AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Exhibit
2.1
THIS
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
(this
“AGREEMENT”) is made and entered into as of July 16, 2007, by and among Atlantic
Syndication Network, Inc. a Nevada corporation (the “PARENT”), ASNI II, INC., a
Delaware corporation (the “MERGER SUB”) and ZEALOUS HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “COMPANY”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement without
definition shall have the meanings set forth or referenced in ARTICLE VIII.
W
I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS,
the
Shareholders are collectively the beneficial and record owners of all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company, comprised of Five Million
(5,000,000) shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per
share; Eight Hundred Seventy-Two Thousand Five-Hundred (872,500) shares of
Class
B common stock with a par value of $0.0001; and Two Hundred Sixty Thousand
Two
Hundred Sixteen (260,216) shares of Preferred Stock with a par value of $0.0001
per share (collectively, the “COMPANY SHARES”); and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub have (i) determined that the
Merger is advisable and fair to, and in the best interest of, Parent and its
stockholders, and (ii) approved this Agreement, the Amendment and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger; and
WHEREAS,
the Board of Directors of the Company have (i) determined that the Merger is
advisable and fair to, and in the best interest of, the Company and its
stockholders, and (ii) approved this Agreement and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger.; and
WHEREAS,
Concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, and as a condition and
inducement to the Company's willingness to enter into this Agreement, certain
current executive officers and all members of the Board of Directors of Parent
are entering into voting agreements and irrevocable proxies in substantially
the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Parent Voting Agreements").
WHEREAS,
The Board of Directors of the Parent has resolved to recommend that the
stockholders of the Company adopt this Agreement in accordance with Nevada
corporate law;
WHEREAS
Parent, as the sole stockholder of Merger Sub, has adopted this Agreement;
WHEREAS
The Board of Directors of Parent has resolved to recommend to its shareholders
the approval of (i) the increase in the number of authorized shares of the
Parent and (ii) the designation of convertible preferred stock to be issued
in
connection with the Merger.
WHEREAS,
for
Federal income tax purposes it is intended that the Merger qualify as a
“reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended (the “CODE”); and
WHEREAS,
the
Parent, Merger Sub, and the Company desire to make certain representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and also
to
prescribe various conditions to the Merger;
NOW,
THEREFORE,
in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements herein contained, and
for
other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which
are
hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
MERGER
1.1 THE
MERGER.
On the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in
accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Company
shall be merged with and into Merger Sub at the Effective Time. At the Effective
Time and as a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of the
Company shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving entity (the
“SURVIVING ENTITY”). The Merger, the Parent Stockholder Approval, the issuance
by the Parent of shares of convertible preferred stock of the Parent, par value
$.01 per share, (the “PARENT PREFERRED STOCK,”or the “PARENT COMPANY SHARES”) in
connection with the Merger (the “SHARE ISSUANCE”) and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement are referred to in this Agreement as the
“TRANSACTIONS.”
1.2 CLOSING.
The
closing (the “CLOSING”) of the Merger shall take place at the offices of Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, 000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
at 10:00
a.m., Eastern Daylight Time, on the third (3rd) Business Day following the
satisfaction (or, to the extent permitted by Law, waiver by the party or parties
entitled to the benefits thereof) of the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1
and 5.2 (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied
at
the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions),
or
at such other place, time and date as shall be agreed in writing by the Parent
and the Company. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this
Agreement as the “CLOSING DATE.”
1.3 EFFECTIVE
TIME. Prior to the Closing, the Parent shall prepare, and on the Closing Date,
the Surviving Entity shall file with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, a certificate of merger or other appropriate documents (in any such
case, the “CERTIFICATE OF MERGER”) executed in accordance with the relevant
provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required
under the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective at such time as the
Certificate of Merger is duly filed with such Secretary of State on the Closing
Date, or at such later time as the Parent and the Company shall agree and
specify in the Certificate of Merger (the time the Merger becomes effective
being the “EFFECTIVE TIME”).
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1.4 EFFECT
OF THE
MERGER. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided
herein and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL, including Sections 251,
259, 260 and 261 of the DGCL.
1.5 ARTICLES
OF
INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS.
(a) The
articles
of incorporation of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall be the articles of incorporation of the Surviving Entity until
thereafter changed or amended as provided therein or by the DGCL or applicable
Law.
(b) The
by-laws
of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall
be
the by-laws of the Surviving Entity until thereafter changed or amended as
provided therein or by applicable Law.
1.6 DIRECTORS.
The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the
directors of the Surviving Entity, until the earlier of their resignation or
removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified,
as
the case may be.
1.7 OFFICERS.
The
officers of the Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
the
officers of the Surviving Entity, until the earlier of their resignation or
removal or until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed
and
qualified, as the case may be.
ARTICLE
II
EFFECT
ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS; EXCHANGE OF
CERTIFICATES
2.1 EFFECT
ON
CAPITAL STOCK. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holder of any Company Shares or any shares of capital
stock of Merger Sub:
(a) CAPITAL
STOCK
OF MERGER SUB. Each issued and outstanding share of capital stock of Merger
Sub
shall continue to be issued and outstanding and shall constitute the only issued
and outstanding shares of the Surviving Entity.
(b) CANCELLATION
OF TREASURY STOCK AND PARENT-OWNED STOCK. Each Company Share that is owned
by
the Company, Parent or Merger Sub (or any direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent or Merger Sub) shall no longer be outstanding and shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and no cash,
Parent Company Shares or other consideration shall be delivered or deliverable
in exchange therefore.
(c) CONVERSION
OF
COMPANY SHARES.
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(1) Each
issued
and outstanding Company Share outstanding prior to the Effective Time shall
be
converted into the right to receive 0.081530
shares of Parent Preferred Stock as
the“MERGER
CONSIDERATION,”
with
each share of Parent Preferred Stock being convertible at anytime after the
Effective Time into 906.6 shares of Parent Common Stock; based on the ratio
of
currently issued and outstanding Company Shares over 500,000 shares of Parent
Preferred Stock proposed to be issued in connection with the
Merger.
(2) As
of the
Effective Time, all such Company Shares shall no longer be outstanding and
shall
automatically be canceled and retired and shall cease to exist, and each holder
of a certificate representing any such Company Shares shall cease to have any
rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive Merger Consideration
upon surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.2.
(3) DISSENTERS
RIGHTS. For purposes of this Agreement, “Dissenting Shares” means Company Shares
held as of the Effective Time by a Shareholder who has not voted such Company
Shares in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and with
respect to which appraisal shall have been duly demanded and perfected in
accordance with Section 262 of the GCL and not effectively withdrawn or
forfeited prior to the Effective Time. Dissenting Shares shall not be converted
into or represent the right to receive shares of Parent Company Shares unless
such Shareholder’s right to appraisal shall have ceased in accordance with
Section 262 of the GCL. If such Shareholder has so forfeited or withdrawn his,
her or its right to appraisal of Dissenting Shares, then, (i) as of the
occurrence of such event, such holder’s Dissenting Shares shall cease to be
Dissenting Shares and shall be converted into and represent the right to receive
the Merger Shares issuable in respect of such Company Shares promptly
following the occurrence of such event, the Parent shall deliver to such
Shareholder a certificate representing the Merger Shares to which such holder
is
entitled.
(d) The
Company shall give the Parent prompt notice of any written demands for appraisal
of any Company Shares, withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments
that relate to such demands received by the Company. The Company shall not,
except with the prior written consent of the Parent, make any payment with
respect to any demands for appraisal of Company Shares or offer to settle or
settle any such demands.
2.2 EXCHANGE
OF
CERTIFICATES.
(a) EXCHANGE
AGENT. Xxxxx Garneau LLP shall serve as Exchange Agent (the “EXCHANGE AGENT”)
for payment of Merger Consideration upon surrender of certificates representing
Company Shares. Promptly following the Effective Time, Parent shall reserve
and/or deposit with the Exchange Agent, for the benefit of the holders of
Company Shares, for exchange in accordance with this Article II, through the
Exchange Agent: certificates representing the number of shares of Parent Company
Shares issuable and pursuant to Section 2.1(c) in exchange for outstanding
Company Shares. The Exchange Agent shall, pursuant to irrevocable instructions,
deliver the Merger Consideration contemplated to be issued pursuant to Section
2.1.
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(b) EXCHANGE
PROCEDURES. As soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, each
holder of record of a certificate or certificates (the “CERTIFICATES”) that,
immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding Company Shares
whose shares were converted into the right to receive Merger Consideration
pursuant to Section 2.1(c) shall surrender such holder's Certificate for
cancellation to the Company and/or the Exchange Agent (or to such other agent
or
agents as may be appointed by Parent) together with a letter of transmittal
(which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and
title
to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the
Parent and shall be in such form and have such other provisions as Parent may
reasonably specify), duly executed, and such other documents as may reasonably
be required by the Parent or the Exchange Agent, the holder of such Certificate
shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefore the holder's pro rata portion
of the Merger Consideration, into which the aggregate number of Company Shares
previously represented by such Certificate shall have been converted pursuant
to
Section 2.1(c), and the Certificate so surrendered shall forthwith be canceled.
Thereafter, such holder shall be treated as a holder of Parent Company Shares
for purposes of voting or quorum for any meeting of the stockholders of Company.
In the event of a transfer of ownership of Company Shares that is not registered
in the transfer records of the Company, payment may be made to a person other
than the person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered,
if
such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or otherwise be in proper form
for
transfer and the person requesting such payment shall pay any transfer or other
taxes required by reason of the payment to a person other than the registered
holder of such Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of Parent that
such
tax has been paid or is not applicable. Until surrendered as contemplated by
this Section 2.2, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the
Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the
Merger Consideration into which the Company Shares theretofore represented
by
such Certificate have been converted pursuant to Section 2.1(c). No interest
shall be paid or accrue on any cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate.
(c) FRACTIONAL
SHARES. No certificates or scrip representing fractional Parent Company Shares
shall be issued to Company Stockholders on the surrender for exchange of
certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented Company
Shares converted into Merger Shares pursuant to Section 1.5 and such Company
Stockholders shall not be entitled to any voting rights, rights to receive
any
dividends or distributions or other rights as a stockholder of the Parent with
respect to any fractional Parent Company Shares that would have otherwise been
issued to such Shareholder. In lieu of any fractional Parent Company Shares
that
would have otherwise been issued, each former Shareholder that would have been
entitled to receive a fractional Parent Company Share shall, on proper surrender
of such person’s Certificates, receive such whole number of Parent Company
Shares as is equal to the precise number of Company Shares to which such
Shareholder would be entitled, rounded up or down to the nearest whole number
(with a fractional interest equal to 0.5 rounded upward to the nearest whole
number); provided that each such Shareholder shall receive at least one Parent
Company Share.
(d) RESTRICTED
SECURITIES. The Parent Company Shares and any Parent Common Stock converted
from
the Parent Company Shares (i) shall not be registered under the Securities
Act
or any state securities laws, (ii) will be offered and sold in reliance upon
exemptions provided in the Securities Act and state securities laws for
transactions not involving any public offering, and (iii) therefore, shall
constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of the Securities Act and
cannot be resold or transferred unless they are subsequently registered under
the Securities Act and such applicable state securities laws or unless an
exemption from such registration is available.
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(e) INVESTMENT
REPRESENTATION LETTERS. On or before the Closing Date, each of the Shareholders
shall execute and deliver an Investment Representation Letter, in the form
reasonably acceptable to the Company and Parent (the “INVESTOR REPRESENTATION
LETTER”), which shall contains certain representations designed to confirm the
availability to the Parent of the exemption from registration under Rule 506
of
the Securities Act in connection with the issuance of the Parent Company Shares
pursuant to this Agreement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, in the event that any Shareholder (a “DEFAULTING SHAREHOLDER”) is
unable or fails to execute and deliver an Investor Representation Letter in
favor of the Parent, or the Parent has a reasonable basis to believe that the
representations of such Shareholder in the Investor Representation Letter are
not true and correct in any material respects, then the Parent may in its sole
and absolute discretion refuse to issue the Merger Consideration allocable
to
the Defaulting Shareholder.
