WORLD COMMERCE SERVICES, LLC REMO PICCHIETTI MARY PICCHIETTI AND WAKO LOGISTICS GROUP, INC. MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT As of July 31, 2007
Exhibit
99.1
Execution
Version
WORLD
COMMERCE SERVICES, LLC
XXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
XXXX
XXXXXXXXXX
AND
WAKO
LOGISTICS GROUP, INC.
As
of July 31, 2007
This
MEMBERSHIP
INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(this
“Agreement”)
is
entered into as of this 31 day of July 2007, by and among WORLD COMMERCE
SERVICES, LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of Illinois
(the “Company”),
WAKO
LOGISTICS GROUP, INC., a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware (the
“Purchaser”),
XXXX
XXXXXXXXXX (“Remo”)
and
XXXX XXXXXXXXXX (“Xxxx”,
each
of Remo and Xxxx shall be referred to herein individually as a “Seller”
and
collectively as the “Sellers”).
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the
Sellers own all of the outstanding equity interests (the “Membership
Interests”)
of the
Company;
WHEREAS,
the
Sellers desire to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase
from the Sellers, all of the Membership Interests of the Company owned by the
Sellers, as more specifically described in this Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the
Sellers and the Purchaser are executing and delivering this Agreement in
reliance upon the exemption from securities registration afforded by Rule 506
under Regulation D as promulgated by the United States Securities and Exchange
Commission under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act; and
WHEREAS,
certain
terms used in this Agreement are defined in Section 1
hereof.
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the promises and mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter
contained, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
1. Definitions.
When
used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“Affiliate”
of
any
Person means any Person that directly or indirectly controls, or is under
control with, or is controlled by, such Person. As used in this definition,
“control” (including with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under
control with”) shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a Person
(whether through ownership of securities or partnership or other ownership
interests, by contract or otherwise).
“Closing
Date EBITDA”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Schedule
2.2(b)
to this
Agreement.
“Code”
means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“Company
Executive”
means
Remo.
“Contract”
means
any contract, agreement, indenture, lease, conditional sales contract, license,
commitment or other arrangement, whether written or oral.
“Current
Litigation”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
5.18
of this
Agreement.
“Employee”
of
a
Person means any of its current employees, officers or directors.
“Employment
Agreement”
shall
have the meaning set forth in Section
7.3(g)
of this
Agreement.
“Environmental
Laws”
means
all Laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment
(including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land
surface or subsurface strata), including, without limitation, Laws relating
to
emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or wastes into the
environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of chemicals,
pollutants, contaminants, or industrial, toxic or hazardous substances or
wastes, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands or demand
letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, Orders,
permits, plans or regulations issued, entered, promulgated or approved
thereunder.
“Environmental
Liabilities”
means
with respect to any Person, any and all liabilities of or relating to such
Person, which (i) arise under or relate to matters covered by Environmental
Laws
and (ii) relate to actions occurring or conditions existing on or prior to
the
Closing Date.
“GAAP”
means
generally accepted accounting principles, as in effect in the United
States.
“Governmental
Authority”
means
any government or governmental or regulatory, legislative, executive authority
thereof, or commission, department or political subdivision thereof, whether
federal, state, regional, municipal, local or foreign, or any agency,
instrumentality or authority thereof, or any court or arbitrator (public or
private).
“Hazardous
Material”
shall
mean (i) any hazardous substance, hazardous material, hazardous waste, regulated
substance or toxic substance (as those terms are defined by any applicable
Environmental Laws) and (ii) any chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, petroleum,
petroleum products, or oil (and specifically shall include asbestos requiring
abatement, removal or encapsulation pursuant to the requirements of Governmental
Authorities under applicable Environmental Laws).
“Indemnified
Party”
means
any Person entitled to indemnification under any provision of Section
9
of this
Agreement.
“Knowledge”
or
“knowledge”
means
with respect to any individual, actual, conscious knowledge without
investigation. Without limiting or expanding the generality of the foregoing,
the Company shall be deemed to have “Knowledge” or “knowledge” of a particular
fact or other matter if the Company Executive or Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx has Knowledge
of such fact or other matter, and the Purchaser shall be deemed to have
“Knowledge” or “knowledge” of a particular fact or other matter if Xxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxx or Xxxxx Xxxxxx has Knowledge of such fact or other matter.
2
“Law”
means
any federal, state, county, or local laws, statutes, regulations, rules, codes,
ordinances, Orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions enacted, adopted, issued
or promulgated by any Governmental Authority, from time to time.
“Legal
Proceeding”
means
any judicial, administrative or arbitral actions, suits, proceedings (public
or
private), claims or governmental proceedings.
“Lien”
means
any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any
kind, including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and the filing of or
agreement to give any financing statement under the Uniform Commercial Code
(or
similar laws) of any jurisdiction and including any lien or charge arising
by
statute or other law.
“Loss”
or
“Losses”
means
any and all liability, damages, fines, fees, penalties and expenses whether
or
not arising out of litigation, including without limitation, interest,
reasonable expenses of investigation, court costs, reasonable out-of-pocket
fees
and expenses of attorneys, accountants and other experts or other reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses of litigation or other legal proceedings, incurred in
connection with the rightful enforcement of rights under this Agreement against
any party hereto, and whether or not arising out of third party claims against
an Indemnified Party; provided, however, that, except or Losses arising from
or
related to the Current Litigation, Losses shall not include consequential or
punitive damages.
“Material
Adverse Effect”
or
“Material
Adverse Change”
means
any change, event, development, or effect that is materially adverse to the
business, assets, liabilities, properties, results of operations or conditions
(financial or otherwise) of the Company, taken as a whole, or to the ability
of
any Party to consummate timely the transactions contemplated hereby; provided,
however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute, and none
of
the following shall be taken into account in determining whether there has
been,
a Material Adverse Effect or Material Adverse Change: (a) any adverse change,
event, development, or effect arising from or relating to (1) changes in GAAP
or
(2) the taking of any action contemplated by this Agreement and the Transactions
Documents, and (b) any adverse change in or effect on the business of the
Company or the Purchaser, as the case may be, that is cured by such Party before
the Closing Date.
“Mezzanine
Debt”
means
the debt obligations of the Company identified on Schedule
5.1(c)
hereto.
“Mezzanine
Debt Holders”
means
the holders of Mezzanine Debt, set forth on Schedule
5.1(c)
hereto.
“Mezzanine
Warrants”
shall
mean the warrants held by the Mezzanine Debt Holders and identified on
Schedule
5.1(c)
hereto.
3
“Order”
means
any order, injunction, judgment, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or arbitration
award.
“Permits”
means
any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits or certificates
by or
of any Governmental Authority.
“Permitted
Liens”
means:
(i) zoning ordinances and regulations which do not materially and adversely
affect the Purchaser’s
use or
marketability of the Real Property Leases for their current uses; (ii) real
estate taxes and assessments, both general and special, which are a lien but
are
not yet due and payable at the Closing Date;
and
(iii) easements,
Liens, covenants, conditions, reservations and restrictions of record, if any,
as have been approved in writing by the Purchaser before the Closing
Date.
“Person”
means
any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm,
joint
venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization,
Governmental Authority or other entity.
“Representatives”
of
a
Person means its Employees, agents, legal advisors and accountants.
“Securities
Act”
means
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any similar federal statute, and
the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder,
all
as the same shall be in effect at the time.
“Taxes”
means
any federal, state, local or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits,
environmental, customs duties, share capital, franchise, profits, withholding,
social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal
property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value-added, alternative or add-on
minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest,
penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
2. Sale
and Purchase of Membership Interests.
Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date (as defined
in Section 4.1
hereof),
the Sellers shall sell, assign, convey and transfer to the Purchaser, and the
Purchaser shall purchase from the Sellers all right, title and interest of
the
Sellers in and to the Membership Interests, free and clear of all
Liens.
3. Purchase
Price.
3.1
Purchase
Price.
(a) In
consideration of the sale, assignment, conveyance and transfer of the Membership
Interests pursuant to Section 2
hereof,
the Purchaser shall transfer to the Sellers, in consideration for the Membership
Interests and in reliance upon the representations and warranties made herein
by
the Sellers, the purchase price (the “Purchase
Price”)
consisting of the Base Price (defined below) and the Contingent Purchase Price
(defined below).
4
(b) The
Purchase Price shall be the sum of 4,710,014 duly authorized, validly issued,
fully paid, and non assessable shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001 per
share (the “Purchaser
Common Stock”),
of
the Purchaser, subject to adjustment as provided in Schedule
3.2(c)
(the
“Base
Price”),
plus
the Contingent Purchase Price (if any), and shall be payable as provided in
this
Agreement. The Sellers acknowledge and agree that all such shares of Purchaser
Common Stock included in the Base Price and Contingent Purchase Price (if any)
shall be “restricted securities” as such term is defined under Rule 144
promulgated under the Securities Act and shall bear appropriate restrictive
legends as determined by the Purchaser.
3.2
Payment
of Purchase Price; Additional Closing Payments.
The
Purchase Price shall be payable as follows:
(a) At
the Closing (as defined in Section 4.1
hereof),
the Purchaser shall deliver to or on behalf of the Sellers the Base Price
payable as follows:
(i) sixty-two
and one half percent (62.5%) of which (2,943,759 shares of Purchaser Common
Stock) shall be delivered to Sellers; and
(ii) the
remaining 1,766,255
shares
of the Purchaser Common Stock (the “Escrow
Shares”)
shall
be issued in the name of the Sellers but delivered to the escrow agent (the
“Escrow
Agent”)
to be
held in escrow pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
A
(the
“Escrow
Agreement”);
and
the Escrow Shares shall be held in escrow by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the
terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement. As more specifically provided
in
the Escrow Agreement, the Sellers shall possess and enjoy full voting rights
and
rights to distribution with respect to the Escrow Shares while such shares
are
held in the escrow.
(b) The
Company and the Sellers expressly agree that the Escrow Shares (i) are being
held in escrow solely as security for the Sellers’ indemnification obligations
pursuant to Section
9
of this
Agreement and (ii) are subject to release to the Purchaser and/or the Sellers
upon the terms set forth herein and in the Escrow Agreement; provided, however,
to the extent this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement conflict or are otherwise
inconsistent, this Agreement shall control.
