Exhibit 10.1
EXECUTION COPY
MERGER AND UNIT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
By and Among
CROMPTON HOLDING CORPORATION,
THE SHAREHOLDERS OF BCCM HOLDINGS, INC.,
THE MANAGEMENT MEMBERS OF DAVIS-STANDARD, LLC,
DAVIS-STANDARD, LLC,
BCCM HOLDINGS, INC.,
THE CARRYHOLDERS’ AGENT
and
D-S ACQUISITION CO.
Dated as of October 30, 2006
Table of Contents
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Page #
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
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2
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Section 1.1
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Definitions
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2
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Section 1.2
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Construction
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12
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ARTICLE II MERGER
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12
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Section 2.1
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The Merger
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12
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Section 2.2
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Effective Time
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12
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Section 2.3
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Effect of the Merger
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12
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Section 2.4
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Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws
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13
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Section 2.5
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Directors and Officers
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13
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Section 2.6
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Merger Consideration
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13
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Section 2.7
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BCCM Holdback
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13
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Section 2.8
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Conversion of the BCCM Shares
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13
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Section 2.9
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Exchange of Certificates
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14
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ARTICLE III UNIT PURCHASE AND
CLOSING
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14
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Section 3.1
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Unit Purchase
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14
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Section 3.2
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Purchase Price
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14
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Section 3.3
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Crompton, Management Members’ and
Carryholders’ Holdback
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14
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Section 3.4
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Sellers’ Agents
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15
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Section 3.5
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The Closing
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15
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Section 3.6
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Adjustment Amount
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15
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Section 3.7
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Free Cash Flow Payment
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16
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Section 3.8
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Post-Closing Free Cash Flow Payment
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16
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ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
COMPANY
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17
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Section 4.1
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Existence and Power
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17
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Section 4.2
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Authorization; Enforceability
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17
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Section 4.3
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Governmental Authorization
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18
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Section 4.4
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Non-Contravention; Consents
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18
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Section 4.5
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Capitalization
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18
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Section 4.6
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Subsidiaries
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19
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Section 4.7
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Financial Statements
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19
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Section 4.8
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No Undisclosed Liabilities
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19
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Section 4.9
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Tax Matters
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19
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Section 4.10
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Absence of Certain Changes
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20
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Section 4.11
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Contracts
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20
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Section 4.12
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Insurance Coverage
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22
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Section 4.13
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Litigation
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23
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Section 4.14
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Compliance with Laws; Permits
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23
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Section 4.15
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Assets; Properties; Sufficiency of
Assets
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23
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Section 4.16
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Intellectual Property
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24
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Section 4.17
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Environmental Matters
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25
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Section 4.18
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Plans and Material Documents
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26
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i
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Section 4.19
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Affiliate Transactions
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28
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Section 4.20
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Customer and Supplier Relations
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28
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Section 4.21
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Other Employment Matters
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28
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Section 4.22
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Accounts Receivable
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29
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Section 4.23
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Inventory
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29
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Section 4.24
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Product and Service Warranties;
Liability
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29
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Section 4.25
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Finders’ Fees
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29
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Section 4.26
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Disclaimer of Other Representations and
Warranties
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29
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ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
CROMPTON
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30
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Section 5.1
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Existence and Power
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30
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Section 5.2
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Authorization; Enforceability
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30
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Section 5.3
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Governmental Authorization
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30
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Section 5.4
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Non-Contravention; Consents
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30
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Section 5.5
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Capitalization
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30
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Section 5.6
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Litigation
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31
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Section 5.7
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Finders’ Fees
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31
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Section 5.8
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Crompton’s Knowledge
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31
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Section 5.9
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Disclaimer of Other Representations and
Warranties
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31
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ARTICLE VI REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
BCCM SHAREHOLDERS
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31
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Section 6.1
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Existence and Power
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31
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Section 6.2
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Authorization; Enforceability
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32
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Section 6.3
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Governmental Authorization
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32
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Section 6.4
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Non-Contravention; Consents
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33
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Section 6.5
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Capitalization
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33
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Section 6.6
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Subsidiaries
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34
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Section 6.7
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No Undisclosed Liabilities
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34
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Section 6.8
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Tax Matters
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34
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Section 6.9
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Litigation
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35
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Section 6.10
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Finders’ Fees
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35
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Section 6.11
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Disclaimer of Other Representations and
Warranties
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35
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ARTICLE VII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE MANAGEMENT MEMBERS
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36
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Section 7.1
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Authorization; Enforceability
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36
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Section 7.2
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Governmental Authorization
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36
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Section 7.3
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Non-Contravention; Consents
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36
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Section 7.4
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Capitalization
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36
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Section 7.5
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Litigation
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37
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Section 7.6
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Finders’ Fees
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37
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Section 7.7
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Disclaimer of Other Representations and
Warranties
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37
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ARTICLE VIII REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
PURCHASER
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37
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Section 8.1
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Corporate Existence and Power
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37
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Section 8.2
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Corporate Authorization;
Enforceability
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37
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ii
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Section 8.3
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Non-Contravention
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38
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Section 8.4
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Governmental Authorization
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38
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Section 8.5
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Finders’ Fees
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38
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Section 8.6
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Litigation
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38
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Section 8.7
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Investigation by Purchaser; Exclusivity of
Representations
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38
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Section 8.8
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Hart-Scott-Rodino
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39
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Section 8.9
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Purchaser’s Knowledge
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39
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Section 8.10
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Payments Under the Credit Agreement.
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39
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ARTICLE IX CERTAIN COVENANTS
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39
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Section 9.1
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Access
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39
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Section 9.2
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Employees and Employment
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39
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Section 9.3
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Commercially Reasonable Efforts
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40
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Section 9.4
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Transfer Laws.
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40
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Section 9.5
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Further Assurances
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40
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ARTICLE X TAX MATTERS
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41
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Section 10.1
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Tax Allocation
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41
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Section 10.2
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Tax Returns
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41
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Section 10.3
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Refunds
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42
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Section 10.4
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Miscellaneous
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42
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ARTICLE XI CLOSING DELIVERABLES
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42
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Section 11.1
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Seller Deliverables
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42
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Section 11.2
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Purchaser Deliverables
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43
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ARTICLE XII LIABILITIES AND
INDEMNIFICATION
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43
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Section 12.1
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Survival Periods
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43
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Section 12.2
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Sellers’ Agreement to Indemnify
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44
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Section 12.3
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Purchaser’s Agreement to
Indemnify
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46
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Section 12.4
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Indemnification Procedure
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48
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Section 12.5
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Reduction of Sellers’ Holdbacks
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49
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Section 12.6
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Settlement of Claims
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50
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Section 12.7
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Insurance
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51
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Section 12.8
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No Duplication
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51
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Section 12.9
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Contribution Agreement Indemnities
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51
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Section 12.10
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Remedies
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51
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Section 12.11
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No Special Damages
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52
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Section 12.12
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Materiality
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52
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ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS
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52
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Section 13.1
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Notices
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52
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Section 13.2
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Amendments and Waivers
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54
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Section 13.3
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Expenses
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54
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Section 13.4
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Successors and Assigns
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54
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Section 13.5
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No Third-Party Beneficiaries
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54
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Section 13.6
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Governing Law
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54
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iii
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Section 13.7
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Public Announcements
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54
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Section 13.8
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Jurisdiction
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55
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Section 13.9
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Counterparts
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55
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Section 13.10
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Table of Contents; Headings
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55
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Section 13.11
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Entire Agreement
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55
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Section 13.12
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Termination of Certain Agreements
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55
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Section 13.13
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Severability; Injunctive Relief
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55
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Section 13.14
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Waiver of Conflict
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56
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iv
MERGER AND UNIT PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
MERGER AND UNIT PURCHASE AGREEMENT,
dated as of October 30, 2006, by and among Davis-Standard, LLC, a
limited liability corporation organized under the laws of Delaware
(“ DS LLC ”), BCCM Holdings, Inc., a corporation
organized under the laws of Delaware (“ BCCM ”),
Crompton Holding Corporation, a corporation organized under the
laws of Delaware (“ Crompton ”), the
shareholders of BCCM listed on Exhibit A (the “
BCCM Shareholders ”), the persons listed on Exhibit
B , each of whom is a management member in DS LLC (the “
Management Members ”), Robert Armstrong as agent for
the Carryholders hereunder (the “ Carryholders’
Agent ”) and together with Crompton, the BCCM
Shareholders and the Management Members, the “ Sellers
”) and D-S Acquisition Co., a corporation organized under the
laws of Delaware (the “ Purchaser ”).
