AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER Dated as of February 12, 2008 Among WORKSTREAM INC., WORKSTREAM MERGER SUB INC., EMPAGIO ACQUISITION LLC, And SMB CAPITAL CORPORATION
Dated
as of February 12, 2008
Among
WORKSTREAM
MERGER SUB INC.,
EMPAGIO
ACQUISITION LLC,
And
SMB
CAPITAL CORPORATION
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
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ARTICLE
I.
THE MERGER
|
1
|
|
SECTION
1.01
|
The
Merger
|
1
|
SECTION
1.02
|
Closing
|
1
|
SECTION
1.03
|
Effective
Time
|
2
|
SECTION
1.04
|
Effects
of the Merger
|
2
|
SECTION
1.05
|
Certificate
of Incorporation and By-laws
|
2
|
SECTION
1.06
|
Directors
and Officers
|
2
|
ARTICLE
II.
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS;
EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES
|
2
|
|
SECTION
2.01
|
Effect
on Capital Stock
|
2
|
SECTION
2.02
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
4
|
SECTION
2.03
|
Reduction
of Merger Consideration.
|
4
|
ARTICLE
III.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
7
|
|
SECTION
3.01
|
Representations
and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub
|
7
|
SECTION
3.02
|
Representations
and Warranties of Empagio and SMB
|
24
|
ARTICLE
IV.
COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
|
42
|
|
SECTION
4.01
|
Conduct
of Business
|
42
|
SECTION
4.02
|
No
Solicitation
|
47
|
ARTICLE
V.
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
|
48
|
|
SECTION
5.01
|
Preparation
of the Proxy Statement
|
48
|
SECTION
5.02
|
Access
to Information; Confidentiality
|
49
|
SECTION
5.03
|
Commercially
Reasonable Efforts
|
49
|
SECTION
5.04
|
Governmental
Approvals
|
50
|
SECTION
5.05
|
Indemnification;
Advancement of Expenses; Exculpation and Insurance
|
50
|
SECTION
5.06
|
Fees
and Expenses
|
52
|
SECTION
5.07
|
Public
Announcements
|
52
|
SECTION
5.08
|
Listing
|
52
|
SECTION
5.09
|
Audited
Financial Statements
|
52
|
SECTION
5.10
|
Anti-takeover
Statutes
|
52
|
SECTION
5.11
|
Tax-Free
Reorganization Treatment
|
53
|
SECTION
5.12
|
Working
Capital Calculation
|
53
|
SECTION
5.13
|
Securities
Conversion
|
53
|
ARTICLE
VI.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
|
53
|
|
SECTION
6.01
|
Conditions
to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger
|
53
|
SECTION
6.02
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Empagio and SMB
|
54
|
SECTION
6.03
|
Conditions
to Obligation of Parent
|
55
|
SECTION
6.04
|
Frustration
of Closing Conditions
|
56
|
ARTICLE
VII.
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
|
56
|
|
SECTION
7.01
|
Termination
|
56
|
SECTION
7.02
|
Effect
of Termination
|
57
|
SECTION
7.03
|
Extension;
Waiver
|
58
|
ARTICLE
VIII.
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
|
58
|
|
SECTION
8.01
|
Survival
of Representations and Warranties
|
58
|
ARTICLE
IX.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
58
|
|
SECTION
9.01
|
Notices
|
58
|
SECTION
9.02
|
Amendment
|
59
|
SECTION
9.03
|
Interpretation
|
59
|
SECTION
9.04
|
Counterparts
|
60
|
SECTION
9.05
|
Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries
|
60
|
SECTION
9.06
|
Governing
Law
|
60
|
SECTION
9.07
|
Assignment
|
60
|
SECTION
9.08
|
Dissolution
of Empagio
|
60
|
SECTION
9.09
|
Consent
to Jurisdiction
|
60
|
SECTION
9.10
|
Definitions
|
61
|
TABLE
OF DEFINED TERMS
Defined Term | Section of Agreement | |
Acquisition
Agreement
|
Section
4.02(b)
|
|
Affiliate
|
Section
9.10(a)
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Certificate
|
Section
2.01(b)
|
|
Certificate
of Merger
|
Section
1.03
|
|
Closing
|
Section
1.02
|
|
Closing
Date
|
Section
1.02
|
|
Code
|
Recitals
|
|
Commonly
Controlled Entity
|
Section
3.01(o)(i)
|
|
Company
Adverse Recommendation Change
|
Section
4.02(b)
|
|
Contract
|
Section
9.10(b)
|
|
D&O
Insurance
|
Section
5.05(c)
|
|
DGCL
|
Recitals
|
|
DOJ
|
Section
5.04
|
|
EBITDA
|
Section
9.10(c)
|
|
EBITDA
Auditor
|
Section
2.03(a)
|
|
EBITDA
Calculation
|
Section
2.03(a)
|
|
Effective
Time
|
Section
1.03
|
|
Empagio
|
Preamble
|
|
Empagio
Common Units
|
Section
3.02(c)
|
|
Empagio
Financial Statements
|
Section
3.02(v)
|
|
Empagio
Preferred Units
|
Section
3.02(c)
|
|
Empagio
Unit Options
|
Section
9.10(d)
|
|
Empagio
Warrants
|
Section
9.10(e)
|
|
Environmental
Laws
|
Section
9.10(f)
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
Section
2.02(a)
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
Section
2.02(a)
|
|
Escrow
Shares
|
Section
2.02(a)
|
|
Exchange
Act
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
Exchange
Ratio
|
Section
2.01(b)
|
|
Financials
Audit
|
Section
5.09
|
|
FTC
|
Section
5.04
|
|
GAAP
|
Section
3.01(g)(i)
|
|
Governmental
Entity
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
Hazardous
Material
|
Section
9.10(g)
|
|
HSR
Act
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
Indemnitees
|
Section
5.05(a)
|
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
Section
3.01(t)(ix)
|
|
IRS
|
Section
3.01(p)(i)
|
ITA
|
Section
3.01(r)(xiv)
|
|
Knowledge
|
Section
9.10(h)
|
|
Law
|
Section
9.10(i)
|
|
Leased
Real Property
|
Section
3.01(s)(ii)
|
|
Leases
|
Section
3.01(s)(ii)
|
|
Letter
of Intent
|
Section
5.02
|
|
Liens
|
Section
3.01(b)
|
|
Merger
|
Recitals
|
|
Merger
Consideration
|
Section
2.01(b)
|
|
Merger
Consideration Reduction Amount
|
Section
2.03(b)
|
|
Merger
Sub
|
Preamble
|
|
Merger
Sub Common Stock
|
Section
3.01(d)
|
|
Nasdaq
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
Organizational
Documents
|
Section
3.01(a)
|
|
Other
Antitrust Laws
|
Section
9.10(j)
|
|
Parent
|
Preamble
|
|
Parent
Articles
|
Section
9.10(k)
|
|
Parent
Benefit Agreement
|
Section
9.10(l)
|
|
Parent
Benefit Plan
|
Section
3.02(o)(i)
|
|
Parent
By-laws
|
Section
9.10(m)
|
|
Parent
Common Stock
|
Section
3.01(c)
|
|
Parent
Convertible Preferred Stock
|
Section
3.01(c)
|
|
Parent
Disclosure Schedule
|
Section
3.01
|
|
Parent
Material Adverse Change/Effect
|
Section
9.10(n)
|
|
Parent
Material Contracts
|
Section
3.01(k)(i)
|
|
Parent
Participant
|
Section
3.01(o)(i)
|
|
Parent
Pension Plan
|
Section
3.01(p)(i)
|
|
Parent
Preferred Stock
|
Section
3.01(c)(i)
|
|
Parent
SEC Documents
|
Section
3.01(g)(i)
|
|
Parent
Stock Options
|
Section
9.10(o)
|
|
Parent
Warrants
|
Section
9.10(p)
|
|
Parent
Working Capital
|
Section
9.10(q)
|
|
Permitted
Liens
|
Section
9.10(r)
|
|
Person
|
Section
9.10(s)
|
|
Primary
SMB Executives
|
Section
3.02(p)
|
|
Primary
Parent Executives
|
Section
3.01(q)
|
|
Proxy
Statement
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
Redomestication
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
Registered
IP
|
Section
3.01(t)(i)
|
|
Representatives
|
Section
4.02(a)
|
|
Restraints
|
Section
6.01(d)
|
|
SEC
|
Section
3.01(f)
|
|
SMB
|
Preamble
|
|
SMB
Benefit Agreement
|
Section
9.10(t)
|
|
SMB
Common Stock
|
Section
2.01(b)
|
|
SMB
Disclosure Schedule
|
Section
3.02
|
SMB
EBITDA
|
Section
9.10(u)
|
|
SMB
Leased Real Property
|
Section
3.02(r)(ii)
|
|
SMB
Leases
|
Section
3.02(r)(ii)
|
|
SMB
Major Customer
|
Section
3.02(k)
|
|
SMB
Material Adverse Effect/Change
|
Section
9.10(v)
|
|
SMB
Material Contract
|
Section
3.02(j)
|
|
SMB
Registered IP
|
Section
3.02(s)
|
|
SMB
Stock Options
|
Section
9.10(w)
|
|
SMB
Warrants
|
Section
9.10(x)
|
|
Stockholder
Approval
|
Section
3.10(y)
|
|
Stockholders’
Meeting
|
Section
3.01(h)
|
|
Subsidiary
|
Section
9.10(z)
|
|
Superior
Proposal
|
Section
9.10(aa)
|
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
Section
1.01
|
|
Takeover
Proposal
|
Section
9.10(bb)
|
|
Takeover
Statutes
|
Section
5.10
|
|
WARN
|
Section
3.01(o)(iv)
|
|
Working
Capital Notice
|
Section
5.12
|
|
Working
Capital Report
|
Section
5.12
|
EXHIBITS
Exhibit
A
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
Exhibit
B
|
Registration
Rights Agreement
|
Exhibit
C
|
Lock-Up
Agreement
|
Exhibit
D
|
Certificate
of Incorporation
|
Exhibit
E
|
By-laws
|
AGREEMENT
AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement")
dated
as of February 12, 2008, among Workstream Inc., a Canadian corporation (the
"Parent"),
Workstream Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Merger
Sub"),
Empagio Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Empagio"),
and
SMB Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
of
Empagio ("SMB").
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of each of Parent, Merger Sub, Empagio and SMB has
approved and declared advisable this Agreement and the merger of SMB with and
into Merger Sub (the "Merger"),
upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS,
prior to the Effective Time, Parent will be converted to a Delaware corporation
pursuant to Section 265 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
(the "DGCL")
and
Section 188 of the Canada Business Corporations Act, after which conversion
“Parent” shall mean the Delaware corporation; and
WHEREAS,
for United States federal income tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger
shall qualify as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"),
and
that this Agreement shall be, and is hereby, adopted as a plan of reorganization
for purposes of Section 368(a) of the Code.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I.
THE
MERGER
SECTION
1.01 The
Merger.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in
accordance with the DGCL, SMB shall be merged with and into Merger Sub at the
Effective Time. Following the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence
of SMB shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving corporation
in
the Merger (the "Surviving
Corporation")
and
shall succeed to and assume all the rights and obligations of SMB in accordance
with the DGCL.
SECTION
1.02 Closing.
The
closing of the Merger (the "Closing")
will
take place at 10:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) on the third Business Day after
satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by Law) waiver of the conditions set
forth in Article VI (other than those conditions that by their terms are to
be
satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or (to the extent
permitted by Law) waiver of those conditions), at the offices of Cozen X’Xxxxxx,
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, unless another time,
date
or place is agreed to in writing by Parent and SMB. The date on which the
Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the "Closing
Date."
SECTION
1.03 Effective
Time.
Subject
to the provisions of this Agreement, the parties shall file with the Secretary
of State of the State of Delaware a certificate of merger (the "Certificate
of Merger")
executed and acknowledged by the parties in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the DGCL and, as soon as practicable on or after the Closing
Date,
shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger
shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, or at such later time as Parent
and
SMB shall agree and shall specify in the Certificate of Merger (the time the
Merger becomes effective being the "Effective
Time").
SECTION
1.04 Effects
of the Merger.
The
Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.
SECTION
1.05 Certificate
of Incorporation and By-laws.
(a) The
Certificate of Incorporation of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
from
and after the Effective Time until thereafter changed or amended as provided
therein or by applicable law.
(b) The
By-Laws of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
By-laws of the Surviving Corporation from and after the Effective Time until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by applicable
law.
SECTION
1.06 Directors
and Officers.
The
directors and officers of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall become the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation from and
after the Effective Time until their respective successors are duly elected
or
appointed in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of
the
Surviving Corporation and the DGCL, or until such person’s earlier death,
resignation or removal.
ARTICLE
II.
EFFECT
OF
THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF
CERTIFICATES
SECTION
2.01 Effect
on Capital Stock.
At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of
the holder of any shares of Parent Common Stock or Merger Sub Common Stock
or
any shares of capital stock of SMB or membership interests of Empagio:
(a) Parent
Equity; Merger Sub Equity. Each share of Parent Common Stock issued and
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding
and
each share of Merger Sub Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall remain outstanding. Each unexpired Parent Stock
Option and Parent Warrant that is outstanding at the Effective Time shall remain
outstanding.
(b) Conversion
of SMB Common Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share,
of SMB (the "SMB Common Stock") issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become
exchangeable for such number of shares
of
Parent Common Stock (the "Exchange
Ratio")
as
equals 177,397,332 divided by the sum of (i) the issued and outstanding shares
of SMB Common Stock at Closing and (ii) the number of shares of SMB Common
Stock
issuable upon the exercise or conversion of SMB Stock Options, SMB Warrants,
promissory notes or other securities convertible into shares of SMB Common
Stock, subject to adjustment as provided in Section 2.03 (the "Merger
Consideration").
At
the Effective Time, all shares of SMB Common Stock shall no longer be
outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist,
and
each holder of a certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time
represented any such shares of SMB Common Stock (each, a "Certificate")
shall
cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive
the
Merger Consideration. In the event that Empagio dissolves prior to Closing
and
any options, warrants, convertible promissory notes or other convertible
securities become the obligations of SMB, to the extent that Parent waives
the
covenants contained in Section 5.13 hereunder, each then outstanding SMB Stock
Option, SMB Warrant or promissory note or other security convertible into
securities in SMB, if any, will by virtue of the Merger, and without any further
action on the part of any holder thereof, be converted into an option, warrant,
promissory note or other security to purchase that number of shares of Parent
Common Stock as is determined by multiplying the number of shares of SMB Common
Stock into which such SMB Stock Option, SMB Warrant, promissory note or other
security is exercisable or convertible at the Effective Time by the Exchange
Ratio, at an exercise price or conversion price per share of Parent Common
Stock
equal to the exercise price or conversion price per share of such SMB Stock
Option, SMB Warrant, promissory note or other convertible security immediately
prior to the Effective Time divided by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the
nearest whole cent. If the foregoing calculation results in an exercise for
a
fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock, then the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock to which it is subject will be rounded down to the nearest whole
number of shares. The terms and conditions of each SMB Stock Option, SMB
Warrant, promissory note or other convertible security will otherwise remain
as
set forth in the security being converted following the Effective Time. The
Exchange Ratio shall not be adjusted either upward or downward as a result
of
fluctuations in the market value of the parties hereto.
-2-
(c) No
Fractional Shares. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no
fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued in the Merger. Each
holder of SMB Common Stock who otherwise would have been entitled to a fraction
of a share of Parent Common Stock shall instead receive such whole number of
shares of Parent Common Stock as is determined by rounding down to the nearest
whole share of Parent Common Stock the Merger Consideration to which such holder
would otherwise be entitled.
(d) Adjustment
of Merger Consideration. If, after the date of this Agreement, but prior to
the Effective Time, the shares of Parent Common Stock issued and outstanding
shall, through a reorganization, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
dividend, stock split, reverse stock split or other similar change in the
capitalization of the Parent (regardless of the method of effectuation of any
of
the foregoing, including by way of a merger or otherwise), increase or decrease
in number or be changed into or exchanged for a different kind or number of
securities, then the applicable Merger Consideration shall be appropriately
adjusted to provide the holders of SMB Common Stock the same economic effect
as
contemplated by this Agreement prior to such
event. For the avoidance of doubt, the conversion of Parent to a Delaware
corporation shall not affect the Merger Consideration.
-3-
SECTION
2.02 Exchange
of Certificates.
(a) Exchange
Procedure. At the Closing, Empagio (or, to the extent that Empagio is
liquidated prior to the Closing, the members of Empagio to which the SMB Common
Stock is distributed) shall deliver to Parent the Certificates representing
all
of the issued and outstanding shares of SMB Common Stock. Upon surrender of
the
Certificates, together with any such other documents as may reasonably be
required by Parent, Empagio (or the members of Empagio, as the case may be)
shall receive in exchange therefor one or more certificates representing the
Merger Consideration, and the Certificate(s) so surrendered shall forthwith
be
cancelled; provided, however, that one or more certificates representing
67,410,986 shares (the “Escrow Shares”) of the Merger
Consideration shall be delivered to Bank of America or another third party
mutually agreed upon by Parent and SMB, as escrow agent (the “Escrow
Agent”), together with executed stock powers, to be held in escrow
pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto (the “Escrow Agreement”).
Notwithstanding delivery to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Shares shall be owned
by Empagio (or the former members of Empagio, as the case may be), and they
shall have all rights of ownership thereto, subject to the terms of the Escrow
Agreement.
(b) No
Further Ownership Rights in SMB Common Stock. The Merger Consideration paid
upon the surrender of the Certificates in accordance with the terms of this
Article II shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights
pertaining to the shares of SMB Common Stock formerly represented by such
Certificates. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of SMB shall
be
closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock
transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of SMB Common Stock
that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(c) Withholding
Rights. The Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold
from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any
holder of shares of SMB Common Stock such amounts as the Surviving Corporation
is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment
under Code, or any provision of state, local or foreign tax law. To the extent
that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority
by the Surviving Corporation, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all
purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares
of
SMB Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made
by
the Surviving Corporation.
SECTION
2.03 Reduction
of Merger Consideration.
(a) Determination
of SMB EBITDA. Parent shall engage the accounting firm of RSM McGladrey (the
“EBITDA Auditor”) to calculate the SMB EBITDA. The
EBITDA Auditor shall deliver its calculation of the SMB EBITDA (the
“EBITDA Calculation”), together with all relevant
documentation, to the parties to the Escrow Agreement, including the Escrow
Agent, within 75 calendar days following the one-year anniversary of the Closing
Date. The EBITDA
Calculation shall be the final and binding SMB EBITDA for purposes of this
Section 2.03. The costs and expenses associated with retaining the EBITDA
Auditor shall be the responsibility of the Surviving Corporation.
-4-
(b) Repayment
of Reduced Merger Consideration. Upon determination of the SMB EBITDA as
provided in Section 2.03(a), in the event that the SMB EBITDA is less than
$10,000,000, the Merger Consideration shall be reduced as follows (the
“Merger Consideration Reduction”):
(i) If
the
SMB EBITDA is less than $10,000,000 but greater than $9,500,000, then the Merger
Consideration will be reduced by 9,097,299 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(ii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $9,500,000 but greater than $9,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 17,520,724 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(iii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $9,000,000 but greater than $8,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 25,342,476 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(iv) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $8,500,000 but greater than $8,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 32,624,797 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(v) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $8,000,000 but greater than $7,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 39,421,630 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(vi) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $7,500,000 but greater than $7,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 45,779,957 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(vii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $7,000,000 but greater than $6,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 51,740,889 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(viii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $6,500,000 but greater than $6,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 57,340,552 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(ix) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $6,000,000 but greater than $5,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 62,610,823 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(x) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $5,500,000 but greater than $5,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 67,579,936 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xi) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $5,000,000 but greater than $4,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 72,272,987 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
-5-
(xii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $4,500,000 but greater than $4,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 76,712,360 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xiii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $4,000,000 but greater than $3,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 80,918,081 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xiv) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $3,500,000 but greater than $3,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 84,908,124 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xv) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $3,000,000 but greater than $2,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 88,698,665 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xvi) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $2,500,000 but greater than $2,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 92,304,302 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xvii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $2,000,000 but greater than $1,500,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 95,738,242 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xviii) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $1,500,000 but greater than $1,000,000,
then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 99,012,464 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xix) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $1,000,000 but greater than $500,000, then
the Merger Consideration will be reduced by 102,137,857 shares of Parent Common
Stock;
(xx) If
the
SMB EBITDA is equal to or less than $500,000, then the Merger Consideration
will
be reduced by 105,124,345 shares of Parent Common Stock.
In
the
event of a Merger Consideration Reduction, the Escrow Agent shall, pursuant
to
the terms of the Escrow Agreement, promptly return to Parent one or more
Certificates representing the shares by which the Merger Consideration is to
be
reduced. To the extent that the Escrow Shares are not adequate in number to
satisfy the Merger Consideration Reduction, then, pursuant to the terms
of
the Escrow Agreement, Empagio (or the former members of Empagio to which the
Merger Consideration is paid at Closing) shall deliver to the Escrow Agent
Certificates representing additional shares of Parent Common Stock, together
with an executed stock power, sufficient in number to satisfy the Merger
Consideration Reduction. Such Certificate(s) shall be cancelled and the shares
of Parent Common Stock represented thereby shall no longer be outstanding and
shall be deemed authorized but unissued shares of Parent Common Stock, and
Empagio (or the members of Empagio, as the case may be) shall cease to have
any
rights with respect thereto.
-6-
ARTICLE
III.
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
3.01 Representations
and Warranties of Parent and Merger Sub.
Except
as set forth in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of for the fiscal year ended
May
31, 2007 filed on August 24, 2007 or in the disclosure schedule delivered by
Parent and Merger Sub to Empagio prior to the execution of this Agreement (the
"Parent
Disclosure Schedule")
(with
specific reference to the particular Section or subsection of this Agreement
to
which the information set forth in such disclosure schedule relates; provided,
however, that any information set forth in one section of such disclosure
schedule shall be deemed to apply to each other Section or subsection thereof
to
which its relevance is readily apparent on its face), Parent and Merger Sub
jointly and severally represent and warrant to Empagio and SMB as follows:
(a) Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power. Each of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger
Sub has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each of Parent, its
Subsidiaries and Merger Sub has all requisite power and authority and possesses
all governmental licenses, permits, authorizations and approvals necessary
to
enable it to own, lease or otherwise hold and operate its properties and other
assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted, except where the
failure to have such government licenses, permits, authorizations or approvals
individually or in the aggregate has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Parent, its
Subsidiaries and Merger Sub 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 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 Parent Material Adverse Effect. Parent has
made
available to Empagio complete and accurate copies of the Parent Articles and
the
Parent By-laws, the Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws of Merger Sub,
and
the comparable organizational documents of each other Subsidiary of Parent,
in
each case as amended to the date hereof (collectively, the
“Organizational Documents”).
(b) Subsidiaries.
Section 3.01(b) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule lists each of the Subsidiaries
of Parent and, for each such Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation
and a list of its directors and officers. Merger Sub does not have any
Subsidiaries. All the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
such Subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable
and are owned directly or indirectly by Parent free and clear of all pledges,
liens, charges, claims, options, mortgages, restrictions, encumbrances or
security
interests of any kind or nature whatsoever (collectively, "Liens"),
and
free of any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of
such
capital stock or other equity interests. Except for the capital stock of its
Subsidiaries, Parent does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock
of,
or other voting securities or equity interests in, any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, association or other entity.
-7-
(c) Capital
Structure of Parent.
(i) On
the
date hereof, the authorized capital stock of Parent consists of an unlimited
number of common shares, no par value (the "Parent
Common Stock"),
an
unlimited number of Class A Preferred Shares, no par value (the "Parent
Preferred Stock")
and an
unlimited number of Series A Convertible Preferred Shares, no par value (the
"Parent
Convertible Preferred Stock").
At
the close of business on January
31, 2008, (i) 52,519,744 shares of Parent Common Stock were issued and
outstanding, (ii) no shares of Parent Preferred Stock were issued and
outstanding; and (iii) no shares of Parent Convertible Preferred Stock were
issued and outstanding. As of January 31, 2008, no shares of Parent Common
Stock, Parent Preferred Stock or Parent Convertible Preferred Stock were
reserved for issuance, except for an aggregate of 5,380,447 shares of Parent
Common Stock reserved for issuance upon the exercise of Parent Stock Options
pursuant to the Parent Stock Plans and 24,337,501 shares of Parent Common Stock
reserved for issuance upon the exercise or conversion of Parent Warrants.
Section 3.01(c) of the Parent Disclosure Schedules sets forth a true and correct
capitalization table of Parent as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise
specified in this Section 3.01(c), none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub has or is bound by any outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls,
convertible securities, convertible notes, convertible debentures, preemptive
rights, redemption rights, stock appreciation rights, stock-based performance
units or other similar rights, agreements or commitments of any character
relating to the purchase or issuance of any shares of the capital stock or
other
equity securities of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or any
securities representing the right to purchase or otherwise receive any shares
of
the capital stock of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub (including any
rights plan or agreement) or equity-based awards, nor is there any other
agreement to which Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is a party obligating
any of them to (A) issue, transfer or sell any shares of capital stock or other
equity interests of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for such shares or equity
interests, (B) issue, grant, extend or enter into any such subscription, option,
warrant, call, convertible securities, stock-based performance units or other
similar right, agreement, arrangement or commitment, (C) redeem or otherwise
acquire any such shares of capital stock or other equity interests or (D)
provide a material amount of funds to, or make any material investment (in
the
form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, Parent, its Subsidiaries
or Merger Sub. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness
of
Parent having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for,
securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which stockholders of
Parent may vote. None of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is a party
to
any voting agreement with respect to the voting of any such securities.
(ii) There
are
no stockholder agreements, voting trusts, proxies or other similar agreements,
arrangements or understandings to which the Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub is a party, or by which it or they are bound, obligating the Parent, its
Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub with respect to any shares of capital stock of the Parent, its Subsidiaries
or Merger Sub. There are no rights or obligations, contingent or otherwise
(including rights of first refusal in favor of the Parent, its Subsidiaries
or
Merger Sub), of the Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub, to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of capital stock of the Parent, its
Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or to provide funds to or make any investment (in
the
form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in Merger Sub, any Subsidiary
or any other entity. There are no registration rights or other agreements,
arrangements or understandings to which the Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub is a party, or by which it or they are bound, obligating the Parent, its
Subsidiaries or Merger Sub with respect to any shares of Parent Common Stock,
Parent Preferred Stock or Parent Convertible Preferred Stock or shares of
capital stock of Merger Sub or any Subsidiary.
-8-
(iii) All
outstanding shares of the Parent’s capital stock are, and all shares of Parent
Common Stock reserved for issuance as specified above will be duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in
violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal,
pre-emptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision
of the law of the issuer’s jurisdiction of organization, the issuer’s charter or
the bylaws or any agreement to which the Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub
is a party or otherwise bound.
(iv) The
Parent Common Stock constitutes the only class of securities of the Parent,
its
Subsidiaries or Merger Sub registered or required to be registered under the
Exchange Act.
(d) Capital
Structure of Sub. The authorized shares of capital stock of Merger Sub
consist of 1,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share (the
“Merger Sub Common Stock”), 100 of which have been
duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable and
outstanding. All the issued and outstanding common stock of Merger Sub is,
and
at the Effective Time will be, owned by Parent, and there are (i) no other
shares of capital stock or voting securities of Merger Sub, (ii) no securities
of Merger Sub convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock
or
voting securities of Merger Sub and (iii) no options or other rights to acquire
from Merger Sub, and no obligations of Merger Sub to issue, any capital stock,
voting securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital
stock or voting securities of Merger Sub.
(e) Authority;
Noncontravention. Parent and Merger Sub have all requisite corporate power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to receipt
of
the Stockholder Approval, to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger
Sub
and the consummation by them of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Parent and Merger Sub and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent
or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, subject, in the case of the consummation
of
the Merger and the Redomestication, to obtaining the Stockholder Approval.
This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by each of Empagio and
SMB, constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against them in
accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium,
reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally
and
to general principles of equity. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
do
not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and compliance by Parent and Merger Sub with the provisions
of
this Agreement will not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach
of,
or default (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give
rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation
or to the loss of a benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in
or
upon any of the properties or other assets of Parent, its Subsidiaries and
Merger Sub under, (x) any of the Organizational Documents, (y) any loan or
credit agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, sublease,
or other Material Contract to which Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub
is a
party or any of their respective properties or other assets is subject or (z)
subject to obtaining the Stockholder Approval and making the governmental
filings and other matters referred to in Section 3.01(f), any (A) Law applicable
to Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or their respective properties or
other assets or (B) order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment or stipulation,
in
each case applicable to Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or their
respective properties or other assets, other than, in the case of clauses (y)
and (z), any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights, losses
or
Liens that individually or in the aggregate have not had and would not
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
-9-
(f) Consents
and Approvals. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, action by or
in respect of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any federal, state
or foreign government, any court, administrative, regulatory or other
governmental agency, commission or authority or any non-governmental
self-regulatory agency, commission or authority (each, a
"Governmental Entity") or any Person is required by or
with respect to Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub or the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for: (i) the consents and approvals set forth in Section
3.01(f) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule; (ii) the filing of all required
documents in Delaware and Canada in connection with Parent’s conversion from a
Canadian corporation to a Delaware corporation (the
"Redomestication"), and such filings shall have become
effective; (iii) the filing of a premerger notification and report form by
Parent under the Xxxx-Xxxxx-Xxxxxx Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the
"HSR Act"), and the receipt, termination or
expiration, as applicable, of approvals or waiting periods required under the
HSR Act or any other applicable foreign competition, merger control, antitrust
or similar law or regulation; (iv) the filing with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC") of (A) a proxy statement
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby (as amended or supplemented
from time to time, the "Proxy Statement") and (B) such
reports under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the "Exchange
Act"), as may be required in connection with this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (v) the filing of a Certificate
of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and appropriate
documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which Parent or
Merger Sub is qualified to do business; (vi) approval of the listing on the
Nasdaq and the Boston Stock Exchange of the Parent Common Stock to be issued
as
the Merger Consideration; and (vii) such other consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, actions, registrations, declarations and filings, the failure
of
which to be obtained or made individually or in the aggregate has not had and
would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect.
(g) Parent
SEC Documents.
(i) Parent
has filed or furnished all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other
documents (including exhibits and other information incorporated therein) with
the SEC required to be filed or furnished by Parent since January 1, 2006 (the
"Parent
SEC Documents").
As of
their respective filing dates, the Parent SEC Documents complied in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
applicable to such Parent SEC Documents. Except to the extent that information
contained in any Parent SEC Document has been revised, amended, supplemented
or
superseded by a later-filed Parent SEC Document, none of the Parent SEC
Documents contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. Each of the financial statements (including the related notes)
of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents was prepared in accordance with,
in all material respects, the applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, was prepared
in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
("GAAP")
(except, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the rules and
regulations of the SEC) applied on a consistent basis during the periods
involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto) and fairly presented
in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and
its
consolidated Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results
of their operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in
the
case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments). None of
Merger Sub or the Subsidiaries of Parent are, or have at any time since January
1, 2005 been, subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13(a) and 15(d)
of the Exchange Act.
