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Exhibit
10.1
ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
by and
among
MURRAY, INC.
and
MURRAY CANADA
CO.
jointly and severally as
Sellers
and
BRIGGS & STRATTON
POWER PRODUCTS GROUP, LLC and
BRIGGS & STRATTON
CANADA INC.
as Buyers
January 25,
2005
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Article I DEFINITIONS
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1 |
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Section 1.1
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Definitions
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1 |
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Section 1.2
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Construction
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16 |
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Article II PURCHASE AND SALE
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17 |
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Section 2.1
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The Sale
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17 |
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Section 2.2
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Excluded Assets
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17 |
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Section 2.3
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Assumed Obligations
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18 |
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Section 2.4
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Excluded Liabilities
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19 |
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Section 2.5
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Assumption of Certain Leases and Other
Contracts
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22 |
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Section 2.6
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Non-Assignable Contracts
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23 |
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Article III PURCHASE PRICE
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23 |
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Section 3.1
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Purchase Price
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23 |
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Section 3.2
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Allocation of Purchase Price
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24 |
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Section 3.3
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Working Capital Purchase Price
Adjustment
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24 |
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Section 3.4
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Administrative Claims Purchase Price
Adjustment
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27 |
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Section 3.5
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Collection of Delinquent Accounts
Receivable
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28 |
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Article IV THE CLOSING
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28 |
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Section 4.1
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Time and Place of Closing
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28 |
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Section 4.2
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Payment of Adjusted Purchase
Price
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29 |
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Section 4.3
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Deliveries by the Sellers
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29 |
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Section 4.4
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Deliveries by the Buyers
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31 |
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Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF THE SELLERS
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31 |
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Section 5.1
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Organization; Qualification
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31 |
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Section 5.2
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Authority Relative to this
Agreement
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32 |
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Section 5.3
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Consents and Approvals; No
Violation
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32 |
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Section 5.4
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Financial Statements and
Reports
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32 |
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Section 5.5
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Acquired Assets
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33 |
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Section 5.6
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Real Property
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33 |
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Section 5.7
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Environmental Matters
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34 |
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Section 5.8
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Employee Benefit Plans and Foreign
Plans
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36 |
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Section 5.9
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Contracts and Arrangements
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37 |
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Section 5.10
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Legal Proceedings and
Judgments
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39 |
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Section 5.11
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Permits
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39 |
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Section 5.12
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Compliance with Laws
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39 |
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Section 5.13
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Taxes
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40 |
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Section 5.14
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Intellectual Property
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40 |
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Section 5.15
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Labor and Employment Matters
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41 |
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Section 5.16
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Intercompany Services
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42 |
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Section 5.17
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Insurance
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42 |
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Section 5.18
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Material Customers and
Suppliers
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42 |
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Section 5.19
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Product and Service
Warranties
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42 |
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Section 5.20
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Personal Property and
Fixtures
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43 |
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Section 5.21
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Change of Control
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43 |
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Section 5.22
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Products Liability; Recalls
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43 |
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Section 5.23
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Names and Locations
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43 |
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Section 5.24
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Existing Indebtedness
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44 |
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Section 5.25
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Brokerage
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44 |
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Section 5.26
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Other Representations and
Warranties
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44 |
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Article VI REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF THE BUYERS
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44 |
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Section 6.1
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Organization
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44 |
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Section 6.2
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Authority Relative to this
Agreement
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45 |
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Section 6.3
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Consents and Approvals; No
Violation
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45 |
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Section 6.4
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Legal Proceedings and
Judgments
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45 |
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Article VII COVENANTS OF THE
PARTIES
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45 |
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Section 7.1
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Conduct of Business
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45 |
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Section 7.2
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Access to Information
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46 |
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Section 7.3
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Expenses
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46 |
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Section 7.4
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Further Assurances
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47 |
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Section 7.5
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Public Statements
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47 |
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Section 7.6
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Governmental Entity Consents and
Approvals
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47 |
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Section 7.7
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Fees and Commissions
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49 |
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Section 7.8
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Tax Matters
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49 |
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Section 7.9
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Employees
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50 |
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Section 7.10
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Notification
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51 |
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Section 7.11
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Reorganization Process
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51 |
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Section 7.12
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Submission for Bankruptcy Court
Approval
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52 |
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Section 7.13
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Transition Supply Agreement and the
Bailment Agreement
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52 |
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Section 7.14
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Best Efforts
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53 |
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Section 7.15
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Confidentiality Agreements
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53 |
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Section 7.16
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Name Change
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53 |
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Section 7.17
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Prohibited Actions Prior to the
Closing
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53 |
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Section 7.18
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No Encouragement of Setoff
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53 |
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Section 7.19
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Further Agreements
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53 |
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Section 7.20
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Litigation Support
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54 |
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Article VIII CONDITIONS TO
CLOSING
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55 |
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Section 8.1
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Conditions to Each Party’s
Obligations to Effect the Closing
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55 |
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Section 8.2
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Conditions to Obligations of
Buyers
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56 |
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Section 8.3
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Conditions to Obligations of the
Sellers
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58 |
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Article IX TERMINATION AND
ABANDONMENT
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59 |
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Section 9.1
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Termination
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59 |
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Section 9.2
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Procedure and Effect of
Termination
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61 |
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Article X MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
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62 |
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Section 10.1
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Amendment and Modification
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62 |
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Section 10.2
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Waiver of Compliance;
Consents
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62 |
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Section 10.3
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No Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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62 |
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Section 10.4
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No Impediment to Liquidation
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63 |
ii
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Section 10.5
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Notices
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63 |
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Section 10.6
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Assignment
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64 |
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Section 10.7
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Governing Law
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64 |
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Section 10.8
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Counterparts
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65 |
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Section 10.9
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Schedules and Exhibits
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65 |
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Section 10.10
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Entire Agreement
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65 |
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Section 10.11
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Submission to Jurisdiction
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65 |
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Section 10.12
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No Strict Construction
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65 |
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Section 10.13
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No Waiver; Reservation of
Rights
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65 |
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Section 10.14
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Attorneys Fees and Costs
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66 |
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Section 10.15
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No Implied Warranties
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66 |
iii
LIST OF EXHIBITS AND
SCHEDULES
Exhibits
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Exhibit A-1
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- |
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List of Murray U.S. Assigned
Contracts
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Exhibit A-2
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- |
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List of Murray Canada Assigned
Contracts
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Exhibit B
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- |
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Form of Bill of Sale
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Exhibit C
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- |
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Form of Instrument of Assignment and
Assumption
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Exhibit D
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- |
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Cure Costs
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Exhibit E
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- |
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Intentionally Omitted
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Exhibit F
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- |
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Assumed Real Property
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Exhibit G
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- |
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Form of Transition Supply
Agreement
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Exhibit H
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- |
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Form of Escrow Agreement
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Exhibit I
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- |
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Form of Trademark Assignment
Agreement
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Exhibit J
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- |
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Form of Domain Name Assignment
Agreement
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Exhibit K
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- |
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Form of Patent Assignment
Agreement
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Exhibit L
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- |
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Tax Allocation Schedule
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Exhibit M
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- |
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Form of Bailment Agreement
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Exhibit N
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- |
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Capital Expenditures
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Exhibit O
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- |
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Permitted Liens
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Exhibit P
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- |
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October DIP Budget
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Exhibit Q
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- |
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Intentionally Omitted
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Exhibit R
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- |
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Intentionally Omitted
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Exhibit S
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- |
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Transition Period Contracts
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Exhibit T
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- |
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Consistency Exceptions
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Schedules
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Referenced in:
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Section 2.1 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 1.1(a) |
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Section 5.3 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.3 |
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Section 5.6(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.6(a)
and Section 5.6(c)(i) |
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Section 5.6(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.6(b) |
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Section 5.7(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.7(a) |
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Section 5.7(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.7(b) |
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Section 5.7(c) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.7(c) |
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Section 5.7(e) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.7(e) |
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Section 5.8(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.8(b) |
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Section 5.8(c) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.8(c) |
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Section 5.8(d) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.8(d) |
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Section 5.9(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.9(a) and Section 5.9(b) |
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Section 5.11 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.9(b) and Section 5.11 |
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Section 5.9(c) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.9(c) |
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Section 5.9(d) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.9(d) |
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Section 5.9(a)(iii) of the
Disclosure Schedules
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Section 5.14(a) |
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Section 5.10 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.10 |
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Section 5.9(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.9(b) |
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Section 5.12 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.12 |
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Section 5.13 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.13 |
iv
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Section 5.14(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.14(a) and
Section 5.14(b) |
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Section 5.14(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.14(b) |
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Section 5.14(c) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.14(c) |
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Section 5.14(d) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.14(d) |
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Section 5.15(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.15(a) |
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Section 5.15(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.15(b) |
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Section 5.15(c) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.15(c) |
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Section 5.15(d) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.15(d) |
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Section 5.16 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.16 |
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Section 5.17 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.17 |
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Section 5.18 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.18 |
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Section 5.19 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.19 |
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Section 5.20 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.20 |
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Section 5.21 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.21 |
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Section 5.22 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.22 |
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Section 5.23(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.23(a) |
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Section 5.23(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.23(b) |
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Section 5.24 of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 5.24 |
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Section 7.1(a) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 7.1(a) |
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Section 7.9(b) of the Disclosure
Schedules
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Section 7.9(b) |
v
ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
(this “ Agreement ”) is dated as of
January 25, 2005, by and among Briggs & Stratton Power Products
Group, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“
Briggs U.S. ”) and Briggs & Stratton Canada
Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the Province of
Ontario (“ Briggs Canada ” and together
with Briggs U.S. “ Buyers ” and each a
“ Buyer ”), Murray, Inc. a Tennessee
corporation on behalf of itself and any of its successors and
assigns, including any liquidating trust, if any, created pursuant
to any plan of reorganization (“ Murray U.S.