R E C I T A L S
WHEREAS, the BCCM Shareholders own,
as a group, all of the authorized, issued and outstanding shares of
every class of Capital Stock of BCCM (the “ BCCM
Shares ”);
WHEREAS, BCCM owns an Interest in DS
LLC (the “ BCCM Interest ”);
WHEREAS, Crompton owns an Interest
in DS LLC (the “ Crompton Interest
”);
WHEREAS, the Management Members own
an Interest in DS LLC (the “ Management Members’
Interest ”);
WHEREAS, the Carryholders have a
contingent right to receive certain amounts from the sale of DS LLC
pursuant to the terms of the DS Operating Agreement (the “
Carried Interest ”);
WHEREAS, the BCCM Interest, the
Crompton Interest, the Management Members’ Interest and the
Carried Interest constitute all of the Interests in DS
LLC;
WHEREAS, the respective governing
bodies of Purchaser and BCCM have approved the merger of the
Purchaser with and into BCCM (the “ Merger ”),
pursuant to which BCCM will be the surviving company and the BCCM
Shareholders will be entitled to receive the consideration provided
for in this Agreement, all upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein; and
WHEREAS, Crompton, the Management
Members and the Carryholders (together, the “ DS
Sellers ”) desire to sell to the Purchaser and the
Purchaser desires to purchase from the DS Sellers, their respective
interests in DS LLC, upon the terms and subject to the conditions
set forth herein (the “ Unit Purchase
”).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and the mutual agreements and covenants hereinafter
set forth, the Purchaser, the Sellers, DS LLC and BCCM hereby agree
as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1
Definitions
. The
capitalized terms used in this Agreement shall have the meanings
set forth below:
“ Accountants ”
as used in this Agreement, means a mutually acceptable independent
accounting firm.
“ Accounts Receivable
” means all accounts and notes receivable relating to the
Business.
“ Adjustment Amount
” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(a)
.
“ Adjustment EBITDA
” means EBITDA of the Company for the fiscal year ended the
Balance Sheet Date, based on the Audited Balance Sheet.
“ Adjustment Percentage
” means with respect to any Seller, the percentage set forth
opposite such Seller’s name in column C of Schedule
3.1 .
“ Affiliate ”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or
indirectly controlling, controlled by or under common control with
the first Person and, if such first Person is an individual, any
member of the immediate family (including parents, spouse and
children) of such individual and any trust whose principal
beneficiary is such individual or one or more members of such
individual’s immediate family, and any Person who is
controlled by any such member or trust. For the purposes of
this Agreement, “ control ,” when used with
respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to (a) vote 10% or more of the securities
having ordinary voting power for the election of directors (or
comparable positions) of such Person or (b) direct or cause the
direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or
otherwise, and the terms “ controlling ” and
“ controlled ” have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
“ Agency Agreement
” shall mean any of the BCCM Agency Agreement, the Management
Members’ Agency Agreement or the Carryholders’ Agency
Agreement.
“ Agreement ”
means this Merger and Unit Purchase Agreement, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the terms
hereof.
“ Ancillary Agreements
” means the Certificate of Merger, the Non-Competition
Agreements, each Agency Agreement and all other instruments,
certificates and other agreements entered into by one or more of
the Sellers, BCCM, the Company or the Purchaser in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
“ Anniversary EBITDA
” means EBITDA of the Company for the period ending on the
twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing Date or any twelve
(12) month period ending on any calendar month thereafter,
excluding Transaction Expenses and management fees.
“ Applicable Reserves
” means the aggregate reserves for Accounts
Receivable.
2
“ Audited Balance Sheet
” means the audited balance sheet of the Company as of the
Balance Sheet Date, prepared by the Purchaser in accordance with
Section 3.6(b) .
“ Balance Sheet Date
” means September 30, 2006.
“ BCCM ” has the
meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ BCCM Agency Agreement
” means the Agency Agreement among the BCCM Agent and the
BCCM Shareholders, in substantially the form attached hereto as
Exhibit C-1 .
“ BCCM Agent ”
means the agent appointed by the BCCM Shareholders pursuant to the
BCCM Agency Agreement.
“ BCCM Holdback ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7 .
“ BCCM Interest ”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ BCCM Representations and
Warranties ” means the representations and warranties
contained in Article VI other than the BCCM Selected
Representations and Warranties.
“ BCCM Shareholder
Representations ” means the representations and
warranties contained in Section 6.1(b) , Section
6.4(b) , Section 6.5(b) and Section 6.9
.
“ BCCM Shareholders’
Agreement ” means the Stockholders and Registration
Rights Agreement of BCCM, dated March 31, 2005, among the BCCM
Shareholders and BCCM.
“ BCCM Shares ”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ BCCM Title
Representation ” means the representations and warranties
contained in Section 6.5(b) .
“ Benefit Plan ”
means any employee benefit plan within the meaning of Section 3(3)
of ERISA, and any other plan, program, agreement, arrangement,
policy, contract, commitment or scheme, written or oral, statutory
or contractual, that provides for compensation or benefits,
including any deferred compensation, severance, supplemental
income, executive compensation, bonus, stock option or incentive
plan, any welfare plan, cafeteria plan or any holiday, personnel or
vacation plan or practice.
“ Business ”
means the business of the Company as presently conducted,
including, but not limited to, the business of the design, sale,
installation, service and support of extrusions systems and
converting machinery.
“ Business Day ”
means a day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which
commercial banking institutions located in New York City, New York
are authorized or required to close.
3
“ Capitalized Lease
Obligations ” means the obligations of such Person that
are required to be classified and accounted for as capital lease
obligations under GAAP, together with all obligations to make
termination payments under such capitalized lease
obligations.
“ Capital Stock ”
means (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and
all shares, interests, participation or other equivalents (however
designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including
the common stock of such Person but excluding stock held as
treasury stock, and (b) with respect to any Person that is not a
corporation, any and all partnership or other equity interests of
such Person.
“ Carried Interest
” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ Carryholders ”
means the individuals listed in Schedule 1.1
hereto.
“ Carryholders’
Agency Agreement ” means the Agency Agreement among the
Carryholders’ Agent, the Carryholders and the Purchaser, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-2
.
“ Carryholders’
Agent ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ Carryholders’
Holdback ” has the meaning set forth in Section
3.3 .
“ CERCLA ” means
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601, et
seq. , as amended.
“ Certificate of Merger
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2
.
“ Closing ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 .
“ Closing Date ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 .
“ Closing Balance Sheet
” means the audited balance sheet of the Company as of the
Closing Date, prepared by the Purchaser in accordance with
Section 3.8(a) .
“ Closing Free Cash Flow
Payment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7
.
“ CMP ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 13.14 .
“ Code ” means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Company ”
means, collectively, DS LLC and its Subsidiaries.