(f) NO
FURTHER
OWNERSHIP RIGHTS IN COMPANY SHARES. The Merger Consideration paid and/or issued
in accordance with the terms of this Article II upon conversion of any Company
Shares shall be deemed to have been paid and/or issued in full satisfaction
of
all rights pertaining to such Company Shares, subject, however, to the Surviving
Entity's obligation to pay any dividends or make any other distributions with
a
record date prior to the Effective Time that may have been declared or made
by
the Company on such Company Shares in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement or prior to the date of this Agreement and which remain unpaid at
the
Effective Time, and after the Effective Time there shall be no further
registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Entity
of
Company Shares that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
If, after the Effective Time, any Certificates formerly representing Company
Shares are presented to the Surviving Entity or the Exchange Agent for any
reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.
(g) INCOME
TAX
TREATMENT. It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger qualify as
a
“reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. The parties
hereto hereby adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the
meanings of Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the U.S. Treasury Regulations
promulgated under the Code.
2.3 COMPANY
EQUITY AWARDS.
(a) At
the
Effective Time, each Company Stock Option then outstanding, whether or not
then
exercisable, shall be assumed by Parent and converted into an option to purchase
Parent Company Shares in accordance with this Section 2.3(a). Each Company
Stock
Option so converted shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms
and conditions as set forth in the applicable Company Stock Option and any
agreements thereunder immediately prior to the Effective Time. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the conversion of any Company Stock Options which are “incentive
stock options,” within the meaning of Section 422 of the Code, into options to
purchase Parent Company Shares shall be made so as not to constitute a
“modification” of such Company Stock Options within the meaning of Section 424
of the Code.
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(b) Parent
shall
take all corporate action necessary to reserve for issuance a sufficient number
of shares of Parent Company Shares for delivery upon exercise or settlement
of
the Company Stock Options being assumed or settled in accordance with this
Section 2.3.]]
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
3.1 REPRESENTATIONS
AND
WARRANTIES CONCERNING THE COMPANY. The Company hereby represent and warrant
to
the Parent as follows:
(a) AUTHORITY.
The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into and deliver
this
Agreement and each of the other agreements, certificates, instruments and
documents contemplated hereby (collectively, the “ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS”) to which
it is a party, to carry out its obligations hereunder and under any Ancillary
Document and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Ancillary Documents. All actions, authorizations and consents required by Law
for the execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement
and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, and the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been properly taken or
obtained, including without limitation, the approval of this Agreement and
the
transactions contemplated by it by the Board of Directors of the Company.
(b) EXECUTION
AND
DELIVERY. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the
Company is a party will be at the Closing, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms and conditions, except as enforceability thereof may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or other similar laws
affecting or relating to creditors' rights generally or by general principles
of
equity.
(c) NO
CONFLICTS.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and
each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not violate,
conflict with or result in a breach of any term, condition or provision of,
or
require the consent of any Person under, or result in the creation of or right
to create any Lien upon any of the assets of the Company under, (i) any Laws
to
which the Company or any of its assets are subject, (ii) any permit, judgment,
order, writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Authority to which
the Company or any of its assets are subject, (iii) the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or (iv) any license, indenture,
promissory note, bond, credit or loan agreement, lease, agreement, commitment
or
other instrument or document to which the Company is a party or by which the
Company or any of its assets are bound.
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(d) GOVERNMENTAL
CONSENTS. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority, is required to be
obtained by the Company in connection with or as a result of the execution
and
delivery of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Documents, or the performance
of its obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(e) ORGANIZATION,
STANDING AND QUALIFICATION. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing, and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware.
The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, to use its
name
and is duly qualified, licensed or authorized to do business and in good
standing, in each jurisdiction where the nature of the activities conducted
by
it or the character of the properties owned, leased or operated by it require
such qualification, licensing or authorization. Each such jurisdiction is
identified on SCHEDULE 3.1(E). The Company's corporate minute books reflect
all
resolutions approved and other actions taken by its shareholders or Board of
Directors and any committees thereof since the date of its incorporation. The
Shareholders or the Company have previously delivered to the Parent true,
correct and complete copies of the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of
the
Company, each as currently in effect (collectively, the “ORGANIZATION
DOCUMENTS”).
(f) CAPITALIZATION.
The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists solely of Five Million
(5,000,000) shares of Class A common stock with a par value of $0.0001 per
share; Eight Hundred Seventy-Two Thousand Five-Hundred (872,500) shares of
Class
B common stock with a par value of $0.0001; and Two Hundred Sixty Thousand
Two
Hundred Sixteen (260,216) shares of Preferred Stock with a par value of $0.0001
per share (collectively,. As of the date hereof, each Shareholder owns of record
such number of shares of Common Stock as is set forth opposite such
Shareholder's name on SCHEDULE 3.1(F). The Company Shares constitute all of
the
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable. No shares of Common Stock are held in
treasury. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.1(F), there are no outstanding
subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, contracts, demands, commitments,
convertible or exchangeable securities, profits interests, conversion rights,
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights, agreements,
arrangements or commitments of any nature whatsoever under which the Company
is
or may become obligated to issue, redeem, assign or transfer any shares of
capital stock or purchase or make payment in respect of any shares of capital
stock of the Company now or previously outstanding, and there are no outstanding
or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect
to or any shares of its capital stock.
(g) SUBSIDIARIES
AND OTHER EQUITY INTERESTS. SCHEDULE 3.1(G) sets forth: (i) the name of
each Company Subsidiary; (ii) the number and type of outstanding equity
securities of each Company Subsidiary and a list of the holders thereof;
(iii) the jurisdiction of organization of each Company Subsidiary;
(iv) the names of the officers and directors of each Company Subsidiary;
and (v) the jurisdictions in which each Company Subsidiary is qualified or
holds licenses to do business as a foreign corporation or other entity. For
purposes of this Agreement, a “Company Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation,
partnership, joint venture or other entity in which the Company has, directly
or
indirectly, an equity interest representing 50% or more of the equity securities
thereof or other equity interests therein. Each Company Subsidiary is an
entity duly organized, validly existing and in corporate and tax good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation. Each Company Subsidiary
is duly qualified to conduct business and is in corporate and tax good standing
under the laws of each jurisdiction in which the nature of its businesses or
the
ownership or leasing of its properties requires qualification to do business,
except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, individually
or
in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have
a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Each Company Subsidiary has all
requisite power and authority to carry on the businesses in which it is engaged
and to own and use the properties
8
owned
and
used by it. The Company has delivered or made available to the Parent complete
and accurate copies of the charter, bylaws or other organizational documents
of
each Company Subsidiary. No Company Subsidiary is in default under or in
violation of any provision of its charter, bylaws or other organizational
documents. All of the issued and outstanding equity securities of each Company
Subsidiary are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, non-assessable
and
free of preemptive rights. All equity securities of each Company Subsidiary
that
are held of record or owned beneficially by either the Company or any other
Company Subsidiary are held or owned free and clear of any restrictions on
transfer (other than restrictions under the Securities Act and state or other
applicable securities laws), claims, Security Interests, options, warrants,
rights, contracts, calls, commitments, equities and demands. There are no
outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements or commitments
to which the Company or any Company Subsidiary is a party or which are binding
on any of them providing for the issuance, disposition or acquisition of
any
equity securities of any Company Subsidiary. There are no outstanding stock
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to any Company
Subsidiary. To the knowledge of the Company, there are no voting trusts,
proxies
or other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of any equity
securities of any Company Subsidiary. Except as set forth in Schedule 3(G),
the Company does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct or
indirect equity participation or similar interest in any corporation,
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business
association which is not a Company Subsidiary.
(h) FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS; INTERNAL CONTROLS. The Company has previously delivered to the
Parent true, complete and correct copies of unaudited financial statements
of
the Company for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and for the quarters
ended March 31, 2007 and June 30, 2007, excluding the consolidated financial
statements of Xxxx Xxxxxx Capital Partners, Inc, Zealous Partners, LLC, Global
Authentication, Inc. Patient Safety Technologies, Inc., and Freedom Grill
Inc.,
(the “FINANCIAL STATEMENTS”). The Financial Statements fairly present the
financial position of the Company as of the respective dates thereof and
the
results of its operations and cash flows for the respective periods then
ended.
SCHEDULE 3.1(H) lists all documentation creating or governing all “off-balance
sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated
by the SEC) which the Company would be required to disclose under Item 303(a)
of
Regulation S-K if the Company were subject to the periodic reporting
requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets
is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared
with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with
respect to any differences.
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(i) ABSENCE
OF
UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except to the extent adequately reflected on or
reserved against in the Financial Statements and except for recurring
Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent
past practice, as of June 30, 2007 (the “BALANCE SHEET DATE”), the Company had
no direct or indirect Liabilities for any period prior to such date or arising
out of transactions entered into or any set of facts existing prior thereto.
Since the Balance Sheet Date, the Company has not incurred any Liabilities
except in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice,
none of which are, individually or in the aggregate, material.
(j) ORDINARY
COURSE. Since the Balance Sheet Date, except as otherwise disclosed on SCHEDULE
3.1(J), the Company has operated its business in the ordinary course consistent
with past practice and there has not occurred:
(i) any
change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities,
business, prospects, operations or results of operations that has had or
could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(ii) any
amendments or changes in any of its Organization Documents;
(iii) any
issuance
or sale of any shares of or interests in, or rights of any kind to acquire
any
shares of or interests in, or receipt of any payment based on the value of,
its
capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable into shares of
its
capital stock (including, without limitation, any stock options, phantom
stock
or stock appreciation rights) or any adjustment, split, combination or
reclassification of its capital stock, or any declaration or payment of any
dividend or any distribution on, or any redemption, purchase, retirement
or
other acquisition, directly or indirectly, of any shares of its capital stock
or
any securities or obligations convertible into or exchangeable for any shares
of
its capital stock;
(iv) any
investment of a capital nature on its own account in excess of $50,000
individually or $100,000 in the aggregate;
(v) any
entering
into, amendment of, modification in, relinquishment, termination, or non-renewal
by the Company of any contract, lease, transaction, commitment or other right
or
obligation, except for purchase and sale commitments entered into in the
ordinary course of business consistent with recent past practice;
(vi) any
waiver,
forfeiture, or failure to assert any rights of a material value or made,
whether
directly or indirectly, any payment of any material Liability before the
same
came due in accordance with its terms;
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(vii) any
material
damage, destruction or loss of the Company's assets or properties, whether
covered by insurance or not;
(viii) any
payment
of (or any making of oral or written commitments or representations to pay)
any
bonus, increased salary or special remuneration to any director, officer,
employee or consultant or any entry into or alterations of the terms of any
employment, consulting or severance agreement with any such person; any payment
of any severance or termination pay (other than payments made in accordance
with
existing plans or agreements); any grant of stock option or issuance of any
restricted stock; any entry into or modification of any agreement or Employee
Benefit Plan (except as required by law) or any similar agreement;
(ix) any
modification of any term of benefits payable under any Employee Benefit Plan;
(x) (A)
any
creation, incurrence or assumption of any Liability for borrowed money except
those Liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent
with
recent past practice, (B) issuance or sale of any securities convertible
into or
exchangeable for debt securities of the Company; or (C) issuance or sale
of
options or other rights to acquire from the Company, directly or indirectly,
debt securities of the Company or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for any such debt securities;
(xi) any
material
change in the amounts or scope of coverage of insurance policies;
(xii) any
merger or
consolidation with any other Person, acquisition of any capital stock or
other
securities of any other Person, or acquisition of all or a significant portion
of the assets of any other Person, or acquisition of any assets or properties
from any Shareholder or its affiliate or family member;
(xiii) any
assumption or
guarantee of any Liability or responsibility (whether primarily, secondarily,
contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other Person;
(xiv) any
loan, advance
(including, without limitation, any loan or advance to any stockholder, officer,
director or employee of such Company) or capital contribution to, or investment
in, any Person, except travel advances or advances of no more than $50,000
to
employees in the ordinary course of business consistent with recent past
practice;
(xv) any
sale,
transfer or lease to others of, any grant, creation or assumption of Liens
against, or otherwise disposed of, any of its material assets, whether tangible
or intangible;
(xvi) any
lapse,
failure to take any actions to protect, or any adverse change in respect
of any
of its Proprietary Rights;
11
(xvii) any
consummation of any other transaction that is not in the Company's ordinary
course of business consistent with recent past practice;
(xviii) any
collection of
the Company's accounts receivable, or any payment of the Company's accounts
payable, in each case that is not in the Company's ordinary course of business
consistent with recent past practice; or
(xix) any
agreement
or commitment, in writing or otherwise, to take any of the actions described
in
the foregoing subclauses (i) through (xviii).
