GLOBAL EMPLOYMENT HOLDINGS,
INC.
CAREER BLAZERS PERSONNEL
SERVICES, INC.
CAREER BLAZERS CONTINGENCY
PROFESSIONALS, INC.
CAREER BLAZERS PERSONNEL SERVICES
OF WASHINGTON, D.C., INC.
Dated as of December 29,
2006
THIS ASSET
PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this “ Agreement ”) is dated
as of December 29, 2006, by and among Global Employment
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “ Buyer
”), Career Blazers Personnel Services, Inc., a New York
corporation, Career Blazers Contingency Professionals, Inc., a New
York corporation, and Career Blazers Personnel Services of
Washington, D.C., Inc., a District of Columbia corporation (each of
such corporations, a “ Seller Constituent ”;
collectively, the “ Seller ”), and CapeSuccess
LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “ Seller
Parent ”). Unless otherwise set forth herein, capitalized
terms used herein shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
Section 1.
WHEREAS, the Buyer
desires to purchase from the Seller, and the Seller desires to sell
to the Buyer, substantially all of the property, assets and
Business (as defined herein) of the Seller, and to assume certain
obligations and liabilities of the Seller as specifically set forth
herein, all upon terms and subject to the conditions hereinafter
set forth in this Agreement.
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual representations, warranties, covenants,
promises and agreements contained herein, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is
hereby mutually acknowledged, the Buyer and the Seller agree as
follows:
1.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS . As used herein the following terms not
otherwise defined have the following respective
meanings:
“ 2006
Unused Sick/Vacation Payments ” shall mean any payment
owed by Seller to any Employee for unused sick or vacation time for
the year 2006.
“
Accounts Receivable ” shall mean (a) all trade
accounts receivable and other rights to payment from customers of
the Seller and the full benefit of all security for such accounts
or rights to payment, including all accounts receivable
representing amounts receivable in respect of products sold or
services rendered to customers of the Seller, (b) all other
accounts or notes receivable of the Seller, and the full benefit of
all security for such accounts or notes and (c) any claim, remedy
or other right related to any of the foregoing.
“ Adverse
Consequences ” shall mean all actions, suits,
proceedings, hearings, investigations, charges, complaints, claims,
demands, injunctions, judgments, orders, rulings, damages, dues,
penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid in settlement, Liabilities,
obligations, Taxes, liens, expenses, and fees, including court
costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses.
“
Affiliate ” shall mean as applied to any specified
Person, any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling,
controlled by or under common control with such specified
Person.
“
Assets ” shall mean, with respect to any Person, such
Person’s property and assets, real, personal or mixed,
tangible and intangible, of every kind and description.
“ Assumed
Liabilities ” shall have the meaning as set forth below
in Section 2.3.
“
Basis ” shall mean any past or present fact,
situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice,
plan, occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or
transaction that forms or could form the basis for any specified
consequence.
“ Best
Efforts ” shall mean the efforts that a prudent Person
desirous of achieving a result would use in similar circumstances
to achieve that result as expeditiously as possible; provided;
however, that a Person required to use Best Efforts under this
Agreement will not be thereby required to take actions that would
result in a material adverse change in the benefits to such Person
of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby or to
dispose of or make any change to its business, expend any material
funds or incur any other material burden.
“
Business ” shall mean the business, Assets,
properties, rights and operations of the Seller, whether or not
reflected on the Books and Records of the Seller, that are
primarily used in, or primarily pertain to or relate to, the
provision of temporary and permanent employment staffing and
contingency services.
“ Change
of Control Bonus ” shall mean any bonus payable to any
Employee by Seller as a result of the consummation of the
transactions contemplated under this Agreement.
“
Code ” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended.
“
Confidential Information ” shall mean any information
relating to either Party, including, without limitation,
information relating to products, services, research, markets,
developments, inventions, designs and finances, and whether in
tangible, intangible, electronic or other form, which is made
available to the other party in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
“
Contingency Employees ” shall mean employees of the
Seller who are employed by the Seller as part of its contingency
services.
“ Deposit
Amount ” has the meaning as set forth below in
Section 2.5
“ Deposit
Escrow Agent ” has the meaning as set forth below in
Section 2.6.
“ Deposit
Escrow Agreement ” has the meaning as set forth below in
Section 2.6.
“
Effective Time ” means the time at which the Closing
is consummated.
“
Employee Plans ” shall mean all “employee
benefit plans” as defined by Section 3(3) of ERISA, all
specified fringe benefit plans as defined in Section 6039D of
the Code, and all other bonus, incentive compensation, deferred
compensation, profit sharing, stock option, stock appreciation
right, stock bonus, stock purchase, employee stock ownership,
savings, severance, supplemental unemployment, layoff, salary
continuation, retirement, pension, health, life insurance,
disability, accident, group insurance, vacation, holiday, sick
leave, fringe benefit or welfare plan, and any other employee
benefit plan, policy, or practice (whether qualified or
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nonqualified),
that (i) is maintained or contributed to by the Seller or with
respect to which the Seller has or may have any liability, and
(ii) provides benefits, or describes policies or procedures
applicable, to any current or former director, officer or employee
of the Seller or the dependents of any thereof, regardless of how
(or whether) liabilities for the provision of benefits are accrued
or assets are acquired or dedicated with respect to the funding
thereof.
“
Employees ” shall mean all Staff Employees,
Contingency Employees and Temporary Employees of the
Seller.
“
Employment Taxes ” means payroll, employment,
employee’s income withholding, foreign or domestic
withholding, social security, unemployment taxes, fee, assessment,
levy, tariff charge or duty of any kind whatsoever and any
interest, penalty, addition or additional amount thereon imposed,
assessed or collected by or under the authority of any governmental
body or payable under any Tax sharing arrangement or other contract
.
“
Encumbrance ” shall mean any claim, lien, pledge,
option, charge, easement, security interest, right of way,
encroachment, reservation, restriction, encumbrance, or other right
of any Person, or any other restriction or limitation of any nature
whatsoever.
“
ERISA ” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ Escrow
Agreements ” shall mean the Deposit Escrow Agreement and
the Indemnity Escrow Agreement.
“
Excluded Assets ” shall have the meaning as set forth
below in Section 2.2.
“
Excluded Liabilities ” shall have the meaning as set
forth below in Section 2.4.
“ Final
Net Working Capital ” shall have the meaning set forth
below in Section 2.9(a).
“
Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning as set
forth below in Section 4.7.
“
GAAP ” shall mean generally accepted accounting
principles for financial reporting in the United States applied on
a basis consistent with the basis on which the Financial Statements
were prepared.
“ Hired
Employees ” shall have the meaning as set forth below in
Section 3.3(a).
“
Indemnity Escrow Agent ” has the meaning as set forth
below in Section 2.6.
“
Indemnity Escrow Agreement ” has the meaning as set
forth below in Section 2.6.
“
Indemnity Escrow Amount ” has the meaning as set forth
below in Section 2.6.
“ IRS
” shall mean the United States Internal Revenue
Service.
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“
Knowledge ” shall mean with respect to the Seller the
actual knowledge of Caress Kennedy or Michael Roth after reasonable
investigation. With respect to any other Person,
“Knowledge” shall mean the actual knowledge, after
reasonable investigation, of such individual, or of the senior
management of such entity who were primarily responsible for the
matter in question.
“ Largest
Customer ” shall mean the largest customer of the Seller
in terms of revenue as previously identified and agreed upon by the
Seller and the Buyer.
“ Largest
Customer Contract ” shall mean the existing contract by
and between the Seller and the Largest Customer.
“ Largest
Customer Earnout Payment ” shall have the meaning as set
forth below in Section 2.6.
“
Liability ” shall mean with respect to any Person, any
liability or obligation of such Person of any kind, character or
description, whether known or unknown, absolute or contingent,
accrued or unaccrued, disputed or undisputed, liquidated or
unliquidated, secured or unsecured, joint or several, due or to
become due, vested or unvested, executory, determined, determinable
or otherwise, and whether or not the same is required to be accrued
on the financial statements of such Person.
“ Most
Recent Financial Statements ” shall have the meaning set
forth below in Section 4.7.
