AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
BY AND
AMONG
U.S. DRY CLEANING
CORPORATION,
CLEANERS CLUB,
INC.,
CLEANERS CLUB ACQUISITION
SUB, INC.,
AND
RIAZ
CHAUTHANI
December 21,
2006
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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2
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2
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7
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7
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7
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8
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8
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Articles of
Incorporation; Bylaws
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8
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8
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9
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9
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No Further
Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock
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9
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Lost, Stolen or
Destroyed Certificates
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9
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Taking of
Necessary Action; Further Action
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10
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10
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ARTICLE
III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
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10
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Organization,
Standing and Power
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11
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11
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Capitalization;
Title to the Shares
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11
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12
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12
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Absence of
Certain Changes
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13
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Absence of
Undisclosed Liabilities
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15
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15
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Restrictions on
Business Activities
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15
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Governmental
Authorization
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15
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15
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16
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16
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18
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20
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23
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25
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Interested
Party Transactions
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27
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28
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28
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29
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29
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29
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Complete Copies
of Materials
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29
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Brokers' and
Finders' Fees
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30
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30
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30
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30
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No Breach of
Material Contracts
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32
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32
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Accounts
Receivable and Payable
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32
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32
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Propriety of
Past Payments
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33
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33
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ARTICLE
IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER
SUB
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34
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Organization,
Standing and Power
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34
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34
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Brokers’
and Finders’ Fees
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35
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35
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ARTICLE
V CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE CLOSING DATE
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35
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Conduct of
Business of the Company
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35
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Restriction on
Conduct of Business of the Company
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35
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38
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39
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ARTICLE
VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
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40
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40
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40
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40
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Best Efforts
and Further Assurances
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41
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41
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41
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41
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Payment of
Certain Indebtedness
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42
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Company
Disclosure Schedule
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42
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ARTICLE
VII CONDITIONS TO THE CLOSING
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42
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Conditions to
Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger
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42
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Additional
Conditions to Obligations of the Company
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43
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Additional
Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub
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43
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Frustration of
Conditions
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45
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ARTICLE
VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER
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46
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46
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47
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47
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47
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47
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ARTICLE
IX INDEMNIFICATION
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48
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48
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Claims;
Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration
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49
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50
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50
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ARTICLE
X GENERAL PROVISIONS
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51
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51
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51
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52
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53
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Entire
Agreement; Nonassignability; Parties in Interest
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53
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53
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53
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54
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Exhibit
A
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Form of
Agreement of Merger
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Exhibit
B
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Form of
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
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Exhibit
C
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Form of Bylaws
of the Surviving Corporation
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Exhibit
D
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Form of Company
Counsel Legal Opinion
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Exhibit
E
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Form of
Non-Compete Agreement
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Exhibit
F
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Form of
Consulting Agreement
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Exhibit
G
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Form of
Registration Rights Agreement
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COMPANY
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “
Agreement ”), dated as of December 21, 2006, by
and among U.S. Dry Cleaning Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(“ Parent ”), Cleaners Club Acquisition Sub,
Inc., a California corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent (“ Merger Sub ”), Cleaners Club, Inc., a
California corporation (the “ Company ”), and,
solely for the purposes of ARTICLE IX and ARTICLE X
of this Agreement, Riaz Chauthani, the sole shareholder of the
Company (“ Sole Shareholder ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company has adopted, and deems it
advisable and in the best interests of its respective shareholders
to consummate, the merger (the “ Merger ”) of
the Company with and into Merger Sub, upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of each of
Parent, Merger Sub and the Company has unanimously adopted this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the
Merger, in accordance with the provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of California (“ California
Law ”) and upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company
has unanimously determined that the consideration to be paid to the
Sole Shareholder is fair to the Sole Shareholder and has resolved
to recommend to the Sole Shareholder the approval of this Agreement
and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby upon
the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
and
WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution of this
Agreement, and as a condition and inducement to Parent’s
willingness to enter into this Agreement, the Sole Shareholder has
approved this Agreement, the Agreement of Merger, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with
California Law; and
WHEREAS, the sole shareholder of Merger Sub has
approved this Agreement, the Agreement of Merger and the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby in accordance with the
provisions of California Law.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
covenants and representations set forth herein, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Defined
Terms
As used herein, the terms below shall have the
following meanings. Any of such terms, unless the context otherwise
requires, may be used in the singular or plural, depending upon the
reference.
“ 401(k) Plan ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 6.5 .
“ Acquisition Transaction ”
means any transaction or series of related transactions involving:
(i) the sale, license, disposition or acquisition of all or a
material portion of the business or assets of the Company; (ii) the
sale, issuance, grant, disposition or acquisition of (A) the
Company Common Stock or other equity security of the Company,
(B) any option, call, warrant or right (whether or not
immediately exercisable) to acquire any Company Common Stock or
other equity security of the Company, or (C) any security,
instrument or obligation that is or may become convertible into or
exchangeable for any Company Common Stock or other equity security
of the Company; or (iii) any merger, consolidation, business
combination, tender offer, share exchange, reorganization or
similar transaction involving the Company; provided,
however , the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement will not be deemed an Acquisition Transaction in
any case.
“ Agreement ” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“ Agreement of Merger ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .
“ Annual Financial Statements
” means the audited balance sheet of the Company at December
31, 2005 and December 31, 2006, together with the related
statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows,
including the notes thereto.
“ Audit ” means any audit,
assessment of Taxes, other examination by any Tax Authority, or any
administrative or judicial proceeding or appeal of such proceeding
relating to Taxes.
“ Business Day ” means any
day that is not a Saturday, Sunday, or other day on which banks are
required or authorized by Law to be closed in
California.
“ California Law ” has the
meaning set forth in the recitals.
“ Closing ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 2.2 .