“ Company Knowledge
” means, for the purposes of this Agreement, the actual
knowledge of Messrs. Charles Buckley, Robert Armstrong, Steven
Rachlis, Mark Panozzo, James Murphy, Ernest Plasse, Hassan Helmy
and Joseph Genovese.
“ Company Representation
and Warranty ” means the representations and warranties
contained in Article IV .
4
“ Consideration ”
means the Merger Consideration and the Purchase Price.
“ Constituent of
Concern ” means any substance defined as a hazardous
substance, hazardous waste, hazardous material, pollutant or
contaminant by any Environmental Law, any petroleum hydrocarbon and
any degradation product of a petroleum hydrocarbon, asbestos, PCB
or similar substance, the generation, recycling, use, treatment,
storage, transportation, Release, disposal or exposure of or to
which is subject to regulation under any Environmental
Law.
“ Contracts ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(a) .
“ Contribution
Agreement ” means the Contribution Agreement among
Crompton, Davis Standard Corporation, BCCM, BCCM LLC and DS LLC,
dated as of March 31, 2005.
“ Credit Agreement
” means the Credit and Security Agreement, dated the date of
this Agreement, among the Company, as borrower, KeyBank National
Association, as lead arranger, sole book runner and administrative
agent and the lenders named therein.
“ Crompton ” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Crompton Holdback
” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3
.
“ Crompton Interest
” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ Crompton Knowledge
” means, for the purposes of this Agreement, the actual
knowledge of Gregory McDaniel and Arthur Wienslaw.
“ Crompton Representations
and Warranties ” means the representations and warranties
contained in Article V .
“ Crompton Title
Representation ” means the representations and warranties
contained in Section 5.5(a) .
“ Damages ” means
Purchaser Damages and Sellers’ Damages.
“ DGCL ” means
the Delaware General Corporations Law.
“ DS LLC ” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ DS Operating
Agreement ” means the Amended and Restated Limited
Liability Agreement of DS LLC, dated April 29, 2005, as amended
from time to time prior to the Closing Date.
“ DS Sellers ”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ DS Units ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.5 .
“ EBITDA ” means,
with regard to the Company for any twelve month period, the net
income of the Company for that period plus , to the extent
deducted from revenues in determining net income, (i) interest
expense, (ii) expense for income or similar taxes paid or
accrued,
5
(iii) depreciation,
(iv) amortization and (v) extraordinary non-recurring
losses, minus , to the extent included in net income,
extraordinary non-recurring gains, all in accordance with
GAAP.
“ Effective Time
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2
.
“ Election Period
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4
.
“ Environmental Claims
” means administrative, regulatory or judicial actions,
suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, citations,
summonses, notices of non-compliance or violation, requests for
information, investigations or proceedings relating in any way to
the Release of Constituents of Concern or any Environmental Law,
including (a) Environmental Claims by Governmental Authorities for
enforcement, cleanup, removal, response, remedial or other actions
or damages pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law and (b)
Environmental Claims by any third party seeking damages,
contribution, indemnification, cost recovery, compensation or
injunctive relief resulting from a Release of Constituents of
Concern on at or underlying the Real Property.
“ Environmental
Condition ” means a condition with respect to the
environment which has resulted or could reasonably be expected to
result in a loss, liability, cost or expense to the
Company.
“ Environmental Law
” means any Law, administrative order, consent decree or
judgment, or common law relating to the environment, human health
and safety, including CERCLA, and any state and local counterparts
or equivalents.
“ Environmental Liabilities
and Costs ” shall mean any Sellers’ Damages arising
from or relating to: (a) any Claim pursuant to Environmental Law
for personal injury, property damage, damage to natural resources
or the Environment, or threatened or actual Release (whether based
on negligent acts or omissions, statutory liability, or strict
liability without fault or otherwise); (b) any investigation,
study, assessment, testing, monitoring, containment, removal,
remediation, response, cleanup or abatement of any threatened or
actual Release, whether on-site or off-site, in connection with the
Property or the activities or operations conducted thereon; and (c)
the failure at any time to comply with all applicable Environmental
Laws, including without limitation: (i) any fines and penalties
assessed, levied or asserted by a Governmental Authority; and (ii)
any Sellers’ Damages necessary to enable compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws currently in effect and requiring
compliance as of the Closing.
“ Environmental Permits
” means all Permits, licenses, authorizations, certificates
and approvals of Governmental Authorities relating to or required
by Environmental Laws.
“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
and any successor thereto.
“ ERISA Affiliate
” means any Person that, together with the Company, would be
considered a single employer within the meaning of Section 4001 of
ERISA or Section 414 of the Code.
6
“ Exchange Act ”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
“ Financial Statements
” means the audited balance sheet of the Company as of
September 30, 2005 and the unaudited balance sheet of the Company
as of September 30, 2006, together with the related statements of
income and cash flow for the periods then ended, all of which are
attached hereto as Schedule 4.7 .
“ FTC ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 8.8 .
“ GAAP ” means
U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, as consistently
applied by the Company.
“ Governmental
Authority ” means any domestic or foreign governmental or
regulatory agency, authority, bureau, commission, department,
official or similar body or instrumentality thereof, or any
governmental court, arbitral tribunal or other body administering
alternative dispute resolution.
“ Holdback Acceleration
Event ” has the meaning set forth in Section
12.5(b) .
“ Holdback Percentage
” means, with respect to any Seller, the percentage set forth
opposite such Seller’s name in column B of Schedule 3.1
hereof, calculated as the quotient of (i) the original amount of
such Seller’s Holdback and (ii) $10 million.
“ HRCo ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 13.14 .
“ HSR Act ” means
the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
“ HSR Letter ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.8 .
“ Indebtedness ”
means with respect to any Person, at any date, without duplication,
(a) all obligations of such Person for borrowed money, including
all principal, interest, premiums, fees, expenses, overdrafts and
penalties with respect thereto, (b) all obligations of such Person
evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
(c) all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase
price of the property or services, except trade payables incurred
in the Ordinary Course of Business, (d) all guaranties of any
nature with respect to the indebtedness of any Person and
obligations of such Person to reimburse any bank or other Person in
respect of amounts paid under a letter of credit or similar
instrument, (e) all Capitalized Lease Obligations, (f) all other
obligations of a Person which would be required to be shown as
indebtedness on a balance sheet of such Person prepared in
accordance with GAAP, (g) every obligation of a Person under
interest rates swaps, caps, collars and similar arrangements, and
(h) all indebtedness of any other Person of the type referred to in
Sections (a) to (g) above directly or indirectly guaranteed by such
Person or secured by any assets of such Person, whether or not such
Indebtedness has been assumed by such Person.
“ Indemnity Notice
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4(b)
.
7
“ Indemnified Party
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4(a)(i)
.
“ Indemnifying Party
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4(a)(i)
.
“ Intellectual Property
” means any trademark, service mark, trade name, product
designation, logo, slogan, invention, patent, trade secret,
copyright, know-how, proprietary design or process, computer
software and database, Internet address or domain name (including
any registrations or applications for registration or renewal of
any of the foregoing), research in progress, or any other similar
type of proprietary intellectual property right.
“ Intellectual Property
Right ” means any Intellectual Property which is used or
held for use or otherwise necessary in connection with the conduct
of the Business.
“ Interest ”
means the DS Units owned by a Person, together with such
Person’s contractual rights pursuant to the DS Operating
Agreement.
“ Inventory ”
means raw materials, work in progress and finished goods
inventory.
“ IRS ” means the
Internal Revenue Service.
“ Law ” means any
applicable federal, foreign, state or local statute, law, including
common law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, permit or
license.
