (ii) Law that, in either case, has the effect of preventing
the consummation of the Acquisition or the performance of the other material
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Related Document, including
the Financing (collectively, “Restraints”) shall be in
effect.
(c) No
Proceedings. No Proceeding initiated by a Governmental Authority
that seeks the issuance or promulgation of a Restraint shall be
pending.
SECTION
7.02. Conditions to Obligations of the Purchasing
Parties. The obligations of the Purchasing Parties to effect the
Acquisition are further subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior
to the
Closing Date of the following conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties
contained in Article II of this Agreement (other than those referred to in
clause (ii) or (iii) below), disregarding all qualifications and exceptions
contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall
be
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing
Date
with the same effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that
the
accuracy of representations and warranties that by their terms speak as
of a
specified date will be determined as of such date), except where the failure
to
be true and correct has not had and is not reasonably likely to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) the
representations and warranties contained in Section 2.01 (Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power); Section 2.03(d) (Indebtedness);
Section 2.04 (Authority; Noncontravention); Section 2.24 (Brokers and
Other Advisors) and Article III (other than those referred to in
clause (iii) below) shall be true and correct in all material respects as
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect
as
if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that the accuracy of
representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified
date
will be determined as of such date);
(iii) the
representations and warranties contained in Section 2.02 (Subsidiaries);
Section 2.03(a), (b) and (c) (Capital Structure); and Section 3.06
(The Shares) shall be true and correct in all respects as of the date of
this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on and
as
of the Closing Date (except that the accuracy of representations and warranties
that by their terms speak as of a specified date will be determined as of
such
date); and
(iv) the
Purchasing Parties shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of
the
Selling Parties by an authorized officer of the Selling Parties to the effect
of
the preceding clauses (i), (ii) and (iii).
(b) Performance
of Obligations of the Company. The Company shall have performed
in all material respects all obligations required to be performed by it under
this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Purchasing Parties
shall
have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Company by an authorized
officer of the Company to such effect.
(c) Performance
of Obligations of the Selling Parties. The Selling Parties shall
have performed in all material respects all obligations required to be performed
by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and the Purchasing
Parties shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Selling
Parties by an authorized officer of the Selling Parties to such
effect.
(d) No
Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there
shall not have been any Effect that is incapable of cure or has not been
cured
that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) Employment
Agreement. Xxxxxx Xxxxx shall not have died or suffered any
injury, sickness or mental illness or other condition which has resulted
in, or
is reasonably likely to result in, a disability that prevents him from
performing his duties as chief executive officer of the Company immediately
following the Closing.
SECTION
7.03. Conditions to Obligation of the Selling
Parties and the Company. The obligation of the Selling Parties
and the Company to effect the Acquisition is further subject to the satisfaction
or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. The representations and warranties contained in
Article IV of this Agreement, disregarding all qualifications and
exceptions contained therein relating to materiality, shall be true and
correct
as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same
effect
as if made on and as of the Closing Date (except that the accuracy of
representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of a specified
date
will be determined as of such date), except where the failure to be true
and
correct is not reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
ability of either of the Purchasing Parties to perform its obligations
under
this Agreement or prevent or materially impede, interfere with, hinder
or delay
the consummation of the Acquisition or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. The Selling Parties shall have
received a certificate signed on behalf of the Purchasing Parties by an
authorized officer of the Purchasing Parties to such effect.
(b) Performance
of Obligations of the Purchasing Parties. The Purchasing Parties
shall have performed in all material respects all obligations required to
be
performed by them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, and
the
Selling Parties shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the
Purchasing Parties by an authorized officer of the Purchasing Parties to
such
effect.
SECTION
7.04. Frustration of Closing
Conditions. None of the Selling Parties, the Company or the
Purchasing Parties may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in
Section 7.01, 7.02 or 7.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if such
failure was caused by such party’s failure to use its reasonable best efforts,
as the case may be, to consummate the Acquisition and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, as required by and subject to Section 5.06,
or otherwise by such party’s breach of its obligations under this
Agreement.