“ Net
Working Capital ” means (a) the amount of the
consolidated current assets of the Seller included in the
Transferred Assets, minus (b) the amount of the consolidated
current liabilities of the Seller included in the Assumed
Liabilities, all as determined in accordance with GAAP. The
calculation of Net Working Capital shall be made in a manner
consistent with the treatment of the items listed on
Exhibit C.
“ Net
Working Capital Target ” shall mean eight hundred eighty
five thousand dollars ($885,000).
“ Net
Working Capital Deficiency ” shall have the meaning set
forth below in Section 2.9(d).
“ Net
Working Capital Excess ” shall have the meaning set forth
below in Section 2.9(d).
“
Ordinary Course of Business ” shall mean an action
taken by a Person only if that action: (i) is consistent with
the past practices of such Person and is taken in the ordinary
course of the normal, day-to-day operations of such Person;
(ii) does not require authorization by the board of directors
or shareholders of such Person (or by any Person or similar or
group of Persons exercising similar authority); and (iii) such
action does not involve an Affiliate of that Person.
“
Party ” shall mean the Buyer or the Seller.
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“
Performance Bonuses ” shall mean any bonus payable to
any Employees based on the overall performance of the Business or
any segment thereof, including the performance bonus payable to
Caress Kennedy for the year 2006.
“
Permitted Encumbrance ” shall mean as applied to any
Asset, any Encumbrance described in Schedule 1
.
“
Permits ” shall mean the licenses and permits of the
Seller, including all renewals thereof.
“
Person ” shall mean any natural person, corporation,
limited liability company, partnership, organization, trust, firm,
joint venture, joint-stock company, association, unincorporated
entity, or organization or entity of any kind.
“
Personal Property Leases ” shall mean leases of
personal property.
“
Proceeding ” shall mean any action, arbitration,
audit, hearing, investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil,
criminal, administrative, judicial or investigative, whether formal
or informal, whether public or private) commenced, brought,
conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any
governmental agency or court or similar body or
arbitrator.
“
Purchase Price Adjustment Statement ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.9(d).
“ Real
Estate Leases ” shall mean the real estate leases
described in Schedule 2.1(a).
“ Real
Property ” shall mean the building, plants and other
structures or improvements thereon relating to the properties
described in the Real Estate Leases, and, to the extent covered by
the Real Estate Leases, any and all fixtures, machinery,
installations, equipment and other property attached thereto or
located thereon.
“
Restrictive Agreements ” shall mean all agreements to
which the Seller or its Affiliates are a party which restrict or
otherwise place limitations on employees or former employees of the
Seller and its ability to engage in certain activities related to
the Business, including but not limited to (i) the
employee’s (or former employee’s) solicitation of any
customer or employee of the Seller and (ii) the
employee’s (or former employee’s) ability to own any
interest in, manage, control, finance, invest in, consult with,
render services for a Person from whom such the employee (or former
Employee) is restricted pursuant to the terms of such
agreements.
“
Security Interest ” shall mean any mortgage, pledge,
lien, Encumbrance, charge, or other security interest, other than
(a) mechanic’s, materialmen’s, and similar liens,
(b) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable (c) purchase
money liens and liens securing rental payments under capital lease
arrangements, and (d) other liens arising in the Ordinary
Course of Business and not incurred in connection with the
borrowing of money.
“ Staff
Employees ” shall mean non-temporary employees of the
Seller which are not Contingency Employees.
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“
Subsidiary ” shall mean as applied to any specified
Person, any other Person of which such specified Person shall at
the time own, directly or indirectly, through a Subsidiary or
otherwise, at least a majority of the outstanding capital stock (or
other beneficial interests) entitled to vote generally.
“ Tax
” or “ Taxes ” shall mean any income,
gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance,
stamp, occupation, premium, property, environmental, windfall
profit, customs, vehicle, airplane, boat, vessel or other title or
registration, capital stock, franchise, employees’ income
withholding, foreign or domestic withholding, social security,
unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales,
use, transfer, value added, alternative, add-on minimum and other
tax, fee, assessment, levy, tariff, charge or duty of any kind
whatsoever and any interest, penalty, addition or additional amount
thereon imposed, assessed or collected by or under the authority of
any governmental body or payable under any tax sharing arrangement
or other contract and any obligation to indemnify, assume or
succeed to a Tax Liability of any other Person.
“ Tax
Return ” shall mean any return (including any information
return), report, statement, schedule, notice, form, declaration,
claim for refund or other document or information filed with or
submitted to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any
governmental body in connection with the determination, assessment,
collection or payment of any Tax or in connection with the
administration, implementation or enforcement of or compliance with
any applicable law relating to any Tax.
“
Temporary Employee ” shall mean an employee of the
Seller other than a Staff Employee or a Contingency
Employee.
“
Transferred Assets ” shall have the meaning as set
forth below in Section 2.1.
2.1 Agreement
to Purchase and Sell Assets . Subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, the Seller agrees to sell,
assign, transfer and deliver to the Buyer, and the Buyer agrees to
purchase, acquire and take assignment and delivery from the Seller,
at the Closing (as hereinafter defined in Section 3.1), all of
the Seller’s rights, title and interest in and to all of the
Seller’s Assets, wherever located, used or held for use in
the Business as of the Effective Time, free and clear of all
Encumbrances other than the Permitted Encumbrances, including
without limitation the following (but excluding the Excluded Assets
as hereinafter defined in Section 2.2) (the “
Transferred Assets ”):
(a) the
Real Estate Leases described on Schedule 2.1(a)
.
(b) any
and all, fixtures, machinery, equipment, furniture, tools, spare
parts, supplies, materials and other tangible personal property,
usually located on or at, or used in conjunction with the Business
(wherever located and whether or not carried on the Seller’s
Books and Records), together with any express or implied warranty
by the manufacturers or sellers or lessors of any item or component
thereof, to the extent transferable without notice to,
6
or consent
from, any third party and all maintenance records and other
documents relating thereto (collectively, the “
Equipment ”);
(c) the
Personal Property Leases to which the Seller is a party;
(d) all
contracts and agreements for the purchase or sale of goods,
materials and/or services and all other contracts, commitments and
agreements of the Seller entered into in the Ordinary Course of
Business prior to the Effective Time;
(e) the
Permits, in each case to the extent transferable to the
Buyer;
(f) the
intangible property of any nature owned by the Seller or in which
the Seller has any interest, and including, without limitation, all
goodwill relating to, arising from or used in connection with the
Business, all copyrights and logos, customer lists, supplier lists,
telephone and telecopy numbers, domain names, trade secrets,
patents, trademarks, candidate lists, software, databases,
websites, URLs, service marks and trade names (and the goodwill
connected with the use of any of the foregoing) (the “
Intangibles ”);
(g) all
books, records, files, plans, blueprints, drawings, designs,
specifications, credit information, business records and plans,
personnel records, studies, surveys, reports, correspondence, sales
and promotional literature and other selling material, computer
software and related documentation, databases and other data used
or held for use in connection with or relating to the Business
(“ Books and Records ”), other than any such
Books and Records embodying or pertaining to any Excluded Asset or
Excluded Liability;
(h) claims
against third parties whether choate or inchoate, known or unknown,
contingent or non-contingent, including insurance claims for
casualty losses, related to events occurring prior to the Effective
Time, including but not limited to those set forth on
Schedule 2.1(h) ;
(i) all
insurance benefits, including rights, proceeds and settlements
arising from or relating to the Transferred Assets or the Assumed
Liabilities and any occurrence of events, actions or omissions
related thereto prior to the Effective Time, including but not
limited to those set forth on Schedule 2.1(i)
;
(j) all
rights relating to deposits and prepaid expenses and claims for
refunds and rights to offset in respect thereof;
(k) all
rights relating to claims for rebates or refunds or credits of
Employment Taxes;
(m) account
balances remaining in Seller’s operating account pursuant to
Section 8.1; and
(n) all
notes receivable shown on the Most Recent Financial
Statements.
