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ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

Asset Purchase Agreement

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GREGORY INDUSTRIES, INC | OHIO, INC

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Title: ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Governing Law: Ohio     Date: 3/2/2005
Law Firm: King Spalding    

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT, Parties: gregory industries  inc , ohio  inc
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EXHIBIT 10.1

------------

EXECUTION COPY

 

 

 

 

ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

 

BY AND BETWEEN

 

NAGALV - OHIO, INC.

 

AND

 

GREGORY INDUSTRIES, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DATED AS OF FEBRUARY 28, 2005

 

 

 

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TABLE OF

CONTENTS

Page

----

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS......................................................... 9

Section 1.1. Definitions............................................... 9

Section 1.2. Other Definitions.........................................12

 

ARTICLE II PURCHASE AND SALE..................................................14

Section 2.1. Agreement to Purchase and Sell............................14

Section 2.2. Assets....................................................14

Section 2.3. Excluded Assets...........................................15

Section 2.4. Assumed Liabilities.......................................16

Section 2.5. Excluded Liabilities......................................17

 

ARTICLE III PURCHASE PRICE; ADJUSTMENTS; ALLOCATIONS..........................18

Section 3.1. Purchase Price............................................18

Section 3.2. Payment of Purchase Price.................................18

Section 3.3. Allocation of Purchase Price..............................18

Section 3.4. Allocation of Certain Items...............................18

Section 3.5. Adjustment of Purchase Price for Accounts Receivable......19

 

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY..........................19

Section 4.1. Organization..............................................19

Section 4.2. Authorization.............................................19

Section 4.3. Absence of Restrictions and Conflicts.....................20

Section 4.4. Real Property.............................................20

Section 4.5. Title to Assets; Related Matters..........................21

Section 4.6. Financial Statements......................................22

Section 4.7. Inventory and Products....................................22

Section 4.8. No Undisclosed Liabilities................................23

Section 4.9. Absence of Certain Changes................................23

Section 4.10. Legal Proceedings.........................................23

Section 4.11. Compliance with Law.......................................23

Section 4.12. Company Contracts.........................................24

Section 4.13. Insurance Policies........................................25

Section 4.14. Environmental, Health and Safety Matters..................26

Section 4.15. Intellectual Property; Software...........................27

Section 4.16. Transactions with Affiliates..............................28

Section 4.17. Nondisclosed Payments.....................................29

Section 4.18. Customer and Supplier Relations...........................29

Section 4.19. Notes and Accounts Receivable.............................30

Section 4.20. Licenses and Permits......................................30

Section 4.21. Brokers, Finders and Investment Bankers...................31

Section 4.22. Product and Service Warranties............................31

Section 4.23. Ethical Practices.........................................31

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Section 4.24. Disclosure................................................31

Section 4.25. Solvency..................................................32

Section 4.26. Representations...........................................32

 

ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER.........................32

Section 5.1. Organization..............................................32

Section 5.2. Authorization.............................................33

Section 5.3. Absence of Restrictions and Conflicts.....................33

Section 5.4. Brokers, Finders and Investment Bankers...................33

Section 5.5. Additional Representations and Warranties.................34

 

ARTICLE VI CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS...................................34

Section 6.1. Conduct of Business by the Company........................34

Section 6.2. Inspection and Access to Information......................36

Section 6.3. Notices of Certain Events.................................37

Section 6.4. Interim Financials........................................38

Section 6.5. No Solicitation of Transactions...........................38

Section 6.6. Reasonable Efforts; Further Assurances; Cooperation.......38

Section 6.7. Consents..................................................39

Section 6.8. Public Announcements......................................40

Section 6.9. Supplements to Schedules..................................40

Section 6.10. Insurance.................................................41

Section 6.11. Non-Competition...........................................41

Section 6.12. Trademarks; Tradenames....................................43

Section 6.13. Risk of Loss..............................................43

Section 6.14. Customer Visits...........................................43

Section 6.15. Payment of Retained Liabilities...........................43

Section 6.16. Removing Excluded Assets..................................44

Section 6.17. Customer and Other Business Relationships.................44

 

ARTICLE VII TAX MATTERS.......................................................44

Section 7.1. Definitions...............................................44

Section 7.2. Tax Matters...............................................45

Section 7.3. Tax Cooperation; Allocation of Taxes......................45

 

ARTICLE VIII EMPLOYEE BENEFITS................................................46

Section 8.1. Representations Regarding Officers and Employees..........46

Section 8.2. Representations Regarding Company and Employee

Benefit Plans.............................................47

Section 8.3. Representations Regarding Labor Relations.................48

Section 8.4. Employees.................................................50

Section 8.5. Company's Employee Benefit Plans..........................51

Section 8.6. Purchaser Benefit Plans...................................52

Section 8.7. Continuation of Administrative Services and

Insurance Coverage........................................53

Section 8.8. No Third Party Beneficiaries..............................53

 

ARTICLE IX CONDITIONS TO CLOSING..............................................53

Section 9.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligations....................53

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Section 9.2. Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser................54

Section 9.3. Conditions to Obligations of the Company..................56

 

ARTICLE X CLOSING ............................................................56

 

ARTICLE XI TERMINATION........................................................57

Section 11.1. Termination...............................................57

Section 11.2. Specific Performance and Other Remedies...................58

Section 11.3. Effect of Termination.....................................58

 

ARTICLE XII INDEMNIFICATION...................................................58

Section 12.1. Indemnification Obligations of the Company................58

Section 12.2. Indemnification Obligations of the Purchaser..............59

Section 12.3. Indemnification Procedure.................................60

Section 12.4. Claims Period.............................................62

Section 12.5. Limitations...............................................64

Section 12.6. Investigations............................................65

Section 12.7. Acknowledgement of the Parties............................65

Section 12.8. Post-Closing Remediation Plan on Outstanding

Environmental Orders......................................65

Section 12.9. Letter of Credit..........................................67

Section 12.10. Insurance Proceeds........................................67

 

ARTICLE XIII MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.........................................67

Section 13.1. Notices...................................................67

Section 13.2. Schedules and Exhibits....................................68

Section 13.3. Assignment; Successors in Interest........................68

Section 13.4. Number; Gender............................................69

Section 13.5. Captions..................................................69

Section 13.6. Controlling Law; Amendment................................69

Section 13.7. Consent to Jurisdiction, Etc..............................69

Section 13.8. Waiver of Jury Trial......................................69

Section 13.9. Severability..............................................70

Section 13.10. Counterparts..............................................70

Section 13.11. Enforcement of Certain Rights.............................70

Section 13.12. Waiver; Remedies Cumulative...............................70

Section 13.13. Integration...............................................70

Section 13.14. Cooperation Following the Closing.........................71

Section 13.15. Transaction Costs; Expenses...............................71

7

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LIST OF EXHIBITS

Exhibit 9.1(c) Form of Transition Services Agreement

Exhibit 9.1(d) Form of Galvanizing and Fabrication Agreement

Exhibit 9.1(e) Form of Lease Agreement

Exhibit 9.2(d) Form of Company Certificate

Exhibit 9.2(h) Form of Company's Counsel Opinion

Exhibit 9.2(j)(i) Form of Bill of Sale

Exhibit 9.2(j)(ii) Form of Assignment and Assumption Agreement

 

LIST OF SCHEDULES

Schedule 2.4(b)(ii) Current Liabilities

Schedule 3.3 Allocation of Purchase Price

Schedule 4.3 Restrictions and Conflicts

Schedule 4.4(a) Owned Real Property

Schedule 4.4(b) Leased Real Property

Schedule 4.5 Title Exceptions

Schedule 4.6 Financial Statement Exceptions

Schedule 4.8 No Undisclosed Liabilities

Schedule 4.9 Absence of Certain Changes

Schedule 4.10 Legal Proceedings

Schedule 4.11 Compliance with Law

Schedule 4.12 Company Contracts

Schedule 4.13 Insurance Policies

Schedule 4.14 Environmental, Health and Safety Matters

Schedule 4.15(a) Intellectual Property

Schedule 4.15(b) Company Software

Schedule 4.16 Transactions with Affiliates

Schedule 4.18(a) Major Suppliers

Schedule 4.18(b) Major Customers

Schedule 4.19(a) Accounts Receivable

Schedule 4.20 Licenses and Permits

Schedule 4.21 Brokers

Schedule 4.22 Product and Service Warranties

Schedule 6.12 Company Trademarks and Tradenames

Schedule 8.1 All Officers and Employees

Schedule 8.2 Company Benefit Plans

Schedule 8.3 Labor Relations

Schedule 8.4(a) Employees

 

 

8

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ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

------------------------

THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), dated as of February 28,

2005, is made and entered into by and between NAGalv - Ohio, Inc., a Delaware

corporation ("Purchaser"), and Gregory Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation

(the "Company"). The Purchaser and the Company are sometimes individually

referred to herein as a "Party" and collectively as the "Parties." The term

"Company" as used in this Agreement includes Gregory Industries, Inc. and its

subsidiaries.

