STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT among LIFEWAY FOODS, INC. (“Buyer”) and ILYA MANDEL and MICHAEL EDELSON (“Sellers”) February 6, 2009
EXHIBIT 2.1
among
LIFEWAY
FOODS, INC.
(“Buyer”)
and
XXXX
XXXXXX
and
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXX
(“Sellers”)
February
6, 2009
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
ARTICLE
1 DEFINITIONS
|
1
|
|
1.1
|
DEFINITIONS.
|
1
|
1.2
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ACCOUNTING
TERMS.
|
1
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ARTICLE
2 PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES
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1
|
|
2.1
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PURCHASE
AND SALE.
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1
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2.2
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PURCHASE
PRICE.
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1
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2.3
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EXCLUDED
ASSETS.
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2
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2.4
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EMPLOYEE
PAYMENTS.
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2
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2.5
|
CLOSING
PAYMENTS.
|
2
|
ARTICLE
3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS CONCERNING THE
TRANSACTION
|
3
|
|
3.1
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AUTHORITY
AND CAPACITY.
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3
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3.2
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OWNERSHIP
OF SHARES.
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3
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3.3
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EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY; ENFORCEABILITY.
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3
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3.4
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NONCONTRAVENTION.
|
4
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3.5
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LITIGATION.
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4
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3.6
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FINANCIAL
IMPAIRMENT.
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4
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3.7
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RESTRICTED
SHARES.
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4
|
|
||
ARTICLE
4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS CONCERNING THE
COMPANY
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4
|
|
4.1
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INCORPORATION,
GOOD STANDING, GOVERNING DOCUMENTS.
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4
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4.2
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CAPITALIZATION.
|
5
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4.3
|
OTHER
VENTURES; SUBSIDIARIES.
|
5
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4.4
|
NONCONTRAVENTION.
|
5
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4.5
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FINANCIAL
INFORMATION.
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6
|
4.6
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ABSENCE
OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.
|
6
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4.7
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ABSENCE
OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS.
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6
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4.8
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TAXES.
|
8
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4.9
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EMPLOYEES.
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9
|
4.10
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EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLANS.
|
11
|
4.11
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COMPLIANCE
WITH THE FEDERAL FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION
REQUIREMENTS.
|
13
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4.12
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ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS.
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14
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4.13
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COMPLIANCE
WITH LAWS; PERMITS.
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16
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4.14
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REAL
PROPERTY.
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16
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4.15
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TITLE,
CONDITION AND SUFFICIENCY OF ASSETS.
|
17
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4.16
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INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY.
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17
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4.17
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CONTRACTS.
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18
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4.18
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LITIGATION.
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18
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4.19
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INSURANCE.
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18
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4.20
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ACCOUNTS
RECEIVABLE.
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18
|
4.21
|
CUSTOMERS
AND SUPPLIERS.
|
19
|
4.22
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INDEBTEDNESS.
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19
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4.23
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BROKERAGE.
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19
|
i
4.24
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RELATED
PARTY TRANSACTIONS.
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19
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4.25
|
CONFLICTS
OF INTEREST.
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19
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4.26
|
ABSENCE
OF CERTAIN PAYMENTS.
|
20
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4.27
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FINANCIAL
IMPAIRMENT.
|
20
|
4.28
|
DISCLOSURE.
|
20
|
ARTICLE
5 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
|
20
|
|
5.1
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ORGANIZATION;
AUTHORIZATION.
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20
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5.2
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EXECUTION
AND DELIVERY; ENFORCEABILITY.
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20
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5.3
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NONCONTRAVENTION.
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20
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5.4
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BROKERAGE.
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21
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5.5
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FINANCIAL
IMPAIRMENT.
|
21
|
ARTICLE
6 THE CLOSING
|
21
|
|
ARTICLE
7 CLOSING CONDITIONS AND DELIVERIES
|
21
|
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7.1
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BUYER’S
CLOSING CONDITIONS AND SELLERS’ DELIVERIES.
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21
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7.2
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SELLERS’
CLOSING CONDITIONS AND BUYER’S DELIVERIES.
|
23
|
ARTICLE
8 ADDITIONAL COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
|
24
|
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8.1
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CONDUCT
OF BUSINESS.
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24
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8.2
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NO
MATERIAL CHANGE.
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25
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8.3
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ACCESS.
|
25
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8.4
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COOPERATION
TO SATISFY CLOSING CONDITIONS.
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25
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8.5
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PUBLICITY.
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25
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8.6
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EXPENSES.
|
25
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8.7
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NO
ASSIGNMENTS.
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26
|
8.8
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TAX
MATTERS.
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26
|
8.9
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GENERAL
RELEASE OF CLAIMS.
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31
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8.10
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CONFIDENTIALITY.
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32
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8.11
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NON-COMPETITION,
NON-SOLICITATION AGREEMENT.
|
32
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8.12
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EXCLUSIVITY.
|
33
|
8.13
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FURTHER
ASSURANCES.
|
33
|
8.14
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CORRECTION
OF LEGAL COMPLIANCE ISSUES.
|
34
|
8.15
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PAYMENT
OF SELLING EXPENSES. ON OR BEFORE THE CLOSING
DATE,
|
34
|
8.16
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REMOVAL
OF RESTRICTIVE LEGEND.
|
34
|
8.17
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TAX
PROTECTION.
|
34
|
ARTICLE
9 INDEMNIFICATION
|
35
|
|
9.1
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SURVIVAL.
|
35
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9.2
|
INDEMNIFICATION
OF BUYER.
|
35
|
9.3
|
INDEMNIFICATION
OF SELLERS.
|
37
|
9.4
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LIMITATIONS
ON INDEMNIFICATION OF BUYER INDEMNIFIED PARTIES.
|
37
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9.5
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LIMITATIONS
ON INDEMNIFICATION OF SELLERS’ INDEMNIFIED PARTIES.
|
40
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9.6
|
PROCEDURES
RELATING TO INDEMNIFICATION; THIRD-PARTY CLAIMS.
|
40
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9.7
|
OTHER
CLAIMS.
|
42
|
9.8
|
REMEDIES
OF BUYER.
|
42
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9.9
|
NO
CIRCULAR RECOVERY.
|
42
|
ARTICLE
10 TERMINATION
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43
|
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10.1
|
TERMINATION.
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43
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10.2
|
EFFECT
OF TERMINATION.
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43
|
ii
ARTICLE
11 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
|
44
|
|
ARTICLE
12 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
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54
|
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12.1
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NOTICES.
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54
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12.2
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ENTIRE
AGREEMENT.
|
55
|
12.3
|
MODIFICATION.
|
55
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12.4
|
BINDING
EFFECT.
|
55
|
12.5
|
INTERPRETATION.
|
55
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12.6
|
COUNTERPARTS.
|
56
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12.7
|
THIRD
PARTIES.
|
56
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12.8
|
TIME
PERIODS.
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56
|
12.9
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GOVERNING
LAW.
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56
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12.10
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LEGAL
FEES AND COSTS.
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56
|
iii
Disclosure
Schedules
Schedule
4.1
|
Incorporation,
Good Standing, Governing Documents
|
Schedule
4.2
|
Capitalization
|
Schedule
4.4
|
Consents
|
Schedule
4.5
|
Financial
Statements
|
Schedule
4.6
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
Schedule
4.7
|
Absence
of Certain Changes or Events
|
Schedule
4.8(a)
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Tax
Filings
|
Schedule
4.8(b)
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Tax
Claims, Audits or Proceedings
|
Schedule
4.8(c)
|
Tax
Withholding
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Schedule
4.8(j)
|
Tax
Elections
|
Schedule
4.9(a)
|
Employees
|
Schedule
4.9(c)
|
Labor
Law Compliance; Severance Payments
|
Schedule
4.10(a)(i)
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
Schedule
4.10(a)(ii)
|
ERISA
Affiliate Plans
|
Schedule
4.10(c)
|
Employee
Compensation/Benefits Changes
|
Schedule
4.10(h)
|
Outstanding
Options
|
Schedule
4.11
|
FDA
Requirements
|
Schedule
4.12(a)
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Schedule
4.13
|
Permits
|
Schedule
4.14
|
Real
Property
|
Schedule
4.15
|
Right(s)
of Any Person(s) to Use Company Personal Property
|
Schedule
4.16
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Schedule
4.17
|
Contracts
|
Schedule
4.18
|
Litigation
|
Schedule
4.19
|
Insurance
|
Schedule
4.21
|
Customers,
Suppliers and Distributors
|
Schedule
4.22
|
Indebtedness
|
Schedule
4.24
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
Schedule
4.25
|
Conflicts
of Interest
|
Schedule
7.1(f)
|
Directors
and Officer Resignations
|
Schedule
7.1(p)
|
Related
Party Releases
|
Schedule
7.1(q)
|
Lender
Releases
|
Exhibits
Exhibit
A
|
Form
of Seller Note
|
Exhibit
B
|
Form
of Consulting Agreement
|
Exhibit
C
|
Form
of Real Property Purchase Agreement
|
Exhibit
D
|
Form
of Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
E
|
Form
of Mortgage and Security Agreement
|
Exhibit
F
|
Form
of Stock Pledge
|
Exhibit
G
|
Form
of Lender Releases
|
Exhibit
H
|
Form
of Related Party Releases
|
iv
THIS
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is
entered as of the 6TH day of
February, 2009, by and among Lifeway Foods, Inc., an Illinois corporation
(“Buyer”), Xxxx
Xxxxxx, an individual and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, an individual (each, a “Seller,” and
collectively “Sellers”) and is
supplemented by that certain Forbearance Agreement dated January 30, 2009 (the
“Forbearance Agreement”)
incorporated by reference herein.
RECITALS:
1. Sellers
own all of the issued and outstanding stock (as more particularly defined in
Section 4.2,
collectively the “Shares”) of Fresh
Made, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (the “Company”).
2. Sellers
desire to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase from Sellers, all of the
Shares of the Company in accordance with the terms and provisions of this
Agreement.
In
consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual representations, warranties
and covenants set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE
1
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. Capitalized
terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth
in Article
11.
1.2 Accounting
Terms. Accounting
terms not otherwise defined in this Agreement shall have the meanings attributed
to them under GATAP.
ARTICLE
2
PURCHASE
AND SALE OF SHARES
2.1 Purchase and
Sale. At
the Closing, each Seller shall sell to Buyer, free and clear of all Liens, and
Buyer shall purchase from each Seller, all of the Shares owned by such Seller,
as more specifically set forth on Schedule 4.2 (as to
each Seller, respectively, the “Seller’s Respective
Shares”).
2.2 Purchase
Price. The
aggregate purchase price for all of the Shares (the “Purchase Price”)
shall be an amount equal to:
(a)
|
$8,050,000.00;
less an
amount equal to any Selling Expenses that are in excess of the amount
permitted to be paid by the Company pursuant to Section 8.15
hereof and are not paid by Sellers at Closing (“Unpaid Selling
Expenses”); less the
$100,000.00 Forbearance Payment made pursuant to the Forbearance
Agreement; and less an amount
equal to any Funded Debt that is outstanding immediately prior to the
Closing (the “Outstanding Funded
Debt”) (collectively, the “Base Purchase
Price”);
|
-1-
(b)
|
plus the Seller
Note, in the principal amount of $2,735,000.00, due on February 6,
2011;
|
(c)
|
plus
$980,000.00 worth of the shares of Buyer (i.e., 128,948 shares), valued at
$7.60 per share (the “Lifeway
Shares”);
|
(d)
|
plus the
cancellation by the Company of the Shareholder Loan, in the principal
amount of $265,000.00, and execution by the Company and the Sellers of
mutual releases with regard thereto, and for the related note(s),
mortgage(s), lease agreement(s) and/or other document(s) evidencing same,
providing security therefor and/or related thereto (together, the “Sellers’ Lease(s),
Note(s) and Mortgage”); and
|
(e)
|
plus not more
than $98,000, representing an amount equal to the amount of the funds,
held in two accounts of the Company (the “Vist Accounts”)
on deposit with Vist Financial Corp., and used as collateral for milk
purchases, which amounts/accounts shall remain with the Company from and
after the Closing.
|
Each of
the foregoing items will be delivered to and shared among the individual Sellers
in accordance with the proportionate numbers of Shares owned by each Seller as
set forth in Schedule
4.2.
2.3 Excluded
Assets. The
following assets of the Company shall be excluded from the
Transaction:
(a)
|
The
Shareholder Autos, which will be transferred to Sellers at or prior to the
Closing Date; and
|
(b)
|
Intentionally
omitted.
|
2.4 Employee
Payments. The
Sellers shall be responsible for the payment of any change in control payments
that are or may become due and owing by the Company as a result of the
Transaction (including any payments payable at the election of the payee),
including, without limitation, any change of control payments relating to the
Transaction that may become due and owing as a result of terminations during
periods before or after the Closing that are stipulated in any change of
control, employment, severance or other similar arrangements that Company may
have with its employees, directors, officers or affiliates.
2.5
Closing
Payments. At
the Closing, Buyer shall pay or cause to be paid, by wire transfers of
immediately available funds:
(a)
|
an
aggregate amount in cash equal to the Base Purchase Price less the amount
of the Outstanding Funded Debt (if any) and the Unpaid Selling Expenses
(if any) (the “Closing
Payment”) to an account or accounts as designated in writing by
Sellers (the “Sellers’
Account”);
|
(b)
|
all
of the Unpaid Selling Expenses to the Persons entitled thereto in
accordance with the certificate contemplated by Section
7.1(j);
|
-2-
(c)
|
all
of the Outstanding Funded Debt to be repaid in full to the Persons
entitled thereto pursuant to the payoff letters to be obtained by Sellers
prior to the Closing in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Buyer
and its lenders (the “Payoff
Letters”), which Payoff Letters will state, among other things,
that upon satisfaction of the terms and conditions contained in such
Payoff Letters the Outstanding Funded Debt shall be paid in full and all
Liens and guarantees relating to the Funded Debt shall be released without
any further action on the part of such lender;
and
|
(d)
|
an
aggregate amount in cash equal to the amount of the funds held in the Vist
Accounts, which amount shall not be more than $98,000, to the Sellers’
Account.
|
Buyer and
Sellers acknowledge that, following the Closing Date, the Company shall be and
remain solely liable to the Obligee for the Assumed Liabilities, which Buyer
agrees to and shall cause the Company to fully pay to the Obligee and satisfy,
in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company, subject to any rights or
defenses that the Company may have against the Obligee with respect to such
Assumed Liabilities. Effective as of and at all times following the
Closing Date, the Sellers shall not have any responsibility for the payment of
any of the Assumed Liabilities to the Obligee; provided, however,
that nothing in this paragraph shall be deemed to limit Buyer’s rights against
Sellers, or Sellers’ obligations to Buyer, under Article 9 of this
Agreement.
ARTICLE
3
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
CONCERNING
THE TRANSACTION
Each
Seller jointly and severally represents and warrants to Buyer that the following
statements contained in this Article 3 are true and correct
and will survive Closing for the time periods set forth in Section
9.1.
3.1 Authority and
Capacity. Sellers
have all requisite capacity, power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
this Agreement and each Related Agreement to be executed and delivered by
Sellers, and to consummate the Transaction.
3.2 Ownership of
Shares. Each
Seller is the beneficial and record owner and has good and marketable title to
all of such Seller’s Respective Shares, free and clear of all Liens and does not
own any other equity interest in the Company. No Seller is a party to
any outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant, purchase right or other
contract that could require such Seller to sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of such Seller’s Respective Shares. No Seller is a party to any
voting trust, proxy or other contract with respect to the voting of such
Seller’s Respective Shares. At the Closing, Buyer will acquire from
each Seller good and valid title to such Seller’s Respective Shares, free and
clear of all Liens.
3.3 Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. This
Agreement and the Related Agreements have been duly and validly executed and
delivered by Sellers and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
Sellers, enforceable against Sellers in accordance with their respective terms,
and are effective to transfer each Seller’s Respective Shares to
Buyer.
-3-
3.4 Noncontravention. Neither
the execution and delivery by Sellers of this Agreement or any Related
Agreement, nor the consummation of the Transaction by Sellers on the terms and
conditions provided for herein or therein, nor the compliance with or
performance by Sellers of the terms and conditions hereof or thereof will,
directly or indirectly: (a) be a violation or breach of, a default under or
otherwise contravene or conflict with, result in a termination or acceleration
of, create in any party the right to accelerate, amend, suspend, renegotiate,
terminate, modify, cancel or require any notice under (i) any agreement or
instrument to which any Seller is a party (including, without limitation, any
trust agreement or instrument) or (ii) any Law applicable to any Seller or by
which any Seller’s property is bound; (b) permit or result in the creation of
imposition of any Lien upon any Seller’s assets; (c) require a filing with or a
Permit from any Governmental Authority; (d) require the consent, approval,
authorization, exemption or other action of any Governmental Authority or any
other Person; or (e) cause Buyer to become subject to, or to become liable for
the payment of any Tax or any other liability.
3.5 Litigation.
There are
no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened against or
affecting any Seller or his assets in or before any court, arbitrator, mediator
or other Governmental Authority. No Seller has received notice of or
is aware of the basis for any claim as to the foregoing. No Seller is
subject to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or
award.
3.6 Financial
Impairment. As
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, Sellers are not subject to
any Financial Impairment.
3.7 Restricted
Shares. Sellers
(a) have been advised and understand that the Lifeway Shares have not been
registered under the Securities Act; (b) acknowledge that the Lifeway Shares
will be “restricted securities” within the meaning of such term under the
Securities Act, will bear a restrictive legend and may be resold without
registration under the Securities Act only in certain limited circumstances; and
(c) represent that they are familiar with Rule 144 under the Securities Act as
currently in effect, and are familiar with the resale restrictions imposed
thereby and by the Securities Act, which include, without limitation, a holding
period of at least six (6) months, the removal of the restrictive legend, and
the provision of an opinion by the Buyer’s attorney consenting to the removal of
the restrictive legend.
ARTICLE
4
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
CONCERNING
THE COMPANY
Each
Seller jointly and severally represents and warrants to Buyer that the following
statements contained in this Article 4 are true and
correct and will survive Closing for the time periods set forth in Section
9.1.