(c) The
balance of the Purchase Price (the “Contingent
Purchase Price”),
if
any, shall be computed in accordance with Schedule
3.2(c)
hereto,
and payable in the manner and subject to adjustment as provided in said
Schedule
3.2(c).
(d) Simultaneously
with the Closing, the Purchaser shall cause, without affecting the Purchase
Price, the Company to pay in full and otherwise satisfy all of the Company’s
obligations under or related to the outstanding Mezzanine Debt and retire,
repurchase, and/or cancel all Mezzanine Warrants.
4. Closing.
4.1
Closing
Date.
The
closing of the sale and purchase of the Membership Interests (the “Closing”)
shall
take place on or around July 31, 2007, or at such other time, date or place
as
the parties hereto may mutually agree; provided, that all conditions to the
Closing set forth in this Agreement have been satisfied or waived by such date.
The date on which the Closing is held is referred to in this Agreement as the
“Closing
Date.”
At
the
Closing, (i) the Sellers shall execute and deliver the documents referred
to in Section 7.1
hereof,
and (ii) the Purchaser shall execute and deliver or cause to be delivered the
documents referred to in Section
7.2
hereof.
The Closing shall be deemed effective as of the close of business on the Closing
Date.
5
5. Representations
and Warranties of the Sellers and the Company.
The
Sellers and the Company hereby, jointly and severally, represent and warrant
to
the Purchaser that the statements contained in this Section
5
are
correct and complete as of the Closing Date, except as set forth in the
schedules accompanying this Agreement (the “Schedules”).
The
Schedules will be arranged in sections corresponding to the lettered and
numbered sections contained in this Section
5
and
shall qualify the representations or warranties to which they
apply.
5.1
Organization
and Good Standing; Subsidiaries; Capitalization.
(a) The
Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the state of Illinois and has all requisite power and authority to own,
lease
and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as and in
the
places such properties and assets are now owned, leased or operated and as
such
business is presently conducted. The Company is duly qualified or authorized
to
do business as a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing
under
the laws of each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the
ownership of its properties or assets requires such qualification or
authorization, except where the lack of such qualification or authorization
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The copies of the Company’s Articles
of Organization and Operating Agreement attached hereto as Schedule
5.1
are
true, complete and correct.
(b) The
Company has no subsidiaries and has no interest, direct or indirect, and has
no
commitment to purchase any interest, direct or indirect, in any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture or other business enterprise or entity.
The business carried on by the Company has not been conducted through any direct
or indirect subsidiary or any direct or indirect Affiliate of the
Company.
(c) Schedule
5.1(c)
hereto
sets forth a true and complete list of the holders of all outstanding Mezzanine
Debt, Membership Interests and the holders of all outstanding options and
warrants issued by the Company, which Mezzanine Debt, Membership Interests,
options and warrants are held by them in the amounts set forth on Schedule
5.1(c).
There
are no options, warrants, calls, rights, or other commitments relating to the
issued or unissued Membership Interests of the Company or obligating the Company
to issue or sell any Membership Interests or other equity interests in the
Company. There are no securities of the Company outstanding which upon
conversion or exchange would result in the issuance of Membership Interests.
There are no appreciation rights, or other similar rights based on securities
of
the Company, which would require the issuance, sale or transfer of Membership
Interests or any other securities of the Company, or other securities
convertible into, exchangeable for or evidencing the right to subscribe for
or
purchase Membership Interests or other equity securities of the Company. Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.1(c),
other
than the Company’s Operating Agreement, neither the Sellers nor the Company is a
party to any voting trust or other voting agreement with respect to any of
the
securities of the Company or of any agreement relating to the issuance, sale,
redemption, transfer or other disposition of the Membership Interests or other
securities of the Company.
6
5.2
Ownership
of Membership Interests.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.2,
the
Sellers are the owners of, and have good and marketable title to, all of the
issued and outstanding Membership Interests of the Company, free and clear
of
all Liens. All of the Membership Interests owned by the Sellers have been duly
authorized, and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
5.3
Authorization
of Agreement; Enforceability.
Each
Seller and the Company have all requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and each other agreement, document, instrument and
certificate to be executed by the Sellers and/or the Company in connection
with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(collectively, the “Transaction
Documents”),
and
to perform fully each of their obligations hereunder and thereunder. The
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents have been duly authorized by all necessary limited
liability company action on the part of the Company and each of its managers
and
members. This Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents has been duly
and
validly executed and delivered by the Sellers and the Company and, assuming
the
due authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the Purchaser, this
Agreement and each of the Transaction Documents constitutes the legal, valid
and
binding obligations of the Sellers and the Company, enforceable against each
of
them in accordance with its respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights and remedies generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding at law or in equity).
5.4
Consents
of Third Parties.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.4,
neither
the execution and delivery by the Sellers and the Company of this Agreement
and
the Transaction Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, nor compliance by the Sellers and the Company with any of
the
provisions hereof or thereof (a) conflict with, or result in the breach of,
any
provision of the Articles of Organization and Operating Agreement of the
Company, (b) conflict with, violate, result in the breach or termination of,
or
constitute a default or give rise to any right of termination or acceleration
or
right to increase the obligations or otherwise modify the terms thereof under
any material Permit or any Order to which the Company is a party or any material
Contract to which the Company or any of its properties or assets is bound,
(c)
constitute a violation of any Law applicable to the Company or (d) result in
the
creation of any Lien upon the properties or assets of the Company. Other than
those which have been obtained by the Company, no consent, waiver, approval,
Order, Permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or
notification to, any Person or Governmental Authority is required on the part
of
the Sellers or the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of
this
Agreement or the Transaction Documents, or the compliance by the Sellers and
the
Company with any of the provisions hereof or thereof.
7
5.5
Books
and Records.
The
Company has made available to the Purchaser the minute books and limited
liability company records of the Company. To the knowledge of the Sellers,
the
books of account, ledgers, order books, records and documents of the Company
accurately and completely reflect all material information relating to the
business of the Company, the location and collection of its assets, and the
nature of all transactions giving rise to the obligations or accounts receivable
of the Company.
5.6
Financial
Statements.
Attached hereto as Schedule 5.6
are (i)
the audited balance sheet and income statements, and cash flow of the Company
as
of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004, and (ii)
unaudited balance sheet, income statements and cash flow of the Company as
of
and for the last five (5) months ended May 31, 2007 (the “Most
Recent Financial Statements”).
Such
balance sheets and income statements (collectively referred to herein as the
“Financial
Statements”)
fairly
present, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as
of
the dates thereof, for the periods covered thereby and the results of operations
of the Company for the periods set forth therein, all in conformity with GAAP
(in the case of all interim period Financial Statements, subject to the absence
of footnotes and to year end adjustments).
5.7
Accounts
Receivable.
The
accounts receivable which are reflected on the Financial Statements and as
set
forth on Schedule
5.7
hereto,
are good and collectible in the ordinary course of business at the aggregate
amounts thereof, less the respective amount of the allowances for doubtful
accounts receivable, if any, reflected thereon, and are not subject to offsets
other than in the ordinary course of business. The accounts receivable of the
Company added since the date of the Most Recent Financial Statements are good
and collectible in the ordinary course of business, less the amount of the
allowances for doubtful accounts, if any, reflected thereon (which allowances
were established on a basis consistent with prior practice), and are not subject
to offsets other than in the ordinary course of business.
5.8
Undisclosed
Liabilities.
The
Company does not have any liabilities or obligations (whether absolute, accrued,
fixed, contingent or otherwise, secured or unsecured) (collectively,
“Liabilities”),
except liabilities or obligations (a) listed on Schedule 5.8,
hereto
(b) disclosed in the Financial Statements, (c) incurred since the date of the
Most Recent Financial Statements in the ordinary course of business, (d) which
would not be required under GAAP to be set forth on or reserved against in
the
Financial Statements, or (e) that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company is not a party to,
or
has any commitment to become a party to, (i) any Contract associated with off
balance sheet financing, including any arrangement for the sale of receivables
or (ii) any interest rate, currency or other hedging arrangement or Contract
relating to derivatives. The Company is not a guarantor for any liability or
obligation (including indebtedness) of any third party.
