STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT
10.1
EXECUTION
COPY
|
THIS
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”), dated as
of May 15, 2008, by and among (a) BOOKRAGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”), (b)
XXXXX XXXXXXXXX, a stockholder of the Company (“Xxxxx”), (c) XXXXX
XXXXXX, a stockholder of the Company (“Xxxxx”), (d) XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX, a stockholder of the Company (“Xxxxxxx”), (e) XXX X.
XXXXXXX, in her capacity as Executrix of the ESTATE OF XXX X. XXXXXXX, a
stockholder of the Company (the “Xxxxxxx Estate”), and
(F) AMBASSADORS GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation, or its assigns (“Purchaser”). David,
James, Xxxxxxx and the Xxxxxxx Estate are sometimes referred to herein
individually as a “Stockholder,” and
collectively as the “Stockholders.” The
Company, the Stockholders and Purchaser are sometimes referred to herein
individually as a “Party,” and
collectively as the “Parties.”
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
the Company is in the business of owning and operating a website that provides
educational materials and content (the “Business”).
WHEREAS,
each Stockholder owns the number of shares of common stock of the Company,
$0.001 par value per share (the “Shares”), as is set
forth opposite such Stockholder’s name below, which Shares in the aggregate
represent all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company.
Stockholder
|
Number of
Shares
|
Percentage
|
Xxxxx
|
532,000
|
54.53%
|
Xxxxx
|
354,666
|
36.36%
|
Xxxxxxx
|
78,889
|
8.09%
|
Xxxxxxx
Estate
|
10,000
|
1.02%
|
WHEREAS,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, each of the
Stockholders desires to sell such Stockholder’s Shares to Purchaser, and
Purchaser desires to purchase the Shares from the Stockholders.
WHEREAS,
the Parties intend that the transaction contemplated by this Agreement be
treated as an asset acquisition pursuant to Section 338(h)(10) of the
Code.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals and the premises and
mutual terms, conditions and agreements set forth herein, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the Parties, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
1.1. Certain Defined
Terms. As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following meanings:
“Accounts Receivable”
of a Person shall mean all accounts, notes, accounts receivable, contract
rights, drafts and other forms of claims, demands, instruments, receivables and
rights to the payment of money or other forms of consideration, whether for
goods sold or leased, services performed or to be performed, or otherwise, owned
by that Person or in which that Person has any interest, together with all
guarantees, security agreements and rights and interests securing the
same.
“Action” shall mean
any claim, action, suit, arbitration, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or
before any Governmental Authority.
“Affiliate” shall
mean, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person that directly, or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, such specified Person.
“Agreement” shall mean
this Stock Purchase Agreement by and among the Company, the Stockholders and
Purchaser (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto).
“Alternative Proposal”
shall mean a proposal or offer (other than by Purchaser) for a stock purchase,
asset acquisition, merger, consolidation or other business combination involving
the Company or any proposal to acquire in any manner a direct or indirect
substantial equity interest in, or all or any substantial part of the assets of,
the Company.
“Books and Records” of
a Person shall mean all books and records, ledgers, employee records, customer
lists, files, correspondence, computer data bases, accounting information and
other records of every kind, whether written, computerized or maintained in any
other medium, which are owned by that Person or in which that Person has any
interest.
“Business Day” shall
mean any day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by law to be closed in the city of Spokane,
Washington.
“CERCLA” shall mean
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
1980.
“Change In Control”
shall mean with respect to a Person, when (a) such Person merges or consolidates
with another entity, unless (i) the other entity controls, is under common
control with or is controlled by such Person immediately prior to the
consolidation or merger whether or not such Person shall be the surviving entity
in such consolidation or merger, or (ii) the equity holders of such Person
immediately before such merger or consolidation own, directly or indirectly,
immediately following such merger or consolidation, more than fifty percent
(50%) of the combined voting power of the outstanding voting securities of the
entity resulting from such merger or consolidation (whether or not such Person
is the surviving entity); or (b) such Person consummates a sale of all or
substantially all of its assets; or (c) the equity holders of such Person sell,
exchange or transfer securities in a tender offer or other transaction
representing more than fifty percent (50%) of the combined voting power of the
outstanding voting securities of such Person.
“Code” shall mean the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
2
“Company Documents”
shall mean this Agreement and all other agreements, instruments and certificates
to be executed by the Company in connection with this Agreement.
“EBITDA” shall mean a
dollar amount as is calculated in accordance with the following
formula: Revenue – expenses (excluding income Taxes, interest,
depreciation and amortization), as applied by the Company and in accordance with
the methodology set forth on Appendix
1. The Parties acknowledge and agree that, in determining
expenses, there shall be deducted reasonable and customary corporate overhead
charges and expenses to the Company, subject to the requirements of Section
2.3(f).
“Environmental Laws and
Orders” shall mean, collectively, all applicable Laws and Governmental
Orders relating to the protection of the environment, human health or
occupational health and safety, including without limitation, (a) all
requirements pertaining to reporting, licensing, permitting, controlling,
investigating or remediating emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of Hazardous Substances, chemical substances, pollutants, contaminants
or toxic substances, materials or wastes, whether solid, liquid or gaseous in
nature, into the air, surface water, groundwater or land; (b) all requirements
relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Substances, chemical substances,
pollutants, contaminants or toxic substances, materials or wastes, whether
solid, liquid or gaseous in nature; and (c) RCRA, CERCLA, the Clean Air Act, the
Water Pollution Control Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances
Control Act, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act, the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act
of 1970 and all regulations promulgated pursuant to any of these or analogous
state or local statutes.
“ERISA” shall mean the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
“Exchange Act” shall
mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“Executives” shall
mean Xxxxx and Xxxxx.
“GAAP” shall mean
United States generally accepted accounting principles and practices as in
effect from time to time.
“Governmental
Authority” shall mean any federal, state or local or any foreign
government, political subdivision thereof, governmental, regulatory or
administrative authority, agency or commission or any court, tribunal or
judicial body.
“Governmental Order”
shall mean any order, writ, injunction, decree, stipulation, determination or
award entered by or with any Governmental Authority.
“Hazardous Substance”
shall mean any substance, waste or material: (a) the presence of which requires
investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or Order, (b) the
generation, storage, treatment, transportation, disposal, remediation, removal,
handling or management of which is regulated by any Environmental Law or Order,
(c) that is defined as a “hazardous waste” or hazardous substance” under any
Environmental Law or Order, (d) that is toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable,
infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic or mutagenic or otherwise hazardous and is
regulated by any Governmental Authority, (e) the presence of which poses a
hazard to the health or safety of Persons, (f) the presence of which constitutes
a nuisance, trespass or other tortious condition for which the Company could be
or is alleged to be liable or (g) without limitation, that contains gasoline,
diesel fuel or other petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenols (PCBs) or
asbestos.
3
“Intellectual
Property” of a Person shall mean all intangible properties owned by that
Person or in which that Person has any interest (including the right to use by
license or otherwise), and all rights arising from or associated therewith,
whether protected, created or arising under the laws of any jurisdiction and
includes, without limitation: (a) all registered and unregistered trademarks,
service marks, trade names, trade dress, logos, corporate names, slogans and
commercial symbols, all applications therefor, and all associated goodwill; (b)
all domain names and URL’s, and all websites and the “look and feel” of all such
websites (including, without limitation, each such website’s particular
typefaces, color schemes, programming code themes and the like); (c) all works
of authorship, derivative works thereof and statutory, common law and registered
copyrights therein, all applications therefor and all associated goodwill; (d)
all inventions, including all related and associated patents and patent
applications, technical information, shop rights, know-how, trade secrets,
processes, operating, maintenance and other manuals, drawings and
specifications, process flow diagrams and related data, and all associated
goodwill; (e) all software developed for a Person pursuant to an agreement
between such Person and the software designer designating the software a “work made for hire” or assigning ownership
rights to such software to such Person, all software developed by an employee or
contractor of a Person, and all documentation thereof, (including all electronic
data processing systems and program specifications, functional specifications,
source and object codes, algorithms, architecture, input data, report layouts
and format, record file layouts, diagrams, narrative descriptions and flow
charts) (collectively, the “owned software,”) and all “off the shelf” software
purchased in retail transactions or used in connection with the Business
(collectively the “licensed software”); (f) all other mask works, moral rights,
inventions, discoveries, improvements, processes, formulae (secret or
otherwise), data, drawings, specifications, trade secrets, confidential
information, financial, marketing and business data, pricing and cost models and
information, business and marketing plans, operating procedures, customer and
supplier lists, and knowledge of customer preferences and buying practices; (g)
all drawings, records, books or other tangible media embodying the foregoing;
(h) all rights to obtain and rights to register patents, trademarks and
copyrights; (i) all content utilized in the operation of the Company’s Business
and displayed on the Company’s websites; and (j) all rights to xxx or recover
and retain damages and costs and attorneys fees for present and past
infringement of any of the foregoing.
“Knowledge” shall mean
(a) with respect to Purchaser, the actual knowledge of each of Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
and Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, and the knowledge that
each such person would have acquired upon reasonable inquiry, and (b) with
respect to the Company, the actual knowledge of each of Xxxxx and Xxxxx, and the
knowledge that each such person would have acquired upon reasonable
inquiry.
“Labor Agreements” of
a Person shall mean, collectively: (a) all employment agreements, collective
bargaining agreements or other labor agreements to which that Person is a party
or by which any of its properties is bound; (b) all pension, profit sharing,
deferred compensation, bonus, stock option, stock purchase, savings, retainer,
consulting, retirement, welfare or incentive plans or contracts (including, in
the case of the Company, Company Benefit Plans) to which that Person is a party
or by which any of its properties is bound; and (c) all plans or agreements
under which “fringe benefits” (including, but not limited to, hospitalization
plans or programs, medical insurance, vacation plans or programs, sick plans or
programs and related benefits) are afforded to any employees of that
Person.
4
“Law” shall mean any
statute, law, ordinance, regulation or rule of any Governmental Authority,
including without limitation, environmental laws.
“Liabilities” shall
mean any and all liabilities and obligations, whether accrued, absolute, known,
unknown, contingent, matured or unmatured.
“Lien” shall mean any
security interest, easement, mortgage, charge, lease, lien, claim, option,
pledge, agreement, limitation in voting rights, restriction on transfer (other
than as imposed by federal and state securities Laws), or other encumbrance of
any kind or nature whatsoever.
“Loss” or “Losses” shall mean
any and all losses, damages, claims, costs and expenses, interest, awards,
judgments, penalties and amounts paid in settlement (including reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses) actually suffered or incurred by a
Party.
“Material Adverse
Effect” shall mean any material adverse effect on the Business, results
of operations or financial condition of the Company taken as a
whole.
“Person” shall mean
any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, trust, estate,
unincorporated organization, joint venture, limited liability company or other
entity.
“RCRA” shall mean the
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976.
“Real Property” of a
Person shall mean all real properties owned by that Person or in which that
Person has any interest or estate (including the right to use or by way of a
lease), together with all buildings, fixtures, trade fixtures, plant and all
other equipment and improvements located thereon or attached thereto; all of
that Person’s rights arising out of the ownership or use thereof (including air,
water, oil and mineral rights), and all subleases, franchises, licenses,
permits, easements and rights-of-way which are appurtenant thereto.
“Revenues” shall mean
the aggregate amount of revenues actually received or credited to the Company,
if any, as determined in accordance with GAAP, as applied by the Company and in
accordance with the methodology set forth on Appendix
1.
“Stockholder
Documents” shall mean this Agreement and all other agreements,
instruments and certificates to be executed and delivered by the Stockholders in
connection with this Agreement.
“Tangible Personal
Property” of a Person shall mean all machinery, equipment, furniture,
trade fixtures, computers, supplies, spare parts or tools and other tangible
personal property owned by that Person, leased by that Person or in which that
Person has any other interest (including the right to use).
5
“Tax” shall mean any
federal, state, county, local, foreign and other tax, charge, fee, levy,
deficiency or other assessment of any nature or kind that is imposed by a Taxing
Authority (including any income, profits, premium, estimated, excise, sales,
use, occupancy, gross receipts, franchise, ad valorem, severance, capital levy,
production, transfer, withholding, employment, unemployment, payroll, property,
license, withholding, stamp, occupation, occupancy, recording, minimum,
environmental, built in gains and excess passive income tax), whether directly,
as transferee (including under code Section 6901 or any similar provision under
applicable Law), as a result of being a member of a consolidated, combined or
unitary group (including under Treasury Regulations Section 61502-6 or any
similar provision of applicable Law), as a result of a Tax sharing or similar
agreement, or otherwise, together with any interest, addition to tax or penalty
with respect thereto.
“Taxing Authority”
shall mean any Governmental Authority exercising Tax regulatory
authority.
“Tax Return” shall
mean any return, declaration, report, claim for refund or credit, or information
return, with respect to Tax, or any other similar report, statement,
declaration, or document that is filed or required to be filed under the Code or
other Tax Law with any Taxiing Authority in connection with the determination,
reporting, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax or the administration of
any Tax Law, including any attachments, exhibits, or other materials submitted
with any of the foregoing, and including any amendments to any of the
foregoing.
“Transfer Tax” shall
mean all Tax (other than Tax measured on or by net income) incurred or imposed
by reason of the transfer and sale of the Shares to Purchaser pursuant to this
Agreement regardless of upon whom such Tax is levied or imposed by law,
including sales and use tax, real property transfer tax, excise tax, and stamp,
documentary, filing, recording, permit, license, registration, or authorization
duties or fees (including penalties and interest in respect of any of the
foregoing).
“WARN Act” shall mean
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, or any similar state
statute or local law, as the same may be amended, modified or supplemented from
time to time or any law that may come to supersede the requirements
thereof.
SECTION
1.2. Other
Defined Terms. In addition to those terms defined above, the
following terms shall have the respective meanings given thereto in the Sections
indicated below:
Term
|
Section
|
|
Arbitrating
Accountants
|
2.3(d)
|
|
Assumed
Liabilities
|
3.6(a)
|
|
Broker’s
Fees
|
3.6(a)
|
|
Business
|
Recitals
|
|
California
Taxes
|
3.6(a)
|
6
Term
|
Section
|
|
Carved
Out Company Representations and Warranties
|
6.10(a)
|
|
Carved
Out Stockholder Representations and Warranties
|
6.10(a)
|
|
Xxxxxxx
|
Preamble
|
|
Closing
|
2.8
|
|
Closing
Date
|
2.8
|
|
Closing
Cash Payment
|
2.2(a)
|
|
Company
Benefit Plans
|
3.13
|
|
Closing
Date Amount
|
2.4(a)
|
|
Closing
Date Amount Schedule
|
2.4(a)
|
|
Closing
Date Balance Sheet
|
2.4(a)
|
|
Company’s
Disclosure Schedule
|
Article
III
|
|
Company
Software
|
3.17
|
|
Confidential
Information
|
5.18
|
|
Contract
|
3.9
|
|
Xxxxx
|
Preamble
|
|
Disclosing
Party
|
5.18
|
|
Earn-out
Payments
|
2.3(b)
|
|
Elections
|
5.21(b)
|
|
Employment
Agreements
|
5.11
|
|
Financial
Statements
|
3.6
|
|
Foreign
Business Tax Liabilities
|
3.6(a)
|
|
Franchise
Taxes
|
2.6
|
|
Xxxxxxx
Estate
|
Preamble
|
|
Indemnified
Party
|
6.5
|
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
6.5
|
|
Independent
Tax Firm
|
5.20
|
|
Initial
Earn-out Payment
|
2.3(a)
|
|
Initial
Earn-out Period
|
2.3(a)
|
|
Inventions
Assignment Agreement
|
5.25
|
|
Xxxxx
|
Preamble
|
|
Non-compete
Agreements
|
5.12
|
|
Open
Source Software
|
3.17(a)
|
|
Options
|
5.13
|
|
Party
|
Preamble
|
|
Parties
|
Preamble
|
|
Pre-Closing
Period
|
6.3(a)
|
|
Prepayments
|
3.9(a)
|
|
Purchase
Price
|
2.2
|
|
Purchaser
|
Preamble
|
|
Purchaser
SEC Documents
|
4.5
|
|
Receiving
Party
|
5.18
|
|
Reference
Balance Sheet
|
3.6
|
7
Term
|
Section
|
|
Required
Consents
|
3.3
|
|
SEC
|
4.5
|
|
Second
Earn-out Payment
|
2.3(b)
|
|
Second
Earn-out Period
|
2.3(b)
|
|
Shares
|
Recitals
|
|
Stockholder(s)
|
Preamble
|
|
Stock
Consideration
|
2.2(b)
|
|
Tax
Liability
|
3.11(b)
|
|
Tax
Proceeding
|
3.11(b)
|
|
Threshold
Amount
|
2.4(a)
|
|
Transferred
Employees
|
5.9
|
|
338
Tax
|
5.20
|
SECTION
1.3. Other
Interpretive Provisions. The words “hereof”, “herein” and
“hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer
to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this
Agreement, and Section, Schedule and Exhibit references are to this Agreement
unless otherwise specified, and reference to a given agreement or instrument
shall be a reference to that agreement or instrument as modified, amended,
supplemented and restated through the date as of which such reference is
made. The words “include,” “includes,” and “including” shall be
deemed to be followed by the phrase “without limitation.” The
meanings given to terms defined herein shall be equally applicable to both the
singular and plural forms of such terms. Any references to Laws,
statutes or agreements shall mean such Laws, statutes or agreements as amended,
modified or supplemented from time to time. If any action is required
to be taken or notice is required to be given on a day that is not a Business
Day, such action or notice shall be considered timely if it is taken or given on
or before the next Business Day.
ARTICLE
II
SALE AND
PURCHASE OF SHARES; PURCHASE PRICE; CLOSING
SECTION
2.1. Sale
and Purchase of the Shares. Upon the terms and conditions set
forth in this Agreement and in reliance upon the representations and warranties
of the Stockholders, the Company and Purchaser herein set forth, as of the
Closing, each Stockholder shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to
Purchaser, and Purchaser shall purchase, acquire and accept from each
Stockholder, all of the Shares owned by each such Stockholder, free and clear of
any and all Liens.
SECTION
2.2. Purchase
Price. In consideration for the Shares, Purchaser shall pay to
the Stockholders, on a pro-rata basis, the aggregate purchase price (the “Purchase Price”) of
up to Eighteen Million Dollars ($18,000,000) subject to the terms and conditions
of Section 2.3 and subject to the post-Closing adjustment in accordance with the
terms of Section 2.4, which Purchase Price shall be payable as
follows:
8
(a) On
the Closing Date, Purchaser shall pay to the Stockholders, on a pro-rata basis,
cash in the amount of Eight Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($8,500,000)
(the “Closing Cash
Payment”), which shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to one or more bank accounts designated in writing by each of the
Stockholders immediately prior to the Closing.
(b) On
the Closing Date, Purchaser shall issue to and hold pending release to the
Stockholders pursuant to the terms of this Section 2.2(b) and Article VI,
233,584 shares of Purchaser’s common stock in the name of each of the
Stockholders (the number of such shares to be issued to the Stockholders on a
pro-rata basis), which shares have an agreed upon aggregate fair market value of
Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,500,000) (the “Stock
Consideration”). Subject to the offset rights set forth in
Section 6.12 and the terms of Section 6.11, the Stock Consideration (i) shall be
held in escrow by Purchaser and shall be available to satisfy the
indemnification obligations of the Stockholders pursuant to the terms of Article
VI, and (ii) shall be released from escrow to the Stockholders (on a pro rata
basis) on the second anniversary of the Closing Date. Each of the
Stockholders shall be entitled to vote such Stockholder’s pro rata portion of
the shares of Stock Consideration and receive any dividends (to the extent
declared by Purchaser) with respect thereto during such hold-back or escrow
period to the extent such shares are not forfeited in accordance with the terms
of Article VI.
SECTION
2.3. Earn-out Payments and
Adjustments.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions of Article VI to the extent that, during the period
commencing January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2009 (the “Initial Earn-out
Period”), the EBITDA of the Company on a stand-alone basis, computed in
accordance with GAAP, as applied by the Company and in accordance with the
methodology set forth on Appendix 1, is
between Four Million Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,600,000) and Seven Million
Dollars ($7,000,000), then Purchaser shall pay to the Stockholders, on a pro
rata basis, a pro rata cash amount of up to Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000)
(the “Initial Earn-out
Payment”); provided, however, that no
Initial Earn-out Payment shall be paid until the EBITDA of the Company on a
stand-alone basis for the Initial Earn-out Period is greater than Four Million
Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars ($4,900,000) in the aggregate. By way
of example, if the EBITDA of the Company on a stand-alone basis for the Initial
Earn-out Period is Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000), then the amount of the
Initial Earn-out Payment due shall be One Million One Hundred Sixty Six Thousand
Six Hundred Sixty Six Dollars ($1,166,666) or approximately 58.3% of Two Million
Dollars ($2,000,000).
