SEPARATION AND ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
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Veraz Business
Assets
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Assigned
Contracts
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Permits and
Licenses
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Inventories,
including raw materials, work in process and finished
goods
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Assumed
Liabilities
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Business
Employees
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Employee
Termination Agreement
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Employee Letter
to Veraz
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Insurance
Policies
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Assets Not
Identified on Time
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Pro Forma
Balance Sheet of Veraz as of September 30, 2002
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Exhibits
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Bill of
Sale
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Assignment and
Assumption Agreement
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Intellectual
Property Assignment Agreement
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Intellectual
Property License Agreement
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Services
Agreement
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Sublease
Agreement
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Separation and Asset
Purchase Agreement
This
Separation And Asset
Purchase Agreement (this “Agreement”
) is made and entered into this ___day of ___, 2002, by and among
Veraz Networks Ltd. [formerly Chorale Networks Ltd.] (
“Veraz” ), ECI Telecom – NGTS Ltd., an
Israeli company ( “NGTS” ) and ECI Telecom Ltd.,
an Israeli company ( “ECI Telecom” ). (NGTS and
ECI Telecom are each referred to as a “Seller”
and collectively the “Sellers” ; Veraz, ECI
Telecom and NGTS are each referred to as a
“Party” and collectively the
“Parties” .)
WHEREAS ,
ECI Telecom, through its Next-Generation Telephony Solutions
division and NGTS, a wholly-owned subsidiary, is engaged in the
development, manufacture, marketing, sale, distribution and service
of products and solutions for gateways for point-to-point,
point-to-multipoint and/or switching and non-switching applications
for connecting end-to-end telephony or telephony over packet
networks, which gateways include classification and/or compression
of telephony signals, such as voice, modem, fax and/or other
signals, such as video conference, and conversion of the classified
and/or compressed signals into packets in formats suitable for
media, such as Ethernet, IP, ATM or MPLS (the “VoIP
Business” ) and in the development, marketing, sale,
distribution and service of its DCME product line (the
“DCME Distribution Business” and, together with
the VoIP Business, the “Businesses”
);
WHEREAS ,
the Sellers desire to sell the Businesses to Veraz Networks, Inc.
formerly, NexVerse Networks, Inc., a Delaware corporation (
“Veraz Networks” ), pursuant to a Share Exchange
Agreement dated as of October 30, 2002 (the “Share
Exchange” );
WHEREAS ,
Veraz is a wholly-owned subsidiary of ECI; and
WHEREAS ,
to effectuate the Share Exchange, the Sellers desire to separate
the Businesses from the Sellers’ businesses as of the
Effective Date (the “Separation” ) by
contributing them to Veraz in a taxable transaction as set forth in
this Agreement and the Exhibits hereto and then selling the
outstanding shares of Veraz to Veraz Networks.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and
representations set forth herein, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the Parties agree as follows:
1.1
“Affiliate” means with respect to any Person,
any other Person that, directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by or is under common
control with, such Person. The term “control”
means the ownership of more than 50% of the outstanding equity of a
Person or the power to direct the management and policies of a
Person.
1.2
“Assigned Contracts” means as defined in
Section 2.1.2 hereof.
1.3
“Assumed Liabilities” means as defined in
Section 2.1 hereof.
1.4
“Businesses” means the VoIP Business and the
DCME Distribution Business.
1.
1.5
“Business Employee” means as defined in
Section 6.1 hereof.
1.6
“Closing” means as defined in Section 3.1.
hereof
1.7
“Closing Date” means as defined in
Section 3.1 hereof
1.8
“Contract” means contracts, agreements, notes,
indentures, restrictions, commitments, leases, purchase orders,
arrangements, obligations or other contracts, agreements or
instruments, whether written or oral.
1.9 “DCME
Distribution Business” means as defined in the recitals
hereto.
1.10 “ECI
Conflict” means as defined in Section 4.2
hereof.
1.11
“Effective Date” means as defined in
Section 3.1 hereof.
1.12
“Government Entity” means as defined in
Section 4.3 hereof
1.13
“Lien” means all mortgages, liens, pledges,
charges, security interests, bank guarantees, third party rights or
other claims or encumbrances of any kind whatsoever.
1.14
“Person” means an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or unincorporated
organization.
1.15
“Share Exchange” means as defined in the
recitals hereto.
1.16
“Sister Newco” means as defined in
Section 7.9 hereof
1.17
“Transferred Assets” means as defined in
Section 2.1 hereof
1.18
“VoIP” means Voice over Internet
Protocol.
1.19
“VoIP Business” means as defined in the recitals
hereto.