(ii) Parent
maintains a system of "internal control over financial reporting" (as defined
in
Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that provides reasonable
assurance (A) that records are maintained that in reasonable detail accurately
and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Parent,
(B) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (C) that receipts and expenditures
of Parent are being made only in accordance with the authorization of management
and (D) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized
acquisition, use or disposition of Parent's assets that could have a material
effect on Parent's financial statements.
(iii) Parent's
"disclosure controls and procedures" (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and
15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are reasonably designed to ensure that all
information required to be disclosed by Parent in the reports that it files
or
submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported
within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the
SEC.
(iv) Parent
has not received any oral or written notification of any (A) "significant
deficiency" or (B) "material weakness" in Parent's internal controls over
financial reporting. There is no outstanding "significant deficiency" or
"material weakness" which Parent's independent accountants certify has not
been
appropriately and adequately remedied by Parent. For purposes of this Agreement,
the terms "significant deficiency" and "material weakness" shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's
Auditing Standard No. 2, as in effect on the date hereof.
(h) Proxy
Statement. The Proxy Statement will, at the time of the Stockholders'
Meeting, comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange
Act.
-10-
(i) Absence
of Certain Changes or Events. Since November 30, 2007, there has not been
any Parent Material Adverse Change. During the period from November 30, 2007
through the date of this Agreement, Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub
have
conducted their businesses only in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice, except as contemplated by this Agreement.
(j) Litigation.
Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, there is no suit, action or
proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened against Parent,
any of its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or any of their respective assets that
individually or in the aggregate has had or would reasonably be expected to
have
a Parent Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction,
rule or order of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against,
or,
to the Knowledge of Parent, investigation by any Governmental Entity involving,
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or any of their respective assets that
individually or in the aggregate has had or would reasonably be expected to
have
a Parent Material Adverse Effect, nor is there any inquiry or internal
investigation being conducted by Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub, the
results of which would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect.
(k) Contracts.
(i) Section
3.01(k) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all Material
Contracts to which Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is a party. For
purposes of this Section 3.01(k)(i), "Parent
Material Contract"
means:
(A) any
Contract that would be required to be filed by Parent as a "material agreement"
pursuant to Item 601(A)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act or
disclosed by Parent on a Current Report on Form 8-K;
(B) any
Contract that if terminated or subject to a default by any party thereto would
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect;
(C) any
Contract that, as of February 1, 2008, resulted in annualized gross revenues
to
Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub of at least $500,000;
(D) any
Contract that, as of February 1, 2008, had a maximum possible annualized
liability or obligation on the part of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub of more than $250,000;
(E) any
Contract for development services related to Intellectual Property Rights of
Parent, whether by an employee or independent contractor;
(F) any
Contract that imposes any material restriction on the right or ability of the
Parent, a Subsidiary or Merger Sub: (1) to compete with, or solicit any customer
of, any other Person; (2) to acquire any product or other asset or any services
from any other Person; (3) to solicit, hire or retain any Person as an employee,
consultant or independent contractor; (4) to develop, sell, supply, distribute,
offer, support or service any product or any technology or other asset to or
for
any other Person; (5) to perform services for any other Person; or (6) to
transact business with any other Person;
-11-
(G) any
Contract that requires Parent, a Subsidiary or Merger Sub to give favored
pricing to any customers or potential customers;
(H) any
Contract involving the lease of real property;
(I) any
employment, severance, consulting, personal services, non-competition or
indemnification Contracts with any officer of Parent, a Subsidiary or Merger
Sub;
(J) any
Contract that is material to the operation of Parent’s business that contains a
change of control provision that would be triggered by the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(K) any
Contract between or among Parent, a Subsidiary or Merger Sub, on the one hand,
and any director, officer or Affiliate of Parent, a Subsidiary or Merger Sub
or
any person that beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Parent
Common Stock (including, in each case, any "associates" or members of the
"immediate family" (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 and Rule 16a-1
of
the Exchange Act, respectively) of any such person), on the other
hand.
(ii) Each
Parent Material Contract is a valid and binding obligation of Parent, its
Subsidiaries or Merger Sub, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of Parent,
a valid and binding obligation of each other party thereto. None of Parent,
any
of its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or, to the Knowledge of Parent, any other
party is in breach of, or in default under, or has repudiated, and no event
has
occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach
of, or a default under, any such Parent Material Contract, except for such
breach, default or repudiation that has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse
Effect. Parent has made available to Empagio a true and correct copy of each
Parent Material Contract.
(iii) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has made, arranged or modified in any
material way any extension of credit in the form of a personal loan to any
executive officer or director of Parent.
(l) Customers.
Section 3.01(l) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete
list of the top 20 revenue producing customers of Parent, its Subsidiaries
and
Merger Sub for the year ended December 31, 2007 (each, a "Major
Customer"). Parent has not received written notice from any Major
Customer stating that it has terminated or intends to terminate its relationship
with Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub. To its Knowledge, Parent is not
in
breach or default under any Contract with any Major Customer, except where
any
such breach has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
(m) Compliance
with Law. The businesses of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub have
been conducted in accordance with applicable Laws except where any such
noncompliance has not had or would reasonably not be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect. Since January 1, 2006, none of Parent, its Subsidiaries
or Merger Sub has received notice of any violation (or any investigation with
respect thereto) of any such Laws, and none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or
Merger Sub is in default with respect to any order, writ, judgment, award,
injunction or decree of any Governmental Entity applicable to any of its assets,
properties or operations except where any such failure has not had or would
reasonably not be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
-12-
(n) Environmental
Matters.
(i) Each
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub is and has been in compliance with
all
Environmental Laws except where the failure to be in compliance would not have
a
Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger
Sub
has in effect all licenses, permits and other authorizations required under
all
Environmental Laws and all such licenses, permits and other authorizations
are
in full force and effect except where the failure to have any such license,
permit or authorization would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. Each
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub is in compliance with all such licenses,
permits and authorizations except where the failure to be in compliance would
not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) There
is
no material proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened
against Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or any of their respective
properties under any Environmental Law, and Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger
Sub have not received any notice of material violation or potential liability
under any Environmental Laws from any Person or any Governmental Entity inquiry,
request for information, or demand letter under any Environmental Law relating
to operations or properties of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub. None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or any of their respective properties
or
operations is subject to any orders arising under Environmental Laws. None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has entered into any agreement pursuant
to which it has assumed or will assume any material liability under
Environmental Laws, including without limitation, any obligation for costs
of
remediation, of any other Person.
(iii) To
the
Knowledge of Parent, there has been no release or threatened release of any
Hazardous Material, on, at or beneath any of the Leased Real Property or other
properties currently or previously owned or operated by Parent, its Subsidiaries
or Merger Sub or any surface waters or groundwaters thereon or thereunder which
requires any material disclosure, investigation, cleanup, remediation,
monitoring, abatement, deed or use restriction by it, or which would be expected
to give rise to any actual or alleged material liability for personal injury,
property damage, natural resources damage or other material liability or damages
to Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub under any Environmental Laws.
(iv) To
the
Knowledge of Parent, none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has sent
or
arranged for the disposal of any Hazardous Material, or transported any
Hazardous Material, that reasonably would be expected to give rise to any
material liability for any damages or costs of investigation, remediation or
any
other action to respond to the release or threatened release of any Hazardous
Material.
(v) Parent
has made available to Empagio copies of all environmental studies,
investigations, reports or assessments concerning Parent, its Subsidiaries,
Merger Sub, the Leased Real Property and any real property currently or
previously owned or operated by Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub.
-13-
(o) Absence
of Changes in Parent Benefit Plans; Labor Relations.
(i) From
the
date of the most recent audited financial statements included in the Parent
SEC
Documents to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any adoption,
material amendment or termination by Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub
or
any Commonly Controlled Entity of any employment, bonus, pension, profit
sharing, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock
purchase, stock appreciation, restricted stock, stock option, phantom stock,
performance, retirement, thrift, savings, stock bonus, paid time off,
perquisite, fringe benefit, vacation, severance, disability, death benefit,
hospitalization, medical, welfare benefit or other plan, program, policy,
arrangement, agreement or understanding (whether or not legally binding)
maintained, contributed to or required to be maintained or contributed to by
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub or any other person or entity that,
together with Parent, is treated as a single employer under Section 414(b),
(c),
(m) or (o) of the Code (each, a "Commonly
Controlled Entity"),
in
each case providing benefits to any current or former director, officer,
employee, independent contractor or consultant of Parent, its Subsidiaries
or
Merger Sub or any Commonly Controlled Entity (each, a "Parent
Participant"),
but
not including the Parent Benefit Agreements (all such plans, programs, policies,
arrangements, agreements and understandings, including any such plan, program,
policy, arrangement, agreement or understanding entered into or adopted on
or
after the date of this Agreement, collectively, the "Parent
Benefit Plans"),
or
any change in any actuarial or other assumption used to calculate funding
obligations with respect to any Parent Pension Plan, or any change in the manner
in which contributions to any Parent Pension Plan are made or the basis on
which
such contributions are determined, other than amendments or other changes as
required to ensure that such Parent Pension Plan is not then out of compliance
with applicable law, or reasonably determined by Parent to be necessary or
appropriate to preserve the qualified status of a Plan Pension Plan under
Section 401(a) of the Code. Except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents
and in Section 3.01(p) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule, as of the date of
this
Agreement, there are not any other material Parent Benefit Agreements.
(ii) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is a party to any collective bargaining
agreement or other labor union contract or similar scheme or arrangement
applicable to its employees nor does Parent have Knowledge of any activities
or
proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees.
(iii) Each
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub is in compliance with all applicable
Laws relating to employment and employment practices, the classification of
employees, wages, hours, collective bargaining, unlawful discrimination, civil
rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation and terms and conditions of
employment except where such failure has not had or would reasonably not be
likely to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect. There are no charges with
respect to or relating to any of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub pending
or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened before the Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission or any state, local or foreign agency responsible for
the
prevention of unlawful employment practices. Since January 1, 2006, none of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has received any notice from any
national, state, local or foreign agency responsible for the enforcement of
labor or employment Laws of an intention to conduct an investigation of any
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub and no such investigation is in progress.
-14-
(iv) There
has
been no "mass layoff" or "plant closing" as defined by the Worker Adjustment
and
Retraining Notification Act or any similar state or local "plant closing" Law
("WARN")
with
respect to the current or former employees of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub.
(p) ERISA
Compliance.
(i) Section
3.01(p) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate
list
of each material Parent Benefit Plan that is an "employee pension benefit plan"
(as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (sometimes referred to herein as a
"Parent
Pension Plan"),
each
material Parent Benefit Plan that is an "employee welfare benefit plan" (as
defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and all other material Parent Benefit Plans
and material Parent Benefit Agreements in effect as of the date of this
Agreement. Parent has made available to Empagio complete and accurate copies
of
(A) each such Parent Benefit Plan and Parent Benefit Agreement, (B) the two
most
recent annual reports on Form 5500 filed with the Internal Revenue Service
(the
"IRS")
with
respect to each Parent Benefit Plan (if any such report was required under
applicable law), (C) the most recent summary plan description for each Parent
Benefit Plan for which a summary plan description is required under applicable
law and (D) each trust agreement and insurance or group annuity contract
relating to any Parent Benefit Plan. Each Parent Benefit Plan and Parent Benefit
Agreement has been administered in accordance with its terms and with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws and
the
terms of all applicable collective bargaining agreements, except where such
non-compliance has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) All
Parent Pension Plans intended to be tax qualified have received favorable
determination letters from the IRS with respect to all tax law changes with
respect to which the IRS is currently willing to provide a determination letter,
to the effect that such Parent Pension Plans are qualified and exempt from
Federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the
Code, no such determination letter has been revoked (nor, to the Knowledge
of
Parent, has revocation been threatened) and, to the Knowledge of Parent, no
event has occurred since the date of the most recent determination letter or
application therefor relating to any such Parent Pension Plan that has had
or
would reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to Parent. Parent
has delivered or made available to Empagio a complete and accurate copy of
the
most recent determination letter received prior to the date hereof with respect
to each Parent Pension Plan.
(iii) Neither
Parent nor, within the last six years, any Commonly Controlled Entity, (A)
has
maintained, contributed to or been required to contribute to, or has any actual
or contingent liability under, any Parent Benefit Plan that is subject to Title
IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or that is otherwise a defined benefit
pension plan and (B) has any unsatisfied liability under Title IV of ERISA
or
Section 412 of the Code which would reasonably be expected to have a Parent
Material Adverse Effect..
-15-
(iv) All
reports, returns and similar documents with respect to all Parent Benefit Plans
required to be filed with any Governmental Entity or distributed to any Parent
Benefit Plan participant have been duly and timely filed or distributed, except
where such failure has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result
in
a material liability to Parent. None of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, Merger
Sub or any Commonly Controlled Entity has received notice of, and to the
Knowledge of Parent, there are no investigations by any Governmental Entity
with
respect to, termination proceedings or other claims (except claims for benefits
payable in the normal operation of the Parent Benefit Plans), suits or
proceedings against or involving any Parent Benefit Plan or Parent Benefit
Agreement or asserting any rights or claims to benefits under any Parent Benefit
Plan or Parent Benefit Agreement that would reasonably be expected to have
a
Parent Material Adverse Effect, and, to the Knowledge of Parent, there are
not
any facts that would reasonably be expected to result in a Parent Material
Adverse Effect in the event of any such investigation, claim, suit or
proceeding.
(v) Except
where such failure has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result
in
a material liability to Parent, all contributions, premiums and benefit payments
under or in connection with the Parent Benefit Plans that are required to have
been made as of the date hereof in accordance with the terms of the Parent
Benefit Plans have been timely made or have been reflected on the most recent
consolidated balance sheet filed or incorporated by reference into the Parent
SEC Documents. No Parent Pension Plan has an "accumulated funding deficiency"
(as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code),
whether or not waived.
(vi) With
respect to each Parent Benefit Plan, (A) to the Knowledge of Parent, there
has
not occurred any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406
of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code) that would reasonably be expected to result
in a material liability to Parent and (B) to the Knowledge of Parent, none
of
Parent, any of its Subsidiaries, Merger
Sub or any of their respective officers, directors or employees has engaged
in
any transaction or acted in a manner, or failed to act in a manner, that would
reasonably be expected to subject Parent to any liability for breach of
fiduciary duty under ERISA that would reasonably be expected to result in a
material liability to Parent. There has not been any "reportable event" (as
that
term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) for which the 30-day reporting
requirement has not been waived with respect to any Parent Benefit Plan during
the last five years.
(vii) To
the
Knowledge of Parent, each of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub complies
in
all material respects with the applicable requirements of Section 4980B(f)
of
the Code or any similar state or local law with respect to each Parent Benefit
Plan that is a group health plan, as such term is defined in Section 5000(b)(1)
of the Code or such state or local law. Except as required by Section 4980B(f)
of the Code, no Parent Benefit Plan or Parent Benefit Agreement that is an
employee welfare benefit plan or that provides welfare benefits provides
benefits after termination of employment.
(viii) (A)
no
Parent Participant will be entitled to any additional compensation, severance
or
other benefits or any acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any
compensation, severance or other benefits as a result of the Merger or any
other
transaction contemplated by this Agreement (alone or in combination with any
other event) or any benefits the value of which will be calculated on the basis
of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (alone
or
in combination with any other event), and (B) none of the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, the obtaining of the Stockholder Approval or the consummation
of the Merger or any other transaction expressly contemplated by this Agreement
will (including as a result of any termination of employment on or following
the
Effective Time) (1) entitle any Parent Participant to severance, termination,
change in control or similar pay or benefits, (2) accelerate the time of payment
or vesting, or trigger any payment or funding (through a grantor trust or
otherwise) of, compensation or benefits under, increase the amount payable
or
trigger any other material obligation pursuant to, or increase the cost of,
any
Parent Benefit Plan or Parent Benefit Agreement or (3) result in any breach
or
violation of, or a default under, any Parent Benefit Plan or Parent Benefit
Agreement.
-16-
(ix) No
deduction by Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub in respect of any
"applicable employee remuneration" (within the meaning of Section 162(m) of
the
Code) has been disallowed or is subject to disallowance by reason of Section
162(m) of the Code, except where such disallowance has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Each
Parent Benefit Agreement is in form and operation in good faith compliance
with
the provisions of Section 409A of the Code.
(q) No
Excess Parachute Payments. Other than payments that may be made to the
individuals set forth in Section 3.01(q) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule
(the
"Primary Company Executives"), (i) no amount or other
entitlement or economic benefit that would be received (whether in cash or
property or the vesting of property) as a result of the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, the obtaining of the Stockholder Approval, the consummation
of the Merger
or
any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement (including as a result
of
termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) by or for the
benefit of any Parent Participant who is a "disqualified individual" (as such
term is defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1) under any Parent
Benefit Plan, Parent Benefit Agreement or other compensation arrangement would
be characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined
in
Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code), and (ii) no such disqualified individual is
entitled to receive any additional payment (e.g.,
any tax
gross up or other payment) from Parent, Empagio, the Surviving Corporation
or
any other person in the event that the excise tax required by Section 4999(a)
of
the Code is imposed on such disqualified individual.
(r) Taxes.
(i) Each
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub has filed or has caused to be filed
in a
timely manner (within any applicable extension period) all material tax returns
required to be filed. All such tax returns are complete and accurate in all
material respects and have been prepared in compliance in all material respects
with all applicable Laws and regulations. Each of Parent, its Subsidiaries
and
Merger Sub has timely paid or caused to be paid (or Parent has paid on its
behalf) all taxes due and owing, and the most recent financial statements
contained in the Parent SEC Documents reflect an adequate reserve, determined
in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied, for all material taxes payable
by
Parent and its Subsidiaries for all taxable periods and portions thereof accrued
through the date of such financial statements.
-17-
(ii) To
the
Knowledge of Parent, no tax return of Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub is or has been within the last five years under audit or examination by
any
taxing authority, and no written notice has been received by Parent, its
Subsidiaries or Merger Sub that any audit, examination or similar proceeding
is
pending, proposed or asserted with regard to any taxes or tax returns of Parent,
its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub. There is no deficiency, refund litigation,
proposed adjustment or matter in controversy with respect to any material amount
of taxes due and owing by Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub. Each
deficiency resulting from any completed audit or examination relating to taxes
by any taxing authority has been timely paid or is being contested in good
faith
and has been reserved for on the books of Parent. The general statute of
limitations with respect to federal income taxes as set forth in Section 6501
of
the Code is closed with respect to the tax returns of Parent, its Subsidiaries
and Merger Sub for all years through 2003. There is no currently effective
agreement or other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the
period of assessment or collection of any taxes of Parent, its Subsidiaries
or
Merger Sub, nor has any written request been made for any such extension, and
no
currently effective power of attorney (other than powers of attorney authorizing
employees of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub to act on behalf of Parent,
its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub) with respect to any taxes has been executed
or
filed with any taxing authority.
(iii) Except
for any amount which may be realized as a result of the Redomestication, none
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub will be required to include in a taxable
period ending after the Effective Time a material amount of taxable income
attributable to income that accrued (for purposes of the financial statements
of
Parent included in the Parent SEC
Documents) in a prior taxable period (or portion of a taxable period) but was
not recognized for tax purposes in any prior taxable period as a result of
(A)
an open transaction disposition made on or before the Effective Time, (B) a
prepaid amount received on or prior to the Effective Time, (C) the installment
method of accounting, (D) the completed contract method of accounting, (E)
the
long-term contract method of accounting, (F) the cash method of accounting
or Section 481 of the Code or (G) any comparable provisions of state or local
tax law, domestic or foreign, or for any other reason, other than any amounts
that are specifically reflected in a reserve for taxes on the financial
statements of Parent included in the Parent SEC Documents.
(iv) Parent,
its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub have complied in all material respects with
all
applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations relating to the
payment and withholding of any material amount of taxes (including the
withholding of taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 3121 and 3402 of the
Code
and similar provisions under any federal, state, local or foreign tax laws)
and
have, within the time and the manner prescribed by law, withheld from and paid
over to the proper governmental authorities all material amounts required to
be
so withheld and paid over under applicable laws.
(v) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has within the last two years constituted
either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" as such terms
are defined in Section 355 of the Code in a distribution of stock qualifying
or
intended to qualify for tax-free treatment (in whole or in part) under Section
355(a) or 361 of the Code.
(vi) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub joins or has joined, for any taxable
period in the filing of any affiliated, aggregate, consolidated, combined or
unitary tax return other than consolidated tax returns for the consolidated
group of which the Company is the common parent.
-18-
(vii) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has ever entered into a "listed
transaction" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.6011-4(b)(2).
(viii) No
written claim has ever been made by any authority in a jurisdiction where any
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub does not file a tax return that Parent,
its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is, or may be, subject to a material amount
of
tax by that jurisdiction.
(ix) Other
than with respect to the consolidated group of corporations of which Parent
is
the common parent, none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is a party
to
or bound by any tax sharing agreement, tax indemnity obligation or similar
agreement, arrangement or practice with respect to taxes (including any advance
pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement relating to taxes with
any taxing authority).
(x) No
taxing
authority has asserted in writing any material liens for taxes with respect
to
any assets or properties of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub that have
not
otherwise been paid or satisfied, except for statutory liens for taxes not
yet
due and payable.
(xi) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has 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.
(xii) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub (A) is, to the Knowledge of Parent,
a
"passive foreign investment company" within the meaning of Section 1297(a)
of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or (B) has ever
made an election under Section 1362 of the Code to be treated as an S
corporation for federal income tax purposes or made a similar election under
any
comparable provision of any tax law.
(xiii) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has taken any action or knows of any
fact, agreement, plan or circumstance that is reasonably likely to prevent
the
Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Code.
(xiv) There
are
no circumstances existing prior to the Redomestication which could, in
themselves, result in the application of any of Sections 80 to 80.03 of the
Income Tax Act of Canada (the “ITA”)
or any
equivalent provincial provisions to Parent. Parent has not made any election
pursuant to Section 80.04 of the ITA or any equivalent provincial provision
in
which it is an eligible transferee. Parent has not filed an agreement pursuant
to Section 191.3 of the ITA or any equivalent provincial provision and has
not
claimed any reserve under any of Sections 40(1)(a)(iii) or 20(1)(n) of the
ITA
or any equivalent provincial provision of any amount that could be included
in
its income for any period ending after the Redomestication in respect of any
such reserve.
(xv) As
used
in this Agreement (A) "tax" or "taxes" shall include (whether disputed or not)
all (x) federal, state, local and foreign (including Canadian provincial)
income, property, sales, use, excise, withholding, payroll, employment, social
security, value-added, ad valorem, capital gain, alternative minimum, transfer,
franchise, capital stock, net worth and other taxes, including taxes based
on or
measured by gross receipts, profits, sales, use or occupation, tariffs, levies,
impositions, assessments, duties and similar governmental charges or fees of
any
kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalties and additions with respect
thereto, (y) liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described
in
clause (x) as a result of being or having been a member of an affiliated,
consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group and (z) liability for the
payment of any amounts as a result of being or having been party to any tax
sharing agreement or as a result of any express or implied obligation to
indemnify any other person with respect to the payment of any amounts of the
type described in clause (x) or (y); (B) "taxing authority" means any Federal,
state, local or foreign government, any subdivision, agency, commission or
authority thereof, or any quasi-governmental body exercising tax regulatory
authority; and (C) "tax return" or "tax returns" means all returns, declarations
of estimated tax payments, claims for refund, disclosure statements (including
any statement pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(a)), forms,
reports, estimates, information returns and statements, including any related
or
supporting information with respect to any of foregoing, filed or to be filed
with any taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment,
collection or administration of any taxes.
-19-
(s) Real
Property.
(i) None
of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub owns any real property.
(ii) Section
3.01(s) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate
list of all material real property leased by Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger
Sub (the "Leased
Real Property").
Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (A) all leases (including
subleases) of real property under which Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub
is a lessee or sublessee (the "Leases")
are in
full force and effect and (B) none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub,
nor, to the Knowledge of Parent, any other party to any such Lease, is in
default under any of the Leases, and no event has occurred which, with notice
or
lapse of time or both, would constitute a default by Parent, its Subsidiaries
or
Merger Sub under any of the Leases. The transactions contemplated by this
Agreement do not require the consent of any other party to a Lease. None of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has subleased, licensed or otherwise
granted anyone the right to use or occupy any Leased Real Property or any
portion thereof, and none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has
collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in any such
leasehold estate or any interest therein.
(t) Intellectual
Property.
(i) Parent,
its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub own all right, title and interest to, or are
validly licensed or otherwise have the right to use, all Intellectual Property
Rights used in the business of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub, except
for such Intellectual Property Rights the failure of which to own, license
or
otherwise have the right to use, individually or in the aggregate, has not
had
and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.01(t) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date
hereof, a complete and accurate list of: (A) all patents and applications
therefor, registered trademarks and applications therefore, service marks and
other designations of origin, domain name registrations (if any) and copyright
registrations (if any) owned by Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub
(collectively, the “Registered
IP”)
and
(B) all options, rights, licenses or interests of any kind relating to
Intellectual Property Rights that are material to Parent, its Subsidiaries
and
Merger Sub, taken as a whole, granted (1) to Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub (other than software licenses for generally available software), and (2)
by
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub to any other person.
-20-
(ii) To
the
Knowledge of Parent, none of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub has
infringed upon any Intellectual Property Rights of any other person, except
for
any such infringement that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and
would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
No
claims are pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, nor are there
any
outstanding judgments, injunctions, orders or decrees as of the date of this
Agreement, against Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub by any person with
respect to the ownership, validity, enforceability, effectiveness, sale,
manufacture or use in the business of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub
of
any Intellectual Property Right, except for such claims, judgments, injunctions,
orders or decrees that, individually
or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have
a
Parent Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of Parent, no other person
has
interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise come
into
conflict with any Intellectual Property Rights of Parent, its Subsidiaries
or
Merger Sub, except for any such interference, infringement, misappropriation
or
other conflict that, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would
not
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) Parent,
its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub have used commercially reasonable efforts to
maintain their trade secrets in confidence, including the requirement of certain
employees of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub to execute confidentiality
agreements with respect to intellectual property developed for or obtained
from
Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub. Without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing:
(A) all
documents and instruments reasonably necessary in Parent’s sole discretion to
establish, secure and perfect the rights of the Parent, its Subsidiaries and
Merger Sub in the Registered IP have been validly executed, delivered and filed
in a timely manner with the appropriate Governmental Entity, except where such
failure would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect;
(B) each
Person who is or was an employee of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub
and
who is or was substantively and materially involved in the creation or
development of any Intellectual Property Rights has signed or otherwise been
subject to an irrevocable assignment of Intellectual Property Rights to Parent
or any Subsidiary for which such Person is or was an employee; and
(C) no
Contract limits or restricts the ability of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger
Sub to use, exploit, assert or enforce any of its Intellectual Property
Rights.
-21-
(iv) No
interference, opposition, reissue, reexamination or other legal proceeding
of
any nature is or has been pending or threatened in which the scope, validity
or
enforceability of any Intellectual Property Right of Parent, any Subsidiary
or
Merger Sub is being, or has been contested or challenged except where such
interference, opposition, reissue, reexamination or proceeding would not
reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(v) Neither
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, will, with or without notice
or
the lapse of time or both, result in or give any other Person the right or
option to cause or declare: (A) a loss of, or Encumbrance on, any Intellectual
Property Right; (B) the release, disclosure or delivery of any source code
by
any Person; (C) the grant, assignment or transfer to any other Person of any
license or other right or interest under, to or in any Intellectual Property
Right; or (iv) a violation of any third party Intellectual Property
Rights.
(vi) Except
to
the extent there would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, with respect to third party software used in any product of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub:
(A) the
license, sublicense, agreement or permission covering the software is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect;
(B) the
license, sublicense, agreement or permission will continue to be legal, valid,
binding and enforceable, and in full force and effect following the consummation
of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement; and
(C) to
the
Knowledge of Parent, no party to the license, sublicense, agreement or
permission is in breach or default, and no event has occurred that with notice
or lapse of time or both would constitute a breach or default or permit
termination, modification or acceleration thereunder.
(vii) No
Intellectual Property Rights of Parent contain any bug, defect or error that
materially and adversely affects the use, functionality or performance of such
Intellectual Property Rights.
(viii) No
Intellectual Property Rights of Parent currently contained in a product of
Parent, any Subsidiary or Merger Sub contains any "back door," "drop dead
device," "time bomb," "Trojan horse," "virus," or "worm" (as such terms are
commonly understood in the software industry) or any other code designed or
intended to have, or capable of performing, any of the following functions:
(A)
disrupting, disabling, harming or otherwise impeding in any manner the operation
of, or providing unauthorized access to, a computer system or network or other
device on which such code is stored or installed; or (B) damaging or destroying
any data or file without the user's consent.
(ix) As
used
in this Agreement, "Intellectual
Property Rights"
means,
collectively, whether arising under the laws of the United States or any other
state, country or jurisdiction: (A) ideas, formulas, patterns, designs, utility
models, compositions, programs, methods, inventions, know-how, manufacturing
and
production and all other processes, procedures and techniques, research and
development information and technical data (whether patentable or unpatentable
and whether or not reduced to practice) and other trade secrets and confidential
information, patents, patent applications and patent disclosures; (B)
trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos and corporate names
(in each case, whether registered or unregistered) and registrations and
applications for registration thereof; (C) copyrights (registered or
unregistered) and copyrightable works and registrations and applications for
registration thereof; (D) computer software, data, data bases and documentation
thereof; and (E) domain name registrations.
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(u) Voting
Requirements. The Stockholder Approval is the only vote of the holders of
any class or series of capital stock of Parent necessary to adopt this Agreement
and approve the transactions contemplated hereby.
(v) Brokers
and Finders. No broker, finder or similar intermediary has acted for or on
behalf of, or is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s or similar fee or other
commission from Parent, any of its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub in connection
with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(w) Opinion
of Financial Advisor. The Board of Directors of Parent has received the oral
opinion of its financial advisor, Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC, to the effect
that, as of the date of such opinion, the Exchange Ratio is fair, from a
financial point of view, to the holders of Parent Common Stock. A true and
correct copy of the written opinion of Xxxx Capital Partners, LLC will be
furnished to SMB promptly following its receipt by Parent.
(x) Title
to Property. Each of Parent, its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub has good and
valid title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all the properties and assets
which it purports to own or lease, including all the properties and assets
reflected in the consolidated Balance Sheet of Parent and its Subsidiaries
in
its most recently filed Parent SEC Document (except for personal property sold
since the date of the said Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business).
(y) Foreign
Corrupt Practices. None of Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub nor, to
the Knowledge of Parent, any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person
acting on behalf thereof has, in the course of its actions therefor or on behalf
thereof: (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii)
made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is
in
violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977,
as
amended; or (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment,
kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government
official or employee.
(z) Insurance.