“ Lien ” means,
with respect to the Company’s ownership or leasehold interest
in any Property or asset, any mortgage, lien, pledge, charge or
security interest. For the purposes of this Agreement, a
Person will be deemed to own, subject to a Lien, any property or
asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a
vendor or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, Capitalized
Lease Obligations or other title retention agreement relating to
such property or asset.
“ LR ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 13.14(c) .
“ Management Members
” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ Management Members’
Agency Agreement ” means the Agency Agreement among the
Management Members’ Agent and the Management Members, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C-3
.
“ Management Members’
Interest ” has the meaning set forth in the recitals to
this Agreement.
“ Management Members’
Agent ” means the agent appointed by the Management
Members pursuant to the Management Members’ Agency
Agreement.
“ Management Members’
Holdback ” has the meaning set forth in Section
3.3 .
“ Management Members’
Representations and Warranties ” means the
representations and warranties contained in Article VII
.
8
“ Management Members’
Title Representation ” means the representations and
warranties contained in Section 7.4(a) .
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means a material adverse effect on the business,
assets, liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), results of
operations of the Company or the Business, taken as a whole,
provided that the effects of changes that are generally
applicable to the industries or economies of the countries in which
the Business operates or does business shall be excluded from such
determination.
“ Merger ” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Merger Consideration
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6
.
“ Non-Competition
Agreement ” means the non-competition agreement between
Purchaser and Crompton in substantially the form of Exhibit
D hereto.
“ Order ” means
any judgment, injunction, judicial or administrative order or
decree.
“ Ordinary Course of
Business ” means, with respect to any Person, the
ordinary course of business of such Person, substantially
consistent with such Person’s past practice and custom,
including, with respect to any category, quantity or dollar amount,
term and frequency of payment, delivery, accrual, expense or any
other accounting entry.
“ Permit ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.14(b) .
“ Permitted Lien
” means (a) mechanics’ Liens, workmen’s Liens,
carriers’ Liens, repairmen’s Liens, material
men’s Liens, landlord’s Liens or other like Liens
arising or incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business in respect
of obligations that are not overdue, (b) Liens for Taxes,
assessments and other similar governmental charges that are not
overdue or are being contested in good faith and for which
appropriate reserves have been established, (c) Liens incurred or
deposits made to secure the performance of bids, contracts,
statutory obligations, surety and appeal bonds incurred in
connection with the Business and in the Ordinary Course of Business
by the Company, (d) Liens that arise under or violations of or
non-compliance with any zoning, land use or other similar
imperfections of title that arise in the Ordinary Course of
Business that, in the aggregate, do not materially affect the value
or use of the property subject thereto, or (e) statutory liens held
by landlords under leases and liens expressly created in any lease
against fixtures, chattels or other property of the Company that
are placed in, or become a part of, the leased real
property.
“ Person ” means
an individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company,
joint venture, association, trust or other entity or organization
or Governmental Authority.
“ Post-Closing Tax
Period ” means any Tax period (or portion thereof) ending
after the Closing Date.
“ Pre-Closing Tax
Period ” means any Tax period (or portion thereof) that
ends on or before the Closing Date.
9
“ Product Liability
Claims ” shall mean any product liability and/or product
warranties Claims or Losses (as each is defined in the Contribution
Agreement) arising out of or relating to goods manufactured, sold
and/or shipped by the Davis Standard Business (as defined in the
Contribution Agreement), or the services provided in
connection thereto, including without limitation the
services provided and goods manufactured, sold and/or
shipped during the period of time the business of
Davis-Standard was operated as a division of Crompton Corporation
(as defined in the Contribution Agreement), together
with any equipment and related service product liability
and/or product warranty liabilities assumed by
Davis-Standard and/or Crompton Corporation as a
result of an acquisition of a business or manufacturing
facility that is now operated by the Company.
“ Property ”
means any Real Property and improvements at any time owned, leased,
used, operated or occupied (whether for storage, disposal or
otherwise) by the Company.
“ Purchaser ” has
the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph of this
Agreement.
“ Purchaser Damages
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2(a)
.
“ Purchaser Indemnitees
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.2(a)
.
“ Purchaser Knowledge
” means, for the purposes of this Agreement, the actual
knowledge of Messrs. Scott I. Oakford and Phillip J.
Cagnassola.
“ Real Property ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(b) .
“ Reference Balance
Sheet ” means the balance sheet of the Company as of the
Balance Sheet Date attached hereto as Section 4.7
.
“ Release ” means
any release, spill, emission, discharge, leaking, pumping,
injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching or
migration into the environment (including ambient air, surface
water, groundwater and surface or subsurface strata) or into or out
of any Property, including the movement of Constituents of Concern
through or in the air, soil, surface water, groundwater or
property.
“ Restrictive Covenants
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.10(a)
.
“ Sellers ” has
the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Agreement.
“ Sellers’
Indemnification Cap ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 12.2(b)(ii) .
“ Sellers’
Indemnitees ” has the meaning set forth in Section
12.3 .
“ Sellers’
Damages ” has the meaning set forth in Section
12.3 .
“ Sellers’
Holdbacks ” means the Crompton Holdback, the BCCM
Holdback, the Management Members’ Holdback and the
Carryholders’ Holdback.
10
“ Subsidiary ”
means, with respect to any Person, (a) any corporation 50% or more
of whose stock of any class or classes having by the terms thereof
ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the directors of such
corporation (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock of
any class or classes of such corporation have or might have voting
power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time
owned by such Person, directly or indirectly through Subsidiaries,
and (b) any partnership, limited liability company, association,
joint venture, trust or other entity in which such Person, directly
or indirectly through Subsidiaries, is either a general partner,
has a 50% or greater equity interest at the time or otherwise owns
a controlling interest.
“ Survival Period
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.1
.
“ Surviving Company
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1
.
“ Tax ” or
“ Taxes ” shall mean all federal, state, local
or foreign income, gross receipts, windfall profits, severance,
property, production, sales, use, license, excise, franchise,
employment, withholding, transfer, payroll, goods and services, ad
valorem, value-added or minimum tax, or any other tax, custom,
duty, governmental fee, or other like assessment or charge of any
kind whatsoever, together with any interest or any penalty,
addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental
Authority, whether disputed or not and including any obligations to
indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the liability of any
other Person for any of the foregoing.
“ Tax Return ”
shall mean any return, report or similar statement required to be
filed with respect to any Taxes (including any attached schedules),
including, without limitation, any information return, claim or
refund, amended return and declaration of estimated Tax.
“ Third-Party Claim
” has the meaning set forth in Section 12.4(a)(i)
.
“ Third-Party Claim
Notice ” has the meaning set forth in Section
12.4(a)(i).
“ Title Representations
” means the BCCM Title Representations, the Crompton Title
Representations and the Management Members Title
Representations.
“ Transaction Expenses
” means all fees and expenses of any broker, finder,
financial advisor, legal advisor or similar Person paid by the
Company in connection with the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement.
“ Transfer Laws ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4 .
“ Utilities ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.15(b) .
“ Unit Purchase ”
has the meaning set forth in the recitals to this
Agreement.
“ Workers Compensation
Claims ” shall mean liability under United States
workers’ compensation laws or comparable foreign laws for
Claims or Losses (as each is defined in the Contribution
Agreement) for, by or related to, employees of the
Davis-Standard Business (as defined in the Contribution Agreement),
including when the business of Davis-Standard was
11
operated as a division of Crompton
Corporation (as defined in the Contribution Agreement),
together with any liability under United States workers’
compensation laws or comparable foreign laws assumed by
Davis-Standard and/or Crompton Corporation as a
result of an acquisition of a business or manufacturing
facility that is now operated by the Company.