”), Murray Canada Co., an unlimited liability company
organized and subsisting under the laws of the Province of Nova
Scotia, Canada (“ Murray Canada ” and
together with Murray U.S. “ Sellers ” and
each a “ Seller ”), on the other
hand.
WHEREAS, Murray U.S. filed a
voluntary petition (the “ Petition ”)
under Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 U.S.C. §§
101, et. seq. (the “ Bankruptcy Code ”)
on November 8, 2004 (the “ Petition Date
”) through which it has commenced a chapter 11 case (the
“ Case ”) in the United States Bankruptcy
Court for the Middle District of Tennessee (the “
Bankruptcy Court ” );
WHEREAS, the Buyers desire to
purchase from the Sellers and the Sellers desire to sell to the
Buyers the Acquired Assets (as hereinafter defined) upon the terms
and conditions set forth in this Agreement:
(a) Under sections 363 and
365 of the Bankruptcy Code and the applicable Federal Rules of
Bankruptcy Procedure, Briggs U.S. desires to purchase from Murray
U.S., and Murray U.S. desires to sell to Briggs U.S. the U.S.
Acquired Assets (as hereinafter defined);
(b) Briggs Canada desires to
purchase from Murray Canada, and Murray Canada desires to sell to
Briggs Canada, the Canadian Acquired Assets (as hereinafter
defined);
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the mutual covenants, representations, warranties
and agreements hereinafter set forth, and intending to be legally
bound hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.1
Definitions.
(a) As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified in this
Section 1.1(a) .
“ Accounts
Receivable ” means all gross accounts and notes
receivable of the Sellers, including trade accounts receivable
(including accounts receivable for any product shipped prior to but
not invoiced as of, the Closing Date) outstanding as of the Closing
Date and any other rights to receive payment for sales as of the
Closing Date in respect of goods shipped, products sold or services
rendered prior to the Closing Date.
“ Acquired
Assets ” means all of the Sellers’ right, title
and interest of every kind and nature in and to all assets owned or
leased by the Sellers as of the Closing Date (or with respect to
the Assumed Contracts of Murray U.S., as of the date of assumption
and assignment to Briggs U.S.) including indirect and other forms
of beneficial ownership, be they real or personal, tangible or
intangible, fixed or current, wherever located and by whomever
possessed, including without limitation, all of the following
assets, but excluding the Excluded Assets:
(i) except for the Delinquent
Accounts Receivable, all Accounts Receivable and any other current
or non-current accounts and notes receivable, including any note or
right of payment with respect to sale of the Murray Suzhou
Interests, trade accounts receivable or right to receive
payment;
(ii) all Inventory, including
all stock in trade, merchandise, goods, supplies and other products
and all of the raw materials, work-in-process, and finished
products;
(iii) all machinery,
equipment (including all transportation equipment), fixtures, trade
fixtures and computer equipment wherever located, including,
without limitation, all such items which are located in any
building, warehouse, office or other space leased, owned or
occupied in connection with the Business, including the items
listed on Section 2.1 of the Disclosure Schedules but
excluding any non-operations related fixtures, furniture, office
equipment and telephone systems (collectively those assets in this
clause (iii) , the “ Fixed Assets
”);
(iv) all Assumed Contracts
and the Transition Period Collections;
(v) all confidentiality,
noncompete or nondisclosure agreements executed by current or
former vendors or suppliers of the Sellers or other third parties,
in each case, relating to the Business, (a) to the extent the same
are held by Murray U.S. and are assignable under Section 365 of the
Bankruptcy Code without the consent of the third party or parties
to such agreements or (b) if not so assignable, to the extent
consented to by the third party or third parties to such
agreements;
(vi) the Sellers’
interest in all applicable approvals, certifications, registrations
or listings for products currently manufactured or sold by the
Sellers, including but not limited to ANSI, UL, CPSC, CE and EMC,
to the extent the same are assignable (the “
Transferable Certifications and Registrations
”);
(vii) all books and records,
engineering design plans, blueprints and as-built plans,
specifications, procedures and similar items of the Sellers,
including books of account, all customer lists, billing records and
other customer correspondence relating to the Business;
(viii) all of the rights or
causes of action of any of the Sellers against a third party
related to the Acquired Assets, the operation of the Business or
the Assumed Obligations or Assumed Contracts arising out of
transactions occurring prior to the Closing Date, except where such
rights or causes of action relate to Excluded Liabilities and
except for the Excluded Claims and direct or derivative causes of
actions of the Sellers shareholders and/or creditors against
present and former officers and directors of
2
the Sellers for acts,
omissions or events occurring prior to the Closing Date; to the
extent such rights or causes of action relate to both Assumed
Obligations and Excluded Liabilities, the applicable Buyer and
Seller shall share such rights or causes of action in the same
proportion as their respective liabilities bear to the total
liability relating to those rights, claims or causes of
action;
(ix) all Business
Intellectual Property (including all Intellectual Property used in
connection with the Business), together with all related income,
royalties, damages and payments due or payable at the Closing or
thereafter (including, without limitation, damages and payments for
past or future infringements or misappropriations thereof), the
right to sue and recover for past infringements or
misappropriations thereof, any and all corresponding rights that,
now or hereafter, may be secured throughout the world and all
copies and tangible embodiments of any such Intellectual
Property;
(x) except for rights
relating to Excluded Assets, Excluded Liabilities and/or Excluded
Claims, all rights under any insurance policies which cover risks
associated with the Business or the Acquired Assets other than
director and officer insurance policies and any insurance policies
maintained pursuant to or in connection with Employee Benefit
Plans, (a) to the extent owned by Murray U.S. and assignable under
Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code or otherwise without the consent
of the third party or parties to such policies; or, (b) if not so
assignable, to the extent consented to by the third party or
parties to such policies;
(xi) all Vendor Deposits, all
promotional allowances, vendor rebates and similar
items;
(xii) all office supplies,
production supplies, spare parts and other miscellaneous supplies
wherever located;
(xiii) the right to receive
and retain mail, Accounts Receivable payments and other
communications (other than communications between the Sellers and
their outside counsel);
(xiv) all advertising,
marketing and promotional materials and all other printed or
written materials;
(xv) the Business Names and
all goodwill as a going concern and all other intangible
properties;
(xvi) all 1-800 telephone
numbers used for product warranty purposes; and
(xvii) all Tax refunds,
rebates, credits and similar items attributable to the Acquired
Assets with respect to taxable periods beginning on or after the
Closing Date and any portion of such refund, rebate, credit or
similar item with respect to a Straddle Period that is attributable
to the portion of such Straddle Period beginning after the Closing;
and
(xviii) the Assumed Real
Property, if any.
3
“ Administrative
Claims ” shall mean any and all claims (other than
claims of the Buyers and their Affiliates) which are granted
priority or superpriority in the Case by order of the Bankruptcy
Court pursuant to Bankruptcy Code Sections 364, 503 and 507. Murray
U.S.’s Administrative Claims budget has been delivered to
Buyers prior to the date hereof.
“
Affiliate ” means, with respect to any Person,
(i) each Person that, directly or indirectly, owns or controls,
whether beneficially, or as a trustee, guardian or other fiduciary,
10% or more of the stock or other interests having ordinary voting
power in the election of directors of such Person, (ii) each Person
that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with
such Person and (iii) each of such Person’s officers,
directors, joint venturers, managers and partners. For the purpose
of this definition, “control” of a Person shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly on a current or contingent
basis, of the power to direct or cause the direction of its
management or policies, whether through the ownership or voting
securities, by contract or otherwise.
“ ANSI
” means American National Standards Institute.
“ Assumed
Contracts ” means any contract, agreement, real or
personal property lease, commitment, understanding or instrument to
the extent assigned under Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code
without the consent of the third party or parties to such
agreements, to the extent otherwise assignable without the consent
of the third party or parties to such agreement, or, if not so
assignable, to the extent consented to by the third party or
parties to such agreements, and any and all customer deposits,
customer advances and credits, security deposits and letters of
credit related to any such agreements in any case which:
(a) with respect to Murray
U.S. is (x) listed on Exhibit A-1 or (y) which is assumed
and assigned to Buyers pursuant to Section 2.5 ;
and
(b) with respect to Murray
Canada is listed on Exhibit A-2 (which Exhibit may be
amended to make additions at any time prior to the Closing
Date).