“ Closing Balance Sheet ”
means the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at the close of
business on the day prior to the Closing Date, including the notes
thereto.
“ Closing Date ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
“ Closing Statement ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.12(a) .
“ COBRA ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.17(d) .
“ Code ” means the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder.
“ Company ” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“ Company Articles ” means
the Articles of Incorporation of the Company as in effect on the
date hereof.
“ Company Authorization ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
“ Company Board ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.6 .
“ Company Bylaws ” means the
Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date hereof.
“ Company Certificate ” means
a certificate or certificates representing shares of Company Common
Stock.
“ Company Common
Stock ” means all shares of common stock, par value $1.00
per share, of the Company.
“ Company Debt ” means all
Indebtedness of the Company.
“ Company Disclosure Schedule
” has the meaning set forth in ARTICLE III
.
“ Company Employee Plans ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a)
.
“ Company Financial Statements
” means the Annual Financial Statements of the Company, the
Interim Financial Statement and the Monthly Financial
Statements.
“ Company Intellectual Property
” means the Intellectual Property used in or necessary for
the conduct of the business of the Company as currently conducted
and as currently proposed to be conducted.
“ Company Owned Intellectual
Property ” means any Company Intellectual Property
(including all of the intellectual property set forth in
Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule)
which the Company represents herein to Parent is owned by the
Company.
“ Company Subsidiary ” means
any corporation, association, business entity, partnership, limited
liability company or other entity of which the Company, either
alone or together with one or more such entities, (i) directly or
indirectly owns or controls securities or other interests
representing more than fifty (50%) of the voting power of such
entity, or (ii) is entitled, by contract or otherwise, to elect,
appoint or designate directors constituting a majority of the
members of such entity’s board of directors or other
governing body.
“ Confidential Information ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.13(f) .
“ Damages ” has the meaning
set forth in Section 9.1(a) .
“ Dollars ” or “
$ ” means the lawful currency of the United States of
America.
“ Effective Time ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .
“ Environmental Claim ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(f)(1).
“ Environmental Laws ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.14(f)(2) .
“ ERISA ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.16(a) .
“ ERISA Affiliate ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.16(a).
“ Exchange Ratio ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).
“ Final Date ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8.1(b) .
“ Financial Statements ”
means the Annual Financial Statements, the Interim Financial
Statements and the Monthly Financial Statements.
“ GAAP ” means the United
States generally accepted accounting principles.
“ Governmental Entity ” means
any arbitrator, court, agency, commission, tribunal, nation,
government, any state or other political subdivision thereof and
any entity exercising or entitled to exercise executive,
legislative, judicial, regulatory, taxing or administrative power
or authority of any nature whatsoever, in each case, whether
foreign or domestic.
“ Indebtedness ” means
(i) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred
purchase price of property or services (other than current
liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business and payable
in accordance with customary practices), (ii) any other
indebtedness that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or
similar instrument, (iii) all obligations under financing
leases, (iv) all obligations in respect of acceptances issued
or created, (v) all liabilities secured by any Lien on any
property and (vi) all guarantee obligations.
“ Indemnitee ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) .
“ Indemnitor ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a) .
“ Intellectual Property ”
means all patents, trademarks, trade names, service marks, Internet
domain names, copyrights, and any applications therefor, trade
secrets, know-how, technology, inventions (whether patentable or
unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), algorithms,
processes, computer software programs or applications (in source
code and/or object code form), databases, schematics, designs and
tangible or intangible proprietary information or
material.
“ Interim Balance Sheet ”
means the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as at
September 30, 2006, including the notes thereto.
“ Interim Financial Statements
” means the Interim Balance Sheet and the related statements
of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company
for the nine (9) months ended September 30, 2006, including the
notes thereto.
“ IRS ” means the Internal
Revenue Service.
“ Knowledge ” means (i) with
respect to any natural person, the actual knowledge of such person
after due and diligent inquiry, or (ii) with respect to the
Company, Parent or Merger Sub the actual knowledge of such
party’s directors and officers or other management-level
personnel having responsibility for the matters represented after
due and diligent inquiry. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Company shall not be deemed to have Knowledge of a particular fact
if and only if, Brian Walker (a) actually knows of such fact or
event, (b) fails to discose such fact or event on the Company
Disclosure Schedule, if required, and (c) no other director,
officer or other management level personnel having responsibility
for the matters represented has actual knowledge of such fact or
event after due and diligent inquiry.
“ Law ” or “
Laws ” has the meaning set forth in Section
3.21 .
“ Lease Agreements ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.19 .
“ Lien ” means, with respect
to any asset (including any security), any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest, encumbrance or restriction of any kind
in respect of such asset; provided, however , that the
term “Lien” shall not include (i) statutory liens for
Taxes, which are not yet due and payable or are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and disclosed in Section
3.16 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) statutory or
common law liens to secure landlords, lessors or renters under
leases or rental agreements confined to the premises rented, (iii)
deposits or pledges made in connection with, or to secure payment
of, workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, old age
pension or other social security programs mandated under applicable
Laws, (iv) statutory or common law liens in favor of carriers,
warehousemen, mechanics to secure claims for labor, materials or
supplies incurred in the ordinary course of business and (x) not
yet delinquent or (y) being contested in good faith and other like
liens, and (v) restrictions on transfer of securities imposed by
applicable state and federal securities laws.
“ Material Adverse Effect ”
means, with respect to any entity or group of entities, any event,
change or effect that (x) is, or is reasonably expected to be,
materially adverse to the condition (financial or otherwise),
properties, assets (including intangible assets), prospects,
liabilities, business, operations or results of operations of such
entity and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or (y) would prevent
or materially alter or delay any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement.
“ Material Contracts ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.28 .
“ Materials of Environmental
Concern ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.14(f)(3 ).
“ Merger ” has the meaning
set forth in the recitals.