Termination,
Amendment and Waiver
SECTION
8.01. Termination. This Agreement
may be terminated, and the Acquisition contemplated hereby may be abandoned,
at
any time prior to the Closing Date:
(a) by
mutual written consent of the Purchasing Parties and Seller Parent;
(b) by
either the Purchasing Parties or Seller Parent by written notice to the other
or
others, as applicable, (i) if the Acquisition shall not have been
consummated on or before November 15, 2007 (the “Outside Date”) for any
reason; provided, however, that the right to terminate this
Agreement under this clause 8.01(b)(i) shall not be available to any party
hereto whose action or failure to act (or whose Affiliate’s action or failure to
act) has been a principal cause of or resulted in the failure of the Acquisition
to occur on or before such date and such action or failure to act constitutes
a
breach of this Agreement or (ii) any Restraint referred to in
Section 7.01(b) shall be in effect and shall have become final and
nonappealable;
(c) by
the Purchasing Parties upon written notice to Seller Parent, if the Company
or
the Selling Parties shall have materially breached or failed to perform
any of
their representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in
this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform would give rise to the failure
of
a condition set forth in Section 7.02 and is incapable of cure or has not
been cured by the earlier of (i) the date which is twenty-five days after
the date of delivery of notice of such breach by the Purchasing Parties
or
(ii) the Outside Date;
(d) by
Seller Parent upon written notice to the Purchasing Parties, if the Purchasing
Parties shall have materially breached or failed to perform any of their
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this
Agreement, which breach or failure to perform would give rise to the failure
of
a condition set forth in Section 7.03 and is incapable of cure or has not
been cured by the earlier of (i) the date which is twenty-five days after
the date of delivery of notice of such breach by Seller Parent or (ii) the
Outside Date;
(e) by
Seller Parent upon written notice to the Purchasing Parties, if all the
conditions to Closing set forth in Section 7.01 and Section 7.02 have
been satisfied (or are capable of being satisfied), the Marketing Period
shall
have ended and Purchaser fails to pay the Closing Date Amount at the Closing
because of a failure to receive the proceeds of one or more of the debt
financings contemplated by the Financing Commitments or any Alternative
Financing;
(f) by
Seller Parent, upon written notice to the Purchasing Parties, in order to
accept
or enter into a transaction contemplated by a Parent Acquisition Proposal,
provided that Seller Parent shall concurrently with its delivery of the written
notice of termination have paid to Purchaser the Seller Parent Termination
Fee
pursuant to Section 8.05(c) (and any termination pursuant to this
Section 8.01(f) shall not be effective unless and until such fee has been
paid);
(g) by
Seller Parent, upon written notice to the Purchasing Parties, in order to
accept
or enter into a Superior Transaction, provided each of the following conditions
have been met: (i) the Selling Parties have theretofore complied
with their obligations under Section 5.13, (ii)(A) Seller Parent has
given the Purchasing Parties at least three business days’ prior written notice
(a “Notice of Superior Transaction”) of its intention to accept or enter
into a Superior Transaction and of all the material terms and conditions
of such
Superior Transaction and (B) the Purchasing Parties do not within three
business days of receipt by the Purchasing Parties of the Notice of Superior
Transaction, make an offer that the Board of Directors of Seller Parent
determines, in its good faith judgment (after consultation with its outside
financial advisors) to be at least as favorable to Seller Parent as such
Superior Transaction; provided, that during such three business day
period, Seller Parent shall have negotiated in good faith with the Purchasing
Parties (to the extent that the Purchasing Parties wish to negotiate) to
enable
the Purchasing Parties to make such an offer; and provided,
further, that, in the event of any amendment to the financial or
other
terms of such proposed Superior
Transaction, Seller Parent shall deliver to the Purchasing Parties an additional
written Notice of Superior Transaction, and the three business day period
referenced above shall be extended for an additional two business days after
the
Purchasing Parties’ receipt of such additional Notice of Superior Transaction,
(iii) the Board of Directors of Seller Parent, after taking into account
any modifications to the terms hereof agreed to by the Purchasing Parties
after
receipt of such notice, continues to believe such proposed
transaction continues to constitute a Superior Transaction, and (iv) Seller
Parent shall concurrently with its delivery of the written notice of termination
have paid to Purchaser the Seller Parent Termination Fee pursuant to
Section 8.05(c) (and any termination pursuant to this Section 8.01(g)
shall not be effective unless and until such fee has been paid);
provided, however, that in no event shall the Closing occur during
any of the three business day or two business day periods referred to in
this
Section 8.01(g); or
(h) by
the Purchasing Parties if an Effect that individually or in the aggregate
has
had or is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Effect shall
have
occurred and is incapable of cure or has not been cured by the earlier of
(i)
the date which is twenty-five days after the date of delivery of notice of
such
Effect by the Purchasing Parties or (ii) the Outside Date.
SECTION
8.02. Effect of Termination. In the
event of termination of this Agreement by either the Seller Parent or the
Purchasing Parties as provided in Section 8.01, this Agreement shall
forthwith become void and have no further force or effect, without any liability
or obligation on the part of the Selling Parties, the Purchasing Parties
or the
Company, except that (i) the provisions of Section 2.24 (Brokers and
Other Advisors), Section 3.05 (Brokers and Other Advisors),
Section 4.07 (Brokers and Other Advisors), the last sentence of
Section 5.05 (Confidentiality), Section 5.07 (Public Announcements),
this Section 8.02 (Effect of Termination), Section 8.05 (Fees and
Expenses) and Article X (General Provisions) shall survive such
termination, and (ii) subject to the limitation on damages described in
Section 8.06, any termination of this Agreement shall not relieve any party
from
any Liability for any willful breach by such party of its representations,
warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
SECTION
8.03. Amendment. This Agreement may
not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf of each
of
the parties hereto.
SECTION
8.04. Extension; Waiver. At any
time prior to the Closing Date, the parties may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties,
(b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties contained
herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or (c) waive compliance
with any of the agreements or conditions contained herein. Any
agreement on the part of a party to any such extension or waiver shall be
valid
only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such
party. Any such waiver shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel
with respect to, any subsequent inaccuracy or noncompliance. The
failure or delay of any party to this Agreement to assert any of its rights
under this Agreement or otherwise shall not constitute a waiver of such rights
nor shall any single or partial exercise by any party to this Agreement of
any
of its rights under this Agreement preclude any other or further exercise
of
such rights or any other rights under this Agreement.
SECTION
8.05. Fees and
Expenses. (a) Except as set forth in
Section 1.03(d) and 5.01(b), whether or not the Acquisition is consummated,
all costs and expenses incurred by the Selling Parties or the Company and
its
Subsidiaries in connection with this Agreement, the Related Documents and
the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including any audits, shall
be
paid by the Selling Parties and all costs and expenses incurred by the
Purchasing Parties in connection with this Agreement, the Related Documents
and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be paid by the Purchasing
Parties, it being understood that the Purchasing Parties shall pay all
of the
filing fees for any filings pursuant to the HSR Act.