(b) Subject
to the terms and conditions of Article VI, to the extent that, during the period
commencing January 1, 2008 through and including December 31, 2010 (the “Second Earn-out
Period”), the EBITDA of the Company on a stand-alone basis, computed in
accordance with GAAP, as applied by the Company and in accordance with the
methodology set forth on Appendix 1, is
between Seven Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($7,300,000) and Twelve
Million Three Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,300,000), then Purchaser shall pay
to the Stockholders, on a pro rata basis, a pro rata cash amount of up to Three
Million Dollars ($3,000,000) (the “Second Earn-out
Payment” and together with the Initial Earn-out Payment, the “Earn-out Payments”);
provided, however, that no
Second Earn-out Payment shall be paid until the EBITDA of the Company on a
stand-alone basis for the Second Earn-out Period is greater than Eight Million
Dollars ($8,000,000) in the aggregate. By way of example, if the
EBITDA of the Company on a stand-alone basis for the Second Earn-out Period is
Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), then the amount of the Second Earn-out
Payment due shall be One Million Six Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars
($1,620,000) or approximately 54% of Three Million Dollars
($3,000,000).
9
(c) Within
ninety (90) days after the end of the Initial Earn-out Period or the Second
Earn-out Period, as applicable, Purchaser shall deliver to the Executives a
schedule setting forth (i) Purchaser’s calculation of the EBITDA of the Company
for the applicable earn-out period together with a written explanation and
analysis in reasonable detail of each component thereof and any adjustments
thereto, and (2) the resulting Earn-out Payments, if any, payable to the
Stockholders. The Executives shall have thirty (30) days from receipt
of any such schedule to accept or reject in writing Purchaser’s calculation of
the EBITDA of the Company and the Earn-out Amounts, which acceptance or
rejection shall be furnished to Purchaser within such thirty (30) day
period. If Purchaser does not receive any such written notice from
the Executives within such thirty (30) day period, the Executives and the other
Stockholders shall be deemed to have accepted Purchaser’s calculation of the
EBITDA of the Company and the Earn-out Payments and such calculation shall be
conclusive, final and binding upon the Executives and the other
Stockholders. If the Executives’ reject such calculation, the
Executives will provide Purchaser, together with the Executives’ notice of
rejection, a written explanation of the basis of such rejection, specifying in
reasonable detail the particulars of the Executives’ disagreement with
Purchaser’s calculation of the EBITDA of the Company and the Earn-out Payments
and the Executives’ proposed alternative calculations. The Executives
and Purchaser shall use their respective reasonable best efforts for a period of
fifteen (15) days after the Executives deliver such rejection notice to
Purchaser to resolve such disagreement. If the Executives and
Purchaser fail to resolve such disagreement within such fifteen (15) day period,
then the subject of such disagreement shall be resolved in accordance with the
procedures set forth in Section 2.3(d).
(d) If
the Executives and Purchaser are unable to reach a resolution within fifteen
(15) days after delivery by the Executives of the rejection notice, the
Executives and Purchaser shall submit such disagreement for final binding
resolution to an independent accounting firm mutually acceptable to the
Executives and Purchaser (the “Arbitrating
Accountants”), who shall be engaged to provide a conclusive, final and
binding resolution of the unresolved dispute. The Executives and
Purchaser shall each be entitled to make a presentation to the Arbitrating
Accountants pursuant to procedures to be agreed to among the Executives,
Purchaser and the Arbitrating Accountants, advocating the merits of the position
espoused by such Party and the Arbitrating Accountants shall be required to
resolve the dispute with respect to the EBITDA of the Company and the Earn-out
Payments within fifteen (15) days thereafter. The determination of
the Arbitrating Accountants shall be final and binding upon the Parties, absent
fraud. The fees and expenses of the Arbitrating Accountants shall be
shared equally by and between the Executives and the other Stockholders, on the
one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand.
(e) Purchaser
shall pay to the Stockholders, on a pro rata basis, by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, the applicable Earn-out Payment by no later than
three (3) Business Days after the final determination of the applicable Earn-out
Payment is made pursuant to Sections 2.3(c) and 2.3(d), as
applicable.
10
(f) The
earn-out thresholds set forth in Sections 2.3(a) and 2.3(b) shall be adjusted to
thresholds to be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Executives, if,
between the Closing Date and the date of the calculation of the Earn-Out
Payments, Purchaser: (i) assesses any unreasonable and non-customary corporate
overhead charges and expenses to the Company in calculating the EBITDA of the
Company that does not benefit the Company and that is not otherwise agreed to by
management of the Company, which agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned; (ii) requires any material adverse operational changes
to the Company that are not agreed upon by management of the Company, which
agreement shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned; (iii)
calculates the EBITDA of the Company other than in accordance with the
methodology set forth on Appendix 1; or (iv)
to the extent the Purchaser derives additional benefit from the Company, from
which the Company could have derived additional benefit if it had sold such
benefit to an outside third-party on an arm’s length basis, such benefit will be
credited to the EBITDA of the Company as if such benefits were negotiated on an
arms-length basis with Purchaser (by way of example, banner advertisements on
behalf of Purchaser for which no payments are made to the
Company). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Parties acknowledge and
agree that the provisions of Section 2.3(f)(iv) shall not apply Revenues
attributable to the business (excluding the Business of the Company) of
Purchaser (by way of example, Revenue generated by Purchaser from the sale of
its services derived from banner advertisements placed on the Company’s
website).
(g) The
Earn-out Payments shall become immediately due and payable in full (subject to
the internal projections of EBITDA of the Company) in the event of (x) a Change
In Control of the Company in which Purchaser actually receives consideration in
excess of the Purchase Price, or (y) a Change in Control of
Purchaser.
SECTION
2.4. Post-Closing Adjustment;
Resolution Procedure.
(a) As
soon as practicable after the Closing Date, but in no event more than fifteen
(15) Business Days thereafter, the Executives shall prepare and deliver to
Purchaser a balance sheet of the Company as of the Closing Date, using the form,
policies, methodologies and procedures used by the Company in preparing the
Reference Balance Sheet (the “Closing Date Balance
Sheet”), along with a schedule setting forth the Closing Date Amount of
the Company as of the Closing Date (the “Closing Date Amount
Schedule”). Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 2.4(b) below,
(i) if the agreed upon Closing Date Amount is in excess of the Threshold Amount,
the Stockholders shall make a cash payment to Purchaser, on a dollar-for-dollar
and pro rata basis, in the amount of such excess, and (ii) if the agreed upon
Closing Date Amount is less than the Threshold Amount, Purchaser shall make a
cash payment to the Stockholders, on a dollar-for-dollar and pro rata basis, in
an amount equal to such difference. The “Closing Date Amount”
shall be an amount as determined in accordance with the following
formula: [(the aggregate dollar value of the Accounts Receivable of
the Company listed on the Reference Balance Sheet) – (the aggregate dollar value
of the accounts payable of the Company listed on the Reference Balance Sheet)] –
[(the aggregate dollar value of the Accounts Receivable of the Company listed on
the Closing Date Balance Sheet) – (the aggregate dollar value of the accounts
payable of the Company listed on the Closing Date Balance Sheet)]; provided that
the deferred revenue has been recognized or accrued in the ordinary course of
business. The “Threshold Amount”
shall be Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000).
11
(b) Purchaser
shall have forty five (45) Business Days from receipt of the Closing Date
Balance Sheet and the Closing Amount Schedule to accept or reject in writing the
Executives’ calculation of the Closing Date Amount, which acceptance or
rejection shall be furnished to the Executives within such forty five (45)
Business Day period. If the Executives do not receive any such
written notice from Purchaser within such forty five (45) Business Day period,
Purchaser shall be deemed to have accepted the Executives’ calculation of the
Closing Date Amount and such calculation shall be conclusive, final and binding
upon Purchaser and the Stockholders. If Purchaser rejects such
calculation, Purchaser will provide the Executives, together with Purchaser’s
notice of rejection, a written explanation of the basis of such rejection,
specifying in reasonable detail the particulars of Purchaser’s disagreement with
the Executives’ calculation of the Closing Date Amount and Purchaser’s proposed
alternative calculation. The Executives and Purchaser shall use their
respective reasonable best efforts for a period of ten (10) days after Purchaser
delivers such rejection notice to the Executives to resolve such
disagreement. If the Executives and Purchaser fail to resolve such
disagreement within such ten (10) day period, then the subject of such
disagreement shall be resolved in accordance with the resolution procedures set
forth in Section 2.3(d). Any payment made pursuant to the terms of
this Section 2.5 shall be made within five (5) Business Days of the final
determination of any post-closing adjustment.
SECTION
2.5. Purchase Price – Allocation
Among the Stockholders. The Purchase Price shall be allocated
and paid to each Stockholder based upon, and the phrase “on a pro rata basis”
when used in this Agreement with respect to each Stockholder shall mean, the
percentage set forth below following such Stockholder’s name:
Name
|
Percentage
|
Xxxxx
|
54.53%
|
Xxxxx
|
36.36%
|
Xxxxxxx
|
8.09%
|
Xxxxxxx
Estate
|
1.02%
|
SECTION
2.6. Franchise
Taxes. When due and payable, the Stockholders shall pay to
Purchaser, all corporate franchise Taxes imposed by any Tax
Authority (whether or not such Taxes are due and payable as of the
Closing Date with respect to the operation of the Company (“Franchise Taxes”) for
any period through and including the Closing Date.
SECTION
2.7. Transfer
Taxes. All Transfer Taxes imposed by any Tax Authority with
respect to any transaction contemplated by this Agreement (if any) shall be duly
and timely paid by the Stockholders, who shall also duly and timely file all Tax
Returns in connection with such Transfer Taxes. The Stockholders
shall give a copy of each such Tax Return to Purchaser for its review with
sufficient time for comments prior to filing, and shall give Purchaser a copy of
such Tax Return as filed, together with proof of payment of the Transfer Tax
shown thereon, promptly after filing.
12
SECTION
2.8. Closing. Upon
the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, the closing of the transactions
contemplated by this Article II (the “Closing”) shall be
held at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx
0000, Xxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, at 10:00 a.m. (P.S.T) on the second (2nd)
Business Day following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions to the
obligations of the Parties set forth in Article VII (other than conditions which
are not capable of being satisfied until the Closing Date), or at such other
place or at such other time as the Executives and Purchaser may mutually agree
upon in writing (the date on which the Closing takes place being the “Closing Date”). The
Closing shall be deemed effective as of 11:59 p.m. (P.S.T) on the Closing
Date.
SECTION
2.9. Transactions at
Closing. At or immediately prior to the Closing, the following
shall occur:
(a) Purchaser
shall pay the Closing Cash Payment to the Stockholders (on a pro rata basis) by
wire transfer in immediately available funds;
(b) Purchaser
shall have delivered to the Executives the certificate required to be delivered
pursuant to Section 7.1(a) hereof;
(c) The
Stockholders shall deliver to Purchaser the certificates representing the
Shares, endorsed in blank or accompanied by executed blank stock
powers;
(d) Each
of the Executives shall deliver executed Employment Agreements and Non-compete
Agreements;
(e) The
Company shall deliver to Purchaser a certificate of the Secretary of the Company
certifying as to (i) the consent of the Company’s Board of Directors and the
Stockholders authorizing this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, (ii) the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, and (iii) the Company’s
bylaws, as amended (the “Secretary’s
Certificate”)
(f)
The Company shall provide Purchaser with a certificate of good
standing with respect to the Company (as to the Company’s corporate existence
and its payment of Franchise Taxes) issued by the Secretary of State of the
State of Delaware;
(g) The
Company shall have terminated the Company’s 2000 Stock Option Plan (the “Stock Option
Plan”);
(h) The
Company and the Executives shall have terminated that certain Shareholders
Agreement of the Company, entered into during the 2000 calendar year, by and
among the Company and the Stockholders (the “Stockholders’
Agreement”);
(i)
The Company shall have terminated all of the Company Benefit
Plans, if any;
(j)
The Company shall deliver to the Purchaser all of the Books and
Records of the Company;
13
(k) Each
of Xxxxx, Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx shall have delivered to Purchaser a resignation
letter, in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser, pursuant to which each
of Xxxxx, Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx shall have resigned as directors of the Company
effective as of the Closing;
(l)
Each of Xxxxx and Xxxxx shall have delivered to
Purchaser a resignation letter, in form and substance satisfactory to Purchaser,
pursuant to which Xxxxx shall have resigned as President and Treasurer of the
Company and Xxxxx shall have resigned a Secretary of the Company effective as of
the Closing;
(m) The
Company, the Stockholders and the Company’s Board of Directors shall have taken
all action necessary on the part of the Company, the Stockholders and the
Company’s Board of Directors to appoint Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx as
directors of the Company effective as of the Closing;
(n) The
Company, the Stockholders and the Company’s Board of Directors shall have taken
all action necessary on the part of the Company, the Stockholders and the
Company’s Board of Directors to amend the Company’s bylaws to the reasonable
satisfaction of Purchaser;
(o) The
Company and the Executives shall deliver to Purchaser the certificates required
to be delivered pursuant to Section 7.2(a) and Section 7.2(b)
hereof;
(p) Xxxxx
and the Company shall have taken all action necessary on the part of Xxxxx and
the Company to assign all of David’s ownership rights in and to the domain names
and URLs listed in Section 3.19 of the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule to the Company;
(q) The
Company shall have taken all action necessary to qualify the Company to conduct
business as a foreign corporation in the State of California; and
(r)
The Stockholders shall deliver, or cause the Company to
deliver, to Purchaser any and all other assignments, documents, instruments and
conveyances requested by Purchaser to effect the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF THE
COMPANY AND THE EXECUTIVES
Except as
disclosed in a document referring specifically to the representations and
warranties in this Agreement which identifies by section number the section and
subsection to which such disclosure relates (provided, however, that the
Company shall be deemed to have adequately disclosed with respect to any section
or subsection matters that are clearly described elsewhere in such document if a
reasonably prudent reader can understand the applicability of such disclosure to
such non-referenced sections or subsections and the Company has not
intentionally omitted any required cross references) and is delivered by the
Company to Purchaser prior to or simultaneous with the execution of this
Agreement (the “Company’s Disclosure
Schedule”), the Company and each of the Executives, jointly and
severally, hereby represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:
14
SECTION
3.1. Organization and Good
Standing. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has all
requisite power to own, lease and operate its assets, properties and business
and to carry on its business as conducted during the twelve (12) month period
prior to the date hereof, as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted; and
is duly qualified or licensed to conduct business as a foreign corporation and
is in good standing in every jurisdiction in which the nature of the Business or
the location of its properties requires such qualification or licensing, except
for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or be licensed would not
have any adverse effect on the enforceability of any of the Company’s Contracts
or the Company’s ability to bring or defend lawsuits, or a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets
forth all jurisdictions in which the Company is qualified or licensed to conduct
business as a foreign corporation.
SECTION
3.2. Authority and
Enforceability. The Company has all requisite corporate power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other Company
Documents and perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the other Company
Documents and the performance by the Company of the Company’s obligations
hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate
action on the part of the Company. This Agreement and the other
Company Documents have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by Purchaser, constitute the
legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with their respective terms, subject to the effects of
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and
general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
SECTION
3.3. Non-Contravention; Third
Party Consents. Except as set forth in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this
Agreement and the other Company Documents do not and will not (a) violate,
conflict with or result in the breach of any provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents of the Company, (b) conflict
with or violate any Law or Governmental Order applicable to the Company, the
Stockholders or any of their assets, (c) conflict with, result in any breach of,
constitute a default (or event which with the giving of notice or lapse of time,
or both, would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of
termination, amendment or acceleration of, or result in the creation of any Lien
or other encumbrance on the Shares or the assets of the Company pursuant to, any
note, bond, mortgage or indenture, contract, agreement, lease, license, permit
or franchise to which the Company is a party or by which any of its assets is
bound or affected, or (d) require the consent or notification of any third party
under any note, bond, mortgage or indenture, contract, license, permit or
franchise to which the Company or any of the Stockholders is a party or by which
any of the Company’s assets is bound or affected (any such notices and consents
being referred to collectively as the “Required
Consents”).
15
SECTION
3.4. Subsidiaries. The
Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any interest or investment
(whether equity or debt) in any Person.
SECTION
3.5. Capitalization. The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 10,000,000 shares of common
stock, $0.001 par value per share, of which 975,555 shares of common stock are
issued and outstanding, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.001 par
value per share, of which no shares of preferred stock are issued and
outstanding. All
such issued and outstanding shares are duly authorized, validly issued and
outstanding, are fully paid and nonassessable, are not subject to any right or
rescission or preemptive rights and have been offered and sold by the Company in
full compliance with all registration or qualification requirements (or
applicable exceptions therefrom) of applicable federal and state securities
laws. A list of all holders of outstanding securities of the
Company and the number of shares held by each as of the date of this
Agreement, is set forth in the Company’s Disclosure Schedule,
and except for such issued and outstanding shares, there are no shares of
capital stock or other securities or other equity interests of the Company
issued or outstanding. The Stockholders own all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company. There are no issued and
outstanding warrants and options (under the Stock Option Plan or otherwise) to
purchase or acquire any of the Company’s securities. Except as
indicated in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) there
are no outstanding subscriptions, warrants, options, calls, agreements or
commitments of any character relating to or entitling any Person to purchase or
otherwise acquire any capital stock (including the Shares) or other securities
or other equity interests of the Company;
(b) the
Company is not a party or subject to any agreement or understanding, and there
is no agreement or understanding between any Persons that affects or related to
the voting or giving of written consents with respect to an security or voting
by a director of the Company;
(c) there
are no outstanding obligations or securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of any capital stock (including the Shares) or other securities or
other equity interests of the Company or any commitments of any character
relating to or entitling any person to purchase or otherwise acquire any such
obligations or securities; and
(d) there
are no other commitments of any kind or type for the issuance of any capital
stock (including the Shares) or other securities or other equity interests of
the Company.
SECTION
3.6. Financial Statements and
Condition. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth (a) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of
December 31, 2007, and the related statements of income and retained earnings
and changes of financial position for the fiscal year then ended, (b) the
unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 2006, and the related
statements of income and retained earnings and changes of financial position for
the fiscal year then ended, and (c) the unaudited balance sheet as of February
29, 2008 (“Reference
Balance Sheet”), and statements of income of the Company for the three
(3) months ended March 31, 2008 (collectively, the “Financial
Statements”). Except as set forth on the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, the Financial Statements: (i) were prepared in accordance with
the Books and Records of the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge, in
accordance with GAAP; (ii) fairly present the Company’s financial condition and
the results of its operations as of the relevant dates thereof and for the
periods covered thereby; (iii) contain and reflect all necessary adjustments and
accruals for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial condition and the
results of operations covered by the Financial Statements; (iv) contain and
reflect adequate provisions for all reasonably anticipate liabilities for
applicable Taxes; and (v) with respect to contracts and commitments for the sale
of goods or the provision of services by the Company, contain and reflect
adequate reserves for all reasonably anticipated material losses and costs and
expenses in excess of expected receipts.
16
(a) No Undisclosed
Liabilities. Except for (i) those Liabilities specifically
reflected or reserved against on the Reference Balance Sheet, (ii) those
Liabilities otherwise disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, and (iii) those Liabilities reflected on the Closing Balance
Sheet, all of which were incurred by the Company since the date of the Reference
Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices in an amount not to exceed Twenty-Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in
the aggregate (all such Liabilities other than: (w) all Taxes and fees payable
for the period through and including the Closing Date with respect the Company’s
failure to be qualified to conduct business in the States of California and
Connecticut, as well as all penalties and interest with respect thereto
(collectively, “Foreign Business Tax
Liabilities”), (x) those Liabilities for Taxes payable for the
Pre-Closing, including without limitation, Liabilities for Taxes (and any
penalties or interest in connection therewith) in the States of California, New
Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Missouri, (y) Tax withholding and any
other Taxes and any penalties and interest payable in connection therewith
payable to the State of California for the period through and including the
Closing Date (“California Taxes”),
and (z) all brokerage, finder’s, commitments or other fees or commissions in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Broker’s Fees”); the
foregoing being referred to collectively as the “Assumed
Liabilities”), the Company does not have, as of the date hereof, any
direct or indirect indebtedness, liability, claim, loss, damage, deficiency,
obligation or responsibility, known or unknown, liquidated or unliquidated,
accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise, and whether or not of a kind
required by GAAP to be set forth on a financial statement.
(b) Accounts
Receivable. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate schedule of the Accounts
Receivable of the Company as of the date of the Reference Balance
Sheet. All Accounts Receivable of the Company accrued on the
Reference Balance Sheet and all Accounts Receivable of the Company existing as
of the date hereof resulted from valid sales in the ordinary course of business
and were, and are, subject to no valid offsets or
counterclaims. Except as set forth in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, all such Accounts Receivable were, and are, owned by the
Company free and clear of any Liens.
(c) Accounts
Payable. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a true and correct aged list of all accounts payable
of the Company as of the date of the Reference Balance Sheet in excess of Five
Thousand Dollars ($5,000) to any one (1) payee. Since the date of the
Reference Balance Sheet all accounts payable of the Company have been incurred
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices.
17
(d) Books of
Account. The books of account of the Company are stated in
reasonable detail and accurately reflect in all material respects the
transactions of the Company as required by GAAP.
SECTION
3.7. Governmental
Consents. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement and the Company Documents do not and will not require
any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, action by, filing with
or notification to any Governmental Authority.
SECTION
3.8. Brokers. Except
as described in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, no Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, commitment or
other fee or commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby based upon any agreements or arrangements or commitments,
written or oral, made by or on behalf of the Company or any of its
Affiliates.
