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AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

Agreement and Plan of Merger

AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER | Document Parties: HIG Call Center II, Inc | HIG Capital, LLC | RIVER ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY CORP | STREAM HOLDINGS CORPORATION You are currently viewing:
This Agreement and Plan of Merger involves

HIG Call Center II, Inc | HIG Capital, LLC | RIVER ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY CORP | STREAM HOLDINGS CORPORATION

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Title: AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
Governing Law: Delaware     Date: 6/5/2008
Law Firm: Wilmer Cutler    

AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER, Parties: hig call center ii  inc , hig capital  llc , river acquisition subsidiary corp , stream holdings corporation
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Exhibit 2.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

BY AND AMONG

GLOBAL BPO SERVICES CORP.

RIVER ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY CORP.

AND

STREAM HOLDINGS CORPORATION

DATED AS OF JUNE 2, 2008

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page
ARTICLE I   DEFINITIONS    2

1.1

  Definitions    2
ARTICLE II   THE MERGER    13

2.1

  The Merger    13

2.2

  Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Company    13

2.3

  By-laws of the Surviving Company    13

2.4

  Directors and Officers    14

2.5

  Conversion    14

2.6

  Stock Option and Other Plans    15

2.7

  Delivery of Funds; Surrender of Certificates    15

2.8

  No Further Rights of Transfer    16

2.9

  Stockholders’ Representative    16

2.10

  Purchase Price Adjustment    17

2.11

  Closing    20

2.12

  Further Assurances    20

2.13

  No Liability    20

2.14

  Withholding Rights; Deductions from Consideration    20
ARTICLE III   CONDITIONS TO CLOSING    21

3.1

  Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger    21

3.2

  Additional Conditions to the Obligations of the Company    21

3.3

  Additional Conditions to the Obligations of the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary    22
ARTICLE IV   COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS    24

4.1

  Conduct of Business of the Company Pending the Merger    24

4.2

  Conduct of Business of the Parent Pending the Merger    26

4.3

  Operational Matters    28

4.4

  Affiliate Contracts    28

4.5

  Preservation of Records; Audit Assistance    28
ARTICLE V   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANY    29

5.1

  Organization and Power; Investments    29

5.2

  Authorization    29

5.3

  Capitalization    30

5.4

  No Breach    30

5.5

  Financial Statements.    30

5.6

  Absence of Certain Developments    31

5.7

  Title to Assets    32

5.8

  Contracts and Commitments    32

5.9

  Affiliate Transactions    34

 

-i-

 


         Page

5.10

  Proxy Statement    34

5.11

  Proceedings    34

5.12

  Compliance with Laws    34

5.13

  Environmental Matters    34

5.14

  Tax Matters    35

5.15

  Proprietary Rights    36

5.16

  Brokerage    38

5.17

  Real Property Leases    39

5.18

  Governmental Licenses and Permits    39

5.19

  Employees    40

5.20

  Employee Benefit Plans    40

5.21

  Insurance    42

5.22

  Information Regarding Directors and Officers    43

5.23

  Books and Records    43

5.24

  Condition of Assets    43

5.25

  Accounts Receivable    43

5.26

  Inventory    43

5.27

  Confidentiality Agreement    43

5.28

  Investigation; No Additional Representations    44

5.29

  Full Disclosure    44
ARTICLE VI   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PARENT    44

6.1

  Organization and Power; Investments    44

6.2

  Authorization    44

6.3

  Capitalization    45

6.4

  No Breach    46

6.5

  SEC Filings; Financial Statements    47

6.6

  Absence of Certain Developments    48

6.7

  Title to Assets    48

6.8

  Contracts and Commitments    49

6.9

  Affiliate Transactions    49

6.10

  Proxy Statement    50

6.11

  Proceedings    50

6.12

  Compliance with Laws    50

6.13

  Environmental Matters    50

6.14

  Proprietary Rights    50

6.15

  Brokerage    50

6.16

  Trust Fund.    50

6.17

  Investment Company Act    51

6.18

  Confidentiality Agreement    51

6.19

  Investigation; No Additional Representations; No Reliance, etc    51

6.20

  Full Disclosure    51
ARTICLE VII   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF MERGER SUBSIDIARY    52

7.1

  Organization and Power; Reporting    52

 

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         Page

7.2

  Authorization    52

7.3

  Non-Contravention    52

7.4

  No Business Activities    52
ARTICLE VIII   ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS    53

8.1

  Preparation of Proxy Statement    53

8.2

  Access to Information: Confidentiality    55

8.3

  Commercially Reasonable Efforts    56

8.4

  HSR Act    56

8.5

  Notification of Certain Matters    56

8.6

  Public Announcements and Investor Presentations    57

8.7

  Transfer Taxes    57

8.8

  Trust Fund Closing Confirmation    58

8.9

  No Securities Transaction    58

8.10

  Employee Matters.    58

8.11

  Assumption of Company Indebtedness    59

8.12

  Schedules Bring Down    59

8.13

  Exclusivity    61
ARTICLE IX   POST CLOSING COVENANTS    61

9.1

  General    61
ARTICLE X   TERMINATION AND ABANDONMENT    61

10.1

  Termination    61

10.2

  Effect of Termination    63

10.3

  Trust Fund Waiver    63

10.4

  Fees and Expenses    64
ARTICLE XI   REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF AGREEMENT    64

11.1

  Survival of Representations and Warranties    64

11.2

  Indemnification    64

11.3

  Third Party Claims    66
ARTICLE XII   TAX MATTERS    68

12.1

  Preparation and Filing of Returns    68

12.2

  Controversies    68

12.3

  Notification    69

12.4

  Amended Returns    69

12.5

  Apportionment of Taxes    69

12.6

  Indemnification for Taxes    69

12.7

  Refunds    70

12.8

  Carrybacks    70

12.9

  Post-Closing Access and Cooperation    70

12.10

  Section 338 Election    70

12.11

  Tax Treatment of Indemnity Payments    71

 

-iii-

 


         Page

ARTICLE XIII

  MISCELLANEOUS    71

13.1

  Amendment and Waiver    71

13.2

  Notices    71

13.3

  Assignment    72

13.4

  Severability    72

13.5

  No Strict Construction    72

13.6

  Captions    72

13.7

  No Third Party Beneficiaries    72

13.8

  Complete Agreement    72

13.9

  Counterparts    73

13.10

  Governing Law and Jurisdiction    73

13.11

  Injunctive Relief    73

13.12

  Consent to Jurisdiction; Service of Process    73

13.13

  Waiver of Jury Trial    73

13.14

  Non-Recourse    73

13.15

  Schedules    74

Exhibit List

 

Exhibit 2.7(c)    -    Escrow Agreement
Exhibit 3.2(c)(iii)    -    Parent’s Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit 3.2(c)(iv)    -    Parent’s and Merger Subsidiary’s Secretary’s Certificate
Exhibit 3.3(c)(i)    -    Company’s Officer’s Certificate
Exhibit 3.3(c)(ii)    -    Company’s Secretary’s Certificate

 

-iv-

 


AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

This AMENDED AND RESTATED AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (together with all schedules and exhibits hereto, this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of June 2, 2008 by and among GLOBAL BPO SERVICES CORP., a Delaware corporation (the “ Parent ”), RIVER ACQUISITION SUBSIDIARY CORP., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent (the “ Merger Subsidiary ”), and STREAM HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (“ Holdings ” and together with all of its Subsidiaries, the “ Company ”). Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in Section 1.1 hereof.

The parties hereto have previously entered into that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of January 27, 2008 (the “Prior Agreement”), and this Agreement amends and restates the Prior Agreement in its entirety.

RECITALS:

WHEREAS, the Parent has formed the Merger Subsidiary for the purpose of merging it with and into Holdings, with Holdings continuing as the Surviving Company and as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Parent;

WHEREAS, the respective boards of directors of the Parent, the Merger Subsidiary and Holdings have, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, (a) determined that the merger of the Merger Subsidiary with and into Holdings, as set forth below (the “ Merger ”), is fair to, and in the best interest of, the Parent, the Merger Subsidiary and Holdings, as the case may be, and their respective stockholders, and declared that the Merger is advisable, (b) authorized and approved this Agreement, the Merger and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and (c) recommended acceptance of the Merger and approval of this Agreement by its respective stockholders, in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “ DGCL ”);

WHEREAS, the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of Holdings (“ Holdings Common Stock ”) intend, following the execution of this Agreement, to approve and adopt the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the execution by Holdings of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, in accordance with the DGCL, and will deliver evidence of such approval to the Parent;

WHEREAS, the Parent, in its capacity as sole stockholder of the Merger Subsidiary, intends, following the execution of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, to approve and adopt the Merger, the execution by the Merger Subsidiary of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;

WHEREAS, the Parent desires to provide Holdings certain protections to mitigate its damages in the event that the Parent fails to consummate the Merger; and

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Holdings to agree to certain changes to the Prior Agreement, (a) Parent has entered into the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement and the

 


Redemption Agreement with the parties thereto, (b) the holders of the Affiliate Warrants have agreed to sell all of the Affiliate Warrants to the initial purchaser of the Preferred Stock pursuant to the Warrant Purchase Agreement and (c) Parent has agreed to conduct the Tender Offer;

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree that the Prior Agreement is amended and restated in its entirety to read as follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

1.1 Definitions . As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings set forth below.

Adjustment Statement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) hereof.

