Exhibit 2.1
Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this "Agreement"), dated as of
April
4, 2005, is entered into by and among John
H. Harland Company, a Georgia
corporation ("Buyer"), Justice Acquisition
Corporation, a Minnesota corporation
and wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer
("Sub"), Liberty Enterprises, Inc., a
Minnesota corporation (the "Company"), the
shareholders of the Company listed on
the signature page hereto (the "Controlling
Shareholders") and David L. Copham
solely in the capacity as the shareholder
representative as set forth in this
Agreement (the "Shareholders'
Representative").
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, the Boards of Directors of Buyer, Sub and the Company deem
it
advisable and in the best interests of each
respective corporation and its
shareholders that Buyer and the Company
combine their businesses upon the terms
and conditions set forth herein;
WHEREAS, the combination of Buyer and the Company shall be effected
by
the terms of this Agreement through a
transaction in which Sub will merge with
and into the Company, the Company will
become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer
and the shareholders of the Company (the
"Company Shareholders") will receive
cash (the "Merger"); and
WHEREAS, the parties intend and acknowledge that the Merger will
be
treated in accordance with the election
under Section 338(h)(10) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code");
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the
representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements contained in this
Agreement, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
Section 1.1. Effective
Time of the Merger.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, articles of merger
(the
"Articles of Merger") in substantially the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A and
as required by the Minnesota Business
Corporation Act ("Minnesota Law") shall be
executed by Sub and the Company and filed
with the Secretary of State of the
State of Minnesota on the Closing Date.
(b) The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the
Articles
of Merger with the Minnesota Secretary of
State (the "Effective Time").
Section 1.2. Closing. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing")
will
take place at 10:00 a.m., Central time, on
the date which is as soon as
reasonably practicable after the
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions to
Closing set forth in Article VI, but in no
event more than 10 days after such
satisfaction or waiver (the "Closing
Date"), at the offices of Maslon Edelman
Borman & Brand, LLP or at such other
place and time as may be mutually agreed
by the Company and Buyer.
Section 1.3. Effects of the Merger.
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(a) At the Effective Time Sub shall merge with and into the
Company,
the separate existence of Sub shall cease,
and the Company shall continue as the
surviving corporation and shall become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer (the
Company following consummation of the
Merger is sometimes referred to herein as
the "Surviving Corporation"). In addition,
the Articles of Incorporation of the
Sub in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall become the Articles
of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation and the Bylaws of the Sub in
effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time shall become the Bylaws of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as
provided by the applicable provisions of
Minnesota Law.
Section 1.4. Directors and Officers. The directors of Sub
immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall become
the directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each to hold office in
accordance with the Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation, and the officers of Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall become the officers of the
Surviving Corporation, in each case until
their respective successors are duly
elected or appointed and qualified.
Section 1.5. Section 338(h)(10) Election; Purchase Price
Allocation.
(a) Election. Buyer and all Company Shareholders shall join in
the
making of a timely election under Section
338(h)(10) of the Code, Treasury
Regulations 1.338(h)(10)-1T, and similar
provisions of state law with respect
to the purchase and sale of the Common
Stock, $.01 par value ("Company Shares"),
of the Company (the "Section 338(h)(10)
Election").
(b) Forms. Buyer (at its sole cost and expense) shall prepare,
execute
and deliver to the Shareholders'
Representative, who shall arrange for all
Company Shareholders (with respect to the
Company and any Purchased Entity that
will become a C corporation as a result of
the consummation of the Merger), to
execute and deliver to Buyer, IRS form
8023, which form shall be prepared,
executed and delivered by Buyer to the
Shareholders' Representative as soon as
practical after the execution of this
Agreement. In addition, Buyer (at its sole
cost and expense) shall prepare, execute
and deliver to the Shareholders'
Representative, who shall arrange for all
Company Shareholders to execute and
deliver to Buyer, such other documents and
forms as Buyer shall reasonably
request or as are required by applicable
law for an effective Section 338(h)(10)
Election, including, without limitation,
IRS form 8883 (together with any
schedules or attachments thereto) or any
successor form required pursuant to
applicable Treasury regulations. The
content of any IRS form 8883 to be filed by
the Buyer shall be subject to the terms of
Section 1.5(c) hereof. The content of
any document or form contemplated by this
Section 1.5(b), other than IRS form
8023 or IRS form 8883, shall be subject to
the Company Shareholders' consent,
which consent will not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
(c) Purchase Price Allocation. Within 90 days after the Closing
Date,
Buyer shall provide the Shareholders'
Representative with an interim proposed
schedule (the "Allocation Schedule")
allocating the Aggregate Merger
Consideration, as defined in Section
2.1(d), plus any assumed liabilities and
all other items comprising the "Aggregate
Deemed Sale Price" of the Company's
assets ("ADSP"), in each case that are
apportioned to the purchase of the
Company Shares (the "Section 338(h)(10)
Allocable Amount"), among the assets
deemed to be sold as a result of the making
of the Section 338(h)(10) Election.