WHEREAS, the Company conducts an after-fabrication hot-dip galvanizing

business (the "Business");

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to enter into this Agreement pursuant to which

the Company proposes to sell to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser proposes to

purchase from the Company, all of the assets used or held for use by the Company

in the conduct of the Business as a going concern, and the Purchaser proposes to

assume certain of the liabilities and obligations of the Company (the

"Acquisition"); and

WHEREAS, the Parties desire to make certain representations, warranties and

agreements in connection with the Acquisition.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective

representations, warranties, covenants, agreements and conditions hereinafter

set forth, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties agree as

follows:

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1. DEFINITIONS.

(a) The following Terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:

"Accounts Receivable" means (i) all trade accounts receivable and

other rights to payment from customers of the Company and the full benefit

of all security for such accounts or rights to payment, including all trade

accounts receivable representing amounts receivable in respect of goods

shipped or products sold or services rendered to customers of the Company

and the full benefit of all security for such accounts and (ii) any claim,

remedy or other right related to any of the foregoing.

"Affiliate" means, with respect to any Person, any other Person

directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control

with such other Person. For purposes of this definition, "control," when

used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the

management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether

through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and

the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the

foregoing.

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"Associate" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation or

organization (other than a majority-owned subsidiary) of which such Person

is an officer or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial

owner of 10% or more of any class of equity securities, (ii) any trust or

other estate in which such Person has a substantial beneficial interest or

as to which such Person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary

capacity, and (iii) any relative or spouse of such Person, or any relative

of such spouse, who has the same home as such Person or who is a director

of officer of an entity or any of its parents or subsidiaries.

"Business Day" means any day except Saturday, Sunday or any day on

which banks are generally not open for business in the United States.

"CERCLA" means the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation

and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, and any rules or regulations

promulgated thereunder.

"Commercially Reasonable Efforts" means the efforts necessary to

complete the task at hand that would have been undertaken by a reasonable

business entity under similar circumstances, giving due consideration to

cost, timing, and other factors that would reasonably be expected to be

considered by a reasonable business entity.

"Environmental Laws" means any federal, state, local or foreign law

(including, without limitation, common law), treaty, judicial decision,

regulation, rule, judgment, order, decree, injunction, permit or

governmental restriction or any agreement with any governmental authority

or other third party, whether now or hereafter in effect, relating to the

environment, human health and safety or to pollutants, contaminants, wastes

or chemicals or any toxic, radioactive, ignitable, corrosive, reactive or

otherwise hazardous substances, wastes or materials.

"Environmental Permits" mean all permits, licenses, franchises,

certificates, approvals and other similar authorizations of governmental

authorities relating to or required by Environmental Laws and affecting, or

relating in any way to, the Business.

"Hazardous Materials" mean any waste, pollutant, contaminant,

hazardous substance, toxic, ignitable, reactive or corrosive substance,

hazardous waste, special waste, industrial substance, by-product, process

intermediate product or waste, petroleum or petroleum-derived substance or

waste, chemical liquids or solids, liquid or gaseous products, or any

constituent of any such substance or waste, the use, handling or disposal

of which by the Company is in any way governed by or subject to any

applicable Environmental Laws.

"Intellectual Property Right" means any trademark, service mark, trade

name, mask work, invention, patent, trade secret, copyright, know-how

(including any registrations or applications for registration of any of the

foregoing) or any other similar type of proprietary intellectual property

right.

"IRS" means the United States Internal Revenue Service and, to the

extent relevant, the United States Department of the Treasury.

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"Knowledge of the Company" or similar terms shall mean the knowledge

of officers and directors of the Company. Knowledge shall be both actual

knowledge, as well as the knowledge a reasonable business person would have

obtained after making reasonable inquiry and after exercising reasonable

diligence with respect thereto. The parties agree that with respect to the

representations and warranties contained in Section 4.14 below, the

Company's decision not to perform Phase I or Phase II environmental

assessments shall not be construed as a failure by Company to make

reasonable inquiry or to exercise reasonable diligence as set forth in the

definition above.

"Lien" means, with respect to any property or asset, any mortgage,

lien, pledge, charge, security interest, encumbrance or other adverse claim

of any kind in respect of such property or asset. For the purposes of this

Agreement, a Person shall be deemed to own subject to a Lien any property

or asset which it has acquired or holds subject to the interest of a vendor

or lessor under any conditional sale agreement, capital lease or other

title retention agreement relating to such property or asset.

"Material Adverse Effect" means any change, event, effect or

occurrence that is or may be reasonably likely to be materially adverse to

the financial condition of the Business, results of operations, properties,

assets or liabilities (including, without limitation, contingent

liabilities) of the Business or the Assets taken as a whole. A Material

Adverse Effect shall also include any change, event or occurrence that

shall have occurred or been threatened that (when taken together with all

other adverse changes, events, effects or occurrences that have occurred or

been threatened) is or would be reasonably likely to prevent or materially

delay the performance by the Company of any of its obligations under this

Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

"1934 Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and

the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

"Permitted Exceptions" means (i) Liens for taxes not yet due and

payable, (ii) zoning, building, or other governmental restrictions now in

effect relating to the Real Property, (iii) all matters shown on Schedule B

of Purchaser's title commitment, which is attached hereto as a portion of

Schedule 4.4(a), and (iv) such Liens, claims, encumbrances, or other

restrictions accepted by Purchaser in writing.

"Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited

liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization,

including a government or political subdivision or an agency or

instrumentality thereof.

"Proceeding" means any action, arbitration, audit, hearing,

investigation, litigation or suit (whether civil, criminal, administrative,

judicial or investigative, whether formal or informal, whether public or

private) commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise

involving, any Governmental Entity or arbitrator.

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SECTION 1.2. OTHER DEFINITIONS.

