ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Exhibit
4.24
Asset
Purchase Agreement by and between J & J Snack Foods and CoolBrands
Manufacturing
This
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made as of the 30th day of
March, 2007
by and among J & J SNACK FOODS CORP. of CALIFORNIA., a California
corporation (the “Buyer”) and COOLBRANDS MANUFACTURING INC., a Delaware
corporation (the “Seller”).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS,
Seller has a product known as Fruit-A-Freeze under which it has produced
various
frozen novelties;
WHEREAS,
Seller has a leased manufacturing facility located at 00000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
xXxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx (“Manufacturing Facility”) which manufactured Fruit A
Freeze products;
WHEREAS,
Seller desires to sell its inventory of Fruit A Freeze products, the
Manufacturing Facility’s equipment, the trade name Fruit A Freeze, packaging
materials and other miscellaneous assets associated with the manufacturing
and
sale of Fruit A Freeze (“Business”); and
WHEREAS,
Buyer desires to acquire the Business;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth herein, Buyer and Seller agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
Purchase
and Sale, Payment
1.1 Purchase
and Sale
Subject
to the terms and conditions hereof, Seller shall sell, assign, transfer and
deliver to Buyer or at Buyer’s election, to an affiliate of Buyer, and Buyer
shall purchase, pay for and accept from Seller, all of the Business, wherever
located, together with all of the goodwill associated therewith (collectively,
the “Purchased Assets”). The Purchased Assets shall be sold,
assigned, transferred and delivered free and clear of all
Liens. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Purchased Assets shall include, as the same exist on the Closing
Date:
(a) equipment
set forth on Schedule “1.1 (a)”;
(b) all
leasehold improvements of the Seller at the Manufacturing Facility;
(c) all
rights of Seller under the Contracts;
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(d)
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all
of Seller’s Business papers, books and records in whatever form (e.g.,
computerized information and written information), including, without
limitation, sales records, invoices, credit records, customer lists
and
records, supplier lists and records, price lists, purchasing materials
and
records, personnel, labor relations and payroll records, warranty
and
service records, accounting and financial records, inventory records,
accounts receivable and accounts payable records and files, tax
records
and litigation files wherever located relating to the
Business;
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(e)
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the
inventories and supplies of the Seller relating to the Business
(the
“Inventory”), as well as the marketing and sales literature of the Seller,
listed on Schedule “1.1(e)”;
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(f)
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any
Licenses relating to the Business, except for any License the transfer
of
which to Buyer would violate any applicable governmental law, rule,
regulation, or ordinance;
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1
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(g)
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the
goodwill and going concern value and other intangible assets, if
any, of
Seller relating to the Business, including without limitation the
name
“Fruit A Freeze”, customer lists and related current and historical
information; and
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(h) any
and all assets relating to the Business not specifically set forth
above.
1.2 Excluded
Assets
Notwithstanding
any other provision contained in this Agreement, the Purchased Assets shall
not
include any cash of the Seller or the Business or any accounts receivable
in of
the Seller, provided that those accounts receivable of the Seller in respect
of
goods sold by the Seller relate to goods shipped by the Seller prior to the
Closing Date.