Such ADSP and Allocation Schedule shall
comply with the rules of Section 338 of
the Code and the Treasury Regulations
promulgated thereunder; provided, however,
that the parties agree that the fair market
value of both the Company's tangible
personal property (other than inventory)
and the Company's other personal
property acquired by the Company prior to
the Effective Time (other than cash,
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accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and
the Company's investment in Cavion LLC
("Cavion")), does not exceed $13,000,000.
The Shareholders' Representative must
either accept or reject the ADSP and the
Allocation Schedule within 30 days of
receipt thereof. If the Shareholders'
Representative accepts the ADSP and the
Allocation Schedule, it shall become final
and binding on the parties hereto. If
the Shareholders' Representative rejects
the ADSP and the Allocation Schedule,
the parties shall in good faith attempt to
resolve the dispute within 15 days
after written notice to Buyer of that
rejection. Any such resolution shall be
final and binding on all of the parties
hereto. Any unresolved disputes shall be
promptly submitted to Ernst & Young LLP
or such other independent accounting
firm of national reputation as may be
mutually acceptable to the Shareholders'
Representative and Buyer (the "Independent
Accountants") for resolution, with
such resolution being final and binding on
the parties hereto. Buyer, on the one
hand, and the Shareholders' Representative
(from the Escrow Fund), on the other
hand, will each pay one-half of the fees
and expenses of the Independent
Accountants. The parties shall cooperate
with each other and the Independent
Accountants in connection with the matters
contemplated by this Section 1.5(c),
including, without limitation, by
furnishing such information and access to
books, records (including, without
limitation, accountants work papers),
personnel and properties as may be
reasonably requested.
(d) Revisions. The parties hereto will revise the Allocation
Schedule
to the extent necessary to reflect any
indemnification payment made under
Article VIII hereof or any other
post-Closing payment made pursuant to or in
connection with this Agreement. In the case
of any such payment, Buyer shall
propose a revised Allocation Schedule, and
the parties hereto shall follow the
procedures outlined above with respect to
review, dispute and resolution in
respect of such revision.
(e) Consistent Treatment. Each of the parties hereto agrees to
(a)
prepare and timely file all Tax Returns, as
defined in Section 3.9, including,
without limitation, form 8023 (and all
supplements thereto) in a manner
consistent with the Allocation Schedule as
finalized and (b) act in accordance
with the Allocation Schedule for all Tax
(as such term is defined in Section
3.9) purposes.
(f) Taxes Resulting from Election. All Company Shareholders
shall
include any income, gain, loss, deduction
or other Tax item resulting from the
Section 338(h)(10) Election on their Tax
Returns to the extent required by
applicable law. Notwithstanding any other
provision to the contrary in this
Agreement, each Company Shareholder shall
be responsible for and shall pay all
Taxes imposed on such respective Company
Shareholder resulting from the Section
338(h)(10) Election (the "Section
338(h)(10) Election Taxes").
(g) Expenses of Election. The Company Shareholders, on a
pro-rata
basis, shall reimburse Buyer for all Taxes,
costs and expenses associated with
or resulting from the Section 338(h)(10)
Election applicable to the Company or
any of the Purchased Entities, including
but not limited to any transfer Taxes,
deed Taxes, filing fees, sales Taxes,
personal property Taxes, real estate Taxes
and income Taxes (the "Shareholder Entity
Taxes"), other than any Taxes payable
by the Company Shareholders pursuant to the
obligation set forth in Section
1.5(f) above. The Shareholder Entity Tax
obligations will be satisfied pursuant
to Section 2.1(d).
ARTICLE II
CONVERSION OF STOCK
Section 2.1. Conversion of Common Stock; Merger Consideration.
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At the Effective Time, by virtue of the
Merger and without any further approval
of the holders of any shares of capital
stock of the Company or Sub:
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(a) Common Stock of Sub. Each outstanding share of common
-------------------
stock of Sub shall be converted
into and become one
fully paid and
nonassessable share of common stock of the
Surviving Corporation.
(b) Cancellation of Certain Shares. Any Company Shares that are
owned
immediately prior to the Effective Time by
Buyer, Sub, the Company or any
subsidiary thereof shall be canceled and
retired and shall cease to exist and no
consideration shall be delivered in
exchange therefor.
(c) Conversion of Company Shares. Each Company Share
outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time
(other than any Dissenting Shares, as
defined below) shall be converted, without
any action on the part of the holder
thereof, into the right to receive in cash
an amount equal to the final
computation of the Aggregate Merger
Consideration (as defined below) divided by
the number of Company Shares outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time
(including the Dissenting Shares) (the "Per
Share Merger Consideration"),
without interest, and each Dissenting Share
shall be converted into the right to
receive payment from the Surviving
Corporation with respect thereto in
accordance with the provisions of Minnesota
Law. No Company Share shall be
deemed to be outstanding or to have any
rights other than those set forth above
in this Section 2.1(c) after the Effective
Time. At and after the Effective
Time, each Company Shareholder shall cease
to have any rights as a shareholder
of the Company and, until surrendered in
accordance with the provisions of
Section 2.4 below, each certificate
representing Company Shares
("Certificates"), other than Certificates
representing Dissenting Shares, shall
represent for all purposes only the right
to receive the Per Share Merger
Consideration for each Company Share
represented thereby.
