Exhibit 2.1
DATED 1 SEPTEMBER 2009
VENTISE HOLDING B.V.
as Vendor
SEACHANGE B.V.
as Purchaser
and
SEACHANGE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
as Parent
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AGREEMENT
FOR THE ACQUISITION OF
THE ENTIRE ISSUED SHARE CAPITAL
OF
EVENTIS GROUP B.V.
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CONTENTS
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Clause
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Page
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CLAUSE 1
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DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATIONS
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4
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CLAUSE 2
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SALE AND PURCHASE
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5
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CLAUSE 3
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CONSIDERATION AND PAYMENT
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6
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CLAUSE 4
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CLOSING
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9
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CLAUSE 5
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POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
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11
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CLAUSE 6
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WARRANTIES
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14
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CLAUSE 7
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BREACH
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15
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CLAUSE 8
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LIMITATION OF VENDOR’S LIABILITY FOR
BREACHES
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15
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CLAUSE 9
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INDEMNIFICATION
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19
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CLAUSE 10
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TREATMENT OF CLAIMS
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20
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CLAUSE 11
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PARENT’S WARRANTIES
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21
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CLAUSE 12
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PURCHASER’S WARRANTIES
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23
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CLAUSE 13
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CONFIDENTIALITY
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24
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CLAUSE 14
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
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25
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CLAUSE 15
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MISCELLANEOUS
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26
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CLAUSE 16
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GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION
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29
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SCHEDULES
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SCHEDULE 1.1
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DEFINITIONS
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SCHEDULE 3.5.1
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DETERMINATION OF WORKING CAPITAL
ADJUSTMENT
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SCHEDULE 3.5.1A
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PRO
FORMA CONSOLIDATED NET WORKING CAPITAL CALCULATION OF THE COMPANY
FOR THE FINANCIAL YEARS 2006, 2007 AND 2008, ENDING ON 31
DECEMBER
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SCHEDULE 3.6.2
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AGREED FORM RESTRICTED STOCK
AGREEMENT
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SCHEDULE 3.7.2
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LIST OF RESERVED CUSTOMERS
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SCHEDULE 3.8
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DETERMINATION OF DEFERRED PERFORMANCE-BASED
PURCHASE PRICE
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SCHEDULE 4.5
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AGREED FORM DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
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SCHEDULE 4.6
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AGREED FORM SHAREHOLDERS RESOLUTIONS
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SCHEDULE 4.8
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AGREED FORM NOTARIES DEED OF TRANSFER
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SCHEDULE 4.9
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AGREED FORM EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS AND MANAGEMENT
AGREEMENTS
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SCHEDULE 6.1
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WARRANTIES
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2
THE
UNDERSIGNED:
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(i)
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Ventise Holding B.V. , a private company with limited liability (
besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ),
incorporated under the laws of The Netherlands, having its
registered office at Eindhoven, the Netherlands and its place of
business at Hulst 16, 5507 MH Veldhoven, the Netherlands (the "
Vendor ");
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(ii)
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SeaChange B.V. a private company with limited liability (
besloten vennootschap met beperkte aansprakelijkheid ),
incorporated under the laws of the Netherlands, having its
registered office at Teleportboulevard 140, 1043 EJ Amsterdam, the
Netherlands (the " Purchaser "); and
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(iii)
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SeaChange International, Inc.
, a public corporation, incorporated
under the laws of Delaware (United States of America), with
corporate seat at Delaware, office address at 50 Nagog Park, Acton,
Massachusetts 01720 and with registration number 2343307 (the "
Parent ");
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the parties referred to sub (i)
up to and including (iii) are collectively referred to as: the "
Parties " and individually as: a " Party
".
WHEREAS:
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(A)
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the Vendor is the legal and beneficial owner of
360 (three hundred sixty) ordinary shares, numbered 1 up to and
including 360, each with a nominal value of EUR 50 (fifty euro)
(the " Shares "), constituting one hundred percent (100 %)
of the issued share capital of eventIS Group B.V. , a
private company with limited liability, incorporated under the laws
of the Netherlands, having its registered office at Veldhoven, The
Netherlands and its place of business at Flight Forum 882, 5657 DV
Eindhoven, the Netherlands (the " Company ");
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(B)
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the Company has implemented a restructuring of
the eventIS group of companies (the " Restructuring ") as a
result of which the Company is the direct or indirect legal and
beneficial owner of all issued shares in the capital of the Group
Companies;
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(C)
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the Company and its Group Companies (the "
Group ") are engaged in – inter alia –
the business of developing new and advanced Digital TV products
focusing on metadata management and distribution (the "
Business ");
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(D)
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the Vendor initiated a structured sale process
for the sale of the Shares and provided the Parent and its advisors
with an information memorandum in respect of the Group dated March
2009 (the " Information Memorandum "), a legal vendor due
diligence report prepared by AKD Prinsen Van Wijmen N.V. and a
financial and tax vendor due diligence report prepared by Deloitte
(the " Vendor Due Diligence Reports "). The Parent has
furthermore performed a confirmatory due diligence investigation of
the electronic data room that was prepared on behalf of the Vendor
(the " Data Room "). Finally, the Parent has submitted a
final and non-binding offer to purchase the Shares, which offer has
been accepted by the Vendor, on the terms and conditions set out in
the Agreement;
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(E)
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the Vendor wishes to sell and the Purchaser
wishes to purchase the Shares on the terms and conditions set out
in this Agreement; and
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3
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(F)
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the Vendor and the Purchaser have made, in
respect of the envisaged transactions under the Agreement (the "
Transaction "), all required notifications and have provided
all required information and documents to, and have obtained all
required consents, advice and approvals from, all relevant
authorities, agencies, works councils, trade unions and other
bodies, under all applicable laws and regulations, including but
not limited to the relevant provisions of the Social and Economic
Council Merger Regulation ( SER-Fusiegedragsregels 2000
).
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HAVE AGREED AS
FOLLOWS:
CLAUSE 1 DEFINITIONS AND
INTERPRETATIONS
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1.1
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Definitions
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In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires or unless otherwise specified hereinafter, the definitions
as set forth in Schedule 1.1 (Definitions) are
used.
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1.2
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Interpretations
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In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise
requires or unless otherwise specified hereinafter:
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1.2.1
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references to Clauses and Schedules are
references to clauses (including all sub-clauses) of, and schedules
to the Agreement and form an integral part of this Agreement and
shall have the same force and effect as if expressly set out in the
body of this Agreement and any reference to this Agreement shall
include the Schedules and any other attachments to this
Agreement;
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1.2.2
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any reference to "includes" or "including" shall
mean "including but without limitation to the generality of the
foregoing";
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1.2.3
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a reference to any statute or statutory
provision shall be construed as a reference to the same as
applicable on Closing Date;
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1.2.4
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references to a "person" shall be construed so
as to include any individual ( natuurlijke persoon ), firm,
company or other legal entity ( rechtspersoon ) or any joint
venture, association or partnership (whether or not being a
separate legal entity;
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1.2.5
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references to times of the day are to Central
European Time;
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1.2.6
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words importing the singular include the plural
and vice versa and words importing gender or the neuter include
both genders and the neuter;
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1.2.7
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this Agreement is drafted in the English
language. In this Agreement Dutch terms and legal concepts are
expressed in English terms and not in their original Dutch terms.