5.9
Absence
of Certain Developments.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.9,
since
the date of the Most Recent Financial Statements:
(a) there
has not been any Material Adverse Change nor, to the Sellers’ knowledge, has any
event occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material
Adverse Change;
8
(b) there
has not been any declaration, setting a record date, setting aside or
authorizing the payment of, any distribution in respect of the Membership
Interests of the Company, or any repurchase, redemption or other acquisition
by
the Company, of any of the outstanding securities of, or other ownership
interest in, the Company;
(c) there
has not been any transfer, issue, sale or other disposition by the Company
of
any Membership Interests or other securities of the Company or any grant of
options, warrants, calls or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire
Membership Interests or such other securities;
(d) the
Company has not (i) awarded or paid any bonuses to Employees or
Representatives of the Company, (ii) entered into any employment, deferred
compensation, severance or similar agreements (nor amended any such agreement),
(iii) agreed to increase the compensation payable or to become payable by
the Company to any of the Company’s Employees or Representatives, or
(iv) agreed to increase the coverage or benefits available under any
severance pay, deferred compensation, bonus or other incentive compensation,
pension or other employee benefit plan, payment or arrangement made to, for
or
with such Employees or Representatives, other than in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, which increases in the aggregate do
not
exceed $50,000 in annual cost to the Company, and consistent with the operating
expense budget of the Company, and other than as may be agreed by the
Purchaser;
(e) the
Company has not made any loans, advances (other than advances to officers and
employees of the Company which advances are made in the ordinary course of
business and do not exceed per individual the reasonable anticipated expenses
for legitimate business purposes), or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any Person or paid any fees or expenses to any Affiliate of the
Company;
(f) to
the knowledge of the Sellers, the Company has not transferred or granted any
rights under any material Contracts, leases, licenses, agreements or
Intellectual Property (defined hereafter) used by the Company in its
business;
(g) there
has not been any damage, destruction or loss, whether or not covered by
insurance, with respect to the property or assets of the Company having a
replacement cost of more than $5,000 for any single loss or $10,000 for all
such
Losses;
(h) the
Company has not mortgaged, pledged or subjected to any Lien any of its assets,
or acquired any assets for a purchase price in excess of $10,000 in the
aggregate or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed, leased or otherwise disposed
of any assets of the Company for a sale price in excess of $15,000 in the
aggregate except for assets acquired or sold, assigned, transferred, conveyed,
leased or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business;
(i) the
Company has not canceled or compromised any debt or claim, or, to the knowledge
of the Sellers, amended, canceled, terminated, relinquished, waived or released
any Contract, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice and which, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a
Material Adverse Change;
9
(j) the
Company has not made any binding commitment to make any capital expenditures
or
capital additions or betterments in excess of $10,000 individually or $25,000
in
the aggregate;
(k) the
Company has not incurred any debts, obligations or liabilities, whether due
or
to become due, except liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business,
none of which liabilities (individually or in the aggregate) could result in
a
Material Adverse Change;
(l) the
Company has not entered into any transaction other than in the ordinary course
of business, except for this Agreement and except for transactions involving
less than $15,000;
(m) the
Company has not encountered any strikes or labor union organizing
activities;
(n) the
Company has not made any change in the accounting principles, methods or
practices followed by it or changed its depreciation or amortization policies
or
rates theretofore adopted;
(o) to
the knowledge of the Sellers, the Company has not disclosed to any Person any
material trade secrets except for disclosures made to Persons subject to valid
and enforceable confidentiality agreements or privilege;
(p) the
Company has not suffered or experienced any material change in the relationship
or course of dealings between the Company and any of its suppliers or customers
which supply goods or services to the Company or purchase goods or services
from
the Company which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse
Change; and
(q) the
Company has not made any payment to, or received any payment from, or made
or
received any investment in, or entered into any transaction or series of
related transactions (including, without limitation, the purchase, sale,
exchange or lease of assets, property or services, or the making of a loan
or
guarantee) with any Affiliate in each case, in excess of $10,000 or its
equivalent.
5.10 Taxes.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.10, the
Company has filed all Tax returns (including statements of estimated Taxes
owed)
and reports required to be filed within the applicable periods (subject to
extensions) for such filings and has paid all Taxes required to be paid as
shown
thereon. To the knowledge of the Sellers, such Tax returns and reports are
true
and correct in all material respects. No deficiencies for any Tax are currently
assessed against the Company, and, no Tax returns of the Company have ever
been
audited by a Governmental Authority, and, to the knowledge of the Sellers and
the Company, there is no such audit pending. There is no Tax Lien, whether
imposed by any federal, state or local taxing authority, outstanding against
the
assets, properties or business of the Company other than Liens for Taxes which
are not yet due. The Company has not executed any waiver of the statute of
limitations on the assessment or collection of any Tax or governmental charge.
The Company has properly charged, collected and paid all applicable stamp,
sales, use and other similar Taxes on or before the Closing Date.
10
5.11 Real
Property.
(a) The
Company does not now own, and has not owned any real property.
(b) Schedule 5.11
attached
hereto sets forth a complete list of all real property and interests in real
property leased by the Company (each, a “Real
Property Lease,”
and
collectively, the “Real
Property Leases”)
as
lessee or lessor. The Company has good, legal and marketable title to the
leasehold estates in all Real Property Leases in each case free and clear of
all
Liens other than Permitted Liens.
(c) To
the knowledge of the Sellers, each of the Real Property Leases is valid and
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights and remedies generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a
proceeding at law or in equity), and there is no default under any Real Property
Lease by the Company, or by any other party thereto, and no event has occurred
that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute
a
default thereunder.
(d) No
previous or current party to any Real Property Lease has given written notice
of, or to the knowledge of the Sellers, made a claim with respect to any breach
or default thereunder. With respect to those Real Property Leases that were
assigned or subleased to the Company by a third party, all necessary consents
to
such assignments or subleases have been obtained.
5.12 Tangible
Personal Property; Assets.
The
Company has good, legal and marketable title to or valid leasehold interests
in,
all of its personal property and assets. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.12,
the
personal property owned by the Company is held in each case free and clear
of
all Liens other than Permitted Liens. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.12,
with
respect to the personal property and assets that the Company leases, the Company
is in compliance with such leases except for such noncompliance as would not
have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company holds a valid leasehold interest
free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens.
5.13 Intellectual
Property.
The
Company owns or possesses adequate licenses or other rights to use all patents,
patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, service
xxxx applications, trade names, copyrights, software, trade secrets and know
how
(collectively, the “Intellectual
Property”)
necessary to the conduct of its business as currently conducted. Schedule 5.13
sets
forth a correct and complete list of all of the registered Intellectual Property
of the Company. No claim is pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers,
threatened to the effect that the operations of the Company infringe upon or
conflict with the asserted rights of any other Person under any Intellectual
Property. No claim is pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened
to
the effect that any such Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Company,
or which the Company otherwise has the right to use, is invalid or unenforceable
by the Company.
11
5.14 Technology.
Other
than off-the-shelf or shrinkwrap software, the proprietary technology and other
proprietary know-how necessary to the conduct of the Company’s business as
currently conducted was completely developed by the Company’s full-time
employees only.
5.15 Material
Contracts.
(a) Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.15,
neither
the Company nor any of its properties or assets is a party to or bound by any
(i) Contract involving a commitment or payment by the Company in excess of
$10,000, (ii) Contract among members or granting a right of first refusal
or for a partnership or a joint venture or for the acquisition, sale or lease
of
any assets or share capital of the Company or any other Person or involving
a
sharing of profits, (iii) mortgage, pledge, conditional sales contract,
security agreement, factoring agreement or other similar Contract with respect
to any real or tangible personal property of the Company, (iv) loan
agreement, credit agreement, promissory note, guarantee, subordination
agreement, letter of credit or any other similar type of Contract,
(v) Contract with any Governmental Authority outside the ordinary course of
business, (vi) Contract with respect to the discharge, storage or removal
of Hazardous Materials or (vii) binding commitment or agreement to enter
into any of the foregoing.
(b) (i) Each
of the Contracts described on Schedule 5.15
is valid
and enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws
affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as to
enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity), and there is no
default under any such Contract by the Company or, to the knowledge of the
Sellers or the Company, by any other party thereto, which is likely to have
a
Material Adverse Effect, and, to the Knowledge of the Sellers and the Company,
no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or
both would constitute a default by the Company thereunder which is likely to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) No previous or current party to any Contract has
given written notice or, to the Knowledge of the Company or the Sellers,
threatened to give notice to the Company or the Sellers with respect to any
breach or default thereunder, and, to the Knowledge of the Company or the
Sellers, no such party has any reasonable basis to give such notice or otherwise
make a claim with respect to any such breach or default.
(c) With
respect to the Contracts described on Schedule 5.15
that
were assigned to the Company by a third party, if any, all required consents
to
such assignment have been obtained.
5.16 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Except
as set forth on Schedule 5.16
the
Company does not have in effect any employment agreements, employee benefit
plans, consulting agreements, deferred compensation, pension or retirement
agreements or arrangements, bonus, incentive or profit-sharing plans or
arrangements, or labor or collective bargaining agreements, written or oral.
The
Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws
relating to labor, occupational health and safety, employment, fair employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment, and wages and hours.
12
(b) Except
as set forth on Schedule
5.16,
the
Company does not participate, maintain or contribute to any single or
multi-employer employee benefit plan (collectively, “Plans”)
governed by or subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended (“ERISA”)
(whether by reason of being a member of an affiliated group of companies, one
of
which maintains such a plan, or otherwise), nor has it participated, maintained,
contributed or incurred any liability or obligation with respect to any such
Plan. The Company has furnished Purchaser true and correct copies of such Plans,
all as amended to date. The Plans comply with all applicable Laws, and have
been
administered in material compliance with their terms and with all filing,
reporting, disclosure and other requirements of ERISA, the Code and all other
applicable Laws.
5.17 Employees.
(a) To
the Knowledge of the Sellers and the Company, no Employee of the Company who
is
material to the operation of the Company’s business has any plans to terminate
his, her or its employment or relationship as an Employee with the Company,
except for those Employees, if any, requested to resign by the
Purchaser.
(b) Schedule
5.17
sets
forth a true and complete list of (i) each Employee of the Company whose current
annual compensation is $50,000 or more, together with such person’s job title
and amounts and forms of compensation and fringe and severance benefits and
(ii)
each consultant, contractor or subcontractor equivalent of the Company whose
annual compensation by the Company is $50,000 or more, together with such
person’s amounts and forms of compensation.
(c) To
the Sellers’ and the Company’s Knowledge, no Employee of the Company is a party
to or is otherwise bound by any agreement or arrangement (including, without
limitation, confidentiality agreements, non-competition agreements, licenses,
covenants, or commitments of any nature), or subject to any judgment, decree,
or
Order of any court or Governmental Authority that would conflict with the
Company’s business as currently conducted.
(d) Schedule
5.17
indicates which of those Employees of the Company listed on Schedule 5.17
have
entered into a confidentiality agreement with the Company.
5.18 Litigation.
There
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers or the
Company, threatened that question the validity of this Agreement or any of
the
Transaction Documents or any action taken or to be taken by the Company in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby. Except for the matters set forth on Schedule 5.18
(the
“Current
Litigation”),
there
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened
against or affecting the Company or any of its properties or assets, and to
the
Knowledge of the Sellers and the Company, there is no reasonable basis for
any
such Legal Proceeding. There is no outstanding or, to the knowledge of the
Sellers or the Company, threatened Order of any Governmental Authority against,
in respect of or naming the Company or in respect of any of its properties
or
assets.
13
5.19 Compliance
with Laws; Permits.
(a) To
the knowledge of the Sellers, the Company is in compliance in all material
respects with all material Laws and material Orders promulgated by any
Governmental Authority applicable to the Company, or to the conduct of the
business or operations of the Company, or the use of any of its properties
(including any leased properties) and assets. Except as set forth on
Schedule
5.19,
the
Company has not received any written notices of violation or alleged violation
of any such Law or Order by any Governmental Authority.
