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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Agreement and Plan of Merger

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER | Document Parties: BROOKTROUT INC | EAS GROUP, INC.  | XL ACQUISITION CORP. You are currently viewing:
This Agreement and Plan of Merger involves

BROOKTROUT INC | EAS GROUP, INC. | XL ACQUISITION CORP.

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Title: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Governing Law: Massachusetts     Date: 8/18/2005
Industry: Communications Equipment     Law Firm: McDermott Will & Emery LLP;Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP; McDermott, Will & Emery LLP     Sector: Technology

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, Parties: brooktrout inc , eas group  inc.  , xl acquisition corp.
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EXECUTION COPY

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

by and among

EAS GROUP, INC.

XL ACQUISITION CORP.

and

BROOKTROUT, INC.

Dated as of August 18, 2005

 


 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

ARTICLE I. THE MERGER

 

 

1

 

1.1 Effective Time of the Merger

 

 

1

 

1.2 Closing

 

 

2

 

1.3 Effects of the Merger

 

 

2

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE II. CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

 

 

2

 

2.1 Conversion of Capital Stock

 

 

2

 

2.2 Exchange of Certificates

 

 

3

 

2.3 Company Stock Plans

 

 

4

 

2.4 Dissenting Shares

 

 

5

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

 

6

 

3.1 Organization, Standing and Power

 

 

6

 

3.2 Capitalization

 

 

7

 

3.3 Subsidiaries

 

 

8

 

3.4 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

 

 

9

 

3.5 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided

 

 

11

 

3.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities

 

 

12

 

3.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events

 

 

13

 

3.8 Taxes

 

 

13

 

3.9 Owned and Leased Properties

 

 

14

 

3.10 Intellectual Property

 

 

15

 

3.11 Contracts

 

 

17

 

3.12 Litigation

 

 

18

 

3.13 Environmental Matters

 

 

19

 

3.14 Employee Benefit Plans

 

 

20

 

3.15 Compliance With Laws

 

 

23

 

3.16 Permits

 

 

23

 

3.17 Labor Matters

 

 

23

 

3.18 Insurance

 

 

24

 

3.19 Commercial Relationships

 

 

24

 

3.20 Government Contracts

 

 

24

 

3.21 Opinion of Financial Advisor

 

 

25

 

3.22 Chapter 110F Not Applicable

 

 

25

 

3.23 Rights Agreement

 

 

25

 

3.24 Brokers

 

 

25

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER AND THE TRANSITORY SUBSIDIARY

 

 

25

 

4.1 Organization, Standing and Power

 

 

26

 

4.2 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents

 

 

26

 

4.3 Information Provided

 

 

27

 

4.4 Absence of Certain Changes or Events

 

 

27

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

4.5 Operations of the Transitory Subsidiary

 

 

28

 

4.6 Financing

 

 

28

 

4.7 Solvency

 

 

28

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE V. CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

 

 

28

 

5.1 Covenants of the Company

 

 

28

 

5.2 Confidentiality

 

 

31

 

5.3 Financing Commitments

 

 

32

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VI. ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS

 

 

32

 

6.1 No Solicitation

 

 

32

 

6.2 Proxy Statement

 

 

35

 

6.3 NASDAQ Quotation

 

 

35

 

6.4 Access to Information

 

 

35

 

6.5 Stockholders Meeting

 

 

36

 

6.6 Legal Conditions to the Merger

 

 

36

 

6.7 Public Disclosure

 

 

37

 

6.8 Indemnification

 

 

37

 

6.9 Notification of Certain Matters

 

 

38

 

6.10 Stockholder Litigation

 

 

39

 

6.12 Employee Compensation

 

 

39

 

6.13 Service Credit

 

 

39

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VII. CONDITIONS TO MERGER

 

 

40

 

7.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation To Effect the Merger

 

 

40

 

7.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary

 

 

40

 

7.3 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company

 

 

41

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII. TERMINATION AND AMENDMENT

 

 

42

 

8.1 Termination

 

 

42

 

8.2 Effect of Termination

 

 

43

 

8.3 Fees and Expenses

 

 

43

 

8.4 Amendment

 

 

45

 

8.5 Extension; Waiver

 

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTICLE IX. MISCELLANEOUS

 

 

46

 

9.1 Nonsurvival of Representations, Warranties and Agreements

 

 

46

 

9.2 Notices

 

 

46

 

9.3 Entire Agreement

 

 

47

 

9.4 No Third Party Beneficiaries

 

 

47

 

9.5 Assignment

 

 

47

 

9.6 Severability

 

 

47

 

9.7 Counterparts and Signature

 

 

48

 

9.8 Interpretation

 

 

48

 

9.9 Governing Law

 

 

48

 

9.10 Remedies

 

 

48

 

9.11 Submission to Jurisdiction

 

 

48

 

- ii -


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Page

9.12 WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

 

 

49

 

9.13 Disclosure Schedules

 

 

49

 