Section
1.2
Construction
. (a)
Whenever the context requires, the meanings of the terms set forth
in Article 1.1 shall be equally applicable to the singular
and plural forms thereof, and the gender of all words used in this
Agreement shall include the masculine, feminine and neuter.
All references to Articles refer to articles of this Agreement, and
all references to Schedules and Exhibits are to schedules and
exhibits attached to this Agreement, each of which is made a part
of this Agreement for all purposes.
(b)
No provision of
this Agreement will be interpreted in favor of, or against, any of
the parties hereto by reason of the extent to which any such party
or its counsel participated in the drafting thereof or by reason of
the extent to which any such provision is inconsistent with any
prior draft hereof or thereof.
ARTICLE II
MERGER
Section
2.1
The
Merger . Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with
the DGCL, at the Effective Time the Purchaser shall be merged with
and into BCCM. As a result of the Merger, the separate
corporate existence of the Purchaser shall cease, and BCCM shall
continue as the surviving company of the Merger (BCCM from and
after the Effective Time hereinafter referred to as the “
Surviving Company ”).
Section
2.2
Effective
Time . Upon the terms and
subject to the conditions of this Agreement, on the Closing Date,
BCCM and the Purchaser shall cause the Merger to be consummated by
filing the certificate of merger (the “ Certificate of
Merger ”) substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit E with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware, in such form as is required by, and executed in
accordance with the applicable provisions of, the DGCL (the date
and time of such filing being hereinafter referred to as the
“ Effective Time ”). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the parties hereto shall be under no obligation to
effect the Merger hereunder unless Crompton, the Management
Members, and the Carryholders, as a group, sell to Purchaser all of
their respective Interests pursuant to Article III
.
Section
2.3
Effect of the
Merger . At the Effective
Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this
Agreement and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at
the Effective Time all the property, rights, privileges, powers and
franchises of the Purchaser and BCCM shall vest in the Surviving
Company, and all debts, liabilities, obligations and duties of the
Purchaser and BCCM shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations
and duties of the Surviving Company.
12
Section
2.4
Certificate of
Incorporation; Bylaws .
(a)
At the Effective
Time, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Company
shall be amended to conform to the certificate of incorporation of
the Purchaser, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective
Time, and to change the name of the Surviving Company to
“Davis-Standard Corporation”, until such time as it may
be thereafter further amended in accordance with the applicable
provisions of the DGCL and such certificate of
incorporation.
(b)
At the Effective
Time, the bylaws of the Surviving Company shall be amended to
conform to the bylaws of the Purchaser, as in effect immediately
prior to the Effective Time, until such time as it may be
thereafter amended in accordance with the applicable provisions of
the DGCL, the certificate of incorporation and such
bylaws.
Section
2.5
Directors and
Officers . The directors,
officers and managers of the Purchaser immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall be the initial directors, officers and
managers of the Surviving Company, each to hold office in
accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the
Surviving Company.
Section
2.6
Merger
Consideration . The aggregate
consideration payable pursuant to the Merger to each of the BCCM
Shareholders shall be equal to the amounts set forth opposite their
names on Schedule 6.5 (the “ Merger
Consideration ”), payable at Closing by wire transfer of
immediately available funds pursuant to written wire transfer
instructions delivered by the BCCM Shareholders to Purchaser at
least two (2) business days prior to the Closing.
Section
2.7
BCCM
Holdback . Subject
to the rights contained in Article XII , including
Section 12.5 and Section 12.6 therein, the Surviving
Company shall pay to the BCCM Shareholders the amounts set forth
opposite their names on Schedule 3.1 , plus interest accrued
thereon at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum (in the
aggregate, the “ BCCM Holdback ”) as follows:
(a) one half of such total amount, after such amount is adjusted
pursuant to Section 12.5 and Section 12.6 , on the
twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing Date, and (b) the
remainder of such total amount, after such amount is adjusted
pursuant to Section 12.5 and Section 12.6 , on the
eighteen (18) month anniversary of the Closing Date; provided, that
such payment schedule may be adjusted upon the occurrence of a
Holdback Acceleration Event pursuant to Section 12.5(b);
provided further that no such amount shall be payable if, and to
the extent, that any claim for Purchaser Damages under Article
XII remains in dispute and unsettled with respect to such BCCM
Shareholder; and provided further that any amounts in dispute and
unsettled shall be deposited into an interest bearing escrow
account at the time such amount would otherwise be payable to the
BCCM Shareholders hereunder and released upon settlement or final
disposition of such claim. If the Company fails to deposit
any such amounts into such escrow account at such time, the Company
will be deemed to have waived its right to indemnification with
respect to such disputed and unsettled matters.
Section
2.8
Conversion of
the BCCM Shares .
(a)
Conversion of
Shares . All of the BCCM Shares
outstanding as of the Effective Time shall, by virtue of the Merger
and without any action on the part of the BCCM
13
Shareholders or
the Purchaser, automatically be converted into the right to receive
Merger Consideration.
(b)
Treasury
Shares . Each share of capital
stock held in BCCM’s treasury as of the Effective Time, if
any, shall, by virtue of the Merger, be canceled without payment of
any consideration therefor.
(c)
Purchaser
Shares . Each share of capital stock
of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will remain issued and outstanding and shall
constitute one (1) share of capital stock of the Surviving
Company.
Section
2.9
Exchange of
Certificates . At the Closing,
certificates representing the BCCM Shares shall be canceled in
exchange for the Merger Consideration.
ARTICLE III
UNIT PURCHASE AND CLOSING
Section
3.1
Unit
Purchase . (a) Upon the
terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, at the
Closing, (i) Crompton agrees to sell to Purchaser, and the
Purchaser shall purchase from Crompton, the Crompton Interest, free
and clear of all Liens, (ii) each of the Management Members
agrees to sell to Purchaser, and the Purchaser shall purchase from
the Management Members, the Management Members’ Interest,
free and clear of all Liens and (iii) each of the Carryholders
agrees to receive payment hereunder in full satisfaction of such
Carryholder’s rights to its Carried Interest, all in
accordance with numbers and amounts set forth on Schedule 4.5, with
respect to the Crompton and Management Members, and Schedule
1.1 with respect to the Carryholders.
(b)
Purchaser shall
not be required to purchase the Crompton Interest, the Management
Members’ Interest or the Carried Interest, unless (i) the DS
Sellers, as a group, sell and convey to Purchaser all of the
Crompton Interest, the Management Members’ Interest and the
Carried Interest, and (ii) the Merger has been effected pursuant to
Article II .
Section
3.2
Purchase
Price . (a) In
consideration for the sale and conveyance by Crompton to Purchaser
of the Crompton Interest, the sale and conveyance by the Management
Members of the Management Members’ Interest and the full
satisfaction of all Carryholders’ right to their respective
Carried Interest, Purchaser shall, at the Closing, subject to
Section 3.1(b) , (i) pay to Crompton the amount set
forth opposite its name on Schedule 4.5 , (ii) pay to
each of the Management Members the amounts set forth opposite each
of their names on Schedule 4.5 and (iii) pay to each of
the Carryholders the amounts set forth opposite each of their names
on Schedule 1.1 pursuant to the terms of the
Carryholders’ Agency Agreement (the consideration described
in the foregoing items (i) through (iii), the “ Purchase
Price ”). All amounts payable at Closing shall be
paid in cash by wire transfer in immediately available funds to
accounts designated by DS Sellers at least two Business Days prior
to Closing.