(b) The
Company has all Permits necessary for the conduct of its business where the
failure to have such Permits would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company
has complied in all material respects with all conditions of such Permits
applicable to it; no default or violation which would have a Material Adverse
Effect, has occurred in the due observance of any such Permit; to the knowledge
of the Sellers, all such Permits are in full force and effect without further
consent or approval of any Person; and neither the Sellers nor the Company
has
received any written notice from any Governmental Authority to the effect that
there is lacking any such material Permit required in connection with the
current operations of the Company.
5.20 Environmental
and Safety Laws.
The
Company is not in violation of any applicable Laws relating to the environment
or occupational health and safety where the failure to so comply would have
a
Material Adverse Effect and no material expenditures are required in order
to
comply with any such existing Laws.
5.21 Certain
Business Practices.
To the
knowledge of the Sellers, neither the Company nor any director, Employee,
Representative, consultant or Affiliate of the Company has (i) used any funds
for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful payments
relating to political activity, or (ii) made any unlawful payment to any foreign
or domestic government official or employee or to any foreign or domestic
political party or campaign or violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
5.22 Interested
Party Transactions.
Schedule 5.22
sets
forth each material transaction between Company on one hand and any of the
directors, Employees, members or other Affiliates of the Company on the other
(other than bona fide employment related transactions in the ordinary course
of
business).
5.23 Insurance.
There
is in full force and effect one or more policies of insurance issued by insurers
of recognized responsibility, insuring the Company and its properties, business
and projects against such losses and risks, and in such amounts, as are
customary in the case of businesses of established reputation engaged in the
same or similar business and similarly situated. The Company has not been
refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, and to the Knowledge
of
the Company and the Sellers, there is no reasonable basis to believe that the
Company will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when
the same shall expire upon terms at least as favorable as those presently in
effect, other than possible increases in premiums that do not result primarily
from any act or omission of the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule
5.23
hereto,
there are no claims currently pending by the Company under any insurance policy.
The Company is not in default in any material respect with respect to any
provision contained in any insurance policy maintained by the Company and the
Company has not failed to give any notice or present any presently existing
claims under any insurance policy in due and timely fashion.
14
5.24 Customers
and Suppliers.
Schedule 5.24
sets
forth a true and correct list of the ten (10) largest customers (by gross profit
for the period from April 1, 2006 through December 31, 2006) and the ten (10)
largest suppliers (by total purchases during the most recent fiscal year) of
the
Company. To
the
Knowledge of the Sellers and the Company, none of the customers or suppliers
identified on Schedule
5.24
has
provided to the Company written notice of its intent to terminate or cancel
any
material portion of the business currently conducted by the
Company.
5.25 Financial
Advisors.
No
agent, broker, investment banker, finder, financial advisor or other Person
is
or will be entitled to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or
similar fee from the Sellers or the Company, directly or indirectly, in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any
Transaction Document and no Person is entitled to any fee or commission or
like
payment from the Sellers or the Company in respect thereof based in any way
on
agreements, arrangements or understandings made by or on behalf of the Sellers
or the Company.
5.26 Condition
of Properties.
All
facilities, equipment, fixtures, vehicles and other properties owned or leased
by the Company are in operating condition (reasonable wear and tear excepted),
are reasonably adequate and sufficient for the Company business as it is
currently conducted.
5.27 Securities
Laws.
The
Company has complied with all applicable U.S. federal and state securities
laws
in connection with all offers, issuances and sales of its securities prior
to
the date hereof including, without limitation, the Membership Interests
purchased by the Purchaser. Except for those securities that have been properly
registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state securities laws,
neither the Company nor any Person acting on its behalf has offered any of
the
Company’s securities to any Person by means of general or public solicitation or
general or public advertising, such as by newspaper or magazine advertisements,
by broadcast media, or at any seminar or meeting whose attendees were solicited
by such means.
5.28 Registration
Rights.
No
Person has demand or other rights to cause the Company to file any registration
statement under the Securities Act relating to any securities of the Company
or
any right to participate in any such registration statement.
5.29 Environmental.
The
Company is currently in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws,
including possession and compliance with the terms of all licenses required
by
Environmental Laws. There are no pending, or to the knowledge of the Sellers,
threatened suits, actions, investigations or proceedings under or pursuant
to
Environmental Laws against the Company or involving or arising out of or in
connection with the Company’s business or any real property currently or
formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company. The Company is not subject
to
and has received no written allegations from any Governmental Authority of
any
Environmental Liabilities and no facts, circumstances or conditions relating
to,
arising from, associated with or attributable to any real property currently
or
formerly owned, operated or leased by the Company or the Company’s operations
thereon has resulted in or would result in Environmental Liabilities, and (iv)
all real property owned, leased or operated by the Company is free of
contamination from Hazardous Materials that would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
15
5.30 Bank
Accounts.
The
Company has previously delivered to the Purchaser a true and complete list
of:
(i) the
name and address of each bank or other institution in which the Company
maintains an account (cash, securities or other) or safe deposit box; (ii)
the
name and phone number of the contact person at such bank or institution; (iii)
the account number of the relevant account and a description of the type of
account; and (iv) the persons authorized to transact business in such
accounts.
5.31 Accredited
Investor Status. Each
Seller is an “accredited investor” as that term is defined in Regulation D under
the Securities Act.
5.32 Disclosure;
Survival.
All
representations and warranties set forth in this Section
5
shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby for a period of 18 months immediately after
the
Closing (unless the Purchaser knew or had reason to know of any
misrepresentation or breach of warranty at the time of Closing). Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the representations and warranties
of
the Sellers and the Company in Section
5.10
above
shall survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation
of the transaction contemplated hereby for the applicable statute of limitation
periods (unless the Purchaser knew or had reason to know of any
misrepresentation or breach of warranty at the time of Closing).
6. Representations
and Warranties of the Purchaser.
The
Purchasers hereby represents and warrants to the Sellers and the Company that
the statements contained in this Section
6
are
correct and complete as of the Closing Date, except as set forth in the
Purchaser’s Schedules accompanying this Agreement. The Purchaser’s Schedules
will be arranged in sections corresponding to the lettered and numbered sections
contained in this Section
6.
6.1
Organization
and Good Standing.
The
Purchaser is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the state of Delaware and has the corporate power and authority to
own,
lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as
now
conducted.
6.2
Authorization
of Agreement; Enforceability.
The
Purchaser has full requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and the Transaction Documents, and to perform fully each of their
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and performance
by
the Purchaser of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Purchaser and
its directors and shareholders. This Agreement and each of the Transaction
Documents has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the authorized
persons of the Purchaser and, assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Purchaser, this Agreement and each of the Transaction
Documents constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Purchaser,
enforceable against the Purchaser in accordance with its respective terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally and subject, as
to enforceability, to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
16
6.3
Capitalization.
The
authorized capital stock of Purchaser consists solely of 55,000,000 shares
of
Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of which 2,000,000 shares have been designated as Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock (the “Series
A Preferred Stock”).
As of
May 14, 2007, there were 25,390,080 shares of Common Stock and 2,000,000 shares
of Series A Preferred Stock issued and outstanding. In addition, as of the
date
hereof, the Purchaser has reserved an additional 1,300,000 shares of Common
Stock for issuance to third parties. The shares of the Purchaser Common Stock
to
be issued to the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement, will be, when issued in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, duly authorized, validly issued,
fully-paid and nonassessable, and, as of the date of the Closing, the maximum
aggregate number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock issuable to the Sellers
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as the Base Price and the Contingent
Purchase Price will constitute 20% of the Purchaser’s then issued Purchaser
Common Stock consistent with the Capitalization Table set forth in Schedule
6.3.
The
shares of the Purchaser Common Stock to be issued pursuant to this Agreement
will, when issued in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, be issued
in
accordance with the provisions of all federal and state securities laws and
other applicable Laws. Except as set forth on Schedule
6.3
hereto,
there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, purchase rights,
subscription rights, convertible promissory notes, conversion rights, exchange
rights, or other contracts or commitments that could require the Purchaser
to
issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its capital stock.
There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, or similar rights with respect to the Purchaser.
6.4
Consents
of Third Parties.
Neither
the execution and delivery by the Purchaser of this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby, or compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions
hereof or thereof (a) conflict with, or result in the breach of, any provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Purchaser, (b) conflict
with, violate, result in the breach or termination of, or constitute a default
or give rise to any right of termination or acceleration or right to increase
the obligations or otherwise modify the terms thereof under any material Permit
or any Order to which the Purchaser is a party or any material Contract to
which
the Purchaser or any of its properties or assets is bound, (c) constitute a
violation of any Law applicable to the Purchaser or (d) result in the creation
of any Lien upon the properties or assets of the Purchaser. Other than those
which have been obtained by the Purchaser, no consent, waiver, approval, Order,
Permit or authorization of, or declaration or filing with, or notification
to,
any Person or Governmental Authority is required on the part of the Purchaser
in
connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Transaction
Documents, or the compliance by the Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof
or thereof.
17
6.5
Books
and Records.
To the
knowledge of the Purchaser, the books of account, order books, records and
documents of the Purchaser accurately and completely reflect all material
information relating to the business of the Purchaser, the location and
collection of its assets, and the nature of all transactions giving rise to
the
obligations or accounts receivable of the Purchaser.
6.6
Absence
of Certain Developments.
Except
as set forth on Schedule 6.6,
since
April 1, 2007:
(a) there
has not been any Material Adverse Change nor, to the Purchaser’s knowledge, has
any event occurred which could reasonably be expected to result in any Material
Adverse Change;
(b) there has not been any declaration, setting a
record date, setting aside or authorizing the payment of, any distribution
in
respect of the capital stock of the Purchaser, or any repurchase, redemption
or
other acquisition by the Purchaser, of any of the outstanding securities of,
or
other ownership interest in, the Purchaser;
(c) there has not been any transfer, issue, sale or
other disposition by the Purchaser of any capital stock or other securities
of
the Purchaser or any grant of options, warrants, calls or other rights to
purchase or otherwise acquire the capital stock or such other securities; and
(d) the Purchaser has not made any change in the
accounting principles, methods or practices followed by it or changed its
depreciation or amortization policies or rates theretofore adopted.