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2.2 Excluded
Assets . Notwithstanding anything set forth herein to the
contrary, the Transferred Assets shall not include the following
and such shall remain the property of and responsibility of the
Seller following the Closing (collectively, the “ Excluded
Assets ”):
(a) the
Seller’s rights under this Agreement, including all proceeds
paid or payable to the Seller in connection with this
Agreement;
(b) any
cash of the Seller on hand or in banks as of the Effective Time
except account balances remaining in Seller’s operating
account pursuant to Section 7;
(c) the
corporate minute books and stock records of the Seller;
(d) any
of the Seller’s right to Tax rebates or refunds, or similar
refunds, credits or rebates in respect of periods prior to the
Effective Time other than those related to Employment
Taxes;
(e) all
causes of action to the extent relating to the Excluded Assets or
Excluded Liabilities;
(f) all
Employee Plans of the Seller or covering any of the Employees to
the extent such Employee Plans represent an asset of the
Seller;
(g) the
Sellers’ Assets, rights and ownership interests listed on
Schedule 2.2(g);
(h) any
Books and Records embodying or pertaining to the Excluded
Assets;
(i) any
Real Estate Leases other than those listed on
Schedule 2.1(a);
(j) all
the outstanding stock of Career Blazers Management Company, Inc., a
New York corporation, Career Blazers Service Company, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, Career Blazers Consulting Services, Inc., a
New York corporation, Career Blazers New York, Inc., a New York
corporation, Career Blazers Learning Center of Los Angeles, Inc., a
California corporation; or
(k) all
insurance policies of the Seller and the rights thereunder (except
to the extent specified in Sections 2.1(h) or
2.1(i)).
2.3 Agreement
to Assign and Assume Liabilities . At the Closing, on and
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement,
the Buyer agrees to assume to the extent arising from and related
to the Business and the Transferred Assets all the Liabilities of
the Seller other than the Excluded Liabilities (collectively, the
“ Assumed Liabilities ”).
8
2.4 Excluded
Liabilities . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, neither the Buyer nor its Affiliates shall assume and in
no event shall be deemed to have assumed, any of the following
Liabilities of the Seller or any of its Affiliates (the “
Excluded Liabilities ”):
(a) any
of the Seller’s obligations under this Agreement or the
agreements entered into in connection herewith;
(b) any
Liability of the Seller or its Affiliates to any shareholder or
Affiliate of the Seller;
(c) any
Liability of the Seller in respect of events occurring after the
Effective Time;
(d) any
Liability of the Seller or its Affiliates for any indebtedness for
money borrowed;
(e) any
Change of Control Bonuses or Performance Bonuses;
(f) any
2006 Unused Sick/Vacation Payments, including to Temporary
Employees; and
(g) any
Liability of the Seller described on Schedule 2.4(g)
.
The Seller
shall be responsible for and shall pay or otherwise satisfy the
Excluded Liabilities.
2.5 Purchase
Price; Payments at Closing . The purchase price to be paid by
the Buyer to the Seller for the Transferred Assets shall be
(i) Nine Million Dollars ($9,000,000), as adjusted pursuant to
Section 2.9 below (the “ Cash Purchase Price
Component ”), plus (ii) the assumption of the
Assumed Liabilities and (iii) any Largest Customer Earnout
Payment (in the aggregate, the “ Purchase Price
”). A portion of the Purchase Price shall be paid on or
before January 3, 2007 by delivery of Five Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($500,000) (the “ Deposit Amount ”) to
the Deposit Escrow Agent as provided in Section 2.6 below. The
remaining portion of the Purchase Price (other than the Largest
Customer Earnout) shall be paid to the Seller at the Closing by:
(a) the assumption of the Assumed Liabilities;
(b) delivery of the Indemnity Escrow Amount to the Indemnity
Escrow Agent as provided in Section 2.8; and (c) delivery
to the Seller of the Cash Purchase Price Component less the
Deposit Amount and the Indemnity Escrow Amount. At the Closing, the
Deposit Escrow Agent shall deliver the Deposit Amount to the
Seller.
2.6 Largest
Customer Earnout Payment . On November 30, 2008, provided
that the amount of gross revenues received from the Largest
Customer Contract for the period from January 1, 2008 through
November 1, 2008 (on an annualized basis) is at least equal to
80% of the amount of gross revenues received from the Largest
Customer Contract for the period from January 1, 2006 through
December 31, 2006 and the Largest Customer has not delivered
to the Buyer a written notice of termination of the Largest
Customer Contract nor have the pricing terms with respect to the
Largest Customer Contract been changed by the Largest Customer to
make them more than 20% less favorable to the Buyer than under the
terms in the Largest Customer Contract as of the date of this
Agreement, the Buyer will pay to the Seller an additional One
Million Two Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($1,250,000) in cash
(the “ Largest Customer Earnout Payment ”). If
the Largest Customer Earnout Payment is not payable on
November 30, 2008, it shall be paid on January 31, 2009
if the amount of gross revenues received from the Largest Customer
Contract for the period from January 1, 2008
through
9
December 31, 2008 is at least equal to 80%
of the amount of gross revenues received from the Largest Customer
Contract for the period from January 1, 2006 through
December 31, 2006 and the Largest Customer has not delivered
to the Buyer a written notice of termination of the Largest
Customer Contract nor have the pricing terms with respect to the
Largest Customer Contract been changed by the Largest Customer to
make them more than 20% less favorable to the Buyer than under the
terms in the Largest Customer Contract as of the date of this
Agreement.
2.7 Deposit
Escrow . On or before January 3, 2007 the Buyer shall
deposit an amount equal to the Deposit Amount with an escrow agent
jointly selected by the Buyer and the Seller (the “
Deposit Escrow Agent ”). The parties acknowledge and
agree that the Deposit Escrow Amount shall be used for the purpose
of securing the Buyer’s obligations to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Deposit Amount
shall be administered in accordance with the provisions of an
Deposit Escrow Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit A (the “ Deposit Escrow Agreement
”). The Deposit Escrow Amount shall be held as a trust fund
and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process
or any other judicial process of any creditor of the Buyer and its
Affiliates and the Seller and its Affiliates and shall be held and
disbursed solely for the purposes and in accordance with the
respective terms thereof. At the Closing, the Deposit Escrow Agent
shall deliver the Deposit Amount to the Seller and the Deposit
Amount shall be applied to the Cash Purchase Price Component
pursuant to Section 2.5; provided, however:
(a) If
the Buyer and the Seller mutually terminate this Agreement prior to
the Closing pursuant to Section 10.1(b), the Buyer will be
entitled to a refund of the Deposit Amount;
(b) If
the Buyer terminates this Agreement prior to the Closing pursuant
to Section 10.1(c) or Section 10.1(d), the Buyer will be
entitled to a refund of the Deposit Amount; and
(c) If
the Seller terminates this Agreement prior to the Closing pursuant
to Section 10.1(c) or Section 10.1(e), the Seller will be
entitled to retain the Deposit Amount.
2.8
Indemnification Escrow . At Closing, the Buyer shall deposit
an amount equal to One Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars
($1,350,000) (the “ Indemnity Escrow Amount ”)
with an escrow agent jointly selected by the Buyer and the Seller
(the “ Indemnity Escrow Agent ”). The parties
acknowledge and agree that the Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be
used for the purpose of securing the Seller’s indemnification
obligations pursuant to Section 12 and the Seller’s
purchase price adjustment obligations, if any, pursuant to
Section 2.9 to the extent such obligations are equal to or
less than $250,000. The Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be
administered in accordance with the provisions of an Indemnity
Escrow Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B (the “ Indemnity Escrow
Agreement ”). The Indemnity Escrow Amount shall be held
as a trust fund and shall not be subject to any lien, attachment,
trustee process or any other judicial process of any creditor of
the Buyer and its Affiliates and the Seller and its Affiliates and
shall be held and disbursed solely for the purposes and in
accordance with the respective terms thereof.
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2.9 Purchase
Price Adjustment .
(a) As
soon as practicable, but not later than thirty (30) days after
the Closing Date, the Seller will prepare and deliver to the Buyer
the calculation of the actual Net Working Capital of the Seller as
of the Effective Time (the “ Final Net Working Capital
”) and the calculation of the amount of any overpayment or
underpayment of Purchase Price as a result of the difference
between the Final Net Working Capital and the Net Working Capital
Target (the “ Purchase Price Adjustment Statement
”). The Buyer shall give the Seller and its advisors
reasonable access to the Seller’s Books and Records and
personnel needed to prepare the Purchase Price Adjustment
Statement.
