Exhibit 10.22
ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
This ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the
“Agreement”) effective as of August 11, 2006,
dated August 14, 2006, is by and among Elizabeth Arden, Inc.,
a Florida corporation (the “Buyer”), and Sovereign
Sales, LLC, a Michigan limited liability company (the
“Seller”).
RECITALS
The Seller desires to sell, transfer
and assign to the Buyer and the Buyer desires to purchase certain
of the assets of the Seller’s fragrance distribution business
(the “Business”), in accordance with the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the promises and the mutual representations, warranties and
covenants and subject to the conditions contained in this
Agreement, and for other good and valuable consideration, the
receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the
parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
SALE OF ASSETS
Section 1.1 Subject
Assets . The Seller hereby agrees to sell, assign and deliver
to the Buyer at the Closing (as defined in Section 3.1), free
and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, options, claims,
security interests, conditional sales contracts, title defects,
encumbrances, charges and other restrictions of every kind
(collectively, the “Liens”) all right, title and
interest in and to the assets, properties and rights, together with
any replacements thereof and additions thereto made between the
date hereof and the Closing (as defined in Section 3.1), as
hereafter described in this Section 1.1 and as listed on
composite Schedule 1.1 (collectively, the “Subject
Assets”), including the following:
(a) All inventories of fragrance,
skincare and color products, including, without limitation,
finished goods and products, packaging, labeling, raw materials,
components, work-in-process, materials, parts, accessories,
supplies, tote, corrugate, shippers, displays, testers, samples,
collateral material and gifts with purchase, wherever located
(collectively, the “Inventory”);
(b) All finished goods and products
relating to the Seller’s inventory which are returned by
customers prior to or following the Closing Date (as defined in
Section 3.1) and which relate to sales made by the Seller to
such customers prior to the Closing Date and, if returned prior to
the Closing Date, are not part of the Inventory, or resold or
destroyed directly by the Seller (the
“Returns”);
(c) All of the Seller’s
rights, title and interest in and to the agreements, purchase
orders and commitments (including, but not limited to, binding
forecasts provided to vendors) related to sales of the Inventory
that are listed on Schedule 1.1(c) and the Deposits (as defined in
Section 2.1(iv), and subject to the Buyer’s payment to
Seller in accordance with Section 2.1(iv), (collectively, the
“Contracts”);
(d) All of the Seller’s
rights, title and interest in and to the licenses, permits,
approvals and other authorizations (other than Acquired
Intellectual Property which is addressed in Section 1.1(h)
below), issued to it by any governmental authority, including a
court (each, a “Governmental Authority”) which are used
in connection with the sale of the Inventory, including those
listed on Schedule 1.1(d), to the extent transferable to the Buyer
(the “Regulatory Licenses”);
(e) All proceeds, rights, claims,
credits, causes of action or rights of set-off against third
parties relating to the Subject Assets, including, without
limitation, unliquidated rights under manufacturers’ and
vendors’ warranties, but excluding Insurance Claims and
claims for refunds or credits of any taxes that relate to any
taxable period (or portion thereof) that ends on or before the
Closing Date (the “Claims”);
(f) All rights and claims pursuant
to any policy of property and casualty insurance underwritten by
any person (as defined in Section 15.14(e)) arising from any
casualty loss or damage to the Subject Assets occurring from the
date hereof through the Closing, whether or not then reported, but
only to the extent the Buyer pays the allocable portion of the
Purchase Price with regard to such damaged Subject Assets as if
such loss had not occurred (the “Insurance
Claims”);
(g) Copies of all books and records
pertaining to the Subject Assets, including, without limitation,
books, records and files relating to customers, manufacturers and
suppliers of the Seller, operating data, business and marketing
plans, electronic data files, budgets, regulatory filings,
warranties, guaranties, bills of sale, customer and supplier lists,
copies of financial and accounting records, executed Contracts,
credit records, correspondence and other similar documents and
records used and/or useful in connection with the Subject Assets
(collectively, the “Records”); and
(h) all copyrights, copyright
registrations and applications, trade names (including, but not
limited to, “Sovereign Sales”), UPC codes, trade dress,
(whether or not registered or by whatever name or designation),
owned, applied for or used by, or registered in the name of, the
Seller in connection with the Inventory (collectively, the
“Acquired Intellectual Property”), (ii) customer
lists, supplier relationships, all proprietary data, processes,
formulations, technical or manufacturing know-how or information
(and materials embodying such information), owned by or used by,
the Seller in connection with the Inventory and all goodwill
relating to the Subject Assets (collectively with the Acquired
Intellectual Property, the “Intangible
Assets”).