(k) TITLE
TO
ASSETS. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.1(K), the Company has good and
marketable title to all of the tangible and intangible assets owned by it,
free
and clear of any Liens, and none of such assets are owned by any Person other
than the Company. The Company owns, leases, licenses or otherwise has the
contractual right to use all of the assets used in or necessary for the conduct
of its business as currently conducted. The Company has delivered to the Parent
a schedule of the fixed assets of the Company dated within thirty (30) days
prior to the date hereof. All personal property owned or leased by the Company,
taken as a whole, is in good repair and is operational and usable in the
operation of the Company, subject to ordinary wear and tear.
(l) RECEIVABLES
AND PAYABLES. (i) the accounts and notes receivable reflected on the Financial
Statements or arising since the Balance Sheet Date (collectively, the
“RECEIVABLES”), are bona fide, represent valid obligations to the Company, and
have arisen or were acquired in the ordinary course of business and in a manner
consistent with recent past practice and with the Company's regular credit
practices; (ii) the Company's provision for doubtful accounts reflected on
its
Financial Statements or reserved on its books since the Balance Sheet Date
has
been determined in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied; (iii) the Receivables have been collected or are
collectible in full, net of any allowance for uncollectibles recorded on the
Financial Statements or properly reserved on its books since the Balance Sheet
Date, in a manner consistent with past practice in the ordinary course of
business and without resort to litigation; (iv) none of the Receivables is
or
will at the Closing Date be subject to any defense, counterclaim or setoff;
(v)
since the Balance Sheet Date, the Company has not canceled, reduced, discounted,
credited or rebated or agreed to cancel, reduce, discount, credit or rebate,
in
whole or in part, any Receivables; and (vi) there has been no material adverse
change since the Balance Sheet Date in the amounts of Receivables or the
allowances with respect thereto, or accounts payable of the Company, from those
reflected in the balance sheet of the Company as of such date. The Company
has
provided to the Parent a schedule of aged Receivables and payables for the
Company as of a date which is within three (3) business days of the date hereof.
(m) REAL
PROPERTY.
(i) The
Company
does not now own, and has never owned, any real property.
12
(ii) SCHEDULE
3.1(M) sets forth a true and complete list of all real property leased or
otherwise used by the Company, identifying the lessor or other owner thereof
(the “REAL PROPERTY”).
(iii) There
is not
existing or proposed as a matter of public record or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, presently contemplated, any condemnation or similar action, or zoning
action or proceeding, with respect to any portion of the Real Property. None
of
the existing buildings and improvements which in part comprise the Real Property
fails to comply fully with all size, height, set back, use and other zoning
restrictions and regulations applicable thereto, including, without limitation,
the parking space requirements of all applicable zoning ordinances and
regulations. The Company or its landlord has obtained all licenses, permits,
approvals, certificates, and other authorizations required by applicable Laws
for the use and occupancy of the Real Property as it is currently being
utilized. None of the Real Property is subject to any encumbrance, easement,
right-of-way, building or use restriction, exception, variance, reservation,
limitation or other Liens which might in any material respect interfere with
or
impair the continued use thereof as currently utilized or proposed to be
utilized by the Company.
(n) PROPRIETARY
RIGHTS.
(i) The
Company
owns or possesses licenses or other rights to use all trademarks, trade and
business names, internet domain names, service marks, service names, copyrights,
customer lists, trade secrets and inventions (whether or not patentable)
(collectively, “PROPRIETARY RIGHTS”) that are necessary to the conduct of the
Company's business as currently conducted or anticipated.
(ii) SCHEDULE
3.1(N)(II) sets forth a true and complete list of all trademarks, trade names,
service marks, service names, internet domain names, copyrights and patents
included in the Proprietary Rights of the Company (identifying which are owned
and which are licensed), including all United States, state and foreign
registrations or applications for registration thereof and all agreements
relating thereto. All filing, registration, maintenance or similar fees payable
in connection with each registration (or application therefor) of Proprietary
Rights set forth on SCHEDULE 3.1(N)(II) have been paid and each such
registration is valid and in full force and effect.
(iii) Except
as
disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.1(N)(III), the Company is not required to pay any
royalty, license fee or similar compensation in connection with the conduct
of
its business as currently conducted.
(iv) To
the
knowledge of the Company, the Company has not interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated or otherwise come into conflict with the Proprietary Rights
of
any other Person or committed any acts of unfair competition, and no claims
have
been asserted by any Person alleging such interference, infringement,
misappropriation, conflict or act of unfair competition.
13
(v) To
the
knowledge of the Company, no Person is infringing upon its Proprietary Rights.
(vi) Except
as
disclosed in SCHEULE 3.1(n)(vi), there are no Proprietary Rights developed
by
any shareholder, director, officer, consultant or employee of the Company that
are used in the Company's business and that have not been transferred to, or
are
not owned free and clear of any Liens by, the Company.
(o) MATERIAL
AGREEMENTS. SCHEDULE 3.1(O)(1) sets forth a true and complete list, and the
Company has provided to the Parent complete copies (including all amendments
and
extensions thereof and all waivers thereunder) or, if oral, an accurate and
complete description, of each of the following material agreements, whether
written or oral, to which the Company is a party or is otherwise bound (each,
a
“MATERIAL AGREEMENT”):
(i) all
loan
agreements, indentures, mortgages, notes, installment obligations, capital
leases or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing of money
(or
guarantees thereof);
(ii) all
continuing contracts or commitments for the future purchase, sale or manufacture
of products, materials, supplies, equipment or services requiring payment to
or
from the Company in an amount in excess of $50,000 per annum which are not
terminable on 30 days' or less notice without cost or other liability at or
any
time after the Closing Date, or in which the Company has granted or received
manufacturing rights, most favored nation pricing provisions or exclusive rights
relating to any product or service;
(iii) all
contracts
with any Governmental Authority;
(iv) all
leases,
subleases or any other agreements or arrangements under which the Company has
the right or license to use any personal property, whether tangible or
intangible, owned or licensed by another Person;
(v) all
agreements or arrangements under which any other Person has the right or license
to use any real property or personal property, whether tangible or intangible,
owned, leased or licensed by the Company;
(vi) all
contracts
or understandings which by their terms restrict the ability of the Company
to
conduct its business or to otherwise compete in any material respect, including
as to manner or place;
(vii) all
joint venture
or similar agreements or understandings;
(viii) lease
and other
agreements pertaining to the Real Property;
(ix) all
collective bargaining, employment, severance, consulting, nondisclosure or
confidentiality agreements, and agreements requiring a charge of control or
parachute payments, or any other type of contract or understanding with any
officer, employee or consultant, other than pursuant to Employee Benefit Plans,
which is not immediately terminable by the Company without cost or other
liability to the Company;
14
(x) all
agreements with sales agents or representatives, wholesalers, distributors
and
dealers;
(xi) all
agreements concerning any Hazardous Materials; and
(xii) all
other
contracts, without regard to monetary amount, which were not entered into in
the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or which are material
to the conduct of the Company's business and not listed above.
Except
as
disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.1(O)(2), the Company is not, and to the knowledge of
the
Company, any other party thereto is not, in default under any Material Agreement
and no event has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur which (after notice
or lapse of time or both) would become a breach or default under, or would
otherwise permit modification, cancellation, acceleration or termination of,
any
Material Agreement or would result in the creation of or right to obtain any
Lien upon, or any Person obtaining any right to acquire, any assets, rights
or
interests of the Company. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.1(O)(3): (i) each
Material Agreement is in full force and effect and is a valid and binding
obligation of the Company, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other
parties thereto; (ii) there are no unresolved disputes with respect to any
Material Agreement; and (iii) the Company has no reasonable basis to believe
that any party to a Material Agreement intends either to modify, cancel or
terminate such Material Agreement.
(p) LITIGATION.
There is no claim, legal action, suit, arbitration, investigation or other
proceeding pending, or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against
or
relating to the Company or its assets. Neither the Company nor any of its assets
are subject to any outstanding judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree
of
any Governmental Authority. There is currently no investigation or review by
any
Governmental Authority with respect to the Company pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, threatened, nor has any Governmental Authority notified the
Company of its intention to conduct the same.
(q) COMPLIANCE
WITH LAWS. The Company has all licenses, permits and other authorizations from
all applicable Governmental Authorities necessary or desirable for the conduct
of its business as currently conducted or as currently expected to be conducted
following the Closing Date. SCHEDULE 3.1(Q) hereto sets forth a true and
complete list of all such licenses, permits and other authorizations obtained
by
the Company, each of which is in full force and effect and no violations
thereunder have been recorded. The Company is in compliance, and has complied,
with all Laws applicable to it and has not received any notice of any violation
thereof.
(r) ENVIRONMENTAL
MATTERS. To the knowledge of the Company, except as disclosed in SCHEDULE
3.1(R):
15
(i) During
the
period that the Company has owned, leased or operated any properties or
facilities, neither it nor any other Person has disposed, released, or
participated in or authorized the release or threatened release of Hazardous
Materials on, from or under such properties or facilities. There is not now
nor
has there ever been any presence, disposal, release or threatened release of
Hazardous Materials on, from or under any of such properties or facilities,
which may have occurred prior to the Company having taken possession of any
of
such properties or facilities. For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms
“disposal,” “release,” and “threatened release” shall have the definitions
assigned thereto by the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, 42 U. S.C. ss. 9601 et seq., as amended (“CERCLA”).
(ii) The
operations of the Company and properties that the Company owns, leases or
operates, are in compliance with Environmental Law. During the time that the
Company has owned, leased or operated its properties and facilities, neither
the
Company nor any other Person has used, generated, manufactured or stored on,
under or about such properties or facilities or transported or arranged for
disposal to or from such properties or facilities, any Hazardous Materials
which
may be considered a violation of applicable Environmental Law.
(iii) During
the
time that the Company has owned, leased or operated its properties and
facilities, there has been no litigation or proceeding brought or, to the
Knowledge the Company, threatened against the Company by, or any settlement
reached the Company with, any Persons alleging the presence, disposal, release
or threatened release of any Hazardous Materials, on from or under any of such
properties or facilities.
(iv) There
are no
facts, circumstances or conditions relating to the properties and facilities
owned, leased or operated by the Company which could give rise to a claim under
any Environmental Law or to any material Environmental Costs and Liabilities.
(s) RELATED
PARTY
TRANSACTIONS. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.1(S), no Related Party has
been
directly or indirectly a party to any contract or other arrangement (whether
written or oral) with the Company providing for services (other than as an
employee of the Company), products, goods or supplies, rental of real or
personal property, or other wise requiring payments from or to the Company.
For
purposes hereof, the term “RELATED PARTY” shall mean any Shareholder or a
director or officer of the Company or any member of his or her family or any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business entity
or
trust in which he or she or any member of his or her family has greater than
a
ten percent (10%) interest, or of which he or she or any member of his or her
family is an officer, director, general partner, member or trustee.
(t) INSURANCE.
SCHEDULE 3.1(T)(L) sets forth a list of the Company's insurance policies
(including property, casualty, liability (general, professional and directors
and officers) and workers' compensation), listing for each policy the identity
of the insurance carrier, the policy period, the limits and retentions and
any
special exclusions. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.1(T)(2), such insurance
coverage and coverage amounts are customary for the business engaged in by
the
Company. Such policies are currently in full force and effect, all premiums
have
been paid in full with respect thereto and the Company has not received any
notice of termination or modification from the insurance carriers. SCHEDULE
3.1(T)(L) also sets forth a true and complete description of any self-insurance
arrangement by or affecting the Company, including any reserves established
thereunder, if any.
16
(u) TAXES.
(i) The
Company
has timely filed with the appropriate taxing authorities all returns and reports
in respect of Taxes (“RETURNS”) required to be filed by it (taking into account
any extension of time to file granted to or on the account of the Company).
The
information on such Returns is complete and accurate in all material respects.
Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3.1(u), the Company has paid on a timely basis
all Taxes (whether or not shown on any Return) due and payable. There are no
Liens for Taxes (other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon
the
assets of the Company. As used in this SECTION 3.1(U), the Company shall mean,
individually and collectively, (i) the Company and (ii) any individual, trust,
corporation, partnership or other entity as to which the Company may be liable
for Taxes incurred by such individual or entity as a transferee or pursuant
to
any provision of federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation.