4.1 Incorporation, Good
Standing, Governing Documents. The
Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of Pennsylvania. The Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority to own and lease its assets and to
operate its business as the same are now being owned, leased and
operated. The Company is duly qualified and/or licensed to do
business solely in Pennsylvania and, to the knowledge of Sellers, the Company
was and is not required to be qualified and/or licensed as a foreign entity in
any other jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership of
its properties requires it to be so qualified or licensed. Schedule 4.1
sets forth a true and complete list of (a) all jurisdictions in which the
-4-
Company
is qualified or licensed to do business, (b) all directors and officers of the
Company, (c) all bank, payroll and securities brokerage accounts of the Company
and all authorized signers for each such account and (d) all powers of attorney
granted by the Company to any third party that are currently in
effect. The Company has delivered or made available to Buyer a true,
correct, complete and up-to-date copy of its organizational documents, each of
which is in full force and effect, and the Company is not in violation of any
provision thereof. The Company has also delivered to Buyer true,
correct, complete and up-to-date copies of its minute books and stock
ledgers.
4.2 Capitalization. Sellers
own 100% of the Shares. Schedule 4.2
sets forth the Seller’s Respective Shares as to each Seller. All of
the Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and are
nonassessable, and were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and
state securities Laws. There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other
agreements or understandings with respect to the voting, sale or transfer of any
shares of the Company. There do not exist, nor are there outstanding,
(a) any shares or (b) any rights or security granted or issued to any Person to
cause the Company to issue, convert, register or sell any Shares to any Person
(including any warrant, option, convertible debt obligation, or any other
similar right, security, instrument, commitment or agreement). There
is no obligation, contingent or otherwise, of the Company to (a) repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire any Shares or other equity interests or securities
of the Company or (b) loan to, invest in, or provide any guarantee with respect
to the obligations of any Person. As of the Closing, the Company will
not be obligated to pay any distribution or payment to any current or former
holder of its shares, other than as expressly provided in this
Agreement. There are no preemptive rights or rights of first refusal
with respect to the issuance of any of the Company’s shares.
4.3 Other Ventures;
Subsidiaries. The
Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any equity ownership
interest in any other Person. The Company is not a partner or member
of any partnership, limited liability company or joint venture. The
Company does not have any obligation to purchase or acquire any such stock or
other equity ownership interest.
4.4 Noncontravention. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.4, neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Related Agreement, nor
consummation of the Transaction upon the terms and conditions provided for
herein or therein, nor the compliance with or performance in all material
respects of the terms and provisions hereof will (a) be a violation or breach
of, a default under, or otherwise contravene or conflict with the organizational
documents of the Company, (b) contravene, conflict with or be a breach or
violation of, constitute a default under, result in a loss of any benefit under,
or give rise to a right of any party to accelerate, amend, suspend, renegotiate,
modify, terminate, cancel or rescind any agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party, (c) be a violation of any Law applicable to the Company or
the business, assets, properties or operations of the Company, (d) require a
filing by the Company with or a Permit to be obtained by the Company from any
Governmental Authority, (e) permit or result in the creation or imposition of
any Lien upon any of the assets or properties of the Company, (f) require the
consent, approval, exemption or authorization or other action of any
Governmental Authority or any other Person or (g) cause Buyer to become subject
to, or to become liable for the payment of any Tax or any other liability; provided, however,
that nothing in this Section 4.4 shall
apply to the obligation to provide notice of the Transaction, to the FDA and any
other federal, state or local agencies or departments, about which Buyer is
fully familiar and experienced.
-5-
4.5 Financial
Information.
|
(a)
|
Schedule 4.5
sets forth complete and up-to-date copies of the federal, Pennsylvania and
City of Philadelphia Tax Returns (including balance sheets, income
statements and related schedules attached thereto) of the Company as at
and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2005,
December 31, 2006, and December 31, 2007 (the “Annual Tax
Returns”). Schedule 4.5
also sets forth copies of interim financial statements (balance sheets,
income statements and statements of cash flows) of the Company as at and
for the 11-month period ended November 30, 2008 (the “Interim Financial
Statements,” and together with the Tax Returns, the “Financial
Statements”). The Financial Statements were prepared from the books
of account of the Company on a tax accounting basis, present fairly the
financial position of the Company on a tax accounting basis as of the
dates indicated and the results of operations (and, with respect solely to
the Interim Financial Statements, cash flows) on a tax accounting basis
for the periods then ended, and were prepared in accordance with GATAP,
consistently applied, subject to, in the case of the Interim Financial
Statements, normal year end
adjustments.
|
|
(b)
|
The
Company’s internal controls and procedures are sufficient to ensure that
the Financial Statements are accurate in all material
respects. All accounts, books and ledgers related to the
business of the Company are properly kept, are accurate and complete in
all material respects, and there are no material inaccuracies or
discrepancies of any kind contained or reflected therein. The
Company maintains internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (a) transactions are executed in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorizations, (b) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of the Financial Statements in
conformity with GATAP and to maintain accountability for assets,
(c) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization and (d) the recorded
accounting records for the Company’s assets are compared with the existing
assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
|
4.6 Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities. Except
as set forth in the balance sheet of the Company as of November 30, 2008 and for
current Liabilities, including without limitation accounts payable, not unusual
in nature or amount, incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since November
30, 2008, or as set forth on Schedule 4.6, the
Company has no Liabilities of any nature.
4.7 Absence of Certain Changes
or Events. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.7,
since December 31, 2007, the Company has been operated only in the Ordinary
Course of Business, and:
(a)
|
there
has not occurred any event or circumstance regarding the Company that
constitutes, or that, to the knowledge of Sellers, is reasonably likely to
result in, a Material Adverse Change in the business, assets, Liabilities,
financial condition, operating results, employees, customer, supplier or
distributor relationships or prospects of the
Company;
|
(b)
|
there
has not been any change in the tax reporting or accounting policies,
practices, methodologies or underlying assumptions of the Company; the
Company has not settled or compromised any Tax liability or made any Tax
election; and the Company has not changed its practices or policies of
accruing any workers’ compensation
claim;
|
-6-
(c)
|
the
Company has not incurred any Indebtedness or assumed, guaranteed, or
endorsed the Indebtedness of any other Person, nor canceled any debt or
compromised or released any right or claim other than in connection with
the performance of this Transaction, nor prepaid any Indebtedness for
borrowed money;
|
(d)
|
the
Company has not suffered any extraordinary loss, theft, damage,
destruction or loss of or to any tangible asset, nor waived any rights of
material value;
|
(e)
|
the
Company has not made, granted, or committed to make or grant any bonus or
any wage, salary or compensation increase to any director, officer,
employee or consultant, other than salary increases and bonuses in the
Ordinary Course of Business, or any increase of any benefit provided under
any employee benefit plan or arrangement, and the Company has not amended
or terminated any existing employee benefit plan or arrangement or adopted
any new employee benefit plan or
arrangement;
|
(f)
|
the
Company has not made any distribution to its shareholders on or in respect
of, and has not repurchased, redeemed, retired or otherwise acquired any
equity interests of its shareholders or any options, warrants or other
rights to purchase such equity interests or adjusted or reclassified its
equity interests;
|
(g)
|
the
Company has not sold, assigned, licensed, transferred or subjected to any
Lien, except for Permitted Liens, or committed to sell, assign, license,
transfer or subject to any Lien, except for Permitted Liens, any tangible
or intangible assets other than in the Ordinary Course of
Business;
|
(h)
|
the
Company has not discharged or satisfied any material Lien or paid any
material obligation or Liability, other than current Liabilities paid in
the Ordinary Course of Business;
|
(i)
|
the
Company has not purchased or leased, or committed to purchase or lease,
any asset;
|
(j)
|
the
Company has not made or authorized any capital expenditure or commitment
for any capital expenditure in excess of $5,000 for any individual item or
$25,000 in the aggregate;
|
(k)
|
there
has been no material change in existing credit terms with any customer,
supplier or distributor of the
Company;
|
(l)
|
the
Company has not changed how it conducts its cash management practices
(including the collection of receivables, payment of payables, maintenance
of inventory controls and pricing
practices);
|
-7-
(m)
|
the
Company has not committed or agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to
do any of the foregoing; and
|
(n)
|
there
has been no change to the Vist Accounts containing, in the
aggregate, $92,571.21 (as of January 15, 2009), all of the
funds in the Vist Accounts belong to the Company, there has been no
default by the Company that would cause any portions of the Vist Accounts
to be taken by another party, and the entire amount in the Vist Accounts
will be recoverable by the Company if it terminates its relationship with
Vist Financial Corp., or by any milk suppliers for which amounts in the
Vist Accounts were posted by the Company as security for
purchases.
|
4.8 Taxes.
(a)
|
Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.8(a), all Tax Returns required to be filed by the Company have
been duly and timely filed and are true, accurate and
complete. The Company has paid all Taxes due (whether or not
shown as due and owing on such Tax Returns) as of the
Closing. The Company is not currently the beneficiary of any
extension of time within which to file any Tax
Return.
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(b)
|
Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.8(b), there are no Tax claims, audits or proceedings pending or,
to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened against the
Company. There are not currently in force any waivers or
agreements binding upon the Company for the extension of time for the
assessment or payment of any Tax.
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(c)
|
Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.8(c),
the Company has properly withheld and/or paid all Taxes required to have
been withheld and/or paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any
shareholder, employee, creditor, independent contractor, or other third
party.
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(d)
|
The
Company is not a party to or bound by any Tax allocation or Tax sharing
agreement with any other Person and has no contractual obligation to
indemnify any other Person with respect to Taxes. The Company
has not incurred any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treas.
Reg. § 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign
law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or
otherwise.
|
(e)
|
The
Company has never been a member of an affiliated group of corporations,
within the meaning of Section 1504 of the
Code.
|
(f)
|
The
Company is not a party to any joint venture, partnership or other
arrangement or contract which could be treated as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes.
|
(g)
|
No
claim has ever been made to the Company or either or both of Sellers by an
authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns
that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
|
-8-
(h)
|
There
are no Liens for Taxes upon any of the assets of the
Company.
|
(i)
|
The
Company will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude
any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or
portion thereof) ending after December 31, 2008 as a result of any
(i) change in method of accounting made by the Company prior to the
Closing for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, or
(ii) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the
Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign
Law) executed by the Company or either or both of Sellers prior to the
Closing Date. There are no outstanding rulings of, or requests
for rulings from, any Tax authority, addressed to the Company that are, or
if issued would be, binding on the
Company.
|
(j)
|
All
material elections in effect as of the date hereof with respect to Taxes
affecting the Company are set forth on Schedule
4.8(j). The Company is not or will not be required to
recognize positive adjustments to income because of a change in method of
accounting made by the Company prior to the Closing pursuant to Section
481 of the Code.
|
(k)
|
There
are no outstanding rulings of, or requests for rulings from, any tax
authority addressed to the Company that are, or if issued, would be
binding on the Company.
|
(l)
|
The
Company has not filed a consent under Section 341(f) of the Code
concerning collapsible corporations. The Company has not made any
payments, is not obligated to make any payments and is not a party to any
agreement that under any circumstances could obligate it to make any
payments that will not be fully deductible under Section 280G of the Code.
The Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation
with the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable
period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code. The Company has
disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns all positions taken therein
that could give rise to a substantial understatement of federal income Tax
within the meaning of Section 6662 of the
Code.
|
4.9 Employees.
(a)
|
Schedule
4.9(a) contains a true,
correct and complete list of (i) all employees presently employed or
engaged by the Company (the “Employees”),
(ii) a true and correct and complete list of all independent contractors
and leased employees providing services to the Company (“Leased
Employees”), and (iii) any bonus accrued by on behalf of or
received by any Employees or Leased Employees on or after January 1, 2008,
and their current remuneration. Except as disclosed on Schedule
4.9(a), the Company has not received any notice of and has no
knowledge of the intent to terminate employment from any person listed on
Schedule 4.9(a),
nor has the Company made any offer of employment to any Person or agreed
to engage any Person as a Leased Employee, except in the Ordinary Course
of Business.
|
-9-
(b)
|
The
Company, within the last three years, has not experienced any organized
slowdown, work interruption, strike, or work stoppage by the
Employees. Neither the Company nor an ERISA Affiliate is a
party to or has any obligation pursuant to any oral and legally binding or
written agreement, collective bargaining or otherwise, with any party
regarding the rates of pay, employee benefits, or working conditions of
any of the Employees or its former employees, nor is the Company or an
ERISA Affiliate obligated under any contract, order or law to recognize or
bargain with any labor organization or union on behalf of such
Employees. No labor union organizing activity has been
conducted by the Employees in the past three years. Neither the
Company nor Sellers know of any pending or threatened union organizing
efforts that might impose collective bargaining obligations on the
Company.
|
(c)
|
Neither
the Company nor any of its officers, directors, or employees has been
charged or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened with the charge of any
unfair labor practice within the last two years. Except as
described on Schedule 4.9(c)
or Schedule 4.8(c),
the Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable
federal, state, local and foreign Laws concerning the employment
relationship and with all agreements relating to the employment of the
Employees, including applicable Laws relating to wage and hour, fair
employment practices, occupational health and safety, worker compensation,
unemployment, hiring and other employment practices, immigration,
violation of public policies, equal employment entitlement, prohibited
discrimination, or termination of employment and social security and other
similar employment acts (collectively, the “Labor Laws”).
There are no pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened labor
claims against the Company. The Company is not liable for any
unpaid wages, bonuses, or commissions (other than those not yet due) or
any Tax, penalty, assessment, or forfeiture for failure to comply in all
material respects with any of the matters set forth in this Section
4.9(c). There is no outstanding policy, practice, plan,
handbook, management guideline, agreement or arrangement with respect to
severance payments with respect to any employee, officer, director,
independent contractor or consultant of the
Company.
|
(d)
|
The
Company has never, during the Inquiry Period, been the subject of any
inspection or investigation relating to its compliance with or violation
of any of the Labor Laws, nor, during the Inquiry Period, has it received
notice, been warned, fined or otherwise penalized by reason, of any
failure to comply in all material respects with any of the Labor Laws, nor
is any such proceeding pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers,
threatened.
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(e)
|
The
Company has not effectuated (i) a “plant closing” (as defined in the
Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act Pub. L. 100-379,
102 stat. 890 (1988) (the “WARN Act”))
affecting any site of employment or one or more facilities or operating
units within any site of employment or facility of the Company; or (ii) a
“mass layoff” (as defined in the WARN Act) affecting any site of
employment or facility of the Company; and the Company has not been
affected by any transaction or engaged in layoffs or employment
terminations sufficient in number to trigger application of any similar
state or local Law. None of the employees of the Company has
suffered an “employment loss” (as defined in the WARN Act) since six
months prior to the Closing Date.
|
-10-
(f)
|
There
are no employment contracts (whether or not in writing) with any
Employees, and no provision of any employee handbook or policy manual can
be construed as creating an employment contract. All Employees
can be terminated by the Company “at will.” There are no
contracts (whether or not in writing) or other obligations or commitments
with respect to any Leased
Employees.
|
(g)
|
Neither
the Company nor Sellers know of any oral or written notice, report or
information regarding any liabilities (whether accrued, absolute,
contingent, unliquidated or otherwise) or any corrective, investigatory or
remedial obligations arising under environmental or safety
requirements.
|
4.10 Employee Benefit
Plans.
(a)
|
Schedule
4.10(a)(i) contains a true and complete list of all Plans. Schedule
4.10(a)(ii) contains a true and complete list of all ERISA
Affiliate Plans.
|
(b)
|
With
respect to each Plan, and where applicable, with respect to each ERISA
Affiliate Plan:
|
(i)
|
The
Plan has been provided to Buyer for review, including correct and complete
copies of: (A) all trust agreements or other funding arrangements for such
Plan (including insurance contracts), and all amendments thereto, (B) with
respect to any such Plan or any amendments thereto, all current
determination letters and, if any, rulings, opinion letters, notes,
correspondence to or from, or other information letters, or advisory
opinions issued by the IRS, the United States Department of Labor, or the
PBGC, (C) annual reports or returns, audited or unaudited financial
statements, actuarial valuations and reports, and summary annual reports
prepared for the Plan with respect to the most recent three plan years,
(D) the most recent summary plan descriptions and any modifications
thereto, and (E) any documents relating to voluntary or involuntary
correction under the IRS Employee Plan Compliance Resolution
System.
|
(ii)
|
The
Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan and the related trusts subject to ERISA
comply in all material respects with and have been administered in
compliance with the terms of such Plan or ERISA Affiliate Plan and, (A)
the applicable provisions of ERISA, (B) all applicable provisions of the
Code relating to qualification and Tax exemption under Code Sections
401(a) and 501(a) or otherwise applicable to secure intended Tax
consequences, (C) all applicable state or federal securities Laws, and (D)
all other applicable Laws and collective bargaining agreements, and none
of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has received any notice from any
governmental authority questioning or challenging such
compliance. No event has occurred which will give rise to
disqualification of any such plan or Loss of intended Tax consequences
under the Code or to any Tax under Section 511 of the
Code.
|
-11-
(iii)
|
No
oral or written representation or communication with respect to any aspect
of the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan has been made to Employees prior
to the date hereof that is not in accordance with the written or otherwise
preexisting terms and provisions of such plans. None of the
Company, or, to the knowledge of the Company or any administrator or
fiduciary of the Employee Benefit Plan (or any agent of any of the
foregoing) has engaged in any transaction, or acted or failed to act in
any manner that, to the knowledge of Sellers, will subject Buyer, the
Company to any Liability (by indemnity or otherwise) for breach of any
fiduciary, co-fiduciary or other duty under ERISA or the
Code.
|
(iv)
|
No
“party in interest” (as defined in Section 3(14) of ERISA) or
“disqualified Person” (as defined in Code Section 4975) of any Plan has
engaged in any nonexempt “prohibited transaction” (described in Code
Section 4975 or ERISA Section 406).
|
(v)
|
There
are (A) no pending investigations by any governmental authority involving
the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan, (B) no termination proceedings
involving the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan, (C) no threatened (to the
knowledge of Sellers) or pending claims (except for claims for benefits
payable in the normal operation of the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan),
suits or proceedings against the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan or
asserting any rights or claims to benefits under the Plan or the ERISA
Affiliate Plan which, to the knowledge of Sellers, will give rise to any
material Liability, and (D) no facts which, to the knowledge of Sellers,
will give rise to any material liability in the event of such
investigation, claim, suit or
proceeding.
|
(vi)
|
All
contributions to, and payments from, the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan
which may have been required to be made in accordance with the Plan or the
ERISA Affiliate Plan or any collective bargaining agreement and, when
applicable, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, have been
timely made.
|
(c)
|
Except
as set forth on Schedule
4.10(c), neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or
the Related Agreements, nor the consummation of the Transaction will (i)
entitle any Employee, Leased Employee or former Employee or director of
the Company to severance pay, unemployment compensation or any payment
contingent upon a change in control or ownership of the Company or the
Shares, (ii) increase or enhance any benefits payable under any Plan or
(iii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount,
of any compensation due to any such Employee, Leased Employee or former
Employee or director.