Section 1.2 Assumed
Liabilities . At the Closing, the Buyer shall assume and
undertake to perform, pay, satisfy or discharge in accordance with
their terms, the liabilities, obligations and commitments of the
Seller arising or accruing during the period commencing after the
Closing Date under the Contracts to be assigned to it as set forth
on Schedule 1.1(c) (the “Assumed Liabilities”). The
parties acknowledge and agree that no other liabilities or
obligations, whether accrued, mature, absolute, contingent or
otherwise, will be assumed by the Buyer, including, without
limitation, any liability or obligation with respect to any of the
following:
(a) Any product liability or similar
claim for injury to persons or property, regardless of when made or
asserted, which arises out of or is based upon any express or
implied representation, warranty or agreement made by the Seller or
its agents, or which is imposed by operation of law or otherwise,
in connection with any service performed or product sold by the
Seller on or prior to the Closing Date (acknowledging that the
Buyer’s product liability and casualty insurance will cover
such claims for sales of Inventory after the Closing
Date);
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(b) any liability or obligations to
any current or former employees, agents, independent contractors or
creditors of the Seller (other than those set forth above under
Assumed Liabilities) or under any plan or arrangement with respect
thereto, including, without limitation, liabilities and obligations
of the Seller (A) under any life, health, accident, disability
or any other employee benefit plan, and (B) under any pension,
profit sharing, stock bonus, deferred compensation, retirement,
bonus or other employee pension benefit plan or post-retirement
benefit plan to which the Seller is a party or under which the
Seller has any obligation, or which is maintained, or to which
contributions have been made, by the Seller or any predecessor or
any corporation which is a controlled group or corporations of
which the Seller are a member, or any trade or business (whether or
not incorporated) under common control with the Seller, and
(C) for wages, salaries, bonuses, commissions, severance, sick
pay, vacation or holiday pay, overtime or other benefits not set
forth above;
(c) the Seller’s legal,
accounting, investment banking or other fees or expenses arising
out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise
incurred by the Seller;
(d) any liabilities for any tax,
assessment or other governmental imposition of any type or
description, including, without limitation, any federal income or
excess profits taxes or state, provincial or local income, sales,
use, excise, ad valorem or franchise taxes, together with any
interest, assessments and penalties thereon arising out of or
attributable to the conduct of the Seller’s operations and
the Business prior to the Closing Date or the Seller’s or its
members’ federal income or capital gain taxes or state,
provincial or local income or franchise taxes arising by virtue of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(e) any liability (i) the
existence of which constitutes an inaccuracy or breach with respect
to any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the
Seller hereunder, (ii) which arises out of or in connection
with any violation by the Seller of any requirement of law prior to
the Closing Date, and (iii) which relates to the Subject
Assets (including those arising under the Contracts) to the extent
relating to periods prior to the Closing Date unless such
liabilities are included in the Assumed Liabilities; and
(f) to the extent relating to any
conduct occurring prior to the Closing Time, any liability arising
out of or in connection with litigation or other legal proceedings,
claims or investigations related to the Seller or the Business and
operations, regardless of when made or asserted, including, without
limitation, contract, tort, intellectual property, infringement or
misappropriation, crime, fraudulent conveyance, workers’
compensation, product liability or similar claim for injury to
persons or property which arises out of or is based upon any
express or implied warranty, representation or agreement of the
Seller or its employees or agents, or which is imposed by law or
otherwise.