Where indicated in italics, Dutch equivalents of these English
terms have been given. Terms and expressions of law and of legal
concepts as used in this Agreement have the meaning attributed to
them under the laws of the Netherlands and this Agreement should be
read and interpreted accordingly;
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1.2.8
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headings to Clauses and Schedules are for
convenience only and do not affect in any way the interpretation
thereof;
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1.2.9
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where any obligation is qualified or phrased by
reference to use " reasonable endeavours ", " reasonable
efforts " or wording of a similar nature, it means the efforts
that a similarly situated person desirous of achieving a result
would use in similar circumstances to achieve that result and,
regard shall be had, among other factors, to (i) the price,
financial interest and other terms of the obligation; (ii) the
degree of risk normally involved in achieving the intended result;
and (iii) the ability of an unrelated person to influence the
performance of the obligation;
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1.2.10
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for the purpose of this Agreement and the
documents pertaining hereto, any statement which refers to the
knowledge, information, belief or awareness of the Vendor or the
Vendor Parties – including the expressions " to
Vendor’s best knowledge " or " known to Vendor "
– or any similar expression, shall be deemed to refer to the
actual knowledge, belief or awareness of the Vendor at the date of
this Agreement, as well as the knowledge the Vendor and the Vendor
Parties are reasonably expected to have as managing directors of
the Company and the Group Companies; and
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1.2.11
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the terms "material" or "materially", or any
other words to that effect, when used with respect to the Company,
one or more of the Group Companies and/or the Business, mean
material to the Group Companies and the Business as a
whole.
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1.3
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The Parties hereto have participated jointly in
the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and no provision of
this Agreement shall be interpreted against a Party solely as a
result of the fact that such Party was responsible for the drafting
of such provision. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent
or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if
drafted jointly by the Parties hereto, and no presumption or burden
of proof shall arise favouring or disfavouring any Party by virtue
of the authorship of any of the provisions of this
Agreement.
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CLAUSE 2 SALE AND
PURCHASE
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2.1
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Sale and Purchase
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Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement, the Vendor hereby sells and undertakes to transfer
on Closing Date the Shares to the Purchaser and the Purchaser
hereby purchases and undertakes to accept on Closing Date the
transfer of the Shares from the Vendor to the Purchaser.
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2.2
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Effective Date
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Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement, the Parties hereby agree that the transfer of the
beneficial ownership of the Shares is deemed effective as of the
Effective Date.
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5
CLAUSE 3 CONSIDERATION AND
PAYMENT
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3.1
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Purchase Price
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The aggregate purchase price for the Shares (the
" Purchase Price ") shall be comprised as
follows:
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3.1.1
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the Initial Purchase Price plus or
minus the Working
Capital Adjustment;
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3.1.2
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the Deferred Fixed Purchase Price;
and
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3.1.3
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the Deferred Performance-Based Purchase
Price.
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3.2
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Initial Purchase Price
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The initial purchase price for the Shares
consists of a payment of EUR 24,000,000 (twenty-four million Euros)
in cash by the Purchaser to the Vendor in accordance with Clause
4.10 (the " Initial Purchase Price ").
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3.3
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Estimated Working Capital
Adjustment
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Not more than five (5) Business Days, but in no
event less than three (3) Business Days, before Closing Date, the
Vendor shall prepare the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment based
on a good faith estimate of the Working Capital as of the Closing
Date based on the accounting principles generally accepted in the
Netherlands as in force as per the respective date and as applied
on a consistent basis by the Company over the previous three (3)
financial years (the " Estimated Working Capital "). The
Vendor shall deliver written notice of the Estimated Working
Capital Adjustment to the Parent within the time periods set forth
in the first sentence of this Clause 3.3. The Parent and its
advisors shall have the right to participate in the determination
of and approve the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment, which
approval shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or
conditioned.
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3.4
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Transfer Notary Account
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The Purchaser shall transfer the
Initial Purchase Price plus the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment by wire
transfer to the Notary’s third party account prior to
Closing, so as to ensure that said amounts are credited to the
Notary’s third party account prior to Closing.
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3.5
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Working Capital Adjustment
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3.5.1
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The Working Capital Adjustment shall be
determined in accordance with the procedure set out in Schedule
3.5.1 .
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3.5.2
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Within five (5) Business Days following
determination of the final Working Capital Adjustment in accordance
with Schedule 3.5.1, the Purchaser or the Vendor, as the case may
be, shall make a transfer of immediately available funds as
follows:
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3.5.2.1
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by the Purchaser to the Vendor’s bank
account, if and to the extent that the Working Capital exceeds the
Estimated Working Capital; or
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3.5.2.2
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by the Vendor to the Purchaser’s bank
account, if and to the extent that the Estimated Working Capital
exceeds the Working Capital.
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3.6
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Deferred Fixed Purchase Price
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The deferred and fixed parts of the Purchase
Price comprise (i) the Annual Cash Payments and (ii) the Annual
Restricted Stock Payment (the " Deferred Fixed Purchase
Price "):
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3.6.1
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subject to Clause 8.2, the Purchaser shall on
the first, second and third anniversary of Closing pay an amount of
EUR 1,200,000 (one million two hundred thousand Euros) in cash to
the Vendor by means of a wire transfer of the relevant amount to
the bank account designated by the Vendor (the " Annual Cash
Payments ");
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3.6.2
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subject to Clause 8.2, the Purchaser shall on
the first, second and third anniversary of Closing pay an amount of
EUR 800,000 (eight hundred thousand Euros) by means of procuring
the issuance of common shares in the capital of the Parent (the "
Restricted Stock ") to the Vendor (the " Annual
Restricted Stock Payment "). The number of Restricted Stock to
be paid each year by the Purchaser shall be based on the 10-day
volume-weighted average of the closing price of common shares of
the Parent on the Nasdaq Stock Market, ending on the applicable
anniversary date. All Restricted Stock issued as an Annual
Restricted Stock Payment shall be free from any Encumbrance, other
than such as exists pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement.
Vendor’s receipt of each Annual Restricted Stock Payment
shall be conditioned on Vendor executing the Restricted Stock
Agreement in the Agreed Form attached as Schedule 3.6.2 (the
" Restricted Stock Agreement "), which Restricted Stock
Agreement provides for the vesting on the terms set forth therein
of one-third (33.3%) of the Restricted Stock so issued on the
anniversary of the date of issuance of such Restricted Stock.