(b) Within
thirty (30) days of receiving the Purchase Price Adjustment
Statement, the Buyer will notify the Seller of any dispute with
respect to the Purchase Price Adjustment Statement, specifying the
dispute in reasonable detail. If the Buyer does not notify the
Seller of a dispute within this period, the Purchase Price
Adjustment Statement shall be final and binding.
(c) If
the Buyer timely notifies the Seller of a dispute under
Section 2.9(b) above, and the dispute is not resolved within
seven (7) days after the date of such notice, the Seller and
the Buyer will select an independent accounting firm (excluding any
accounting firm used by a party hereto) to resolve the disputed
items and make a determination of the proposed adjustments with
respect to the Purchase Price Adjustment Statement. If the Seller
and the Buyer cannot agree on such an independent accounting firm
within three (3) business days, each of the Seller and the
Buyer shall select such an independent accounting firm and those
two firms shall select a third such independent accounting firm to
resolve the disputed items and make a determination of the proposed
adjustments with respect to the Purchase Price Adjustment
Statement. Such determination will be made within sixty
(60) days after such selection and will be binding upon the
parties hereto. The fees, costs and expenses of the accounting firm
so selected will be borne by the party whose positions generally
did not prevail in such determination, or if the accounting firm
determinates that neither party could be fairly found to be the
prevailing party, the such fees, costs and expenses will be borne
50% by the Seller and 50% by the Buyer.
(d) If
the Final Net Working Capital is more than $60,000 greater than the
Net Working Capital Target as reflected in the Purchase Price
Adjustment Statement, within three (3) business after the
Purchase Price Adjustment Statement becomes final and binding on
the parties, the Buyer shall cause the payment of an amount equal
to the difference between the Final Net Working Capital and the Net
Working Capital Target to an account specified by the
Seller.
(e) If
the Final Net Working Capital is more than $60,000 less than the
Net Working Capital Target as reflected in the Purchase Price
Adjustment Statement, within three (3) business after the
Purchase Price Adjustment Statement becomes final and binding on
the parties, (i) the Buyer and Seller shall jointly instruct
the Indemnity Escrow Agent to release an amount equal to the Net
Working Capital Deficiency (but not exceeding $250,000) from the
Indemnity Escrow Amount to an account specified by the Buyer, and
(ii) the Seller shall cause the payment to Buyer of an amount
by which any such Net Working Capital Deficiency that exceeds
$250,000.
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2.10 Tax
Cooperation; Allocation of Taxes and Purchase Price
.
(a) The
Buyer and the Seller agree to furnish or cause to be furnished to
each other, upon request, as promptly as practicable, such
information and assistance relating to the Business (including,
without limitation, access to Books and Records) as is reasonably
necessary for the audit by any taxing authority, and the
prosecution or defense of any claim, suit or proceeding relating to
any Tax. The Buyer and the Seller shall retain all Books and
Records with respect to Taxes pertaining to the Business for a
period of at least six (6) years following the Closing Date.
The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate with each other in the
conduct of any audit or other proceeding relating to Taxes
involving the Business.
(b) Except
to the extent accounted for in calculating the Net Working Capital
and assumed by the Buyer, all rent, utilities, real property Taxes,
personal property Taxes and similar ad valorem obligations levied
with respect to the Business for a period which includes (but does
not end on) the day of the Effective Time (collectively, the
“ Apportioned Obligations ”) shall be
apportioned between the Buyer and the Seller based on the number of
days of such period included in the taxable period before the
Effective Time (with respect to any such taxable period, the
“ Pre-Effective Time Tax Period ”) and the
number of days of such taxable period on and after the Effective
Time (with respect to any such taxable period, the “
Post-Effective Time Tax Period ”). The Seller shall be
liable for the proportionate amounts of such Apportioned
Obligations that are attributable to the Pre-Effective Time Tax
Period and the Buyer shall be liable for the proportionate amounts
of such Apportioned Obligations that are attributable to the
Post-Effective Time Tax Period. Upon receipt of any bill for real
or personal property taxes relating to the Business, each of the
Buyer and the Seller shall present a statement to the other setting
forth the amount of reimbursement to which each is entitled under
this Section 2.10(b) together with such supporting evidence as
is reasonably necessary to calculate the proration amount. The
proration amount shall be paid by the party owing it to the other
within twenty (20) business days after delivery of such statement.
In the event that either the Buyer or the Seller shall make any
payment for which it is entitled to reimbursement under this
Section 2.10(b), the other party shall make such reimbursement
promptly but in no event later than twenty (20) business days
after the presentation of a statement setting forth the amount of
reimbursement to which the presenting party is entitled along with
such supporting evidence as is reasonably necessary to calculate
the amount of reimbursement.
(c) All
excise, sales, use, value added, registration stamp, recording,
documentary, conveyancing, property, transfer and similar Taxes,
levies, charges and fees (collectively, “ Transfer
Taxes ”) incurred in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement shall be borne 50% by the Seller and
50% by the Buyer. The Buyer and the Seller shall cooperate in
providing each other with any appropriate resale exemption
certifications and other similar documentation. If the Seller is
required by applicable law to make the filings, reports, or returns
with respect to any applicable Transfer Taxes, the Seller shall do
so, and the Buyer shall cooperate with respect thereto as necessary
and shall reimburse the Seller for half of the amount of such
Transfer Taxes and for half of the cost of preparing the related
filings, reports or returns.
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(d) At
least ten (10) days prior to the Closing, the Buyer shall
provide the Seller a proposed allocation of the Purchase Price
among the Assets acquired by the Buyer. Such allocation is intended
to comply with the requirements of Section 1060 of the Code.
Prior to the Closing, the Buyer and the Seller shall mutually agree
on a final allocation of the Purchase Price among the Assets
acquired by the Buyer. The Seller and the Buyer shall deliver
within 30 days after the Closing Date and shall file
Form 8594 with their respective Tax Returns consistent with
such final allocation. The parties shall treat and report the
transaction contemplated by this Agreement in all respects
consistently for purposes of any Tax, including the calculation of
gain, loss and basis with reference to the Purchase Price
allocation made pursuant to this Section 2.9. The parties
shall not take any action or position inconsistent with the
obligations set forth in this Agreement. The Seller agrees to
indemnify and hold the Buyer and its Affiliates harmless and the
Buyer hereby agrees to indemnify and hold the Seller harmless, from
and against any and all losses, liabilities and expenses (including
additional income taxes and reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel) that may be incurred by the indemnified party as a result
of the failure of the indemnifying party so to report the sale and
purchase of the Transferred Assets acquired by the Buyer hereunder
as required by applicable Laws.
2.11 Effective
Time . The Seller and the Buyer agree that, notwithstanding the
actual date of the Closing pursuant to this Agreement, the intent
of the parties is that for economic, accounting and Tax purposes
the sale of the Business and the Transferred Assets and the
assumption of the Assumed Liabilities shall be deemed to have
occurred at the Effective Time.
3.1 Time and
Place . The closing of the sale and purchase of the Transferred
Assets and the assignment and assumption of the Assumed Liabilities
(the “ Closing ”) shall be held at the offices
of McCarter & English, LLP, Four Gateway Center, 100 Mulberry
Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102 as early as practicable upon the
satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Article 6 and
Article 7, but in no event later than February 28, 2007,
or such other date as the Parties shall otherwise mutually agree
upon (the “ Closing Date ”). Subject to the
provisions of Article 10, failure to consummate the purchase
and sale provided for in this Agreement on the date and time and at
the place determined pursuant to this Section 3.1 will not
result in the termination of this Agreement and will not relieve
any party of any obligation under this Agreement except as
otherwise provided for in Article 10.
3.2
Transactions at Closing . At the Closing:
(a) The
Seller shall duly execute and deliver to the Buyer such deeds,
bills of sale, certificates of title, stock powers and other
instruments of assignment or transfer with respect to the
Transferred Assets as the Buyer may reasonably request to vest in
the Buyer good record and marketable title to all of the
Transferred Assets, in each case subject to no Encumbrance except
for Permitted Encumbrances.