Schedules and Exhibits

 

 

 

Schedule A Exhibit A

 

Parties to Company Stockholder Agreements
Form of Company Stockholder Agreement

- iii -


 

TABLE OF DEFINED TERMS

 

 

 

Terms

 

Reference in Agreement

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(b)

Antitrust Order

 

Section 6.6(b)

Articles of Merger

 

Section 1.1

Bankruptcy and Equity Exception

 

Section 3.4(a)

Broadview

 

Section 3.21

Business Day

 

Section 1.2

Buyer

 

Preamble

Buyer Disclosure Schedule

 

Article IV

Buyer Employee Plan

 

Section 6.12

Buyer Material Adverse Effect

 

Section 4.1

Certificate

 

Section 2.2(b)

Closing

 

Section 1.2

Closing Date

 

Section 1.2

Code

 

Section 2.2(f)

Commitment Letters

 

Section 4.6

Company

 

Preamble

Company Balance Sheet
Company Board

 

Section 3.5(b)
Section 3.4(a)

Company Common Stock

 

Section 2.1(b)

Company Disclosure Schedule

 

Article III

Company Employee Plans

 

Section 3.14(a)

Company ESPP

 

Section 2.3(d)

Company Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.10(b)

Company’s Knowledge

 

Section 3.8(b)

Company Leases

 

Section 3.9(b)

Company Material Adverse Effect

 

Section 3.1

Company Material Contract

 

Section 3.11(a)

Company Meeting

 

Section 3.4(d)

Company Permits

 

Section 3.16

Company Preferred Stock

 

Section 3.2(a)

Company Rights

 

Section 3.23

Company SEC Reports

 

Section 3.5(a)

Company Stock Options

 

Section 2.3(a)

Company Stock Plans

 

Section 2.3(a)

Company Stockholder Agreements

 

Preamble

Company Stockholder Approval

 

Section 3.4(a)

Company Voting Proposal

 

Section 3.4(a)

Confidentiality Agreement

 

Section 5.2

- iv -


 

 

 

 

Terms

 

Reference in Agreement

Contamination or Contaminated

 

Section 3.13(d)

Continuing Employees

 

Section 6.12

Contract

 

Section 3.4(b)

Costs
Dissenting Shares

 

Section 6.8(a)
Section 2.4(a)

Effective Time

 

Section 1.1

Employee Benefit Plan

 

Section 3.14(a)

Environmental Law

 

Section 3.13(b)

ERISA

 

Section 3.14(a)

ERISA Affiliate

 

Section 3.14(a)

Exchange Act

 

Section 3.4(c)

Exchange Agent

 

Section 2.2(a)

Exchange Fund

 

Section 2.2(a)

GAAP

 

Section 3.5(b)

Government Contracts

 

Section 3.20

Governmental Entity

 

Section 3.4(c)

Hazardous Substance

 

Section 3.13(c)

HSR Act

 

Section 4.3(b)

Indemnified Parties

 

Section 6.8(a)

Insurance Policies

 

Section 3.18

Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.10(a)

Liens

 

Section 3.4(b)

MBCA

 

Preamble

Merger

 

Preamble

Merger Consideration

 

Section 2.1(c)

New Offer

 

Section 6.1(b)(iii)

Option Consideration

 

Section 2.3(b)

Ordinary Course of Business

 

Section 3.6

Outside Date

 

Section 8.1(b)

Pre-Closing Period

 

Section 5.1

Proxy Statement

 

Section 3.5(c)

Required Cash Amount

 

Section 4.6

Required Company Stockholder Vote
Representatives

 

Section 3.4(d)
Section 6.1(a)

Sarbanes-Oxley Act

 

Section 3.5(b)

SEC

 

Section 3.4(c)

Securities Act

 

Section 3.2(c)

Specified Time

 

Section 6.1(a)

Subsidiary

 

Section 3.3(a)

Superior Proposal

 

Section 6.1(f)

Surviving Corporation

 

Section 1.3

Tax Returns

 

Section 3.8(a)

Taxes

 

Section 3.8(a)

Third Party Intellectual Property

 

Section 3.10(b)

- v -


 

 

 

 

Terms

 

Reference in Agreement

Transitory Subsidiary

 

Preamble

Vested Options

 

Section 2.3(a)

WARN Act

 

Section 3.17(e)

- vi -


 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”) is entered into as of August 18, 2005, by and among EAS Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Buyer”), XL Acquisition Corp., a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer (the “Transitory Subsidiary”), and Brooktrout, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (the “Company”).