(b) (i)
In the event that this Agreement is terminated by Seller Parent pursuant
to
Section 8.01(d) or (e), as a result of a breach by the Purchasing Parties
of
their obligation to effect the Closing (including consummating the Acquisition
and paying the Closing Date Amount) and (ii) the Purchasing Parties failed
to effect the Closing (including consummating the Acquisition and paying
the
Closing Date Amount) because of a failure to receive the proceeds of one
or more
of the debt financings contemplated by the Financing Commitments or any
Alternative Financing, then the Purchasing Parties shall pay to Seller Parent,
within five business days after the first demand by Seller Parent therefor
an
amount equal to $20,600,000 (the “Purchaser Termination Fee”), in
immediately available funds by wire transfer to an account designated in
writing
by Seller Parent.
(c) In
the event that this Agreement is terminated by Seller Parent pursuant to
Section 8.01(f) or (g), Seller Parent shall pay Purchaser the Seller Parent
Termination Fee, in immediately available funds on the date of such termination,
by wire transfer to an account designated by Purchaser. The
“Seller Parent Termination Fee” shall be (i) $20,600,000 in the event
that Seller Parent delivers a notice of its intent to terminate the Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.01(f) or a Notice of Superior Transaction pursuant
to
Section 8.01(g) on or prior to the Initial Window Termination Date, and (ii)
$22,700,000 in the event that Seller Parent delivers a notice of its intent
to
terminate the Agreement pursuant to Section 8.01(f) or a Notice of Superior
Transaction pursuant to Section 8.01(g) following the Initial Window Termination
Date.
(d) The
parties acknowledge that the agreements contained in this Section 8.05 are
an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and that,
without these agreements, neither party would have entered into this
Agreement. Accordingly, in the event Purchaser shall fail to pay the
Purchaser Termination Fee when due or Seller Parent shall fail to pay the
Seller
Parent Termination Fee when due, and in order to obtain such payment, Seller
Parent or Purchaser, as the case may be, commences a Proceeding which results
in
a judgment or similar award against the other party for such fee, then Purchaser
or Seller Parent, as the case may be, shall pay to the other party such other
party’s reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and
expenses of enforcement) in connection with such suit.
SECTION
8.06. Maximum
Recovery. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, if the Purchasing Parties fail to consummate the Acquisition or
are
otherwise in breach of this Agreement, then the Liability of the Purchasing
Parties and any of their respective former, current and future direct or
indirect equity holders, controlling persons, stockholders, directors, officers,
employees, agents, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited partners
or
assignees with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement and any claim,
loss,
cost, expenses, damage, Liability or obligation relating to this Agreement
and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall be limited to an amount equal
to the
amount of the Purchaser Termination Fee (it being understood that no person
shall have any rights under the Equity
Funding Letter (except as expressly provided therein)), whether at law or
equity, in contract, in tort or otherwise (without prejudice to Seller Parent’s
rights under the Limited Guarantee, dated as of the date hereof, by Purchaser
Guarantor in favor of Seller Parent), except as expressly provided herein,
including the right to specific performance in Section 10.09. None of
the Purchasing Parties or any of their respective former, current and future
direct or indirect equity holders, controlling persons, stockholders, directors,
officers, employees, agents, Affiliates, members, managers, general or limited
partners or assignees shall have any further Liability or obligation relating
to
or arising out of the Acquisition, this Agreement, any Related Document or
the
other transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except as expressly provided
herein, including the right to specific performance in Section
10.09. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the Closing the
indemnification provisions of Article IX shall govern the parties’ rights to
monetary damages and the foregoing limitations on damages shall not
apply. Each party hereto hereby agrees and acknowledges that it
specifically intends that the other parties hereto will have the right to
specifically enforce this Agreement under the circumstances expressly provided
in Section 10.09.
Survival
and Indemnification
SECTION
9.01. Survival of Representations, Warranties and
Covenants. The representations and warranties and the covenants
the performance of which is specified to occur on or prior to the Closing
(the
“Pre-Closing Covenants”) of the parties contained in this Agreement,
including the Company Disclosure Letter, shall survive the Closing and continue
in full force and effect until 18 months after the Closing Date;
provided, however, that the representations and warranties
contained in Section 2.12 (Environmental Matters), Section 2.13
(Employees and Labor) and Section 2.14 (Employee Benefits Plans) shall
survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until the date
that is
30 months after the Closing Date and the representations and warranties
contained in Sections 2.01 (Organization, Standing and Corporate Power),
Section 2.02 (Subsidiaries), Section 2.03 (Capital Structure;
Indebtedness), Section 2.04(a) (Authority), Section 2.24 (Brokers and
Other Advisors), Section 3.05 (Brokers and Other Advisors),
Section 3.06 (The Shares), Section 4.01 (Organization, Standing and
Corporate Power), Section 4.02(a) (Authority), Section 4.07 (Brokers
and Other Advisors) and Section 4.09 (No Distribution), shall survive the
Closing indefinitely. Any covenant or other agreement herein, any
portion of the performance of which may, or is specified to, occur after
the
Closing, shall survive indefinitely or for such lesser period of time as
may be
specified therein or elsewhere in this Agreement. Except as otherwise
provided in this Article IX and in Article VI, no other
representations, warranties or covenants of the Parties contained in this
Agreement shall survive the Closing.