“ Assumed
Obligations ” means only the following specific
liabilities and obligations of the Sellers:
(a) amounts due and to become
due on Assumed Contracts after the later of Closing Date or the
date on which such Assumed Contracts are assumed by Murray U.S. and
assigned to Buyers pursuant to Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code
including the Assignment Cure Amounts;
(b) to the extent any
contract or lease on Exhibit O is designated an Assumed
Contract, amounts payable as set forth on Exhibit O (which
Exhibit may be amended only with the prior written consent of the
Buyers), with respect to the Permitted Liens;
(c) amounts due and to become
due to 575636 Ontario Limited operating as Global Distribution and
Warehousing (“ Global ”), pursuant to
that office storage agreement listed on Exhibit A-2 between
Murray Canada Co. and Global for the property
4
located at 1195 Courtney Park
Drive, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (the “ Canadian
Lease Obligations ”);
(d) except to the extent
already addressed or agreed to be paid by Briggs U.S. under the
Transition Supply Agreement, Briggs U.S. shall pay costs actually
incurred by Murray U.S. due to Section 2.5 with respect to
its Executory Contracts (other than the Pre-Petition Credit
Agreement, the Post-Petition Credit Agreement, any pre-Closing
contract or agreement with Tomkins Corporation or any of its
Affiliates or relating to any Employee Benefit Plan or Foreign
Plan) after the Closing Date and prior to confirmation of Murray
U.S.’s bankruptcy plan that would not have been incurred had
Briggs U.S. provided its consent to reject such contracts on the
Closing Date; and
(e) any and all Taxes for
which Buyer is liable under Section 7.8 .
“ Assumed Real
Property ” means that Owned Real Property of Murray
U.S. and Murray Canada which is set forth by Buyers on Exhibit
F .
“ Avoidance
Actions ” means any and all actions for relief of
Murray U.S. under Chapter 5 of the Bankruptcy Code.
“ B&S
Payables ” means any account payable, obligation,
liability, or amount owed under any contract or agreement (other
than this Agreement) to B&S, any Buyer (or any of their
Affiliates) by either Seller or any of their Affiliates.
“ Bill of
Sale ” means each Bill of Sale to be executed and
delivered by each Seller at the Closing, substantially in the form
of Exhibit B attached hereto.
“
Business ” means the activities carried on by
the Sellers for their lawn mower, snow blower, chore products,
bicycle and recreation products businesses and any other lawn,
garden, snow, recreation or chore products businesses operated by
the Sellers as of the date of this Agreement.
“ Business
Day ” means any day other than Saturday, Sunday and
(i) any day which is a legal holiday under the laws of the State of
New York or a day on which banking institutions in such state are
authorized by law or other governmental action to close; or (ii) a
statutory holiday under the laws of the Province of Ontario or a
day on which banking institutions in such Province are authorized
by law or other governmental action to close.
“ Business
Names ” means, to the extent owned by either Seller,
any legal or trade name under which the Business is or has been
conducted, including (i) any current or former legal or trade name
of either Seller, including “Murray”, “Murray,
Inc.”, “Murray Canada Co.” and (ii) any Prior
Name of Murray U.S. or Murray Canada.
“ Buyer Financing
Amount ” means the aggregate unpaid amount of all
amounts which have been advanced by the Buyers (or their
Affiliates) to the Sellers after the date hereof.
“ Buyer
Representatives ” means the Buyers’
accountants, employees, counsel, environmental consultants,
financial advisors and other authorized representatives.
5
“ Canadian Lease
Obligations ” has the meaning assigned in the
definition of Assumed Obligations.
“ Canadian Tax
Elections ” means elections filed by Murray Canada
and Briggs Canada under the Income Tax Act (Canada), Excise Tax Act
(Canada), Corporations Tax Act (Ontario), and such other taxation
statutes in Canada or the Province of Ontario in connection with
the transfer of the Canadian Acquired Assets.
“ Capital
Expenditure Adjustment Amount ” shall mean the amount
of those capital expenditures actually made or incurred by the
Sellers prior to the Closing Date with respect to their fiscal year
ending 2006 “green” season (x) which, with respect to
such expenditures made prior to the date hereof, the amount of such
expenditures have been set forth on Exhibit N hereto (which
Exhibit may be amended only with the prior written consent of the
Buyers) plus (y) with respect to such expenditures made or
incurred after the date hereof, the Sellers have obtained the
Buyers prior written consent.
“ Cash and Cash
Equivalents ” means with respect to any Person any
cash and cash equivalents of such Person which are not Vendor
Deposits, including to the extent the following are not Vendor
Deposits: (i) short-term investments, (ii) uncollected checks
issued to such Person and funds in transit to such Person (but only
to the extent not otherwise already included in Current Assets),
and excluding (i) uncollected checks issued by such Person and
funds in transit from such Person.
“ CE
” means Certification of Conformance with EU
Directives.
“ CERCLA
” means the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended or any other
comparable state, foreign or international law.
“ Claim
” or “ Claims ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code,
including, without limitation, any right to receive payment,
whether or not such right is reduced to judgment, liquidated,
unliquidated, fixed, contingent, matured, unmatured, contested,
uncontested, legal, equitable, secured, or unsecured; or any right
to an equitable remedy for breach of performance if such breach
gives rise to a right to receive payment from, whether or not such
right to an equitable remedy is reduced to judgment, fixed,
contingent, matured, unmatured, contested, uncontested, secured, or
unsecured.
“ COBRA
” means Section 4980B of the Code and Part 6 of Subtitle B of
Title I of ERISA and any similar state law.
“ Code
” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
“ Competition
Act ” means the Competition Act, R.S., 1985, c. C-34,
as amended, and the relevant rules and regulations
thereunder.
“ Confidential
Information ” shall have the meaning specified in the
Confidentiality Agreement.
6
“ Confidentiality
Agreement ” means the Confidentiality Agreement,
dated as of July 2, 2001 (as amended on May 12, 2004), among Briggs
& Stratton Corporation, D’Long International Strategic
Investment Co., Ltd., Belfry Group, LLC, dba D’Long Capital
Management, Summersong Investment Inc. and Murray Inc.
“ CPSC
” means U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
“ Current
Assets ” shall mean the Accounts Receivable and
Inventory of the Sellers, in each case determined in accordance
with GAAP, except that Inventory will be reflected at the gross
amount thereof with no reserves and that Accounts Receivable will
reflected at the full face value thereof with no reserves for
uncollectible accounts or for any setoffs, reserves or deductions
taken or threatened to be taken by payees under any Accounts
Receivable with respect to the Sellers’ actual or perceived
inability to honor any product liability, warranty or similar claim
or liability. The Estimated Working Capital Statement and the
October 2004 debtor in possession financing budget attached hereto
as Exhibit P (the “ October DIP Budget
”) shall be prepared on a consistent basis except for the
exceptions set forth on Exhibit T (the “
Consistency Exceptions ”). Current Assets shall
be expressed in U.S. Dollars (using an exchange rate of CDN Dollars
to U.S. Dollars as published in the Wall Street Journal five (5)
Business Days prior to the Closing Date).
“ Delinquent
Accounts Receivable ” means those Accounts Receivable
of the Sellers (x) having an original scheduled maturity date of 90
days or less following the date of invoice and (y) existing as of
the date of Closing which, as of the ninetieth (90
th ) day following the Closing, have not been
collected in full or if, if partially collected, to the extent not
fully collected.
“
D’Long ” means D’Long International
Strategic Investment Co. a company registered under the laws of
China.
“ Domain Name
Assignment Agreement ” means each Domain Name
Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit J
attached hereto, between each applicable Seller and each applicable
Buyer dated as of the Closing Date.
“ EMC
” means Electromagnetic Field Certification.
“ Employee
Benefit Plan ” means each “employee benefit
plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA and each other
benefit plan, program or arrangement of any kind at any time
maintained, sponsored, contributed or required to be contributed to
by Murray U.S., any of its Subsidiaries or any ERISA Affiliate or
with respect to which Murray U.S., any of its Subsidiaries or any
ERISA Affiliate has any Liability, other than a Foreign
Plan.
“
Encumbrances ” means any mortgages, pledges,
liens (statutory or other), charges, hypothecation, security
interests, conditional and installment sale agreements,
encumbrances and charges of any kind.
“ Environmental
and Safety Requirements ” means all federal, state,
provincial, local and foreign statutes, regulations, ordinances and
other provisions having the force or effect of law, all judicial
and administrative orders and determinations, all contractual
obligations and all common
7
law concerning public health and safety,
worker health and safety, and pollution or protection of the
environment, including, without limitation, all those relating to
the presence, use, production, generation, handling,
transportation, treatment, storage, disposal, distribution,
labeling, testing, processing, discharge, Release, threatened
Release, control, or cleanup of any hazardous materials, substances
or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides, pollutants,
contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or byproducts,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, noise or radiation.