1.3 Non-Assumption
of Liabilities By Buyer
Seller
hereby retains liability for and agrees to be solely liable for, and Buyer
shall
not be liable for, any and all debts, responsibilities, obligations or
liabilities of, or claims against the Seller or its affiliates (the
“Liabilities”) of any kind or nature, known, unknown, contingent or
otherwise arising prior to the Closing Date or with respect to any period
ending
on or prior to the Closing Date other than as specifically set forth as Schedule
1.3. Without limiting the foregoing, it is understood that Buyer
shall not be responsible for any of the following Liabilities, including,
without limitation, any that exist now or that may arise in the future (such
Liabilities of Seller not listed on Schedule 1.3, the “Excluded
Liabilities”):
(a) trade
and other payables of the Seller existing on or for periods prior to the
Closing
Date;
(b) any
indebtedness for borrowed money of the Seller;
(c) any
tax liability of the Seller;
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(d)
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any
liability arising out of any contract or agreement, other than
obligations
arising under the Contracts in the ordinary course of
business;
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(e)
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any
liability arising from breach or violation by the Seller of any
contract
or permit or other obligation or legal duty (including, without
limitation, any tort committed or alleged to have been committed
by the
Seller) or any violation of any law, regulation or governmental
order
occurring or in existence on or prior to the Closing Date, or arising
from
any breach or violations of any contract which results from the
transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
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(f)
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any
liability constituting benefit liabilities, including, without
limitation,
severance or termination costs incurred by the Seller in connection
with
its employees under contracts, policies, unemployment or other
applicable
laws or otherwise, in each case relating to periods prior to the
Closing
Date;
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(g)
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any
liability arising from any environmental risk, contamination, condition,
discharge or disposal occurring or in existence on or prior to
the Closing
Date, whenever and by whomever generated, whether or not in compliance
with applicable laws;
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(h)
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any
liability of the Seller which any Person seeks to impose upon Buyer
or the
Business by virtue of any theory of successor liability, including,
without limitation, liabilities relating to environmental matters,
employee benefit plans, taxes and labor and employment matters,
employees
injured at work, either arising prior to the Closing Date or relating
to
periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date;
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(i)
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any
liability pertaining to the products and/or services of Seller
sold or
performed on or prior to the Closing Date in the nature of express
or
implied warranty, negligence, product liability, strict liability,
personal injury, property damage, economic loss or replacement
cost or
third party liability, whether such obligations, liabilities or
claims are
in existence now or on the Closing Date or arise hereafter or thereafter,
and whether or not any such obligations, liabilities or claims
are
presently known or discoverable by the Seller or the
Buyer;
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2
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(j)
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any
legal, accounting, appraisal or other fees, costs or expenses of
the
Seller in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement,
or any other taxes, expenses or liabilities which under the terms
of this
Agreement are not to be borne by the
Buyer;
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(k)
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any
liability in connection with, or pursuant to, any lawsuits or other
contingent liabilities of the Business, whether or not disclosed
to Buyer,
relating to periods ended on or before the Closing
Date;
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(l)
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any
liability with respect to hazards to health or safety arising from
the
operation of the Business on or prior to the Closing Date, including,
without limitation, hazards of occupational injury or
disease;
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(m)
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any
liability for the payment for all outstanding checks issued by
the Seller
which are outstanding as of the Closing Date;
or
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Seller
hereby agrees to (i) retain and be solely responsible for each of the
Liabilities and (ii) indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from and against each
of
the Liabilities. All sales and use taxes resulting from the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby shall be borne by the
Seller, and the parties shall cooperate in obtaining all exemptions from
such
taxes.
1.4 Consideration,
Allocation, Election
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(a)
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The
consideration for the Purchased Assets payable by the Buyer (collectively,
the “Consideration”) at the Closing, shall consist of One Million
Six Hundred and Twelve Thousand U.S. Dollars
(US$1,612,000.00).
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(b)
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The
Consideration specified in this Section 1.4 above shall be
allocated, as among the Purchased Assets, in accordance with Schedule
1.4, and the parties shall abide by such allocations in all tax
filings and other reports which the parties shall make or
render. Buyer and Seller hereby agree that the allocations set
forth on Schedule 1.4 have been fully and finally negotiated by
Buyer and Seller and their respective representatives with knowledge
of
and due regard for all relevant
factors.
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(c) The
Consideration shall be paid by wire transfer at Closing.
ARTICLE
II
Representations
and Warranties of the Seller
The
Seller represents and warrants to the Buyer as follows:
2.1 Organization
and Good Standing
The
Seller is a duly-organized and validly existing corporation in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full power and authority to
own
the Purchased Assets and to conduct the Business as conducted.