SECTION
3.9. Properties, Contracts and
Other Data. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule contains a true and complete statement, listing and description
of the following:
(a) A
schedule for the current fiscal quarter of all prepayments, prepaid expenses,
advances to employees, credits from suppliers, deposits and the like (the “Prepayments”) as
generated by the Company’s internal information systems in the ordinary course
of business, as of the date set forth thereon, and showing each of the
Prepayments having any book value on the Books and Records of the Company as of
such date;
(b) All
material written or oral consulting, work for hire and independent contractor
agreements with, or similar commitments to, authors, consultants and independent
contractors of the Company to which the Company is a party or to which any of
the Company’s assets may be subject;
(c) All
other existing written or oral agreements, contracts, certificates, licenses,
leases, purchase orders, options, notes, guarantees, letters of credit, or other
commitments to which the Company is a party, or to which any of the Company’s
assets are subject, except (i) contracts or commitments otherwise listed in the
Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, (ii) other than work for hire agreements, contracts or
commitments, or any related group of contracts or commitments, involving a
liability, whether actual or contingent, of or to the Company of less than Seven
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500), and (iii) contracts for the purchase or
sale of merchandise, goods or services entered into in the ordinary course of
business consistent with its past practices the performance of which by the
Company will extend either over a period of less than one (1) year from the date
of such contract or are cancellable or terminable within one (1) year from the
date of such contract without penalty;
(d) All
written or oral contracts or arrangements (unless the particular provision
described below is expressly contained in another document otherwise identified
in the Schedules hereto) to which the Company is a party or to which any of the
Company’s assets are subject, which (i) contains any covenant not to compete,
covenant of non-solicitation or similar restrictive covenant or otherwise
significantly restricts the nature of the business activities in which the
Company may engage or the customers, vendors or employees it may have, (ii) with
respect to existing Accounts Receivable in excess of Five Thousand Dollars
($5,000), provides for the extension of credit on terms other than payment
within ninety (90) days of invoice, (iii) provides for a guaranty by the
Company, or (iv) contains a right of first refusal in favor of another
Person;
18
(e) The
top ten (10) vendors and content providers of the Company ranked by aggregate
purchases or revenue share during fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, together
with the aggregate amounts spent with each such vendor during such fiscal
year;
(f) Any
governmental permit, license or registration held by the Company;
and
(g) All
insurance policies held by the Company.
Except as
otherwise set forth in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, no breach of, or default by the Company under any item referred
to in the Company’s
Disclosure Schedule in response to clauses (b), (c) and (d) above or
under any Labor Agreement (each, a “Contract”) (or event
which would, with the passage of time, notice or both, constitute a breach or
default) has occurred, and each such Contract remains in full force and
effect.
SECTION
3.10. Absence of Differences from
Schedules. Except as is contemplated by this Agreement or as
otherwise disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) No Material Adverse
Change. Since the date of the Reference Balance Sheet, except
for (i) changes in the general economic climate in which the Company operates
the Business, including without limitation the possible economic recession into
which the United States may be entering and the current credit market
disruptions), and (ii) changes contemplated or permitted by this Agreement or
that relate to the execution of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
herein, including, without limitation, the fact that Purchaser will own and
operate the Company following the Closing, there has not been:
(i)
any material event out of the ordinary course of
business affecting the operations or financial condition of the
Company;
(ii)
any material entry into, modification or
termination by the Company of any Contract, other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(iii) any
material casualty, damage, destruction or loss;
(iv) any
default or breach by the Company under any Contract;
(v) any
sale or other disposition of any asset of the Company having a net book value in
excess of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000), or any mortgage, pledge or imposition
of any encumbrances on any asset of the Company, other than in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practices;
19
(vi) declaration
or payment of dividends or other distribution to the Company’s stockholders or
upon or in respect of any shares of its capital stock, or purchase, retirement
or redemption any of the Company’s shares of capital stock or other
securities;
(vii) any
material change made in executive compensation levels or in the manner in which
the Company’s employees are compensated or in benefits provided to such
employees;
(viii) any
change in the Company’s accounting methods, procedures or practices (including,
without limitation, any change in depreciation or amortization policies or
rates) or any revaluation of any of the Company’s assets;
(ix) any
entry by the Company into any transaction, contract or commitment other than in
the ordinary course of its business and consistent with past
practices;
(x)
any loss by the Company of one (1) or more
clients that generated revenue in the 2007 and/or 2008 to the Company of more
than Fifteen Thousand Dollars ($15,000), in the aggregate, or received notice of
any impending loss; or
(xi) any
express or deemed Tax election by the Company, filing by the Company of any
amended Tax Return, agreement to an extension or waiver of the statute of
limitations with respect to the assessment or determination of Taxes owed by the
Company, entry by the Company into any closing agreement with respect to any
Tax, any surrender by the Company of any right to claim a Tax refund, or any
settlement or compromise by the Company regarding any liability with respect to
Taxes.
(b) Litigation. The
Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth an accurate and complete description of every pending
or, to the Company’s Knowledge threatened, adverse claim, audit, dispute,
governmental investigation, suit, action (including, without limitation, any
non-judicial real or personal property foreclosure action), arbitration, legal,
administrative or other proceeding of any nature, domestic or foreign, criminal
or civil, at law or in equity, by or against or otherwise affecting the Company,
the Business, or
the Company’s operations, properties, financial conditions or
prospects. The Company has delivered to Purchaser copies of all
relevant court papers and other documents relating to the matters referred to in
the Company’s
Disclosure Schedule, and the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule also sets forth a description of the current status of each such
matter. Except as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule:
(i)
no such matter or matters, if decided adversely to the
Company, individually or in the aggregate, would or could reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect;
(ii)
the Company is not in default with respect
to any Governmental Order by which it is bound or to which its property is
subject and there exists no Governmental Order enjoining or requiring the
Company to take any action of any kind with respect to the
Business;
20
(iii) neither
the Company, nor any officer, director, stockholder or employee of the Company,
has been permanently or temporarily enjoined by any Governmental Order from
engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection with the
Company; and
(iv) to
the Company’s Knowledge, no basis exists for any claim, audit, investigation,
suit or proceeding which, if decided adversely to the Company would or could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
In
addition, the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a description of any and all audits that were
commenced or threatened against the Company, and resolved, settled or
compromised during the period January 1, 2006 through the date of this
Agreement, and the terms and conditions of such resolution, settlement or
compromise.
(c) Compliance with
Laws. The Company (i) has received no notice as yet unremedied
of any violation of any Laws applicable to the Company or its operations or with
respect to which compliance is a condition of engaging in the Business, (ii) is
in compliance with all Laws, including without limitation, all Environmental
Laws and Orders, and (iii) has all permits, licenses and other governmental
authorizations necessary to conduct the Business as presently conducted and
proposed to be conducted.
(d) Title. The
Company at the Closing will have good and marketable title in and to all of the
Company’s assets, free and clear of any and all Liens.
SECTION
3.11. Taxes.
(a) Except
as set forth in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has (i) duly and timely filed all Tax Returns
required to be filed by the Company on or prior to the date hereof, which Tax
Returns are true, correct and complete, and (ii) duly and timely paid all Taxes
due and payable in respect of all periods up to and including the date hereof,
and has made adequate provision on its Books and Records (including the
Reference Balance Sheet) in accordance with GAAP for any such Tax which is not
yet due. Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall provide
Purchaser with a schedule which sets forth each Taxing jurisdiction in which the
Company has filed or is required to file Tax Returns and a copy of such Tax
Returns as have been requested by Purchaser. Any Tax Returns filed
subsequent thereto were consistent with the Tax Returns furnished to the
Purchaser and did not make, amend or terminate any election with respect to any
Tax or change any accounting method, practice or procedure. The
Company has complied with all applicable Laws relating to the reporting,
payment, collection and withholding of Taxes and has duly and timely withheld or
collected, paid over and reported all Taxes required to be withheld or collected
by the Company on or before the date hereof.
Except as
set forth in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, (i) no Taxing Authority has asserted any adjustment that could
result in an additional Tax for which the Company is or may be liable or that
could result in a Lien on any of its assets which has not been fully paid or
adequately provided for on the Reference Balance Sheet (collectively, “Tax Liability”), or
which adjustment, if asserted with respect to another period, would result in
any Tax Liability, (ii) there is no pending audit, examination, investigation,
dispute, proceeding or claim (collectively, “Tax Proceeding”)
relating to any Tax Liability and to the Company’s Knowledge, no Taxing
Authority is contemplating such a Tax Proceeding and there is no basis for any
such Tax Proceeding, (iii) no statute of limitations with respect to any Tax has
been waived or extended (unless the period to which it has been waived or
extended has expired), (iv) there is no outstanding power of attorney
authorizing anyone to act on behalf of the Company in connection with any Tax
Liability, Tax Return or Tax Proceeding relating to any Tax, (v) there is no
outstanding closing agreement, ruling request, request to consent to change a
method of accounting, subpoena or request for information with or by any Taxing
Authority with respect to the Company, its income, assets or business, or any
Tax Liability, (vi) the Company is not required to include any adjustment under
Section 481 of the Code (or any corresponding provision of applicable Law) in
income for any period ending after the date of the Reference Balance Sheet Date,
(vii) the Company is not and has never been a party to any Tax
sharing or Tax allocation agreement, arrangement or understanding, (viii) the
Company is not and has never been included in any consolidated, combined or
unitary Tax Return, (ix) all taxable periods for the assessment or collection of
any Tax Liability are closed by agreement or by operation of the normal statute
of limitations (without extension) or will close by operation of the normal
statute of limitations for such Taxes (in each case determined without regard to
any omission, fraud or other special circumstance other than the timely filing
of the Tax Return), (x) the Company will not be required to include any item of
income, or exclude any item of deduction, for any taxable period (or portion
thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (A) inter-company
transactions or excess loss accounts described in Treasury regulations under
Section 1502 of the Code (or any similar provision of applicable Law), (B)
installment sale, open transaction or use of a completed contract method of
accounting with respect to any transaction that occurred on or prior to the
Closing Date, or (C) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date,
and (xi) no Taxing Authority has ever asserted that the Company should file a
Tax Return in a jurisdiction where it does not file.
21
(b) The
Company is not a party to any agreement, contract or arrangement for services
that would result, individually or in the aggregate, in the payment of any
amount that would not be deductible by the Company by reason of Section 162,
280G or 404 of the Code. The Company is not a “consenting
corporation” within the meaning of Section 341(f) of the Code (as in effect
prior to the repeal of such provision). The Company does not have any
plan, arrangement or agreement providing for deferred compensation that is subject to
Section 409A(a) of the Code or any asset, plan, arrangement or agreement that is
subject to Section 409A(b) of the Code. The Company does not have any
“tax-exempt bond financed property” or “tax-exempt use property” within the
meaning of Section 168(g) or (h), respectively, of the Code. None of
the assets of the Company is required to be treated as being owned by any other
Person pursuant to the “safe harbor” leasing provisions of Section 168(f)(8) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as in effect prior to the repeal of said
leasing provisions. The Company has never made or been required to
make an election under Section 338 of the Code (except as required by this
Agreement). During the last two (2) years, the Company has not
engaged in any exchange under which gain realized on the exchanged was not
recognized under Section 1031 of the Code. The Company has not
constituted a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” under
Section 355 of the Code in any distribution in the last two (2) years or
pursuant to a plan or series of related transactions (within the meaning of Code
Section 355(e)) with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Company is not and has never been a “personal holding
company” (within the meaning of Code Section 542), a shareholder in a
“controlled foreign corporation” (within the meaning of Code Section 957), in a
“foreign personal holding company” (within the meaning of Code Section 552), or
in a “passive foreign investment company” (within the meaning of Code Section
1297), or an owner in any entity treated as a partnership or disregarded entity
for federal income Tax purposes. The Company does not have and has
never had a fixed place of business or permanent establishment in any foreign
country. None of the outstanding indebtedness of the Company
constitutes indebtedness to which any interest deduction may be disallowed under
Section 163(i), 163(l), 265 or 279 of the Code or under any other provision of
applicable Law. The Company has not been a “United States real
property holding corporation” (within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2)) at
any time during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of
the Code. The Company has not entered into any “reportable
transaction” (within the meaning of Code Section 6707A or Treasury Regulations
Section 1.6011-4 or any predecessor thereof). In the case of any
transaction that could result in a “substantial understatement of income tax”
(within the meaning of Code Section 6662(d)) if the claimed Tax treatment were
disallowed, the Company has “substantial authority” (within the meaning of Code
Section 6662(d)) for the claimed treatment, or in the case of a transaction
other than a “tax shelter” (within the meaning of Code Section
6662(d)(2)(C)(ii)), has “adequately disclosed” (within the meaning of Code
Section 6662(d)) the relevant facts affecting the tax treatment on its income
Tax Return.
22
(c) The
Company elected to be treated as an S corporation for federal income Tax
purposes as of January 1, 2006 and such election is effective for such Tax year
and each Tax year thereafter up to and including the Closing
Date. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth each other jurisdiction for which the Company has an
S election (or similar election) in effect, including the jurisdiction, the
effective date of the election, the date of any termination of such election and
the cause of such termination, and whether such election is still in
effect. Except as set forth in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, there is no Tax Liability under Section 1363(d), 1374 or 1375
of the Code or any similar provision of applicable Law. Prior to the
effective time of the Closing, none of the Stockholders nor the Company shall
take any action or fail to take any action which could result in the termination
or revocation of any S election (or similar election).
SECTION
3.12. Labor
and Employment Matters.
(a) Labor
Matters. There are, and during the past three (3) years there
have been, no unfair labor practice complaints, labor strikes, arbitrations,
disputes, work slowdowns or work stoppages pending or, to the Company’s
Knowledge, threatened, between the Company and any of its employees, current or
former. Each employee of the Company is an “at-will” employee, and
the employment of each such employee may be terminated immediately by the
Company without liability, notice or severance, except as otherwise provided by
statute or decisional authority.
(b) Labor
Agreements. The Company’s Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a true and current list of all of the Labor Agreements of the
Company, other than Company Benefit Plans. The Company’s Disclosure Schedule
also includes a true and complete schedule listing the names, total annual
compensation, total accrued vacation and other fringe benefits of each person
employed by the Company presently receiving compensation aggregating in excess
of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) per year. Except as set forth in
the Company’s
Disclosure Schedule:
23
(i)
the Company does not have any employees; and
(ii)
the Company does not have any material labor relations
problems.
(c) Compliance with Labor Laws
and Agreements. Except as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure Schedule,
the Company has complied in all material respects with all of its Labor
Agreements and all applicable Laws and Governmental Orders relating to the
employment of labor, including those related to wages, hours, collective
bargaining and the payment and withholding of Taxes and other sums as required
by appropriate Governmental Authorities and has withheld and paid to the
appropriate Governmental Authorities, or is holding for payment not yet due to
such Governmental Authorities, all amounts required to be withheld from such
employees of the Company and is not liable for any arrears of wages, Taxes,
penalties or other sums for failure to comply with any of the foregoing. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company has complied in all
material respects with the continuation coverage requirements of Section 4980B
of the Code and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as
amended, Sections 601 through 608 of ERISA, the American Civil Disabilities Act
of 1990, as amended, and the Family Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended, and
the regulations thereunder, and no material Tax payable on account of Section
4980B of the Code has been incurred with respect to any current or former
employees (or their beneficiaries) of the Company. No present or former
employee, officer or director of the Company has, or will have at the date
hereof, any claim against the Company for any matter, including but not limited
to (i) overtime pay for work done through the date hereof; (ii) wages or salary
for the work done through the date hereof; (iii) vacation time off or pay in
lieu of vacation time off for the period through the date hereof; (iv) any
violation of any statute, ordinance or regulation relating to minimum wages or
maximum hours, workplace conditions, or any other matter; or (v) injuries or
other damages which are not fully covered by the Company’s insurance
policies. Except
as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure Schedule,
there is no:
(i)
unfair labor practice complaint against the Company pending
before the National Labor Relations Board or any state or local
agency;
(ii)
labor grievance pending against the
Company;
(iii) pending
representation question respecting the employees of the Company; or
(iv) pending
arbitration proceedings arising out of or under any collective bargaining
agreement to which the Company is a party.
SECTION
3.13. Employee
Benefits. Except as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure Schedule,
the Company does not currently have and has never had any employee benefit plans
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, any deferred compensation, bonus,
stock option, restricted stock, incentive, profit sharing, retirement, savings,
medical, health, life insurance, disability, sick leave, cafeteria or flexible
spending, vacation, unemployment compensation, severance or change in control
agreements, arrangements, programs, policies or plans and any other benefit
arrangements or payroll practices (collectively, the “Company Benefit
Plans”). Except as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure Schedule,
the Company does not have and has never had any obligation to contribute or any
other liability with respect to any Company Benefit Plans.
24
SECTION
3.14. Real
Property. The Company has no ownership, leasehold and/or other
interest in any Real Property and has never had an ownership, leasehold and/or
other interest in any Real Property.
SECTION
3.15. Contracts. Except
as disclosed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) each
Contract is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the other contracting
party, enforceable against the other contracting party in accordance with terms,
subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar Laws relating to or affecting
creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered
in a proceeding in equity or at law);
(b) the
Company has fulfilled all material obligations required pursuant to each
Contract to have been performed by it prior to the date hereof, and to the
Company’s Knowledge, the Company has the resources, capability and capacity to
fulfill, when due, all its obligations under each Contract which remain to be
performed after the date hereof; and
(c) To
the Company’s Knowledge, no other contracting party to any Contract has breached
such Contract in any material respect within the twelve (12) month period prior
to the date hereof.
SECTION
3.16. Insurance. The
Company is not in default, nor has it ever been in default, with respect to any
provision contained in any insurance policy of the Company or has failed to give
any notice or present any claim under any such policy in due and timely
fashion. There are no outstanding unpaid claims under any such
policy. The Company has not received any notice of cancellation or
non-renewal of any such policy. No such policy is terminable or
cancelable by the insurer by virtue of the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein.
SECTION
3.17. Software. Except
as listed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, all software designs, programs, object code and source code
that is not Open Source Software and that constitutes a part of or used in the
operations of the Company or the development of the Intellectual Property of the
Company (the “Company
Software”) are owned solely by the Company or the Company has obtained a
license of all rights necessary for such use. Except for customer
licenses for the Company Software listed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, no other Person has any right, title or interest in or to the
Company Software, or in or to any part of the software designs, programs, object
code or source code constituting a part of or used in the development of the
Company Software. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing:
25
(a) Except
as listed on the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, the Company does not use and has not used any open source,
shareware or freeware code or any other freely available software (“Open Source
Software”). The Company is in full compliance with all
licenses applicable to any Open Source Software that it uses or has used in the
development of the Company Software. Except as listed on the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, no Open Source Software is or has been used in, incorporated
into, integrated or bundled with any the Company Software, or used in the
development of the Company Software, and the Company has not made any derivative
works, improvements, enhancements or modifications of or to any Open Source
Software.
(b) Neither
the sale nor licensing of the Company Software is governed, in whole or in part,
by the terms of any third party license (whether or not considered a license for
Open Source Software). No source code included in the assets of the
Company has been contributed by the Company to open source development or is
dedicated to the public domain or is required to be so contributed or
dedicated.
(c) The
Company is not subject to any obligation (i) to dedicate to general public use,
or to provide any form of public disclosure, with respect to any part of the
source code underlying or related to the Company Software; (ii) to disclose or
acknowledge or provide any attribution notice with respect to the use of any
other Person’s Intellectual Property in connection with the Company Software; or
(iii) to comply with any restriction on the commercial use, licensing or the
sale of services using the Company Software, or any portion
thereof.
(d) All
copyrights in and to the original works constituting the Company Software are
solely and exclusively owned by the Company. No person has any moral or legal
rights, title or interest in or to the Intellectual Property created by such
Person for the benefit of the Company.
SECTION
3.18. Tangible Personal
Property. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth (a) a description of each item of Tangible Personal
Property owned by the Company having on the date hereof either a depreciated
book value or estimated fair market value per unit in excess of Five Thousand
Dollars ($5,000), or not owned by the Company but in the possession of or used
by the Company and having rental payments therefor in excess of One Thousand
Dollars ($1,000) per month or Twelve Thousand Dollars ($12,000) per year; and
(b) a description of the owner of, and any Contract of the Company relating to
the use of, each such item of Tangible Personal Property not owned by the
Company and the circumstances under which such property is
used. Except as indicated in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule:
(i)
the Company has good and marketable title to each item
of its Tangible Personal Property, free and clear of all Liens;
(ii)
no officer, director, stockholder or employee of the
Company, nor Affiliate thereof, owns directly or indirectly, in whole or in
part, any item of the Tangible Personal Property of the Company or has any other
interest therein; and
26
(iii) each
item of Tangible Personal Property owned or used by the Company is in good
operating condition and repair, usable in the ordinary course of business
(ordinary wear and tear excepted).