Each of the following terms is defined in the Section set forth opposite

such term:

Terms Section

----- -------

Acquisition...................................................Recitals

ADA...........................................................8.3(i)

ADEA..........................................................8.3(i)

Agreement ....................................................Preamble

Applicable Benefit Laws.......................................8.2(d)(iv)

Arbitrator....................................................3.3(c)

Assets........................................................2.1

Assignment and Assumption Agreement...........................9.2(j)(ii)

Assumed Contracts.............................................2.2(c)

Assumed Liabilities...........................................2.4(b)

Apportioned Obligations.......................................7.3(b)

Bill of Sale..................................................9.2(j)(i)

Business......................................................Recitals

Business Activities...........................................6.11(a)(i)

Claims Period.................................................12.4

Closing.......................................................Article X

Closing Date..................................................Article X

Closing Date Indebtedness.....................................2.5(c)

COBRA Coverage................................................8.4(b)

Code..........................................................7.1(a)

Company ......................................................Preamble

Company Ancillary Documents...................................4.2

Company Benefit Plan..........................................8.2(a)

Company Financial Statements..................................4.6

Company Indemnified Parties...................................12.2

Company Licensed Software.....................................4.15(b)

Company Losses................................................12.2

Company Proprietary Software..................................4.15(b)

Company Software..............................................4.15(b)

Confidential Information......................................6.11(a)(ii)

Employee Benefit Plan.........................................8.2(b)

Environmental Indemnification Obligations.....................12.9

ERISA.........................................................8.2(b)

ERISA Affiliate...............................................8.2(c)

ERISA Affiliate Plan..........................................8.2(c)

Excluded Assets...............................................2.3

Excluded Liabilities..........................................2.5

Financial Statements..........................................4.6

FLSA..........................................................8.3(i)

FMLA..........................................................8.3(i)

GAAP..........................................................4.6

Governmental Entity...........................................4.10

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Indemnified Party.............................................12.3(a)

Indemnifying Party............................................12.3(a)

Intellectual Property.........................................4.15(a)

Interim Balance Sheet.........................................4.6

Interim Financial Statements..................................4.6

Inventory.....................................................2.2(a)

Irrevocable Letter of Credit..................................12.9

Labor Laws....................................................8.3(q)

Leased Real Property..........................................4.4(b)

Licenses......................................................4.20

Major Customer................................................4.18(b)

Major Supplier................................................4.18(a)

NLRB..........................................................8.3(a)

Non-Assignable Contracts......................................6.7

Noncompete Period.............................................6.11(a)(iii)

Orders........................................................12.8(a)

OSHA..........................................................8.3(k)

Owned Real Property...........................................4.4(a)

Parties.......................................................Preamble

Party.........................................................Preamble

Post-Closing Tax Period.......................................7.3(b)

Pre-Closing Tax Period........................................7.1(b)

Purchase Price................................................3.1

Purchaser.....................................................Preamble

Purchaser Ancillary Documents.................................5.2

Purchaser Indemnified Parties.................................12.1

Purchaser Losses..............................................12.1

Real Property.................................................4.4(b)

Surviving Representations.....................................12.4(a)

Taxes.........................................................7.1(c)

Tax Return....................................................7.1(d)

Termination Date..............................................11.1

Territory.....................................................6.11(a)(iv)

Trade Secrets.................................................6.11(a)(v)

Transferred Employees.........................................8.4(a)

Transfer Taxes................................................7.3(c)

Unaudited Financial Statements................................4.6

WARN..........................................................8.3(n)

Work..........................................................12.8(a)

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ARTICLE II

PURCHASE AND SALE

 

SECTION 2.1. AGREEMENT TO PURCHASE AND SELL.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing and

except as otherwise specifically provided in this Article II, the Company will

grant, sell, assign, transfer and deliver to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser

will purchase and acquire from the Company, all right, title and interest of the

Company in, to and under the assets, properties and business, of every kind and

description, wherever located, real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible,

owned or held or used in the conduct of the Business by the Company as the same

shall exist on the Closing Date and not disposed of in the ordinary course of

business as permitted by this Agreement, and all of the assets of the Business

thereafter acquired by the Company (which assets, properties and rights are

collectively referred to in this Agreement as the "Assets"), free and clear of

all Liens, other than Permitted Exceptions, and the Purchaser will assume the

Assumed Liabilities (as hereinafter defined).

 

SECTION 2.2. ASSETS.

Except as otherwise expressly set forth in Section 2.3, the Assets shall

include, without limitation, the following assets, properties and rights of the

Company that relate to the Business, including the design, manufacture and sale

of its products, as of the close of business on the Closing Date:

(a) all inventory, including without limitation, office and other

supplies, raw materials, spare, replacement and component parts, works-in-

process, finished goods and other inventory property located at, stored on

behalf of or in transit to the Company with respect to the Business

(collectively, "Inventory");

(b) all fixed assets, equipment, furnishings, computer hardware, vehicles,

machinery, fixtures and other tangible personal property;

(c) all rights of the Company under those contracts listed on Schedule

4.12 (unless indicated to the contrary thereon) or that are of a type that would

have been listed thereon except that they involve payments in an amount less

than the applicable amount set forth in Section 4.12 (collectively, the "Assumed

Contracts");

(d) all Real Property and all licenses, permits, approvals,

qualifications, easements and other rights relating thereto;

(e) all goodwill, methods, know-how, technical documentation, processes,

procedures, inventions, technology, research records, data, designs, plans,

drawings, manufacturing know-how and formulas, whether patentable or

unpatentable, and other intellectual or proprietary rights or property of the

Business (and all rights thereto and applications therefor), including, without

limitation, the Intellectual Property and the Company Software;

(f) all Accounts Receivable;

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(g) all rights to causes of action, lawsuits, judgments, claims and demands

of any nature available to or being pursued by the Company and relating to the

Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities, whether arising by way of

counterclaim or otherwise;

(h) to the extent they are assignable, all rights in and under all express

or implied guarantees, warranties, representations, covenants, indemnities and

similar rights in favor of the Company and relating to the Business, the Assets

or the Assumed Liabilities;

(i) all permits, approvals, licenses, qualifications, product

registrations, safety certifications, authorizations or similar rights to the

extent that they are assignable, including those set forth on Schedule 4.20

(unless otherwise indicated thereon);

(j) all information, files, correspondence, records, data, plans, reports,

contracts and recorded knowledge, including customer, supplier, price and

mailing lists, and all accounting or other books and records of the Business,

excluding any books and records of the Company not related to the Business, in

whatever media retained or stored, including, without limitation, computer

programs and disks; and

(k) all other tangible and intangible assets of any kind or description,

wherever located, that are carried on the books of the Business or which are

owned by the Company that relate to the Business, but excluding the Excluded

Assets.

SECTION 2.3. EXCLUDED ASSETS.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, the

Assets will not include the following assets, properties and rights of the

Company (collectively, the "Excluded Assets"):

(a) any cash, cash equivalents or marketable securities and all rights to

any bank accounts of the Company;

(b) all ownership and other rights with respect to the Company Employee

Benefit Plans (as hereinafter defined);

(c) all rights of the Company under those contracts identified on Schedule

4.12 as not being Assumed Contracts;

(d) any permit, approval, license, qualification, registration,

certification, authorization or similar right that by its terms is not

transferable to the Purchaser, including those indicated on Schedule 4.20 as not

being transferable;

(e) any Accounts Receivable from an Affiliate or any Accounts Receivable

that have been written off in full prior to the Closing and any collateral

associated therewith;

(f) the charter documents of the Company, minute books, stock ledgers, tax

returns, books of account and other constituent records relating to the

corporate organization of the Company;

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(g) any Assets sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of

business and not in violation of any provision of this Agreement during the

period from the date hereof until the Closing Date;

(h) the rights that accrue to the Company under this Agreement;

(i) all manufacturing equipment used to produce guard rail posts and the

equipment used in the MZR zinc reprocessing furnace;

(j) any labor contract or collective bargaining agreement;

(k) all trademarks, service marks and trade names identified on Schedule

6.12;

(l) prepaid expenses;

(m) two (2) cars currently leased and described as a Buick Regal and a

Ford Taurus;

(n) any raw materials, supplies, or inventory at the facility of the

Company utilized by, or in processing for, other divisions of the Company,

including without limitation, all 6-inch I-beams and H-post fences, strut

inventory;

(o) Q-Net software program; and

(p) the Accounts Receivable of Shane Felter Industries, Inc. which are

represented by each of those certain promissory notes, dated November 16, 2004,

in the original face amounts of $38,905.65 and $161,949.00.

 

SECTION 2.4. ASSUMED LIABILITIES.