Section
3.3
Crompton,
Management Members’ and Carryholders’
Holdback . Subject
to the rights contained in Article XII , including
Section 12.5 and Section 12.6 therein, the Surviving
Company shall pay (a) to Crompton the amount set forth opposite its
name on Schedule 3.1 , plus interest accrued thereon at the
rate of ten percent (10%) per annum (the
14
“
Crompton Holdback ”), (b) to the Management Members
the amounts set forth opposite their names on Schedule 3.1 ,
plus interest accrued thereon at the rate of ten percent (10%) per
annum (in the aggregate, the “ Management Members’
Holdback ”), and (c) to the Carryholders the amounts set
forth opposite their names on Schedule 3.1 , plus interest
accrued thereon at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum,
pursuant to the terms of the Carryholders’ Agency Agreement
(in the aggregate, the “ Carryholders’ Holdback
”) as follows: (a) one half of each such Sellers’
Holdback, after such amount is adjusted pursuant to Section
12.5 and Section 12.6 , on the twelve (12) month
anniversary of the Closing Date, and (b) the remainder of each such
Sellers’ Holdback, after such amount is adjusted pursuant to
Section 12.5 and Section 12.6 , on the eighteen (18)
month anniversary of the Closing Date, provided that no such amount
shall be payable if, and to the extent, that any claim for
Purchaser Damages under Article XII remains in dispute and
unsettled with respect to such Seller; provided further that any
amounts in dispute and unsettled shall be deposited into an
interest bearing escrow account at the time such amount would
otherwise be payable to a DS Seller hereunder and released upon
settlement or final disposition of such claim. If the Company fails to
deposit any such amounts into such escrow account at such time, the
Company will be deemed to have waived its right to indemnification
with respect to such disputed and unsettled matters.
Section
3.4
Sellers’
Agents . The BCCM Agent, the
Management Members’ Agent and the Carryholders’ Agent
shall serve as the representative of, respectively, the BCCM
Shareholders, the Management Members and the Carryholders with
respect to all matters set forth in the respective Agency
Agreement. Crompton shall act on its own behalf with respect
to the Crompton Holdback. The duties and obligations of each Agent
shall be determined solely by the express provisions of the
respective Agency Agreement.
Section
3.5
The
Closing . The closing of the
Merger and Unit Purchase (the “ Closing ”) will
take place at the offices of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt &
Mosle LLP, 101 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10178 at 10:00 a.m.,
Eastern Standard Time, on the date of this Agreement, unless the
parties agree in writing to change the Closing to another time,
date or place. The date upon which the Closing occurs is
herein called the “ Closing Date .”
Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the Closing will be
deemed effective for accounting, tax and all other purposes as of
12:00 a.m., Eastern Standard Time, on the Closing Date.
Section
3.6
Adjustment
Amount
(a)
The “
Adjustment Amount ” (which may only be a positive
number) will be the amount equal to the product of (i) two and (ii)
the Adjustment EBITDA less $24,000,000; provided that such
amount may not exceed $5,000,000, and if such amount is a negative
number, the Adjustment Amount shall be zero.
(b)
As promptly as
practicable, but in any event within sixty (60) calendar days
following the Closing Date, Purchaser shall deliver to Sellers the
Audited Balance Sheet, together with a certificate of Purchaser
containing a calculation of the Adjustment Amount on the same basis
and applying the same accounting principles, including GAAP, that
were used to prepare the Reference Balance Sheet. If within
thirty (30) days following delivery of the Audited Balance Sheet,
none of Crompton, the BCCM Agent or the Management Members’
Agent have given Purchaser notice of an objection to the Audited
Balance Sheet (including a
15
statement of the
basis of such objection), then the Audited Balance Sheet will be
determinative in computing the Adjustment Amount, based on the
formula set forth in Section 3.6(a) hereof. If any of
Crompton, the BCCM Agent or the Management Members’ Agent
gives such notice of objection, Crompton, the BCCM Agent, the
Management Members’ Agent and Purchaser shall attempt a good
faith resolution of the dispute. If no such resolution is
reached within a period of twenty (20) days from such objection,
then the issues in dispute will be submitted to the Accountants for
resolution. If issues in dispute are submitted to the Accountants
for resolution, (i) each party will furnish to the Accountants
such workpapers and other documents and information relating to the
disputed issues as the Accountants may request and are available to
that party or its subsidiaries (or its independent public
accountants), and will be afforded the opportunity to present to
the Accountants any material relating to the determination and to
discuss the determination with the Accountants; (ii) the
determination by the Accountants, as set forth in a notice
delivered to both parties by the Accountants as soon as practicable
following submission of such dispute to the Accountants, will be
binding and conclusive on the parties; and (iii) Sellers on the one
hand and Purchaser on the other hand will each bear fifty percent
(50%) of the fees of the Accountants for such
determination.
(c)
Payment of any Adjustment Amount that is owed by Purchaser to
Sellers pursuant to this Section 3.6 shall be made by
Purchaser to Sellers, pro rata based on their Adjustment
Percentage as follows: (i) 50% of the Adjustment Amount shall be
paid to the Sellers on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the
Closing Date, and (ii) 50% of the Adjustment Amount shall be paid
to the Sellers on the eighteen (18) month anniversary of the
Closing Date; provided that if a Holdback Acceleration Event
occurs, the full amount of the Adjustment Amount shall be paid to
the Sellers on the twelve (12) month anniversary of the Closing
Date (or at the completion of any calendar month thereafter during
which the Holdback Acceleration Event occurs as set forth in
Section 12.5(b) below). The Adjustment Amount will accrue
interest at the rate of ten percent (10%) per annum from the
Closing Date. The Adjustment Amount, including any accrued
interest, will not be made part of the Holdback Amount, nor will it
be subject to any indemnification or other claims by Purchaser or
any Purchaser Indemnitees, except as provided in Section
3.8(b) .
Section
3.7 Free Cash Flow Payment .
As of the Closing Date, the Company shall have distributed to its
members on a pro rata basis as set forth on Schedule
3.7 , the aggregate Free Cash Flow (as such term is defined in
the DS Operating Agreement, which amount reflects all prior
distributions of Free Cash Flow, including but not limited to the
BCCM Special Distribution Amount (as defined in the DS Operating
Agreement)), since April 29, 2005, through and including the
Balance Sheet Date (the “ Closing Free Cash Flow
Payment ”).
Section
3.8 Post-Closing Free Cash Flow
Payment .
(a)
As promptly as practicable, but in any event within sixty (60)
calendar days following the Closing Date, Purchaser shall deliver
to Sellers the Closing Balance Sheet. If within thirty (30)
days following delivery of the Closing Balance Sheet, none of
Crompton, the BCCM Agent or the Management Members’ Agent
have given Purchaser notice of an objection to the Closing Balance
Sheet (including a statement of the basis of such objection), then
the Closing Balance Sheet will be determinative in computing the
Free Cash Flow Adjustment Amount, based on the formula set forth in
Section 3.8(b) hereof. If any of Crompton, the
BCCM
16
Agent or the
Management Members’ Agent gives such notice of objection,
Crompton, the BCCM Agent, the Management Members’ Agent and
Purchaser shall attempt a good faith resolution of the
dispute. If no such resolution is reached within a period of
twenty (20) days from such objection, then the issues in dispute
will be submitted to the Accountants for resolution. If issues in
dispute are submitted to the Accountants for resolution,
(i) each party will furnish to the Accountants such workpapers
and other documents and information relating to the disputed issues
as the Accountants may request and are available to that party or
its subsidiaries (or its independent public accountants), and will
be afforded the opportunity to present to the Accountants any
material relating to the determination and to discuss the
determination with the Accountants; (ii) the determination by the
Accountants, as set forth in a notice delivered to both parties by
the Accountants as soon as practicable following submission of such
dispute to the Accountants, will be binding and conclusive on the
parties; and (iii) Sellers on the one hand and Purchaser on the
other hand will each bear fifty percent (50%) of the fees of the
Accountants for such determination.