SECTION
3.19. Intellectual
Property. The Company’s Disclosure
Schedule sets forth: (a) a true and accurate identification of each item
comprising Company Intellectual Property, including each registered and
unregistered fictitious business name, trademark, copyright, service xxxx, trade
name, domain name, URL, web site and slogan, and each registration and
application for any of the foregoing, constituting a part of the Intellectual
Property of the Company; (b) a true and complete schedule of each statutory,
common law and registered copyright, and each registration and application for
any of the foregoing, constituting a part of such Intellectual Property; (c) a
true and complete schedule of each patent and associated invention, industrial
model, process and design, technical information, know-how and operating
maintenance or other manual and each registration and application for any of the
foregoing, constituting a part of such Intellectual Property; (d) each item of
the Open Source Software and Company Software and associated documentation used
in the business and operations of the Company other than “shrink wrap” software;
(e) a true and complete list of all Contracts with respect to which the Company
is a party either as licensee, licensor or owner of work made for hire relating
to any item of such Intellectual Property; and (f) a true and complete list of
all of persons with whom the Company has a contract for advertisements as of the
date of this Agreement. The Company has provided Purchaser with a
current list of the Company’s subscribers. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein will not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
usefulness of any item of such Intellectual Property. Except as
indicated in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) the
Company is the owner of all right, title and interest in and to each item of its
Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens;
(b) all
trademarks, service marks, patents, copyrights and other state, federal and
foreign registrations and all applications therefor listed in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule are valid and in full force and effect and are not subject to
any Taxes, maintenance fees or actions falling due within ninety (90) days after
the date hereof
(c) all
the Open Source Software and Company Software used in the operation of the
Business performs in reasonable compliance with the specifications therefor
(including, without limitation, functional specifications) set forth in user
manuals, promotional materials or license agreements;
(d) accurate
and complete copies of each trade secret constituting a part of the Company’s
Intellectual Property, including without limitation, each related process or
item of know-how or other technical data, and including as to each such trade
secret, the specific location of each writing, computer program or other
tangible medium contain its complete description, specifications, source codes,
charts, procedures, manuals and other descriptive material relating to all
versions of each item of the Company Software exist and have been made available
to Purchaser;
27
(e)
there are no pending claims, actions, judicial or
other adversary proceedings, disputes or disagreements involving the Company
concerning any item of its Intellectual Property, and, to the Company’s
Knowledge, no such action, proceeding, dispute or disagreement is
threatened;
(f)
all current officers, authors and consultants of the Company
(other than employees and consultants who have not been involved in developing
any Intellectual Property of the Company and who have no managerial
responsibilities) have executed and delivered to the Company agreements
regarding the protection of proprietary information and the assignment to the
Company of all Intellectual Property rights arising from the services performed
for the Company by such Persons, and the Company has made available to Purchaser
or its counsel copies of all such agreements;
(g)
to the Company’s Knowledge, no contractor or
consultant of the Company is in violation of any term of any contractor or
consultant Contract, patent disclosure agreement, non-competition agreement or
any other Contract or restrictive covenant relating to the right of such Person
to be employed or engaged by the Company or to use the Intellectual Property
rights of others;
(h)
the Company has complied with all
Contracts and licenses pursuant to which the Company is a licensee or
distributor of Intellectual Property;
(i)
the Company has not modified or altered any of the
content provided to the Company pursuant to any Contract or license related to
Intellectual Property;
(j)
the Company has properly complied with
all credit and formatting requirements with respect to the content provided to
the Company pursuant to any Contract or license related to Intellectual
Property; and
(k)
the Company owns all right, title and interest in
and to, or has valid licenses pursuant to which the Company has the rights to
display and disseminate, the content disseminated on the Company’s
website.
SECTION
3.20. Necessary
Properties. The Tangible Personal Property and Intellectual
Property of the Company include all of the tangible personal properties and
intangible personal properties necessary for the conduct of the Business as
conducted during the twelve (12) month period prior to the date hereof, as
presently conducted and as proposed to be conducted and include substantially
all of those properties actually used in the conduct of such business during the
twelve (12) month period prior to the date hereof.
SECTION
3.21. Certain
Interests. No officer, employee, director or stockholder of
the Company and no relative or spouse (or relative of such spouse) who resides
with, or is a dependent of, any such officer, employee, director or stockholder
and no Affiliates of the foregoing:
(a)
has any direct or indirect financial interest in any
competitor, supplier or customer of the Company (other than record and
beneficial ownership of not more than 5% of the outstanding capital stock of any
such Person subject to the periodic and other reporting requirements of Section
13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act);
28
(b) holds
any beneficial interest in any Contract of the Company;
(c) owns,
directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, or has any other interest in any
tangible or intangible property which is necessary for the conduct of the
Business; or
(d) has
any outstanding indebtedness for borrowed money to the Company.
SECTION
3.22. Books
and Records. The Company has made all of its Books and Records
available to Purchaser for its inspection, each of which is accurate and
complete in all material respects.
SECTION
3.23. Banking
Facilities. The Company’s Disclosure Schedule
contains a true and complete list of:
(a) each
bank, savings and loan or similar financial institution in which the Company has
an account or safety deposit box and the numbers of the accounts or safety
deposit boxes maintained by the Company thereat; and
(b) the
names of all Persons authorized to draw on each such account or to have access
to any such safety deposit box facility, together with a description of the
authority (and conditions thereof, if any) of each such Person with respect
thereto.
SECTION
3.24. Delivery of
Documents. The Company has delivered to Purchaser true and
complete copies of all agreements and documents referred to in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule.
SECTION
3.25. Disclosure. This
Agreement (including all Exhibits and Schedules hereto) and the other
agreements, documents and instruments contemplated to be executed or delivered
by the Company in connection with this Agreement collectively do not contain any
untrue statement of material fact regarding the Company; and such agreements,
documents and instruments collectively do not omit to state any material fact
necessary to make any of the representations, warranties or other statements or
information contained therein not misleading.
SECTION
3.26. No
Third-Party Rights to Acquire the Company. There is no
outstanding option, right of first offer, right of first refusal or any other
agreement or commitment of any kind or nature whatsoever that grants any Person
the right to purchase or otherwise acquire in any manner a direct or indirect
substantial equity interest in, or all or any substantial part of the assets or
business of, the Company.
29
ARTICLE
III-A
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
OF THE STOCKHOLDERS
REGARDING THE SHARES
Each
Stockholder, individually, represents and warrants to Purchaser
that:
SECTION
3-A.1 Title to
Shares. Such Stockholder has good and marketable title to the Shares to be
transferred to Purchaser by such Stockholder, and upon consummation of the
purchase contemplated herein, Purchaser will acquire from such Stockholder good
and marketable title to such Shares, free and clear of any and all
Liens.
SECTION
3-A.2 Authority to Execute and
Perform Agreements. Such Stockholder has the right, power and
authority to enter
into, execute and deliver this Agreement and all other Stockholder Documents and
to transfer, convey and sell to Purchaser at the Closing the Shares to be sold
by such Stockholder under the terms of this Agreement. Xxx X. Xxxxxxx
is the duly authorized Executrix of the Estate of Xxx X. Xxxxxxx and has full
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and all other Company Documents
to which the Xxxxxxx Estate is a party without the consent of, or notice to, any
other Person or Governmental Authority.
SECTION
3-A.3 Enforceability. This
Agreement and all applicable Stockholder Documents have been duly and validly
executed by such Stockholder and (assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery of Purchaser) constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of
such Stockholder, enforceable against such Stockholder in accordance with their
respective terms, except as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar applicable Laws affecting
creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles affecting the
enforcement of contracts.
SECTION
3-A.4 No
Violation. Neither the execution or delivery by the
Stockholders of this Agreement or any of the other Stockholder Documents, nor
the consummation by the Stockholders of the transactions contemplated herein or
therein will (a) violate any applicable Law or Governmental Order, (b)
constitute a default under, or give rise to any right of termination or
acceleration of, or to a loss of any benefits of the Company under, any Contract
of the Company, (c) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any
assets of the Company, or (d) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien
upon the Shares.
SECTION
3-A.5 Adverse Agreements; Consents
and Notifications. Neither the execution or delivery by such
Stockholder of this Agreement or any other Stockholder Document nor the
consummation by such Stockholder of the transactions contemplated herein or
therein require the consent or notification of any Person.
SECTION
3-A.6 No Adverse
Litigation. Such Stockholder is not a party to any pending
litigation which seeks to enjoin or restrict such Stockholder’s ability to sell
or transfer such Stockholder’s Shares hereunder, nor is any such litigation
threatened against such Stockholder. Furthermore, there is no
litigation pending or threatened against such Stockholder which, if decided
adversely to such Stockholder, could adversely affect such Stockholder’s ability
to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
30
SECTION
3-A.7 No Broker. Except
as described in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, no Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s, commitment or
other fee or commission in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby based upon any agreements or arrangements or commitments,
written or oral, made by or on behalf of such Stockholder.
SECTION
3-A.8 Acquisition of Stock
Consideration for Investment. The Stock Consideration will be
acquired by each Stockholder for investment purposes, for such Stockholder’s own
account, not as a nominee or agent, and not with a view to the sale of
distribution of any part of the Stock Consideration. Each Stockholder
agrees that such Stockholder will not sell or otherwise transfer the Stock
Consideration unless the shares of stock which make up the Stock Consideration
are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or unless an
exemption from registration is available. Each Stockholder represents
and warrants that such Stockholder is an “Accredited Investor,” as such term is
defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
ARTICLE
IV
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
Purchaser
hereby represents and warrants to the Stockholders as follows:
SECTION
4.1. Organization. Purchaser
is duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware.
SECTION
4.2. Authority and
Enforceability. Purchaser has the corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations
hereunder. The execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement
and the performance by Purchaser of its obligations hereunder have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Purchaser. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Purchaser and constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of Purchaser,
enforceable against Purchaser in accordance with its terms, subject to the
effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium and other similar Laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding
in equity or at law).
SECTION
4.3. Non-Contravention. The
execution, delivery and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement do not and
will not (a) violate, conflict with or result in the breach, of any provision of
the Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws or other charter documents of
Purchaser, or (b) to Purchaser’s Knowledge, conflict with or violate any Law or
Governmental Order applicable to Purchaser.
SECTION
4.4. Brokers. No
Person is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser.
31
SECTION
4.5. SEC
Filings. Purchaser has filed all required periodic reports on
Forms 10-K and 10-Q and all required reports on Form 8-K with the U.S.
Securities & Exchange Commission (“SEC”) since January
1, 2006 (the “Purchaser SEC
Documents”). As of their respective dates, and giving effect
to any amendments thereto, (a) the Purchaser SEC documents complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable
rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, and (b) none of the
Purchaser SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
SECTION
4.6. Consents. The
execution, delivery and performance by Purchaser of this Agreement do not and
will not require any filing or registration with, or consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, action by, filing with or notification to any
Governmental Authority.
SECTION
4.7. Capitalization. The
authorized capital stock of Purchaser consists of (a) 50,000,00 shares of common
stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 19,129,441 shares are issued and
outstanding as of March 24, 2008 , and (b) 2,000,000 shares of preferred stock,
$0.01 par value per share, of which no shares are issued and outstanding as of
the date hereof. As of March 24, 2008, 1,692,771 shares of the
Company’s common stock have been issued and/or are issuable in connection with
grants of restricted stock and options to purchase shares of the Company’s
common stock.
SECTION
4.8. Financial
Statements. The financial statements of Purchaser (including,
in each case, any notes thereto) included in the Purchaser SEC Documents were
prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis (except as may be
indicated in the notes thereto and except that unaudited statements do not
contain footnotes in substance or form required by GAAP).
ARTICLE
V
ADDITIONAL
AGREEMENTS
SECTION
5.1. Preservation and Conduct of
Business. From the date hereof through the Closing Date, the
Company shall conduct the Business only in the ordinary course and consistent
with past practices and shall use its best efforts (a) to preserve the Business
intact, (b) to keep available to the Company the services of its present
officers, employees, consultants, agents and independent contractors, (c) to pay
its current obligations in a manner consistent with its past practices, and (iv)
to preserve for the benefit of Purchaser the goodwill of its customers,
licensees, advertisers, suppliers and others having business relations with
it.
SECTION
5.2. Covenants. Without
limiting the foregoing, from and after the execution of this Agreement through
the Closing Date:
(a) Affirmative
Covenants. The Company shall:
(i) (A)
maintain its assets in the ordinary course of its business consistent with its
past practices in good operating order and condition, reasonable wear and tear,
damage by fire and other casualty excepted, (B) promptly repair, restore or
replace assets in the ordinary course of its business consistent with its past
practices, and (C) upon any damage, destruction or loss to any of its assets,
apply any and all insurance proceeds received with respect thereto to the prompt
repair, replacement and restoration thereof to the condition of its assets
before such event;
32
(ii)
comply in all material respects with all applicable Laws and all
Governmental Orders;
(iii) promptly
notify Purchaser of any lawsuits, claims, proceedings or investigations which
after the date hereof are threatened or commenced against the Company or any
officer, director, employee, manager, consultant, independent contractor,
stockholder, agent or member thereof, in their capacities as such, which, if
decided adversely, would or could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(iv) collect
all Accounts Receivable of the Company existing as of the date of the Reference
Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business and retain any all cash
collected from such Accounts Receivable in the Company’s bank accounts for the
benefit of Purchaser; and
(v) promptly
notify Purchaser in writing of any other action, event, condition or
circumstance, or group of actions, events, conditions or circumstances, that
results in, or could reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse
Effect, other than changes in general economic or industry
conditions.
(b) Negative
Covenants. Without Purchaser’s prior written consent, except
as is contemplated by this Agreement in which case the consent of Purchaser is
not required, the Company shall not:
(i)
merge or consolidate with any other Person, acquire control of all or
substantially all of the assets of any other Person, or take any steps incident
to, or in furtherance of, any of such actions, whether by entering into an
agreement or otherwise;
(ii)
purchase, lease, license or otherwise acquire any
material amount of rights or assets from any other Person other than in the
ordinary course of its business and consistent with its past
practices;
(iii) change
the terms and conditions (including without limitation, with respect to price or
acceleration of vesting) of any outstanding options, warrant and/or other
securities;
(iv) amend
its Certificate of Incorporation, bylaws or other charter
documents;
(v) sell,
assign, lease, license, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or mortgage, pledge or
encumber any material amount of its assets other than in the ordinary course of
its business consistent with its past practices;
33
(vi) issue
or sell any shares of its capital stock or any other of its securities, or
issue, grant or create any warrants, obligations, subscriptions, options,
convertible securities, stock appreciation rights or other commitments to issue
shares of its capital stock;
(vii) hire
any new employees or increase salaries or other employee benefits with respect
to existing employees; provided, that, the Company may
hire two (2) managing writers in accordance with the terms previously disclosed
to Purchaser;
(viii) make
or commit to make any capital expenditure if, after giving effect thereto, the
aggregate of capital expenditures made or committed to be made after the date of
this Agreement would exceed Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000), except for
commitments and payments to writers and editors in the ordinary course of
business; which will not exceed Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) in the
aggregate;
(ix) create,
incur, assume, or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money or enter into
any “keep well” or other agreement to maintain any financial statement
condition, in each case other than in the ordinary course of its business
consistent with past practices;
(x)
amend or terminate any Contract of the Company or any material
license or permit to which it is a party, or relinquish any Contract of the
Company or any material license or permit to which it is a party or waive,
release or assign any material rights or claims thereunder;
(xi) commit
a material default under any term or provision of, or suffer or permit to exist
any condition or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute a material default by it under, any Contract of the Company or any
material licenses or permits;
(xii) dispose
of or permit to lapse any rights to the use of any Intellectual Property of the
Company or dispose of or disclose any Intellectual Property of the Company not a
matter of public knowledge, except for dispositions and lapses which, in the
aggregate, do not have a Material Adverse Effect;
(xiii) take
any action which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(xiv) make
any changes in any accounting policies, procedures or practices customarily
followed by it (other than changes required by GAAP);
(xv) except
as set forth on the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule, make any declaration or payment of dividends or any other
distribution to the Company’s stockholders or upon or in respect of any shares
of its capital stock, or purchase, retire or redeem any of the Company’s shares
of capital stock or other securities;
(xvi) change
any Tax election of Company, amend any Tax Returns filed by the Company, enter
into any agreement to extend or waive the statute of limitations with respect to
the assessment or determination of any Taxes owed by the Company, enter into any
closing agreement with respect to any Tax, surrender any right to claim a Tax
refund, or settle or compromise any liability with respect to Taxes;
or
34
(xvii) agree
to do any of the things described in the preceding clauses
(i)-(xvi).
SECTION
5.3. Access
to Information.
(a) From
the date hereof until the Closing, the Company shall afford the employees,
authorized agents and representatives of Purchaser, at Purchaser’s sole cost and
expense, with reasonable access, during normal business hours and upon
reasonable advance written notice, to the facilities from which the Company is
operated and the Books and Records of the Company, as Purchaser reasonably deems
necessary or advisable, and to those employees of the Company to whom Purchaser
reasonably requests access. All information obtained by Purchaser and
its employees, agents and representatives pursuant to this Section 5.3 shall be
deemed to be Confidential Information and shall be kept
confidential.
(b) In
order to facilitate the resolution of any claims made by or against or incurred
by the Company prior to or after the Closing or for any other reasonable
purpose, for a period of four (4) years after the Closing (or, with respect to
any Books and Records of the Company necessary for the preparation and filing of
any Tax Returns, reports or forms or the defense of any Tax audit, claim or
assessment, until one hundred eighty (180) days after the expiration of the
applicable statute of limitations period (including extensions thereof)),
Purchaser shall (i) retain the Books and Records of the Company relating to
periods prior to the Closing in a manner reasonably consistent with the prior
practice of the Company and (ii) upon reasonable notice, afford the Stockholders
and the Stockholders’ agents and representatives reasonable access (including
the right to make photocopies, at the Stockholders’ sole cost and expense),
during normal business hours and upon reasonable advance written notice, to such
Books and Records; provided, that, the
Stockholders shall reimburse Purchaser promptly upon demand for all
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Purchaser in connection
therewith.
SECTION
5.4. Regulatory and Other
Authorizations and Notices and Consents.
(a) Each
of the Parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to obtain all permits,
authorizations, consents, orders and approvals of all Governmental Authorities
that may be or become necessary for its execution and delivery of, and the
performance of its obligations pursuant to, this Agreement and will cooperate
fully with the other Parties in promptly seeking to obtain all such permits,
authorizations, consents, orders and approvals. Each of the Parties
agrees to use their reasonable best efforts to contest any Action seeking to
restrain, enjoin or alter the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to
avoid the imposition of such restraint, injunction or alteration, and if any
such Governmental Order has been granted, to use their reasonable best efforts
to have such Governmental Order vacated or lifted.
(b) The
Company shall give such notices to third parties (other than Governmental
Authorities) and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain such third party
consents that may be or become necessary for the Company’s execution and
delivery of, and the performance of the Company’s obligations pursuant to, this
Agreement. Purchaser shall cooperate and use all commercially
reasonable efforts to assist the Company in giving such notices and obtaining
such consents.
35
SECTION
5.5. Notice
of Changes. Prior to the Closing, each of the Parties shall,
promptly after obtaining knowledge of the occurrence (or non-occurrence) of any
event, circumstance or fact arising subsequent to the date of this Agreement
which would result in the failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in
Article VII give notice thereof to the other Parties.
SECTION
5.6. Books
and Records. At or immediately prior to the Closing, the
Company and the Executives shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser
all of the Books and Records of the Company.
SECTION
5.7. Expenses. Whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, except as otherwise
provided in this Agreement, all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the
Stockholders with respect to those costs and expenses incurred by the Company
and the Stockholders and by Purchaser with respect to those costs and expenses
incurred by Purchaser.
SECTION
5.8. Benefit Plan
Matters. With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, the
Company shall take the following actions: (a) adopt resolutions and take such
other actions as are required by such Company Benefit Plan to terminate the
Company Benefit Plan effective immediately prior to the Closing Date; (b) cease
contributions under the Company Benefit Plan effective as of the Closing Date;
and (c) file with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service such forms as may be
required by applicable Law to terminate such Company Benefit
Plan. Such resolutions, actions and filed forms shall be in a form
satisfactory to Purchaser.
SECTION
5.9. Employment
Matters.
(a) Continued
Employment. From the Closing Date, Purchaser (through the
Company) shall continue to employ each of the employees of the Company listed on
Appendix 2
attached hereto (the “Transferred
Employees”), which Appendix 2 sets forth
the position and salary of each of the Transferred Employees. Each of
the Company and the Executives shall cooperate and assist Purchaser in the
employment of the Transferred Employees. Each of the
Transferred Employees shall be employed in the same position and at
the compensation level as is set forth opposite such Transferred Employee’s name
on Appendix 2
attached hereto.
(b) Termination of
Employees. The Executives, jointly and severally, shall be responsible
for any Losses related to employee terminations before or as of the Closing
including without limitation, those related to severance expenses and payments,
COBRA costs and expenses and claims arising under the WARN Act, if
any.
(c) Accrued
Vacation. Effective as of the Closing Date, the obligation to
provide the accrued and unused vacation for the current fiscal year of the
Transferred Employees shall be transferred to and assumed by Purchaser (through
the Company), and Purchaser (through the Company) shall recognize and provide
all such accrued and unused vacation for the current fiscal year with respect to
such Transferred Employees.