(a) Except as provided in Section 2.4(b), the Purchaser will not assume,

in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any

liability or obligation of the Company whatsoever, and the Company will retain

responsibility for all liabilities and obligations accrued as of or on the

Closing Date and all liabilities and obligations arising from the Company's

operations prior to or on the Closing Date, whether or not accrued and whether

or not disclosed.

(b) As the sole exception to the provisions in Section 2.4(a), effective

as of the close of business on the Closing Date, the Purchaser will assume and

agree to pay, discharge or perform, as appropriate, the following liabilities

and obligations of the Company existing as of such time and arising out of the

conduct of the Business prior to or on the Closing Date (collectively, the

"Assumed Liabilities"):

(i) obligations of the Company under the Assumed Contracts to the

extent such obligations are not required to be performed prior to the

Closing Date, are disclosed on the face of such Assumed Contracts (or are

implied warranties or obligations under any law, including without

limitation, the Uniform Commercial Code) and accrue and relate to the

operations of the Business subsequent to the Closing Date; and

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(ii) those current liabilities of the Company of the types listed on

Schedule 2.4(b)(ii).

 

SECTION 2.5. EXCLUDED LIABILITIES.

Specifically, and without in any way limiting the generality of Section

2.4(a), the Assumed Liabilities will not include, and in no event will the

Purchaser assume, agree to pay, discharge or satisfy, or otherwise have any

responsibility for, any liability or obligation (together with all other

liabilities of the Company that are not Assumed Liabilities, the "Excluded

Liabilities"):

(a) relating to any liability or obligation (including, without limitation,

accounts payable) owed to any shareholder or any Affiliate of the Company;

(b) for Taxes with respect to any period;

(c) for any indebtedness with respect to borrowed money and notes payable,

including any interest or penalties accrued thereon, (collectively, the "Closing

Date Indebtedness");

(d) relating to, resulting from or arising out of (i) claims made in

pending or future Proceedings or (ii) claims based on violations of law as in

effect on or prior to the Closing, breach of contract, employment practices, or

environmental, health and safety matters or any other actual or alleged failure

of the Company to perform any obligation, in each case arising out of or

relating to events which shall have occurred, or services performed, or the

operation of the Business, prior to the Closing;

(e) pertaining to any Excluded Asset;

(f) relating to, resulting from or arising out of any former operations of

the Company that have been discontinued or disposed of prior to the Closing;

(g) under or relating to any Company Benefit Plan, whether or not such

liability or obligation arises prior to or after the Closing Date;

(h) of the Company arising or incurred in connection with the negotiation,

preparation and execution of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated

hereby and any fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, brokers, financial

advisors or other experts of the Company; and

(i) relating to the Environmental Indemnification Obligations.

Such Excluded Liabilities shall include all Proceedings relating to any or all

of the foregoing and all costs and expenses in connection therewith.

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ARTICLE III

PURCHASE PRICE; ADJUSTMENTS; ALLOCATIONS

 

SECTION 3.1. PURCHASE PRICE.

Subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 3.5, the aggregate amount to be

paid for the Assets (the "Purchase Price") shall be $3,641,090.60. In addition

to the foregoing payment, as consideration for the grant, sale, assignment,

transfer and delivery of the Assets, the Purchaser shall assume and discharge

the Assumed Liabilities.

 

SECTION 3.2. PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE.

(a) On the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall pay or cause to be paid to

the Company or to such third parties as the Company may designate in accordance

with subsection (b) of this Section an amount equal to the Purchase Price.

(b) All payments required under this Section 3.2 shall be made in cash by

the wire transfer of immediately available funds to such bank account(s) as

shall be designated in writing by the recipient(s) at least three (3) Business

Days prior to the applicable payment date.

 

SECTION 3.3. ALLOCATION OF PURCHASE PRICE.

Attached as Schedule 3.3 is an allocation of the Purchase Price for the

Assets, the Assumed Liabilities and the covenant not to compete contained in

Section 6.11. The Purchaser and the Company agree to file all Tax Returns on the

basis of such allocation. In any Proceeding related to the determination of any

Tax, neither the Purchaser nor the Company shall contend or represent that such

allocation is not a correct allocation. The Purchaser shall prepare and deliver

IRS Form 8594 to the Company within forty-five (45) days after the Closing Date

to be filed with the IRS.

 

SECTION 3.4. ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN ITEMS.

With respect to certain expenses incurred with respect to the Assets in the

operation of the Business, the following allocations will be made between the

Purchaser and the Company:

(a) Taxes. Real and ad valorem property taxes will be apportioned at the

Closing based upon the number of days in the taxable period before and after the

Closing Date and the amounts set forth in the most recent tax bills.

(b) Utilities. Utilities, water and sewer charges will be apportioned

based upon the number of Business Days occurring before and after the Closing

Date during the billing period for each such charge.

(c) Personal Property Taxes. Any personal property taxes of the Company

relating to the Business shall be apportioned at the Closing based upon the

number of days in the tax period before and after the Closing Date in the amount

set forth in the current tax bills.

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Appropriate cash payments by the Purchaser or the Company, as the case may

require, shall be made hereunder from time to time as soon as practicable after

the facts given rise to the obligation for such payments are known in the

amounts necessary to give effect to the allocations provided for in this

 

SECTION 3.4. ADJUSTMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE FOR ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

The Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment with respect to the

Accounts Receivable set forth on Schedule 4.19(a). Purchaser agrees that it will

attempt to collect the Accounts Receivable. Furthermore, Purchaser agrees that

any and all payments received by the Purchaser from any customer under any

Accounts Receivable shall first be applied to the oldest amount due by customer,

unless a customer gives written instructions to do otherwise by noting the

invoice number on the check or in some other manner; provided, however,

Purchaser shall not suggest or direct a customer to do so unless there is a

valid business reason, such as a disputed invoice or other legitimate business

reason. Purchaser shall provide Company with monthly reports detailing the

collection efforts on the Accounts Receivable. On or about the date ninety (90)

days after the Closing Date, the parties agree that they shall review and

discuss the collection efforts on the Accounts Receivable up to said date. In

the event that as of the date one hundred fifty (150) days after the Closing

Date any Accounts Receivable remain uncollected after Purchaser has attempted to

collect such Accounts Receivable in accordance with the obligations herein, then

in such event, all uncollected Accounts Receivable as of such date shall be

assigned to Company, who shall thereafter be free to collect or otherwise deal

with all such uncollected Accounts Receivable. Upon assignment, the Company

shall make immediate payment in the full-face amount of any uncollected Accounts

Receivables to the Purchaser.

 

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY

The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser as follows:

SECTION 4.1. ORGANIZATION.

The Company is a corporation duly formed and validly existing under the

laws of Ohio and has all requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate

its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. The Company

is duly qualified or registered as a foreign corporation to transact business

under the laws of each jurisdiction where the character of its activities or the

location of the properties owned or leased by it requires such qualification or

registration, except where the failure to be so qualified would not,

individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business

or the Assets. The Company has heretofore made available to the Purchaser true,

correct and complete copies of its charter documents as currently in effect and

its corporate record books with respect to actions taken by its shareholders and

directors.

 

SECTION 4.2. AUTHORIZATION.

The Company has full power and authority to execute and deliver this

Agreement and any other certificate, agreement, document or other instrument to

be executed and delivered by it

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in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement

(collectively, the "Company Ancillary Documents") and to perform its obligations

under this Agreement and the Company Ancillary Documents and to consummate the

transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this

Agreement and the Company Ancillary Documents by the Company and the performance

by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation

of the transactions provided for herein and therein have been duly and validly

authorized by all necessary board and shareholder action on the part of the

Company. The shareholders and directors of the Company have approved the

execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Company Ancillary

Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this

Agreement and by the Company Ancillary Documents. This Agreement has been, and

the Company Ancillary Documents will be as of the Closing Date, duly executed

and delivered by the Company and do or will, as the case may be, constitute the

valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable against the Company in

accordance with their respective terms.