“ Merger Sub ” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ Merger Shares ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a) .
“ Monthly Financial Statements
” means the unaudited balance sheets of the Company for each
fiscal month completed prior to the Closing Date, beginning with
the month ended September 30, 2006 and the related statements
of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for the
monthly periods then ended.
“ Net Working Capital ” means
the (x) cash less (y) total current accounts payable based on
Company’s existing terms, in each case, as of the close of
business on the day before the Closing Date.
“ Officer’s Certificate
” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(a
).
“ Parent ” has the meaning
set forth in the preamble.
“ Parent Common Stock
” means all shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per
share, of Parent.
“ Purchaser Damages ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a) .
“ Representatives ” means
officers, directors, employees, attorneys, accountants, advisors,
agents, distributors, licensees, shareholders, subsidiaries and
lenders of a party.
“ Secretary of State ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .
“ Seller Damages ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.1(b) .
“ Sole Shareholder ” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble.
“ Superior Offer ” means an
unsolicited, bona fide written offer made by a third party to
acquire, directly or indirectly, pursuant to a tender offer,
exchange offer, merger, consolidation or other business
combination, all or substantially all of the assets of the Company
or a majority of the total outstanding voting securities of the
Company, on terms that the Company Board has in good faith
concluded (after the receipt of advice of its outside legal counsel
and its financial adviser), taking into account, among other
things, all legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of the
offer and the person making the offer, including the likelihood of
consummation, to be more favorable, from a financial point of view,
to the Sole Shareholder than the terms of the Merger.
“ Store EBITDA ” means the
Company’s EBITDA less the Company headquarters general and
administrative expenses calculated in accordance with GAAP and
consistent with industry standards.
“ Surviving Corporation ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
“ Tax ” or “
Taxes ” means all United States federal, state, local
and foreign taxes, and other assessments of a similar nature
including, without limitation: (i) taxes or other charges on or
with respect to income, franchises, windfall or other profits,
gross receipts, profits, sales, use, capital stock, payroll,
employment, social security, workers’ compensation,
unemployment compensation or net worth; (ii) taxes or other
charges in the nature of excise, withholding,
ad valorem , stamp, transfer, value added or gains
taxes; (iii) license, registration and documentation fees; and
(iv) customs duties, tariffs and similar charges, in each
case, whether imposed directly or through withholding, and
including any interest, additions to tax, or penalties applicable
thereto.
“ Tax Authority ” means the
IRS and any other national, regional, state, municipal, foreign or
other governmental or regulatory authority or administrative body
responsible for the administration of any Taxes.
“ Tax Return ” means all
United States federal, state, local and foreign tax returns,
declarations, statements, reports, schedules, forms and information
returns or other documents and any amendments thereto required to
be filed with a Tax Authority.
“ Third Party Claim ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 9.3 .
“ Transaction Expenses ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 8.3 .
“ Treasury Regulations ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.17(b) .
“ Voting Debt ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 3.3(b) .
“ WARN Act ” means the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act.
ARTICLE
II
THE
MERGER
At the Effective Time and subject to and upon
the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the applicable
provisions of California Law, the Company shall be merged with and
into Merger Sub, the separate corporate existence of the Company
shall cease and Merger Sub shall continue as the surviving
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent. Merger Sub, as
the surviving corporation after the Merger, is hereinafter referred
to as the “ Surviving Corporation .”
The closing of the Merger (the “
Closing ”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m. Pacific
time, on a date to be specified by the parties, which shall be no
later than three (3) Business Days after satisfaction or waiver of
all of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE VII of this
Agreement (other than conditions which can be satisfied only by the
delivery of certificates or other documents at the Closing) (the
“ Closing Date ”) at the offices of Greenberg
Traurig, LLP, located at 650 Town Center Drive, Suite 1700, Costa
Mesa, California, unless another time, date or place is agreed to
by the parties hereto. Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that
it is their intention that the Closing occur (subject to the terms
and conditions of this Agreement) as soon as practicable following
the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
ARTICLE VII .
Section 2.3
Effective
Time
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, the parties hereto shall
file the agreement of merger in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A (the “ Agreement of Merger ”)
and the officers’ certificates of the Company and Merger Sub,
in each case, in such forms as are required by California Law with
the Secretary of State of the State of California (the “
Secretary of State ”), whereupon the Company shall be
merged with and into Merger Sub, which shall survive the Merger,
pursuant to the provisions of California Law. The parties hereto
shall make all other filings, recordings or publications required
by California Law in connection with the Merger. The Merger shall
become effective upon the filing of the Agreement of Merger with
the Secretary of State pursuant to California Law or at such later
time as shall be agreed upon by the parties and specified in the
Agreement of Merger (the “ Effective Time
”).
Section 2.4
Effect of the
Merger
From and after the Effective Time, the effect of
the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement and the
applicable provisions of California Law.
Section 2.5
Articles of
Incorporation; Bylaws
(a) Immediately after the Effective Time, the
articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be the
articles of incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time and as set forth in Exhibit B to
this Agreement, and such articles of incorporation shall be the
articles of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until
thereafter amended as provided by Law and such articles of
incorporation.
(b) Immediately after the Effective Time, the bylaws
of the Surviving Corporation shall be the bylaws of Merger Sub as
in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time and as set forth
in Exhibit C to this Agreement, and such bylaws shall be the
bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as
provided by Law and such bylaws.
Section 2.6
Directors;
Officers
(a) Immediately after the Effective Time, the
directors of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall be the
directors of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their
resignation or removal or until their respective successors are
duly elected and qualified, as the case may be. In furtherance
thereof, the Company shall secure, effective at the Effective Time,
resignations of all of its incumbent directors (the “
Company Board ”), and the Company shall take all
actions available to the Company to cause the directors of Merger
Sub to be so elected or appointed at the Effective Time.