SECTION
9.02. Indemnification by Seller Parent and
Seller. (a) From and after the Closing each of the
Selling Parties shall, on a joint and several basis, indemnify, defend and
hold
harmless the Purchasing Parties, their respective Affiliates and their and
their
Affiliates’ respective Representatives (“Purchaser Indemnified Persons”)
from and against any and all losses, Liabilities, damages, claims, judgments,
awards, settlements, demands, offsets and expenses (including interest,
penalties, court costs, arbitration costs and fees, reasonable witness fees
and
reasonable fees and expenses of attorneys, investigators, expert witnesses,
accountants and other professionals) (“Losses”) which any of them may
suffer, incur or sustain, arising out of, attributable to or resulting
from:
(i) any
breach or inaccuracy of any of the representations and warranties contained
in
Article II and Article III of this Agreement or any failure of such
representation or warranty to be true and correct (other than any representation
or warranty contained in Section 2.15 (Tax Matters), which is the subject
of the tax indemnification in Article VI), on the date of this Agreement or
on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as though made on such
date
or, in the case of any representation or warranty that speaks as of a specific
date or time, on and as of such specific date or time;
(ii) any
breach by the Selling Parties or the Company of any of their covenants or
other
agreements contained in this Agreement; or
(iii) the
class-action litigation captioned Xxxx Xxxxxxxx v. Barneys New York, Inc.,
Barney’s Inc. (case CV 00-000 XXX (FFMx)) pending in the United States District
Court for the Central District of California or any other Proceeding arising
under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681 et seq., and 15
U.S.C. § 1681c(g) of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act as a result
of any acts or omissions or alleged acts or omissions occurring at or prior
to
the Closing.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Selling Parties’ indemnification obligation
under Section 9.02(a) shall be subject to each of the following
limitations:
(i) there
shall be no obligation to indemnify under Sections 9.02(a)(i) or (ii) for
Losses arising out of, attributable to or resulting from any breach or
inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in Article II or
Article III of this Agreement, the failure of any such representation or
warranty to be true and correct at and as of the times specified in
Section 9.02(a)(i) or any breach by the Selling Parties or the Company of
any of their Pre-Closing Covenants (other
than
any claim for willful breach, as to which such limitations shall not apply),
unless the aggregate amount of all Losses for which the Selling Parties,
but for
this clause (i), would be liable under Sections 9.02(a)(i) and (ii) exceeds
on a cumulative basis an amount equal to $8,250,000, and then only to the
extent
of such excess; provided, that the limitation on indemnification set
forth in this Section 9.02(b)(i) shall not apply to any Losses arising out
of, attributable to or resulting from any breach or inaccuracy or failure
to be
true and correct of the representations and warranties contained in
Sections 2.01 (Organization, Standing and Corporate Power),
Section 2.02 (Subsidiaries), Section 2.03 (Capital Structure;
Indebtedness), Section 2.04(a) (Authority), Section 2.24 (Brokers and
Other Advisors), Section 3.05 (Brokers and Other Advisors) and
Section 3.06 (the Shares);
(ii) the
obligation of the Selling Parties to indemnify under Sections 9.02(a)(i) or
(ii) for Losses arising out of, attributable to or resulting from any breach
or
inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in Article II or
Article III of this Agreement, the failure of any such representation or
warranty to be true and correct at and as of the times specified in
Section 9.02(a)(i) or any breach by the Selling Parties or the Company of
any of their Pre-Closing Covenants (other than any claim for willful breach,
as
to which such limitations shall not apply) shall be capped at an aggregate
amount of $100,000,000; provided, that the limitation on indemnification
set forth in this Section 9.02(b)(ii) shall not apply to any Losses arising
out of or relating to breach or inaccuracies of the representations and
warranties contained in Sections 2.01 (Organization, Standing and Corporate
Power), Section 2.02 (Subsidiaries), Section 2.03 (Capital Structure;
Indebtedness), Section 2.04(a) (Authority), Section 2.24 (Brokers and
Other Advisors), Section 3.05 (Brokers and Other Advisors) and
Section 3.06 (The Shares); and
(iii) the
amount of indemnification in respect of any Loss for which the Selling Parties,
but for this clause (iii), would be liable under Section 9.02(a) shall be
reduced by the amount of any insurance proceeds, and any indemnity, contribution
or other similar payment, paid to any Purchaser Indemnified Person by any
third
party with respect to such Loss, in each case net of any Losses incurred
in
collecting such proceeds or payments (provided, that this
Section 9.02(b)(iii) shall not limit in any respect the right of any
Purchaser Indemnified Person from pursuing indemnification from the Selling
Parties hereunder or from recovering for any Loss not reduced to zero pursuant
to this Section 9.02(b)(iii) and provided, further, that for
the avoidance of doubt, any amounts for which a Purchaser Indemnified Person
would ultimately be responsible, as a result of deductibles, self-insurance,
indemnification of insurers, caps or similar items or arrangements, shall
not
reduce recovery of indemnification hereunder).