“ ERISA
” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974,
as amended.
“ ERISA
Affiliate ” means any entity that at any relevant
time is treated as a single employer with any of the Sellers or any
of their Affiliates pursuant to Section 414 of the Code.
“ Excluded
Claims ” means the Avoidance Actions and the Recall
Claims.
“ Excluded
Employee Benefits Liabilities ” means any Liability
whenever arising or occurring, relating to (x) any Foreign Plan,
including any Foreign Plan sponsored, maintained or contributed to
or for the benefit of employees or former employees of Murray
Canada or its predecessors or with respect to which Murray Canada
has any actual or potential Liability or (y) any Employee Benefit
Plan.
“ Excluded
Environmental Liabilities ” means any Liability or
investigatory, corrective or remedial obligation, whenever arising
or occurring, arising under Environmental and Safety Requirements,
as amended or in effect prior to or as of the Closing, with respect
to either Seller or any of their predecessor(s), Subsidiaries or
Affiliate(s), their respective past or current properties or
facilities, the Business or the Acquired Assets (including without
limitation any such liability arising from the on-site or off-site
Release, threatened Release, treatment, storage, disposal, or
arrangement for disposal of Hazardous Substances) whether or not
constituting a breach of any representation or warranty herein and
whether or not set forth on any disclosure schedule attached
hereto.
“ Excluded Real
Property ” means all Owned Real Property of Murray
U.S. or Murray Canada which is not Assumed Real Property, including
the Owned Real Property of Murray U.S. located at: (a) 1165
Rochelle Road, McKenzie, TN; (b) 210 American Drive, Jackson, TN;
(c) 100 Hannon Drive, Lawrenceburg, TN; (d) 219 Franklin Road,
Brentwood, TN; (e) Highway 43, Lawrenceburg, TN; and (f) Grinnell
Drive, Lawrenceburg, TN; provided , that , nothing in
this Agreement shall designate any personal property or fixtures
located on any Owned Real Property as an Excluded Asset.
“
Facilities ” means the Leased Real Property and
the Owned Real Property.
“ Final
Order ” means, for purposes of the consents required
from any Governmental Entities, an action by any such Governmental
Entity that has not been reversed, stayed, enjoined, set aside,
annulled or suspended, or where the time period for any further
action by such Governmental Entity has expired without further
action by such Governmental Entity. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
in the case of any consent required of a Governmental Entity, such
consent by such Governmental Entity shall be deemed a Final Order
even if there is a timely request for stay, appeal,
reconsideration, review or rehearing challenging the action
by
8
such Governmental Entity, unless (x)
such challenge has a substantial probability of success on its
merits or (y) such challenge, if successful, would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
“ Financing
Order ” means the Final Order (i) Authorizing Murray
U.S. to Obtain Post-petition Financing Pursuant to 11 U.S.C.
Section 364, (II) Authorizing Murray U.S.’ Use of Cash
Collateral Pursuant to Section 363, (III) Granting Adequate
Protection Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Sections 361, 363 and 364, and
(IV) Modifying the Automatic Stay Pursuant to 11 U.S.C. Section 362
dated December 6, 2004.
“ Fixed
Assets ” has the meaning assigned in the definition
of Acquired Assets.
“ Foreign
Plan ” means any compensation or benefit plan,
program or arrangement sponsored, maintained or contributed or
required to be contributed to by either Seller or with respect to
which either Seller has any Liability, in each case for individuals
located outside the United States.
“ GAAP
” means United States generally accepted accounting
principles as in effect from time to time.
“ Governmental
Entity ” means any Tax Authority and any federal,
state, provincial, local or foreign governmental or regulatory
authority, department, agency, commission, body or other
governmental entity.
“ GST Tax
” means, that seven percent (7%) GST tax to the extent
required to be collected and remitted by Murray Canada to a
Canadian Tax Authority in connection with this transaction in the
event an exemption or election from such tax is not
available.
“ Hazardous
Substances ” means (i) any petrochemical or petroleum
products, lead based paint, oil, coal tar, or coal ash, radioactive
materials, radon gas, asbestos in any form that is or could become
friable, urea formaldehyde foam insulation or other equipment that
contains dielectric fluid which may contain polychlorinated
biphenyls, and (ii) any chemicals, materials or substances defined
as or included in the definition of “hazardous
substances,” “solid wastes,” “hazardous
wastes,” “hazardous materials,” “restricted
hazardous materials,” “extremely hazardous
substances,” “toxic substances,”
“contaminants” or “pollutants” under any
applicable Environmental and Safety Requirements.
“ HSR Act
” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the relevant rules and regulations
thereunder.
“
Indebtedness ” of any entity means without
duplication: (i) all obligations of such entity for borrowed money
(including, without limitation, any indebtedness owed to any
shareholder) or which has been incurred in connection with the
acquisition of property, assets or services, (ii) obligations
secured by any Encumbrance upon property or assets owned by such
entity, even though such entity has not assumed or become liable
for the payment of such obligations, (iii) obligations created or
arising under any conditional sale or other title retention
agreement with respect to property acquired by such entity, whether
or not the rights and remedies of the lender or lessor under such
agreement in the event of default are limited to repossession or
sale of the
9
property, (iv) capitalized rentals under
any capitalized lease, and (v) any obligations of such entity
resulting from such entity guaranteeing any other entity’s
indebtedness.
“ Instrument of
Assignment and Assumption ” means each Instrument of
Assignment and Assumption to be executed and delivered by the
applicable Buyer and the applicable Seller at the Closing,
substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached
hereto.
“ Intellectual
Property ” means all of the following in any
jurisdiction throughout the world: (i) patents, patent applications
and patent disclosures, (ii) trademarks, service marks, trade
dress, trade names, corporate names, logos and internet domain
names, together with all goodwill associated with each of the
foregoing, (iii) copyrights and copyrightable works, (iv)
registrations and applications for any of the foregoing, (v) trade
secrets, confidential information and inventions and (vi) rights
under any license agreements for any of the foregoing.
“ Intellectual
Property Documents ” means each of the Trademark
Assignment Agreements, the Domain Name Assignment Agreements and
the Patent Assignment Agreements.
“
Inventory ” shall mean the Sellers’ gross
inventory.
“ Investment
Canada Act ” means the Investment Canada Act, R.S.,
1985, c. 38 (1st Supp.), as amended, and the relevant rules and
regulations thereunder;
“ Key
Executives ” means each of the following executives:
G. Alan Shaw, Brian P. Callahan, David Guilbert, Randy Ballard,
Danny Nelms, Fred Selman, Derek Boulton, Gary Watts and Kenneth
Shropshire.
“
Knowledge ” means, with respect to each Seller,
as to a particular matter, the knowledge of the Key Executives, it
being understood that such knowledge may be established (i) by
producing documentation existing prior to the Closing Date
(including in e-mail, computer files and the like) that was sent or
received by any of the Key Executives, (ii) by an admission by any
of the Key Executives that he had actual knowledge of the matter in
question or (iii) by establishing that either Seller or any of
their Affiliates received written notice prior to the Closing Date
with respect to the matter in question addressed to any of the Key
Executives or to one of their respective direct reports.
“
Liability ” means any liability, obligation or
potential liability or obligation (whether known or unknown,
whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent,
whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated,
and whether due or to become due and regardless of when asserted),
including, without limitation, any liability for levies, premiums
or Taxes or under any Environmental and Safety
Requirement.
“ Material
Adverse Effect ” means any change or changes in, or
effect on Murray U.S., Murray Canada, the Business or the Acquired
Assets taken as a whole, regardless of whether known by either
Buyer at any time, that is individually, or in the aggregate, is or
could reasonably be expected to be materially adverse the Business
or the Acquired Assets taken as a whole other than (i) any change
or effect in any way resulting from or arising in connection with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby
(including any announcement
10
with respect to this Agreement or any of
the transactions contemplated hereby and the need, if any, of the
Sellers to serve notices on employees required to eliminate or
mitigate the Sellers’ liabilities under the WARN Act); or
(ii) any change or effect resulting from or arising in connection
with Murray U.S.’ current status as a filer under Chapter 11
of the Bankruptcy Code.
“ Multiemployer
Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(37) of
ERISA.
“ Murray
Europe ” means Murray Europe Limited, a company
registered under the laws of England and Wales with company number
04063818.
“ Murray Suzhou
Interests ” means those limited partnership interests
in the Murray Suzhou Joint Venture representing Murray U.S.’
previously held twenty five percent (25%) ownership
interest.
“ October DIP
Budget ” has the meaning assigned in the definition
of Current Assets.
“ Murray Suzhou
Joint Venture ” means that joint venture between
Murray U.S. and Shen Yang Hejin Holding Investment Co. Ltd. created
pursuant to that Joint Venture Agreement dated February 24, 2002,
in which Murray U.S. previously held a twenty five percent (25%)
limited partnership interest.
“ Parent
” means Summersong Investment Inc., a company established
under the laws of the British Virgin Islands.