Provided that the Vendor shall provide written notification to the
Parent and the Purchaser of its election not later than ninety (90)
days prior to issuance of the Restricted Stock to the Vendor, the
Vendor shall have the option to take up to forty percent (40%) of
the Annual Restricted Stock Payment as a cash payment for equal
value which shall be paid by the Purchaser in equal parts on the
next three (3) anniversaries of Closing. The Parties agree that, in
connection with the calculation of the number of Restricted Stock
to be paid to the Vendor each year, the 10-day volume weighted
average of the closing price of common shares of the Parent on the
Nasdaq Stock Market, which is expressed in U.S. dollars, shall be
converted to Euros based on the exchange rate of the date of
payment, as calculated on the website
'www.xe.com’.
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3.7
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Deferred Performance-Based Purchase
Price
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Subject to Clause 8.2, additional
deferred and performance-based parts of the Purchase Price shall be
comprised as follows (the " Deferred Performance-Based Purchase
Price "):
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3.7.1
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the Purchaser shall as per the thirty-first of
January 2011, 2012 and 2013 be obligated to pay to the Vendor an
amount in Euros equal to fifteen percent (15%) of the Group’s
product revenue on a U.S. GAAP basis with respect to Qualifying
EventIS Products (excluding SeaChange products) in excess of a
twenty percent (20%) compound growth target based on the
Group’s revenue in the twelve month period then ended as
compared to the twelve month period ended January 31, 2010, which
has been agreed by the Parties to be EUR 11,800,000. "
Qualifying EventIS Products " shall mean services and/or
proprietary products of the Group as of the date hereof, services
and/or proprietary products developed solely by the Group
subsequent to the Closing Date, as well as all services, third
party software and third party hardware included in the sale of
proprietary products of the Group.
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As an example, if the Group’s product
revenue with respect to Qualifying EventIS Products for the
12-month period ending January 31, 2010 is X, then the annual
payment is paid on revenue exceeding (X*1.2) for the year ending
January 31, 2011, (X*1.44) for the year ending January 31, 2012 and
(X*1.73) for the year ending January 31, 2013;
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3.7.2
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the Purchaser shall as per the thirty-first of
January 2011, 2012 and 2013 be obligated to pay to the Vendor an
amount in Euros equal to ten percent (10%) of the U.S. GAAP revenue
generated by the Group during the twelve month period then ended
with respect to sales of SeaChange Qualifying Products to
Qualifying Customers. " SeaChange Qualifying Products "
means services and/or proprietary products of the Parent and its
Affiliates (other than the Group) as of the Closing Date, services
and/or proprietary products developed solely by the Parent and its
Affiliates (other than the Group) subsequent to the Closing Date,
as well as all services provided and all hardware related to said
products. For purposes of clarity, SeaChange Qualifying Products
shall not include ODG products or services. " Qualifying
Customers " means customers that satisfy the following
criteria: (i) all customers located in a country on the European
continent (for purposes of clarity, not including the Middle-East),
except for the customers listed in Schedule 3.7.2 attached
hereto (" Reserved Customers "), (ii) customers located in a
country outside of the European continent, provided that the Group
has requested and the Parent has granted the Group written approval
indicating that such customer shall be a Qualifying Customer for
purposes hereof, and (iii) customers whose account sales
responsibility is assigned in writing by an authorized officer of
the Parent to the Group, referencing this Clause 3.7.2, indicating
that such customer shall be a Qualifying Customer for purposes
hereof. No amounts shall be payable by Purchaser to Vendor pursuant
to this Clause 3.7.2 with respect to sales by either Media Power,
SeaChange EMEA SARL or SeaChange EMEA LLP. The Parties hereto agree
that, and the Parent shall procure that, if the Parent and its
Affiliates (other than the Group) as of the Closing Date, during
the period as from the Closing Date up to and including the
thirty-first of January 2013, sell SeaChange Qualifying Products to
Qualifying Customers, it shall be treated as though it was a sale
by the Group of SeaChange Qualifying Products to Qualifying
Customers for purposes of this Clause 3.7.2. In the event of such a
sale, the Parent shall inform the Vendor thereof.
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3.7.3
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the Purchaser shall as per the thirty-first of
January 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 be obligated to pay to the Vendor
an amount in Euros equal to fifty percent (50%) of any Qualifying
Net Proceeds that the Group has received on the basis of an
entitlement solely relating to the years ended on the thirty-first
of January 2011, 2012 and 2013, provided that the payment is
received and/or netted against a cash payment due by the Group
prior to 1 February 2014. " Qualifying Net Proceeds " shall
mean cash received and/or netted against a cash payment due by the
Group from third party sources unrelated to the sales of products
and services related to the years ending on the thirty-first of
January 2011, 2012 and 2013, netted for any costs and expenses to
achieve said proceeds. For purposes of clarity, Qualifying Net
Proceeds shall include government grants (federal, state, or local)
or subsidies, as well as Tax refunds that result in an actual
reduction in Tax payments of the Group; Qualifying Net Proceeds
shall not include (i) amounts that otherwise would constitute
Qualifying Net Proceeds but that were committed to be received by
the Group prior to the Closing Date, and/or (ii) amounts received
in connection with the sale of assets or equity or debt securities.
For the avoidance of doubt, Qualifying Net Proceeds shall include
– but shall not be limited to – WBSO, Op Zuid,
Patentbox, Internationaal Innoveren and EU subsidies (such as
Mediaplus and ITEA).
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3.8
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Determination of the Deferred Performance-Based
Purchase Price
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The Deferred Performance-Based Purchase Price
shall be determined in accordance with the procedures, covenants
and conditions set out in Schedule 3.8 .
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3.9
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Security by Vendor
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Except for a Breach of Clause 2 of Schedule 6.1
and a breach or violation by the Vendor of Clause 5.3.1, the
Deferred Fixed Purchase Price and the Deferred Performance-Based
Purchase Price shall form sole security for the Purchaser and/or
the Parent in respect of the Vendor’s liability under this
Agreement. The Purchaser has the right to withhold payment or to
claim set-off of any payment to the extent of the respective
amounts of the Deferred Fixed Purchase Price and the Deferred
Performance-Based Purchase Price in accordance with Clause
8.
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CLAUSE 4
CLOSING
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4.1
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Closing Venue
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Closing shall take place at 14:00 hours on the
Closing Date at the offices of AKD Prinsen Van Wijmen N.V.,
Orlyplein 10, 1043 DP Amsterdam, the Netherlands, unless otherwise
agreed between the Parties in writing. At Closing the Parties shall
do or cause to be done all such acts and execute all such documents
as shall in the reasonable opinion of the Vendor and the Parent be
necessary to fully effect the Transactions, including all of the
actions referred to in Clause 4.2 up to and including Clause 4.10
in the following order.
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4.2
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Notary
Letter
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The Parties and the Notary shall sign and enter
into an agreement containing the fund flows as per Closing as
contemplated by the Parties and an instruction to the Notary by the
Parties to effect payment in accordance with the provisions of the
relevant agreement (the " Notary Letter ").