6.7
Taxes.
Except
as set forth on Schedule
6.7, the
Purchaser has filed all Tax returns (including statements of estimated Taxes
owed) and reports required to be filed within the applicable periods (subject
to
extensions) for such filings and has paid all Taxes required to be paid as
shown
thereon. To the knowledge of the Purchaser, such Tax returns and reports are
true and correct in all material respects. No deficiencies for any Tax are
currently assessed against the Purchaser, and, no Tax returns of the Purchaser
have ever been audited by a Governmental Authority, and, to the knowledge of
the
Purchaser, there is no such audit pending. There is no Tax Lien, whether imposed
by any federal, state or local taxing authority, outstanding against the assets,
properties or business of the Purchaser other than Liens for Taxes which are
not
yet due. The Purchaser has not executed any waiver of the statute of limitations
on the assessment or collection of any Tax or governmental charge. The Purchaser
has properly charged, collected and paid all applicable stamp, sales, use and
other similar Taxes on or before the Closing Date.
6.8
Intellectual
Property.
No
claim is pending or, to the knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened to the effect
that the operations of the Purchaser infringe upon or conflict with the asserted
rights of any other Person under any Intellectual Property. No claim is pending
or, to the knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened to the effect that any such
Intellectual Property owned or licensed by the Purchaser, or which the Purchaser
otherwise has the right to use, is invalid or unenforceable by the Purchaser.
The Purchaser has not granted or assigned to any other Person any right to
provide the services or proposed services of the Purchaser.
18
6.9
Litigation.
There
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Purchaser,
threatened that question the validity of this Agreement or any of the
Transaction Documents or any action taken or to be taken by the Purchaser in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or
thereby. Except for the matters set forth on Schedule 6.9,
there
are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Purchaser,
threatened against or affecting the Purchaser or any of its properties or
assets, and to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, there is no reasonable basis
for
any such Legal Proceeding. There is no outstanding or, to the knowledge of
the
Purchaser, threatened Order of any Governmental Authority against, in respect
of
or naming the Purchaser or in respect of any of its properties or
assets.
6.10 Compliance
with Laws; Permits.
(a) To
the knowledge of the Purchaser, the Purchaser is in compliance in all material
respects with all material Laws and material Orders promulgated by any
Governmental Authority applicable to the Purchaser, or to the conduct of the
business or operations of the Purchaser, or the use of any of its properties
(including any leased properties) and assets. The Purchaser has not received
any
written notices of violation or alleged violation of any such Law or Order
by
any Governmental Authority.
(b) The
Purchaser has all Permits necessary for the conduct of its business where the
failure to have such Permits could have a Material Adverse Effect. The Purchaser
has complied in all material respects with all conditions of such Permits
applicable to it; no default or violation has occurred in the due observance
of
any such Permit; to the knowledge of the Purchaser, all such Permits are in
full
force and effect without further consent or approval of any Person; and the
Purchaser has not received any written notice from any Governmental Authority
to
the effect that there is lacking any such material Permit required in connection
with the current operations of the Purchaser.
6.11 Safety
and Employment Laws.
The
Purchaser is not in violation of any applicable Laws relating to occupational
health and safety where the failure to so comply could have a Material Adverse
Effect and no material expenditures are required in order to comply with any
such existing Laws.
6.12 Securities
Laws and SEC Documents.
(a) The
Purchaser has complied in all material respects with all applicable federal
and
state securities laws in connection with all offers, issuances and sales of
its
securities prior to the date hereof, including, without limitation, the
Purchaser Common Stock issued to the Sellers. Except for those securities that
have been properly registered under the Securities Act and all applicable state
securities laws, to the knowledge of the Purchaser, the Purchaser has not
offered any of its securities to any Person by means of general or public
solicitation or general or public advertising, such as by newspaper or magazine
advertisements, by broadcast media, or at any seminar or meeting whose attendees
were solicited by such means.
19
(b) Since
December 31, 2006, the Purchaser has filed all documents with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”)
required to be filed under the Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act
of
1934, as amended (the “Exchange
Act”)
(such
documents filed with the SEC on or before the date hereof referred to herein
as
the “Purchaser
SEC Documents”).
To
the Knowledge of the Purchaser, as of their respective dates, (i) the Purchaser
SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and (ii) none of the
Purchaser SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state 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. To the Knowledge of the Purchaser, the financial
statements of the Purchaser included in the Purchaser SEC Documents comply
as to
form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the
published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP (except, in the case of unaudited statements,
as permitted by Form 10-QSB or Form 10-Q, as applicable, of the SEC) applied
on
a consistent basis during the periods involved (except as may be indicated
therein or in the notes thereto) and fairly present the financial position
of
the Purchaser as at the dates thereof and the results of its operations and
changes in financial position for the periods then ended (subject, in the case
of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments and to any other
adjustments described therein).
(c) Except
as disclosed in the Purchaser SEC Documents, the Purchaser does not have any
liability or obligation of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
or
otherwise) that would be required to be reflected on a balance sheet, or in
the
notes thereto, prepared in accordance with GAAP, except for liabilities and
obligations incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Purchaser since
December 31, 2006, that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Purchaser.
(d) The
Purchaser has heretofore made available to the Sellers a complete and correct
copy of any amendments or modifications that have not yet been filed with the
SEC to agreements, documents, or other instruments that previously have been
filed with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act.
6.13 Financial
Advisors.
No
agent, broker, investment banker, finder, financial advisor or other Person
is
or will be entitled to any broker’s or finder’s fee or any other commission or
similar fee from the Purchaser, directly or indirectly, in connection with
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Transaction Document and
no
Person is entitled to any fee or commission or like payment from the Purchaser
in respect thereof based in any way on agreements, arrangements or
understandings made by or on behalf of the Purchaser.
6.14 Investment
Intent.
The
Purchaser is aware that the Membership Interests are not registered under the
Securities Act or under the Laws of any state. The Purchaser is acquiring the
Membership Interests for its own account and not with a view to their
distribution within the meaning of the Securities Act.
20
6.15 Registration
Rights.
No
Person
has
demand or other rights to cause the Purchaser to file any registration statement
under the Securities Act relating to any securities of the Purchaser or any
right to participate in any such registration statement.
6.16 Environmental.
Except
with respect to the Purchaser’s China Operations, the Purchaser is currently in
compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, including possession and
compliance with the terms of all licenses required by Environmental Laws. There
are no pending, or to the knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened suits, actions,
investigations or proceedings under or pursuant to Environmental Laws against
the Purchaser or involving or arising out of or in connection with the
Purchaser’s business or any real property currently or formerly owned, operated
or leased by the Purchaser. The Purchaser is not subject to and has received
no
written allegations from any Governmental Authority of any Environmental
Liabilities and no facts, circumstances or conditions relating to, arising
from,
associated with or attributable to any real property currently or formerly
owned, operated or leased by the Purchaser or the Purchaser’s operations thereon
has resulted in or would result in Environmental Liabilities, and (iv) all
real
property owned, leased or operated by the Purchaser is free of contamination
from Hazardous Materials that would have a Material Adverse Effect.
6.17 Disclosure;
Survival.
All
representations and warranties set forth in this Section
6
shall
survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby for a period of 18 months immediately after
the
Closing (unless the Sellers knew or had reason to know of any misrepresentation
or breach of warranty at the time of Closing); provided, however, that the
representations and warranties set forth in Section
6.2
shall
survive indefinitely.
7. Closing
Deliveries; Conditions to Closing.
7.1
Sellers’
Deliveries.
At or
prior to the Closing, the Sellers shall deliver to the Purchaser:
(a) an
Instrument
of
Transfer and Assumption, in respect of the Membership Interests, executed by
the
Sellers, substantially in the form of Exhibit
B
hereto
(the “LLC
Instrument”);
(b) mutual
releases dated the
Closing
Date in the form of Exhibit
C
hereto
between each Seller and the Company;
(c) complete
and correct copies of the Certificate of Formation and the Company’s limited
liability company agreement (the “Operating
Agreement”),
certified by an officer of the Company to be true, complete and correct as
of
the Closing Date;
(d) copies
of the limited liability company resolutions authorizing the execution and
delivery by the Company of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, certified by an officer of the Company;
(e) a
certificate of good standing with respect to the Company, as of a then recent
date by the Secretary of State of the State of Illinois;
21
(f) the
Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Sellers;
(g) the
Employment Agreement (as defined below), duly executed by the Company
Executive;
(h) the
Registration Rights Agreement (as defined below), duly executed by each of
the
Sellers;
(i) a
certificate of an appropriate officer of the Company certifying as to the
incumbency of the officers of the Company, executing this Agreement and the
Transaction Documents, including specimen signatures;
(j) the
certificate required pursuant to Section
7.3(j)
hereto;
(k) list
of bank accounts; and
(l) all
other documents required by the terms of this Agreement to be executed and/or
delivered by the Sellers to the Purchaser at the Closing.
7.2
Purchaser’s
Deliveries.
At the
Closing, the Purchaser will deliver to the Sellers (or as otherwise expressly
indicated below):
(a) a
certificate
or
certificates, representing 2,943,759
shares
of the Purchaser Common Stock;
(b) a
certificate representing the Escrow Shares shall be delivered to the Escrow
Agent to be held pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow
Agreement;
(c) a
copy of resolutions of the Purchaser’s board of directors authorizing the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Transaction Documents and
the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, certified
by
an officer of the Purchaser;
(d) the
Employment Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser;
(e) the
Registration Rights Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser;
(f) a
certificate of the Secretary or other appropriate officer of the Purchaser
certifying as to the incumbency of the officers of the Purchaser, as applicable,
executing this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, and including specimen
signatures;
(g) the
Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser and Escrow Agent;
(h) the
certificate required pursuant to Section
7.4(f)
hereto;
and
(i) all
other documents required by the terms of this Agreement to be executed and/or
delivered by the Purchaser at the Closing.
22
7.3
Conditions
of Obligations of the Purchaser.
The
obligation of the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by
this
Agreement is subject to the fulfillment prior to or on the Closing Date of
the
following conditions, any of which may be waived in whole or in part by the
Purchaser:
(a) Representations,
Warranties and Covenants.