 

SECTION 4.3. ABSENCE OF RESTRICTIONS AND CONFLICTS.

The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Company

Ancillary Documents, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this

Agreement and the Company Ancillary Documents and the fulfillment of and

compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the Company

Ancillary Documents do not or will not (as the case may be), with the passing of

time or the giving of notice or both, violate or conflict with, constitute a

breach of or default under, result in the loss of any benefit under, permit the

acceleration of any obligation under or create in any party the right to

terminate, modify or cancel, or otherwise require any action, consent, approval,

order, authorization, registration, declaration or filing with respect to (a)

any term or provision of the charter documents of the Company or any resolution

adopted by the board of directors or shareholders of the Company, (b) except as

indicated on Schedule 4.12, any Assumed Contract or any other contract,

agreement, permit, franchise, license or other instrument applicable to the

Business or any of the Assets, (c) any judgment, decree or order of any court or

governmental authority or agency to which the Company is a party or by which the

Business or any of the Assets are bound or (d) except as set forth on Schedule

4.3, any permit, statute, law, rule, regulation or arbitration award of any

governmental agency or public or regulatory unit, agency or authority applicable

to the Company or the Business.

 

SECTION 4.4. REAL PROPERTY.

(a) Schedule 4.4(a) sets forth a complete and accurate list and description

of the parcels of real property used in connection with the Business and owned

by the Company (together with all fixtures and improvements thereon, the "Owned

Real Property"). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4(a), the Company has good

and marketable, indefeasible, fee simple title to each parcel of the Owned Real

Property free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Exceptions.

(b) Schedule 4.4(b) sets forth a complete and accurate list and description

of the parcels of real property used in connection with the Business and leased

by the Company, if any, (together with all fixtures and improvements thereon,

the "Leased Real Property" and

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collectively with the Owned Real Property, the "Real Property"). The Company has

a valid leasehold interest in its Leased Real Property, free and clear of any

Liens, except for Permitted Exceptions. The leases of the Leased Real Property

are in full force and effect. All leases of Leased Real Property are in good

standing and are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their

respective terms and there does not exist under any such lease any default or

any event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a

default.

(c) To the Company's Knowledge, no portion of the Real Property, or any of

the buildings and improvements located thereon, violates any law, rule,

regulation, ordinance or statute, including those relating to zoning, building,

land use, environmental, health and safety, fire, air, sanitation and noise

control. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4(a), all of the Real Property is in

the possession or control of the Company, and except for common driveway

easements, no other person is entitled to possession of any such properties and

assets.

(d) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.4(a), the plants, buildings and

structures included in the Assets currently have, and immediately following the

Closing will have access to (i) public roads or valid easements over private

streets or private property for such ingress to and egress from all such plants,

buildings and structures and (ii) water supply, storm and sanitary sewer

facilities, telephone, gas and electrical connections, fire protection, drainage

and other public utilities, in each case as is necessary for the conduct of the

Business as it has heretofore been conducted. None of the structures on the Real

Property encroaches upon real property of another Person, and no structure of

any other Person encroaches upon any Real Property.

(e) Except as set forth on Schedule 4.5, the improvements on the Real

Property are in operating condition and are adequate and suitable for the

purposes for which they are presently being used. There are no condemnation or

appropriation or similar proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the

Company, threatened against any of the Real Property or the improvements

thereon.

 

SECTION 4.5. TITLE TO ASSETS; RELATED MATTERS.

The Assets constitute all of the assets necessary and sufficient to conduct

the operations of the Business in accordance with the Company's past practices.

Except as set forth in Schedule 4.4(a) or Schedule 4.5, the Company has (and

will convey to the Purchaser at the Closing) good and marketable title to the

Assets, free and clear of all Liens except for Permitted Exceptions. Except as

set forth in Schedule 4.5, all plants, buildings, structures, equipment and

other items of tangible personal property and assets included in the Assets (a)

are in operating condition and are adequate and suitable for the purposes for

which they are presently being used, consistent with standards generally

followed in the industry, (b) to the Company's Knowledge, conform to all

applicable laws, ordinances, codes, rules and regulations applicable thereto,

and the Company has no Knowledge of any defects or problems with any of the

Assets except as set forth on Schedule 4.5. No Person other than the Company

owns any equipment or other tangible personal property or assets situated on the

premises of the Company which are necessary to the operation of the Business,

except for the leased items that are subject to personal property leases. Since

May 31, 2004, the Company has not sold, transferred or disposed of any assets,

other than sales of inventory in the ordinary course of business. Schedule 4.5

sets forth a true, correct and complete list and general description of each

item of tangible personal property of the Company

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having a book value of more than $10,000.00. Purchaser agrees that it has had an

opportunity to inspect all of the Assets being transferred hereunder, to perform

its own inspection of the maintenance records, and to discuss the condition of

the Assets with the personnel of the Company, and agrees and acknowledges that

the Company makes only the representations and warranties contained in this

Section 4.5 regarding the Assets or condition thereof, and such Assets are

otherwise being transferred in "As Is" condition.

 

SECTION 4.6. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

Schedule 4.6 contains true, correct and complete copies of (i) unaudited

internal balance sheets of the Business as of December 31, 2003, and the related

unaudited internal statements of income and cash flows for the same time period,

and the related notes thereto (the "Company Financial Statements"); (ii) an

unaudited balance sheet of the Business as of May 28, 2004, and the related

unaudited statements of income and cash flows for the twelve (12) month period

then ended, including the notes thereto (the "Unaudited Financial Statements"),

and (iii) the unaudited interim balance sheet of the Business for the five (5)

months ended October 31, 2004, and the related unaudited statements of income

and cash flows for the period then ended (the "Interim Financial Statements"

and, collectively with the Unaudited Financial Statements, the "Financial

Statements"). The unaudited balance sheet as of October 31, 2004, included in

the Interim Financial Statements is referred to herein as the "Interim Balance

Sheet." The Interim Financial Statements are true, correct and complete and

present fairly the financial position of the Business as of October 31, 2004,

and the related results of the Business' operations and cash flows for the five

(5) month period then ended. The Financial Statements are based on the books and

records of the Business which have been kept, and such Financial Statements have

been prepared, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles

("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis. Since May 31, 2003, there has been no

material change in any of the accounting (and tax accounting) policies,

practices or procedures of the Company.

SECTION 4.7. INVENTORY AND PRODUCTS.

(a) The Business' Inventories set forth in the Interim Balance Sheet were

properly stated therein at the lesser of cost or fair market value determined in

accordance with GAAP consistently maintained and applied by the Company,

utilizing the LIFO method. Since the date of the Unaudited Financial Statements,

Inventories related to the Business have been maintained in the ordinary course

of business. All such Inventories are owned free and clear of all Liens, other

than Permitted Exceptions. All of the Inventories recorded on the Interim

Balance Sheet consist of, and all inventories related to the Business on the

Closing Date will be usable or saleable in the normal course of the Business in

accordance with past practices and that the zinc inventory will meet ASTM B6-00

and A 123/A specifications. No previously sold Inventory is subject to returns

in excess of those historically experienced by the Company.

(b) To the Company's Knowledge, each of the products produced or sold by

the Company in connection with the Business is, and at all times up to and

including the sale thereof has been, (i) in compliance in all material respects

with all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations and

(ii) fit for the ordinary purposes for which it is intended to be used and

conforms in all material respects to any promises or affirmations of fact made

on the container or label for such product or in connection with its sale. There

is no design defect with

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respect to any of such products and each of such products contains adequate

warnings, presented in a reasonably prominent manner, in accordance with

applicable laws, rules and regulations and current industry practice with

respect to its contents and use.

 

SECTION 4.8. NO UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES.

Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.8, to the Company's Knowledge, the

Company does not have any liabilities or obligations (whether accrued, absolute,

contingent, determined, determinable or otherwise), in connection with the

Business which are not adequately reflected or provided for in the Company

Financial Statements, except liabilities and obligations that are not (singly or

in the aggregate) material to the Business and have been incurred since the date

of such balance sheet in the ordinary course of business.