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has adopted the Agreement and voted to recommend that the stockholders of the Company approve the Agreement, the Merger (as defined below) and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

     WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Buyer has approved the Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, and the Board of Directors of the Transitory Subsidiary has adopted the Agreement and voted to recommend that the Buyer approve the Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby;

     WHEREAS, the acquisition of the Company shall be effected through a merger (the “Merger”) of the Transitory Subsidiary with and into the Company in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”), as a result of which the Company shall become a wholly owned subsidiary of the Buyer; and

     WHEREAS, concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and as a condition and inducement to the Buyer’s willingness to enter into this Agreement, the stockholders of the Company listed on Schedule A have entered into Stockholder Voting Agreements, dated as of the date of this Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Company Stockholder Agreements”), pursuant to which such stockholders have, among other things, agreed to vote, or give the Buyer a proxy to vote, all of the shares of capital stock of the Company that such stockholders own in favor of the Company Voting Proposal (as defined below);

     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 Transitory Subsidiary and the Company agree as follows:

ARTICLE I. THE MERGER

     1.1 Effective Time of the Merger . Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, prior to the Closing, the Buyer and the Company shall jointly prepare, and immediately following the Closing the Surviving Corporation shall cause to be filed with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, articles of merger (the “Articles of Merger”) in such form as is required by, and executed by the Transitory Subsidiary and the Company in accordance with, the relevant provisions of the MBCA and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the MBCA. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or at such later time as is established by the Buyer and the Company and set forth in the Articles of Merger (the “Effective Time”).

 


 

     1.2 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 Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts, 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 Boston, Massachusetts are permitted or required by law, executive order or governmental decree to remain closed.

     1.3 Effects of the Merger . At the Effective Time the separate existence of the Transitory Subsidiary shall cease and the Transitory Subsidiary shall be merged with and into the Company (the Company following the Effective Time is sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”). The Articles of Organization and By-laws of the Company, each as amended and in effect on the date of this Agreement, shall be the Articles of Organization and By-laws of the Surviving Corporation. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 11.07 of the MBCA.

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 Transitory Subsidiary:

          (a) Capital Stock of the Transitory Subsidiary . Each share of the common stock of the Transitory Subsidiary issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Surviving Corporation.

          (b) Cancellation of Buyer-Owned Stock . All shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (“Company Common Stock”) that are owned by any wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company and any shares of Company Common Stock owned by the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary 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 cash or other 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) and Dissenting Shares (as defined in Section 2.4(a) below)) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be automatically converted into the right to receive $13.00 in cash per share (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 representing any such shares of Company Common Stock shall cease to have any rights with

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respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration pursuant to this Section 2.1(c) 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.

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

          (a) Exchange Agent . At or prior to the Effective Time, the Buyer shall deposit with EquiServe Trust Company, N.A. or another bank or trust company mutually acceptable to the Buyer and the Company (the “Exchange Agent”), for the benefit of the holders of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, for payment through the Exchange 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(d) in exchange for all of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the “Exchange Fund”).

          (b) Exchange Procedures . As soon as reasonably practicable (and in any event within eight Business Days) after the Effective Time, the Buyer shall cause the Exchange Agent to mail to each holder of record of a certificate that immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Certificate”) (i) a letter of transmittal in customary form 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 Exchange Agent, together with such letter of transmittal, duly executed, the holder of such Certificate shall be paid promptly in exchange therefor cash in an amount equal to 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 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 Exchange 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 as contemplated by this Section 2.2.

          (c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Common Stock . All Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender for exchange of Certificates evidencing shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such shares of Company Common Stock, and from and after the Effective Time there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of the shares of Company Common Stock that were

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outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent for any reason, they shall be cancelled and exchanged as provided in this Article II.

          (d) Termination of Exchange Fund . Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Company Common Stock for two hundred seventy (270) days after the Effective Time shall be delivered to the Buyer, upon demand, and any holder of Company Common Stock who has not previously complied with this Section 2.2 shall be entitled to receive only from the Buyer payment of its claim for Merger Consideration.

          (e) No Liability . To the extent permitted by applicable law, none of the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent shall be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock 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 shares of Company Common Stock 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 (as defined below), and (ii) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock 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, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate the Merger Consideration deliverable in respect thereof pursuant to this Agreement.

     2.3 Company Stock Plans .

          (a) At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any option to purchase Company Common Stock (“Company Stock Options”) under any stock option plans or other equity-related plans of the Company (the “Company Stock Plans”), each Company Stock Option outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (i) shall be canceled and terminated and (ii) (A) in the case of Company Stock Options that would have been vested or exercisable as of the Effective Time but for such cancellation and termination (giving effect to the terms of any applicable Company Stock Plan or agreement with the Company relating to such Company Stock Option providing for the acceleration of the vesting or exercisability of such Company Stock Option at or prior to the Effective Time) (“Vested Options”), shall represent the right to receive an amount in cash equal to the Option Consideration (as defined below) for each share of Company Common Stock that would have been issuable upon exercise of such Company Stock Option as of the Effective Time

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and (B) in the case of Company Stock Options that would not have been vested or exercisable as of the Effective Time even without giving effect to such cancellation and termination, shall be replaced with an incentive plan to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation following the Closing.