The
representations and warranties of the Sellers and the Company under this
Agreement shall be deemed to have been made again on the Closing Date (other
than those representations and warranties made expressly as of a date prior
to
the Closing Date) and shall then be true and correct in all material
respects.
(b) Compliance
with Agreement.
The
Sellers and the Company each shall have performed and complied with, in all
material respects, all covenants, agreements and conditions required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with by each of them on or before the
Closing Date.
(c) [Intentionally
Omitted].
(d) Approvals.
The
Sellers and the Company shall have obtained any and all consents, waivers,
approvals or authorizations, with or by any Governmental Authority or any other
Person required for the valid execution of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(e) No
Injunction.
No
Governmental Authority shall have issued a final and enforceable Order which
shall then be in effect restraining or prohibiting the completion of the
transactions contemplated hereby, nor shall any such Order be
pending.
(f) No
Material Adverse Change.
Since
the date of the Most Recent Financial Statements, there shall not have been
a
Material Adverse Change.
(g) Employment
Agreement.
The
Purchaser shall have received an executed counterpart of the employment
agreement (the “Employment
Agreement”)
from
the Company Executive, in the form of Exhibit
D
attached
hereto.
(h) Registration
Rights Agreement.
The
Purchaser shall have received an executed counterpart of the registration rights
agreement (the “Registration
Rights Agreement”)
from
each of the Sellers, in the form of Exhibit
E
attached
hereto.
(i) Mezzanine
Debt Holders. The
Purchaser shall have received a certificate, in form and substance acceptable
to
Purchaser signed by an officer of the Company, certifying that the Mezzanine
Debt has been paid in full, the Mezzanine Warrants have been retired and/or
cancelled and that there are no further obligations payable or owing to the
Mezzanine Debt Holders.
(j) Certificate
of Officer.
The
Sellers shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate dated the Closing
Date, executed by an officer of the Company, in form and substance acceptable
to
the Purchaser, certifying the satisfaction of the conditions specified in
paragraphs
(a) through (f)
of this
Section 7.3.
23
7.4
Conditions
of Sellers’ Obligations.
The
Sellers’ obligation to sell the Membership Interests to the Purchaser on the
Closing Date is subject to the fulfillment prior to or on the Closing Date
of
the following conditions, any of which may be waived in whole or in part by
either Seller:
(a) Representations
and Warranties.
The
representations and warranties of the Purchaser under this Agreement shall
be
deemed to have been made again on the Closing Date and shall then be true and
correct in all material respects.
(b) Compliance
with Agreement.
The
Purchaser shall have performed and complied with, in all material respects,
all
agreements and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by the Purchaser on or before the Closing.
(c) Approvals.
The
Purchaser shall have obtained any and all consents, waivers, approvals, Permits
or authorizations, with or by any Governmental Authority or any other Person
required for the valid execution of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(d) Payment
of Purchase Price.
The
Purchaser shall have delivered the Base Price specified in Section 3.1
hereof.
(e) No
Injunction.
No
Governmental Authority or any other Person shall have issued an Order which
shall then be in effect restraining or prohibiting the completion of the
transactions contemplated hereby, nor shall any such Order be threatened or
pending.
(f) Certificate
of Officer.
The
Purchaser shall have delivered to the Sellers a certificate dated the Closing
Date, executed by its President, in form and substance acceptable to the
Sellers, certifying the satisfaction of the conditions specified in paragraphs
(a) through (c)
of this
Section
7.4.
(g) Employment
Agreement.
The
Company Executive shall have received an executed counterpart of the Employment
Agreement from the Purchaser.
(h) Registration
Rights Agreement.
The
Sellers shall have each received an executed counterpart of the Registration
Rights Agreement from the Purchaser.
8. Certain
Covenants.
8.1
Consents.
Each of
the Sellers and the Purchaser shall use its reasonable efforts to obtain all
material consents required of third persons in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
8.2
Sellers’
Conduct of Business.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing, the Sellers shall
cause the Company to conduct the operations and business of the Company in
the
ordinary course and consistent with past practices, and, without limiting the
foregoing, prior to the Closing, except in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past or otherwise reasonable practices, the Sellers shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Purchaser, permit the Company to:
24
(a) enter
into any agreement or contract which if entered into prior to the date hereof
would have been required to be disclosed on Schedule
5.15,
other
than agreements or contracts in the nature of renewals or replacements on
substantially similar or then prevailing reasonable commercial terms in the
ordinary course of business;
(b) intentionally
subject to any Liens any material assets of the Company;
(c) dissolve,
liquidate, merge or consolidate or sell, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose
of
any material property or assets of the Company other than in the ordinary course
of business or as otherwise permitted by this Agreement;
(d) make
or authorize any capital expenditures in excess of $15,000 in the aggregate,
other than substantially consistent with budgets therefor or to repair or
replace capital items in the ordinary course of business or to the extent
covered by insurance proceeds;
(e) settle
or compromise any material pending or threatened suit or legal action other
than
in the ordinary course of business; provided, however, that the Purchaser shall
not unreasonably withhold, delay or condition its consent to any such settlement
or compromise;
(f) intentionally
accelerate or compromise any material amount of trade accounts receivable or
intentionally delay payment of any material amount of trade accounts payable
or
normally accruing business expenses in a manner materially inconsistent with
past practice; or
(g)
make any material Tax election or materially
change its method of Tax accounting.
8.3
Access
to Information.
(a) During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing, the Purchaser
and
its representatives shall be given reasonable access upon reasonable prior
notice and during times mutually convenient to the Purchaser and senior
management of the Company, in a manner so as not to interfere with the normal
business operations of the Company, to the facilities, properties, and key
management employees, books and records of the Company as from time to time
may
be reasonably requested, for the purpose of permitting the Purchaser to, among
other things: (a) conduct its due diligence review, (b) review the Financial
Statements of the Company, (c) verify the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Sellers and the Company contained in this Agreement, and
(d)
prepare for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Without limiting the foregoing, the Sellers and the Company will permit the
Purchaser and its representatives to have access during normal business hours
to
examine and make copies of all work papers and schedules of the Company and
its
accountants. In connection therewith, the Purchaser shall be permitted to
discuss the business affairs and Financial Statements of the Company with the
Company’s accountants, and to review the work papers of such accountants
regarding the Company.
25
(b) During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing, the Sellers and
their representatives shall be given reasonable access upon reasonable prior
notice and during times mutually convenient to the Purchaser and the Sellers,
in
a manner so as not to interfere with the normal business operations of the
Purchaser, to the facilities, properties, and key management employees, books
and records of the Purchaser as from time to time may be reasonably requested,
for the purpose of permitting the Sellers to, among other things: (a) conduct
its due diligence review, (b) review the Financial Statements of the Purchaser,
(c) verify the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser
contained in this Agreement, and (d) prepare for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing,
the
Purchaser will permit the Sellers and their representatives to have access
during normal business hours to examine and make copies of all work papers
and
schedules of the Purchaser and its accountants. In connection therewith, the
Sellers shall be permitted to discuss the business affairs and Financial
Statements of the Purchaser with the Purchaser’s accountants, and to review the
work papers of such accountants regarding the Purchaser.
8.4
Purchaser’s
Conduct of Business.
During
the period from the date of this Agreement until the Closing, the Purchaser
shall conduct its operations and business consistent with past or otherwise
reasonable practices.
8.5
No
Shop.
Each
Seller agrees that, from and after the date hereof and until the termination
of
this Agreement in accordance with the terms hereof, that he or she will not,
nor
will he or she permit the Company to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of
the
Membership Interests or any of the assets or properties of the Company (except
for dispositions in the ordinary course of business or as permitted elsewhere
in
this Agreement), and each Seller will not respond to inquiries or proposals,
or
enter into or pursue any negotiations, or enter into any agreements, with
respect to, the sale or purchase of the Membership Interests or the assets,
properties or business of the Company (except for dispositions in the ordinary
course of business or as permitted elsewhere in this Agreement).
8.6
Cooperation;
Taking of Certain Actions.
From
the date hereof until the earlier of the Closing or the termination of this
Agreement, each of the Sellers and the Purchaser shall (and the Sellers shall
cause the Company to) use its commercially reasonable efforts to (i) take
any additional action that is necessary or required in connection with any
notices to, filings with, and authorizations, consents and approvals of, any
governmental agency or any third party required to be given, made or obtained
in
order to effect this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, and
(ii) furnish to the other party hereto such necessary information and reasonable
assistance as such other party may reasonably request in connection with its
preparation of such necessary notices to or filings with or authorizations,
consents and approvals of any such governmental agency or third party.
8.7
8-K
Report.
The
Sellers shall in a prompt and timely manner before the Closing provide the
Purchaser with all annual and interim financial information relating to the
business of the Company as may be reasonably requested by the Purchaser (and
to
the extent any such information is within their control, the Sellers shall
provide the Purchaser such information after the Closing) in order for the
Purchaser to comply with its reporting and disclosure obligations under the
Federal securities laws covered by, and in accordance with the requirements
of,
Securities and Exchange Commission Regulation S-X and Form 8-K, in connection
with the Purchaser's preparation of and so as to enable the Purchaser to timely
file the Purchaser’s Current Report on Form 8-K, and any amendments thereto,
regarding the Closing, and the review, by the Purchaser’s regularly retained
accounting firm (the “Purchaser’s
Accountant”),
of
all financial statements relating to the Company as shall be required to be
included in said Current Report on Form 8-K and/or any such amendment; provided
that such financial information shall, prior to the Closing, be held
confidential by the Purchaser. The Sellers shall in a prompt and timely manner
provide the Purchaser’s Accountant with such management representations as may
be requested by the Purchaser’s Accountant in connection with its preparation of
any financial statements for the Company relating to such Current Report on
Form
8-K.
26
8.8
Post Closing
Covenants.
(a) No
later than five (5) business days following the Closing, the Purchaser shall
take all necessary action to have Remo appointed to the Purchaser’s board of
directors.
(b) Concurrently
with Remo’s appointment to the Purchaser’s board of directors, the Purchaser and
Remo shall have the Company take all necessary action to have the members of
Purchaser’s board of directors, elected as directors of the
Company.