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(b) The
Buyer shall duly execute and deliver to the Seller such instruments
of assumption with respect to the Assumed Liabilities as the Seller
may reasonably request.
(c) The
Seller will deliver to the Buyer the various certificates,
instruments and documents referred to in Section 6
below.
(d) The
Buyer will deliver to the Seller the various certificates,
instruments and documents referred to in Section 7
below.
(e) The
Buyer shall deliver the Purchase Price less the Indemnity Escrow
Amount to the Seller and the Indemnity Escrow Amount to the
Indemnity Escrow Agent, in each case by wire transfer of
immediately available funds.
(f) The
Buyer, the Seller and Indemnity Escrow Agent shall execute and
deliver the Indemnity Escrow Agreement.
(g) The
Seller shall deliver to the Buyer and the Buyer shall deliver to
the Seller all other previously undelivered documents required to
be delivered by the Seller to the Buyer or by the Buyer to the
Seller at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this
Agreement.
3.3 Employees
of the Business .
(a) The
Buyer shall employ all of the Employees as of the Closing Date
(except with respect to the Employees identified in writing by
Buyer at least three business days prior to the Closing) on the
same terms and conditions of their current employment (such
Employees who are employed by the Buyer are hereinafter referred to
as “ Hired Employees ”) and the Seller agrees to
transfer or cause to be transferred the employment of such
Employees effective as of the Closing Date.
(b) Buyer
will permit Hired Employees to begin participation under Buyer
health and welfare plans as of the first day of the calendar month
following employment by Buyer and generally provide credit to such
employees for continuity of service dating to their hire with the
Seller. Buyer will permit Hired Employees to roll over balances
from Seller’s qualified 401(k) plan into Buyer’s 401(k)
plan.
(c) The
Seller shall have no responsibility for the provision of
continuation coverage as to the benefits under any Employee Plan
which is subject to the continuation coverage requirements of Code
Section 4980B and Sections 601-608 of ERISA or similar
provisions of state law (“ COBRA ”). Instead,
the Buyer will be responsible for making continuation coverage
under COBRA available (i) to any person who had timely elected
such coverage as of the Effective Time (or is still eligible as of
the Effective Time to so elect and does timely elect such coverage)
under such an Employee Plan in accordance with and to the extent
required by COBRA, and (ii) to any Eligible Individual who
experiences a “qualifying event,” as defined in Code
Section 4980B(f)(3), after the Effective Time in accordance
with the requirements of COBRA.
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(d) The
Seller shall pay all Change of Control Bonuses and 2006 Unused
Sick/Vacation Payment which have been earned.
(e) The
provisions of this Agreement are for the benefit of the Buyer and
its Affiliates and the Seller and its Affiliates only and no
employee of the Seller or any other Person shall have any rights
hereunder. Nothing herein expressed or implied shall confer upon
any employee of the Seller, or legal representatives or
beneficiaries thereof, any rights or remedies, including any right
to employment or continued employment for any specified period or
to be covered under or by any employee benefit plan or arrangement,
or shall cause the employment status of any employee to be other
than terminable at will.
(f) The
Seller hereby covenants and agrees that at the request and expense
of the Buyer, from time to time, and without further consideration,
the Seller and its Affiliates shall take all such actions
reasonably necessary to enforce the terms of the Restrictive
Agreements and shall cooperate with the Buyer in any such actions
taken by the Buyer to enforce the terms thereof.
4.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLER AND THE SELLER
PARENT . Each Seller Constituent and the Seller Parent, jointly
and severally, represents and warrants to the Buyer as
follows:
4.1
Organization; Authority; Binding Effect . Each Seller
Constituent is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in
the State of its incorporation and has all requisite corporate or
other power and authority and all necessary governmental approvals
to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted. The Seller has all requisite power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform
all of its agreements and obligations under this Agreement in
accordance with its terms, and such action has been duly authorized
by all necessary action by the Seller’s shareholders and
board of directors. This Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Seller and constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable against the Seller in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent such enforceability
is subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other law
affecting or relating to creditors’ rights generally and
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law).
4.2
Subsidiaries . Except as set forth on
Schedule 4.2 hereto, the Seller does not have any
Subsidiaries and does not own or hold, of record and/or
beneficially, any shares of any class of the capital stock of any
corporation or any legal and/or beneficial interests in any
partnerships, limited liability companies, business trusts or joint
ventures or in any unincorporated trade or business
enterprises.
4.3
Non-Contravention . Neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Seller nor the consummation by the Seller of
the transactions contemplated hereby will constitute a violation
of, or be in conflict with, constitute or create a default under,
or result in the creation or imposition of any liens upon any
property of the Buyer or the Transferred Assets pursuant to
(i) the respective charter documents or by-laws of the Seller,
each as amended to date; (ii) any agreement or commitment to
which the Seller is a party or by which the Seller or any of
its
15
properties is
bound or to which the Seller or any of its properties is subject;
or (iii) any statute or any judgment, decree, order,
regulation or rule of any court or governmental authority relating
to the Seller.
4.4 Consents
and Permits . Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4
hereto, no material notice to, consent, approval, order or
authorization of, or declaration or filing with, any governmental
agency or authority or other Person is required to be obtained or
made by the Seller in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Schedule 4.4 lists all material Permits obtained or
required to be obtained by the Seller or any of its employees and
under which the Seller or any of its employees is operating or
bound. Such Permits (A) constitute all Permits used or
required in the conduct of the Business as presently conducted,
(B) are in full force and effect, (C) have not been
violated and (D) to the knowledge of the Seller are not
subject to any pending or threatened proceeding seeking their
revocation or limitation. To the Seller’s Knowledge, no
investigation or review by any governmental entity of the Seller or
any of its employees is pending or threatened, and no governmental
entity has notified the Seller of its intention to conduct any such
investigation or review. To the Knowledge of the Seller, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
will not adversely impact any of the Permits or require any action
to be taken with respect thereto.
4.5 Title to
Assets; Absence of Encumbrances . The Seller has good and
transferable title to the Transferred Assets, free and clear of all
Encumbrances other than Permitted Encumbrances.
4.6
Brokers’ Fees. The Seller has no Liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or
agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement for which the Buyer could become liable or
obligated.
4.7 Financial
Statements. Attached hereto as Schedule 4.7 are the
following consolidated financial statements (collectively the
“ Financial Statements ”): unaudited balance
sheets and statements of operations, members’ deficit and
cash flows as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31,
2004 and December 31, 2005 of the Seller and unaudited balance
sheets and statements of operations and cash flows of the Seller as
of and for the period ended October 29, 2006 (the “
Most Recent Financial Statements ”). The Financial
Statements (including any notes thereto) have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods covered thereby, present fairly in all respects the
consolidated financial condition of the Seller, as appropriate, as
of such dates and the results of operations and cash flow of the
Seller for such periods, are correct and complete, and are
consistent with the Books and Records of the Seller, as appropriate
(which Books and Records are materially correct and
complete).
4.8 Undisclosed
Liabilities; No Material Change . The Seller has no material
Liability (and there is no Basis for any present or future action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim,
or demand against any of them giving rise to any material
Liability), except for (a) Liabilities set forth in the
balance sheet included in the Most Recent Financial Statements
(including in any notes thereto), (b) Liabilities which have
arisen after the date of the
16
Most Recent
Financial Statements in the Ordinary Course of Business,
(c) Liabilities disclosed in the disclosure schedules to this
Agreement, and (d) Liabilities incurred in connection with
this Agreement. Since December 31, 2005, there has not been
(a) any material adverse change in the Transferred Assets or
the operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Business or of the Seller; or (b) any actual or threatened
trouble or disruption of the Seller’s relations with its
material customers. Since December 31, 2005, the Seller has
conducted the Business only in the ordinary course consistent with
past practice and has not entered into any transaction, contract or
arrangement, or made any payment or distribution, except in the
ordinary course of business, consistent with past
practice.
4.9 Legal
Compliance . Except as set forth on Schedule 4.9
hereto, the Seller has complied in all material respects with all
applicable laws (including rules, regulations, codes, plans,
injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and charges
thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and
all agencies thereof), and no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice has been
filed or commenced against any of them alleging any failure so to
comply.