2.2 Binding
Agreement: No Litigation
This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Seller and is a valid
and
binding obligation and agreement of the Seller enforceable in accordance
with
its terms (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
conservatorship, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors rights generally). The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby by the Seller, as applicable: (a) will not violate, contravene, result
in
a breach of or constitute a default (with due notice or lapse of time or
both)
under the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Seller, or any note,
mortgage, contract, instrument, judgment, law, rule, regulation or decree
to
which Seller is a party or by which any of them or the Purchased Assets is
bound, (b) will not afford any lender the right to accelerate, declare at
once
due and payable or demand prepayment of (or any penalty, charge or premium
with
respect to) any indebtedness of the Seller and (c) has been duly approved
by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Seller, including, without
limitation, by the Board of Directors of the Seller.
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No
consent, permit, authorization, approval or action of any federal, state
or
local authority or any other Person is required with respect to the Seller
in
connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Seller is not a party to (and has no knowledge of) any
litigation or other claim or proceeding which calls into question the validity
or enforceability of this Agreement or seeks to delay or prevent any transaction
contemplated hereby.
2.3 Absence
of Claims
Except
as provided in Schedule 2.3 attached hereto, no action,
suit, proceeding, investigation or claim (including, without limitation,
assertion of any claim for taxes, interest or penalties) is pending or to
the
Knowledge of Seller, threatened against or with respect to the Business or
the
Purchased Assets, nor to the knowledge of Seller, is there any valid basis
for
any such action, suit, proceeding, investigation or claim.
2.4 Operations
in Accordance with Law
The
Business has been operated, and its products and services have been and are
now
being sold and performed, in material compliance with all applicable
governmental laws, rules, regulations and ordinances. All material
licenses, permits and orders required of the Seller to conduct the Business
and
to sell its products and services have been obtained and are now in full
force
and effect. There exists no outstanding notice, order or directive by
any court or governmental agency or authority to the effect that the Seller
is
failing or has failed to comply with any law, rule, regulation or ordinance,
or
that the Seller is required to obtain any license, permit or order.
2.5 Contractual
Obligations
(a) Seller
has furnished to Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all contracts,
leases, agreements and other instruments, which constitute all contracts,
leases, agreements or other instruments (with respect to the Business) to
which
the Seller is currently a party, other than those contracts which may be
terminated by the Seller on no more than one month’s notice (the “Short-Term
Contracts”) (all such contracts, agreements or other instruments pther than the
Short-Term Contracts, the “Contracts”), which are specifically set forth on
Schedule 2.5. The Seller has not breached any material
representation, warranty or covenant contained in any of the Contracts and
is
not otherwise in material default with respect thereto. The Seller
does not have any knowledge that any other party to any Contract is in default
or is claimed to be in default in complying with any provision thereof or
has
committed or permitted any event which, with notice or the passage of time
or
both, would constitute such a default. Each Contract is in full force
and effect and is valid and binding upon the parties thereto. The Buyer shall
bear no liability in respect of any Short-Term Contract following the
termination of such Short-Term Contract by the Buyer.
(b) The
sale and assignment of the Purchased Assets to the Buyer by the Buyer will
not
cause any breach or default on the part of the Seller with respect to any
of the
Contracts.
2.6 Title
to Assets: Condition of Assets
(a) The
Seller has good and marketable title to all Purchased Assets, free and clear
of
any lien, mortgage, security interest, charge, pledge, retention of title
agreement, adverse claim, easement, encroachment, restrictive covenant or
other
encumbrance affecting title to any property of any sort (any such encumbrance,
a
“Lien”) and no other person, firm, corporation, partnership, association,
governmental or judiciary agency or other entity (any such person or entity,
a
“Person”) has or will have at Closing any interest whatsoever in any of the
Purchased Assets.
(b) The
Inventory included in the Purchased Assets has been acquired in the ordinary
course of the Seller’s business.
2.7 Intellectual
Property
(a) Seller
represents and warrants that all Intellectual Property necessary for the
operation of the Business as presently conducted is owned by Integrated Brands,
Inc. (“IB”), an affiliate of the Seller. Each item of Intellectual
Property owned by IB and relating to the Business immediately prior to the
Closing hereunder will be owned or available for use by Buyer on identical
terms
and conditions immediately subsequent to the Closing hereunder. IB
has taken all necessary action to maintain and protect each item of Intellectual
Property with respect to the Business that it owns or uses.