|
-12-
(d)
|
Each
ERISA Affiliate and the Company have complied with the continuation
coverage requirements of the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1985, as amended, and ERISA Sections 601 through 608 (“COBRA”) and the
requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act,
as amended (“HIPAA”). Neither
the Plan or the ERISA Affiliate Plan is subject to Title IV of ERISA,
Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. None of the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate sponsors contributes to or has any
obligations or any Liability with respect to, including, but not limited
to, an “obligation to contribute” (as defined in ERISA Section 4212) to a
“multiemployer plan” (as defined in ERISA Sections 4001(a)(3) and
3(37)(A)) or an Employee Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA or
Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the
Code.
|
(e)
|
No
Plan promises or provides medical, health, dental, vision, life insurance,
disability or other welfare benefits or insured benefits to any person
that is not an Employee, or the qualified dependent of such person,
following the termination of the employment of such Employee with the
Company, except where the cost of such benefit is borne entirely by the
former Employee (or his or her dependents) and is specifically required
under COBRA.
|
(f)
|
With
respect to any Plan that is an employee welfare benefit Plan, whether or
not subject to ERISA, no such Plan is unfunded, funded through a “welfare
benefit fund” (as defined in Code Section 419(e)) or self-insured, and all
such Plans may be amended, modified, or terminated at any time by the
Company without liability.
|
(g)
|
No
Employee will incur an excise tax or other penalty or tax under Code
Sections 4999 or 409A as a result of, or related to, the
Transaction.
|
(h)
|
Except
as otherwise listed on Schedule
4.10(h), there are no outstanding, whether vested or not vested,
(i) options to purchase equity of the Company, or (ii) other forms of
equity or equity-type participation relating to the
Company.
|
4.11 Compliance with the Federal
Food and Drug Administration Requirements. Except
as set forth in Schedule
4.11:
|
(a)
|
The
Company is and at all times during the Inquiry Period has been in
compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws relating to
the manufacture, storage, transportation, sale, handling, distribution and
labeling of the Company’s products.
|
-13-
|
(b)
|
Without
limiting the generality of the immediately preceding statement, (i) the
Company has not, at any time during the Inquiry Period, sold or
distributed any products which are or were contaminated, adulterated or
misbranded or which are or have been subject to any recall (whether
ordered by the FDA or otherwise); (ii) all labels for all products
manufactured, sold or distributed by the Company are and at all times
during the Inquiry Period have been correct in all material respects and
comply in all material respects with all requirements of all applicable
Laws; (iii) all of the Company’s operations are in compliance, in all
material respects, with all applicable Laws (including those issued by the
FDA and/or any applicable state or local governmental agencies (including
all aspects of the Company’s production, storage, transportation and
record-keeping operations); (iv) the Company has in place
appropriate policies and procedures to ensure compliance, in all material
respects, with all applicable Laws (including those of the FDA and/or any
applicable state and local governmental agencies; (v) the Company does not
currently and has at no time during the Inquiry Period produced any
products which contain any ingredients or additives which were not at the
time of manufacture and sale approved as food ingredients or additives by
the FDA; and (vi) all promotional and advertising materials used or
produced by the Company currently or during the Inquiry Period comply, in
all material respects, with all requirements or all applicable Laws
(including those of the FDA and all applicable state and local
governmental agencies).
|
|
(c)
|
The
Company has established compliance programs and procedures reasonably
designed to assure compliance, in all material respects, with all
applicable Laws.
|
|
(d)
|
As
of December 1, 2008, the Company has ceased and desisted from the practice
of disposing items of universal waste (namely, waste fluorescent light
bulbs) in the general trash and the Company’s current practice is to
dispose of such materials in accordance with applicable
Law.
|
4.12 Environmental
Matters. Subject to the provisions of Section 4.12(c)
below:
(a)
|
There
has been no generation, use, handling, treatment, storage or disposal by
the Company or, to the knowledge of Sellers, any other party, of any
hazardous material at, on, under or from or transported to or from any of
the Leased Real Property or any other real property now or formerly owned
or operated by the Company, or in connection with the operations of the
Company. To the knowledge of Sellers, there has been no
release, or threatened release, of any hazardous material at, on, under,
from, or affecting, any of the Leased Real Property. To the
knowledge of the Sellers, there has been no release, or threatened
release, of any hazardous material at, on, under, from, or affecting any
other real property now or formerly owned or operated by the
Company. There has been no disposal of any hazardous materials
by the Company or, to the knowledge of Sellers, any other party, at, on or
under any of the Leased Real Property in violation of Environmental Laws
or which
|
-14-
|
requires
investigation, remediation or other response action by the Company under
Environmental Laws. There has been no disposal by the Company
of any hazardous materials in connection with the operations of the
Company in violation of Environmental Laws or which requires
investigation, remediation or other response action by the Company under
Environmental Laws. The Company has not been named in any
Action, nor, to the knowledge of Sellers, has any Action been threatened
concerning, nor any demand or request for information from any third party
been received by Sellers with respect to, the presence, a release or
threatened release of any hazardous material. To the knowledge
of Sellers and except as set forth in Schedule
4.12(a), there are no underground storage tanks or related piping
located on, under or at any of the Leased Real Property. To the
knowledge of the Sellers, there are no underground storage tanks or
related piping located on, under or at any other real property formerly
owned or operated by the Company. The Company has not removed
any such tank or piping from the Leased Real Property, any other real
property now or formerly owned or operated by the
Company. Except as set forth in Schedule
4.12(a), the Company is and has been in compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws and possesses all environmental Permits
which are required with respect to the operation of its business, and
there are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened
that seek the revocation, cancellation, suspension or any modification of
any such environmental Permits. No hazardous materials managed
by the Company have come to be located in any site which is listed or
proposed for listing under CERCLA, on the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Information System list, as
established under CERCLA, or in any similar state list, or which, to the
knowledge of Sellers, is the subject of foreign, federal, state or local
enforcement actions or other investigations which may lead to claims
against the Company for response actions, damages to natural resources or
for personal injury claims, including, but not limited to, claims under
CERCLA. To the knowledge of the Sellers, there have neither
been any non-routine environmental inspections, investigations, studies,
audits, tests, reviews or other analyses documented in relation to any
Leased Real Property, or any property formerly owned, operated or leased
by the Company or, with respect to the business of the Company, nor are
there any in the possession or control of the Company. The
Company has neither been named in any Action, nor, to the knowledge of
Sellers, has any Action been threatened concerning, nor has any demand
been received by the Company from any third party, notifying the Company
of any obligation, contractual or otherwise, (i) to perform any
environmental investigation or remediation for any third party, or (ii) to
defend indemnify, or hold harmless any third party from or against any
claims or losses arising from either a release of any hazardous materials
or a violation of any Environmental
Law.
|
(b)
|
The
Company has provided to Buyer all environmental site assessment reports,
compliance or other soil, air and/or groundwater analyses (including
asbestos surveys and operation and maintenance plans) documented in
relation to any Leased Real Property or any other real property owned,
operated or leased by the Company or, with respect to the business of the
Company, which are in possession or control of the
Company.
|
-15-
(c)
|
Anything
contained in this Section 4.12 to
the contrary notwithstanding, the indemnification of the Buyer Indemnified
Parties with respect to the representations and warranties set forth in
this Section
4.12 shall be subject to the limitations and conditions set forth
in Section
9.4(f) below.
|
4.13 Compliance with Laws;
Permits.
|
(a)
|
Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.13,
the Company has been and is in compliance in all material respects with
all Laws applicable to it and its business, assets, properties and
operations. The Company owns or possesses all right, title and
interest in and to all Permits that are necessary to own and operate its
business, properties and assets, as intended by Buyer. Schedule 4.13
sets forth an accurate list of each of the Company’s
Permits. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.13,
the Company has not received notice from any Person alleging any
noncompliance with any Law or Permit. None of the Permits of
the Company will, to the knowledge of Sellers, lapse, terminate or expire
as a result of the consummation of the Transaction. All such
Permits have been legally obtained, renewed and maintained by the Company
and are valid and in full force and
effect.
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|
(b)
|
No
proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened to
revoke or limit any of the Permits or otherwise impose any conditions or
obligations on the possession or transfer of any of them; and there is no
state of facts or event which, to the knowledge of Sellers, could
reasonably be expected to form the basis for any revocation or limitation
of the Permits or other imposition of conditions or obligations on the
possession or transfer of any of
them.
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4.14 Real
Property. The
Company does not own any interest in any real property. The Company
currently leases the real property described on Schedule 4.14 (the
“Leased Real
Property”) pursuant to the leases described on Schedule 4.14 (the
“Leases”). Sellers
have delivered current, accurate and complete copies of the Leases and any
amendments, modifications or renewals thereof and any correspondence affecting
the terms thereof to Buyer. The Leases are valid and in full force
and effect and all rents, tax payments, insurance, common area or operating
expenses and other charges payable to the landlord(s) under the Leases have been
paid prior to the due date thereof and the Company has performed all obligations
required to be performed by the tenant(s) under the Leases. Except as
set forth in Schedule
4.14, no default, breach, termination or modification of any Lease has
occurred (whether or not the same is continuing) nor has any event known to
Sellers occurred pursuant to which, with the passage or time or the giving of
notice, or both, will result in a default, breach or termination of the Leases
or any of them. The Company holds a valid, binding and existing
leasehold interest under the Leases, free and clear of all Liens, except
Permitted Liens. The Company enjoys peaceful and undisturbed
possession of the Leased Real Property under the Leases. Except as
described on Schedule
4.14, there are no leases, subleases, licenses or other agreements for
the use or occupancy of any portion of the Leased Real Property by any Person
other than the Company. None of Sellers or the Company has received
notice of any pending or proposed condemnation or eminent domain proceedings
affecting the Leased Real Property.
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4.15 Title, Condition and
Sufficiency of Assets. The
Company owns and has good and marketable title, free and clear of all Liens
other than Permitted Liens, in and to all of the tangible and intangible
property and assets reflected on the Financial Statements. All of the
tangible personal property of the Company is in acceptable operating condition
and repair, except for ordinary wear and tear in the Ordinary Course of Business
of the Company. All inventories of raw materials, finished goods and
works in process will, on the Closing Date, be usable and saleable by the
Company in the Ordinary Course of Business. The Company owns or leases under
valid leases all of the real property, buildings, improvements, equipment and
other tangible and intangible personal property necessary for the conduct and
operation of the Company as presently operated by the Company. All of
the tangible personal property of the Company is located at the Leased Real
Property. Except as described on Schedule 4.15, no
Person other than the Company owns or utilizes any personal property of the
Company.
4.16 Intellectual
Property.
(a)
|
Schedule 4.16
sets forth a complete and correct list of all Company Intellectual
Property.
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(b)
|
The
Company owns and possesses all, right, title and interest in and to, or
has valid and enforceable rights or licenses to use the Company
Intellectual Property owned or used by it as currently being
used.
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(c)
|
The
Company Intellectual Property is not subject to any Liens and is not
subject to any restrictions or limitations regarding use or disclosure
other than pursuant to written license agreements applicable
thereto.
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(d)
|
The
Company Intellectual Property owned or used by the Company is valid,
subsisting, in full force and effect, and has not been cancelled, expired
or abandoned.
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(e)
|
The
Company has not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise conflicted with,
any Intellectual Property of any third person. The Company has
not received any written notice regarding any of the foregoing (including
any demands or offers to license any Intellectual Property from any third
person).
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(f)
|
The
Company does not have notice that a third person has infringed,
misappropriated or otherwise conflicted with any of the Company
Intellectual Property. The Company has not brought or
threatened any such claims against any third
person.
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(g)
|
(i)
all licenses listed on the Schedule 4.16
are in full force and effect and enforceable by the Company in accordance
with their respective terms, (ii) the Company has performed all material
obligations required to be performed by it pursuant to the licenses and
agreements listed on Schedule 4.16
and (iii) there is no existing or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened
default under or violation of any of the licenses or agreements listed on
Schedule
4.16 by any other party
thereto.
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4.17 Contracts. Schedule 4.14 and
Schedule 4.17
list all written or oral agreements to which the Company is a party and which
are currently in effect. Sellers have delivered to Buyer correct,
complete and up-to-date copies of each written contract required to be or
otherwise identified on Schedule 4.17
(collectively, the “Contracts”). All
of the Contracts are in full force and effect and are enforceable in accordance
with their respective terms. The Company has performed all of its
obligations required to be performed pursuant to the Contracts in all material
respects. There is no existing or, to the knowledge of Sellers,
threatened default under or violation or breach of any of the Contracts by the
Company, or any other party thereto, nor any event or circumstance known to
Sellers which, with the passage of time or the giving of notice, or both, will
result in a breach, default or violation of any Contract.
4.18 Litigation. Except
as described on Schedule 4.18, there
are no Actions pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened against the
Company or its properties or assets, which involve the Company, any of its
assets or any shareholders, officers, directors or employees (in their capacity
as such), or which in any manner challenge or seek the rescission of, or seek to
prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay the consummation of, or otherwise
relate to, this Agreement, the Related Agreements or the Transaction, or which
may result in any change in the current equity ownership of the Company, nor is
there any basis for any of the foregoing. The Company is not subject
to any order, writ, judgment, injunction, decree, determination or
award. Schedule 4.18 sets
forth a list of all Actions to which the Company has been a party during the
Inquiry Period and the Company has made available to Buyer true and correct
copies of all files and documents relating to such Actions.
4.19 Insurance. Schedule 4.19
contains an accurate and complete list of all current insurance policies or
binders of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds applicable to, owned by or
maintained for the benefit of, the Company and indicates for each such insurance
policy any pending claims thereunder. Such list specifies with
respect to each such policy the policy number, insurer, policy limits and
deductibles and renewal date. All such policies and binders are
valid, binding, enforceable and are in full force and effect, all premiums that
are due and payable with respect thereto have been paid, and no notice of denial
of coverage, cancellation or termination has been received by Sellers with
respect to such policies and binders, and there is no existing material default,
or event known to Sellers which with the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both, will constitute a material default, by any insured
thereunder. The applicable limits under such policies or binders have
not been partially or totally exhausted. None of the Company, any
Seller, or any other Person has received (i) any notice of reservation of rights
with respect to any pending or, to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened claims
against any such policy or binder, (ii) any notice that any issuer of such
policy or binder has filed for protection under applicable bankruptcy or
insolvency laws or is otherwise in the process of liquidating or has been
liquidated, or (iii) any other indication that any such policy or binder may no
longer be in full force or effect or that the issuer of any such policy or
binder may be unwilling or unable to perform its obligations
thereunder. The Company has not refused any insurance nor has
coverage been limited. All litigation covered by any of the policies
has been properly reported to and accepted by the applicable
insurer. There have been no gaps in coverage on any pre-Closing
insurance policies. No rights of the Company under current and
historical policies will be affected by change of ownership.
4.20 Accounts
Receivable. The
accounts receivable reflected on the books and records of the Company represent
valid obligations arising from sales actually made in the Ordinary Course of
Business. The Company has not received notice of any contest, claim
or right of setoff with respect to its accounts receivable. All
accounts receivable reflected on the Financial Statements, as well as those
accounts receivable arising after the date of the most recent Interim Financial
Statements and
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reflected
on the books and records of the Company as of the Closing Date, will be
collected in full without any set-off within 120 days of the Closing Date
(subject, in the aggregate, to the amount of any reserve for doubtful accounts
set forth in the Interim Financial Statements). Since
December 31, 2007, there have not been any write-offs, as uncollectible, of
any customer accounts receivable of the Company except as reflected in the
Interim Financial Statements.
4.21 Customers and
Suppliers. Schedule 4.21
sets forth a list of the top 20 customers during the 2008 fiscal year of the
Company (“Material
Customers”), a list of the top 10 suppliers during the 2008 fiscal year
of the Company (“Material Suppliers”)
and a list of the top 20 distributors during the 2008 fiscal year of the Company
(“Material
Distributors”). No Material Customer, Material Supplier or
Material Distributor has notified the Company or any Seller that (a) it is
modifying or terminating its relationship, agreements or arrangements with the
Company, or (b) indicates its intention to do so. To the knowledge of
Sellers, no Material Customer, Material Supplier or Material Distributor intends
to terminate its relationship with the Company as a result of the
Transaction. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.21, the
Company has not heretofore been required to provide any bonding or any other
financial security arrangements in connection with any transaction with any
Material Customer, Material Supplier or Material Distributor.
4.22 Indebtedness. Schedule 4.22 sets
forth a true and complete list of all Indebtedness of the Company which is
outstanding on the date hereof, including the amount of principal and unpaid
interest outstanding under each instrument evidencing such Indebtedness as of
the date hereof and a description of the collateral and any guaranty securing
such Indebtedness. There are no prepayment penalties or other fees
associated with the repayment of such Indebtedness.
4.23 Brokerage. No
broker, finder or similar agent has been employed by or on behalf of Sellers or
the Company, and no Person with which Sellers or the Company has had any
dealings or communications of any kind is entitled to any brokerage commission,
finder’s fee or any similar compensation in connection with this Agreement, the
Leased Real Property or the Transaction.
4.24 Related Party and Certain
Third Party Transactions. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.24, no
shareholder, officer or director of the Company or any of such parties’
respective Affiliates (each a “Related Party”) owes
any amount to the Company nor does the Company owe any amount to any Related
Party, nor has the Company committed to make any loan or extend or guarantee
credit to or for the benefit of any Related Party, other than for (a) the
payment of salary for services rendered, (b) reimbursement for reasonable
expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (c) for other standard employee
benefits made generally available to its employees (each, a “Related Party
Transaction”). None of the Company’s jobbers, independent
contractors, consultants or employees owes any amount to the Company, nor does
the Company owe any amount to any of the Company’s jobbers, independent
contractors, consultants or employees, that is not reflected in the Financial
Statements, nor has the Company committed to make any loan or extend or
guarantee credit to or for the benefit of any of the Company’s jobbers,
independent contractors, consultants or employees, other than for (a) the
payment of salary or other compensation for services rendered, (b) reimbursement
for reasonable expenses incurred on behalf of the Company, and (c) with respect
to the Company’s employees, for other standard employee benefits made generally
available to its employees.
4.25 Conflicts of
Interest. Except as
set forth on Schedule
4.25, no Related Party possesses any direct or indirect financial
interest in, or is a shareholder, director, officer or employee of, any Person
which is a supplier, distributor, customer, lessor, lessee, licensee or
competitor of the
-19-
Company. No
Related Party has any rights or interests, whether as an owner, lessor,
licensor, licensee or otherwise, in or to any tangible or intangible assets,
properties or rights that are owned by, licensed or leased to, or used by the
Company.