(d) Merger Consideration. The total consideration payable for
the
Company Shares in the Merger (the
"Aggregate Merger Consideration") shall equal
$160,000,000, plus all cash and cash
equivalents held by the Company as of the
Closing Date, minus: (1) all Indebtedness
for Borrowed Money (as defined below),
(2) the amounts owed by the Company, unless
paid prior to the Closing, as a
result of the Merger pursuant to (i) the
engagement agreement between the
Company and Duff & Phelps, LLC
(formerly, Valuemetrics Capital, L.L.C.) dated
September 2, 2004 and amended on October
25, 2004; (ii) the Liberty Enterprises,
Inc. Directors' Equity Share Incentive
Plan, effective January 1, 2005; (iii)
any executive transaction success bonuses
due to the Company's Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice President - Sales and Executive
Vice President - Marketing as determined by
the Company's Board of Directors
("Success Bonuses") and the project bonuses
due two employees in the aggregate
amount of $40,000; (iv) all fees and
expenses payable by the Company to its
legal, accounting, tax and other
professional advisors and, to the extent
applicable, the amounts payable by the
Company to the trustee, financial advisor
and legal advisor of the Company ESOP (as
defined in Section 3.2), all in
connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement incurred prior
to the Closing Date ("Professional Fees");
(v) the Change of Control,
Confidentiality and Noncompete Agreement
between the Company and David Copham
dated December 15, 2004 if such agreement
is in effect on the Closing Date; and
(vi) the cost and expense of the Tax
Insurance (as defined in Section 8.1(b)),
and (3) the estimated Shareholder Entity
Taxes. To the extent the Tax Insurance
is paid for by any person other than the
Company, the Company shall reimburse
such person on the Closing Date. The
Professional Fees and the Shareholder
Entity Taxes will be estimated by the
Company on the Closing Date. Within 30
days after the Closing Date the
Shareholders' Representative and Buyer will
determine the final amount of the
Professional Fees (the "Final Expenses"). If
the Final Expenses are less than the
Closing estimate, Buyer shall promptly pay
the difference to the Shareholders'
Representative for distribution to the
Controlling Shareholders. If the Final
Expenses are more than the Closing
estimate, Buyer shall have the right to
obtain reimbursement for the difference
from the Escrow Fund, without giving effect
to the Threshold set forth in
Section 8.1(b). As soon as the Shareholder
Entity Taxes are ascertained and
agreed to by Buyer and the Shareholders'
Representative, then if the final
Shareholder Entity Taxes are less than the
Closing estimate, Buyer will refund
the over-estimate to the Shareholders'
Representative for distribution to the
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Controlling Shareholders and if the final
Shareholder Entity Taxes are more than
the Closing estimate, the Shareholders'
Representative will pay to Buyer the
under-estimate from the Escrow Fund.
"Indebtedness for Borrowed Money" shall
mean (i) the amount owed to Bank One, NA
(successor by merger to Bank One,
Wisconsin) as of the Closing Date pursuant
to that certain Credit and Term Loan
Agreement dated as of August 28, 2000, as
amended, between Bank One, NA and the
Company, and (ii) any other indebtedness
for borrowed money of the Company as of
the Closing Date all of which is set forth
on Schedule 2.1(d).
Section 2.2. Escrow Fund. Notwithstanding any provision of
Section
2.1, at the Effective Time, Buyer shall
deliver to SunTrust Bank (the "Escrow
Agent") $8,000,000 in cash (the "Escrow
Fund") by wire transfer, to be held and
distributed by the Escrow Agent pursuant to
the terms of the Escrow Agreement
substantially in the form attached as
Exhibit B hereto (the "Escrow Agreement").
The Escrow Fund shall be withheld pro rata
from the Per Share Merger
Consideration otherwise deliverable to the
Controlling Shareholders in respect
of their Company Shares. The parties agree
that the Controlling Shareholders
are, and shall be treated as, the owners of
the Escrow Fund, together with any
earnings thereon, for federal and state
income tax purposes and that the
Controlling Shareholders shall, except as
may otherwise be provided in the
Escrow Agreement, include in taxable income
any earnings on the Escrow Fund on a
pro-rata basis in accordance with their
ownership of Company Shares prior to the
Effective Time. Each of the parties hereto
which is a party to the Escrow
Agreement agrees to execute and deliver the
Escrow Agreement on the Closing
Date, and Buyer agrees to cause the Escrow
Agent to execute and deliver the
Escrow Agreement on the Closing Date.
Section 2.3.
Dissenting Shares.
