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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
By and Between
QUESTRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
and
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX
FAS-TRONICS, INC.
Dated as of June 12, 1998
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715560.4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
ARTICLE 1
SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.1 Sale of Shares. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
1.2 Purchase Consideration and Payment for Shares . . . . .1
1.3 Transactions on the Closing Date. . . . . . . . . . . .2
1.4 Payment of 1999 Deferred Purchase Price.. . . . . . . .4
1.5 Restricted Securities.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
ARTICLE 2
CLOSING AND TERMINATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2.1 Closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
2.2 Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS AND THE COMPANY. . . .5
3.1 Authority; Due Execution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
3.2 Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
3.3 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws . . . . . . . . .6
3.4 Subsidiaries and Equity Investments . . . . . . . . . .6
3.5 Ownership of Shares . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
3.6 Capitalization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
3.7 No Violation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3.8 Litigation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3.9 Personal Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
3.10 Real Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
3.11 Financial Statements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
3.12 Books and Records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
3.13 Tax Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
3.14 Employee Matters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
3.15 Intellectual Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.16 Accounts Receivable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.17 Inventory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.18 No Material Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.19 Absence of Change or Event. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
3.20 Compliance With Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.21 Contracts and Commitments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3.22 Insurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
715560.4 -ii-
3.23 Affiliate Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.24 Customers, Suppliers, Distributors, Etc.. . . . . . . 18
3.25 Environmental Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
3.26 Absence of Questionable Payments. . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.27 Investment Intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
3.28 Disclosure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF QUESTRON . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.1 Organization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.2 Corporate Authority . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.3 No Violation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
4.4 Investment Intent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.5 Due Execution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.6 SEC Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.7 Questron Common Stock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4.8 Subsidiaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ARTICLE 5
CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF SELLERS AND QUESTRON . . . 23
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing Date . . . . 23
5.2 Tax Covenants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
5.3 Expenses and Finder's Fees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
5.4 Access to Information and Confidentiality . . . . . . 26
5.5 No Solicitation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.6 Press Releases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.7 Transitional Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.8 Conditions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
5.9 Rule 144. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
5.10 SEC Filings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF QUESTRON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.1 Representations and Warranties. . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.2 Due Diligence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.3 Opinion of Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.4 No Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.5 Consents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
6.6 Employment Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.7 Outstanding Shareholder Loans . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.8 Financing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.9 Minimum Net Worth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
715560.4 -iii-
6.10 Material Adverse Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
6.11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
ARTICLE 7
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF SELLERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
7.1 Representations and Warranties. . . . . . . . . . . . 29
7.2 No Actions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7.3 Consents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7.4 Employment Agreements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7.5 Opinion of Counsel. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7.6 No Material Adverse Change. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
7.7 Lease Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.1 Indemnification by Sellers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
8.2 Indemnification by Questron . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
8.3 Limitation on Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
ARTICLE 9
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. . . . . 32
9.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants . . . . . . 32
ARTICLE 10
NON-COMPETITION BY SELLERS AND NO SOLICITATION . . . . . . . . 33
10.1 Non-Compete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
10.2 Remedies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
11.1 Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
11.2 Waiver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
11.3 Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
11.4 Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction; Dispute Resolution34
11.5 Counterparts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.6 Headings; Schedules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.7 Entire Agreement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.8 Amendment and Modification. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.9 Binding Effect; Benefits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
11.10 Assignability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
715560.4 -iv-
EXHIBITS
A - 1 Employment Agreement of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
A - 2 Employment Agreement of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
B Form of Option Agreement
715560.4 -v-
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT dated as of June 12, 1998 (herein, together
with the Exhibits attached hereto and the Schedules delivered concurrently
herewith, referred to as the "Agreement") by and between Questron Technology,
Inc., a Delaware corporation ("Questron"), Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx ("GF"), Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx ("VF" and, together with GF, "Sellers"), and Fas- Tronics, Inc., a
Texas corporation (the "Company").
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, Sellers are the beneficial and record holders of all of the
issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (the "Shares");
and
WHEREAS, Sellers wish to sell and Questron wishes to purchase the
Shares upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in reliance upon the representations and warranties
made herein and in consideration of the mutual agreements herein contained, the
parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES
1.1 Sale of Shares. At the Closing provided for in Section 2.1, each
Seller shall sell to Questron (or in Questron's sole discretion, any subsidiary
of Questron) the Shares beneficially owned by such Seller as set forth on
Schedule 1.1, and Questron shall purchase such Shares for the aggregate purchase
consideration specified in Section 1.2.
1.2 Purchase Consideration and Payment for Shares. Questron shall acquire
100% of the issued and outstanding stock of the Company for a total purchase
price up to $12,750,000, which will consist of the Initial Purchase Price, and
the 1999 Deferred Purchase Price, in each case, as defined below.
(a) Initial Purchase Price. The "Initial Purchase Price" will equal
$9,500,000 payable as follows: (i) wire transfers (or certified checks) in an
aggregate amount equal to $7,000,000 (x) less the assumption of the net debt as
of March 31, 1998 (stated debt net of cash and cash equivalents of the Company
reflected on Schedule 1.2(a) ("Net Debt")) (y) less any distributions made by
the Company to its shareholders from April 1, 1998 to the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined) in excess of $100,000 and (z) plus interest on $7,000,000
less the Net Debt at an interest rate of 9.5% per annum from April 1, 1998 to
the Closing Date (said amount being hereinafter referred to as the "Initial Cash
Consideration"); and (ii) delivery of shares of Questron's
common stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Questron Common Stock"), having a
value equal to $2,500,000 (the "Initial Questron Common Stock"), calculated on
the basis of the average last reported sale price for the Questron Common Stock
for the five (5) trading days ending on the third trading day immediately prior
to the Closing Date (as defined in Section 2.1), provided that in no event shall
the Initial Questron Common Stock consist of less than 300,000 shares of
Questron Common Stock.
(b) 1999 Deferred Purchase Price. The "1999 Deferred Purchase Price"
will be an amount, subject to the limitations set forth below, equal to five (5)
times the difference between EBIT (as defined below) for the Company for the
twelve month period ending March 31, 1999 and $1,700,000, provided that the
maximum amount payable to Sellers pursuant to this Section 1.2(b) (as adjusted
for the items set forth in Schedule 1.2(b) and in accordance with Section 1.2(c)
below) shall in no event exceed $3,250,000 in the aggregate. The 1999 Deferred
Purchase Price shall be payable as follows: (i) delivery by wire transfers (or
certified checks) of an aggregate amount equal to 80% of the 1999 Deferred
Purchase Price up to a maximum amount of $2,600,000 (the "1999 Deferred Cash
Consideration"); and (ii) delivery of shares of Questron Common Stock (the
"Deferred Questron Common Stock"), the value of which shall equal 20% of the
1999 Deferred Purchase Price up to a maximum amount of $650,000. The number of
shares of Deferred Questron Common Stock to be delivered will be based on the
average last reported sale price of the Questron Common Stock for the five (5)
trading days ending on the third (3rd) trading day immediately prior to the date
of payment of the 1999 Deferred Purchase Price. In connection with the
foregoing, if the amount of EBIT (as defined below) for the Company for said
twelve month period exceeds $2,800,000, then, in addition to the aforementioned
payments and deliveries, pursuant to an Option Agreement substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B, Questron shall issue to the Sellers options
(the "Options") to purchase 50,000 shares of Questron Common Stock, any such
award to be made within 90 days after the end of the referenced twelve month
period with an exercise price equal to the "Market Price" for Questron Common
Stock on the last business day of the referenced twelve month period. The
Options shall be immediately exercisable upon issuance and shall have a term of
five years from the date of issuance. "Market Price" as used herein shall mean
the last reported sale price listed in the Wall Street Journal for Questron's
Common Stock on such last business day of the referenced twelve month period.
(c) Definition of EBIT. For purposes of this Section 1.2, "EBIT" shall
mean the aggregate earnings before interest, income taxes, amortization of
goodwill, and the allocation of corporate expenses associated with the Company
and EBIT shall be adjusted for the items set forth on Schedule 1.2(b). EBIT
shall be calculated in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied ("GAAP"). EBIT shall be determined by Questron and reviewed
by Sellers' and Questron's respective independent public accountants.
1.3 Transactions on the Closing Date.
(a) At the Closing, Sellers will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to
Questron the following:
(i) stock certificates, in form suitable for transfer, registered
in the name of each Seller, evidencing the number of Shares set forth
opposite such Seller's name on Schedule 1.1, endorsed in blank or with an
executed blank stock transfer power attached, and with any necessary stock
transfer tax stamps attached thereto;
(ii) all stock books, stock transfer ledgers, minute books and the
corporate seals of the Company;
(iii) resignations of all of the directors and officers of the
Company, effective as of the Closing;
(iv) duly executed signature cards for all bank accounts of the
Company which are necessary to establish Questron's designees, and only
Questron's designees, as the authorized signatories for such accounts;
(v) each of the certificates and documents contemplated by Article
6; and
(vi) evidence of termination of the Stock Purchase Agreements and
the Consulting Agreements (each as hereinafter defined) which evidence shall
be reasonably satisfactory to Questron;
(vii) UCC-3 termination statements effecting the release of all
security interests of Landmark Bank Mid-Cities (the assignee of the Bank of
the West) under the SBA Guaranty Loan Agreement, dated September 16, 1993,
between the Company and the Bank of the West (the "SBA Loan Agreement") in
the Shares and assets of the Company;
(viii) evidence of the Company's payment of all amounts
outstanding (including principal and interest) under the SBA Loan Agreement,
which evidence shall be reasonably satisfactory to Questron; and
(ix) such other certificates, documents, instruments and
agreements as Questron shall deem necessary in its reasonable discretion in
order to effectuate the transactions contemplated herein, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Questron.
(b) At the Closing, Questron will deliver to Sellers the following:
(i) the Initial Cash Consideration;
(ii) the shares representing the Initial Questron Common Stock;
(iii) each of the certificates and documents contemplated by
Article 7; and
(iv) such other certificates, documents, instruments and
agreements as Sellers shall deem necessary in its reasonable discretion in
order to effectuate the transactions contemplated herein, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Questron.