4.10 Tax
Matters . Except as set forth on Schedule 4.10
hereto, the Seller does not owe any material Taxes, nor has any
authority made any claim against the Sellers for Taxes, for which
the Buyer could be held liable and there are no Security Interests
on any of the Assets of the Sellers that arose in connection with
any failure (or alleged failure) to pay any Tax. All Tax Returns
required to be filed by or with respect to the Seller have been
filed on a timely basis (taking into account all applicable
extensions). Other than amounts for any unpaid Taxes of the Seller
that have been adequately accrued or reserved (in accordance with
GAAP) on the balance sheet contained in the Most Recent Financial
Statements, all Taxes required to be paid or withheld by the Seller
(whether or not shown in any Tax Return) have been timely paid in
full and/or timely withheld and either have been duly and timely
paid over to the appropriate Tax Authority or been properly set
aside for such purpose and will be duly and timely paid to the
appropriate Tax Authority, and all such filed Tax Returns were
true, correct and complete. No federal, state, local or foreign
audits are presently pending with regard to any Taxes or Tax
Returns of the Seller or the Seller Parent. Neither the Seller nor
the Seller Parent has executed any waiver of the statute of
limitations on or extending the period for the assessment of
collection of any Tax from the Seller or the Seller Parent. Neither
the Seller nor the Seller Parent have any liability for unpaid
Taxes that has not been adequately accrued or reserved (in
accordance with GAAP) on the Most Recent Financial Statements, and
since the date of the Most Recent Financial Statements neither the
Seller nor the Seller Parent has incurred any liability for Taxes
other than in the ordinary course of business on in connection with
the transaction contemplated under this Agreement.
(a) The
Seller does not own any Real Property.
(b)
Schedule 4.11(b) sets forth the address of each parcel
of Real Property subject to any Real Estate Lease, and a true and
complete list of all Real Estate Leases for each such leased Real
Property (including the date and name of the parties to such Lease
document).
17
The Seller has
delivered or made available to the Buyer a true and complete copy
of each such Real Estate Lease document, and in the case of any
oral Lease, a written summary of the terms of such Lease. Except as
set forth in Schedule 4.11(b) , with respect to each of
the Real Estate Leases:
(i) such
Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and
effect;
(ii) assuming
that the Parties obtain the consent of the landlord under each Real
Estate Lease, the transaction contemplated by this Agreement does
not require the consent of any other party to such Lease and will
not result in a breach of or default under such Real Estate Lease,
and will not otherwise cause such Real Estate Lease to cease to be
legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect on
identical terms following the Closing;
(iii) none
of the Seller Constituents or any other party to any Real Estate
Lease is in breach or default under such Lease, and no event has
occurred or circumstance exists which, with the delivery of notice,
the passage of time or both, would constitute such a breach or
default, or permit the termination, modification or acceleration of
rent under such Lease;
(iv) the
Seller does not owe, and will not owe in the future, any brokerage
commissions or finder’s fees with respect to any Real Estate
Lease for which the Buyer could be held liable;
(v) the other party to each Real Estate Lease is not an
Affiliate of, and otherwise does not have any economic interest in,
the Seller;
(vi) the
Seller has not collaterally assigned or granted any other Security
Interest in such Real Estate Lease or any interest therein;
and
(vii) there are no Encumbrances on the Seller’s estate
or interest created by such Real Estate Lease, other than Permitted
Encumbrances.
(c) Except
as set forth in Schedule 4.11(c) , the leased Real
Property identified in Schedule (b)4.11(b) comprise all of
the real property used in, or otherwise related to, the Business;
and the Seller is not a party to any agreement or option to
purchase any real property or interest therein.
4.12
Transferred Assets . All of the tangible Transferred Assets
are (a) in good operating condition and repair (subject only
to ordinary wear and tear), (b) are usable in the ordinary
course of the Business consistent with past practice and
(c) are in the possession or under the control of the Seller.
The Transferred Assets are all the Assets necessary for the conduct
of the Businesses as presently conducted; provided, however, that
for the avoidance of doubt, the Seller does not own or lease any of
the assets utilized in connection with the performance of certain
outsourced back-office services provided to the Seller pursuant to
the Outsourcing Agreement dated September 26, 2002, as amended
by the 2006 Addendum thereto, by and between Career Blazers
Personnel Services, Inc., and Employbridge Holding Company (the
“ Employbridge Agreement ”).
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4.13
Contracts . Schedule 4.13 lists the following
contracts and other agreements to which the Seller is a
party:
(a) any
agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of
personal property to or from any Person providing payments by the
Seller in excess of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000) per
year;
(b) any
agreement (or group of related agreements), the performance of
which will extend over a period of more than one year or which
provide for payments by the Seller in excess of Ten Thousand
Dollars ($10,000) per year;
(c) any
agreement concerning a partnership or joint venture;
(d) any
agreement for the employment of any individual on a full-time,
part-time, consulting, or other basis providing annual compensation
or providing severance benefits, other than notices of termination
and separation agreements entered into in contemplation of the
Closing hereunder; or
(e) any
agreement under which the Seller has advanced or loaned any amount
to any of its directors, officers, and employees.
The Seller has
delivered or made available to the Buyer a correct and complete
copy of each written agreement listed in Schedule 4.13
. With respect to each such agreement, except as set forth in
Schedule 4.13 : (1) the agreement is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect;
(2) assuming that all required third-party consents are
obtained, the agreement will continue to be legal, valid, binding,
enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical terms
following the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including the assignments and assumptions referred to in
Section 2 above); (3) assuming that all required
third-party consents are obtained, the Seller is not, and to the
Knowledge of the Seller no other party is, in breach or default,
and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would
constitute a breach or default, or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration, under the agreement; and
(4) the Seller has not, and to the Knowledge of the Seller no
other party has, repudiated any provision of the
agreement.
4.14 Notes and
Accounts Receivable. All notes and Accounts Receivable of the
Seller are reflected properly on the Most Recent Financial
Statements, are valid receivables subject to no setoffs or
counterclaims to the Knowledge of the Seller, are current and to
the Knowledge of the Seller collectible, subject only to the
reserve for bad debts set forth on the face of the balance sheet
contained in the Most Recent Financial Statements (including in any
notes thereto) as adjusted for the passage of time through the
Effective Time in accordance with the past custom and practice of
the Seller.
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4.15
Insurance . Schedule 4.15 sets forth the
following information with respect to each insurance policy to
which the Seller is a party or under which the Seller has been
covered or which involves the Business: the name of the insurer,
the name of the policyholder, and the name of each covered insured;
the policy number and the period of coverage; and the scope and
amount of coverage. With respect to each such insurance policy:
(a) the policy is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in
full force and effect; (b) the policy will continue to be
legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on
identical terms following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby (including the assignments and assumptions
referred to in Section 2 above); (c) neither the Seller
nor any other party to the policy is in breach or default
(including with respect to the payment of premiums or the giving of
notices), and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse
of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration, under the policy;
(d) no party to the policy has repudiated any provision
thereof; and (e) to the Knowledge of the Seller, all claims of
which the Seller has Knowledge for which there is a Basis have been
made under the appropriate policy.
4.16
Litigation . Schedule 4.16 sets forth each
instance in which the Seller (a) is subject to any outstanding
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or
(b) is a party or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, is
threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, or investigation of, in, or before any court or
quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state,
local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator. The Seller
does not have any reason to believe that any such action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, or investigation not disclosed on
Schedule 4.16 may be brought, nor, to the Seller’s
Knowledge, is any such action, suit, proceeding, hearing or
investigation threatened against, the Seller.
(a) The
Seller is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining
agreement, nor has the Seller experienced any strikes, grievances,
claims of unfair labor practices, or other collective bargaining
disputes. The Seller has not committed any unfair labor practice.
To the Seller’s Knowledge, there is no organizational effort
presently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor
union with respect to employees of the Seller.