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4.3
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Confirmation of Availability of
Funds
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The Notary shall confirm to the Vendor and the
Parent, once it has received the entire Initial Purchase Price
plus the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment, that said
amount is available to the Notary.
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4.4
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Deliveries
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4.4.1
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The Vendor shall deliver to the
Purchaser:
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4.4.1.1
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the shareholders’ register of the Company
in which the transfer of the Shares to the Purchaser shall be
registered;
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4.4.1.2
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evidence of the successful implementation of the
Restructuring in accordance with applicable law.
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4.5
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Deposit Agreement
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The Parties and the Notary shall enter into the
Deposit Agreement in the Agreed Form of Schedule
4.5.
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4.6
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Managing Directors
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Subject to Closing, all of the managing
directors ( bestuurders ) shall resign in writing from their
positions as managing directors of the Company and/or the
respective Group Companies, which written resignations shall be
confirmed by the Company and/or the relevant Group Companies and
all of the managing directors shall be granted full discharge (
décharge ) by the Company and/or the relevant Group
Companies for their management of the Company, for the period prior
to their resignation up to Closing, the Agreed Form of such
shareholders’ resolutions is attached hereto as Schedule
4.6 .
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4.7
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Restricted Stock Agreement
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The Vendor and the Parent shall sign and enter
into the Restricted Stock Agreement in the Agreed Form of Schedule
3.6.2.
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4.8
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Notaries Deed of Transfer
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The Vendor and the Purchaser shall cause the
Shares to be transferred through the execution of a notaries deed
of transfer in the Agreed Form of Schedule 4.8 , which deed
will be executed before the Notary and shall contain the
acknowledgement by the Company of such transfer.
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10
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4.9
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Employment Agreements and Management
Agreements
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The Company or the respective Group Companies
shall either sign and enter into an employment agreement or into a
management agreement, as the case may be, with each of the Vendor
Ultimate Shareholders, each employment agreement and/or management
agreement in the Agreed Form of Schedule 4.9 .
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4.10
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Transfer of Money
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Upon fulfillment of the actions referred to in
Clause 4.1 up to and including Clause 4.9, the Parties shall cause
the Notary to wire transfer an amount equal to the Initial Purchase
Price plus the Estimated Working Capital Adjustment to the
Vendor’s bank account without any deduction or
set-off.
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4.11
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Closing Actions taken before
Closing
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To the extent that any of the actions referred
to in this Clause 4 shall have been taken before Closing, they
shall be deemed to have been taken at Closing.
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CLAUSE 5 POST-CLOSING
COVENANTS
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5.1
|
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Further Actions
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In the event that at any time after Closing, any
further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes
of this Agreement, each of the Parties shall take or cause to be
taken all such required action, including the execution and
delivery of such further instruments and documents, as may be
reasonably requested by any other Party for such purposes or
otherwise to complete or perfect the transactions contemplated by
the abovementioned documents. Without limiting the generality of
the foregoing, each of the Parties shall provide commercially
reasonable efforts to assist the Parent in the preparation of the
U.S. GAAP audited financial statements required to be filed by the
Parent within seventy-five (75) days of the date hereof on a
current report on Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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11
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5.2
|
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Employment Compensation
Incentives
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|
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The Purchaser unconditionally and irrevocably
agrees to pay upon the first anniversary of Closing to non
shareholder employees of the Company and/or its Group Companies who
remain employees of the Group as of such date employee bonuses in
the aggregate an amount of EUR 250,000 (two hundred fifty thousand
Euro). The distribution of the relevant amount to the employees
shall be determined by Mr Erwin van Dommelen, one of the Vendor
Ultimate Shareholders, or, should Mr. van Dommelen no longer be an
employee of the Group as of such time, by Mr. Harry Koiter, or,
should Mr. Koiter no longer be an employee of the Group as of such
time either, by the Parent, with such list to be provided in
writing to the Parent at least ninety (90) days prior to the first
anniversary for review by the Parent. The Purchaser’s
obligations pursuant to this Clause 5.2 shall be subject to
compliance with applicable law.
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This Clause is deemed to constitute an
irrevocable third party clause ( derdenbeding ) for the
benefit of each of the respective employees of the Company and/or
the Group Companies so designated in accordance with the previous
paragraph.
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5.3
|
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Noncompetition
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5.3.1
|
|
During the Noncompetition Period (as hereinafter
defined), neither the Vendor nor each of the Vendor Parties will
(i) with the exception of stockholdings or shares which are held by
the Vendor or any of the Vendor Parties for purely financial
investment purposes, directly or indirectly, as a stockholder,
partner, member, manager, employee, consultant or other owner or
participant in any person other than the Purchaser, its Affiliates,
the Company or any of the Group Companies, engage in or assist any
other person to engage in any Covered Business (as hereinafter
defined) anywhere in the Covered Area (as hereinafter defined),
(ii) directly or indirectly, solicit or endeavor to entice away
from the Company or any Group Company, or offer employment or a
consulting position to, or otherwise interfere with the business
relationship of the Company or any Group Company with, any person
who is, or was within the one-year period prior thereto, an
employee of or consultant to the Company or any Group Company, and
(iii) directly or indirectly, solicit or endeavor to entice away
from the Company or any Group Company, endeavor to reduce the
business conducted with the Company or any Group Company by, or
otherwise interfere with the business relationship of the Company
or any Group Company with, any person who is, or was within the
one-year period prior thereto, a customer or client of, supplier,
vendor or service provider to, or other person having business
relations with, the Company or any Group Company.
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5.3.2
|
|
For purposes of this Clause 5.3, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
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|
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" Covered Area " means the geographic
regions in which the Group operates, sells products or provides
services on the Closing Date, as well as geographic regions which
the Group plans to enter after Closing but in respect of which
entries the Group has made investments prior to the Closing
Date.
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12
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" Covered Business " means (i) any
business in which the Company or any Group Company is engaged on
the Closing Date and (ii) any business in which the Company or any
Group Company plans to engage after the Closing and which business
is in an advanced stage of development on the Closing
Date.
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|
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" Noncompetition Period " means the
period commencing as of the Closing and ending on the three (3)
year anniversary of the Closing.
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5.3.3
|
|
In the event of a breach or violation by the
Vendor or by any of the Vendor Parties of their respective
obligations under Clause 5.3.1, and such breach or violation
remaining unremedied by the Vendor or the relevant Vendor Party
after seven (7) Business Days after having been notified by the
Parent of the breach or violation, such party shall forfeit to the
Parent, an immediately payable penalty of EUR 100,000 (one hundred
thousand Euros) for any breach or violation of these provisions,
and of EUR 5,000 (five thousand Euros), for each day such breach or
violation continues, without limiting or prejudice to the Parent's
right to also claim any Losses which it may incur as a consequence
of such breach or violation. Neither the Vendor nor any of the
Vendor Parties shall be jointly and severally liable towards the
Parent for any obligation of any of the other parties with respect
to a breach or a violation of their respective obligations under
Clause 5.3.1, but the Vendor and each of the Vendor Parties shall
only be liable towards the Parent for any breach or violation
committed by itself.