(b) Seller
or IB, in Seller’s operation of the Business, have not interfered with,
infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any
Intellectual Property rights of third parties, and none of Seller
or
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IB’s
directors and officers (and employees with responsibility for Intellectual
Property matters) have ever received any charge, complaint, claim, demand
or
notice alleging any such interference, infringement, misappropriation, or
violation (including any claim that Seller or IB must license or refrain
from
using any Intellectual Property rights of any third party). To the
knowledge of Seller, no third party has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any Intellectual Property
rights of IB.
(c) Schedule
“2.7(c)” identifies each patent or registration, including, without limitation,
each trademark registration, which has been issued to IB with respect to
any of
its Intellectual Property, identifies each pending patent application or
application for registration which IB has made with respect to any of its
Intellectual Property, and identifies each license, agreement, or other
permission which IB has granted to any third party with respect to any of
its
Intellectual Property (together with any exceptions). IB has
delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies of all such patents,
registrations, trademark registrations, applications, licenses, agreements,
and
permissions (as amended to date) and has made available to Buyer correct
and
complete copies of all such other written documentation evidencing ownership
and
prosecution (if applicable) of each such item. Schedule 2.7(c)
also identifies each trade name or unregistered trademark used by Seller
in
connection with the Business. With respect to each item of
Intellectual Property required to be identified in Schedule
“2.7(c)”:
(i) IB
possesses all right, title and interest in and to such item, free and clear
of
any Security Interest, license or other restriction;
(ii) such
item is not subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree,
ruling or charge;
(iii) no
action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim
or
demand is pending to the knowledge of Seller or is threatened with challenges
the legality, validity, enforceability, use, or ownership of such item;
and
(iv) Seller
and IB have not ever agreed to indemnify any Person for or against any
interference, infringement, misappropriation or other conflict with respect
to
such item.
(d) “Intellectual
Property” means with respect to the Business (i) all inventions (whether
patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all
improvements thereto, and all patents, patent applications, and patent
disclosures, together with all reissuances, continuations,
continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and reexaminations thereof,
(ii)
all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, and corporate
names, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations
thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, and all applications,
registrations and renewals in connection therewith, (iii) all copyrightable
works, all copyrights, and all applications, registrations and renewals in
connection therewith and (iv) all trade secrets and confidential business
information (including ideas, research and development, know-how formulas,
compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical
data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing
and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals), (vi)
all
computer software (including data and related documentation), (vii) all other
proprietary rights and (viii) all copies and tangible embodiments thereof
(in
whatever form or medium).
2.8 Environmental
Matters
(a) The
Purchased Assets and operations of the Business are and have been in compliance
in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws (as hereinafter
defined). There are and have been no hazardous materials stored,
handled or otherwise located in, on or under of any of the Real Estate or
other
Purchased Assets, other than in the ordinary course of Business, and there
have
been no known releases or threatened releases of hazardous materials in,
on or
under the Real Estate or any property occupied by the Seller. The
Seller has not stored or caused to be stored any hazardous materials on or
under
any of the Real Estate or other Purchased Assets, other than in compliance
with
Environmental Laws.
(b) None
of the Manufacturing Facility or other Purchased Assets is the subject of
any
federal, state or local investigation evaluating whether (i) any remedial
action
is needed to respond to a release or threatened release of any hazardous
materials into the environment or (ii) any release or threatened release
of any
hazardous materials into the environment is in contravention of any
Environmental Law.
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(c) The
Seller has no present or any contingent liability in connection with the
presence either on or off of the Manufacturing Facility or other Purchased
Assets of any hazardous materials or any release or threatened release of
any
hazardous materials into the environment.