(b) The
Seller is (i) in compliance with all applicable federal, state
and local laws, rules and regulations respecting employment,
employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, health
and safety and wages and hours (including but not limited to the
classification and/or treatment of employees as exempt or
non-exempt), in each case, with respect to employees and with the
terms of all employment agreements, (ii) has withheld all
amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld from the
wages, salaries and other payments to employees, and (iii) is
not liable in any respect for any arrears of wages or any Taxes or
any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing. There
are no pending, or, to the Seller’s Knowledge, threatened,
claims, charges or actions pending against the Seller before the
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or similar state, federal
or local agency or under any worker’s compensation policy or
long-term disability policy nor are any claims, controversies,
investigations or suits pending or, to the Seller’s
Knowledge, threatened, with respect to such laws or agreements,
either by private individuals or by governmental agencies; and all
employees are at-will. All persons who have performed services for
the Seller and have been classified as independent contractors have
satisfied the requirements of law to be so classified, and the
Seller has fully and accurately reported their compensation on IRS
Forms 1099 or other applicable tax forms for independent
contractors when required to do so.
20
(c)
Schedule 4.17 sets forth (i) a complete list of
all Staff Employees currently employed by the Seller, (ii) the
respective employment dates and job titles of each such person, and
(iii) categorization of each such person as a full-time or
part-time employee.
(a)
Schedule 4.18(a) contains a complete and correct list
of all Employee Plans. No Employee Plan is a defined benefit plan
(as defined in Section 414(l) of the Code) and no Employee Plan is
subject to Title IV of ERISA. No Employee Plan is a
“Multiemployer Plan” within the meaning of
Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA. Schedule 4.18(a)
identifies as such any Employee Plan that is a plan intended to
meet the requirements of Section 401(a) of the Code.
(b) The
Seller does not have any Liability or Knowledge of any facts or
circumstances that might give rise to any Liability, and the
transactions contemplated hereby will not result in any Liability
(i) for the termination of or withdrawal from any employee
pension benefit plan subject to Title IV of ERISA under
Sections 4062, 4063 or 4064 of ERISA, (ii) for any lien
imposed under Section 302(f) of ERISA or Section 412(n) of the
Code, (iii) for any interest payments required under Section
302(e) of ERISA or Section (m) of the Code, (iv) for any
excise tax imposed by Section 4971 of the Code, (v) for
any minimum funding contributions under Section 302(c)(11) of ERISA
or Section 412(c)(11) of the Code, or (vi) for withdrawal
from any Multiemployer Plan under Section 4201 of
ERISA.
(c) To
the Seller’s Knowledge, the Seller has, at all times,
complied, and currently complies, in all material respects with all
applicable laws that regulate the Employee Plans.
(d) There
is no material pending or, to the Seller’s Knowledge,
threatened proceeding relating to any Employee Plan, nor to the
Seller’s Knowledge is there any Basis for any such
proceeding.
(e) The
Seller has maintained workers’ compensation coverage as
required by applicable state law through purchase of insurance and
not by self-insurance.
(f) Except
as set forth on Schedule 4.18(f) , the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will not accelerate the time
of vesting or the time of payment, or increase the amount, of
compensation due to any director, employee, officer, former
employee or former officer of the Seller. No legally binding
representations have been made to any employee or former employee
of the Seller promising or guaranteeing any employer payment or
funding for the continuation of medical, dental, life or disability
coverage for any period of time beyond the end of the current plan
year (except to the extent of coverage required under COBRA or
applicable state insurance laws).
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4.19
Ownership . All of the outstanding equity interests of each
Seller Constituent are owned and held, directly or indirectly, by
the Seller Parent, in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances,
are fully paid and nonassessable, and no Person has any right to
acquire any of such equity interests. There are no outstanding
interests or securities convertible, exercisable or redeemable for
any equity interest in a Seller Constituent, or rights, warrants,
puts, calls or options relating to such an equity
interest.
4.20
Intellectual Property . (i) The Seller owns (or has
adequate rights to use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement
or permission) all trademarks, trade names, service marks,
copyrights, software, trade secrets or know-how (collectively,
“ Intellectual Property ”) used by the Seller in
the Business free and clear of any lien, mortgage, security
interest, pledge, restriction, defect of title or other claim,
charge or encumbrance except as set forth on
Schedule 4.20 ; (ii) in connection with the
operation of the Business, the Seller does not infringe upon or
unlawfully or wrongfully use any material Intellectual Property
owned or claimed by any other Person; (iii) the Seller owns or
has the lawful right to use all Intellectual Property that is used
in the operation of the Business in the ordinary course or
otherwise; (iv) the Seller is not in default under, and has not
received any notice of any claim of infringement or any other claim
or proceeding relating to any of the Intellectual Property; or
(v) no present or former employee of the Seller and no other
person owns or has any proprietary, financial or other interest,
direct or indirect, in whole or in part, in any of the Intellectual
Property, or in any application therefor, which the Seller owns,
possesses or uses in its operations as now or heretofore
conducted.
4.21
Disclosure . No representation or warranty hereunder or
information contained in any Schedule or any certificate, statement
or other document delivered by the Seller in connection herewith
contains any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained
therein or herein not misleading. There is no fact known to the
Seller which might materially and adversely affect the Business or
the Transferred Assets that has not been disclosed to the Buyer in
this Agreement or a certificate, statement or other document
delivered by the Seller.
5.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER . The Buyer
represents and warrants to the Seller as follows:
5.1
Organization and Standing of the Buyer . The Buyer is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of Delaware. The Buyer has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all
of its agreements and obligations under this Agreement in
accordance with its terms, and such action has been duly authorized
by all necessary action by the Buyer’s shareholders and board
of directors.
5.2 Corporate
Approval; Binding Effect . This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Buyer and constitutes the legal,
valid and binding obligation of the Buyer, enforceable against the
Buyer in accordance with its terms, except to the extent such
enforceability is subject to the effect of any applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent
conveyance or other law affecting or relating to creditors’
rights generally and general principles of equity (regardless of
whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
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5.3
Non-Contravention . Neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Buyer nor the consummation by the Buyer of
the transactions contemplated hereby will constitute a violation
of, or be in conflict with, constitute or create a default under,
or result in the creation or imposition of any liens upon any
property of the Buyer pursuant to (a) the charter documents or
by-laws of the Buyer, each as amended to date; (b) any
agreement or commitment to which the Buyer is a party or by which
the Buyer or any of its properties is bound or to which the Buyer
or any of its properties is subject; or (c) any statute or any
judgment, decree, order, regulation or rule of any court or
governmental authority relating to the Buyer.
5.4
Consents . No material consent, approval or authorization
of, or registration, designation, declaration or filing with, any
governmental agency or authority or other Person is required in
connection with the consummation by the Buyer of any transaction
contemplated hereby, except where the failure to obtain any such
consent, approval or authorization or to so register, qualify or
file would not reasonably be expected to adversely effect the
Buyer’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.
5.5
Capitalization . Following the Closing the Buyer will have
sufficient capitalization to conduct the Business and to pay its
Liabilities, including the Assumed Liabilities, as they become
due.
5.6 Due
Diligence Review . The Buyer acknowledges that it has completed
to its satisfaction its own due diligence investigation with
respect to the Seller. The Buyer acknowledges and agrees that,
except for the representations and warranties of the Seller
contained in Section 4, it is purchasing the Transferred
Assets, assuming the Assumed Liabilities and acquiring the Business
operated by the Seller therewith on an AS IS/WHERE IS basis. The
Buyer further acknowledges and agrees that upon consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, it will have no further recourse
against the Seller or its Affiliates with respect to this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby except for claims for
indemnification made pursuant to and in accordance with
Article 12 and except for claims (a) relating to fraud
and willful misconduct on the Seller’s part and
(b) claims in connection with the enforcement of the Indemnity
Escrow Agreement.
6.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE BUYER’S OBLIGATIONS . The
obligation of the Buyer to consummate the Closing shall be subject
to the satisfaction at or prior to the Closing of each of the
following conditions (to the extent noncompliance is not waived in
writing by the Buyer):
6.1 Transfer
Documents . The Seller shall have executed and delivered a Bill
of Sale, Assignment and Assumption Agreement, Assignment of
Trademarks and other documents reasonably required by the Buyer to
evidence the transfer of the Transferred Assets by the
Seller.