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5.4
|
|
Reasonable Restrictions
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|
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|
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The Vendor and each Vendor Party (a) has
carefully read and understands all of the provisions of this
Agreement and has had the opportunity for this Agreement to be
reviewed by counsel, (b) acknowledges that the duration,
geographical scope and subject matter of Clause 5.3 and Clause 13
of this Agreement are reasonable and necessary to protect the
goodwill, customer relationships, legitimate business interests,
trade secrets and confidential and proprietary information of the
Business, (c) acknowledges that the Parent and the Purchaser would
not have closed the Transaction without the benefits contained in
this Agreement, (d) will be able to earn a satisfactory livelihood
without violating this Agreement and (e) understands that this
Agreement is assignable by the Parent and the Purchaser and shall
inure to the benefit of its successors and permitted assigns in
accordance with Clause 15.4.
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5.5
|
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Company Intellectual Property
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|
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If the Vendor or any Vendor Party owns or shall
at any time hereafter acquire any rights in any Company
Intellectual Property, such Vendor Party shall, and hereby does,
transfer all of its rights, title and interest in such Company
Intellectual Property to the Company, and, to the extent such
rights may not be transferable, such Vendor Party shall, and hereby
does, to the extent permitted by law, renounce and waive all rights
and claims relating to such Company Intellectual Property, all for
no additional consideration. The Vendor and each Vendor Party shall
execute and deliver such additional documents and instruments and
take such other actions as the Parent or the Purchaser shall
reasonably request to give effect to the provisions of this
Section.
|
13
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5.6
|
|
General Release
|
|
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|
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Effective as of the Closing, the Vendor and each
Vendor Party voluntarily, knowingly and irrevocably releases and
forever discharges the Company, the Group Companies and their
respective officers, directors, managers, employees and Affiliates
from any and all actions, agreements, amounts, claims, Losses,
expenses, liabilities and obligations of every kind, nature or
description, known or unknown, arising or existing prior to the
Closing, except for any rights of such Vendor Party under this
Agreement and any agreement entered into pursuant to this
Agreement.
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5.7
|
|
Vendor Parties’
undertakings
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|
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|
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The Vendor Parties hereby undertake and agree
towards the Parent and the Purchaser that they will not, during the
period as from the Closing Date up to and including the
thirty-first of January 2013, make any amendment or variation to
the shareholders’ agreement concluded by and among them, as
far as it relates to provisions that may affect the interests of
the Parent and/or Purchaser, without the explicit prior written
consent of the Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.
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5.8
|
|
Superseding Clauses
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|
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The Vendor and the Vendor Parties agree that the
provisions of Clause 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 and 5.7 will apply to the
Vendor and the Vendor Party regardless of any other agreements to
which the Vendor or Vendor Party, as applicable, is a party to with
the Parent or its affiliates.
|
CLAUSE 6
WARRANTIES
|
6.1
|
|
Vendor’s Representations and
Warranties
|
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|
|
The Vendor hereby represents and warrants to the
Parent, the Purchaser and the Group Companies that on the Closing
Date, each of the Warranties set forth in Schedule 6.1
attached hereto, is true and accurate.
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|
6.2
|
|
Exclusive Representations and
Warranties
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|
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The Parties agree and acknowledge that the
Warranties are the only warranties that the Vendor provides to the
Parent, the Purchaser and the Group Companies, and the Parties
hereby explicitly exclude the applicability of section 7:17 of the
Dutch Civil Code ( Burgerlijk Wetboek ) (" DCC ") and
the Parent, the Purchaser and each of the Group Companies hereby
waives any right to claim pursuant to said statutory
provision.
|
14
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6.3
|
|
Disclosed Information
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Parent and the Purchaser confirm that they
have received the Information Memorandum, the Vendor Due Diligence
Reports and have investigated the Data Room, acting in conjunction
with its professional advisors, such as tax, legal, financial,
accountancy and technical advisors, prior to the entering into of
this Agreement.
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6.4
|
|
No Warranties relating to the
future
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|
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|
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The Parent and the Purchaser acknowledge that
the Vendor gives no representation, warranty or guarantee with
respect to any projections, estimates or budgets relating to the
future of the Group Companies or the Business.
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6.5
|
|
Legal Successors
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|
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The Warranties shall also inure to the benefit
of legal successors ( rechtsopvolgers ) that shall acquire
the Shares, or part thereof.
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6.6
|
|
No Knowledge of a Breach
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Purchaser and the Parent each confirm that
as at the date hereof it or its professional advisers are not aware
of a Breach.
|
|
7.1
|
|
Liability of the Vendor
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the event of a Breach, the Vendor shall be
liable towards the Parent, or at the Parent’s discretion, to
the Purchaser or the Group Companies, for the Losses incurred,
whereby (i) the Parties agree that the amount of Losses shall be
determined pursuant to sections 6:95 and 6:96 of the Dutch Civil
Code, and (ii) the Losses incurred by the Group Companies shall be
deemed to be Losses incurred by the Purchaser and the Parent, and
vice versa.
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|
7.2
|
|
Repayment Purchase Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
Any payments of Losses under this Clause 7 shall
be deemed to be a partial repayment of the Purchase
Price.
|
|
CLAUSE
8
|
|
LIMITATION OF VENDOR’S LIABILITY FOR
BREACHES
|
|
8.1
|
|
Vendor’s Liability
|
|
|
|
|
|
The liability of the Vendor for compensation of
Losses for a Breach will be limited as follows:
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|
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|
|
8.1.1
|
|
the Vendor’s maximum aggregate liability
under this Agreement, other than for a Breach of Clause 2 of
Schedule 6.1, is limited to an amount equal to the Deferred Fixed
Purchase Price and the Deferred Performance-Based Purchase Price,
provided that any portion of the Deferred Fixed Purchase
Price and/or the Deferred Performance-Based Purchase Price already
received by the Vendor at the time it receives the relevant claim
for Losses, shall in no event have to be repaid by the Vendor and
the Vendor’s maximum aggregate liability under this Agreement
is progressively decreased with an amount equal to any such amounts
paid by the Purchaser;
|
15
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|
|
8.1.2
|
|
notwithstanding Clause 8.1.1, the liability of
the Vendor for a Breach of Clause 5 of Schedule 6.1 shall survive
the thirty-first January 2013 and remain EUR 1,200,000 (one million
two hundred thousand Euros) until expiry of the statutory
limitation period for such liability in the relevant jurisdiction
plus three (3) months.