(b)
As soon as practicable following the date on which the Closing
Balance Sheet is finally accepted pursuant to the terms of
Section 3.8(a) , but in no event more than ten (10) days
following such date, the Purchaser shall cause the Company to pay
to the Sellers pro rata based on Schedule 3.7 , an
amount, if a positive number, equal to (i) the amount of Free Cash
Flow (as such term is defined in the DS Operating Agreement, which
amount reflects all prior distributions of Free Cash Flow,
including but not limited to the BCCM Special Distribution Amount
(as defined in the DS Operating Agreement)) since April 29, 2005,
through and including the date of the Closing, less (ii) the
Closing Free Cash Flow Payment (the “ Free Cash Flow
Adjustment Amount ”). In the event that the Free
Cash Flow Adjustment Amount is a negative number, the Adjustment
Amount shall be reduced pro rata by the amount of such Free
Cash Flow Adjustment Amount; provided that the Adjustment Amount
may not be reduced below zero.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants
to the Purchaser as follows:
Section
4.1 Existence and Power . DS
LLC is a limited liability company duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
A copy of the certificate of formation and the DS Operating
Agreement have been delivered to Purchaser and, as of the Closing
Date, are complete, correct and are in full force and effect, and
there have been no amendments or modifications thereto either made
and/or approved.
Section
4.2 Authorization; Enforceability
. The execution, delivery and performance by DS LLC of
this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it
will be a party at the Closing are, and will be at the Closing,
duly authorized by all necessary actions, and no other action on
the part of DS LLC is necessary to authorize this Agreement or any
of the Ancillary Agreements to which DS LLC will be a party at the
Closing. This Agreement has been, and each of the Ancillary
Agreements to which DS LLC will be a party at the Closing will have
been, duly executed and delivered by DS LLC. Assuming the due
execution and delivery by Purchaser of this Agreement and each of
the Ancillary Agreements to
17
which DS LLC will
be a party at the Closing, this Agreement constitutes, and each
Ancillary Agreement to which DS LLC will be a party at the Closing
will constitute at the Closing, the valid and binding agreements of
DS LLC, enforceable against DS LLC in accordance with their terms,
except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and by
general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at
law or in equity).
Section
4.3 Governmental Authorization .
Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.3 , the
execution, delivery and performance by DS LLC of this Agreement and
each Ancillary Agreement to which DS LLC will be a party at the
Closing require no consent, approval, order, authorization or
action by or in respect of, or filing with, any Governmental
Authority, except that the Company makes no representation or
warranties regarding the HSR Act.
Section
4.4 Non-Contravention; Consents .
Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.4 , the
execution, delivery and performance by DS LLC of this Agreement and
each Ancillary Agreement to which DS LLC will be a party at the
Closing, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby do not and will not at the Closing (i) violate
the certificate of formation of DS LLC or the DS Operating
Agreement, (ii) violate any Law or Order, (iii) require any filing
with or the issuance of any Permit, consent or approval of, or the
giving of any notice to, any Person (including filings, consents or
approvals required under any Permits of DS LLC or any licenses to
which DS LLC is a party) except that the Company makes no
representation or warranties regarding the HSR Act, (iv) result in
a violation or breach of, constitute (with or without due notice or
lapse of time or both) a default under, or give rise to any right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any right or
obligation of the Company or to a loss of any benefit to which the
Company is entitled under, any Contract, agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any license, franchise,
Permit or other similar authorization held by the Company, or (v)
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien (other than
Permitted Liens) on any ownership or leasehold interest in any
asset of the Company, except to the extent that any of the
foregoing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Section
4.5 Capitalization . The
authorized capital stock of DS LLC consists of 100 Common Units,
all of which are issued and outstanding and owned of record as set
forth on Schedule 4.5 . All of the Capital Stock of DS
LLC (the “ DS Units ”) are duly authorized,
validly issued and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable, and
were issued, except as set forth in the DS Operating Agreement,
free of preemptive rights. Except as set forth in the DS
Operating Agreement, there are no options, warrants, purchase
rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights,
convertible securities or other rights, agreement, arrangements or
commitments of any character relating to the DS Units or obligating
DS LLC to issue, sell or otherwise cause to become outstanding any
shares of capital stock. There are no outstanding contractual
obligations of DS LLC to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of, or interests in, DS LLC or to provide funds to, or
make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or
otherwise) in, any other Person. Except as may be set forth
in the DS Operating Agreement, there are no outstanding or
authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock participation or
similar rights with respect to DS LLC.
18
Section
4.6 Subsidiaries . Except as
disclosed in Schedule 4.6 , DS LLC does not own any
Capital Stock or other equity or ownership or proprietary interest
in any corporation, partnership, association, trust, joint venture
or other entity.
Section
4.7 Financial Statements .
(a) DS LLC has heretofore furnished Purchaser with a true and
complete copy of the Financial Statements which are attached hereto
as Schedule 4.7 . The Financial Statements have
been derived from the books and records of the Company, have been
prepared in accordance with GAAP (except for, with respect to the
Reference Balance Sheet and the related statement of income and
cash flow, the absence of footnote disclosure and usual and
customary year-end audit adjustments) and fairly present in all
material respects the financial position of the Company at the
respective dates thereof and the results of the operations of the
Company for the periods indicated.
(b)
The books of account of the Company, all of which have been made
available to Purchaser, reflect the operations of the Company in
all material respects.
Section
4.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities
. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company has no
liabilities, whether accrued, contingent, absolute, determined,
determinable or otherwise, other than (i) liabilities provided for
in the Financial Statements, (ii) liabilities disclosed in
Schedule 4.8 , (iii) other undisclosed liabilities
incurred since the Balance Sheet Date in the Ordinary Course of
Business, and (iv) liabilities arising out of the terms and
conditions of the Company’s contracts, including the
Contracts and, in each case (i) – (iv), which would not have
a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the
Schedules to this Agreement, including, Schedule 4.8 and
Schedule 4.11(a), or provided for in the Financial
Statements of the Company, the Company has no material
Indebtedness.
Section
4.9 Tax Matters .
(a)
DS LLC is a “partnership” for purposes of Code
§7701 and the associated Treasury Regulations. Each of
DS LLC’s Subsidiaries is a “corporation” for
purposes of Code §7701 and the associated Treasury
Regulations.
(b)
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9, the Company has filed all Tax
Returns that it was required to file under applicable laws and
regulations. All such Tax Returns were correct and complete
in all respects and have been prepared in substantial compliance
with all applicable laws and regulations. All Taxes due and
owing by the Company (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have
been paid. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9 , the
Company is not currently the beneficiary of any extension of time
within which to file any Tax Return. To the Company’s
Knowledge, no claim has been made by an authority in a jurisdiction
where the Company does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. No Tax authority
has formally or, to the Company’s Knowledge, informally
proposed any adjustment relating to such Tax Returns. Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.9, there are no pending or, to
Company’s Knowledge, threatened actions or proceedings for
the assessment or collection of Taxes against the Company.
There are no liens for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and
payable) upon any of the assets of the Company.
19
(c)
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9, the Company has withheld and
paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in
connection with any amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, stockholder or, to the Company’s
Knowledge, any creditor or other third party.
(d)
Schedule 4.9 lists all federal, state, local, and foreign
Tax Returns filed with respect to the Company for taxable periods
ended on or after December 31, 2001, indicates those Tax Returns
that have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that
currently are the subject of audit. The Company has
delivered, or made available, to the Purchaser correct and complete
copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination reports, and
statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by the
Company since December 31, 2001.
(e)
The Company has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of
Taxes since April 28, 2005, and has no current agreement in effect
that grants an extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment
or deficiency.