36
SECTION
5.10. Resignations;
Appointments. Effective as of the Closing:
(a) Each
of Xxxxx, Xxxxx and Xxxxxxx shall have resigned as directors of the Company and
all action necessary on the part of the Company, the Stockholders and the
Company’s Board of Directors to appoint Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
shall have been taken; and
(b) Xxxxx
shall have resigned as President and Treasurer of the Company and Xxxxx shall
have resigned a Secretary of the Company.
SECTION
5.11. Employment
Agreements. On the Closing Date, Purchaser and each of the
Executives shall execute and deliver the Employment Agreement, substantially in
the form set forth on Exhibit A attached
hereto (collectively, the “Employment
Agreements”). The Employment Agreements shall set forth the
terms and conditions governing the Company’s employment of the Executives after
the Closing Date.
SECTION
5.12. Non-compete
Agreements. On the Closing Date, Purchaser and each of the
Executives shall execute and deliver the Non-compete Agreement, substantially in
the form set forth on Exhibit B attached
hereto (collectively, the “Non-compete
Agreements”).
SECTION
5.13. Termination of Options and
Stock Option Plan. Effective as of the Closing, the Company
shall have terminated all options and/or warrants to purchase the capital stock
or other securities of the Company (collectively, “Options”) and the
Stock Option Plan.
SECTION
5.14. Termination of Stockholders’
Agreement. Effective as of the Closing, the Company and the
Executives shall have terminated the Stockholders’ Agreement.
SECTION
5.15. Intentionally
Deleted.
SECTION
5.16. Risk
of Loss. The Company hereby assumes all risk of loss, damage
and destruction to all or any part of the Company’s assets until the Closing
Date from any cause whatsoever, whether or not the Company is insured therefor,
including, but not limited to, fire, flood, accident, acts of God, earthquake,
insurrection, riot, or other causes commonly referred to as force majeure
events. The Company further assumes all risk until the Closing Date
of any Material Adverse Effect from any cause whatsoever.
SECTION
5.17. No
Solicitation or Negotiation. Unless and until this Agreement
is terminated, neither the Company (or its directors) nor the Stockholders shall
initiate or solicit, directly or indirectly, any inquiries or the making of any
offer or proposal that constitutes or could be reasonably expected to lead to an
Alternative Proposal from any Person, or engage in negotiations or discussions
relating thereto or accept any Alternative Proposal, or make or authorize any
statement, recommendation or solicitation in support of any Alternative
Proposal. Unless proscribed by duties of confidentiality, the Company
and the Stockholders shall notify Purchaser orally and in writing of the receipt
of any such inquiries, offers or proposals (including the terms and conditions
of any such offer or proposal, the identity of the Person making it and a copy
of any written Alternative Proposal), as promptly as practicable and in any
event within forty-eight (48) hours after the receipt thereof, and shall keep
Purchaser informed of the status and details of any such inquiry, offer or
proposal. The Company (and its directors) and the Stockholders shall
immediately terminate any existing solicitation, activity, discussion or
negotiation with any Person hereafter conducted by the Company (and its
directors) and the Stockholders.
37
SECTION
5.18. Confidentiality. Subject
to any obligation to comply with any applicable Law, any rule or regulation of
any authority or securities exchange or any subpoena or other legal process to
make information available to the Persons entitled thereto, from and after the
date hereof, all confidential information (as defined below) obtained by either
Party about the other or its Affiliates and all of the terms and conditions of
this Agreement shall be kept in confidence by each Party, and each Party shall
cause its Affiliates, stockholders, members, partners, directors, officers,
managers, employees, agents and attorneys to hold such information
confidential. For purposes of this Agreement, “Confidential
Information” is any information provided by any Party or such Party’s
representatives (“Disclosing Party”) to
the other Parties or their representatives (“Receiving Party”)
before or during the term of this Agreement, either directly or indirectly in
writing, electronically, orally, by inspection of tangible objects, or any other
form, that the Disclosing Party has identified to the Receiving Party as
confidential or which, under the circumstances surrounding disclosure ought to
be treated as confidential by the Receiving Party, including without limitation
information that relates to the business, productions, processes and services of
the Disclosing Party, including but not limited to, information related to
products, services, customers, suppliers, processes, market opportunities,
business plans, affairs, operations, systems, computer software in source code
and object code form, documentation, procedures, the existence of and terms of
certain agreements, processes and/or
intellectual property, products under
development, purchasing, accounting, information technology, marketing, pricing,
and lists of employees and customers. The term “Confidential
Information” shall be deemed to include, in addition to the information
described above, all notes, analyses, compilations, studies, interpretations or
other documents prepared by the Receiving Party which contain, reflect or are
based upon, in whole or in part, the Confidential Information furnished to the
Receiving Party pursuant hereto. The term Confidential Information
shall exclude information: (a) received from a third party provided that such
source is not known by the Receiving Party to be bound by a confidentiality
agreement with, or other contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation of
confidentiality to, the Disclosing Party; (b) which is or becomes known to the
public other than through the breach of this Agreement; (c) which was within the
Receiving Party’s possession prior to its being furnished to the Receiving Party
by the Disclosing Party pursuant to this Agreement; (d) is independently
developed by the Receiving Party without reference to the Confidential
Information, provided such independent development can reasonably be proven by
Receiving Party through a written record; or (d) is publicly disclosed or no
longer considered Confidential Information by the Disclosing
Party. In the event any Party becomes legally compelled to disclose
any such Confidential Information, it shall promptly provide the other Parties
with written notice of such requirement so that it may seek a protective order
or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 5.18. If this
Agreement is terminated for any reason, each Party shall return or cause to be
returned to the other all Confidential Information, including all written data,
information, files, records and copies of documents, worksheets and other
materials obtained by that Party in connection with this Agreement.
38
SECTION
5.19. Further
Action. Each of the Parties shall use such Party’s reasonable
best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all appropriate actions, do or cause
to be done all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Law, and
execute and deliver such documents and other papers, as may be required to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
SECTION
5.20. Additional Tax
Liability. If and only if, as a result of the Election, the
Stockholders (on behalf of themselves or the Company for a Pre-Closing Period)
file a federal or state tax return under which the Stockholders and/or the
Company are required to pay additional Tax Liability for the Tax year in which
the Closing occurs, Purchaser shall pay such increase in Tax Liability (“338 Tax”) up to an
amount not to exceed Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000) in the aggregate,
which Tax Liability shall be paid by the Stockholders and/or the Company (for a
Pre-Closing Period) directly to the relevant Taxing Authority upon such Tax
Liability becoming due and payable. In the event the 338 Tax exceeds
Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000) in the aggregate, Purchaser shall
first pay any 338 Tax due on behalf of the Company and then any 338 Tax due on
behalf of the Stockholders. For clarity, the additional Tax Liability
(subject to the foregoing Liability cap) shall be an amount equal to the
difference between (i) the Tax payable by the Stockholders and by the Company as
a result of the Election and (ii) the Tax that would have been payable by the
Stockholders and by the Company if the Election had not been made. The
Executives (on behalf of the Stockholders) shall provide Purchaser with a tax
opinion from an independent certified public accounting firm stating the extent
of such 338 Tax, which tax opinion shall set forth the computation of the 338
Tax in reasonable detail. The Stockholders shall provide Purchaser with access
to their Tax information related to the Election to enable Purchaser to
determine the 338 Tax and review the tax opinion. Unless within sixty (60) days
of delivery of such tax opinion by the Executives to Purchaser the Executives
shall have received a written objection from Purchaser to such tax opinion, then
such tax opinion shall be considered the final tax opinion with respect to this
matter. If, within such sixty (60) day period, the Executives receive a written
objection from Purchaser to such tax opinion, then the Executives (on behalf of
the Stockholders) and Purchaser shall attempt to reconcile their differences
diligently and in good faith and any resolution by them shall be final, binding
and conclusive on all Parties. If the Executives and the Purchaser are unable to
reach a final resolution within thirty (30) days of the Executives’ receipt of
the Purchaser’s written notice, the Executives and the Purchaser shall submit
such dispute for resolution to an independent tax accounting firm mutually
appointed by the Executives and the Purchaser (the “Independent Tax
Firm”), which, acting as experts, shall determine and report to the
Parties, within fifteen (15) days after their appointment, the 338 Tax and such
determination shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Parties. The fees
and disbursements of the Independent Tax Firm shall be shared equally by the
Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other hand. The Company
(prior to Closing) and Stockholders agree that from and after the execution of
this Agreement, none of them will take any action (other than filing the
required Tax Return) which would result in an increase in such Tax
Liability. Any 338 Tax payments shall treated by the Parties as
additional Purchase Price.
SECTION
5.21. Section 338(h)(10)
Election.
39
(a) Neither
the Stockholders nor the Company shall take any action (or fail to take any
action) that would prohibit the Stockholders from making an Election with
respect to the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Purchaser
and each Stockholder shall duly and timely make a joint election pursuant to
Section 338(h)(10) of the Code, and Treasury Regulation Section 1.338(h)(10)-1,
and any comparable election under applicable state or local Tax law
(collectively, the “Elections”) with
respect to the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement. At the
Closing Date, with respect to the federal Election, Purchaser and each
Stockholder shall mutually prepare, execute and file a Form 8023 (with all
attachments) and Forms 8883 (with respect to that part of the Purchase Price
paid at the Closing). Purchaser and each Stockholder shall each duly
and timely file (or cause to be filed) the respective supplemental Forms 8883 in
connection with such sale as and when required and shall promptly furnish a copy
of such Forms 8883 to the other promptly after filing. In addition,
Purchaser and each Stockholder shall, as promptly as practicable following the
Closing Date, cooperate with each other to take all actions necessary and
appropriate (including filing such additional forms, returns, elections,
schedules and other documents as may be required) to effect and preserve timely
Elections in accordance with the provisions of Code Section 338(h)(10) and
Treasury Regulations Section 1.338(h)(10)-1 and any comparable provision of
applicable Law for such sale.
(c) In
connection with the Elections, Purchaser and the Executives (on behalf of all of
the Stockholders) shall mutually determine, as promptly as reasonably
practicable following the Closing, the Aggregate Deemed Sales Price and Adjusted
Grossed-Up Basis (in each case, as defined under the applicable Treasury
Regulations), or other amounts required under applicable Law with respect to the
sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement. After thorough
analysis and arms’ length negotiations between the applicable Parties, such
Parties agree that the Aggregate Deemed Sales Price and Adjusted Grossed-Up
Basis (and any other amount required to be determined under applicable Law) (in
each case as defined under the applicable Treasury Regulations or applicable
Law) shall be allocated among the assets of the Company as set forth in Appendix
3.
(d) The
Parties agree that that the Purchase Price is for payments from the sale of
stock of a corporation, subject to the effect of the Election. No
amount of the Purchase Price is, or shall be considered to be, payment for the
services of the Stockholders, Executives, or any other Person, and the Purchase
Price is the only amount paid to Stockholders under this Agreement related to
the sale of the Shares.
(e) Purchaser
and each Stockholder (i) shall be bound by the allocations described in this
Section 5.21 for all purposes, including determining any Taxes, (ii) shall
prepare and file all Tax Returns, including Forms 8883, in a manner consistent
with such allocations, and (iii) shall not take (or permit any Affiliate to
take) any position inconsistent with the Election or such allocation, in any Tax
Return, any proceeding before any Taxing Authority or otherwise. In
the event the allocation is disputed by any Taxing Authority, the Party
receiving notice of such dispute shall promptly notify and consult with the
other Parties concerning resolution of such dispute, and shall keep the other
Parties apprised of the status of such dispute and the resolution
thereof.
40
SECTION
5.22. Tax
Matters.
(a) The
Executives shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed
on a timely basis all Tax Returns with respect to the Company for taxable
periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date. Such Tax Returns
shall be true, correct and complete, shall be prepared on a basis consistent
with the similar Tax Returns for the immediately preceding periods and shall not
make, amend, revoke or terminate any election or change any accounting practice
or procedure without Purchaser’s consent. The Executives shall give a
copy of each such Tax Return to Purchaser with sufficient time for its review
and comment prior to filing. The Executives shall cause the Company
to timely pay Taxes shown due and owing on such Tax Returns. The
Executives shall cause the Company to duly and timely pay all Taxes required to
be paid by the Company on or before the Closing Date.
(b) From
and after the Closing Date, Purchaser shall not file (or permit the Company to
file) any amended Tax Return, carryback claim or other adjustment with respect
to any Tax period of the Company ending on or before the Closing Date, without
the Executives’ consent, which consent shall not
unreasonably be withheld, delayed or conditioned.
(c) The
Executives shall cause to be prepared and filed (the cost and expense of which
shall be borne by the Stockholders on a pro rata basis) with the applicable
Governmental Authority, as soon as is reasonably practicable, but in any event
within ninety (90) days after the Closing Date: (i) an application of Relief
from Contract Voidability and all Tax Returns for the State of California with
respect to the Company (including without limitation, as a result of the Company
being an S Corporation) for taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date; (ii) all Tax Returns which were required to be filed on the part of the
Company (including, without limitation, as a result of the Company being an S
Corporation, if applicable) in the State of Connecticut; and (iii) all Tax
Returns which were required to be filed on the part of the Company (including
without limitation, as a result of the Company being an S Corporation, if
applicable) in the State of New Jersey. Such application and Tax
Returns shall be true, correct and complete, and such Tax Returns shall be
prepared on a basis consistent with the similar Tax Returns for the immediately
preceding periods and shall not make, amend, revoke or terminate any election or
change any accounting practice or procedure without Purchaser’s
consent. The Executives shall give a copy of such application and Tax
Returns to Purchaser with sufficient time for its review and comment prior to
filing. The Executives shall cause the Stockholders (on a pro rata
basis) to pay all Taxes shown due and owing by the Company on such Tax Returns
within such ninety (90) day period.
SECTION
5.23. Release. In
consideration of the payment of the Purchase Price to the Stockholders,
effective as of the Closing Date, each of the Stockholders hereby releases and
discharges the Company, Purchaser, Purchaser’s Affiliates, and each of their
respective, stockholders, members, managers, officers, directors, employees,
agents and attorneys, from any and all claims, contentions, demands, causes of
action at law or in equity, debts, Liens, agreements, notes, obligations or
Liabilities of any nature, character or description whatsoever, whether known or
unknown, which they or either of them may now or hereafter have against any such
Persons by reason of any matter, event, thing or state of facts occurring,
arising, done, omitted or suffered to be done prior to the Closing
Date.
41
Each of
the Stockholders hereby acknowledges and represents that such Stockholder has
been advised by such Stockholder’s attorney of record, and is familiar with,
Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California, which presently
provides as follows:
“A
general release does not extend to claims which the creditor does not know or
suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release, which
if known by him or her must have materially affected his or her settlement with
the debtor.”
Each of
the Stockholders hereby waives and relinquishes any and all rights and benefits
under Section 1542 of the Civil Code of the State of California or any similar
statute of any other state (as applicable) as now worded and as it may from time
to time hereafter be amended.
SECTION
5.24. Dispute
Assistance. Each of the Executives agrees that in the event of
any dispute with respect to the business or operations of the Company arising
out of events which occurred prior to the Closing, such Executive shall
cooperate with Purchaser, in the resolution of such dispute, including, without
limitation, making appearances in any litigation which may result therefrom;
provided, however, this
agreement by the Executives to cooperate shall not be deemed an acceptance by
the Executives of any liability arising from such dispute, as to which the other
provisions of this Agreement shall control.
SECTION
5.25. Amendment to Company’s
Bylaws. On or before Closing, the Company, the Stockholders
and the Company’s Board of Directors shall have taken all action necessary on
the part of the Company, the Stockholders and the Company’s Board of Directors
to amend the Company’s bylaws to the reasonable satisfaction of
Purchaser.
SECTION
5.26. Foreign Business
Qualification. On or before Closing, the Company shall have
taken all action necessary to qualify the Company to conduct business as a
foreign corporation in the State of California.
SECTION
5.27. Assignment of
Domain Names. On or before Closing, Xxxxx and the Company
shall have taken all action necessary on the part of Xxxxx and the Company to
assign all of David’s ownership rights in and to the domain names and URLs
listed in Section 3.19 of the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule to the Company.
SECTION
5.28.Inventions
Assignment Agreement. Prior to the Closing, the Stockholders
shall, and the Company shall cause each of the Company’s employees, consultants
and independent contractors listed on Appendix 4 attached
hereto to, execute and deliver to the Company an Inventions Assignment
Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to the Purchaser (the “Inventions Assignment
Agreement”).
ARTICLE
VI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION
6.1. General Indemnification by
the Stockholders. Each of the Stockholders, severally and not
jointly, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Purchaser and its Affiliates
and their respective officers, directors, managers, stockholders, employees,
agents and representatives (each, a “Purchaser Indemnified
Party”) from any and all Losses directly suffered that arise out of or
relate to: (a) any breach of any representation and warranty of such Stockholder
made in Article III-A of this Agreement; (b) any breach of any covenant or
agreement of such Stockholder contained in this Agreement or in any other
Stockholder Document; and/or (c) any and all actions, suits, proceedings,
claims, demands, assessments, judgments, costs and expenses, including, without
limitation, legal fees and expenses, incurred in enforcing this indemnity
(provided, that, if there is a disagreement among the Parties as to a Party’s
indemnification obligation, then only to the extent a court of competent
jurisdiction determines such Party is obligated to indemnify the other Party or
Parties).
42
SECTION
6.2. General Indemnification by
the Company and the Executives and the other Stockholders. The
Company and each of the Executives, jointly and severally, and Xxxxxxx and the
Xxxxxxx Estate, jointly and not severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold
harmless each Purchaser Indemnified Party from any and all Losses directly
suffered that arise out of or relate to: (a) any breach of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement of the Company and/or the Executives contained
in this Agreement or in any other Company Document; (b) any litigation,
arbitration, governmental investigation, suit, action or other proceeding
referred to in the Company’s Disclosure
Schedule; (c) any and all Franchise Taxes allocable to the operation of
the Company for any period through and including the Closing Date; (d) the
termination of any of the Company’s employees, if any, in connection with or
incident to the transactions contemplated hereby, whether such termination is
initiated by the Company or otherwise, including severance payments, WARN Act
liabilities and COBRA costs related to such employees; (e) the termination of
the Company Benefit Plans, if any; (f) the failure on the part of the Company to
maintain any worker’s compensation insurance for the period through and
including the Closing Date; (h) the Broker’s Fees; (i) any debt, liability or
obligation of the Company (other than the Assumed Liabilities), direct or
indirect, fixed, contingent or otherwise, now or as of the Closing known or
unknown, and whether or not then due or payable, which exists at or as of the
Closing or which arises after the Closing but which is based upon or arises from
any act, omission, transaction, circumstance, sale of goods or services,
Contracts to which the Company is or was a party, state of facts or other
condition which occurred or existed on or before the Closing; (j) Foreign
Business Tax Liabilities; and/or (k) any and all actions, suits, proceedings,
claims, demands, assessments, judgments, costs and expenses, including, without
limitation, legal fees and expenses, incurred in enforcing this indemnity
(provided, that, if there is a disagreement among the Parties as to a Party’s
indemnification obligation, then such amounts shall be payable only to the
extent incurred following the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction
that such Party is obligated to indemnify the other Party or Parties); provided, however, that the
Executives, jointly and not severally, shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
each Purchaser Indemnified Party from any and all Losses directly suffered that
arise out of or relate to (y) the Company’s knowing and willful infringement (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) of the Intellectual Property
rights of third parties as such is based on the Knowledge of the Company, and/or
(z) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims, demands, assessments,
judgments, costs and expenses, including, without limitation, legal fees and
expenses, incurred in enforcing such indemnity (provided, that, if there is a
disagreement among the Parties as to a Party’s indemnification obligation, then
such amounts shall be payable only to the extent incurred following the
determination by a court of competent jurisdiction that such Party is obligated
to indemnify the other Party or Parties);
43
Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the Company’s obligation
to indemnify the Purchaser Indemnified Parties shall cease immediately after the
Closing.
SECTION
6.3. Indemnification by
Executives for Taxes.
(a) The
Executives, jointly and severally, and Xxxxxxx and the Xxxxxxx Estate, jointly
and not severally, shall indemnify, defend
and hold harmless each Purchaser Indemnified Party from and against (i)
any Tax Liability in respect of (A) any period that ends on or before the
Closing Date or (B) with respect to a period that begins on or before and ends
after the Closing Date, the portion of such period, through and including the
Closing Date (each period under (A) or (B), a “Pre-Closing Period”),
(ii) any increased income Tax on any Purchaser Indemnified Party in any Tax
period as a result of the Stockholders’ failure or inability to make a valid
Election, (iii) the California Taxes, the Foreign Business Tax Liabilities and
any Tax Liabilities for failing to file Tax Returns or make valid S Corporation
Elections in the States of California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts
and/or Missouri (as applicable); and/or (iv) any and all costs and expenses,
including, without limitation, legal fees and expenses, incurred in enforcing
this indemnity.