1.4 Payment of 1999 Deferred Purchase Price. (a) Subject to the terms and
conditions of Section 1.2(b) above, on or before April 10, 1999, Questron will
deliver to Sellers 50% of the estimated 1999 Deferred Cash Consideration (the
"Prepaid 1999 Deferred Cash Consideration") which shall be based on EBIT for the
Company for the nine month period ending December 31, 1998. To the extent that
the Prepaid 1999 Deferred Cash Consideration exceeds the 1999 Deferred Cash
Consideration, Questron shall offset such amount against the Deferred Questron
Common Stock.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions of Section 1.2(b) above, on or
before June 30, 1999, Questron will deliver to Sellers the following:
(i) the 1999 Deferred Cash Consideration;
(ii) the shares representing the Deferred Questron Common Stock;
and
(iii) a certificate of Questron setting forth its calculation of
EBIT accompanied by a report thereon by Questron's independent public
accountants covering their review of such calculation.
1.5 Restricted Securities. The shares representing the Initial Questron
Common Stock and the Deferred Questron Common Stock shall be restricted
securities under Rule 144 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
will not have been registered under the Act and may not be sold or transferred
absent such registration or unless an exception from registration is available
and the certificates evidencing such shares shall bear an appropriate legend
restricting transfers under the Act.
ARTICLE 2
CLOSING AND TERMINATION
2.1 Closing. The closing of the transactions provided for in Section 1.3
above (the "Closing") will take place at the offices of Battle Xxxxxx LLP, Park
Avenue Tower, 00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, at 10:00 A.M. (local
time) on or about July 9, 1998 (the "Closing Date"), or at such other place,
time and date as may be agreed upon by Questron and Sellers. The effective date
of the Closing shall be April 1, 1998 (the "Effective Date").
2.2 Termination. Anything contained in this Agreement other than in this
Section 2.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement may be terminated in
writing at any time on or prior to the Closing:
(a) without liability on the part of any party hereto, by mutual
written consent of Questron and Sellers;
(b) without liability on the part of any party hereto (unless
occasioned by reason of a breach by any party hereto of any of its
representations, warranties or obligations hereunder) by either Questron or
Sellers, if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before July 31, 1998
(or such later date as may be agreed upon in writing by the parties hereto);
(c) by Questron, if any Seller shall breach in any material respect any
of its representations, warranties or obligations hereunder and such breach
shall not have been cured or waived or Sellers shall not have provided
reasonable assurance that such breach can and will be cured on or before the
Closing Date; or
(d) by the Sellers, if Questron shall breach in any material respect
any of its representations, warranties or obligations hereunder and such
breach shall not have been cured or waived or Questron shall not have
provided reasonable assurance that such breach can and will be cured on or
before the Closing Date.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS AND THE COMPANY
Each Seller and the Company jointly and severally represent and warrant to
Questron that:
3.1 Authority; Due Execution. The Company has full corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated by
this Agreement to which it is a party and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. Each Seller has the power to enter into this
Agreement and all other agreements contemplated by this Agreement to which such
Seller is a party and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby. This Agreement has been, and the Employment Agreements (as hereinafter
defined) and all other agreements contemplated by this Agreement to which the
Company and for each Seller is a party will be as of the Closing Date, duly
executed and delivered by the Company and each Seller, and (assuming due
execution and delivery by Questron) this Agreement and the Employment Agreements
and all other agreements contemplated by this Agreement to which the Company and
each Seller is a party will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company and the Sellers, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, moratorium, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally or by general equitable principles.
3.2 Organization. The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and has all
requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now being
conducted and to own its properties and is duly licensed or qualified and in
good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which it is
required to be so licensed or so qualified, except where the failure to be so
licensed or so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition, assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), results of
operations or business (a "Material Adverse Effect") of the Company.
3.3 Certificate of Incorporation; By-laws. Sellers have heretofore delivered
to Questron complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation and
by-laws of the Company as currently in effect.
3.4 Subsidiaries and Equity Investments. The Company has no subsidiaries and
does not own, directly or indirectly, any investments, capital stock or other
equity or ownership interests in any other corporations or business enterprises
and is not a partner in any partnership or a co-venturer in any joint venture or
other business enterprise. The term "subsidiary" means any corporation or other
entity of which the Company, directly or indirectly, owns or controls capital
stock or ownership interests representing either (i) more than fifty percent
(50%) of the general voting power under ordinary circumstances of such
corporation or entity, or (ii) if an entity other than a corporation, more than
fifty percent (50%) of the economic interest therein.
3.5 Ownership of Shares. Each Seller is the lawful record and beneficial
owner of that number of Shares set forth opposite such Seller's name on Schedule
1.1 which represent all of the issued and outstanding shares of the Company's
capital stock. Each Seller owns the Shares set forth opposite such Seller's name
on Schedule 1.1 free and clear of all pledges, liens, charges, encumbrances,
easements, security interests, claims, options and restrictions of every kind
("Encumbrances"), except for those Encumbrances identified on Schedule 3.5
(which shall be satisfied and released on or prior to the Closing), and for
restrictions on transfer generally applicable under federal and state securities
laws. Upon the delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated under Section
1.3, at Closing, Sellers will transfer to Questron valid record and beneficial
title to such Shares, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for
restrictions on transfer generally applicable under federal and state securities
laws.
3.6 Capitalization. The authorized capital of the Company consists of
1,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common
Stock"), of which 490 shares are issued and outstanding. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.6, no other class of capital stock or other ownership interests of
the Company or any subsidiary is authorized, issued, reserved for issuance or
outstanding. All such issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been
duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. No shares
of Common Stock (including, without limitation, the Shares), and no options,
warrants or other rights, agreements, commitments or arrangements of any kind to
acquire shares of Common Stock, were issued in violation of (x) any preemptive
or other rights, or (y) any provision of any contract, agreement or arrangement
of any kind. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6, there are no outstanding
options, warrants, subscriptions, unsatisfied preemptive rights, calls or other
rights, agreements, commitments or arrangements of any kind to acquire any of
the outstanding, authorized but unissued, unauthorized or treasury shares of the
capital stock of the Company or any subsidiary or any security of any kind
convertible into or exchangeable for any such capital stock. Except as set forth
on Schedule 3.6, there are no voting trusts, shareholder agreements, proxies or
other agreements relating to the voting, purchase or sale of capital stock of
the Company (i) between or among the Company and any of its shareholders, and
(ii) between or among any of the Company's shareholders. There is no outstanding
bond, debenture, note or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to
vote (or convertible into or exchangeable for securities having the right to
vote) on any matter on which shareholders of the Company or any subsidiary may
vote.
3.7 No Violation. Neither any Seller nor the Company is subject to or bound
by any provision of:
(a) any law, statute, rule, regulation or judicial or administrative
decision,
(b) (in the case of the Company) its articles of incorporation or
by-laws,
(c) any contract, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note, shareholders'
agreement, proxy, bond, indenture, other instrument or agreement, license,
permit, trust, custodianship or other restriction, or
(d) any consent, judgment, order, writ, award, injunction or decree of
any court, governmental or regulatory body, administrative agency or
arbitrator,
that would conflict with, prevent or be violated by or that would result in the
creation of any Encumbrance as a result of, or under which there would be a
default or right of termination, amendment, acceleration, revocation,
cancellation or suspension as a result of, the execution, delivery and
performance by Seller of the Agreements to which such Seller is a party and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, except for the consent of
Landmark Bank Mid Cities pursuant to the Loan Agreement described in Schedule
3.5 (which consent shall be obtained on or prior to the Closing). No consent,
order, license, permit, approval or authorization of or declaration, notice or
filing with any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
trust or unincorporated organization or any government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof (a "Person") is required for the valid execution,
delivery and performance by any Seller or the Company of the Agreements to which
it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
except for the consent of Landmark Bank Mid Cities pursuant to the Loan
Agreement described in Schedule 3.5 (which consent shall be obtained on or prior
to the Closing).
3.8 Litigation. There is (i) no outstanding consent, order, judgment,
injunction, award or decree of any court, governmental or regulatory body,
administrative agency or arbitrator against or involving the Company (including
its subsidiaries), any of its officers or directors as such or any Seller, (ii)
no action, suit, dispute or governmental, administrative, arbitration or
regulatory proceeding pending or, to Sellers' knowledge, threatened against the
Company (including its subsidiaries) or any Seller, and (iii) no investigation
pending or, to Sellers' knowledge, threatened against or relating to the Company
(including its subsidiaries), any of its officers or directors as such or any
Seller (collectively, "Proceedings").
3.9 Personal Property. (a) Schedule 3.9(a) sets forth (i) the tangible
physical assets of the Company as of the date of this Agreement that do not
constitute real property (including machinery, equipment, tools, dies,
furniture, furnishings, leasehold improvements, software, vehicles, buildings
and fixtures) and that have a book value or replacement value in excess of
$50,000 per item or per category of items and the location by address of such
items; (ii) individual refundable deposits in excess of $10,000 or $25,000 in
the aggregate; and (iii) all outstanding loans or advances made by the Company
or any subsidiary to any Person in excess of $20,000.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9 (b), each of the Company and
its subsidiaries has good and valid title to all of its material properties
and assets that do not constitute real property, free and clear of all
Encumbrances. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9(b), each of the Company
and its subsidiaries owns, has valid leasehold interests (pursuant to leases
disclosed in such Schedule) in or valid contractual rights pursuant to
contracts disclosed in such Schedule (or not required to be disclosed
therein due to the dollar threshold set forth in Section 3.21(a)) to use,
all of the material assets, tangible and intangible, currently used by, or
necessary for the present conduct of the business of, the Company.