“ Patent
Assignment Agreement ” means each Patent Assignment
Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit K attached
hereto, between each applicable Seller and each applicable Buyer
dated as of the Closing Date.
“ Permitted
Liens ” means those certain liens and other security
interests identified in Exhibit O attached hereto. Such
Exhibit may only be amended with the prior written consent of the
Buyers.
“ Person
” means any individual, partnership, limited liability
company, joint venture, corporation, trust, unincorporated
organization, bank or banking association or any Governmental
Entity.
“ Real
Property ” means all land and all buildings, and all
easements, rights of way and servitudes with respect
thereto.
“ Recall
Claims ” means any and all claims, other than any
claims under any Assumed Contract or any other Acquired Asset, of
the Sellers against third parties which refer, relate or pertain in
any way to Murray U.S.’ product recalls in 2002, 2003 and
March of 2004.
“ Release
” means release, spill, leak, discharge, dispose of, pump,
pour, emit, empty, inject, leach, dump or allow to escape into or
through the environment.
“ Required
Consents ” means, collectively, (i) the Sale Order,
(ii) the filings by the Sellers and the Buyers required by the HSR
Act and the expiration or earlier termination of all
waiting
11
periods under the HSR Act and (iii) the
filings of the Sellers and the Buyers, if any, required under the
Investment Canada Act; and (iv) the Third Party
Consents.
“ Sale
Hearing ” means the hearing of the Bankruptcy Court
during which the Bankruptcy Court considers the entry of the Sale
Order.
“ Sale
Motion ” means the motion or motions of Murray U.S.
seeking approval of the Sale Order, which motion shall be
acceptable, in form and substance to the Buyers.
“ Sale
Order ” means an order which contains all of the
provisions set forth in Section 8.1(c) and (a) is otherwise
in form reasonably acceptable to the Buyers and the Sellers, and
(b) which is not stayed as of the Closing.
“ Sale Order
Approval Date ” means the date on which the
Bankruptcy Court enters the Sale Order.
“ SEC
” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Sellers’
Representatives ” means the Sellers’
accountants, employees, counsel, environmental consultants,
financial advisors and other authorized representatives.
“ Shared
Contracts ” means any contract to which the Parent,
Murray Europe or any of their Subsidiaries or Affiliates (other
than Murray U.S. and Murray Canada) are a party that relate to the
Business to which Murray U.S. or Murray Canada is a
party.
“ Straddle
Period ” means any taxable year or period beginning
before and ending after the Closing.
“
Subsidiary ” means, with respect to any
particular Person, any corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a
corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of
stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any
contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or
trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other subsidiaries
of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a limited
liability company, partnership, association or other business
entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership
interest thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or
indirectly, by that Person or one or more subsidiaries of that
Person. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons shall be deemed to
have a majority ownership interest in a limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or
Persons shall be allocated a majority of limited liability company,
partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses
or shall be or control any managing director or general partner of
such limited liability company, partnership, association or other
business entity.
“ Target
Administrative Claims ” means Twenty Three Million
Dollars ($23,000,000).
“ Target Working
Capital ” means One Hundred and Seventy Five Million
Dollars ($175,000,000).
12
“ Tax
” and “ Taxes ” means (i) all
taxes, stamp duties, charges, fees, levies, penalties or other
assessments of any kind whatsoever imposed by any federal, state,
provincial, local or foreign taxing authority, including, but not
limited to, income, excise, property, stamp, sales, transfer,
franchise, payroll, value added, withholding, social security or
other taxes, whether computed on a separate or consolidated,
unitary or combined basis or in any other manner, including any
interest, penalties or additions attributable thereto or (ii)
liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in
clause (i) above as a result of being party to any agreement or any
express or implied obligation to indemnify or otherwise succeed to
the liability of any other Person or as a result of being a member
of a combined, consolidated, affiliated or unitary group with any
person.
“ Tax
Authority ” means any authority or body, in any
jurisdiction and whether federal, state, local or foreign or
otherwise having the power or authority or other function in
relation to Tax.
“ Tax
Return ” means any return, report, information return
notice, registration or other document (including any related or
supporting information) required to be supplied to any Governmental
Entity with respect to Taxes.
“ Trademark
Assignment Agreement ” means each Trademark
Assignment Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit I
attached hereto, between each applicable Seller and each applicable
Buyer dated as of the Closing Date.
“ Transaction
Documents ” means this Agreement, each Bill of Sale,
each Instrument of Assignment and Assumption Agreement, the
Transition Supply Agreement, the Bailment Agreement the Escrow
Agreement and the Intellectual Property Documents.
“ Transferable
Certifications and Registrations ” has the meaning
assigned in the definition of Acquired Assets.
“ Transition
Period Contracts ” means those contracts, agreements,
real or personal property leases, commitments, understandings or
instruments of Murray U.S. which are not listed on Exhibit
A-1 and which as of the date of confirmation of Murray
U.S.’s bankruptcy plan have not been rejected or assumed and
are not being sought to be rejected or assumed pursuant to a motion
or notice filed by the Debtor pursuant to this
Agreement.
“ UL
” means Underwriters Laboratory.
“ Vendor
Deposits ” means all deposits and pre-payments made
by either Seller to vendors as advance payments with respect to
services or merchandise to be received.
“ WARN
Act ” means the Worker Adjustment Retraining and
Notification Act of 1988, as amended.
“ Working
Capital ” shall mean for any date of determination,
the Sellers’ Current Assets.
13
(b) Each of the following
terms has the meaning specified in the Section set forth opposite
such term:
|
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section
|
| Adjusted
Purchase Price |
|
Section
3.1(b) |
|
|
| Agreement |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Assignment
Cure Amount |
|
Section 2.5(a)(iii) |
|
|
| Assumption
Date |
|
Section 2.5 |
|
|
| Assumption
Order |
|
Section 2.5 |
|
|
| Avoidance
Actions |
|
Section 2.2(m) |
|
|
| Bailment
Agreement |
|
Section 7.13(b) |
|
|
| Bankruptcy
Code |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Bankruptcy
Court |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Briggs
Canada |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Briggs
U.S. |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Business
Intellectual Property |
|
Section 5.14(b) |
|
|
| Buyers |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Canadian
Acquired Assets |
|
Section 2.1(b) |
|
|
| Cases |
|
Recitals |
|
|
| Closing |
|
Section 4.1 |
|
|
| Closing
Date |
|
Section 4.1 |
|
|
| Closing Date
Working Capital Statement |
|
Section 3.3(a)(ii) |
|
|
| DOJ |
|
Section 7.6(a) |
|
|
| Early
Transition Period Contract Rejection |
|
Section 7.13(b) |
|
|
| Earnest
Money Deposit |
|
Section 3.1(c) |
|
|
| Environmental Permits |
|
Section 5.7(b) |
|
|
| Escrow
Account |
|
Section 3.1(c) |
|
|
| Escrow
Agent |
|
Section 3.1(c) |
|
|
| Escrow
Agreement |
|
Section 3.1(c) |
|
|
| Escrow
Amount |
|
Section 3.1(d) |
|
|
| Estimated
Working Capital |
|
Section 3.3(a)(i) |
|
|
| Estimated
Working Capital Statement |
|
Section 3.3(a)(i) |
|
|
| Estoppel
Certificates |
|
Section 4.3(g) |
|
|
| Excluded
Assets |
|
Section 2.2 |
|
|
| Excluded
Liabilities |
|
Section 2.4(a) |
14
|
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
Excluded Product Liability and Product
Warranty Claims
|
|
Section 2.4(b)(xiv) |
|
|
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Existing Contracts
|
|
Section 5.9(a) |
|
|
|
Existing Indebtedness
|
|
Section 5.24 |
|
|
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Final Working Capital
|
|
Section 3.3(b)(iii) |
|
|
|
Final Working Capital Purchase Price
Adjustment
|
|
Section 3.3(c)(ii) |
|
|
|
Financial Statement
|
|
Section 5.4(b) |
|
|
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FIRPTA Certificates
|
|
Section 4.3(h) |
|
|
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FTC
|
|
Section 7.6(a) |
|
|
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Government Contracts
|
|
Section 5.9(a)(xviii) |
|
|
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Independent Accounting Firm
|
|
Section 3.3(b)(i) |
|
|
|
Initial Working Capital Purchase Price
Adjustment
|
|
Section 3.3(c)(i) |
|
|
|
Latest Balance Sheet
|
|
Section 5.4(a) |
|
|
|
Leased Real Property
|
|
Section 5.6(a) |
|
|
|
Liquidated Damages
|
|
Section 9.2(b) |
|
|
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Material Customer
|
|
Section 5.18 |
|
|
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Material Suppliers
|
|
Section 5.18 |
|
|
|
Murray Canada
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
Murray Canada Employees
|
|
Section 5.15(d) |
|
|
|
Murray Suzhou Liabilities
|
|
Section 2.4(b)(xxv) |
|
|
|
Murray U.S.