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|
8.1.3
|
|
the Vendor’s maximum aggregate liability
for a Breach of Clause 2 of Schedule 6.1 is limited to the amount
of the Purchase Price;
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|
8.1.4
|
|
no claim for liability for a Breach can be made
unless and until an individual claim exceeds an amount of EUR
10,000 (ten thousand Euros) per Breach and unless and until the
amount of all claims made in respect of Breaches exceeds an amount
of EUR 250,000 (two hundred and fifty thousand Euros), in which
event the Vendor shall be liable for the entire amount of Losses
and not merely the excess; and
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|
8.1.5
|
|
the right to claim for a Breach will
lapse:
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|
8.1.5.1
|
|
in respect of Taxes, upon expiry of the
statutory limitation period for such liability in the relevant
jurisdiction plus three (3) months;
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|
8.1.5.2
|
|
in respect of Clause 5.3, on the third
anniversary of the Closing Date, notwithstanding the Noncompetition
Period, if, prior to the close of business on the last Business Day
of the Noncompetition Period, the Vendor has been notified of a
Claim hereunder and such Claim has not yet been finally resolved or
disposed of at such date, such Claim shall survive the aforesaid
Noncompetition Period and shall remain a basis for compensation of
Damages hereunder until such Claim is finally resolved or disposed
of; and
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8.1.5.3
|
|
in all other cases, on the 31 st of
March 2011, provided that the Vendor’s liability for a Breach
of Clause 2 of Schedule 6.1 will not be limited in time.
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|
|
|
8.2
|
|
Sequence
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the event that a claim is submitted to the
Vendor for Losses under this Agreement, any amount to be paid by
the Vendor shall:
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|
8.2.1
|
|
first be withheld and deducted from the Deferred Fixed
Purchase Price then next payable to Vendor; and
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|
8.2.2
|
|
second , if the amount of the Losses exceeds the amount
of the Deferred Fixed Purchase Price, be deducted from the Deferred
Performance-Based Purchase Price then next payable to
Vendor.
|
16
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8.3
|
|
Third Party Recovery
|
|
|
|
|
|
If the Parent, the Purchaser and/or the Group
Companies or any other member of the Parent’s group of
companies or affiliates recovers from a third party, including, for
the avoidance of doubt, any Tax authority or insurance company, a
sum that is directly related to Losses resulting from a Breach, the
liability of the Vendor in respect thereof shall, without double
counting, be reduced by the actual amount recovered from a third
party.
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8.4
|
|
No Liability
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Vendor shall not be liable for a Breach
if:
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|
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|
|
8.4.1
|
|
the Parent failed to notify the Vendor of a
Breach within a reasonable period, as set forth in section 7:23 of
the Dutch Civil Code – which the Parties agree to be thirty
(30) Business Days – after the Breach became known to the
Parent and/or the Purchaser,;
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|
8.4.2
|
|
the Accounts provide for a specific provision (
voorziening ) relating to such Breach, to the extent such
provision covers the Losses as a consequence of such
Breach;
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|
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|
|
8.4.3
|
|
the Parent and/or the Purchaser on the date of
this Agreement were aware of the facts and circumstances
constituting or leading to the Breach and/or a claim for Losses
under a Breach, on the basis of the Disclosed Information, provided
that such facts and circumstances were apparent on the face of the
documents comprising the Disclosed Information;
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|
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|
8.4.4
|
|
to the extent the Breach would not have arisen,
but for a change in the applicable legislation occurring after the
Effective Date, or any amendment to or withdrawal of any practice
or interpretation thereof, or a change in the rates, methods of
calculation, basis, imposition or collection of Taxes, in each case
effective after the Effective Date and whether or not such change,
amendment or withdrawal purports to be effective retrospectively in
whole or in part;
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|
8.4.5
|
|
to the extent that Losses resulting from such
Breach solely arise from the Purchaser’s or the
Parent’s failure to perform their respective obligations
under this Agreement, including any breach of the Warranties of the
Purchaser or the Parent, respectively; and/or
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|
8.4.6
|
|
the Breach is a result of a change after Closing
in the accounting policies or practices of the Company.
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|
8.5
|
|
Determination of Losses
|
|
|
|
|
|
In calculating the Vendor’s liability for
a Breach and the amount of the Losses, any material adverse effect
or other materiality qualifier contained in such representation or
warranty will be disregarded, and such liability shall be reduced
by the sum of the following economic benefits, if any, pertaining
to that particular Breach:
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|
8.5.1
|
|
any amount recovered under an insurance policy
or from third parties by the Parent, the Purchaser, the Company, or
any member of the Group, with respect to the matter to which such
claim relates;
|
17
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|
|
8.5.2
|
|
any relief from or deduction available to or
benefit accruing to any member of the Group, the Parent or the
Purchaser in respect of Taxes and actually arising by virtue of the
Loss in respect of the Breach; and/or
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|
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|
8.5.3
|
|
any indemnification, compensation or
reimbursement received from a third party by the Parent, the
Purchaser and/or any member of the Group, further to the Loss in
respect of the Breach.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Upon receipt of any payments as mentioned in
Clause 8.5, the Purchaser and/or the Company, in case such payments
are for the benefit of a member of the Group, shall reimburse the
Vendor for any payments previously made by the Vendor, in relation
to liability for Breaches related to such payment, provided that
the amount of any Losses then still owed by the Vendor to the
Parent or the Purchaser in respect of such Breach shall be reduced
by the amount determined pursuant to Clause 8.5.
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|
8.6
|
|
No Double Claims
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|
|
|
|
|
The Purchaser shall not be entitled to recover
from the Vendor more than once in respect of the same Loss
suffered.
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|
8.7
|
|
No Contingent Liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
|
If and to the extent a Breach pertains to a
contingent liability, the Vendor shall only be liable under this
Agreement if and to the extent the liability is no longer
contingent and has materialised.
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|
8.8
|
|
Mitigating Losses Regarding Third Party
Claims
|
|
|
|
|
|
Without prejudice to Clauses 10.1.2 or 10.2, if
any claim of the Parent or the Purchaser under this Agreement is a
result of or in connection with a liability or alleged liability to
a third party, the Parent or the Purchaser, as applicable, shall
take reasonable efforts to prevent or limit any Losses for which
the Vendor may be liable as a consequence of such
Breach.