(b) Immediately after the Effective Time, the
officers of Merger Sub at the Effective Time shall be the officers
of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their resignation
or removal or until their respective successors are duly
appointed.
Section 2.7
Effect on Capital
Stock
(a)
Conversion of Stock
. Each share of Company Common
Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time, other than shares of Company Common Stock to be canceled
pursuant to Section 2.7(c) , shall be converted into the
right to receive 780 (the “Exchange Ratio”) fully paid
and nonassessable shares of Parent Common Stock (collectively, the
“ Merger Shares ”); provided, that in no event
shall the number of shares of Parent Common Stock issuable in
accordance with this section exceed 780,000 shares.
(b)
Capital Stock of Merger
Sub . As of the Effective
Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
any of the parties hereto or any holder of securities of Merger
Sub, each share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of
Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged for one
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock
of the Surviving Corporation. Each stock certificate of Merger Sub
evidencing ownership of any such shares of common stock shall
evidence ownership of such shares of capital stock of the Surviving
Corporation.
(c)
Cancellation of Company Common
Stock Owned by Parent .
As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of any of the parties hereto, all shares of
Company Common Stock that are owned by Parent or by any direct or
indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Parent immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be canceled and extinguished without any
conversion thereof.
Section 2.8
Exchange of
Certificates
At the Closing, the Sole Shareholder shall
surrender the Company Certificate(s) held by him, together with a
duly completed and validly executed letter of transmittal in such
form as Parent may reasonably request, and, as soon as practicable
following the Closing, Parent shall deliver the Merger Shares to
the Sole Shareholder, and the Company Certificate so surrendered
shall forthwith be canceled.
Section 2.9
No Further Ownership
Rights in Company Common Stock
At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books
of the Company shall be closed and thereafter there shall be no
further registration of transfers of any shares of Company Common
Stock on the records of the Company.
Section 2.10
Lost, Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates
In the event that any Company Certificates shall
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Parent shall cause to be paid
in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Company
Certificates, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the
Sole Shareholder, such payment of Parent Common Stock as may be
required pursuant to this ARTICLE II ; provided,
however , that Parent may, in its discretion and as a
condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the Sole
Shareholder to deliver a bond in such sum as it may reasonably
direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against
Parent or the Surviving Corporation with respect to the Company
Certificates alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed.
Section 2.11
Taking of Necessary
Action; Further Action
If, at any time after the Effective Time, any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes
of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights,
privileges, powers and franchises of the Company, the officers and
directors of Parent, the Company and the Surviving Corporation are
fully authorized in the name of their respective corporations to
take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long
as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.
(a) On the day prior to the Closing Date, the
Company shall deliver to Parent a statement (the “ Closing
Statement ”) in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to Parent setting forth the Net Working Capital, Store
EBITDA, Company Revenues and Company Debt as of the Closing Date.
No later than two (2) Business Days prior to Closing, the Company
shall deliver to Parent a draft Closing Statement setting forth the
Company’s best estimate of the Net Working Capital, Store
EBITDA, Company Revenues and Company Debt as of the Closing
Date.
(b) In the event the Net Working Capital as set
forth in the Closing Statement is less than One Dollar ($1.00), the
Sole Shareholder shall pay to Parent an amount equal to the amount
by which Net Working Capital Amount is less than One Dollar
($1.00).
(c) In the event the Company Debt as set forth in
the Closing Statement is greater than Eight-Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($800,000), the Sole Shareholder shall pay to Parent an
amount equal to the amount by which the Company Debt is greater
than Eight-Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000).
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
Any reference to any event, change, condition or
effect being “material” with respect to any entity or
group of entities means any event, change, condition or effect
which (i) is or would reasonably be expected to be material to
the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets
(including intangible assets), prospects, liabilities, business,
operations or results of operations of such entity or group of
entities, taken as a whole or (ii) would or would reasonably
be expected to prevent or materially alter or delay any of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Each statement contained in any certificate
signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to Parent
pursuant to Section 7.3(b) shall constitute a
representation and warranty hereunder by the Company to Parent as
to the matters covered thereby.
Except as disclosed in that section of the
document to be delivered by the Company to Parent after the
execution and delivery of this Agreement (the “ Company
Disclosure Schedule ”) corresponding to the Section of
this Agreement to which the following representations or warranties
pertain, the Company represents and warrants to Parent as of the
Closing Date as follows:
Section 3.1
Organization, Standing
and Power
The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State
of California. The Company has the requisite corporate power to own
its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted
and as currently proposed to be conducted and is duly qualified to
do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the failure to be so qualified and in good standing would or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company. The Company has delivered a true and correct copy of the
Company Articles and Company Bylaws, each as amended to date and as
currently in effect, to Parent. The Company is not in violation of
any of the provisions of the Company Articles or Company
Bylaws.
The Company does not directly or indirectly own
any equity or similar interest in, or any interest convertible or
exchangeable or exercisable for any equity or similar interest in,
any corporation, association, partnership, joint venture, limited
liability company, business association or other entity.
Section 3.3
Capitalization; Title to
the Shares
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of (i) 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock. Since
inception, the Company has never authorized the issuance of any
preferred stock, option plan, warrants or other securities
exercisable or convertible into capital stock of the Company. As of
the date hereof, 1,000 shares of Company Common Stock are issued
and outstanding and all outstanding shares of Company Common Stock
are issued to the Sole Shareholder. All of the outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
(b) Except as set forth above, as of the date hereof
and, as of the Closing (i) there are no shares of capital
stock or any other securities of the Company authorized, issued or
outstanding; (ii) there are no existing options, warrants,
calls, preemptive rights, Indebtedness having general voting rights
or debt convertible into securities having such rights (“
Voting Debt ”) or subscriptions or other rights,
agreements, arrangements or commitments of any character (including
any shareholder rights plan or similar plan commonly referred to as
a “poison pill”), relating to the issued or unissued
capital stock of the Company obligating the Company to issue,
transfer or sell or cause to be issued, transferred or sold any
shares of capital stock or Voting Debt of, or other equity interest
in, the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for
such shares or equity interests, or obligating the Company to make
any payment linked to the value of the Company Common Stock or the
sale price of the Company, or obligating the Company to grant,
extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription
or other right, agreement, arrangement or commitment; and
(iii) there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the
Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire the Common
Stock, or other capital stock of the Company or to provide funds to
make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in any other entity.