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(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the
contrary,
any Company Shares held by a Company
Shareholder who has exercised such holder's
dissenting rights in accordance with
Minnesota Law and who, as of the Effective
Time, has not effectively withdrawn or lost
such dissenting rights ("Dissenting
Shares"), shall not be converted into or
represent the right to receive any
consideration under this Agreement, and
such holder shall only be entitled to
such rights as are granted by Minnesota
Law.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.3(a), if any holder
of
Dissenting Shares, after the Effective
Time, withdraws such holder's demand for
dissenting rights for such Dissenting
Shares or waives or loses dissenting
rights, in either case pursuant to
Minnesota Law, such holder's Dissenting
Shares shall thereupon be deemed to have
been converted, as of the Effective
Time, into the right to receive the Per
Share Merger Consideration with respect
to such Dissenting Shares in accordance
with Section 2.1(c), without interest,
which amount shall be paid by Buyer,
subject to Section 2.4, upon the later of
the Closing or five (5) days after such
dissenting rights lapse.
(c) The Company shall give Buyer (i) prompt notice of any
written
demands for dissenting rights pursuant to
Minnesota Law, withdrawals of such
demands, and any other instruments that
relate to such demands received by the
Company and (ii) subject to Minnesota Law,
the opportunity to participate at its
own expense in all negotiations and
proceedings with respect to demands for
dissenting rights. The Company shall not
voluntarily make any payment with
respect to any demands for dissenting
rights or offer to settle or compromise
any such demands without Buyer's
consent.
Section 2.4. Exchange
of Certificates.
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(a) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause each holder
of
Company Shares to deliver to Buyer at the
Closing such shareholder's
Certificate. At the Closing, Buyer or the
Surviving Corporation shall deliver to
each Company Shareholder who has previously
delivered a Certificate the Per
Share Merger Consideration issuable in
respect of such shareholder's
Certificate, less, with respect to the
Controlling Shareholders only, such
shareholder's pro-rata share of the Escrow
Fund (the "Closing Per Share Merger
Consideration"), by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to an account
designated in writing by such shareholder
to Buyer.
(b) If any Company Shareholder does not deliver his or her
Certificate
at or prior to the Closing, then from and
after the Effective Time, each holder
of an outstanding Certificate shall have
the right to surrender such Certificate
to Buyer and receive promptly (and in any
event within 10 days) in exchange
therefor the Closing Per Share Merger
Consideration payable in respect of such
Certificate. Until surrendered, each
outstanding Certificate that prior to the
Effective Time represented Company Shares
shall be deemed for all corporate
purposes to evidence ownership of the Per
Share Merger Consideration
attributable to the surrendered Company
Shares, but shall, subject to applicable
dissenting rights under Minnesota Law and
Section 2.3, have no other rights.
From and after the Effective Time, there
shall be no further registration of
transfers on the records of the Company of
any Company Shares.
(c) In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen
or
destroyed, upon the making of an
appropriate affidavit of that fact, Buyer
shall pay in exchange for such Certificate
the Closing Per Share Merger
Consideration upon receipt of such
affidavit and such shareholder will be
entitled to the Per Share Merger
Consideration for each such Company Share,
subject to the terms of this Agreement and
the Escrow Agreement.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby represents and warrants to Buyer that:
Section 3.1.
Organization and Standing.
---------------------------
(a) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) is a corporation
duly
organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the state of
its incorporation, (ii) has all corporate
power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as presently
conducted, (iii) is qualified as a foreign
corporation to do business and is in
good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or the ownership or leasing of its
properties or assets requires such
qualification, except for such
jurisdictions where the failure to be so
qualified does not have a Material Adverse
Effect (as defined below), and (iv)
has all necessary government approvals to
own, lease and operate its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as
presently conducted, except where the
failure to have such approvals does not
have a Material Adverse Effect. Schedule
3.1 sets forth a complete and accurate list
of each of the Company's
subsidiaries and the jurisdictions in which
they are qualified to do business.
For purposes of this Agreement, a "Material
Adverse Effect" shall mean a
material adverse effect on the financial
condition, operations, assets or
liabilities of the Company or such
subsidiary or the ability of the Company to
consummate the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement; provided, however,
that in no event shall either of the
following be deemed to constitute, nor
shall they be taken into account in
determining whether there has been or will
be a Material Adverse Effect: (i) any
changes affecting the industry in which
the Company operates or any changes in
general economic conditions that do not
disproportionately impact in any material
respect the Company, or (ii) any
action required by this Agreement or to
which Buyer has given its prior written
consent.
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(b) The Company has made available for Buyer's review complete
and
correct copies of its Articles of
Incorporation (the "Company Articles of
Incorporation") and Bylaws (the "Company
Bylaws"), each as amended to date. The
Company Articles of Incorporation and the
Company Bylaws are in full force and
effect, and the Company is not in violation
of any material provision of either
thereof.
(c) The minutes of the meetings of the directors and shareholders
and
the stock records of the Company previously
made available for review by Buyer
are complete and accurate records of such
meetings, through the date hereof.