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ARTICLE II
PURCHASE PRICE
Section 2.1 Purchase Price
and Inventory Requirements .
(a) Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, including, without
limitation, the adjustments set forth in Section 2.2, and in
reliance on the representations, warranties and covenants of the
parties hereto, the Subject Assets shall be sold by the Seller and
shall be purchased by the Buyer for an aggregate purchase price
(the “Purchase Price”) consisting of the
following:
(i) Twenty-three Million Dollars
($23,000,000.00) cash, of which $20,500,000 is to be paid at the
Closing Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an
account designated by the Seller at least two business days before
the Closing Date (the “Account”), and the remaining Two
Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($2,500,000.00), which will
be paid as follows: (A) $500,000 on or before
September 15, 2006; (B) $1,000,000 on or before
October 15, 2006; (C) $500,000 on or before
November 15, 2006; (D) $400,000 on or before
December 15, 2006; and (E) $100,000 on or before
January 15, 2007. The Buyer and the Seller agree that $800,000
of the Purchase Price represents a fair value for the operating
services being provided in support of the Subject Assets through
December 31, 2006;
(ii) The value of the Inventory
(“Inventory Value”) defined as the book value at the
Closing Date of the Inventory, as reflected at the lower of the
Seller’s standard cost (as set forth in Schedule 2.2(a),
“Standard Cost”) or market, which is good and saleable
to U.S. and Canadian accounts, and excluding any obsolete or
ineligible Inventory (obsolete and ineligible Inventory being
mutually and reasonably agreed to by the Parties consistent with
the same principles as in the Initial Inventory Listing Report set
forth in Schedule 2.2(a)), and subject to adjustment as set forth
in Section 2.2(c). The Inventory Value will be paid at the
Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
Account; and
(iii) At the Closing Date, the Buyer
will issue to the Seller a non-interest bearing subordinated note
in the amount of Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000) (the
“Note”), in the form set forth in Exhibit A, which is
attached hereto and made a part hereof; and
(iv) To the extent that the
Seller’s balance sheet at the Closing Date reflects prepaid
deposits (the “Deposits”) on Inventory that has yet to
be delivered to the Seller by the Closing Date, and such Inventory
is received by the Buyer after the Closing Date with an invoice
price corresponding to the purchase price of the Inventory less the
Deposit, the Buyer agrees to remit the Deposit to the Seller within
15 days of the receipt of the corresponding Inventory.
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Section 2.2 Inventory
Reports; Adjustment to Purchase Price.
(a) Schedule 2.2(a) (the
“Initial Inventory Listing Report”) sets forth the
Inventory on the date of this Agreement based on the lower of the
Seller’s Standard Cost or market, excluding any obsolete or
ineligible Inventory and other credits (as determined by agreement
of the parties).
(b) Intentionally
omitted.
(c) Within ten (10) business
days following the Closing Date, the Seller and the Buyer shall
make a mutual physical count of the Inventory and shall review the
market value of the items in the Initial Inventory Report that were
not listed on the inventory schedule delivered by the Seller to the
Buyer on August 2, 2006 (by way of email from Tony Khouri to
Joel Ronkin), and the parties shall agree on such market values in
good faith taking into account market conditions existing as of the
Closing Date. On the basis of such Inventory count and review, the
Buyer and the Seller shall determine if any adjustments to the
Purchase Price paid to the Seller based on the Inventory Closing
Update needs to be made. In the event that any adjustments are
necessary, the Purchase Price shall be adjusted as follows: for
each dollar below the Inventory Closing Update amount, the cash
portion of the Purchase Price shall be reduced by one dollar and
for each dollar above the Inventory Closing Update amount, the cash
portion of the Purchase Price shall be increased by one dollar. The
Seller or the Buyer shall remit to the other party the difference
in immediately available funds within 3 business days of the
Inventory reconciliation.