6.2
Officer’s Certificate . The Seller shall have
delivered to the Buyer in writing, at and as of the Closing, and
certified by the secretary, assistant secretary, or equivalent
officer of each Seller Constituent, the following: (i) the
certificate of incorporation of each Seller
23
Constituent
certified by the Secretary of State of the state of its
organization, (ii) the bylaws of each Seller Constituent, and
(iii) the resolutions of the board of directors of each Seller
Constituent and the stockholders of each Seller Constituent
authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby.
6.3 No
Proceedings . No Proceedings shall be pending, threatened or
anticipated against the Seller or the Buyer, seeking to enjoin, or
materially adversely affecting, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
6.4 Proceedings
and Documents Satisfactory . All proceedings in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all
certificates and documents delivered to the Buyer in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
satisfactory in all reasonable respects to the Buyer and to the
Buyer’s counsel, and the Buyer shall have received the
originals or certified or other copies of such records and
documents as the Buyer may reasonably request.
6.5 Indemnity
Escrow Agreements . The Seller shall have delivered the
Indemnity Escrow Agreement.
6.6 Material
Consents . The Seller shall have obtained all consents and
approvals with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement set forth on Schedule 6.6 .
6.7
Employment . Caress Kennedy shall have delivered an
employment agreement with the Buyer in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer.
6.8 Release of
Liens . All liens on the Transferred Assets shall have been
removed or discharged, and the Seller shall have provided the Buyer
evidence of such removal acceptable to the Buyer in its sole
discretion.
7.
CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO THE SELLER’S OBLIGATIONS . The
obligation of the Seller to consummate the Closing shall be subject
to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing, of each of the
following conditions (to the extent noncompliance is not waived in
writing by the Seller):
7.1 Purchase
Price . Payment of the Purchase Price as set forth in
Section 2.5.
7.2 Assumption
Documents . The Buyer shall have executed and delivered an
Assignment and Assumption Agreement and other documents reasonably
required by the Seller to evidence the assumption of the Assumed
Liabilities by the Buyer.
7.3
Officer’s Certificate . The Buyer shall have delivered
to the Seller in writing, at and as of the Closing, and certified
by the secretary, assistant secretary, or equivalent officer of the
Buyer, the following: (i) the certificate of incorporation of
the Buyer, certified by the Secretary of State of the state of its
organization, (ii) the bylaws of the Buyer, and (iii) the
resolutions of the board of directors of the Buyer authorizing the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby.
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7.4 No
Proceedings . No Proceedings shall be pending, threatened or
anticipated against the Seller or the Buyer, seeking to enjoin, or
materially adversely affecting, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
7.5 Proceedings
and Documents Satisfactory . All proceedings in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all
certificates and documents delivered to the Seller in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
satisfactory in all reasonable respects to the Seller and its
counsel, and the Seller shall have received the originals or
certified or other copies of all such records and documents as the
Seller may reasonably request.
7.6 Indemnity
Escrow Agreement . The Buyer shall have delivered the Indemnity
Escrow Agreement.
8.
COVENANTS OF THE SELLER .
8.1 Access and
Investigation . Between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, the Seller will (a) furnish Buyer with copies of
all such contracts, books and records, and other existing documents
and data as Buyer may reasonably request, and (b) furnish
Buyer with such additional financial, operating, and other data and
information as Buyer may reasonably request.
8.2 Operation
of the Business of the Seller . Between the date of this
Agreement and the Closing Date, the Seller will (and Parent Seller
shall cause Seller to):
(a) except
as otherwise provided in this Agreement, conduct the business of
the Seller only in the ordinary course of business, consistent with
past practice;
(b) use
their Best Efforts to preserve intact the current business
organization of the Seller, keep available the services of the
current officers, employees, and agents of the Seller, and maintain
the relations and goodwill with suppliers, customers, landlords,
creditors, employees, agents, and others having business
relationships with the Seller;
(c) confer
with Buyer concerning operational matters of a material
nature;
(d) keep
in full force and effect insurance comparable in amount and scope
of coverage to insurance now carried with respect to the business
of Seller;
(e) perform
in all material respects all obligations under leases, agreements,
contracts and instruments relating to or affecting the business of
Seller;
(f) maintain
the books of account and records of the business of Seller in the
usual, regular and ordinary manner;
(g) comply
in all material respects with all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules
and regulations applicable to the conduct of the business of
Seller;
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(h) not
enter any employment agreement or commitment to employees of the
business of Seller or effect any increase in the compensation or
benefits payable or to become payable to any officer, director or
employee of the business of Seller;
(i) create
or permit to exist any encumbrance on the Transferred
Assets;
(j) not
enter into or modify any agreement or contract included in the
Transferred Assets (other than any extension or renewal of the
Largest Customer Contract or the Employbridge Agreement), or sell,
lease, license or otherwise dispose of any Transferred Asset (other
than dispositions of obsolete assets in the ordinary course of
business); and
(k) otherwise
report periodically to Buyer concerning the status of the business,
operations, and finances of the Seller.
8.3 Negative
Covenant . Except as otherwise expressly permitted by this
Agreement, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date,
the Seller will not, without the prior consent of Buyer, take any
affirmative action, or fail to take any reasonable action within
their or its control, as a result of which any of the changes or
events listed in Section 4.8 is likely to occur.
8.4
Notification . Between the date of this Agreement and the
Closing Date, the Seller will promptly notify the Buyer in writing
if the Seller becomes aware of any fact or condition that causes or
constitutes a breach of any of the Seller’s representations
and warranties as of the date of this Agreement, or if the Seller
becomes aware of the occurrence after the date of this Agreement of
any fact or condition that would (except as expressly contemplated
by this Agreement) cause or constitute a breach of any such
representation or warranty had such representation or warranty been
made as of the time of occurrence or discovery of such fact or
condition. Should any such fact or condition require any change in
the Schedules hereto if the Schedules were dated the date of the
occurrence or discovery of any such fact or condition, the Seller
will promptly deliver to the Buyer a supplement to the Schedules
specifying such change. During the same period, the Seller will
promptly notify the Buyer of the occurrence of any event that may
make the satisfaction of the conditions in Article 6
impossible or unlikely.
8.5 No
Negotiation . Until such time, if any, as this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to Article 10, the Seller will not
directly or indirectly solicit, initiate, or encourage any
inquiries or proposals from, discuss or negotiate with, provide any
non-public information to, or consider the merits of any
unsolicited inquiries or proposals from, any Person (other than
Buyer) relating to any transaction involving the sale of the
business or assets (other than in the ordinary course of business)
of the Seller, or any of the capital stock of the Seller, or any
merger, consolidation, business combination, or similar transaction
involving the Seller.
8.6 Best
Efforts . Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing
Date, the Seller will use its Best Efforts to cause the conditions
in Article 6 to be satisfied.
8.7 Cash in
Operating Account . The Seller will, on the Closing Date, cause
its operating deposit account to have a balance equal to the
aggregate amount of any checks previously issued in payment of
Assumed Liabilities which have not previously been paid.
The
26
amount of the
balance in Seller’s operating account shall be a Transferred
Asset and included in the calculation of Final Net Working Capital.
Thereafter, Seller shall not issue any additional checks against
its operating account nor otherwise permit the funds in its
operating account to be used for any purpose other than to pay
outstanding checks as they are presented for payment. Sixty
(60) days following the Closing Date, the Seller will close
its operating account and forward any remaining balance to the
Buyer.
8.8 Consent to
Certain Leases . The Seller will use its Best Efforts before
Closing to obtain any consents to assignment with respect to the
assignment of leases listed as items 3, 4 and 5 of
Schedule 4.4.
9.
COVENANTS OF THE BUYER .
9.1 Best
Efforts . Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing
Date, the Buyer will use its Best Efforts to cause the conditions
in Article 7 and Section 6.6 to be satisfied.
9.2 Replacement
of Letter of Credit . The Buyer will, within thirty days
following the Closing Date, obtain the release and termination of
the letter of credit held by the landlord the Real Estate Lease for
590 Fifth Avenue as security under the terms of such
lease.
10.
TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT .
10.1
Termination Events .
This Agreement
may, by notice given prior to or at the Closing, be
terminated:
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