SECTION
9.03. Indemnification by the Purchasing
Parties. (a) From and after the Closing, the
Purchasing Parties shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Selling
Party,
their respective Affiliates and their respective Representatives (“Seller
Indemnified Persons”) from and against all Losses which any of them may
suffer, incur or sustain, arising out of, attributable to or resulting
from:
(i) any
breach or inaccuracy of any of the representations and warranties contained
in
Article IV of this Agreement or any failure of such representation or
warranty to be true and correct on the date of this Agreement or on and as
of
the Closing Date with the same effect as though made on such date or, in
the
case of any representation or warranty that speaks as of a specified date
or
time, on and as of such specified date or time; or
(ii) any
breach by the Purchasing Parties of any of their covenants or other agreements
contained in this Agreement.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, the Purchasing Parties’ indemnification
obligation under Section 9.03(a) shall be subject to each of the following
limitations:
(i) there
shall be no obligation to indemnify under Sections 9.03(a)(i) or (ii) for
Losses arising out of, attributable to or resulting from any breach or
inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in Article IV of
this Agreement, the failure of any such representation or warranty to be
true
and correct at and as of the times specified in Section 9.03(a)(i) or any
breach by the Purchasing Parties of any of their Pre-Closing Covenants (other
than any claim for willful breach, as to which such limitations shall not
apply), unless the aggregate amount of all Losses for which the Purchasing
Parties, but for this clause (i), would be liable under Section 9.03(a)(i)
exceeds on a cumulative basis an amount equal to $8,250,000, and then only
to
the extent of such excess; provided, that the limitation on
indemnification set forth in this Section 9.03(b)(i) shall not apply to
Losses arising out of, attributable to or resulting from any breach
or inaccuracy or failure to be true and correct of the representations and
warranties contained in Section 4.01(Organization, Standing and Corporate
Power), 4.02(a) (Authority), 4.07 (Brokers and Other Advisors) and
Section 4.09 (No Distribution);
(ii) the
obligation of the Purchasing Parties to indemnify under Sections 9.03(a)(i)
or (ii) for any Losses arising out of, attributable to or resulting from
any
breach or inaccuracy of any representation or warranty contained in
Article IV of this Agreement, the failure of any such representation or
warranty to be true and correct at and as of the times specified in
Section 9.03(a)(i) or any breach by the Purchasing Parties of any of their
Pre-Closing Covenants (other than any claim for willful breach, as to which
such
limitations shall not apply) shall be capped at an aggregate amount of
$100,000,000; provided, that the limitation on indemnification set forth
in this Section 9.03(b)(ii) shall not apply to any Losses arising out of or
relating to breaches or inaccuracies of the representations and warranties
contained in Section 4.01(Organization, Standing and Corporate Power),
4.02(a) (Authority), Section 4.07 (Brokers and Other Advisors) and
Section 4.09 (No Distribution); and
(iii) the
amount of indemnification in respect of any Loss for which the Purchasing
Parties, but for this clause (iii), would be liable under Section 9.03(a)
shall be reduced by the amount of any insurance proceeds, and any indemnity,
contribution or other similar payment, paid to any Seller Indemnified Person
by
any third party with respect to such Loss, in each case net of any Losses
incurred in collecting such proceeds or payments
(provided, that this Section 9.03(b)(iii) shall not
limit in any respect the right of any Seller Indemnified Person from pursuing
indemnification from the Purchasing Parties hereunder or from recovering
for any
Loss not reduced to zero pursuant to this Section 9.03(b)(iii) and
provided, further, that for the avoidance of doubt, any amounts
for which a Seller Indemnified Person would ultimately be responsible, as
a
result of deductibles, self-insurance, indemnification of insurers, caps
or
similar items or arrangements, shall not reduce recovery of indemnification
hereunder).
SECTION
9.04. Notice of Claim;
Defense. (a) If (i) any third party institutes or
asserts any Proceeding that may give rise to Losses for which a person (an
“Indemnifying Party”) may be liable for indemnification under
Article VI or this Article IX (a “Third Party Claim”) or
(ii) any person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (an
“Indemnified Party”) shall have a claim to be indemnified by an
Indemnifying Party that does not involve a Third Party Claim (a “Direct
Claim”), then, in case of clause (i) or (ii), the Indemnified Party shall
promptly send to the Indemnifying Party a written notice specifying the nature
of such claim and, to the extent then known, the amount of all related
Liabilities (a “Claim Notice”). In the event an Indemnified
Party fails to provide a timely and adequate Claim Notice, the Indemnifying
Party shall be relieved of its indemnification obligations under Article VI
or this Article IX as a result of such failure, only to the extent that it
is prejudiced by such failure.
(b) In
the event of a Third Party Claim, the Indemnifying Party may elect to retain
counsel of its choice, reasonably acceptable to the relevant Indemnified
Parties, to represent such Indemnified Parties in connection with such
Proceeding and shall pay the fees, charges and disbursements of such counsel
and
other defense costs. The Indemnified Parties may participate, at
their own expense and through legal counsel of their choice, in any such
Proceeding; provided that (i) the Indemnifying Party shall have the
right to defend such Third Party Claim by all appropriate proceedings and,
so
long as it diligently pursues such defense, shall have full control of such
defense and such proceedings, and (ii) the Indemnified Parties and their
counsel shall cooperate with the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in
connection with such Proceeding. The Indemnifying Party shall not
settle any such Proceeding without the relevant Indemnified Parties’ prior
written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless
the terms of such settlement contain a complete and unconditional release
of the
Indemnified Party of any Liability related to such Proceeding.
(c) Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if (i) the Indemnifying Party elects not to assume control
of such defense, (ii) both the Indemnifying Party and any Indemnified Party
are parties to or subjects of such Proceeding and conflicts of interests
exist
between the Indemnifying Party and such Indemnified Party, or (iii) the
Proceeding is reasonably likely to establish a precedential custom or practice
that is materially detrimental to the continuing business interests of the
Indemnified Party, then the Indemnified Parties may retain counsel reasonably
acceptable to the Indemnifying Party in connection with such Proceeding and
assume control of the defense in connection with such Proceeding and the
fees,
charges and disbursements of no more than one such counsel per jurisdiction
selected by the Indemnified Parties shall be reimbursed by the Indemnifying
Party. Under no circumstances will the Indemnifying Party have any
Liability in connection with any settlement of any Proceeding that is entered
into without its prior written consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld
or delayed).