          (b) Each holder of a Vested Option shall receive from the Buyer, in respect and in consideration of each Vested Option canceled and terminated pursuant to clause (a) above, as soon as reasonably practicable following the Effective Time (and in any event within eight Business Days), an amount (net of applicable taxes) equal to the product of (i) the amount, if any, by which (A) the Merger Consideration per share of Company Common Stock exceeds (B) the exercise price per share of Company Common Stock subject to such Vested Option, multiplied by (ii) the total number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Vested Option, without any interest thereon (the “Option Consideration”). For the avoidance of doubt, in the event that the exercise price of any Vested Option is equal to or greater than the Merger Consideration, such Vested Option shall be canceled and have no further effect, and the holders thereof shall be entitled to participate in an incentive plan to be determined by the Board of Directors of the Buyer or the Surviving Corporation following the Closing.

          (c) As soon as practicable following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall mail to each person who is a holder of Company Stock Options a letter describing the treatment of and payment for such Company Stock Options pursuant to this Section 2.3 and providing instructions for use in obtaining payment for such Company Stock Options. The Buyer shall at all times from and after the Effective Time maintain sufficient liquid funds to satisfy its obligations to holders of Company Stock Options pursuant to this Section 2.3. If requested by the Buyer not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall coordinate with the Buyer and the Exchange Agent to have the Option Consideration paid through the Company’s payroll system.

          (d) The Company shall terminate its Second Amended and Restated 1992 Stock Purchase Plan, as amended (the “Company ESPP”), in accordance with its terms as of or prior to the Effective Time.

     2.4 Dissenting Shares .

          (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, shares of Company Common Stock held by a holder who has made a demand for appraisal of such shares of Company Common Stock in accordance with the MBCA (any such shares being referred to as “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the MBCA with respect to such shares) shall not be converted into or represent the right to receive Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1, but shall be entitled only to such rights as are granted by the MBCA to a holder of Dissenting Shares.

          (b) If any Dissenting Shares shall lose their status as such (through failure to perfect or otherwise), then, as of the later of the Effective Time or the date of loss of such status, such shares shall automatically be converted into and shall represent only the right to receive

- 5 -


 

Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1, without interest thereon, upon surrender of the Certificate formerly representing such shares.

          (c) The Company shall give the Buyer: (i) prompt notice of any written demand for appraisal received by the Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the MBCA, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the MBCA that relate to such demand; and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to any such demand, notice or instrument. The Company shall not make any payment or settlement offer prior to the Effective Time with respect to any such demand, notice or instrument unless the Buyer shall have given its written consent to such payment or settlement offer.

ARTICLE III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

     The Company represents and warrants to the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary that the statements contained in this Article III are true and correct, except as set forth herein or in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to the Buyer and the Transitory Subsidiary and dated as of the date of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”).

     3.1 Organization, Standing and Power . The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, 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 is duly 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 of the properties it owns, operates or leases or the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary, except for such failures to be so organized, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Company Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse change, event, circumstance or development with respect to, or material adverse effect on, the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined below), taken as a whole; provided, however, that none of the following shall constitute, or shall be considered in determining whether there has occurred, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

          (a) changes that are the result of economic or political factors affecting the national, regional or world economy or acts of war or terrorism;

          (b) changes that are the result of factors generally affecting the industries or markets in which the Company operates;

          (c) any adverse change, effect or circumstance arising out of or resulting from actions contemplated by the parties in connection with this Agreement or the pendency or announcement of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including actions of competitors or any delays or cancellations of orders for products or services or losses of employees;

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          (d) changes in law, rule or regulations or generally accepted accounting principles or the interpretation thereof;

          (e) any action taken pursuant to or in accordance with this Agreement (including Section 6.6) or at the request of the Buyer;

          (f) any fees or expenses incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

          (g) any failure by the Company to meet any estimates of revenues or earnings for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing;

          (h) any loss of employees or customers resulting directly or indirectly from the announcement of the Merger;

          (i) any stockholder litigation arising from or relating to the Merger; and

          (j) any decline in the price of the Company Common Stock on The NASDAQ National Market.

     3.2 Capitalization .

          (a) The authorized capital stock of the Company as of the date of this Agreement consists of 80,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock and 100,000 shares of preferred stock, $1.00 par value per share of which, 20,000 shares have been designated as “Series A Junior Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock” (“Company Preferred Stock”). As of August [ ], 2005, (i) 12,759,356 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, and (ii) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued or outstanding.

          (b) Section 3.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list, as of the date specified therein, of: (i) all Company Stock Plans, indicating for each Company Stock Plan, as of such date, the number of shares of Company Common Stock issued under such Plan, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to outstanding options under such Plan and the number of shares of Company Common Stock reserved for future issuance under such Plan; and (ii) all outstanding Company Stock Options (other than Company Stock Options issued pursuant to the Company ESPP), indicating with respect to each such Company Stock Option the name of the holder thereof, the Company Stock Plan under which it was granted, the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, the exercise price, the date of grant, and the vesting schedule, including whether (and to what extent) the vesting will be accelerated in any way by the Merger or by termination of employment or change in position following consummation of the Merger. The Company has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of all Company Stock Plans and the forms of all stock option agreements evidencing Company Stock Options.