3.10 Real Property. (a) Schedule 3.10 sets forth each and every parcel of
real property or interest in real estate held under a lease or used by the
Company and its subsidiaries (the "Real Property"). The Company does not own any
real property or interest (other than the leasehold interests referenced on such
Schedule) in real estate. Sellers have heretofore delivered to Questron complete
and correct copies of each and every lease and all documents relating thereto,
including any amendments thereto and any assignment thereof.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.10, with respect to the Real
Property designated as "leased property" in Schedule 3.10, the Company is in
peaceful and undisturbed possession of the space and/or estate under each lease
under which it is a tenant, and there are no defaults by it as tenant
thereunder; and the Company has good and valid rights of ingress and egress to
and from all the Real Property from and to the public street systems.
3.11 Financial Statements. (a) Sellers and the Company have heretofore
furnished Questron with copies of the following consolidated financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries: (i) unaudited balance sheets as
at December 31 for each of 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively, and as at March
31, 1998; (ii) unaudited statements of operations for each of the years ended
December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and for the three month period ended March 31,
1998; (iii) an unaudited balance sheet (the "Reference Balance Sheet") as at
December 31, 1997 (the "Reference Balance Sheet Date"); and (iv) an unaudited
statement of operations (the "Reference Income Statement"). Except as noted
therein and except for normal year-end adjustments with respect to the partial
year financial statements, all such financial statements are complete and
correct, were prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles ("GAAP") consistently applied throughout the periods indicated and
present fairly the financial position of the Company at such dates and the
results of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject to
such inaccuracies, if any, which are not material in nature or amount.
(b) There are no liabilities, debts, obligations or claims against the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of any nature (accrued, absolute or
contingent, unasserted, known or unknown, or otherwise), except (i) as and to
the extent reflected or reserved against on the Reference Balance Sheet; (ii)
specifically described and identified as an exception to this paragraph in any
of the Schedules delivered to Questron pursuant to this Agreement; (iii) those
that are individually, or in the aggregate, not material and were incurred since
the Reference Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business consistent
with prior practice; or (iv) open purchase or sales orders or agreements for
delivery of goods and services in the ordinary course of business consistent
with prior practice.
3.12 Books and Records. (a) Sellers and the Company have made and will make
available for inspection by Questron all the books of account relating to
business of the Company. Such books of account of the Company reflect all the
material transactions and other material matters required to be set forth under
GAAP applied on a consistent basis.
(b) The minute book of the Company that has been made available to
Questron for its inspection contains true and complete records of all meetings
and consents in lieu of meetings of the Board of Directors (and any committees
thereof) of the Company and of its shareholders and accurately reflects all
material transactions referred to in such minutes and consents in lieu of
meetings. The stock books that have been made available to Questron for its
inspection are true and complete in all material respects.
3.13 Tax Matters. (a) For purposes of this Agreement,
(i) "Tax" or "Taxes" shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign
or other taxes (including, without limitation, income (net or gross), gross
receipts, profits, alternative or add-on minimum, franchise, license,
capital, capital stock, intangible, services, premium, mining, transfer,
sales, use, ad valorem, payroll, wage, severance, employment, occupation,
property (real or personal), windfall profits, import, excise, custom,
stamp, withholding or estimated taxes), fees, duties, assessments,
withholdings or governmental charges of any kind whatsoever (including
interest, penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect to
such items) relating to the income, operations or properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries or the ownership thereof (by Sellers);
(ii) "Pre-Closing Periods" shall mean all Tax periods ending on or
before the Closing Date and, with respect to any Tax period that includes
but does not end on the Closing Date, the portion of such period that ends
on and includes the Closing Date;
(iii) "Returns" shall mean all returns, declarations, reports,
estimates, information returns and statements of any nature regarding Taxes
for any Pre-Closing Period required to be filed by any Person and relating
to the Company and its subsidiaries;
(iv) "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended; and
(v) the term "Tax Deficiency" shall include a reduction in any net
operating losses.
(b) In respect of the Pre-Closing Periods only,
(i) all Returns have been or will be timely filed when due in
accordance with all applicable laws;
(ii) all Taxes shown on the Returns have been or will be timely
paid when due;
(iii) the Returns completely, accurately, and correctly in all
material respects reflect the facts regarding the income, properties,
operations and status of any entity required to be shown thereon;
(iv) the charges, accruals, and reserves for Taxes due, or accrued
but not yet due, relating to the income, properties or operations of the
Company for any Pre-Closing Period as reflected on the books of the Company
are adequate in all material respects to cover such Taxes;
(v) there are no agreements or consents currently in effect for
the extension or waiver of the time (A) to file any Return or (B) for
assessment or collection of any Taxes relating to the Company for any
Pre-Closing Period, and no Person has been requested to enter into any such
agreement or consent;
(vi) all Returns with respect to taxable years ending on or prior
to December 31, 1994 have been examined by the relevant taxing authorities
and closed, or are Returns with respect to which the applicable statute of
limitations, after giving effect to any extensions and waivers, has expired;
(vii) all Taxes which the Company is required by law to withhold
or collect have been in all material respects duly withheld or collected,
and have been timely paid over to the appropriate governmental authorities
to the extent due and payable;
(viii) there is no action, suit, proceeding, investigation, audit
or claim currently pending, or to Sellers' knowledge, threatened, regarding
any Taxes relating to the Company for any Pre-Closing Period;
(ix) all Tax Deficiencies which have been claimed, proposed or
asserted against Sellers or, to Sellers' knowledge, any prior shareholder of
the Company relating to ownership of stock in the Company or against the
Company or any group of which the Company is now or was formerly a member
have been fully paid or finally settled;
(x) no Person has executed or entered into a closing agreement
pursuant to Code Section 7121 (or any comparable provision of state, local
or foreign law) that is currently in force and determines the Tax
liabilities of the Company;
(xi) there is no, and will not be any, agreement or consent made
under Code Section 341(f) (or any comparable provision of state, local or
foreign law) affecting the Company;
(xii) there are no liens for any Tax on the assets of the Company
except liens which arise as a matter of law;
(xiii) there are no tax sharing agreements to which the Company is
now or, to Seller's knowledge, ever has been a party;
(xiv) the Company is not a party to any agreement, contract,
arrangement or plan that would result, separately or in the aggregate, in
the payment of any "excess parachute payments" within the meaning of Code
Section 280G (or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign law);
(xv) the Company has not received any written notice of any
reassessment and, to Sellers' knowledge, there are no proposed reassessments
of any property owned or leased by the Company or any other proposals that
would increase the amount of any Tax for which the Company could be liable;
(xvi) the Company has not agreed, and is not required, to make any
adjustment under Code Section 481(a) (or any comparable provision of state,
local or foreign law) by reason of a change in accounting method or
otherwise; and
(xvii) no power of attorney is currently in effect, and no Tax
ruling has been requested of any governmental authority, with respect to any
Tax matter relating to the Company.
3.14 Employee Matters. (a) Schedule 3.14 sets forth as of the date hereof
the name, date of hire, current annual compensation rate (including bonus and
commissions), title, current base salary rate and accrued bonus and vacation of
each present employee of the Company; and a list of any employment, managerial,
advisory, consulting, collective bargaining and severance agreements; employee
confidentiality or other agreements protecting proprietary processes, formulae
or information; any employee handbook(s) and written employment policies; any
reports and/or plans prepared or adopted pursuant to the Equal Employment
Opportunity Act of 1972, as amended; any affirmative action plans; and each
employee benefit or compensation plan, agreement or arrangement covering present
or former employees, consultants or directors of the Company, including
"employee benefit plans" within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 ("ERISA"), stock purchase, stock option,
fringe benefit, change in control, bonus and deferred compensation plans,
agreements or funding arrangements (collectively, the "Benefit Plans"), whether
sponsored, maintained or contributed to by the Company.
(b) For each Benefit Plan, except as set forth on Schedule 3.14, each
of the following is true:
(i) if such Benefit Plan is an employee pension benefit plan (as
such term is defined in ERISA Section 3(2)) intended to qualify under the
Code, is and since its inception has been so qualified and the Plan has
received a favorable determination letter as to its qualification under the
Code (or such a letter has been or will be applied for prior to expiration
of the applicable remedial amendment period), and nothing has occurred,
whether by action or failure to act, which could cause the loss of such
qualification or which would result in material costs to the Company under
the Internal Revenue Service's Closing Agreement Program, Voluntary
Compliance Resolution Program or Administrative Policy Regarding Sanctions;
(ii) the financial statements of the Company reflect in all
material respects all employee liabilities arising under such Benefit Plan
in a manner satisfying the applicable requirements (if any) of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") Nos. 87, 88, 106 and 112;
(iii) there are no actions, suits or claims (other than routine
claims for benefits in the ordinary course) pending, or to Sellers'
knowledge, threatened, and to Sellers' knowledge, there are no facts which
could give rise to any such material actions, suits or claims (other than
routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course);
(iv) none of the Sellers, the Company, its subsidiaries, nor any
other party has, with respect to any such Benefit Plan, engaged in a
prohibited transaction, as such term is defined in Code Section 4975 or
ERISA Section 406, which could subject the Company or Questron to any Taxes,
penalties or other material liabilities resulting from prohibited
transactions under Code Section 4975 or under ERISA Sections 409 or 502(i);
(v) all Benefits Plans are in compliance in all material respects
with ERISA and the Code;
(vi) all contributions and insurance premiums required as of the
Closing Date have been paid;
(vii) the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Sellers and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder, will not
(pursuant to any "change-of-control provision" or otherwise) result in any
additional (or otherwise modify or accelerate any existing or contingent)
obligation or liability (with respect to accrued benefits or otherwise) to
any such Benefit Plan, to any employee or former employee of the Company and
its subsidiaries;
(viii) the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not
result in the payment or series of payments to any employee of the Company
or its subsidiaries which is a "parachute payment" within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code; and
(ix) Sellers have delivered to Questron current, accurate and
complete copies of such Benefit Plan (including the plan document, trust
agreement and other funding or insurance instruments relating thereto) and,
to the extent applicable, copies of the most recent: (A) determination
letter and any outstanding request for a determination letter; (B) Form 5500
with respect to the plan years ending in calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997;
(C) collective bargaining agreements or other such contracts; and (D) the
general notification to employees of their "COBRA" rights under Code Section
4980B and ERISA Sections 601- 609 and the form of letter(s) distributed upon
the occurrence of a COBRA qualifying event for each Benefit Plan that is a
"group health plan" as defined in Code Section 5000(b)(1) and ERISA Section
607(1).