(d) As
used herein, the term “Environmental Laws” shall mean any federal, state,
territorial, provincial or local law, common law doctrine, rule, order, decree,
judgment, injunction, license, permit or regulation relating to environmental
matters, including, without limitation, those pertaining to land use, air,
soil,
service water, ground water, public or employee health or safety or any other
environmental matter, together with any other laws relating to emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of any pollutant or contaminant,
including, without limitation, medical, chemical, biological, biohazardous
or
radioactive waste and materials or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, storage, disposal, transportation, discharge
or
handling of any contaminant.
2.9 OSHA
The
Seller in its operation of the Business and the Purchased Assets are presently
in material compliance with all applicable occupational safety and health
rules,
regulations and laws.
2.10 Licenses
The
Seller has obtained all approvals, permits and licenses required by any federal,
state, territorial, local or foreign law, rule or regulation, relating to
or
otherwise affecting the Business, the provision of the Services and the
ownership and operation of the Purchased Assets (collectively, the
“Licenses”). The Licenses are listed, along with their expiration
dates, on Schedule “2.10.” Seller, to the Knowledge of Seller, is in
material compliance with all Licenses. No action, suits, proceeding,
investigation, or claim is pending or, to Seller’s Knowledge, threatened to
revoke or limit any License.
2.11 Brokers
The
Seller is not under any obligation to any broker, finder or other intermediary
in connection with the sale of the Purchased Assets that would cause the
Buyer
to become liable for payment of any fee or expense with respect
thereto.
2.12 Disclosure
No
representation or warranty of the Seller in this Agreement or in any
certificate, schedule, statement or other document furnished or to be furnished
by the Seller to the Buyer pursuant hereto or in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby contains or will contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact required
to
be stated herein or therein or necessary to make the statements herein or
therein not misleading.
ARTICLE
III
Representations
and Warranties of the Buyer
The
Buyer hereby represents and warrants to the Seller as follows:
3.1 Organization
and Good Standing
Buyer
is a duly organized and validly existing corporation in good standing under
the
laws of the State of California, Buyer is duly qualified to do business as
a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
it
owns or leases real property or in which the conduct of its business requires
such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify could not reasonably
be expected to cause a material adverse effect on the business or operations
of
Buyer.
3.2 Binding
Agreement: No Litigation
This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Buyer and is a valid and
binding obligation and agreement of Buyer enforceable in accordance with
its
terms (except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
conservatorship, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors rights generally). The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer, including the purchase
of
the Purchased Assets and assumption of the Assumed Liabilities hereunder,
will
not violate, contravene, result in a breach of or constitute a default (with
due
notice or lapse of time or both) under the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws
of the Buyer, or any note, mortgage, contract, instrument, judgment, law,
rule,
regulation or decree to which the Buyer is a party or by which the Purchased
Assets are bound.
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3.3 Brokers
Buyer
is not under any obligation to any broker, finder or other intermediary in
connection with the purchase of Purchased Assets or assumption of the Assumed
Liabilities, which would cause Seller to become liable for payment of any
fee or
expense with respect thereto.
3.4 Disclosure
No
representation or warranty of the Buyer in this Agreement or in any certificate,
schedule, statement or other document furnished or to be furnished by the
Buyer
to the Seller pursuant hereto or in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby contains or will contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated
herein or therein or necessary to make the statements herein or therein not
misleading.
ARTICLE
IV
Closing:
4.1 Place
and Date ofClosing. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place on March 30,
2007 (the date of the Closing being referred to herein as the “Closing
Date”).
4.2 Actions
at Closing. At the Closing, there shall be made, by all necessary and
appropriate persons, all payments and deliveries stated in this Agreement
to be
made at the Closing and/or on or prior to the Closing Date.