          (c) Except (i) as set forth in this Section 3.2 and (ii) as reserved for future grants under Company Stock Plans, as of the date of this Agreement, (A) there are no equity securities of any class of the Company, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such

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equity securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and (B) there are no 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, performance based rights or similar rights or obligations. Other than the Company Stockholder Agreements, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates is a party to or is bound by any agreements or understandings with respect 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 (the “Securities Act”). Except as contemplated by this Agreement and except to the extent arising pursuant to applicable state takeover or similar laws, there are no registration rights, and there is no rights agreement, “poison pill” anti-takeover plan or other similar agreement or understanding 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) above, 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 subject to or 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 MBCA, the Company’s Articles of Organization 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 the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

     3.3 Subsidiaries .

          (a) Section 3.3 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth, as of the date of this Agreement, for each Subsidiary of the Company: (i) its name; (ii) the number and types of its outstanding equity securities and a list of the holders thereof; and (iii) its jurisdiction of organization. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Subsidiary” means, with respect to any party, any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which such party (or another Subsidiary of such party) holds stock or other ownership interests representing (A) more that 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

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of such entity available for distribution to the holders of outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a liquidation or dissolution of such entity.

          (b) Each Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concepts are applicable) under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, 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 proposed to be conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation (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 for such failures to be so organized, qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, that are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All of 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, of record and beneficially, by the Company or another of its Subsidiaries 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 by which the Company or its Subsidiary is a party or by which either of them is bound with respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Company.

          (c) The Company has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of the charter, by-laws and other similar organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Company.

          (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 or mutual fund held for investment by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and consisting of less than five percent 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 enter into this Agreement and, subject to the approval of this Agreement (the “Company Voting Proposal”) by the Company’s stockholders under the MBCA (the “Company Stockholder Approval”), 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, by the unanimous vote of all directors (i) determined that the Merger is fair

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and in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, (ii) adopted this Agreement in accordance with the provisions of the MBCA, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the stockholders of the Company for their approval and voted to recommend that the stockholders of the Company vote in favor of the approval of this Agreement, and (iv) to the extent necessary, adopted a vote having the effect of causing the Company not to be subject to any state takeover law or similar law that might otherwise apply to the Merger and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this 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 Stockholder Approval. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, 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 shall not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, any provision of the Articles of Organization or By-laws of the Company or of the charter, by-laws, or other similar organizational document of any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) conflict with, or result in any 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) under, require a consent or waiver under, constitute a change in control under, require the payment of a penalty under or result in the imposition of any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or encumbrance (“Liens”) on the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s assets under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any lease, license, contract or other agreement, instrument or obligation 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 (a “Contract”), or (iii) subject to obtaining the Company Stockholder Approval and compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 3.4(c), conflict with or violate any permit, franchise, license, judgment, injunction, 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) of this Section 3.4(b) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations, losses, penalties or Liens, and for any consents or waivers not obtained, that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

          (c) No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration, notice or filing with, any court, arbitrational tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or regulatory authority, agency or instrumentality (a “Governmental Entity”) or any stock market or stock exchange on which shares of Company Common Stock are listed for trading is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except

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for (i) the filing of the Articles of Merger with the Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and appropriate corresponding documents with the appropriate authorities of other states in which the Company is qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business, (ii) the filing of the Proxy Statement (as defined below) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), (iii) the filing of such reports, schedules or materials under Section 13 of or Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act and materials under Rule 165 and Rule 425 under the Securities Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iv) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable state securities laws, and (v) such other consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and filings that, if not obtained or made, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

          (d) The affirmative vote for approval of the Company Voting Proposal by the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock on the record date for the meeting of the Company’s stockholders (the “Company Meeting”) to consider the Company Voting Proposal (the “Required Company Stockholder Vote”) is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or other securities necessary for the approval of this Agreement and for the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. 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 stockholders of the Company may vote.

     3.5 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided .

          (a) The Company has filed all registration statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the SEC since January 1, 2003. All such registration statements, forms, reports and other documents (including those that the Company may file after the date hereof until the Closing) are referred to herein as the “Company SEC Reports.” The Company SEC Reports (i) were or will be filed on a timely basis, (ii) at the time filed, complied, or will comply when filed, as to form in all material respects with the applicable 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 (iii) did not or will not at the time they were or are filed contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such Company SEC Reports or necessary in order to make the statements in such Company SEC Reports, in the 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.

          (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

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financial statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act), and (iii) fairly presented or will fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, except that the unaudited interim financial statements were or are subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments in immaterial amounts. The consolidated, unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2005 is referred to herein as the “Company Balance Sheet.” The principal executive officer of Company and the principal financial officer of Company (and each former principal executive officer or principal financial officer of Company) have made the certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), and the rules and regulations of the SEC promulgated thereunder, with respect to the Company SEC Reports filed since such certifications have been required. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Since December 31, 2004, to the Company’s Knowledge, no former or current employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any member of the Company’s public auditing firm, has alleged in writing to any of the executive officers of the Company that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices.