(ii) No
unpaid (or
unreserved in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis) deficiencies for Taxes have been claimed, proposed or
assessed by any taxing authority or other Governmental Authority with respect
to
the Company for any Pre-Closing Period and, to the best knowledge of the Company
or the Shareholder, there are no pending audits, investigations or claims for
or
relating to any liability in respect of Taxes of the Company, nor has the
Company been notified of any request for such an audit, investigation or claim.
The Company has not requested any extension of time within which to file any
currently unfiled returns in respect of any Taxes and no extension of a statute
of limitations relating to any Taxes is in effect with respect to the Company.
(iii) (1)
The
Company has made or will make provision for all Taxes payable by it with respect
to any Pre-Closing Period which are not payable prior to the Closing Date;
(2)
the provisions for Taxes with respect to the Company for the Pre-Closing Period
are adequate to cover all Taxes with respect to such period; (3) the Company
has
withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in
connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor,
creditor, shareholder or other third party; (4) the Company has provided Parent
with all relevant Tax returns; (5) the Company is not a “consenting corporation”
under Section 341(f) of the Code, or any corresponding provision of state,
local
or foreign law; (6) there are no private letter rulings in respect of any Tax
pending between the Company and any taxing authority; (7) the Company has never
been a member of an affiliated group within the meaning of Section 1504 of
the
Code, or filed or been included in a combined, consolidated or unitary return
of
any Person other than the Company; (8) the Company is not liable for Taxes
of
any other Person, or is currently under any contractual obligation to indemnify
any Person with respect to Taxes, or is a party to any tax sharing agreement
or
any other agreement providing for payments by the Company with respect to Taxes;
(9) the Company is not, and has not been, a real
17
property
holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during
the
applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code; (10)
the
Company is not a person other than a United States person within the meaning
of
the Code; (11) the Company is not a party to any joint venture, partnership,
or
other arrangement or contract which could be treated as a partnership for
federal income tax purposes; (12) the Company has not entered into any sale
leaseback or any leveraged lease transaction that fails to satisfy the
requirements of Revenue Procedure 75-21 (or similar provisions of foreign
law);
(13) the Company has not agreed and is not required, as a result of a change
in
method of accounting or otherwise, to include any adjustment under Section
481
of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign law)
in
taxable income; (14) the Company is not a party to any agreement, contract,
arrangement or plan that would result (taking into account the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement), separately or in the aggregate, in the payment
of any “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G of the
Code; (15) the Company has been a Subchapter C corporation; (16) SCHEDULE
3.1(U)(III)(16) contains a list of all jurisdictions to which any Tax is
properly payable by the Company; (17) the Company is not a personal holding
company within the meaning of Section 542 of the Code; (18) the Company has
not
made an election and is not required to treat any of its assets as owned
by
another Person for federal income tax purposes or as tax-exempt bond financed
property or tax-exempt use property within the meaning of Section 168 of
the
Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign law).
(v) EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLANS.
(i) SCHEDULE
3.1(V)(I) lists all Employee Benefit Plans which have been maintained or
contributed to by the Company or to which the Company has been obligated to
contribute. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(II), neither the Company
nor
any of its ERISA Affiliates (as defined below), maintains or has maintained,
contributed to or been obligated to contribute to a Pension Plan subject to
Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE
3.1(V)(III), each Pension Plan and Welfare Plan disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(I)
has been maintained in compliance with its terms and all material provisions
of
ERISA and the Code, applicable thereto (including rules and regulations
thereunder).
(ii) The
Company
has delivered or made available to Parent prior to the date hereof complete
and
correct copies of (a) any employment agreements and any procedures and policies
relating to the employment of employees of the Company and the use of temporary
employees and independent contractors by the Company (including summaries of
any
procedures and policies that are unwritten), (b) plan instruments and amendments
thereto for all Employee Benefit Plans and related trust agreements, insurance
and other contracts, summary plan descriptions, summaries of material
modifications and material communications distributed to the participants of
each Employee Benefit Plan (and written summaries of any unwritten Employee
Benefit Plans, modifications to Employee Benefit Plans and employee
communications), (c) to the extent annual reports on Form 5500 are required
with
respect to any Employee Benefit Plan, the three most recent annual reports
and
attached schedules for each Employee Benefit Plan as to which such report is
required to be filed, (d) where applicable, the most recent (A) opinion,
notification and determination letters, (B) actuarial valuation reports, and
(C)
nondiscrimination tests performed under the Code (including 401(k) and 401(m)
tests) for each Employee Benefit Plan, (e) all material communications received
from or sent to the Internal Revenue Service or the Department of Labor
(including a written description of any oral communication), and (f) any Forms
5330 required to be filed by the Company or any Affiliate, whether related
to an
Employee Benefit Plan or otherwise.
18
(iii) Each
Pension
Plan identified in SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(I) hereto which is intended to be “qualified”
within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the
Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) to be so qualified as of the date of the
determination letter set forth on SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(III), and the Company is
not
aware of any fact which would indicate that the qualified status of each such
Pension Plan or the tax exempt status of each trust created thereunder has
been
adversely affected. None of the Pension Plans identified in SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(I)
hereto are currently the subject of an audit or other investigation by the
IRS,
the Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (the “PBGC”)
or any other Governmental Authority nor are any the subject of any law suits,
complaints, claims or legal proceedings of any kind.
(iv) No
“prohibited transaction,” as such term is defined in Section 406 of ERISA, has
occurred with respect to any Pension Plan or Welfare Plan identified in SCHEDULE
3.1(V)(I) hereto which has resulted or may result in Liability to the Company
or
any of the ERISA Affiliates. No breach of fiduciary responsibility under Part
4
of Title I of ERISA has occurred which has resulted or may result in Liability
to the Company such Pension Plan or Welfare Plan. Except as disclosed on
SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(IV), no ERISA Affiliate has incurred any material Liability
for
any penalty or Tax, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, does any fact exist
which would subject the Company to any penalty or Tax under Sections 4971,
4972,
4975, 4976, 4977, 4978, 4979, 4980, 4980B, 4980D, 5000 of the Code or Section
502 of ERISA with respect to any such Pension Plan or Welfare Plan.
(v) Each
Welfare
Plan identified thereon has, to the extent applicable, at all times been in
compliance with the provisions of Section 4980B of the Code and Parts 6 and
7 of
Title I of ERISA. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(V) and except as
described in the immediately preceding sentence, none of the Welfare Plans
provides or promises post-retirement health or life benefits to current
employees or retirees of the Company or its ERISA Affiliates.
(vi) All
contributions required to be paid under the terms of each Employee Benefit
Plan
identified in SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(I) hereto have been made. As of and including
the
Closing Date, the Company shall have made all contributions required to be
made
by it up to and including the Closing Date with respect to each Employee Benefit
Plan, or adequate accruals therefor will have been provided for and will be
reflected on an unaudited balance sheet of the Company provided to Parent by
the
Company.
(vii) No
Pension
Plan identified in SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(I) hereto or trust created thereunder has
been terminated or partially terminated by the Company and the Company has
no
knowledge of any events which would cause a voluntary or involuntary termination
of any such Pension Plan.
19
(viii) Neither
the
Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has maintained or contributed to, been
obligated or required to contribute to, or withdrawn in a partial or complete
withdrawal from, a “Multiemployer Plan,” as such term is defined in Section
4001(a)(3) of ERISA.
(ix)
With
respect
to each Pension Plan identified in SCHEDULE 3.1(V)(I) subject to Title IV of
ERISA (A) neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has withdrawn from any
such Plan during a plan year in which it was a “substantial employer” (within
the meaning of Section 4001 (a)(2) of ERISA), (B) neither the Company nor any
ERISA Affiliate has filed a notice of intent to terminate any such Pension
Plan
or adopted any amendment to treat any such Pension Plan as terminated, (C)
the
PBGC has not instituted proceedings to terminate any such Pension Plan, and
no
other event or condition has occurred which might constitute grounds under
Section 4042 of ERISA for the termination of, or the appointment of a trustee
to
administer, any such Pension Plan, (D) no accumulated funding deficiency,
whether or not waived, exists with respect to any such Pension Plan and no
condition has occurred or exists which by the passage of time would be expected
to result in an accumulated funding deficiency as of the last day of the current
plan year of any such Pension Plan, (E) all required premium payments to the
PBGC have been paid when due, (F) no reportable event (as described in Section
4043 of ERISA) for which the notice requirements to the PBGC have not been
waived, has occurred with respect to any such Pension Plan, (G) no amendment
with respect to which security is required under Section 307 of ERISA has been
made or is reasonably expected to be made to any Pension Plan, and (H) as of
the
last day of the most recent prior plan year, the market value of assets under
each such Pension Plan subject to the minimum funding standards equaled or
exceeded the present value of benefit liabilities thereunder as determined
in
accordance with the actuarial valuation assumptions set forth in such Pension
Plan.
(x) Except
as
required by law or by the terms of an Employee Benefit Plan, the Company has
not
proposed or agreed to any changes to any Employee Benefit Plan that would cause
an increase in benefits under any such Employee Benefit Plan (or the creation
of
new benefits or plans) nor to change any employee coverage which would cause
an
increase in the expense of maintaining any such Employee Benefit Plan.
(xi) No
Employee
Benefit Plan provides benefits or payments based on or measured by the value
of
an equity security of or interest in the Company or any ERISA Affiliate.
(xii) No
Employee
Benefit Plan is a plan, agreement or arrangement providing for benefits, in
the
nature of severance benefits, and the Company does not have outstanding any
liabilities with respect to any severance benefits available under any Employee
Benefit Plan.
(w) EMPLOYEE
MATTERS.
(i) The
Company
has provided to the Parent lists all current employees of the Company and their
hourly rates of compensation or base salaries (as applicable), the date of
last
increase in such compensation or salaries, and all other compensation paid
to
such employees. To the knowledge of the Company, no employee of the Company
has
any plans to terminate employment with the Company. The Company has complied
with all Laws relating to the hiring of employees and the employment of labor,
including provisions thereof relating to wages, hours, equal opportunity,
collective bargaining and the withholding and payment of social security and
other Taxes.
20
(ii) (A)
the
Company is not delinquent in payments to any of its employees for any wages,
salaries, commissions, bonuses or other direct compensation for any services
performed by them to date or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees
and, upon termination of the employment of any such employees, neither the
Parent nor the Company will by reason of any event, fact or circumstance
occurring or existing prior to the Closing be liable to any of such employees
for severance pay or any other payments; (B) there is no unfair labor practice
complaint against the Company pending before the National Labor Relations Board
or any other Governmental Authority; (C) there is no labor strike, material
dispute, slowdown or stoppage actually pending or, to the Knowledge of the
Company, threatened against the Company; (D) the Company has not experienced
any
significant deterioration in its relationship with its employees; and (E) no
labor union currently represents the employees of the Company and, to the
knowledge of the Company, no labor union has taken any action with respect
to
organizing the employees of the Company.
(iii) Except
for
payment of the Merger Consideration to the Shareholders, neither the execution
and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will: (A) result in any payment (including, without
limitation, severance, unemployment compensation, golden parachute, bonus or
otherwise) becoming due to any director or employee of the Company, under any
Employee Benefit Plan or otherwise; (B) increase any compensation or benefits
payable under any Employee Benefit Plan or otherwise; or (C) result in the
acceleration of the time of payment or vesting of any such compensation
benefits. No Employee Benefit Plan or other arrangement provides benefits or
payments contingent upon, triggered by or increased as a result of a change
in
the ownership or effective control of the Company.
(x) BROKERAGE
FEES. The Company has not engaged or authorized any broker, investment banker
or
other Person to act on its behalf, directly or indirectly, as a broker or finder
who might be entitled to a fee, commission or other remuneration in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(y) BOOKS
AND
RECORDS. All accounts, books, ledgers and official and other records prepared
and kept by the Company are true, complete and accurate in all material respects
and have been kept in accordance with sound business practices.
(z) PROXY
STATEMENT.
The
information supplied by the Company for inclusion in the Proxy Statement shall
not, at the date the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
is
first mailed to stockholders of the Parent and at the time of the Stockholders’
Meeting, contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state
any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not false or misleading, or necessary to correct any statement in any earlier
communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Stockholders’
Meeting which shall have become false or misleading. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to
any
information supplied by the Parent or any of its representatives for inclusion
in the Proxy Statement.
21
(aa) DISCLOSURE.