(c) Neither the Company nor any entity which is considered one employer
with the Company under Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code (an
"ERISA Affiliate") sponsors or maintains (and has not sponsored or maintained in
the calendar years ending 1995, 1996 and 1997) an "employee pension benefit
plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA) that is subject to Title IV
of ERISA or to the minimum funding requirements of Section 412 of the Code or
Part 3 of Title I of ERISA.
(d) Neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate contributes or is
obligated to contribute (or in the past six years has been obligated to
contribute) to a "multiemployer plan" (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3)
of ERISA).
(e) The Company and its subsidiaries have no employee welfare benefit
plans (within the meaning of ERISA Section 3(1)) which provide benefits beyond
termination of employment except as required by applicable law.
(f) With respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, except as set
forth on Schedule 3.14, each of the following is true in all material respects:
(i) the Company is in compliance with all applicable laws and
agreements respecting employment and employment practices, terms and
conditions of employment and wages and hours and occupational safety and
health and is not engaged in any unfair labor practice within the meaning of
Section 8 of the National Labor Relations Act, and there is no action, suit
or legal, administrative, arbitration, grievance or other proceeding pending
or, to Sellers' knowledge, threatened, or, to Sellers' knowledge, is any
investigation pending or threatened against the Company or any subsidiary
relating to any employment matter, and, to Sellers' knowledge, no basis
exists for any such action, suit or legal, administrative, arbitration,
grievance or other proceeding or governmental investigation;
(ii) there is no labor strike, dispute, slowdown or stoppage
actually pending or, to Sellers' knowledge, threatened against the Company;
(iii) none of the employees of the Company is a member of or
represented by any labor union and, there are no attempts of whatever kind
and nature being made to organize any of such employees;
(iv) without limiting the generality of paragraph (iii) above, no
certification or decertification is pending or was filed within the past
twelve months respecting the employees of the Company and no certification
or decertification petition is being or was circulated among the employees
of the Company within the past twelve months;
(v) no agreement (including any collective bargaining agreement),
arbitration or court decision, decree or order or governmental order which
is binding on the Company in any material way limits or restricts the
Company or any subsidiary from relocating or closing any of its operations;
(vi) the Company has not experienced any organized work stoppage
in the last five years; and
(vii) there are no administrative proceedings, lawsuits or
complaints of discrimination (including but not limited to discrimination
based upon sex, age, marital status, race, national origin, sexual
orientation, disability or veteran status) pending or, to Sellers'
knowledge, threatened, or to Sellers' knowledge, is any investigation
pending or threatened before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or
any federal, state or local agency or court, or is any complaint or internal
investigation pending with regard to sexual or other harassment. There have
been no audits of the equal employment opportunity practices or affirmative
action practices of the Company and, to Sellers' knowledge, no reasonable
basis for any claim regarding such practices exists.
3.15 Intellectual Property. Schedule 3.15 sets forth a list of all
registered trademarks, trademark registrations and applications therefor, trade
names, brand names, all service marks, service xxxx registrations and
applications therefor, all registered trade dress rights, registrations and
applications therefor, patents and patent applications, material registered
copyrights, and applications therefor (including information as to expiration
dates of all the foregoing where applicable) presently owned or used, in whole
or in part, by the Company or any subsidiary or for which the Company is
licensed. Neither Sellers nor the Company are licensors in respect of any
patents, trade secrets, inventions, shop rights, copyrights or applications
therefor which are used in the business of the Company.
3.16 Accounts Receivable. The accounts receivable appearing on the Reference
Balance Sheet and all accounts receivable created since that date through the
Closing Date represent in all material respects and will in all material
respects represent valid obligations owing to the Company, have arisen from bona
fide transactions in the ordinary course of business and are fully collectible
by the Company in the ordinary course of business, subject to the reserve for
doubtful accounts appearing on the Reference Balance Sheet.
3.17 Inventory. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17, the inventories of raw
materials, in-process and finished products of the Company are in good
condition, conform in all material respects with the Company's applicable
specifications and warranties, are not obsolete, and are saleable as of the date
hereof at values not less than the book value amounts thereof. Adequate reserves
have been provided for inventory obsolescence and the values at which such
inventories are carried are in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
3.18 No Material Change. Since the Reference Balance Sheet Date, there has
been no material adverse change in the financial condition, assets, liabilities
(contingent or otherwise), results of operations or business of the Company.
3.19 Absence of Change or Event. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.19, since
the Reference Balance Sheet Date, the Company has conducted its business only in
the ordinary course consistent with past practice and has not:
(a) incurred any obligation or liability, absolute, accrued, contingent
or otherwise, whether due or to become due, in excess of $25,000 in the
aggregate, except liabilities or obligations incurred in the ordinary course
of business and consistent with prior practice;
(b) mortgaged, pledged or subjected to lien, restriction or any other
Encumbrance any of the property, businesses or assets, tangible or
intangible, of the Company, except for purchase money liens;
(c) sold, transferred, leased to others or otherwise disposed of any of
its assets (or committed to do any of the foregoing), including the payment
of any loans owed, or the making of any loans, to any officer, director,
shareholder or other affiliate of the Company, except for inventory sold to
customers or returned to vendors and payments to any non-affiliates on
account of accounts payable or scheduled payments in respect of indebtedness
for money borrowed disclosed on the Reference Balance Sheet or in the
Schedules, or canceled, waived, released or otherwise compromised any debt
or claim other than in the ordinary course of business, or any material
right;
(d) suffered any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by
insurance) in an amount greater than $25,000;
(e) made or committed to make any capital expenditures or capital
additions or betterments in excess of an aggregate of $25,000;
(f) instituted or threatened any litigation, action or proceeding
before any court, governmental or regulatory body, administrative agency or
arbitrator relating to it or its property;
(g) issued, authorized for issuance or sold any capital stock, notes,
bonds or other securities, or any option, warrant or other right to acquire
the same, of the Company, or declared or paid any dividend or made any other
payment or distribution in respect of its capital stock, or directly or
indirectly redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired any of its capital
stock or any option, warrant or other right to acquire such capital stock,
other than the payment at Closing of the Company's obligations under the
stock purchase agreements described in Schedule 3.6 (the "Stock Purchase
Agreements");
(h) increased the compensation of any officer, director, employee or
agent of the Company, directly or indirectly, including by means of any
bonus, pension plan, profit sharing, deferred compensation, savings,
insurance, retirement, or any other employee benefit plan, except in the
case of any employee whose annual base compensation is less than $50,000;
(i) materially changed any of its business or accounting accrual
practices, including, without limitation, the amount of promotional or
advertising expenditures, investments, marketing, pricing, purchasing,
production, personnel, sales, returns or budgets, accounts receivable or
inventory reserves, or otherwise changed its policies with respect thereto;
(j) made or changed any election concerning Taxes or Tax Returns,
changed an annual accounting period, adopted or changed any accounting
method, filed any amended Return, entered into any closing agreement with
respect to Taxes, settled any Tax claim or assessment or surrendered any
right to claim a refund of Taxes or obtained or entered into any Tax ruling,
agreement, contract, understanding, arrangement or plan;
(k) allowed any Permit (as hereinafter defined) relating to the
business of the Company to lapse or terminate;
(l) materially amended or terminated or received any threat (not
subsequently withdrawn) to terminate, any Contract (as hereinafter defined);
(m) amended its articles of incorporation or bylaws or merged with or
into or consolidated with any Person, subdivided, combined or in any way
reclassified any shares of its capital stock, or changed or agreed to change
the rights of its capital stock or the character thereof; or
(n) engaged in any other material transaction other than in the
ordinary course of business, other than the payment and release of the
Company of its obligations under the consulting agreements described on
Schedule 3.14 (the "Consulting Agreements").
3.20 Compliance With Law. The operations and activities of the Company have
complied and are in compliance in all respects with all applicable federal,
state, local and foreign laws, statutes, rules, regulations, judicial and
administrative decisions and consents, judgments, orders, awards, writs and
decrees of any court, governmental or regulatory body, administrative agency or
arbitrator, including, without limitation, health and safety statutes and
regulations and all environmental laws, including, without limitation, all
restrictions, conditions, standards, limitations, prohibitions, requirements,
obligations, schedules and timetables contained in the environmental laws or
contained in any regulation, code, plan, order, decree, judgment, injunction,
notice or demand letter issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder, the
failure of which could have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.21 Contracts and Commitments. (a) Schedule 3.21 sets forth each written
contract or agreement involving a liability or obligation of the Company equal
to or in excess of $10,000 and outstanding as of the date hereof to which the
Company is a party, other than ordinary course of business purchase orders.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.21:
(i) Each of the agreements set forth on such Schedule (the
"Contracts") was entered into in a bona fide transaction in the ordinary
course of business, is valid and binding on the Company (assuming due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by the other parties thereto)
and is in full force and effect and, upon consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, will continue in full force and effect without penalty.
Sellers have heretofore delivered to Questron complete and correct copies of
the Contracts. There is not under any Contract: (A) any existing material
default by the Company or, to Sellers' knowledge, by any other party
thereto, or (B) any event which, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would constitute a material default by the Company or, to Sellers'
knowledge, by any other party, or result in a right to accelerate, suspend
or terminate or result in a loss of rights of the Company;
(ii) No purchase contracts (other than inventory purchase
commitments) of the Company continue for a period of more than 12 months;
and
(iii) The Company has no material liability or material obligation
with respect to the return of inventory or merchandise in the possession of
distributors, customers or other Persons.