(d) Requests for Returns from
retailers received after the Closing Date that relate to sales by
the Seller will be submitted to the Seller for approval. The Seller
will act reasonably with respect to such approval. The Seller will
reimburse the Buyer for the sales price of the product to which the
Returns relate. The Buyer shall purchase Returns that are good and
saleable to U.S. mass-market retailers as normal goods at a price
equal to 90% of Seller’s cost. If the Returns are not
saleable as normal goods, Buyer and Seller shall reasonably agree
on Buyer’s purchase price for the Returns. After the Closing
Date, the Buyer shall pay for Returns received by the Buyer during
a month within 15 days of the end of the month in which the Returns
are received.
Section 2.3 Allocation of
Purchase Price . Schedule 2.3 hereof sets forth allocations
with respect to the Subject Assets, which shall be used by the
parties for purposes of reporting to the Internal Revenue Service
(the “IRS”) on Form 8594. The Buyer and the Seller
agree to cooperate with each other in connection with the
preparation and filing of any information required to be furnished
to the IRS under Section 1060 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the “Code”), and any applicable
regulations thereunder, and shall not take any position in any
income tax return, before any Governmental Authority charged with
the collection of income tax, or in a judicial proceeding
inconsistent with the terms of this subsection.
Section 2.4 Expenses .
Any transfer tax or sales tax or recording or filing fees imposed
upon the sale, assignment and delivery of the Subject Assets (other
than the fees payable in
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connection with the Initial HSR Filing (as
hereinafter defined) which are identified in Section 8.1 and
which shall be paid in equal parts by the parties) shall be paid by
the Seller, provided that freight and insurance charges on delivery
of the Subject Assets shall be paid by the Buyer.
ARTICLE III
CLOSING
Section 3.1 Time and Place
of the Closing . The closing (the “Closing” or
“Closing Date”) of the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement shall take place on August 14, 2006, effective
August 11, 2006, provided that all of the conditions to
Closing shall have been met. The Closing shall take place on the
Closing Date at such time as the transactions are complete, but
shall be deemed to have occurred effective as of 11:59 p.m. on the
Closing Date (the “Closing Time”) for all
purposes.
Section 3.2 Procedure at the
Closing . At the Closing, the parties agree to take the
following steps in the order listed below (provided, however, that
upon their completion all of these steps shall be deemed to have
occurred simultaneously):
(a) The Seller shall deliver to the
Buyer evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer that each of
the conditions to the obligations of the Buyer set forth in Article
IX of this Agreement has been satisfied and a certificate of an
officer of the Seller to such effect;
(b) The Buyer shall deliver to the
Seller evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Seller that each of
the conditions to the obligations of the Seller set forth in
Article X of this Agreement has been satisfied and a certificate of
an officer of the Buyer to such effect;
(c) Each of the Seller and the Buyer
shall deliver to the other a copy of the resolutions of its Board
of Directors and, as to the Seller, also its members, authorizing
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, certified by a
person authorized under the Seller’s Articles of Organization
or Operating Agreement to so certify;
(d) Each of the Seller and the Buyer
shall deliver to the other a good standing certificate of such
party (which is dated not more than 15 days prior to the Closing)
and the Seller shall deliver to the Buyer such bills of sale,
endorsements and assignments in the forms attached hereto as
Exhibit B, and other customary instruments and documents and
certificates reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer as shall be
sufficient to vest in the Buyer good, valid and marketable title to
the Subject Assets, free and clear of all Liens, except as
otherwise specifically permitted by this Agreement;
(e) The Seller shall deliver to the
Buyer possession of all tangible personal property constituting the
Subject Assets which, to the extent not delivered to the
Buyer’s designated location, shall be held in trust for the
Buyer and designated as being the property of the Buyer, the
originals of the Books and Records, the Regulatory Licenses and the
Contracts;
(f) The Buyer shall deliver the
Purchase Price in accordance with Sections 2.1 and 2.2;
and
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(g) Each of the Buyer and the Seller
shall execute and deliver documents acknowledging receipt from the
other, respectively, of the Subject Assets and the Purchase
Price.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
THE SELLER
In order to induce the Buyer to
enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated under this Agreement, the Seller makes the following
representations, warranties and covenants, each of which is relied
upon by the Buyer in consummating the transactions contemplated
hereby regardless of any other investigation made or information
obtained by the Buyer:
Section 4.1 Organization,
Power and Authority . The Seller is a limited liability company
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Michigan, and is duly qualified in each other
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or the ownership
of its assets requires such qualification. The Seller has full
legal power and authority (a) to own or lease its properties
and to carry on the Business as it is now being conducted,
(b) to enter into this Agreement and, subject to the Consents
(as defined in Section 4.2) to assign, transfer and deliver
the Subject Assets to the Buyer as provided in this Agreement, and
(c) to perform the other transactions and agreements
contemplated by this Agreement (the “Ancillary
Agreements”).