ARTICLE
V
Indemnification
5.1 Indemnification
by the Seller
(a) The
Seller hereby agrees to jointly and severally defend, indemnify and hold
Buyer
and its officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys and representatives
(individually, a “Buyer Indemnitee” and, collectively, the “Buyer
Indemnitees”), harmless from and against any damages, liabilities, losses
and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable attorney’s fees
(collectively, “Seller Losses”), which may be sustained or suffered by
Buyer arising out of, based upon, or by reason of a breach of any representation
or warranty, or failure to perform any agreement or covenant made by the
Seller
in this Agreement or in any agreement or document pursuant hereto or arising
out, based upon, or by reason any claim, action or proceeding asserted or
instituted or growing out of, any matter or thing covered by such
representations, warranties or covenants. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Seller hereby agrees to jointly and severally defend, indemnify
and hold each Buyer Indemnitee harmless from any debts, responsibilities,
obligations or liabilities of or claims against the Seller arising or with
respect to periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date.
5.2 Notice:
Defense of Claims
Each
party of this Agreement shall give
prompt written notice to the other party or parties to this Agreement under
each
claim for indemnification hereunder specifying the amount and nature of the
claim and any matter which is likely to give rise to an indemnification
claim. Each party to this Agreement has the right to participate at
his or its own expense in the defense of any such matter or settlement, or
the
indemnified party may direct the indemnifying party to take over the defense
of
such matters so long as such defense is expeditious. Failure to give
timely notice of a matter which may give rise to an indemnification claim
shall
not affect the rights of the indemnified party to collect such claim from
the
indemnifying party so long as such failure to so notify does not materially
adversely affect the indemnifying party’s ability to defend such claim against
the third party. No indemnifying party, in the defense of any claim
or litigation, shall, except with the consent of an indemnified party, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to entry of
any
judgment or enter into any settlement by which such indemnified party is
to be
bound and which judgment or settlement does not include as an unconditional
term
thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party
of a
release from all liability and respect to such claim or litigation.
5.3 Exclusive
Remedy
Except
as provided below, the
parties have acknowledged and agree that the exclusive remedy of one party
against the other party for any matter rising under this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby as a remedy expressly provided in this Article
V and such other party shall have no other obligation with respect
thereto. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a party shall have the right
to specifically enforce a provision of this Agreement either pursuant to
Article
5 or otherwise. The foregoing notwithstanding, the provisions of this
Section 5.3 shall not apply in the case of fraud or intentional
misrepresentation on the part of any party to this Agreement.
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ARTICLE
VI
6.1 Deposits
Seller
shall be entitled to the
refund of all deposits including, without limitation, those relating to its
lease of the Manufacturing Facility and those made to
utilities. Buyer shall assist Seller in recovering such deposits to
the extent so requested by Seller
ARTICLE
VII
Miscellaneous
7.1 Materiality
and Survival Period
All
of the Buyer’s and the Seller’s respective representations and warranties set
forth in this Agreement shall be deemed to have been material and relied
upon by
the party to whom made and shall survive Closing and remain in full force
and
effect after the Closing Date and shall expire upon the second anniversary
of
the Closing Date.
7.2 Expenses
The
Buyer, on the one hand, and the Seller, on the other, shall each pay all
of its
own respective costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by them,
respectively, in negotiating and preparing this Agreement and in closing
and
carrying out the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Seller
shall not pay any such expenses.
7.3 Notices
All
notices, requests, demands, instructions and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to be effective only if delivered
by
hand, by facsimile transmission, by nationally-recognized overnight courier
service or by prepaid United States registered or certified mail, return
receipt
requested, as follows:
(a) If
to Seller, to:
Coolbrands
Manufacturing Inc.
000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx
X0X
0X0
Attn: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Facsimile
No. 905-479-5235
with
a copy to:
Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Barrister and Solicitor
000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxx
X0X
0X0
Attn: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx
Facsimile
No. 000-000-0000
(b) If
to Buyer, to:
J
& J Snack Foods Corp. of California
c/o
J & J Snack Foods Corp.
0000
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx, Chairman of the Board
Facsimile
No. 000-000-0000
With
a copy to:
Xxxxxxx/Xxxxxxxxx
P.C.
000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Attn: A.
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Esquire
Facsimile
No. 000-000-0000
8
or
to such other address as Seller or Buyer may specify by written notice to
the
other from time to time in accordance with this Agreement. Such notices,
requests, demands and other communication hereunder shall be deemed to have
been
duly given upon receipt thereof.