4.26 Absence of Certain
Payments. None
of the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees, representatives or
their Affiliates acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, in
connection with, or otherwise relating to, the operation of the business of the
Company or the business of any of their Affiliates:
(a)
|
made
any bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback, unlawful material gift or
other unlawful payment to (i) obtain favorable treatment in securing
business or (ii) to any Person in violation of any applicable
Laws;
|
(b)
|
used
any corporate or other funds for unlawful contributions, payments, gifts
or entertainment, or made any unlawful expenditures relating to political
activity to, or on behalf of, governmental officials or other Persons;
or
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(c)
|
accepted
or received any unlawful contributions, payments, gifts or
expenditures.
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4.27 Financial
Impairment. As
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing, the Company is not subject
to any Financial Impairment.
4.28 Disclosure. The
representations and warranties of Sellers included in this Agreement do not
contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact
known to Sellers necessary in order to make the statements contained herein, in
the light of the circumstances in which they are being made, not
misleading.
ARTICLE
5
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer
represents and warrants to Sellers that the following statements contained in
this Article 5 are true
and correct.
5.1 Organization;
Authorization. Buyer
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Illinois. Buyer has all requisite power and
authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and each Related
Agreement to be executed and delivered by Buyer, and to consummate the
Transaction.
5.2 Execution and Delivery;
Enforceability. This
Agreement has been, and each Related Agreement to be executed and delivered by
Buyer will upon such delivery be, duly executed and delivered by Buyer and
constitutes, or will upon such delivery constitute, the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Buyer, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws of general application affecting enforcement of
creditors’ rights or by principles of equity.
5.3 Noncontravention. Neither
the execution and delivery by Buyer of this Agreement or any Related Agreement,
nor the consummation of the Transaction by Buyer on the terms and conditions
provided for herein and therein, nor compliance and performance by Buyer with
the terms hereof and
-20-
thereof
will (a) be a violation or breach of, a default under or otherwise contravene or
conflict with (i) Buyer’s organizational documents, (ii) any agreement or
instrument to which Buyer is a party, or (iii) any Law applicable to Buyer, or
(b) require a filing with or Permit from any Governmental
Authority.
5.4 Brokerage. No
Person is or will become entitled, by reason of any agreement entered into by or
on behalf of Buyer, to receive any commission or other similar compensation in
connection with the consummation of the Transaction.
5.5 Financial
Impairment. As
of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, Buyer is not subject
to any Financial Impairment.
5.6 Certain Environmental
Representations and Warranties of Buyer. As of the date of
this Agreement, Buyer also makes the covenants, representations and warranties
as set forth in Section 9.4(f) (7)
below.
ARTICLE
6
THE
CLOSING
The consummation of the Transaction
(the “Closing”)
will take place on such date as the parties agree, but no later than February 9,
2009. The Closing shall take place at 10:00 a.m., DST, at the offices
of counsel to the Company as described in Section 12.1(b)
below, or at such other time and place as to which Buyer and Sellers may agree
in writing. The date on which the Closing actually occurs is referred
to herein as the “Closing
Date.” The transfers and deliveries described in Article 7 shall be mutually
interdependent and shall be regarded as occurring simultaneously, and, any other
provision of this Agreement notwithstanding, no such transfer or delivery shall
become effective or shall be deemed to have occurred until all of the other
transfers and deliveries provided for in Article 7 shall also have
occurred or been waived in writing by the party entitled to waive the
same. Such transfers and deliveries shall be deemed to have occurred
and the Closing shall be effective as of the close of the Company’s business on
the Closing Date. The Closing and the closing of the transactions
contemplated by the Real Property Purchase Agreement shall take place
simultaneously.
ARTICLE
7
CLOSING
CONDITIONS AND DELIVERIES
7.1 Buyer’s Closing Conditions
and Sellers’ Deliveries.
The
obligation of Buyer to consummate the Closing of the Transaction is subject to
the satisfaction (or waiver to the extent permitted by applicable Law) of the
following conditions and Buyer’s receipt of the following deliveries, at or
before the Closing:
(a)
|
No
Material Adverse Change has occurred since the date of this
Agreement;
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(b)
|
No
Action is pending or has, in writing, been threatened before any court,
agency or other Governmental Authority by which it is sought to restrain,
delay, prohibit, invalidate, set aside or impose any conditions upon the
Closing, in whole or in part, and no injunction, judgment, order, decree
or ruling with respect thereto is in
effect;
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(c)
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(i)
The representations and warranties of Sellers contained in Article 3 and Article 4, are in all
material respects, true and correct at and as of the Closing as though
then made, (ii) each Seller has performed or caused to have been performed
all of the covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be
performed by each Seller prior to or as of the Closing, and (iii) Sellers
have provided a certificate to Buyer certifying that the conditions set
forth in clauses (i) and (ii) have been
satisfied;
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(d)
|
A
Secretary Certificate, certifying the Articles of Incorporation (also
certified by the Secretary of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), the
Bylaws, the resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the
Company and the shareholders of the Company authorizing and approving the
Transaction;
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(e)
|
An
assignment of the Shares in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer, sufficient to transfer good and marketable title to the Shares,
free and clear of all Liens, executed by each Seller along with
certificates for all of the Shares;
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(f)
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The
written resignation, effective as of the Closing, of each director and
officer of the Company listed on Schedule 7.1(f);
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(g)
|
The
Payoff Letters and/or the UCC-3 Termination
Statements;
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(h)
|
The
consents listed on Schedule 4.4;
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(i)
|
A
certificate of good standing with respect to the Company as of the most
recent practicable date from the Secretary of State of the State of
Pennsylvania and the Secretary of State of each jurisdiction in which the
Company is licensed to do business;
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(j)
|
A
certificate of an officer of the Company setting forth in sufficient
detail any Unpaid Selling Expenses;
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(k)
|
A
Consulting Agreement executed by each of Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx;
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(l)
|
The
Real Property Purchase Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by
Sellers and all actions necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby shall have occurred and the closing of the
transactions contemplated thereby shall occur simultaneously with the
Closing;
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(m)
|
The
completion, to Buyer’s satisfaction (or waiver to the extent permitted by
applicable Law), of the Due Diligence Investigation solely (in accordance
with Section 8 of the Forbearance Agreement) with respect to those
additional disclosure documents referenced in the last sentence of Section
7 of the Forbearance Agreement;
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(n)
|
Any
and all other consents and approvals of any Person or Governmental
Authority, lender, lessor, third-party, or other party required in
connection with the consummation of the
Transaction;
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(o)
|
Opinion
of counsel for Sellers in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer and such counsel;
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(p)
|
Related
Party Releases executed by the Related Parties set forth on Schedule
7.1(p);
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(q)
|
Lender
Releases executed by the Persons set forth on Schedule
7.1(q);
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(r)
|
Appropriate
documents, reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to Buyer and
Sellers, effecting cancellation by the Company of the Shareholder
Loan;
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(s)
|
The
original corporate record books for the
Company;
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(t)
|
The
titles to the automobiles listed on Schedule 4.15,
which have been retitled in the name of the Company (it being understood,
pursuant to the Forbearance Agreement, that the Company, and not Sellers,
is solely obligated for the payment of any Pennsylvania Sales and Use
Taxes, filing fees and other related costs and expenses to be paid in
connection therewith); and
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(u)
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Each
other document required to be delivered to Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement.
|
Any
document to be delivered to Buyer pursuant to this Section 7.1, the form
of which is not attached to this Agreement as an exhibit, shall be reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer and Sellers.
7.2 Sellers’ Closing Conditions
and Buyer’s Deliveries. The
obligation of Sellers to consummate the Closing of the Transaction is subject to
the satisfaction (or waiver to the extent permitted by applicable Law) of the
following conditions and Sellers’ receipt of the following deliveries, at or
before the Closing:
(a)
|
No
Action is pending or has, in writing, been threatened before any court,
agency or other Governmental Authority by which it is sought to restrain,
delay, prohibit, invalidate, set aside or impose any conditions upon the
Closing, in whole or in part, and no injunction, judgment, order, decree
or ruling with respect thereto is in
effect;
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(b)
|
(i)
The representations and warranties of Buyer contained in Article 5, are in all
material respects, true and correct at and as of the Closing as though
then made, (ii) Buyer has performed or caused to have been performed all
of the material covenants and agreements required by this Agreement to be
performed by Buyer prior to or as of the Closing, and (iii) Buyer has
provided a certificate to Seller certifying that the conditions set forth
in clauses (i) and (ii) have been
satisfied;
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(c)
|
The
Closing Payment in accordance with Section 2.5;
|
(d)
|
Proof
that Buyer has requested the transfer agent to issue the certificates
representing the Lifeway Shares, which shares shall be provided to Sellers
within two (2) weeks from the date of this
Agreement;
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(e)
|
The
Seller Note executed by Buyer and the
Company;
|
(f)
|
The
Security Agreement executed by
Buyer;
|
(g)
|
The
Mortgage executed by the Company;
|
(h)
|
The
Stock Pledge executed by Buyer;
|
(i)
|
A
form of the Letter of Credit;
|
(j)
|
A
Consulting Agreement for each of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxx has been
executed by Buyer;
|
(k)
|
The
Real Property Purchase Agreement shall have been executed and delivered by
Buyer and all actions necessary to consummate the transactions
contemplated thereby shall have occurred and the closing of the
transactions contemplated thereby shall occur simultaneously with the
Closing;
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(l)
|
Title
to the Shareholder Autos; and
|
(m)
|
Each
other document required to be delivered to Sellers pursuant to this
Agreement.
|
Any
document to be delivered to Sellers pursuant to this Section 7.2, the
form of which is not attached to this Agreement as an exhibit, shall be
reasonably satisfactory to Sellers.
ARTICLE
8
ADDITIONAL
COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS
8.1 Conduct of Business.
From the
date of this Agreement until the Closing, except as otherwise expressly provided
for in this Agreement or except to the extent Buyer otherwise consents, Sellers
shall cause the Company (including without limitation the Leased Real Property)
to be operated in the Ordinary Course of Business and shall cause the Company to
use reasonable commercial efforts to (a) maintain its assets and properties in
reasonable operating condition; (b) maintain its books, accounts and records in
accordance with past custom and practice, including as set forth on Schedule 4.4;
(c) preserve intact without material modification its business organization and
its relationships and goodwill with Persons doing business with the Company; (d)
have in effect and maintain at all times all insurance of all kinds, in the
amounts and with the insurers of the Company presently in effect and (e) except
as set forth in Schedule 4.11 hereof,
comply in all material respects with all Laws applicable to the assets,
properties and business of the Company. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, prior to the Closing, Sellers shall use its
reasonable commercial efforts to prevent the Company from: (i) taking or
omitting to take any action that Sellers believe is reasonably likely to result
in a breach of any of the representations, warranties or covenants made by
Sellers in this Agreement; or (ii) otherwise engaging in any practice, taking
any action, or entering into any transaction or arrangement of the sort
described in Section
4.7. Further, and also without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, through the Closing, Sellers (A) shall cause the Company to continue
to pay its employees and suppliers in the Ordinary Course of Business,
consistent with past practice, (B) shall cause the Company to continue to
maintain adequate levels of inventory of raw materials, work in process and
finished goods, consistent with past practice, (C)
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shall
cause the Company to maintain (subject to the provisions of Section 8.15)
adequate levels of cash and other current assets in a manner consistent with
past practice, and (D) shall cause the Company to not incur any Indebtedness
other than in the Ordinary Course of Business, consistent with past
practice. During the period between the date hereof and prior to the
Closing Date, Sellers shall cause the Company to refrain from making any
distribution of dividends, profits, cash or other assets of the Company to its
shareholders or to any other Persons; provided, however,
that nothing herein shall apply to the Excluded Assets.
8.2 No Material Change.
No action
shall be taken or failed to be taken by any Seller which will create any adverse
change in the organization, capitalization, condition (financial or otherwise),
assets, property or prospects of the Company, or the results of operations of
the business of the Company as it is currently conducted, the effect of which is
materially adverse to the value of the business, organization, capitalization,
condition (financial or otherwise), assets, property or prospects of the
Company, in each case taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse
Change”).
8.3 Access. From the
date of this Agreement until the Closing, Sellers shall cause the Company to
provide to Buyer and its representatives, upon their reasonable request,
scheduled, limited and accompanied access (to the extent practicable, solely
after normal business hours) to the management personnel, and the facilities,
machinery and equipment, and books and records of the Company, in order for
Buyer and its representatives to conduct their Due Diligence Investigation. As
part of the Due Diligence Investigation, Buyer and Sellers agree that at no time
shall Sellers be obligated to provide Buyer with an opportunity to contact any
of the Company’s non-management personnel, customers, jobbers, distributors
and/or suppliers prior to the completion of the Closing.
8.4 Cooperation to Satisfy
Closing Conditions. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Sellers, on the one hand, and
Buyer, on the other hand, will use its reasonable commercial efforts to take or
cause to be taken all actions and to do or cause to be done all things necessary
under the terms of this Agreement or under applicable Laws to consummate the
Transaction. The parties shall cooperate with each so as to obtain as
soon as practicable after the date hereof all necessary regulatory or other
consents, clearances, authorizations and approvals required under Article 6.
8.5 Publicity.
No
disclosures or announcements relating to this Agreement and/or the Transaction
shall be made by Buyer or Sellers, unless (i) either party determines, in its
reasonable discretion, that such disclosure or announcement is required by Law
or by any Governmental Authority, and, in any such case, only after at least
five (5) days prior notice has been given to the other party; or (ii) at any
other time, upon mutual agreement of the parties.
8.6 Expenses. Except as
otherwise set forth in this Agreement, in general, and specifically in Section
8.15:
(a)
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Buyer
shall pay all fees and expenses incident to the Transaction and incurred
by Buyer or its representatives;
and
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(b)
|
Sellers
shall pay all fees and expenses incident to the Transaction and incurred
by the Company, any Seller and/or their respective representatives in
connection therewith (including any Taxes imposed upon Sellers by reason
of the Transaction).
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-25-
8.7 No
Assignments. No
assignment of any part of this Agreement or any right or obligation hereunder
may be made by Sellers or any individual Seller without the prior written
consent of Buyer, and any attempted assignment without such consent of Buyer
shall be void and of no force or effect. Buyer may, at or subsequent
to the Closing, assign any of its rights or delegate any of its duties under
this Agreement to any Affiliate of Buyer or any of its financing sources; provided, however,
that (i) nothing herein shall limit or otherwise affect, in any manner
whatsoever, the continuing financial obligation of Buyer to Sellers hereunder as
obligor and/or as surety, and (ii) Buyer may neither assign nor delegate any of
its duties or obligations under the Seller Note, the Mortgage and/or with
respect to the Lifeway Shares.
8.8 Tax
Matters. The
following provisions of this Section shall govern the allocation between Buyer,
the Company and Sellers of responsibility for certain Tax matters prior to and
following the Closing Date. In the event of any conflict between the
provisions of this Section and any other provision of this Agreement, the
provisions of this Section shall control.
8.8.1. Allocation.
(a)
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Following
the Closing, the Company shall prepare or cause to be prepared for filing
by the Company all Tax Returns for the Company for all Tax periods ending
on or before December 31, 2008 (the “Pre-Closing
Periods”) that are due to be filed after the Closing Date (it being
understood and agreed that the Company (and/or the Buyer), and not the
Sellers, shall be responsible for the filing of all Tax Returns; and for,
and for the payment of, any and all Taxes, for all Tax periods commencing
after December 31, 2008). Such Tax Returns for Pre-Closing
Periods shall be prepared in a manner consistent with the terms of this
Agreement and the Company’s past practices, except to the extent required
by applicable law. Such Tax Returns for Pre-Closing Periods
(including any related workpapers or other information reasonably
requested by Buyer), shall be provided to Sellers for review not later
than 45 take days before the due date for filing such Tax Returns
(including extensions). If Sellers do not provide Buyer with a
written description of the items in the Tax Returns that Sellers intend to
dispute within 15 days following the delivery to Sellers of such
documents, Sellers shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed to such
documents in the form provided. Buyer and Sellers agree to
consult with each other and to negotiate in good faith any timely-raised
issue arising as a result of the review of such Tax Returns to permit the
filing of such Tax Returns as promptly as possible, which good faith
negotiations shall include each side exchanging in writing their positions
concerning the matter or matters in dispute and a meeting to discuss their
respective positions. In the event the parties are unable to
resolve any dispute within 10 days following the delivery of written
notice by Sellers of such dispute, Sellers and Buyer shall jointly request
the Independent Accountants to resolve any issue in dispute at least 5
business days before the due date of such Tax Return, in order that such
Tax Return may be timely filed. If the Independent Accountants
are unable to make a determination with respect to any disputed issue
within 5 business days before the due date (including extensions) for the
filing of the Tax Return in question, then Buyer may require that the
Company file such Tax Return on the due date (including extensions)
therefor without such determination having been made and without the
consent of
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-26-
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Sellers;
provided,
however, that such Tax Return shall incorporate such changes as
have at the time of such filing been agreed to by the parties pursuant to
this Section 8.8. Notwithstanding
the filing of such Tax Return for Pre-Closing Periods, the Independent
Accountants shall make a determination with respect to any disputed issue
submitted to the Independent Accountants hereunder, and the amount of
Taxes, if any, for any Pre-Closing Periods, that are to be allocated to
Sellers pursuant to this Section 8.8,
shall be determined utilizing the determination of the Independent
Accountants. The determination of the Independent Accountants
shall be binding on all parties; provided,
however, that any such determination shall be limited to the
resolution of issues in dispute. The Company shall pay the fees
and expenses of the Independent
Accountants.