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
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Other Documents
|
|
Section 5.2 |
|
|
|
Other Regulatory Approvals
|
|
Section 7.6(b) |
|
|
|
Owned Real Property
|
|
Section 5.6(b) |
|
|
|
PBGC
|
|
Section 5.8(c) |
|
|
|
Permits
|
|
Section 5.11 |
|
|
|
Petition
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
Petition Date
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
Piton Point
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
Post-Petition Secured Lenders
|
|
Section 8.2(c) |
|
|
|
Pre-Petition Secured Lenders
|
|
Section 8.2(c) |
|
|
|
Prior Names
|
|
Section 5.23 |
15
|
|
|
|
Term
|
|
Section
|
|
Proceeding
|
|
Section 2.4(b)(viii) |
|
|
|
Purchase Price
|
|
Section 3.1(a) |
|
|
|
Release
|
|
Section 4.3(i) |
|
|
|
Seller
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
Sellers
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
Summersong
|
|
Recitals |
|
|
|
SWDA
|
|
Section 5.7(d) |
|
|
|
Termination Date
|
|
Section 9.1(a)(ix) |
|
|
|
Third Party Consents
|
|
Section 5.3 |
|
|
|
Title IV Plan
|
|
Section 5.8(c) |
|
|
|
Transferred Employees
|
|
Section 7.9(a) |
|
|
|
Transfer Taxes
|
|
Section 7.8(a) |
|
|
|
Transition Supply Agreement
|
|
Section 7.13(a) |
|
|
|
U.S. Acquired Assets
|
|
Section 2.1(a) |
|
|
|
Working Capital Purchase Price
Adjustments
|
|
Section 3.3(c)(ii) |
Section 1.2
Construction .
The headings and captions of
the various Articles and Sections of this Agreement have been
inserted solely for purposes of convenience, are not part of this
Agreement, and shall not be deemed in any manner to modify,
explain, expand or restrict any of the provisions of this
Agreement. Unless stated to the contrary, all references to
Articles, Sections, paragraphs or clauses herein shall be to the
specified Article, Section, paragraph, or clause of this Agreement,
and all references to Exhibits and Schedules shall be to the
specified Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto. All Exhibits and
Schedules referred to herein or attached hereto are intended to be
and hereby are specifically made a part of this Agreement. All
terms defined herein shall have the same meaning in the Exhibits
and Schedules, except as otherwise provided therein. All references
in this Agreement to “this Agreement” shall be deemed
to include the Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto. The terms
“hereby,” “hereto,” “hereunder”
and any similar terms as used in this Agreement, refer to this
Agreement in its entirety and not only to the particular portion of
this Agreement where the term is used. The term
“including” when used herein without the qualifier,
“without limitation,” shall mean “including,
without limitation.” Wherever in this Agreement the singular
number is used, the same shall include the plural, and the
masculine gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders, and
vice versa, as the context shall require. The word,
“or,” shall not be construed to be exclusive.
Provisions shall apply, when appropriate, to successive events and
transactions.
16
Article II
PURCHASE AND SALE
Section 2.1 The
Sale.
(a) Murray U.S. Asset
Purchase . Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions contained in this Agreement, at the Closing, Murray
U.S. shall sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Briggs
U.S. and Briggs U.S. shall purchase and acquire from Murray U.S.,
free and clear of all Encumbrances, all of Murray U.S.’s
right, title and interest of every kind and nature in and to all
assets owned or leased (under an Assumed Contract) by Murray U.S.
as of the Closing Date (including indirect and other forms of
beneficial ownership), be they real or personal, tangible or
intangible, fixed or current, wherever located and by whomever
possessed, including without limitation, any such right, title or
interest in any of the Acquired Assets, but excluding the Excluded
Assets (all of the assets to be sold, conveyed, transferred,
assigned and delivered to Briggs U.S. hereunder, the “
U.S. Acquired Assets ”).
(b) Murray Canada Asset
Purchase . Upon the terms and subject to the satisfaction of
the conditions contained in this Agreement, at the Closing, Murray
Canada shall sell, assign, convey, transfer and deliver to Briggs
Canada and Briggs Canada shall purchase and acquire from Murray
Canada, free and clear of all Encumbrances, all of Murray
Canada’s right, title and interest of every kind and nature
in and to all assets owned or leased (under an Assumed Contract) by
Murray Canada as of the Closing Date (including indirect and other
forms of beneficial ownership), be they real or personal, tangible
or intangible, fixed or current, wherever located and by whomever
possessed, including without limitation, any such right, title or
interest in any of the Acquired Assets, but excluding the Excluded
Assets (all of the assets to be sold, conveyed, transferred,
assigned and delivered to Briggs Canada hereunder, the “
Canadian Acquired Assets ”).
Section 2.2 Excluded
Assets.
The Sellers shall retain and
the Buyers shall not purchase any of the Sellers right, title or
interest in the following (the “ Excluded
Assets ”):
(a) except for any Vendor
Deposit, all Cash and Cash Equivalents which are owned by the
Sellers on the Closing Date;
(b) the corporate charter,
qualifications to conduct business as a foreign corporation,
arrangements with registered agents relating to foreign
qualifications, taxpayer and other identification numbers, seals,
minute books, stock transfer books, blank stock certificates, and
other documents relating to the organization, maintenance, and
existence of the Sellers as a corporation, any books, records or
the like of the Sellers;
(c) the Excluded Real
Property;
(d) except for the
Buyers’ rights to receive payments made to or for the account
of Sellers on the Transition Period Contracts and other amounts
specified in Section 7.19(a) (the “ Transition
Period Collections ”), the Transition Period
Contracts;
17
(e) the rights of each Seller
under this Agreement;
(f) any assets maintained
pursuant to or in connection with any Employee Benefit Plan of
Murray U.S. or any Foreign Plan sponsored, maintained or
contributed to by Murray Canada;
(g) copies of all books and
records relating to the conduct of the Business prior to the
Closing Date, the originals of which will be conveyed to the
Buyers, provided that the Buyers shall acquire, and the Sellers
shall not retain or obtain copies of customer lists, marketing
materials and related information;
(h) all confidentiality,
noncompete or nondisclosure agreements executed by current or
former vendors or suppliers of the Sellers or other third parties,
in each case, relating to the Business which are excluded pursuant
to clause (v) of the definition of Acquired
Assets;
(i) except for the
Transferable Certifications and Registrations, all Permits and
Environmental Permits;
(j) all approvals,
certifications, registrations or listings for products which are
excluded pursuant to clause (vi) of the definition of
Acquired Assets;
(k) all of the rights or
causes of action of any of the Sellers against a third party
related to the operation of the Business arising out of
transactions occurring prior to the Closing Date which are excluded
pursuant to clause (viii) of the definition of Acquired
Assets;
(l) all rights under any
insurance policies which cover risks associated with the Business
which are excluded pursuant to clause (x) of the definition
of Acquired Assets;
(m) the Avoidance
Actions;
(n) all non-operations
related fixtures, office equipment, telephone systems and furniture
of the Sellers which are excluded pursuant to clause (iii)
of the definition of Acquired Assets;
(o) all Tax refunds, rebates,
credits and similar items with respect to taxable periods ending on
or prior to the Closing Date and any portion of such refund,
rebate, credit or similar item with respect to a Straddle Period
that is attributable to the portion of such Straddle Period ending
at the Closing;
(p) the Recall
Claims;
(q) the Delinquent Accounts
Receivable; and
(r) any collective bargaining
agreement.
Section 2.3 Assumed
Obligations.
(a) Murray U.S.
Obligations Assumption . Subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, as additional consideration for the U.S. Acquired
Assets, at the Closing Briggs U.S.
18
shall assume and agree to pay, discharge
or perform when due the obligations and liabilities of Murray U.S.
which are Assumed Obligations.
(b) Murray Canada
Obligations Assumption . Subject to the conditions set forth in
this Agreement, as additional consideration for the Canadian
Acquired Assets, at the Closing Briggs Canada shall assume and
agree to pay, discharge or perform when due the obligations and
liabilities of Murray Canada which are Assumed
Obligations.
Section 2.4 Excluded
Liabilities.
(a) Notwithstanding anything
herein to the contrary, the Buyers shall not assume or be obligated
to pay, perform or otherwise discharge any Liabilities or
obligations of any of the Sellers other than the Assumed
Obligations (collectively, the “ Excluded
Liabilities ”).