(c) There are no voting trusts or other agreements
or understandings to which the Company is a party with respect to
the voting of the Company Common Stock.
The Company has the requisite corporate power
and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the
valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against
the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforceability may be limited by the effect, if any, of any
applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or
other Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally
or any general principles of equity, regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity.
Neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement
nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will
conflict with, or result in any breach or violation of, or default
under (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both), or give
rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any
obligation or loss of any benefit under (i) any provision of
the Company Articles or the Company Bylaws, (ii) any contract,
agreement, license or understanding to which the Company is a party
or to which any of its properties or assets are bound or
(iii) any Law applicable to the Company, or any of its
properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii)
above, any such conflicts, breaches, violations, defaults, rights
or losses which could not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. No notice to, filing with,
and no permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any
Governmental Entity, or any other person is necessary for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or, except
for the filing and recordation of the Agreement of Merger in
accordance with the requirements of California Law, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 3.5
Financial
Statements
Attached hereto as Section 3.5 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule are true and correct copies of the
Financial Statements. The Financial Statements have been prepared
in accordance with the Company’s past practice and fairly
present in all material respects the financial position as at such
dates and the results of operations and cash flows for such periods
of the Company. As of the Closing, the Closing Balance Sheet has
been prepared in accordance with the Company’s past practice
and fairly presents in all material respects the financial position
of the Company as at the day before the Closing Date.
Section 3.6
Absence of Certain
Changes
Except as and to the extent set forth in the
Financial Statements, from the date of the Interim Balance Sheet to
the date of this Agreement, the Company has conducted its business
in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and has
not:
(a) suffered any Material Adverse Effect;
(b) incurred any liabilities or obligations
(absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), except for
non-material items incurred in the ordinary course of business,
consistent with past practice or Transaction Expenses, that have
been paid by the Company, or increased, or experienced any change
in any assumptions underlying or methods of calculating, any bad
debt, contingency or other reserves;
(c) paid, discharged or satisfied any claims,
liabilities or obligations (absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise) other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, of
liabilities and obligations reflected or reserved against in the
Interim Balance Sheet or incurred in the ordinary course of
business, consistent with past practice;
(d) initiated or settled any litigation;
(e) permitted or allowed any of its properties or
assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) to be
subjected to any Liens;
(f) written down the value of any inventory or
written off as uncollectible any notes or accounts receivable,
except for immaterial write-downs and write-offs in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practice;
(g) cancelled any debts or waived any claims or
rights of substantial value;
(h) sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of any
of its properties or assets (real, personal or mixed, tangible or
intangible), except in the ordinary course of business, consistent
with past practice;
(i) granted or acquired, agreed to grant to or
acquire from any person or entity any licenses of Intellectual
Property, abandoned, disposed of or permitted to lapse any rights
to the use of any Intellectual Property, or disposed of or
disclosed to any person other than representatives of Parent any
trade secret, formula, process or know-how or other Intellectual
Property not theretofore a matter of public knowledge;
(j) increased in any manner (including acceleration
or funding provisions) the compensation or benefits of any current
or former director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company
(including any such increase pursuant to any bonus, pension, profit
sharing, incentive compensation or other plan, policy, program,
agreement, arrangement or commitment) or increased in any manner
(including acceleration or funding provisions) the compensation or
benefits payable or to become payable to any current or former
director, officer, employee or consultant of the Company, except,
in the case of employees other than officers of the Company, for
such increases in compensation or benefits made in the ordinary
course of business, consistent with past practice;
(k) adopted, entered into or amended any bonus,
pension, profit sharing, incentive compensation, employment,
consulting, severance, termination, deferred compensation or other
plan, program, policy, agreement, arrangement or commitment, other
than as required pursuant to applicable Law, or made any change in
any change in control, severance or termination plan, policy,
practice, program, agreement or arrangement;
(l) entered into or amended any Material
Contract;
(m) entered into any operating lease or operating
license for property or assets;
(n) made capital expenditures or commitments or
acquired any property, plant and equipment that would be treated as
a capital expenditure in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
for a cost in excess of an aggregate amount of Ten Thousand Dollars
($10,000);
(o) declared, paid or set aside for payment any
dividend or other distribution in respect of its capital stock or
redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly,
any shares of capital stock or other securities of the
Company;
(p) made or changed an election in respect of Taxes,
adopted or changed any accounting method in respect of Taxes,
failed to file, on a timely basis, with the appropriate Tax
Authorities, all Tax Returns required to be filed for taxable
periods ending on or before the Closing Date and due on or prior to
the Closing Date, which such Tax Returns shall be true in all
material respects, correct and complete, or failed to pay or remit,
on a timely basis, any Taxes required to be paid, amended any Tax
Return, entered into any closing agreement, settled or consented to
any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, consented to any
extension or waiver of the statutory period of limitations
applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, or other
made any Tax payments outside of the ordinary course of
business;
(q) paid, loaned or advanced any amount to, or sold,
transferred or leased any properties or assets (real, personal or
mixed, tangible or intangible) to, or entered into any agreement or
arrangement with, any of its employees, officers, directors or
shareholders or any affiliate or associate of any of its employees,
officers, directors or shareholders (except for directors' fees and
compensation to officers at rates not inconsistent with the
Company's past practice in connection with business related travel
or other expenses incurred on behalf of the Company) and advances
to employees; or
(r) agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take
any action described in this Section 3.6 .