Section 4.2 Authorization;
Binding Obligation: Consents . The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements has been
duly authorized by all necessary shareholders or members and other
requisite action on the part of the Seller or its affiliates. This
Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements have been duly executed and
delivered by the Seller and are legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Seller enforceable in accordance with its terms.
The Seller represents and warrants that SDC Enterprises, Inc. and
Sovereign Management, Inc. are the sole members of the Seller. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby by the Seller does not and
will not, violate or result in the breach of any term or provision
of (a) the charter documents or operating agreements of the
Seller, (b) to the best knowledge of the Seller, any law,
treaty, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, order, decree or
injunction of a Governmental Authority applicable to any of the
Seller or the Subject Assets, or (c) to the best knowledge of
the Seller, any mortgage, indenture, lease, license, agreement,
instrument, plan, document or understanding, oral or written, to
which the Seller is a party, or to which the assets, properties or
business of such organization are subject, or give any party with
rights thereunder the right to terminate, accelerate, modify or
change the existing rights or obligations of the Seller. To the
best of the Seller’s knowledge, except for filings and
consents required pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”)
and the consents set forth in Schedule 4.2 (the
“Consents”), no consent, action, permit, license,
approval or authorization of, or material registration, declaration
or filing with, any person is required or necessary to be obtained
by the Seller in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance by them of this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements,
including the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby.
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Section 4.3 Financial
Statements . Attached as part of Schedule 4.3 to this Agreement
are the audited financial statements for the Seller for the fiscal
years ended December 31, 2003, 2004 and 2005, and the
unaudited financial statements for the six month period ending
June 30, 2006, certified as to the six month period by the
Chief Financial Officer of the Seller, together with the related
notes and schedules attached to the audited financial statements
(collectively the “Financial Statements”). The
Financial Statements are true, correct and complete, are in
accordance with the books and records of the Seller, were prepared
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied
on a consistent basis (other than any unaudited Financial
Statements) and fairly present the financial condition and results
of operation and other information presented for the periods so
indicated. Except as provided in the Financial Statements, or as
fully disclosed in Schedule 4.3, the Seller has no liabilities or
obligations (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, whether due or
to become due or otherwise) which might be or become a charge or
Lien against the Subject Assets or be asserted against the Buyer
after the Closing, including any “loss contingencies”
considered “probable” or “reasonably
possible” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting
Standard Board’s Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
No. 5, except trade payables and similar liabilities and
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business since the
date of the Financial Statements.
Section 4.4 Good Title to
and Condition of the Subject Assets . The Seller has good and
marketable title to the Subject Assets, free and clear of all
Liens, except those set forth in Schedule 4.4(a) (which shall be
satisfied and discharged in full on or prior to the Closing). There
are no unpaid taxes or other matters that are or could become a
Lien on the Subject Assets. Schedule 4.4(b) sets forth a list of
all of the physical locations of the Subject Assets other than the
Inventory, including a street address for each such
location.
Section 4.5 Acquired
Intellectual Property .