Section 3.2. Capitalization. The capital stock of the Company
consists
of 10,000,000 authorized shares of capital
stock, $.01 par value, of which
2,300,644 voting and 2,213,775 non-voting
common shares are issued and
outstanding. As of immediately prior to the
Effective Time, (i) the issued and
outstanding Company Shares will be held of
record by the Controlling
Shareholders and by the Employee Stock
Ownership Plan component of the Liberty
Shares Freedom Plan (the "Company ESOP") as
set forth in Schedule 3.2, (ii) such
shares will constitute all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of the
Company, and (iii) all of such shares will
be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and free of preemptive
rights. The Company does not have any
outstanding options, warrants, convertible
securities, subscriptions, stock
appreciation rights, phantom stock rights
or other agreements or commitments
obligating the Company to issue or sell any
shares of capital stock of the
Company. All issuances, transfers,
purchases or redemptions of the capital stock
of the Company have been in compliance in
all material respects with all
applicable agreements and United States
federal, state or local statutes, laws,
rules, regulations, ordinances, codes,
orders, decrees or other requirements or
rules of law ("Laws"). Except as set forth
in Schedule 3.2, there are no
outstanding obligations of the Company to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any Company Shares or to pay any
dividend or make any other distribution
in respect thereof.
Section 3.3. Authority for Agreement.
(a) The Company has all necessary corporate power and authority
to
execute and deliver this Agreement, and
subject to the approval of the Merger
by the holders of the Company Shares, to
perform its obligations hereunder and
to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this
Agreement, and the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated
hereby, have been duly authorized by
all necessary corporate action, other than
the approval of the Merger and the
adoption of this Agreement by the holders
of the Company Shares and the approval
of the Articles of Merger as contemplated
by Section 1.1. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance
with its terms, except as enforcement
thereof may be limited by (i) bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights or
remedies in general as from time to time in
effect or (ii) the exercise by courts of
equity powers.
(b) The Controlling Shareholders have the right, power and capacity
to
execute, deliver and perform this Agreement
and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. This Agreement has
been duly executed and delivered by the
Controlling Shareholders and constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of the
Controlling Shareholders enforceable
against each of them in accordance with its
terms.
Section 3.4. No
Conflict.
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(a) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.4, the execution and delivery
of
this Agreement by the Company do not, and,
subject to the terms of this
Agreement, the performance of this
Agreement by the Company and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby
will not, (i) conflict with or violate
the Company Articles of Incorporation or
Company Bylaws, (ii) conflict with or
violate in any material respect any Law
applicable to the Company or by which
any property or asset of the Company is
bound or affected, or (iii) result in a
breach of or constitute a default under any
agreement to which the Company is a
party or by which it is bound, except for
any such breaches or defaults which in
the aggregate would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
on the Company.
(b) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.4, the execution and delivery
of
this Agreement by the Controlling
Shareholders do not, and the performance by
the Controlling Shareholders of their
obligations under this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not, (i) violate in
any material respect any provision of any
Law applicable to the Controlling
Shareholders, or (ii) violate or conflict
with in any material respect, or
result in a material breach or default
under, any term or condition of any court
order, agreement, document or other
instrument to which any Controlling
Shareholder is a party or by which any
Company Shares held by a Controlling
Shareholder are bound.
Section 3.5. Required Filings and Consents. The execution
and delivery of this Agreement by the
Controlling Shareholders and the Company
do not, and the performance of this
Agreement by the Controlling Shareholders
and the Company will not, require any
consent, approval, authorization or permit
of, or filing with or notification to, any
United States federal, state or local
or any foreign government or any court,
administrative or regulatory agency or
commission or other governmental authority
or agency, domestic or foreign (a
"Governmental Entity"), except for (i) the
filing of the Articles of Merger with
the Minnesota Secretary of State, (ii)
those required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended (the "HSR Act"), and (iii) such
other consents, approvals, authorizations,
permits, filings or notifications by
or with any Governmental Entity, which in
the aggregate, if not obtained or
made, would not reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
Section 3.6. Compliance. The Company (i) has been operated in
compliance in all material respects with
all Laws applicable to the Company or
by which any property or asset of the
Company is bound or affected, and (ii)
is not in default or violation in any
material respect of any note, mortgage,
indenture, contract, lease, license,
permit, franchise or other agreement to
which the Company is a party or by which
any property or asset of the Company
is bound, except for any noncompliance,
defaults or violations which in the
aggregate would not reasonably be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on
the Company.
Section 3.7. Financial Statements; Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities.
Schedule 3.7 sets forth (i) the audited
consolidated balance sheet of the
Company as of December 31, 2004, the
related consolidated statements of income
and cash flows for the year then ended and
the footnotes related thereto,
together with the audit report of Grant
Thornton LLP, and (ii) the audited
consolidated balance sheet of the Company
as of December 31, 2003, the related
consolidated statements of income and cash
flows for the year then ended and the
footnotes related thereto, together with
the audit report of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (collectively,
the "Financial Statements"). The
Financial Statements (i) have been prepared
in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
consistently applied throughout the
periods indicated, (ii) have been prepared
from, and are in accordance with,
the books and records of the Company, and
(iii) present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the
Company as of each balance sheet date
and the results of its operations for the
periods indicated. To the Company's
Knowledge (as defined in Section 3.9), the
Company has not incurred any material
debt, Indebtedness for Borrowed Money,
liability or obligation of any nature,
whether accrued, absolute, contingent or
otherwise, that would reasonably be
xpected to have a Material Adverse Effect,
except (i) as reflected or reserved
against in the Financial Statements, (ii)
those arising in the ordinary course
of business of the Company, or (iii) as
reflected on any Schedule to this
Agreement.