(b) The
indemnities provided for in this Section 6.3 (i) shall apply notwithstanding any
investigation made by Purchaser in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, or Purchaser’s receipt or review of, or commenting on, any
Tax Return of the Company, (ii) subject to the terms of Section 6.10(b), shall
be separate and independent of any other indemnity provision contained herein,
and (iii) anything in this Agreement to the contrary notwithstanding shall
survive until three (3) months after the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations, including extensions or waivers thereof; provided, however, that the
indemnification obligations with respect to California Taxes and the Foreign
Business Tax Liabilities shall survive indefinitely.
(c) The
Executives shall promptly forward to Purchaser a copy of all written
communications from a Taxing Authority received by any of the Stockholders that
relates to any Tax Liability. Purchaser shall promptly forward to the
Executives a copy of all written communications from a Taxing Authority received
by it that relates to a Tax Liability for any Pre-Closing Period. The
failure by Purchaser to give the notice provided in this Section 6.3(c) shall
not release, waive or otherwise affect the Executives’ obligations hereunder
except to the extent the Executives can demonstrate actual loss and prejudice as
a result of such failure.
(d) (i)
The Executives shall have the right, at their option, to
assume control of the defense of the proposed adjustments described in the
notice as set forth in Section 6.3(c) by providing notice to Purchaser within
twenty (20) days of the date of such notice stating that the Executives are
assuming control of such defense and admitting that each portion of the proposed
adjustment is subject to indemnification under this Section 6.3. If
the Executives timely assume control pursuant to this clause (i), the Executives
shall defend against such proposed adjustment diligently and in good faith,
using counsel selected by the Executives, provided such counsel is reasonably
acceptable to Purchaser. The Executives shall keep Purchaser apprised
as to the status of the proposed adjustments and any proceedings or resolution
thereof, including the positions taken by the parties, and shall provide
Purchaser with copies of all correspondence and other communications with
respect to such proposed adjustment or the resolution
thereof. Purchaser may participate in any such proceeding and the
resolution thereof at its own expense.
44
(ii)
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Executives
shall not take any position or agree to any settlement that could adversely
affect the Tax liability of Purchaser in any period ending after the Closing
Date without Purchaser’s prior written consent, unless the Executives fully
indemnify Purchaser therefrom in a manner satisfactory to
Purchaser.
(iii) If
the Executives fail to timely assume control as provided above, Purchaser may
(but shall not be required to) contest such proposed adjustment, the expenses
and costs of which shall be borne by the Executives. In such case,
Purchaser shall keep the Executives informed as to the status of such proceeding
and the resolution thereof. Purchaser shall not be required to appeal
an adverse decision of an administrative agency or court of competent
jurisdiction with respect thereto. In such case, the decision shall
be conclusive and binding on the Parties for purposes of this
indemnification.
(iv) The
Executives’ right to control any defense under this Section 6.3 shall be limited
to the items and amounts in dispute for which the Company and the Executives
would be liable for indemnification under this Section 6.3. If there
is a proposed adjustment or a period involving proposed adjustments for which
the Executives would not be liable to fully indemnify Purchaser under this
Section 6.3, the Executives and Purchaser shall jointly control the defense of
such items. In such case, the Executives and Purchaser shall work
together in good faith to defend against the proposed
adjustments. Each such Party may use counsel selected by it, provided
such counsel is reasonably acceptable to the other applicable
Parties. The Executives shall bear the costs associated with the
defense against the proposed adjustments to the extent they relate to proposed
adjustments (or portions thereof) for which the Executives would be liable for
indemnification under this Section 6.3.
(v)
The Executives (and the other Stockholders) and Purchaser shall
cooperate with each other in the defense against the proposed adjustments,
including providing reasonable access to the Books and Records of the Company
that are relevant to such proposed adjustments and defense.
(e) To
the extent permitted by applicable Law, the Parties shall elect to treat the
period that includes the Closing Date with respect to any Tax as ending on such
date and shall take such steps as may be necessary therefor. For
purposes of this indemnification, any Taxes for a period which includes but does
not end on the Closing Date shall be allocated between a Pre-Closing Period and
the balance of the period based on an interim closing of the books as of the
close of the Closing Date, provided, however, that any
property Taxes and any annual exemption amounts shall be allocated based on the
relative number of days in the Pre-Closing Period and the balance of the
period.
SECTION
6.4. General Indemnification by
Purchaser. Purchaser shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Company, the Company’s officers, directors, employees, agents and
representatives and the Stockholders from any and all Losses directly suffered
that arise out of or relate to: (a) any breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement of Purchaser contained in this Agreement; (b) the Assumed
Liabilities; and/or (c) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims,
demands, assessments, judgments, costs and expenses, including, without
limitation, legal fees and expenses, incurred in enforcing this indemnity
(provided, that, if there is a disagreement among the Parties as to a Party’s
indemnification obligation, then such amounts shall be payable only to the
extent incurred following the determination by a court of competent jurisdiction
that such Party is obligated to indemnify the other Party or
Parties);
45
SECTION
6.5. Indemnification
Procedures. If any claim for which a party is obligated under
Section 6.1 or 6.2 hereof to provide indemnification (“Indemnifying Party”)
is asserted by any third party against or sought to be collected from any party
indemnified hereunder (“Indemnified Party”),
such Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Indemnifying Party in writing
of such claim and the amount or the estimated amount thereof to the extent then
feasible (which estimate shall not be conclusive of the final amount of such
claim) (such notice to include all relevant correspondence from or with any
Taxing Authority). The Indemnifying Party shall have thirty (30) days
after receipt of such notice to assume the conduct and control, through counsel
reasonably acceptable to the Indemnified Party and at the expense of the
Indemnifying Party, of the settlement or defense thereof; provided that the
Indemnifying Party shall permit the Indemnified Party to participate in such
settlement or defense through counsel chosen by the Indemnified Party so long as
the fees and expenses of such counsel are borne by the Indemnified
Party. The Indemnified Party shall not pay or settle any such claim
during the thirty (30) day period during which the Indemnifying Party is
entitled to assume control. So long as the Indemnifying Party is
reasonably contesting any such claim in good faith, the Indemnified Party shall
not pay or settle any such claim; provided that the Indemnified Party may pay or
settle any such claim if the Indemnified Party waives its right to
indemnification hereunder in respect of such claim. If the
Indemnifying Party does not notify the Indemnified Party within thirty (30) days
after the receipt of the Indemnified Party’s notice of a claim of indemnity
hereunder that it elects to undertake the defense thereof or is not eligible to
assume such defense pursuant to this Section 6.5, the Indemnified Party shall
have the right in good faith to contest, pay or settle the claim but shall not
thereby waive any right to indemnity therefor pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that, unless that
Indemnifying Party did not or was not eligible to assume the conduct and control
of the claim, the Indemnified Party shall not pay or settle any such claim
without the prior consent of the Indemnifying Party, unless the Indemnified
Party waives its right to indemnification hereunder with respect to such
claim. The Indemnifying Party shall not, except with the prior
consent of the Indemnified Party, enter into any settlement that does not
include as an unconditional term thereof the unconditional release of the
Indemnified Party from all liability and damages with respect to the related
claim. The Parties acknowledge and agree that the procedures set
forth in this Section 6.5 shall not apply to the indemnification for Taxes as
set forth in Section 6.3.
SECTION
6.6. Books
and Records. The Indemnified Party shall make available to the
Indemnifying Party and its attorneys and accountants all Books and Records of
the Indemnified Party relating to such proceedings or litigation, and the
parties hereto agree to render to each other such assistance as they may
reasonably require of each other in order to ensure the proper and adequate
defense of any such action, suit or proceeding (including any necessary powers
of attorney).
46
SECTION
6.7. Treatment of Indemnification
Payment. Any payments made pursuant to indemnification
obligations arising under this Agreement shall be treated as an adjustment to
the Purchase Price.
SECTION
6.8. Insurance. If
any claims are made by third parties against an Indemnified Party for which an
Indemnifying Party would be liable, and it appears that such claims might also
be covered by the Indemnified Party’s insurance policies, the Indemnified Party
shall make a timely claim under such policies and to the extent that such party
obtains any recovery from such insurance, such recovery shall be offset against
any sums due from an Indemnifying Party (or shall be repaid by the Indemnified
Party to the extent that an Indemnifying Party has already paid any such
amounts).
SECTION
6.9. Survival and Timing of
Claims for Indemnification. Subject to the terms of Section
6.3, the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this
Agreement (other than those covenants and agreements to be performed after the
Closing) shall survive the Closing until the two (2) year anniversary of the
Closing; provided, however, that the
representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.2 (Authority and
Enforceability), 3.3 (Non-Contravention; Third Party Consents), 3.4
(Organization), 3.10(b) (Litigation), 3.10(d) (Title), 3-A.1 (Title to Shares),
3-A.2 (Authority to Execute and Perform Agreements) and 3-A.3 (Enforceability)
shall survive indefinitely; and, the indemnification obligations pursuant to
Section 6.2(f), Section 6.2(h) and Section 6.2(j) shall survive
indefinitely.
SECTION
6.10. Limitation on Claims for
Indemnification.
(a) Subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 6.10(b) and Section 6.10(c),
the aggregate amount of all payments made by the Company, the Executives and/or
the Stockholders (as applicable) in satisfaction of claims for indemnification
shall not exceed Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($4,500,000). The Parties acknowledge and agree that Purchaser’s sole
remedy will be the Stock Consideration for: (i) a breach of the representations
and warranties made by the Company and the Stockholders in Article III of this
Agreement other than with respect to the representations and warranties
contained in Sections 3.2 (Authority and Enforceability), 3.10(b) (Litigation),
3.10(d) (Title) and/or 3.11 (Taxes) (such other representations and warranties
being collectively referred to herein as the “Carved Out Company
Representations and Warranties”), and/or (ii) a breach of the
representations and warranties made by the Stockholders in Article III-A of this
Agreement other than with respect to the representations and warranties
contained Sections 3-A.1 (Title to Shares), 3-A.2 (Authority to Execute and
Perform Agreements) and/or 3-A.3 (Enforceability) (such other representations
and warranties being collectively referred to herein as the “Carved Out Stockholder
Representations and Warranties”). The Parties acknowledge and
agree that subject to the terms and conditions of Section 6.10(b), Section
6.10(c) and Section 6.12, Purchaser shall make any indemnification claims
directly against the Company, the Executives and/or the Stockholders (as
applicable) personally and not against the Stock Consideration with respect to:
(A) the Carved Out Company Representations and Warranties and the Carved Out
Stockholder Representation and Warranties, (B) claims made pursuant clauses (b),
(c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (j) and (k) of Section 6.2, and/or Section 6.3
(Tax Liability) (including with respect to the California Taxes and the Foreign
Business Tax Liabilities), (C) claims made with respect to the Company’s knowing
and willful infringement (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) of
the Intellectual Property rights of third parties (as such is based on the
Knowledge of the Company) in excess of the Four Million Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($4,500,000) of Stock Consideration, and/or (D) claims for fraud,
willful misrepresentation and/or willful misconduct; provided, however, if the
Company, the Executives and/or the Stockholders (as applicable) fail to satisfy
any such indemnification claims made by Purchaser in a prompt and expeditious
manner, Purchaser may satisfy any such indemnification claims against all or a
portion of the Stock Consideration; provided, further, if the
Company, the Executives and/or the Stockholders (as applicable) are unable to
fully satisfy any such indemnification claims, Purchaser may satisfy any such
shortfall against all or a portion of the Stock Consideration.
47
(b) Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary contained in this Agreement, but subject to the
terms and conditions of Section 6.3 and Section 6.9: (i) there shall be no
dollar amount caps, thresholds or other limitations on indemnification claims of
a Purchaser Indemnified Party made pursuant to: (A) clause (a) of Section 6.2
with respect to the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.2
(Authority and Enforceability), 3.10(b) (Litigation), 3.10(d) (Title) and/or
3.11 (Taxes), (B) clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (j) and (k) of
Section 6.2, and/or (C) Section 6.3 (Tax Liability) (including with respect to
the California Taxes and the Foreign Business Tax Liabilities); (ii) there shall
be no dollar amount caps, thresholds or other limitations on indemnification
claims of a Purchaser Indemnified Party made pursuant to clause (a) of Section
6.1 with respect to the representations and warranties contained in Sections
3-A.1 (Title to Shares), 3-A.2 (Authority to Execute and Perform Agreements)
and/or 3-A.3 (Enforceability); and (iii) the maximum liability of the Executives
(on a pro rata basis) with respect to any indemnification claim for Losses
pursuant to Section 6.2 with respect to a knowing and willful infringement by
the Company (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction) of the
Intellectual Property rights of third parties as such is based on the Knowledge
of the Company, shall be the Four Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($4,500,000) of the Stock Consideration and an additional amount of One Million
Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,500,000).
(c) There
shall be no dollar caps, thresholds or other limitations on indemnification
claims made or other remedies sought by an Indemnified Party in connection with
fraud and/or willful misrepresentation the Company, the Executives and/or the
Stockholders (as applicable) and/or in connection with the willful misconduct of
the Executives.
(d) Subject
to the terms of Section 6.10(b), the Indemnifying Party shall not be required to
indemnify, defend or hold harmless an Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article
VI until the aggregate amount of all Losses exceeds Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000), after which the Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to pay the full
amount of Losses of the Indemnified Party (from the first dollar) regardless of
the dollar amount of the claim.
SECTION
6.11. Disbursement of Stock
Consideration. On the second anniversary of the Closing Date,
there shall be released from escrow to the Stockholders (on a pro rata basis)
that number of shares of Stock Consideration equal to the difference between (a)
all of the shares of Stock Consideration and (b) the sum of (i) the dollar
amount of shares of Stock Consideration which were subject to offset by
Purchaser pursuant to the terms of Section 6.12 and (ii) the sum or all Losses
subject to then-pending indemnification claims made under this Agreement. The
number of shares subject to disbursement pursuant to this Section 6.11 shall be
based upon the same value used to determine the number of shares of the Stock
Consideration.
48
SECTION
6.12. Offset Rights and Order of
Payment. Subject to the terms of Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and
6.10, Purchaser shall seek payment for any amounts due with respect to claims of
indemnification under this Article VI solely as follows: (a) first, against the
Stock Consideration, (b) second, against the Earn-out Payments, if any, and (c)
to the extent the amounts owing by the Company, the Executives and/or the
Stockholders to Purchaser exceed the foregoing, Purchaser shall be entitled to
seek payment directly from the Company, the Executives and/or the Stockholders,
as applicable. The number of shares subject to offset shall be based
upon the same value used to determine the number of shares of the Stock
Consideration. In
the event Purchaser elects to offset against the Purchase Price any claimed
amount which has not been finally determined to be due to it from the Company,
the Executives and/or any of the Stockholders, the offset shall remain in effect
during the pendency of any proceedings to determine the merits of the claim of
Purchaser, or until the parties otherwise agree upon a resolution of such claim,
and upon such final determination or resolution, appropriate adjustments or
payments between the Parties shall be made so as to place each Party in as
nearly as practicable the same position in which it would have been had such
final determination or resolution been in effect at the time such offset was
taken by Purchaser. Purchaser’s offset rights herein set forth
represent neither a liquidation of damages nor a limitation of
liability.
SECTION
6.13. Exclusive
Remedies. Except for fraud, willful misrepresentation or
willful misconduct and remedies that cannot be waived as a matter of law, if the
Closing occurs, this Article VI shall be the exclusive remedy for breaches of
this Agreement (including, any covenant, obligation, representation or warranty
contained in this Agreement or any certificates or other documents delivered
pursuant to this Agreement) or otherwise in respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE
VII
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
SECTION
7.1. Conditions to Obligations of
the Stockholders. The obligation of the Stockholders to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to
the satisfaction (or waiver by the Stockholders), at or prior to the Closing, of
each of the following conditions:
(a)
Representations, Warranties
and Covenants. The representations and warranties of Purchaser
contained in this Agreement and in each other document or agreement to be
executed and delivered by Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall have been
true and correct when made and shall be true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though
made on and as of the Closing Date, other than such representations and
warranties as are made as of another specified date, which shall be true and
correct as of such date. The covenants and agreements contained in
this Agreement to be complied with by Purchaser at or before the Closing shall
have been complied with in all material respects. The Stockholders
shall have received a certificate from Purchaser signed by an executive officer
thereof with respect to the matters described in this Section
7.1(a).
49
(b)
No
Order. There shall not be in effect any Law or Governmental
Order directing that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not be
consummated or which has the effect of rendering it unlawful to consummate such
transactions; provided, that, the Company and
the Stockholders shall have used reasonable best efforts to have any such
Governmental Order vacated or lifted and shall have complied with its
obligations under Section 5.4 hereof.
(c)
Employment
Agreements. Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the
Employment Agreements.
(d)
Non-compete
Agreements. Purchaser shall have executed and delivered the
Non-compete Agreements.
(e)
Intentionally
Deleted.
(f) Litigation. No
action, suit or proceeding shall have instituted before any Governmental
Authority or instituted or threatened by any Governmental Authority expressly
challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or seeking to obtain any material
damages in connection therewith.
SECTION
7.2. Conditions to Obligations of
Purchaser. The obligation of Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be subject to the satisfaction
(or waiver by Purchaser), at or prior to the Closing, of each of the following
conditions:
(a)
Representations, Warranties
and Covenants. The representations and warranties of the
Company, the Executives and the Stockholders contained in this Agreement and in
each other Company Document and Stockholder Document shall have been true and
correct when made and shall be true and correct in all material respects on and
as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though made on and as
of the Closing Date, other than such representations and warranties as are made
as of another specified date, which shall be true and correct as of such
date. The covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement to be
complied with by the Company, the Executives and/or the Stockholders, as
applicable, at or before the Closing shall have been complied with in all
material respects. Purchaser shall have received a certificate from
the Company and the Executives signed by an executive officer the Company and by
each of the Executives with respect to the matters described in this Section
7.2(a).
(b) No Adverse
Change. There shall not have occurred between the date hereof
and the Closing Date any Material Adverse Effect in the Business, results of
operations or financial condition of the Company taken as a whole, nor shall
these have occurred any event, development or state of facts or circumstances
(other than a change in general economic conditions) which could reasonably be
expected to result in any of the foregoing. Purchaser shall have
received a certificate from the Company and the Executives signed by an
executive officer the Company and by each of the Executives with respect to the
matters described in this Section 7.2(b).
50
(c)
No
Order. There shall not be in effect any Law or Governmental
Order directing that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not be
consummated or which has the effect of rendering it unlawful to consummate such
transactions; provided that Purchaser shall have used reasonable best efforts to
have any such Governmental Order vacated or lifted and shall have complied with
its obligations under Section 5.4 hereof.
(d)
Employment
Agreements. The Executives shall have executed and delivered
the Employment Agreements.
(e)
Non-Compete
Agreements. The Executives shall have executed and delivered
the Non-compete Agreements.
(f)
Intentionally
Deleted.
(g)
Inventions Assignment
Agreements. Prior to the Closing, each of the Company’s
employees, consultants and independent contractors listed on Appendix 4 shall have
executed and delivered an Inventions Assignment Agreement.
(h)
Litigation. No
action, suit or proceeding shall have instituted before any Governmental
Authority or instituted or threatened by any Governmental Authority expressly
challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or seeking to obtain any material
damages in connection therewith.
(i)
Company Benefit
Plans. The Company shall have terminated all of the Company
Benefit Plans, if any.
(j)
Required
Consents. The Company shall have obtained and/or made all
Required Consents.
(k)
Termination of Options and
Stock Option Plan. The Company shall have terminated all
Options and the Stock Option Plan.
(l)
Termination of Stockholders’
Agreement. The Company and the Executives shall have
terminated the Stockholders’ Agreement.
(m) Amendment to Company’s
Bylaws. The Company, the Stockholders and the Company’s Board
of Directors shall have taken all action necessary on the part of the Company,
the Stockholders and the Company’s Board of Directors to amend the Company’s
bylaws to the reasonable satisfaction of Purchaser.
(n) Foreign
Qualification. The Company shall have taken all action
necessary to qualify the Company to conduct business as a foreign corporation in
the State of California.
(o) Assignment of Domain
Names. Xxxxx and the Company shall have taken all action
necessary on the part of Xxxxx and the Company to assign all of David’s
ownership rights in and to the domain names and URLs listed in Section 3.19 of
the Company’s
Disclosure Schedule to the Company.
51
(p) Certain Agreements and
Instruments. Purchaser shall have received the agreements,
documents and instruments referred to in Section 2.9 (Duly Endorsed Stock
Certificates, Secretary’s Certificate, resignations, etc.) to be delivered to
Purchaser by the Stockholders and/or the Company at Closing.
ARTICLE
VIII
TERMINATION
SECTION
8.1. Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by
either the Company and the Stockholders, on the one hand, or Purchaser, on the
other hand, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before May
20, 2008 or such
later date mutually agreed upon by the Parties;
(b) by
either the Company and the Stockholders, on the one hand, or Purchaser, on the
other hand, in the event that any Governmental Authority shall have issued a
final, non-appealable order, decree or ruling (other than a temporary
restraining order) restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) by
the written consent of the Company, the Stockholders and Purchaser;
or
(d) if
either the Company and/or the Stockholders, on the one hand, or Purchaser, on
the other hand, materially defaults in the due and timely performance of any of
their or its warranties, covenants or agreements under this Agreement (as
applicable), the non-defaulting party may on or prior to the Closing Date give
notice of termination of this Agreement, which notice shall specify with
particularity the default or defaults on which the notice is based; provided, however, that with
respect to any default or defaults that are of a nature that can be cured, such
termination shall be effective ten (10) days after such notice is received by
the defaulting party only if such default or defaults shall not have been cured
on or before the effective time for termination.