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(b)
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Buyer
and the Company shall prepare or cause to be prepared, and file or cause
to be filed, all Tax Returns for the Company for all Tax periods that
begin before and end after December 31, 2008, and for all Tax periods that
begin after December 31, 2008 and for all Tax periods that end after the
Closing Date, and that were not required, under applicable law, to be
filed prior to the Closing Date (including for the 2008 calendar year
end). Such Tax Returns shall be prepared by, and at the expense
of, the Company, and, to the extent they relate to any Pre-Closing
Periods, in a manner consistent with the Company’s past practices, except
to the extent required by applicable law. Such Tax Returns for
Pre-Closing Periods (including any related workpapers or other information
reasonably requested by Sellers), together with a Tax Statement with
respect to any such Tax Return, shall be provided to Sellers for their
review not later than 45 days before the due date for filing such Tax
Returns for Pre-Closing Periods (including extensions). If
Sellers do not provide Buyer with a written description of the items in
the Tax Returns for Pre-Closing Periods or the Tax Statement that Sellers
intend to dispute within 15 days following the delivery to Sellers of such
documents, Sellers shall be deemed to have accepted and agreed to such
documents in the form provided. Buyer and Sellers agree to
consult with each other and to negotiate in good faith any timely-raised
issue arising as a result of the review of such Tax Returns for
Pre-Closing Periods or the Tax Statement to permit the filing of such Tax
Returns for Pre-Closing Periods as promptly as possible, which good faith
negotiations shall include each side exchanging in writing their positions
concerning the matter or matters in dispute and a meeting to discuss their
respective positions. In the event the parties are unable to
resolve any dispute within 10 days following the delivery of written
notice by Sellers of such dispute, Sellers and Buyer shall jointly request
the Independent Accountants to resolve any issue in dispute at least 5
business days before the due date of such Tax Return for Pre-Closing
Periods, in order that such Tax Return for Pre-Closing Periods may be
timely filed. If the Independent Accountants are unable to make
a determination with respect to any disputed issue within 5 business days
before the due date (including extensions) for the filing of the Tax
Return for Pre-Closing Periods in question, then Buyer and the Company may
file such Tax Return on the due date (including extensions) therefor
without such determination having been made and without the consent of
Sellers; provided, however, that
any such Tax Return for Pre-
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-27-
|
Closing
Periods shall incorporate such changes as have at the time of such filing
been agreed to by the parties pursuant to this Section 8.8. Notwithstanding
the filing of such Tax Return for Pre-Closing Periods, the Independent
Accountants shall make a determination with respect to any disputed issue
submitted to the Independent Accountants hereunder, and the amount of
Taxes that are allocated to Sellers pursuant to this Section 8.8
shall be determined utilizing the determination of the Independent
Accountants. The determination of the Independent Accountants
shall be binding on all parties; provided,
however, that any such determination shall be limited to the
resolution of issues in dispute. The Company shall pay the fees
and expenses of the Independent
Accountants.
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(c)
|
Sellers
shall have no obligation to reimburse Buyer and/or the Company under this
Section 8.8
(subject, in any event, to Section 8.15
below) for any Taxes of the Company with respect to any Pre-Closing Period
(“Pre-Closing
Taxes”) to the extent that the Financial Statements referred to in
Section
4.5 above include a provision for the amount of the Company’s
Pre-Closing Taxes (determined in accordance with GATAP and in accordance
with Section
4.8 above, by the accountant for the Company to be due and
payable), and that such Pre-Closing Taxes have been paid (subject, in any
event, to Section 8.15
below), on or before the Closing Date. In the case of an audit
or Action for Taxes that includes Pre-Closing Taxes, Sellers shall
(pursuant to Section 9.8
below) reimburse Buyer and/or the Company under this Section 8.8 and
under Section
8.8.4 for any unpaid Pre-Closing Taxes within 15 days after Sellers
have received written confirmation of the settlement or other final
resolution of such audit or Action (subject to the provisions of Sections 8.8.1(d) and
8.8.2 below, regarding the furnishing to Sellers of an opportunity
to have participated in any such audit or
Action).
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(d)
|
Sellers,
Buyer and the Company shall (and shall be given the opportunity to
participate in matters related to and otherwise) cooperate fully in
connection with the filing of Tax Returns pursuant to this Section 8.8.1
and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to Taxes of the
Company. Such cooperation shall include the reasonable
furnishing or making available during normal business hours of personnel,
powers of attorney, and the retention and (upon a party’s request) the
review of and the provision of records and information that are reasonably
relevant to the preparation of any such Tax Return or to any such audit,
litigation or other proceeding. Each of Sellers, Buyer and the
Company shall (i) retain all books and records that are in his or its
possession with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Company relating
to any Pre-Closing Period until the expiration of the applicable statute
of limitations (and, to the extent notified by Buyer or Sellers, any
extension thereof) of the applicable taxable periods, and abide by all
record retention agreements entered into with any taxing authority, and
(ii) give the other parties hereto reasonable written notice before
transferring, destroying or discarding any such books and records and, if
the other party so requests, Sellers or Buyer, as the case may be, shall
allow the other party to take possession of such books and
records.
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-28-
(e)
|
Buyer
and Sellers shall, upon request, use their commercially reasonable efforts
to obtain any certificate or other document from any Person as may be
necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax that could be imposed
(including with respect to the
Transaction).
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8.8.2. Tax
Claims. In the event a claim is made or a deficiency alleged
following the Closing relating to the Company by the Internal Revenue Service or
any other taxing authority, which, if successful, would result in a loss or
liability in respect of which indemnity properly may be sought against Sellers
pursuant to this Agreement, then the following exclusively shall
apply:
(a)
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After
the Company receives actual notice of such claim or alleged deficiency,
Buyer shall, or Buyer shall cause the Company to, promptly notify Sellers
in writing of such claim or alleged deficiency and shall not make payment
of any Tax claimed for at least 30 days after the giving of such notice;
provided that the failure to give such notice shall not affect Sellers’
indemnity obligations hereof, except to the extent Sellers are materially
prejudiced by such failure;
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(b)
|
Buyer
shall have the right to represent the interests of the Company before the
relevant Governmental Authority with respect to any Tax matter and shall
have the right to control the defense, compromise or other resolution of
any such Tax matter, including responding to inquiries, filing Tax Returns
and contesting, defending against and resolving any assessment for
additional Taxes or notice of Tax deficiency or other adjustment of Taxes
of, or relating to, such Tax matter. Sellers shall have the
right (but not the duty) to participate in the defense of such Tax matter
and to employ counsel, at Sellers’ own expense, separate from counsel
employed by Buyer, and Buyer shall keep Sellers informed with respect to
the commencement, status and nature of any such Tax matter and will, in
good faith, allow Sellers to consult with it regarding the conduct of or
positions taken in any such Action;
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(c)
|
If
Sellers desire that the Company contest such claim or alleged deficiency,
Sellers shall, within 30 days after receipt of notice by Sellers from
Buyer or the Company of such claim or alleged deficiency: (i) request by
written notice to Buyer and the Company that such claim or alleged
deficiency be contested; (ii) if requested by Buyer or the Company,
furnish Buyer and the Company with an opinion of independent tax counsel
selected by Sellers and approved by Buyer (the “Approved
Counsel”), at Sellers’ expense, to the effect that a meritorious
defense exists with respect to such claim or alleged deficiency; and (iii)
indemnify Buyer and the Company in a manner reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer and the Company and pay to Buyer or the Company on demand all
liabilities and expenses which may reasonably be entailed in such defense;
and
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(d)
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Following
Sellers furnishing Buyer and the Company with such items as are set forth
in Section 8.8.2(c),
Buyer shall cause the Company to take all such legal or other action
reasonably requested by the Approved Counsel in contesting such claim or
alleged deficiency (provided that in no event shall it be deemed
reasonable for the Company to take any action that would cause it
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-29-
|
to
incur any liability for which it is not indemnified pursuant hereto),
which may include, at the discretion of the Approved Counsel, the
agreement to a reasonable settlement or the Company forgoing any and all
administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the IRS
or other appropriate taxing authority in respect of such claim or alleged
deficiency, in which event Buyer shall cause the Company to either pay the
Tax claimed (in which event Sellers shall promptly pay, on written request
from Buyer or the Company, the amount of any such deficiency to Buyer or
the Company) and xxx for a refund in the appropriate United States
District Court and/or the United States Court of Claims and/or other
appropriate courts or forums, as determined in the discretion of the
Approved Counsel, or contest such claim or alleged deficiency in the
United States Tax Court and/or other appropriate courts or
forums.
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8.8.3. Transfer
Taxes. Sellers shall be liable for and shall pay any and all
transfer Taxes arising in connection with the transfer of the Shares
hereunder.
8.8.4. Indemnification for
Taxes.
(a)
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Sellers
shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Company and the Buyer Indemnified Parties from and against, and shall pay
to the Company or the Buyer Indemnified Parties the amount of, any and all
Losses for: (i) all Taxes (or the nonpayment thereof) of the Company for
any Pre-Closing Tax Period (subject, in any event, to Section 8.15
below); (ii) any and all Taxes of any Person (other than the Company)
imposed on the Company as a transferee or successor, by contract or
pursuant to any Law, which Taxes relate to an event or transaction
occurring on or before December 31, 2008 (subject, in any event, to Section 8.15
below); and (iii) any Tax incurred or suffered by the Company, Buyer or
any of their respective Affiliates arising out of any inaccuracy in or
misrepresentation by Sellers of any representation or warranty contained
in Section 4.7
or any covenant contained in Section
8.8.
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(b)
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Any
amount paid to the Company or Buyer pursuant to this Section 8.8
shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an
account designated in writing by Buyer to Sellers no later than 10
business days after Buyer makes written demand upon Sellers
therefor.
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(c)
|
The
indemnification obligations of Sellers under this Section 8.8
shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations.
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(d)
|
The
indemnification obligations of Sellers for which they may be liable to
Buyer pursuant to this Section 8.8
shall be subject to adjustment to take into account, as a reduction of the
aggregate indemnification obligations of Sellers otherwise arising out of
the matter in question, the value of any quantifiable net Tax benefit
resulting either from the matter giving rise to such indemnification
obligations of Sellers or from the payment of indemnification amounts
pursuant to this Section 8.8 in
respect of the matter in question (“Buyer Tax
Benefit”), which Buyer Tax Benefit is
actually realized by
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-30-
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Buyer. The
fact that Buyer or the Company will or may receive insurance proceeds in
the future or will or may realize a Buyer Tax Benefit in the future shall
not delay the payment of the indemnification obligations of Sellers
pursuant to this Section
8.8. Such indemnification obligations of Sellers shall
be payable by the Sellers without regard to any future insurance proceeds
or Buyer Tax Benefit that will or may be received or realized in the
future. When, as and if any such insurance proceeds are
actually received or a Buyer Tax Benefit is actually realized by Buyer,
then Buyer shall pay to the Sellers the amount of such insurance proceeds
or Buyer Tax Benefit, as applicable, to the extent the same do not exceed
the aggregate indemnification payments made to Buyer pursuant to this
Agreement by the Sellers in respect of the indemnification obligations of
Sellers that gave rise to such insurance proceeds or Buyer Tax Benefit, as
applicable;
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(e)
|
The
Sellers shall be entitled to receive and shall be paid (as provided in
this Section
8.8) all Refunds of such Taxes for all taxable periods ending on or
before December 31, 2008, but only to the extent such Refunds are paid
with respect to Taxes of the Company pursuant to the terms of (i) the
settlement of an audit of any Tax Return of the Company, which audit
commenced after the date of this Agreement, or (ii) a final judicial
determination, which determination resolves issues raised in an audit of
any Tax Return of the Company which audit commenced after the date of this
Agreement. Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence or any other
provision hereof, Buyer (and the Company), and not the Sellers, shall be
entitled to receive (i) all Refunds for all taxable periods ending on or
before December 31, 2008 resulting from a carryback of losses and/or
credits from a taxable period ending subsequent to December 31, 2008, and
(ii) all other Refunds not specified under the express terms of the
immediately preceding sentence as Refunds to which the Sellers are
entitled.
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8.9
General Release of
Claims.
(a) Effective
from and after the Closing, each Seller, for and on behalf of himself and his
respective heirs, successors, Affiliates, Related Parties and assigns, hereby
releases and forever discharges the Company, and its officers, directors,
employees and shareholders (and each of their respective heirs, executors,
administrators and assigns acting in such capacities), of and from any and all
manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity,
suits, notes payable, loans, debts, Liens, contracts, agreements, promises,
liabilities, claims, accounts, sums of money, bonds, bills, demands, damages,
losses, costs or expenses, whether direct or derivative, of any nature
whatsoever, known or unknown, fixed or contingent, including, without
limitation, any claim for indemnification or contribution, which any Seller or
his heirs, successors, Affiliates, Related Parties or assigns, either now has or
may hereafter have against the Company, or its officers, directors, employees
and shareholders (and each of their respective heirs, executors, administrators
and assigns acting in such capacities), based on any actions, omissions, facts
or circumstances as existed or exist on or at any time prior to the Closing,
from the beginning of time to the date and time of the Closing, including, but
not limited to, any Related Party Transaction (collectively, the “Released Claims”),
save and except only claims, if any, arising under this
Agreement. Each Seller covenants that there has been no assignment or
other transfer or conveyance of any interest in any Released Claim that such
Seller may have against the Company.
-31-
(b) Effective
from and after the Closing, each of Buyer and the Company, for itself and on
behalf of its respective successors, Affiliates, Related Parties and assigns,
hereby releases and forever discharges the Sellers, (and each of their
respective heirs, executors, administrators and assigns), of and from any and
all manner of action or actions, cause or causes of action, in law or in equity,
suits, notes, loans, debts, contracts, agreements, promises, liabilities,
claims, accounts, sums of money, bonds, bills, demands, damages, losses, costs
or expenses, whether direct or derivative, with respect to the Sellers’
Lease(s), Note(s) and Mortgage(s) (or any of them), which any of the Company or
Buyer, or its, successors, Affiliates, Related Parties or assigns, either had,
now has or may hereafter have against the Sellers (and each of their respective
heirs, executors, administrators and assigns), based on any actions, omissions,
facts or circumstances as existed or exist on or at any time prior to the
Closing Date; provided that the foregoing release shall not apply to any claims
which are based on breaches of any of the representations and warranties in
Article 3 and Article 4 hereof.
8.10 Confidentiality. Each
Seller agrees not to disclose or use, directly or indirectly, any Confidential
Information, at any time after the Closing, except in connection with such
Sellers’ relationship with Buyer or in the preparation of any Tax
Returns. If the disclosure of Confidential Information is required by
Law, each Seller agrees to use commercially reasonable efforts to provide Buyer
an opportunity to object to the disclosure and as much prior written notice as
is possible under the circumstances. Each Seller acknowledges that
following the Closing, all of the Confidential Information will be the exclusive
proprietary property of Buyer. The provisions of this Section 8.10
shall not supersede any other confidentially agreement between the parties or
between Buyer and the Company; provided, however,
that if the Closing is completed as contemplated by this
Agreement, then that certain Confidentiality Agreement dated December
13, 2007, shall thereupon be rendered null and void and of no further
force or effect.
8.11 Non-Competition,
Non-Solicitation Agreement.
8.11.1. Non-Competition;
Non-Solicitation. For the period that Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx remain retained by the Company or Buyer as consultants and for a period
of 5 years thereafter, no Seller shall (except as otherwise contemplated in this
Section 8.11),
directly or indirectly through or in association with any non-party Person or
otherwise, in North America (the “Territory”), (i)
engage in the business of manufacturing and selling butter and cheese products
and Kefir (collectively, the “Business”), or sell or provide any of the butter
and cheese products and Kefir products which are the same or similar to the
products sold or provided by the Company, Buyer or any of their Affiliates in
the Territory; (ii) own or acquire any interest in any business which is engaged
in the same Business as the Company, Buyer or any of their Affiliates, or any
business competitive with the Business of the Company, Buyer or any of their
Affiliates in the Territory; (iii) attempt to solicit any customers of the
Company, Buyer or any of their Affiliates; (iv) act as a consultant or advisor,
or loan or otherwise provide funds or assistance of any sort, to any non-party
Person who is or is attempting to engage in any of the activities listed in (i)
through (iii) hereof in the Territory; (v) take any action which may impair the
relationship between the Company, Buyer or any of their Affiliates and its
customers or vendors, or other non-party Persons having relationships with, the
Company, Buyer or any such Affiliate; (vi) prepare to engage in any business
which is competitive with (i.e., in the same Business as) the Company, Buyer or
any of their Affiliates or (vii) engage, employ, recruit or solicit any employee
of the Company, Buyer or any of their Affiliates during the period such person
is an employee of the Company, Buyer or any of such Affiliate plus one year
after the date on which such person ends his or her employment by the Company,
Buyer or any such Affiliate.
-32-
8.11.2. Inducement and Consideration
to Buyer. Each Seller acknowledges and agrees that the value
to Buyer of the Transaction would be substantially and materially diminished if
such Seller, directly or indirectly, through or in association with any third
Person or otherwise, were hereafter to breach any of the provisions of Section 8.11.1
and Sellers have therefore offered and agreed to the provisions of Section 8.11.1 as a
material inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement, and in consideration
of the promises, representations and covenants made by Buyer under this
Agreement. The Sellers specifically acknowledge and agree that the
provisions of Section
8.11.1 are commercially reasonable restraints on Sellers, ancillary to
the investment, effort and risk to acquire and thereafter operate the Business,
and are reasonably necessary to protect the interests Buyer is
acquiring. The Sellers further acknowledge and agree that Buyer would
be irreparably damaged by a breach of Section 8.11.1
and would not be adequately compensated by monetary damages for any such
breach. Therefore, in addition to all other remedies, Buyer shall be
entitled to injunctive relief from any court having jurisdiction to restrain any
violation (actual or threatened) of Section 8.11.1
without the necessity of (a) proving monetary damages or the insufficiency
thereof, or (b) posting any bond in regard to any injunctive proceeding
(subject, nevertheless, to the other provisions of this Section
8.11).
8.11.3. Enforceability. If
any court, in any proceeding, shall refuse to enforce Sections 8.11.1 and
8.11.2 in whole or in part because the time limit, geographical scope or
any other element thereof is deemed unreasonable in the jurisdiction of that
court, it is expressly understood and agreed that Sections 8.11.1 and
8.11.2 shall not be void but, for the purpose of such proceeding, such
time limit, geographical scope or other element shall be deemed to be reduced to
the extent necessary to permit the enforcement of Sections 8.11.1 and
8.11.2 to the maximum extent allowable in that particular jurisdiction.
The foregoing, however, is not intended to and shall not in any way affect,
invalidate or limit the remaining provisions of Sections 8.11.1 and
8.11.2 or affect, invalidate or limit the validity or enforceability of
Sections 8.11.1
and 8.11.2 as written in any other jurisdiction at any time.
8.11.4. Tolling. If
any provisions of this Section 8.11 are
violated, then the time limitations set forth in this Section 8.11 shall be
extended for a period of time equal to the period of time during which such
breach occurs, and, in the event the Company is required to seek relief from
such breach before any court, board or other tribunal, then the time limitation
shall be extended for a period of time equal to the pendency of such
proceedings, including all appeals.
8.11.5. Default by Buyer under the
Seller Note. Nothing in this Section 8.11 shall
supersede the provisions of the Seller Note which provide that, in the event of
any default thereunder (after taking into account any applicable grace period),
in addition to any other remedies available thereunder, Sellers may (directly or
indirectly) resume the Business (and/or any part(s) of same) as operated by the Company prior to the Closing
Date.