 

SECTION 4.9. ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES.

Since May 31, 2004, and except as set forth in Schedule 4.9, there has not

been (i) any event, occurrence, development or state of circumstances or facts

which, individually or in the aggregate, has had or could reasonably be expected

to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Business or the Assets, (ii) any

damage, destruction, loss or casualty to property or assets of the Business with

a value in excess of $10,000.00, whether or not covered by insurance, or (iii)

any action taken of the type described in Section 6.1, which, had such action

occurred after the date hereof, would be in violation of such Section.

 

SECTION 4.10. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

Except as set forth in Schedule 4.10, there are no Proceedings (or any

basis therefor) pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against,

relating to or involving the Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities

before any federal, state or local or foreign government or any court,

administrative or regulatory agency or commission or other governmental

authority or agency, domestic or foreign (a "Governmental Entity"), or any

arbitrator.

 

SECTION 4.11. COMPLIANCE WITH LAW.

To the Company's Knowledge, the Company is (and has been at all times

during the past five (5) years) in compliance with all applicable laws

(including, without limitation, applicable laws relating to zoning,

environmental matters and the safety and health of employees), ordinances,

regulations and orders of all Governmental Entities applicable to the Assets or

the conduct of the Business. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.11, with respect

to the Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities, (i) the Company has not

been charged with and, to the Knowledge of the Company, is not now under

investigation with respect to, a violation of any applicable law, regulation,

ordinance, order or other requirement of a Governmental Entity, (ii) the Company

is not a party to or bound by any order, judgment, decree or award of any

Governmental Entity and (iii) the Company has filed all reports and has all

licenses and permits required to be filed with any Governmental Entity on or

before the date hereof.

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SECTION 4.12. COMPANY CONTRACTS.

(a) Schedule 4.12 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of the

following contracts related to the Business:

(i) all bonds, debentures, notes, loans, credit or loan agreements or

loan commitments, mortgages, indentures, guarantees or other contracts

relating to the borrowing of money or binding upon any of the Assets, or

the Leased Real Property that is subject to the lease to the Purchaser

referenced herein;

(ii) all leases relating to the Leased Real Property or other leases

or licenses involving any properties or assets used in the Business

(whether real, personal or mixed, tangible or intangible) involving an

annual commitment or payment of more than $10,000.00 individually by the

Company;

(iii) all contracts or agreements which limit or restrict the Company

or any of the employees of the Company whose names are set forth on

Schedule 8.4(a) from engaging in the Business in any jurisdiction;

(iv) all franchising and licensing agreements;

(v) any contract that provides for an increased payment or benefit, or

accelerated vesting, upon the execution of this Agreement or in connection

with the transactions contemplated hereby;

(vi) any contract or agreement granting any Person a Lien on all or

any part of any of the Assets;

(vii) any contract or agreement for the cleanup, abatement or other

actions in connection with any Hazardous Materials, the remediation of any

existing environmental condition or relating to the performance of any

environmental audit or study;

(viii) any contract or agreement granting to any Person an option or a

first refusal, first-offer or similar preferential right to purchase or

acquire any of the Assets;

(ix) any contract or agreement with any agent, distributor or

representative which is not terminable without penalty on thirty (30)

calendar days' or less notice;

(x) any contract or agreement for the granting or receiving of a

license or sublicense or under which any Person is obligated to pay or has

the right to receive a royalty, license fee or similar payment;

(xi) any contract providing for the indemnification or holding

harmless of any officer, director, employee or other Person;

(xii) any joint venture or partnership contract;

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(xiii) any customer contract for the provision of goods or services by

the Company and any supplier contract for the provision of goods or

services to the Company; and

(xiv) all existing contracts and commitments (other than those

described in subparagraphs (i) through (xiv) of this Section 4.12(a)) to

which the Company is a party or by which any of the Assets are bound

involving an annual commitment or annual payment to or from the Company of

more than $10,000.00 individually or which is otherwise material to the

Business.

True, correct and complete copies of all Assumed Contracts have been made

available to the Purchaser. All of the contracts identified on Schedule 4.12

shall be Assumed Contracts unless otherwise indicted on Schedule 4.12.

(b) The Assumed Contracts are legal, valid, binding and enforceable in

accordance with their respective terms with respect to the Company and, to the

Knowledge of the Company, with respect to each other party to such Assumed

Contracts. To the Company's Knowledge, there are no existing defaults or

breaches of the Company under any Assumed Contract (or events or conditions

which, with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default or

breach) and, to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no such defaults (or

events or conditions which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would

constitute a default or breach) with respect to any third party to any Assumed

Contract. The Company has no Knowledge of any pending or threatened bankruptcy,

insolvency or similar proceeding with respect to any party to such agreements.

The Company is not participating in any discussions or negotiations regarding

modification of or amendment to any Assumed Contract or entry in any new

material contract applicable to the Business or the Assets. Schedule 4.12

identifies each Assumed Contract set forth therein that requires the consent of

or notice to the other party thereto to avoid any breach, default or violation

of such contract, agreement or other instrument in connection with the

transactions contemplated hereby, including the assignment of such Assumed

Contract to the Purchaser.

 

SECTION 4.13. INSURANCE POLICIES.

Schedule 4.13 contains a complete and correct list of all insurance

policies relating to the Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities carried

by or for the benefit of the Company, specifying the insurer, amount of and

nature of coverage, the risk insured against, the deductible amount (if any) and

the date through which coverage will continue by virtue of premiums already

paid. The Company maintains insurance with reputable insurers for the Business

and Assets against all risks normally insured against, and in amounts normally

carried, by corporations of similar size engaged in similar lines of business

and such coverage is sufficient. All insurance policies and bonds with respect

to the Business and Assets are in full force and effect and will be maintained

by the Company in full force and effect as they apply to any matter, action or

event relating to the Company occurring through the Closing Date and the Company

has not reached or exceeded its policy limits for any insurance policies in

effect at any time during the past five (5) years. There is no claim by the

Company pending under any of such policies or bonds as to which coverage has

been questioned, denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or

bonds or in respect of which such underwriters have reserved

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their rights. All premiums payable under all such policies and bonds have been

timely paid and the Company has otherwise complied fully with the terms and

conditions of all such policies and bonds. The Company does not know of any

threatened termination of, premium increase with respect to, or material

alteration of coverage under, any of such policies or bonds.

 

SECTION 4.14. ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH AND SAFETY MATTERS.

Except as set forth in Schedule 4.14, with respect to the Business, the

Real Property and the Assets:

(a) to the Company's Knowledge, (i) the Company possesses, and is in

material compliance with, all permits, licenses and government authorizations

and has filed all notices that are required under Environmental Laws, and (ii)

the Company is in compliance with all applicable limitations, restrictions,

conditions, standards, prohibitions, requirements, obligations, schedules and

timetables contained in those laws or contained in any law, regulation, code,

plan, order, decree, judgment, notice, permit or demand letter issued, entered,

promulgated or approved thereunder, which are specifically applicable to the

Business;

(b) to the Company's Knowledge, (i) there are no liabilities arising in

connection with or in any way relating to the Assets, the Business or the Real

Property of any kind whatsoever, whether accrued, contingent, absolute,

determined, determinable or otherwise, arising under or relating to any

Environmental Laws, and (ii) there are no facts, events, conditions, situations

or set of circumstances which could reasonably be expected to result in or be

the basis for any such liability;

(c) except as disclosed to Purchaser, the Company has not received notice

of actual or threatened liability under CERCLA or any similar foreign, state or

local statute or ordinance from any governmental agency or any third party and

to the Company's Knowledge there are no facts or circumstances which could form

the basis for the assertion of any claim against the Company under any

Environmental Laws including, without limitation, CERCLA or any similar local,

state or foreign law with respect to any on-site or off-site location;