Affiliate ” of any particular Person means (a) any other Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person, whether directly or indirectly, through Contract, ownership, or otherwise, (b) any director, officer, partner or similar individual of such Person, and (c) any Person beneficially owning more than ten percent (10%) of the voting securities of such Person.

Affiliated Group ” means an affiliated group as defined in Section 1504 of the Code (or any analogous combined, consolidated or unitary group defined under any income Tax Law) of which the Company is or has been a member.

Affiliate Warrants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.

Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

AMEX ” means the American Stock Exchange.

Approved Capital Expenditures ” means capital expenditures (a) incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice that are not more than $500,000 per fiscal quarter in excess of the Company’s budgeted amounts for such quarter as set forth in the Budget, (b) for call center sites as set forth in the Budget that are not reasonably expected to both (i) cost more than $4,000,000, and (ii) have an expected payback of more than two (2) years, or (c) approved by the Parent, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed.

Assets ” means all assets owned or utilized by the Company including, without limitation, Leased Real Property, Personal Property, inventory, accounts receivables, goodwill, Proprietary Rights and any asset listed on the Financial Statements or any subsequently delivered balance sheet of the Company prior to the Closing.

Audited Financial Statements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a) .

Budget ” means the Company’s budget attached hereto as Schedule 1.1(b) hereto.

 

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Business ” means Holdings and its Subsidiaries’ business of providing global technical support and customer service outsourcing as of the date of the Prior Agreement.

Business Day ” means any day other than a Saturday or Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to be closed.

Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a) hereof.

Certificate of Merger ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) hereof.

Closing ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 hereof.

Closing Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 hereof.

Closing Date Balance Sheet ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b) hereof.

Closing Date Working Capital ” of the Company means the following from the Closing Date Balance Sheet: (a) the sum of (i) cash and cash equivalents (but only to the extent not swept out of the Company’s bank accounts on the Closing Date and not included in calculating the Purchase Price), (ii) accounts receivable, net of reserves, (iii) prepaid expenses, and (iv) other current assets, less (b) the sum of (i) accounts payable, (ii) liabilities for Taxes, net of the Transaction Tax Benefits, and (iii) other accrued expenses (excluding deferred income Taxes, and the Retained Litigation); provided that Closing Date Working Capital shall not include the Company’s Transaction Fees deducted from the Purchase Price at Closing and shall not include Closing Indebtedness.

Closing Fee Statement ” means a certificate furnished by the Company to the Parent at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, setting forth the amount of the Working Capital Holdback, the Company Transaction Fees, the Closing Indebtedness, the Approved Capital Expenditures, and each other item required to calculate the Purchase Price and the consideration to be paid to each holder of Shares and Optionholder.

Closing Indebtedness ” means, as of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of Indebtedness of the Company, including, but not limited to, any prepayment penalties, early termination fees, bank fees and related expenses payable by the Company in connection with the repayment or assumption by the Parent of any Indebtedness of the Company.

COBRA ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.20(d) hereof.

Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

Company ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Company Disclosure Schedules ” has the meaning set forth in Article V hereof.

Company Employee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.10 hereof.

Company Plans ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.20(a) hereof.

 

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Company Records ” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.5 hereof.

Company SEC Fees ” means (a) all filing, edgarizing, printing, legal, accounting, consulting, and other out of pocket fees relating to the filing of the Proxy Statement and other SEC matters incurred by the Company prior to the Closing up to $400,000 and (b) all amounts incurred by the Company, with the Parent’s consent, prior to the Closing Date in connection with bringing the Company into compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Company Transaction Fees ” means all (a) fees, costs and expenses payable by the Company relating to any fee agreements with H.I.G. Capital LLC and its Affiliates, including without limitation, any accrued, but unpaid management fees; (b) investment banking, broker, legal, accounting or consulting fees, costs and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the sale of the Company; (c) transactional bonuses that become due as a result of the Merger and are actually paid or accrued by virtue of obligations created by the Company or its Affiliates prior to the Closing Date; (d) premiums for any tail insurance policy that the Company elects to purchase for the directors and officers of the Company prior to the Closing Date; and (e) one-half of the HSR Act filing fees; provided that, for purposes of clarification, Company Transaction Fees shall not include Company SEC Fees.

Confidentiality Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.27 hereof.

Contested Adjustment Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) hereof.

Contested Adjustments ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) hereof.

Contracts ” means with respect to any Person, all agreements, contracts, commitments, franchises, understandings, arrangements, licenses, mortgages, promissory notes, deeds of trust, indentures, and leases, whether written or oral, to which such Person is a party and which are legally binding.

Conversion Payments ” means any funds paid to holders of IPO Shares who shall have demanded that the Parent convert their IPO Shares into cash pursuant to the Parent Charter.

Disagreed Changes ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 hereof.

DGCL ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Draft Return ” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1 hereof.

EBITDA ” means earnings before interest, income Taxes, depreciation and amortization, calculated in accordance with GAAP, but excluding: Company Transaction Fees; Company SEC Fees; fees and expenses relating to the Company’s relocation of its Mumbai South India facility (including, but not limited to, fees and expenses paid or payable to Linn Ventures for such relocation); fees and expenses relating to the Company’s closing of its St. John facility; stock-based non-cash compensation; and any payments made in connection with earnout payments made to Zia Shiekh, Vineet Mittal and Wasim Shiekh during fiscal 2007 or 2008.

 

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Effective Time ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(a) hereof.

Environmental Laws ” means all applicable Laws concerning the pollution or protection of the environment or the use, generation, transportation, storage, treatment, processing, disposal or release of Hazardous Substances, as the foregoing are enacted and in effect on the Closing Date, including, without limitation, the Federal Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, the Federal Clean Air Act, as amended, the Federal Clean Water Act, as amended, the Federal Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, the Toxic Substances Control Act, as amended, regulations of the Environmental Protection Agency, regulations of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency and regulations of any state or local department of natural resources or other environmental protection agency.

Escrow Agent ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(c) hereof.

Escrow Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(c) hereof.

Escrow Cash ” means ten million dollars ($10,000,000) in cash if the Closing occurs on or before August 31, 2008, and twelve million dollars ($12,000,000) in cash if the Closing occurs after August 31, 2008 and the Purchase Price has been increased by twenty million dollars ($20,000,000) pursuant to clause (c)(iii) of the definition of Purchase Price.

Escrow Fund ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(c) hereof.

ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) hereof.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Financial Statements ” means the Audited Financial Statements and the Unaudited Financial Statements.

Fully Diluted Shares ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c) hereof.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied with past practices, in the United States as of the date hereof.

Governmental Agency ” means any court, tribunal, administrative agency or commission, taxing authority or other governmental or regulatory authority, domestic or foreign, of competent jurisdiction of any country, state, province or any political subdivisions thereof.

Governmental Licenses ” means all permits, licenses, franchises, orders, registrations, certificates, variances, approvals and other authorizations obtained from any Governmental Agency.

Hazardous Substances ” means any flammables, explosives, radon, radioactive materials, asbestos, urea formaldehyde foam insulation, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum and petroleum

 

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products, methane, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or toxic substances, pollutants or contaminants or related materials regulated under, or as defined in any Environmental Law.

Holdings ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Holdings Common Stock ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

HSR Act ” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

Indebtedness ” means, with respect to any Person at any date, without duplication: (a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money; (b) all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments (including, without limitation, any shareholder notes or deferred purchase price obligations (other than accounts payable) issued or entered into in connection with any acquisition undertaken by such Person); (c) all obligations of such Person under any capitalized lease; (d) all obligations in respect of letters of credit issued for the account of such Person (other than letters of credit securing obligations relating to the Company’s Leased Real Property to the extent not drawn on the Closing Date); and (e) any accrued interest, prepayment premiums, breakage fees, penalties or similar amounts related to any of the foregoing.

Indemnitee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(a) hereof.

Indemnitor ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(a) hereof.

Independent Accountant ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) hereof.

India Earnout Payments” means the cash earnout amounts payable upon the achievement of certain performance criteria, if any, to Zia Shiekh, Vineet Mittal and Wasim Shiekh pursuant to agreements to be entered into by and between the Company and each of Zia Shiekh, Vineet Mittal and Wasim Shiekh on or prior to the Closing Date and payable after the Closing Date.

IPO ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.

IPO Shares ” means the 31,250,000 shares of Parent Common Stock issued in the Parent’s initial public offering completed on October 23, 2007.

IPO Warrants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.

Knowledge ” means (a) in the case of the Parent or the Merger Subsidiary, the actual knowledge of R. Scott Murray, Charles F. Kane, Sheila Flaherty and Lloyd Linnell, and (b) in the case of the Company, the actual knowledge of the Company’s chief executive officer, Toni Portmann, chief financial officer, Tom Andrus, Jeff Evert, Mark Beattie, Harry Jackson, Zia Shiekh, Rick Blumsack, Bob Mercer, and/or Laurie Brashear.