3.22 Insurance. (a) Schedule 3.22 sets forth (i) the policies of insurance
presently in force and, without restricting the generality of the foregoing,
those covering the Company's public and product liability and its personnel,
properties, buildings, machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and operations,
specifying with respect to each such policy the name of the insurer, type of
coverage, term of policy, limits of liability and annual premium; (ii) the
Company's premiums, deductibles and losses in excess of $25,000, by year, by
type of coverage, for the calendar years 1995, 1996 and 1997 based on
information received from the Company's insurance carrier(s); (iii) all
outstanding insurance claims in excess of $10,000 by the Company for damage to
or loss of property or income which have been referred to insurers or which
Sellers believe to be covered by commercial insurance; (iv) general
comprehensive liability policies carried by the Company for the calendar years
1995, 1996 and 1997, including excess liability policies; and (v) any
agreements, arrangements or commitments by or relating to the Company under
which the Company indemnifies any other Person or is required to carry insurance
for the benefit of any other Person. Sellers have heretofore delivered to
Questron complete and correct copies of the policies and agreements set forth on
Schedule 3.22.
(b) The insurance policies set forth on Schedule 3.22 are in full force
and effect, all premiums which are due with respect thereto covering all periods
up to and including the date of the Closing have been paid, and no notice of
cancellation or termination has been received with respect to any such policy.
Such policies are sufficient for compliance with all requirements of law and all
agreements to which the Company is a party; are valid, outstanding and
enforceable policies; will remain in full force and effect through the
respective dates set forth on Schedule 3.22; and will not in any way be affected
by, or terminate or lapse by reason of, the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. The Company has not been refused any insurance with respect to the
respective assets or operations of the Company, nor has any such coverage been
limited, by any insurance carrier to which the Company has applied for any such
insurance or with which the Company has carried insurance during the calendar
years 1995, 1996 and 1997.
3.23 Affiliate Interests. (a) The Company has not made any payments in 1998,
or during any of the three (3) preceding calendar years, to any officer,
director, or shareholder other than compensation for services rendered, for
shareholders distributions for federal income tax liabilities, and for
reimbursement for reasonable business related expenses.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule 3.23(b), no shareholder, officer or
director of the Company or any affiliate of any Seller (in each case, or any
family member thereof) (i) has any interest, directly or indirectly, in any
property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, including without
limitation, inventions, patents, trademarks or trade names, used in or
pertaining to the business of the Company, (ii) owns, directly or indirectly,
any interest in (excepting less than 5% stock holdings for investment purposes
in securities of companies which are publicly held and traded), or is an
officer, director, employee or consultant of, any Person which is, or is engaged
in business as, a competitor, lessor, lessee, supplier, distributor, sales agent
or customer of the Company, or (iii) has any cause of action or other claim
whatsoever against, or owes any amount to, the Company, except for claims
arising in the ordinary course of business arising from such Person's employment
with the Company and indebtedness described in Section 6.7 hereof.
3.24 Customers, Suppliers, Distributors, Etc. (a) Except for the loss of
such other customers that will not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company, no supplier, customer, distributor or sales representative of the
Company has canceled or otherwise terminated, or made any written threat to the
Company or to any of their affiliates to cancel or otherwise terminate, for any
reason, including the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, its
relationship with the Company. Except for the loss of such relationship that
will not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, to Sellers' knowledge no
such supplier, customer, distributor or sales representative intends to cancel
or otherwise terminate its relationship with the Company.
(b) Schedule 3.24 sets forth the customer sales history of all
customers of the Company since the Company's inception until 30 days prior to
the Closing Date. Such information is true and complete.
3.25 Environmental Matters. (a) For the purposes of this Section the
following terms shall have the following meanings: (i) the term "Hazardous
Material" shall mean any material or substance that, whether by its nature or
use, is now or hereafter defined, determined or identified as a hazardous
material, hazardous waste, hazardous substance, toxic substance, pollutant or
contaminant under any Environmental Law, or which is toxic, explosive,
corrosive, ignitable, infectious, radioactive, carcinogenic, mutagenic or
otherwise hazardous or is harmful to human health or the environment, or which
is or contains petroleum, gasoline, diesel fuel or another petroleum hydrocarbon
product; (ii) "Environmental Laws" shall collectively mean all present and
future federal, state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations,
orders, codes, licenses, permits, decrees, judgments, directives, guidelines,
standards or the equivalent of or by any governmental authority and relating to
or addressing the protection of the environment or human health (including,
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601 et seq.), the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et
seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section
9601 et seq.), and the regulations adopted and publications promulgated pursuant
thereto); and (iii) the term "governmental authority" shall mean the Federal
government, or any state or other political subdivision thereof, or any agency,
court or body of the Federal government, any state or other political
subdivision thereof, exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule 3.25, Sellers warrant and represent
that: (i) neither the Company nor, to the best of Sellers' knowledge, any prior
owner or any user or tenant or operator of the Real Property, has generated,
stored, treated, disposed of, used, caused to be used, or permitted the use of
Hazardous Materials in, on or about the Real Property in violation of
Environmental Laws; (ii) the Company is in compliance with all applicable
Environmental Laws; (iii) the Company has secured all permits, licenses,
authorizations, registrations and approvals necessary for the storage, use or
handling of Hazardous Materials and is in compliance therewith; (iv) there are
no pending claims by any governmental authority or any other person in respect
of Environmental Laws affecting the Company or the Real Property and neither
Sellers nor the Company has received any notice of any violations of any
Environmental Laws or has received any warning notices, administrative
complaints, judicial complaints or other formal or informal notices from any
person alleging that the Company or conditions on the Real Property are, or may
be, in violation of any Environmental Laws; (v) there is not now, nor, to the
best of Sellers' knowledge, has there ever been, any disposal, discharge or
other type of release on property adjacent to or near the Real Property or to
the surface or ground water flowing to the Real Property which may constitute a
risk of contamination to the Real Property; and (vi) no releasing, emitting,
discharging, leaching, dumping or disposing of any Hazardous Material by the
Company or from the Real Property has occurred at, into, onto or under any other
property which may give rise to liability under any Environmental Law.
3.26 Absence of Questionable Payments. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.26,
neither the Company nor, to Sellers' knowledge, any director, officer, agent,
employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company has used any corporate
or other funds for unlawful contributions, payments, gifts, or entertainment, or
made any unlawful expenditures relating to political activity to government
officials or others or established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded
funds in violation of Section 30A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"). Neither the Company nor, to Sellers' knowledge,
any current director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf
of the Company has accepted or received any unlawful contributions, payments,
gifts or expenditures.
3.27 Investment Intent. Each of the Sellers
(i) represents and warrants that (a) the Initial Questron Common
Stock, (b) the Deferred Questron Common Stock and (c) to the extent issued
to Sellers as contemplated by this Agreement, the Options and any shares of
Questron Common Stock issuable upon exercise thereof (the securities
describes in clauses (a), (b) and (c) being herein referred to collectively
as, the "Securities") are being acquired as an investment and not with a
view to the distribution thereof;
(ii) understands that none of the Securities have been registered
under the Act, in reliance on an exemption therefrom, and that none of the
Securities have been approved or disapproved by the United States Securities
and Exchange Commission or by any other Federal or state agency;
(iii) understands that none of the Securities can be sold,
transferred or assigned unless registered by Questron (which no Seller has
the right to compel) pursuant to the Act and any applicable state securities
laws, or unless an exemption therefrom is available, and, accordingly, it
may not be possible for any Seller to liquidate its investment in the
Securities, and agrees not to sell, assign or otherwise transfer or dispose
of the Securities unless such Securities have been so registered or an
exemption from registration is available;
(iv) acknowledges that all documents, records and books pertaining
to Questron and its business (including, but not limited to, the following
documents which have been provided to, and reviewed by, each of Sellers: (a)
Questron's Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended December
31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, (b) Questron's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB for
the quarterly periods ended March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997, September 30,
1997 and March 31, 1998, (c) Questron's Proxy Statement, dated May 5, 1998,
relating to its 1998 Annual Meeting of Shareholders), and (d) Questron's
Form 8-K and Form 8-K/A dated October 7, 1997 and December 5, 1997,
respectively, have been made available to Sellers and Sellers' attorney
and/or accountant and/or representative. Each Seller has had an opportunity
to ask questions and receive answers from Questron concerning the business
and assets of Questron and all such questions have been answered to the full
satisfaction of Sellers; and
(v) is an accredited investor, as that term is defined in
Regulation D under the Act.
3.28 Disclosure. (a) No representations or warranties by Sellers and the
Company in this Agreement, including the Exhibits and the Schedules, and no
statement contained in any document (including, without limitation, the
financial statements, certificates and other writings furnished or to be
furnished by Sellers or the Company to Questron or any of its representatives
pursuant to the provisions hereof or in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby), contains or will contain any untrue statement of material
fact or omits or will omit to state any material fact necessary, in light of the
circumstances under which it was made, in order to make the statements herein or
therein not misleading. There is no fact known to the Sellers which has a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company which has not been set forth in this
Agreement, including any Exhibit or Schedule, the financial statements referred
to in Section 3.11 (including the footnotes thereto), any schedule, exhibit, or
certificate delivered in accordance with the terms hereof or any document or
statement in writing which has been supplied by or on behalf of Sellers or the
Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Sellers have furnished or caused to be furnished to Questron
complete and correct copies of all agreements, instruments and documents set
forth in the Schedules. Each of the Schedules is true, complete and correct.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF QUESTRON
Questron represents and warrants to Sellers that:
4.1 Organization. Questron is a corporation duly organized and validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. Questron
has all requisite corporate power and authority to carry on its business as now
being conducted and to own its properties and is duly licensed or qualified and
in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which it is
required to be so licensed or so qualified, except where the failure to be so
licensed or so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Questron.
4.2 Corporate Authority. Questron has full corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated by this
Agreement to which it is party and to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by Questron of this
Agreement and all other agreements contemplated by this Agreement to which it is
party have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action. This
Agreement has been, and each of the other agreements contemplated by this
Agreement to which it is party will be as of the Closing Date, duly executed and
delivered by Questron, and (assuming due execution and delivery by Sellers and
the Company) this Agreement constitutes, and each of such other agreements when
executed and delivered will constitute, a valid and binding obligation of
Questron, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally
or by general equitable principles.