(d) except as disclosed to Purchaser, the Company has not entered into or

agreed to enter into and the Company does not contemplate entering into, any

consent decree or order, and except as disclosed to Purchaser the Company is not

subject to any judgment, decree or judicial or administrative order relating to

compliance with, or the cleanup of Hazardous Materials under, any applicable

Environmental Laws, pending or, to the Company's Knowledge, threatened against

the Company;

(e) except as disclosed to Purchaser, no notice, notification, demand,

request for information, citation, summons or order or administrative or

judicial proceeding has been received, no complaint has been filed, no penalty

has been assessed and no investigation, action, claim, suite, proceeding or

review is pending or, to the Company's Knowledge, threatened by any governmental

entity or other Person with respect to any matters relating to the Company and

relating to or arising out of any Environmental Laws;

(f) except as disclosed to Purchaser, to the Company's Knowledge, it is not

subject to any claim, obligation, liability, loss, damage or expense of whatever

kind or nature, contingent or

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otherwise, incurred or imposed or based upon any provision of any Environmental

Laws or arising out of any act or omission of the Company, or the Company's

employees, agents or representatives or arising out of the ownership, use,

control or operation by the Company of any plant, facility, site, area or

property (including, without limitation, any plant, facility, site, area or

property currently or previously owned or leased by the Company) from which any

Hazardous Materials were released into the environment (the term "release"

meaning any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying,

discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the

environment, and the term "environment" meaning any surface or ground water,

drinking water supply, soil, surface or subsurface strata or medium, or the

ambient air);

(g) the Company has heretofore made available to the Purchaser true,

correct and complete copies of all files relating to environmental matters, and

the Company has not paid any fines, penalties or assessments within the last ten

(10) years with respect to environmental matters except as disclosed to

Purchaser;

(h) to the Company's Knowledge, except as disclosed to Purchaser, no

polychlorinated biphenyls, radioactive material, lead, asbestos-containing

material, incinerator, sump, surface impoundment, lagoon, landfill, septic,

wastewater treatment or other disposal system or underground storage tank

(active or inactive) is or has been present at, on or under any Real Property or

in any Asset;

(i) to the Company's Knowledge, except as disclosed to Purchaser, no

Hazardous Material has been discharged, disposed of, dumped, injected, pumped,

deposited, spilled, leaked, emitted or released at, on or under any Real

Property;

(j) to the Company's Knowledge, except as disclosed to Purchaser, the

Company has not imported, manufactured, stored, used, operated, transported,

treated or disposed of any Hazardous Materials other than in compliance with all

Environmental Laws;

(k) There has been no environmental investigation, study, audit, test,

review or other analysis in Company's possession conducted of which the Company

has Knowledge in relation to any Asset or Real Property which has not been

delivered to the Purchaser prior to the date hereof; and

(l) For purposes of this Section, the term "Company" shall include any

entity which is, in whole or in part, an affiliated predecessor of the Company.

 

SECTION 4.15. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY; SOFTWARE.

(a) Schedule 4.15(a) sets forth a true and correct list of all copyrights,

trade names, trademarks, trade secrets, service marks or patents (or

applications therefor) which are used in the Business or relate to the Assets or

Assumed Liabilities (the "Intellectual Property") and the jurisdictions where

each is registered (if any), with the exception of those trade marks, service

marks and trade names indicated on Schedule 6.12. The Company has good and

marketable title to or possesses adequate licenses or other valid rights to use

such Intellectual Property, free and clear of all Liens and has paid all

maintenance fees, renewals or expenses related to such Intellectual Property.

Neither the use of such Intellectual Property nor the conduct of the Business in

accordance with the Company's past practices, misappropriates, infringes upon or

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conflicts with any patent, copyright, trade name, trade secret, trademark or

other intellectual property rights of any third party. No party has filed a

claim (or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened to file a claim) against

the Company alleging that it has violated, infringed on or otherwise improperly

used the intellectual property rights of such party and, to the Knowledge of the

Company, the Company has not violated or infringed any patent, trademark, trade

name, service mark, service name, copyright or trade secret held by others.

(b) Schedule 4.15(b) sets forth a true and complete list of: (i) all

software owned by the Company used in connection with the Business (the "Company

Proprietary Software"); (ii) all other software (other than Company Proprietary

Software), used in connection with the Business (the "Company Licensed Software"

and, together with the Company Proprietary Software, the "Company Software");

and (iii) all technical and restricted materials relating to the acquisition,

design, development, use or maintenance of computer code program documentation

and materials used in connection with the Business.

(c) The Company has all right, title and interest in and to all

intellectual property rights in the Company Proprietary Software. The Company

has developed the Company Proprietary Software through its own efforts, as

described in Section 4.15(e), and for its own account, and the Company

Proprietary Software is free and clear of all Liens. The use of the Company

Software does not breach any terms of any license or other contract between the

Company and any third party. To the Company's Knowledge, the Company is in

compliance with the terms and conditions of all license agreements in favor of

the Company relating to the Company Licensed Software.

(d) To the Company's Knowledge, the Company Proprietary Software does not

infringe any patent, copyright or trade secret or any other intellectual

property right of any third party. The source code for the Company Proprietary

Software has been maintained in confidence.

(e) The Company Proprietary Software was: (i) developed by the Company's

employees working within the scope of their employment at the time of such

development; (ii) developed by agents, consultants, contractors or others who

have executed appropriate instruments of assignment in favor of the Company as

assignee that have conveyed to the Company ownership of all of its intellectual

property rights in the Company Proprietary Software; or (iii) acquired by the

Company in connection with acquisitions in which the Company obtained

appropriate representations, warranties and indemnities from the transferring

party relating to the title to the Company Proprietary Software. The Company has

not received notice from any third party claiming any right, title or interest

in the Company Proprietary Software.

(f) The Company has not granted rights in the Company Software to any

third party.

 

SECTION 4.16. TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.

Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, no officer or director of the

Company, or any person with whom any such officer or director has any direct or

indirect relation by blood, marriage or adoption, or any entity in which any

such person, owns any beneficial interest (other than a

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publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national securities

exchange or in the over-the-counter market and less than five percent (5%) of

the stock of which is beneficially owned by all such Persons in the aggregate)

or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing or any current or former Affiliate of

the Company has any interest in: (a) any contract, arrangement or understanding

with, or relating to, the Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities; (b)

any loan, arrangement, understanding, agreement or contract for or relating to

the Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities; or (c) any property (real,

personal or mixed), tangible or intangible, used or currently intended to be

used by the Company relating to the Business, the Assets or the Assumed

Liabilities. Schedule 4.16 also sets forth a complete list of all accounts

receivable, notes receivable and other receivables and accounts payable owed to

or due from any Affiliate to the Company relating to the Business, the Assets or

the Assumed Liabilities.

 

SECTION 4.17. NONDISCLOSED PAYMENTS.

Neither the Company nor the officers or directors of the Company, nor

anyone acting on behalf of any of them, has made or received any payments not

correctly categorized and fully disclosed to the Purchaser and in the Company's

books and records in connection with or in any way relating to or affecting the

Business, the Assets or the Assumed Liabilities.

 

SECTION 4.18. CUSTOMER AND SUPPLIER RELATIONS.

(a) Schedule 4.18(a) sets forth a list of each supplier of goods or

services to the Business to whom the Company paid in the aggregate more than

$10,000.00 during the twelve (12) month period ended May 31, 2004 (each a "Major

Supplier" and collectively, "Major Suppliers"), together with, in each case, the

amount paid during such period. The Company is not engaged in any material

dispute with any Major Supplier and, to the Knowledge of the Company, no Major

Supplier intends to terminate, limit or reduce its business relations with the

Company. As of the date hereof, the Company has no reason to believe that the

consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will have a

Material Adverse Effect on the business relationship of the Business with any

Major Supplier. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18(a), to the Knowledge of the

Company, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Affiliate or

Associate of any officer or director of the Company (or any company or other

organization in which any officer or director of the Company or any Affiliate or

Associate of any officer or director of the Company has a direct or indirect

financial interest), has any financial interest in any supplier of the Business

(other than a publicly held corporation whose stock is traded on a national

securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market and less than 1% of the

stock of which is beneficially owned by any such Persons).