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Section 3.8. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as
contemplated by this Agreement or disclosed
on Schedule 3.8, since December 31,
2004 the Company has conducted its business
only in the ordinary course and
consistent with prior practice, and there
has not been (i) any event that has
had or would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any
declaration or payment of any dividend or
other distribution with respect to the
capital stock of the Company other than tax
dividends in the ordinary course of
business, (iii) any material change in
accounting methods, principles or
practices employed by the Company, or (iv)
any action of the type described in
Sections 5.1(b) or 5.1(c) which if taken
after the date of this Agreement would
be in violation of either such Section.
Section 3.9. Tax Matters.
(a) All Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the
Company
or any of its direct or indirect, partly or
wholly-owned subsidiaries, including
interests in partnerships, trusts and
limited liability companies (collectively
with the Company referred to as "Purchased
Entities") have been duly and timely
filed with the appropriate Governmental
Entity in all jurisdictions in which
such Tax Returns are required to be filed
(after giving effect to any valid
extensions of time in which to make such
filings), and all such Tax Returns are
true, complete and correct in all material
respects. All Taxes (whether or not
shown on any Tax Return) payable by or on
behalf of any Purchased Entity have
been timely paid. With respect to any
period for which Tax Returns of or
relating to any Purchased Entity have not
yet been filed or for which Taxes are
not yet due or owing as of December 31,
2004, the relevant Purchased Entity has
made adequate accruals for such Taxes on
the face of the December 31, 2004
balance sheet included in the Financial
Statements and on its books and records.
(b) Each Purchased Entity has complied in all material respects
with
all applicable Laws relating to the payment
and withholding of Taxes and has
duly and timely withheld and paid over to
the appropriate Governmental Entity
all amounts required to be so withheld and
paid under all applicable Laws.
(c) Buyer has been given the opportunity to review complete copies
of
all federal, state, local and foreign
income or franchise Tax Returns of each
Purchased Entity that have been filed for
the taxable periods ended December 31,
2001 and thereafter.
(d) Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9(d), there have been no
audits
or notice of pending audits or inquiries by
the IRS or any other Governmental
Entity within the last four years relating
to any Taxes due from or with respect
to any Purchased Entity. No issue has been
raised by a Governmental Entity in
any prior examination of any Purchased
Entity that, by application of the same
or similar principles, could reasonably be
expected to result in a proposed
deficiency for any subsequent taxable
period. No claim has been made or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened by a
Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction
where any Purchased Entity does not file
Tax Returns that a Purchased Entity is
or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.9(d), none of the Purchased
Entities has consented to extend the
statute of limitations with respect to any
Tax.
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<PAGE>
(e) None of the Controlling Shareholders or the Company ESOP,
the
Purchased Entities or any other person on
their behalf has filed a consent
pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code (as
in effect prior to the repeal under
the Jobs and Growth Tax Reconciliation Act
of 2003) or agreed to have Section
341(f)(2) of the Code (as in effect prior
to the repeal under the Jobs and
Growth Tax Reconciliation Act of 2003)
apply to any disposition of a subsection
(f) asset (as such term is defined in
Section 341(f)(4) of the Code) owned by
any Purchased Entity.
(f) None of the Controlling Shareholders, the Company ESOP, the
Purchased Entities or any other person on
their behalf: (i) is required to make
any adjustments pursuant to Section 481(a)
of the Code or any similar provision
of Law or has any Knowledge that any
Governmental Entity has proposed any such
adjustment, or has any application pending
with any Governmental Entity
requesting permission for any changes in
accounting methods that relate to any
Purchased Entity, (ii) has executed or
entered into a closing agreement pursuant
to Section 7121 of the Code or any similar
provision of Law with respect to any
Purchased Entity, or (iii) has granted to
any Person any power of attorney that
is currently in force with respect to any
Tax matter.
(g) The Company has not been a U.S. real
property holding corporation within the
meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code
during the applicable period specified
in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the
Code.
(h) None of the Purchased Entities is a
party to any tax sharing, allocation,
indemnity or similar agreement or
arrangement (whether or not written) pursuant
to which it will have any obligation to
make any payments after the Closing.
Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9(h),
none of the Purchased Entities has ever
been a member of any consolidated,
combined, affiliated or unitary group of
corporations for any Tax purposes. None of
the Purchased Entities is subject to
any private letter ruling of the IRS or
comparable rulings of any foreign, state
or local Governmental Entity that has been
directed specifically to the
Purchased Entity.
(i) There are no Liens (as defined below),
other than Permitted Liens (as
defined below), as a result of any unpaid
Taxes upon any of the assets of any
Purchased Entity.