No representation or warranty made by the Company in this Agreement, nor any
information contained in any Ancillary Document to be delivered by the Company
or the Shareholder pursuant hereto, or any information relating to the Company
provided or made available to the Parent in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits
or will omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements or facts
contained herein or therein not misleading in any material respect in light
of
the circumstances under which they were made.
3.2 REPRESENTATIONS
AND
WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT. The Parent hereby represents and warrants to the
Company as follows:
(a) AUTHORITY.
The Parent has all necessary power and authority to enter into and deliver
this
Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, to carry
out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Documents, including, without
limitation, the Merger. All actions, authorizations and consents required by
Law
for the execution, delivery and performance by Parent of this Agreement and
each
Ancillary Document to which it is a party, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been properly taken or
obtained, other than (a) with respect to the Merger, the filing with the
SEC of a proxy statement with respect to the Parent Stockholder Approval and
(b) the filing of the Certificate of Merger as required by Delaware Law.
The affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding voting
power of Parent Common Stock is the only vote of the holders of capital stock
of
the Parent necessary to adopt this Agreement, approve the Merger, and the
Amendment (the “PARENT STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL”).
(b) EXECUTION
AND
DELIVERY. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the
Parent is a party will be at the Closing, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Parent and constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
of
the Parent, enforceable against the Parent in accordance with its terms and
conditions, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or other similar laws affecting or
relating to creditors' rights generally or by general principles of
equity.
(c) NO
CONFLICTS.
The execution, delivery and performance by the Parent of this Agreement and
each
Ancillary Document to which it is a party, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not violate,
conflict with or result in a breach of any term, condition or provision of,
or
require the consent of any Person under, or result in the creation of or right
to create any Lien upon any of the assets of the Parent under, (i) any Laws
to
which the Parent or any of its assets are subject, (ii) any judgment, order,
writ, injunction, decree or award of any Governmental Authority to which the
Parent or any of its assets are subject, (iii) the Certificate of Incorporation
or Bylaws of the Parent, or (iv) any license, indenture, promissory note, bond,
credit or loan agreement, lease, agreement, commitment or other instrument
or
document to which the Parent is a party or by which any of its assets are bound,
except where, in the case of clause (iv), such violation, conflict, breach,
etc.
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect
on
the Parent.
22
(d) GOVERNMENTAL
CONSENTS. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration,
declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority, is required to be
obtained by the Parent in connection with or as a result of the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Documents, or the performance
of its obligations thereunder.
(e) ORGANIZATION,
STANDING AND QUALIFICATION. The Parent is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of Nevada
(or
such other applicable jurisdiction of incorporation or formation). The Parent
has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on their businesses as now being conducted, to use their names
and
are duly qualified, licensed or authorized to do business and in good standing,
in each jurisdiction where the nature of the activities conducted by them or
the
character of the properties owned, leased or operated by them require such
qualification, licensing or authorization.
(f) PARENT
STOCK.
The authorized capital stock of the Parent consists solely of 500,000 shares
of
preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, of which none are issued and
outstanding and 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.001 per share,
of
which 44,831,444 shares remain issued, adjusted and outstanding, provided,
however,
such
number of shares does not include 1,630,000 shares of Parent Common Stock that
were lost and cancelled. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Parent have been, and all of the shares of the Parent Preferred
Stock and Parent Common Stock issuable to the Shareholders pursuant to this
Agreement will be when issued, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid
and
non-assessable. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 3.2(F) or in any SEC Document,
there are no outstanding subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, contracts,
demands, commitments, convertible or exchangeable securities, profits interests,
conversion rights, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights,
agreements, arrangements or commitments of any nature whatsoever under which
the
Parent is or may become obligated to issue, redeem, assign or transfer any
shares of capital stock or purchase or make payment in respect of any shares
of
capital stock of the Parent now or previously outstanding, and there are no
outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights
with respect to or any shares of its capital stock. Except as set forth on
SCHEDULE 3.2(F) or in any SEC Document, none of the Parent's stock purchase
agreements or stock option documents contains a provision for acceleration
of
vesting (or lapse of a repurchase right) upon the occurrence of any event or
combination of events. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3.2(F) or in any SEC
Document, the Parent has never adjusted or amended the exercise price of any
stock options previously awarded, whether through amendment, cancellation,
replacement grant, repricing, or any other means. The Parent is not a party
to
any voting agreement with respect to shares of the capital stock of, or other
equity or voting interests in, the Parent and, other than the Parent Voting
Agreements and the irrevocable proxies granted pursuant to the Parent Voting
Agreements, there are no irrevocable proxies, voting agreements, or voting
trusts with respect to any Parent Common Stock.
23
(g) SEC
DOCUMENTS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The Parent has filed, on a timely basis (except
as permitted by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), all forms, reports and
documents that to its knowledge were required to be filed by it with the SEC.
The SEC Documents (i) complied in all material respects in accordance with
the
requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be,
and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and (ii) did not at the time
they were filed (or if amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date
of
this Agreement, then on the date of such filing) to its knowledge contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Except
as
set forth on SCHEDULE 3.2(G), all material agreements to which the Parent is
a
party or to which the property or assets of the Parent are subject are, to
its
knowledge, included as part of or specifically identified in the SEC Documents
to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC as in effect
at
the time of filing. The Parent has to its knowledge prepared and filed with
the
SEC all filings and reports required by the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act
to make the Parent's filings and reports current in all respects. The financial
statements included in SEC Documents filed by the Parent (the “PARENT FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS”) fairly present in all material respects, and the Parent Financial
Statements included in SEC Documents filed after the date of this Agreement
will
fairly present in all material respects, the consolidated financial position
of
the Parent as of the dates indicated and the consolidated income, changes in
shareholders' equity and cash flows of the Parent for the periods then ended
and
each such financial statement has been or will be, as the case may be, prepared
in conformity with GAAP applied on a consistent basis, except that the unaudited
interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring
year-end adjustments (which individually and in the aggregate are not material),
and may not contain certain related notes as may be permitted by the applicable
rules promulgated by the SEC. The Parent Financial Statements included in the
SEC Documents comply in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements and the rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto
in
effect at the time of filing. All “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined
in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC) which the Parent
is
required to disclose under Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K in its SEC Documents
are set forth in the SEC Documents. The Parent maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability
for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability
for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences, and (v) the Parent
is otherwise in compliance with the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and all
other rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and applicable to the Parent,
including such rules and regulations to implement the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of
2002, as amended. SCHEDULE 3.2(G) sets forth all liabilities of the Parent
as of
June 1, 2007 and as of the Closing.
24
(h) BROKERAGE
FEES. The Parent has not engaged or authorized any broker, investment banker
or
other Person to act on its behalf, directly or indirectly, as a broker or finder
who might be entitled to a fee, commission or other remuneration in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(i) DISCLOSURE.
No representation or warranty made by the Parent in this Agreement, nor any
information contained in any Ancillary Document to be delivered by the Parent
pursuant hereto, or any information relating to the Parent provided or made
available to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, including any SEC Document, contains any untrue statement of a material
fact, or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements or facts contained herein or therein not misleading in any material
respect in light of the circumstances under which they were made.
(j) PROXY
STATEMENT. The proxy statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Parent
in
connection with the Stockholders’ Meeting (such proxy statement, as amended or
supplemented, being referred to herein as the “PROXY
STATEMENT”),
shall
not, at the date the Proxy Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
is
first mailed to stockholders of the Company and at the time of the Stockholders’
Meeting, contain any statement which, at such time and in light of the
circumstances under which it was made, is false or misleading with respect
to
any material fact, or which omits to state any material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein not false or misleading or necessary to correct
any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation
of
proxies, if any, for the Stockholders’ Meeting which shall have become false or
misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation
or warranty with respect to any information supplied by Parent, Merger Sub
or
any of Parent’s or Merger Sub’s representatives in writing for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement shall comply in all material respects
as to
form with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
(k) BOARD
APPROVAL.
The
full Board of Directors of Parent, by resolutions duly adopted (and such
resolutions not thereafter modified or rescinded) as of the date of this
Agreement, has unanimously (a) approved this Agreement, the Amendment and
the Merger and determined that this Agreement, the Amendment and the Merger
are
advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, the stockholders of the
Parent, and (b) directed that adoption of this Agreement and the Amendment
be
submitted to the Parent stockholders for consideration and recommended that
the
stockholders of the Parent adopt this Agreement and the Amendment.
3.4 REPRESENTATIONS
AND
WARRANTIES OF THE MERGER SUB. The Merger Sub hereby represents and warrants
to
the Company as follows:
(a) AUTHORITY.
The Merger Sub has all necessary power and authority to enter into and deliver
this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party,
to
carry out its obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and by the Ancillary Documents. All actions,
authorizations and consents required by Law for the execution, delivery and
performance by Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to
which
it is a party, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and
thereby, have been or prior to the Closing will have been properly taken or
obtained.
25
(b) EXECUTION
AND
DELIVERY. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the
Parent is a party will be at the Closing, duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Merger Sub and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
obligation of the Merger Sub, enforceable against the Parent in accordance
with
its terms and conditions, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency or other similar laws
affecting or relating to creditors' rights generally or by general principles
of
equity.
(c) ORGANIZATION,
STANDING AND QUALIFICATION. The Merger Sub is a corporation duly incorporated,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of
Delaware.
(d) MERGER
SUB
STOCK. The authorized capital stock of the Merger Sub consists solely of 500
shares of which 400 shares are common stock, par value $.01 per share with
100
shares issued and outstanding and owned solely by Parent and 100 shares of
preferred stock of which no shares are issued and outstanding.
ARTICLE
IV
CERTAIN
COVENANTS
4.1 CONDUCT
OF
COMPANY BUSINESS PENDING THE CLOSING. The Company hereby covenants and agrees
that, prior to the Closing, except as contemplated by this Agreement or as
set
forth in SCHEDULE 4.1, it shall (and each of the Shareholders hereby covenants
and agrees to cause the Company to comply with the provisions of this SECTION
4.1):
(a) conduct
its
business in the usual, regular and ordinary course consistent with recent past
practice and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or refrain from
taking, as the case may be, any action which would cause the representations
and
warranties made in SECTION 3.1, including, without limitation, SECTION 3.1(J),
to become untrue or inaccurate; and
(b) use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve its business
organization and relationships with its customers, vendors, suppliers and others
having business dealings with it and retain the services of its officers and
employees.
4.2 CONDUCT
OF
PARENT BUSINESS PENDING THE CLOSING. The Parent hereby covenants and agrees
that, prior to the Closing, except as contemplated by this Agreement or as
set
forth in SCHEDULE 4.2, it shall:
(a) conduct
its
business in the usual, regular and ordinary course consistent with recent past
practice and use its commercially reasonable efforts to take, or refrain from
taking, as the case may be, any action which would cause the representations
and
warranties made in SECTION 3.2, to become untrue or inaccurate; and
26
(b) use
its
commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve its business
organization.
(c) Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to the Effective Time, the
Parent shall not, without the written consent of the Company:
(i) issue
or
sell, or redeem or repurchase, any stock or other securities of the Parent
or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such stock or other
securities;
(ii) split,
combine or reclassify any shares of its capital stock; declare, set aside or
pay
any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, stock or property or any
combination thereof) in respect of its capital stock, except as contemplated
herein by the Amendment;
(iii) create,
incur
or assume any indebtedness (including obligations in respect of capital leases);
assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise become liable or responsible (whether
directly, contingently or otherwise) for the obligations of any other person
or
entity; or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments
in, any other person or entity; excluding such amounts incurred in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, unless otherwise agreed to in writing
by Company and Parent;
(iv) enter
into,
adopt or amend any Employee Benefit Plan or any employment or severance
agreement or arrangement or increase in any manner the compensation or fringe
benefits of, or materially modify the employment terms of, its directors,
officers or employees, generally or individually, or pay any bonus or other
benefit to its directors, officers or employee;
(v) acquire,
sell, lease, license or dispose of any assets or property (including without
limitation any shares or other equity interests in or securities of any Parent
Subsidiary or any corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization or division thereof);
(vii) mortgage
or
pledge any of its property or assets or subject any such property or assets
to
any security interest;
(viii) discharge
or
satisfy any security interest or pay any obligation or liability other than
in
the ordinary course of business;
(ix)
except
as
provided herein amend its charter, by-laws or other organizational
documents;
(x)
change
in
any material respect its accounting methods, principles or practices, except
insofar as may be required by a generally applicable change in
GAAP;
(xi) enter
into,
amend, terminate, take or omit to take any action that would constitute a
violation of or default under, or waive any rights under, any contract or
agreement;
(xii) institute
or
settle any legal proceeding; or
27
(xiv) agree
in
writing or otherwise to take any of the foregoing actions.