Law ” or “ Laws ” means any and all federal, state, local or foreign laws, statutes, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations, common law and Orders.

 

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Leased Real Property ” means all of the right, title and interest of the Company under all leases, subleases, licenses, concessions and other agreements (written or oral), pursuant to which the Company holds a leasehold or sub-leasehold estate in, or is granted the right to use or occupy, any land, buildings, improvements, fixtures or other interest in real property that is used in the operation of the Business or leased by the Company.

Leases ” means those leases and subleases of the Leased Real Property set forth on Schedule 5.17(a) hereto.

Liability ” means, with respect to any Person, any liability, debt, guarantee, loss, cost, expense, fine, penalty, or damage of any kind, whether known, unknown, asserted, accrued, unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or whether due or to become due.

Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, conditional sale or other title retention agreement, lien, easement, charge, or similar encumbrance.

Losses ” means all actions, suits, proceedings, hearings, investigations, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, damages, dues, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid in settlement, obligations, Taxes, Liens, losses, expenses, and fees, including court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to the defense thereof; provided that Losses shall not include speculative, consequential, punitive or special damages unless required by a Governmental Agency to be paid to a third party or paid to a third party as part of a settlement approved by an Indemnitor.

Material Adverse Effect ” means, when used in connection with a Person, any event, circumstance, change, occurrence or effect that, individually or in the aggregate, is materially adverse to the business or financial condition of the Person, taken as a whole with all of its Subsidiaries; provided , however , that no such event, circumstance, change, occurrence, or effect will be deemed (either alone or in combination) to constitute, nor will be taken into account in determining whether there has been or may be, a Material Adverse Effect to the extent that it arises out of or relates to: (a) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or another jurisdiction in which such Person has operations, the declaration by the United States or another jurisdiction in which such Person has operations of a national emergency or war (whether or not declared) or the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis, including an act of terrorism; (b) a natural disaster or any other natural occurrence beyond the control of the Person; (c) the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated hereby if such event, circumstance, change, occurrence or effect would not have occurred but for such announcement or pendency; (d) any change in accounting requirements or principles imposed upon the Company or any change in applicable Laws or the interpretation thereof; (e) any action required by this Agreement; (f) any action of the Company between the date hereof and the Closing that requires the consent of the Parent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement if the Parent consents to the taking of such action; or (g) any adverse change in the global contact center industry to the extent such deterioration does not have a disproportionate adverse effect on the Company as compared to all the other Persons engaged in the same business taken as a whole.

Material Contracts ” means those Contracts of the Company required to be identified as Material Contracts on Schedule 5.8(a) hereto.

 

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Merger ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

Merger Subsidiary ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Order ” means, with respect to any Person, any award, decision, decree, injunction, judgment, order or ruling of a Governmental Agency of competent jurisdiction directed to and naming such Person.

Option ” means any options, subscriptions, warrants, rights, profit participation or other arrangements, or convertible or exchangeable securities by which any Person has the right to purchase capital stock, or any security convertible or exchangeable into capital stock, of another Person or by which a Person is bound to issue capital stock.

Optionholder ” means a holder of Vested Options of Holdings.

Overlap Period ” means the taxable year or period beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date.

Parent ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Parent Alternative Transaction ” means the consummation of a “ Business Combination ” (as defined in the Parent Charter as in effect on the date hereof) that would permit or cause the assets in the Trust Account to be distributable to the Parent or its designee.

Parent Charter ” means the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Parent as amended from time to time, including without limitation the certificate of designation for the Preferred Stock.

Parent Contracts ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(a) hereof.

Parent Common Stock ” means the common stock of the Parent, par value $.001 per share, whose price is quoted on AMEX under the ticker symbol “OOO.”

Parent Disclosure Schedule ” has the meaning set forth in Article VI hereof.

Parent SEC Reports ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.5(a) hereof.

Parent Stockholders Meeting ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.1(e) hereof.

Parent Units ” means the common stock, par value $0.001 per share, and warrants to purchase such common stock with an exercise price of $6.00 per share, of the Parent, whose price is quoted on AMEX under the ticker symbol “OOO.U”

Parent Warrants ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof, whose price is quoted on AMEX under the ticker symbol “OOO.WS.”

PBGC ” means the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation.

 

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Permitted Liens ” means (a) any liens for Taxes not yet due or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which an adequate reserve is made; (b) carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’, materialmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar Liens; (c) pledges or deposits in connection with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, and other social security legislation; and (d) easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business which, in the aggregate, are not material in amount and which do not in any case materially detract from the value of the property subject thereto or interfere with the use thereof; and (e) Liens reflected on the financial statements of such Person.

Person ” means any individual, sole proprietorship, partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated association, corporation, limited liability company, entity or Governmental Entity (whether federal, state, county, city or otherwise and including, without limitation, any instrumentality, division, agency or department thereof).

Personal Property ” means all tangible personal property owned or used by the Company in the conduct of the Business, including, without limitation, all furniture, computer hardware, equipment, vehicles, and fixtures that are not affixed to real property, wherever located.

Pre-Closing Period ” means all taxable years or periods ending on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to the Overlap Period, the portion of such period ending on the Closing Date.

Preferred Stock ” means the Parent’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share.

Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement ” means that certain preferred stock purchase agreement among the Parent and the purchasers named therein, dated as of June 2, 2008.

Prior Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

Proceeding ” means any claim, action, arbitration, audit, lawsuit, investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal or administrative).

Pro Rata Basis ” means the allocation among the holders of Shares and Vested Options pursuant to a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of Shares and shares of common stock represented by Vested Options held by such Person and the denominator of which is the number of Fully Diluted Shares.

Proprietary Rights ” means: (a) all inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto and all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, divisionals, revisions, extensions and reexaminations thereof; (b) all foreign and domestic trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos and trade names (including without limitation, all applications and registrations therefor) and all goodwill associated therewith; (c) all foreign and domestic copyrightable works, all foreign and domestic copyrights and all foreign and domestic applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith; (d) all trade secrets and confidential business information (including customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing plans and proposals); and (e) all copies and tangible embodiments thereof in whatever form or medium.

 

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Prospectus ” means the final prospectus of the Parent, dated October 18, 2007, as filed under the Securities Act.

Proxy Statement ” means that certain proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed by Parent on February 12, 2008, as amended.

Purchase Price ” means the amount equal to Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000) (a)  plus the aggregate exercise price payable upon exercise of all Vested Options, (b)  plus or minus the purchase price adjustments in Section 2.10(a) hereto, (c)  plus (i) in the event that (A) the Closing Date is after July 31, 2008, (B) the Company’s EBITDA for the seven months ended July 31, 2008 exceeds $15,045,000, and (C) the Company’s revenue for the seven months ended July 31, 2008 exceeds $268,949,000, $5,000,000, plus (ii) in the event that the Closing Date is after August 15, 2008, $5,000,000, plus (iii) in the event that (A) the Closing Date is after August 31, 2008, (B) the Company’s EBITDA for the eight months ended August 31, 2008 exceeds $17,499,000, and (C) the Company’s revenues for the eight months ended August 31, 2008 exceeds $309,041,000, $20,000,000, and plus (iv) in the event that (A) the Closing Date is after September 30, 2008, (B) the Company’s EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 exceeds $20,619,000, and (C) the Company’s revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2008 exceeds $351,116,000, $10,000,000, (d)  plus an amount equal to 75% of the Company’s Approved Capital Expenditures made during the period beginning July 1, 2008 and ending on the Closing Date, (e)  minus Closing Indebtedness, (f)  minus any Company Transaction Fees, (g)  minus the Working Capital Holdback; provided that if the Parent is otherwise ready, willing and able to file the third amendment to the Proxy Statement after June 13, 2008 but the Parent is delayed in doing so and the Company’s failure (whether or not within the Company’s control) to deliver its financial statements required to be disclosed therein is the sole cause of such delay, the dates set forth in Sections (c)(i)(A) , (c)(ii) , (c)(iii)(A) and (c)(iv)(A) of this definition shall be extended (x) one (1) Business Day for each Business Day that the Company’s failure to deliver the unaudited financial statements for the first quarter of fiscal 2008, which shall be suitable for filing with the SEC, after June 13, 2008 is the sole cause of the delay in filing the third amendment to the Proxy Statement, plus (y) three (3) Business Days.

Redemption Agreement ” means that certain Securities Purchase Agreement, dated May 13, 2008, by and among, Parent, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and Robert W. Baird & Co.

Retained Litigation ” means any Proceeding initiated by the Stockholders’ Representative against Solectron or by Solectron (whether or not actual litigation has been commenced by either party) reasonably relating to working capital or Solectron’s representations regarding financial statements and/or indebtedness pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement by and among Solectron Corporation, Stream International, Inc., Stream New York, Inc., Stream International (Bermuda) Ltd., Solectron Global Services Italy S.R.L. and Call Center Holdings, Inc., dated as of March 7, 2004, as amended.