(j) Schedule 3.9(j) sets forth each
corporation in which the Company either
currently or previously has held shares,
directly or indirectly. Except as set
forth in Schedule 3.9(j), each of the
entities set forth on Schedule 3.9(j)
(each, a "Schedule 3.9(j) Entity") is or
was (prior to its sale or dissolution),
as appropriate, a qualified subchapter S
subsidiary within the meaning of
Section 1361(b)(3)(B) of the Code. Except
as set forth on Schedule 3.9(j), each
Schedule 3.9(j) Entity is or was (prior to
its sale or dissolution), as
appropriate, a qualified subchapter S
subsidiary in all states (including the
District of Columbia) that follow Federal
income Tax laws concerning qualified
subchapter S subsidiaries and in which the
Company is required to file a Tax
Return.
(k) Schedule 3.9(k) sets forth each
partnership, limited liability company or
other entity, foreign or domestic, in which
the Company has owned any equity
interest (other than marketable securities)
since December 31, 1997. Except as
noted on Schedule 3.9(k), each entity set
forth therein is or was (prior to its
sale or dissolution), as appropriate,
either (i) properly treated as a
disregarded entity under Treasury
Regulations Section 301.7701-3 and under
similar provisions of state or local law in
each jurisdiction where such entity
is or was required to file a Tax Return, or
(ii) properly treated as a
partnership under Subchapter K of the Code
and in each jurisdiction where such
entity is or was required to file a Tax
Return.
(l) The Company has been a validly electing
S corporation within the meaning of
Sections 1361 and 1362 of the Code at all
times from December 31, 1997 through
the Closing Date. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.9(l), at all times from
December 31, 1997 through the Closing Date
the Company has been a valid S
corporation in all states (including the
District of Columbia) that follow
Federal income Tax laws concerning S
corporation elections and in which the
Company is required to file a Tax
Return.
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<PAGE>
(m) Schedule 3.9(m) sets forth each trust,
estate or any other person who is not
an individual that has owned any capital
stock in the Company and the period for
which the stock was owned. Each trust
listed on Schedule 3.9(m) is a trust
described in Section 1361(c)(2)(A)(i) or
Section 1361(c)(6) of the Code. All of
the Company Shareholders are permitted
shareholders of an S corporation within
the purview of Section 1361(b)(1)(B) and
(C) of the Code.
(n) The Company does not have more than one
class of stock within the meaning of
Section 1361(b)(1)(D) of the Code.
(o) The Company has not, since January 1,
1998, acquired assets from another
corporation in a transaction in which the
Company's Tax basis for the acquired
assets was determined, in whole or in part,
by reference to the Tax basis of the
acquired assets in the hands of the
transferor.
(p) No Purchased Entity has constituted
either a "distributing corporation" or a
"controlled corporation" (within the
meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the
Code) during a distribution of stock
qualifying for tax-free treatment under
Section 355 of the Code (A) in the two
years prior to the date of this Agreement
or (B) in a distribution which could
otherwise constitute part of a "plan" or
"series of related transactions" (within
the meaning of Section 355(e) of the
Code) in conjunction with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(q) There is no taxable income of any
Purchased Entity that will be required
under applicable Tax Law to be reported by
any Purchased Entity for a taxable
period beginning after the Closing Date
which taxable income was realized prior
to the Closing Date.
(r) None of the Purchased Entities has
participated in any reportable
transaction, as defined in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.6011-4(b)(1), or a
transaction substantially similar to a
reportable transaction.
(s) None of the Purchased Entities has, or
has ever had, a permanent
establishment in any country other than the
United States, or has engaged in a
trade or business in any country other than
the United States that subjected it
to Tax in such country.
(t) The Company is not subject to the tax
imposed under Section 1374(a) of the
Code or under similar provisions of state
or local law on recognized built-in
gains arising from its S election effective
December 31, 1997.
(u) The Company
has not made and is not required to make
any payment that would constitute an
"excess parachute payment" within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(v) For purposes of this Agreement:
(i) "Tax" means any applicable federal, state, local or
foreign income, sales, use, gross receipts, license, payroll,
employment, excise, capital stock, franchise, withholding,
social
security, disability, real or personal property, escheat,
unclaimed
property, value added
or other tax or claim of any kind whatsoever,
including any interest, penalty or addition thereto, as required
by
applicable law.
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<PAGE>
(ii) "Tax Return" means any report, return, declaration or
other information required to be supplied to a Governmental Entity
by
applicable law in connection with Taxes, including estimated
returns,
tax shelter disclosure and reportable transactions regulations
and
reports of every kind with respect to Taxes, as required by
applicable
law.
(iii) "Knowledge" means when used with respect to a natural
person, the actual knowledge of such person. "Knowledge" means
when
used with respect to an entity that is not a natural person, the
actual
knowledge of the executive officers of such entity. With respect to
the
Company, its executive officers for purposes of this definition
of
Knowledge shall mean the Shareholders' Representative and the
current
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Executive
Vice
President - Sales and Executive Vice President - Marketing.
Section 3.10. Title to
Properties.
(a) The Company does not own any real
property. Schedule 3.10(a) sets forth a
complete and accurate list of all
individual items of property with a current
book value in excess of $100,000 that the
Company owns or leases (the "Personal
Property").