8.12 Exclusivity. Each
of the Sellers agrees, for himself and for the Company, that neither the Company
nor either of the Sellers will sell, negotiate or solicit any offers to sell the
Shares or assets (except in the Ordinary Course of Business) of the Company, in
part or in whole, during the period from the date of this Agreement through the
termination hereof (the “Exclusivity
Period”). During this Exclusivity Period, the Sellers also
agree that they will not sell, negotiate or solicit any offers to sell the
Leased Real Property, in part or in whole.
8.13 Further
Assurances. At
the reasonable request of either Buyer or Sellers and at any time or from time
to time thereafter, the parties shall cooperate with each other to execute and
deliver
-33-
such
further instruments and take such other actions as any of the parties may
reasonably request in order to effect the Transaction and the other covenants
and agreements contemplated by this Agreement, as well as to permit the Company
to operate its Business as it is currently conducted. If, after the
Closing, any Person is determined pursuant to a final, non-appealable judgment
of a court of competent jurisdiction to be the holder of shares of capital
stock of the Company not constituting the Shares and such Person is
determined to be entitled to his, her or its proportionate share of the
Purchase Price, then the Sellers shall be obligated to transfer to such Person
his, her or its pro rata share of the Purchase Price to which such Person is
entitled.
8.14 Correction of Legal
Compliance Issues. Sellers
shall have no obligation to cause the Company to correct, prior to the Closing
Date, the following legal compliance issues, each of them as more fully
described in the Phase I Report(s) and/or Phase II Report(s), and/or in the FDA
Report(s):
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(a)
|
If
applicable, the failure by the Company to obtain a general storm water
permit or an exemption therefrom from the Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection;
|
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(b)
|
The
failure by the Company to obtain a comprehensive survey of asbestos
containing materials located on the Leased Real Property from a qualified
environmental consulting firm reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, and/or to
perform any remediation with respect to asbestos;
and
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(c)
|
The
failure by the Company prior to the Closing to take any action and/or
perform any investigation, remediation, correction and/or removal work,
with respect to any matters set forth in the Phase I Report(s) and/or
Phase II Report(s) and/or the FDA
Report(s).
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8.15 Payment of Selling
Expenses. Sellers
shall have the right to cause the Company to pay any and all of the Selling
Expenses, to fund the matching contribution(s) contemplated by the Company’s
401(k) Plan, to pay any and all Taxes of the Company, for any Pre-Closing
Periods ending on or before December 31, 2008 (it being acknowledged and agreed
that the Company, and not Sellers, are liable for any and all post-December 31,
2008 periods, and Taxes in accordance with Section 8.8 above),
and/or to pay any other amounts contemplated by Section 10. of the Forbearance
Agreement; provided,
however, that Sellers’ right to cause the Company to pay said amounts
shall be conditioned upon the Company having, after the payment of such amounts,
at least $50,000.00 in cash-in-bank, in certificates of deposit and/or on-hand
(exclusive of the amounts held in the Vist Accounts) on the Closing
Date. Any Selling Expenses and/or Taxes not paid for in this manner
must be paid for by the Sellers out of their own funds or must be deducted from
the Purchase Price as Unpaid Selling Expenses.
8.16 Removal of Restrictive
Legend. At
the request of Sellers and in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144 of the
Securities Act, Buyer shall cooperate with Sellers to remove the restrictive
legend on the Lifeway Shares so that such shares may be freely
tradable.
8.17 Tax Protection.
If, due
to federal tax law changes, the capital gains tax rate increases and Sellers
must pay higher capital gains taxes than if this Transaction had closed in 2008,
then Buyer shall notify Buyer thereof, in writing, and Buyer shall thereafter
promptly reimburse Sellers for the additional amount of the capital gains tax
set forth in such notice; provided, however,
that, if Buyer shall have requested same in writing, Sellers shall provide, to
the Independent Accountants
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(the cost
for which contemplated review, verification and certification shall be paid by
the Company (or Buyer) for all purposes of this Section 8.17)), that
portion of the Sellers’ Tax Returns that relates to the calculation of such
capital gains taxes, not later than 10 business days before the due date for
filing such Tax Returns (including extensions), so that such Independent
Accountants may verify, and certify to Buyer (while, nevertheless, keeping the
income and tax information of Sellers confidential), the additional amount of
the federal capital gains tax that Sellers have to pay because the Closing on
this Transaction was completed in 2009, rather than in 2008 (i.e., the product
of the difference between the 2008 capital gains tax rate of 15% and the 2009
capital gains tax rate, and the amount of taxable long-term capital gains
resulting from this Transaction reported by Sellers for federal income tax
purposes). The determination of the Independent Accountants shall be
binding on Buyer and the Company, and Buyer shall be deemed to have accepted and
agreed to such documents in the form provided by Sellers to the Independent
Accountants, if deemed sufficient by and satisfactory to the Independent
Accountants.
ARTICLE
9
INDEMNIFICATION
9.1 Survival. The
representations and warranties made in this Agreement shall survive the Closing
for a period of twelve (12) months from the Closing Date, except for Significant
Representations which shall survive until the expiration of the applicable
statute of limitations and except for Fundamental Representations which shall
survive indefinitely; each covenant made in this Agreement shall survive for the
period stated in such covenant, and if no such period is specified, then such
covenant shall survive the Closing for a period of twelve (12) months from the
Closing Date (with the sole exception of Sections 9.2 (d), (f) or
(g) which shall survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations; and any claim or suit based on fraud under Section 9.2(e) shall
survive the Closing until the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations (as applicable, the “Survival Period”).
For purposes of this Article
9, the “Significant
Representations” shall mean those representations and warranties
contained in Sections
4.8, 4.11, 4.12, 4.13, 4.23 and 4.26 of this Agreement. For
purposes of this Article
9, the “Fundamental
Representations” shall mean those representations and warranties
contained in Sections
3.1, 3.2, 4.1, 4.2 and 4.15 of this Agreement.
9.2 Indemnification of
Buyer. The
Sellers, with respect to Article 3 and Article 4, shall jointly and
severally indemnify and hold harmless Buyer and its Affiliates, officers,
directors, members, employees and agents (collectively, the “Buyer Indemnified
Parties”), against and from:
(a)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any material breach of any
representation or warranty contained in Article
3;
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(b)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any material breach of any
representation or warranty contained in Article 4, in general
(and, for emphasis, as specifically listed in Section 9.2(h)
below, in particular) ;
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(c)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any material breach or
nonperformance of any covenant or agreement to be performed by a Seller
herein;
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(d)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any Outstanding Funded Debt
and/or Unpaid Selling Expenses;
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(e)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any fraud of any
Seller;
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(f)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any pre-Closing agreement
or transaction with or between Related
Parties;
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(g)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by an ERISA Affiliate Plan;
and
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(h)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any violations of Laws and
Environmental Laws, except those matters disclosed in the Phase I
Report(s) and/or the Phase II Report(s), except as set forth in Section 9.4(f)
below.
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provided, however,
that for the purpose of calculating Losses hereunder, any “material,”
“materiality,” or similar qualification in such representations or warranties
shall be disregarded but solely to the extent that a “double-up” of the
materiality qualifier would be the result of the language of this Section 9.2 (a) –
(h); and, provided further,
that it is understood and agreed that the Sellers shall have no indemnity, hold
harmless and/or other obligation to any of the Buyer Indemnified Parties, to the
extent that any of the Buyer Indemnified Parties incurs any Losses after the
Closing Date with respect to any matters, facts and/or conditions described in
or related to Sections
4.11, 4.12 and 4.13, that existed prior to the Closing Date unless (and
then only to the extent that) such Losses incurred are specifically stated to
relate to any of the Assumed Liabilities and/or to any periods prior to the
Closing Date. The following examples more particularly explain the
foregoing:
For
example: If one month following the Closing Date a
governmental agency performs an audit, analysis or other examination of an
aspect of the business of the Company, and such governmental agency assesses a
fine, penalty or other assessment against the Company with respect to a process,
matter or item that exists after, but also existed prior to, the Closing Date
(whether or not the governmental agency had previously notified the Company that
such process, matter or item was in violation of applicable Law):
(a) unless
(and then, only to the extent that) such governmental agency’s fine, penalty or
other assessment (i) is specifically stated in the notice thereof to be for
matters, facts and/or conditions that existed prior to the Closing Date, and (ii) is
specifically stated in the notice thereof to relate to any period(s) prior to
the Closing Date, then Sellers shall have no indemnity, hold harmless and/or
other obligation to any of the Buyer Indemnified Parties therefor;
(b) even
if the matters, facts and/or conditions that form the basis for such
governmental agency’s notice of its fine, penalty or other assessment were
identified by such agency prior to the Closing Date, and/or in fact existed
prior to the Closing Date, if such governmental agency’s notice of its fine,
penalty or other assessment states that such fine, penalty and/or other
assessment is being assessed, imposed and/or levied solely because of, by reason
of, and/or it relates to, matters, facts and/or conditions that existed on the
date of an inspection conducted subsequent to the Closing Date, Sellers shall
have no obligation to indemnify and/or hold harmless any of the Buyer
Indemnified Parties therefor;
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(c) notwithstanding
the provisions of (a) and (b) above, if, in case (a) or (b) above, the notice of
the governmental agency’s fine, penalty or other assessment, specifically, by
its terms (i) states that such fine, penalty or other assessment is for matters,
facts and/or conditions that existed both prior, and subsequent, to the Closing
Date, and (ii) allocates such fine, penalty or other assessment on a Per Diem
Basis for periods both prior, and subsequent, to the Closing Date, then Sellers
shall jointly and severally indemnify and/or hold harmless the Buyer Indemnified
Parties for such Per Diem allocable portion of such governmental agency’s fine,
penalty or other assessment, that the notice thereof specifically states is for
matters, facts and/or conditions that existed prior to the Closing Date, and
Sellers shall be indemnified and held harmless, in the manner described in Section 9.3 below,
for such Per Diem allocable portion that the notice of such fine, penalty or
other assessment specifically states is for matters, facts and/or conditions
that existed subsequent to the Closing Date.
9.3 Indemnification of
Sellers. Buyer
shall indemnify and hold harmless Sellers and their respective Affiliates,
officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the “Sellers’ Indemnified
Parties”), against and from:
(a)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any breach of any
representation or warranty made by Buyer in Article
5;
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(b)
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any
Losses based upon, arising out of or caused by any breach or
nonperformance of any covenant of Buyer, under any of the Contracts to be
performed by the Company from and after the Closing Date (as contemplated
by Section
4.17) and/or any agreement to be performed by Buyer
herein;
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(c)
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except
as described in the examples set forth in Section 9.2
above, and except for any matter constituting a breach of a representation
or warranty made by Sellers in Articles 3
and/or 4 above, any Losses of the Company, and/or any
agreement to be performed by the Company, based upon, incurred in
connection with, incurred by reason of, relating to and/or arising out of,
as applicable, the Assumed Liabilities, and/or the operations and/or
conduct of the business of the Company, after the Closing Date;
and
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(d)
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any
amounts for which Sellers are to be indemnified and/or held harmless as
described in the examples set forth in Section 9.2
above.
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9.4 Limitations on
Indemnification of Buyer Indemnified Parties. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement, the indemnification of Buyer Indemnified
Parties provided for in this Agreement shall be subject to the following
limitations and conditions:
(a)
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Any
claim by a Buyer Indemnified Party for indemnification pursuant to Section 9.2
shall be required to be made by delivering notice to Sellers no later than
the expiration of the applicable Survival Period set forth in Section
9.1.
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(b)
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Buyer
Indemnified Parties shall not be entitled to indemnification with respect
to Section 9.2(a) or
9.2(b) until the aggregate amount of all of the Buyer Indemnified
Parties’ claims for indemnification exceed $50,000.00 (the “Indemnification
Threshold Amount”), whereupon the full amount of such Losses shall
be recoverable by Buyer Indemnified Parties in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement.
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(c)
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The
maximum amounts to which Buyer Indemnified Parties may be entitled to
indemnification with respect to Section 9.2(a) or
9.2(b) shall be (i) an amount equal to $4,200,000 in the aggregate
for breaches of the Significant Representations and for fraud or for
intentional breaches of any representation or warranty; and (ii) an amount
equal to $500,000 in the aggregate for any breaches of Seller’s other
representations and warranties.
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(d)
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Sellers
shall have no obligations to Buyer for, and Buyer hereby waives and
relinquishes any claims and/or rights under, any covenant, condition,
representation, or warranty of Sellers in this Agreement and/or the Real
Property Purchase Agreement with respect to, (i) any environmental
conditions or matters that are disclosed in the Phase I Report(s) and/or
the Phase II Report(s), except as set forth in Section 9.4(f)
below and (ii) any conditions or matters that are disclosed in the FDA
Report(s), except as set forth in Section 9.2
above regarding matters arising under Section 4.11
hereof.
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(e)
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The
provisions of Sections 8.8.4 (d) and
(e) shall be applicable in all
cases.
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(f)
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Sellers
shall have no indemnification obligation whatsoever (other than for fraud
or for intentional breaches of any representation or warranty) with
respect to any matters set forth and/or described in the Phase I Report(s)
and/or the Phase II Report(s), except as set forth in this Section 9.4(f). To
the extent that any claim by a Buyer Indemnified Party for indemnification
specifically (x) arises under the representations and warranties for
Environmental Matters set forth in Section 4.12
above, (y) relates to
groundwater contamination of the Leased Real Property arising from
conditions as described in the Phase I & II Documentation, and (z) was
discussed in, a subject matter of and/or the subject of any analyses,
work, testing, reporting and/or correspondence as set forth in,
recommended by and/or performed in furtherance of anything described in
the Phase I & II Documentation, Sellers shall only have the limited
indemnification obligation set forth in this Section 9.4(f),
but subject, nevertheless, to the following additional limitations and
conditions:
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(1)
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the Buyer Indemnified Parties
shall be entitled to indemnification solely for, and to the extent of,
what would have been Sellers’ responsibility, on and as of the date
of this Agreement, under applicable Environmental Laws, had Sellers had
knowledge of the existence of groundwater contamination of the Leased Real
Property;
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(2)
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the Buyer Indemnified
Parties shall not be entitled to indemnification with respect to any groundwater contamination of the
Leased Real
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Property,
as aforesaid, until the aggregate
amount of all of the Buyer Indemnified Parties’ claims for indemnification
with respect thereto exceeds $25,000.00, whereupon the full amount of such
Losses shall be recoverable by the Buyer Indemnified Parties in accordance
with the terms of this Agreement; provided,
however, that, in any event, the maximum aggregate amount for which
the Buyer Indemnified Parties may be entitled to indemnification with
respect thereto is
$75,000.00;
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(3)
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The indemnification
obligation of Sellers to the Buyer Indemnified Parties, arising under the
representations and warranties for Environmental Matters as set forth in
Section
4.12 above, in general, and, in particular, with respect
to any groundwater
contamination of the Leased Real Property, as aforesaid, shall only survive
for a period of twenty-four (24) months from the Closing Date (the “24 Month
Period”); and
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(4)
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the
indemnification obligation
of Sellers with respect to any groundwater contamination of the
Leased Real Property, as
aforesaid, shall be
rendered null and void, in the event that any claim of the Buyer
Indemnified Parties (including the Company and/or any of their respective
agents, contractors or subcontractors) arises from any of the following
work or other activities restricted hereby taking place, at any
time during the 24 Month Period, at, upon, beneath and/or with
respect to, the Leased Real Property: (i) digging into, digging
up or in any manner otherwise disturbing, the soil; (ii) doing any
drilling, boring and/or excavation work; (iii) doing any environmental
testing of and/or upon the soil; and/or (iv) doing any environmental
testing of the groundwater upon and/or beneath the surface of the Leased
Real Property (other than for a reason set forth in Sections 9.4(f) (5) or
(6) below).
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(5)
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The
provisions of Section
9.4(f) (4) above
shall not apply to any work or other activities described in Section
9.4(f) (4) above,
that is actually and in fact (i) mandated or otherwise required, by
action of any governmental agency or body, set forth in a writing
specifically regarding the Leased Real Property, neither of which action
or writing is solicited (directly or indirectly) by any action, inquiry, application
or other writing of or by any of the Buyer Indemnified Parties (including
the Company and/or any of their respective agents, contractors or
subcontractors), and/or (ii) in the nature of geophysical testing,
or any other work or activities as may otherwise be, required or mandated
by any architect or engineer engaged by and/or on behalf of any of the
Buyer Indemnified Parties
(including the Company and/or any of their respective agents, contractors
or subcontractors), in the case of (ii) only, in connection with
actual and commercially reasonable material structural improvements
contemplated to be made to the Leased Real Property and completed during
the 24 Month Period.
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(6)
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Buyer
and Sellers acknowledge and agree that Sellers’ willingness to incur the
limited indemnification
obligation with respect to any groundwater contamination of the
Leased Real Property, as
aforesaid, is based upon and has been induced by Buyer’s and
representation and warranty to Sellers that, on and as of the date of this
Agreement, none of the
Buyer Indemnified Parties has (i) received and/or has any knowledge
of any writing as described in Section
9.4(f) (5)(i) above;
(ii) any plans and/or intention to do and/or cause to be done, any
of the work and/or activities as described in Section
9.4(f) (4) and/or (5) above; (iii) any plans and/or
intentions to sell, lease, dispose of or otherwise, in any other
manner, transfer all or any portion of the Leased Real Property to any
party other then one of the Buyer Indemnified Parties; and/or (iv) any
plans or intentions to enter into any financing and/or refinancing
transaction(s) which in any way or manner would involve the Leased Real
Property, for which the Leased Real Property is or shall be regarded as
material, and/or for which a mortgage or other security interest in, upon
and/or with regard to, the Leased Real Property, or any portion thereof,
may reasonably be anticipated to be required. Accordingly, the indemnification obligation of
Sellers with respect to any groundwater contamination of the Leased Real Property, as
aforesaid, shall be
rendered null and void in the event of any breach of any of the
representations and warranties as referred to in this Section
9.4(f) (6) by
any of the Buyer
Indemnified Parties (including any of their respective agents, contractors
or subcontractors).
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provided, however; that the
limitations set forth in Sections 9.4(b) and
9.4(c) shall not apply to breaches of Fundamental Representations or
disputes arising out of Section
8.15.