Return ” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or other document (including any related or supporting schedule, statement or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Tax.

 

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SEC ” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Securities Act ” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

Settlement Amount Certificate ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) .

Settlement Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(d) .

Severance Payments ” means severance or termination payments actually paid to any of the individuals set forth on Schedule 1.1(c) hereto in connection with the termination of such individual’s employment with the Company within six months after the Closing Date pursuant to agreements or arrangements with such individual in effect on the Closing Date.

Share ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c) hereof.

Shortfall Underage ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(ii) .

Stockholders’ Representative ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.9(a) hereof.

Stock Plans ” means any stock option or stock-based compensation plan of Holdings.

Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which (a) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (regardless of whether, at the time, stock of any other class or classes of such corporation shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (b) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof.

Surplus Shortfall ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(b)(i) .

Survival Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 hereof.

Surviving Company ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b) hereof.

Tax ” means any foreign, federal, state or local income, gross receipts, franchise, estimated, alternative minimum, add-on minimum, sales, use, transfer, real property gains, registration, value added, excise, natural resources, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profit, environmental, customs, duties, real property, personal property, capital stock, social security, unemployment, disability, payroll, license, employee or other withholding, or other tax, of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalties, fines or additions thereto or additional amounts in respect of any of the foregoing.

Tender Offer ” means a tender offer by Parent to buy up to 20,625,001 of the IPO Shares for $8.00 per share.

 

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Transaction Tax Benefit ” means the Tax benefit actually realized by the Company or the Parent for the taxable year in which the Closing occurs that is attributable to the vesting or exercise in such taxable year of any option or other compensatory instrument and the expenses of the Company incurred in connection with the consummation of the Merger set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto. For purposes of this Agreement the parties hereto agree that to the extent deductible in or prior to the taxable year such amount is paid or incurred, the items set forth on Schedule 1.1 hereto shall be deemed to have occurred in the Pre-Closing Period for purposes of (i)  Section 12.6 of this Agreement (for purposes of determining the amount of Pre-Closing Taxes, if any) (ii) for purposes of determining whether representations related to Taxes are true and correct, and (iii) if paid or incurred prior to the Settlement Date, for purposes of Closing Date Working Capital.

Trust Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.16(a) hereof.

Trust Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.16(a) hereof.

Trust Fund ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.16(a) hereof.

Trustee ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.16(a) hereof.

Trust Claims ” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.3 hereof.

Unaudited Financial Statements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a) hereof.

Underwriter Options ” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 hereof.

Vested Options ” means all in-the-money Options of Holdings which by their terms are exercisable or become exercisable at the Effective Time.

WARN ” means the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, as amended.

Warrant Purchase Agreement ” means that certain warrant purchase agreement, dated as of June 2, 2008, by and among the owners of the Affiliate Warrants and the purchaser named therein.

Working Capital Holdback ” means an amount determined by the Stockholders’ Representative, in its sole discretion, which shall not be less than $2,000,000, no later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date to pay amounts payable to the Parent pursuant to Section 2.10(b)(i) hereof, if any.

Working Capital Shortfall ” means the amount by which the Company’s Closing Date Working Capital is less than $54,000,000; provided that there will be no adjustment if such amount is less than $1,500,000.

Working Capital Surplus ” means the amount by which the Company’s Closing Date Working Capital exceeds $54,000,000; provided that there will be no adjustment if such amount is less than $1,500,000.

2007 Financial Statements ” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a) .

 

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ARTICLE II

THE MERGER

2.1 The Merger .

(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Merger Subsidiary and Holdings shall duly prepare, execute and acknowledge a certificate of merger (the “ Certificate of Merger ”) in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL that shall be filed with the Secretary of the State of Delaware at such time and in accordance with the provisions of the DGCL. The Merger shall become effective upon the filing of the Certificate of Merger (or at such later time set forth in the Certificate of Merger as shall be agreed to by the Merger Subsidiary and Holdings). The date and time when the Merger shall become effective is hereinafter referred to as the “ Effective Time .”

(b) On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the DGCL, at the Effective Time, the Merger Subsidiary shall be merged with and into Holdings, and the separate corporate existence of the Merger Subsidiary shall cease, and Holdings shall continue as the Surviving Company under the DGCL (the “ Surviving Company ”).

(c) From and after the Effective Time, the Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 259(a) of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all the properties, rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises of Holdings and the Merger Subsidiary shall vest in the Surviving Company, and all debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of Holdings and the Merger Subsidiary shall become debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of the Surviving Company.

2.2 Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Company . At the Effective Time and without any further action on the part of Holdings or the Merger Subsidiary, the certificate of incorporation of the Merger Subsidiary, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Company as of the Effective Time, until duly amended in accordance with applicable Law.

2.3 By-laws of the Surviving Company . At the Effective Time and without any further action on the part of Holdings or the Merger Subsidiary, the by-laws of the Merger Subsidiary, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be the by-laws of the Surviving Company as of the Effective Time, until duly amended in accordance with applicable Law.

 

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2.4 Directors and Officers . At the Effective Time, the directors of the Merger Subsidiary immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the directors of the Surviving Company, each of such directors to hold office subject to the applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Company. At the Effective Time, the officers of Holdings immediately prior to the Effective Time and the Persons listed on Schedule 2.4 hereto shall be officers of the Surviving Company, each of such officers to hold office subject to the applicable provisions of the certificate of incorporation and by-laws of the Surviving Company.

2.5 Conversion . All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Merger Subsidiary and Holdings shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the respective holders thereof, be converted or cancelled, as the case may be, as follows:

(a) At the Effective Time, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Merger Subsidiary shall be converted into one share of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Surviving Company.

(b) Each share of Holdings Common Stock owned by Holdings as treasury stock shall be cancelled and retired and shall cease to exist at the Effective Time, and no consideration shall be delivered in exchange therefor.

(c) Each share of Holdings Common Stock (other than shares to be cancelled in accordance with Section 2.5(b) hereof) (a “ Share ”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted at the Effective Time into (i) the right to receive an amount of cash equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (A) the Purchase Price minus the Escrow Cash by (B) the sum of (1) the number of Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time plus (2) the number of shares of Holdings Common Stock subject to Vested Options (the “ Fully Diluted Shares ”) and (ii) the contingent and deferred right to receive (A) the portion of the Escrow Fund attributable to such Share as provided in the Escrow Agreement and (B) the portion of the proceeds received by the Company from the Retained Litigation and the unpaid portion of the Working Capital Holdback set aside by the Stockholders’ Representative pursuant to Section 2.7(d) attributable to such Share, determined on a Pro Rata Basis.

(d) Each Vested Option shall be converted at the Effective Time into (i) the right to receive, in respect of each share of Holdings Common Stock subject to such Vested Option, an amount of cash, if any, equal to (A) the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the Purchase Price minus the Escrow Cash by (2) the Fully Diluted Shares, minus (B) the exercise price payable upon exercise in full of such Vested Option and (ii) the contingent and deferred right to receive (A) the portion of the Escrow Fund attributable to such Vested Option as provided in the Escrow Agreement and (B) the portion of the proceeds received by the Company from the Retained Litigation and the unpaid portion of the Working Capital Holdback set aside by the Stockholders’ Representative pursuant to Section 2.7(d) attributable to such Vested Option, determined on a Pro Rata Basis.

(e) Each Option of Holdings that is not a Vested Option shall be cancelled at the Effective Time.

 

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2.6 Stock Option and Other Plans . Prior to the Effective Time, the board of directors of Holdings shall terminate, as of the Effective Time, the Stock Plans and any other plan, program or arrangement providing for the issuance or grant of any other interest in respect of the capital stock of the Company. At the Effective Time, each Option shall no longer be exercisable for the purchase of shares of capital stock of Holdings, but each Vested Option shall entitle the holder thereof, in cancellation and settlement therefor, to the consideration set forth in Section 2.5(d) hereof.

2.7 Delivery of Funds; Surrender of Certificates .

(a) On the Closing Date, the Parent, upon surrender by each stockholder of Holdings of the certificate(s), if any, (each, a “ Certificate ”) that, or a lost certificate affidavit, immediately prior to the Effective Time, representing the Shares held by such stockholder and a letter of transmittal provided by the Company and reasonably acceptable to the Parent, shall, contemporaneously with the filing of the Certificate of Merger, wire transfer (or by check for amounts below $25,000 or if such stockholder shall not have provided wire transfer instructions) in immediately available funds to each such stockholder in exchange therefor upon the Closing the cash amount due such stockholder in accordance with Section 2.5(c)(i) hereof. Each stockholder of Holdings shall designate a bank account to the Parent to receive such funds not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date. In the event any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the holder of such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate and an agreement to indemnify the Parent and its Affiliates in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Parent, the Parent shall pay the amount to which such stockholder is otherwise entitled pursuant to this Section 2.7(a) . No interest shall be payable on any cash deliverable upon the exchange of any Holdings Common Stock or Vested Options.