4.3 No Violation. Questron is not subject to or bound by any provision of:
(a) any law, statute, rule, regulation or judicial or administrative
decision,
(b) any certificate of incorporation or by-laws,
(c) any mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note, shareholders' agreement,
bond, indenture, other instrument or agreement, license, permit, trust,
custodianship or other restriction, or
(d) any judgment, order, writ, injunction or decree of any court,
governmental body, administrative agency or arbitrator,
that would prevent or be violated by, or under which there would be a default as
a result of, the execution, delivery and performance by Questron of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby. No
consent, approval or authorization of or declaration or filing with any Person
is required for the valid execution, delivery and performance by Questron of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4 Investment Intent. Questron is acquiring the Shares for its own account
for investment and not with a view to any distribution thereof. In entering into
this Agreement, Questron has relied solely on the express representations,
warranties and covenants of Sellers in this Agreement, its independent
investigation of the Company, including its independent audit of the Company's
books and records, and not on any oral comments or statements of Sellers or any
representatives of or advisors engaged by Sellers.
4.5 Due Execution. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by
Questron and (assuming due execution and delivery by the Sellers and the
Company) the Agreement constitutes, and (assuming due execution and delivery by
each party thereto other than Questron) the Employment Agreements and all other
agreements to be executed and delivered by Questron pursuant to this Agreement
will constitute, valid and binding obligations of Questron, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium, reorganization or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles.
4.6 SEC Documents. Questron has furnished Sellers with copies of the
following reports (the "SEC Documents") filed by Questron with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"):
(a) Questron's Annual Reports on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal years ended
December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997;
(b) Questron's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-QSB for the quarterly
periods ending March 31, 1997, June 30, 1997, September 30, 1997 and March
31, 1998;
(c) Questron's Proxy Statement, dated May 5, 1998, relating to its 1998
Annual Meeting of Shareholders; and
(d) Questron's Form 8-K and 8-K/A dated October 7, 1997 and December 5,
1997, respectively.
Questron is current in its obligations to file all periodic reports and proxy
statements with the SEC required to be filed under the Exchange Act and
applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
4.7 Questron Common Stock. All shares of Questron Common Stock delivered to
Sellers pursuant to this Agreement (which shall include all shares of Initial
Questron Common Stock, Deferred Questron Common Stock and all shares of Questron
Common Stock purchased upon exercise of the Options), when issued as
contemplated hereby, will be duly authorized, fully paid and non-assessable.
4.8 Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary of Questron is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under laws of the jurisdiction
in which such subsidiary is incorporated and has all requisite corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as now being conducted and to own its
properties and is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction in which it is required to be so licensed or
qualified, except when the failure to be so licensed or so qualified would not
have a Material Adverse Affect on such subsidiary. As used herein, the term
subsidiary means any corporation or other entity of which Questron, directly or
indirectly, owns or controls capital stock or ownership interests representing
either (i) more than fifty percent (50%) of the general voting power under
ordinary circumstances of such corporation or entity, or (ii) if an entity other
than a corporation, more than fifty percent (50%) of the economic interest
therein.
ARTICLE 5
CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF SELLERS AND QUESTRON
5.1 Conduct of Business Prior to the Closing Date. Sellers and the Company
agree that, between the date hereof and the Closing Date:
(a) Except as contemplated by this Agreement or permitted by written
consent of Questron, Sellers shall cause the Company to operate its business
only in the ordinary course consistent with prior practice and not to:
(i) declare or pay any dividends, make any distributions to
shareholders or undertake any similar transactions affecting the
capital of the Company;
(ii) sell or dispose of any assets of the Company other than the
sale of inventory in the ordinary course of business and dispositions
of immaterial assets;
(iii) take any action of the nature referred to in Section 3.19,
except as permitted therein;
(iv) change the Company's banking or safe deposit arrangements;
(v) cause or permit indebtedness (which for purposes of this
clause (v) shall be deemed to exclude trade payables consisting of
accounts payable, deferred taxes and accrued expenses) of the Company
to exceed $1,400,000 (including a shareholder loan with an outstanding
principal balance of approximately $405,000) in the aggregate; or
(vi) except as my be required by law, take any action to amend or
terminate any Employee Benefit Plan or adopt any other plan, program,
arrangement or practice providing new benefits or compensation to its
employees.
(b) Sellers shall use their best efforts to conduct the business of the
Company in a manner consistent with past business practices; to preserve the
business organization of the Company intact; to keep available to Questron
the services of the present officers and employees of the Company; to
preserve for Questron the good will of the Company's suppliers, customers,
distributors, sales representatives and others having business relations
with the Company; and to inform Questron of, and consult with Questron on,
any key decisions involving any capital expenditure in excess of $50,000.
(c) Sellers shall cause the Company to maintain in force the insurance
policies referred to on Schedule 3.22 or insurance policies providing the
same or substantially similar coverage; provided, however, that the Sellers
will notify Questron prior to the expiration of any of such insurance
policies.
(d) Except as contemplated by this Agreement or permitted by written
consent of Questron, no Benefit Plan disclosed or required to be disclosed
has been or will be:
(i) terminated by the Company other than for expiration of its terms;
(ii) except as required by law, amended in any manner which would
directly or indirectly increase the benefits accrued in a material
amount, by any participant thereunder; or
(iii) except as required by law, amended in any manner which would
materially increase the cost to Questron of maintaining such plan, fund
or arrangement.
(e) Sellers and the Company shall give Questron prompt notice of any
event, condition or circumstance occurring from the date hereof through the
Closing Date that would constitute a violation or breach of any
representation or warranty of Sellers of which Sellers have knowledge,
whether made as of the date hereof or as of the Closing Date, or that would
constitute a violation or breach of any covenant of Sellers contained in
this Agreement.
5.2 Tax Covenants. (a) Sellers shall timely cause to be prepared and filed
by the Company all Returns of the Company relating to Pre-Closing Periods and
shall timely pay, or cause to be paid by the Company, when due all Taxes
relating to such Returns. Such Returns shall be prepared or completed in a
manner consistent with prior practice of Sellers and the Company with respect to
Returns concerning the income, properties or operations of the Company
(including elections and accounting methods and conventions), except as
otherwise required by law or regulation or otherwise agreed to by Questron prior
to the filing thereof, subject to the proviso of the preceding sentence.
(b) Questron and Sellers shall cooperate with each other in responding
to any audit or proceeding relating to any Returns (including any proceeding
relating to the Company for Pre-Closing Periods). Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary contained or implied in this Agreement, (i) without the prior
written approval of Questron (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or
delayed), neither Sellers nor any affiliate thereof shall agree or consent to
compromise or settle, either administratively or after the commencement of
litigation, any issue or claim arising in any such audit or proceeding, or
otherwise agree or consent to any Tax liability, to the extent that any such
compromise, settlement, consent or agreement shall materially affect the Tax
liability of Questron, any of its affiliates or the Company (including, but not
limited to, the imposition of Tax deficiencies, the material reduction of asset
basis or cost adjustments, the lengthening of any amortization or depreciation
periods, the denial of material amortization or depreciation deductions, or the
material reduction of loss or credit carry-forwards).
(c) Questron shall promptly notify the Sellers upon receipt by
Questron, any affiliate of Questron or the Company of notice of any pending or
threatened Tax audits or assessments relating to the income, properties or
operations of the Company, in each case for Pre- Closing Periods only, so long
as Pre-Closing Periods remain open; provided, however, that failure by Questron
to comply with this Section 5.2(c) shall not affect Questron's right to
indemnification relating to Taxes if such failure does not prejudice the rights
of Sellers. Sellers shall promptly notify Questron upon receipt by any Seller or
any affiliate thereof of notice of any pending or threatened Tax audits or
assessments relating to the income, properties or operations of the Company, in
each case for Pre-Closing Periods only.
(d) Neither Sellers nor any affiliate of any Seller shall, without the
prior written consent of Questron, file, or cause to be filed, any amended Tax
return or claim for Tax refund, with respect to the Company, to the extent that
any such filing shall materially affect the Tax liability of Questron, any of
its affiliates or the Company (including, but not limited to, the imposition of
Tax deficiencies, the material reduction of asset basis or cost adjustments, the
lengthening of any amortization or depreciation periods, the denial of material
amortization or depreciation deductions, or the material reduction of loss or
credit carry-forwards).
(e) Any and all powers of attorney relating to Tax matters concerning
the Company shall be terminated as to the Company on or prior to the Closing
Date and shall have no further force or effect.
(f) After the Closing Date, Questron and Sellers shall provide each
other, and Questron shall cause the Company to provide Sellers, with such
cooperation and information relating to the Company as either party reasonably
may request in (A) filing any Tax return, amended return or claim for refund,
(B) determining any Tax liability or a right to refund of Taxes, (C) conducting
or defending any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes or (D)
effectuating the terms of this Agreement. The parties shall retain, and Questron
shall cause the Company to retain, all returns, schedules and work papers, and
all material records and other documents relating thereto, until the expiration
of the statute of limitation (and, to the extent notified by any party, any
extensions thereof) of the taxable years to which such returns and other
documents relate and, unless such returns and other documents are offered and
delivered to Sellers or Questron, as applicable, until the final determination
of any Tax in respect of such years. Any information obtained under this Section
5.2 shall be kept confidential, except as may be otherwise necessary in
connection with filing any Tax return, amended return, or claim for refund,
determining any Tax liability or right to refund of Taxes, or in conducting or
defending any audit or other proceeding in respect of Taxes. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, neither Sellers nor Questron, nor any of their affiliates, shall be
required unreasonably to prepare any document, or determine any information not
then in its possession, in response to a request under this Section 5.2(f).
(g) Questron shall have received from each Seller, on or before the
Closing Date, an affidavit to the effect that Seller is not a "foreign person"
within the meaning of Code Section 1445. If, on or before the Closing Date,
Questron shall not have received such affidavit from any Seller, Questron may
withhold from the Initial Cash Consideration payable at the Closing to such
Seller pursuant hereto such sums as are required to be withheld therefrom under
Section 1445 of the Code.