9.5 Limitations on
Indemnification of Sellers’ Indemnified Parties. Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Agreement, the indemnification of Sellers’
Indemnified Parties provided for in this Agreement shall be subject to the
limitation and condition that any claim by a Sellers’ Indemnified Party for
indemnification pursuant to Section 9.3
shall be required to be made by delivering notice to Buyer no later than the
expiration of the applicable Survival Period set forth in Section
9.1.
9.6 Procedures Relating to
Indemnification; Third-Party
Claims.
(a)
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In
order for a party (the “indemnitee”) to
be entitled to any indemnification provided for under this Agreement in
respect of a claim or demand made by any Person against the indemnitee (a
“Third-Party
Claim”), such indemnitee must give written notice of the
Third-Party Claim (i) to Buyer, if indemnity is sought from it, or (ii) to
any Seller, if indemnity is sought from Sellers, pursuant to Sections 9.2
(the party to whom notice hereunder is given, in any
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case,
the “indemnitor’s
representative,” and the party against whom the indemnification
claim is asserted, the “indemnitor”). Such
notice shall be given no later than 30 days after such Third-Party Claim
is first asserted, but in any event not later than the expiration, if any,
of the applicable Survival Period set forth in Section 9.1 for
making a claim for indemnification. Such notice shall state the
amount or estimated amount, to the extent feasible, of such claim and
shall identify, with particularity, the specific basis for such claim in
reasonable detail. Thereafter, the indemnitee shall promptly
deliver to the indemnitor’s representative copies of all notices and
documents (including court papers received by the indemnitee) relating to
the Third-Party Claim so long as any such disclosure is not reasonably be
expected to have an adverse effect on the attorney-client or any other
privilege that may be available to the indemnitee. No delay in
or failure by the indemnitee to give the copies and notices referenced in
this Section
9.6(a) to the indemnitor’s representative will adversely affect any
rights or remedies that the indemnitee has under this Agreement or alter
or relieve the indemnitor of its obligation to indemnify the indemnitee to
the extent that such delay or failure has not materially prejudiced the
indemnitor.
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(b)
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If
a Third-Party Claim is made against an indemnitee, the indemnitor’s
representative shall be entitled to participate, at its expense, in the
defense thereof. If the Litigation Conditions are met and
continue to be met at all times thereafter, the indemnitor’s
representative has the right, exercisable by written notice to the
indemnitee within 30 days of receipt of notice of the Third-Party Claim,
to assume and conduct the defense of such Third-Party Claim with counsel
selected by the indemnitor’s representative (which counsel must be
reasonably acceptable to the indemnitee). If the indemnitor’s
representative assumes such defense, the indemnitee shall have the right
to participate in the defense thereof and to employ counsel (at its own
expense) separate from the counsel employed by the indemnitor’s
representative, it being understood that the indemnitor’s representative
shall control such defense. If the indemnitor’s representative
assumes the defense and the indemnitee elects to participate with separate
counsel, then the costs and expenses of such separate counsel shall be at
the expense of the indemnitee unless any of the Separate Counsel
Conditions are met, in which case the fees and expenses of such separate
counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnitor.
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(c)
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If
the indemnitor’s representative assumes the defense of any Third-Party
Claim, all of the indemnified parties shall reasonably cooperate with the
indemnitor’s representative in such defense. Such cooperation
shall include, at the expense of the indemnitor’s representative, the
retention and (upon the indemnitor’s representative’s request) the
provision to the indemnitor’s representative of records and information
which are reasonably relevant to such Third-Party Claim, and making
employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional
information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder. If the indemnitor’s representative has assumed the
defense of a Third-Party Claim and the Litigation Conditions continue to
be met, (i) the indemnitee shall not admit any liability with respect to,
or
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settle,
compromise or discharge, such Third-Party Claim without the indemnitor’s
representative’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), (ii) the indemnitee shall agree to any settlement,
compromise or discharge of a Third-Party Claim which the indemnitor’s
representative may recommend and which by its terms releases all
indemnitees from any liability in connection with such Third-Party Claim
and which requires only the payment of monetary damages, and (iii) the
indemnitor’s representative shall not, without the written consent of the
indemnitee, enter into any settlement, compromise or discharge or consent
to the entry of any judgment which imposes any obligation or restriction
upon the indemnitee.
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9.7 Other
Claims. In
the event any indemnitee has actual knowledge of a Loss for which there may be a
claim for indemnification or payment against any indemnitor under this Article 9 that does not
involve a Third-Party Claim, the indemnitee shall deliver notice of such claim
(a “Claims
Notice”) to the indemnitor’s representative promptly following discovery
of such Loss or of facts or circumstances that the indemnitee(s) believes to be
reasonably likely to result in any such Loss. Such Claims Notice
shall state in reasonable detail the amount or an estimated amount, to the
extent feasible, of such claim, and shall specify, with particularity, the facts
and circumstances which form the basis (or bases) for such claim, and shall
further specify the representations, warranties or covenants alleged to have
been inaccurate or breached. No delay in or failure by any indemnitee
to give a Claims Notice to the indemnitor’s representative pursuant to this
Section 9.7
will adversely affect any of the rights or remedies that an indemnitee has under
this Agreement or any Related Agreement, or alter or relieve the indemnitor’s
obligation to indemnify the indemnitee, except to the extent that the indemnitor
is materially prejudiced thereby; provided, however,
that the Claims Notice must be given within the applicable Survival Period set
forth in Section
9.1. Within 30 days of the indemnitor’s representative’s
receipt of any such Claims Notice, the indemnitor’s representative shall notify
the indemnitee as to whether the indemnitor accepts liability for all or part of
any such Loss (a “Claims
Response”). If the indemnitor’s representative disputes the
indemnitor’s liability with respect to any part of such claim by providing a
Claims Response within such 30-day period, then the indemnitor’s representative
and the indemnitee shall attempt to resolve such dispute in good
faith.
9.8 Remedies of
Buyer. Any
obligation of a Seller to Buyer pursuant to this Article 9 shall be satisfied
in the following order (subject to the other provisions of this Article 9): (a)
first, by offsetting such obligations against the first-occurring payments due
to Sellers under the Seller Note; (b) second, by Sellers surrendering to Lifeway
an appropriate number of the Lifeway shares then owned by Sellers (based on the
fair market value of the Lifeway Shares on the day the claim is resolved) and
the canceling of such Lifeway Shares by Buyer; and (c) third, to the extent that
the foregoing are exhausted, by pursuing any remaining claims directly against
Sellers on a joint and several basis.
9.9 No Circular
Recovery. Each
Seller hereby agrees that it will not make any claim for indemnification against
Buyer or the Company by reason of the fact that such Seller was a controlling
person, director, employee or representative of the Company or was serving as
such for another Person at the request of any Seller or the Company (whether
such claim is for Losses of any kind or otherwise and whether such claim is
pursuant to any statute or any organizational document or contractual obligation
of the Company or otherwise) relating to this Agreement or the Transaction or
that is based on any facts or circumstances that form the basis for an
indemnification claim by any
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Seller
hereunder. With respect to any such claim brought by any Seller
against the Company or by any Seller relating to this Agreement and the
Transaction, each such Seller expressly waives any right of subrogation,
contribution, advancement, indemnification or other claim against Buyer or the
Company, with respect to any amounts owed by such Seller pursuant to this Section
9.
ARTICLE
10
TERMINATION
10.1 Termination.
This
Agreement may be terminated:
(a)
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by
mutual written consent of Buyer and Sellers at any time prior to the
Closing;
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(b)
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by
Buyer or Sellers if a material breach of any provision of this Agreement
has been committed by the other party and such breach has not been waived
or cured within ten (10) days after receipt of written notice of such
breach;
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(c)
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by
(i) Sellers if any of the conditions in Section 7.2 has
not been satisfied as of February 9, 2009 or if satisfaction of such a
condition is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of
Sellers to comply in all material respects with their obligations under
this Agreement) and Sellers have not waived such condition; or (ii) Buyer
if any of the conditions in Section 7.1 has
not been satisfied as of February 9, 2009 or if satisfaction of such a
condition is or becomes impossible (other than through the failure of
Buyer to comply in all material respects with its obligations under this
Agreement) and Buyer has not waived such
condition;
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(d)
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by
Buyer if Buyer is not reasonably satisfied, in its sole discretion, with
the results of its Due Diligence Investigation as of February 9, 2009;
or
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(e)
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by
Buyer or Sellers, if the Closing has not occurred (other than through the
failure of any party seeking to terminate this Agreement to comply in all
material respects with its obligations under this Agreement) on or before
February 9, 2009.
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10.2 Effect of
Termination. If this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1(a) or
(d), then all provisions of this Agreement except Sections 8.5, 8.6 and
8.10 shall thereupon become void without any liability on the part of any
party hereto to any other party hereto. If this Agreement is
terminated other than pursuant to
Section 10.1(a) or
(d), such termination will not affect any right or remedy which accrued
hereunder or under applicable Laws prior to or on account of such termination,
and the provisions of this Agreement shall survive such termination to the
extent required so that each party may enforce all rights and remedies available
to such party hereunder or under applicable Laws in respect of such termination
and so that any party responsible for any breach or nonperformance of its
obligations hereunder prior to termination shall remain liable for the
consequences thereof.
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ARTICLE
11
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS
When used
in this Agreement, the following terms in all of their tenses, cases and
correlative forms shall have the meanings assigned to them in this Article 11, or elsewhere in
this Agreement as indicated in this Article 11:
“Action” means any
suit, legal proceeding, claim, action, investigation, indictment, tax audit,
administrative enforcement proceeding or arbitration proceeding (including
product liability Actions) by or before any Governmental Authority.
An “Affiliate” of a
specified Person means any other Person which, directly or indirectly, through
one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common
control with such specified Person. For purposes of this definition,
“control” of any Person means possession, directly or indirectly, of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting capital stock, by contract, or
otherwise.
“Approved Counsel” is
defined in Section
8.8.2(c).
“Agreement” means this
Stock Purchase Agreement, as may be amended from time to time.
“Annual Tax Returns”
is defined in Section
4.5.
“Assumed Liabilities”
means (a) any debt, claim, liability or obligation of the Company to an obligee
and/or payee (the “Obligee”), in the
nature of accounts payable and other current Liabilities of the Company incurred
in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company at any time prior to the
Closing Date, as reflected in the Financial Statements of the Company and/or
arising, and/or relating to any and all periods, from and after November 30,
2008 (the date of the latest Financial Statements); and (b) any debt, claim,
liability or obligation of the Company to the Obligee under any Contracts (as
described in Section
4.17) (excluding Employee Benefit Plans as defined in Section 4.10 (but
including the match under the 401(k) plan for calendar year 2008 for all
employees of the Company other than the Sellers and Mr. Xxxx Xxxxxx)) related to
and incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company (including the
capitalized amount of capital lease obligations, if any) that exist on the
Closing Date and/or that arise and/or relate to the period from and after the
Closing Date. In addition to the foregoing, it is acknowledged and
agreed that included among the Assumed Liabilities are the obligations of the
Company for the filing of any and all Tax Returns, and the payment of any and
all Taxes, of the Company, for all periods from and after December 31, 2008,
including for the fiscal year of the Company commencing on January 1, 2009,
notwithstanding that the Closing Date is subsequent to December 31,
2008.
“Base Purchase Price”
is defined in Section
2.2(a).
“Buyer” is defined in
the preamble of this Agreement.
“Buyer Indemnified
Parties” is defined in Section 9.2.
“Claims Notice” is
defined in Section
9.7.
-44-
“Claims Response” is
defined in Section
9.7.
“Closing” and “Closing Date” are
defined in Article
6.
“Closing Payment” is
defined in Section
2.5(a).
“COBRA” is defined in
Section
4.10(d).
“Code” means the
United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations
thereunder.
“Company” is defined
in the Recitals to this Agreement.
“Company Intellectual
Property” means the Intellectual Property that the Company owns, or has
the right to use and all Intellectual Property necessary for, or used in, the
operation of the business of the Company as presently conducted.
“Confidential
Information” means (a) all information belonging to, used by, or which is
in the possession of Sellers relating to the Company to the extent such
information is not intended to be disseminated to the public or is otherwise not
generally known to competitors of the Company, including, but not limited to,
information relating to products, services, strategies, pricing, customers,
representatives, vendors, distributors, technology, finances, employee
compensation, computer software and hardware, inventions, developments or trade
secrets, and (b) all information relating to the Transaction, including without
limitation all strategies, negotiations, discussions, terms, conditions and
other information relating to this Agreement and each other document and
agreement delivered in connection herewith.
“Consulting Agreement”
means that certain one year Consulting Agreement between each Seller and Buyer
in the form of Exhibit
B.
“Contracts” is defined
in Section 4.17.
“Disclosure Schedules”
means the schedules accompanying this Agreement prepared by Sellers pursuant to
the Articles contained in this Agreement, which schedules include the
information specified in such Articles and exceptions to the representations and
warranties of Sellers set forth in the Articles hereof.
“Due Diligence
Investigation” means the thorough due diligence review by Buyer of the
Company and its businesses, including its assets, operations, contracts with the
Company’s customers, distributors and suppliers, equipment and machinery,
facilities, financial records and legal affairs (including litigation), as well
as the Leased Real Property. All of the Due Diligence Investigation
will be conducted at Buyer’s expense, including, without limitation, a Phase I
Environmental Review (and, if deemed necessary, a Phase II Environmental Review)
to be performed on, and a review of the FDA, state, and City of Philadelphia
Department of Public Health records of the facility located upon, the Leased
Real Property. Buyer shall provide the Company and the Sellers with a
copy of the Phase I Environmental Review Report(s) (the “Phase I Report(s)”),
the Phase II Environmental Review Report(s) (the “Phase II Report(s)”), the FDA
Compliance Review Report(s) (the “FDA Report(s)”), and any and all other
Studies, Reports and Surveys (as such term is defined in the Real Property
Purchase Agreement) that Buyer obtains (whether in draft or final form) promptly
upon Buyer’s receipt of any of the Phase I Report(s), the Phase II Report(s),
the FDA
-45-
Report(s)
and/or any other of the Studies, Reports and Surveys contemplated as part of the
Due Diligence Investigation, at no cost to Sellers (and notwithstanding any
termination of this Agreement for any reason). As used herein, the
defined terms the Phase I Report(s) and the Phase II Report(s) shall also be
deemed to include those certain reports and/or correspondence of Environ
International Corporation (“Environ”) addressed
to Xxx Xxxxxx, Esq., dated December 8, 2008 and January 6, 2009; and that
certain correspondence of XxXxxxxx Xxxxxxx addressed to Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.,
dated January 5, 2009.
“Employee Benefit
Plan” means any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3) of
ERISA), any specified fringe benefit plans as defined in Section 6039D of
the Code, and any other bonus, incentive-compensation, deferred-compensation,
profit-sharing, stock-option, stock-appreciation-right, stock-bonus,
stock-purchase, restricted stock, employee-stock-ownership, savings, severance,
change-in-control, supplemental-unemployment, layoff, salary-continuation,
retirement, pension, health, life-insurance, disability, accident,
group-insurance, vacation, holiday, sick-leave, fringe-benefit or welfare plan,
employment contract, employee loan, noncompetition or consulting agreement, or
any other employee compensation or benefit plan, agreement, policy, practice,
commitment, contract or understanding (whether qualified or nonqualified,
currently effective or terminated, written or unwritten) and any trust, escrow
or other agreement related thereto.
“Employees” is defined
in Section
4.10(a).
“Environmental Law”
means any Law or other legal requirement pertaining to the environment or the
health or safety of the public or employees and the release or, to the knowledge
of Sellers, threatened release of hazardous materials or otherwise relating to
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, transport or
handling of hazardous materials, including, without limitation: the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C.
§§ 9601 et seq. (“CERCLA”); the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.; the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.; the Safe Drinking Water
Act, 42 U.S.C. § 3803 et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, 42
U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community
Xxxxx-xx-Xxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. § 00000 et seq.; the Hazardous Materials
Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. §§ 5101 et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§
7401 et seq. (“CAA”); the Clean
Water Act, 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29
U.S.C. §§ 651 et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601
and 2602 et seq.; the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, 33 U.S.C. § 401, et seq.;
the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. § 2701, et seq.; each as amended; any
state or local Law similar to the foregoing; all regulations issued pursuant to
the foregoing; and all permits issued to the Company pursuant to the
foregoing.
“ERISA” means the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations
thereunder.
“ERISA Affiliate”
means any trade or business or other Person, whether or not incorporated, that
is required to be aggregated with the Company under Section 414 of the
Code.
“ERISA Affiliate Plan”
means any Employee Benefit Plan with respect to the Company or any ERISA
Affiliate that is not a Plan and that currently is, or at any time during the
Inquiry Period, has been, the sponsor, a party obligated to make contributions
to, or has had any Liability with respect to, or has been subject to
Liability.
-46-
“Exclusivity Period”
is defined in Section
8.12.
“FDA” means the
Federal Food and Drug Administration.
“FDA Report(s)” is
defined in the definition of the term “Due Diligence Investigation” in this
Article 11.
“Financial Impairment”
means the distressed economic condition of a Person manifested by any one or
more of the following events:
(a)
|
adjudicated
bankruptcy or insolvency or death or discontinuation of the business of
the Person;
|
(b)
|
the
Person becomes insolvent;
|
(c)
|
the
Person is not capable of paying its obligations when due (including
payment of the Purchase Price, as
applicable);
|
(d)
|
assignment
by the Person for the benefit of
creditors;
|
(e)
|
voluntary
institution by the Person or consent granted by the Person to the
involuntary institution whether by petition, complaint, application,
default, answer (including, without limitation, an answer or any other
permissible or required responsive pleading admitting (i) the jurisdiction
of the forum or (ii) any material allegations of the petition, complaint,
application, or other writing to which such answer serves as a responsive
pleading thereto), or otherwise of any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution,
liquidation, receivership, trusteeship, or similar proceeding pursuant to
or purporting to be pursuant to any bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt, dissolution,
liquidation, receivership, trusteeship, or similar law of any
jurisdiction;
|
(f)
|
voluntary
application by the Person for or consent granted by the Person to the
involuntary appointment of any receiver, trustee, or similar officer (i)
for the Person or (ii) of or for all or any substantial part of the
Person’s property; and
|
(g)
|
entry,
without the Person’s application, approval, or consent, of any order that
is not dismissed, stayed, or discharged within sixty (60) days from its
entry, which is pursuant to or purporting to be pursuant to any
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, readjustment of debt,
dissolution, liquidation, receivership, trusteeship or similar law of any
jurisdiction (i) approving an involuntary petition seeking an arrangement
of the Person’s creditors, (ii) approving an involuntary petition seeking
reorganization of the Person, or (iii) appointing any receiver, trustee,
or similar officer (A) for the Person, or (B) of or for all or any
substantial part of the Person’s
property.
|
-47-
“Financial Statements”
is defined in Section
4.5.