(f) The DS
Units are not and have not been “United States real property
interests” within the meaning of Code §897 at any
time. The Company is not a party to or bound by any Tax
allocation or sharing agreement. The Company has not been a
member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income
Tax Return, and the Company does not have any liability for the
Taxes of any Person under Treasury Regulation §1.1502-6 (or
any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a
transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(g)
The Company will not be required to include any item of income in,
or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any
taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date
as a result of any: (A) change in method of accounting for a
taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (B)
“closing agreement” as described in Code §7121 (or
any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign
income Tax law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (C)
intercompany transactions or any excess loss account described in
Treasury Regulations under Code §1502 (or any corresponding or
similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law); (D)
installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior
to the Closing Date; or (E) prepaid amount received on or prior to
the Closing Date.
(h)
The Company has not participated in any transaction required to be
disclosed under Treasury Regulation §301.6011-4.
Section
4.10 Absence of Certain Changes . Except
as disclosed in Schedule 4.10 , since the Balance Sheet
Date, the Company has conducted the Business in the Ordinary Course
of Business and to the Company’s Knowledge there has not been
any event, occurrence, development or circumstances that has had or
which could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. Since the Balance Sheet Date, there has not occurred
any material damage, destruction or casualty loss (whether or not
covered by insurance) with respect to any material asset owned or
operated by the Company.
Section
4.11 Contracts . (a) Except as
disclosed in Schedule 4.11(a) , the Company is not a
party to or bound by any lease, agreement, contract, commitment or
other
20
legally binding
contractual right or obligation (whether written or oral)
(collectively, “ Contracts ”) that is of a type
described below:
(i)
any lease (whether of real or personal property) under which the
aggregate payments would be $300,00 or more annually, including the
leases disclosed or required to be disclosed on
Schedule 4.15(b) ;
(ii)
except pursuant to purchase orders issued in the Ordinary Course of
Business, any agreement for the purchase of materials, supplies,
goods, services, equipment or other assets that provides for
aggregate payments by the Company of $300,000 or more
annually;
(iii)
any sales, distribution or other similar agreement providing for
the sale by the Company of materials, supplies, goods, services,
equipment or other assets that provides for aggregate payments to
the Company of $500,000 or more annually;
(iv)
any partnership or joint venture agreement that involves the
sharing of profits, losses, costs or liabilities with any other
Person;
(v)
except pursuant to any contract or commitment made in the Ordinary
Course of Business in connection with the sale of products or
services to the Company’s customers, any Contract pursuant to
which any third party has rights to acquire or use any material
asset owned by the Company, including any Intellectual Property
Right of the Company;
(vi)
any agreement relating to the acquisition or disposition of any
business (whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or
otherwise) or, except pursuant to any contract or commitment made
in the Ordinary Course of Business, granting to any Person a right
of first refusal, first offer or other right to purchase any of the
assets owned by the Company;
(vii)
any agreement pursuant to which the Company incurs material
Indebtedness, other than accruals recorded in the Ordinary Course
of Business;
(viii)
except pursuant to any Contract made in the Ordinary Course of
Business in connection with the sale of products or services to the
Company’s customers, any license, franchise or similar
agreement;
(ix)
any material agency, dealer, sales representative, marketing or
other similar agreement;
(x)
except pursuant to any Contract made in the Ordinary Course of
Business in connection with the sale of products or services to the
Company’s customers, any Contract (other than leases and
subleases, but including shared services and occupancy agreements)
that provide for payment by or to the Company of $300,000 or more
annually and may not be terminated by the Company without payment
of penalty on less than 90 days’ prior notice;
21
(xi)
except pursuant to any Contract made in the Ordinary Course of
Business, any management service or consulting agreement providing
for payment by the Company of $300,000 or more annually or made
with an Affiliate of the Company;
(xii)
except pursuant to any sale of products or services in the Ordinary
Course of Business, any warranty, guaranty or other similar
undertaking with respect to any contractual performance (including
any liquidated damage or performance penalty provisions) or
agreement to indemnify any Person (other than in connection with
any leases and subleases) for which the Company has liability or
potential liability of $500,000 or more;
(xiii)
any management employment agreement or deferred compensation,
severance, bonus or retirement agreement or plan in effect as of
the date hereof (including in respect of any advances or loans to
any employees) and entered into or adopted by the
Company;
(xiv)
any Contract involving foreign currency transactions entered into
for the purpose of hedging any currency or pricing risk;
or
(xv)
any other agreement, commitment, arrangement or plan not made in
the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company that provides for
the payment by or to the Company of $300,000 or more annually that
may not be terminated by the Company without penalty on less than
90 days’ prior notice.
(b)
Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11(b) , each Contract
disclosed in Schedule 4.11(a) is a valid and binding
agreement of the Company and, to the Company’s Knowledge,
each other party thereto, enforceable in accordance with its
respective terms, except as such enforcement may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and
by general principles of equity (whether applied in a proceeding at
law or in equity). Except as set forth in Schedule
4.11(b) , neither the Company nor, to the Company’s
Knowledge, any other party to any such Contract is in default or
breach (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) in any
material respect under the terms of any such Contract. The
Company has delivered or made available to Purchaser true and
complete originals or copies of all Contracts disclosed in
Schedule 4.11(a) .
Section
4.12 Insurance Coverage .
Schedule 4.12 contains a list of all of the insurance
policies and fidelity bonds covering the assets, Business,
operations, employees, officers and directors of the Company.
There is no material claim by the Company pending under any of such
policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned, denied
or disputed in writing by the underwriters of such policies or
bonds. All premiums due and payable under all such policies
and bonds have been paid and the Company has complied with the
terms and conditions of all such policies and bonds in all material
respects. To the Company’s Knowledge, such policies of
insurance and bonds (or other policies and bonds providing
substantially similar insurance coverage) are in full force and
effect. To the Company’s Knowledge, since the last
renewal date of any insurance policy, there has been no written
notice
22
of any material
adverse change in the relationship of the Company with its
respective insurers or the premiums payable pursuant to such
policies.
Section
4.13 Litigation . (a) Except as
disclosed in Schedule 4.13(a) , there is no action,
suit, investigation, arbitration or administrative or other
proceeding pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge,
threatened, against the Company before any court or arbitrator or
any Governmental Authority which would have or could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which in any manner
challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin, alter or materially delay
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and any Ancillary
Agreements to which Seller will be a party at Closing. Except
as disclosed in Schedule 4.13(a) , there are no
outstanding judgments, orders, injunctions, decrees, stipulations
or awards (whether rendered by a court, administrative agency,
arbitral body or Governmental Authority) against the
Company.
(b)
All material written claims, whether in contract or tort, for
defective or allegedly defective products or workmanship pending
against the Company are listed or described on
Schedule 4.13(b) .
Section
4.14 Compliance with Laws; Permits .
(a) Except as described in Schedule 4.14(a)
, the Company has complied with all Laws applicable to its business
in all material respects, except where failure to so comply would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not
received written notice that the use or condition of any of the
leased Real Property or any other asset owned or leased by the
Company is in violation of any Law. Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.14(a) , the Company has not received written
notice of any violation of any Law relating to the operation of the
Business or to any of its assets, operations, processes, results or
products.
(b)
Schedule 4.14(b) sets forth a list of each government
or regulatory license, authorization, permit, franchise, consent
and approval (the “ Permits ”) issued to and
held by the Company as same are required to be so issued and held
to carry on the Business as currently conducted except where
failure to have any such Permit would not have a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company is the authorized legal holder of the
Permits, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, each Permit is
valid and in full force and effect. The Company is not in
default under, and, to the Company’s