9. Indemnification;
Limitations
on Remedies.
9.1
Indemnification
by the Sellers and the Company.
Subject
to the other provisions of this Section
9,
the
Sellers and the Company shall indemnify the Purchaser for, and hold the
Purchaser harmless from and against, any and all Losses suffered, incurred
or
sustained by any of them or to which any of them becomes subject, to the extent
resulting from, arising out of, or relating to:
(a) any
Current Litigation, whether asserted prior to or after the Closing;
(b) any
accounts receivable, net of reserves, listed on Schedule
5.7
not
collected within six (6) months of the Closing Date; provided, however, that
the
Purchaser shall cause the Company to assign any such accounts receivable to
the
Sellers for their benefit;
(c) any
and all violations of laws, rules, regulations, codes or orders by Sellers
and/or the Company, direct or indirect, fixed, contingent, legal, statutory
or
contractual, which exist at or as of the Closing Date or which arise after
the
Closing Date but which are directly and primarily caused by acts, failures
to
act, transactions, services or state of facts which occurred or existed on
or
before the Closing Date, whether or not then known, due or payable;
(d) any
breach, in any material respect, or default, in any material respect, in the
performance by the Sellers of any covenant or agreement of either of them
contained in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of any covenant
or
agreement contained in this Agreement the performance of which was required
by
this Agreement to be satisfied prior to the Closing;
27
(e) provided
that the Purchaser makes a written claim for indemnification pursuant to
Section
11.8
below
within the survival period of the applicable representation or warranty, as
provided in Section
5.32,
any
breach, in any material respect, by the Company and/or the Sellers of any of
the
representations or warranties made by either of them in this Agreement;
and
(f) any
broker’s or finder’s fee or any similar fee, charge or commission incurred by
the Company and/or the Sellers prior to or in connection with this Agreement,
or
any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
9.2
Indemnification
by the Purchaser.
The
Purchaser shall indemnify the Sellers for, and hold each of them harmless from
and against, any and all Losses suffered, incurred or sustained by any of them
or to which any of them becomes subject, to the extent resulting from, arising
out of, or relating to:
(a) any
breach, in any material respect, or default in the performance by the Purchaser
of any covenant or agreement of it contained in this Agreement;
(b) provided
that the Sellers make a written claim for indemnification pursuant to
Section
11.8
below
within the survival period of the applicable representation or warranty, as
provided in Section
6.17,
any
breach, in any material respect, by the Purchaser of any of the representations
or warranties made by it in this Agreement; and
(c) any
broker’s or finder’s fee or any similar fee, charge or commission incurred by
the Purchaser prior to or in connection with this Agreement, or any of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
9.3
Notice
and Opportunity to Defend.
Promptly after the receipt by the Sellers or the Purchaser, as the case may
be,
of notice of any action, proceeding, claim or potential claim (any of which
is
hereinafter individually referred to as a “Claim”)
which
could give rise to a right to indemnification under Section
9.1
or
Section
9.2,
the
party receiving such notice (an “Indemnified
Party”)
shall
give prompt written notice to the party or parties who may become obligated
to
provide indemnification hereunder (the “Indemnifying
Party”).
Such
notice shall specify in reasonable detail the basis and amount, if
ascertainable, of any claim that would be based upon the Claim. The failure
to
give such notice promptly shall relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
indemnification obligations under this Agreement, unless the Indemnified Party
establishes that the Indemnifying Party either had knowledge of the Claim or
was
not prejudiced by the failure to give notice of the Claim. The Indemnifying
Party shall have the right, at its option, to compromise or defend the claim,
at
its own expense and by its own counsel, and otherwise control any such matter
involving the asserted liability of the Indemnified Party, provided that any
such compromise or control shall be subject to obtaining the prior written
consent of the Indemnified Party which shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed. If any Indemnifying Party undertakes to compromise
or
defend any asserted liability, it shall promptly notify the Indemnified Party
of
its intention to do so, and the Indemnified Party agrees to cooperate fully
with
the Indemnifying Party and its counsel in the compromise of or defense against
any such asserted liability. All costs and expenses incurred in connection
with
such cooperation shall be borne by the Indemnifying Party. In any event, the
Indemnified Party shall have the right at its own expense to participate in
the
defense of an asserted liability.
28
9.4
Limitation
on Remedies.
(a) Sellers’
and Purchaser’s indemnification obligations under Sections
9.1
and
9.2,
as the
case may be, shall only apply to individual items of Loss in excess of $15,000
and neither the Sellers nor the Purchaser shall have
any
liability for any of the indemnification obligations under Sections
9.1
or
9.2,
as the
case may be, for individual items of Loss of $15,000 or less; provided, however,
that once the aggregate amount of all such Losses of $15,000 or less exceeds
$75,000, the Sellers’ and the Purchaser’s indemnification obligations under
Sections
9.1
and
9.2,
as the
case may be, shall apply to all Losses. Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Sellers obligation under this
Agreement to indemnify the Purchaser shall be limited exclusively to the
surrender by the Sellers of the total number of shares of Purchaser Common
Stock
issued or issuable to the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement. The Sellers’
indemnity obligations arising under this Agreement shall be satisfied
exclusively, first, by the surrender of the Escrow Shares pursuant to the Escrow
Agreement and, then, by the surrender by the Sellers of Purchaser Common Stock
pursuant to Sections
9.5(b)
and
(c).
The
number and Fair Market Value of the Escrow Shares and shares of Purchaser Common
Stock surrendered by the Sellers’ pursuant to this Section
9.4
shall be
determined under Schedule
9.5
of this
Agreement.
(b) To
the extent
that
recovery from another Person is available to the Purchaser or the Company,
and
the Purchaser seeks and obtains indemnification from the Sellers pursuant to
the
provisions of this Section
9,
then
the Purchaser agrees to assign to the Sellers, to the fullest extent allowable,
its rights and causes of action with respect to such claims against such other
Person.
(c)
To the
extent
that recovery from another Person is available to the Sellers, and the Sellers
seek and obtain indemnification from the Purchaser pursuant to the provisions
of
this Section
9,
then
Sellers agree to assign to the Purchaser, to the fullest extent allowable,
their
rights and causes of action with respect to such claims against such other
Person.
(d) Neither
the Purchaser
nor the
Sellers is entitled to any damages on account of consequential, incidental
or
indirect damages or losses, including, without limitation, business
interruption, loss of profits, loss of use of facilities and loss of goodwill,
and no “multiple of profits” or other similar damage calculation methodology
will be applied in calculating any damage that may be claimed hereunder.
Additionally, neither the Sellers nor the Purchaser will have any liability
with
respect to any claim for indemnification that relates to the passing of, or
any
change in, any Law or any accounting policy, principle or practice after the
Closing Date or any increase in Tax rates in effect after the Closing Date,
even
if the change or increase has retroactive effect or requires action at a future
date.
(e) To
the extent that
any
breach of a representation, warranty or covenant made by the Sellers or the
Company, on the one hand, or the Purchaser, on the other hand, is capable of
cure, the Purchaser or the Sellers, as the case may be will, as a condition
precedent to asserting a claim concerning the breach, afford the Sellers or
the
Purchaser, as the case may be, a reasonable opportunity (which will not be
more
than ninety (90) days) to cure the breach and will provide, and will cause
its
Affiliates (including the Company) to provide, the Sellers or the Purchaser,
as
the case may be, all reasonable assistance (including access to buildings,
offices, records, files, properties and assets) in connection with such remedy
or cure. The Purchaser will not be entitled to indemnification from the Sellers
for any Losses or other adverse consequences caused by the operation of the
Company following the Closing Date or caused by acts or omissions by the
Purchaser or its Affiliates (including the Company) following the Closing
Date.
29
(f) The
Sellers
will have no liability with respect to any claim that would not have arisen
but
for any act of the Purchaser or its Affiliates (including the disclosure to
any
Person of facts giving rise to such claim or omission after Closing by the
Purchaser or its Affiliates (including the Company)), other than any act or
omission done or arising pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or
required by applicable Law.
(g) The
Purchaser will have no liability with respect to any claim that would not have
arisen but for any act of the Sellers (including the disclosure to any Person
of
facts giving rise to such claim or omission after Closing by the Sellers),
other
than any act or omission done or arising pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement or required by applicable Law.
(h) In
the event that the Indemnifying Party is obligated to indemnify the Indemnified
Party with respect to any of the Indemnifying Party’s indemnification
obligations under this Section
9,
and the
Indemnified Party (including the Company) is entitled to insurance coverage
and/or a Tax Benefit (defined hereafter) with respect to any of the amounts
payable by the Indemnified Party for which it is entitled to indemnification
by
the Indemnifying Party, then any amounts payable to the Indemnified Party will
be net of any insurance coverage and Tax Benefits available to the Indemnified
Party. For purposes of this paragraph, “Tax
Benefit”
will
mean the present value of any refund, net operating loss, credit or reduction
in
otherwise required Tax payments, including any interest payable thereon, which
present value will be computed as of the later of the Closing Date or the first
date on which the right to the refund, credit or other Tax reduction arises
or
otherwise becomes available to be utilized (regardless of the time that
Indemnified Party actually utilizes the benefit), using (i) the Tax rate
applicable to the highest level of income with respect to such Tax under
applicable Law on such date, and (ii) the interest rate on such date imposed
on
corporate deficiencies paid within thirty (30) days of the notice of proposed
deficiency under the Code.
9.5
Escrow
Shares; Contingent Price, Base Price Offset.
(a) With
respect
to any
Losses for which the Sellers are obligated to indemnify and defend the Purchaser
pursuant to this Section
9,
the
Purchaser shall first be entitled to recover such claim out of, and make claim
for, the Escrow Shares and, subject to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, the
Escrow Shares shall be available to satisfy any such claim. The indemnification
provided in this Section
9
is the
exclusive remedy of the Parties with respect to any claim resulting from,
arising out of, or relating to this Agreement or any of the Transaction
Documents.
30
(b) In
the event that the Escrow Shares are not sufficient to satisfy the Sellers’
indemnification obligations pursuant hereto, the Purchaser shall next have
the
right to set-off such deficiency by withholding any shares of the Purchaser
Common Stock deliverable to the Sellers as payment of the Contingent Purchase
Price, if any.