7.4 Governing
Law: Arbitration
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal
laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to the principles of
conflict of laws.
Any
dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the interpretation of any provision of this Agreement or the
breach,
termination or validity hereof (a “Dispute”) shall be settled finally by an
arbitration proceeding conducted in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration
Rules of the American Arbitration Association (the “AAA”) then in effect (the
“AAA Rules”); provided that the provisions hereof shall be
controlling in the event of any conflict with the AAA Rules. Any arbitration
proceeding pursuant to this Section 10(b) shall be conducted in Manhattan,
in
the State of New York before a single arbitrator (the “Panel”) selected by the
AAA.
At
any oral hearing of evidence in connection with the arbitration, a party
shall
have the right to examine its witnesses and to cross-examine the witnesses
of
the opposing party. No evidence of any witness shall be presented in written
form unless the opposing party shall have the opportunity to cross-examine
such
witness, except as the parties otherwise agree in writing or except under
extraordinary circumstances where the Panel determines that the interests
of
justice require a different procedure.
Subject
to Sections 5.3, any decision or award of the Panel (an
“Arbitral Decision”) shall be final and binding upon the
parties. The parties hereby waive to the extent permitted by law any
rights to appeal such decision or award to, or the review of such decision
or
award by, any court or tribunal. An Arbitral Decision may be enforced
against the Parties and/or their respective assets in any court having proper
jurisdiction.
THE
PARTIES HEREBY WAIVE ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING ARISING
OUT OF
OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS, WHETHER
NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER SOUNDING IN CONTRACT, TORT
OR
OTHERWISE. THE PARTIES AGREE THAT ANY OF THEM MAY FILE A COPY OF THIS PARAGRAPH
WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE KNOWING, VOLUNTARY AND BARGAINED-FOR
AGREEMENT AMONG THE PARTIES IRREVOCABLY TO WAIVE TRIAL BY JURY AND THAT ANY
PROCEEDING WHATSOEVER BETWEEN THEM RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE
CONTEMPLATED TRANSACTIONS SHALL INSTEAD BE TRIED IN A COURT OF COMPETENT
JURISDICTION BY A JUDGE SITTING WITHOUT A JURY.
7.5 Successors
and Assigns
The
rights created by this Agreement shall inure to the benefit of, and the
obligations created hereby shall be binding upon, the successors, heirs and
assigns of the respective parties hereto.
7.6 Entire
Agreement: Severability and Enforcement
(a) This
Agreement and the instruments delivered pursuant hereto constitute the entire
agreement between the parties and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, written or oral, between the parties relating to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement may be amended or supplemented only by
a writing signed by all of the parties hereto.
(b) Each
provision of this Agreement is severable. If any provision of this
Agreement is found to be unenforceable or in violation of any statute, rule,
regulation, order or decree of any governmental authority, court or agency,
then
such provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary so as to
render
it enforceable and cure such violation, and all other provisions hereof shall
remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such violation.
9
7.7 Further
Assurances
In
order to more fully assure the Buyer of the benefit of acquiring the Purchased
Assets hereunder, the Seller hereby agrees to provide to the Buyer, whether
before or after Closing, such confirmations of fact, records, certificates
and
other documents and things as may be reasonably requested by the Buyer to
demonstrate the Buyer’s legal and beneficial ownership of the Purchased Assets
and to otherwise carry out the purposes of this Agreement.
7.8 Headings
The
headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only
and
the headings shall not be considered a part of this Agreement or used to
construe any provision hereof.
7.9 Counterparts
This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall
be
deemed an original and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one
and
the same instrument.
10
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
and
year first above written.
J
&
J
SNACK FOODS
CORP. OF CALIFORNIA
By:
”Xxxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx”
|
Name: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxxxx
|
|
|
Title:
Chairman of the Board
|
COOLBRANDS
MANUFACTURING INC.
By:
”Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx”
Name: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx
Title: President
11