|
18
|
9.1
|
|
Indemnity
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Vendor shall indemnify and hold the Parent,
the Purchaser and its Affiliates, or, at the election of the
Parent, the Company or any of the Group Companies (collectively,
the " Indemnified Parties "), harmless ( vrijwaren en
schadeloos stellen ) from any and all Losses arising out of or
in connection with:
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|
|
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|
|
(i)
|
|
all liability of the Group, the Parent or the
Purchaser arising from the failure to complete in accordance with
applicable law the transactions contemplated pursuant to that
certain Master Restructuring Agreement dated as of April 6, 2009,
by and among the Vendor Parties;
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|
|
(ii)
|
|
all liability of the Group, Parent or Purchaser
or any of their respective directors or managing directors arising
from the Group’s failure to timely file its 2004 annual
accounts;
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|
|
|
|
|
(iii)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from any employee
claim to (i) additional benefits or bonuses due to unlawful
distinction among employees or (ii) an acquired right to a bonus
despite such employee’s failure to meet bonus eligibility
criteria for a given period;
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|
|
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|
|
(iv)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the failure of
the Company or any Group Company to comply with the Dutch Working
Hours Act ( Arbeidstijdenwet ) with respect to required
resting periods following on-call duties;
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|
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|
(v)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the failure of
the Group to accrue for long term disability benefits;
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|
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|
|
(vi)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the failure of
the Group to obtain VAR statements with respect to self-employed
individuals predominantly employed by the Company;
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|
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|
|
(vii)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the failure of
Vendor Party owned management companies to pay relevant Taxes prior
to Closing;
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|
|
(viii)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the fact that a
contractor agreement existing on or prior to the Closing Date is
deemed to be an employment agreement and not a contractor
agreement, including the " Be&C Agency Agreement ", the
" EventIS NZ Agency Agreement " or the " Rooney
Consulting Agency Agreement ";
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|
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|
|
|
(ix)
|
|
any and all Losses resulting from challenges to
the Group’s sole ownership of the Intellectual Property
relating to the CASIS product, as such exists on the Closing
Date;
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|
|
|
|
|
(x)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the
Group’s use of the GNU General Public License (GPL) included
in the Group’s products prior to the Closing Date;
|
|
|
|
|
|
(xi)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from different profit
recognition or valuation methods for Taxes due to lack of
(sufficient) work in progress positions of the Company and/or the
Group Companies for the period prior to Closing;
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|
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|
|
|
(xii)
|
|
any and all Losses arising from the improper
capitalization or improper non-capitalization of intellectual
property rights of the Company and/or the Group Companies for the
period prior to Closing; and
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(xiii)
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any and all losses arising from the choice of
Erwin van Dommelen Beheer B.V. and Harry Koiter Beheer B.V. to sign
and enter into a management agreement instead of an employment
agreement, including any amounts required to be paid in addition to
those specified in Article 3 thereunder;
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(i) to (xiii) of this Clause 9.1, collectively,
the " Indemnified Events ". With regard to the
indemnification under (xiii) of this Clause 9.1, the Parent, the
Purchaser and its Affiliates, or, at the election of the Parent,
the Company or any of the Group Companies, shall be, at the
election of the Parent, fully indemnified and held harmless by
Erwin van Dommelen Beheer B.V., Harry Koiter Beheer B.V., Erwin van
Dommelen and/or Harry Koiter from any and all Losses arising
out of, or in connection with, this specific
indemnification.
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This Clause is deemed to include an irrevocable
third party clause ( derdenbeding ) for the benefit of the
Company and each of the Group Companies.
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9.2
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Limitations of Liability
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The Parties agree that the limitations of
Vendor’s liability as set forth in Clauses 8.1.4 and 8.1.5 do
not apply to the indemnities set forth in this Clause 9. The
investigations carried out by, or information furnished to the
Purchaser or representatives or advisers of each shall not relieve
the Vendor from its liability under Clause 9, nor shall such
investigation or information prejudice or mitigate in any way the
right of the Parent or the Purchaser to make a claim relating to an
Indemnified Event.
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CLAUSE 10
TREATMENT OF CLAIMS
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10.1
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Treatment of Claims
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If the Parent or the Purchaser becomes aware of
a Breach or an Indemnified Event, the Parent shall:
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10.1.1
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within a reasonable period of time, as set forth
in section 7:23 of the Dutch Civil Code – which the Parties
agree to be thirty (30) Business Days – after the Breach or
Indemnified Event became known to the Parent and/or the Purchaser,
deliver written notice in accordance with Clause 15.1, which
written notice shall contain full details of such Breach or
Indemnified Event, including the nature and amount of the claim and
such other specifics as reasonably requested by the
Vendor;
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10.1.2
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take such actions as the Vendor may reasonably
request to avoid, dispute or mitigate any claim or matter which
would give rise to a Breach or an Indemnified Event, unless the
Parent’s commercial interests reasonably require
otherwise;
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10.1.3
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take such actions as may in the reasonable
opinion of the Parent be required to diminish the adverse effect of
a Breach or an Indemnified Event on the Company, the Group, the
Business or the business of the Parent, such actions to be in
consultation with the Vendor; and
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10.1.4
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where a time limit applies to a claim giving
rise to a liability or a potential liability under the Agreement,
the Parent and the Purchaser shall use reasonable efforts to ensure
that such time limit (whether for appeal or otherwise) is complied
with (unless otherwise instructed by the Vendor).
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10.2
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Treatment of Third Party Claims
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If a claim of the Parent or the Purchaser for a
Breach or an Indemnified Event is based on a claim by a third party
against an Indemnified Party (for the purposes of this Clause 10.2
referred to as: the " Third Party Claim "), the following
shall apply:
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10.2.1
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the Parent shall notify the Vendor in writing of
the Third Party Claim as soon as reasonably possible after becoming
aware of the Third Party Claim. The Parent shall invite the Vendor
to a meeting to discuss the Third Party Claim;
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10.2.2
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the Vendor shall be entitled, at its sole
discretion, to notify the Parent in writing of its intention to and
to subsequently take action or defend or settle the Third Party
Claim, provided that the Vendor accepts and acknowledges its
liability towards the Parent under such Third Party
Claim;
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10.2.3
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if and when the Vendor takes over the defence of
a Third Party Claim, the Parent shall leave the conduct of the
Third Party Claim entirely to the Vendor, provide the Vendor with
reasonable assistance to conduct the Third Party Claim on behalf of
the Parent, the Purchaser, the Company and/or the relevant Group
Company, including granting the Vendor with the necessary powers of
attorney (( proces- ) volmachten ), and the Vendor
shall regularly update the Parent and consult with the Parent as to
the defence strategy regarding the Third Party Claim, provided,
that (i) the Parent may participate in any such Third Party Claim
with counsel of its choice and at its expense, (ii) the Parent, at
any time when any Third Party Claim is having or could reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Parent and its
Affiliates, taken as a whole, may assume the defence and otherwise
deal with such Third Party Claim in good faith, with counsel of its
choice, and (iii) at any time when a Third Party Claim relates to
any criminal proceeding, indictment or investigation, the Parent
may assume the defence of such Third Party Claim if the Vendor does
not provide the Parent with the written notice contemplated by
Clause 10.2.2 electing to assume the defence of a Third Party
Claim, the Parent shall take reasonable action to defend the Third
Party Claim, provided that and notwithstanding Clause 10.1.2 and
10.1.3:
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10.2.3.1
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without prejudice to Clause 10.1.2, regularly
update the Vendor and consult with the Vendor as to the defence
strategy regarding the Third Party Claim; and
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10.2.3.2
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all reasonable costs of the defence of such
Third Party Claim shall constitute Losses;
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10.2.4
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none of the Parties may enter into a settlement
of any Third Party Claim without the written consent of the
respective other Party unless such settlement provides the latter
Party with a full release from such Third Party Claim and does not
require such Party to pay any amount or to agree to any restriction
upon its future activities, and both Parties shall take the
interests of the respective other Party into consideration;
and
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10.2.5
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notwithstanding the aforegoing, each Party may
take over the defence and prosecution of a Third Party Claim from
the respective other Party if such other Party has failed or is
failing to vigorously prosecute or defend such Third Party
Claim.