(h) Sellers shall be liable for, and shall pay when due, (i) any
transfer, gains, documentary, sales, use, registration, stamp, value added or
other similar Taxes payable by reason of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or attributable to the sale, transfer or delivery of the Shares
hereunder, and (ii) other Taxes imposed on Sellers or any former shareholder of
the Company for which Questron or the Company is held liable. Other than in the
case of Returns and other documentation that are required to be filed by the
Company, which relate to Tax periods commencing on or after the Closing Date,
Sellers shall, at their own expense, file all necessary Tax returns and other
documentation with respect to all such Taxes.
5.3 Expenses and Finder's Fees. Questron and Sellers will bear their own
expenses in connection with this Agreement and its performance. Sellers, on the
one hand, and Questron, on the other hand, each represent and warrant to the
other that the negotiations relative to this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby have been carried on in such a manner as not to give rise to
any valid claims against the other party or the Company for a brokerage
commission, finder's fee or other like payment.
5.4 Access to Information and Confidentiality. Sellers and the Company agree
that until the Closing, Questron may conduct such reasonable investigation with
respect to the business, business prospects, assets, liabilities (contingent or
otherwise), results of operations, employees and financial condition of the
Company as will permit Questron to evaluate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement. Until the Closing, Sellers shall afford Questron reasonable
access to the premises, books, records and business affairs of the Company (and,
to the extent directly relating thereto, of Sellers) for purposes of conducting
such investigation and, promptly after the end of each month (without demand or
notice), shall furnish Questron with copies of an unaudited balance sheet as of
the end of such month and unaudited statements of income and cash flows for such
month, in each case prepared consistent with the standards set forth in the
second sentence of Section 3.11(a). Unless and until the transactions
contemplated herein have been consummated, each of Questron and the Sellers
shall maintain all confidential information received from the other in
connection with its evaluation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement [, including the independent audit of the Company performed by
Questron] (the "Confidential Information") in strict confidence, and shall take
all precautions necessary to prevent disclosure, access to, or transmission of
the Confidential Information, or any part thereof, to any third party. Each of
Questron and the Sellers may make limited disclosure of Confidential Information
to its representatives and to such other persons as need to know for the purpose
of preparing for and negotiating this Agreement and in connection with the
consummation of the purchase and sale contemplated hereby, including arranging
Questron's financing in connection with the purchase, provided such persons are
informed of and bound by Questron's confidentiality obligations hereunder. In
the event the Closing does not occur for any reason, each of Questron and the
Sellers shall, promptly upon the other's request, return all copies and
recordings of the Confidential Information in its possession or under its
control and delete all records thereof in any data storage system maintained by
it. For the purposes of this Section 5.4, Confidential Information shall not
include information which (a) the holder can reasonably demonstrate was already
in the holder's possession, provided that such information is not known by the
holder to be subject to another confidentiality agreement with, or other
obligation of secrecy to another party, (b) becomes generally available to the
public other than as a result of a disclosure by the holder or the holder's
directors, officers, employees, agents or advisors, or (c) becomes available to
the holder on a non-confidential basis from a source other than Seller or its
advisors, provided that such source is not known by the holder to be bound by a
confidentiality agreement with, or other obligation of secrecy to another party.
Nothing contained in this Section 5.4 or otherwise shall prohibit the holder
from making disclosure of Confidential Information to the extent required by
law, rule or regulation, provided that the holder shall give the other prior
notice as to the nature of the required disclosure so as to provide the other
the opportunity to challenge the need for such disclosure.
5.5 No Solicitation. Sellers and the Company shall not, and each shall
direct their respective affiliates, representatives and agents and the Company's
officers and employees, not to, directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit,
initiate or engage in discussions or negotiations with, or provide any
non-public information to, any Person concerning any merger, sales of
substantial assets, sales of shares of capital stock or similar transactions
involving the Company or enter into any agreement with respect thereto. Sellers
will promptly communicate to Questron the terms of any proposal which it may
receive in respect of all such transactions prohibited by the foregoing.
5.6 Press Releases. Except as required by law or stock exchange regulation,
any public announcements by the Company or the Sellers regarding the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be made only with the consent of
Questron.
5.7 Transitional Assistance. Sellers shall reasonably cooperate with and
assist Questron in the orderly transfer of the business of the Company after the
Closing Date. Such cooperation and assistance shall include, but not be limited
to, the physical transfer of any books, records and computer software of the
Company.
5.8 Conditions. Sellers shall use their best efforts to fulfill or cause the
fulfillment of the conditions set forth in Article 6. Questron shall use its
best efforts to fulfill or cause the fulfillment of the conditions set forth in
Article 7.
5.9 Rule 144. Following the Closing Date, Questron agrees to use
commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate with Sellers with respect to
permitted sales of Questron Common Stock by Sellers under Rule 144 of the
Exchange Act.
5.10 SEC Filings. Questron will provide Sellers with copies of all reports
filed by Questron with the SEC under the Act and the Exchange Act subsequent to
the date hereof and prior to the Closing Date.
ARTICLE 6
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF QUESTRON
Questron need not consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
unless the following conditions shall be fulfilled or waived:
6.1 Representations and Warranties. Except as otherwise contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement, (a) the representations and warranties of Sellers
contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or document delivered to
Questron pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been made again at and as of
the Closing Date and shall then be true in all material respects, except to the
extent that any such representation or warranty is made as of a specified date,
in which case such representation or warranty shall have been true in all
material respects as of such date, and (b) Sellers shall have performed and
complied with all material agreements and conditions required by this Agreement
to be performed or complied with by Sellers prior to or on the Closing Date, and
Questron shall have been furnished with certificates of the Sellers, dated the
Closing Date, certifying to the effect of clauses (a) and (b) of this Section
6.1.
6.2 Due Diligence. Questron shall have completed, to its sole satisfaction,
its due diligence investigation of the Company.
6.3 Opinion of Counsel. Questron shall have been furnished with an opinion
dated the Closing Date of Murphy, Mahon, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, L.L.P., counsel for
Sellers and the Company, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to
Questron.
6.4 No Actions. No action, suit, or proceeding before any court or
governmental or regulatory authority shall be pending, no investigation by any
governmental or regulatory authority shall have been commenced, and no action,
suit or proceeding by any governmental or regulatory authority shall have been
threatened, against Questron, Sellers, the Company or any of the principals,
officers or directors of any of them, seeking to restrain, prevent or change the
transactions contemplated hereby or questioning the legality or validity of any
such transactions or seeking damages in connection with any such transactions.
6.5 Consents. All consents of third parties, including, without limitation,
governmental authorities and non-governmental self-regulatory agencies, and all
filings with and notifications of governmental authorities, regulatory agencies
(including non-governmental self-regulatory agencies) or other entities which
regulate the business of Questron, Sellers or the Company necessary on the part
of Questron, Sellers or the Company, to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to
permit the continued operation of the respective businesses of Questron and the
Company in substantially the same manner immediately after the Closing Date as
theretofore conducted, other than routine post-closing notifications or filings,
shall have been obtained or effected.
6.6 Employment Agreements. Each of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
shall have executed and delivered an Employment Agreement substantially in the
forms attached hereto as Exhibits A-1 and A-2, respectively (together with the
"Restrictive Letter" and any other exhibits attached thereto, the "Employment
Agreements").
6.7 Outstanding Shareholder Loans. Any outstanding loans from or guarantees
by the Company to or for the benefit of any Seller shall have been satisfied and
discharged or otherwise have terminated or been canceled, and Sellers and the
Company shall have delivered to Questron satisfactory evidence thereof.
6.8 Financing. Questron shall have obtained bank or other debt financing on
terms reasonably satisfactory to it in an amount sufficient to pay the purchase
consideration contemplated by Section 1.2 and fees and expenses related to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.9 Minimum Net Worth. Questron shall have received Seller's certificate
certifying the Company's net worth as of the Closing Date. The Company shall
have a minimum net worth, as of the Closing Date, of not less than $1,400,000.
6.10 Material Adverse Change. There shall have been no material adverse
change in the financial conditions, assets, liabilities (contingent or
otherwise), results of operations or business of the Company.
6.11 Transfer of Property. The Company shall have transferred and conveyed
to the Sellers the real property located at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxx 00000 at a price equal to the net book value of such property as reflected
on the Company's financial statements as of March 31, 1998 and Questron shall
have received evidence of such transfer, which evidence shall be reasonably
satisfactory to Questron.
ARTICLE 7
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT OF SELLERS
Sellers need not consummate the transactions contemplated hereby unless the
following conditions shall be fulfilled on or prior to the Closing:
7.1 Representations and Warranties. Except as otherwise contemplated or
permitted by this Agreement, (a) the representations and warranties of Questron
contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or document delivered to
Sellers pursuant hereto shall be deemed to have been made again at and as of the
Closing Date and shall then be true in all material respects, and (b) Questron
shall have performed and complied with all material agreements and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it prior to or on
the Closing Date, and the Sellers shall have been furnished a certificate of an
appropriate officer of Questron, dated the Closing Date, certifying to the
effect of clauses (a) and (b) of this Section 7.1.
7.2 No Actions. No action, suit, or proceeding before any court,
governmental or regulatory authority, administrative agency or arbitrator shall
be pending, no investigation by any governmental or regulatory authority shall
have been commenced, and no action, suit or proceeding by any Person shall have
been threatened, against Sellers seeking to restrain, prevent, or change the
transactions contemplated hereby or questioning the legality or validity of any
such transactions or seeking damages in connection with any such transactions.
7.3 Consents. All consents of third parties including, without limitation,
governmental authorities, and non-governmental self-regulatory agencies, and all
filings with and notifications of governmental authorities, regulatory agencies
(including non-governmental self-regulatory agencies) or other entities which
regulate the business of Sellers, necessary on the part of Sellers, to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, other than routine post-closing notifications
or filings, shall have been obtained or effected.
7.4 Employment Agreements. Questron shall have caused the Employment
Agreements to be duly executed and delivered by the Company.
7.5 Opinion of Counsel. The Seller shall have been furnished with an
opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Battle Xxxxxx LLP, counsel to Questron, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Sellers.