          (c) The information to be supplied by or on behalf of the Company for inclusion in the proxy statement to be sent to the stockholders of the Company (the “Proxy Statement”) in connection with the Company Meeting shall not, on the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to stockholders of the Company, at the time of the Company Meeting or at the Effective Time, contain any statement that, at such time and in light of the circumstances under which it shall be made, is false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made in the Proxy Statement not false or misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were or shall be made; or omit to state any material fact necessary to correct any statement in any earlier communication with respect to the solicitation of proxies for the Company Meeting that has become false or misleading. If at any time prior to the Company Meeting any fact or event relating to the Company or any of its Affiliates that should be set forth in a supplement to the Proxy Statement should be discovered by the Company or should occur, the Company shall, promptly after becoming aware thereof, inform the Buyer of such fact or event.

          (d) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures required by Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act. Such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company is made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s filings with the SEC and other public disclosure documents. The Company is in compliance with the applicable listing and other rules and regulations of The NASDAQ National Market.

     3.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities . Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement or in the Company Balance Sheet and except for liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent in all material respects with past practice (the “Ordinary Course of Business”) after the date of the Company Balance Sheet, the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any liabilities of any nature required by GAAP to be reflected on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company that, individually or in the aggregate,

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are reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Company’s SEC Reports or set forth in Section 3.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to guaranty or assume any dividend or any material debt or other obligation of any person, corporation, association, partnership or other entity.

     3.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events . Except as disclosed in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this 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 and (b) there has not been (i) a Company Material Adverse Effect or (ii) any other action or event that would have required the consent of the Buyer under Section 5.1 (other than paragraphs (b), (f) and (g) of Section 5.1) had such action or event occurred after the date of this Agreement.

     3.8 Taxes .

          (a) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have filed all Tax Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns were correct and complete, except for any failure to file or errors or omissions that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have paid on a timely basis all Taxes that are shown to be due on any such Tax Returns. The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries for Tax periods through the date of the Company Balance Sheet do not exceed the accruals and reserves for Taxes set forth on the Company Balance Sheet exclusive of any accruals and reserves for “deferred taxes” or similar items that reflect timing differences between Tax and financial accounting principles. 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. For purposes of this Agreement, (i) “Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other similar assessments or liabilities, including income, gross receipts, ad valorem, premium, value-added, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use, services, transfer, withholding, employment, payroll and franchise taxes imposed by the United States of America or any state, local or foreign government, or any agency thereof, or other political subdivision of the United States or any such government, and any interest, fines, penalties, assessments or additions to tax resulting from, attributable to or incurred in connection with any tax or any contest or dispute thereof and (ii) “Tax Returns” means all reports, returns, declarations, statements or other information required to be supplied to a taxing authority in connection with Taxes.

          (b) The Company has made available to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company since January 1, 2001. The federal income Tax Returns of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been audited by the Internal Revenue Service or are closed by the applicable statute of limitations for all taxable years through the taxable year specified in Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has made available to the Buyer correct and complete copies of all other Tax Returns of the Company and its Subsidiaries together with all related examination reports and statements of

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deficiency for all periods from and after January 1, 2001. No examination or audit of any Tax Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Entity is currently in progress or, to the actual knowledge as of the date hereof of the individuals identified in the Preamble to the Company Disclosure Schedule (the “Company’s Knowledge”), threatened or contemplated and which is reasonably likely, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been informed by any Governmental Entity that the Governmental Entity believes that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries was required to file any Tax Return that was not filed. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has 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 of which only the Company and its Subsidiaries are or were members or (ii) is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement.

          (e) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have effected reduction in force of its employees or taken any other action that is likely to increase materially unemployment Taxes, charges or assessments to the Company or its Subsidiaries from current rates.

          (f) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

          (g) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has, with respect to any open taxable period, applied for and been granted permission to adopt a change in its method of accounting requiring adjustments under Section 481 of the Code or comparable state, local or foreign law.

     3.9 Owned and Leased Properties .

          (a) The Company owns no real property.

          (b) Section 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement of all real property leased, subleased or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively “Company Leases”) and the location of the premises. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge,

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any other party to any Company Lease is in default, under any of the Company Leases, except where the existence of such defaults, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries leases, subleases or licenses any real property to any person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company has made available to the Buyer complete and accurate copies of all Company Leases.

          (c) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all of its material tangible assets and properties set forth on the Balance Sheet, except for assets and properties disposed of in the Ordinary Course of Business since the Balance Sheet Date and except for defects in title, easements, restrictive covenants, Taxes that are not yet delinquent and similar encumbrances that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. All such material tangible assets and properties, other than assets and properties in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a leasehold interest, are free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, that are payable without penalty or that are being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been recorded, (ii) Liens for assessments and other governmental charges or liens of landlords, carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and repairmen incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business, in each case for sums not yet due and payable or due but not delinquent or being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, (iii) Liens incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social security or to secure the performance of tenders, statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds, bids, leases, government contracts, performance and return of money bonds and similar obligations, and (iv) Liens that do not materially interfere with the conduct of the business of the Company and do not materially affect the use or value of such assets and properties.