(b) The Company has title to, or a valid
leasehold interest in, the Personal
Property, in each case free and clear of
all mortgages, liens, pledges, security
interests, charges, and encumbrances on
title of any nature ("Liens"), except
for Liens for Taxes accrued but not yet
payable, purchase money security
interests and those mortgages, liens,
pledges, security interests, charges, and
encumbrances on title set forth on Schedule
3.10(b) (collectively, "Permitted
Liens"). Section 3.11. Change of Control
Agreements. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.11, or as otherwise contemplated
by this Agreement, neither the
execution and delivery of this Agreement
nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will
result in, cause the accelerated vesting
or increase the amount of any payment or
benefit to any director, officer or
employee of the Company.
Section 3.12. Litigation. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12,
(a)
there are no claims, suits, actions,
arbitration or other material proceedings
("Litigation") pending or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, material Litigation
threatened against the Company, and (b)
there are no outstanding judgments,
orders, injunctions or awards against or
relating to the Company.
Section 3.13. Material Contracts. Schedule 3.13 sets forth a
complete
and accurate list of all executory
contracts or contractual arrangements to
which the Company is a party involving
annual payments by the Company after
January 1, 2005 in excess of $100,000
("Material Contracts"), including: (i)
agreements for the purchase or sale of any
assets, (ii) agreements relating to
indebtedness for borrowed money, (iii)
contracts or licenses with customers,
independent contractors, joint venture
partners, suppliers, software developers,
host providers, resellers or others,
including all sales and open purchase
orders, and (iv) leases of any real
property or Personal Property. Schedule 3.13
sets forth a complete and accurate list of
all executory contracts or
contractual arrangements (without reference
to the actual customer) to which the
Company is a party which resulted in
billings by the Company to any of the
Company's current customers in calendar
year 2004 in excess of $250,000
("Customer Contracts"). Except as disclosed
on Schedule 3.13, neither the
Company nor, to the Knowledge of the
Company, any other party thereto is in
default in any material respect under any
Material Contract or Customer
Contract, nor to the Knowledge of the
Company has any event occurred that could
result in any such default. The Company has
no "side agreement" or other
understanding that would give any person
the right to modify or amend any
Material Contract or Customer Contract.
Schedule 3.13 identifies with an
asterisk each Material Contract or Customer
Contract set forth therein that
requires the consent of the other party
thereto to avoid any breach, default or
violation thereof in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby.
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<PAGE>
Section 3.14. Employee Benefit
Plans.
----------------------
(a) Schedule 3.14(a) sets forth all plans, funds, programs,
agreements
or arrangements (whether written or oral)
pursuant to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries provides benefits or
remuneration (other than salaries and
wages) to its employees, former employees,
directors, independent contractors or
contingent or leased employees or the
dependents of any of them, including any
bonus, incentive compensation, stock
option, deferred compensation, severance or
other compensation plan or employment
agreement, any employee welfare plan or
any defined benefit, profit sharing or
savings or other employee pension benefit
plan (collectively, "Current Benefit
Plans").
(b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Benefit Plan"
includes
each of the Current Benefit Plans and the
Past Benefit Plans; and the term "Past
Benefit Plan" means any plan, fund,
program, agreement or arrangement that would
be a Current Benefit Plan if it were now in
effect, and was at any earlier time
within the past six years sponsored or
maintained or required to be sponsored or
maintained by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries has made, or had an
obligation to make, contributions
providing for employee benefits or for the
remuneration (other than salaries or
wages), direct or indirect, of their
employees, former employees, directors,
independent contractors, contingent or
leased employees, the spouses or the
dependents of any of them. To the extent
applicable, to the Knowledge of the
Company, the Current Benefit Plans now
comply, and the Past Benefit Plans did
comply when they were in effect, in all
material respects with the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA") and the Code. Any
Current Benefit Plan intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code
has received a favorable determination
letter or is an approved prototype plan
with an opinion letter upon which the
Company or a subsidiary is entitled to
rely, and continues to satisfy in all
material respects the requirements for
such qualification. Neither the Company nor
any affiliate of the Company that
would be considered a single employer with
the Company or any subsidiary under
Section 414 of the Code has maintained or
contributed in the past six years to
any Benefit Plan that is or was then
covered by Title IV of ERISA or Section 412
of the Code that could reasonably be
expected to result in a material penalty to
the Company. Neither the Company, any
subsidiary nor any Benefit Plan has
incurred any material liability or penalty
under Section 4975 of the Code or
Section 502(i) of ERISA, or engaged in any
transaction that is reasonably likely
to result in any such liability or penalty.
To the Knowledge of the Company, the
Company has complied in all material
respects with the notice and continuation
requirements of Section 4980B of the Code
and the regulations thereunder
("COBRA"), and with the applicable
requirements of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
To the Knowledge of the Company,
except as described in Schedule 3.14(b),
each Benefit Plan has been maintained
and administered during the past six years
in material compliance with its terms
and with all applicable law, including
ERISA, the Code and federal and state
securities laws.
(c) There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened
Litigation involving any Benefit Pl