(b) On the Closing Date, subject to Section 2.14 hereof, the Parent, upon surrender by each Optionholder to Holdings of the Option agreement that, immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented the Options held by such Optionholder, shall, contemporaneously with the filing of the Certificate of Merger, pay by wire transfer (or by check for amounts below $25,000 or if such Optionholder shall not have provided wire transfer instructions) to each Optionholder in exchange therefor an amount in immediately available funds equal to the cash amount due such Optionholder in accordance with Section 2.5(d) hereof by wire transfer to an account designated in writing to the Parent by such Optionholder not later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date.

(c) On the Closing Date, the Parent shall deliver to, and each of the stockholders of Holdings and Optionholders shall be deemed to have received and deposited with, The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., as escrow agent (the “ Escrow Agent ”) pursuant to the escrow agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit 2.7(c) hereto (the “ Escrow Agreement ”) the Escrow Cash (together with interest and other income thereon, the “ Escrow Fund ”). The Escrow Fund shall be held during the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the later of (i) the date that the Parent’s Independent auditor issues its opinion on the Parent’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2008; or (ii) the date which is twelve (12) months from the Closing Date, but in any event not later than July 27, 2009. The Escrow Fund shall be disbursed solely for the purposes, and in accordance with the terms, of the Escrow Agreement. Following the termination of the Escrow Agreement pursuant to its terms, any undisbursed portion

 

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of the Escrow Fund shall be paid to the stockholders and Optionholders of Holdings pro rata based upon the number of Shares and shares of Holdings Common Stock subject to Vested Options held by a Person relative to the number of Fully Diluted Shares.

(d) On the Closing Date, the Parent shall pay to the Stockholders’ Representative the Working Capital Holdback by wire transfer in immediately available funds. The Stockholders’ Representative shall hold the Working Capital Holdback and shall pay to the Parent in accordance with Section 2.10 hereof any amount that may become payable to the Parent pursuant to Section 2.10(b)(i) hereof. On or prior to the fifth (5th) day after the Settlement Date, the Stockholders’ Representative shall pay to the holders of Shares on a Pro Rata Basis the amount of the Working Capital Holdback not paid to the Parent pursuant to Section 2.10(b)(i) hereof and shall remit to the Parent the gross amount payable to the Optionholders, of which the Parent shall pay to each Optionholder its portion thereof, net of applicable Tax withholding.

(e) On the Closing Date the Parent shall use the Company Transaction Fees to pay the underlying obligations to the Persons who are owed in connection therewith.

2.8 No Further Rights of Transfer . At and after the Effective Time, each stockholder of Holdings shall cease to have any rights as a stockholder of Holdings, except as otherwise required by applicable Law and except for the right of each stockholder of Holdings to surrender his or her Certificate or lost Certificate affidavit in exchange for payment of the applicable amount pursuant to Section 2.7(a) hereof, and no transfer of Shares shall be made on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Company. At the Effective Time, the stock ledger of Holdings with respect to the Shares shall be closed.

2.9 Stockholders’ Representative .

(a) By approving this Agreement, the stockholders and Optionholders of Holdings hereby appoint H.I.G. Call Center II, Inc., a Cayman Island company, and its permitted successors, as the agent for and on behalf of the stockholders of Holdings (the “ Stockholders’ Representative ”) to give and receive notices and communications, to authorize delivery to the Parent of Escrow Cash from the Escrow Fund in satisfaction of indemnification claims by the Parent, to withhold the Working Capital Holdback and settle and pay the Purchase Price adjustments in Section 2.10 , to object to such deliveries, negotiate, enter into settlements and compromises of, and comply with Orders of courts with respect to such claims (including third party claims), and to take all actions necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the Stockholders’ Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing. Such agency may be changed from time to time upon not less than ten (10) days’ prior written notice, executed by the Stockholders’ Representative to the Parent. No bond shall be required of the Stockholders’ Representative, and the Stockholders’ Representative shall receive no compensation for its services. Notices or communications to or from the Stockholders’ Representative shall constitute notice to or from the Company and each of the stockholders and Optionholders of Holdings.

(b) The Stockholders’ Representative shall not be liable for any act done or omitted hereunder as Stockholders’ Representative while acting in good faith and any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The stockholders and Optionholders of Holdings shall severally indemnify the Stockholders’ Representative and hold it, its officers, directors, employees and agents harmless against any

 

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Losses, Liability, or expense incurred without gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Stockholders’ Representative and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties hereunder.

(c) A decision, act, consent or instruction of the Stockholders’ Representative shall constitute a decision of all the stockholders and Optionholders of Holdings for whom Escrow Cash is otherwise payable to them is deposited in escrow and shall be final, binding, and conclusive upon each such stockholder and Optionholder, and the Parent may rely upon any decision, act, consent, or instruction of the Stockholders’ Representative as being the decision, act, consent or instruction of each and every such stockholder and Optionholder. The Stockholders’ Representative shall have the right to consent to the use of the Escrow Fund to settle any claims made hereunder.

(d) H.I.G. Call Center II, Inc. may resign as the Stockholders’ Representative and appoint a successor Stockholders’ Representative in its sole discretion at any time by giving five days’ prior written notice of such resignation to the Parent, which notice shall include the name of the successor Stockholders’ Representative. Such successor Stockholders’ Representative shall become the Stockholders’ Representative and H.I.G. Call Center II, Inc. shall be discharged from its duties hereunder upon the resignation date specified in such notice.

2.10 Purchase Price Adjustment .

(a) Pre-Closing Adjustments . At least three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the chief financial officer of the Company shall prepare and deliver to the Parent an estimated balance sheet and an estimated calculation of the Closing Date Working Capital for the Company as of the Closing Date, prepared in accordance with GAAP utilizing the same GAAP methodology and assumptions as was used in preparing the Financial Statements (the “ Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet ”). If the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet shows a Working Capital Shortfall, the Purchase Price shall be reduced by the aggregate amount of such Working Capital Shortfall. If the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet shows a Working Capital Surplus, the Purchase Price shall be increased by the aggregate amount of such Working Capital Surplus.

(b) Post-Closing Adjustments . Within sixty (60) days following the Closing Date, the Parent shall cause the Surviving Company to prepare and deliver to the Stockholders’ Representative an unaudited balance sheet for the Company (the “ Closing Date Balance Sheet ”) and a calculation of the Closing Date Working Capital as of the close of business on the Closing Date, which shall be prepared by the Surviving Company in accordance with GAAP utilizing the same GAAP methodology and assumptions as was used in preparing the Estimated Closing Date Balance Sheet (to the extent consistent with those used in preparing the Financial Statements). The Parent shall, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Surviving Company’s accountants to, provide the Stockholders’ Representative with reasonable access to all books, records, work papers and other documents and data as was used to prepare the Closing Date Balance Sheet. The Stockholders’ Representative shall have the right to dispute the Closing Date Balance Sheet (and any items therein) and the Closing Date Working Capital calculations and make any proposed adjustments thereto as provided in Section 2.10(c) hereof.

(i) If it is determined (A) there is a Working Capital Surplus based on the Closing Date Balance Sheet less than the estimated Working Capital Surplus calculated

 

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under Section 2.10(a) (the “ Surplus Shortfall ”), or (B) there is a Working Capital Shortfall based on the Closing Date Balance Sheet, either (I) in excess of the estimated Working Capital Shortfall calculated under Section 2.10(a) or (II) if there was an estimated Working Capital Surplus calculated under Section 2.10(a) , the Stockholders’ Representative shall pay to the Surviving Company on the Settlement Date from the Working Capital Holdback either (1) the Surplus Shortfall, (2) in the case of Section 2.10(b)(i)(B)(I) , the excess Working Capital Shortfall, or (3) in the case of Section 2.10(b)(i)(B)(II), the Working Capital Shortfall plus any estimated Working Capital Surplus added to the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.10(a) hereof.

(ii) If it is determined (A) there is a Working Capital Shortfall based on the Closing Date Balance Sheet less than the estimated Working Capital Shortfall calculated under Section 2.10(a) (the “ Shortfall Underage ”), or (B) there is a Working Capital Surplus based on the Closing Date Balance Sheet either (I) in excess of the estimated Working Capital Surplus calculated under Section 2.10(a) or (II) if there was an estimated Working Capital Shortfall calculated under Section 2.10(a) , the Parent shall pay to the Stockholders’ Representative (to be distributed to Holdings’ stockholders and the Optionholders immediately prior to the Effective Time on a Pro Rata Basis) either (1) the Shortfall Underage, (2) in the case of Section 2.10(b)(ii)(B)(I) , the excess Working Capital Surplus, or (3) in the case of Section 2.10(b)(ii)(B)(II) , the Working Capital Surplus plus any estimated Working Capital Shortfall deducted from the Purchase Price pursuant to Section 2.10(a) hereof.

(iii) In the event any amount due to a party under this Section 2.10 is not paid on the Settlement Date, the payor shall pay interest on such amounts at a rate of ten percent (10%) per annum, which shall accrue from the Closing Date to the date of actual payment.