(d) The
Parent
shall permit representatives of the Company to have full access (at all
reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to interfere with the normal
business operations of the Parent and the MERGER SUB) to all premises,
properties, financial and accounting records, contracts, other records and
documents, and personnel, of or pertaining to the Parent and MERGER
SUB.
(e) Each
of the
Company and any Company Subsidiary (i) shall treat and hold as confidential
any Parent Confidential Information (as defined below), (ii) shall not use
any of the Parent Confidential Information except in connection with this
Agreement, and (iii) if this Agreement is terminated for any reason
whatsoever, shall return to the Parent all tangible embodiments (and all copies)
thereof which are in its possession. For purposes of this Agreement, “PARENT
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION” means any information of the Parent that is furnished
to the Company or any Company Subsidiary by the Parent in connection with this
Agreement; provided,
however,
that it
shall not include any information (A) which, at the time of disclosure, is
available publicly other than as a result of non-permitted disclosure by the
Company, any Company Subsidiary or their respective directors, officers, or
employees, (B) which, after disclosure, becomes available publicly through
no fault of the Company or any Company Subsidiary or their respective directors,
officers, or employees, (C) which the Company or any Company Subsidiary
knew or to which the Company or Company Subsidiary had access prior to
disclosure, provided that the source of such information is not known by the
Company or any Company Subsidiary to be bound by a confidentiality obligation
to
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary or (D) which the Company or any Company
Subsidiary rightfully obtains from a source other than the Parent or MERGER
SUB,
provided that the source of such information is not known by the Company or
any
Company Subsidiary to be bound by a confidentiality obligation to Parent or
MERGER SUB.
4.3 TAX
MATTERS;
COOPERATION AND RECORDS RETENTION. The Parent and the Company will (i) each
provide the other with such assistance as may reasonably be requested by any
of
them in connection with the preparation of any Tax Return, audit or other
examination by any taxing authority or judicial or administrative proceedings
relating to liability for Taxes, (ii) each retain and provide the other with
any
records or other information which may be relevant to such Tax Return, audit
or
examination, proceeding or determination, and (iii) each provide the other
with
any final determination of such audit or examination, proceeding or
determination that affects any amount required to be shown on any Tax Return
of
the other for any period. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
the
Parent and the Company will retain, until the applicable statutes of limitations
(including all extensions) have expired, copies of all Tax Returns, supporting
work schedules and other records or information which may be relevant to such
Tax Returns for all Tax periods or portions thereof ending on or before the
Closing and will not destroy or otherwise dispose of any such records without
first providing the other party with a reasonable opportunity to review and
copy
the same.
4.4 NO
SOLICITATION. Prior to the Closing (unless the Agreement is terminated sooner),
the Parent shall not, and none of its officers or directors shall, directly
or
indirectly (through their respective Affiliates, employees, agents or
representatives), initiate contact with, solicit, encourage, respond to or
participate in any way in discussions or negotiations with, or provide any
information or assistance to, or take any other action intended or designed
to
facilitate the efforts of (including without limitation, the execution of any
letter of intent, term sheet or definitive agreement), any Person other than
the
Company concerning any acquisition of equity interest in the Parent or any
significant portion of the assets of the Parent (including by merger or other
similar transaction). The Parent shall promptly notify the Company if they
are
contacted or approached in respect of any such transaction, as well as the
material terms of the proposed transaction and the identity of the contacting
party.
28
4.5 REASONABLE
EFFORTS; ASSURANCES. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall use all reasonable efforts to take
or cause to be taken all action, and to do or cause to be done, and to assist
and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper
or
advisable to consummate and make effective as promptly as practicable the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including using commercially
reasonable efforts to (a) obtain all consents or approvals required or desirable
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) effect promptly
all
necessary or appropriate registrations or filings with any Governmental
Authorities, and (c) fulfill or cause the fulfillment of the conditions to
Closing set forth in ARTICLE V. In case at any time after the Closing Date
any
further action is reasonably necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes
of
this Agreement, each of the parties hereto shall take such further action
without additional consideration.
4.6 NOTIFICATION
OF CERTAIN MATTERS. The Company and Parent shall promptly notify each other
in
writing:
(a) if,
subsequent to the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, either
of them becomes aware of the occurrence of any event or the existence of any
fact that would render any of the representations and warranties made by it
(and, in case of the Company, made by any Shareholder) in SECTIONS 3.1 or 3.2,
as the case may be, if made on or as of the date of such event or the Closing
Date, inaccurate or untrue (other than with respect to representations and
warranties made as of a specified date);
(b) of
any breach
by either of them of any of its (and, in case of the Company, any of the
Shareholders') covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement;
(c) of
any notice
or other communication from any third party alleging that the consent of such
third party is or may be required in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; or
(d) of
any notice
or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with or
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.7 PUBLIC
ANNOUNCEMENTS. No party will issue or make or cause the publication of, any
press release or other public announcement with respect to this Agreement or
the
transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written consent of the other
parties hereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing herein will prohibit any party
from issuing, making or causing the publication of any such press release or
public announcement to the extent that such party is advised by its legal
counsel that such action is required by Law, in which case the party making
such
determination will use reasonable efforts to allow the other parties reasonable
time to review and comment on such release or announcement in advance. For
the
purposes of this Section, the Company shall be entitled to give such prior
written consent on behalf of the Shareholders.
29
4.8 TRANSFER
TAXES. All stock transfer, real estate transfer, documentary, stamp, recording
and other similar Taxes (including interest, penalties and additions to any
such
Taxes) (“TRANSFER TAXES”) incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by either Merger Sub or the Surviving Entity
(provided any such payments shall not be funded, directly or indirectly, by
the
Company), and the Company shall cooperate with Merger Sub and Parent in
preparing, executing and filing any Tax Returns with respect to such Transfer
Taxes.
4.9 FORM
8-K. The
Parent and the Company shall prepare a Current Report on Form 8-K regarding
the
terms of the transaction under this Agreement which Form 8-K will be filed
with
the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 4 Business Days following
the execution date of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, the Parent
and
the Company shall prepare a Current Report on Form 8-K, which report will
contain the information that would be required if the Parent were filings a
general form for registration of securities on Form 10-SB as more particularly
described under Items 2.01(f) and 9.01 of Form 8-K, which Form 8-K will be
filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission no later than 4 Business Days
following the Closing Date. Parent shall take no action that shall change its
designation as a shell company with the SEC, without the prior written consent
of the Company.
4.10 DEBT
FORGIVENESS.
(a) In exchange for the Primary Shareholders Promissory Notes and the Parent
Equipment Assignment (as each is defined below), the Primary Shareholders shall
execute a debt forgiveness agreement in a form reasonably satisfactory to the
Company, where by they agree that all outstanding liabilities of the Parent
to
them, jointly and severally, shall be canceled. Parent shall execute three
promissory notes for accrued rent, compensation and personal loans to the
Primary Shareholders in the aggregate principal amount of $382,500 (the “PRIMARY
SHAREHOLDERS PROMISSORY NOTES”), each at an interest rate of 7% per annum. The
forgiveness shall be deemed in the following order of priority: accumulated
unpaid compensation shall be first, unpaid rent second and loans third; loans
shall be paid first, unpaid rent second and compensation last to the extent
money is paid under the Primary Shareholders Promissory Notes. The Primary
Shareholders Promissory Notes shall be payable in the following manner:
(i) an
aggregate
of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) shall be due at the earlier
of
(A) the Effective Time, provided that either on or prior to the Effective Date,
Parent, Merger Sub or Company, has received at least $1,500,000 of financing
or
more (the “QUALIFIED FINANCING”) or (B) if a Qualified Financing does not occur
prior to or at the Effective Time, within three (3) days of the date of any
Qualified Financing.
30
(ii) an
aggregate of
Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($25,000) of interest and principal per month,
beginning the first month after the payment of after the payment of the One
Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000) set forth in sub-section 4.10(a)
hereof, with a final payment of Seven Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($7,500)
until all outstanding interest and principal of the Shareholders Promissory
Notesis paid in full;
provided,
however,
that
the aggregate principal amount of the Shareholders Promissory Notes shall be
reduced to the extent that the total ASNI expenses consisting of current
liabilities and longtime liabilities at the Closing Date exceed Sixty Seven
Thousand Five Hundred Dollars ($67,500), subject to adjustment upon mutual
agreement by Parent and Company; provided,
further,
that
subject to Section 9.11, hereof, Parent and Company shall be entitled to a
right
of set-off any claims, expenses and liabilities Parent or Company incurs as
a
result of a breach by the Parent of any representations or warranties or
covenants of Parent against the Xxxxx Promissory Note for any breach of any
covenant of the Parent.
(b) Within
45
days after the effective date of the Effective Time, the Parent shall assign
all
of its rights title and interest in the Parent’s existing office assets
including television studio equipment, video tape library and related
miscellaneous assets, provided that all such assets have either been written
off
and/or are fully depreciated by the Parent as of the date hereof the “PARENT
EQUIPMENT ASSIGNMENT”).
4.11 PROXY
STATEMENT AND
OTHER FILINGS.
(a) As
promptly
as practicable after the audited financial statements of the Compnay are made
available to the Parent, the Parent shall prepare, and file with the SEC a
preliminary proxy materials relating to (i) the Parent Stockholder Approval
and (ii) the removal of the existing board of directors of the Parent and
election of directors designated by Company, which removal and appointment
shall
be effective upon the failure to obtain the Parent Stockholder Approval. Company
shall provide promptly to the Parent such information concerning Company and
the
director nominees as, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, Parent and
their respective counsel, may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the
Proxy Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto. At the earliest
practicable time following the later of (i) receipt and resolution of SEC
comments thereon, or (ii) the expiration of the 10-day waiting period
provided in Rule 14a-6(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act, the Parent
shall file definitive proxy materials with the SEC and cause the Proxy Statement
to be mailed to its stockholders. The Parent will cause all documents that
it is
responsible for filing with the SEC or other regulatory authorities in
connection with the Merger and the Amendment (or as required or appropriate
to
facilitate the Merger and the Amendment) to comply in all material respects
with
all applicable Laws. Prior to filing the preliminary proxy materials, definitive
proxy materials or any other filing with the SEC or any other Governmental
Entity, the Parent shall provide Company with reasonable opportunity to review
and comment on each such filing in advance and the Parent shall in good faith
consider including in such filings all comments reasonably proposed by Company.
31
(b) The
Parent
will notify Company promptly of the receipt of any comments from the SEC or
its
staff (or of notice of the SEC’s intent to review the Proxy Statement) and of
any request by the SEC or its staff or any other government officials for
amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or any other filing or for
additional/supplemental information, and will supply Company with copies of
all
correspondence between the Company or any of its representatives, on the one
hand, and the SEC, or its staff or any other government officials, on the other
hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement or other filing. The Parent and its
outside counsel shall permit Company and its outside counsel to participate
in
all communications with the SEC and its staff (including all meetings and
telephone conferences) relating to the Proxy Statement, this Agreement, the
Merger or the Amendment. The Parent shall consult with Company prior to
responding to any comments or inquiries by the SEC or any other Governmental
Entity with respect to any filings related to (or necessary or appropriate
to
facilitate) the Merger, shall provide Company with reasonable opportunity to
review and comment on any such written response in advance and shall include
in
such response all comments reasonably proposed by Company. Whenever any event
occurs that is required to be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the
Proxy Statement or any other filing, the Parent shall promptly inform Company
of
such occurrence, provide Company with reasonable opportunity to review and
comment on any such amendment or supplement in advance, shall in good faith
consider including in such amendment or supplement all comments reasonably
proposed by Company, and shall cooperate in filing with the SEC or its staff
or
any other government officials, and/or mailing to the stockholders of the
Parent, such amendment or supplement.