(d) From
and after the delivery of a Claim Notice, at the reasonable request of the
Indemnifying Party, each Indemnified Party shall grant the Indemnifying Party
and its counsel, experts and representatives reasonable access, during normal
business hours, to the books, records, personnel and properties of the
Indemnified Party to the extent reasonably related to the Claim Notice at
no
cost to the Indemnifying Party (other than for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
of the Indemnified Parties).
(e) If
there is a Proceeding at any time that concerns the business or operations
of
the Company and its Subsidiaries before the Closing Date and a Claim Notice
is
not submitted with respect to such Proceeding, then, at the reasonable request
of any of the Purchasing Parties, on the one hand, or any of the Selling
Parties
or the Company, on the other hand, Seller Parent and Seller shall make those
persons who at the relevant times were employees of the Selling Parties and
the
Company and its Subsidiaries, or Purchaser shall make those persons who at
the
relevant times were Employees, as the case may be, available to cooperate
with
the requesting party and its Affiliates (including by making such employees
available to provide information, discovery and testimony), to the extent
reasonable and without interrupting the business or operations of the party
receiving such request and of its Affiliates, in each case solely for purposes
of permitting the preparation for, defense of and participation in such
litigation or Proceeding by any of the requesting party, its Affiliates or
their
respective agents, directors, officers and employees; provided that the
requesting party shall reimburse all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred
by the party receiving such request, its Affiliates and their respective
agents,
directors, officers and employees in complying with this undertaking and,
since
such payments, if any, will not be made pursuant to an indemnity claim, such
payments shall not be taken into account for purposes of the limitations
set
forth in Section 9.02(b) or 9.03(b).
SECTION
9.05. Potential Contributors. If an
Indemnified Party receives any payment from an Indemnifying Party in respect
of
Losses and the Indemnified Party could have recovered all or a part of
such
Losses from a third party (including any insurer) based on the underlying
claim
or demand asserted against such Indemnifying Party, then such Indemnified
Party
shall transfer such of its rights to proceed against such third party as
are
necessary to permit such Indemnifying Party to recover from such third
party the
amount of such payment.
SECTION
9.06. Mitigation. Any Indemnified
Party and Indemnifying Party shall cooperate with respect to mitigating and
resolving any claims or liability with respect to which an Indemnifying Party
is
obligated to indemnify an Indemnified Party hereunder, including by using
reasonable best efforts to mitigate or resolve any such claim or
liability.
SECTION
9.07. Survival of Indemnity. Any
matter as to which a Claim Notice has been submitted in the manner provided
by
Section 9.04 within the applicable survival period specified in
Section 9.01 that is pending or unresolved at the end of such applicable
survival period shall continue to be covered by this Article IX,
notwithstanding the expiration of the applicable survival period specified
in
Section 9.01 until such matter is finally terminated or otherwise resolved
under this Agreement or by an arbitral tribunal or court of competent
jurisdiction and any amounts payable hereunder are finally determined and
paid.
SECTION
9.08. No Duplication; Exclusive
Remedy. (a) From and after the Closing, any Liability
for indemnification hereunder shall be determined without duplication of
recovery by reason of the state of facts giving rise to such Liability
constituting a breach of more than one representation, warranty, covenant
or
agreement.
(b) Except
as provided in Section 1.03, Article VI or Article IX, from and
after the Closing, the exclusive remedy of the Parties in connection with
this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be as provided in
Article VI or this Article IX; provided, that this exclusive
remedy for damages does not preclude a party from bringing an action
(i) for fraud, (ii) pursuant to Section 1.03 or (iii) for
specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy to
require
any other party to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
General
Provisions
SECTION
10.01. Notices. Except for
notices that are specifically required by the terms of this Agreement to
be
delivered orally, all notices, requests, claims, demands, waivers and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given if
delivered personally, facsimiled (which is confirmed) or sent by overnight
courier (providing proof of delivery) to the parties at the following addresses
(or at such other address for a party as shall be specified by like
notice):
if
to the
Selling Parties, to:
Xxxxx
Apparel Group, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
with
a
copy to:
Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx LLP
Worldwide
Plaza
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile
No.: 212-474-3700
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
if
to the
Company, to:
Barneys
New York, Inc.
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxx
Apparel Group, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx LLP
Worldwide
Plaza
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile
No.: 212-474-3700
Attention: Xxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
if
to the
Purchasing Parties, to:
Istithmar
PJSC
Emirates
Tower, Xxxxx 0
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No.: x000 0 000 0000
Attention: Xxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
with
a
copy to:
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx
Xxxx,
XX 00000
Facsimile
No.: 212-225-3999
Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxx, Esq. and Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
SECTION
10.02. Definitions. For purposes
of this Agreement:
(a) an
“Affiliate” of any person means another person that directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by,
or
is under common control with, such first person.
(b) “business
day” means a day except a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which the SEC
or banks in the City of New York are authorized or required by Law to be
closed.
(c) “Knowledge
of the Selling Parties” of any person that is not an individual means, with
respect to any matter in question, the actual knowledge of the persons listed
on
Section 10.02(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, after due inquiry of the
employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries with primary responsibility for
the
matter in question.
(d) “Lien”
means any lien, encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, security interest,
conditional sale or other title retention agreement, pledge, hypothecation,
charge or set-off, whether arising by agreement, statute or
otherwise.