SECTION
8.2. Effect
of Termination. In the event of the termination of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1, this Agreement shall become void and
have no effect, with no liability on the part of any Party or its Affiliates,
directors, officers, employees, stockholders or agents in respect thereof; provided, however, that nothing
herein shall relieve any Party hereto from liability for any breach by such
Party of this Agreement.
52
ARTICLE
IX
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SECTION
9.1. Notices. Any
notice, payment, demand, or communication required or permitted to be given by
any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been delivered, given, and received for all purposes (a) if delivered personally
to the Person or to an officer of the Person to whom the same is directed, or
(b) when the same is actually received, if sent by a nationally recognized
courier service (which provides proof of delivery), by registered or certified
mail (postage and charges prepaid), or by facsimile (if such facsimile is
followed by a hard copy of the facsimile communication sent promptly thereafter
by a nationally recognized courier service (which provides proof of delivery) or
registered or certified mail (postage and charges prepaid)), addressed as
follows, or to such other address as such Person may from time to time specify
by due notice:
|
(a) if
to the Company or the Stockholders,
to:
|
|
BookRags,
Inc.
|
|
000
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
|
|
Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
|
with
a copy to:
|
|
Law
Office of Xxxx X. Xxxxxx
|
|
00000
X.X. 0xx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
|
|
Xxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
|
|
Attention: Xxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
|
|
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
|
(b) if
to Purchaser, to:
|
|
Ambassadors
Group, Inc.
|
|
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx
|
|
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxx, Chief Financial Officer
|
|
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
|
with
a copy to:
|
|
Loeb
& Loeb LLP
|
|
00000
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
|
|
Xxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
|
|
Attention: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
|
|
Facsimile
No.: (000) 000-0000
|
53
SECTION
9.2. Public
Announcements. No Party shall make, or cause to be made, any
press release or public announcement in respect of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby or otherwise communicate with any news media
without the prior written consent of the other Parties, which consent shall not
be unreasonably withheld or delayed, and the Parties shall cooperate as to the
timing and contents of any such press release or public announcement; provided, however, that a Party
may, without the prior consent of the other Parties, make such press release,
public announcement or filing as may be required by Law, rule or
regulation.
SECTION
9.3. Headings. The
descriptive headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of
this Agreement.
SECTION
9.4. Severability. If
any term or other provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or incapable
of being enforced by any Law or public policy, all other terms and provisions of
this Agreement shall nevertheless remain in full force and effect so long as the
economic or legal substance of the transactions contemplated hereby is not
affected in any manner materially adverse to any Party. Upon such
determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable
of being enforced, the Parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify
this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the Parties as closely as
possible in an acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated
hereby are consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent
possible.
SECTION
9.5. Appointment of Executives as
Stockholders’ Representatives. By the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, each of the Stockholders hereby irrevocably constitutes and
appoints each of the Executives (and by their execution of this Agreement, each
of the Executives hereby accepts his appointment) as the true and lawful agent
and attorney-in-fact of the Stockholders to act in the name, place and stead of
the Stockholders in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, in accordance with the terms and provisions of this Agreement, and to
act on behalf of the Stockholders in any mediation, litigation
or arbitration involving this Agreement or any other document to be executed and
delivered in connection with this Agreement, to do or refrain from doing all
such further acts and things, and to execute all such documents as the
Executives shall deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any other document to be executed
and delivered in connection with this Agreement, including without limitation,
the power:
(a)
to act for the Stockholders with regard to matters
pertaining to the determination of the Earn-out Payments, the post-closing
adjustment, and any related adjustments to the Purchase Price;
(b)
to act for the Stockholders in connection with the
issuance of press releases, if any;
(c)
to act for the Stockholders and the Company in
connection with the filing of the Company’s Tax Returns and/or the defense of
any proposed Tax adjustments for a Pre-Closing Period;
54
(d)
to act for the Stockholders with regard to matters
pertaining to indemnification referred to in this Agreement, including the power
to compromise any indemnity claim on behalf of or involving the Stockholders and
to transact and settle matters of litigation or claims against the
Stockholders;
(e)
to execute and deliver all waivers, ancillary
agreements, certificates and documents that the Executives deem necessary or
appropriate in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement;
(f)
to receive funds for the payment of expenses of the
Stockholders and apply such funds in payment for such expenses;
(g)
to do or refrain from doing any further act or deed on
behalf of the Stockholders that the Executives deem necessary or appropriate in
their sole discretion relating to the subject matter of this Agreement as fully
and completely as the Stockholders could do if personally present;
(h)
to deliver and receive notices and service of process in
connection with any claims under this Agreement; and
(i)
to engage and employ agents and representatives (including
accountants, legal counsel and other professionals) and to incur such other
expenses as the Executives deem necessary or prudent in connection with the
administration of the foregoing.
Each
Stockholder agrees that the powers granted to the Executives pursuant to this
Section 9.5 are coupled with an interest, and are therefore irrevocable without
the consent of the Executives and shall survive the death, incapacity or
bankruptcy of any Stockholder. In the event of any dispute between
the Executives, the decision of Xxxxx shall be conclusive and binding upon Xxx
and all of the other Stockholders. Purchaser, the Company (after the Closing)
and any other Person may conclusively and absolutely rely, without inquiry, upon
any action of the Executives in all matters referred to herein. The Stockholders
hereby confirm all that the Executives shall do or cause to be done by virtue of
their appointment as the representatives of the Stockholders. The
Executives shall act for the Stockholders on all of the matters set forth in
this Agreement in the manner the Executives believe to be in the best interest
of the Stockholders and consistent with the obligations under this Agreement,
but the Executives shall not be responsible to the Stockholders for any loss or
damages the Stockholders may suffer by the performance of their duties under
this Agreement, other than loss or damage arising from willful violation of the
law or gross negligence in the performance of their duties under this
Agreement.
SECTION
9.6. Entire
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of
the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes all prior
agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, between the Parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof, including but not limited to, that certain
Term Sheet dated as of March 7, 2008, by and between the Company and
Purchaser.
SECTION
9.7. Assignment. Except
with respect to an assignment by Purchaser to an Affiliate of Purchaser (which
shall in no event release Purchaser from its obligations hereunder), this
Agreement may not be assigned by any Party, by operation of law or otherwise,
without the prior written consent of the other Parties (which consent may be
granted or withheld in the sole discretion of such other Parties).
55
SECTION
9.8. No
Third Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure solely to the benefit of the Parties and their heirs and
permitted assigns and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or
shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or
remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this
Agreement.
SECTION
9.9. Amendment. This
Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the
Parties.
SECTION
9.10. Waiver. The
Company and the Stockholders, on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand,
may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations or other
acts of the other, (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and
warranties of the other contained herein or in any document delivered by the
other pursuant hereto, or (c) waive compliance with any of the agreements or
conditions of the other contained herein. Any such extension or
waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by
the Parties. Any waiver of any term or condition shall not be
construed as a waiver of any subsequent breach or a subsequent waiver of the
same term or condition, or a waiver of any other term or condition, of this
Agreement. The failure of any Party to assert any of its rights
hereunder shall not constitute a waiver of any of such rights.
SECTION
9.11. Governing Law;
Venue. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of Washington, without reference to the
choice of law doctrine of the State of Washington. All actions and
proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and
determined in any federal or state court sitting in the State of Washington, and
the Parties hereby irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of such courts in any
such action or proceeding and irrevocably waive the defense of an inconvenient
forum. The Parties hereby irrevocably waive their respective rights
to trial by jury of any cause of action, claim, counterclaim or cross-complaint
in any action or other proceeding brought by a Party against another Party with
respect to any matter arising out of, or in any way connected with or related
to, this Agreement or any portion thereof, whether based upon contractual,
statutory, tortious or other theories of liability. Each Party
irrevocably consents to the service of any and all process in any such action or
proceeding by the mailing of copies of such process to such Party at its address
specified in Section 9.1 hereof. Nothing in this Section 9.11 shall
affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner
permitted by Law. The consents to jurisdiction set forth in this
Section 9.11 shall not constitute general consents to service of process in the
State of Washington and shall have no effect for any purpose except as provided
in this Section 9.11 and shall not be deemed to confer rights on any person
other than the Parties.
SECTION
9.12. Interpretation. There
shall be no presumption against any Party on the ground that such Party was
responsible for drafting this Agreement or any part hereof.
SECTION
9.13. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the Parties in
separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an
original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to
this Agreement, or any other document or agreement to be executed in connection
herewith by facsimile shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of any such agreement or document.
56
SECTION
9.14. Mediation. The
Parties involved in any dispute, Loss or claim with respect to this Agreement,
shall, prior to initiating any litigation, attempt in good faith to settle such
dispute, for a period of thirty (30) days following the date on which a Party
notifies the other Party or Parties of such dispute, loss or claim, through
consultation and negotiation, in good faith and a spirit of mutual
cooperation. Each Party to the mediation shall send a representative
with full and unlimited power to negotiate a settlement to such dispute, loss or
claim. If the Parties’ attempts to mediate the dispute fail, then the
dispute shall be mediated by a mutually acceptable mediator to be chosen by the
Parties within ten (10) days after written notice by one Party to the other
Party or Parties demanding mediation. No Party to a dispute shall
unreasonably withhold consent to the selection of a mediator, and the
Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other hand, will share
the costs of the mediation equally and will, if required by such mediator, pay
the costs of the mediator in advance. The Parties agree that the decision of any
mediator shall not be binding.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
57
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have caused this Stock Purchase Agreement to be
executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY:
|
|||
BOOKRAGS,
INC.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title:
|
President | ||
STOCKHOLDERS:
|
|||
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
XXXXX
XXXXXXXXX, Individually
|
|||
/s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
XXXXX
XXXXXX, Individually
|
|||
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |||
XXXXXXX
XXXXXXXXX, Individually
|
|||
/s/ Xxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
XXX
X. XXXXXXX, in her capacity as Executrix
|
|||
of
the ESTATE OF XXX X. XXXXXXX
|
|||
PURCHASER:
|
|||
AMBASSADORS
GROUP, INC.
|
|||
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name:
|
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Title:
|
President and CEO |
EXHIBIT
A
Form
of Employment Agreement – Executives
EXECUTION
COPY
EMPLOYMENT
AGREEMENT
BookRags,
Inc., a Delaware Corporation, (the “Company”), and
________, a natural person (the “Executive”)
(collectively, the “Parties”), make this
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) as of May
___, 2008 (“Commencement
Date”). The Company and the Executive are individually
referred to herein as a "Party” and collectively as the “Parties”.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
this Agreement is entered into concurrently with that certain Stock Purchase
Agreement, dated May___________, 2008 (“SPA”), by and among
the Company, Executive, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, in
her capacity as Executrix of the Estate of Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, and Ambassadors
Group, Inc. (“AGI”), pursuant to
which AGI shall acquire the business of the Company through the
purchase of all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company;
WHEREAS,
the Executive is an owner, founder and officer of the Company and, upon the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by the SPA, the Executive will
receive certain benefits as a result of the purchase of the Company by
AGI;
WHEREAS,
pursuant to the SPA, the Company hereby employs the Executive as Vice-President
of Technology in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement;
WHEREAS,
the Executive is bound by the Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidential
Information Agreement (the “Non-Compete
Agreement”), which is executed concurrently with the SPA;
and
WHEREAS,
the Company and the Executive wish to enter into this Agreement to outline the
terms and conditions of the Executive’s employment with Company.
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter
set forth, the Company and the Executive agree as follows:
1.
Employment.
(a) Term. The
Term of this Agreement shall begin as of the Commencement Date and shall
continue for period of (3) years
(“Initial
Term”) and shall be automatically extended for successive one (1) year
periods (“Renewal
Periods”) unless either Party notifies the other Party at least ninety
(90) days prior to the end of the Initial Term or any Renewal Period then in
effect or unless sooner terminated as hereinafter provided (“Termination
Date”). The Initial Term and any Renewal Periods are
collectively referred to as the “Term.”
(b) Duties and
Responsibilities. The Executive will report to the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company (the “CEO”). The
Executive shall be employed as Vice-President of Technology of the Company and
shall perform and discharge well and faithfully the duties which may be assigned
to him from time to time by the CEO and the Company’s Board of Directors (the
“Board”) or an
appointee of the Board in connection with the conduct of the Company’s business
as well as those duties which are normally and customarily vested in the office
of Vice-President of Technology of a
corporation. The Executive shall perform his duties at such place(s)
as designated by the Company and may be required to travel in order to fulfill
such duties, as determined by the Company.
2.
Compensation.
Base
Salary. The Executive shall be paid a base salary (“Base Salary”) during
the Term at the annual rate of one hundred thousand dollars
($100,000.00). The Executive’s base salary may be increased, but in
no event may Executive’s base salary be reduced during the Term. The
Executive shall receive a guaranteed minimum five percent (5%) increase in his
then current Base Salary, on an annual basis. The Executive’s Base
Salary shall be payable in accordance with the Company’s normal payroll
practices established by the Company with respect to its senior executive
employees, as in effect from time to time, and such payment shall be subject to
applicable withholdings. On the third anniversary of this Agreement,
the Company agrees to evaluate the Executive’s Base Salary in light of then
market conditions and, if below market, to increase the Base Salary
commensurate with the marketplace (any such increase to be determined
by the Board) and shall be increased thereafter as determined by the
compensation policies of the Company applicable to its senior executive
employees.
3.
Other
Employment Benefits.
(a) Business
Expenses. Upon submission of itemized expense statements, in
the manner as shall be specified by the Company, the Executive shall be entitled
to reimbursement for reasonable business and travel expenses duly incurred by
the Executive in the performance of his duties under this Agreement, pursuant to
the Company policy and any relevant policies established by the
Board.
(b) Savings and Retirement
Plans. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in any saving and retirement plans, policies and programs that are
available generally to similarly situated executives of AGI and such benefits
shall be provided by AGI. However, nothing in this Agreement shall
preclude the Company or AGI from amending any such plan or program from time to
time.
(c) Health & Welfare Benefit
Plans. During the Term, the Executive shall be entitled to
participate in health and welfare benefit plans, policies and programs
(including, if applicable, medical, dental, disability, employee life, group
life and accidental death insurance plans and programs) to the same extent as
similarly situated executives of AGI and such benefits shall be provided by
AGI. However, nothing in this Agreement shall preclude the Company or
AGI from amending any employee benefit plan or program from time to
time.
(d) Vacation. The
Executive shall be entitled to twenty (20) business days of vacation each year
during the Term, during which time Executive’s compensation shall be paid in
full. Executive shall also be entitled to an additional ten (10)
business days of previously accrued vacation during the first calendar year of
the Term. Executive’s vacation allowance shall be applied and
extended under the same terms and conditions as are generally applicable to
other senior executive employees of Company. Executive will also
receive other leave benefits, consistent with the vacation and leave benefit
policies established by the Company for its senior executive
employees.
2
4.
Termination of
Employment.
(a) Death or
Disability. If the Executive dies during the Term, the
Executive’s employment shall be deemed to terminate the date of the Executive’s
death. If the Executive is incapacitated or disabled by accident,
sickness or otherwise so as to render him mentally or physically incapable of
fully performing the essential functions of his position with reasonable
accommodation for a period of more than three (3) months or more during any
twelve (12) month period, the Company, in its reasonable discretion, may
terminate the Executive’s employment due to “Disability” by providing written
notice of such termination to the Executive. A termination of the
Executive’s employment, and the Term, by either the Executive or the Company,
for Disability shall be communicated to the other Party by written notice, and
shall be effective the thirtieth (30th) day
after receipt of such notice of Disability by the other Party.
(b) For
Cause. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the
Company may terminate the Executive’s employment hereunder “for Cause” for any
one of the following reasons: (i) the Executive’s conviction, pleading guilty or
no contest with respect to a felony or a misdemeanor involving dishonesty or
moral turpitude or where imprisonment is imposed, (ii) the Executive’s
commission of any act of theft, fraud, dishonesty, or falsification of any
employment or Company records, (iii) the Executive’s engagement in misconduct
that is materially detrimental to the Company’s reputation or business, as
determined by the Board in its sole discretion, (iv) upon written notice to the
Executive of the Executive’s insubordination or the Executive’s refusal without
proper legal reason to substantially perform the duties and responsibilities
required of the Executive, other than by reason of mental or physical illness or
incapacity, and the Executive’s failure to cure such insubordination or to
perform such duties and responsibilities, as determined by the Board in its sole
discretion, within five (5) days of the date of such notice, or (v) upon written
notice to the Executive of any breach by the Executive of any material term of
this Agreement, the Non-Compete Agreement and/or of the Executive’s fiduciary
duties to the Company and the Executive’s failure to cure such breach within ten
(10) days of the date of such notice (to the extent curable), as determined by
the Board in its sole discretion.
(c) Without
Cause. The Company may also terminate the Executive’s
employment hereunder without cause at any time for any reason or for no reason
immediately by written notice to the Executive. The Date of
Termination shall be the date on which the Executive’s notice becomes effective
in accordance Paragraph 9(h), below.
(d) Voluntary
Termination. The Executive may terminate the Term and his
employment hereunder without Cause or without Good Reason at any time by
providing the Company with ninety (90) days written notice of his
resignation. Any termination of the employment of the Executive
hereunder by resignation (or other voluntary action of the Executive), or by the
Executive’s or Company’s decision not to extend the Term for any of the Renewal
Periods (as outlined in Paragraph 1(a)), shall be deemed to be a “Voluntary
Termination.”
3
(e) Termination by Executive for
Good Reason. Executive may terminate the Employment Period
upon thirty (30) days prior written notice to Company of any event constituting
“Good Reason” as defined herein. The term “Good Reason” means
the occurrence of any of the following, without the prior written consent of the
Executive: (i) assignment of the Executive to duties materially
inconsistent with the Executive’s position as described in Paragraph 1 hereof,
or any significant diminution in the Executive’s duties or responsibilities or
change of Executive’s job title; or (ii) any material breach of this Agreement
by the Company and the Company fails to cure such conduct or event within thirty
(30) days of receipt of notice from the Executive; or (iii) a material reduction
in Executive’s compensation, executive perquisites or other employee benefits;
or (iv) fraud on the part of the Company.
(f) Payments Upon
Termination. If the Term is terminated by the Company for or
without Cause, by Voluntary Termination, for Good Reason by the Executive, by
the Executive’s Death, or by the Company or the Executive due to the Executive’s
Disability, the Company shall promptly pay or provide to the Executive, or his
estate, (i) the Executive’s earned but unpaid Base Salary accrued through such
date of termination, (ii) accrued, but unpaid, vacation time through such date
of termination, (iii) reimbursement of any business expenses incurred by the
Executive prior to the date of termination that are reimbursable under Paragraph
3(a) above, (iv) any vested payable and unpaid deferred compensation; and (v)
any vested benefits and other amounts due to the Executive under any plan,
program, policy of, or other agreement with, the Company. Subsections (i) to (iv),
above, are referred to together as the “Accrued
Obligations”.
If the
Term is terminated by the Company without Cause, for Good Reason by Executive,
by Executive’ Death, or by Company or Executive as a result of Executive’s
Disability, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, the Executive, or his
estate, shall receive (i) an amount equal to the projected cost of Executive’s
medical insurance under COBRA for the eighteen (18) month period immediately
following the termination; ; (ii) all of Executive’s unvested stock options and
stock grants, fully vested upon the date that the termination becomes effective.
The Executive hereby acknowledges that the benefits provided in this Section
4(f) constitute the sole and exclusive remedy upon termination of his employment pursuant to
this Paragraph 4(f).
If the
Term is terminated by the Company without Cause, for Good Reason by Executive,
by Executive’ Death, or by Company or Executive as a result of Executive’s
Disability, in addition to the Accrued Obligations, and only in exchange for the
execution and delivery of a general release of all claims against the Company
and its related individuals and entities and their personnel, the Executive, or
his estate, shall receive: (i) (A) if Executive’s employment terminates during
the Initial Term, the unpaid Base Salary due for remainder of the Initial Term
which remains unpaid at the date of termination of Executive’s employment, or
(B) if Executive’s employment terminates during any Renewal Period, the unpaid
Base Salary due for the remainder of the Renewal Period then in effect which
remains unpaid at the date of termination of Executive’s employment; and (ii) an
amount equal to the projected costs of Executive’s medical insurance under COBRA
for a period of ninety (90) days (collectively, “Severance”). The
Executive hereby acknowledges that Severance is the sole and exclusive remedy
upon termination of his employment pursuant to
this Paragraph 4(f).
4
5.
The Executive’s Duties Upon
Termination
(a) Cooperation. After
notice of termination, the Executive shall , at the Company’s expense and
subject to the Executive’s professional availability, cooperate with the
Company, as reasonably requested by the Company, to effect a transition of the
Executive’s responsibilities and to ensure that the Company is aware of all
matters being handled by the Executive.
(b) Return of Company
Property. Promptly after the termination of the Executive’s
employment under this Agreement for any reason, the Executive will return all
Company property in the Executive’s possession to the Company.