All amounts paid by the Stockholders’ Representative to the stockholders and Optionholders of Holdings pursuant to this Section 2.10(b) shall be paid on a Pro Rata Basis.

(c) Dispute Resolution Procedures . The Stockholders’ Representative shall have until thirty (30) days after the delivery of the Closing Date Working Capital calculation, to review such calculation and propose any adjustments thereto. All adjustments proposed by the Stockholders’ Representative shall be set out in detail in a written statement delivered to the Parent (the “ Adjustment Statement ”) and shall be incorporated into the Closing Date Balance Sheet, unless the Parent shall object in writing to such proposed adjustments (the proposed adjustment or adjustments to which the Parent objects are referred to herein as the “ Contested Adjustments ” and the Parent’s objection notice is referred to herein as the “ Contested Adjustment Notice ”) within ten (10) days of delivery by the Stockholders’ Representative to the Parent of the Adjustment Statement. If the Parent delivers a Contested Adjustment Notice to the Stockholders’ Representative, the Parent and the Stockholders’ Representative shall attempt in good faith to resolve their dispute regarding the Contested Adjustments, but if a final resolution thereof is not obtained within ten (10) business days after the Parent delivers to the Stockholders’ Representative such Contested Adjustment Notice, either the Parent or the Stockholders’ Representative may retain for the benefit of all the parties hereto Deloitte & Touche LLP, or if unable or unwilling to serve, another nationally recognized Independent accounting firm acceptable to both the Stockholders’ Representative and the Parent (the “ Independent

 

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Accountant ”) to resolve any remaining disputes concerning the Contested Adjustments. If the Independent Accountant is retained, then the Stockholders’ Representative and the Parent shall each submit to the Independent Accountant in writing not later than fifteen (15) days after the Independent Accountant is retained their respective positions with respect to the Contested Adjustments, together with such supporting documentation as they deem necessary or as the Independent Accountant requests. The Independent Accountant shall not review or take into account any information that is not submitted within the fifteen (15) day deadline and shall only make a determination as to the Contested Adjustments and not other items on the Closing Date Balance Sheet. The Independent Accountant’s determination of the Contested Adjustments shall not be higher than the highest amounts or lower than the lowest amounts proposed by the Parent and the Stockholders’ Representative. The Independent Accountant shall, within thirty (30) days after receiving the positions of both the Stockholders’ Representative and the Parent and all supplementary supporting documentation requested by the Independent Accountant, but no later than sixty (60) days after being retained, render its decision as to the Contested Adjustments, which decision shall be final and binding on, and nonappealable by, the Stockholders’ Representative and the Parent. The fees and expenses of the Independent Accountant shall be paid by the party whose estimate of the Contested Adjustments is furthest from the Independent Accountant’s calculation of the Contested Adjustments. The decision of the Independent Accountant shall also include a certificate of the Independent Accountant setting forth the final Closing Date Working Capital calculation (the “ Settlement Amount Certificate ”). The Closing Date Balance Sheet shall be deemed to include all proposed adjustments not disputed by the Parent and those adjustments accepted or made by the decision of the Independent Accountant in resolving the Contested Adjustments.

(d) Settlement . There shall be a “ Settlement Date ” after the calculation of the Closing Date Working Capital which shall mean the following, as applicable:

(i) If the Stockholders’ Representative accepts the Closing Date Working Capital calculation, three (3) Business Days after the Stockholders’ Representative notifies the Parent.

(ii) If the Stockholders’ Representative has not timely delivered an Adjustment Statement to the Parent, thirty five (35) days after the date the Stockholders’ Representative receives the Closing Date Working Capital calculation;

(iii) If the Stockholders’ Representative has timely delivered an Adjustment Statement and the Parent has not timely delivered a Contested Adjustment Notice, fifteen (15) days after the date the Parent receives the Adjustment Statement;

(iv) If the Stockholders’ Representative and the Parent have any disputes regarding Contested Adjustments and they resolve those disputes in writing, three (3) Business Days after such resolution;

(v) Three (3) Business Days after the Independent Accountant delivers the Settlement Amount Certificate, if applicable; or

(vi) Such other date as shall be agreed between the Stockholders’ Representative and the Parent.

 

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If the Surviving Company is owed any amount pursuant to Section 2.10(b)(i) and such amount exceeds the amount paid by the Stockholders’ Representative to the Surviving Company from the Working Capital Holdback, the Parent shall have the right to collect such amount from the Escrow Fund.

2.11 Closing . Unless this Agreement shall have been terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been abandoned pursuant to Article X , and subject to the satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions set forth in Article III , the closing of the Merger (the “ Closing ”) shall take place at 10:00 A.M. at the offices of Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, 60 State Street, Boston, Massachusetts, as soon as practicable, but in any event, within three (3) Business Days after the last of the conditions set forth in Article III is satisfied or waived, other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of those conditions, or at such other date, time or place as the parties hereto shall agree in writing. Such date is herein referred to as the “ Closing Date .”

2.12 Further Assurances . At and after the Effective Time, the officers of the Surviving Company shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of Holdings or the Merger Subsidiary, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of Holdings or the Merger Subsidiary, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Company any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Company as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

2.13 No Liability . Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, none of the Parent, the Surviving Company or any other party hereto shall be liable for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate shall not have been surrendered prior to five years after the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which any Merger consideration payable to the holder of such Certificate pursuant to this Article II would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Entity), any such Merger consideration shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Company, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

2.14 Withholding Rights; Deductions from Consideration . Each of the Surviving Company and the Parent shall be entitled to deduct and withhold any Taxes it is required to deduct and withhold under the Code or any provision of state, local, or foreign Tax Law from (i) any payment to any employee of the Company under this Agreement or any other related agreement or with respect to the exercise or settlement of any Options, or (ii) payment to any other Person with respect to the Merger. To the extent that amounts are so withheld or deducted by the Surviving Company or the Parent, as the case may be, such withheld amounts (to the extent paid over to the proper taxing authority) shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to such Person in respect of which such deduction and withholding were made by the Surviving Company or the Parent, as the case may be.

 

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ARTICLE III

CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

3.1 Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger . The respective obligations of each of the Parent, the Merger Subsidiary and the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

(a) No Injunctions or Restraints, Illegality . (i) No Governmental Agency or federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent), in any case which is in effect and which prevents or prohibits the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated in this Agreement and (ii) no Governmental Agency shall have instituted any Proceeding (which remains pending at what would otherwise be the Closing Date) before any United States court or other Governmental Agency of competent jurisdiction seeking to enjoin, restrain or otherwise prohibit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(b) Parent Stockholder Approval . The Parent shall have obtained from its stockholders in accordance with the DGCL, and the holders of a majority of the IPO Shares, approval of this Agreement, the Merger and the transactions contemplated hereby; and the holders of 30% or more of the IPO Shares shall not have voted against the Merger and exercised their conversion rights under the Parent Charter to convert their shares of the Parent Common Stock into a Conversion Payment from the Trust Fund;

(c) HSR Act. All applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act shall have expired without qualification from the Federal Trade Commission or Department of Justice.

Any condition specified in this Section 3.1 may be waived by the Company or the Parent, as applicable; provided , however , that no such waiver will be effective unless it is set forth in a writing executed by the party waiving the condition.

3.2 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of the Company . The obligations of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:

(a) Representations and Warranties . (i) Each of the representations and warranties of the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary, as amended or supplemented pursuant to Section 8.12 , (A) that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date (except that those representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of such date), and (B) that are not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date (except that those representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date) and (ii) the Parent shall not have experienced a Material Adverse Effect that has not been waived by the Company pursuant to Section 8.12 ;

(b) Performance of Obligations of the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary . The Parent and the Merger Subsidiary shall have each performed in all material respects all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by them under this Agreement prior to the Closing;

 

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(c) Deliverables .

(i) Purchase Price . The Parent shall have delivered the Purchase Price, other than the Escrow Cash, to the stockholders of Holdings and the Optionholders, subject to the Parent’s right to withhold a portion of the Purchase Price from a holder of Shares or Optionholder pursuant to Sections 2.7 and 2.14 hereof.

(ii) Escrow . The Parent shall have executed the Escrow Agreement and deposited with the Escrow Agent the Escrow Cash.

(iii) Officers’ Certificates . The Parent shall have delivered to the Company a certificate from an officer of the Parent in substantially the form of Exhibit 3.2(c)(iii) hereto, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the applicable preconditions specified in Section 3.2(a) and (b)  hereof have been satisfied;

(iv) Secretary’s Certificates. The Company shall have received a duly executed certificate from the Secretary of each of the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.2(c)(iv) hereto;

(v) Required Consents. The Parent shall have delivered copies of all consents, approvals, releases from and filings with, Governmental Agencies and third parties set forth on Schedule 6.4 hereto; and

(d) Form of Deliverables . The form and substance of all certificates, instruments, opinions or other documents delivered by or on behalf of the Parent or the Merger Subsidiary to the Company or the Stockholders’ Representative under this Agreement shall be satisfactory in all reasonable respects to the Stockholders’ Representative, the Company, and their counsel.