(e) “Permitted
Liens” means (i) Liens for Taxes that are not yet due and payable, that
may thereafter be paid without interest or penalty, that have been adequately
reserved for in accordance with GAAP, or for amounts being contested in good
faith, (ii) Liens that secure obligations that are reflected as Liabilities
in the balance sheet dated February 3, 2007 included in the Audited Financial
Statements or Liens the existence of which is referred to in the notes to
the
Financial Statements, (iii) mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s,
warehousemen’s or other like Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of
business relating to obligations that are not delinquent or that are being
contested in good faith by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (iv) any
reciprocal easement or operating agreement identified in any Company Lease
together with other easements, covenants, rights-of-way and other encumbrances
or restrictions and other imperfections in title that, individually or in
the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to impair the value or continued
use
and operation of the assets to which they relate as currently conducted,
(v) zoning, building and other similar codes and regulations,
(vi) Liens that have been placed by any developer, landlord or other third
party on the fee interest or ground leasehold interest in any real property
in
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a leasehold or subleasehold
interest and subordination or similar agreements relating thereto,
(vii) Liens that do not and could not be reasonably expected to materially
interfere with the conduct of the Company’s business as currently conducted and
do not and could not be reasonably expected to adversely affect or impair
in any
material respect the use or value of the Company’s assets as currently
operated.
(f) “person”
means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint
venture, joint stock company, Governmental Authority, association, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity.
(g) “Related
Documents” means each other agreement, certificate or document executed and
delivered in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, including the Transition Services Agreement; provided that the
term “Related Document” shall not include any agreement, certificate or document
related to the Financing.
(h) A
“Subsidiary” of any person means another person of which an amount of the
voting securities, other voting rights or voting partnership interests of
which
is sufficient to elect at least a majority of its board of directors or other
governing body (or, if there are no such voting interests, more than 50%
of the
equity interests of which) is owned directly or indirectly by such first
person.
SECTION
10.03. Interpretation. When a
reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section, Subsection,
Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section
or
Subsection of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated. The table of contents and headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way
the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Whenever the words
“include”, “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be
deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation”. The words
“hereof”, “hereto”, “hereby”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar
import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole
and
not to any particular provision of this Agreement. The term “or” is
not exclusive. The word “extent” in the phrase “to the extent” shall
mean the degree to which a subject or other thing extends, and such phrase
shall
not mean simply “if”. All terms defined in this Agreement shall have
the defined meanings when used in any certificate or other document made
or
delivered pursuant hereto unless otherwise defined therein. The
definitions contained in this Agreement are applicable to the singular as
well
as the plural forms of such terms and to the masculine as well as to the
feminine and neuter genders of such term. Any statute defined or
referred to herein means such statute as from time to time amended, modified
or
supplemented, including by succession of comparable successor statutes and
references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated
therein. References to a person are also to its permitted successors
and assigns.
SECTION
10.04. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by electronic
transmission), all of which shall be considered one and the same agreement
and
shall become effective when one or more counterparts have been signed by
each of
the parties and delivered to the other parties.
SECTION
10.05. Entire Agreement; No Third-Party
Beneficiaries. This Agreement, together with the Confidentiality
Agreement (a) constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior
agreements, understandings and negotiations, both written and oral, among
the
parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and the
Confidentiality Agreement and (b) is not intended to confer upon any person
other than the parties hereto (and their respective successors and assigns)
or
thereto (and their respective successors and assigns) any rights or
remedies. Nothing in this Agreement shall constitute or be construed
as an amendment or modification of any Company Plan or of any employee
benefit
plan or arrangement of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates.
SECTION
10.06. Governing Law. This
Agreement and any dispute arising out of, relating to or in connection
with this
Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal
laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be performed
entirely within such State, without giving effect to any choice or conflict
of
law provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any
other
jurisdiction.
SECTION
10.07. Assignment. Neither this
Agreement nor any of the rights, interests or obligations hereunder shall
be
assigned, in whole or in part, by operation of Law or otherwise by any of
the
parties without the written consent of the other parties; provided,
however, that (a) the Purchasing Parties may transfer any of their
respective rights or obligations to any Affiliate of the Purchasing Parties
and
(b) the Purchasing Parties may make a collateral assignment of any proceeds
receivable by them under this Agreement to any of their lenders, but no
assignment pursuant to clauses (a) or (b) of this proviso shall relieve the
Purchasing Parties of their obligations hereunder. For the avoidance
of doubt, no lender shall be entitled to make a claim under this Agreement
or
enforce any provision of this Agreement as a result of an assignment of proceeds
pursuant to clause (b) of the foregoing sentence. Subject to the
preceding sentence, this Agreement will be binding upon, inure to the benefit
of, and be enforceable by, the parties and their respective successors and
assigns.
SECTION
10.08. Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial. (a) The Purchasing Parties irrevocably submit, and the
Selling Parties and the Company irrevocably submit, to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Chancery Court of the State of Delaware, for the purposes
of
any suit, action or other Proceeding arising out of this Agreement or any
transaction contemplated hereby (and each agrees that no such action, suit
or
Proceeding relating to this Agreement shall be brought by it or any of its
Affiliates except in such court). The Purchasing Parties further
agree, and the Selling Parties and the Company further agree, that service
of
any process, summons, notice or document by U.S. registered mail to such
person’s respective address set forth above (as modified as set forth above)
shall be effective service of process for any action, suit or Proceeding
in
Delaware with respect to any matters to which it has submitted to jurisdiction
as set forth above in the immediately preceding sentence. The
Purchasing Parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive (and agree not to
plead
or claim), and the Selling Parties and the Company irrevocably and
unconditionally waive (and agree not to plead or claim), any objection to
the
laying of venue of any action, suit or Proceeding arising out of this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby in the Chancery Court of the State
of
Delaware or that any such action, suit or Proceeding brought in any such
court
has been brought in an inconvenient forum. This Section 10.08(a)
shall not apply to any dispute under Section 1.03 that is required to be
decided by the Accounting Firm.
