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Exhibit 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
BY AND
AMONG
OPTICAL CABLE
CORPORATION,
a Virginia
corporation
as Purchaser
and its subsidiary
AURORA MERGER
CORPORATION,
a Delaware
corporation
AND
PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS
COMPANY,
an Ohio
corporation
as Seller
and its subsidiary
SUPERIOR MODULAR PRODUCTS
INCORPORATED,
a Delaware
corporation
(doing business as SMP Data
Communications)
Dated as of May 30,
2008
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF
MERGER (this “ Agreement ”) is made and
entered into as of May 30, 2008 by and among (i)
OPTICAL CABLE CORPORATION , a Virginia corporation (“
Purchaser ”), and AURORA MERGER CORPORATION , a
Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser
(“ Merger Sub ”), and (ii) PREFORMED
LINE PRODUCTS COMPANY , an Ohio corporation (“
Seller ”), and SUPERIOR MODULAR PRODUCTS
INCORPORATED , a Delaware corporation, doing business as SMP
Data Communications and a wholly owned subsidiary of Seller (the
“ Company ”).
RECITALS
WHEREAS , Seller owns
one hundred (100) shares (the “ Shares ”)
of common stock, no par value, of the Company, which represents all
of the Company’s issued and outstanding Shares;
WHEREAS , pursuant to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Effective Time,
Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company, with the Company
as the surviving corporation resulting in the Company being a
wholly owned subsidiary of Purchaser (the “ Merger
”);
WHEREAS , the boards
of directors of the Purchaser, of the Company and of Seller (as
sole shareholder of the Company) have each approved this Agreement,
the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
have each determined that they are in the best interests of the
Company; and
NOW, THEREFORE , in
consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements herein contained, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND DEFINED
TERMS
Section 1.1
Definitions and Defined Terms . Unless the context otherwise
requires or as otherwise defined herein, capitalized terms used in
this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth below:
“ Affiliate
” shall mean with respect to any Person, any other Person
who, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by or is under
common control with that Person.
“ Ancillary
Agreements ” shall mean the Escrow Agreement, the PLP to
OCC Supply Agreement, the SMP to PLP Supply Agreement, the PLP
Transition Services Agreement and the Employment
Agreements.
“ Business Day
” shall mean a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in New York City are authorized or
required by Law to close.
“ Code ”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
“ Company IT
Systems ” shall mean any and all information technology,
telephony systems and computer systems (including, in each case,
software, hardware and other equipment, firmware and embedded
software) relating to the transmission, storage, maintenance,
organization, presentation, generation, processing or analysis of
data and information whether or not in electronic format, which
technology and systems are owned by the Company or are used in or
necessary to the conduct of the business of the Company.
“ Consent
” shall mean any consent, approval or authorization of,
notice to, permit, or designation, registration, declaration or
filing with, any Person.
“ Contract
” shall mean, whether written or oral, any note, bond,
mortgage, indenture, contract, agreement, license, lease, purchase
order, sales order, arrangement or other commitment, obligation or
understanding to which a Person is a party or by which a Person or
its assets or properties are bound.
“ Escrow Agent
” shall mean Branch Banking and Trust Company.
“ Excluded
Assets ” shall mean (i) all cash and cash equivalent
contained in those accounts identified in
Section 1.1(a) of the Disclosure Schedule and
(ii) that certain sail boat model currently located in the
main conference room on the second floor of Company’s
administrative building in Asheville, North Carolina.
“ Excluded
Liabilities ” shall mean Indebtedness; loans from
officers and employees; capital leases; Taxes payable for all
periods immediately prior to the Effective Time; any liabilities
for warranty claims in connection with sales prior to the Effective
Time; any costs associated with satisfaction of any equity
incentives; and any current and non-current liabilities; provided,
however, that Excluded Liabilities shall not include any
liabilities otherwise included in the computation of Net Working
Capital.
“ GAAP ”
shall mean U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles.
“ Governmental
Authority ” shall mean any federal, state, local or
foreign government or any subdivision, agency, instrumentality,
authority, department, commission, board or bureau thereof or any
federal, state, local or foreign court, tribunal or
arbitrator.
“ Indebtedness
” shall mean (a) all debt and similar monetary
obligations, whether direct or indirect, current or non-current,
(b) all liabilities associated with capital leases and all
liabilities secured by any mortgage, pledge, security interest,
lien, charge or other encumbrance existing on property owned or
acquired subject thereto, whether or not the liability secured
thereby shall have been assumed, (c) all guaranties,
endorsements and other contingent financial obligations whether
direct or indirect in respect of indebtedness or performance of
others, including any obligation to supply funds to or in any
manner to invest in, directly or indirectly, a debtor, to purchase
indebtedness or to assure the owner of indebtedness against loss,
through an agreement to purchase goods,
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supplies or services for the purpose of
enabling a debtor to make payment of the indebtedness held by such
owner or otherwise, (d) obligations to reimburse issuers of
any letters of credit, (e) the principal balance outstanding
under any synthetic lease, off-balance sheet loan or similar
off-balance sheet financing product, (f) any intercompany
liabilities of the Company to Seller or any Affiliate of the
Seller; (g) all accrued but unpaid interest (or interest
equivalent) to the date of determination, related to any items of
Indebtedness referred to in clauses (a) through (f) and
(h) all fees, expenses, prepayment penalties, premiums and
other amounts payable in connection with any redemption or
prepayment of any of the foregoing; but in all such cases excluding
liabilities included in the computation of Net Working
Capital.
“ Indemnified
Party ” shall mean any Purchaser Indemnified Party or
Seller Indemnified Party, as applicable.
“ Indemnifying
Party ” shall mean either Purchaser or Seller, as
applicable.
“ IRS ”
shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
“ Knowledge of the
Company ” shall mean the actual knowledge of (i) any
employee with management responsibility, officer or director of the
Company, or (ii) any employee with responsibility for any
Company function or activity, officer or director of the
Seller.
“ Laws ”
shall mean all federal, state, local or foreign laws, orders,
writs, injunctions, decrees, ordinances, awards, stipulations,
treaty, statutes, judicial or administrative doctrines, rules or
regulations enacted, promulgated, issued or entered by a
Governmental Authority.
“ Liens ”
shall mean all title defects or objections, mortgages, liens,
claims, charges, pledges or other encumbrances of any nature
whatsoever, including licenses, leases, chattel or other mortgages,
collateral security arrangements, title imperfections, defect or
objection liens, security interests, conditional and installment
sales agreements, easements, encroachments or restrictions, of any
kind and other title or interest retention arrangements,
reservations or limitations of any nature, including without
limitation any of the foregoing associated with any
Indebtedness.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” shall mean a material adverse effect on
(a) the Company or the business, operations, assets,
liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of
operations or prospects of the Company, or (b) the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in
either case, a Material Adverse Effect shall not be measured
against financial projections or forecasts of the Company provided
to the Purchaser by the Seller or the Company before the
Closing.
“ Material
Consents” shall mean those Consents which are listed on
Section 1.1(b) of the Disclosure Schedule.
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“ Net Working
Capital ” shall mean an amount, which may be positive or
negative, equal to (i) the total current assets of the
Company, excluding any Excluded Assets, minus (ii) the total
current liabilities of the Company, excluding any Excluded
Liabilities; calculated in a manner consistent with the description
set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto.
“ Organizational
Documents ” shall mean any charter, certificate of
incorporation, articles of association, limited liability company
agreement, partnership agreement, membership agreement, bylaws,
operating agreement, shareholders’ agreement, or similar
formation or governing documents and instruments.
“ Permits
” shall mean all permits, licenses, approvals, franchises,
notices and authorizations issued by any Governmental Authority
that are used or held for use in, necessary for or otherwise relate
to the ownership, operation or other use of any of business of the
Company.
“ Permitted
Liens ” shall mean (a) mechanics’,
carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like
Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for
amounts which are not material and not yet due and payable and
which secure an obligation of the Company included in the
computation of Net Working Capital, (b) Liens arising under
Contracts with third parties entered into in the ordinary course of
business in respect of amounts still owing, which Liens are set
forth on Section 1.1(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, and
(c) statutory Liens for Taxes and other governmental charges
for periods after the Effective Time that are not due and payable;
provided, however, that Permitted Liens shall not include any Liens
related to Excluded Liabilities of the Company.
“ Person ”
shall mean any individual, partnership, joint venture, corporation,
trust, unincorporated organization, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“ Proceeding
” shall mean any action, suit, litigation, arbitration,
proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or appellate proceeding and any informal proceeding),
prosecution, contest, hearing, inquiry, inquest, audit, examination
or investigation commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or
before, or otherwise has involved, any Governmental Authority or
any arbitrator or arbitration panel.
“ Subsidiary
” and “ Subsidiaries ” shall mean, with
respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture or other entity in which such
Person (a) owns, directly or indirectly, fifty percent
(50%) or more of the outstanding voting securities, equity
securities, profits interest or capital or equity interest,
(b) is entitled to elect at least a majority of the board of
directors or similar governing body or (c) in the case of a
limited partnership or limited liability company, is a general
partner or managing member, respectively.
“ Tax Return
” shall mean any report, return, election, notice, estimate,
declaration, information statement or other form or document
(including all schedules, exhibits and other attachments thereto)
relating to and filed or required to be filed with a Taxing
Authority in connection with any Tax.
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“ Taxable Period
” shall mean any taxable year or any other period that is
treated as a taxable year, with respect to which any Tax may be
imposed under any applicable Law.
“ Taxes ”
shall mean any and all federal, national, provincial, state, local
and foreign taxes, assessments and other governmental charges,
duties, impositions, levies and liabilities (including taxes based
upon or measured by gross receipts, income, profits, sales, use and
occupation, and value added, ad valorem, transfer, gains,
franchise, estimated, withholding, payroll, recapture, employment,
excise, unemployment, insurance, social security, business license,
occupation, business organization, stamp, environmental, property
taxes or other governmental charges of any kind whatsoever),
together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with
respect to such amounts. For purposes of this Agreement,
“Taxes” also includes any obligations under any
agreements or arrangements with any Person with respect to the
liability for, or sharing of, Taxes, any liability pursuant to
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 or comparable provisions
of state, local or foreign tax Laws, and any liability for Taxes as
a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.
“ Taxing
Authority ” shall mean any Government Authority
exercising tax regulatory, enforcement, collection or other
authority.
Section 1.2 Rules of
Construction .
(a) All article, section,
schedule and exhibit references used in this Agreement are to
articles, sections, schedules and exhibits to this Agreement unless
otherwise specified. The schedules and exhibits attached to this
Agreement constitute a part of this Agreement and are incorporated
herein for all purposes.
(b) If a term is defined as
one part of speech (such as a noun), it shall have a corresponding
meaning when used as another part of speech (such as a verb). Terms
defined in the singular have the corresponding meanings in the
plural, and vice versa. Unless the context of this Agreement
clearly requires otherwise, words importing the masculine gender
shall include the feminine and neutral genders and vice versa. The
term “includes” or “including” shall mean
“including without limitation.” The words
“hereof,” “hereto,” “hereby,”
“herein,” “hereunder” and words of similar
import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement
as a whole and not to any particular section or article in which
such words appear. The phrase “the date of this
Agreement,” “date hereof” and terms of similar
import, unless the context otherwise requires, shall be deemed to
refer to the date set forth in the preamble of this
Agreement.
(c) Whenever this Agreement
refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar
days unless Business Days are specified. Whenever any action must
be taken hereunder on or by a day that is not a Business Day, then
such action may be validly taken on or by the next day that is a
Business Day.
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(d) The parties hereto
acknowledge that each party hereto and its attorney has reviewed
this Agreement and that any rule of construction to the effect that
any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party, or
any similar rule operating against the drafter of an agreement,
shall not be applicable to the construction or interpretation of
this Agreement. Any controversy over construction of this Agreement
shall be decided without regard to events of authorship or
negotiation.
(e) Titles and headings to
sections herein are inserted for convenience of reference only, and
are not intended to be a part of or to affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(f) All references to
currency herein shall be to, and all payments required hereunder
shall be paid in, U.S. dollars.
(g) All accounting terms used
herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings
given to them under GAAP.
ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
Section 2.1 The
Merger . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement,
at the Effective Time, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the
Company, the Company shall be the surviving corporation of such
Merger, and the separate existence of Merger Sub shall thereupon
cease. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in the
applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law
(“ DGCL ”). Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, except
as otherwise provided herein, all property, rights, powers,
privileges and franchises of Merger Sub shall vest in the Company
as the surviving corporation following the Merger and all debts,
liabilities and duties of Merger Sub shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of such surviving corporation. Immediately
following the Effective Time, the Company, as the surviving
corporation following the Merger (the “ Surviving
Corporation ”), shall be a wholly owned subsidiary of
Purchaser.
(a) Effective Time .
The Merger shall become effective upon the completion of the filing
of the properly executed certificate of merger with the Delaware
Secretary of State attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “
Certificate of Merger ”), which filings shall be made
contemporaneously with Closing. When used in this Agreement, the
term “ Effective Time ” with respect to the
Merger shall mean 9:00 a.m., New York City time on May 30,
2008, or such later date and time at which the Certificate of
Merger has been accepted for filing with the Delaware Secretary of
State.
(b) Certificate of
Incorporation . At the Effective Time, the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company as the surviving corporation shall be
amended and restated in the form to be attached to the Certificate
of Merger.
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(c) Bylaws . At the
Effective Time, the Bylaws of the Company as the surviving
corporation shall be the same as the Bylaws of Merger Sub as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(d) Directors and
Officers . The initial directors of the Surviving Corporation
shall be the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the
Effective Time, until their respective successors are duly elected
or appointed and qualified. The officers of the Surviving
Corporation shall be the officers of the Merger Sub immediately
prior to the Effective Time, until their respective successors are
duly appointed.
(e) Exchange of Shares
. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any
action on the part of the holders thereof:
(i) Each share of common
stock of Merger Sub, no par value per share, outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger shall be
converted into one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable
share of common stock of the Company (the “ Shares
”).
(ii) Any shares of the
Company’s common stock held in the treasury of the Company or
by any subsidiary of the Company (collectively, the “
Treasury Shares ”) shall be canceled and retired and
cease to exist, and no consideration shall be given in exchange
therefor.
(iii) All of the Shares
(other than the Treasury Shares as set forth above) shall be
converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration (as
defined below).
(f) Mechanics of
Exchange .
(i) At or prior to Closing,
Seller shall surrender a stock certificate representing the Shares
for cancellation in exchange for the Merger
Consideration.
(ii) From and after the
Effective Time, there shall be no transfers on the stock transfer
books of the Company of the Shares.
(iii) Notwithstanding
anything in this Agreement to the contrary, neither Purchaser nor
any other party hereto shall be liable to a holder of Shares of the
Company’s capital stock for any portion of the Merger
Consideration delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable
abandoned property, escheat or similar laws.
(g) No Further Rights in
Shares . The Merger Consideration received by Seller pursuant
to this Agreement shall be deemed to have been delivered and
received in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the
Shares. At the Effective Time of the Merger, any holder of Shares
shall cease to have any rights with respect to Shares, and such
holder’s sole right shall be to receive their portion of the
Merger Consideration.
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(h) Further Actions .
If at any time after the Effective Time, any further assignments or
assurances in law or any other things are necessary or desirable to
vest or to perfect or confirm of record in the Company, as the
Surviving Corporation, the title to any property or rights or the
ongoing objectives of either the Company or Merger Sub, or
otherwise to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, the
officers and directors of the Company, as the Surviving
Corporation, are hereby authorized and empowered on behalf of the
Merger Sub and the Company, in the name of and on behalf of either
such entity as appropriate, to execute and deliver any and all
things necessary or proper to vest or to perfect or confirm title
to such property or rights in the Company, as the surviving
corporation following the Merger, and otherwise to carry out the
purposes and provisions of this Agreement.
Section 2.2 Merger
Consideration . As a result of the Merger and subject to the
terms and conditions hereof, Seller shall become entitled to
receive the aggregate consideration (the “ Merger
Consideration ” or the “ Purchase Price
”) of ELEVEN MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS
($11,500,000), subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms
of this Article II and Section 7.5 hereto,
payable as follows:
(a) to Seller an aggregate of
(i) Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000), in immediately
available funds, less (ii) the amount of Excluded Liabilities
existing as of Closing and not otherwise paid at Closing by the
Company, and (iii) less the Estimated Net Working Capital
Deficiency (the “ Closing Date Payment ”);
and
(b) to the Escrow Agent on
behalf of Seller, One Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($1,500,000) of the Purchase Price in immediately available funds,
which shall be held by the Escrow Agent and released to Seller
subject to the terms and conditions of the Escrow Agreement, such
terms shall include but not be limited to the satisfaction of all
Indebtedness (the “ Escrow Amount ”).
Section 2.3 Estimated
Net Working Capital Adjustment . The parties hereto agree that,
on the Closing Date, the Net Working Capital of the Company should
be not less than Six Million Dollars ($6,000,000) (the “
Target Net Working Capital Value ”). A statement
setting forth the accounts constituting Target Net Working Capital
Value and a description of the method used to calculate Target Net
Working Capital Value is attached hereto as Exhibit B .
Prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall have prepared and delivered
to Purchaser a statement setting forth an estimate of the Net
Working Capital of the Company as of the Closing Date (the “
Estimated Net Working Capital Value ”). The Estimated
Net Working Capital Value shall include the same accounts as set
forth in Exhibit B , and shall be performed using GAAP and
the same principles, practices and procedures used in preparing the
calculation of Target Net Working Capital Value. If the Estimated
Net Working Capital Value is less than the Target Net Working
Capital Value, then such difference shall be referred to as the
“ Estimated Net Working Capital Deficiency
.”
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Section 2.4
Post-Closing Purchase Price Adjustment .
(a) Purchaser shall prepare
and present to Seller a draft of the balance sheet establishing the
actual Net Working Capital (as finally determined pursuant to the
terms of this Section 2.4(a) , the “ Closing
Date Statement ”) promptly, but not more than sixty
(60) calendar days after the Closing Date. The Closing Date
Statement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and the same
principles, practices and procedures used in preparing the
calculation of Target Net Working Capital Value set forth in
Exhibit B attached hereto. The balance for inventory to be
set forth on the Closing Date Statement shall be based on the
results of a full physical count of all inventory owned by the
Company (the “ Physical Inventory ”) to be taken
on or around the Closing Date, but in no event later than five
(5) Business Days subsequent to the Closing Date. The Physical
Inventory shall be taken and documented in reasonable detail by the
Company and shall be observed by the Purchaser (or its
representatives) and also shall be observed, at the Seller’s
option, by the Seller (or its representatives). For purposes of
computing Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date, the Physical
Inventory quantities shall be valued at the lower of cost or market
(which shall not exceed net realizable value) and net of any
applicable inventory reserves, utilizing costing methods in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied. Each party shall bear
its own expenses with respect to the Physical Inventory. Seller,
together with its representatives and accountants, shall have the
right to review the work papers of Purchaser and Purchaser’s
accountants utilized in preparing the Closing Date Statement for
purposes of verifying the accuracy of the presentation of the
Closing Date Statement. If Seller shall not have notified Purchaser
in a reasonably detailed written statement describing any
objections to the Closing Date Statement within forty-five
(45) calendar days after its receipt by Seller, the Closing
Date Statement shall be deemed to be final. If Purchaser and Seller
cannot agree on the Closing Date Statement within forty-five
(45) calendar days after the delivery of the Closing Date
Statement to Seller by Purchaser, the parties shall submit the
dispute to a mutually acceptable accounting firm (the “
Reviewing Accountants ”), whose determination shall be
binding on the parties. The fees of such Reviewing Accountants
shall be split equally between Purchaser and Seller.
(b) In the event the actual
Net Working Capital as of the Closing Date is less than the
Estimated Net Working Capital Value, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted downward, dollar-for-dollar, by the extent to which the
Estimated Net Working Capital Value exceeds the actual Net Working
Capital Value (the “ Downward Purchase Price
Adjustment ”). In the event the actual Net Working
Capital value is less than the Target Net Working Capital Value and
the actual Net Working Capital value is greater than the Estimated
Net Working Capital Value, then the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted upward, dollar-for-dollar, by the extent to which the
lower of (i) the actual Net Working Capital value or
(ii) the Target Net Working Capital Value, exceeds the
Estimated Net Working Capital Value (the “ Upward Purchase
Price Adjustment ”)
(c) In satisfaction of the
Upward Purchase Price Adjustment, if any, pursuant to
Section 2.4(b) hereto, Purchaser shall pay to Seller
such amount in immediately available funds within three
(3) Business Days of the date in which the final Closing Date
Statement is determined pursuant to Section 2.4(a)
hereto. In satisfaction of the Downward Purchase Price Adjustment,
if any, pursuant to Section 2.4(b) hereto, Purchaser
shall be paid such amount from the Escrow Agreement after its
notice to the Escrow
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Agent and Seller, and Seller shall pay
to Purchaser any remaining balance in immediately available funds
within three (3) Business Days of the date in which the
Closing Date Statement is finally determined pursuant to
Section 2.4(a) hereto.
Section 2.5 Payment
of Legal Opinion of Seller’s Counsel. Purchaser agrees to
pay on the Closing Date the actual cost of Seller’s counsel
to issue the Legal Opinion of Seller’s Counsel in an amount
not to exceed TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS ($10,000) (the “ Legal
Opinion Payment by Purchaser ”).
Section 2.6 Imputed
Interest . The parties hereto shall treat such portion, if any,
of any payment that is treated for federal income tax purposes as
being paid to Seller after the Closing Date as imputed interest to
the extent required pursuant to Section 483 or
Section 1274 of the Code.
ARTICLE III
CLOSING
Section 3.1 The
Closing . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the “ Closing ”) will take place at
the offices of Woods Rogers PLC, 10 South Jefferson Street, Suite
1400, Roanoke, Virginia 24011, on May 30, 2008, or at such
other place as Purchaser and Seller shall agree in writing (the
“ Closing Date ”); provided that (other
than in respect of Taxes) the effective time of the Closing shall
be the Effective Time of the Merger.
Section 3.2
Deliveries at Closing .
(a) At the Closing, Seller
shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Purchaser the
following:
(i) the Certificate of
Merger, duly executed by the Company;
(ii) certificate(s)
representing the Shares owned by Seller, free and clear of any
Lien;
(iii) evidence, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Purchaser, that (A) all
Indebtedness of the Company has been paid in full and all Liens
except Permitted Liens in connection therewith have been terminated
and (B) all Indebtedness of Seller and any officer, director,
or Affiliate of Seller or Company for borrowed money owed by the
Company has been paid in full; provided the occurrence of Closing
shall constitute a waiver of any evidence not so delivered (but not
of any requirement herein that such amounts are to be paid in
full);
(iv) a non-foreign person
affidavit of Seller as required by Section 1445 of the Code,
substantially in the forms attached hereto as Exhibit C
;
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(v) an escrow agreement,
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the
“ Escrow Agreement ”), duly executed by Seller,
which shall be in full force and effect as of the Closing
Date;
(vi) an agreement among
Purchaser, Seller and Company which provides for the private label
manufacturing of Fiberguard® family of products by Seller for
Company and Purchaser, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
E (the “PLP to OCC Supply Agreement”);
(vii) an agreement among the
Company and Seller which provides for the continued purchase from
Company by, and sale of datacom products by, the Seller’s
Brazilian subsidiary, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
F (the “SMP to PLP Supply Agreement”);
(viii) an agreement among
Purchaser and Seller which provides for Seller to allow the Company
to continue operations in the same form and manner as it operated
in Seller’s Albemarle, North Carolina, facilities and for
Seller to continue to provide certain Information Technology
services to the Company, for a period of six (6) months, with
the fee for such services to be One Dollar ($1.00) per month, in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit G (the “PLP
Transition Services Agreement”); and
(ix) employment agreements,
in form and substance acceptable to Purchaser, containing, among
other things, confidentiality, non-compete and non-solicitation
provisions, duly executed by the employees of the Company listed on
Exhibit H attached hereto, respectively (the “
Employment Agreements ”), each of which shall be in
full force and effect as of the Closing Date;
(x) resignations, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Purchaser, effective as of the
Closing Date, of each officer and director of the
Company;
(xi) evidence, in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Purchaser, that all Material
Consents and all necessary Consents of any Governmental Authority
have been obtained or made;
(xii) a legal opinion by
Seller’s counsel in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
I (“Legal Opinion of Seller’s
Counsel”);
(xiii) all other documents
and instruments reasonably requested by Purchaser to be delivered
by Seller to Purchaser at the Closing.
(b) At the Closing, Purchaser
shall deliver the following:
(i) the Closing Date Payment
to Seller by wire transfer of immediately available funds, to an
account or accounts designated by Seller in a written notice
delivered to Purchaser no later than three (3) Business Days
prior to the Closing Date;
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(ii) payment to Seller of the
Legal Opinion Payment by Purchaser by wire transfer of immediately
available funds, to an account or accounts designated by Seller in
a written notice delivered to Purchaser no later than three
(3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date;
(iii) the Escrow Amount to
the Escrow Agent on behalf of Seller;
(iv) the Escrow Agreement,
duly executed by Purchaser, which shall be in full force and effect
as of the Closing Date; and
(v) all other documents and
instruments reasonably requested by Seller to be delivered by
Purchaser to Seller at the Closing.
Section 3.3 Excluded
Assets; Excluded Liabilities . The Company will
(a) distribute the Excluded Assets to Seller prior to Closing,
provided that any Excluded Assets thus distributed shall not be
included as current assets for purpose of calculating the Net
Working Capital; and (b) repay and discharge any Excluded
Liabilities.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Except as otherwise disclosed
to Purchaser in a schedule delivered to Purchaser by Seller in
connection with the execution of this Agreement (with specific
reference to the representations and warranties in this Article
IV to which the information in such schedule relates) (the
“ Disclosure Schedule ”), Seller makes the
following representations and warranties as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date:
Section 4.1
Organization and Good Standing . The Company is duly
incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws
of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own, lease, operate and otherwise hold its properties
and assets and to carry on its business as presently conducted. The
Company has qualified to transact business in every state where it
is required to do so, except where to the failure to be so
qualified would not be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.1 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth those
states in which the Company is currently qualified to transact
business.
Section 4.2 Real
Property .
(a) Except as set forth in
Section 4.2(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
is not a lessee, sub-lessee, tenant, licensee or assignee of any
real property owned by any third Person nor is it party to any
leases of real property, occupancy agreements or similar
agreements, whether written or oral.
(b)
Section 4.2(b) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list and legal description of all the real
property that the Company owns (the “ Owned Real
Property ”). With respect to each such parcel of Owned
Real Property except as set forth in Section 4.2(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule:
(i) the Company has fee
simple title to the parcel of Owned Real Property, free and clear
of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens), easement, covenant or
other restriction, except for liens for utilities and current Taxes
not yet due and payable, installments of special assessments and
liens incurred in the ordinary course of business not yet
delinquent, and recorded easements, covenants and other
restrictions which do not materially and adversely affect the
current use or occupancy, or the marketability of title or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, value, of the Owned Real Property subject
thereto;
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(ii) there are no pending or,
to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened condemnation
Proceedings relating to the Owned Real Property or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, other Proceedings affecting adversely the
current use, occupancy or value thereof;
(iii) to the Knowledge of the
Company, the physical condition of the parcel of Owned Real
Property is sufficient to permit the continued conduct of the
business consistent with past practices, subject to the provision
of the usual and customary maintenance and repairs performed in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, with
respect to similar properties of like age and
construction;
(iv) all facilities have
received all approvals of Governmental Authorities (including
Permits) required in connection with the ownership or operation
thereof and have been operated and maintained in accordance with
applicable Laws;
(v) there are no leases,
subleases, licenses, concessions or other agreements, written or
oral, granting to any party or parties the right of use or
occupancy of any portion of the parcel of Owned Real
Property;
(vi) there are no outstanding
options or rights of first refusal to purchase the parcel of Owned
Real Property, or any portion thereof or interest
therein;
(vii) there is no Person
other than the Company in possession of the parcel of Owned Real
Property. and
(viii) all facilities located
on the parcel of Owned Real Property, to the Knowledge of the
Company, are supplied with utilities and other services necessary
for the operation of such facilities at Closing, including gas,
electricity, water, telephone, sanitary sewer and storm sewer, all
of which services are in accordance with all applicable Laws and
are provided via public roads or via permanent, irrevocable,
appurtenant easements benefiting the parcel of Owned Real
Property.
Section 4.3
Authorization and Effect of Agreement . Seller and the
Company have all requisite right, corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to
which either is a party and to perform their
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respective obligations hereunder and
under any such Ancillary Agreements and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements to which either is or is proposed to be a party by
Seller and the Company and the performance by Seller and the
Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder, as the case
may be, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby, as the case may be, have been duly authorized
and no other corporate action on the part of Seller or the Company
is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements to which it is or is
proposed to be a party or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or thereby, other than the filing of the
Certificate of Merger. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Seller and constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and
similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies
generally.
Section 4.4 Consents
and Approvals; No Violations . Except as set forth in
Section 4.4 of the Disclosure Schedule, no filing with,
and no Permit or Consent of any Governmental Authority or any other
Person is necessary to be obtained, made or given by Seller or the
Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which Seller or the Company
is a party, the performance by Seller or the Company of its
respective obligations hereunder or thereunder and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement to which Seller or the Company is a party,
provided , however , that no representation and
warranty is made with respect to authorizations, approvals, notices
or filings with any Governmental Authority that, if not obtained or
made, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to materially impair the Seller’s ability to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set
forth in Section 4.4 of the Disclosure Schedule neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary
Agreement to which Seller or the Company is a party nor the
consummation by Seller or the Company of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement to which
Seller or the Company is a party nor compliance by Seller or the
Company with any of the provisions hereof or thereof will
(a) conflict with or result in any breach of any provision of
any Organizational Documents of the Company, (b) result in a
material breach of, or constitute (with or without due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of
termination, modification, cancellation, acceleration or loss of
material benefits) under or result in the creation of any Lien on
the Shares or any of the Company Assets or Owned Real Property, any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which the
Company or Seller is a party or otherwise may be subject or bound,
(c) violate any Permit applicable to the Company or Seller or
to which the Company or Seller or any of the Company Assets or
Owned Real Property may be subject or bound or (d) violate any
Laws applicable to the Company or Seller or the Company
Assets.
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Section 4.5 Permits;
Compliance with Law .
(a) Listed in
Section 4.5(a) of the Disclosure Schedule are all of
the Permits held by the Company. The Company holds all Permits
necessary for the ownership and lease of its properties and Company
Assets and the lawful conduct of its business under and pursuant to
all applicable Laws. All Permits have been legally obtained and
maintained and are valid and in full force and effect. To the
Knowledge of the Company, there has been no material change in the
facts or circumstances reported or assumed in the application for
or granting of any Permits. No Proceeding is pending, or to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened to suspend, revoke, withdraw,
modify or limit any Permit, and, to the Knowledge of the Company,
there is no fact, error or admission relevant to any Permit that
would permit the suspension, revocation, withdrawal, modification
or limitation of, or in the loss of any Permit. Following the
Closing, each Permit will continue to be valid and in full force
and effect without any Consent or modification required by or from
any Governmental Authority for a period of seven (7) days
following Closing.
(b) Except as set forth on
Section 4.5(b) or 4.16(c) of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company is not in material violation of, nor has it
violated in any material respect, any applicable provisions of any
Permits or Laws.
Section 4.6
Capitalization of the Company .
(a) The Shares constitute all
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company; no shares of capital stock of the Company are held in the
treasury of the Company and no shares of capital stock of the
Company have been reserved for issuance upon exercise of
outstanding stock options, warrants or rights or otherwise. The
Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable and have not been issued and were not issued in
violation of any preemptive or other similar right.
(b) Except as set forth in
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or as set forth on
Section 4.6 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
subscriptions, options, warrants, calls, commitments, preemptive
rights or other rights of any kind (absolute, contingent or
otherwise) relating to the issuance, purchase or receipt of, nor
are there any equity securities or equity interests or instruments
of any kind convertible into or exchangeable for, any capital stock
(including outstanding, authorized but unissued, unauthorized,
treasury or other shares thereof) or other equity interest or any
debt security or instrument of the Company. Except as set forth in
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or as set forth in
Section 4.6 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
restrictions upon, or voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or
understandings of any kind with respect to, the voting, purchase,
redemption, acquisition or transfer of, or the declaration or
payment of any dividend or distribution on, the equity interests of
the Company.
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Section 4.7 Ownership
of the Shares .
(a) Seller has good and valid
title to, holds of record and owns beneficially all of the Shares,
free and clear of any Liens.
(b) Except as set forth in
the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or as set forth in
Section 4.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, no preemptive
right, right of first refusal or other right or restriction applies
to the Shares.
Section 4.8 No
Subsidiaries . The Company has no subsidiaries.
Section 4.9 Books and
Records . Seller has made available to Purchaser complete and
accurate copies, or the complete original, of the minute books of
the Company. The minute books of the Company accurately reflect in
all material respects all actions taken at meetings, or by written
consent in lieu of meetings, of the stockholders, board of
directors (or other governing body) and all committees of the board
of directors (or other governing body) of the Company. All
corporate actions and other actions taken by the Company have been
duly authorized, and no such actions taken by the Company have been
taken in breach or violation of the Organizational Documents of the
Company. The books and records of the Company are substantially
accurate and complete.
Section 4.10
Litigation . Except as set forth in Section 4.10
of the Disclosure Schedule, as of the date hereof, there are no
Proceedings, pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened against the Company or the Seller, that (a) seeks
to invalidate this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement or any
action taken or to be taken in connection with this Agreement or
any Ancillary Agreement or (b) relates to the ownership of the
Shares, or (c) relates to the Company or the Company Assets.
As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding judgments, writs,
injunctions, orders, decrees or settlements against the Company
that restrict the operation of the Company or that seek to prevent,
enjoin, alter or delay any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
Section 4.11 Assets
Necessary to the Company . Except as set forth on
Section 4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company
has all of the material, machinery, furniture, equipment, hardware,
software, motor vehicles and other rights, properties and assets
currently used or held for use in the conduct or operation of the
business of the Company as of the date hereof other than Owned Real
Estate (collectively, the “ Company Assets ”).
Except as set forth in Section 4.11 of the Disclosure
Schedule, which includes a list of all leased Company Assets, the
Company has either (i) good title to all Company Assets or
(ii) good title to the lessee interest in all Company Assets,
in each case, free and clear of all Liens, except Permitted Liens.
The Company Assets, considered as a whole, constitute all rights,
properties, interests and assets necessary to permit the Company to
conduct the business of the Company consistent with past practice.
All such tangible assets, taken as a whole, are in good operating
condition, subject to normal wear and tear, maintenance and repair.
Immediately following the Closing, except as set forth in
Section 4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, Seller nor any
Affiliate of Seller will own, lease or otherwise hold any Company
Assets.
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Section 4.12
Financial Statements .
(a) Seller has delivered to
Purchaser complete and accurate copies of the balance sheets,
statements of operations and statements of cash flows for the
Company as of and for each of the years ended December 31,
2007 and 2006, respectively (collectively, the “ Financial
Statements ”), and the balance sheets, statements of
income and statements of cash flows for the Company as of and for
the three (3) months ended March 31, 2008 (the “
Interim Financial Statements ”).
(b) The Financial Statements
(i) fairly present, in all material respects, the financial
position and the results of operations, changes in
stockholders’ equity, and cash flow of the Company as at the
respective dates of and for the periods referred to in the
Financial Statements, all in accordance with GAAP except that
footnotes are not included, and reflect the consistent application
of such accounting principles throughout the periods involved, and
(ii) are consistent with the books and records of the Company.
No financial statements of any person or entity other than the
Company are required by GAAP to be included in the financial
statements of the Company.
Section 4.13 Absence
of Certain Changes . Since December 31, 2007, except as
set forth on Section 4.13 on the Disclosure Schedule,
(a) the Company has been operated in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice, (b) there has not
occurred any event or condition that, individually or in the
aggregate, has had or is reasonably likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect, (c) the Company has not suffered the loss of
service of any officers, directors, or employees (collectively,
“ Personnel ”) who are material, individually or
in the aggregate, to the operations or conduct of the Company,
(d) there have been no written notices, cancellations or
terminations received by the Company, nor any written notification
of material price increases, by any material supplier, customer or
contractor of the Company, (e) there has been no material
damage to or loss or theft of any of the material Company Assets
and (f) the Company has not:
(i) proposed or adopted any
amendment to the Organizational Documents of the
Company;
(ii) failed to comply, in all
material respects, with all applicable Laws and with all orders of
any Governmental Authority;
(iii) failed to maintain or
renew all Permits necessary for the operation of the business of
the Company;
(iv) forgiven any third party
Indebtedness owed to the Company;
(v) other than in the
ordinary course of business, (i) sold, assigned, licensed,
mortgaged, pledged, sublicensed, encumbered, impaired, abandoned or
failed to maintain any Intellectual Property, or (ii) granted,
extended, amended, waived or modified any rights in or to
Intellectual Property;
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(vi) made any loans, advances
or capital contributions (other than advances for travel and other
normal business expenses to officers and employees);
(vii) failed to maintain
Company Assets in good repair and condition, except to the extent
of wear or use in the ordinary course of business;
(viii) made, revoked or
changed any Tax election, changed any Tax accounting method,
settled or compromised any Tax liability, or waived or consented to
the extension of any statute of limitations for the assessment and
collection of any Tax;
(ix) except as may have been
required as a result of a change in applicable Laws or GAAP,
changed any accounting methods, policies, principles or practices
used by the Company; or
(x) changed the amount of any
insurance coverage or failed to renew any policy for insurance
coverage; or
(xi) prior to May 1,
2008, failed to pay the accounts payable or other liabilities of
the Company, or failed to collect the accounts receivable or other
Indebtedness owed to the Company, in a manner consistent with the
practices of the Company or took any action not consistent with the
past practices of the Company that was designed to accelerate or
had the effect of accelerating the receipt by the Company of any
amounts of cash earlier than such cash would have been realized
consistent with the past practices of the Company.
Section 4.14
Transactions with Affiliates . Except as set forth in
Section 4.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, no Related
Party (as defined below) either currently or at any time since
December 31, 2006 (a) has or has had any interest in any
property (real or personal, tangible or intangible) that the
Company uses or has used in or pertaining to the business of the
Company or (b) has or has had any business dealings or a
financial interest in any transaction with the Company or involving
any Company Asset. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “
Related Party ” shall mean as of any time: an
executive officer, employee or director, ten percent
(10%) stockholder or equity holder (including any executive
officers, employees or directors thereof) or Affiliate of the
Company at such time, any present or former spouse or family member
of any such executive officer, employee, director or Affiliate of
the Company of any trust or other similar entity for the benefit of
any of the foregoing Persons.
Section 4.15
Contracts .
(a)
Section 4.15(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a
complete and accurate list of the following material Contracts to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company or the Company
Assets is or may be bound (collectively, the “ Company
Contracts ”):
(i) employment, retention,
bonus or severance Contracts with any current or, to the extent the
Company currently has outstanding obligations, any former officer,
director or employee (the name, position or capacity and rate of
compensation of each such person and the expiration date of each
such Contract being set forth in Section 4.15(a) of the
Disclosure Schedule);
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(ii) Contracts (other than
employment contracts) with any current or, to the extent the
Company currently has outstanding obligations, any former officer,
director, stockholder, employee, consultant, agent or other
representative or relatives thereof or with an entity in which any
of the foregoing is a controlling person;
(iii) collective bargaining
or other labor or union Contracts, including the Labor
Agreements;
(iv) instruments relating to
Indebtedness, and any agreement relating to the extension of credit
or the granting of a Lien other than Permitted Liens, or any
Contract of guarantee in favor of any Person or entity other than
the Company;
(v) lease, sublease, rental
or other Contracts under which the Company is a lessor or lessee of
any real property or the guarantee of any such lease, sublease,
rental or other Contracts;
(vi) lease, sublease, rental,
licensing use or similar Contracts with respect to equipment,
vehicles, fixtures or other personal property, or the guarantee of
any such lease, sublease, rental or other Contracts;
(vii) Contracts containing
any covenant or provision limiting the freedom or ability of the
Company to engage in any line of business, engage in business in
any geographical area or compete with any other Person;
(viii) Contracts for the
purchase or sale of materials, products, supplies or equipment, or
the provision of services (including utility services);
(ix) material partnership or
joint venture Contracts;
(x) Contracts or purchase
orders for construction or for the purchase of real estate,
improvements, fixtures, equipment, and machinery;
(xi) Contracts relating to
licenses of trademarks, trade names, service marks or other
Intellectual Property;
(xii) Contracts relating to
the future disposition or acquisition of any business enterprise or
any interest in any business enterprise;
(xiii) Contracts between or
among (A) the Company, on the one hand, and (B) Seller or
Seller’s Affiliate or any Affiliate of the Company (other
than the Company), on the other hand;
(xiv) Contracts
(A) outside the ordinary course of business for the purchase,
acquisition, sale, merger, consolidation or disposition of any
Company Assets or any other Person since January 1, 2005 or
(B) for the grant to any Person (excluding the Company) of any
option or preferential rights to purchase any Company
Asset;
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(xv) Contracts pursuant to
which there is either a current or future obligation of the Company
to provide services;
(xvi) Contracts under which
the Company agrees to indemnify any Person with respect to Taxes or
share the Tax liability of any Person;
(xvii) Contracts that require
the posting of collateral by the Company in excess of
$100,000;
(xviii) Contracts regarding
the licensing or cross-licensing of any Intellectual Property of
the Company or of other Persons that is used by the Company in its
business;
(xix) Contracts granting any
power of attorney with respect to the affairs of, or to act as
agent for, the Company;
(xx) Sales representative
agreements;
(xxi) Contracts involving
Company IT Systems, including maintenance agreements;
and
(xxii) any other Contract
material to the business of the Company.
(b) Except as set forth in
Section 4.15(b) of the Disclosure Schedule,
(i) each Company Contract is legal, valid, binding and
enforceable against the Company, and to the Knowledge of the
Company, against each other party thereto and is in full force and
effect in accordance with the express terms, and (ii) neither
the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other party
is in breach or default, and no event has occurred which would
constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) a
breach or default (or give rise to any right of termination,
modification, cancellation or acceleration) or loss of any benefits
under any Company Contract. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Company has not received any payments pursuant to
the Company Contracts which include royalties or “most
favored Licensee” clauses, that have not been validly earned
thereunder or in excess of any actual amounts due (“
Excess Contract Receipts ”).
(c) Complete and accurate
copies of each Company Contract have been
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