     3.10 Intellectual Property .

          (a) The Company and its Subsidiaries own, license, sublicense or otherwise possess legally enforceable rights to use all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted (in each case excluding generally commercially available, off-the-shelf software programs), the absence of which, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Intellectual Property” means (i) patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, designs and trade secrets, (ii) applications for and registrations of such patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights and designs, (iii) processes, formulae, methods, schematics, technology, know-how, computer software programs and applications, and (iv) other tangible or intangible proprietary or confidential information and materials.

          (b) The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the Merger will not result in the breach of, or create on behalf of any third party the right to terminate or modify, (i) any license, sublicense or other agreement relating to any Intellectual Property owned by the Company that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (the “Company Intellectual Property”), or (ii) any license, sublicense and other agreement as to which the Company or any of its

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Subsidiaries is a party and pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is authorized to use any third party Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, including software that is used in the manufacture of, incorporated in, or forms a part of any product or service sold or licensed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, but excluding generally commercially available, off-the-shelf software programs (the “Third Party Intellectual Property”). The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with the terms of the licenses and sublicenses of Third Party Intellectual Property, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have been informed in writing since January 1, 2003 that any such license or sublicense of Third Party Intellectual Property will be terminated. Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all applications and registrations for Company Intellectual Property (other than unregistered copyrights, trade secrets and confidential information) and a complete and accurate list of all Third Party Intellectual Property. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries are the exclusive owners of all rights, title and interest in the Company Intellectual Property identified in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and, except as licensed in the licenses identified in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or in licenses to customers, have the exclusive right to use the Company Intellectual Property. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no claim to ownership or partial ownership of the Company Intellectual Property or right to use the Company Intellectual Property has been asserted in any action, suit or proceeding, involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that remains unresolved. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company Intellectual Property is not subject to any outstanding order, decree or judgment.

          (c) To the Company’s Knowledge, all patents and registrations for trademarks, service marks and copyrights that are held by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and that are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are valid and subsisting and have not expired or been cancelled or abandoned. To the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is infringing, violating or misappropriating any of the Company Intellectual Property. To the Company’s Knowledge, no action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving the Company is pending or threatened to invalidate, cancel or render unenforceable any patents or registrations for trademarks, service marks or copyrights material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole. All patents and registrations for trademarks, service marks or copyrights owned by the Company are properly granted or registered, as the case may be, under applicable law, except where the failure to be so registered, individually or in the aggregate, is not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

          (d) The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable measures to protect the proprietary nature of the Company Intellectual Property.

          (e) To the Company’s Knowledge, the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted does not infringe, violate or constitute a misappropriation of any Intellectual Property of any third party, except for such infringements, violations and misappropriations that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since January 1, 2003, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written claim or notice alleging any such infringement,

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violation or misappropriation. Except as set forth in Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not received since January 1, 2003 any written notice of, and is not otherwise aware of, any infringement by or misappropriation by others of Company Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company, or any violation of the confidentiality of any of its confidential business information. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company is not making unlawful or unauthorized use of any Intellectual Property of any past or present employee or consultant of the Company. To the Company’s Knowledge, the activities of the Company’s employees on behalf of the Company do not violate any agreements or arrangements known to the Company that any such employees have with any other entity, including former employers or any other entity to whom such employees may have rendered consulting services. All employees and independent contractors of the Company with access to material Company Intellectual Property have executed a nondisclosure and assignment of inventions agreements regarding the confidentiality and exclusive ownership of the Company Intellectual Property, except where the failure to have executed such agreements, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     3.11 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 Contract with any executive officer or other employee of the Company or member of the Company’s Board of Directors earning a combined annual salary and guaranteed bonus in excess of $100,000, other than those that are terminable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on no more than thirty (30) days notice without liability or financial obligation to the Company;

               (iii) any Contract containing any covenant (A) limiting the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to engage in any line of business or compete with any person in any line of business or to compete with any party, (B) granting any exclusive rights to make, sell or distribute the Company’s products, or (C) otherwise prohibiting or limiting the right of the Company and its Subsidiaries to make, sell or distribute any products or services;

               (iv) any Contract relating to the disposition or acquisition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement of a material amount of assets not in the Ordinary Course of Business or pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has any material ownership interest in any other person or other business enterprise other than the Company’s Subsidiaries;

               (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;

               (vi) any Contract to license any third party to manufacture or reproduce any of the Company’s products, services or technology or any Contract to sell or distribute any

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of the Company’s products, services or technology, except (A) agreements with distributors, sales representatives or other resellers in the Ordinary Course of Business, or (B) agreements allowing internal backup copies made or to be made by end-user customers in the Ordinary Course of Business;