4.13 MEETING
OF PARENT
STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) Promptly
after the delivery of the audited financial statements of the Company to the
Parent, the Parent shall take all action necessary in accordance with Nevada
Law, the rules of OTC Bulletin Board and the articles of incorporation, as
amended, and bylaws of Parent (the “PARENT CHARTER DOCUMENTS”) to convene a
special meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of considering and taking
action with respect to (i) the Parent Stockholder Approval (the “STOCKHOLDERS’
MEETING”) and (ii) the removal of the existing board of directors of the
Parent and election of directors designated by Company, which removal and
appointment shall be effective upon the failure to obtain the Parent Stockholder
Approval, to be held as promptly as practicable. The Parent shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to solicit from its stockholders proxies in
favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Amendment and to take all other
action necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of its stockholders
required by Nevada Law to obtain such approvals. Notwithstanding anything to
the
contrary contained in this Agreement, the Parent may adjourn or postpone the
Stockholders’ Meeting to the extent necessary to ensure that any necessary
supplement or amendment to the Proxy Statement is provided to the Parent’s
stockholders in advance of a vote on this Agreement or, if as of the time for
which the Stockholders’ Meeting is originally scheduled (as set forth in the
Proxy Statement) there are insufficient shares of Parent Common Stock
represented (either in person or by proxy) to constitute a quorum necessary
to
conduct the business of the Stockholders’ Meeting or to approve this Agreement
and the Merger. The Parent shall ensure that the Stockholders’ Meeting is
called, noticed, convened, held and conducted, and that all proxies solicited
by
the Parent in connection with the Stockholders’ Meeting are solicited, in
compliance with Nevada Law, the Parent Charter Documents, and all other
applicable Laws.
32
(b) (i) The
Board of Directors of the Parent shall unanimously recommend that the Parent’s
stockholders adopt and approve this Agreement, the Amendment and approve the
Merger at the Stockholders’ Meeting; (ii) the Proxy Statement shall
include a statement to the effect that the Board of Directors of the Parent
has unanimously recommended that the Parent’s stockholders vote in favor of the
Parent Stockholder Approval at the Stockholders’ Meeting; and (ii) neither
the Board of Directors of the Company nor any committee thereof shall withdraw,
amend, change or modify, or propose or resolve to withdraw, amend, change or
modify in any manner adverse to Company, the unanimous recommendation of the
Board that the Parent’s stockholders vote in favor of the Parent Stockholder
Approval. For purposes of this Agreement, said recommendation of the Board
of
Directors of the Company shall be deemed to have been modified in a manner
adverse to Company if said recommendation shall no longer be unanimous.
ARTICLE
V
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
5.1 CONDITIONS
TO
OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY. The obligation of the Company to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction on or
prior to the Closing of the following conditions (any of which may be waived
in
writing by the Company):
(a) the
Parent
shall have performed and complied with all obligations and agreements required
to be performed and complied with by it hereunder on or prior to the Closing
(including, without limitation, those specified in SECTION 6.3);
(b) the
representations and warranties of the Parent and Merger Sub contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as if made as of
such
date (other than those representations and warranties that address matters
only
as of a particular date or only with respect to a specific period of time,
which
need only be true and correct as of such date or with respect to such
period);
(c) there
shall
be no order, decree or ruling by any Governmental Authority nor any action,
suit, claim or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority shall be
pending, which seeks to restrain, prevent or materially delay or restructure
the
transactions contemplated hereby or by any Ancillary Document, or which
otherwise questions the validity or legality of any such transactions;
(d) there
shall
be no statute, rules, regulation or order enacted, entered or enforced or deemed
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby which would prohibit or,
render illegal the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary
Documents;
(e) The
Parent
Stockholder Approval shall have been obtained.
33
(g) each
of the
documents to be delivered by the Parent pursuant to SECTION 6.3 shall have
been
so delivered by the Parent at the Closing.
5.2 CONDITIONS
TO
OBLIGATION OF THE PARENT. The obligation of the Parent to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the satisfaction on or
prior to the Closing of the following conditions (any of which may be waived
in
writing by the Parent):
(a) the
Shareholders and the Company shall have performed or complied with all
obligations and agreements required to be performed or complied with by any
of
them hereunder on or prior to the Closing (including, without limitation, those
specified in SECTION 6.2);
(b) the
representations and warranties of the Shareholders and the Company contained
in
this Agreement shall be true and correct as of the Closing Date as if made
as of
such date (other than those representations and warranties that address matters
only as of a particular date or only with respect to a specific period of time,
which need only be true and correct as of such date or with respect to such
period);
(c) there
shall
be no order, decree or ruling by any Governmental Authority nor any action,
suit, claim or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority shall be
pending, which seeks to restrain, prevent or materially delay or restructure
the
transactions contemplated hereby or any Ancillary Document, or which otherwise
questions the validity or legality of any such transactions;
(d) there
shall
be no statute, rules, regulation or order enacted, entered or enforced or deemed
applicable to the transactions contemplated hereby which would prohibit or
render illegal the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary
Documents;
(e) the
Company
shall have obtained on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Parent all
consents and approvals of third parties (including Governmental Authorities)
that are required (i) for the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or any Ancillary Document, or (ii) in order to prevent a breach of,
a
default under or a termination, material change in the terms or conditions
or
material modification of, any Material Agreement as a result of the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(f) each
of the
documents to be delivered by Shareholders or the Company pursuant to SECTION
6.2
shall have been so delivered by Shareholders or the Company at the
Closing;
(g) the
Company
shall have completed its audited financial statements as required by Item 9.01
of Form 8-K.
(h) The
Parent
and Xxxx X. Xxxxx Xx. shall enter into the Consulting Agreement, in the form
attached as EXHIBIT B hereto.
(i)
Voting
Agreements executed by a majority of the shareholders of the Company electing
Xxxx X. Xxxxx Xx. as a member of the board of directors of Parent (the “BOARD”)
for up to three years from the Effective Time unless he otherwise resigns or
is
terminated for cause by a vote of 75% or more of the members of the Board and
appointing him during his tenure as Chairman Emeritus.
34
ARTICLE
VI
CLOSING
6.1 CLOSING.
The
closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the “CLOSING”) shall take place
as set forth in Section 1.2 hereof.
6.2 COMPANY'S
DELIVERIES AT CLOSING. At the Closing, the Company shall deliver or cause to
be
delivered to the Parent all of the following:
(a) the
Certificates that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented
outstanding Company Shares whose shares were converted into the right to receive
Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(c), together with a duly executed
letter of transmittal;
(b) the
corporate
minute book, seal, and stock ledger of the Company;
(c) evidence
that
the Company has obtained on terms and conditions reasonably satisfactory to
the
Company all consents and approvals of third parties (including Governmental
Authorities) that are required (i) for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or (ii) in order to prevent a material breach of, a default
under or a termination, material change in the terms or conditions or material
modification of, any Contract as a result of the consummation of the transaction
contemplated hereby;
(d) original
counterparts to the Investor Representation Letters duly executed by each
Shareholder;
(f) certified
consents of the Board of Directors and Shareholders of the Company authorizing
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(g) a
certificate
of good standing of the Company from the state of California as of the most
recent practicable date;
(h) certificates
of the Company, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company,
dated the Closing Date, certifying compliance with the conditions set forth
in
SECTIONS 5.2(A) and 5.2(B);
(i) a
legal
opinion from the Company's legal counsel in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Parent;
(j) Audited
financial statements of the Company as required for the filing of the Current
Report on Form 8-K Item 901, and
35
(k) such
other
documents and instruments as shall be reasonably necessary to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6.3 PARENT'S
DELIVERIES AT CLOSING. At the Closing, the Parent shall deliver or cause to
be
delivered to the Company all of the following:
(a) certificates
representing the Merger Consideration, registered in the names of the
Shareholders (as of the Closing);
(b) certified
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Parent authorizing the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) certified
resolutions of the Board of Directors and Stockholders of the Merger Sub
authorizing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
(d) written
resignations of the officers of the Parent and Merger Sub effective as of the
Closing Date in form satisfactory to the Company;
(e) written
resignations of the directors of the Parent and Merger Sub to be effective
as of
the Closing Date in form satisfactory to the Company;
(f) certified
resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Parent appointing the officers and
directors of the Company (or their designees) as the officers and directors
of
the Parent and Merger Sub;
(g) evidence,
in
form and substance satisfactory to the Company, of satisfaction, accord,
settlement and/or full release of all Liabilities set forth on SCHEDULE 3(G)
hereto;
(h) a
Form D
pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act, the filing of
which will be effected within fifteen (15) days of Closing;
(i) a
certificate
of good standing of the Parent and from the State of Nevada and from Merger
Sub
from the State of Delaware as of the most recent practicable date;
(j) a
certificate
of the Parent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company,
dated the Closing Date and signed by the President and the Chief Financial
Officer of the Parent evidencing compliance with the conditions set forth in
SECTIONS 5.1(A) and 5.1(B);
(k) Executed
Parent Voting Agreements;
(l) a
legal
opinion from Parent's counsel regarding the legality of the issuance of the
Parent Company Shares; and
(m) (i)
evidence that
the Parent’s board of directors is authorized to consist of nine individuals,
(ii) the resignations of all individuals who served as directors and/or officers
of the Parent immediately prior to the Closing Date, which resignations shall
be
effective as of the Closing Date, except for Xxxx X. Xxxxx Xx. (iii) evidence
of
the appointment of such directors of Parent and Merger Sub as designated by
the
Company to serve immediately following the Closing Date and (iv) evidence of
the
appointment of such executive officers of the Parent and Merger Sub to serve
immediately upon the Closing Date as shall have been designated by the Company;
and
36
(n) such
other
documents and instruments as shall be reasonably necessary to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby
6.4 OTHER
DOCUMENTS. The parties agree to execute and deliver on or before the Closing
all
other documents that are reasonably necessary or desirable in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to carry out the intent
of
this Agreement.
6.5 EXPENSES.
Except in the case of termination of the Merger for any reason, the Company
shall pay the expenses, including, but not limited to, attorneys', accountants',
financial advisors' and brokers' or finders' fees, incurred in connection with
the transactions contemplated hereby (“EXPENSES”). If the Merger is terminated
for breach of any representation or covenant set forth herein, Parent shall
promptly reimburse Company for any bona
fide Expenses
incurred on Parent’s behalf by the Company.
ARTICLE
VII
TERMINATION
7.1 TERMINATION.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by
mutual
consent of the Parent and the Company;
(b) by
either the
Parent or the Company if the Closing shall not have been consummated on or
before March 1, 2008 (provided that the terminating party is not otherwise
in
material breach of its obligations under this Agreement), which date may be
extended by written agreement of the Parent and the Company; or
(c) by
either the
Parent or the Company, if a permanent injunction or other order by any Federal
or state court which would make illegal or otherwise restrain or prohibit the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been issued
and
shall have become final and non-appealable.
7.2 EFFECT
OF
TERMINATION. In the event of the termination of this Agreement in accordance
with this ARTICLE VII, this Agreement shall thereafter become void and, except
as set forth in Section 6.5 and this Section 7.2, there shall be no liability
on
the part of any party hereto or their respective directors, officers,
stockholders or agents, provided,
however,
that
any such termination shall be without prejudice to the rights of any party
hereto arising out of any breach by any other party of this Agreement;
provided,
further,
that in
the event that this Agreement is terminated by Company due to a breach by the
Parent or Merger Sub of Section 4.4, Parent, Merger Sub and Company agree to
liquidated damages to be paid to the Company by Parent in the amount of
$1,000,000 within 10 days of the date of Company reasonably determines such
breach has occurred and can not be cured within 20 days. It is the intent of
Parent, Merger Sub and Company that the foregoing damages constitute the sole
and exclusive remedy for such a breach by Parent or Merger Sub of Section 4.4
hereof and that such sum is a reasonable estimate of damages and not a
penalty.
37
ARTICLE
VIII
DEFINITIONS
For
purposes of this Agreement, the following terms and phrases shall have the
following meanings:
“AMENDMENT”
shall mean an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation of the Parent which
shall provide for (i) changing the name of the Parent to “Zealous Holdings,
Inc.,” (ii) the increase of authorized shares of Parent Common Stock from
50,000,000
to 100,000,000 shares,
, (iii)
the increase of authorized shares of Parent Common Stock from 500,000
to 1,000,000 shares,
(vi)
authorization of the Certificate of Designations of the Parent Preferred Stock,
(vii) authorization of the Board of Directors of the Parent to issue blank
check
preferred stock, (viii) a reverse split of the Parent Common Stock so that
12
issued
and outstanding shares of Common stock be combined into one share of validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable share of Parent Common Stock and
(ix)
such other changes to the Articles of Incorporation and/or By-Laws of the Parent
that the Company and Board of Directors of Parent deem necessary to accomplish
the transactions contemplated hereby.