7.6 No Material Adverse Change. There shall have been no material adverse
change in the financial condition, assets, liabilities (contingent or
otherwise), results of operations or business of Questron and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
7.7 Lease Agreement. The Company and Sellers shall have executed a real
property lease agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Questron
and the Company providing for the Company's lease of the real property and
improvements located at 0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000.
ARTICLE 8
INDEMNIFICATION
8.1 Indemnification by Sellers. Effective only from and upon the occurrence
of the Closing, and subject to Section 8.3 below, each of the Sellers hereby
agrees to jointly and severally defend, indemnify and hold harmless Questron and
the Company and their respective successors, assigns and affiliates
(collectively, the "Questron Indemnitees") from and against any and all losses,
deficiencies, liabilities, damages, assessments, judgments, costs and expenses,
including reasonable attorneys' fees (both those incurred in connection with the
defense or prosecution of the indemnifiable claim and those incurred in
connection with the enforcement of this provision), including, without
limitation, Environmental Liabilities and Costs, but in no event consequential,
punitive or incidental damages or losses (collectively, "Questron Losses"),
caused by, resulting from or arising out of:
(a) (i) breaches of representation or warranty under this Agreement on
the part of any Seller; and (ii) failures by any of the Sellers to perform
or otherwise fulfill any undertaking or other agreement or obligation under
this Agreement;
(b) (i) any and all Taxes imposed on the Company (including, without
limitation, Taxes relating to the Tax liability of Sellers to the extent any
governmental authority seeks to impose such Taxes on the Company) for, or
relating to, all Pre-Closing Periods to the extent the charges, accruals and
reserves therefor as reflected on the books of the Company as of the date of
the Closing are inadequate to cover such Taxes; and
(c) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims, demands, incident
to any of the foregoing or such indemnification;
provided, however, that if any claim, liability, demand, assessment, action,
suit or proceeding shall be asserted in respect of which a Questron Indemnitee
proposes to demand indemnification ("Questron Indemnified Claims"), Questron or
such other Questron Indemnitee shall promptly notify the Sellers thereof,
provided further, however, that the failure to so notify the Sellers shall not
reduce or affect Sellers' obligations with respect thereto except to the extent
that Sellers are materially prejudiced thereby. Subject to rights of or duties
to any insurer or other third Person having liability therefor, the Sellers
shall have the right promptly upon receipt of such notice (after acknowledging
responsibility for such Questron Indemnified Claim) to assume the control of the
defense, compromise or settlement of any such Questron Indemnified Claims
(provided that any compromise or settlement must be reasonably approved by
Questron), including, at its own expense, employment of counsel reasonably
satisfactory to Questron; provided, however, that if the Sellers shall have
exercised their right to assume such control, Questron may, in its sole
discretion and at its expense, employ counsel to represent it (in addition to
counsel employed by the Sellers) in any such matter. So long as the Sellers are
contesting any such Questron Indemnified Claim in good faith, Questron and each
other Questron Indemnitee shall not pay or settle any such Questron Indemnified
Claim. Questron shall have the right to offset any Questron Indemnified Claims
and/or Questron Losses against the 1999 Deferred Purchase Price.
8.2 Indemnification by Questron. Questron hereby agrees to defend, indemnify
and hold harmless Sellers and their respective successors, assigns and
affiliates (collectively, "Seller Indemnitees") from and against any and all
losses, deficiencies, liabilities, damages, assessments, judgments, costs and
expenses, including reasonable attorneys' fees (both those incurred in
connection with the defense or prosecution of the indemnifiable claim and those
incurred in connection with the enforcement of this provision), but in no event
consequential, punitive or incidental damages or losses (collectively, "Seller
Losses"), resulting from or arising out of:
(a) breaches of representation and warranty hereunder on the part of
Questron and failures by Questron to perform or otherwise fulfill any
undertaking or agreement or obligation hereunder; and
(b) any and all actions, suits, proceedings, claims and demands
incident to any of the foregoing or such indemnification;
provided, however, that if any claim, liability, demand, assessment, action,
suit or proceeding shall be asserted in respect of which a Seller Indemnitee
proposes to demand indemnification ("Seller Indemnified Claims"), Seller or such
other Seller Indemnitee shall notify Questron thereof, provided further,
however, that the failure to so notify Questron shall not reduce or affect
Questron's obligations with respect thereto except to the extent that Questron
is materially prejudiced thereby. Subject to rights of or duties to any insurer
or other third Person having liability therefor, Questron shall have the right
promptly upon receipt of such notice to assume the control of the defense,
compromise or settlement of any such Seller Indemnified Claims (provided that
any compromise or settlement must be reasonably approved by Seller) including,
at its own expense, employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Seller;
provided, however, that if Questron shall have exercised its right to assume
such control, Seller may, in its sole discretion and at its expense, employ
counsel to represent it (in addition to counsel employed by Questron) in any
such matter. So long as Questron is contesting any such Seller Indemnified Claim
in good faith, Seller or such other Seller Indemnitees shall not pay or settle
any such Seller Indemnified Claim.
8.3 Limitation on Liability. The aggregate liability of Sellers under this
Article 8 shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the cash consideration
received by the Sellers as Initial Purchase Price, and 1999 Deferred Purchase
Price. The aggregate liability of Questron under this Article 8 shall not exceed
the value of the Initial Questron Common Stock and the Deferred Questron Common
Stock, which value shall be based on the last reported sales price on the date
the subject Questron Common Stock is issued to the Sellers.
ARTICLE 9
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS
9.1 Representations, Warranties and Covenants. The covenants contained in
this Agreement shall survive the Closing Date without limitation. The
representations and warranties contained herein shall survive the Closing Date
for a period of two (2) years, except that, any representation or warranty of
Sellers contained in Sections 3.1, 3.5, 3.6, 3.11(b) and 3.25 shall survive
until the tenth anniversary of the Closing Date, and any representation or
warranty of Sellers contained in Sections 3.13 (Tax Matters) shall survive until
the expiration of one year after the expiration of the applicable statute of
limitations (provided, that if any Seller or the Company and the United States
Internal Revenue Service or other taxing authority have agreed to extend the
applicable statute of limitations beyond any such period, then in such case such
representations and warranties shall survive to the date on which such agreement
to extend expires).
ARTICLE 10
NON-COMPETITION BY SELLERS AND NO SOLICITATION
10.1 Non-Compete. In consideration of the purchase by Questron of the Shares
under this Agreement, the Sellers will at the Closing execute and deliver
non-compete agreements in the form attached to the Employment Agreements.
10.2 Remedies. Each Seller recognizes that a breach or threatened breach by
him of his obligations under this Article 10 and the Employment Agreements would
cause irreparable injury to the Company, and the Company shall be entitled to
seek preliminary and permanent injunctions enjoining him from violating the
non-compete agreements contemplated by this Article 10, in addition to any other
remedies which may be available.
ARTICLE 11
MISCELLANEOUS
11.1 Cooperation. Each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable
efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, to cooperate with the other
party hereto with respect to all actions, and to do or cause to be done all
things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
11.2 Waiver. Any failure of Sellers to comply with any of their respective
obligations or agreements herein contained may be waived only in writing by
Questron. Any failure of Questron to comply with any of its obligations or
agreements herein contained may be waived only in writing by the Sellers.
11.3 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given upon receipt of: hand
delivery; certified or registered mail, return receipt requested; or telecopy
transmission with confirmation of receipt:
(i) If to Sellers or the Company, to:
Fas-Tronics, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
(with a copy to)
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Farrier, L.L.P.
000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 00000
Telecopier: 000-000-0000
Telephone: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
(ii) If to Questron, to
Questron Technology, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 000X
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
(with a copy to)
Battle Xxxxxx LLP
Park Avenue Tower
00 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Telecopier: (000) 000-0000
Telephone: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx III, Esq.
Such names and addresses may be changed by written notice to each person listed
above.
11.4 Governing Law and Consent to Jurisdiction; Dispute Resolution. (a) This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal
substantive laws, and not the choice of law rules, of the State of New York.
(b) Any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to
this Agreement, or the interpretation or breach thereof, shall be referred to
arbitration under the rules of the American Arbitration Association, to the
extent such rules are not inconsistent with this Section 11.4. Judgment upon the
award of the arbitrators may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof
or such court may be asked to judicially confirm the award and order its
enforcement, as the case may be. The demand for arbitration shall be made within
a reasonable time after the claim, dispute or other matter in question has
arisen, and in any event shall not be made after the date when institution of
legal or equitable proceedings, based on such claim, dispute or other matter in
question, would be barred by the applicable statute of limitations.
(c) The arbitration panel shall consist of three arbitrators, one of
whom shall be appointed by each party hereto. The two arbitrators thus appointed
shall choose the third arbitrator; provided, however, that if the two
arbitrators are unable to agree on the appointment of the third arbitrator,
either arbitrator may petition the American Arbitration Association to make the
appointment.
(d) The place of arbitration shall be New York.
11.5 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
11.6 Headings; Schedules. The section headings contained in this Agreement
are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement. All references to "Schedules" shall mean the
disclosure schedules heretofore delivered by the Sellers to Questron.
11.7 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and Schedules
hereto and the documents referred to herein, embodies the entire agreement and
understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained
herein. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings
between the parties with respect to such subject matter.
11.8 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified
only by written agreement of the parties hereto.
11.9 Binding Effect; Benefits. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns; nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on
any Person other than the parties hereto and their respective successors and
assigns (and, to the extent provided in Sections 8.1 and 8.2, the other Questron
Indemnitees and Seller Indemnitees) any rights, remedies, obligations or
liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement.
11.10 Assignability. This Agreement shall not be assignable by any party
hereto without the prior written consent of the other parties provided that
Questron may assign its rights under the Agreement to any affiliate of Questron.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this
Agreement as of the date first above written.
QUESTRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx By /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
---------------------- --------------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Title: Chairman, President and
Chief Executive Officer
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
-------------------------
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
FAS-TRONICS, INC.
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
----------------------------
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx
Title: President