Section 3.7
Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities
Except (i) as disclosed on the Interim
Balance Sheet, (ii) for liabilities and obligations incurred
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice since the date of the Interim Balance Sheet, and
(iii) Transaction Expenses that have been paid by the Company,
the Company does not have any liabilities (whether contingent or
absolute, direct or indirect, known or unknown to the Company or
matured or unmatured or otherwise) that would be required by GAAP
consistently applied to be reflected on a balance sheet of the
Company (including the notes thereto). There are no off balance
sheet arrangements to which the Company is a party or otherwise
involving the Company. Except as set forth in
Section 3.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the
Company does not have any Indebtedness.
There is no private or governmental action,
suit, proceeding, inquiry, claim, arbitration or investigation
pending before any agency, court or tribunal, foreign or domestic,
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the
Company, any of its properties or any of its officers or directors
(in their capacities as such), or which questions or challenges the
validity of this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated
hereby; and to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no valid
basis for any such action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or
investigation. There is no judgment, decree or order against the
Company, or any of its directors or officers (in their capacities
as such), that could prevent, enjoin, or materially alter or delay
any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company
does not have any litigation pending against any other
party.
Section 3.9
Restrictions on Business
Activities
There is no agreement, judgment, injunction,
order or decree binding upon the Company which has or could
reasonably be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or
impairing any current business practice of the Company, any
acquisition of property by the Company or the conduct of business
by the Company as currently conducted or as currently proposed to
be conducted.
Section 3.10
Governmental
Authorization
The Company has obtained all federal, state,
county, local or foreign governmental consents, licenses, permits,
grants, or other authorizations of a Governmental Entity
(i) pursuant to which the Company currently operates or holds
(or currently proposes to operate or hold) any interest in any of
its properties or (ii) that is required for the operation of
the business of the Company or the holding of any such interest
((i) and (ii) are herein collectively called “ Company
Authorizations ”). The Company has complied in all
respects with all such Company Authorizations, and all Company
Authorizations are in full force and effect.
Section 3.11
Takeover
Statutes
The Company Board has taken all actions so that
any restrictions in any “fair price,” “control
share acquisition” or other similar Law, will not apply to
Parent or Merger Sub with respect to the Merger, including the
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and the
consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
hereby.
Section 3.12
Title to
Property
The Company has good and marketable title to all
of its properties, interests in properties and assets that it
purports to own (tangible and intangible), including all the
properties and assets reflected on the Interim Balance Sheet or
acquired after the date of the Interim Balance Sheet (except for
properties, interests in properties and assets having an aggregate
book value not in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) sold or
otherwise disposed of since the date of the Interim Balance Sheet
in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice),
free and clear of all Liens. The property and equipment of the
Company that are used in the operations of business are in good
operating condition and repair, subject to normal wear and tear,
are adequate for the uses to which they are being put and have been
maintained and serviced in accordance with prudent practice and in
material compliance with all applicable Laws. For purposes of this
Section 3.12 only, the terms “property” and
“assets” do not include Intellectual
Property.
Section 3.13
Intellectual
Property
(a) The Company owns or is licensed to use all
Company Intellectual Property. The Company Owned Intellectual
Property and the conduct of the business of the Company has not
violated, infringed or misappropriated, do not violate, infringe or
misappropriate, and, to the Knowledge of the Company, will not
violate, infringe or misappropriate, in the ordinary course of
business as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be
conducted, any Intellectual Property of a third party, any right to
privacy or publicity, or any applicable Laws regulating unfair
competition or trade practices.
(b)
Section 3.13(b)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule
sets forth a complete and accurate listing of all patents and
patent applications, all registered trademarks, service marks, and
trade names and applications therefor, all registered Internet
domain names and applications therefor, and all registered
copyrights and copyright applications owned or purported to be
owned by the Company, including the jurisdictions in which each
such Intellectual Property right subsists, has been issued or
registered or in which any application for such issuance and
registration has been filed. All Company Owned Intellectual
Property is solely owned by the Company free and clear of all
Liens, and the Company is listed in the records of the appropriate
United States, state or foreign agency as the sole owner of record
for each issued patent, and each registered trademark, service
mark, trade name, Internet domain name and copyright, and
applications therefor, listed in Section 3.13(b) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has not received any
written notice or claim challenging the Company's ownership of any
of the Company Owned Intellectual Property or suggesting that any
other person has any claim of legal beneficial ownership thereto.
There are no extant forbearances to sue, consents, settlement
agreements, judgments, orders or similar litigation-related,
inter partes or adversarial-related, or government-imposed
obligations to which the Company is a party or is otherwise bound,
that (i) restrict the rights of the Company to use, transfer,
license or enforce any of its Intellectual Property rights;
(ii) restrict the conduct of the business of the Company in
order to accommodate a third party's Intellectual Property rights;
or (iii) grant any third party any right with respect to any
Company Intellectual Property rights.
(c) All issued patents, registered trademarks,
registered copyrights, registered trade names, registered service
marks and registered Internet domain names set forth in
Section 3.13(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule are
valid and enforceable, have not expired or been canceled or
abandoned, and are not subject to any pending or, to the Company's
Knowledge, threatened judicial or administrative proceeding
involving the validity, enforceability or scope thereof. To the
Knowledge of the Company, no person is infringing, misappropriating
or otherwise violating any Company Owned Intellectual Property or
Intellectual Property exclusively licensed to the Company. The
Company has not: (i) received any written notice of any claim
of infringement or misappropriation by the Company of any
Intellectual Property right of any person; (ii) been sued in
any suit, action or proceeding which involves a claim of
infringement or misappropriation by the Company of any Intellectual
Property right of any person; (iii) brought any action, suit
or proceeding for infringement or misappropriation of Intellectual
Property or breach of any license or agreement involving
Intellectual Property against any person; (iv) delegated,
assigned or otherwise transferred any right to bring a claim or
suit against any person for infringement or misappropriation of
Company Intellectual Property; or (v) entered into any
agreement to indemnify any person against any charge of
infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property in
response to an actual or suspected threat of infringement or
misappropriation; and, with respect to (ii) and (iii) above, no
such suit, action or proceeding has been threatened.