“AFFILIATE”
shall have the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 405 promulgated under the
Securities Act.
“BUSINESS
DAY” shall mean any Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a
day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized by
law, regulation or executive order to close.
“COMPANY
STOCK OPTION” shall mean any option to purchase Company Shares granted under the
Company Stock Plan or otherwise.
“COMPANY
STOCK PLAN” shall mean the 2007 Stock Incentive Plan of the
Company.
“CODE”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“EMPLOYEE
BENEFIT PLAN” shall mean any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3)
of ERISA and any other plan, policy, program, practice, agreement, understanding
or arrangement (whether written or unwritten) providing compensation or other
benefits to any current or former director, officer, employee or consultant
(or
to any dependent or beneficiary thereof), of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate,
which are now, or were within the past six years, maintained by the Company
or
any ERISA Affiliate, or under which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has
or
could have any obligation or liability, whether actual or contingent (and
including, without limitation, any liability arising out of an indemnification,
guarantee, hold harmless or similar agreement), including, without limitation,
all incentive, bonus, deferred compensation, vacation, holiday, cafeteria,
medical, disability, stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation, phantom
stock, restricted stock or other stock-based compensation plans, policies,
programs, practices or arrangements.
38
“ENVIRONMENTAL
LAW” shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign law (including any common
law), statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation or other requirement relating
to the environment, natural resources or public or employee health and safety,
and includes, but not limited to, CERCLA, the Hazardous Materials Transportation
Act, 49 U.S.C. ss. 1801 et seq., as amended, the Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq., as amended, the Clean Water Act,
33
U.S.C. ss. 2601 et seq., as amended, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. ss. 7401
et
seq., as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq.,
as amended, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C.
ss. 136 et seq., as amended, the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, 33 U.S.C. ss. 2701
et seq., as amended, the New York Navigation Law, as amended, and the
Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et seq., as
amended.
“ENVIRONMENTAL
COSTS AND LIABILITIES” shall mean any and all losses, liabilities, obligations,
damages, fines, penalties, judgments, actions, claims, costs and expenses
(including, without limitation, fees, disbursements and expenses of legal
counsel, experts, engineers and consultants and the costs of investigation
and
feasibility studies and remedial activities) arising from or under any
Environmental Law or order or contract with any Governmental Authority or any
other Person.
“ERISA”
shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA
AFFILIATE” shall mean any entity that, together with the Company, is or was
treated as a single employer under Section 414(b), (c) or (m) of the Code.
“EXCHANGE
ACT” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“GAAP”
shall mean generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United
States.
“GOVERNMENTAL
AUTHORITY” shall mean any court, administrative agency or commission or other
governmental authority or instrumentality, domestic or foreign.
“HAZARDOUS
MATERIALS” shall mean any petroleum or petroleum products, radioactive
materials, asbestos-containing materials, radon gas, PCBs and any other
hazardous or toxic substance, material or waste which is or becomes prior to
the
Closing regulated under, or defined as a “hazardous substance,” “pollutant,”
“contaminant,” “hazardous waste,” “toxic chemical,” “hazardous materials,”
“toxic substance” or “hazardous chemical” under any Environmental Law.
“LAWS”
shall mean all applicable statutes, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders,
writs, injunctions, judgments, decrees, awards or restrictions of any
governmental entity.
39
“LIABILITIES”
shall mean any liability or obligation, including without limitation, any direct
or indirect indebtedness, guaranty, endorsement, claim, loss, damage,
deficiency, cost, expense, obligation or responsibility, whether known or
unknown, fixed or unfixed, xxxxxx or inchoate, liquidated or unliquidated,
secured or unsecured.
“LIENS”
shall mean any security interest, mortgage, lien, charge, claims, option and
encumbrance.
“MATERIAL
ADVERSE EFFECT” used in connection with a party shall mean any event, change or
effect that is or is reasonably likely to become materially adverse to the
condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, liabilities, businesses,
operations, results of operations or prospects of such party and its
subsidiaries, if any, on a consolidated basis.
“PARENT
COMMON STOCK” shall mean the common stock, par value $.001 per
share.
“PENSION
PLAN” shall mean any qualified or non-qualified Employee Pension Benefit Plan
(including, any Multiemployer Plan), as such term is defined in Section 3(2)
of
ERISA.
“PERSON”
shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated
or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental
entity of any kind.
“PRE-CLOSING
PERIOD” shall mean all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date and
the portion ending on or before the Closing Date of any taxable period that
includes (but does not end on) the Closing Date.
“PRIMARY
SHAREHOLDERS” shall mean Xxxx X. Xxxxx Xx. and Xxxxx Xxxxx.
“SEC”
shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC
DOCUMENTS” shall mean all reports and registration statements filed, or required
to be filed, by the Parent pursuant to the Securities Laws.
“SECURITIES
ACT” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“SECURITIES
LAWS” shall mean the Securities Act; the Exchange Act; the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended; the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended; the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; and the rules and regulations of the
SEC promulgated thereunder.
“SHAREHOLDER”
shall mean any holder of capital stock of the Company.
“SUBSIDIARY”
shall mean, as to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited liability
company or other entity which securities or other ownership interests having
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, the general
managers or other persons performing similar functions, are at the time directly
or indirectly owned by such Person; unless otherwise specified, “Subsidiary”
means a Subsidiary of the Company.
40
“TAXES”
shall mean taxes, fees, levies, duties, tariffs, imposts, and governmental
impositions or charges of any kind in the nature of (or similar to) taxes,
payable to any federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority, including
(without limitation) (i) income, franchise, profits, gross receipts, AD VALOREM,
net worth, value added, sales, use, service, real or personal property, special
assessments, capital stock, license, payroll, withholding, employment, social
security, workers' compensation, unemployment compensation, utility, severance,
production, excise, stamp, occupation, premiums, windfall profits, transfer
and
gains taxes, and (ii) interest, penalties, additional taxes and additions to
tax
imposed with respect thereto.
“WELFARE
PLAN” shall mean any Employee Welfare Benefit Plan, as such term is defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA.
ARTICLE
IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 NOTICES.
All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given if delivered personally (including delivery
by
courier service), or mailed by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid,
return receipt requested, or sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier
service, as follows:
(a) If
to the
Parent, to:
Atlantic
Syndication Network, Inc.
X.X.
Xxx
00000
Xxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxx 00000-0000
Att:
Xxxx
X. Xxxxx, Xx.
with
a
copy (which shall not constitute notice to:
Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx, P.C.
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx
0000
Xxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
Att:
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxx
41
(b) If
to the
Company, the Shareholders or the Shareholder Representative, to:
Zealous
Holdings, Inc.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Att:
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx III
with
a
copy (which shall not constitute notice to:
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx LLP
000
Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
Att:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
or
to
such other address as the Person to whom notice is to be given may have
previously furnished to the other parties in writing in accordance herewith.
Notice shall be deemed given on the date received (or, if receipt thereof is
refused, on the date of such refusal).
9.2 AMENDMENTS
AND WAIVERS. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except
by written agreement of the parties hereto. No waiver by any party of any
non-compliance, default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant
hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall be deemed to extend to any prior
or
subsequent non-compliance, default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty
or
covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any
prior or subsequent such occurrence.
9.3 INTERPRETATION.
The
headings preceding the text of Articles and Sections included in this Agreement
and the headings to Exhibits and Schedules attached to this Agreement are for
convenience only and shall not be deemed part of this Agreement or be given
any
effect in interpreting this Agreement. The use of the masculine, feminine or
neuter gender herein shall not limit any provision of this Agreement. The use
of
the terms “including” or “include” shall in all cases herein mean “including,
without limitation” or “include, without limitation,” respectively. References
to any “Article”, “Section”, “Exhibit” or “Schedule” shall refer to an Article
or Section of, or an Exhibit or Schedule to, this Agreement. In any case where
the concept of materiality is applied more than once to qualify any provision
of
this Agreement (whether by cross-referencing or incorporation or otherwise),
such provision shall be interpreted as if only one, but the broadest one, of
such materiality qualification applied to it. Any due diligence review, audit
or
other investigation or inquiry undertaken or performed by or on behalf of a
party shall not limit, qualify, modify or amend the representations, warranties
or covenants of, or indemnities made by any other party pursuant to this
Agreement, irrespective of the knowledge and information received (or which
should have been received) therefrom by the investigating party and consummation
of the transactions contemplated herein by a party shall not be deemed a waiver
of a breach of or inaccuracy in any representation, warranty or covenant or
of
any other party's rights and remedies with regard thereto.
9.4 ASSIGNMENT;
BINDING UPON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. None of the parties hereto may assign
or
delegate any of its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written
consent of the other parties hereto. This Agreement will be binding upon and
inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors,
heirs, legatees, distributees and assigns.
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9.5 PARTIES
IN
INTEREST. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit
of the parties hereto and their respective successors, permitted assigns and
legal representatives, and nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is
intended to confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature.
9.6 COUNTERPARTS;
FACSIMILES. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each
of
which shall be deemed to constitute an original and shall become effective
when
one or more counterparts have been signed by each party hereto and delivered
to
the other parties. Counterparts may be executed either in original, faxed form,
or “.pdf” form and the parties adopt any signatures received by a receiving fax
machine or an e-mail as original signatures of the parties; provided,
however,
that
any party providing its signature in such manner shall promptly forward to
the
other party an original of the signed copy of this Agreement which was so faxed
or e-mailed.
9.7 GOVERNING
LAW; VENUE; JURISDICTION. The laws of the State of Delaware (irrespective of
its
choice of law principles) will govern the validity of this Agreement, the
construction of its terms and the interpretation and enforcement of the rights
and duties of the parties hereto. This Agreement shall be enforceable in any
court of competent jurisdiction. In furtherance of and not in limitation of
the
foregoing, the parties hereto (i) agree and consent to the personal jurisdiction
and venue of the state and Federal courts sitting in the State of Delaware
in
any action or proceeding arising out of or connected in any way with this
Agreement, (ii) irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by law,
any
claim that any such proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum, and (iii) agree that service of process in any such action
or proceeding will be sufficient if sent by certified mail, return receipt
requested, to applicable address set forth above, and that such service shall
constitute “personal service,” and further agree to the invocation of said
jurisdiction by service of process in any other manner authorized by law.
9.8 SEVERABILITY.
If any term or provision of this Agreement shall, to any extent, be held by
a
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable, the remainder
of
this Agreement or the application of such term or provision to Persons or
circumstances other than those as to which it has been held invalid or
unenforceable, shall not be affected thereby and this Agreement shall be deemed
severable and shall be enforced otherwise to the full extent permitted by law.
9.9 ENTIRE
AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits referred to
herein and which form a part hereof) and the Ancillary Documents constitute
the
entire agreement among the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements
and understandings, oral and written, among the parties hereto with respect
to
the subject matter hereof except for a confidentiality agreement by and among
the parties hereto, if any.
9.10 SCHEDULES
AND
EXHIBITS. The Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto are incorporated herein
and
made a part hereof for all purposes.
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9.11 SURVIVAL.
The
representations and warranties of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub contained
in this Agreement and the other agreements, certificates and documents
contemplated hereby shall terminate and be of no further force or effect at,
and
as of, the Effective Time, and only the covenants and agreements of the Parent
and Company in this Agreement and the other agreements, certificates and
documents contemplated hereby that by their terms survive the Effective Time
shall survive the Effective Time.
9.12 RULES
OF
CONSTRUCTION. The parties hereto agree that they have been represented by
counsel during the negotiation and execution of this Agreement and, therefore,
waive the application of any law, regulation, holding or rule of construction
providing that ambiguities in an agreement or other document will be construed
against the party drafting such agreement or document.
9.13 WAIVER
OF
JURY TRIAL. EACH OF PARENT, MERGER SUB AND THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES
ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER
BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT OR THE ACTIONS OF PARENT, MERGER SUB OR THE COMPANY IN THE
NEGOTIATION, ADMINISTRATION, PERFORMANCE AND ENFORCEMENT HEREOF.
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IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, this Agreement and Plan of Merger has been duly executed and
delivered by the parties hereto on the date first above written.
PARENT:
ATLANTIC SYNDICATION NETWORK, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Xx.
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Title: President and CEO
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MERGER
SUB:
ASNI II, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx,
Xx.
Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxx, Xx.
Title: President
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|
COMPANY:
ZEALOUS HOLDINGS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
III
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx III
Title: Chairman and
CEO
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45