Section 3.01(z) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and
accurate list of all policies of fire, liability, workers' compensation,
indemnity and other forms of insurance owned, held by or applicable to Parent,
its Subsidiaries and Merger Sub and their assets, properties and operations
and
such policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto
covering all periods up to and including the Closing Date have been paid or
will
be paid in accordance with the applicable terms, and no notice of cancellation
or termination has been received with respect to any such policy. There are
no
pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened claims under any insurance
policy.
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(aa) No
Default.
None of
Parent, its Subsidiaries or Merger Sub is in violation in any material respect
of any term of (i) its Organizational Documents, (ii) any agreement or
instrument related to indebtedness for borrowed money or any other agreement
to
which it is a party or by which it is bound, or (iii) any Law applicable to
it
or any of its properties or assets, except in the case of (ii) or (iii), for
violations that have not had and would not be reasonably expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(bb) Undisclosed
Liabilities.
Except
as set forth in the Parent SEC Documents or otherwise disclosed hereunder,
and
except for such liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of
business and which have not had, and would not be reasonably expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, a Parent Material Adverse Effect, Parent
does
not have any liabilities or obligations of any nature, whether or not accrued,
contingent or otherwise, and there is no existing condition, situation or set
of
circumstances that could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability
or
obligation.
SECTION
3.02 Representations
and Warranties of Empagio and SMB.
Except
as set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by Empagio and SMB to Parent
prior to the execution of this Agreement (the "SMB
Disclosure Schedule")
(with
specific reference to the particular Section or subsection of this Agreement
to
which the information set forth in such disclosure schedule relates; provided,
however, that any information set forth in one section of such disclosure
schedule shall be deemed to apply to each other Section or subsection thereof
to
which its relevance is readily apparent on its face), Empagio and SMB, jointly
and severally, represent and warrant to Parent and Merger Sub as
follows:
(a) Organization,
Standing and Corporate Power.
Each of
Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries has been duly organized and
is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its
incorporation. Each of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries has all
requisite power and authority and possesses all governmental licenses, permits,
authorizations and approvals necessary to enable it to own, lease or otherwise
hold and operate its properties and other assets and to carry on its business
as
currently conducted, except where the failure to have such government licenses,
permits, authorizations or approvals individually or in the aggregate has not
had and would not reasonably be expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect.
Each of Empagio, SMB and their respective 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 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 an
SMB
Material Adverse Effect. Empagio has made available to Parent complete and
accurate copies of its Certificate of Formation and Operating Agreement, SMB’s
Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws, and the comparable organizational
documents of each of their respective Subsidiaries, in each case as amended
to
the date hereof.
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(b) Subsidiaries.
Section
3.02(b) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule lists each of the Subsidiaries of Empagio
and SMB and, for each such Subsidiary, the jurisdiction of its incorporation
and
a list of its directors and officers. All the issued and outstanding shares
of
capital stock of each such Subsidiary have been validly issued and are fully
paid and nonassessable and are owned directly by SMB free and clear of all
Liens
and free of any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose
of
such capital stock or other equity interests. Except for the capital stock
of
its Subsidiaries, Empagio and SMB do not own, directly or indirectly, any
capital stock of, or other voting securities or equity interests in, any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity.
(c) Capital
Structure of Empagio.
(i) As
of the
date hereof, (i) 5,482,500 Common Membership Units of Empagio (the "Empagio
Common Units")
were
issued and outstanding and (ii) 1,000 Series A Preferred Membership Units (the
"Empagio
Preferred Units")
were
issued and outstanding. As of the date hereof, no shares of Empagio Common
Units
or Empagio Preferred Units were reserved for issuance, except for an aggregate
of 2,267,378 Empagio Common Units reserved for issuance upon the exercise of
Empagio Unit Options, 6,454,082 Empagio Common Units reserved for issuance
upon
the exercise of Empagio Warrants and 191,201 Empagio Common Units reserved
for
issuance upon the conversion of convertible notes. Section 3.02(c) of the SMB
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and correct capitalization table of
Empagio as of the date hereof. Except as otherwise specified in this Section
3.02(c), none of Empagio, SMB or any of its Subsidiaries has or is bound by
any
outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, convertible securities,
convertible notes, convertible debentures, preemptive rights, redemption rights,
unit appreciation rights, equity-based performance units or other similar
rights, agreements or commitments of any character relating to the purchase
or
issuance of any capital stock of or equity interests in Empagio, SMB or of
any
of its Subsidiaries or any securities representing the right to purchase or
otherwise receive any capital stock or equity in Empagio, SMB or any of its
Subsidiaries (including any rights plan or agreement) or equity-based awards,
nor is there any other agreement to which Empagio, SMB or any of its
Subsidiaries is a party obligating Empagio, SMB or any of its Subsidiaries
to
(A) issue, transfer or sell any capital stock or equity interests of Empagio,
SMB or any of its Subsidiaries or securities convertible into or exchangeable
or
exercisable for such capital stock or equity interests, (B) issue, grant, extend
or enter into any such subscription, option, warrant, call, convertible
securities, equity-based performance units or other similar right, agreement,
arrangement or commitment, (C) redeem or otherwise acquire any such capital
stock or other equity interests or (D) provide a material amount of funds to,
or
make any material investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in, Empagio, SMB or any of its Subsidiaries. Section 3.02(c) of
the
SMB Disclosure Schedule contains a list setting forth, as of the date of this
Agreement, all outstanding Empagio Unit Options, Empagio Warrants, SMB Stock
Options, SMB Warrants and all other equity or equity-based awards relating
to
Empagio Common Units, Empagio Preferred Units, SMB Common Stock or any capital
stock of any Subsidiary, the names of the optionees or grantees thereof, the
date each such Empagio Unit Option, Empagio Warrant, SMB Stock Option, SMB
Warrant or other award was granted, the number of units or other equity subject
to each such Empagio Unit Option, Empagio Warrant, SMB Stock Option, SMB Warrant
or underlying each such other award, the expiration date of same, any vesting
schedule with respect thereto which is not yet fully vested and the date on
which each other award is scheduled to be settled or become free of
restrictions, and the price at which same may be exercised. All outstanding
units or shares are, and all units or shares which may be issued pursuant to
the
Empagio Unit Options, Empagio Warrants, SMB Stock Options or SMB Warrants will
be, when issued in accordance with the terms thereof, duly authorized and
validly issued and not subject to preemptive rights. There are no bonds,
debentures, notes or other indebtedness of Empagio, SMB or any of their
respective Subsidiaries having the right to vote (or convertible into, or
exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which
members of Empagio or SMB may vote. None of Empagio, SMB or any of their
Subsidiaries is a party to any voting agreement with respect to the voting
of
any such securities. No Person has any right to acquire any shares issuable
in
connection with the Merger.
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(ii) There
are
no member or stockholder agreements, voting trusts, proxies or other similar
agreements, arrangements or understandings to which Empagio, SMB or any of
their
Subsidiaries is a party, or by which it or they are bound, obligating Empagio,
SMB or their Subsidiaries with respect to any membership interests or capital
stock of Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries. There are no rights or
obligations, contingent or otherwise (including rights of first refusal in
favor
of Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries), of Empagio, SMB or any of their
Subsidiaries, to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any membership
interests or shares of capital stock of Empagio, SMB or any of their
Subsidiaries, as the case may be, or to provide funds to or make any investment
(in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in SMB or any
Subsidiary or any other entity. There are no registration rights or other
agreements, arrangements or understandings to which Empagio, SMB or any of
their
Subsidiaries is a party, or by which it or they are bound, obligating Empagio,
SMB or any of their Subsidiaries with respect to any Empagio Common Units or
Empagio Preferred Units or shares of capital stock of SMB or any Subsidiary.
(d) Capital
Structure of SMB.
The
authorized shares of capital stock of SMB consist of 2,000 shares of common
stock, no par value per share, 100 of which have been duly authorized and are
validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable. No shares of
preferred stock have been authorized. All the issued and outstanding common
stock of SMB is owned by Empagio and at the Effective Time will be owned by
Empagio or its former members if Empagio is dissolved prior to such time, and
there are (i) no other shares of capital stock or voting securities of SMB,
(ii)
no securities of SMB convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital
stock or voting securities of SMB and (iii) no options or other rights to
acquire from SMB, and no obligations of SMB to issue, any capital stock, voting
securities or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock
or
voting securities of SMB.
(e) Authority;
Noncontravention.
Empagio
and SMB have all requisite limited liability company or corporate, as the case
may be, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and
delivery of this Agreement by Empagio and SMB and the consummation by Empagio
and SMB of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of Empagio and SMB
and
no other corporate proceedings on the part of Empagio or SMB are necessary
to
authorize this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Empagio and SMB and,
assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by Parent and Merger
Sub,
constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Empagio and SMB,
enforceable against Empagio and SMB in accordance with its terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting
the
rights of creditors generally and to general principles of equity. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement do not, and the consummation of the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance by Empagio,
SMB and their respective Subsidiaries with the provisions of this Agreement
will
not, conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or default (with
or
without notice or lapse of time, or both) under, or give rise to a right of
termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or to the loss
of a
benefit under, or result in the creation of any Lien in or upon any of the
properties or other assets of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries
under, (x) their respective Certificate of Formation, Operating Agreement,
Certificates of Incorporation or By-laws or the comparable organizational
documents of any of their respective Subsidiaries, (y) any loan or credit
agreement, bond, debenture, note, mortgage, indenture, lease, sublease, or
other
contract, agreement or obligation, to which the Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries is a party or any of their respective properties or
other assets is subject or (z) governmental filings and other matters referred
to in Section 3.02(f), any (A) Law applicable to Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries or their respective properties or other assets or (B)
order, writ, injunction, decree, judgment or stipulation, in each case
applicable to Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries or their respective
properties or other assets, other than, in the case of clauses (y) and (z),
any
such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, rights, losses or Liens that
individually or in the aggregate have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect.
-26-
(f) Consents
and Approvals.
No
consent, approval, order or authorization of, action by or in respect of, or
registration, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Entity or Person
is
required by or with respect to Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by them or the
consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for (i) the consents and approvals set forth in Section
3.02(f) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule; (ii) the filing of a premerger
notification and report form by Empagio under the HSR Act and the receipt,
termination or expiration, as applicable, of approvals or waiting periods
required under the HSR Act or any other applicable foreign competition, merger
control, antitrust or similar law or regulation; (iii) the filing of a
Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware
and
appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which
SMB
or any of its Subsidiaries is qualified to do business; and (iv) such other
consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, actions, registrations,
declarations and filings, the failure of which to be obtained or made
individually or in the aggregate has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect.
(g) Information
Supplied.
None of
the information supplied or to be supplied by or on behalf of Empagio or SMB
for
inclusion in the Proxy Statement will, on the date it is first mailed to the
stockholders of Parent or at the time of the Stockholders' Meeting, contain
any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not
misleading.
(h) Absence
of Certain Changes or Events.
Since
the date of Empagio’s formation, there has not been any SMB Material Adverse
Change, and each of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries has conducted
its businesses only in the ordinary course.
-27-
(i) Litigation.
Except
as disclosed in Section 3.02(i) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule, there is no
suit, action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of SMB, threatened
against Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their
respective assets, nor is there any judgment, decree, injunction, rule or order
of any Governmental Entity or arbitrator outstanding against, or, to the
Knowledge of SMB, investigation by any Governmental Entity involving, Empagio,
SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets,
nor is there any inquiry or internal investigation being conducted by Empagio,
SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries, the results of which would
reasonably be expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect.
(j) Contracts.
(i) Section
3.02(j) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all SMB Material
Contracts to which Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries is
a
party. For purposes of this Section 3.02(j)(i), "SMB
Material Contract"
means:
(A) any
employment Contract with any officer of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries, and any severance, consulting, personal services, non-competition
or indemnification Contracts;
(B) licensing,
merchandising or distribution Contracts;
(C) Contracts
granting a right of first refusal or first negotiation;
(D) any
Contract relating to indebtedness for borrowed money (including any obligation
to guarantee the indebtedness for borrowed money of any Person other than SMB
or
any Subsidiary) having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $1,000,000,
and, for each such Contract, the aggregate principal amount outstanding as
of
the date of this Agreement;
(E) any
Contract relating to a security interest imposed on any asset or property of
Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries, other than Permitted
Liens;
(F) any
Contract with any supplier or for the furnishing of services to Empagio, SMB
or
any of their Subsidiaries involving consideration of more than $100,000 over
its
remaining term (including any automatic extensions thereto);
(G) any
partnership, joint venture or similar agreement or arrangement with a third
party;
(H) any
Contract that limits or purports to limit the ability of Empagio, SMB or any
of
their Subsidiaries to compete with any person or in any geographic area or
during any period of time;
(I) any
Contract between or among Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries, on the
one
hand, and any director, officer or Affiliate of Empagio or SMB or any person
that beneficially owns 5% or more of the outstanding shares of Empagio Common
Stock (including, in each case, any "associates" or members of the "immediate
family" (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 and Rule 16a-1 of the Exchange
Act, respectively) of any such person), on the other hand;
-28-
(J) any
arrangement for receipt or repayment of any grant, subsidy or financial
assistance from any Governmental Entity;
(K) any
agreement pursuant to which Empagio or SMB has acquired the assets or stock
of
any other Person and any agreement pursuant to which any Person is entitled
to
deferred purchase price or an earnout in connection therewith;
(L) any
agreement pursuant to which any Person is entitled to receive any assets of
Empagio or SMB;
(M) any
indemnification agreement to which Empagio or SMB is a party;
(N) any
effective power of attorney granted by Empagio, SMB or any of their
Subsidiaries;
(O) any
Contract that if terminated or subject to a default by any party thereto would
reasonably be expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect;
(P) any
Contract that, as of February 1, 2008, resulted in annualized gross revenues
to
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries of at least $500,000;
(Q) any
Contract that, as of February 1, 2008, has a maximum possible annualized
liability or obligation on the part of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries of at least $250,000; and
(R) any
Contract for development services related to Intellectual Property Rights of
Empagio, SMB or any Subsidiary, whether by an employee or independent
contractor;
(S) any
Contract that imposes any material restriction on the right or ability of
Empagio, SMB or a Subsidiary: (1) to compete with, or solicit any customer
of,
any other Person; (2) to acquire any product or other asset or any services
from
any other Person; (3) to solicit, hire or retain any Person as an employee,
consultant or independent contractor; (4) to develop, sell, supply, distribute,
offer, support or service any product or any technology or other asset to or
for
any other Person; (5) to perform services for any other Person; or (6) to
transact business with any other Person;
(T) any
Contract that requires SMB or any Subsidiary to give favored pricing to any
customers or potential customers;
(U) any
Contract involving the lease of real property;
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(V) any
employment, severance, consulting, personal services, non-competition or
indemnification Contracts with any officer of SMB or a Subsidiary;
(W) any
Contract that is material to the operation of Empagio’s, SMB’s or any of their
Subsidiaries’ business that contains a change of control provision that would be
triggered by the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; and
(X) any
Contract that would be required to be filed as a “material agreement” pursuant
to Item 6.01(A)(10) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act or disclosed
on a
Current Report on Form 8-K.
(ii) Each
SMB
Material Contract is a valid and binding obligation of Empagio, SMB or its
Subsidiary, as the case may be, and, to the Knowledge of SMB, a valid and
binding obligation of each other party thereto. None of Empagio, SMB or any
of
their respective Subsidiaries or, to the Knowledge of SMB, any other party
is in
breach of, or in default under, or has repudiated, and no event has occurred
which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a breach of,
or a
default under, any such SMB Material Contract, except for such breach, default
or repudiation that has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have,
individually or in the aggregate, an SMB Material Adverse Effect. Empagio and/or
SMB have made available to Parent a true and correct copy of each SMB Material
Contract. None of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a
party to any material oral Contract.
(k) Customers.
Section
3.02(k) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true and complete list
of
the top 20 revenue producing customers of Empagio, SMB or any of their
Subsidiaries for the year ended December 31, 2007 (each, an "SMB Major
Customer").
Neither Empagio nor SMB has received written notice from any SMB Major Customer
stating that it has terminated or intends to terminate its relationship with
Empagio, SMB or any Subsidiary. To the Knowledge of SMB, none of Empagio, SMB
or
any of their respective Subsidiaries is in breach or default under any Contract
with any SMB Major Customer, except where any such breach or default has not
had
or would not reasonably be expected to have an SMB Material Adverse
Effect.
(l) Compliance
with Law.
(i) The
businesses of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries have been conducted
in accordance with applicable Laws except where such noncompliance has not
had
or would reasonably not be expected to result in an SMB Material Adverse Change.
Since January 1, 2005, none of Empagio, SMB or their respective Subsidiaries
has
received notice of any violation (or any investigation with respect thereto)
of
any such Laws, and none of Empagio, SMB or their respective Subsidiaries is
in
default with respect to any order, writ, judgment, award, injunction or decree
of any Governmental Entity, applicable to any of its assets, properties or
operations except where such failure has not had or would reasonably not be
expected to result in an SMB Material Adverse Change.
(ii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries has made, arranged or
modified (in any material way) any extension of credit in the form of a personal
loan to any executive officer or director of Empagio, SMB or any of their
respective Subsidiaries.
-30-
(m) Environmental
Matters.
(i) Each
of
Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries is, and has been, in compliance
with all Environmental Laws except where the failure to be in compliance would
not have an Empagio Material Adverse Effect. Each of Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries has in effect all licenses, permits and other
authorizations required under all Environmental Laws and all such licenses,
permits and other authorizations are in full force and effect except where
the
failure to have any such license, permit or authorization would not have an
Empagio Material Adverse Effect. Each of Empagio, SMB and their respective
Subsidiaries is in compliance with all such licenses, permits and authorizations
except where the failure to be in compliance would not have an SMB Material
Adverse Effect.
(ii) There
is
no material proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of Empagio, threatened
against Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties under any Environmental Law, and Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries have not received any notice of material violation
or
potential liability under any Environmental Laws from any Person or any
Governmental Entity inquiry, request for information, or demand letter under
any
Environmental Law relating to operations or properties of Empagio, SMB and
their
respective Subsidiaries. None of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries
or respective properties or operations is subject to any orders arising under
Environmental Laws. None of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries
has
entered into any agreement pursuant to which any of them has assumed or will
assume any material liability under Environmental Laws, including without
limitation, any obligation for costs of remediation, of any other Person.
(iii) To
the
Knowledge of SMB, there has been no release or threatened release of any
Hazardous Material, on, at or beneath any of the SMB Leased Real Property or
other properties currently or previously owned or operated by Empagio, SMB
and
their respective Subsidiaries or any surface waters or groundwaters thereon
or
thereunder which requires any material disclosure, investigation, cleanup,
remediation, monitoring, abatement, deed or use restriction by any of them,
or
which would be expected to give rise to any actual or alleged material liability
for personal injury, property damage, natural resources damage or other material
liability or damages to Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries under
any
Environmental Laws.
(iv) None
of
Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries has sent or arranged for the
disposal of any Hazardous Material, or transported any Hazardous Material,
that
reasonably would be expected to give rise to any material liability for any
damages or costs of investigation, remediation or any other action to respond
to
the release or threatened release of any Hazardous Material.
(v) Empagio
and/or SMB has made available to Parent copies of all environmental studies,
investigations, reports or assessments concerning Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries, the SMB Leased Real Property and any owned real
property currently or previously owned or operated by Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries.
-31-
(n) Absence
of Changes in Company Benefit Plans; Labor Relations.
(i) Since
January 1, 2005 to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any adoption,
material amendment or termination by Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate of any employment, bonus, pension, profit
sharing, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock ownership, stock
purchase, stock appreciation, restricted stock, stock option, phantom stock,
performance, retirement, thrift, savings, stock bonus, paid time off,
perquisite, fringe benefit, vacation, severance, disability, death benefit,
hospitalization, medical, welfare benefit or other plan, program, policy,
arrangement, agreement or understanding (whether or not legally binding)
maintained, contributed to or required to be maintained or contributed to by
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any other person or
entity that, together with Empagio, is treated as a single employer under
Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (each, an “ERISA
Affiliate”),
in
each case providing benefits to any current or former director, officer,
employee, independent contractor or consultant of Empagio, SMB, any of their
respective Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate, but not including SMB Benefit
Agreements (all such plans, programs, policies, arrangements, agreements and
understandings, including any such plan, program, policy, arrangement, agreement
or understanding entered into or adopted on or after the date of this Agreement,
collectively, the "SMB
Benefit Plans"),
or
any change in any actuarial or other assumption used to calculate funding
obligations with respect to any SMB Pension Plan, or any change in the manner
in
which contributions to any SMB Pension Plan are made or the basis on which
such
contributions are determined, other than amendments or other changes as required
to ensure that such SMB Pension Plan is not then out of compliance with
applicable law, or reasonably determined by SMB to be necessary or appropriate
to preserve the qualified status of an SMB Pension Plan under Section 401(a)
of
the Code.
(ii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries is a party to any
collective bargaining agreement or other labor union contract or similar scheme
or arrangement applicable to its employees nor does SMB have Knowledge of any
activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any such employees.
(iii) Each
of
Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Laws relating to employment and employment
practices, the classification of employees, wages, hours, collective bargaining,
unlawful discrimination, civil rights, safety and health, workers’ compensation
and terms and conditions of employment except where such failure has not had
or
would reasonably not be likely to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect. There
are
no charges with respect to or relating to Empagio, SMB or any of their
respective Subsidiaries pending or, to the Knowledge of SMB, threatened before
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state, local or foreign
agency responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment practices. Since
January 1, 2006, none of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries
has received any notice from any national, state, local or foreign agency
responsible for the enforcement of labor or employment Laws of an intention
to
conduct an investigation of any of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries and no such investigation is in progress.
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(iv) There
has
been no "mass layoff" or "plant closing" as defined by WARN with respect to
the
current or former employees of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries.
(o) ERISA
Compliance.
(i) Section
3.02(o)(i) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate
list
of each material SMB Benefit Plan that is an "employee pension benefit plan"
(as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) (sometimes referred to herein as an
"SMB
Pension Plan"),
each
material SMB Benefit Plan that is an "employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined
in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and all other material SMB Benefit Plans and material
SMB Benefit Agreements in effect as of the date of this Agreement. Empagio
and/or SMB has made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of (A)
each
such SMB Benefit Plan and SMB Benefit Agreement, (B) the two most recent annual
reports on Form 5500 filed with the IRS with respect to each SMB Benefit Plan
(if any such report was required under applicable law), (C) the most recent
summary plan description for each SMB Benefit Plan for which a summary plan
description is required under applicable law and (D) each trust agreement and
insurance or group annuity contract relating to any SMB Benefit Plan. Each
SMB
Benefit Plan has been administered in accordance with its terms and with the
applicable provisions of ERISA, the Code and all other applicable laws and
the
terms of all applicable collective bargaining agreements, except where such
non-compliance has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result in
an
SMB Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) All
SMB
Pension Plans intended to be tax qualified have received favorable determination
letters from the IRS with respect to all tax law changes with respect to which
the IRS is currently willing to provide a determination letter, to the effect
that such SMB Pension Plans are qualified and exempt from federal income taxes
under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code, no such
determination letter has been revoked (nor, to the Knowledge of SMB, has
revocation been threatened) and, to the Knowledge of SMB, no event has occurred
since the date of the most recent determination letter or application therefor
relating to any such SMB Pension Plan that has had or would reasonably be
expected to result in a material liability to SMB. Empagio and/or SMB has
delivered or made available to Parent a complete and accurate copy of the most
recent determination letter received prior to the date hereof with respect
to
each SMB Pension Plan.
(iii) Neither
Empagio nor, within the last six years, any ERISA Affiliate, (A) has maintained,
contributed to or been required to contribute to, or has any actual or
contingent liability under, any SMB Benefit Plan that is subject to Title IV
of
ERISA or Section 412 of the Code or that is otherwise a defined benefit pension
plan and (B) has any unsatisfied liability under Title IV of ERISA or Section
412 of the Code which would reasonably be expected to result in an SMB Material
Adverse Effect.
(iv) All
reports, returns and similar documents with respect to all SMB Benefit Plans
required to be filed with any Governmental Entity or distributed to any SMB
Benefit Plan participant have been duly and timely filed or distributed, except
where such failure has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result
in
a material liability to SMB. None of Empagio, SMB, any of their respective
Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate has received notice of, and to the Knowledge
of SMB, there are no investigations by any Governmental Entity with respect
to,
termination proceedings or other claims (except claims for benefits payable
in
the normal operation of the SMB Benefit Plans), suits or proceedings against
or
involving any SMB Benefit Plan or SMB Benefit Agreement or asserting any rights
or claims to benefits under any SMB Benefit Plan or SMB Benefit Agreement that
would reasonably be expected to give rise to any material liability, and, to
the
Knowledge of SMB, there are not any facts that would reasonably be expected
to
give rise to any SMB Material Adverse Effect in the event of any such
investigation, claim, suit or proceeding.
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(v) Except
where such failure has not had and would not reasonably be expected to result
in
a material liability to SMB, all contributions, premiums and benefit payments
under or in connection with the SMB Benefit Plans that are required to have
been
made as of the date hereof in accordance with the terms of the SMB Benefit
Plans
have been timely made. No SMB Pension Plan has an "accumulated funding
deficiency" (as such term is defined in Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412
of
the Code), whether or not waived.
(vi) With
respect to each SMB Benefit Plan, (A) to the Knowledge of the SMB, there has
not
occurred any prohibited transaction (within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA
or Section 4975 of the Code) that would reasonably be expected to result in
a
material liability to SMB and (B) to the Knowledge of SMB, none of Empagio,
SMB
or any of their respective Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers,
directors or employees has engaged in any transaction or acted in a manner,
or
failed to act in a manner, that would reasonably be expected to subject SMB
to
any liability for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA that would reasonably
be
expected to result in a material liability to SMB. There has not been any
"reportable event" (as that term is defined in Section 4043 of ERISA) for which
the 30-day reporting requirement has not been waived with respect to any Empagio
Benefit Plan during the last five years.
(vii) To
the
Knowledge of SMB, each of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries
complies in all material respects with the applicable requirements of Section
4980B(f) of the Code or any similar state or local law with respect to each
SMB
Benefit Plan that is a group health plan, as such term is defined in Section
5000(b)(1) of the Code or such state or local law. Except as required by Section
4980B(f) of the Code, no SMB Benefit Plan or SMB Benefit Agreement that is
an
employee welfare benefit plan or that provides welfare benefits provides
benefits after termination of employment.
(viii) Except
as
contemplated by this Agreement, no participant will be entitled to any
additional compensation, severance or other benefits or any acceleration of
the
time of payment or vesting of any compensation, severance or other benefits
as a
result of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement
(alone or in combination with any other event) or any benefits the value of
which will be calculated on the basis of the Merger or any other transaction
contemplated by this Agreement (alone or in combination with any other event).
None of the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the obtaining of member
or
shareholder approval or the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction
expressly contemplated by this Agreement will (including as a result of any
termination of employment on or following the Effective Time) (A) entitle any
participant to severance, termination, change in control or similar pay or
benefits, (B) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or trigger any payment
or funding (through a grantor trust or otherwise) of, compensation or benefits
under, increase the amount payable or trigger any other material obligation
pursuant to, or increase the cost of, any SMB Benefit Plan or SMB Benefit
Agreement or (C) result in any breach or violation of, or a default under,
any
SMB Benefit Plan or SMB Benefit Agreement.
-34-
(ix) No
deduction by Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries in respect
of
any "applicable employee remuneration" (within the meaning of Section 162(m)
of
the Code) has been disallowed or is subject to disallowance by reason of Section
162(m) of the Code, except where such disallowance has not had and would not
reasonably be expected to result in an SMB Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Each
SMB
Benefit Agreement is, in form and operation, in good faith compliance with
Section 409A of the Code.
(p) No
Excess Parachute Payments.
Other
than payments that may be made to persons set forth in Section 3.02(p) of the
SMB Disclosure Schedule (the "Primary
SMB Executives"),
(i)
no amount or other entitlement or economic benefit that would be received
(whether in cash or property or the vesting of property) as a result of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the obtaining of member or shareholder
approval, the consummation of the Merger or any other transaction contemplated
by this Agreement (including as a result of termination of employment on or
following the Effective Time) by or for the benefit of any participant who
is a
"disqualified individual" (as such term is defined in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.280G-1) under any SMB Benefit Plan, SMB Benefit Agreement or other
compensation arrangement would be characterized as an "excess parachute payment"
(as such term is defined in Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code), and (ii) no such
disqualified individual is entitled to receive any additional payment (e.g.,
any
tax gross up or other payment) from SMB or the Surviving Corporation or any
other person in the event that the excise tax required by Section 4999(a) of
the
Code is imposed on such disqualified individual.
(q) Taxes.
(i) Each
of
Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries has filed or has caused to be
filed in a timely manner (within any applicable extension period) all material
tax returns required to be filed. All such tax returns are complete and accurate
in all material respects and have been prepared in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable laws and regulations. Each of Empagio, SMB and
their respective Subsidiaries has timely paid or caused to be paid (or Empagio
has paid on its behalf) all taxes due and owing.
(ii) To
the
Knowledge of SMB, no tax return of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries is or has been within the last five years under audit or
examination by any taxing authority, and no written notice has been received
by
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries that any audit, examination
or similar proceeding is pending, proposed or asserted with regard to any taxes
or tax returns of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries. There
is
no deficiency, refund litigation, proposed adjustment or matter in controversy
with respect to any material amount of taxes due and owing by Empagio, SMB
or
any of their respective Subsidiaries. Each deficiency resulting from any
completed audit or examination relating to taxes by any taxing authority has
been timely paid or is being contested in good faith and has been reserved
for
on the books of Empagio and/or SMB. The general statute of limitations with
respect to federal income taxes as set forth in Section 6501 of the Code is
closed with respect to the tax returns of Empagio, SMB or their respective
Subsidiaries for all years through 2003. There is no currently effective
agreement or other document extending, or having the effect of extending, the
period of assessment or collection of any taxes of Empagio, SMB and any of
their
respective Subsidiaries nor has any written request been made for any such
extension, and no currently effective power of attorney (other than powers
of
attorney authorizing employees of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries to act on behalf of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries) with respect to any taxes has been executed or filed with any
taxing authority.
-35-
(iii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries will be required to include
in a taxable period ending after the Effective Time a material amount of taxable
income attributable to income that accrued in a prior taxable period (or portion
of a taxable period) but was not recognized for tax purposes in any prior
taxable period as a result of (A) an open transaction disposition made on or
before the Effective Time, (B) a prepaid amount received on or prior to the
Effective Time, (C) the installment method of accounting, (D) the completed
contract method of accounting, (E) the long-term contract method of accounting,
(F) the cash method of accounting or Section 481 of the Code or (G) any
comparable provisions of state or local tax law, domestic or foreign, or for
any
other reason, other than any amounts that are specifically reflected in a
reserve for taxes on the financial statements of Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries.
(iv) Empagio,
SMB and their respective Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects
with all applicable statutes, laws, ordinances, rules and regulations relating
to the payment and withholding of any material amount of taxes (including the
withholding of taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 3121 and 3402 of the
Code
and similar provisions under any federal, state, local or foreign tax laws)
and
have, within the time and the manner prescribed by law, withheld from and paid
over to the proper governmental authorities all material amounts required to
be
so withheld and paid over under applicable laws.