(a) Schedule 4.5(a) sets forth a
list of all of the Acquired Intellectual Property specifying as to
each, as applicable: (i) the nature of such Acquired
Intellectual Property; (ii) the record owner of any such
Acquired Intellectual Property which is registered, applied for or
pending; (iii) the jurisdictions in which such registered
Acquired Intellectual Property exists or in which an application
for registration has been filed including the respective
registration or application numbers; and (iv) any agreements
to which the Seller is a party with respect to the Acquired
Intellectual Property.
(b) Except as set forth in Schedule
4.5(b), during the two (2) years preceding the date of this
Agreement, (i) no claim has been asserted or, to the knowledge
of the Seller, threatened against the Seller to the effect that the
operation of the Business or the use or registration of the
Acquired Intellectual Property in connection therewith infringes
upon or conflicts with the rights of any person in any country or
is otherwise void and unenforceable, and (ii) no restrictions
exist relating to the use of the Acquired Intellectual Property in
connection with their use for the manufacture, marketing and
distribution of fragrance products in the United States.
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Section 4.6 Compliance With
Law . To the best of knowledge of the Seller, the Seller has
complied with all applicable foreign, federal, state, and local
laws, statutes, regulations, orders of any Governmental Authority
and legal requirements of any kind in respect of the Subject Assets
and the conduct of the Business, in each instance where the failure
to comply would result in any material adverse effect on the
Subject Assets, including, without limitation, those relating to
the packaging, distribution, labeling, advertising and marketing of
the products in the Inventory and those relating to foreign,
federal, state and local environmental laws, regulations, orders
and restrictions. To the best knowledge of the Seller, no event has
occurred, and no condition or circumstance exists, that might (with
or without notice or lapse of time, or both) reasonably constitute
or result, directly or indirectly, in a violation by the Seller of,
or a failure on the part of the Seller to comply with, any of the
above legal requirements.
Section 4.7 Litigation .
Except as set forth on Schedule 4.7, there is no (i) action,
arbitration, mediation, suit, claim, proceeding or investigation
pending and, to the best knowledge of the Seller, threatened
against or affecting the Seller or the Subject Assets, or to the
best knowledge of the Seller, there are no unasserted claims or
assessments that are considered to be probable of assertion (within
the meaning of Financial Accounting Standard Board’s
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5); or
(ii) action, suit, claim, proceeding or inquiry of a
Governmental Authority inquiry pending or threatened relating to or
involving the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except
as described in Schedule 4.7, all the actions, suits, proceedings
or investigations described in such schedule are being diligently
prosecuted and are covered by insurance or adequate provisions have
been made to cover the potential liabilities. There are no
outstanding orders, decrees or stipulations issued by a
Governmental Authority in any proceeding related to the Business or
the Subject Assets.
Section 4.8 No Adverse
Changes . To the best of knowledge of the Seller, other than as
described on Schedule 4.8, since the date of the last fiscal year
end audited balance sheet (the “Balance Sheet”), there
has not been (except as otherwise contemplated or permitted by this
Agreement):
(a) any sale or other disposition of
any of the Subject Assets, other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(b) any damage, destruction, loss or
other change (whether or not insured) materially and adversely
affecting the Subject Assets or operation of the
Business;
(c) any loans or advances or charges
that in any way create Liens on the Subject Assets;
(d) any change in the accounting
methods relating to the Subject Assets followed by the Seller or in
the methods of preparing Inventory reports;
(e) any material adverse change in
the Subject Assets or the Business; or
(f) agreement or commitment, whether
or not in writing, to do any of the foregoing by or on behalf of
the Seller or its members.
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Section 4.9 Books and
Records . The books and records of the Seller relating to the
Subject Assets, all of which have been made available to the Buyer,
are complete and correct and have been maintained in accordance
with sound business practices and generally accepted accounting
principles.
Section 4.10 Material
Agreements .