               (vii) any mortgages, indentures, guarantees, loans or credit agreements, security agreements or other contracts or instruments relating to the borrowing of money or extension of credit, other than accounts receivables and payables in the Ordinary Course of Business;

               (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 the Company or (B) settlement agreements for cash only (which has been paid) and does not exceed $200,000 as to such settlement;

               (ix) any Contract under which the Company or any Subsidiaries has licensed its Intellectual Property to a third party, other than to customers, distributors and other resellers in the Ordinary Course of Business;

               (x) any Contract under which the Company or any Subsidiaries has received a license to any Third Party Intellectual Property that is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; or

               (xi) any Contract or instrument under which the Company is owed money from any executive officer or director of the Company, other than advances for expenses in the Ordinary Course of Business.

          (b) Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of all written Company Material Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party as of the date hereof.

          (c) All Company Material Contracts are valid and in full force and effect except to the extent they have previously expired in accordance with their terms or if the failure to be in full force and effect, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has violated any provision of, or committed or failed to perform any act that, with or without notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default under the provisions of any Company Material Contract, except in each case for those violations and defaults that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

     3.12 Litigation . Except as set forth in Section 3.12 in the Company Disclosure Schedule, there is no action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that, individually or in the aggregate, is reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect

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or prevent the consummation of the Merger. There are no material judgments, orders or decrees outstanding against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding pending as of the date of this Agreement against the Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its directors or executive officers, alleging a violation of federal or state securities laws, or the rules and regulations of the NASDAQ Stock Market, that relates to the Company.

     3.13 Environmental Matters .

          (a) Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect:

               (i) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has received any written notice and, to the Company’s Knowledge, are not aware of any pending or threatened notices alleging any of them has not complied with or has any liability under applicable Environmental Laws not previously cured;

               (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any written notice and, to the Company’s Knowledge, are not aware of any pending or threatened notices, that they are or may be subject to material liability related to Hazardous Substances, Contamination or violation of Environmental Law with respect to any property currently owned, leased or occupied by the Company or any Subsidiary, any property previously owned, leased or occupied by the Company or any Subsidiary or any third party;

               (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any orders, decrees or injunctions by any Governmental Entity or is subject to any indemnity agreement with any third party addressing liability under any Environmental Law;

               (iv) each of the Company and the Subsidiaries of Company is in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws, including the possession of or having applied for all Permits required under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance with their terms and conditions except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect; and since January 1, 2003, the Company and its Subsidiaries have made all reports and given all notices required by Environmental Laws except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a Company Material Adverse Effect;

               (v) no civil, criminal or administrative suit, claim, action or proceeding is pending, and to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no pending investigation by any Governmental Entity, under any Environmental Law relating to any operations, property or facility owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or with respect to the operations, properties or facilities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, to any location at or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has disposed of, transported or arranged for the disposal of Hazardous Substances;

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               (vi) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has expressly assumed the liability of any other person for, and has not agreed to indemnify any other person against, claims arising out of the release of Hazardous Substances into the environment or other claims under Environmental Laws, except for any agreement to indemnify a lessor of real property contained in the lease between such lessor and the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and

               (vii) to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has released any material insurance policies, or waived or fully released all rights under insurance policies, that may provide coverage for liabilities under Environmental Laws or liabilities or damages otherwise arising out of the release of Hazardous Substances into the environment.

          (b) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Environmental Law” means any law, regulation, order, decree or permit requirement of any governmental jurisdiction relating to: (i) the protection, investigation or restoration of the environment, human health and safety, or natural resources, (ii) the handling, use, storage, treatment, transport, disposal, release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance or (iii) noise, odor or wetlands protection.

          (c) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Hazardous Substance” means: (i) any substance that is regulated or that falls within the definition of a “hazardous substance,” “hazardous waste” or “hazardous material” pursuant to any Environmental Law; or (ii) any petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive materials or radon.

          (d) For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Contamination” or “Contaminated” means: the known presence of Hazardous Substances in, on or under the soil, groundwater, surface water or other environmental media requiring investigation, remediation, removal, reporting or other response action by a Governmental Entity under any Environmental Law.

          (e) The parties agree that the only representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement as to any environmental matters or any other obligation or liability with respect to Hazardous Substances or materials of environmental concern are those contained in this Section 3.13. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Buyer specifically acknowledges that the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.15 and 3.16 do not relate to environmental matters.

     3.14 Employee Benefit Plans .

          (a) Section 3.14 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date of this Agreement of all Employee Benefit Plans maintained, or contributed to, by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates or for which such parties have material liability (together, the “Company Employee Plans”). For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following meanings: (i) “Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), and any other written or oral plan, agreement or arrangement involving direct or indirect compensation involving more than one person, including insurance coverage, severance

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benefits, disability benefits, retiree medical benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses, stock options, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive compensation o


 
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