(d) The Company is not a party to or bound by any
agreement containing any covenant (i) limiting the right of the
Company to engage or compete in any line of business or to compete
with any person, (ii) granting to any person any exclusive
rights or sublicensing rights, (iii) providing “most favored
nations” clauses to any person, or (iv) which otherwise
adversely affects or would reasonably be expected to adversely
affect the right of the Company to sell, distribute or manufacture
any Company products or Company Intellectual Property or to
purchase or otherwise obtain any software, components, parts or
subassemblies.
(e)
Section 3.13(f)
of the Company Disclosure Schedule
lists all computer software that is owned, licensed, leased or
otherwise used in the business of the Company (“ Company
Software ”), other than commercially available,
off-the-shelf software with an acquisition cost of less than Five
Hundred Dollars ($500), and identifies which is owned, licensed,
leased or otherwise used, as the case may be.
(f) The Company has taken reasonable measures
consistent with industry practice to protect and preserve the
confidentiality of all trade secrets owned, used, appropriated or
disclosed by the Company and not otherwise protected by patents or
copyright (“ Confidential Information ”). All
use, disclosure or appropriation of Confidential Information owned
by the Company by or to a third party has been pursuant to the
terms of an agreement or other legal obligation between the
Company, on the one hand, and such third party, on the other hand,
pursuant to which the third party undertakes to protect and not
disclose such Confidential Information. All use, disclosure or
appropriation by the Company of Confidential Information not owned
by the Company has been pursuant to the terms of a written
agreement between the Company and the owner of such Confidential
Information, or is otherwise lawful. Neither the Company or any
person under the control of the Company has materially breached any
confidentiality agreements that such person is subject to, and, to
the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to any such
confidentiality agreement is in material breach thereof.
(g) No current or former shareholder, member,
partner, director, officer or employee of the Company or any of its
predecessors in interest will, after the consummation of the
Merger, own or retain any rights in, to, or under any of the
Company Intellectual Property.
(h) The Company has at all times complied in all
material respects with all applicable legal requirements relating
to privacy, data protection and the collection and use of personal
information gathered or accessed in the course of the operations of
the Company. The Company has at all times complied in all material
respects with all rules, policies and procedures established by the
Company from time to time with respect to the foregoing. No claims
are pending and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no claims have
been asserted or threatened against the Company or are likely to be
asserted or threatened against the Company by any person or entity
alleging a violation of such person's or entity's privacy, personal
or confidentiality rights under any such Laws, policies or
procedures. The consummation of the Merger will not breach or
otherwise cause any violation of any such Laws, policies or
procedures.
(i) With respect to all personal information
described in Section 3.13(h) , the Company has taken
all steps reasonably necessary (including, without limitation,
implementing and monitoring compliance with measures with respect
to technical and physical security) to protect the information in a
manner consistent with the Laws, policies or procedures referred to
in Section 3.13(h) . There has been no unauthorized access
to or other misuse of that information.
Section 3.14
Environmental
Matters
(a) The Company is in full compliance with all
Environmental Laws, which compliance includes, but is not limited
to, the possession by the Company of all permits and other
governmental authorizations required under all Environmental Laws,
and compliance with the terms and conditions thereof. The Company
has not received any communication (written or oral), whether from
a Governmental Entity, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that
alleges that the Company is not in such full compliance, and there
are no circumstances that may prevent or interfere with such full
compliance in the future. All permits and other governmental
authorizations currently held by the Company pursuant to all
Environmental Laws are identified in Section 3.14 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule.
(b) There is no Environmental Claim pending or, to
the Company's Knowledge, threatened against the Company or against
any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim
the Company has retained or assumed either contractually or by
operation of law.
(c) There are no past or present actions,
activities, circumstances, conditions, events or incidents,
including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge,
presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that
could form the basis of any Environmental Claim against the Company
or against any person or entity whose liability for any
Environmental Claim the Company has retained or assumed either
contractually or by operation of law, or otherwise result in any
costs or liabilities under Environmental Law.
(d) Without in any way limiting the generality of
the foregoing, (i) all on-site and off-site locations where the
Company has stored, disposed or arranged for the disposal of
Materials of Environmental Concern are identified in Section
3.14(d)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (ii) all
underground storage tanks, and the capacity and contents of such
tanks, located on any property owned, leased, operated or used by
the Company are identified in Section 3.14(d)(ii) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (iii) except as set forth in
Section 3.14(d)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
there is no asbestos contained in or forming part of any building,
building component, structure or office space owned by the Company
or by any affiliate of the Company or Sole Shareholder, (iv) except
as set forth in Section 3.14(d)(iv) of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, to the Knowledge of the Company, there is no
asbestos contained in or forming part of any building, building
component, structure or office space leased, operated or used by
the Company and (v) except as set forth in Section
3.14(d)(v) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no
polychlorinated biphenyls or polychlorinated biphenyl-containing
items are used or stored at any property owned, leased, operated or
used by the Company.
(e) The Company has provided to Parent all written
assessments, reports, data, results of investigations or Audits,
and other information that is in the possession of or reasonably
available to the Company regarding environmental matters pertaining
to or the environmental condition of the business of the Company or
the compliance (or noncompliance) by the Company with any
Environmental Laws.