(v) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries has within the last two
years constituted either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled
corporation" as such terms are defined in Section 355 of the Code in a
distribution of stock qualifying or intended to qualify for tax-free treatment
(in whole or in part) under Section 355(a) or 361 of the Code.
(vi) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries joins or has joined, for
any taxable period in the filing of any affiliated, aggregate, consolidated,
combined or unitary tax return other than consolidated tax returns for the
consolidated group of which Empagio or SMB is the common parent.
(vii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries has ever entered into
a
"listed transaction" within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section
1.6011-4(b)(2).
-36-
(viii) No
written claim has ever been made by any authority in a jurisdiction where any
of
Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries do not file a tax return that
it
is, or may be, subject to a material amount of tax by that jurisdiction.
(ix) Other
than with respect to the consolidated group of corporations of which SMB is
the
common parent, none of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries
is a
party to or bound by any tax sharing agreement, tax indemnity obligation or
similar agreement, arrangement or practice with respect to taxes (including
any
advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement relating to
taxes with any taxing authority).
(x) No
taxing
authority has asserted in writing any material liens for taxes with respect
to
any assets or properties of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries
that have not otherwise been paid or satisfied, except for statutory liens
for
taxes not yet due and payable.
(xi) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries has 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.
(xii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries (A) is, to the Knowledge
of
SMB, a "passive foreign investment company" within the meaning of Section
1297(a) of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder or
(B)
has ever made an election under Section 1362 of the Code to be treated as an
S
corporation for federal income tax purposes or made a similar election under
any
comparable provision of any tax law.
(xiii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries has taken any action or
knows of any fact, agreement, plan or circumstance that is reasonably likely
to
prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of
Section 368(a) of the Code.
(xiv) As
used
in this Agreement (A) "tax" or "taxes" shall include (whether disputed or not)
all (x) federal, state, local and foreign income, property, sales, use, excise,
withholding, payroll, employment, social security, value-added, ad valorem,
capital gain, alternative minimum, transfer, franchise, capital stock, net
worth
and other taxes, including taxes based on or measured by gross receipts,
profits, sales, use or occupation, tariffs, levies, impositions, assessments,
duties and similar governmental charges or fees of any kind whatsoever,
including any interest, penalties and additions with respect thereto, (y)
liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clause (x)
as
a result of being or having been a member of an affiliated, consolidated,
combined, unitary or aggregate group and (z) liability for the payment of any
amounts as a result of being or having been party to any tax sharing agreement
or as a result of any express or implied obligation to indemnify any other
person with respect to the payment of any amounts of the type described in
clause (x) or (y); (B) "taxing authority" means any federal, state, local or
foreign government, any subdivision, agency, commission or authority thereof,
or
any quasi-governmental body exercising tax regulatory authority; and (C) "tax
return" or "tax returns" means all returns, declarations of estimated tax
payments, claims for refund, disclosure statements (including any statement
pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(a)), forms, reports, estimates,
information returns and statements, including any related or supporting
information with respect to any of foregoing, filed or to be filed with any
taxing authority in connection with the determination, assessment, collection
or
administration of any taxes.
-37-
(r) Real
Property.
(i) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries owns any real property.
(ii) Section
3.02(r) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list
of all material real property leased by SMB and its Subsidiaries (the
"SMB
Leased Real Property").
Except as has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually
or in the aggregate, an SMB Material Adverse Effect, (A) all leases
(including subleases) of real property under which SMB and its Subsidiaries
is a
lessee or sublessee (the "SMB
Leases")
are in
full force and effect and (B) none of SMB or its Subsidiaries, nor, to the
Knowledge of SMB, any other party to any such SMB Lease, is in default under
any
of the SMB Leases, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of
time
or both, would constitute a default by SMB or any of its Subsidiaries under
any
of the SMB Leases. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement do not
require the consent of any other party to an SMB Lease. None of SMB or any
of
its Subsidiaries has subleased, licensed or otherwise granted anyone the right
to use or occupy any SMB Leased Real Property or any portion thereof, and none
of SMB or any of its Subsidiaries has collaterally assigned or granted any
other
security interest in any such leasehold estate or any interest
therein.
(s) Intellectual
Property.
(i) SMB
and
its Subsidiaries own all right, title and interest to, or are validly licensed
or otherwise have the right to use, all Intellectual Property Rights used in
the
business of Empagio, SMB and any of their respective Subsidiaries, except for
such Intellectual Property Rights the failure of which to own, license or
otherwise have the right to use, individually or in the aggregate, has not
had
and would not reasonably be expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect.
Section 3.02(s) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date
hereof, a complete and accurate list of: (A) all patents and applications
therefor, registered trademarks and applications therefor, service marks and
other designations of origin, domain name registrations (if any) and copyright
registrations (if any) owned by SMB or its Subsidiaries (collectively, the
"SMB
Registered IP")
and
(B) all options, rights, licenses or interests of any kind relating to
Intellectual Property Rights that are material to Empagio, SMB and/or their
respective Subsidiaries granted (1) to SMB and its Subsidiaries (other than
software licenses for generally available software), and (2) by SMB and its
Subsidiaries to any other person.
(ii) None
of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries has infringed upon any
Intellectual Property Rights of any other person. No claims are pending or,
to
the Knowledge of SMB, threatened, nor are there any outstanding judgments,
injunctions, orders or decrees against Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries by any person with respect to the ownership, validity,
enforceability, effectiveness, sale, manufacture or use in the business of
Empagio, SMB or any of its Subsidiaries of any Intellectual Property Rights.
To
the Knowledge of SMB, no other person has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, diluted or otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual
Property Rights of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries.
-38-
(iii) Empagio,
SMB and their respective Subsidiaries have used commercially reasonable efforts
to maintain their trade secrets in confidence, including the requirement of
certain employees of Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries to execute
confidentiality agreements with respect to intellectual property developed
for
or obtained from Empagio, SMB and their respective Subsidiaries. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing:
(A) all
documents and instruments reasonably necessary in SMB’s sole discretion to
establish, secure and perfect the rights of the Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries in the SMB Registered IP have been validly executed,
delivered and filed in a timely manner with the appropriate Governmental Entity,
except where such failure would not reasonably be expected to have a SMB
Material Adverse Effect;
(B) each
Person who is or was an employee of Empagio, SMB or any of their respective
Subsidiaries and who is or was substantively and materially involved in the
creation or development of any Intellectual Property Rights has signed or
otherwise been subject to an irrevocable assignment of Intellectual Property
Rights to Empagio, SMB or any their respective Subsidiaries for which such
Person is or was an employee; and
(C) no
Contract limits or restricts the ability of Empagio, SMB or any of their
respective Subsidiaries to use, exploit, assert or enforce any of its
Intellectual Property Rights.
(iv) No
interference, opposition, reissue, reexamination or other legal proceeding
of
any nature is or has been pending or threatened in which the scope, validity
or
enforceability of any Intellectual Property Right of Empagio, SMB or any of
their respective Subsidiaries are being, or have been contested or challenged
except where such interference, opposition, reissue, reexamination or proceeding
would not reasonably be expected to have a SMB Material Adverse
Effect.
(v) Neither
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement, nor the consummation
of any of the transactions contemplated hereby, will, with or without notice
or
the lapse of time or both, result in or give any other Person the right or
option to cause or declare: (A) a loss of, or Encumbrance on, any Intellectual
Property Right; (B) the release, disclosure or delivery of any source code
by
any Person; (C) the grant, assignment or transfer to any other Person of any
license or other right or interest under, to or in any Intellectual Property
Right; or (iv) a violation of any third party Intellectual Property
Rights.
(vi) Except
to
the extent there would not reasonably be expected to have a SMB Material Adverse
Effect, with respect to third party software used in any product of Empagio,
SMB
or any of their respective Subsidiaries:
-39-
(A) the
license, sublicense, agreement or permission covering the software is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect;
(B) the
license, sublicense, agreement or permission will continue to be legal, valid,
binding and enforceable, and in full force and effect following the consummation
of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement; and
(C) to
the
Knowledge of SMB, no party to the license, sublicense, agreement or permission
is in breach or default, and no event has occurred that with notice or lapse
of
time or both would constitute a breach or default or permit termination,
modification or acceleration thereunder.
(vii) No
Intellectual Property Rights of SMB contain any bug, defect or error that
materially and adversely affects the use, functionality or performance of such
Intellectual Property Rights.
(viii) No
Intellectual Property Rights of SMB currently contained in a product of Empagio,
SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries contains any "back door," "drop
dead
device," "time bomb," "Trojan horse," "virus," or "worm" (as such terms are
commonly understood in the software industry) or any other code designed or
intended to have, or capable of performing, any of the following functions:
(A)
disrupting, disabling, harming or otherwise impeding in any manner the operation
of, or providing unauthorized access to, a computer system or network or other
device on which such code is stored or installed; or (B) damaging or destroying
any data or file without the user's consent.
(t) Brokers
and Finders.
Except
as set forth in Section 3.02(t) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule, no broker,
finder or similar intermediary has acted for or on behalf of, or is entitled
to
any broker’s, finder’s or similar fee or other commission from Empagio, SMB or
any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates in connection with this
Agreement or any of transactions contemplated hereby.
(u) Insurance.
Section
3.02(u) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and accurate list
of
all policies of fire, liability, workers' compensation, indemnity and other
forms of insurance owned, held by or applicable to Empagio, SMB and their
respective Subsidiaries and their assets, properties and operations and such
policies are in full force and effect, all premiums with respect thereto
covering all periods up to and including the Closing Date have been paid or
will
be paid in accordance with the applicable terms, and no notice of cancellation
or termination has been received with respect to any such policy. There are
no
pending or, to the Knowledge of SMB, threatened claims under any insurance
policy.
(v) Financial
Statements.
Empagio
and/or SMB has delivered or caused to be delivered to Parent a true and complete
copy of consolidated Empagio's, SMB’s and each of their Subsidiaries’ unaudited
financial statements for December 31, 2007, consisting of a balance sheet and
the related statements of income, cash flows and changes in stockholders’ or
members’ equity for the periods then ended (collectively, the “Empagio
Financial Statements”).
A
true and complete copy of the Empagio Financial Statements is attached to
Section 3.02(v) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule. The Empagio Financial Statements
are in accordance with the books and records of such parties, all of which
have
been maintained in accordance with good business practice and in the normal
and
ordinary course of business, were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a
consistent basis, and present fairly in all material respects the financial
position of the relevant party as of the date thereof and the results of
operations and cash flows for the periods covered thereby. Since
the
date of the Empagio Financial Statements, no indebtedness, liabilities or
obligations (whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or
contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due
or
to become due) have been incurred by Empagio, SMB or its Subsidiaries except
for
liabilities and obligations incurred in the ordinary course of
business.
Section
3.02(v) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule sets forth the revenues generated by
each
of Empagio, SMB and its Subsidiaries for the period from the date of their
formation through December 31, 2007 and the EBITDA for each of Empagio, SMB
and
its Subsidiaries for such periods.
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(w) No
Undisclosed Liabilities.
None of
Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries has any undisclosed liabilities or
obligations of any nature, accrued, contingent or otherwise, and whether or
not
required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP, except
for
those that have arisen in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice, and there is no existing condition, situation or set of circumstances
that could reasonably be expected to result in such a liability or obligation
except for liabilities or obligations which arose in the ordinary course of
business.
(x) No
Default.
None of
Empagio, SMB or any of their respective Subsidiaries is in violation in any
material respect of any term of (i) its Certificate of Formation, Operating
Agreement, Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational
documents, (ii) any agreement or instrument related to indebtedness for borrowed
money or any other agreement to which it is a party or by which it is bound,
or
(iii) any Law applicable to it or any of its properties or assets, except in
the
case of (ii) or (iii), for violations that have not had and would not be
reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, an SMB Material
Adverse Effect or, after Closing, a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
(y) Investment
Representations.
In the
event that Empagio receives any Merger Consideration in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, Empagio represents and
warrants that: it is an “accredited investor” as such term is defined in Rule
501 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act; it is acquiring Parent
Common Stock for its own account, for investment purposes only, and not with
a
view to, or for resale in connection with, any “distribution” thereof within the
meaning of the Securities Act or any state securities law; it has no current
arrangements or understandings for the resale or distribution to others and
will
only resell such Parent Common Stock or any part thereof pursuant to a
registration or an available exemption under applicable Law; it acknowledges
that the offer and sale of Parent Common Stock has not been registered under
the
Securities Act or the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction, and
that Parent Common Stock is being offered and sold pursuant to an exemption
from
registration contained in the Securities Act and state securities laws, that
the
exemption depends upon, among other things, the bona fide nature of its
investment intent as expressed herein, that Parent Common Stock is “restricted
securities” under applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws and must be
held indefinitely and cannot be disposed of unless they are subsequently
registered under the Securities Act and any applicable state laws or an
exemption from such registration is available; it understands and agrees that
certificates representing the Parent Common Stock will bear a legend
substantially similar to the legend set forth below in addition to any other
legend that may be required by applicable Law, or by any agreement between
it
and Parent:
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THE
SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THE SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT (A) PURSUANT
TO AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND
APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS, OR (B) IN A TRANSACTION WHICH IS EXEMPT FROM
REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND APPLICABLE STATE
SECURITIES LAWS.
(z) No
Additional Rights of Third Parties.
Except
as contemplated in Article II hereof, no Person is entitled to receive any
equity interest in Empagio, SMB or any Subsidiary or any cash or other proceeds
as a result of or in connection with the consummation of the
Merger.
ARTICLE
IV.
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
SECTION
4.01 Conduct
of Business.
(a) Conduct
of Business by Parent.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as
otherwise set forth in Section 4.01(a) of Parent Disclosure Schedule or as
consented to in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) in advance by SMB or as otherwise expressly permitted or required
under
this Agreement, Parent shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to,
carry
on its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws except where any
violation of applicable Laws would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect
and, to the extent consistent therewith, use commercially reasonable efforts
to
preserve substantially its relationships with customers, vendors and others
having material business dealings with it. In addition to and without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this
Agreement to the Effective Time, except as otherwise set forth in Section
4.01(a) of Parent Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise expressly permitted or
required under this Agreement, Parent and Merger Sub shall not, and shall not
permit any of their Subsidiaries to, without SMB's prior written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):
(i) (A)
declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of its capital stock,
other than dividends or distributions by a direct or indirect wholly-owned
Subsidiary of Parent to its stockholders, (B) split, combine or reclassify
any
of its capital stock 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
(C) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or
any
other securities thereof or any options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire
any such shares or other securities, other than in connection with (1) the
forfeiture of Parent Stock Options and restricted stock and (2) the withholding
of shares of Parent Common Stock to satisfy tax obligations with respect to
Parent Stock Options and restricted stock;
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(ii) issue,
sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien any shares
of
its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities convertible
into, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting
securities or convertible securities, or any "phantom" stock, "phantom" stock
rights, stock appreciation rights or stock-based performance units, including
pursuant to Contracts as in effect on the date hereof (other than (A) the
issuance of shares of Parent Common Stock upon the exercise of Parent Stock
Options or Parent Warrants, in each case outstanding on the date hereof in
accordance with their terms on the date hereof and (B) as required under any
Parent Benefit Agreement or Parent Benefit Plan in effect on the date
hereof);
(iii) amend
Parent Articles or Parent By-laws or other comparable charter or organizational
documents of any of Parent 's Subsidiaries, in each case except as may be
required by Law or the rules and regulations of the SEC or the
Nasdaq;
(iv) directly
or indirectly acquire (A) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing
assets of, or by any other manner, any Person or division, business or equity
interest of any Person or (B) any asset or assets that, individually, has a
purchase price in excess of $250,000 or, in the aggregate, have a purchase
price
in excess of $500,000, except for new capital expenditures, which shall be
subject to the limitations of clause (vii) below, and except for purchases
of
supplies, equipment or other items 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
material properties or other material assets or any interests therein, except
for sales of used equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice;
(vi) (A)
incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $10,000,000 or guarantee any
such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or calls,
options, warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Parent
or
any of its Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of another person
or
(B) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any other Person, other than to employees in respect of travel or other
customary business expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice;
(vii) make
any
new capital expenditure or expenditures which, individually, is in excess of
$250,000 or, in the aggregate, are in excess of $500,000;
(viii) enter
into, modify, amend or terminate any Parent Material Contract or waive, release
or assign any material rights or claims thereunder, which if so entered into,
modified, amended, terminated, waived, released or assigned would reasonably
be
expected to (A) result in a Parent Material Adverse Effect, (B) impair in any
material respect the ability of Parent to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or (C) prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
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(ix) except
as
required pursuant to existing written agreements or Parent Benefit Plans in
effect as of the date hereof and provided or made available to SMB, or as
otherwise required by Law, (A) increase the compensation or other benefits
payable or to become payable to directors or executive officers of Parent or
any
of its Subsidiaries except in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practices (including, for this purpose, the normal salary, bonus and equity
compensation review process conducted each year), (B) grant any severance or
termination pay to, or enter into any severance agreement with any director
or
executive officer of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (C) enter into any
employment agreement with any executive officer of Parent or its Subsidiaries
(except to the extent necessary to replace a departing employee and except
for
extension of employment agreements in the ordinary course of business consistent
with past practice), or (D) establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective
bargaining agreement, plan, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit
of any current or former directors, officers or employees or any of their
beneficiaries;
(x) except
as
required by GAAP, make any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices;
(xi) take
any
action or omit to take any action that is reasonably likely to result in any
of
the conditions of the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied;
or
(xii) authorize
any of, or commit, resolve, propose or agree to take any of, the foregoing
actions.
(b) Conduct
of Business by Empagio and SMB.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement to the Effective Time, except as
otherwise set forth in Section 4.01(b) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule or as
consented to in writing (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed) in advance by Parent or as otherwise expressly permitted or required
under this Agreement, Empagio and SMB shall, and shall cause each of their
respective Subsidiaries to, carry on its business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice and in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable Laws and, to the extent consistent therewith, use commercially
reasonable efforts to preserve substantially intact its current business
organization, keep available the services of its current officers, employees
and
consultants who are integral to the operation of its business and preserve
substantially its relationships with customers, vendors and others having
material business dealings with it. In addition to and without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, during the period from the date of this Agreement
to the Effective Time, except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.01(b) of
the
SMB Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise expressly permitted or required under
this Agreement, Empagio and SMB shall not, and shall not permit any of their
respective Subsidiaries to, without Parent 's prior written consent (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):
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(i) (A)
declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of, any of its capital stock
or
membership interests, as applicable, other than dividends or distributions
by a
direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary of SMB to its stockholders, (B)
split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or membership interests,
as applicable, 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
membership interests, as applicable, or (C) purchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any shares of its capital stock or any other securities thereof or
any
options, warrants, calls or rights to acquire any such shares or other
securities, other than in connection with the forfeiture of Empagio Unit Options
or SMB Stock Options;
(ii) issue,
sell, grant, pledge or otherwise encumber or subject to any Lien any shares
of
its capital stock or membership interests, as applicable, any other voting
securities or any securities convertible into, or any rights, warrants or
options to acquire, any such shares, membership interests, voting securities
or
convertible securities, or any "phantom" stock, "phantom" stock rights, stock
appreciation rights or stock-based performance units, including pursuant to
Contracts as in effect on the date hereof (other than (A) the issuance of
Empagio Common Units or SMB Common Stock upon the exercise of Empagio Unit
Options or SMB Stock Options, respectively, outstanding on the date hereof
in
accordance with their terms on the date hereof and (B) as required under any
SMB
Benefit Agreement or SMB Benefit Plan in effect on the date
hereof);
(iii) amend
the
Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of SMB or other comparable charter
or
organizational documents of any of its Subsidiaries, in each case except as
may
be required by Law;
(iv) directly
or indirectly acquire (A) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing
assets of, or by any other manner, any Person or division, business or equity
interest of any Person or (B) any asset or assets that, individually, has a
purchase price in excess of $250,000 or, in the aggregate, have a purchase
price
in excess of $500,000, except for new capital expenditures, which shall be
subject to the limitations of clause (vii) below, and except for purchases
of
supplies, equipment or other items 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
material properties or other material assets or any interests therein, except
for sales of used equipment in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice or modify, amend, terminate or permit the lapse of any material
Lease or other material Contract relating to any real property;
(vi) (A)
incur
any indebtedness for borrowed money in excess of $10,000,000 or guarantee any
such indebtedness of another person, issue or sell any debt securities or calls,
options, warrants or other rights to acquire any debt securities of Empagio,
SMB
or any of their Subsidiaries or guarantee any debt securities of another Person
or (B) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any other Person, other than to employees in respect of travel or other
customary business expenses in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice;
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(vii) make
any
new capital expenditure or expenditures which, individually, is in excess of
$250,000 or, in the aggregate, are in excess of $500,000;
(viii) enter
into, modify, amend or terminate any SMB Material Contract or waive, release
or
assign any material rights or claims thereunder, which if so entered into,
modified, amended, terminated, waived, released or assigned would reasonably
be
expected to (A) result in an SMB Material Adverse Effect, (B) impair in any
material respect the ability of Empagio or SMB to perform its obligations under
this Agreement or (C) prevent or materially delay the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(ix) enter
into any Contract containing any restriction on the ability of Empagio , SMB
or
any of their Subsidiaries to assign its rights, interests or obligations
thereunder, unless such restriction expressly excludes any assignment to Parent,
Merger Sub or any of their Subsidiaries in connection with or following the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(x) except
as
required pursuant to existing written agreements or SMB Benefit Plans in effect
as of the date hereof and provided or made available to Parent, or as otherwise
required by Law, (A) increase the compensation or other benefits payable or
to
become payable to directors or executive officers of the Empagio, SMB or any
of
their Subsidiaries, (B) grant any severance or termination pay to, or enter
into
any severance agreement with any director or executive officer of Empagio,
SMB
or any of their Subsidiaries, (C) enter into any employment agreement with
any
executive officer of Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries, or (D)
establish, adopt, enter into or amend any collective bargaining agreement,
plan,
trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit of any current or former
directors, officers or employees or any of their beneficiaries;
(xi) except
as
required by GAAP, make any change in accounting methods, principles or
practices;
(xii) take
any
action or omit to take any action that is reasonably likely to result in any
of
the conditions of the Merger set forth in Article VI not being satisfied;
or
(xiii) authorize
any of, or commit, resolve, propose or agree to take any of, the foregoing
actions.
(c) No
Control of Other Party’s Business.
Nothing
contained in this Agreement is intended to give Empagio or SMB, directly or
indirectly, the right to control or direct Parent ’s, Merger Sub's or their
Subsidiaries’ operations prior to the Effective Time, and nothing contained in
this Agreement is intended to give Parent or Merger Sub, directly or indirectly,
the right to control or direct Empagio’s, SMB's or their Subsidiaries’
operations prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, each of
Empagio, SMB, Parent and Merger Sub shall exercise, consistent with the terms
and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its
and
its Subsidiaries’ respective operations.
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SECTION
4.02 No
Solicitation.
(a) From
and
after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the Effective Time or
the
date, if any, on which this Agreement is terminated, and except as otherwise
provided for in this Agreement, Parent, Empagio and SMB shall not, and none
of
them shall authorize or permit any of their respective Subsidiaries, directors,
officers or employees to, and each of them shall use their reasonable best
efforts to cause its investment bankers, financial advisors, attorneys,
accountants or other advisors, agents or representatives (collectively,
"Representatives")
retained by it or any of its Subsidiaries not to, directly or indirectly through
another Person, (i) solicit, initiate or knowingly encourage, or take any other
action designed to, or which would reasonably be expected to, facilitate, any
Takeover Proposal or (ii) enter into, continue or otherwise participate in
any
discussions or negotiations regarding, or furnish to any Person any information,
or otherwise cooperate in any way with, any Takeover Proposal. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, at any time prior to obtaining the Stockholder Approval, in
response to a bona fide written Takeover Proposal that the Board of Directors
of
Parent determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel)
constitutes or is reasonably likely to lead to a Superior Proposal, and which
Takeover Proposal was not solicited after the date hereof and was made after
the
date hereof and did not otherwise result from a breach of this Section 4.02(a),
Parent may, if its Board of Directors determines in good faith (after
consultation with outside counsel) that the failure to do so would be reasonably
likely to result in a breach of its fiduciary duties to its stockholders under
applicable Law, and subject to compliance with Section 4.02(b), (i) furnish
information with respect to it and its Subsidiaries to the Person making such
Takeover Proposal (and its Representatives) pursuant to a customary
confidentiality agreement (which (A) need not restrict such person from making
any unsolicited Takeover Proposal and (B) shall permit Parent to comply with
the
terms of Section 4.02(c)); provided that all such information has previously
been provided to Empagio or SMB, or is provided to Empagio or SMB prior to
or
substantially concurrent with the time it is provided to such Person, and (ii)
participate in discussions or negotiations with the person making such Takeover
Proposal (and its Representatives) regarding such Takeover Proposal.
(b) Neither
the Board of Directors of Parent nor any committee thereof shall (i) (A)
withdraw, or publicly propose to withdraw, the approval, recommendation or
declaration of advisability by such Board of Directors or any such committee
thereof of this Agreement, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated
by
this Agreement or (B) recommend, adopt or approve, or propose publicly to
recommend, adopt or approve, any Takeover Proposal (any action described in
this
clause (i) being referred to as a "Company
Adverse Recommendation Change")
or
(ii) approve or recommend, or propose to approve or recommend, or allow Parent
or any of its Subsidiaries to 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 agreement constituting or related to, or that is
intended to or would reasonably be expected to lead to, any Takeover Proposal
(other than a confidentiality agreement referred to in Section 4.02(a)) (an
"Acquisition
Agreement").
Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to obtaining the Stockholder
Approval, the Board of Directors of Parent may, if such Board of Directors
determines in good faith (after consultation with outside counsel) that the
failure to do so would be reasonably likely to result in a breach of its
fiduciary duties to the stockholders of Parent under applicable law, (x) make
a
Company Adverse Recommendation Change or (y) in response to a Superior Proposal
that was not solicited after the date hereof and was made after the date hereof
and did not otherwise result from a breach of this Section 4.02, cause Parent
to
terminate this Agreement (and concurrently with such termination enter into
an
Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal); provided,
however, that (1) no Company Adverse Recommendation Change may be made and
(2)
no such termination of this Agreement by Parent may be made, in each case until
after the third business day following SMB's receipt of written notice from
Parent advising SMB that the Board of Directors of Parent intends to make a
Company Adverse Recommendation Change or terminate this Agreement pursuant
to
this Section 4.02(b). Such notice from Parent to SMB shall specify the reasons
therefor, including the terms and conditions of any Superior Proposal that
is
the basis of the proposed action by the Board of Directors (it being understood
and agreed that any amendment to the financial terms or any other material
term
of such Superior Proposal shall require a new written notice by Parent and
a new
three business day period). In determining whether to make a Company Adverse
Recommendation Change or to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section
4.02(b), the Board of Directors of Parent shall take into account any changes
to
the financial terms of this Agreement proposed by Parent in response to any
such
written notice by Parent or otherwise.
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(c) In
addition to the obligations of Parent set forth in Sections 4.02(a) and (b),
Parent shall promptly advise SMB orally and in writing of any Takeover Proposal,
the material terms and conditions of any such Takeover Proposal (including
any
changes thereto) and the identity of the person making any such Takeover
Proposal. Parent shall (i) keep SMB fully informed of the status and details
(including any change to the terms thereof) of any such Takeover Proposal and
any discussions and negotiations concerning the material terms and conditions
thereof and (ii) provide to SMB any written proposals, term sheets, amendments,
drafts of agreements and similar written documents exchanged between Parent
or
any of its officers, directors, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants
or
other advisors, on the one hand, and the party making a Takeover Proposal or
any
of its officers, directors, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants or other
advisors, on the other hand, as promptly as reasonably practicable after receipt
or delivery thereof.
(d) Nothing
contained in this Section 4.02 shall prohibit Parent from (i) taking and
disclosing to its stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14e-2(a)
promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) making any disclosure to the
stockholders of Parent if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors
of Parent (after consultation with outside counsel), failure to so disclose
would be inconsistent with its obligations under applicable Law; provided that
disclosures under this Section 4.02(d) shall not be a basis, in themselves,
for
SMB to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.01.
ARTICLE
V.
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
SECTION
5.01 Preparation
of the Proxy Statement.
As
promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement and receipt of
the
Financials Audit and other information to be provided by Empagio and/or SMB
hereunder, Parent shall prepare and file with the SEC the Proxy Statement.
The
Proxy Statement shall present proposals relating to the Merger, issuance of
the
Merger Consideration, the Redomestication, approval of the Certificate of
Incorporation of Parent following the Redomestication in the Form of Exhibit
D
hereto, approval of the By-laws of Parent following the Redomestication in
the
Form of Exhibit E hereto, and any other matters that are appropriate in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Parent shall
use its commercially reasonable efforts to have the Proxy Statement cleared
by
the SEC as promptly as practicable and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed
to the stockholders of Parent as promptly as practicable following such filing.
Empagio and/or SMB shall promptly furnish all information that may be reasonably
requested by Parent in connection with any such actions. Parent shall promptly
notify SMB upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or the staff of the
SEC
or any request from the SEC or the staff of the SEC for amendments or
supplements to the Proxy Statement and shall provide SMB with copies of all
correspondence between Parent and the SEC. Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior
to filing or mailing the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or responding to any comments of the SEC or the staff of the SEC with
respect thereto, Parent shall provide SMB an opportunity to review and comment
on such document or response and shall include in such document or response
all
reasonable comments proposed by SMB.
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SECTION
5.02 Access
to Information; Confidentiality.
Subject
to applicable Law, upon reasonable notice, Parent, Empagio and SMB shall (and
shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to) afford the other and the other’s
Representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours throughout
the
period prior to the earlier of the Effective Time or the termination of this
Agreement, to its employees, properties, books, contracts and records and,
during such period, each shall (and shall cause its respective Subsidiaries
to)
furnish promptly to the other all information concerning its business,
properties and personnel as may reasonably be requested, provided that no
investigation pursuant to this Section 5.02 shall affect or be deemed to modify
any representation or warranty made herein. Except for disclosures expressly
permitted by the terms of the letter of intent dated January 8, 2008, between
Empagio and Parent (the “Letter
of Intent”),
each
of Parent, Empagio and SMB shall hold, and shall cause its officers, employees,
accountants, counsel, financial advisors and other Representatives to hold,
all
information received from the other party, directly or indirectly, in confidence
in accordance with the confidentiality provisions of the Letter of
Intent.
SECTION
5.03 Commercially
Reasonable Efforts.
Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each of
the
parties agrees to use its commercially reasonable 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 hereto in doing, all things necessary, proper
or advisable to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner
practicable, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including using commercially reasonable efforts to accomplish the
following: (i) the taking of all acts necessary to cause the conditions to
Closing to be satisfied as promptly as practicable, (ii) the obtaining of all
necessary actions or nonactions, waivers, consents and approvals from
Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings
(including filings with Governmental Entities) and the taking of all steps
as
may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action
or
proceeding by, any Governmental Entity and (iii) the obtaining of all necessary
consents, approvals or waivers from third parties; provided that none of Parent
, Merger Sub, Empagio or SMB shall be required to make any payment to any such
third parties or concede anything of value to obtain such consents from any
such
third parties.
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SECTION
5.04 Governmental
Approvals.
Each of
the parties will, as promptly as practicable, but in no event later than as
required by applicable Law following the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, file with (i) the United States Federal Trade Commission (the
"FTC")
and
the United States Department of Justice (the "DOJ")
the
notification and report form required for the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement and any supplemental information requested in connection therewith
pursuant to the HSR Act, and (ii) any other Governmental Entity, any other
filings, reports, information and documentation required for the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to any Other Antitrust Laws. Each party
will furnish to each other's counsel such necessary information and assistance
as the other may reasonably request in connection with its preparation of any
filing or submission that is necessary under the HSR Act and any Other Antitrust
Laws. SMB and Parent will be equally responsible for all filing fees payable
in
connection with such filings and for the reasonable fees and expenses of any
experts retained by the parties. Each of SMB and Parent agrees to instruct
their
respective counsel to cooperate with each other and use their respective
commercially reasonable efforts to facilitate and expedite the identification
and resolution of any issues arising under the HSR Act and any Other Antitrust
Laws at the earliest practicable dates. The commercially reasonable efforts
and
cooperation of each party as set forth in Section 5.03 will include causing
its
counsel (i) to promptly inform the other of any oral communication with, and
provide copies of written communications with, any Governmental Entity regarding
any such filings or applications or any such transaction, (ii) to communicate
with each other regarding the content of any communication with and response
to
personnel of such Governmental Entity, including the content of any written
or
oral presentation or submission to any Governmental Entity and (iii) to comply
promptly with any inquiries or requests for additional information from any
such
Governmental Entity, unless otherwise agreed to by the other party, such
agreement not to be unreasonably withheld. None of Parent, Empagio, SMB or
any
of their respective Subsidiaries will independently participate in any meeting
or discussion with any Governmental Entity in respect of any such filings,
applications, investigation or other inquiry without giving, in the case of
Empagio and/or SMB and their Subsidiaries, Parent, and in the case of Parent
and
Merger Sub and its Subsidiaries, SMB, prior notice of the meeting and, to the
extent permitted by the relevant Governmental Entity, the opportunity to attend
and participate (which, at the request of Parent or SMB, as applicable, will
be
limited to outside antitrust counsel only). None of Parent, Merger Sub, Empagio
or SMB shall take any action that would reasonably be expected to hinder or
delay in any material respect the obtaining of clearance or the expiration
of
the required waiting period under the HSR Act and regulations or any Other
Antitrust Laws. Nothing in this Agreement shall be deemed to require Parent,
Empagio or SMB to agree to, or proffer to, (x) divest or hold separate any
assets or any portion of any business or modify or accept conditions with
respect to any business operations, or (y) divest or hold separate any
significant assets or any significant portion of any business of, or modify
or
accept conditions with respect to any significant portion of its business
operations.
SECTION
5.05 Indemnification;
Advancement of Expenses; Exculpation and Insurance.
(a) Parent,
Empagio and SMB agree that all rights to exculpation and indemnification, to
the
extent permitted by applicable Law, for acts or omissions occurring at or prior
to the Effective Time, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the
Effective Time (including any matters arising in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement), now existing in favor of the
current or former directors, officers and employees (“Indemnitees”),
as
the case may be, of Parent or its Subsidiaries as provided in Parent Articles,
Parent By-laws or their respective certificates of incorporation or bylaws
(or
comparable organization documents) shall survive the Merger and shall continue
in full force and effect. Parent shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless,
and
advance expenses to Indemnitees with respect to all acts or omissions by them
in
their capacities as such at any time prior to the Effective Time, to the fullest
extent permitted by: (i) the Parent Articles, Parent By-laws or the respective
certificates of incorporation or bylaws (or equivalent organizational documents)
of any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates as in effect on the date of this
Agreement and as permitted by applicable Law; and (ii) any indemnification
agreements of Parent or its Subsidiaries or other applicable contract as in
effect on the date of this Agreement provided or made available to Empagio
or
SMB prior to the date hereof.
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(b) Without
limiting the provisions of Section 5.05(a), during the period ending on the
sixth anniversary of the Effective Time, Parent will, to the full extent
permitted by applicable Law: (i) indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnitee
against and from any costs or expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments,
fines, losses, claims, damages, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement
in
connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, to the extent such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation arises out of or pertains to: (A)
any
action or omission or alleged action or omission in such Indemnitee’s capacity
as a director, officer or employee of Parent or any of its Subsidiaries or
Affiliates; or (B) the Merger, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby; and (ii) pay in advance of the final disposition of any such claim,
action, suit, proceeding or investigation the expenses (including attorneys’
fees) of any Indemnitee upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
Indemnitee to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such
Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified. Notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Section 5.05(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement,
Parent shall not settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment
or
otherwise seek termination with respect to any claim, action, suit, proceeding
or investigation for which indemnification may be sought under this Section
5.05(b) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination includes
an
unconditional release of all Indemnitees from all liability arising out of
such
claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation.
(c) Parent
will provide, for a period of not less than six years after the Effective Time,
(i) the Indemnitees who are insured under Parent ’s directors’ and officers’
insurance and indemnification policy with an insurance and indemnification
policy that provides coverage for events occurring at or prior to the Effective
Time (the "D&O
Insurance")
that
is no less favorable in any material respect in the aggregate than the existing
policy of Parent or, if substantially equivalent insurance coverage is
unavailable, the best available coverage, or (ii) a non-cancellable "tail"
coverage insurance policy under Parent ’s current directors’ and officers’
liability insurance policies (providing coverage not less favorable than
provided by such insurance in effect on the date hereof) with respect to matters
existing or occurring at or prior to the Effective Time.
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(d) The
Indemnitees to whom this Section 5.05 applies shall be third party beneficiaries
of this Section 5.05. The provisions of this Section 5.05 are intended to be
for
the benefit of each Indemnitee and his or her heirs and representatives.
(e) Notwithstanding
anything contained in Section 9.05 hereof to the contrary, this Section 5.05
shall survive the consummation of the Merger indefinitely and shall be binding
on all successors and assigns of Empagio, SMB and Parent, and shall be
enforceable by the Indemnitees and their successors, heirs or representatives.
In the event that Parent or any of its successors or assigns consolidates with
or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving
corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or transfers or conveys
all or a majority of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in
each
such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns
of
Parent shall succeed to the obligations set forth in this Section
5.05.
SECTION
5.06 Fees
and Expenses.
Except
as otherwise provided in Sections 5.04 and Section 7.02, whether or not the
Merger is consummated, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including fees owing to brokers, finders and financial advisers,
shall be paid by the party incurring such expense. All expenses incurred in
connection with the printing and mailing of the Proxy Statement shall be paid
by
Parent.
SECTION
5.07 Public
Announcements.
Parent,
Empagio and SMB 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 the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, including the Merger, and shall not issue any such press release
or
make any such public statement prior to such consultation, except as such party
may reasonably conclude 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.
SECTION
5.08 Listing.
Parent
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause Parent Common Stock
to be
issued in the Merger to be approved for listing on the Nasdaq, as promptly
as
practicable, and in any event prior to the Effective Time.
SECTION
5.09 Audited
Financial Statements.
SMB
shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deliver to Parent on or prior
to May 30, 2008 SMB’s consolidated and consolidating financial statements and
the financial statements for all predecessor entities for the periods required
by the Exchange Act and prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting
requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect
thereto, in a form and of substance reasonably acceptable to Parent, audited
by
RSM McGladrey (the "Financials
Audit").
SECTION
5.10 Anti-takeover
Statutes.
If any
applicable "moratorium," "control share," "fair price," "affiliate transaction,"
"business combination" or other anti-takeover Laws and regulations of any state
(collectively, "Takeover
Statutes")
is or
may become applicable to the Merger, Parent, Merger Sub, Empagio and SMB shall
take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated hereby and otherwise act to eliminate or minimize the effects
of
any Takeover Statute on the Merger.
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SECTION
5.11 Tax-Free
Reorganization Treatment.
Parent,
Merger Sub, Empagio and SMB intend that the Merger will qualify as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code, and each shall,
and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause the Merger to so qualify. None of Parent, Merger Sub, Empagio
or SMB shall knowingly take any action, or knowingly fail to take any action,
that would be reasonably likely to jeopardize the qualification of the Merger
as
a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
SECTION
5.12 Working
Capital Calculation.
Within
15 days prior to the contemplated Closing Date as agreed to by Parent and SMB,
Parent shall prepare and deliver to RSM McGladrey a working capital statement
(the “Working
Capital Report”)
setting forth the current assets and current liabilities of Parent as of the
previous business day and a calculation of the Parent Working Capital. Not
later
than the next business day following delivery of the Working Capital Report
to
RSM McGladrey, RSM McGladrey shall deliver to Parent and SMB, via facsimile
in
accordance with Section 9.01 hereunder, written notice (the “Working
Capital Notice”)
setting forth the Parent Working Capital. The findings of RSM McGladrey
contained in the Working Capital Notice shall be final and binding on Parent
and
SMB. The costs and expenses associated with RSM McGladrey’s review of the
Working Capital Report shall be paid by Parent.
SECTION
5.13 Securities
Conversion.
Empagio
and/or SMB shall cause all Empagio Unit Options, Empagio Warrants, SMB Stock
Otions, SMB Warrants and other notes and securities convertible into equity
in
Empagio or SMB to be terminated or converted into SMB Common Stock prior to
Closing.
ARTICLE
VI.
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT
SECTION
6.01 Conditions
to Each Party's Obligation to Effect the Merger.
The
respective obligation of each party to effect the Merger is subject to the
satisfaction or waiver by all parties on or prior to the Closing Date of the
following conditions:
(a) Stockholder
Approval.
The
Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
(b) Antitrust
Laws.
The
waiting periods (and any extensions thereof) applicable to the Merger under
the
HSR Act and any Other Antitrust Laws shall have been terminated or shall have
expired, and none of the FTC, DOJ or any other Governmental Entity shall have
taken action that has not been dismissed or otherwise disposed of to delay,
prohibit or otherwise restrain the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(c) Listing.
Parent
Common Stock issuable to Empagio or its members pursuant to this Agreement
shall
have been authorized or conditionally approved for listing with the Nasdaq
and
Parent’s listing with the Nasdaq shall not have been
terminated.
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(d) No
Injunctions or Restraints.
No
temporary restraining order, preliminary or permanent injunction or other
judgment or order issued by any court of competent jurisdiction or under any
Law
or legal restraint or prohibition (collectively, "Restraints")
shall
be in effect (i) preventing the consummation of the Merger or (ii) which
otherwise has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect or SMB Material Adverse Effect (provided that the enforcement
of
the condition set forth in this Section 6.01(d) by SMB with respect to any
Restraint shall be subject to SMB's prior satisfaction of its obligations
pursuant to Section 5.03 to the extent applicable to such
Restraint).
SECTION
6.02 Conditions
to Obligations of Empagio and SMB.
The
obligations of Empagio and SMB to effect the Merger are further subject to
the
satisfaction or waiver by SMB on or prior to the Closing Date of the following
conditions:
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
(i) The
representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub contained in this
Agreement that are qualified by reference to a Material Adverse Effect shall
be
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date
as
though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations
and
warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date)
and (ii) all other representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement and as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except
to the extent such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier
date, in which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct
as of such earlier date), except where the failure of such representations
and
warranties to be so true and correct, individually and in the aggregate, has
not
had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Parent Material Adverse
Effect. SMB shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of Parent and
Merger Sub by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent and Merger Sub to such
effect.
(b) No
Parent Material Adverse Effect.
Since
the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any Parent Material
Adverse Effect.
(c) Performance
of Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub.
Parent
and Merger Sub shall have performed all obligations required to be performed
by
them under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, except where any
such
failure, individually and in the aggregate, would not have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, and SMB shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of
Parent and Merger Sub by the Chief Executive Officer of Parent and Merger Sub
to
such effect.
(d) Certificate
of Conversion.
Parent
shall have filed with the office of the Secretary of State of Delaware a
certificate of conversion and all such other documents as may be required under
the DGCL, together with all such documents that may be required under Canadian
Law, pursuant to which Parent converts from a Canadian corporation to a Delaware
corporation, and such filings shall have become effective.
(e) Board
Composition.
Effective at the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of Parent shall be
as
set forth in Section 6.02(e) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule.
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(f) Consents.
Parent
shall have obtained each of the consents set forth in Section 6.02(f) of Parent
Disclosure Schedule.
(g) Registration
Rights Agreement.
Parent
shall have executed and delivered to Empagio or SMB a Registration Rights
Agreement in the form of Exhibit B hereto.
(h) Escrow
Agreement.
Each of
Parent and Merger Sub shall have executed and delivered the Escrow
Agreement.
(i) Agreement
with Special Warrant Holders.
Each of
Parent and the holders of Special Warrants in Parent shall have entered into
an
agreement to amend such Special Warrants on the terms substantially set forth
in
Section 6.02(i) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule.
(j) Positive
Working Capital.
RMS
McGladrey shall have delivered to Parent and SMB pursuant to Section 5.12 a
Working Capital Notice setting forth that the Parent Working Capital is a
positive number.
(k) Xxxxxxxxx
Release of Rights.
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx shall have agreed to release any rights he may have to receive
proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any assets of Parent.
(l) Nasdaq
Application.
If
Parent is required to apply for initial listing on the Nasdaq Capital Market
pursuant to Nasdaq Marketplace Rule 4340 in connection with the Merger, Nasdaq
shall have approved the initial listing.
SECTION
6.03 Conditions
to Obligation of Parent.
The
obligation of Parent to effect the Merger is 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 of the Empagio and SMB contained in this
Agreement that are qualified by reference to a Material Adverse Effect shall
be
true and correct as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date
as
though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent such representations
and
warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in which case such
representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of such earlier date)
and (ii) all other representations and warranties of Empagio and SMB contained
in this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the date of this Agreement
and
as of the Closing Date as though made on the Closing Date (except to the extent
such representations and warranties expressly relate to an earlier date, in
which case such representation and warranty shall be true and correct as of
such
earlier date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties
to be so true and correct, individually and in the aggregate, has not had and
would not reasonably be expected to have an SMB Material Adverse Effect. Parent
shall have received a certificate signed on behalf of the Empagio and SMB by
the
Chief Executive Officer of Empagio and SMB to such effect.
(b) No
SMB
Material Adverse Effect.
Since
the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred any SMB Material
Adverse Effect.
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(c) Performance
of Obligations of Empagio and SMB.
Empagio
and SMB shall have performed all obligations required to be performed by them
under this Agreement at or prior to the Closing Date, except where any such
failure, individually and in the aggregate, would not have a Parent Material
Adverse Effect, and Parent shall have received a certificate signed on behalf
of
Empagio and SMB by the Chief Executive Officer of Empagio and SMB to such
effect.
(d) Lock-Up
Agreement.
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx and Chatham Credit Management III, LLC shall have executed and
delivered to Parent a Lock-up Agreement in the form of Exhibit C
hereto.
(e) Certificates.
Empagio
or, in the event of a dissolution of Empagio prior to Closing, its members
shall
have delivered the Certificates pursuant to Section 2.02(a).
(f) Escrow
Agreement; Stock Powers.
Empagio
or, in the event of a dissolution of Empagio prior to Closing, each Person
that
is to receive Merger Consideration shall have executed and delivered the Escrow
Agreement and a duly executed stock power with respect to each certificate
to be
held pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement in a form acceptable to
Parent.
(g) Investor
Representations.
In the
event that Empagio is dissolved prior to Closing, each Person that is to receive
Merger Consideration shall have executed and delivered an investors
representation letter in form and substance acceptable to Parent.
(h) Investor
Rights Agreement.
The
Investor Rights Agreement dated May 14, 2007, among Empagio, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Chatham Credit Management III, LLC, as amended, shall have
been terminated prior to the Closing.
SECTION
6.04 Frustration
of Closing Conditions.
None of
Parent , Merger Sub, Empagio or SMB may rely on the failure of any condition
set
forth in Section 6.01, 6.02 or 6.03, as the case may be, to be satisfied if
such
failure was caused by such party's failure to act in good faith or to use its
commercially reasonable efforts to consummate the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, as required by and subject to
Section 5.03.
ARTICLE
VII.
TERMINATION,
AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
SECTION
7.01 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether
before or after receipt of the Stockholder Approval:
(a) by
mutual
written consent of Parent and SMB;
(b) by
either
Parent or SMB:
(i) if
the
Merger shall not have been consummated on or before September 30, 2008; provided
that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.01(b)(i)
shall not be available to any party that has breached in any material respect
its obligations under this Agreement that shall have proximately caused or
resulted in the failure of a condition to the consummation of the Merger;
or
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(ii) immediately
if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.01(a), (b) or (d)(i) shall
become incapable of being satisfied;
(iii) if
any of
the conditions set forth in Section 6.01(c) or (d)(ii) shall become incapable
of
being satisfied with commercially reasonable efforts and shall not have been
waived by September 30, 2008;
(iv) if
the
Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at the Stockholders' Meeting
duly convened therefor or at any adjournment or postponement
thereof;
(c) by
SMB if
any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.02 shall become incapable of being
satisfied with commercially reasonable efforts and shall not have been waived
by
September 30, 2008;
(d) by
Parent
if any of the conditions set forth in Section 6.03 shall become incapable of
being satisfied with commercially reasonable efforts and shall not have been
waived by September 30, 2008;
(e) by
Parent
or SMB if Parent accepts a Superior Proposal; or
(f) by
Parent
if the Financials Audit has not been completed and delivered to Parent on or
prior to May 30, 2008.
SECTION
7.02 Effect
of Termination.
(a) In
the
event of termination of this Agreement by either Empagio or SMB, on the one
hand, or Parent, on the other hand, as provided in Section 7.01, this Agreement
shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any liability or
obligation on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, Empagio or SMB, except for the
agreements set forth in the last sentence of Section 5.02, Section 5.06, this
Section 7.02 and Article IX, which provisions shall survive such termination,
and except to the extent that such termination results from the willful and
material breach by a party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants
or agreements set forth in this Agreement.
(b) In
the
event that this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.01(d)
or
(f), then Empagio and SMB shall jointly and severally pay Parent within five
business days of the date of termination a termination fee of $5,000,000 by
wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by
Parent.
(c) In
the
event that this Agreement is terminated by SMB pursuant to Section 7.01(c)
or
(e) (other than due to Parent’s failure to satisfy the conditions set forth in
Section 6.02(d) as a result of Parent’s failure to obtain the Stockholder
Approval, Section 6.02(j) or 6.02(l) or perform the covenant contained in
Section 5.08), then Parent shall pay SMB within five business days of the date
of termination pursuant to Section 7.01(c) or the consummation of the
transaction contemplated by the Superior Proposal a termination fee of
$3,000,000 by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account
designated by SMB.
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(d) SMB
and
Parent agree that the agreements contained in Sections 7.02(b), (c) and (d)
are
integral parts of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and that
the
payments provided for therein do not constitute a penalty. If either party
fails
to promptly pay the amounts due under such Sections, the other party shall
pay
the costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) incurred
by the party to which payment is owing in connection with any action, including
the filing of any lawsuit, taken to collect payment of such
amounts.
SECTION
7.03 Extension;
Waiver.
At any
time prior to the Effective Time, the parties may (a) extend the time for the
performance of any of the obligations or other acts of the other parties, (b)
to
the extent permitted by Law, waive any inaccuracies in the representations
and
warranties contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto or
(c)
subject to the proviso to the first sentence of Section 9.02 and to the extent
permitted by Law, 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. The failure 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.
ARTICLE
VIII.
SURVIVAL
OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
SECTION
8.01 Survival
of Representations and Warranties.
None of
the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of Parent and Merger
Sub or Empagio and SMB contained in this Agreement or in any Exhibit, Schedule
or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall survive beyond the
Effective Time. This Section 8.01 shall not limit any covenant or agreement
of
the parties which by its terms contemplates performance after the Effective
Time.
ARTICLE
IX.
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SECTION
9.01 Notices.
Any
notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any
party to the others shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, by facsimile or overnight
courier:
If
to Empagio or SMB, to
|
Empagio
Acquisition LLC
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
|
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with
a copy to:
|
Rogin
Nassau LLC
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Facimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
|
if
to Parent or Merger Sub, to:
|
0000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
|
with
a copy to:
|
Cozen
X’Xxxxxx
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
or
to
such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the party
to
receive such notice as provided above. Any notice, request, instruction or
other
document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving party
upon actual receipt, if delivered personally; three business days after deposit
in the mail if sent by registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of
successful transmission if sent by facsimile; or on the next business day after
deposit with an overnight courier if sent by an overnight courier.
SECTION
9.02 Amendment.
This
Agreement may be amended by the parties hereto at any time before or after
receipt of the Stockholder Approval; provided, however, that after such approval
has been obtained, there shall be made no amendment that by law requires further
approval by the stockholders of Parent without such approval having been
obtained. This Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing
signed on behalf of each of the parties hereto.
SECTION
9.03 Interpretation.
When a
reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section, Exhibit or
Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section 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," "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. References to "this
Agreement" shall include Parent Disclosure Schedule and the SMB Disclosure
Schedule. 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
agreement, instrument or statute defined or referred to herein or in any
agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement,
instrument or statute as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented,
including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and
(in the case of statutes) 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. In
this
Agreement, all references to "dollars" or "$" are to United States
dollars.
-59-
SECTION
9.04 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile),
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
9.05 Entire
Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries.
This
Agreement and Section 6 of the Letter of Intent constitute the entire agreement,
and supersede all prior agreements and understandings, both written and oral,
among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and
the
Letter of Intent. Except as provided in Section 5.05, this Agreement is not
intended to and does not confer upon any Person other than the parties hereto
any legal or equitable rights or remedies.
SECTION
9.06 Governing
Law.
This
agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of Delaware, without giving effect to the choice of law principles
thereof.
SECTION
9.07 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 prior written consent of the other parties, and any
assignment without such consent shall be null and void. This Agreement will
be
binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be enforceable by, the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns.
SECTION
9.08 Dissolution
of Empagio.
In the
event Empagio is dissolved prior to the Closing, any action required to be
taken
by Empagio in connection with this Agreement, including the giving of any
consent, the granting of any waiver or the amending of any term hereof, shall
instead be taken by SMB. For the avoidance of doubt, it shall not be a breach
of
this Agreement for Empagio not to perform any covenant hereunder after its
dissolution.
SECTION
9.09 Consent
to Jurisdiction.
Each of
the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the personal jurisdiction
of
any federal court located in the State of Delaware or of any state court located
in the State of Delaware in the event any dispute arises out of this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) agrees that it will
not
attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction by motion or other request
for leave from any such court and (c) agrees that it will not bring any action
relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
in
any court other than a federal court located in the State of Delaware or a
state
court located in the State of Delaware.
-60-
SECTION
9.10 Definitions.
For
purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "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) "Contract"
means
any binding contract, agreement, arrangement or understanding, written, oral
or
implied, to which any of the parties hereto is a party or by which it or any
of
its assets are bound or affected, together with all modifications and amendments
thereto.
(c) "EBITDA"
means
net income in accordance with GAAP plus, to the extent deducted: interest
expense (which shall include fair value warrant adjustments), taxes,
depreciation and amortization, less interest income.
(d) "Empagio
Unit Options"
means
options or similar rights to purchase Empagio Common Units or Empagio Preferred
Units from Empagio.
(e) "Empagio
Warrants"
means
any warrants or similar rights to purchase Empagio Common Units or Empagio
Preferred Units from Empagio.
(f) "Environmental
Laws"
means
any applicable Law (including common Law) or other legal requirement relating
to
the protection of natural resources, the environment and public and employee
health and safety or pollution or the release or exposure to Hazardous Materials
and shall include, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.), the Hazardous
Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.), the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the Clean Water
Act (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.), the Clean Air Act (33 U.S.C. Section7401
et seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.),
the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. Section 136 et
seq.), and the Occupational Safety and Health Act (29 U.S.C. Section 651 et
seq.), and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto, and any such applicable
state or local statutes, and the regulations promulgated pursuant thereto,
as
such Laws have been and may be amended or supplemented through the Closing
Date.
(g) "Hazardous
Material"
means
any substance, material or waste which is regulated, classified or otherwise
characterized as hazardous, toxic, pollutant, contaminant or words of similar
meaning or regulatory effect by any Governmental Entity, and includes, without
limitation, petroleum, petroleum by-products and wastes, asbestos and
polychlorinated biphenyls.
(h) "Knowledge"
means,
with respect to any party, the knowledge of such party's executive officers
after due inquiry, including inquiry of such party's counsel and other officers
or employees of such party responsible for the relevant matter.
(i) "Law"
federal, state, local or foreign (including Canadian provincial) law, statute,
ordinance, common law or any rule, regulation, standard, judgment, order, writ,
injunction, decree, arbitration award, judicial or administrative doctrine,
agency requirement, license or permit of any Governmental
Entity.
-61-
(j) "Other
Antitrust Laws"
mean
the antitrust and competition Laws of all jurisdictions other than those of
the
United States, and any other similar applicable Law.
(k) "Parent
Articles"
means
the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, of Parent in effect as of the date
hereof.
(l) "Parent
Benefit Agreement"
means
(i) any employment, deferred compensation, consulting, severance, change of
control, termination, indemnification, employee benefit, loan, stock repurchase
or similar Contract between Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand,
and any Parent Participant, on the other hand, or (ii) any Contract between
Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any Parent Participant,
on the other hand, the benefits of which are contingent, or the terms of which
are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving Parent
of
a nature contemplated by this Agreement.
(m) "Parent
By-laws"
means
the By-laws, as amended, of Parent in effect as of the date hereof.
(n) "Parent
Material Adverse Change"
or
"Parent
Material Adverse Effect"
means
any fact, circumstance, event, change, effect or occurrence that, individually
or in the aggregate with all other facts, circumstances, events, changes,
effects, or occurrences, (i) has a material adverse effect on the business,
results of operations or financial condition of Parent and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole or (ii) that prevents or materially impairs Parent’s ability to
consummate the Merger on a timely basis; provided, however, that in determining
whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall be excluded any
effect to the extent resulting from (A) the announcement or pendency of this
Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or any action of any party
to
this Agreement or any of its Subsidiaries required to be taken by it under
this
Agreement, (B) changes or events after the date of this Agreement in general
economic, business or financial conditions or financial markets or credit
markets generally, (C) a decrease in the trading or market prices of the Parent
Common Stock, (D) the engagement by the United States or Canada in hostilities,
whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war,
or
the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon or within the United
States or Canada or (E) the occurrence or effects of any event or circumstances
set forth in Section 9.10(n) of the Parent Disclosure Schedule.
(o) "Parent
Stock Options"
means
options or similar rights to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock from
Parent.
(p) "Parent
Warrants"
means
warrants or similar rights to purchase shares of Parent Common Stock from
Parent.
(q) "Parent
Working Capital"
means
the current assets of Parent less the current liabilities of Parent; provided
that, for purposes of this Agreement, current liabilities shall exclude all
long-term debt (except the current portion thereof), liabilities or other
obligations in connection with the Parent Special Warrants, costs incurred
by
Parent in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
other obligations that accelerate or become due as a result of the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. For purposes of calculating
Parent Working Capital under this definition, the fair market value of deferred
revenues shall be deemed to equal 30% of its stated value.
-62-
(r) "Permitted
Liens"
means
(i) mechanics', carriers', workmen's, repairmen's, maritime 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 any party
hereto or any of its Subsidiaries and for which the relevant party has
established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP, (ii) Liens for taxes
that
are not due and payable or that may thereafter be paid without interest or
penalty, (iii) easements, covenants, rights-of-way and other encumbrances or
restrictions of record that, individually or in the aggregate, do not materially
impair, and would not reasonably be expected to materially impair, the value
or
the continued use and operation of the assets to which they relate, (iv) zoning,
building and other similar codes and regulations, and (v) Liens (other than
Liens that secure indebtedness) that, individually or in the aggregate, do
not
materially interfere with, and would not reasonably be expected to materially
interfere with, the ability of any party hereto or any of its Subsidiaries
to
conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted.
(s) "Person"
means
an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other
entity;
(t) "SMB
Benefit Agreement"
means
(i) any employment, deferred compensation, consulting, severance, change of
control, termination, indemnification, employee benefit, loan, stock repurchase
or similar Contract between Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries, on the
one hand, and any SMB Participant, on the other hand, or (ii) any Contract
between Empagio, SMB or any of their Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any
SMB
Participant, on the other hand, the benefits of which are contingent, or the
terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction
involving Empagio or SMB of a nature contemplated by this
Agreement.
(u) "SMB
EBITDA"
means
EBITDA for the 12-month period following Closing, plus: non-cash stock-based
expense, deferred revenue fair value adjustments, acquisition-related expenses
and non-cash asset impairment charges.
(v) "SMB
Material Adverse Change"
or
"SMB
Material Adverse Effect"
means
any fact, circumstance, event, change, effect or occurrence that, individually
or in the aggregate with all other facts, circumstances, events, changes,
effects, or occurrences, (i) has a material adverse effect on the business,
results of operations or financial condition of SMB and its Subsidiaries taken
as a whole or (ii) that prevents or materially impairs SMB’s ability to
consummate the Merger on a timely basis; provided, however, that in determining
whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred, there shall be excluded any
effect to the extent resulting from (A) the announcement or pendency of this
Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or any action of any party
to
this Agreement or any of its Subsidiaries required to be taken by it under
this
Agreement, (B) changes or events after the date of this Agreement in general
economic, business or financial conditions or financial markets or credit
markets generally, (C) the engagement by the United States in hostilities,
whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war,
or
the occurrence of any military or terrorist attack upon or within the United
States or (D) or the occurrence or effects of any event or circumstances set
forth in Section 9.10(v) of the SMB Disclosure Schedule.
-63-
(w) "SMB
Stock Options"
means
options or similar rights to purchase shares of SMB Common Stock from
SMB.
(x) "SMB
Warrants"
means
warrants or similar rights to purchase shares of SMB Common Stock from
SMB.
(y) "Stockholder
Approval"
means a
resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast
by
the holders of all outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock at the
Stockholders' Meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof to adopt this
Agreement, the Merger, the issuance of the Merger Consideration and the
Redomestication.
(z) "Subsidiary"
of any
Person means another person, 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, 50% or more of the equity interests of which) is
owned
directly or indirectly by such first Person.
(aa) "Superior
Proposal"
means
any bona fide Takeover Proposal that if consummated would result in a
transaction that the Board of Directors of Parent has determined in its good
faith judgment is: (i) more favorable to the stockholders of Parent from a
financial point of view than the Merger and (ii) reasonably capable of being
completed, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other
aspects of such proposal.
(bb) "Takeover
Proposal"
means
any inquiry, proposal or offer from any Person relating to, or that would
reasonably be expected to lead to, any direct or indirect acquisition or
purchase, in one transaction or a series of transactions, of assets or
businesses that constitute 20% or more of the revenues, net income or the assets
of SMB or Parent, as the case may be, and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
or
20% or more of any class of equity securities of SMB or Parent, as the case
may
be, or any of its Subsidiaries, any tender offer or exchange offer that if
consummated would result in any Person beneficially owning 20% or more of any
class of equity securities of SMB or Parent, as the case may be, or any of
its
Subsidiaries, or any merger, consolidation, business combination,
recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, joint venture, binding share
exchange or similar transaction involving SMB or Parent, as the case may be,
or
any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to which any Person or the stockholders of
any
Person would own 20% or more of any class of equity securities of SMB or Parent,
as the case may be, or any of its Subsidiaries or of any resulting parent
company of SMB or Parent, as the case may be, other than the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
[Signature
page follows]
-64-
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Sub and the Company have caused this Agreement to
be
signed by their respective officers hereunto duly authorized, all as of the
date
first written above.
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Chairman
|
|
WORKSTREAM
MERGER SUB INC.
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
Chairman
|
|
EMPAGIO
ACQUISITION LLC
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
Name:
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Title:
CEO
|
|
SMB
CAPITAL CORPORATION
|
|
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
Title:
CEO
|
EXHIBIT
A
FORM
ESCROW AGREEMENT
ESCROW
AGREEMENT
THIS
ESCROW AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made and entered into this ____ day of
__________, 2008, by and among ________________________ (the "Escrow
Agent"),
WORKSTREAM INC., a Delaware corporation ("Parent"),
WORKSTREAM MERGER SUB INC., a Delaware corporation ("Merger
Sub"),
and
[INSERT NAMES OF PARTIES RECEIVING MERGER CONSIDERATION] (collectively, the
"New
Stockholders").
BACKGROUND
WHEREAS,
Parent and Merger Sub are parties to that certain Merger Agreement dated
February ___, 2008 (the "Merger
Agreement")
with
Empagio Acquisition LLC and SMB Capital Corporation ("SMB")
pursuant to which, among other things, SMB agreed to merge with and into Merger
Sub, with Merger Sub being the surviving corporation in accordance with the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined herein shall have the meaning
given such terms in the Merger Agreement;
WHEREAS,
in connection with the consummation of the Merger, the Merger Agreement
contemplates that 67,410,986 shares of the Merger Consideration is to be placed
in Escrow pending determination of the SMB EBITDA; and
WHEREAS,
the Escrow Agent has agreed to serve as escrow agent pursuant to the terms
of
this Agreement to facilitate, solely in a ministerial capacity, the disbursement
of the Escrow Shares.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, and
intending to be legally bound, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. Appointment
of and Acceptance by Escrow Agent.
The
Escrow Agent is hereby appointed to serve as escrow agent hereunder, and the
Escrow Agent hereby accepts such appointment and agrees to act as escrow agent
solely in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.
2. Escrow
of Shares.
(a) Receipt
of Escrow Shares.
Concurrently with the Closing of the Merger Agreement, and pursuant to Section
2.02(a) of the Merger Agreement, Parent will deliver to the Escrow Agent a
certificate in the name of each New Stockholder and in the respective amounts
set forth on Exhibit
A
hereto
(collectively, the “Certificates”)
evidencing a total of 67,410,986 shares of Parent Common Stock and representing
a portion of the Merger Consideration otherwise payable to the New Stockholders
under the Merger Agreement. Also concurrently with the Closing of the Merger
Agreement, and pursuant to Section 6.03(f) of the Merger Agreement, each New
Stockholder will deliver to the Escrow Agent a stock power executed in blank
(each, a “Stock
Power”).
The
Escrow Agent will acknowledge receipt of the Certificates and Stock Powers
and
will hold such Certificates with Stock Powers in safe keeping pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. The period of time during which the Escrow Shares
are
held in escrow pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be referred to
as
the “Escrow
Period.”
(b) Terms
of Escrow; Release of Security Escrow Fund.
(i) Events
of Disbursement.
The
Escrow Agent shall hold the Escrow Shares in escrow and shall not make any
disbursements in respect thereof except in accordance with the following
terms:
(A)
Within
five calendar days following receipt of the EBITDA Calculation pursuant to
Section 2.03(b) of the Merger Agreement, the Escrow Agent shall disburse the
Escrow Shares in accordance with Exhibit
B
hereto
based on the SMB EBITDA contained in the EBITDA Calculation. If all of the
Escrow Shares are to be disbursed to the New Stockholders, then the Escrow
Agent
shall deliver to each New Stockholder the Certificate and Stock Power of such
New Stockholder being held in escrow. If all of the Escrow Shares are to be
disbursed to Parent, then the Escrow Agent shall deliver all of the Certificates
and Stock Powers to Parent. In the event that the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock evidenced by each Certificate is greater than the number of shares
of Parent Common Stock to be disbursed to Parent as set forth on Exhibit
B,
then
the Escrow Agent shall deliver to Parent’s transfer agent each Certificate and
Stock Power, with the name of Parent filled in as transferee and the appropriate
number of shares of Parent Common Stock to which Parent is entitled as set
forth
on Exhibit
B
filled
in, together with written instruction requesting Parent’s transfer agent to
issue to each New Stockholder a new stock certificate evidencing such number
of
Escrow Shares to which it is entitled as set forth on Exhibit
B
and to
Parent a new stock certificate evidencing such aggregate number of Escrow Shares
to which it is entitled as set forth on Exhibit
B.
In the
event that the number of Escrow Shares are not sufficient to satisfy the
obligations of the New Stockholders as set forth in the EBITDA Calculation
and
on Exhibit
B,
the
Escrow Agent shall deliver written notice (a “Request
Notice”)
to
each New Stockholder within two business days following receipt of the EBITDA
Calculation requesting that such New Stockholder deliver to the Escrow Agent
any
and all other certificates evidencing Parent Common Stock delivered to such
New
Stockholder in connection with the Closing as part of the Merger Consideration
(each, an “Additional
Certificate”).
Within two business days following receipt of a Request Notice, each New
Stockholder shall deliver to the Escrow Agent such Additional Certificates,
together with a stock power executed in blank (an “Additional
Stock Power”).
Promptly following receipt of such Additional Certificates and Additional Stock
Powers, the Escrow Agent shall deliver to Parent’s transfer agent each
Additional Certificate and Additional Stock Power, with the name of Parent
filled in as transferee and the appropriate number of shares of Parent Common
Stock to which Parent is entitled as set forth on Exhibit
B
filled
in, together with written instruction requesting Parent’s transfer agent to
issue to each New Stockholder a new stock certificate evidencing such number
of
shares of Parent Common Stock, if any, to which it is entitled as set forth
on
Exhibit
B
and to
Parent a new stock certificate evidencing such aggregate number of shares of
Parent Common Stock to which it is entitled as set forth on Exhibit
B.
Any
distribution of Escrow Shares hereunder and/or any additional shares of Parent
Common Stock delivered pursuant to a Request Notice shall be pro rata based
on
the ownership reflected on Exhibit
A.
(B) Any
Escrow Shares that remain held by the Escrow Agent following a disbursement
pursuant to Section 2(b)(i)(A) shall be disbursed to the New Stockholder in
whose name the Certificate is registered.
2
(ii) Termination
of Escrow.
Upon
disbursement of the Escrow Shares, the Escrow Agent shall have no further
obligations or responsibilities with respect to the Escrow Shares so disbursed.
3. Rights
of New Stockholders in Escrow Shares.
(a) Voting
Rights as a Stockholder.
Except
as otherwise provided herein, the New Stockholders shall retain all of their
rights as stockholders of Workstream during the Escrow Period, including,
without limitation, the right to vote their respective Escrow Shares, as set
forth on Exhibit
A
hereto.
(b) Dividends
and Other Distributions in Respect of Escrow Shares.
During
the Escrow Period, all dividends payable in cash with respect to the Escrow
Shares shall be paid to the New Stockholders, but all dividends payable in
stock
or other non-cash property (“Non-Cash
Dividends”)
shall
be delivered to the Escrow Agent to be held in accordance with the terms hereof.
As used herein, the term “Escrow
Shares”
shall
be deemed to include any Non-Cash Dividends distributed thereon.
(c) Restrictions
on Transfer.
During
the Escrow Period, no sale, transfer or other disposition may be made of any
or
all of the Escrow Shares except (i) by virtue of the laws of descent and
distribution upon death of any New Stockholder, (ii) pursuant to a qualified
domestic relations order, or (iii) pursuant to a transfer of record ownership
whereby there is no change in beneficial ownership; provided, however, that
such
permitted transfers may be made and given effect only upon the respective
transferee’s written agreement to be bound by the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. During the Escrow Period, the New Stockholders shall not pledge
or
grant a security interest in any of the Escrow Shares or grant a security
interest in their rights under this Agreement.
4. The
Escrow Agent.
To
induce the Escrow Agent to act as escrow agent hereunder, the parties hereto
covenant to and agree with each other and with the Escrow Agent as
follows:
(a) Amendments
and Modifications.
The
Escrow Agent shall not in any way be bound or affected by any amendment,
modification or cancellation of this Escrow Agreement, unless the same shall
have been agreed to in writing by the Escrow Agent.
(b) Reliance
Upon Instruments.
The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely, and shall be protected in acting in
reliance upon, any certificates, instructions or directions furnished to the
Escrow Agent in writing under this Escrow Agreement and shall be entitled to
treat as genuine, and as the document it purports to be, any certificate,
letter, instruction or other document or instrument delivered to the Escrow
Agent hereunder and believed by the Escrow Agent to be genuine and to have
been
presented by the proper party or parties, without being required to determine
the authenticity or correctness of any fact stated therein, the propriety or
validity thereof, or the authority or authorization of the party or parties
making and/or delivering the same to do so. Without limiting the foregoing,
the
Escrow Agent shall have no liability or responsibility concerning the
determination of the amount to be disbursed or the purposes or basis of such
disbursement as it pertains to any one of the disbursement events described
in
Section 2 hereof.
3
(c) Obligations
Solely Arising under Agreement.
This
Escrow Agreement sets forth exclusively the duties and obligations of the Escrow
Agent with respect to any and all matters pertinent to its acting as escrow
agent hereunder. The Escrow Agent is acting only as a stakeholder with respect
to the Escrow Shares. The Escrow Agent undertakes to perform only such duties
as
are expressly set forth in this Escrow Agreement. The
Escrow Agent may consult with counsel, accountants and other skilled persons
to
be selected and retained by it.
In the
event that the Escrow Agent shall be uncertain or believe there is some
ambiguity as to its duties or rights hereunder or shall receive instructions,
claims or demands from any party hereto which, in its opinion, conflict with
any
of the provisions of this Escrow Agreement, it shall be entitled to refrain
from
taking any action and its sole obligation shall be to keep safely all property
held in escrow until it shall be given a direction in writing by the parties
hereto which
eliminates such ambiguity or uncertainty to the satisfaction of Escrow Agent
or
by a final and non-appealable order or judgment of a court of competent
jurisdiction.
(d) Indemnification.
Parent
and each New Stockholder shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and
hold
harmless the Escrow Agent from and against any and all losses, damages, claims,
liabilities, penalties, judgments, settlements, actions, suits, proceedings,
litigation, investigations, costs or expenses (including the fees and expenses
of legal counsel) (collectively “Losses”)
arising out of or in connection with (a) the Escrow Agent's execution and
performance of this Escrow Agreement, the enforcement of any rights or remedies
under or in connection with this Escrow Agreement, or as may arise by reason
of
any act, omission or error of the Escrow Agent, except to the extent that such
Losses are significantly caused by the gross negligence or willful misconduct
of
the Escrow Agent, or (b) its following any instructions or other directions
hereunder except to the extent that its following any such instruction or
direction is expressly forbidden by the terms hereof. The obligations contained
in this Section 4(d) shall survive the termination of this Escrow Agreement
and
the resignation, replacement or removal of the Escrow Agent.
(e) Payment
of Fees and Expenses.
The
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to reasonable compensation from Parent for all
services rendered by it hereunder. The Escrow Agent shall also be entitled
to
reimbursement from Parent for all expenses paid or incurred by it in the
administration of its duties hereunder including, but not limited to, all
counsel, advisors’ and agents’ fees and disbursements and all taxes or other
governmental charges.
(f) Resignation
of Escrow Agent.
Upon
not less than twenty (20) calendar days’ written notice to Buyer and Seller of
its intention to resign under this Escrow Agreement, the Escrow Agent may resign
as escrow agent hereunder and shall thereafter be discharged of all duties
and
obligations hereunder. Such resignation shall take effect upon receipt by the
Escrow Agent of an instrument of acceptance executed by a successor escrow
agent
(which successor may be selected by the Escrow Agent with the approval of
Parent, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, and shall have all
other rights of and be deemed to be the Escrow Agent hereunder for all purposes
hereof) and upon delivery by the Escrow Agent to such successor of the Escrow
Shares. If a successor escrow agent is not appointed within twenty (20) calendar
days of the Escrow Agent’s resignation, the Escrow Agent may petition a court of
competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor escrow agent. The Escrow
Agent’s sole responsibility after such twenty (20) day notice period expires
shall be to hold the Escrow Shares in safe keeping and to deliver the same
to a
designated substitute escrow agent, if any, or in accordance with the directions
of a final order or judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction, at which
time
of delivery the Escrow Agent’s obligations hereunder shall cease and terminate.
4
(g) Discharge
of Escrow Agent.
The
Escrow Agent shall resign and be discharged from its duties as escrow agent
hereunder if so requested in writing at any time jointly by the other parties
hereto; provided, however, that such resignation shall become effective only
upon acceptance of appointment by a successor escrow agent as provided in
Section 4(f).
(h) Liability.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Escrow Agent shall not be
relieved from liability hereunder for its own gross negligence or its own
willful misconduct.
5. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices.
All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
sent
by certified mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested; by an overnight
express courier service that provides written confirmation of delivery; or
by
facsimile with confirmation, addressed as follows:
If
to Escrow Agent:
|
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention: ___________________
Phone: ________________
Fax:
_______________
|
If
to [List New Stockholders]:
|
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention: ___________________
Phone:
________________
Fax:
_______________
|
With
a copy to:
|
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention: ___________________
Phone:
________________
Fax:
_______________
|
If
to Parent or SMB:
|
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention: ___________________
Phone:
________________
Fax:
_______________
|
5
With
a copy to:
|
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
Attention: ___________________
Phone:
________________
Fax:
_______________
|
Any
party
may change its address for receiving notice by giving notice of a new address
in
the manner provided herein. Any notice so given shall be deemed to be delivered
on the second business day after the same is deposited in the United States
mail, on the next business day if sent by overnight courier, or on the same
business day if sent by facsimile before 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, or the next
day, if sent by facsimile after 5:00 p.m. Eastern time. In the event that the
Escrow Agent, in its sole and reasonable discretion, shall determine that an
emergency exists, the Escrow Agent may use such other means of communication
as
the Escrow Agent deems appropriate.
(b) Deliveries.
All
deliveries of Certificates, Additional Certificates, Stock Powers or Additional
Stock Powers hereunder shall be sent by an overnight express courier service
that provides written confirmation of delivery to the addresses set forth in
Section 5(a) above. Any such delivery shall be deemed to be delivered on the
next business day.
(c) Assignment.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the permitted
successors and assigns of the parties. This Agreement may be assigned only
(i)
by the Escrow Agent to a successor as provided herein or (ii) with the consent
of all of the parties hereto.
(d) Entire
Agreement.
This
Agreement contains the entire agreement among the parties hereto with respect
to
the subject matter hereof, and may not be amended except by a writing signed
on
behalf of each party hereto.
(e) Governing
Law.
This
Agreement shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the internal
laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to principles of conflict of
laws.
(f) Further
Assurances.
Each
party agrees to cooperate fully with the other parties and to execute such
further instruments, documents and agreements and to give such further written
assurances as may be reasonably requested by any other party to evidence and
reflect the transactions described herein and contemplated hereby and to carry
into effect the intents and purposes of this Agreement.
6
(g) Execution
in Counterpart.
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the
same
instrument. Any counterpart signature page delivered by facsimile transmission
shall be deemed to be and have the same force and effect as an originally
executed signature page. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more
counterparts hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures
of all of the parties reflected hereon as the signatories.
[Signature
page follows]
7
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have executed this Escrow Agreement as of the day and year first
above written.
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
WORKSTREAM
MERGER SUB INC.
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
[INCLUDE
NEW STOCKHOLDERS]
|
|
[ESCROW
AGENT]
|
|
By:
|
|
Title:
|
EXHIBT
A
EXHIBT
B
EXHIBIT
B
FORM
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
REGISTRATION
RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”),
dated
as of February 7, 2008, is by and among Workstream Inc., a Canadian corporation
(the “Company”),
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx (“Xxxxxxxxx”)
and
[Chatham]
(“Chatham”).
RECITALS
A. The
Company has entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of the date
hereof (the “Merger
Agreement”)
with
Workstream Merger Sub Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Merger
Sub”),
Empagio Acquisition LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Empagio”),
and
SMB Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary
of
Empagio (“SMB”),
pursuant to which SMB will merge with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”).
B. Empagio
owns 100% of SMB and Xxxxxxxxx and Chatham are the two primary owners of
Empagio.
C. It
is
anticipated that Empagio will be liquidated and dissolved prior to the closing
of the Merger (the “Closing”)
and
that Emagio’s shares of SMB shall be distributed to Empagio’s owners.
D. Pursuant
to Section 6.02 of the Merger Agreement, it is a condition precedent to the
obligations of Empagio and SMB that the Company execute and deliver this
Registration Rights Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained in this Agreement, and subject to the conditions set forth
herein, the parties hereto agree as follows:
1. |
Definitions.
|
“Affiliate”
of a Person shall mean a Person directly or indirectly controlled by,
controlling or under common control with such Person.
“Agreement”
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble to this
Agreement.
"Claims"
shall mean losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, actions
or
proceedings (whether commenced or threatened).
“Closing”
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals hereof.
“Common
stock” means the common shares, no par value, of the Company.
“Company”
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble to this
Agreement.
“Demand
Registration” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
2.2
hereof.
“Effective
Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
6.1(a)
hereof.
2
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Merger”
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals hereof.
“Merger
Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in the recitals
hereof.
“NASD”
shall mean the National Association Of Securities Dealers, Inc.
“NASDAQ”
shall mean the NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc.
“Options”
shall mean options to purchase shares of Common Stock from the
Company.
“Person”
shall mean an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership,
joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization, government (or any department
or agency thereof) or other entity.
“Piggyback
Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
2.1
hereof.
“Piggyback
Registration” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
2.1
hereof.
“Registrable
Securities” shall mean the shares of Common Stock issued or issuable to Chatham
and Xxxxxxxxx in connection with the Merger, including any shares of Common
Stock issuable upon the exercise of any warrant or option issued to Chatham
or
Xxxxxxxxx in connection with the Merger; provided, however, as to any particular
Registrable Securities, once issued such securities shall cease to be
Registrable Securities when (i) a registration statement with respect to the
sale of such securities shall have become effective under the Securities Act
and
such securities shall have been disposed of in accordance with such registration
statement, (ii) such securities shall have been sold pursuant to Rule 144 (or
any successor provision) under the Securities Act, (iii) such securities shall
have been otherwise transferred and new certificates for such securities not
bearing a legend restricting further transfer shall have been delivered by
the
Company, or (iv) such securities shall have ceased to be outstanding (and,
in
the case of shares of Common Stock underlying options, such shares of Common
Stock shall have ceased to be outstanding after issuance pursuant to the
exercise of such options).
“Registration
Expenses” shall mean any and all expenses incident to performance of or
compliance with Section
2
of this
Agreement, including without limitation, (i) all SEC, stock exchange and NASDAQ
and NASD registration and filing fees, (ii) all fees and expenses of complying
with securities or blue sky laws (including reasonable fees and disbursements
of
counsel for the underwriters in connection with blue sky qualifications of
the
Registrable Securities), (iii) all printing, messenger and delivery expenses,
(iv) the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and of the Company’s
independent public accountants, including the expenses of any special audits
and/or “cold comfort” letters required by or incident to such performance and
compliance, (v) the reasonable fees and disbursements of one counsel retained
by
the Shareholders (such counsel to be selected by Xxxxxxxxx) as a group in
connection with each such registration, (vi) any fees and disbursements of
underwriters customarily paid by issuers or sellers of securities and the
reasonable fees and expenses of any special experts retained in connection
with
the requested registration, including any fee payable to a qualified independent
underwriter within the meaning of the rules of the NASD, but excluding
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, (vii)
internal expenses of the Company (including, without limitation, all salaries
and expenses of its officers and employees performing legal or accounting
duties) and (viii) Securities Acts liability insurance (if the Company elects
to
obtain such insurance).
3
“Rule
144” shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act.
“SEC”
shall mean the U.S. Securities and Exchange commission.
“Section
2 Sale Number” shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
2.2
hereof.
“Securities
Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Shareholder”
and “Shareholders” shall mean Xxxxxxxxx, Chatham and their permitted
Transferees.
“Transfer”
shall mean to sell, assign, pledge or encumber or otherwise transfer or convey,
directly or indirectly, whether or not for consideration.
“Transferee”
shall mean any Person to whom a Transfer is made, regardless of the method
of
Transfer.
“Violation”
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Section
2.7(a)
hereof.
2. |
Piggyback
And Demand Registrations.
|
2.1. Piggyback
Registrations.
If at
any time after the 16-month anniversary of the Closing, the Company proposes
to
register for sale by the Company under the Securities Act any of its equity
securities (other than a registration on Form S-4 or Form S-8, or any successor
or similar forms), or any shares pursuant to a Demand Registration under
Section
2.2,
in a
manner that would permit registration of Registrable Securities for sale to
the
public under the Securities Act, the Company will each such time promptly give
written notice to all Shareholders who beneficially own any Registrable
Securities of its intention to do so, of the registration form of the SEC that
has been selected by the Company and of such holders’ rights under this
Section
2
(the
“Piggyback
Notice”).
The
Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to include, and to cause
the underwriter or underwriters to include, if underwriters are involved, in
the
proposed offering, on the same terms and conditions as the securities of the
Company or other Shareholders included in such offering, all Registrable
Securities that the Company has been requested in writing, within fifteen (15)
calendar days after the Piggyback Notice is given, to register by the holders
thereof (each such registration pursuant to this Section
2.1,
a
“Piggyback
Registration”);
provided, however, that (i) if, at any time after giving a Piggyback Notice
and
prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection
with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to
register such equity securities (or, in the case of a Demand Registration,
where
Xxxxxxxxx so determines), the Company may, at its election (or, in the case
of a
Demand Registration, where Xxxxxxxxx so determines, the Company shall), give
written notice of such determination to all Shareholders who beneficially own
any Registrable Securities and, thereupon, shall be relieved of its obligation
to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such abandoned
registration, and (ii) in case of a determination by the Company to delay
registration of its equity securities (or, in the case of a Demand Registration,
if Xxxxxxxxx so determines), the Company shall be permitted to (or, in the
case
of a Demand Registration where Xxxxxxxxx, so determines, the Company shall)
delay the registration of such Registrable Securities for the same period as
the
delay in registering such other equity securities (provided that clauses (i)
and
(ii) shall not relieve the Company of its obligations under Section
2.2).
In the
case of any registration of Registrable Securities in an underwritten offering
pursuant to this Section
2.1,
all
Shareholders proposing to distribute their securities pursuant to this
Section
2.1
shall,
at the request of the Company (or, in the case of a Demand Registration, at
the
request of Xxxxxxxxx), enter into an agreement in customary form with the
underwriter or underwriters. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
not be obligated to effect registration of Registrable Securities for which
Piggyback Registration is requested by a Shareholder if, at the time of such
request, all such Registrable Securities are eligible for sale to the public
by
the requesting Shareholder without registration under Rule 144 under the
Securities Act, with such sale not being limited by either the timing or volume
restrictions thereunder.
4
2.2. Demand
Registrations.
At any
time after the 16-month anniversary of the Closing, Xxxxxxxxx may request that
the Company register the resale of his Registrable Securities, and, upon receipt
of such request by the Company, the Company shall use its commercially
reasonable efforts to promptly register under the Securities Act any reasonable
portion of Registrable Securities held by Xxxxxxxxx (including, at the election
of Xxxxxxxxx, in an underwritten offering) and bear all expenses in connection
with such offering in a manner consistent with Section
2.3
below
and shall enter into such other agreements in furtherance thereof (each such
registration pursuant to this Section
2.2,
a
“Demand
Registration”),
and
the Company shall provide customary indemnifications in such instances (in
a
manner consistent with the indemnification provisions of this Section
3)
to
Xxxxxxxxx and any such underwriters. Xxxxxxxxx shall have the right to initiate
up to two (2) Demand Registrations pursuant to this Section
2.2.
A
registration shall not count as a Demand Registration unless and until the
registration statement relating thereto has been declared effective by the
SEC
and not withdrawn; provided that a registration statement relating to a Demand
Registration that is withdrawn at the request of Xxxxxxxxx shall count as a
Demand Registration. If any Demand Registration requested by Xxxxxxxxx is in
the
form of an underwritten offering, Xxxxxxxxx shall designate the underwriter
or
underwriters to be utilized in connection such offering. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company shall not be obligated to effect a Demand Registration
if, at the time of such request, all such Registrable Securities are eligible
for sale to the public by Xxxxxxxxx without registration under Rule 144 under
the Securities Act, with such sale not being limited by either the timing or
volume restrictions thereunder.
2.3. Expenses.
The
Company shall pay all Registration Expenses in connection with each registration
of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section
2;
provided, however, that each Shareholder shall pay all underwriting discounts
and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to the sale or disposition
of such Shareholder’s Registrable Securities pursuant to a registration
statement effected pursuant to this Section
2.
2.4. Priority
in Piggyback and Demand Registrations.
If the
managing underwriter for a registration pursuant to this Section
2
shall
advise the Company in writing that, in its opinion, the number of securities
requested to be included in such registration exceeds the number (the
“Section
2 Sale Number”)
that
can be sold in an orderly manner in such offering within a price range
acceptable to the Company (or, in the case of a Demand Registration, to
Xxxxxxxxx), the Company shall include in such offering (i) first, all the
securities the Company proposes to register for its own sale (or, in the case
of
a Demand Registration, that Xxxxxxxxx proposes to register), and (ii) second,
to
the extent that the securities the Company proposes to register are less than
the Section 2 Sale Number, all Registrable Securities requested to be included
by all Shareholders; provided, however, that if the number of such Registrable
Securities exceeds (x) the Section 2 Sale Number less (y) the number of
securities included pursuant to clause (i) hereof, then the number of such
Registrable Securities included in such registration shall be allocated pro
rata
among all requesting Shareholders, on the basis of the relative number of shares
of such Registrable Securities each such Shareholder then holds. If there is
any
reduction or exclusion of Registrable Securities held by Xxxxxxxxx pursuant
to
this Section
2.4
in
connection with a Demand Registration, such registration shall not be deemed
to
be a Demand Registration for purposes of determining the maximum number of
Demand Registrations the Company is obligated to effect pursuant to Section
2.2
hereof.
5
2.5. Underwriting
Requirements.
In
connection with any offering involving any underwriting of securities in a
Piggyback Registration, the Company shall not be required to include any
Shareholder’s Registrable Securities in such underwriting unless such
Shareholder accepts the terms of the underwriting as agreed upon between the
Company and the underwriters as to the quantity, and terms and conditions of
inclusion of, such securities as set forth in Section
2.1
hereof,
and such Shareholder agrees to sell such Shareholder’s Registrable Securities on
the basis provided therein and completes and/or executes all questionnaires,
indemnities, lock-ups, underwriting agreements and other documents (including
powers of attorney and custody arrangements) required generally of all selling
shareholders, in each case in customary form and substance, which are requested
to be executed in connection therewith.
2.6. Registration
Procedures.
If and
whenever the Company is required to use its commercially reasonable efforts
to
effect or cause the registration of any Registrable Securities under the
Securities Act as provided in this Section
2,
the
Company will, as soon as practicable:
2.6.1. prepare
and file with the SEC the requisite registration statement with respect to
such
Registrable Securities and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause
such
registration statement to become and remain effective;
2.6.2.
prepare
and file with the SEC such amendments and supplements to such registration
statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary
to
keep such registration statement effective until the completion of the
distribution of the Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement) and to comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect
to the sale or other disposition of all securities covered by such registration
statement during such period;
2.6.3.
furnish
to each seller of such Registrable Securities and each underwriter such number
of copies of such registration statement and of each amendment and supplement
thereto (in each case including all exhibits), and such number of copies of
the
prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary
prospectus and summary prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of
the
Securities Act, and such other documents as such seller may reasonably
request;
2.6.4.
promptly
notify each Shareholder that holds Registrable Securities covered by such
registration statement, (i) when such registration statement or any
post-effective amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, (ii) of the
issuance by the SEC or any state securities authority of any stop order,
injunction or other order or requirement suspending the effectiveness of such
registration statement (and take all reasonable action to prevent the entry
of
such stop order or to remove it if entered, or the initiation of any proceedings
for that purpose), or (iii) of the happening of any event as a result of which
the registration statement, as then in effect, the prospectus related thereto
or
any document included therein by reference includes an untrue statement of
a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made and promptly file such amendments
and
supplements which may be required on account of such event and use its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause each such amendment and supplement
to
become effective;
6
2.6.5. promptly
furnish counsel for each underwriter, if any, and for the selling Shareholders
of Registrable Securities, copies of any written request by the SEC or any
state
securities authority for amendments or supplements to a registration statement
and prospectus or for additional
2.6.6. use
commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order suspending
the effectiveness of a registration statement at the earliest possible
time;
2.6.7.
use
commercially reasonable efforts to cause all such Registrable Securities covered
by such registration statement to be listed on the principal securities
exchange, or authorized for quotation on NASDAQ, on which similar equity
securities issued by the Company are then listed or authorized for quotation,
or
eligible for listing or quotation, if the listing or authorization for quotation
of such securities is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or the
NASD;
2.6.8.
enter
into an underwriting agreement with the underwriter of such offering in the
form
customary for such underwriter for similar offerings, including such
representations and warranties by the Company, provisions regarding the delivery
of opinions of counsel for the Company and accountants’ letters, provisions
regarding indemnification and contribution, and such other terms and conditions
as are at the time customarily contained in such underwriter’s underwriting
agreements for similar offerings (the sellers of Registrable Securities which
are to be distributed by such underwriter(s) may, at their option, require
that
any or all of the representations and warranties by, and the other agreements
on
the part of, the Company to and for the benefit of such underwriter(s) shall
also be made to and for the benefit of such sellers of Registrable
Securities);
2.6.9. make
available for inspection by representatives of the selling Shareholders who
hold
Registrable Securities and any underwriters participating in any disposition
pursuant hereto and any counsel or accountant retained by such Shareholders
or
underwriters, all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate
documents and properties of the Company and cause the respective officers,
directors and employees of the Company to supply all information reasonably
requested by any such representative, underwriter, counsel or accountant in
connection with a registration pursuant hereto; provided, however, that, with
respect to records, documents or information which the Company determines,
in
good faith, to be confidential and as to which the Company notifies such
representatives, underwriters, counsel or accountants in writing of such
confidentiality, such representatives, underwriters, counsel or accountants
shall not disclose such records, documents or information unless (i) the release
of such records, documents or information is ordered pursuant to a subpoena
or
other order from a court of competent jurisdiction, (ii) such records, documents
or information have previously been generally made available to the public,
or
(iii) the disclosure of such records, documents or information is necessary,
in
the written opinion of outside legal counsel, to avoid or correct a material
misstatement or omission in the registration statement and then only after
reasonable request has been made to the Company to make such disclosure and
the
Company has denied such request. Each selling Shareholder of such Registrable
Securities agrees that information obtained by it as a result of such
inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as the
basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Company or its
Affiliates (or for such Shareholder’s business purposes or for any reason other
than in connection with a registration hereunder) unless and until such
information is made generally available (other than by such Shareholder or
where
such Shareholder knows that such information became publicly available as a
result of a breach of any confidentiality arrangement) to the public. Each
selling Shareholder of such Registrable Securities further agrees that it will,
upon learning that disclosure of such records is sought, give notice to the
Company and allow the Company, at its expense, to undertake appropriate action
to prevent disclosure of the records deemed confidential;
7
2.6.10.
permit
any beneficial owner of Registrable Securities who, in the sole judgment,
exercised in good faith, of such holder, might be deemed to be a controlling
person of the Company, to participate in the preparation of such registration
or
comparable statement and to require the insertion therein of material, furnished
to the Company in writing, that in the judgment of such holder, as aforesaid,
should be included; and
2.6.11.
make
reasonably available its employees and personnel, and otherwise provide
reasonable assistance, to the underwriters (taking into account the needs of
the
Company’s businesses and the requirements of the marketing process) in the
marketing of Registrable Securities in any underwritten offering.
The
Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any
registration is being effected to furnish the Company such information regarding
such seller and the distribution of such securities as the Company may from
time
to time reasonably request in writing. The Company shall not be required to
register or qualify any Registrable Securities covered by such registration
statement under any state securities, or blue sky, laws of such jurisdictions
other than as it deems necessary in connection with the chosen method of
distribution or to take any other actions or do any other things other than
those it deems necessary or advisable to consummate such distribution, and
the
Company shall not for any such purpose be required to qualify generally to
do
business as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction wherein it would not
otherwise be obligated to be so qualified, to subject itself to taxation in
any
such jurisdiction or to consent to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction.
Each
beneficial owner of Registrable Securities agrees that upon receipt of any
notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described
in
subclauses (ii) and (iii) of Section
2.6.4,
such
beneficial owner will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable
Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable
Securities until such beneficial owner’s receipt of the copies of the
supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by Section
2.6.4,
and, if
so directed by the Company, such beneficial owner will deliver to the Company
(at the Company’s expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in
such beneficial owner’s possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable
Securities that was in effect prior to such amendment or
supplement.
8
2.7.
|
Indemnification.
|
2.7.1. In
the
event of any registration of any Registrable Securities pursuant to this
Section
2,
the
Company will, and hereby does, indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, the seller of any Registrable Securities covered by
such registration statement, its directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees
and
stockholders, members or general and limited partners (and the directors,
officers, fiduciaries, employees and stockholders, members or general and
limited partners thereof), each other Person who participates as an underwriter
or a qualified independent underwriter, if any, in the offering or sale of
such
securities, each director, officer, fiduciary, employee and stockholder
or general
and limited partner of such underwriter or qualified independent underwriter,
and each other Person (including any such Person’s directors, officers,
fiduciaries, employees and stockholders, members or general and limited
partners), if any, who controls such seller or any such underwriter or qualified
independent underwriter, within the meaning of the Securities Act, against
any
and all Claims in respect thereof and expenses (including reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel and any amounts paid in any settlement effected with the
Company’s consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed)
to which each such indemnified party may become subject under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Claims or expenses arise
out
of or are based upon any of the following actual or alleged statements,
omissions or violations (each, a “Violation”):
(i)
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in
any registration statement under which such securities were registered pursuant
to this Agreement under the Securities Act or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were
made, not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a
material fact contained in any preliminary, final or summary prospectus or
any
amendment or supplement thereto, together with the documents incorporated by
reference therein, or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, or (iii) any violation by the Company of any federal, state
or
common law rule or regulation applicable to the Company and relating to action
required of or inaction by the Company in connection with any such registration,
and the Company will reimburse any such indemnified party for any legal or
other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such Claim as such expenses are incurred;
provided, that the Company shall not be liable to any such indemnified party
in
any such case to the extent such Claim or expense arises out of or is based
upon
any Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or its representatives by or on behalf
of
such indemnified party expressly stating that such information is for use in
any
such registration statement preliminary, final or summary prospectus or
amendment or supplement or document incorporated by reference into any of the
foregoing.
9
2.7.2. Each
holder of Registrable Securities that are included in the securities as to
which
any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration is being effected (and, if
the
Company requires as a condition to including any Registrable Securities in
any
registration statement filed in connection with any Demand Registration or
Piggyback Registration, any underwriter and qualified independent underwriter,
if any) shall, severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless (in the
same manner and to the same extent as set forth in Section
2.7.1),
to the
extent permitted by law, the Company, its directors, officers, fiduciaries,
employees and stockholders (and the directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees
and stockholders or general and limited partners thereof) and each Person
(including any such Person’s directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees and
stockholders or general and limited partners), if any, controlling the Company
within the meaning of the Securities Act and all other prospective sellers
and
their directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees and stockholders, members
or
general and limited partners and respective controlling Persons (including
any
such Person’s directors, officers, fiduciaries, employees and stockholders,
members or general and limited partners) against any and all Claims and expenses
(including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel and any amounts paid in
any
settlement effected with the consent of the indemnifying party, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed) to which each such indemnified
party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
otherwise, insofar as such Claims or expenses arise out of or are based upon
any
Violation which occurs in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or its representatives by or on behalf
of
such holder or underwriter or qualified independent underwriter, if any,
expressly stating that such information is for use in connection with any
registration statement, preliminary, final or summary prospectus or amendment
or
supplement or document incorporated by reference into any of the foregoing;
provided, however, that the aggregate amount which any such holder, underwriter
or qualified independent underwriter shall be required to pay pursuant to this
Section
2.7.2
and
Sections
2.7.3 and 2.7.5
shall be
limited to (x) in the case of any such holder, the amount of the gross proceeds
received by such holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities pursuant
to
the registration statement giving rise to such claim and (y) in the case of
any
such underwriter or qualified independent underwriter, the amount of the total
sales price of the Registrable Securities sold through or by it pursuant to
the
registration statement giving rise to such claim.
2.7.3.
Indemnification similar to that specified in the preceding Section
2.7.1. and 2.7.2
(with
appropriate modifications) shall be given by the Company and each seller of
Registrable Securities (and, if the Company requires as a condition to including
any Registrable Securities in any registration statement filed in connection
with any Demand Registration or Piggyback Registration, any underwriter and
qualified independent underwriter, if any) with respect to any required
registration or other qualification of securities under any state securities
and
blue sky laws.
10
2.7.4.
Any
Person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement shall notify promptly
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of any action or
proceeding with respect to which a claim for indemnification may be made
pursuant to this Section
2.7,
but the
failure of any indemnified party to provide such notice shall not relieve the
indemnifying party of its obligations under this Section
2.7,
except
to the extent the indemnifying party is prejudiced thereby, and shall not
relieve the indemnifying party from any liability which it may have to any
indemnified party otherwise than under this Section
2.7.
In case
any action or proceeding is brought against an indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, unless in the reasonable
opinion of outside counsel to the indemnified party a conflict of interest
between such indemnified and indemnifying parties may exist in respect of such
claim, to assume the defense thereof jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to the extent that it chooses, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party that it so chooses, the indemnifying party
shall
not be liable to such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation; provided, however, that
(i) if the indemnifying party fails to take reasonable steps necessary to defend
diligently the action or proceeding within twenty (20) days after receiving
notice from such indemnified party that the indemnified party believes it has
failed to do so; or (ii) if such indemnified party who is a defendant in any
action or proceeding which is also brought against the indemnifying party
reasonably shall have concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses
available to such indemnified party which are not available to the indemnifying
party; or (iii) if representation of both parties by the same counsel is
otherwise inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct,
then, in any such case, the indemnified party shall have the right to assume
or
continue its own defense as set forth above (but with no more than one firm
of
counsel for all indemnified parties in each jurisdiction, except to the extent
any indemnified party or parties reasonably shall have concluded that there
may
be legal defenses available to such party or parties which are not available
to
the other indemnified parties or to the extent representation of all indemnified
parties by the same counsel is otherwise inappropriate under applicable
standards of professional conduct) and the indemnifying party shall be liable
for any expenses therefor. No indemnifying party shall, without the written
consent of the indemnified party, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of
any
judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect
of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or
not
the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim)
unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (A) includes an unconditional
release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action
or claim and (B) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
2.7.5. If
for
any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable or is insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party under Section
2.7.1, 2.7.2 or 2.7.3,
then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of any Claim in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative fault of the indemnifying party on the one hand and
the
indemnified party on the other from the relevant offering of securities. If,
however, the allocation provided in the immediately preceding sentence is not
permitted by applicable law, or if the indemnified party failed to give the
notice required by Section
2.7.4
above
and the indemnifying party is prejudiced thereby, then each indemnifying party
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in
such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative fault of but
also
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party, on the one hand,
and
the indemnified party, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the Violation relates to information supplied
by
the indemnifying party or the indemnified party and the parties’ relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such Violation. The parties hereto agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contributions pursuant to this Section
2.7.5
were to
be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in the
preceding sentences of this Section
2.7.5.
The
amount paid or payable in respect of any Claim shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such Claim. No person guilty
of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding anything in this
Section
2.7.5
to the
contrary, no indemnifying party (other than the Company) shall be required
pursuant to this Section
2.7.5
to
contribute any amount in excess of (x) in the case of an indemnifying party
that
is a holder of Registrable Securities, the gross proceeds received by such
indemnifying party from the sale of Registrable Securities in the offering
to
which the losses, claims, damages or liabilities of the indemnified parties
relate, or (y) in the case of an indemnifying party that is an underwriter
or a
qualified independent underwriter, the amount of the total sales price of the
Registrable Securities sold through or by it in the offering to which the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities of the indemnified parties relate, less,
in any such case referred to in (x) and (y), the amount of all indemnification
and contribution payments made pursuant to Sections
2.7.2 and 2.7.3
and this
Section
2.7.5,
as the
case may be, in connection with such offering.
11
2.7.6. The
indemnity agreements contained herein shall be in addition to any other rights
to indemnification or contribution which any indemnified party may have pursuant
to law or contract and shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made or omitted by or on behalf of any
indemnified party and shall survive the transfer of the Registrable Securities
by any such party.
2.7.7. The
indemnification and contribution required by this Section
2.7
shall be
made by periodic payments of the amount thereof during the course of the
investigation or defense, as and when bills are received or expense, loss,
damage or liability is incurred.
2.8. Deferral.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Company shall
not
be obligated to prepare and file, or cause to become effective, any registration
statement pursuant to Section
2
hereof
at any time when, in the good faith judgment of the Company, the filing thereof
at the time requested or the effectiveness thereof after filing should be
delayed to permit the Company to include in the registration statement the
Company’s financial statements (and any required audit opinion thereon) for the
then immediately preceding fiscal year or fiscal quarter, as the case may be.
The filing of a registration statement by the Company cannot be deferred
pursuant to the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence beyond the
time
that such financial statements (or any required audit opinion thereon) would
be
required to be filed with the SEC as part of the Company’s Annual Report on Form
10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, if the Company were
then obligated to file such reports. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
contained herein, the Company shall not be obligated to file a registration
statement, or cause a registration statement previously filed pursuant to
Section
2
to
become effective, and may suspend sales by the holders of Registrable Securities
under any registration that has previously become effective, at any time when,
in the good faith judgment of the Company, it reasonably believes that the
effectiveness of such registration statement or the offering of securities
pursuant thereto would materially adversely affect a pending or proposed
acquisition, merger, recapitalization, consolidation, reorganization or similar
transaction or negotiations, discussions or pending proposals with respect
thereto; provided that deferrals pursuant to this sentence shall not exceed,
in
the aggregate, 180 days in any calendar year. The filing of a registration
statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, by the Company cannot be
deferred, and the rights of holders of Registrable Securities to make sales
pursuant to an effective registration statement cannot be suspended, pursuant
to
the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence for more than 15 days
after
the abandonment or 30 days after the consummation of any of the foregoing
proposals or transactions, unless invoked under new circumstances.
12
3.
|
Miscellaneous.
|
3.1. Effectiveness;
Term. This
Agreement shall become effective (the “Effective
Date”)
simultaneously with the closing of the Merger and shall continue to remain
in
full force and effect until the earlier to occur of the fifth (5th) anniversary
of the Effective Date and the date on which there are no longer any Registrable
Securities outstanding.
3.2. Successors
And Assigns.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties,
and their respective successors and assigns. If any Shareholder or any Affiliate
thereof or any Transferee of any Shareholder shall acquire any shares of
Registrable Securities in any manner, whether by will, operation of law or
otherwise, such shares shall be held subject to all of the terms of this
Agreement, and by taking and holding such shares such Person shall be
conclusively deemed to have agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the
terms and provisions of this Agreement. The
Company may not assign this Agreement without the obtaining the prior written
consent of a majority of the Shareholders.
3.3. Recapitalizations
And Exchanges Affecting Common Stock.
The
provisions of this Agreement shall apply, to the full extent set forth herein
with respect to Common Stock, to any and all shares of capital stock or equity
securities of the Company or any successor or assign of the Company (whether
by
merger, consolidation, sale of assets or otherwise) which may be issued in
respect of, in exchange for, or in substitution of, the Common Stock, or which
may be issued by reason of any stock dividend, stock split, reverse stock split,
combination, recapitalization, reclassification or otherwise. Upon the
occurrence of any of such events, numbers of shares and amounts hereunder and
any other appropriate terms shall be appropriately adjusted, as determined
in
good faith by the Company.
3.4. Notices.
Any
notice, request, instruction or other document to be given hereunder by any
party to the others shall be in writing and delivered personally or sent by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, or by facsimile:
If
to Xxxxxxxxx or Chatham, to
|
Empagio
Acquisition LLC
000
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
______________________
Attention:Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
with
a copy to:
|
Rogin
Nassau LLC
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX
00000-0000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
|
if
to Company, to:
|
0000
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx
000
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
______________________
Attention:
Chief Executive Officer
|
with
a copy to:
|
Cozen
X’Xxxxxx
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile:
(000) 000-0000
Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
13
or
to
such other persons or addresses as may be designated in writing by the party
to
receive such notice as provided above. Any notice, request, instruction or
other
document given as provided above shall be deemed given to the receiving party
upon actual receipt, if delivered personally; three business days after deposit
in the mail if sent by registered or certified mail; upon confirmation of
successful transmission if sent by facsimile; or on the next business day after
deposit with an overnight courier if sent by an overnight courier.
3.5. Amendment.
This
Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed on behalf
of each of the parties hereto.
3.6. Interpretation.
When a
reference is made in this Agreement to an Article, a Section, Exhibit or
Schedule, such reference shall be to an Article of, a Section 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,” “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. 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 agreement, instrument or statute
defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred
to herein means such agreement, instrument or statute as from time to time
amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or
instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes) 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. In this Agreement, all references to “dollars”
or “$” are to United States dollars.
3.7. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts (including by facsimile),
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.
14
3.8. Entire
Agreement. This
Agreement constitutes the entire agreement, and supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties with respect to
the
subject matter of this Agreement.
3.9. Governing
Law. This
agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of Delaware, without giving effect to the choice of law principles
thereof.
3.10. Specific
Enforcement; Consent to Jurisdiction.
The
parties agree that irreparable damage would occur and that the parties would
not
have any adequate remedy at law in the event that this Agreement is not
performed in accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached. It
is
accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or
injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically
the terms and provisions of this Agreement in any federal court located in
the
State of Delaware or in any state court in the State of Delaware, this being
in
addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity.
In
addition, each of the parties hereto (a) consents to submit itself to the
personal jurisdiction of any federal court located in the State of Delaware
or
of any state court located in the State of Delaware in the event any dispute
arises out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(b) agrees that it will not attempt to deny or defeat such personal jurisdiction
by motion or other request for leave from any such court and (c) agrees that
it
will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement in any court other than a federal court located
in the State of Delaware or a state court located in the State of
Delaware.
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed
as
of the date first written above.
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
[Chatham]
|
|
By:
|
|
Name:
|
|
Title:
|
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, individually
|
15
EXHIBIT
C
FORM
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
LOCK-UP
AGREEMENT
________________,
0000
Xxxxxxxxxx
Inc.
_________________
_________________
_________________
To
Whom
It May Concern:
The
undersigned acknowledges that he will receive shares of Parent Common Stock
pursuant to the Merger Agreement dated February ___, 2008 among Workstream
Inc.,
Workstream Merger Sub Inc., Empagio Acquisition LLC and SMB Capital Corporation
(the “Merger
Agreement”).
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Merger Agreement.
In
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger
Agreement, and to induce Parent to consummate the Merger, pursuant to Section
6.03(d) of the Merger Agreement, the undersigned agrees that he will not,
directly or indirectly, offer, sell, transfer, pledge, contract to sell
(including any short sale), grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose
of
any shares of Parent Common Stock or other Parent securities (including, without
limitation, shares of Parent Common Stock which may be deemed beneficially
owned
by the undersigned or shares of Parent Common Stock that may be issued upon
exercise of a stock option or warrant) (each of the foregoing referred to as
a
“Disposition”)
from
the date hereof until the 18-month anniversary of the Closing Date (the
“Lock-Up
Period”).
The
foregoing restriction is expressly intended to preclude the undersigned from
engaging in any transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to
lead
to or result in a Disposition during the Lock-Up Period even if the securities
would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned.
The
undersigned acknowledges that any certificate or other document evidencing
such
Parent Common Stock or other Parent securities will contain a legend setting
forth the restriction against Disposition agreed to hereunder. The undersigned
agrees that Parent may, (a) with respect to any shares of Parent Common Stock
or
other Parent securities for which the undersigned is the record holder, cause
the transfer agent for Parent to note stop transfer instructions with respect
to
such securities on the transfer books and records of Parent and (b) with respect
to any shares of Parent Common Stock or other Parent securities for which the
undersigned is the beneficial holder but not the record holder, cause the
transfer agent for Parent to note stop transfer instructions with respect to
such securities on the transfer books and records of Parent.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the undersigned may sell or otherwise transfer shares of Parent
Common Stock or other Parent securities (a) on death by will or intestacy to
the
undersigned’s immediate family or to any trust or similar entity for estate
planning purposes and for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned
or
any member of his or her immediate family, provided, however, that it shall
be a
condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating
that
the transferee is receiving and holding the securities subject to the provisions
of this Lock-Up Agreement; and (b) that are acquired in the open market after
the date hereof.
The
undersigned hereby agrees that, to the extent that the terms of this Lock-Up
Agreement conflict with or are in any way inconsistent with any registration
rights agreement to which the undersigned and Parent may be a party, this
Lock-Up Agreement supersedes such registration rights agreement.
The
undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power
and authority to enter into this Lock-Up Agreement. The undersigned further
understands that this Lock-Up Agreement is irrevocable, and all authority herein
conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the death or incapacity of
the
undersigned and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the
heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns of the
undersigned.
This
Lock-Up Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of Delaware.
Signature:
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________________________________
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|
Print
Name:
|
________________________________
|
EXHIBIT
D
FORM
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
WORKSTREAM
INC.
FIRST:
The name of the Corporation is Workstream Inc.
SECOND:
The address of the Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, in the City of Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx xx Xxx
Xxxxxx 00000. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation
Service Company.
THIRD:
The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for
which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
FOURTH:
The total number of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is ___________
shares,
consisting of (i) ___________
shares
of common stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Common Stock"), and (ii)
___________
shares
of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share ("Preferred Stock").
The
following is a statement of the designations and the powers, privileges and
rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect
of each class of capital stock of the Corporation.
A. Common
Stock.
1. General.
The
voting, dividend and liquidation rights of the holders of the Common Stock
are
subject to and qualified by the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock
of
any series as may be designated by the Board of Directors upon any issuance
of
the Preferred Stock of any series.
2. Voting.
The
holders of the Common Stock shall have voting rights at all meetings of
stockholders, each such holder being entitled to one vote for each share thereof
held by such holder. There shall be no cumulative voting.
3. Dividends.
Dividends may be declared and paid on the Common Stock from funds lawfully
available therefor as and when determined by the Board of
Directors.
4. Liquidation.
Upon
the dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation, whether voluntary or
involuntary, holders of Common Stock will be entitled to receive all assets
of
the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders.
B. Preferred
Stock.
Subject
to any limitations prescribed by law or this Certificate of Incorporation,
authority is hereby expressly granted to the Board of Directors from time to
time to issue the Preferred Stock in one or more series, and in connection
with
the creation of any such series, by adopting a resolution or resolutions
providing for the issuance of the shares thereof and by filing a certificate
of
designations relating thereto pursuant to the applicable laws of the State
of
Delaware, to determine and fix the number of shares of such series and such
voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations,
preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including without
limitation thereof, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges
and liquidation preferences, as shall be stated and expressed in such
resolutions, all to the full extent now or hereafter permitted by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Without limiting the generality of
the
foregoing, the resolutions providing for issuance of any series of Preferred
Stock may provide that such series shall be superior or rank equally or be
junior to any other series of Preferred Stock to the extent permitted by law.
Any shares of Preferred Stock which may be redeemed, purchased or acquired
by
the Corporation may be reissued except as otherwise provided by
law.
FIFTH:
This Article FIFTH is inserted for the management of the business and for the
conduct of the affairs of the Corporation.
1. General
Powers.
The
business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the
direction of the Board of Directors.
2. Number
of Directors; Election of Directors.
Subject
to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors,
the number of directors of the Corporation shall be established by the Board
of
Directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot, except as and
to
the extent provided in the Bylaws of the Corporation.
3. Terms
of Office.
Each
director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office
until the expiration of the term for which elected and until the election and
qualification of his or her successor or until such director's earlier death,
resignation or removal.
4. Quorum.
A
majority of the directors at any time in office shall constitute a quorum.
If at
any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than such a quorum,
a
majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time
without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum
shall be present.
5. Action
at Meeting.
Every
act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting
duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the
Board
of Directors unless a greater number is required by law or by this Certificate
of Incorporation.
6. Vacancies.
Any
vacancy or newly created directorships in the Board of Directors, however
occurring, may be filled by the stockholders or by vote of a majority of the
directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
director. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until his
or
her successor has been elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier
death, resignation or removal.
7. Stockholder
Nominations and Introduction of Business.
Advance
notice of stockholder nominations for election of directors and other business
to be brought by stockholders before a meeting of stockholders shall be given
in
the manner provided by the Bylaws of the Corporation.
3
SIXTH:
Stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent
in
lieu of a meeting.
SEVENTH:
Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called
at
any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or the President, but such special meetings may not be called
by any other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting
of
stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes
stated in the notice of meeting.
EIGHTH:
To the maximum extent permitted from time to time under the laws of the State
of
Delaware, the Corporation renounces any interest or expectancy of the
Corporation in, or in being offered an opportunity to participate in, business
opportunities that are from time to time presented to its directors or
stockholders, other than those directors or stockholders who are employees
of
the Corporation. No amendment or repeal of this Article EIGHTH shall apply
to or
have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director or
stockholder of the Corporation for or with respect to any opportunities of
which
such director or stockholder becomes aware prior to such amendment or
repeal.
NINTH:
Except to the extent that the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
prohibits the elimination or limitation of liability of directors for breaches
of fiduciary duty, no director of the Corporation shall be personally liable
to
the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of
fiduciary duty as a director, notwithstanding any provision of law imposing
such
liability. No amendment to or repeal of this provision shall apply to or have
any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the
Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director
occurring prior to such amendment or repeal. If the General Corporation Law
of
the State of Delaware is amended to authorize corporate action further
eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability
of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
so
amended.
TENTH:
The Corporation shall provide indemnification as follows:
1. Actions,
Suits and Proceedings Other than by or in the Right of the
Corporation.
The
Corporation shall indemnify each person who was or is a party or threatened
to
be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than
an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that
he
or she is or was, or has agreed to become, a director or officer of the
Corporation, or, while serving as a director or officer of the Corporation,
is
or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the request of the Corporation,
as a
director, officer, partner, employee, fiduciary, agent or trustee of, or in
a
similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or
other enterprise (all such persons being referred to hereafter as an
"Indemnitee"), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted
in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities,
losses, judgments, fines or penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually
and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if Indemnitee acted in
good
faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be in, or not
opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any
criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her
conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a plea of nolo
contendere
or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that Indemnitee did
not
act in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee reasonably believed to be
in,
or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect
to
any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his
or
her conduct was unlawful.
4
2. Actions
or Suits by or in the Right of the Corporation.
The
Corporation shall indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to or
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action
or
suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor
by
reason of the fact that Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, a
director or officer of the Corporation, or, while serving as a director or
officer of the Corporation, is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the
request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, partner, employee,
fiduciary, agent or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or by reason
of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity against
all
expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law,
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf
of
Indemnitee in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal
therefrom, if Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner which Indemnitee
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made under this Section
2
in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which Indemnitee shall have
been
adjudged to be liable to the Corporation, unless, and only to the extent that,
the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit
was
brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of
such
liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, Indemnitee is fairly
and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses (including attorneys’
fees) which the Court of Chancery of Delaware or such other court shall deem
proper.
3. Indemnification
for Expenses of Successful Party.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Article TENTH, to the extent that
an Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in defense of
any
action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 or 2 of this Article TENTH,
or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, or on appeal from any
such
action, suit or proceeding, Indemnitee shall be indemnified against all expenses
(including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf of
Indemnitee in connection therewith. Without limiting the foregoing, if any
action, suit or proceeding is disposed of, on the merits or otherwise (including
a disposition without prejudice), without (i) the disposition being adverse
to
Indemnitee, (ii) an adjudication that Indemnitee was liable to the Corporation,
(iii) a plea of guilty or nolo
contendere
by
Indemnitee, (iv) an adjudication that Indemnitee did not act in good faith
and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests
of the Corporation, and (v) with respect to any criminal proceeding, an
adjudication that Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful, Indemnitee shall be considered for the purposes hereof to have been
wholly successful with respect thereto.
5
4. Notification
and Defense of Claim.
As a
condition precedent to an Indemnitee’s right to be indemnified, such Indemnitee
must notify the Corporation in writing as soon as practicable of any action,
suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnitee for which indemnity
will or could be sought. With respect to any action, suit, proceeding or
investigation of which the Corporation is so notified, the Corporation will
be
entitled to participate therein at its own expense and/or to assume the defense
thereof at its own expense, with legal counsel reasonably acceptable to
Indemnitee. After notice from the Corporation to Indemnitee of its election
so
to assume such defense, the Corporation shall not be liable to Indemnitee for
any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by Indemnitee in connection
with such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, other than as provided
below in this Section 4. Indemnitee shall have the right to employ his or her
own counsel in connection with such action, suit, proceeding or investigation,
but the fees and expenses of such counsel incurred after notice from the
Corporation of its assumption of the defense thereof shall be at the expense
of
Indemnitee unless (i) the employment of counsel by Indemnitee has been
authorized by the Corporation, (ii) counsel to Indemnitee shall have reasonably
concluded that there may be a conflict of interest or position on any
significant issue between the Corporation and Indemnitee in the conduct of
the
defense of such action, suit, proceeding or investigation or (iii) the
Corporation shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of
such action, suit, proceeding or investigation, in each of which cases the
fees
and expenses of counsel for Indemnitee shall be at the expense of the
Corporation, except as otherwise expressly provided by this Article TENTH.
The
Corporation shall not be entitled, without the consent of Indemnitee, to assume
the defense of any claim brought by or in the right of the Corporation or as
to
which counsel for Indemnitee shall have reasonably made the conclusion provided
for in clause (ii) above. The Corporation shall not be required to indemnify
Indemnitee under this Article TENTH for any amounts paid in settlement of any
action, suit, proceeding or investigation effected without its written consent.
The Corporation shall not settle any action, suit, proceeding or investigation
in any manner which would impose any penalty or limitation on Indemnitee without
Indemnitee’s written consent. Neither the Corporation nor Indemnitee will
unreasonably withhold or delay its consent to any proposed
settlement.
5. Advance
of Expenses.
In the
event of any threatened or pending action, suit, proceeding or investigation
of
which the Corporation receives notice under this Article TENTH, any expenses
(including attorneys’ fees) incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in defending
an action, suit, proceeding or investigation or any appeal therefrom shall be
paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such matter;
provided, however, that the payment of such expenses incurred by or on behalf
of
Indemnitee in advance of the final disposition of such matter shall be made
only
upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee to repay all
amounts so advanced in the event that it shall ultimately be determined by
final
judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that Indemnitee
is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this
Article TENTH. Such undertaking shall be accepted without reference to the
financial ability of Indemnitee to make such repayment. Any advances or
undertakings to repay pursuant to this Section 5 shall be unsecured and
interest-free.
6
6. Procedure
for Indemnification.
In
order to obtain indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to Sections
1, 2, 3 or 5 of this Article TENTH, an Indemnitee shall submit to the
Corporation a written request. Any such indemnification or advancement of
expenses shall be made as soon as practicable after written demand by Indemnitee
therefor is presented to the Corporation, and in any event (i) in the case
of
indemnification under Section 3 or advancement of expenses, 20 business days
after receipt by the Corporation of the written request of Indemnitee, or (ii)
in the case of all other indemnification, within 45 business days after receipt
by the Corporation of the written request of Indemnitee, unless with respect
to
requests under this clause (ii), the Corporation (y) has assumed the defense
pursuant to Section 4 of this Article TENTH (and none of the circumstances
described in Section 4 of this Article TENTH that would nonetheless entitle
Indemnitee to indemnification for the fees and expenses of separate counsel
have
occurred) or (z) determines, by clear and convincing evidence, within such
45
business-day period referred to above that Indemnitee did not meet the
applicable standard of conduct. Such determination, and any determination that
advanced expenses must be repaid to the Corporation, shall be made in each
instance (a) by a majority vote of the directors of the Corporation consisting
of persons who are not at that time parties to the action, suit or proceeding
in
question ("Disinterested Directors"), whether or not a quorum, (b) by a
committee of Disinterested Directors designated by majority vote of
Disinterested Directors, whether or not a quorum, (c) if there are no
Disinterested Directors, or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by
independent legal counsel (who may, to the extent permitted by law, be regular
legal counsel to the Corporation) in a written opinion, or (d) by the
stockholders of the Corporation.
7. Remedies.
The
right to indemnification or advancement of expenses as granted by this Article
TENTH shall be enforceable by Indemnitee in any court of competent jurisdiction.