(c) Resignation of
Office. On the termination of the Executive’s employment for
whatever reason, the Executive agrees that the Executive shall resign all
offices held by the Executive in the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company.
6.
Non-Compete
Agreement. The Non-Compete Agreement entered into by the
Executive in conjunction with the SPA is incorporated herein by this reference
as if set forth in full. The Executive hereby acknowledges and
reaffirms his obligations contained in the Non-Compete Agreement, including
those obligations which survive termination of employment.
7.
Assignment and
Transfer. The Executive’s rights and obligations under this
Agreement shall not be transferable by assignment or otherwise, and any
purported assignment, transfer or delegation thereof shall be
void. This Agreement shall be assignable by the Company without the
consent of the Executive and inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon and
enforceable by, any purchaser of substantially all of Company’s assets, any
corporate successor to the Company or any assignee thereof.
8.
No Inconsistent
Obligations. This Agreement and the Non-Compete Agreement
shall represent the sole agreement with the Company as to the subject matter
herein, and the Executive has no obligations or encumbrances, legal or
otherwise, inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement or the Non-Compete
Agreement or with the Executive undertaking employment with the Company or
fulfilling the duties contemplated by this Agreement. The Executive
represents and warrants that the Executive has the right and power to enter into
this Agreement, to perform the Executive’s obligations hereunder and by entering
into this Agreement and performing the Executive’s obligations hereunder the
Executive is not in conflict with any agreement with any third
party. The Company represents and warrants that the Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to perform its obligations hereunder.
5
9.
Miscellaneous.
(a)
Survival. The
provisions of this Agreement, including, without limitation Paragraph 6
(Non-Compete Agreement) and Paragraph 9(c) (Arbitration) contained herein shall
survive the termination of employment.
(b)
Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the state in which Executive performs his services
for the Company.
(c)
Arbitration
. Except for claims under the National Labor Relations Act,
claims for workers compensation, claims for unemployment insurance, claims
before governmental administrative bodies, or as otherwise required by
applicable law, the Executive and the Company agree that any dispute regarding
this Agreement or the Executive’s relationship with Company will be submitted to
binding arbitration before a neutral arbitrator subject to rules Employment
Arbitration Rules and Mediation Procedures of the American Arbitration
Association. Such disputes include, without limitation, any claims
under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, California’s Fair Employment and
Housing Act, the Family Medical Leave Act, the California Family Rights Act, and
related Washington state provisions, including Chapter 49.60 of the Revised Code
of Washington. The Arbitrator may award all damages authorized by
law, including where authorized by statute or contract, reasonable attorneys’
fees. The Parties agree to file any demand for arbitration within the
time limit established by the applicable statute of limitations. The
award of the Arbitrator shall be in writing and shall set forth the basis for
his or her decision. Fees of the Arbitrator shall be paid by the
Company as required by applicable law. The Parties agree to keep the
fact of arbitration, and any decision thereto, confidential and shall execute
all documents necessary to maintain such confidentiality, including execution of
a protective order. THE PARTIES UNDERSTAND AND AGREE THAT THEY ARE WAIVING THEIR
RIGHTS TO BRING SUCH CLAIMS TO COURT, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO A TRIAL IN A COURT
OF LAW.
(d) Amendment. This
Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed by the Executive and by a duly
authorized representative of the Company (other than the
Executive).
(e)
Severability. If any
term, provision, covenant or condition of this Agreement is held by a court of
competent jurisdiction, or arbitrator(s), as applicable, to exceed the
limitations permitted by applicable law, as determined by such court or
arbitrator(s) in such action, then the provisions will be deemed reformed or
blue penciled to the maximum limitations permitted by applicable law and the
Parties hereby expressly acknowledge their desire that, in such event, such
action be taken. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and
Executive further agree that if any term, provision, covenant or condition of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction, or arbitrator(s) to
be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions shall remain
in full force and effect and in no way shall be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
(f)
Construction. The
headings and captions of this Agreement are provided for convenience only and
are intended to have no effect in construing or interpreting this Agreement. The
language in all parts of this Agreement shall be in all cases construed
according to its fair meaning and not strictly for or against the Company or the
Executive.
6
(g)
Nonwaiver. No failure
or neglect of either Party hereto in any instance to exercise any right, power
or privilege hereunder or under law shall constitute a waiver of any other
right, power or privilege or of the same right, power or privilege in any other
instance. All waivers by either Party hereto must be contained in a written
instrument signed by the Party to be charged and, in the case of the Company, by
an officer of the Company (other than the Executive) or other person duly
authorized by the Company.
(h)
Notices. All notices,
requests, demands, claims and other communications hereunder will be in
writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication
hereunder will be deemed duly given if and when sent by registered or certified
mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended
recipient as set forth below:
If to the
Executive:
[Address]
Attn:
Tel:
Fax:
If to
Company:
c/o
Ambassadors Group, Inc.
0000
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Attn:
Tel:
Fax:
Any Party
may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication hereunder to
the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any other means,
including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service, telecopy,
telex, ordinary mail, or electronic mail or by facsimile (if such facsimile is
followed by a hard copy of the email or facsimile communication sent promptly
thereafter by a nationally recognized courier service (which provides proof of
delivery) or registered or certified mail (postage and charges
prepaid)). Any Party may change the address to which notices,
requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder are to be
delivered by giving the other Party notice in the manner herein set
forth.
(i)
Assistance
in Litigation. The Executive shall, during employment furnish
such information and proper assistance to the Company as may reasonably be
required by the Company in connection with any litigation in which it or any of
its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a party. Following
termination of employment, Executive may, if permitted by Executive’s then
employer, or subject to Executive’s then professional availability, furnish such
information and assistance to the Company in connection with any litigation in
which Company or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates is, or may become, a
party; provided, however, that the
Company pays Executive such compensation, fees and expenses as may be mutually
agreed upon by Executive and the Company.
7
(j)
Executive
Acknowledgment. The Executive hereby acknowledges that he has had the
option to consult legal counsel in regard to this Agreement, that he has read
and understands this Agreement, that he is fully aware of its legal effect, and
the he has entered into it freely and voluntarily and based on his own judgment
and not on any representations or promises other than those contained in this
Agreement. Further, the Executive hereby agrees to abide by all
federal, state, and local laws, ordinances and regulations.
(k)
Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the Parties in
separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to
this Agreement, or any other document or agreement to be executed in connection
herewith by facsimile shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of any such agreement or document.
(l)
Entire
Agreement. This Agreement, the SPA (including without limitation the
schedules and attachments to the SPA executed and delivered in connection
therewith) and the Non-Compete Agreement contain the entire agreement and
understanding between the Parties and supersedes any prior or contemporaneous
written or oral agreements, representations and warranties between them
respecting the subject matter hereof
[SIGNATURE PAGE
FOLLOWS].
8
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the
date set forth above.
The
Company:
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BookRags,
Inc.
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Date:
|
By:
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Name:
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Title:
|
Executive:
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Date:
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Signature:
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|
|||||
(Address)
|
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT SIGNATURE PAGE
EXHIBIT
B
Form
of Non-compete Agreement – Executives
EXECUTION
COPY
NONCOMPETITION,
NONSOLICITATION
AND
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AGREEMENT
THIS NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION
AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is
entered into on May ______, 2008 between BookRags, Inc. (the “Company”) and
________________ (the “Executive”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
this Agreement is entered into concurrently with the Stock Purchase Agreement,
dated May_____, 2008 (“SPA”), by and among
the Company, Executive, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, in
her capacity as the Executrix of the Estate of Xxx. X. Xxxxxxx, and Ambassadors
Group, Inc. (“AGI”), pursuant to
which AGI shall acquire the business of the Company through the purchase of all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company. The
Executive is an owner, founder and officer of the Company and, pursuant to the
SPA, the Executive will receive certain benefits as a result of the purchase of
the Company by AGI. The Company further wishes to employ the
Executive in order to promote the business of the Company and will therefore
enter into a three (3) year employment agreement with the Executive so as to
promote the business of the Company. The Company and AGI, as well as
all of their past, current and future parents, subsidiaries, divisions and
affiliates, are collectively referred to herein as the “Companies”.
WHEREAS,
the Companies have Confidential Information (as defined below) and Trade Secrets
(as defined below) which they wish to safeguard and keep
confidential.
WHEREAS,
the Companies have strong relationships with business partners, and are using,
and will use, various marketing efforts to develop valuable relationships with
these business partners and others, all of which have been and are being
accomplished through the expenditure of extensive time, effort and resources and
which they wish to maintain.
WHEREAS,
the Companies have hired, trained and developed an unusual and extraordinary
workforce through the expenditure of extensive time, effort and resources and
which they wish to retain.
WHEREAS,
the Executive acknowledges that entering into this Agreement is a material
condition to execution of, and consummation of the transactions contemplated by,
the SPA.
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the Executive’s employment by the Company, as
well as the resultant benefits to the Executive from the purchase of the Company
by AGI, the Executive and the Company agree as follows:
1.
Noncompetition. The
Executive acknowledges and agrees that he has received and shall continue to
receive valuable Confidential Information and Trade Secrets of the Companies and
exposure to key suppliers and service providers of the
Companies. Accordingly, because of the Executive’s access to, and
knowledge of, the Companies’ Confidential Information and Trade Secrets and key
suppliers, service providers and customers, as well as the Executive’s position
within the Companies, the Executive would be in a unique position to divert
business from the Companies and to commit irreparable damage to the Companies
were the Executive to be allowed to compete with the Companies or to commit any
of the other acts prohibited below.
The
Executive therefore agrees that the Executive shall not, during his employment
with any of the Companies and for the Noncompete Period (as defined below),
directly or indirectly, own, organize, consult with, be employed by, advise, be
a stockholder, partner of or joint venturer with, be a director or managing
member of, or otherwise assist or provide services to, any Competitor (as
defined below) within the Restricted Area (as defined below) except to the
extent the Executive is acting on behalf of any of the Companies or in
furtherance of the any of the Companies’ interests. The Executive
further agrees that, during the Executive’s employment and for the Noncompete
Period, the Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, purchase any equity
securities of any corporation or other business (other than as a stockholder or
beneficial owner directly or indirectly owning one percent (1%) or less of the
outstanding securities of a public company) which is a Competitor, without the
prior written consent of the Company.
2.
Nonsolicitation of
Employees. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the
Companies have expended and will continue to expend significant time, effort and
resources in the hiring, training and development of an unusual and
extraordinary workforce whose identities and abilities the Executive would not
know of or learn but for his relationship with the Companies. The
Executive therefore agrees that, during his employment with any of the Companies
and for the Nonsolicitation Period, the Executive shall not, directly or
indirectly, (a) solicit, or attempt to solicit, any employee of or consultant to
the Companies to work for, contract with, become a partner with or otherwise be
retained by any Competitor of the Companies; (b) assist or advise any such
Competitor in hiring, employing, retaining or soliciting such employees or
consultants; or (c) encourage any such employee or consultant to be hired,
employed, retained or solicited by any Competitor.
3.
Nonsolicitation of
Customers. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that he
possesses and will continue to receive valuable Confidential Information and
Trade Secrets of the Companies and exposure to customers and potential customers
of the Companies. The Executive therefore agrees that, during his
employment with any of the Companies and for the Nonsolicitation Period, the
Executive shall not, directly or indirectly, solicit any customers or potential
customers of any of the Companies with whom the Executive had contact with or
about whom the Executive learned information during the Executive’s employment
with any of the Companies on behalf of any Competitor.
4.
Nonsolicitation of Suppliers and
Service Providers. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that
the Executive has received and shall continue to receive valuable Confidential
Information and Trade Secrets of the Companies with respect to their
relationships with their suppliers and service providers and that the ability to
acquire services from such suppliers and service providers is
limited. Accordingly, such relationships constitute valuable assets
of the Companies. The Executive therefore agrees that, during his
employment with any of the Companies and for the Nonsolicitation Period, the
Executive shall not use any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets to,
directly or indirectly, solicit any suppliers or service providers with whom the
Executive had contact with or about whom the Executive learned information
during the Executive’s employment with any of the Companies on behalf of any
Competitor.
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5.
Non-disparagement. Executive
agrees during his employment, and subsequent to termination for any reason, he
shall not disparage the Companies, including, without limitation, their
employees, directors, officers, agents, stockholders or products, services or
programs to any person or entity, including, without limitation, any current,
former or future customer, supplier or service provider. The
Companies agree not to, and will direct their officers and directors not to,
disparage Executive or the performance or the services he rendered to the
Companies.
6.
Confidentiality of
Information. The Executive acknowledges and agrees that the
Executive has been and shall be exposed to the Companies’ Confidential
Information and Trade Secrets. The Executive agrees to keep all such
information strictly confidential at all times. Except as required by
the Executive’s duties for any of the Companies or by virtue of a subpoena or
other court order applicable to the Executive, the Executive agrees not to make
use or disclose any Confidential Information or Trade Secrets to any person,
company, firm, organization or other entity, or encourage any such person,
company, firm, organization or other entity to make use of such Confidential
Information or Trade Secrets. However, should the Executive receive
any such subpoena or court order which may require disclosure of Trade Secrets
or Confidential Information, the Executive will immediately disclose such
subpoena or court order to Company so that it may interpose any objection it may
have.
7.
Return
of Documents and Electronic Media. At the termination of the
Executive’s employment with any of the Companies, the Executive agrees to
promptly return to the Company all property of the Companies, including any and
all documents and other tangible information and data, regardless of the form in
which it is recorded, as well as any and all copies and reproductions of such
documents or other tangible information and data (regardless of the form of such
copies or reproductions), which the Executive (i) received or obtained from or
on behalf of any of the Companies, or (ii) prepared, compiled or collected while
employed by any of the Companies. The Executive specifically agrees
not to retain any copies of any Confidential Information or Trade
Secrets.
8.
Ownership of Work
Product. All work product, data, documentation, information or
materials conceived, discovered, developed or created by the Executive in the
course of the Executive’s work for any of the Companies (collectively, the
“Work Product”)
shall be owned exclusively by the Companies. To the greatest extent
possible, any Work Product shall be deemed to be a “work made for hire” (as
defined in the United States Copyright Act, 17 U.S.C.A. §101 et seq., as amended) and
owned exclusively by the Company. The Executive hereby
unconditionally and irrevocably transfers and assigns to the Companies all
right, title and interest in or to any such Work Product. The
Companies and the Executive acknowledge that, pursuant to Wash. Rev. Code §
49.44.140(e), any provision in this Agreement requiring Employee to assign his
rights in any Work Product does not apply to an invention for which no
equipment, supplies, facility, or trade secret information of the employer was
used and which was developed entirely on the employee’s own time, unless (a) the
invention relates (i) directly to the business of the employer, or (ii) to the
employer’s actual or demonstrably anticipated research or development, or (b)
the invention results from any work performed by the employee for the
employer.
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9.
Definitions.
(a)
A “Competitor,” as used
herein, shall mean any person (including Executive), company (except the
Companies), firm, organization or other entity which is in the business being
conducted, or proposed to be conducted, by any of the Companies, including,
without limitation, (i) the development, marketing, organizing, operation or
conducting of student and professional educational tours; or (ii) research or
compilation, via the internet, worldwide web, or otherwise, of literature
summaries, biographies, literary criticisms, essays, encyclopedias, e-Books or
education databases.
(b)
The term “Trade Secrets” shall
be given its broadest possible interpretation and shall mean any and all
documents, information or other data (whether recorded or otherwise) (as defined
below), which concerns any of the Companies or their business and which (i)
derives independent economic value, actual or potential, from not being
generally known to the public or to other persons who can obtain economic value
from its disclosure or use, and (ii) is the subject of efforts that are
reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy. Such
Trade Secrets include, without limitation, information related to any of the
Companies’ customers and potential customers (including, without limitation,
students and educational institutions), customer preferences and habits,
suppliers, partners, service providers, research methodology, internet search
programs and methodology, databases, marketing plans, advertising, contracts,
potential contracts, training plans, strategies, forecasts, pricing, methods,
practices, techniques, business plans, financial plans, research plans,
advertising plans, development plans, purchasing plans, accounting, programming
or tour development.
(c)
The term “Confidential
Information” shall also be given its broadest possible interpretation and
shall mean any and all information disclosed or made available by any of the
Companies to the Executive, including, without limitation, any information which
is not publicly known or available upon which any of the Companies’ business or
success depends.
(d)
“Noncompete Period”
shall be a period of three (3) years from the last date on which Executive is
employed by any of the Companies, regardless of the reason for termination of
such employment.
(e)
“Nonsolicitation
Period” shall be a period of three (3) years from the last date on which
Executive is employed by any of the Companies, regardless of the reason for
termination of such employment.
(f)
“Restricted Area”
shall be any state, province, territory or foreign country in which any of the
Companies, or their subsidiaries and/or affiliates, markets, sells or
distributes their products or services.
10. Injunctive
Relief. The Executive understands and agrees that any
violation of this Agreement may cause immediate and irreparable harm to the
Companies, the exact extent of which may be difficult to ascertain, and that the
remedies at law for any such violation may not adequately compensate the
Companies. Therefore, the Executive agrees that, in addition to such
other damages or remedies that may be available, the Companies shall be entitled
to specific performance and/or immediate, preliminary and permanent injunctive
relief for any violations of this Agreement and for such purposes, the Executive
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of the United States District Court and
State Courts of the State of Washington. The Company shall be
entitled to such relief without the necessity of proving actual damages or
posting a bond.
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11. Arbitration. Except
as set forth in Section 10 above, any controversy relating to this Agreement
shall be settled by binding arbitration according to the applicable employment
dispute resolution rules of the American Arbitration Association in Spokane,
Washington. To the extent required by law, the Company agrees to pay
all costs, including the arbitrator’s fees, which are peculiar to the
arbitration process. The parties agree to keep the fact of
arbitration, and any decision thereto, confidential and shall execute all
documents necessary to maintain such confidentiality, including execution of a
protective order. The prevailing party shall be awarded his/its
costs, unless otherwise prohibited by applicable law.
12. Governing Law. This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of Washington, without reference to principles of conflict of
laws.
13. Assignment. The
Executive shall not assign, sell, transfer, delegate or otherwise dispose of any
rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of
the Company. The Company may assign its rights under this Agreement
without the Executive’s consent.
14. Voluntary
Agreement. The Executive expressly acknowledges that the
Executive has voluntarily executed this Agreement and that the Executive has had
the opportunity to be represented and advised by counsel concerning the terms
and conditions of this Agreement as well as the Executive’s execution
thereof.
15. Entire Agreement; Waivers;
Modification. This Agreement, and the SPA, including without
limitation the schedules and attachments to the SPA executed and delivered in
connection therewith, are intended by the
parties to be the complete, exclusive and final expression of the Company’s and
the Executive’s agreement with respect to the subject matter hereof and
supersedes, and may not be contradicted by, or modified or supplemented by,
evidence of any prior or contemporaneous agreement as to the subject matter
hereof, and no extrinsic evidence whatsoever may be introduced to vary the terms
of this Agreement. No waiver of any of the provisions of this
Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances, shall
be deemed or construed as a further, continuing or subsequent waiver of any such
provision or as a waiver of any other provision of this Agreement. No
failure to exercise and no delay in exercising any right, remedy or power
hereunder shall preclude any other or further exercise of any other right,
remedy or power provided herein or by law or in equity. The Company
and the Executive expressly agree that (i) this Agreement shall survive any
termination or cessation of the Executive’s employment by any of the Companies
or by the Executive, and (ii) this Agreement may not be altered, amended,
changed, terminated or modified in any respect except by a written instrument
clearly expressing the intent to so modify this Agreement signed by the
Executive and an officer or director of the Company.
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16. Severability. If
any term, provision, covenant or condition of this Agreement is held by a court
of competent jurisdiction, or arbitrator(s), as applicable, to exceed the
limitations permitted by applicable law, as determined by such court or
arbitrator(s) in such action, then the provisions will be deemed reformed or
blue penciled to the maximum limitations permitted by applicable law and the
parties hereby expressly acknowledge their desire that, in such event, such
action be taken. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and
Employee further agree that if any term, provision, covenant or condition of
this Agreement is held by a court of competent jurisdiction, or arbitrator(s) to
be invalid, void or unenforceable, the remainder of the provisions shall remain
in full force and effect and in no way shall be affected, impaired or
invalidated.
17. Descriptive
Headings. Descriptive headings contained herein are for
reference only and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope of this
Agreement or any provisions thereof.
18. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the parties in
separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same
agreement. Delivery of an executed counterpart of a signature page to
this Agreement, or any other document or agreement to be executed in connection
herewith by facsimile shall be as effective as delivery of a manually executed
counterpart of any such agreement or document.
[SIGNATURE
PAGE FOLLOWS]
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EXECUTION COPY
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of the date
first above written.
The
Company:
|
|||||
BookRags,
Inc.
|
|||||
Date: |
|
By:
|
|||
Name:
|
|||||
|
|||||
Title:
|
Executive:
|
|||||
Date:
|
Signature:
|
||||
|
|||||
Print
Name:
|
|||||
(Address)
|
SIGNATURE PAGE
TO NONCOMPETITION, NONSOLICITATION AND CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AGREEMENT