Any condition specified in this Section 3.2 may be waived by the Company; provided , however , that no such waiver will be effective unless it is set forth in a writing executed by the Company.

3.3 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary . The obligations of the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions on or before the Closing Date:

(a) Representations and Warranties . (i) Each of the representations and warranties of the Company, as amended or supplemented pursuant to Section 8.12 , (A) that are qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects as of the Closing Date (except that those representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct as of such date), and (B) that are not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Effect are true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date as though then made (except that those representations and warranties that are made as of a specific date shall be true and correct in all material respects as of such date); and (ii) the Company shall not have experienced a Material Adverse Effect that has not been waived by the Parent pursuant to Section 8.12 ;

 

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(b) Performance of Obligations of the Company . The Company shall have performed in all material respects all of the covenants and agreements required to be performed by it under this Agreement prior to the Closing;

(c) Deliverables .

(i) Officer’s Certificate . The Company shall have delivered to the Parent a certificate from an officer of the Company in substantially the form of Exhibit 3.3(c)(i) hereto, dated as of the Closing Date, stating that the applicable preconditions specified in Section 3.3(a) and (b)  hereof have been satisfied;

(ii) Secretary’s Certificate . The Parent shall have received a duly executed certificate from the Secretary of the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit 3.3(c)(ii) hereto, which shall include the amount of the Company’s capital expenditures for the period beginning July 1, 2008 and ending on the Closing Date;

(iii) Required Consents . The Company shall have delivered to the Parent copies of all consents, approvals and releases from, and filings with, Governmental Agencies and third parties set forth on Schedule 5.4 hereto;

(iv) Escrow . The Stockholders Representative and the Company shall have executed and delivered to the Parent the Escrow Agreement;

(v) Closing Fee Statement . The Company shall have delivered to the Parent the Closing Fee Statement;

(vi) Resignations . The Company shall have delivered to the Parent the resignations of all directors of the Company and such directors of its Subsidiaries as Parent designates in writing at least five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, effective as of the Effective Time; and

(vii) FIRPTA. The Company shall have delivered to the Parent a notice that the shares of Holdings Common Stock are not “U.S. real property interests” in accordance with Treasury Regulations under Sections 897 and 1445 of the Code, together with evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Parent that the Company had provided notice to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.897-2(h)(2) of the Treasury Regulations. If the Parent does not receive the notice described above prior to the Closing Date this condition shall be deemed to be satisfied, but each of the Surviving Company and the Parent shall be permitted to withhold from the payments to be made pursuant to this Agreement any required withholding Tax under Section 1445 of the Code.

(d) Form of Deliverables . The form and substance of all certificates, instruments, opinions or other documents delivered by or on behalf of the Stockholders’ Representative or the Company to the Parent under this Agreement shall be satisfactory in all reasonable respects to the Parent and its counsel.

 

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Any condition specified in this Section 3.3 may be waived by the Parent; provided , however , that no such waiver shall be effective unless it is set forth in a writing executed by the Parent.

ARTICLE IV

COVENANTS RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS

4.1 Conduct of Business of the Company Pending the Merger . The Company covenants and agrees that, during the period from the date of the Prior Agreement to the Effective Time and except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Parent or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the business of the Company shall be conducted only in, and the Company shall not take any action except in, the ordinary course of business and in a manner consistent with past practice and in compliance with applicable Laws; and the Company shall pay its debts and Taxes when due or properly accrue therefor, shall pay or perform other material obligations when due and, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, shall use its commercially reasonable efforts in a manner consistent with past practice to (i) preserve intact the business organization of the Company, (ii) keep available the services of its present officers and key employees, and (iii) preserve its relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees and others having business dealings with it, all with the goal of preserving unimpaired its goodwill and ongoing businesses at the Effective Time. By way of amplification and not limitation, without the prior written consent of the Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), the Company shall not, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, except as set forth on Schedule 4.1 hereto, directly or indirectly do, or commit to do, any of the following:

(a) Amend its certificate of incorporation, by-laws or equivalent organizational documents;

(b) Except for the issuance of Holdings Common Stock upon the exercise of Options outstanding on the date of the Prior Agreement, issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize or commit to the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any shares of capital stock of any class, or any Options, of the Company;

(c) Declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, other than a cash dividend with respect to Holdings Common Stock that would not result in Closing Date Working Capital that is less than $54,000,000 and provided that any such dividend is net of any Tax payable in respect of repatriating cash to pay such dividend;

(d) Materially amend the terms of any material Company Plan to make the terms of such plan more favorable to its participants or to increase any material benefit under such plan;

(e) Acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets) or execute a letter of intent to acquire, or allow to become “probable” as determined pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X, any acquisition of, any corporation, partnership or other business organization or division or line of business; provided that the Parent shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to the Company’s acquisition of any single site call center if such call center or acquisition (singly or

 

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in combination with other acquisitions) would not require additional financial statements pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X; provided further that the Parent shall be deemed to have consented to such acquisition if the Parent does not provide the Company written notice of its objection thereto within ten (10) days of the Company providing written notice to the Parent of its intent to acquire such site;

(f) Transfer, sell, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or subject to any Lien any of its Assets, including the capital stock of its Subsidiaries, except the granting of Permitted Liens, the sale of equipment and property no longer used in the operation of the Company’s business and in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(g) Except as may be required as a result of a change in Law or in generally accepted accounting or actuarial principles or as required by the SEC, make any adverse change to the accounting practices or principles or reserving practices or principles used by it;

(h) Adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Company;

(i) Fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain in full force and effect the existing insurance policies covering the Company or its properties, Assets and businesses or comparable replacement policies;

(j) Make any material new election or change any material election with respect to Taxes or settle or compromise any material federal, state, local or foreign Tax liability;

(k) Reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of the Holdings Common Stock or its Options or other equity securities;

(l) (i) Assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any Person, other than any Subsidiary of the Company, or (ii) make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any Person other than Subsidiaries of the Company in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(m) Except to the extent required under this Agreement or pursuant to applicable Law, increase the salary, compensation or fringe benefits of any of its directors, officers or employees, except for increases in salary or wages of officers and employees of the Company in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice or their employment agreements in effect as of the date of the Prior Agreement, or grant any severance or termination pay not currently required to be paid under severance plans in effect as of the date of the Prior Agreement or enter into, or amend, any employment, consulting or severance agreement or arrangement with any present or former director, officer or other employee of the Company, or establish, adopt, enter into or amend or terminate any collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift, compensation, stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation, employment, termination, welfare, severance or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit of any directors, officers or employees, except for any plan amendments to comply with Section 409A of the Code (provided that any such amendments shall not materially increase the cost of such plan to the Company), or hire any new employee at a rate of compensation that would exceed $250,000 in any year;

 

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(n) Grant any license with respect to Proprietary Rights other than non-exclusive licenses granted in the ordinary course of business;

(o) Take any action or omit to take any action that would reasonably be expected to cause any material Proprietary Rights used or held for use in its business to become invalidated, abandoned or dedicated to the public domain;

(p) Enter into any transaction with, or enter into any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any of the Company’s Affiliates that would result in a Liability or obligation to the Surviving Company after the Closing;

(q) Close any facility or office; provided that the Parent shall not unreasonably withhold its consent to such action; provided further that the Parent shall be deemed to have consented to such action if the Parent does not provide the Company written notice of its objection thereto within ten (10) days of the Company providing written notice to the Parent of its intent to take such action;

(r) Create, incur or assume, any Indebtedness (other than under current credit facilities as in effect on the date hereof and under capital leases in the ordinary course of business) that would not be terminable at or prior to the Effective Time;

(s) Reduce the amount of Indebtedness available under that certain Third Amended and Restated Credit, Term Loan and Security Agreement, dated as of May 2006, as amended through the date hereof (excluding the effect of the elimination of the HIG guaranty);

(t) Commence any lawsuit, claim or proceeding (other than the Retained Litigation) with an amount in controversy in excess of $1,000,000;

(u) Increase compensation to any employee earning an annual salary in excess of $175,000 (other than increases in the ordinary course of business that are less than 5% of such employee’s annual salary);

(v) Commit or make capital expenditures that would be due and payable after the Closing Date that are more than $500,000 per fiscal quarter in excess of the Company’s budgeted amounts for such quarter as set forth in the Budget;

(w) Commit to provide or make India Earnout Payments, in the aggregate, in excess of the amount set forth in Item 6 of Schedule 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule; or

(x) Take, or offer or propose to take, or agree to take in writing or otherwise, any of the actions described in Sections 4.1(a) through 4.1(w) hereof or any action which would result in any of the conditions set forth in Article III not being satisfied or would materially delay the Closing.