“Fundamental
Representations” is defined in Section
9.1.
“Funded Debt” means
(without duplication): (a) all obligations of the Company for
borrowed money or funded indebtedness or issued in substitution for or exchange
for borrowed money or funded indebtedness (including obligations in respect of
principal, accrued interest); (b) any indebtedness evidenced by any note, bond,
debenture or other debt security; and (c) any prepayment premiums or penalties
or penalties or other costs or expenses related to any of the
foregoing.
“GATAP” means
generally accepted federal tax accounting principles, as in effect in the United
States either from time to time as applied to pre-Closing periods or as applied
on the Closing Date, as applicable.
“Governmental
Authority” means any government or political subdivision, whether
federal, state, local or foreign, or any agency or instrumentality of any such
government or political subdivision, or any federal, state, local or foreign
court or arbitrator.
“HIPAA” is defined in
Section
4.10(d).
“Indebtedness” means,
as of the Closing Date (without duplication): (a) all Funded Debt;
(b) all capital lease obligations of the Company reflected on Schedule 4.22;
and (c) any indebtedness guaranteed by the Company regardless of whether such
indebtedness is indebtedness of the Company, or any third Person.
“indemnitee” and
“indemnitor”
are defined in Section
9.6(a).
“Indemnification Threshold
Amount” is defined in Section 9.4(b).
“indemnitor’s
representative” is defined in Section 9.6(a).
“Independent
Accountants” means KPMG.
“Inquiry Period” means the period that
commenced on January 1, 2005 and ends on the Closing Date.
“Intellectual
Property” means any of the following in any jurisdiction throughout the
world (a) patents, patent applications, patent disclosures and inventions,
including any continuations, divisionals, continuations-in-part, renewals and
reissues for any of the foregoing; (b) Internet domain names, trademarks,
service marks, trade dress, trade names, logos and corporate names and
registrations and applications for registration thereof together with all of the
goodwill associated therewith; (c) copyrights (registered or unregistered) and
copyrightable works and registrations and applications for registration thereof;
(d) mask works and registrations and applications for registration thereof; (e)
material computer software, data, data bases and documentation thereof; and (f)
trade secrets and other confidential information (including ideas, inventions
(whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice),
know-how, formulae, recipes, research and development information, plans,
proposals, technical data, copyrightable works, financial and marketing plans
and customer, supplier and distributor lists and information) (collectively,
“Trade
Secrets”).
“Interim Financial
Statements” is defined in Section
4.5.
-48-
“IRS” means the
Internal Revenue Service.
“Labor Laws” is
defined in Section
4.9(c).
“Law” means any common
law decision and any federal, state, regional, local or foreign law, statute,
ordinance, code, rule, regulation or order, including, without limitation,
environmental law, securities law, and tax law, including, but not limited to,
rules, regulations and orders of the SEC and the United States Food and Drug
Administration.
“Leased Real Property”
is defined in Section
4.14.
“Leases” is defined in
Section
4.14.
“Leased Employee” is
defined in Section
4.9(a).
“Lender Releases”
means releases of the Company and its officers, directors, shareholders,
employees and representatives (an each of their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns acting in such capacities) from each
lender or other Person set forth on Schedule 7.1(q) with
respect to any indebtedness guaranteed by the Company regardless of whether such
indebtedness is indebtedness of the Company, or any third Person, in the form of
Exhibit
G.
“Letter of Credit”
means that certain Letter of Credit in the principal amount of $2,735,000
provided by a bank reasonably acceptable to Sellers in favor of Sellers as
security for the Seller Note.
“Liability” and “Liabilities” means
(a) any and all liabilities and obligations of any kind or nature that qualify
as liabilities under GATAP and (b) any other liabilities and obligations of any
kind or nature under common law statute or other law, contract or otherwise,
whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or
contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated,
and whether due or to become due.
“Lien” means any Tax,
liability, levy, claim, charge, equity, trust, assessment, mortgage, mortgage
deed, deed of trust, security interest, lien, mechanics or materialmen lien,
judgment lien, personal property lien, other tax lien, lien capable of
satisfaction by payment of a liquidated sum, pledge, hypothecation, tenancy by
the entirety, matrimonial or community interest, conditional sales agreement,
title retention contract, lease, license, sublease and other agreement for use
or occupancy, right of first refusal or offer, option to purchase, restriction,
easement, right of way, condition, covenant, other encumbrance, recorded and
unrecorded title matter or defect of any kind and real estate tax or assessment,
both general and special, and any agreement or commitment to create or suffer
any of the foregoing.
“Lifeway Shares” is
defined in Section
2.2(c).
“Litigation
Conditions” means all of the following: (a) the
indemnitor’s representative agrees in writing that the indemnitor shall be
obligated to indemnify the indemnitee for all Losses that may result from such
claim; and (b) the claim does not seek an order or other equitable relief
for other than monetary damages against the indemnitee that cannot be separated
from any related claim for monetary damages.
“Loss” or “Losses” means any and
all Actions, payments, obligations, liabilities, recoveries, deficiencies,
fines, assessments, losses, punitive, exemplary or consequential damages and
-49-
diminution
in value (including, but not limited to, lost income, and profits and
interruptions of business), costs, expenses (including (a) interest, penalties
and attorneys’ fees and expenses, (b) attorneys’ fees and expenses necessary to
enforce rights to indemnification hereunder (including those incurred on
appeal), and (c) consultant’s fees and other costs of defense or investigation),
and interest, and notices of liability and any claims in respect thereof
(including amounts paid in settlement and reasonable costs of investigation and
legal expenses) and interest on any amount payable to a third party as a result
of the foregoing, whether direct or indirect, accrued, absolute, contingent,
known or unknown, involving a third party claim or otherwise, as of the Closing
Date or thereafter.
“Material Adverse
Change” is defined in Section
8.2.
“Material Customers”
is defined in Section
4.21.
“Material
Distributors” is defined in Section
4.21.
“Material Suppliers”
is defined in Section
4.21.
“Mortgage” means that
certain Mortgage and Security Agreement, executed by Buyer in favor of Sellers,
requiring payment of Buyer’s obligations under the Seller Note, in the form
attached as Exhibit
E.
“Obligee” is defined
in the definition of “Assumed Liabilities” in this Article 11.
“Ordinary Course of
Business” an action taken by a Person will be deemed to have been taken
in the ordinary course of business only if that action: (a) is consistent in
nature, scope and magnitude with the past practices of such Person and is taken
in the ordinary course of the normal, day-to-day operations of such Person; and
(b) does not require authorization by the board of directors (or similar
governing body) of such Person.
“Outstanding Funded
Debt” is defined in Section
2.2(a).
“Payoff Letters” is
defined in Section
2.5(c).
“PBGC” means the
Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
“Per Diem Basis” means
a determination that is required be to based upon a specific number of days of
the week, weeks in a month, or months in a calendar year, as
applicable.
“Permit” or “Permits” means any
(a) permit, license, certificate, franchise, concession, approval, consent,
ratification, permission, clearance, confirmation, endorsement, waiver,
certification, designation, rating, registration, qualification or authorization
issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of
any Person, Governmental Authority or pursuant to any Law, including, but not
limited to, those issued by the Food and Drug Administration; or (b) right under
any contract with any Governmental Authority.
“Permitted Liens”
means (a) Liens for current Taxes and utilities not yet due and payable; (b)
leases, subleases or similar agreements described in Section 4.14 or 4.17; or
(c) zoning, building and other similar restrictions imposed by applicable
Laws.
-50-
“Person” means an
individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, a
proprietorship, a trust, an unincorporated association, a joint venture, a
Governmental Authority or any other entity or organization.
“Phase I Report(s)” is
defined in the definition of the term “Due Diligence Investigation” in this
Article 11.
“Phase II Report(s)”
is defined in the definition of the term “Due Diligence Investigation” in this
Article 11.
“Phase I & II
Documentation” means the Phase I Report(s) and the Phase II
Report(s).
“Plan” means any
Employee Benefit Plan, maintained for the benefit of any present or former
Employee with respect to which the Company or an ERISA Affiliate currently is,
or at any time during the Inquiry Period has been, the sponsor, a party
obligated to make contributions to, or has had any Liability with respect to, or
has been subject to Liability.
“Pre-Closing Periods”
is defined in Section
8.8.1(a).
“Pre-Closing Taxes” is
defined in Section
8.8.1(c).
“Prime Rate” means the
Prime Rate listed in the Wall Street Journal
on the date prior to the Closing Date.
“Purchase Price” is
defined in Section
2.2
“Real Property Purchase
Agreement” means that certain Real Property Purchase Agreement, dated as
of the date hereof, between Buyer and Sellers for the purchase by Buyer of the
real property owned by Sellers located at 000-000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, for the purchase price of $2,000,000, attached as Exhibit
C.
“Refund” means any Tax
refund, credit or overpayment that is actually received and arises from, with
respect to or attributable to the period indicated.
“Related Agreement”
means any agreement or document required to be executed and delivered pursuant
to this Agreement, including without limitation the Construing Agreements and
the Real Property Purchase Agreement.
“Related Party” is
defined in Section
4.24.
“Related Party
Releases” means releases of the Company and its officers, directors,
shareholders, employees and representatives (an each of their respective heirs,
executors, administrators, successors and assigns acting in such capacities)
from each Related Party set forth on Schedule 7.1(p) with
respect to any pre-Closing agreement or transaction between Related Parties in
the form of Exhibit
H.
“Related Party
Transaction” is defined in Section
4.24.
“Released Claims” is
defined in Section
8.9.
-51-
“SEC” means the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” shall
mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor federal statute,
and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect from time to
time.
“Security Agreement”
means that certain Security Agreement securing payment of Buyer’s obligations
under the Seller Note, in form attached as Exhibit
D.
“Seller and Sellers” is defined
in the preamble of this Agreement.
“Seller Note” means
that certain 2-year, Promissory Note, executed by Buyer in favor of Sellers that
is secured by a Letter of Credit and the Mortgage. The Seller Note
shall (a) be in the principal amount of $2,735,000; (b) shall be payable in
eight (8) equal, consecutive, quarterly installments of at least $341,875 each,
plus interest at the Prime Rate; (c) have the first payment of principal and
interest be due on the first day of the third month immediately following the
Closing Date; and (d) contain other terms and conditions in the form attached as
Exhibit
A.
“Seller’s Respective
Shares” is defined in Section
2.1.
“Sellers’ Account” is
defined in Section 2.5(a).
“Sellers’ Indemnified
Parties” is defined in Section 9.3.
“Selling Expenses”
means all of the fees and expenses incurred by or on behalf of Sellers and/or
the Company in connection with the process of selling the Company (whether by
merger, sale of all or substantially all of the assets or equity securities of
the Company, or any similar or related transaction or series of transactions) or
otherwise relating to the negotiation, preparation or execution of this
Agreement or any documents or agreements contemplated hereby or the performance
or consummation of the Transaction, including (a) any fees and expenses
associated with obtaining necessary or appropriate waivers, consents or
approvals of any Governmental Authority or third parties on behalf of
the Company; (b) any fees or expenses associated with obtaining the release and
termination of any Lien; (c) any fees, penalties, expenses and other costs
associated with obtaining the Lender Releases; (d) all brokers’ or finders’
fees; and (e) fees and expenses of counsel, advisors, consultants, investment
bankers, accountants, and auditors and experts. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, it is acknowledged and agreed that none of the legal and accounting
expenses incurred, during 2008, by the Company, with respect to the proposed
(but abandoned) asset sale transaction by and between the Company and Buyer,
constitute, for any purposes of this Agreement, Selling Expenses.
“Separate Counsel
Conditions” means any of the following: (a) the indemnitor’s
representative requests indemnitee’s counsel to participate; (b) in the
reasonable opinion of counsel to the indemnitee, a conflict exists between the
indemnitor and the indemnitee that makes separate counsel advisable; or
(c) the indemnitor’s representative has failed to defend a claim in good
faith.
“Shareholder Autos”
means the automobiles/vans with VIN # XXXXX00XX00000000 (for Xxxx Xxxxxx) and
VIN # XXXXX00X000000000 (for Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx).
“Shareholder Loan”
means the Notes Receivable from one (or, if applicable, both) of Sellers, in the
approximate aggregate amount of $265,000.
-52-
“Shares” is defined in
the Recitals to the Agreement.
“Stock Pledge” means
that certain Stock Pledge executed by Buyer in favor of Sellers, securing
payment of Buyer’s obligations under the Seller Note, in the form attached as
Exhibit
F.
“Subsidiary” means,
with respect to any Person, any corporation, general or limited partnership,
limited liability company, joint venture or other legal entity of any kind of
which such Person (either alone or through or together with one or more of its
other Subsidiaries) owns, directly or indirectly, more than 10% of the stock or
other equity interests, the holders of which are (a) generally entitled to vote
for the election of the board of directors or other governing body of such legal
entity, or (b) generally entitled to share in the profits or capital of such
legal entity.
“Survival Period” is
defined in Section
9.1.
“Tax” or “Taxes” means any
federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts, license, payroll,
employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits,
customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, social security (or similar),
unemployment, disability, real property, leasehold, 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 and including any obligations to
indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the Tax liability of any other
Person.
“Tax Return” means any
return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or
statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto,
and including any amendment thereof.
“Tax Statement” means,
with respect to any Tax Return filed pursuant to Section 8.8.1(b), a
calculation of the respective liability of Buyer and Sellers for Taxes reflected
on such return, using the methodology set forth in Section
8.8.1(c).
“Territory” is defined
in Section
8.11.
“Third-Party Claim” is
defined in Section 9.6(a).
“Transaction” means
the sale of the Shares by Sellers and the purchase of the Shares by Buyer
pursuant to this Agreement.
“Unpaid Selling
Expenses” is defined in Section
2.2(a).
“WARN Act” is defined
in Section
4.10(e).
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ARTICLE
12
MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
12.1 Notices.
Any
notice to be given pursuant to this Agreement shall be given in writing and
delivered as follows:
(a)
|
If
to Buyer, to:
|
Lifeway
Foods, Inc.
0000 X.
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, CFO
Phone
Number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
Number: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx
With a
copy to:
XxXxxxxx
Xxxxxxx LLC
000
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X., Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Phone
Number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
Number: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
(b)
|
If
to Sellers:
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx. #X-00
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Phone
Number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
Number: N/A
Email: N/A
and
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
0000
Xxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Phone
Number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
Number: N/A
Email: N/A
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With a
copy to:
Fox
Rothschild LLP
Building
#10 Sentry Parkway East
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000
X.X. Xxx
0000
Xxxx
Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Phone
Number: (000) 000-0000
Facsimile
Number: (000) 000-0000
Email: xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
or in any
case, to such other address for a party as to which notice shall have been given
to Buyer and Sellers in accordance with this Section. Notices so
addressed shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) on the third business day
after the day of registration, if sent by registered or certified mail, postage
prepaid, (ii) on the next business day following the documented acceptance
thereof for next-day delivery by a national overnight air courier service, if so
sent, or (iii) on the date sent by facsimile transmission or electronic
mail. Otherwise, notices shall be deemed to have been given when
actually received at such address.
12.2 Entire Agreement.
This
Agreement (as supplemented by the
Forbearance Agreement), the Disclosure Schedules, the Related Agreements
and exhibits hereto and thereto constitute the exclusive statement of the
agreement between Buyer and Sellers concerning the subject matter hereof, and
supersedes all other prior agreements, oral or written concerning such subject
matter, including that certain letter of intent dated August 22,
2008.
12.3 Modification.
No
modification or waiver of this Agreement shall be enforceable unless made in a
written instrument signed by all parties to this Agreement.
12.4 Binding Effect.
This
Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of Buyer and
Sellers and their respective successors and permitted assigns.
12.5 Interpretation. As used
in this Agreement and required by the context, the singular and plural shall be
deemed to include all genders; words importing persons shall include
partnerships, corporations and other entities; when reference is made in this
Agreement to an Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit, such reference shall be
to an Article, Section, Schedule or Exhibit of this Agreement unless otherwise
indicated; and the terms “herein,” “hereof” and “hereunder” or other similar
terms, refer to this Agreement as a whole and not only to the particular
sentence, subsection or section in which any such term may be
employed. Whenever in this Agreement the word “including” is used, it
shall be deemed to be for purposes of identifying only one or more of the
possible alternatives, and the entire provision in which such word appears shall
be read as if the phrase “including without limitation” were actually used in
the text. The section headings herein are for convenience only and
shall not affect the construction hereof. In case any provision in
this Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, such invalid, illegal
or unenforceable provision shall be deemed enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining
provisions shall not in any way be affected thereby. No remedy
conferred by any of the specific provisions of this Agreement, is intended to be
exclusive of any other remedy. If any ambiguity or question of intent
or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted
jointly by the parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
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12.6 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed and delivered in multiple counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, and all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument. A facsimile, electronic copy or other copy of a
signature shall be deemed an original.
12.7 Third
Parties. Except
as otherwise expressly stated herein, no provision of this Agreement is intended
or shall confer on any Person, other than the parties hereto, any rights under
this Agreement.
12.8 Time
Periods. Any
action required hereunder to be taken within a certain number of days shall,
unless otherwise provided herein, be taken within that number of calendar days;
provided,
however, that if the last day for taking such action falls on a Saturday,
a Sunday, or a legal holiday, the period during which such action may be taken
shall be extended to the next business day.
12.9 Governing
Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Pennsylvania without regard to the choice-of-laws or conflicts-of-laws
provisions thereof. Each of the parties hereto consents to and
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Pennsylvania, located in
the County of Philadelphia, for any proceeding arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, the Real Property Purchase Agreement, the other related
Agreements and any other related documents contemplated by this Agreement for
the Transaction, and further agrees that service of process or delivery of
documents by U.S. certified mail to such party’s respective address set forth in
this Agreement shall be effective for any purpose. Each of the
parties hereto waives any objection to the venue or convenience of such
forum.
12.10 Legal Fees and
Costs. In
the event that any party hereto incurs legal expenses to enforce any provision
of this Agreement, the prevailing party will be entitled to recover such legal
expenses, including without limitation, attorney’s fees, costs and
disbursements, in addition to any other relief to which such party shall be
entitled.
[Remainder
of Page is Intentionally Left Blank]
[Counterpart
Signature Pages Follow]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have
executed this Stock Purchase Agreement as of the date set forth
above.
BUYER:
LIFEWAY
FOODS, INC.
/s/
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, CFO
[CORPORATE
SEAL]
SELLERS:
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxx
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
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