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CLAUSE 11 PARENT’S
WARRANTIES
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11.1
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Representations and Warranties of the
Parent
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The Parent hereby represents and warrants to the
Vendor that on the date of the Agreement and on the Closing Date
each of the following statements set forth below (the "
Parent’s Warranties ") is true and
accurate:
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11.1.1
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the Parent is a corporation, duly incorporated
and validly existing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation;
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11.1.2
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the Parent has the requisite power and authority
(corporate and other) to enter into and execute the Agreement and
to consummate the transactions contemplated herein. The execution
of the Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
have been duly and validly authorised and approved by all necessary
corporate actions on behalf of the Parent, and no other proceedings
are necessary to authorise the Parent entering into the Agreement
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein;
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11.1.3
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the Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Parent, enforceable in accordance with
its terms;
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11.1.4
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the execution and performance of the Agreement
by the Parent and the Parent’s compliance with the
transactions contemplated herein shall not:
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11.1.4.1
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conflict with any provision of the certificate
of incorporation, by-laws or other constituent documents of the
Parent, or any resolution of its board of directors or of its
shareholders; and
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11.1.4.2
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violate any binding obligations of the Parent,
or any statute, law, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction,
judgement, award, or decree or any court, arbitrator, stock
exchange or (other) governmental authority;
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11.1.5
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the Parent has arranged on an unconditional
basis all necessary financing or has sufficient funds available to
it to enter into and consummate this Agreement, as well as to
perform all obligations in connection therewith;
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11.1.6
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other than as explicitly provided for in this
Agreement, no consent, approval, order or authorisation of, or
registration with, declaration or filing with, any person,
(governmental) body or authority, and/or entity is required on the
part of the Parent in connection with the execution and delivery
and consummation of this Agreement;
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11.1.7
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the Parent is not subject to any form of
bankruptcy, liquidation, receivership, administration, arrangement
or scheme with creditors, moratorium, interim or provisional
supervision by a court or court appointee, whether in the
jurisdiction of the place of control or incorporation (if
elsewhere), and whether in or out of court;
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11.1.8
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all forms, reports, schedules, statements,
exhibits and other documents – including pursuant to Item
601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K - required to be filed with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC ") under the
U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " Securities
Act "), and the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the " Exchange Act ") (such documents collectively,
the " SEC Documents ") have been duly and timely filed with
the SEC by the Parent and its subsidiaries under the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act; and/or
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11.1.9
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the SEC Documents filed by the Parent and/or its
Affiliates comply with the applicable requirements of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were or will be made, not misleading. To the best knowledge of
Parent, there are no SEC inquiries or investigations, other
governmental inquiries or investigations or internal investigations
pending or threatened, regarding the Parent.
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11.2
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Security by Parent
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As security for the Purchaser’s
obligations towards the Vendor under this Agreement, the Parent
hereby:
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11.2.1
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guarantees as its own direct, primary,
unconditional and irrevocable obligation to the Vendor, the payment
and performance when due of all amounts and all obligations of the
Purchaser under this Agreement or any agreement ancillary hereto;
and
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11.2.2
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hereby undertakes, represents and warrants to
the Vendor that it shall maintain its cash reserves at a level
sufficient to pay the Deferred Fixed Purchase Price and the
Deferred Performance-Based Purchase Price to the Vendor in full
when due.
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11.3
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The Parent shall be jointly and severally liable
( hoofdelijk aansprakelijk ) for the Purchaser’s
obligations under this Agreement or any agreement ancillary hereto
and the obligations of the Parent under Clause 11.2:
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11.3.1
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constitute the Parent’s direct, primary
and unconditional obligations to pay on demand any sum which the
Purchaser is required to pay under this Agreement and to perform on
demand any obligation of the Purchaser under this Agreement without
requiring the Vendor first to take steps against the Purchaser or
any other person; and
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11.3.2
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shall not be affected by any matter or thing
which, but for this provision, might operate to affect or prejudice
those obligations, including without limitation:
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11.3.2.1
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any time or indulgence granted to the Purchaser
or any other person; or
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11.3.2.2
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the exercise, variation, renewal or release of,
or refusal or neglect to perfect or enforce any right, remedy or
security against the Vendor or any other person.
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CLAUSE 12
PURCHASER’S WARRANTIES
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12.1
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Representations and Warranties of the
Purchaser
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The Purchaser hereby represents and warrants to
the Vendor that on the date of the Agreement and on the Closing
Date each of the following statements set forth below (the "
Purchaser’s Warranties ") is true and
accurate:
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12.1.1
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the Purchaser is a private company with limited
liability, duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation;
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12.1.2
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the Purchaser has the requisite power and
authority (corporate and other) to enter into and execute the
Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated herein.
The execution of the Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein have been duly and validly authorised and
approved by all necessary corporate actions on behalf of the
Purchaser, and no other proceedings are necessary to authorise the
Purchaser entering into the Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein;
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12.1.3
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the Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligations of the Purchaser, enforceable in accordance
with its terms;
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12.1.4
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the execution and performance of the Agreement
by the Purchaser and the Purchaser’s compliance with the
transactions contemplated herein shall not:
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12.1.4.1
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conflict with any provision of the articles of
association (including by-laws) or other constituent documents of
the Purchaser, or any resolution of its supervisory board,
management board or other corporate governing body or of its
shareholders, or certificate holders; and
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12.1.4.2
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violate any binding obligations of the
Purchaser, or any statute, law, rule, regulation, order, writ,
injunction, judgement, award, or decree of any court, arbitrator,
stock exchange or (other) governmental authority.
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12.1.5
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the Purchaser has arranged on an unconditional
basis all necessary financing or has sufficient funds available to
it to enter into and consummate this Agreement, as well as to
perform all obligations in connection therewith;
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12.1.6
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other than as explicitly provided for in this
Agreement, no consent, approval, order or authorisation of, or
registration with, declaration or filing with, any person,
(governmental) body or authority, and/or entity is required on the
part of the Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery
and consummation of this Agreement; and
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12.1.7
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the Purchaser is not subject to any form of
bankruptcy, liquidation, receivership, administration, arrangement
or scheme with creditors, moratorium, interim or provisional
supervision by a court or court appointee, whether in the
jurisdiction of the place of control or incorporation (if
elsewhere), and whether in or out of court.
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CLAUSE
13 CONFIDENTIALITY
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13.1
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Confidential Treatment
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Without prejudice to their obligations under the
Confidentiality Agreement and subject to Clause 13.2 and Clause 14,
each of the Parties shall treat as strictly confidential all
information received or obtained as a result of entering into or
performing the Agreement which relates to:
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13.1.1
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the negotiations relating to the Agreement or
any document referred to in the Agreement;
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13.1.2
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the provisions or
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