(b) Schedule 4.18(b) sets forth a list of each customer of the Business

which accounted for net revenue to the Business in the aggregate of more than

$10,000.00 during the twelve (12) month period ended May 31, 2004 (each a "Major

Customer" and collectively, "Major Customers"), together with in each case the

amount net revenue produced during such period. The Company is not engaged in

any material dispute with any Major Customer and, to the Knowledge of the

Company, no Major Customer intends to terminate, limit or reduce its business

relations with the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(b), as of the

date hereof, the Company has no reason to believe that the consummation of the

transactions contemplated by this Agreement will have an adverse effect on the

business relationship of

29

<PAGE>

the Business with any Major Customer. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18(b),

to the Knowledge of the Company, none of the officers or directors of the

Company or any Affiliate or Associate of any officer or director of the Company

(or any company or other organization in which any officer or director of the

Company or any Affiliate or Associate of any officer or director of the Company

has a direct or indirect financial interest), has any financial interest in any

customer of the Business (other than a publicly held corporation whose stock is

traded on a national securities exchange or in the over-the-counter market and

less than 1% of the stock of which is beneficially owned by any such Persons).

 

SECTION 4.19. NOTES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE.

Accounts Receivable. Schedule 4.19(a) contains a schedule of the Business'

Accounts Receivable as of May 31, 2004, showing the amount of each Account

Receivable and an aging of amounts due thereunder, which schedule is true and

complete as of that date. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.19(a), to the

Knowledge of the Company, the debtors to which the Accounts Receivable relates

are not in or subject to a bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding, and none of the

Accounts Receivable has been made subject to an assignment for the benefit of

creditors. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.19(a), and to the Company's

Knowledge, all Accounts Receivable which are reflected on the Unaudited Balance

Sheet and the Interim Balance Sheet (net of any reserves shown thereon) (i) are

valid, existing and fully collectible in a manner consistent with the Company's

past practice, (ii) represent monies due for goods sold and delivered or

services rendered in the ordinary course of business and (iii) are not subject

to any refunds or adjustments or any defenses, rights of set-off, assignment,

restrictions, security interests or other encumbrances. Except as set forth in

Schedule 4.19(a), all such Accounts Receivable are current, and to the Company's

Knowledge, there are no disputes regarding the collectibility of any such

Accounts Receivable. The Company has not factored any of the Business's Accounts

Receivable. The parties hereby agree there shall be an adjustment to the

Purchase Price based on the Accounts Receivable under Section 3.5 above. As

such, Purchaser's sole remedy for breach of this representation and warranty

shall be an adjustment to the Purchase Price as provided under Section 3.5, and

no breach of this provision shall result in an indemnification claim by

Purchaser against the Company under Section 12.1 below.

 

SECTION 4.20. LICENSES AND PERMITS.

Schedule 4.20 is a true and complete list of all notifications, licenses,

permits (including, without limitation, environmental, construction and

operation permits), franchises, certificates, approvals, exemptions,

classifications, registrations and other similar documents and authorizations,

and applications therefor (collectively, the "Licenses") held by the Company and

issued by, or submitted by the Company to, any Governmental Entity or other

Person or entity relating to the Business or the Assets. To the Company's

Knowledge, the Company owns or possesses all of the Licenses that are necessary

to enable it to carry on the Business as presently conducted. All Licenses are

valid, binding, and in full force and effect. Except as set forth on Schedule

4.20, the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement and the

consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not have a Material

Adverse Affect on any License. The Company has taken all necessary action to

maintain each License, except where the failure to so act is not likely to have

an adverse effect on the Company, the Business or the Assets. To the Company's

Knowledge, the Company is not in default and no condition exists

30

<PAGE>

that with notice or lapse of time or both could constitute default under the

Licenses. To the Company's Knowledge, no loss or expiration of any License is

threatened, pending, or reasonably foreseeable (other than expiration upon the

end of any term).

 

SECTION 4.21. BROKERS, FINDERS AND INVESTMENT BANKERS.

Except as set forth on Schedule 4.21, neither the Company, nor any

officers, directors or employees of the Company nor any Affiliate of the

Company, has employed any broker, finder or investment banker or incurred any

liability for any investment banking fees, financial advisory fees, brokerage

fees or finders' fees in connection with the transactions contemplated by this

Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.22. PRODUCT AND SERVICE WARRANTIES.

Except as set forth in Schedule 4.22, the Company does not make any express

warranties or guaranties on its own behalf as to goods sold, or services

provided by, the Business, and there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the

Company, threatened claim alleging any breach of any such warranty or guaranty.

To the Company's Knowledge, and except as set forth in Schedule 4.22, attached

to which are copies of all such warranties, the Company has no exposure to

liability under any such warranty beyond that which is typically assumed in the

ordinary course of business by companies or firms engaged in businesses

comparable to the Business or which would have an adverse effect on the Business

or the Assets.

 

SECTION 4.23. ETHICAL PRACTICES.

To the Company's Knowledge, neither the Company nor any representative

thereof has offered or given, and the Company has no Knowledge of any Person

that has offered or given on its behalf, anything of value to: (i)any official

of a Governmental Entity, any political party or official thereof, or any

candidate for political office; (ii) any customer or member of the government;

or (iii) any other Person, in any such case while knowing or having reason to

know that all or a portion of such money or thing of value may be offered, given

or promised, directly or indirectly, to any customer, member of the government

or candidate for political office for the purpose of the following: (x)

influencing any action or decision of such Person, in such Person's official

capacity, including a decision to fail to perform such Person's official

function; (y) inducing such Person to use such Person's influence with any

government or instrumentality thereof to affect or influence any act or decision

of such government or instrumentality to assist the Company in obtaining or

retaining business for, or with, or directing business to, any Person; or (z)

where such payment would constitute a bribe, kickback or illegal or improper

payment to assist the Company in obtaining or retaining business for, or with,

or directing business to, any Person.

 

SECTION 4.24. DISCLOSURE.

(a) To the Company's Knowledge, no representation, warranty or covenant

made by the Company in this Agreement, the Schedules or the Exhibits attached to

this Agreement, or any of the Company Ancillary Documents contains an untrue

statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be

stated herein or therein or necessary to make the statements contained herein or

therein not misleading.

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(b) Prior to the execution of this Agreement, the Company has delivered to the

Purchaser true and complete copies of the Assumed Contracts, documents

evidencing any of the Intellectual Property, and all security agreements and

other instruments creating or imposing any security interest encumbrance or

adverse claim on the Assets, and any other documents or instruments identified

or referred to in this Agreement or the Schedules hereto. Such delivery will not

alone constitute adequate disclosure of those facts required to be disclosed on

any Schedule to this Agreement, and notice of their contents (other than by

express reference on a Schedule) will in no way limit the Company's other

obligations or the Purchaser's other rights under this Agreement.

 

SECTION 4.25. SOLVENCY.

(a) The Company is not now insolvent and will not be rendered insolvent

by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Company Ancillary

Documents. As used in this Section, "insolvent" means that the sum of the debts

and other probable liabilities of the Company exceeds the present fair saleable

value of the Company's assets.

(b) Immediately after giving effect to the consummation of the transactions

contemplated by this Agreement and the Company Ancillary Documents: (i) the

Company will be able to pay its liabilities as they become due in the usual

course of its business; (ii) the Company will not have unreasonably small

capital with which to conduct its present or proposed business; (iii) the

Company will have assets (calculated at fair market value) that exceed its

liabil


 
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