(b) In furtherance and not in
limitation of the foregoing, except for the Buyers obligation to
pay Assignment Cure Amounts as provided in Section 2.5 , the
Buyers expressly are not assuming any of the following Liabilities,
whether accrued or fixed, absolute or contingent, known or unknown,
determined or determinable, and whenever or wherever arising,
including, without limitation, the following:
(i) all Claims or Liabilities
of either Seller that relate to any of the Excluded
Assets;
(ii) any Liability for any
cure obligations, costs and fees (pursuant to section 365 of the
Bankruptcy Code or otherwise), relating to any Existing Contracts
of Murray U.S. and Murray Canada which is not an Assumed
Contract;
(iii) except as provided in
Section 7.8 , all Claims or Liabilities of either Seller or
for which either Seller could be liable relating to Taxes
(including with respect to the Acquired Assets or otherwise)
including, without limitation, any Taxes that will arise as a
result of the sale of the Acquired Assets or the assumption of the
Assumed Obligations pursuant to this Agreement and any deferred
Taxes of any nature;
(iv) all Claims or
Liabilities for any legal, accounting, investment banking,
brokerage or similar fees or expenses incurred by either Seller in
connection with, resulting from or attributable to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise;
(v) all Indebtedness of
either Seller;
(vi) all Liabilities of
either Seller related to the issuance of any capital stock or other
equity interest of the Sellers, including, without limitation, any
stock options or warrants;
(vii) except for the Canadian
Lease Obligations, all Liabilities of either Seller or any
predecessor(s) or Affiliate(s) of either Seller resulting from,
caused by or arising out of, or which relate to, directly or
indirectly, the conduct of either Seller or ownership or lease of
any properties or assets or any properties or assets previously
used by either
19
Seller or any predecessor(s)
or Affiliate(s) of either Seller, or other actions or omissions of
either Seller or any predecessor(s) or Affiliate(s) of either
Seller, whether known or unknown on the date hereof;
(viii) except for the
Canadian Lease Obligations, all Liabilities of either Seller
resulting from, caused by or arising out of, or which relate to,
directly or indirectly, the conduct of either Seller anywhere or
ownership or lease of any properties or assets or any properties or
assets previously used by either Seller at any time, or other
actions, omissions or events occurring prior to the Closing which
(i) constitute, may constitute or are alleged to constitute a tort,
breach of contract or violation of any law, rule, regulation,
treaty or other similar authority or (ii) relate to any and all
Claims, disputes, demands, actions, Liabilities, damages, suits in
equity or at law, administrative, regulatory or quasi-judicial
proceedings, accounts, costs, expenses, setoffs, contributions,
attorneys’ fees and/or causes of action of whatever kind or
character (“ Proceeding ”) against either
Seller whether past, present, future, known or unknown, liquidated
or unliquidated, accrued or unaccrued, pending or
threatened;
(ix) any Liability arising
out of any Proceeding against either Seller after the
Closing;
(x) subject to Section
7.9(d) with respect to Transferred Employees, all Claims or
Liabilities (whether known or unknown) relating to the current or
former employees, officers or directors (or their representatives)
of either Seller, including, without limitation, Claims or
Liabilities related to notice of termination, pay in lieu of such
notice, severance pay, termination pay, wrongful dismissal damages,
and any Claims or Liabilities related to payroll, vacation, sick
leave, worker’s compensation, occupational health and safety,
unemployment benefits, pension benefits, grievances, complaints,
employee stock option or profit sharing plans, health care plans or
other welfare benefits, or any other compensation or benefit plans,
programs or arrangements of any kind;
(xi) any Liability arising
pursuant to the WARN Act or any similar foreign, state or local
law, regulation or ordinance relating to the termination of
employment;
(xii) any Liability arising
under or in connection with (x) any Foreign Plan sponsored,
maintained or contributed to by Murray Canada or with respect to
which Murray Canada has any actual or potential Liability or (y)
any Employee Benefit Plan;
(xiii) all accounts payable
and other accrued expenses arising prior to the Closing;
(xiv) any Liability arising
out of or relating to services and/or products developed, designed,
manufactured, marketed, sold or distributed by or for the benefit
of either Seller or any predecessor(s) or Affiliate(s) of either
Seller (including any product liability and product warranty Claims
and any product certification Claims or liabilities) (“
Excluded Product Liability and Product Warranty
Claims ”);
20
(xv) except for the Canadian
Lease Obligations, any Liability under any Assumed Contract which
arises after the Closing Date but which arises out of or relates to
any breach that occurred prior to the Closing Date;
(xvi) except for the
Liabilities due and to become due on Assumed Contracts which are
expressly included in the definition of Assumed Obligations, any
Liability under any contract, agreement, lease, mortgage, indenture
or other instrument of the Sellers;
(xvii) any Liability of
either Seller to any creditor, shareholder, other equity holder,
Subsidiary or Affiliate other than those Liabilities expressly
included in the definition of Assumed Obligations;
(xviii) any Liability arising
out of or relating to any grievance, complaint or Claim by current
or former employees, officers or directors of the
Sellers;
(xix) any Liability to
indemnify, reimburse or advance amounts to any officer, director,
employee or agent of either Seller;
(xx) any Liability to
distribute all or any part of the consideration received hereunder
to either Seller’s shareholders or creditors, or otherwise
apply all or any part of the consideration received
hereunder;
(xxi) any Liability arising
out of or resulting from non-compliance with any law, ordinance,
regulation, injunction or treaty by either Seller;
(xxii) any Liability of
either Seller under the Transaction Documents or any other document
executed in connection therewith;
(xxiii) any Excluded Employee
Benefits Liabilities and Excluded Environmental
Liabilities;
(xxiv) any Liability of
either Seller based upon such Person’s acts or omissions
occurring after the Closing;
(xxv) any accounts payable,
or other Liability, arising from or relating to the Murray Suzhou
Joint Venture (the “ Murray Suzhou Liabilities
”); and
(xxvi) any Liability based on
any act, omission or event occurring prior to the Closing Date not
otherwise expressly assumed hereunder.
The parties acknowledge and
agree that disclosure of any Liability on any Schedule to this
Agreement shall not create an Assumed Obligation of any Buyer,
except where such disclosed obligation has been expressly listed in
the definition of Assumed Obligations.
21
Section 2.5 Assumption of
Certain Leases and Other Contracts.
The Sellers shall assist the
Buyers in preparing Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 ,
which shall set forth the Assumed Contracts on the date hereof, the
date of each such Assumed Contract, the other party or parties to
each Assumed Contract and the address of such party or parties (if
available). Exhibit A-1 and Exhibit A-2 shall also
set forth the approximate amounts necessary to cure defaults, if
any, under each such Assumed Contract as determined by the Sellers
based on the Sellers’ books and records.
(a) Murray U.S. Until
confirmation of Murray U.S.’s bankruptcy plan, either Buyer,
in its sole discretion, by delivery of written notice to Murray
U.S., may compel Murray U.S. to seek to assume and assign to Buyers
or reject, pursuant to section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code or
otherwise, any contract, agreement, real or personal property
lease, commitment, understanding or instrument, other than Assumed
Contracts set forth on Exhibit A-1 . In furtherance of the
preceding sentence and subject to the Buyers performance of any
obligations assumed by Buyers pursuant to clause (d) of the
definition of “Assumed Obligations”, Murray U.S. shall
not seek to assume and assign to Buyers or seek to reject or seek
Bankruptcy Court approval to assume or reject any contract,
agreement, real or personal property lease, commitment,
understanding or instrument without the prior written consent of
the Buyers. Neither Buyer shall acquire any rights or assume any
liabilities with respect to any such contract, agreement real or
personal property lease, commitment, understanding or instrument
that is not assumed by the Sellers and assigned to the Buyers. The
Sale Order and any subsequent order (the “ Assumption
Order ”) providing for the assumption and assignment
to Briggs U.S. as of a certain date (the “ Assumption
Date ”) of one or more Assumed Contracts shall
provide for the assumption by Murray U.S. and assignment to Briggs
U.S., of the Assumed Contracts set forth on Exhibit A-1 or
subsequently designated by Briggs U.S., to which Murray U.S. is a
party on the following terms and conditions:
(i) Pursuant to the Sale
Order or the Assumption Order (as applicable), on the Closing Date
or the Assumption Date (as applicable), Murray U.S. shall assume
and shall assign to Briggs U.S. the Assumed Contracts to which
Murray U.S. is a party;
(ii) Intentionally
Omitted;
(iii) Briggs U.S. shall, at
or before the Closing Date or the Assumption Date, as appropriate,
and in respect of the applicable Assumed Contracts to which Murray
U.S. is a party, pay cure amounts to the appropriate parties (or
establish reserves as ordered by the Bankruptcy Court) so as to
permit assignment by Murray U.S. of the applicable Assumed
Contracts pursuant to Section 365 of the Bankruptcy Code (which
payments shall be referred to as the “ Assignment Cure
Amount ”); and
(iv) Briggs U.S. shall be
responsible for providing adequate assurance of future performance
with respect to the Assumed Contracts to which Murray U.S. is a
party and shall be responsible for demonstrating and establishing
adequate assurance of future performance before the Bankruptcy
Court with respect to the Assumed Contracts to which Murray U.S. is
a party.
(b) Murray Canada . At
the Closing, Murray Canada shall assign to Briggs Canada the
Assumed Contracts to which Murray Canada is a party pursuant to a
Bill of Sale.
22
(c) If requested by Buyers,
at any time prior or subsequent to confirmation of the Bankruptcy
Plan, Sellers shall execute any additional instruments necessary to
effect or record the assignment to either Buyer of any Assumed
Contract.
Section 2.6 Non-Assignable
Contracts.