(a) Set forth in the respective
schedules described below is a list of all agreements, obligations
and commitments of the Seller in relation to the Inventory to which
the Seller is a party or by which it or the Subject Assets may be
bound and that:
(i) provide for the sale, marketing
or distribution of products or services relating to the Inventory
which provides for payments in excess of $15,000 per annum,
including, without limitation, advertising agreements, sales
agreements and a description of agreements with retail accounts,
fulfillment houses and other third parties relating to other
advertising, merchandising and promotions entered in the ordinary
course of business as set forth in Schedule 4.10(a)(i);
(ii) relate to the acquisition or
manufacturing of the Inventory and, where accomplished by means of
purchase order, a listing of such outstanding purchase orders as
set forth in Schedule 4.10(a)(ii); or
(iii) are otherwise material to the
Business or the Subject Assets as set forth in Schedule
4.10(a)(iii).
Section 4.11 Governmental
Filings . Any and all filings required to be made pursuant to
any local, state or federal law, regulation or ordinance due as of
or before the Closing Date and which may be due as a result of the
Closing or for periods ending prior to the Closing Time has or will
be timely filed by the Seller.
Section 4.12 Labor
Relations; Independent Contractors . Except as set forth in
Schedule 4.12(a), and except as would not have a material adverse
effect on the Subject Assets or the Business: (a) to the best
knowledge of the Seller, the Seller is in compliance with all
federal, state and local laws regarding employment and employment
practices, conditions of employment, wages and hours with respect
to the Business; (b) the Seller is not engaged in unfair labor
practices, and there are no unfair labor practice complaints or
grievances pending or, to the best knowledge of the Seller,
threatened against the Seller before the National Labor Relations
Board relating to employees of the Seller who are employed in
connection with the Business, (c) there are no violations of
employment or labor laws, or age, sex, racial or other employment
discrimination claims charged, pending or, to the best knowledge of
the Seller, threatened against the Seller relating to employees of
the Business, and (d) there is no labor strike, dispute or
work stoppage pending or, to the best knowledge of the Seller,
threatened against or involving the Business or at the current
customer locations which may affect the Business or which may
interfere with its continued operation, and there has been no
strike, walkout or work stoppage involving any of the employees of
the Seller employed with respect to
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the Business or at the current customer
locations during the twenty-four (24) months prior to the date
of this Agreement. The Seller has no arrangements with independent
contractors except as set forth on Schedule 4.12(b), all such
arrangements with independent contractors are terminable at will by
the Seller without penalty.
Section 4.13 Employee
Benefits . The Seller does not maintain or contribute to:
(a) any non-qualified deferred compensation or retirement
plans or arrangements; (b) any qualified defined contribution
retirement plans or arrangements; (c) any qualified defined
benefit pension plan; (d) any other plan, program, agreement
or arrangement under which former employees of the Seller or its
beneficiaries are entitled, or current employees of the Seller will
be entitled following termination of employment, to medical, health
or life insurance or other benefits other than pursuant to benefit
continuation rights granted by state or federal law; or
(e) any other employee benefit, health, welfare, medical,
disability, life insurance, stock, stock purchase or stock option
plan, program, agreement, arrangement or policy, except as
described in Schedule 4.13 attached to this Agreement, and as to
which the Buyer is assuming no obligation or liability.
Section 4.14 Inventory .
The Initial Inventory Listing Report is, and the Inventory Closing
Update will be, true, complete and correct and prepared in a manner
disclosed to the Buyer. All Inventory consists of a quality and
quantity which are saleable and merchantable in the ordinary course
of business to U.S. and Canadian accounts, except for obsolete
items and items of below-standard quality all of which have been
written off or written down to the lower of Standard Cost or
market. Schedule 4.14(a) sets forth a list of all of the physical
locations of the Inventory, including a street address for each
such location. Schedule 4.14(b) sets forth a list of all of the
Seller’s customers who have returned finished goods or
products relating to the Inventory for 2005 and 2006, as well as
customers who have indicated to the Seller that they anticipate
returning finished goods or products, the current returns policies
of the Seller with respect to its customers and their approximate
rate of returns for 2005 and 2006, which schedule shall be updated
as of the Closing Date. Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.14(b),
all of the Returns received by the Sell