(c) In
the event that the Escrow Shares and the Contingent Purchase Price deliverable
to the Sellers are not sufficient to satisfy the Sellers’ indemnification
obligations, the Purchaser shall then have the right to require the Sellers
to
return to the Purchaser shares of the Purchaser Common Stock previously
delivered to the Sellers as payment of the Base Price, and any shares of
Purchaser Common Stock previously delivered to the Sellers as payment of any
or
all of the Contingent Purchase Price, if any, sufficient to satisfy any such
deficiency.
(d) In
the event that any such shares of Purchaser Common Stock delivered to Sellers
and required to be returned pursuant to Section
9.5(c)
cannot
be delivered by Sellers at the time that delivery of such shares is required
pursuant to this Section
9.5,
Sellers
shall deliver to Purchaser cash payment equal to the Fair Market Value of such
shares (as determined pursuant to Schedule
9.5)
or
shall acquire such shares in the open market and deliver them to
Purchaser.
(e) The
number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock that the Purchaser shall be entitled
to receive from Sellers to indemnify it from any Losses shall be determined
based upon the Fair Market Value (as defined in Schedule
9.5
hereto)
of such shares determined as of the last business day immediately preceding
the
date that such shares are to be delivered to Purchaser; provided, however,
that
notwithstanding anything to the contrary provided herein or elsewhere, if the
Sellers’ indemnification obligations are related to or arise out of or are in
connection with a Legal Proceeding, a number of Escrow Shares reasonably
sufficient to cover the anticipated indemnification obligation resulting from
such Legal Proceeding shall not be released to the Sellers until all appeals
have been completed and no more avenues for appeal are available to plaintiffs
in such Legal Proceedings.
(f) The
forgoing notwithstanding,
the
Sellers may, at their option, elect instead to pay to the Purchaser the Sellers’
indemnification obligations in cash, in which case, after such payment, the
Purchaser shall direct the Escrow Agent to deliver the Escrow Shares to the
Sellers.
9.6
Purchaser
Indemnification Obligations.
With
respect
to any
Losses for which the Purchaser is obligated to indemnify and defend the Sellers
pursuant to this Section
9,
the
Purchaser shall have the right to satisfy such indemnification obligations
through the delivery of shares of Purchaser Common Stock having a Fair Market
Value determined as of the last business day immediately preceding the date
that
such shares are to be delivered to Sellers equal to the amount of such Losses
or
by payment of such Losses in cash.
31
(a) Remedies.
After
the Closing, the rights of the Purchaser under this Section
9
shall be
the exclusive remedy of the Purchaser with respect to claims based upon a breach
or alleged breach of any of the representations and warranties and covenants
of
the Sellers contained herein. The rights of the Sellers under this Section
9
shall be
the exclusive remedy of the Sellers with respect to claims based upon a breach
or alleged breach of any of the representations, warranties and covenants of
the
Purchaser contained herein.
10. Termination.
10.1 This
Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned
at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by
mutual written consent of the Purchaser and the Sellers; or
(b) by
the Purchaser if prior to the Closing, the Purchaser determines that there
has
been a Material Adverse Change in the Company;
(c) by
the Sellers if prior to the Closing, the Sellers determine that there has been
a
Material Adverse Change in the Purchaser; or
(d) by
either of the parties if it is not in breach of this Agreement and if the
Closing shall not have occurred within 120 days of the date hereof.
11. Miscellaneous.
11.1 Expenses.
Each of
the Sellers and the Purchaser shall be responsible for its own out-of-pocket
expenses including, without limitation, payment of its legal and financial
advisors, in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
11.2 Specific
Performance.
Each of
the parties hereto acknowledges and agrees that the Sellers’ refusal to
consummate sale of the Membership Interests to the Purchaser, pursuant to the
provisions of this Agreement, unless the Purchaser has failed to comply, in
any
material respect, with its obligations under this Agreement, would be considered
a material breach of this Agreement by the Sellers which would cause irreparable
damage to the Purchaser, for which it will not have an adequate remedy at law.
Therefore, such obligation of the Sellers to sell the Membership Interests
to
the Purchaser shall be enforceable by a decree of specific performance issued
by
any court of competent jurisdiction, and appropriate injunctive relief may
be
applied for and granted in connection therewith. Such remedies shall, however,
be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies
which the Purchaser may have under this Agreement or otherwise.
11.3 Further
Assurances.
The
Sellers, the Company and the Purchaser agree to execute and deliver such other
documents or agreements as may be necessary or desirable for the implementation
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
11.4 Governing
Law; Jurisdiction.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed solely in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York with respect to contracts made and to
be
fully performed therein, without regard to the conflicts of laws principles
thereof. The parties hereto hereby expressly and irrevocably agree that any
suit
or proceeding arising under this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, shall be brought solely in a federal or state
court located in the City, County and State of New York. By its execution
hereof, the parties hereby expressly and irrevocably submit to the in personam
jurisdiction of the federal and state courts located in the City, County and
State of New York and agrees that any process in any such action may be served
upon either of them personally, or by certified mail or registered mail upon
such party or such agent, return receipt requested, with the same full force
and
effect as if personally served upon such party in New York City. The parties
hereto each waive any claim that any such jurisdiction is not a convenient
forum
for any such suit or proceeding and any defense or lack of in personam
jurisdiction with respect thereto. Except as provided in Schedule
2.2(b) or Schedule 9.5,
in the
event of any such action or proceeding, the party prevailing therein shall
be
entitled to payment from the other party hereto of its reasonable counsel fees
and disbursements.
32
11.5 Entire
Agreement; Amendments and Waivers.
This
Agreement (including the Transaction Documents and all schedules and exhibits
hereto and thereto) represents the entire understanding and agreement among
the
parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and can be amended,
supplemented or changed, and any provision hereof can be waived, only by written
instrument making specific reference to this Agreement signed by the parties
hereto. No action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including, without
limitation, any investigation by or on behalf of any party, shall be deemed
to
constitute a waiver by the party taking such action of compliance with any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein. The waiver
by
any party hereto of a breach of any provision of this Agreement shall not
operate or be construed as a further or continuing waiver of such breach or
as a
waiver of any other or subsequent breach. Except as provided in Section
9.3,
no
failure on the part of any party to exercise, and no delay in exercising, any
right, power or remedy hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall
any single or partial exercise of such right, power or remedy by such party
preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other
right, power or remedy. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and are not
exclusive of any other remedies provided by law.
11.6 Headings;
Interpretive Matters.
The
Section headings of this Agreement are for reference purposes only and are
to be given no effect in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
No provision of this Agreement will be interpreted in favor of, or against,
any
of the parties hereto by reason of the extent to which any such party or its
counsel participated in the drafting thereof or by reason of the extent to
which
any such provision is inconsistent with any prior draft hereof or thereof.
All
references to dollar amounts in this Agreement are to United States dollars,
unless otherwise specifically provided.
11.7 Confidentiality.
Each
party hereto covenants and agrees to treat any non-public information provided
to it by the other concerning the business and finances of the Sellers, the
Company and/or the Purchaser (“Corporate
Information”)
as
confidential and agrees further that it will not use, exploit, reproduce,
disclose or provide Corporate Information to any third-party (other than any
agents of the parties who are bound by substantially similar obligations of
confidentiality) on its own behalf or otherwise, except with the consent of
the
disclosing party or as required by law, legal process or any federal or state
regulatory body having jurisdiction over such party. The provisions of this
Section 11.7
shall
not apply to any information which:
33
(a) was
within the public domain prior to the time of disclosure of Corporate
Information to the receiving party or which comes into the public domain other
than as a result of a breach by the party of this Section 11.7;
(b) was
in the possession of the receiving party (or any of its Employees, directors,
Representatives, or Affiliates) before the receiving party received the
Corporate Information;
(c) was
rightfully acquired by the receiving party from a third party without, to the
knowledge of the receiving party, any restriction or any obligation of
confidentiality; or
(d) was
independently developed by the receiving party without any use or reference
to
the Corporate Information.
The
provisions of this Section 11.7 shall
survive the Closing Date, either in whole or as to any party, for a period
of
five (5) years.
11.8 Notices.
All
notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be deemed given when delivered personally, sent by nationally-recognized
overnight courier service, faxed, e-mailed or mailed by certified mail, return
receipt requested, to the parties at the mailing address, fax number or e-mail
address indicated in the signature pages hereof. All notices are effective
upon
receipt or upon refusal if properly delivered.
11.9 Severability.
If any
provision of this Agreement is invalid or unenforceable, the balance of this
Agreement shall remain in effect.
11.10 Binding
Effect; Assignment.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties and
their respective successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement
shall create or be deemed to create any third-party beneficiary rights in any
Person not a party to this Agreement except as provided below. No assignment
of
this Agreement or of any rights or obligations hereunder may be made by the
Sellers or the Purchaser (by operation of law or otherwise) without the prior
written consent of the other parties hereto and any attempted assignment without
the required consents shall be void; provided, however, that the Purchaser
may
assign this Agreement and any or all of its rights and obligations hereunder,
in
whole or in part, to any of its Affiliates, but any such assignment shall not
relieve the Purchaser of its obligations hereunder. In addition, and whether
or
not any express assignment has been made, the provisions of this Agreement
which
are for the benefit of the Purchaser as purchaser or holder of the Membership
Interests are also for the benefit of and enforceable by, any subsequent holders
of such Membership Interests. Upon any assignment, the references in this
Agreement to the Purchaser shall also apply to any such assignee unless the
context otherwise requires.
34
11.11 Counterparts.
This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, each
of
which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute
one
and the same instrument.
Remainder
of Page Intentionally Left Blank
35
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF,
the
parties hereto have executed or have caused this Agreement to be executed by
their respective officers thereunto duly authorized, as of the date first above
written.
WORLD COMMERCE SERVICES, LLC | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
||
Title: Chief Executive Officer | ||
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
||
|
By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
||
|
WAKO LOGISTICS GROUP, INC. | ||
|
|
|
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx | |
Name:
Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxx
|
||
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
||
|
SIGNATURE
PAGE TO MEMBERSHIP INTEREST PURCHASE AGREEMENT
36