To the extent that the
assignment hereunder by either Seller to any Buyer of any Assumed
Contract is not permitted or is not permitted without the consent
of any other party to such Assumed Contract, this Agreement shall
not be deemed to constitute an assignment of any such Assumed
Contract if such consent is not given or if such assignment
otherwise would constitute a material breach of, or cause a
material loss of contractual benefits under such Assumed Contract.
Without in any way limiting the Sellers’ relevant
representations and warranties or their obligation to obtain all
consents and waivers necessary for the sale, transfer, assignment
and delivery of the Assumed Contracts to the Buyers hereunder, if
any such consent is not obtained or if such assignment is not
permitted irrespective of consent and the Closing hereunder is
consummated, the Sellers shall cooperate with the Buyers following
the date of Closing Date in any reasonable arrangement designed to
provide the Buyers with the rights and benefits under any such
Assumed Contract, including enforcement for the benefit of the
Buyers of any and all rights of either Seller against any other
party arising out of any breach or cancellation of any such Assumed
Contract by such other party and, if requested by the Buyers,
acting as an agent on behalf of the Buyers or as the Buyers shall
otherwise reasonably require, at the Buyers’
expense.
Article III
PURCHASE PRICE
Section 3.1 Purchase
Price.
(a) The aggregate cash
purchase price to be paid by the Buyers for the Acquired Assets
pursuant to this Agreement shall be One Hundred and Twenty Five
Million Dollars ($125,000,000) (the “ Purchase
Price ”) which shall be subject to adjustment as set
forth herein.
(b) On the Closing Date, the
Buyers shall wire transfer to the Sellers the sum of:
(i) the Purchase Price, plus
or minus
(ii) the Initial Working
Capital Purchase Price Adjustment (if any) set forth in Section
3.3(c)(i) ; plus
(iii) the Capital Expenditure
Adjustment Amount, minus
(iv) the Escrow Amount,
minus
(v) the Earnest Money
Deposit, minus
(vi) the Buyer Financing
Amount, minus
23
(vii) the amount of any
pro-rated taxes to be deducted from the Purchase Price pursuant to
Section 7.8(c) .
The Purchase Price, as so
adjusted pursuant to this Section 3.1(b) is referred to
herein as the “ Adjusted Purchase Price
.”
(c) Prior to the date hereof,
the Buyers wire transferred an amount equal to Five Million Dollars
($5,000,000) to the Sellers (the “ Earnest Money
Deposit ”). On the date hereof the Sellers shall wire
transfer the Earnest Money Deposit to the Escrow Account maintained
with the Escrow Agent pursuant to the Escrow Agreement. If the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, the
Buyers and the Sellers shall deliver a joint written notice
instructing the Escrow Agent to deliver the Earnest Money Deposit
plus accrued interest thereon to the Sellers on the Closing
Date.
(d) On the Closing Date, the
Buyers shall wire transfer an amount equal to Six Million and Nine
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($6,900,000) (the “ Escrow
Amount ”) to an interest bearing trust account (the
“ Escrow Account ”) maintained with U.S.
Bank National Association (the “ Escrow Agent
”) pursuant to an escrow agreement substantially in the form
attached as Exhibit H (the “ Escrow
Agreement ”) among the Buyers, the Sellers and the
Escrow Agent.
(e) No portion of the
Purchase Price shall become property of any of the Sellers or any
of their Affiliates or of the estate of Murray U.S. under Section
541 of the Bankruptcy Code unless and until all conditions to
Closing have been satisfied or waived prior to Closing and with
respect to any amounts in the Escrow Account, until such amount has
been released to the Sellers.
Section 3.2 Allocation of
Purchase Price.
Prior to the Closing, the
Buyers shall prepare and deliver to the Sellers Exhibit L .
The Buyers and the Sellers agree to allocate the Purchase Price,
the Assumed Obligations (plus all other capitalizable costs) and
any adjustments to such Purchase Price among the Acquired Assets in
the manner set forth on the Exhibit L . The Buyers and the
Sellers shall prepare and file all Tax Returns and Canadian Tax
Elections in a manner consistent with Exhibit L , except as
otherwise required by any Tax Authority. The Buyers agree to
cooperate in the filing of Canadian Tax Elections as may be
necessary or desirable to give effect to the allocations set forth
in Exhibit L .
Section 3.3 Working
Capital Purchase Price Adjustment.
(a) Estimated and Closing
Date Working Capital Statements .
(i) Not less than five (5)
Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Sellers with the
cooperation of the Buyers, will prepare and deliver to the Buyers a
statement (the “ Estimated Working Capital
Statement ”) showing the Sellers good faith
calculation of Working Capital as of the close of business on the
Closing Date (“ Estimated Working Capital
”). For purposes of the Working Capital Purchase Price
Adjustments (as defined below), such Estimated Working Capital
Statement shall be determined as of the close of business on the
Closing Date and shall be determined in accordance with GAAP
applied
24
on a basis consistent with
the October 2004 DIP Budget except for the Consistency
Exceptions.
(ii) As promptly as
practicable, but no later than ninety (90) days after the Closing
Date, the Buyers will prepare and deliver to the Sellers a
calculation of Working Capital as of the close of business on the
Closing Date (the “ Closing Date Working Capital
Statement ”). For purposes of the Final Working
Capital Purchase Price Adjustment (as defined below), such Closing
Date Working Capital Statement shall be determined as of the close
of business on the Closing Date and shall be determined in
accordance with GAAP applied on a basis consistent with the October
DIP Budget except for the Consistency Exceptions.
(iii) For purposes of
preparing the Closing Date Working Capital Statement, the Buyers
and the Sellers shall jointly take a physical count of all
Inventory included in the Acquired Assets as of the Closing,
conducted in accordance with the Sellers’ past practices and
procedures.
(b) Independent Accounting
Firm, Determination of Final Working Capital .
(i) Within fifteen (15) days
after receipt of the Closing Date Working Capital Statement, the
Sellers may deliver to the Buyers, a written statement describing
their questions or objections (if any) to the Closing Date Working
Capital Statement. If the Sellers do not raise any questions or
objections within such period, the Buyers’ calculation of the
Working Capital as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Closing
Date Working Capital Statement will become final and binding upon
all of the parties. If the Sellers do raise any such questions or
objections, the Buyers and the Sellers and their respective
accountants, counsel and advisors shall attempt to resolve such
matters within 45 days after receipt of the same by the Sellers,
and if unable to do so, the Buyers and the Sellers shall refer all
remaining disputes concerning the Closing Date Working Capital
Statement to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin office of a nationally
recognized independent accounting firm reasonably acceptable to the
Buyers and the Sellers (the “ Independent Accounting
Firm ”) which shall be instructed to resolve such
disputes within thirty (30) days of the referral, acting as an
expert and not as an arbitrator. The Buyers and the Sellers will
make available to the Independent Accounting Firm the work papers
and back-up materials used in preparing the Closing Date Working
Capital Statement and the books and records of the Sellers. The
Buyers and the Sellers shall have the right to meet jointly with
the Independent Accounting Firm during this period and to present
their respective positions. The resolution of disputes by the
Independent Accounting Firm and its determination of the Working
Capital as of the Closing Date for the Final Working Capital
Purchase Price Adjustment will be set forth in writing and will be
conclusive and binding upon the parties. The determination of the
Working Capital as of the Closing Date for the Final Working
Capital Purchase Price Adjustment by the Independent Accounting
Firm will become final and binding upon the date of such
resolution.
(ii) Each party will make
available to the other and their accountants and other
representatives the work papers and back-up materials used in
preparing the Estimated Working Capital Statement and the Closing
Date Working Capital Statement (and copies
25
thereof at Sellers’
sole cost and expense), at any time during (A) the review by the
Sellers of the Closing Date Working Capital Statement under
Section 3.3(b)(i) above and (B) the pendency of any dispute
under Section 3.3(b)(i) above.
(iii) For purposes of this
Agreement, “ Final Working Capital ”
means Working Capital as of the Closing Date (i) as shown in the
Buyers’ calculation in the Closing Date Working Capital
Statement delivered pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(ii) above if
no notice of disagreement with respect thereto is duly delivered
pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(i) above; or (ii) if such a
notice of disagreement is delivered, (A) as agreed by the Buyers
and the Sellers pursuant to Section 3.3(b)(i) above or (B)
in the absence of such agreement, as shown in the Independent
Accounting Firm’s calculation delivered pursuant to
Section 3.3(b)(i) above.
(iv) The Sellers and the
Buyers will each pay their own fees and expenses (including without
limitation any fees and expenses of their accountants, counsel and
other representatives) in connection with the determination of the
Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustments. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, (i) if Working Capital as of the Closing Date as finally
determined by the Independent Accounting Firm is equal to or
greater than the Working Capital as of the Closing Date as set
forth in the Closing Date Working Capital Statement delivered by
the Buyers pursuant to Section 3.3(a)(ii) above, then the
Buyers will pay the fees and expenses of the Independent Accounting
Firm incurred in connection with the resolution of any disputes
arisin
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