Neither the failure of the Corporation to have made a determination prior to
the
commencement of such action that indemnification is proper in the circumstances
because Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct, nor an actual
determination by the Corporation pursuant to Section 6 of this Article TENTH
that Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a
defense to the action or create a presumption that Indemnitee has not met the
applicable standard of conduct. In any suit brought by Indemnitee to enforce
a
right to indemnification, or brought by the Corporation to recover an
advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the burden
of
proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified, or to such
advancement of expenses, under this Article TENTH or otherwise shall be on
the
Corporation. Indemnitee’s expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably
incurred in connection with any action instituted by Indemnitee to enforce
or
interpret its right to indemnification, in whole or in part, shall also be
indemnified by the Corporation, regardless of whether Indemnitee is ultimately
successful in such action, unless as a part of such action a court having
jurisdiction over such action makes a final judicial determination (as to which
all rights of appeal therefrom have been exhausted or lapsed) that each of
the
material assertions made by Indemnitee as a basis for such action was not made
in good faith or was frivolous; provided, however, that until such final
judicial determination is made, Indemnitee shall be entitled under Section
5 of
this Article TENTH to advancement of expenses with respect to such
action.
8. Limitations.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Article TENTH, except as set
forth in Section 7 of this Article TENTH, the Corporation shall not indemnify
an
Indemnitee pursuant to this Article TENTH in connection with a proceeding (or
part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee unless the initiation thereof was
approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary in this Article TENTH, the Corporation shall not indemnify
an
Indemnitee to the extent such Indemnitee is reimbursed from the proceeds of
insurance, and in the event the Corporation makes any indemnification payments
to an Indemnitee and such Indemnitee is subsequently reimbursed from the
proceeds of insurance, such Indemnitee shall promptly refund indemnification
payments to the Corporation to the extent of such insurance
reimbursement.
7
9. Subsequent
Amendment.
No
amendment, termination or repeal of this Article TENTH or of the relevant
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other
applicable laws shall adversely affect or diminish in any way the rights of
any
Indemnitee to indemnification under the provisions hereof with respect to any
action, suit, proceeding or investigation arising out of or relating to any
actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final adoption of such
amendment, termination or repeal.
10. Other
Rights; Employees and Agents.
The
indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article TENTH
shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which an Indemnitee seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law (common
or statutory), agreement or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors
or
otherwise, both as to action in Indemnitee’s official capacity and as to action
in any other capacity while holding office for the Corporation, and shall
continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director or officer, and
shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators
of
Indemnitee. Nothing contained in this Article TENTH shall be deemed to prohibit,
and the Corporation is specifically authorized to enter into, agreements with
officers and directors providing indemnification rights and procedures different
from those set forth in this Article TENTH. In addition, the Corporation may,
to
the extent authorized from time to time by its Board of Directors, grant
indemnification rights to other employees or agents of the Corporation or other
persons serving the Corporation and such rights may be equivalent to, or greater
or less than, those set forth in this Article TENTH.
11. Partial
Indemnification.
If an
Indemnitee is entitled under any provision of this Article TENTH to
indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of the expenses
(including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines or penalties
or amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by or on behalf
of Indemnitee in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation
and any appeal therefrom but not, however, for the total amount thereof, the
Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify Indemnitee for the portion of such
expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines or
penalties or amounts paid in settlement to which Indemnitee is
entitled.
12. Insurance.
The
Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect
itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
(including any employee benefit plan) against any expense, liability or loss
incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person
against such expense, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of
the
State of Delaware.
13. Savings
Clause.
If this
Article TENTH or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any
court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless
indemnify each Indemnitee as to any expenses (including attorneys’ fees),
liabilities, losses, judgments, fines or penalties and amounts paid in
settlement in connection with any action, suit, proceeding or investigation,
whether civil, criminal or administrative, including an action by or in the
right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable
portion of this Article TENTH that shall not have been invalidated and to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law.
8
14. Definitions.
Terms
used herein and defined in Section 145(h) and Section 145(i) of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall have the respective meanings
assigned to such terms in such Section 145(h) and Section 145(i).
15. Subsequent
Legislation.
If the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware is amended after adoption
of
this Article TENTH to expand further the indemnification permitted to
Indemnitees, then the Corporation shall indemnify such persons to the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
so
amended.
ELEVENTH:
In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred upon it by the
laws
of the State of Delaware, and subject to the terms of any series of Preferred
Stock that may be outstanding, the Board of Directors shall have the power
to
adopt, amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s Bylaws. The affirmative vote of
a majority of the directors present at any regular or special meeting of the
Board of Directors at which a quorum is present shall be required to adopt,
amend, alter or repeal the Corporation’s Bylaws. The Corporation’s Bylaws also
may be adopted, amended, altered or repealed by the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least a majority of the votes which all the stockholders would
be
entitled to cast in any annual election of directors or class of directors,
in
addition to any other vote required by this Certificate of Incorporation.
TWELFTH:
Except as otherwise provided herein, the Corporation reserves the right to
amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate
of
Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute and this
Certificate of Incorporation, and all rights conferred upon stockholders herein
are granted subject to this reservation; provided, however, that Articles NINTH
and TENTH shall not be amended, altered or repealed without the affirmative
vote
of holders of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes to which all the
stockholders of the Corporation would be entitled to cast in any election of
directors.
I,
the
undersigned, for the purpose of forming a corporation under the laws of the
State of Delaware, do make, file and record this Certificate, and do certify
that the facts herein stated are true, and I have accordingly hereunto set
my
hand this ___ day of __________________,
2008.
9
EXHIBIT
E
FORM
BYLAWS
OF
WORKSTREAM
INC.
(Adopted
__________, 2008)
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Page
|
|||
ARTICLE
I. STOCKHOLDERS
|
1
|
||
1.1
|
Place
of Meetings
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
Annual
Meeting
|
1
|
|
1.3
|
Special
Meetings
|
1
|
|
1.4
|
Notice
of Meetings
|
1
|
|
1.5
|
Voting
List
|
1
|
|
1.6
|
Quorum
|
2
|
|
1.7
|
Adjournments
|
2
|
|
1.8
|
Voting
and Proxies
|
2
|
|
1.9
|
Action
at Meeting
|
2
|
|
1.10
|
Nomination
of Directors
|
3
|
|
1.11
|
Notice
of Business at Annual Meetings
|
5
|
|
1.12
|
Conduct
of Meetings
|
7
|
|
1.13
|
No
Action by Consent in Lieu of a Meeting
|
7
|
|
ARTICLE
II. DIRECTORS
|
8
|
||
2.1
|
General
Powers
|
8
|
|
2.2
|
Number,
Election and Qualification
|
8
|
|
2.3
|
Terms
of Office
|
8
|
|
2.4
|
Quorum
|
8
|
|
2.5
|
Action
at Meeting
|
8
|
|
2.6
|
Removal
|
8
|
|
2.7
|
Vacancies
|
8
|
|
2.8
|
Resignation
|
8
|
|
2.9
|
Regular
Meetings
|
8
|
|
2.10
|
Special
Meetings
|
9
|
|
2.11
|
Notice
of Special Meetings
|
9
|
|
2.12
|
Meetings
by Conference Call
|
9
|
|
2.13
|
Action
by Consent
|
9
|
|
2.14
|
Committees
|
9
|
|
2.15
|
Compensation
of Directors
|
10
|
|
ARTICLE
III. OFFICERS
|
10
|
||
3.1
|
Titles
|
10
|
|
3.2
|
Election
|
10
|
|
3.3
|
Qualification
|
10
|
|
3.4
|
Tenure
|
10
|
|
3.5
|
Resignation
and Removal
|
10
|
|
3.6
|
Vacancies
|
10
|
|
3.7
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
10
|
|
3.8
|
President;
Chief Executive Officer
|
11
|
|
3.9
|
Vice
Presidents
|
11
|
|
3.10
|
Secretary
and Assistant Secretaries
|
11
|
|
3.11
|
Treasurer
and Assistant Treasurers
|
12
|
|
3.12
|
Salaries
|
12
|
3.13
|
Delegation
of Authority
|
12
|
|
ARTICLE
IV. CAPITAL STOCK
|
12
|
||
4.1
|
Issuance
of Stock
|
12
|
|
4.2
|
Certificates
of Stock
|
12
|
|
4.3
|
Transfers
|
13
|
|
4.4
|
Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
|
13
|
|
4.5
|
Record
Date
|
13
|
|
ARTICLE
V. GENERAL PROVISIONS
|
13
|
||
5.1
|
Fiscal
Year
|
13
|
|
5.2
|
Corporate
Seal
|
13
|
|
5.3
|
Waiver
of Notice
|
14
|
|
5.4
|
Voting
of Securities
|
14
|
|
5.5
|
Evidence
of Authority
|
14
|
|
5.6
|
Certificate
of Incorporation
|
14
|
|
5.7
|
Severability
|
14
|
|
Pronouns
|
14
|
||
ARTICLE
VI. AMENDMENTS
|
14
|
ii
ARTICLE
I.
STOCKHOLDERS
1.1 Place
of Meetings.
All
meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place as may be designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer or the President or, if not so designated, at the principal
office of the Corporation.
1.2 Annual
Meeting.
The
annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and for the
transaction of such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting
shall be held on a date and at a time designated by the Board of Directors,
the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President (which
date
shall not be a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held).
If
no annual meeting is held in accordance with the foregoing provisions, a special
meeting may be held in lieu of the annual meeting, and any action taken at
that
special meeting shall have the same effect as if it had been taken at the annual
meeting, and in such case all references in these Bylaws to the annual meeting
of the stockholders shall be deemed to refer to such special
meeting.
1.3 Special
Meetings.
Special
meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer or the President, but such special meetings may not be called by any
other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of
stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes
stated in the notice of meeting.
1.4 Notice
of Meetings.
Except
as otherwise provided by law, notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether
annual or special, shall be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before
the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given to
stockholders, any notice shall be effective if given by a form of electronic
transmission consented to (in a manner consistent with the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware(the "DGCL")) by the stockholder to whom the notice
is given. The notices of all meetings shall state the place, date and time
of
the meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which
stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote
at
such meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in addition, the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If notice is given by
mail,
such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United States mail,
postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation. If notice is given by electronic
transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified in Section
232 of the DGCL.
1.5 Voting
List.
The
Secretary shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders,
a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged
in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open
to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
for
a period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (a) on a reasonably
accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain
access to such list is provided with notice of the meeting, or (b) during
ordinary business hours, at the principal place of business of the Corporation.
The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting
during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who
is
present.
1.6 Quorum.
Except
as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
the holders of a majority in voting power of the shares of the capital stock
of
the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting,
present in person, present by means of remote communication in a manner, if
any,
authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, or represented
by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A quorum,
once
established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal of enough votes
to leave less than a quorum.
1.7 Adjournments.
Any
meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from time to time to any other time
and
to any other place at which a meeting of stockholders may be held under these
Bylaws by the stockholders present or represented at the meeting and entitled
to
vote, although less than a quorum, or, if no stockholder is present, by any
officer entitled to preside at or to act as secretary of such meeting. It shall
not be necessary to notify any stockholder of any adjournment of less than
30
days if the time and place of the adjourned meeting, and the means of remote
communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed
to
be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the
meeting at which adjournment is taken, unless after the adjournment a new record
date is fixed for the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the
Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
1.8 Voting
and Proxies.
Each
stockholder shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote held
of
record by such stockholder, unless otherwise provided by law or the Certificate
of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled to vote at a meeting
of
stockholders may vote in person (including by means of remote communications,
if
any, by which stockholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at
such meeting) or may authorize another person or persons to vote for such
stockholder by a proxy executed or transmitted in a manner permitted by the
DGCL
by the stockholder or such stockholder’s authorized agent and delivered
(including by electronic transmission) to the Secretary of the Corporation.
No
such proxy shall be voted upon after three years from the date of its execution,
unless the proxy expressly provides for a longer period.
1.9 Action
at Meeting.
When a
quorum is present at any meeting, any matter other than the election of
directors to be voted upon by the stockholders at such meeting shall be decided
by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in voting power of the
shares of stock present or represented and voting on such matter (or if there
are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then
in
the case of each such class, the holders of a majority in voting power of the
shares of stock of that class present or represented and voting on such matter),
except when a different vote is required by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws. When a quorum is present at any meeting, any
election by stockholders of directors shall be determined by a plurality of
the
votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote on the
election.
2
1.10 Nomination
of Directors.
(a) Except
for (1) any directors entitled to be elected by the holders of preferred stock,
if any, (2) any directors elected in accordance with Section 2.7 hereof by
the
Board of Directors to fill a vacancy or newly created directorships or (3)
as
otherwise required by applicable law or stock market regulation, only persons
who are nominated in accordance with the procedures in this Section 1.10 shall
be eligible for election as directors. Nomination for election to the Board
of
Directors at a meeting of stockholders may be made (i) by or at the direction
of
the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who (x)
complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section 1.10(b) and (y) is
a
stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice and on the record
date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such
meeting.
(b)
To be
timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received in writing by the Secretary at
the principal executive offices of the Corporation as follows: (i) in the case
of an election of directors at an annual meeting of stockholders, not less
than
90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that (x) in the case of the annual
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to be held in 2008 or (y) in the
event that the date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by
more
than 20 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the first anniversary of
the
preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be so received not
earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than
the
close of business on the later of (A) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting
and (B) the 10th
day
following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed
or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever
first occurs; or (ii) in the case of an election of directors at a special
meeting of stockholders, provided that the Board of Directors has determined
that directors shall be elected at such meeting, not earlier than the 120th
day
prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of (x) the 90th day prior to such special meeting and (y) the
10th
day
following the day on which notice of the date of such special meeting was mailed
or public disclosure of the date of such special meeting was made, whichever
first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual
meeting (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or
extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s
notice.
3
The
stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (A) as to each proposed
nominee, (1) such person’s name, age, business address and, if known, residence
address, (2) such person’s principal occupation or employment, (3) the
class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are beneficially
owned by such person, and (4) any other information concerning such person
that
must be disclosed as to nominees in proxy solicitations pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”);
(B) as to the stockholder giving the notice, (1) such stockholder’s name and
address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, (2) the class and number of
shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned, beneficially and of record,
by such stockholder, (3) a description of all arrangements or understandings
between such stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or
persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to
be
made by such stockholder, (4) a representation that such stockholder intends
to
appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person(s) named
in
its notice and (5) a representation whether the stockholder intends or is part
of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy
to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital
stock required to elect the nominee and/or (y) otherwise to solicit proxies
from
stockholders in support of such nomination; and (C) as to the beneficial owner,
if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made (1) such beneficial owner’s
name and address, (2) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation
which are beneficially owned by such beneficial owner, (3) a description of
all
arrangements or understandings between such beneficial owner and each proposed
nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to
which the nomination(s) are to be made and (4) a representation whether the
beneficial owner intends or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver
a
proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage
of
the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee and/or
(y) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such
nomination. In addition, to be effective, the stockholder’s notice must be
accompanied by the written consent of the proposed nominee to serve as a
director if elected. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish
such other information as may reasonably be required to determine the
eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.
A stockholder will be deemed not to have complied with this Section 1.10(b)
if
the stockholder (or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination
is
made) solicits or does not solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support
of
such stockholder’s nominee in contravention of the representations with respect
thereto required by this Section 1.10.
(c) The
chairman of any meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether
a
nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.10
(including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf
the nomination is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or
did
not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s
nominee in compliance with the representations with respect thereto required
by
this Section 1.10), and if the chairman should determine that a nomination
was
not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.10, the chairman
shall so declare to the meeting and such nomination shall be
disregarded.
(d) Except
as
otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 1.10 shall obligate the
Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or
other
stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board
of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director submitted
by a
stockholder.
(e) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.10, if the stockholder (or a
qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual
or
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination,
such
nomination shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of
such
vote may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section
1.10, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person
must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or
an
electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such
stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce
such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction
of the written instrument or electronic transmission, at the meeting of
stockholders.
4
(f) For
purposes of this Section 1.10, “public disclosure” shall include disclosure in a
press release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Service, Associated Press or
comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the
Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section
13,
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
1.11 Notice
of Business at Annual Meetings.
(a) At
any
annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as
shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought
before an annual meeting, business must be (1) specified in the notice of
meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board
of
Directors (2) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, or (3) properly brought before the meeting
by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting
by a stockholder, (i) if such business relates to the nomination of a person
for
election as a director of the Corporation, the procedures in Section 1.10 must
be complied with and (ii) if such business relates to any other matter, the
business must constitute a proper matter under Delaware law for stockholder
action and the stockholder must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing
to the Secretary in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.11(b)
and (y) be a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice
and
on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at
such annual meeting.
(b) To
be
timely, a stockholder’s notice must be received in writing by the Secretary at
the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor
more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual
meeting; provided, however, that (x) in the case of the annual meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation to be held in 2008 or (y) in the event that
the
date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by more than 20 days,
or delayed by more than 60 days, from the first anniversary of the preceding
year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice must be so received not earlier
than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close
of
business on the later of (A) the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and
(B)
the 10th
day
following the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed
or public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever
first occurs. In no event shall the adjournment or postponement of an annual
meeting (or the public announcement thereof) commence a new time period (or
extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s
notice.
5
The
stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (1) a brief description
of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text
relating to the business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for
consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend
the Bylaws, the language of the proposed amendment), and the reasons for
conducting such business at the annual meeting, (2) the name and address, as
they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the stockholder proposing such
business, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made, (3) the class and number of shares of stock of
the
Corporation which are owned, of record and beneficially, by the stockholder
and
beneficial owner, if any, (4) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, and
any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the
proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of
the
stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, in such business, (5) a
representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy
at
the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting and (6) a
representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends
or is part of a group which intends (x) to deliver a proxy statement and/or
form
of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding
capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (y) otherwise
to
solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal. Notwithstanding
anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at
any
annual meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 1.11; provided that any stockholder proposal which
complies with Rule 14a-8 of the proxy rules (or any successor provision)
promulgated under the Exchange Act, and is to be included in the Corporation’s
proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be deemed to comply
with the requirements of this Section 1.11. A stockholder will be deemed not
to
have complied with this Section 1.11(b) if the stockholder (or beneficial owner,
if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made) solicits or does not solicit,
as
the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s proposal in
contravention of the representations with respect thereto required by this
Section 1.11.
(c) The
chairman of any meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether
business was properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 1.11 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made solicited (or is part of
a
group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in
support of such stockholder’s proposal in compliance with the representation
with respect thereto required by this Section 1.11), and if the chairman should
determine that business was not properly brought before the meeting in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.11, the chairman shall so
declare to the meeting and such business shall not be brought before the
meeting.
(d) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.11, if the stockholder (or a
qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present business, such business
shall not be considered, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote
may have been received by the Corporation. For purposes of this Section 1.11,
to
be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must
be
authorized by a written instrument executed by the such stockholder or an
electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such
stockholder as a proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must
produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable
reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, at the
meeting of stockholders.
(e) For
purposes of this Section 1.11, “public disclosure” shall include disclosure in a
press release reported by the Dow Xxxxx News Service, Associated Press or
comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the
Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section
13,
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
6
1.12 Conduct
of Meetings.
(a) Meetings
of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or, in
the
Chairman’s absence, by the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive
Officer’s absence, by a chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or, in
the absence of such designation, by a chairman chosen by vote of the
stockholders at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the
meeting, but in the Secretary’s absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint
any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) The
Board
of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures
for
the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem
appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and procedures as
it
may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of remote
communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a
meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and
procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting
of
stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such
chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules,
regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or
prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation,
the
following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the
meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and
the
safety of those present; (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation
in
the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized
and constituted proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv)
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement
thereof; and (v) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments
by
participants.
(c) The
chairman of the meeting shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each
matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be opened and closed. If no
announcement is made, the polls shall be deemed to have opened when the meeting
is convened and closed upon the final adjournment of the meeting. After the
polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or changes thereto
may be accepted.
(d) In
advance of any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors, the Chairman
of
the Board or the Chief Executive Officer shall appoint one or more inspectors
of
election to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. One or more
other persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector
who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is present, ready and willing
to
act at a meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint
one
or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Unless otherwise required by law,
inspectors may be officers, employees or agents of the Corporation. Each
inspector, before entering upon the discharge of such inspector’s duties, shall
take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict
impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability. The
inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law and shall take charge of
the
polls and, when the vote is completed, shall make a certificate of the result
of
the vote taken and of such other facts as may be required by law.
1.13 No
Action by Consent in Lieu of a Meeting.
Stockholders of the Corporation may not take any action by written consent
in
lieu of a meeting.
7
ARTICLE
II.
DIRECTORS
2.1 General
Powers.
The
business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the
direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise all of the powers of the
Corporation except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of
Incorporation.
2.2 Number,
Election and Qualification.
Subject
to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors,
the number of directors of the Corporation shall be established by the Board
of
Directors. Election of directors need not be by written ballot. Directors need
not be stockholders of the Corporation.
2.3 Terms
of Office.
Subject
to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors,
each director, including a director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office
until the expiration of the term for which elected and the election and
qualification of his or her successor or until such director's earlier death,
resignation or removal.
2.4 Quorum.
A
majority of the directors at any time in office shall constitute a quorum.
If at
any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than such a quorum,
a
majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time
without further notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum
shall be present.
2.5 Action
at Meeting.
Every
act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting
duly held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded as the act of the
Board
of Directors unless a greater number is required by law or by the Certificate
of
Incorporation.
2.6 Removal.
Subject
to the rights of holder of any series of Preferred Stock to elect directors,
directors of the Corporation may be removed only for cause and only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the votes which all
the stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual election of directors
or class of directors.
2.7 Vacancies.
Subject
to the rights of holders of any series of Preferred Stock, any vacancy or newly
created directorships on the Board of Directors, however occurring, shall be
filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although
less
than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director or may be filled by the
stockholders at a meeting called for such purpose. A director elected to fill
a
vacancy shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and
qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or
removal.
2.8 Resignation.
Any
director may resign by delivering a resignation in writing or by electronic
transmission to the Corporation at its principal office or to the Chairman
of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Such
resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be
effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later
event.
2.9 Regular
Meetings.
Regular
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time
and
place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors;
provided that any director who is absent when such a determination is made
shall
be given notice of the determination. A regular meeting of the Board of
Directors may be held without notice immediately after and at the same place
as
the annual meeting of stockholders.
8
2.10 Special
Meetings.
Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place designated
in a call by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there
is
only a single director in office.
2.11 Notice
of Special Meetings.
Notice
of any special meeting of directors shall be given to each director by the
Secretary or by the officer or one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice
shall be duly given to each director (a) in person or by telephone at least
24
hours in advance of the meeting, (b) by sending written notice via reputable
overnight courier, telecopy or electronic mail, or delivering written notice
by
hand, to such director’s last known business, home or electronic mail address at
least 48 hours in advance of the meeting, or (c) by sending written notice
via
first-class mail to such director’s last known business or home address at least
72 hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of notice of a meeting
of
the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of the
meeting.
2.12 Meetings
by Conference Call.
Directors may participate in meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee
thereof by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment
by
means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and
participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
2.13 Action
by Consent.
Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of
Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all
members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent
to
the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the written consents
or
electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
of Directors or committee.
2.14 Committees.
The
Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to
consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of
Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any
committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting
of
the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee,
the member or members of the committee present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute
a
quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to
act
at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any
such
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors
and subject to the provisions of law, shall have and may exercise all the powers
and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to
be
affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep
minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time
request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee
may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided
by
the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as
possible in the same manner as is provided in these Bylaws for the Board of
Directors. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation,
these Bylaws, or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating the
committee, a committee may create one or more subcommittees, each subcommittee
to consist of one or more members of the committee, and delegate to a
subcommittee any or all of the powers and authority of the
committee.
9
2.15 Compensation
of Directors.
Directors may be paid such compensation for their services and such
reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine. No such payment shall preclude any director
from serving the Corporation or any of its parent or subsidiary entities in
any
other capacity and receiving compensation for such service.
ARTICLE
III.
OFFICERS
3.1 Titles.
The
officers of the Corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other
titles as the Board of Directors shall determine, including a Chairman of the
Board and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant
Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers as it may
deem appropriate.
3.2 Election.
The
Chief Executive Officer, President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual
meeting of stockholders. Other officers may be appointed by the Board of
Directors at such meeting or at any other meeting.
3.3 Qualification.
No
officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person.
3.4 Tenure.
Except
as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these
Bylaws, each officer shall hold office until such officer’s successor is elected
and qualified, unless a different term is specified in the resolution electing
or appointing such officer, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation
or removal.
3.5 Resignation
and Removal.
Any
officer may resign by delivering a written resignation to the Corporation at
its
principal office or to the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the
Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is
specified to be effective at some later time or upon the happening of some
later
event.
Any
officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by vote of a majority
of the directors then in office.
3.6 Vacancies.
The
Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any office for any reason.
The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such period
as
it may determine any offices other than those of Chief Executive Officer,
President, Treasurer and Secretary. Each such successor shall hold office for
the unexpired term of such officer’s predecessor and until a successor is
elected and qualified, or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation or
removal.
3.7 Chairman
of the Board.
The
Board of Directors may appoint from its members a Chairman of the Board, who
need not be an employee or officer of the Corporation. If the Board of Directors
appoints a Chairman of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and
possess such powers as are assigned by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board shall preside
at
all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders.
10
3.8 President;
Chief Executive Officer.
Unless
the Board of Directors has designated another person as the corporation’s Chief
Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and
supervision of the business of the corporation subject to the direction of
the
Board of Directors, and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are
commonly incident to the office of chief executive or that are delegated to
such
officer by the Board of Directors. The President shall perform such other duties
and shall have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer (if the President is not the Chief Executive Officer) may
from
time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to
act
of the Chief Executive Officer or the President (if the President is not the
Chief Executive Officer), the Vice President (or if there shall be more than
one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors)
shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and when so performing
such duties shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
upon the Chief Executive Officer.
3.9 Vice
Presidents.
Any
Vice President shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the Board
of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In
the
absence or inability of the Chief Executive Officer to act, the Board of
Directors may designate any Executive Vice President to assume the powers and
discharge all of the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, subject to the
control of the Board of Directors.
3.10 Secretary
and Assistant Secretaries.
The
Secretary shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as the Board
of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In
addition, the Secretary shall perform such duties and have such powers as are
incident to the office of the secretary, including without limitation the duty
and power to give notices of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings
of the Board of Directors, to attend all meetings of stockholders and the Board
of Directors and keep a record of the proceedings, to maintain a stock ledger
and prepare lists of stockholders and their addresses as required, to be
custodian of corporate records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest
to
the same on documents.
Any
Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may from time
to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act
of
the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be more than one,
the
Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary. In the absence
of
the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any meeting of stockholders or
directors, the chairman of the meeting shall designate a temporary secretary
to
keep a record of the meeting.
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3.11 Treasurer
and Assistant Treasurers.
The
Treasurer shall perform such duties and shall have such powers as may from
time
to time be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
In
addition, the Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are
incident to the office of treasurer, including without limitation the duty
and
power to keep and be responsible for all funds and securities of the
Corporation, to deposit funds of the Corporation in depositories selected in
accordance with these Bylaws, to disburse such funds as ordered by the Board
of
Directors, to make proper accounts of such funds, and to render as required
by
the Board of Directors statements of all such transactions and of the financial
condition of the Corporation.
The
Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties and possess such powers as the
Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer may from time
to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal to act
of
the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer (or if there shall be more than one,
the
Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors) shall
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.
3.12 Salaries.
Officers of the Corporation shall be entitled to such salaries, compensation
or
reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
3.13 Delegation
of Authority.
The
Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any
officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision
hereof.
ARTICLE
IV.
CAPITAL
STOCK
4.1 Issuance
of Stock.
Subject
to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any part
of
any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the Corporation or
the
whole or any part of any shares of the authorized capital stock of the
Corporation held in the Corporation’s treasury may be issued, sold, transferred
or otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner,
for
such lawful consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may
determine.
4.2 Certificates
of Stock.
Every
holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate,
in
such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, certifying
the number and class of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation. Each
such certificate shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by,
the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President, and
the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
of the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be
a
facsimile.
Each
certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer
pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable
securities laws or any agreement among any number of stockholders or among
such
holders and the Corporation shall have conspicuously noted on the face or back
of the certificate either the full text of the restriction or a statement of
the
existence of such restriction.
There
shall be set forth on the face or back of each certificate representing shares
of such class or series of stock of the Corporation a statement that the
Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests
a
copy of the full text of the powers, designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series
thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences
and/or rights.
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4.3 Transfers.
Except
as otherwise established by rules and regulations adopted by the Board of
Directors, and subject to applicable law, shares of stock may be transferred
on
the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer
agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or
accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed,
and
with such proof of authority or the authenticity of signature as the Corporation
or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise
required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the
Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown
on
its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment
of
dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any
transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been
transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements
of these Bylaws.
4.4 Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
The
Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any previously
issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such
terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, including the
presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and
the
giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond as the Board of Directors
may
require for the protection of the Corporation or any transfer agent or
registrar.
4.5 Record
Date.
The
Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a record date for the
determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
other
distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, conversion
or
exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record
date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such
meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to which such record
date relates.
If no
record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders entitled
to
notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of
business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice
is
waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on which the meeting
is held. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining
stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the
day
on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.
A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote
at a
meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned
meeting.
ARTICLE
V.
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
5.1 Fiscal
Year.
Except
as from time to time otherwise designated by the Board of Directors, the fiscal
year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of January of each year
and
end on the last day of December in each year.
5.2 Corporate
Seal.
The
corporate seal shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of
Directors.
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5.3 Waiver
of Notice.
Whenever notice is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a written waiver signed by the person entitled
to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to
notice, whether before, at or after the time stated in such notice, shall be
deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends
a
meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the meeting,
to
the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called
or
convened.
5.4 Voting
of Securities.
Except
as the Board of Directors may otherwise designate, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Treasurer may waive notice
of,
and act as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or
attorney-in-fact for this Corporation (with or without power of substitution)
at
any meeting of stockholders or securityholders of any other entity, the
securities of which may be held by this Corporation.
5.5 Evidence
of Authority.
A
certificate by the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or a temporary
Secretary, as to any action taken by the stockholders, directors, a committee
or
any officer or representative of the Corporation shall as to all persons who
rely on the certificate in good faith be conclusive evidence of such
action.
5.6 Certificate
of Incorporation.
All
references in these Bylaws to the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed
to refer to the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended
and
in effect from time to time.
5.7 Severability.
Any
determination that any provision of these Bylaws is for any reason inapplicable,
illegal or ineffective shall not affect or invalidate any other provision of
these Bylaws.
5.8 Pronouns.
All
pronouns used in these Bylaws shall be deemed to refer to the masculine,
feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity of the person or persons
may require.
ARTICLE
VI.
AMENDMENTS
These
Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part, or new Bylaws
may be adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders as provided
in
the Certificate of Incorporation.
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