4.2 Conduct of Business of the Parent Pending the Merger . The Parent covenants and agrees that, during the period from the date of the Prior Agreement to the Effective Time and except as otherwise agreed to in writing by the Company or as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, the Parent shall not except as set forth on Schedule 4.2 hereto, directly or indirectly:

(a) Amend the Parent Charter, by-laws or equivalent organizational documents (except to authorize additional shares of Common Stock at the Closing, provide for the perpetual existence of the Parent and change the name of the Parent);

 

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(b) Except for the issuance of Options under any of its stock option plans or Parent Common Stock upon the exercise of Options, issue, deliver, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber, or authorize or commit to the issuance, sale, pledge, disposition or encumbrance of, any shares of capital stock of any class, or any Options, of the Parent, except as contemplated by the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement;

(c) Except for Conversion Payments to stockholders properly perfecting their rights to receive Conversion Payments and less than 30% of the IPO Shares, declare, set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution, payable in cash, stock, property or otherwise, with respect to any of its capital stock;

(d) Acquire (by merger, consolidation or acquisition of stock or assets), or submit or execute a letter of intent to acquire, or allow to become “probable” as determined pursuant to SEC Regulation S-X, any acquisition of, any corporation, partnership or other business organization or division or line of business;

(e) Modify its current investment policies or investment practices in any material respect except to accommodate changes in applicable Law or consummate the Merger;

(f) Transfer, sell, lease, mortgage, or otherwise dispose of or subject to any Lien (except Permitted Liens) any of its assets other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(g) Adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of the Parent or Merger Subsidiary;

(h) Reclassify, combine, split, subdivide or redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any of its capital stock, or Options, except that Parent may commence a tender offer in accordance with Rule 13e-4 of the Exchange Act to purchase from its stockholders up to 20,625,001 outstanding shares of Parent Common Stock;

(i) Assume, guarantee or endorse, or otherwise as an accommodation become responsible for, the obligations of any Person, or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

(j) Enter into any transaction with, or enter into any agreement, arrangement, or understanding with any of the Parent’s Affiliates; or

(k) Take, or offer or propose to take, or agree to take in writing or otherwise, any of the actions described in Sections 4.2 (a)  through 4.2 (j)  hereof or any action which would result in any of the conditions set forth in Article III not being satisfied or would materially delay the Closing.

 

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4.3 Operational Matters . From the date of the Prior Agreement until the Effective Time, at the reasonable request of the Parent, senior management of the Company shall (a) confer on a periodic basis with the Parent, (b) report monthly to the Parent on operational matters and (c) provide the Parent and its accountants, legal counsel, and other representatives copies of internal monthly financial statements prepared by the Company within thirty (30) days after the end of each calendar month. The Company shall file or furnish all reports, communications, announcements, publications and other documents required to be filed or furnished by it with all Governmental Agencies between the date of the Prior Agreement and the Effective Time. In addition to the foregoing, the Company shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to provide to the Parent the 2007 Financial Statements prior to March 31, 2008 and the Company’s unaudited financial statements as reviewed by Ernst & Young LLP for the first quarter of fiscal 2008 prior to June 13, 2008, or as soon as possible thereafter in the event that such financial statements are not delivered by June 13, 2008, and shall promptly provide to the Parent such other information as reasonably required by the Parent for inclusion in the Proxy Statement; provided, that if the Company has used its commercially reasonable efforts to provide the 2007 Financial Statements or the unaudited financial statements for fiscal 2008, the Company’s failure to meet such deadline shall only result in the deferral of the dates set forth in the definition of “Purchase Price,” the August 9, 2008 date set forth in Section 10.1(c)(ii) and the October 1, 2008 date set forth in Section 10.1(d) . The Company shall (to the extent any report, communication, announcement, publication or other document contains any statement relating to this Agreement or the Merger, and to the extent permitted by Law) consult with the Parent for a reasonable time before filing or furnishing any such report, communication, announcement, publication or other document and mutually agree upon any such statement and deliver to the Parent copies of all such reports, communications, announcements, publications and other documents promptly after the same are filed or furnished. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give the Parent, directly or indirectly, the right to control or direct the operations of the Company prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, each of the Company and the Parent shall exercise, consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over its respective businesses and operations.

4.4 Affiliate Contracts . Holdings shall terminate all Contracts between Holdings on the one hand, and the stockholders of Holdings and their Affiliates on the other hand, on or prior to the Closing Date, with no further liability or obligation to the Company other than amounts paid as Company Transaction Fees.

4.5 Preservation of Records; Audit Assistance . Until the earlier of a period of seven (7) years after the Closing Date or such other period required by applicable Law, the Surviving Company shall preserve and retain, all corporate, accounting, legal, auditing, Tax, human resources and other books and records of the Company (including any documents relating to any governmental or non-governmental Proceedings) (collectively the “ Company Records ”) relating to the conduct of the business and operations of the Company prior to the Closing Date and shall promptly make all such books and records available to the Stockholders’ Representative upon reasonable request. During such period, none of the Parent nor the Surviving Company shall destroy or dispose of or allow the destruction or disposition of any Company Records, without first having offered in writing to deliver such Company Records to the Stockholders’ Representative. The Parent and the Surviving Company (and their Affiliates) shall be entitled to dispose of the Company Records if the Stockholders’ Representative shall fail to request copies of such Company Records within ninety (90) days after receipt of the notice described in the preceding sentence.

 

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ARTICLE V

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES REGARDING THE COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary that the statements contained in this Article V are true and correct as of the date of the Prior Agreement except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to the Parent and the Merger Subsidiary (the “ Company Disclosure Schedules ”). The Company Disclosure Schedules were initially as of the date of the Prior Agreement, except where any schedule specifically purports to be as of a different date in which case such schedule shall be as of the date on the schedule. The Company Disclosure Schedules may be updated pursuant to Section 8.12 hereof, and shall be updated as of the Closing Date. The Company Disclosure Schedule shall be arranged and cross-referenced to specific sections in this Article V and shall provide exceptions to, or otherwise qualify in reasonable detail, only the specific corresponding section in this Article V , unless otherwise reasonably apparent that it applies to other sections.

5.1 Organization and Power; Investments . Each of Holdings and its Subsidiaries is a corporation or company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization. Holdings and its Subsidiaries are each qualified to do business as foreign entities and are in good standing in the jurisdictions listed on Schedule 5.1(a) hereto, which jurisdictions constitute all of the jurisdictions in which the ownership of properties or the conduct of the Business requires Holdings or its Subsidiaries to be so qualified except where the failure to be qualified would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Holdings and its Subsidiaries have all requisite corporate power and authority to own their assets and carry on their business as now conducted. Holdings has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder. The certificate of incorporation and by-laws or other constituent documents, as applicable, of Holdings and its Subsidiaries, which have previously been furnished to the Parent, reflect all amendments thereto and are correct and complete in all respects. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.1(b) hereto, Holdings has no Subsidiaries and neither Holdings nor its Subsidiaries own or control (directly or indirectly) any partnership interest, joint venture interest, equity participation or other security or interest in any Person.

5.2 Authorization . The execution, delivery and performance by Holdings of this Agreement, the other agreements contemplated hereby and each of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby have been duly and validly authorized by Holdings and no other act or proceeding on the part of Holdings, its boards of directors or stockholders (other than Holdings’ stockholders approval to be delivered on the date hereof) is necessary to authorize the execution, delivery or performance by Holdings of this Agreement or any other agreement contemplated hereby or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Holdings and this Agreement constitutes, and the other agreements contemplated hereby upon execution and delivery by Holdings will each constitute, a valid and binding obligation of Holdings, enforceable against Holdings in accordance with its terms except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to creditors rights and by general equitable principles.

 

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5.3 Capitalization . Schedule 5.3 hereto accurately sets forth the authorized and outstanding equity of Holdings and its Subsidiaries and the name and number of shares held by each stockholder thereof. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Holdings and its Subsidiaries have been duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and none were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any Person. No other class of capital stock of Holdings or its Subsidiaries is authorized or outstanding. Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3 hereto, there are no outstanding or authorized Options, rights, Contracts, Liens, calls, puts, rights to subscribe, conversion rights or other commitments to which Holdings or its Subsidiaries is a party or which is binding upon Holdings or its Subsidiaries providing for the issuance, disposition or acquisition of any of its equity or any rights or interests exercisable therefor. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to Holdings or its Subsidiaries. Each stockholder of Holdings has agreed, pursuant to Section 3(a) of the Amended and Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated as of September 30, 2004, (a) to vote for, consent to and raise no objections to, and not bring a claim against nor contest the Merger or the other transactions contemplated hereby and (b) to waive dissenters rights, appraisal rights and similar rights in connection with the Merger.

5.4 No Breach . Except as set forth on Schedule 5.4 hereto and filings under the HSR Act, the execution, delivery and performance by Holdings of this Agreement and the other agreements contemplated hereby and the consummation of each of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby will not (a) violate, result in any breach of, constitute a default under, result in the termination or acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify or cancel, or require any notice under the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other constituent documents of Holdings or its Subsidiaries, any material Law, any material Order or any Material Contract to which Holdings or its Subsidiaries or their respective Assets is bound; (b) result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) upon any Assets or any of the equity interests of Holdings or its Subsidiaries; or (c) require any authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action by or notice to any Governmental Agency or other Person under the provisions of any material Law, material Order or any Mate


 
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