(f) The Company is not required by virtue of the
transactions set forth herein and contemplated hereby, or as a
condition to the effectiveness of any transactions contemplated
hereby, (i) to perform a site assessment for Materials of
Environmental Concern, (ii) to remove or remediate Materials
of Environmental Concern, (iii) to give notice to or receive
approval from any Governmental Entity pursuant to any Environmental
Law, or (iv) to record or deliver to any person or entity any
disclosure document or statement pertaining to environmental
matters.
For purposes of this Agreement:
(1) “Environmental Claim” means any
claim, action, cause of action, suit, proceeding, investigation,
order, demand or notice (written or oral) by any person or entity
alleging potential liability (including, without limitation,
potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs,
governmental response costs, natural resources damages, property
damages, personal injuries, or penalties) arising out of, based on
or resulting from (a) the presence, or release into the
environment, of, or exposure to, any Material of Environmental
Concern at any location, whether or not owned or operated by the
Company or (b) circumstances forming the basis of any violation, or
alleged violation, of any Environmental Law.
(2) “Environmental Laws” means all
federal, state, local and foreign laws, regulations, ordinances,
requirements of governmental authorities, and common law in effect
as of the date hereof, relating to pollution or protection of human
health or the environment (including, without limitation, ambient
air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface
strata, and natural resources), including, without limitation, Laws
relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of, or exposure to, Materials of Environmental Concern,
(ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of
Environmental Concern, (iii) recordkeeping, notification,
disclosure and reporting requirements regarding Materials of
Environmental Concern, and (iv) endangered or threatened species of
fish, wildlife and plant and the management or use of natural
resources.
(3) “Materials of Environmental Concern”
means chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic
substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products,
asbestos or asbestos-containing materials or products,
polychlorinated biphenyls, lead or lead-based paints or materials,
radon, fungus, mold, mycotoxins or other substances that may have
an adverse effect on human health or the environment.
(a) The Company has filed all Tax Returns required
to be filed by it, and all such Tax Returns were true, complete and
correct in all material respects. All Taxes required to be paid by
the Company have been timely paid other than those (i) currently
payable without penalty or interest, or (ii) being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which, in the case of
both clauses (i) and (ii), adequate reserves have been established
on the books and records of the Company in accordance with the
Company’s past practice. The Company does not have any
liability for unpaid Taxes accruing after the date of the Interim
Balance Sheets other than unpaid Taxes arising in the ordinary
course of business.
(b) There are no Liens for Taxes upon any property
or assets of the Company.
(c) The Company has not made any change in
accounting methods, received a ruling from any taxing authority or
signed an agreement with respect thereto or signed any closing
agreement with respect to any Tax year.
(d) The Company has complied in all respects with
all applicable Laws, rules and regulations relating to the payment
and withholding of Taxes (including withholding of Taxes pursuant
to Sections 1441 and 1442 of the Code or similar provisions under
any foreign Laws) and has, within the time and the manner
prescribed by Law, withheld and paid over to the proper taxing
authorities all amounts required to be so withheld and paid over
under applicable Laws.
(e) The Company is not required to include in income
any adjustment pursuant to Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of
any voluntary change in accounting method (nor has any Governmental
Entity proposed in writing any such adjustment or change of
accounting method).
(f) No Audits are presently pending with regard to
any Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company and a list of all Audits
commenced or completed with respect to the Company with respect to
taxable periods ending after January 1, 1999 is set forth in
Section 3.15(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. No
written notification has been received by the Company that such an
Audit is pending or threatened with respect to any Taxes due from
or with respect to or attributable to the Company or any Tax Return
filed by or with respect to the Company.
(g) All Tax deficiencies that have been claimed,
proposed or asserted against the Company have been fully paid or
finally settled, and no issue has been raised in any examination by
any taxing authority that, by application of similar principles,
could reasonably be expected to result in the proposal or assertion
of a Tax deficiency for another year not so examined.
(h) There are no outstanding requests, agreements,
consents or waivers to extend the statutory period of limitations
applicable to the assessment of any Taxes or deficiencies against
the Company.
(i) No power of attorney has been granted by or with
respect to the Company with respect to any matter relating to
Taxes.
(j) The Company is not a party to, is not bound by
or has any obligation under any Tax sharing agreement, Tax
indemnification, or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement,
contract or arrangement, and the Company does not have any
potential liability or obligation to any person as a result of, or
pursuant to, any such agreement, contract or
arrangement.
(k) The Company is not a party to any agreement,
plan, contract or arrangement (whether oral or in writing) that
could result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment of any
“excess parachute payments” within the meaning of
Section 280G of the Code.
(l) The deductibility of compensation paid by the
Company will not be limited by Section 162(m) of the
Code.
(m) All transactions that could give rise to an
understatement of the federal income tax liability of the Company
within the meaning of Section 6662(d) of the Code are adequately
disclosed on Tax Returns in accordance with Section 6662(d)(2)(B)
of the Code if there is or was no substantial authority for the
treatment giving rise to such understatement.
(n) The Company is not and has not been a U.S. real
property holding company (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the
Code) during the applicable period specified in Section
897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(o) There are no unresolved questions or claims
concerning Tax liability of the Company.
(p) Other than any Tax Returns that have not yet
been required to be filed, the Company has made available to Parent
true, correct and complete copies of the United States federal
income Tax Return and any state, local or foreign Tax Return for
the Company for any jurisdiction for each of the taxable periods
ended December 31, 2001 through December 31,
2005.
(q) The net operating loss and credit carryovers, if
any, available to the Company, and their expiration dates, is set
forth in the Disclosure Schedule. As of the date of this Agreement,
none of such net operating loss and credit carryovers are subject
to the limitations imposed by Sections 382, 383 or 384 of the Code
(or any predecessor thereto) or otherwise.
(r)
Section 3.15(r)
of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth (i