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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Agreement and Plan of Merger

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TONIC ACQUISITION CORP | VITAL SIGNS, INC

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Title: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Governing Law: New York     Date: 7/24/2008
Industry: Medical Equipment and Supplies     Law Firm: Lowenstein Sandler     Sector: Healthcare

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, Parties: tonic acquisition corp , vital signs  inc
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EXECUTION COPY

EX-2.1

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

TONIC ACQUISITION CORP

and

VITAL SIGNS, INC.

Dated as of July 23, 2008

 

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I THE MERGER

 

1

    1.1

Merger

 

1

    1.2

Effective Time of the Merger

 

2

    1.3

Closing

 

2

    1.4

Certificate of Incorporation

 

2

    1.5

By-laws

 

2

    1.6

Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation

 

2

ARTICLE II CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

 

3

    2.1

Conversion of Capital Stock

 

3

    2.2

Exchange of Certificates

 

4

    2.3

Company Stock Plans

 

6

ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

6

    3.1

Organization, Standing and Power

 

7

    3.2

Capitalization

 

8

    3.3

Subsidiaries

 

9

    3.4

Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

 

10

    3.5

SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided

 

12

    3.6

Absence of Certain Changes or Events

 

15

    3.7

Taxes

 

15

    3.8

Owned and Leased Real Properties; Title to Properties

 

19

    3.9

Intellectual Property

 

20

    3.10

Contracts

 

23

    3.11

No Violation, Litigation or Regulatory Action

 

25

    3.12

Environmental Matters

 

27

    3.13   

Employee Benefit Plans

 

29

    3.14

Compliance With Laws

 

31

    3.15

Privacy Matters

 

32

    3.16

Permits

 

34

    3.17

Labor Matters

 

34

    3.18

Insurance

 

35

    3.19

Opinion of Financial Advisor

 

36

    3.20

Antitakeover Provisions

 

36

    3.21

Brokers

 

36

    3.22

Government Contracts

 

36

    3.23

FDA Regulatory Compliance

 

37

    3.24

Health Care Regulatory Compliance

 

38

    3.25

Product Liabilities

 

40

    3.26

Exclusive Representations and Warranties

 

40

 


 

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND

 

 

THE MERGER SUB

 

40

    4.1

Organization, Standing and Power

 

41

    4.2

Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

 

41

    4.3

Information Provided

 

42

    4.4

Operations of the Merger Sub

 

42

    4.5

Litigation

 

42

    4.6

Financing

 

43

    4.7

Brokers

 

43

    4.8

Exclusive Representations and Warranties

 

43

ARTICLE V CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

 

43

    5.1

Covenants of the Company

 

43

    5.2

Confidentiality

 

46

    5.3

Merger Sub Shareholder Action

 

46

ARTICLE VI ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

46

    6.1

No Solicitation or Negotiation

 

46

    6.2

Proxy Statement

 

50

    6.3

Nasdaq Quotation

 

51

    6.4

Access to Information

 

51

    6.5

Shareholders Meeting

 

52

    6.6

Legal Requirements

 

52

    6.7

Public Disclosure

 

54

    6.8

Indemnification

 

55

    6.9

Notification of Certain Matters

 

56

    6.10

Employee Compensation

 

57

    6.11

Accrued Personal, Sick or Vacation Time

 

57

    6.12   

Service Credit

 

57

    6.13

Resignations

 

58

    6.14

Shareholder Agreement

 

58

    6.15

Litigation

 

58

    6.16

State Takeover Statutes

 

58

    6.17

Pre-Closing Environmental Filings

 

58

    6.18

Rule 16b-3

 

59

ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS TO MERGER

 

59

    7.1

Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger

 

59

    7.2

Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer and the Merger Sub

 

59

    7.3

Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company

 

61

    7.4

Frustration of Closing Conditions

 

61

ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

 

61

    8.1

Termination

 

61

    8.2

Effect of Termination

 

64

    8.3

Fees and Expenses

 

64

ARTICLE IX MISCELLANEOUS

 

65

    9.1

Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements

 

65

 

- ii -


 

    9.2

Amendment

 

65

    9.3

Extension; Waiver

 

65

    9.4

Notices

 

66

    9.5

Entire Agreement

 

67

    9.6

No Third Party Beneficiaries

 

67

    9.7

Assignment

 

67

    9.8

Severability

 

67

    9.9

Counterparts and Signature

 

68

    9.10   

Interpretation

 

68

    9.11

Governing Law

 

68

    9.12

Remedies

 

68

    9.13

Submission to Jurisdiction

 

69

    9.14

Obligation of Buyer

 

69

    9.15

WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

69

 

Exhibit A – Form of Certificate of Incorporation

Exhibit B – Form of By-laws

- iii -


 

TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS

 

 

Reference in

Terms

 

Agreement

 

2002 Incentive Plan

 

Section 2.3

2003 Investment Plan

 

Section 2.3

Acquisition Proposal

 

Section 6.1(f)

Affiliate

 

Section 3.2(c)

Agreement

 

Preamble

Alternative Acquisition Agreement

 

Section 6.1(b)(ii)

Antitrust Laws

 

Section 6.6(c)

Applicable Privacy Laws

 

Section 3.15(d)

Authorized Quotation System

 

Section 3.4(c)

Bankruptcy and Equity Exception

 

Section 3.4(a)

BIS

 

Section 3.11(h)

Business Associate

 

Section 3.15(a)

Business Day

 

Section 1.3

Buyer

 

Preamble

Buyer Disclosure Letter

 

Article IV

Buyer Employee Plan

 

Section 6.12(a)

Buyer Environmental & Health & Safety Assessment

 

Section 6.4(c)

Certificate

 

Section 2.1(c)

Certificate of Merger

 

Section 1.2

Clarifying Discussions

 

Section 6.1(a)

Closing

 

Section 1.3

Closing Date

 

Section 1.3

COBRA

 

Section 3.13(k)

Code

 

Section 2.2(f)

Common Shares

 

Section 3.2(a)

Company

 

Preamble

Company Balance Sheet

 

Section 3.5(b)

Company Board

 

Section 3.4(a)

Company Board Recommendation

 

Section 3.4(a)

Company Charter Documents

 

Section 3.3(c)

Company Common Stock

 

Section 2.1(b)

Company Disclosure Letter

 

Article III

Company Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.9(g)

Company Leases

 

Section 3.8(c)

Company Licensed Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.9(g)

Company Material Adverse Effect

 

Section 3.1

Company Material Contract

 

Section 3.10(a)

Company Meeting

 

Section 6.5

Company Owned Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.9(g)

Company Owned Real Estate

 

Section 3.8(a)

 

- iv -


 

Company Permits

 

Section 3.16(a)

Company Plans

 

Section 3.13(a)

Company SEC Reports

 

Section 3.5(a)

Company Shareholder Approval

 

Section 3.4(a)

Company Stock Option

 

Section 2.3

Company Stock Plans

 

Section 2.3

Company Tax-Qualified Plan

 

Section 3.13(d)

Confidentiality Agreement

 

Section 5.2

Continuing Employees

 

Section 6.10

Contract

 

Section 3.4(b)

Copyrights

 

Section 3.9(g)

Court Order

 

Section 3.11(a)

Covered Entity

 

Section 3.15(a)

D&O Insurance

 

Section 6.8(b)

DOJ

 

Section 6.6(c)

Data Subjects

 

Section 3.15(e)

EAR

 

Section 3.11(h)

Effective Time

 

Section 1.2

Engagement Letter

 

Section 3.21

Environmental Law

 

Section 3.12(k)(i)

Environmental Permit

 

Section 3.12(d)

ERISA

 

Section 3.13(a)

ERISA Affiliate

 

Section 3.13(e)

Exchange Act

 

Section 3.4(c)

Exchange Fund

 

Section 2.2(a)

Fairness Opinion

 

Section 3.19

FCPA

 

Section 3.11(f)

FDA

 

Section 3.23(a)

FDA Laws

 

Section 3.23(a)

Federal Health Care Program

 

Section 3.24(a)

Federal Health Care Program Laws

 

Section 3.24(c)

Filed Company SEC Report

 

Section 3.5(a)

Financial Control Weakness

 

Section 3.5(d)

Foreign Employee Plans

 

Section 3.13(o)

FTC

 

Section 6.6(c)

GAAP

 

Section 3.5(b)

Government Contract

 

Section 3.22(b)

Government Subcontract

 

Section 3.22(b)

Governmental Damages

 

Section 3.14

Governmental Entity

 

Section 3.4(c)

Grants

 

Section 3.16(c)

Hazardous Substance

 

Section 3.12(k)(ii)

HIPAA

 

Section 3.15(a)

HIPAA Commitments

 

Section 3.15(b)

HSR Act

 

Section 3.4(c)

Indemnitees

 

Section 6.8(a)

 

- v -


 

Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.9(g)

IRS

 

Section 3.7(b)

JPMorgan

 

Section 3.19

Knowledge

 

Section 3.5(a)

Laws

 

Section 3.14

Liens

 

Section 3.4(b)

Merger

 

Preamble

Merger Consideration

 

Section 2.1(c)

Merger Sub

 

Preamble

NJBCA

 

Preamble

NJDT

 

Section 1.2

Notice

 

Section 6.1(b)(iii)

OFAC

 

Section 3.11(g)

Option Consideration

 

Section 2.3

Outside Date

 

Section 8.1(b)

Patents

 

Section 3.9(g)

Paying Agent

 

Section 2.2(a)

Payors

 

Section 3.24(b)

Person

 

Section 2.2(b)

Personal Data

 

Section 3.15(d)

Policies

 

Section 3.18(a)

Pre-Closing Period

 

Section 5.1

Proxy Statement

 

Section 3.5(c)

PSV Policies

 

Section 6.11

Registrations

 

Section 3.23(b)

Release

 

Section 3.12(k)(iii)

Representatives

 

Section 6.1(a)

Required Company Shareholder Vote

 

Section 3.4(d)

Restraints

 

Section 7.1(c)

Restricted Parties

 

Section 3.11(g)

SEC

 

Section 3.4(c)

Second Date

 

Section 8.1(b)

Secret Information

 

Section 3.9(g)

Securities Act

 

Section 3.2(c)

Shareholder Agreement

 

Preamble

Software

 

Section 3.9(g)

SOxA

 

Section 3.5(d)

SSA

 

Section 3.24(a)

SSOA Subsidiary

 

Section 3.15(a)

Subsidiary

 

Section 3.3(a)

Subsidiary Documents

 

Section 3.3(c)

Superior Proposal

 

Section 6.1(f)

Surviving Corporation

 

Section 1.1

Tax Returns

 

Section 3.7(a)

Taxes

 

Section 3.7(a)

Tax Sharing Agreement

 

Section 3.7(d)

 

- vi -


 

Termination Fee

 

Section 8.3(b)

Third Date

 

Section 8.1(b)

Trademarks

 

Section 3.9(g)

 

- vii -


 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

           THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “ Agreement ”) is entered into as of July 23, 2008, by and among GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, a New York corporation (the “ Buyer ”), TONIC ACQUISITION CORP, a New Jersey corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer (the “ Merger Sub ”), and VITAL SIGNS, INC., a New Jersey corporation (the “ Company ”).

           WHEREAS, the transaction shall be effected through a merger (the “ Merger ”) of the Merger Sub with and into the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the New Jersey Business Corporation Act (the “ NJBCA ”) as a result of which the Company shall become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer;

           WHEREAS, simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to the willingness of the Buyer and the Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement, the Buyer and certain shareholders of the Company are entering into a shareholder agreement (the “ Shareholder Agreement ”), pursuant to which, among other things, such shareholders have agreed to vote to approve this Agreement and to take certain other actions in furtherance of the Merger, in each case upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein; and

           WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of the Buyer, the Merger Sub and the Company have approved this Agreement and the plan of merger set forth herein, and the Board of Directors of the Company has recommended the Agreement to the shareholders of the Company.

           NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth below, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the Buyer, the Merger Sub and the Company hereby agree as follows:

ARTICLE I

THE MERGER

           1.1       Merger . Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with Sections 14A:10-4.1 and 14A:10-14 of the NJBCA, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 below), the Merger Sub and the Company shall consummate the Merger pursuant to which (a) the Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company and the separate existence of the Merger Sub shall thereupon cease and (b) the Company shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger (the “ Surviving Corporation ”). The Merger shall have the effects specified in the NJBCA, including Section 14A:10-6 thereof. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and the Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all


 

debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and the Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

           1.2       Effective Time of the Merger . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, prior to the Closing Date, the Buyer and the Company shall jointly prepare, and, upon consummation of the Closing on the Closing Date, cause to be filed with the Department of the Treasury of the State of New Jersey (the “ NJDT ”) an original and one copy of a certificate of merger (the “ Certificate of Merger ”) in such form as is required by, and executed by the Company and the Merger Sub in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the NJBCA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the NJBCA to effect the Merger. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the NJDT or at such later time as is established by the Buyer and the Company and set forth in the Certificate of Merger (the “ Effective Time ”).

           1.3       Closing . The closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on a date to be specified by the Buyer and the Company (the “ Closing Date ”), which shall be no later than the second Business Day after satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII (other than delivery of items to be delivered at the Closing and other than satisfaction of those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, it being understood that the occurrence of the Closing shall remain subject to the delivery of such items and the satisfaction or waiver of such conditions at the Closing), at the offices of Allen & Overy LLP, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, unless another date, place or time is agreed to in writing by the Buyer and the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, a “ Business Day ” shall be any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday or (b) a day on which banking institutions located in New York, New York are permitted or required by law, executive order or governmental decree to remain closed.

           1.4       Certificate of Incorporation . At the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto and, as so amended and restated, shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the provisions thereof and as provided by applicable Law.

           1.5       By-laws . At the Effective Time, the by-laws of the Company, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be amended and restated to read in their entirety as set forth in Exhibit B attached hereto and, as so amended and restated, shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended as provided by applicable Law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation and such by-laws.

           1.6       Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation . (a) The directors of the Merger Sub immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation until the earlier of their death, resignation or removal or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified, as the case may be.

- 2 -


 

           (b)       The officers of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation, each to hold office until their respective successors are duly appointed and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Corporation.

ARTICLE II

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

           2.1       Conversion of Capital Stock . As of the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares of the capital stock of the Company or capital stock of the Merger Sub (other than the requisite approval of the Merger by the shareholders of the Company in accordance with the NJBCA):

           (a)       Capital Stock of the Merger Sub . Each share of the common stock, no par value, of the Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, no par value, of the Surviving Corporation.

           (b)       Cancellation of Treasury Stock and Buyer-Owned Stock . All shares of common stock, no par value, of the Company (“ Company Common Stock ”), that are owned by the Company as treasury stock, or by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and any shares of Company Common Stock owned by the Buyer or the Merger Sub or any other wholly owned Subsidiary of the Buyer immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and shall cease to exist and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

           (c)       Merger Consideration for Company Common Stock . Subject to Section 2.2, each share of Company Common Stock (other than shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(b) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into the right to receive $74.50 in cash, without interest (the “ Merger Consideration ”). As of the Effective Time, all such shares of Company Common Stock shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, and each holder of a certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “ Certificate ”) shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) and the amount of dividends with a record date prior to the date of the Effective Time to which the holder of shares represented by such Certificate is entitled upon the surrender of such certificate in accordance with Section 2.2, without interest.

           (d)       Adjustments to Merger Consideration . The Merger Consideration shall be adjusted to reflect fully the effect of any reclassification, stock split, reverse split, stock dividend (including any dividend or distribution of securities convertible into Company Common Stock), reorganization, recapitalization or other like change with respect to Company Common Stock occurring (or for which a record date is established) after the date hereof and prior to the Effective Time, it being understood that the foregoing shall not be deemed to constitute the Buyer’s consent to any transaction otherwise prohibited by Section 5.1.

- 3 -


 

           2.2       Exchange of Certificates . The procedures for exchanging certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration pursuant to the Merger are as follows:

           (a)       Paying Agent . Prior to the Effective Time, the Buyer shall enter into an agreement with the Company’s transfer agent or another bank or trust company reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent (the “ Paying Agent ”) for payment of the Merger Consideration upon surrender of the Certificates. The Buyer shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to deposit with the Paying Agent within one (1) Business Day after the Effective Time (and in any event the Buyer shall deposit with the Paying Agent promptly after the Effective Time), in trust for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, for payment through the Paying Agent in accordance with this Section 2.2, cash in an amount sufficient to make payment of the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 2.1(c) as Certificates are surrendered (the “ Exchange Fund ”).

           (b)       Exchange Procedures . Promptly (and in any event within three (3) Business Days) after the Effective Time, the Buyer shall cause the Paying Agent to mail to each holder of record of a Certificate (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to the Certificates shall pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Paying Agent, and which shall be in such form and shall have such other provisions as the Buyer may reasonably specify) and (ii) instructions for effecting the surrender of the Certificates in exchange for the Merger Consideration payable with respect thereto. Upon surrender of a Certificate for cancellation to the Paying Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the instructions (and such other customary documents as may reasonably be requested by the Paying Agent), the holder of such Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor the Merger Consideration that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the provisions of this Article II, and the Certificate so surrendered shall immediately be cancelled. In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of Company Common Stock that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the Merger Consideration may be paid to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Certificate so surrendered is registered, if such Certificate is presented to the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence and effect such transfer and by evidence that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 2.2, each Certificate shall be deemed at any time after the Effective Time to represent only the right to receive upon such surrender the Merger Consideration and the amount of dividends with a record date prior to the date of the Effective Time to which the holder of shares represented by such Certificate is entitled. No interest will be paid or will accrue on the cash payable upon surrender of any Certificate. As used in this Agreement, “ Person ” means an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a trust or any other entity, including a Governmental Entity.

           (c)       No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock . All Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in satisfaction of all rights pertaining thereto.

- 4 -


 

           (d)       Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the Exchange Fund (including the proceeds of any investments thereof) that remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates for 270 days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Buyer, upon demand, and any holders of Certificates who have not previously complied with this Section 2.2 shall look only to the Buyer for payment of its claim for Merger Consideration.

           (e)       No Liability . To the extent permitted by applicable Law, none of the Buyer, the Merger Sub, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent shall be liable to any Person for any amount properly paid from the Exchange Fund or delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law.

           (f)       Withholding Rights . Each of the Buyer and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement to any holder of Certificates or Company Stock Options such amounts as it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”), or any other applicable state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld by the Surviving Corporation or the Buyer, as the case may be, such withheld amounts (i) shall be remitted by the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, to the applicable Governmental Entity, and (ii) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the Certificates or Company Stock Options in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by the Surviving Corporation or the Buyer, as the case may be.

           (g)       Lost Certificates . If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed, and, if required by the Buyer, the posting by such Person of a bond in such reasonable amount as the Buyer may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Paying Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.

           (h)       Stock Transfer Books . At the close of business on the day on which the Effective Time occurs, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed and there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares thereafter on the records of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. From and after the Effective Time, the holders of Certificates representing shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have any rights with respect to such shares, except as otherwise provided in this Agreement or by applicable Law. On or after the Effective Time, any Certificates presented to the Paying Agent or the Buyer for any reason shall be cancelled against delivery of the Merger Consideration to which the holders thereof are entitled pursuant to Section 2.1(c) .

           (i)       Investment of Exchange Fund . The Paying Agent shall invest the Exchange Fund as directed by the Buyer; provided that no such investment or losses thereon shall affect the Merger Consideration payable to the holders of Company Common Stock and following any losses the Buyer shall promptly provide additional funds to the Paying Agent for

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the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock in the amount of any such losses. Any interest and other income resulting from such investment shall be the property of, and shall be promptly paid to, the Buyer.

           2.3       Company Stock Plans . At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any outstanding option to purchase Company Common Stock (“ Company Stock Option ”), each Company Stock Option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether or not then vested or exercisable) shall be cancelled and terminated and converted into the right to receive a cash amount equal to the Option Consideration (as defined below) for each share of Company Common Stock then subject to such Company Stock Option. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions necessary to provide that each Company Stock Option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (whether or not then vested or exercisable) shall be cancelled and terminated and converted at the Effective Time into the right to receive a cash amount equal to the Option Consideration for each share of Company Common Stock then subject to such Company Stock Option. Except as otherwise provided below, the Option Consideration shall be paid upon or immediately following the Closing Date. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall make any amendments to the terms of the 2003 Investment Plan, the 2002 Incentive Plan and any other stock option plans, employee stock purchase plans or other equity-related plans of the Company (the “ Company Stock Plans ”), and to the terms of any agreement or instrument evidencing the grant of any Company Stock Options issued other than pursuant to the Company Stock Plans, and use its best efforts to obtain any consents from holders of Company Stock Options that, in each case, are necessary to give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Section 2.3 and, notwithstanding anything to the contrary, payment may be withheld in respect of any Company Stock Option until any necessary consents are obtained. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company shall take all actions necessary to ensure that the Company will not at the Effective Time be bound by any options, warrants or other rights or agreements that would entitle any Person, other than the Buyer and its Subsidiaries, to own any capital stock of the Surviving Corporation or to receive any payment in respect thereof (other than pursuant to this Section 2.3) . Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all actions necessary to terminate all its Company Stock Plans, such termination to be effective at or before the Effective Time. For purposes of this Agreement, “ Option Consideration ” means, with respect to any share of Company Common Stock issuable under a particular Company Stock Option, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (i) the Merger Consideration over (ii) the exercise price payable in respect of such share of Company Common Stock.

ARTICLE III

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

           Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered section of the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Buyer and Merger Sub prior to the execution of this Agreement (the “ Company Disclosure Letter ”), it being agreed that disclosure of any item in any section of the Company Disclosure Letter shall also be deemed disclosure with respect to any other section of this Agreement to which the relevance of such item is readily apparent on its face, the Company represents and warrants to the Buyer and the Merger Sub that:

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           3.1       Organization, Standing and Power . The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of the State of New Jersey, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as currently proposed by the executive officers of the Company to be conducted. The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business and, where applicable as a legal concept, is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of the properties and assets it owns, operates or leases or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Company Material Adverse Effect ” means any change, event, occurrence or state of facts that (a) has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect (i) on the business, properties, assets, liabilities (contingent or otherwise), results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or (ii) on the Company’s ability to, in a timely manner, perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (b) would subject the Buyer or any Affiliate to any criminal or material civil liability resulting from a violation of Law; provided, however that none of the following shall be deemed to be, and shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Company Material Adverse Effect: facts, circumstances, events, changes, effects or occurrences (i) generally affecting the economy or the financial, debt, credit or securities markets in the United States, including as a result of changes in geopolitical conditions, (ii) generally affecting any of the industries in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate, (iii) resulting directly or proximately from the announcement of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including any negative impact on the relationships between the Company and its Subsidiaries and any of their respective customers, suppliers, distributors or employees resulting from the identities of the parties to this Agreement or the performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (for the avoidance of doubt, this clause (iii) shall not exclude any such effect, change, event, occurrence or state of facts arising out of, resulting from or constituting a breach of any covenant of the Company under this Agreement), (iv) resulting from changes after the date hereof in any applicable Laws or applicable accounting regulations or principles or interpretations thereof, (v) resulting from any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or war or any act of terrorism, or (vi) resulting from any failure by the Company to meet any published analyst estimates or expectations of the Company’s revenue, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations for any period, in and of itself, or any failure by the Company to meet its internal or published projections, budgets, plans or forecasts of its revenues, earnings or other financial performance or results of operations, in and of itself (it being understood that the facts or occurrences giving rise or contributing to any such failure that are not otherwise excluded from the definition of a “Company Material Adverse Effect” may be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Company Material Adverse Effect), except, in the case of clauses (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) above, such facts, circumstances, changes, events, effects or occurrences shall not be excluded to the extent that they have a disproportionate effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole compared with other companies operating in any of the principal industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

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           3.2       Capitalization . (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (i) 40,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, of which 13,296,697 shares were outstanding as of July 21, 2008 (the “ Common Shares ”); and (ii) 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value, none of which are issued or outstanding. There are no issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company other than the Common Shares. Except for this Agreement or as set forth in Section 3.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no agreements, arrangements, options, puts, calls, rights or commitments of any character in effect with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to the issuance, sale, purchase, repurchase, redemption, conversion, exchange, registration, voting or transfer of any shares of capital stock of the Company. None of the Common Shares has been issued in violation of, or is subject to, any preemptive, first refusal or subscription rights. All voting rights in the Company are vested exclusively in the Common Shares.

           (b)       Section 3.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of July 21, 2008, of: (i) the name of each Company Stock Plan, (ii) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to outstanding options and restricted stock awards under all Company Stock Plans and (iii) for each such option or other right (1) the name of the holder thereof, (2) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject thereto, (3) the exercise price thereof and (4) the date of grant. There are no awards under the 2003 Investment Plan for which any shares of Company Common Stock remain issuable and under which any purchased shares of Company Common Stock have not been paid for in full. There are no stock options or restricted stock awards granted under any plan adopted by a Subsidiary of the Company providing the holders thereof with a right to acquire Company Common Stock. Since July 21, 2008, the Company has not issued any shares of its capital stock, voting securities or equity interests, or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its capital stock, voting securities or equity interests, other than pursuant to the exercise of outstanding Company Stock Options referred to above in this Section 3.2(b) .

           (c)       Except (i) as set forth above in Sections 3.2(a) and 3.2(b) and (ii) as expressly permitted by Article V, as of the date of this Agreement there are not, and as of the Effective Time there will not be, (A) any equity securities of any class of the Company, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding or (B) any options, warrants, equity securities, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, exchange, transfer, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, exchanged, transferred, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any security or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such shares or other equity interests, or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, otherwise modify or amend or enter into any such option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement. The Company does not have any outstanding stock appreciation rights, phantom stock or performance based rights to acquire equity securities, stock appreciation rights or phantom stock. Neither the Company nor any of its controlled Affiliates is a party to or is bound by any agreements or understandings with respect

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to the voting (including voting trusts and proxies) or sale or transfer (including agreements imposing transfer restrictions) of any shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Affiliate ” when used with respect to any party shall mean any Person, who is an “affiliate” of that party within the meaning of Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (together with the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “ Securities Act ”). There are no registration rights, and there is no rights agreement, “poison pill” anti-takeover plan or other similar agreement or understanding, other than as required by the New Jersey Shareholders' Protection Act, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or they are bound with respect to any equity security of any class of the Company.

           (d)       All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and all shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance as specified in Section 3.2(b), upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the NJBCA, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or by-laws or any agreement to which the Company is a party or is otherwise bound.

           (e)       There are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock or the capital stock of any of the Company’s Subsidiaries.

           3.3       Subsidiaries . (a) Section 3.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, for each Subsidiary of the Company: (i) its name; (ii) the jurisdiction of organization; and (iii) whether or not such Subsidiary is wholly-owned (directly or indirectly) by the Company. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “ Subsidiary ” (i) means with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise the accounts of which would be consolidated with those of such Person in such Person’s consolidated financial statements if such financial statements were prepared in accordance with GAAP, as well as any other corporation, partnership trust, limited liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which such party (and/or one or more Subsidiaries of such party) holds stock or other ownership interests representing (A) more than 50% of the voting power of all outstanding stock or ownership interests of such entity or (B) the right to receive more than 50% of the net assets of such entity available for distribution to the holders of outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a liquidation or dissolution of such entity and (ii) with respect to the Company, includes Shenzhen Vital Signs-KTL Medical Instrument Co. Ltd.

           (b)       Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concepts are applicable) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly licensed or qualified to do business and is in good standing (to the extent such concepts are applicable) in each jurisdiction where the character of its properties owned, operated or leased or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so licensed, qualified or in

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good standing, individually or in the aggregate, has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity securities or interests of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights and all such shares (other than directors’ qualifying shares in the case of non-U.S. Subsidiaries, all of which the Company has the power to cause to be transferred for no or nominal consideration to the Company or the Company’s designee) are owned, directly or indirectly, of record and beneficially, by the Company free and clear of all security interests, liens, claims, pledges, agreements, limitations in the Company’s voting rights, charges or other encumbrances. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements or commitments to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or that are binding on any of them providing for the issuance, disposition or acquisition of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no outstanding stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no voting trusts, proxies or other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company.

           (c)       The Company has provided to the Buyer true, complete and correct copies of the charter, by-laws or other organizational documents of the Company (the “ Company Charter Documents ”), and of each Subsidiary of the Company (the “ Subsidiary Documents ”), in each case amended to the date of this Agreement. All such Company Charter Documents and Subsidiary Documents are in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of their respective provisions.

           (d)       The Company does not control directly or indirectly or have any direct or indirect equity participation or similar interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other business association or entity that is not a Subsidiary of the Company, other than securities in a publicly traded company held for investment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and consisting of less than 5% of the outstanding capital stock of such company.

           3.4       Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents . (a) The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to the approval of this Agreement by the Company’s shareholders under the NJBCA (the “ Company Shareholder Approval ”), to perform its obligations hereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Company Board ”), at a meeting duly called and held, unanimously, (i) adopted this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of the NJBCA, and (ii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of the Company for their approval and resolved to recommend that the shareholders of the Company vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement (the “ Company Board Recommendation ”). The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Shareholder Agreement by the Company have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company, subject only to the required receipt of the Company Shareholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery hereof by each of the Buyer and the Merger Sub, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company,

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enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles (the “ Bankruptcy and Equity Exception ”).

           (b)       The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company do not, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions hereof shall not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, any provision of the Company Charter Documents or any of the Subsidiary Documents, (ii) conflict with, or result in any material violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit or forfeiture of any rights) under, require a consent, filing or waiver under, require the payment of a penalty under or result in the imposition of any Lien on the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s respective properties, Intellectual Property or other assets under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any loan or credit agreement, debenture, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, deed of trust, lease, license, contract or other agreement, instrument or obligation, written or oral, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets may be bound (each, a “ Contract ”), or any Company Permit, or (iii) subject to obtaining the Company Shareholder Approval and compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (iv) of Section 3.4(c), conflict with or violate any permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, injunction, writ, order, decree, statute, Law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their respective properties or assets, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for any such conflict, violation, breach, default, loss, right, requirement, Lien or other occurrence which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect and other than as may arise in connection with facts and circumstances particular to the Buyer, the Merger Sub and their Affiliates. As used in this Agreement, the term “ Lien ” shall mean any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or encumbrance other than (A) statutory liens securing payments not due and payable as of the Closing Date, (B) such imperfections or irregularities of title, claims, liens, charges, security interests, easements, covenants and other restrictions or encumbrances, as do not materially affect the use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair business operations at such properties and (C) mortgages, or deeds of trust, security interests or other encumbrances on title related to indebtedness reflected on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

           (c)       No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration, notice or filing with, any Governmental Entity or any stock market, automated quotation system or stock exchange on which shares of Company Common Stock are listed for trading or on which prices for the Company Common Stock are quoted pursuant to application by the Company (an “ Authorized Quotation System ”) is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the pre-merger notification requirements under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “ HSR Act ”), and any consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration,

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declaration, notice or filing under any applicable foreign antitrust or trade regulation laws, (ii) the filing of an original and one copy of the Certificate of Merger with the NJDT and appropriate corresponding documents with the appropriate authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business, (iii) the filing of the Proxy Statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ SEC ”) in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”), (iv) the filing of such reports, schedules or materials under the Exchange Act or the rules of any Authorized Quotation System as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and (v) such other consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and filings which, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, “ Governmental Entity ” means any United States, non-United States or multinational government entity, body or authority, including (i) any United States federal, state or local government (including any town, village, municipality, district or other similar governmental or administrative jurisdiction or subdivision thereof, whether incorporated or unincorporated), (ii) any non-United States or multi-national government or governmental authority or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) any United States, non-United States or multinational regulatory or administrative entity, authority, instrumentality, jurisdiction, agency, body or commission, exercising, or entitled or purporting to exercise, any judicial, legislative, police, regulatory, or taxing authority or power, including any court, tribunal, commission or arbitrator, (iv) any self-regulatory organization, or (v) any official of any of the foregoing.

           (d)       Assuming a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast by the holders of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock entitled to vote at the Company Meeting (the “ Required Company Shareholder Vote ”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the Company Shareholder Approval and for the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Shareholder Agreement in accordance with the Company Charter Documents, the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market or the NJBCA. There are no bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness of the Company having the right to vote (or convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having the right to vote) on any matters on which shareholders of the Company may vote.

           3.5       SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided . (a) The Company has filed or furnished all registration statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed or furnished by the Company with the SEC since October 1, 2005. All such registration statements, forms, reports and other documents (including those that the Company may file after the date hereof until the Closing, and in each case including all exhibits, schedules and amendments thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) are referred to herein as the “ Company SEC Reports .” As of their respective effective dates (in the case of Company SEC Reports that are registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and as of their respective SEC filing dates (in the case of all other Company SEC Reports), the Company SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Reports, and none of the Company SEC

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Reports as of such respective dates contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No investigation by the SEC with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened. Except to the extent that information contained in any Company SEC Report filed and publicly available prior to the date of this Agreement (a “ Filed Company SEC Report ”) has been revised or superseded by a later Filed Company SEC Report, none of the Company SEC Reports contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Subsidiary of the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As used in this Agreement, “ Knowledge ” of any Person that is not an individual shall mean, with respect to any matter in question, the actual knowledge after due inquiry of the individuals listed on Section 3.5(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter.

           (b)       Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes and schedules) contained or to be contained in the Company SEC Reports at the time filed (i) complied or will comply as to form in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) were or will be prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act), and (iii) fairly presented or will fairly present the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of their operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, subject, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end audit adjustments, none of which has been or will be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole). The consolidated, audited balance sheet of the Company as of September 30, 2007 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended as of such date (including the notes thereto) is referred to herein as the “ Company Balance Sheet .” Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any liabilities or obligations of any nature (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) whether or not required, if known, to be reflected or reserved against on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company prepared in accordance with GAAP or the notes thereto, except (i) liabilities as and to the extent set forth on the Company Balance Sheet or the notes thereto, (ii) liabilities incurred after the date of the Company Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice or in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business pursuant to the terms of Company Contracts (other than relating to any breaches thereof by the Company or its Subsidiaries) disclosed in the Company Disclosure Letter or that are not required to be disclosed therein pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and (iv) liabilities that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

           (c)       The information to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion in the proxy statement to be sent to the shareholders of the Company (as amended or

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supplemented from time to time, the “ Proxy Statement ”) in connection with the Company Meeting shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to shareholders of the Company, at the time of the Company Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

           (d)       The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that all material information concerning the Company, including its consolidated Subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; and such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to accumulate and communicate to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer information required to be included in the Company’s periodic reports required under the Exchange Act as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company have timely made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and any rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder (the “ SOxA ”). All of the statements contained in such certifications are complete and correct as of the dates thereof. The Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer have disclosed, based on their most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (x) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses (as such terms are defined in PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2) in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting that are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data (each a “ Financial Control Weakness ”) and (y) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the applicable listing and other rules and regulations of The Nasdaq Stock Market.

           (e)       The Company’s system of internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance (i) that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP, (ii) that receipts and expenditures are executed only in accordance with the authorization of management and (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that would materially affect the Company’s financial statements. No Financial Control Weakness was identified in management’s assessment of its internal control over financial reporting as of September 30, 2007 (nor has any such Financial Control Weakness since been identified).

           (f)       The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of Section 13(b) of the Exchange Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate or other funds for

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unlawful contributions, payments, gifts or entertainment, or made any unlawful expenditures relating to political activity to government officials or others or established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded funds or otherwise taken or permitted to be taken any action in violation of Section 30A of the Exchange Act or (ii) accepted or received any unlawful contributions, payments, gifts or expenditures. Except as set forth in Filed Company SEC Reports, since December 31, 2007, no event has occurred that would be required to be reported as a “Certain Relationship or Related Transaction” pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K promulgated by the SEC.

           (g)       Since October 1, 2005, the Company has not obtained Knowledge of any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim, whether written or oral, regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective internal accounting controls, including any material complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices. Since October 1, 2005, no attorney representing the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not employed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, has reported evidence of a material violation of securities Laws, breach of fiduciary duty or similar violation by the Company or any of its officers, directors, employees or agents to the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof or to any director or officer of the Company.

           (h)       The Company has adopted a code of ethics, as defined by Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K, for senior financial officers, applicable to its principal financial officer, comptroller or principal accounting officer, or Persons performing similar functions. Prior to the date hereof, the Company has promptly disclosed, by filing a Form 8-K, any change in or waiver of the Company’s code of ethics, as required by Section 406(b) of SOxA. To the Knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, there have been no violations of provisions of the Company’s code of ethics other than immaterial violations by employees who are not responsible for managing others.

           3.6       Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet there have not been any events, changes, occurrences or state of facts that, individually or in the aggregate, have had or would reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Shareholder Agreement, since the date of the Company Balance Sheet (a) the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (b) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has taken any action nor has there been any event that would have required the consent of the Buyer under Section 5.1 of this Agreement had such action or event occurred after the date of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, from the date of the Company Balance Sheet through the date hereof, there has not occurred any damage, destruction or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) of any material asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that materially affects the use thereof.

           3.7       Taxes . (a) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has timely filed, or has caused to be timely filed, with the appropriate Tax authority or Governmental Entity all Tax

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Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have paid on a timely basis all Taxes due with respect to the Tax periods covered by such Tax Returns and all other Taxes otherwise due. The Company Balance Sheet reflects an adequate reserve for all Taxes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries for all Tax periods and portions thereof through the date of such Company Balance Sheet. All liabilities for Taxes that arose since the date of the Company Balance Sheet arose in the ordinary course of business. All Taxes that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was required by law to withhold or collect have been duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper Governmental Entity, except for any such Taxes with respect to which the failure to withhold, collect or pay have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement: (i) “ Tax ” or “ Taxes ” shall mean (A) all federal, state, local or foreign taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other comparable assessments, including all net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, property and estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and other charges in the nature of Taxes imposed by any Tax authority or Governmental Entity, (B) all interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Tax authority or Governmental Entity in connection with any item described in clauses (A) or (B), and (C) any amounts in respect of any items described in clauses (A) and/or (B) payable by reason of contract, assumption, transferee liability, operation of law, Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502 -6(a) (or any predecessor or successor thereof or any analogous or similar provision under federal, state, local or foreign law) or otherwise, and (ii) “ Tax Returns ” shall mean any return, report, claim for refund, estimate, information return or statement, Tax election or other similar document relating to or required to be filed with any Tax authority or Governmental Entity with respect to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

           (b)       The Company has made available to the Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all U.S. federal income Tax Returns, examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries since October 1, 2004. The U.S. federal income Tax Returns of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been examined by and settled with the Internal Revenue Service (the “ IRS ”) or are closed by the applicable statute of limitations for all Tax years through the Tax year specified in Section 3.7(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter. All assessments for Taxes due with respect to such completed and settled examinations or any concluded litigation have been fully paid. The Company has provided to the Buyer true, correct and complete copies of all other Tax Returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries together with all related examination reports and statements of deficiency for all Tax periods from and after October 1, 2004. No examination or audit of any Tax Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Tax authority or Governmental Entity is currently in progress or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated and no written notice thereof has been received. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been informed by any Tax authority or Governmental Entity that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries was required to file any Tax Return that was not filed or otherwise pay any Tax that was not paid. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has

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waived any statute of limitations with respect to Taxes or agreed to an extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

           (c)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries: (i) has made any payments, is obligated to make any payments, or is a party to any agreement that could obligate it to make any payments that will be treated as an “excess parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code; or (ii) has any actual or potential liability for any Taxes of any Person (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502 -6 (or any similar provision of law in any jurisdiction), or as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.

           (d)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is or has ever been a member of a group of corporations with which it has filed (or been required to file) consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Returns, other than a group the common parent of which was the Company or (ii) is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement, arrangement or practice (a “ Tax Sharing Agreement ”) and, after the Closing Date, none of the Company or any Subsidiary will be bound by any Tax Sharing Agreement or similar arrangement or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.

           (e)       No Liens for Taxes exist with respect to any of the assets or property of the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries except for statutory Liens for Taxes not yet due or payable.

           (f)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of stock qualifying for Tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code since the effective date of Section 355(e) of the Code.

           (g)       The Company is not a “United States real property holding corporation” within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code during the five-year period ending on the Closing Date.

           (h)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in any transaction that would constitute a “listed transaction” or a “tax shelter” within the meaning of Section 6111 or 6662 of the Code.

           (i)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has changed any of its methods of reporting income or deductions for Tax purposes from those employed in the preparation of its Tax Returns for the Tax year ended September 30, 2007.

           (j)       There is currently no limitation on the utilization of net operating losses, capital losses, built-in losses, tax credits or similar items of the Company and its Subsidiaries under Sections 269, 382, 383, 384 or 1502 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations thereunder (and comparable provisions of state, local or foreign law).

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           (k)       No foreign Subsidiary of the Company is, or at any time has been, a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a shareholder, directly or indirectly, in a passive foreign investment company, and no foreign Subsidiary of the Company that is not a United States person (x) is, or, has been at any time within the period covered by the statute of limitations applicable to this representation, engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States or treated as or considered to be so engaged and (y) has, or has had at any time within the period covered by the statute of limitations applicable to this representation, an investment in “United States property” within the meaning of Section 956(c) of the Code. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, or has been at any time within the period covered by the statute of limitations applicable to this representation, subject to (A) the dual consolidated loss provisions of Section 1503(d) of the Code, (B) the overall foreign loss provisions of Section 904(f) of the Code or (C) the recharacterization provisions of Section 952(c)(2) of the Code.

           (l)       The Company Disclosure Letter sets forth all foreign jurisdictions in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to Tax, is engaged in business or has a permanent establishment.

           (m)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any agreement with any Governmental Entity that expressly limits or expressly denies the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to perform Tax planning or enter into Tax planning arrangements, schemes or other similar arrangements.

           (n)       To the Knowledge of the Company, no claim has been made by any Governmental Entity in a jurisdiction where neither the Company nor any Subsidiary files a Tax Return that the Company or any such Subsidiary may be subject to Tax by that jurisdiction.

           (o)       No Subsidiary has been required to make a basis reduction pursuant to Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502 -20(b) or Treasury Regulation Section 1.337(d) -2(b).

           (p)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has ever participated in an international boycott as defined in Section 999 of the Code.

           (q)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any interest in an entity that is characterized as a partnership for U.S. federal income Tax purposes.

           (r)       No Subsidiary is a party to a gain recognition agreement under Section 367 of the Code.

           (s)       Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, Taxable income for any period (or any portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) deferred intercompany gain or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding provision of state, local or foreign Tax law); (ii) closing agreement as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign Tax law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) installment sale

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or other open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; or (iv) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.

           3.8       Owned and Leased Real Properties; Title to Properties . (a) Section 3.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and correct list as of the date of this Agreement of (i) the addresses of all real property owned by the Company or any Subsidiary (such real property, together with all buildings, structures, improvements and fixtures located thereon and all easements and other rights and interests appurtenant thereto, the “ Company Owned Real Estate ”) and (ii) all loans secured by mortgages encumbering the Company Owned Real Estate. The Company or its Subsidiaries (as the case may be) have good and marketable fee simple title to such Company Owned Real Estate free and clear of all Liens. Other than the rights of the Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, there are no outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first refusal to purchase such Company Owned Real Estate or any portion thereof or interest therein and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to any agreement or option to purchase any real property or interest therein.

           (b)       The Company Owned Real Estate complies in all material respects with the requirements of all applicable building, zoning, subdivision, health, safety and other land use statutes, laws, codes, ordinances, rules, orders and regulations.

           (c)       Section 3.8(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and correct list as of the date of this Agreement of all real property (i) leased, (ii) subleased or (iii) licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively “ Company Leases ”) and the location of the premises together with a true and complete list of all written Company Leases (including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guaranties and other agreements with respect thereto and including the date and names of the parties to such Company Lease). The Company Leases are legal, valid, binding and enforceable and in full force and effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to any Company Lease is in default under any of the Company Leases, other than any default which has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries leases, subleases or licenses any Company Owned Real Estate or real property held by Company Leases to any Person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company has provided the Buyer with true, complete and correct copies of all written Company Leases. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all such Company Leases, the Company or its Subsidiaries has not collaterally assigned or granted any other security interest in such Company Leases or any interest therein, and there are no Liens or encumbrances on the estate or interest created by such Company Leases.

           (d)       The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and valid title to all properties and other assets (other than the Company Owned Real Estate) that are reflected on the Company Balance Sheet as being owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries (or acquired after the date thereof) and that are, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company’s business or financial condition on a consolidated basis (except properties sold or otherwise disposed of since the date thereof in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and not in violation of this Agreement), free and clear of all Liens.

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           (e)       The Company Owned Real Estate and the Company Leases comprise all of the real property used in, or otherwise related to, the Company's business as of the date hereof.

           3.9       Intellectual Property . (a) Section 3.9(a)(1) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of (i) all Company Owned Intellectual Property (other than (A) any unregistered Company Owned Intellectual Property described in clauses (C), (D), (E) and (F) of the definition of Intellectual Property and (B) any Trademark that is not subject to any application or registration and is not material to either the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries), (ii) the owner of such Company Owned Intellectual Property and any registration thereof or application therefor in any jurisdiction (noting the relevant jurisdiction), (iii) a complete list of all licenses or rights granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to such Company Owned Intellectual Property (identified by title, date and parties), other than nonexclusive licenses granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business and (iv) Contracts existing as of the date hereof pursuant to which the Company or one of its Subsidiaries has obtained rights to the Company Licensed Intellectual Property, including the duration or term thereof, other than any Contract (A) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is granted the right to use commercially available software or (B) which is not material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. All Company Owned Intellectual Property is owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens, including claims or rights of employees, agents, consultants, contractors, partners, inventors, customers, licensees or other parties involved in the development, creation, marketing, maintenance, enhancement or licensing of such Intellectual Property (but excluding nonexclusive licenses granted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business).

           (b)       Except as set forth in Section 3.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the existence nor the sale, offer to sell, license, lease, transfer, export, import, use, reproduction, distribution, modification or other exploitation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of their respective products or services, as such products or services are or were sold, licensed, leased, transferred, used or otherwise exploited by such Persons, does or did (i) infringe on any Patent, Trademark, Copyright or other right of any other Person or (ii) constitute a misuse or misappropriation of any Secret Information of any other Person. There is no contract, license, Lien, governmental order, decree or judgment restricting the ability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to sell, offer to sell, license, lease, transfer, export, import, use, reproduce, distribute, modify or otherwise exploit any Company Owned Intellectual Property.

           (c)       Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all Patents, registered Trademarks and registered Copyrights owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been duly registered and/or filed, as applicable, with or issued by each applicable Governmental Entity in each jurisdiction in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has sought to register such rights; and (ii) where Company Owned Intellectual Property has been issued or registered, all necessary affidavits of continuing use have been filed, and all necessary maintenance fees have been paid to continue all such rights in effect.

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           (d)       There is no suit, claim, action or proceeding pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, nor is any governmental investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, with respect to, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has at any time since October 1, 2004 received written notice of, any possible infringement or other violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their products or services, of the Intellectual Property rights of any Person.

           (e)       The execution and delivery of this Agreement does not, and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby will not: (i) conflict with, or result in any material violation of, or default (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) under, or give rise to (A) any material Lien, right, license, lease or similar agreement relating to, any material Company Intellectual Property, or (B) any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any material Company Intellectual Property right or obligation set forth in any agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party; (ii) cause the loss or encumbrance of any material Company Intellectual Property or material benefit related thereto; or (iii) otherwise impair the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ ability to use the Company Intellectual Property in the same manner as such Company Intellectual Property is currently used by the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or their respective customers.

           (f)       The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to protect their rights in respect of Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is material to either the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries, including complying with appropriate marking/notice requirements and maintenance of privacy and confidentiality requirements and to the Knowledge of the Company no such rights, including any right to prevent other Persons from using any such Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, have been lost or are reasonably expected to be lost through failure to act by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to waive any rights in Company Intellectual Property that is material to either the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries.

           (g)       For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the definitions set forth below:

(i)       Intellectual Property ” means:

(A)      

all trademarks (registered or unregistered), service marks, brand names, trade names, domain names, certification marks, trade dress, assumed names, other indications of origin and the goodwill associated therewith, and all registrations or applications for registration thereof in any jurisdiction, including any extension, modification or renewal of any such registration or application (collectively, “ Trademarks ”),

 

(B)      

all patents, patent applications, provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, re-issues, re-

 

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examinations, and foreign counterparts in any jurisdiction (collectively, “ Patents ”),

 

(C)      

all copyrights, database rights and moral rights in both published works and unpublished works, including all such rights in Software, user and training manuals, marketing and promotional materials, internal reports, business plans and any other writings, expressions, mask works, firmware and videos, whether copyrighted, copyrightable or not, and all registrations or applications for registration of copyrights thereof and any renewals or extensions thereof in any jurisdiction (collectively, “ Copyrights ”),

 

(D)      

trade secret and confidential information, and rights in any jurisdiction to limit the use or disclosure thereof by a third party, including such rights in inventions, discoveries and ideas, whether patented, patentable or not in any jurisdiction (and whether or not reduced to practice), know- how, customer lists, technical information, proprietary information, technologies, processes and formulae, software, data, plans, drawings and blue prints, whether tangible or intangible and whether stored, compiled, or memorialized physically, electronically, photographically or otherwise (collectively, “ Secret Information ”),

 

(E)      

computer programs and applications, including any and all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code or object code, databases and compilations, including any and all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, descriptions, flow-charts, library functions, algorithms, architecture, structure, display screens and development tools, and other information, work product or tools used to design, plan, organize or develop any of the foregoing, and all documentation, including user manuals and training materials, relating to any of the foregoing (collectively, “ Software ”), and

 

(F)      

any similar intellectual property or proprietary rights similar to any of the foregoing, licenses, immunities, covenants not to sue and the like relating to the foregoing, and any claims, causes of action or rights of collection arising out of or related to any infringement (whether prior, present or future), misuse or misappropriation of any of the foregoing;

 

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(ii)       Company Intellectual Property ” means all Intellectual Property as defined above including patents, patent applications, trademark registrations, trademark applications, common-law trademarks, copyright registrations, trade secrets, software, domain names, and other proprietary rights relating to any of the foregoing throughout the world (including associated goodwill and remedies against prior, current and future infringements thereof and rights of protection of an interest therein under the laws of all jurisdictions) and copies and tangible embodiments thereof that is owned by or licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(iii)       Company Owned Intellectual Property ” means Company Intellectual Property that is owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Company Licensed Intellectual Property); and

(iv)       Company Licensed Intellectual Property ” means Company Intellectual Property that is owned by a third party and licensed to or used by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

           3.10       Contracts . (a) For purposes of this Agreement, “ Company Material Contract ” shall mean:

(i)       any “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC) with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries;

(ii)       any employment or consulting or other type of Contract with any executive officer or other employee of the Company or any Subsidiary whose base salary or other compensation exceeds $100,000 or any member of the Company Board or the board of directors of any Subsidiary, other than those that are terminable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on no more than ninety (90) days notice without liability or financial obligation to the Company or Subsidiary;

(iii)       any Contract that purports to (A) limit, curtail or restrict in any respect the right of the Company or any of its existing or future Subsidiaries or Affiliates to engage in any line of business or compete with any Person in any line of business or in any geographic area or to compete with any party, (B) grant any exclusive rights to make, sell or distribute the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ products, (C) grant to any party "most favored customer" status or other similar right to receive more favorable terms in any agreement if another party to a substantially similar agreement has received more favorable terms with respect to such agreement or (D) otherwise materially restrict or limit the right of the Company or its existing or future Subsidiaries to sell or distribute any products or services to any Person;

(iv)       any Contract (A) entered into since January 1, 2006 outside the ordinary course of business relating to the disposition, acquisition or lease by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of material properties or assets (by merger, purchase or sale of stock or purchase or sale of assets), (B) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any partnership, joint venture or other material ownership interest in any other Person or other business enterprise other than the Company’s Subsidiaries or (C) pursuant to which the

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Company or any of its Subsidiaries is engaged in any joint development, joint distribution or strategic alliance with any other Person that, in the case of this subsection (C), is not terminable without penalty on notice equal to or less than ninety (90) days;

(v)       any Contract to provide source code to any third party for any product or technology that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than source code escrow agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business;

(vi)       any loan or credit agreement, mortgage, indenture, note or other Contract evidencing material indebtedness for borrowed money by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Contract or instrument pursuant to which material indebtedness for borrowed money may be incurred or is guaranteed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(vii)       any mortgage, pledge, security agreement, deed of trust or other Contract granting a Lien on any material property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

(viii)       any settlement agreement entered into within three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement, other than (A) releases immaterial in nature or amount entered into with former employees or independent contractors of the Company in the ordinary course of business in connection with the routine cessation of such employee’s or independent contractor’s employment with, or services for, the Company or (B) settlement agreements for cash only (which has been paid) and does not exceed $250,000 as to such settlement;

(ix)       any material license or royalty Contract (including all Intellectual Property Licenses);

(x)       any financial derivatives master agreement or confirmation, or futures account opening agreements and/or brokerage statements, evidencing financial hedging or similar trading activities;

(xi)       any shareholder agreement;

(xii)       any Contract (including Governmental Contracts but excluding Contracts for the purchase of raw materials) that involves annual consideration or expenditures (whether or not measured in cash) of greater than $1,000,000 and is not terminable without penalty on notice of ninety (90) days or less;

(xiii)       any “standstill” or similar agreement in effect as of the date hereof;

(xiv)       any sales representative, sales agency or distribution Contract that is not terminable without penalty on notice of ninety (90) days or less;

(xv)       any Contract containing any “change of control” trigger or provision;

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(xvi)       any Contract that was not entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(xvii)       any Contract (1) between the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and a Federal Health Care Program (as defined in Section 3.24(a)), or (2) with a commercial third party payor pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries provides goods or services to beneficiaries of any Federal Health Care Program; or

(xviii)       any commitment or agreement to enter into any of the foregoing.

           (b)       Section 3.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all Company Material Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as of the date hereof. The Company has heretofore provided the Buyer with access to true, complete and correct copies of each Company Material Contract in existence as of the date hereof, together with any and all amendments and supplements thereto.

           (c)       Each of the Company Material Contracts is valid and binding on the Company and each of its Subsidiaries party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto and is in full force and effect, except for such failures to be valid and binding or to be in full force and effect that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Company Material Adverse Effect. There is no default under any Company Material Contract by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default thereunder by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, in each case except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to any Company Material Contract is in default thereunder other than with respect to defaults which are immaterial. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice of termination or cancellation under any Company Material Contract that has not been cured or waived.

         3.11       No Violation, Litigation or Regulatory Action . (a) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any judgment, order, award or decree of any foreign, federal, state, local or other court or tribunal or any award in any arbitration proceeding (each, a “ Court Order ”);

           (b)       the assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries and their uses comply with, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have complied with, all Court Orders and, in all material respects, all Laws, in each case that are applicable to the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets or business;

           (c)       there is no claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company or its Subsidiaries (other than claims, actions, suits or proceedings that seek solely money damages of less than $250,000), and there are no lawsuits, suits or proceedings pending in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the plaintiff or claimant (other than claims, actions, suits or proceedings that seek money damages of less than $250,000);

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           (d)       there is no claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or its Subsidiaries that seeks to restrain, prohibit or otherwise challenge the legality of any transaction contemplated by this Agreement;

           (e)       as of the date of this Agreement, the Company has no Knowledge of a pending change in any Law or a change in interpretation of any such Law by the Governmental Entity having jurisdiction with respect to such Law that would reasonably be expected to have a significant adverse effect on the Company or its Subsidiaries;

           (f)       neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, agent, distributor, employee or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has: (i) made, offered to make, promised to make or authorized the making of any direct or indirect unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or gift of money or anything of value to any foreign or domestic government official, any employee of any Governmental Entity, any political official or candidate for political office or any officer or employee of a public international organization; (ii) established or maintained any unlawful or unrecorded funds or made any false or fictitious entries in the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries relating thereto; or (iii) taken or omitted to take any action that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation by the Company of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder (the “ FCPA ”) or any Law equivalent to the FCPA in any jurisdiction;

           (g)       neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s Knowledge any director, officer, agent, employee or other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries: (i) is, or is owned or controlled by, a person or entity subject to the sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”) or included on the List of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons, Denied Persons List, Entities List, Debarred Parties List, Excluded Parties List and Terrorism Exclusion List, or any similar Law (such entities, persons or organizations collectively, the “ Restricted Parties ”); or (ii) has engaged in any transaction directly or indirectly with any Restricted Parties or has otherwise been in breach of any such sanctions, restrictions or any similar foreign or state Law;

           (h)       the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have at all times been in compliance with all Laws relating to the import of products and services from any foreign jurisdiction and the export, re-export and deemed export of products and services, including but not limited to technical data, to those foreign countries, entities or nationals embargoed, prohibited or otherwise restricted from time to time under applicable United States Laws, including but not limited to the Export Administration Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 2401-2420, the Arms Export Control Act, 22 U.S.C. §§ 2778-2994, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, 50 U.S.C. §§ 1701-1706, the Trading with the Enemy Act, 50 U.S.C. app. §§ 1-44, the United Nations Participation Act, 22 U.S.C. § 287c, and the Tax Reform Act, 26 USC § 1, as amended, and all applicable policies and regulations promulgated thereunder, including without limitation (i) the Export Administration Regulations (“ EAR ”), 15 C.F.R. §§ 730-774, as amended, administered by the Bureau of Industry and Security (“ BIS ”) of the U.S. Department

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of Commerce, (ii) the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 C.F.R. Parts 120-130, as amended, administered by the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls of the U.S. Department of State, (iii) the anti-boycott provisions of the EAR (15 C.F.R. § 760) administered by BIS and the Anti-Boycott Guidelines (43 Fed. Reg. 3454, Jan. 25, 1978, 44 Fed. Reg. 66272, Nov. 19, 1979) administered by the U.S. Department of Treasury and the IRS, which govern the sale, purchase or transfer of goods in interstate or foreign com


 
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