(b) EACH
OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT
PERMITTED
BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHTS IT MAY HAVE TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY
CLAIM,
SUIT, ACTION OR OTHER PROCEEDING DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF,
UNDER OR
RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY
(I) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE, AGENT OR ATTORNEY OF ANY OTHER PARTY
HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH PARTY WOULD NOT, IN
THE EVENT
OF ANY CLAIM, ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING, SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING
WAIVER
AND (II) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN
INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT, BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL
WAIVER
AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 10.08.
SECTION
10.09. 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 and therefore that, prior to
the
termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article VIII, (a) the
Purchasing Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to
prevent
breaches of and to enforce specifically the performance of the terms hereof,
in
addition to any other remedy they may have at law or in equity and
(b) the
Selling Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of and to enforce specifically the Purchasing Parties’ performance of
their obligations (x) under Sections 5.04, 5.06 and 5.13 hereof and
(y) hereunder to consummate the Acquisition if, in the case of this
clause (y), the conditions set forth in Sections 7.01 and 7.02 hereof
shall be satisfied or waived by the Purchasing Parties (other than those
conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing Date,
which
shall be capable of being satisfied on the Closing Date) and the Financing
Commitments or any Alternative Financing are available to be drawn down by
the
Purchasing Parties pursuant to the terms of the applicable agreements but
are
not so drawn down solely as a result of the Purchasing Parties refusing to
do so
in breach of this Agreement, in each case in addition to any other remedy
they
may have at law or in equity. Notwithstanding the first sentence of
this Section 10.09, the parties acknowledge that the Selling Parties shall
not have the right to specifically enforce the provisions of this Agreement
except to the extent set forth in clause (b) of the preceding
sentence. For the avoidance of doubt, whether or not a party is
entitled to seek injunctions or specific performance pursuant to the provisions
of the preceding sentence or otherwise, in no event will the Purchasing Parties
be entitled to monetary damages in excess of an amount equal to the Purchaser
Termination Fee, nor will the Selling Parties be entitled to monetary damages
in
excess of an amount equal to the Purchaser Termination Fee for losses or
damages
arising from or in connection with breaches of this Agreement by the Selling
Parties, the Company, the Purchasing Parties or their respective Representatives
and Affiliates, or arising from any other claim or cause of action under
this
Agreement and in no event shall the Purchasing Parties seek to recover any
money
damages in excess of such applicable amount from the Selling Parties, the
Company or their Representatives and Affiliates in connection herewith or
therewith, nor shall the Selling Parties or the Company seek to recover any
money damages in excess of such applicable amount from the Purchasing Parties
or
their respective Representatives and Affiliates in connection herewith or
therewith. Notwithstanding the foregoing, following the Closing the
indemnification provisions of Article IX shall govern the parties’ rights
to monetary damages and Section 8.06 and the foregoing limitations on damages
shall not apply.
SECTION
10.10. Obligations of Seller
Parent. (a) Seller Parent shall take any and all
actions necessary to cause its Subsidiaries (including the Seller and,
prior to
the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries) to perform any action or
refrain
from taking any action required of such Subsidiaries under this Agreement
or any
Related Document.
(b) The
parties hereto agree that for all purposes under this Agreement and any
Related
Document, any action required to be taken hereunder or thereunder by Seller
may
be taken by the Seller Parent and any action (including any waiver or consent
to
amendments) or omissions to act hereunder or thereunder by Seller Parent
shall
be binding upon and enforceable against the Seller. In furtherance of
this Section 10.10(b), the Purchasing Parties shall be entitled to rely
exclusively upon any communications or writings given or executed by Seller
Parent and shall not be liable in any manner whatsoever for any action
taken or
not taken in reliance upon the actions taken or not taken or communications
given or executed by Seller Parent. Any information, document,
notice, funds or other item required to be delivered to any Subsidiary
of Seller
Parent (including Seller, the Company or its Subsidiaries) hereunder or
under
any Related Document, may be delivered to Seller Parent and such delivery
to
Seller Parent shall constitute delivery to such Affiliate for all purposes
hereunder and thereunder.
SECTION
10.11. Severability. If any term
or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable of
being
enforced by any rule of law or public policy, all other conditions and
provisions of this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and
effect
so long as the economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated
hereby is not affected in any manner materially adverse to any party
hereto. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is
invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the parties hereto shall
negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original
intent of the parties as closely as possible to the fullest extent permitted
by
applicable Law in an acceptable manner to the end that the transactions
contemplated hereby are fulfilled to the extent possible.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Selling Parties, the Company and the Purchasing Parties
have caused this Agreement to be signed by their respective officers thereunto
duly authorized, all as of the date first written above.
XXXXX APPAREL GROUP, INC., | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
XXXXX APPAREL GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxx | |
Xxx
X. Xxxxxx
|
|||
President | |||
BARNEYS NEW YORK, INC., | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxx | |
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
|
|||
President and Chief Executive Officer | |||
ISTITHMAR BENTLEY HOLDING CO., | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Director | |||
ISTITHMAR BENTLEY ACQUISITION CO., | |||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx
|
|||
Director | |||
68