1.20
“VoIP IP” means the intellectual property
relating to the VoIP Business transferred pursuant to the lP
Agreement (defined in Section 3.2.3 hereto).
2.
Sale of the
Businesses
2.1 Sale of
Assets . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, the Sellers hereby agree to contribute, assign,
transfer and convey to Veraz and Veraz hereby agrees to acquire and
accept from the Sellers, at the Closing, all of the Sellers’
direct and indirect right, title and interest in and to all of the
assets of the Businesses listed in this Section 2.1 and the
schedules referenced therein (the “Transferred
Assets” ), the above contribution, assignment, transfer
and conveyance being subject only to those liabilities and
obligations of the Sellers expressly set forth in Section 2.2
(the “Assumed Liabilities” ). The Transferred
Assets consist of the following assets and properties:
2.
2.1.1
all machinery, equipment, fixtures, furniture, motor vehicles,
information technology infrastructure and tangible and intangible
assets identified on Schedule 2.1.1 attached hereto or
otherwise listed on the Fixed Assets itemization, dated
September 30, 2002 and incorporated by reference in its
entirety herein and all warranty, service or other similar rights
related to such assets;
2.1.2
all Contracts identified in Schedule 2.1.2 hereto
(collectively, the “Assigned Contracts”
);
2.1.3
copies or originals of the business records, books, ledgers, plans,
correspondence, lists, plots, architectural plans, drawings,
notebooks, specifications, creative materials, advertising and
promotional materials, marketing materials, studies, reports,
equipment repair, maintenance or service records of the Sellers,
whether written or electronically stored or otherwise recorded, in
each case as used in the Businesses for, and relating directly to,
their activities prior to the Closing;
2.1.4
the Sellers’ dealer, distributor, customer, agents and
representatives lists, in each case as used in the Businesses for
and relating directly to, their activities prior to the
Closing;
2.1.5
the permits, licenses, orders, ratings and approvals of all
national, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities
or industrial bodies, homologations, to the extent the same are
transferable, all as identified on Schedule 2.1.5
hereto, and copies of any respective third-party approvals to such
transfers to Veraz;
2.1.6
all rights of the Sellers to causes of action, lawsuits, judgments,
claims and demands of any nature which relate to the
above-referenced Transferred Assets or constitute counterclaims,
rights of setoff, and affirmative defenses to any claims brought
against Veraz by third parties relating to such Transferred Assets
(except that the Sellers reserve their rights with respect to
counterclaims, rights of setoff, and affirmative defenses to any
claims covered by Section 7.9(B) hereof);
2.1.7
all rights of the Sellers related to grants received or to be
received by ECI from the Office of the Chief Scientist of the
Ministry of Industry and Trade (the “OCS” ) with
respect to the VoIP Business;
2.1.8
all accounts receivable related to the VoIP Business;
2.1.9
the inventories related to the VoIP Business, including raw
materials, work in process and finished goods, referenced on
Schedule 2.1.9 hereto; and
2.1.10
all prepayments made to the Seller for maintenance, warranty
service and products to be performed or sold by the Seller in
connection with the Businesses;
2.2 Assumed
Liabilities . Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Agreement, Veraz hereby agrees to assume, pay,
perform and discharge the Assumed Liabilities, and to pay, perform
and discharge the Assumed Liabilities as they become due and
payable. The Assumed Liabilities shall consist solely of
(i) the obligations and liabilities under the
Assigned
3.
Contracts, but
only to the extent such obligations and liabilities in each case
relate to sales that are consummated ( i.e. , product
delivered) on or after the Effective Date or the grounds for which
arose ( e.g. , services or supplies delivered) on or after
the Effective Date; and (ii) the obligations of the Sellers
related to the rights transferred pursuant to Section 2.1.7
above as described in Schedule 2.2 .
2.3 Retained
Liabilities . All liabilities and obligations of the Sellers
(including liabilities and obligations relating to the Businesses)
(the “Retained Liabilities” ) shall remain the
liabilities and obligations of the Sellers and not of Veraz, except
for the Assumed Liabilities.
2.4 Real
Estate . Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the
contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as an
attempt to assign, transfer or sell any contract, agreement, lease
or asset which is defined as a “right in real estate”
under Section 1 of the Israeli Real Estate (Appreciation, Sale
and Purchase) Law, 5723-1963.
2.5 Investment
Center . The Sellers shall file an application (in the form
agreed to by the Parties) with the Investment Center of the Israeli
Ministry of Industry and Trade to assign all of the tax benefits
arising from the Transferred Assets to Veraz commencing on the
Effective Date.
3.1 Closing;
Effective Date . The closing of the transactions contemplated
hereby (the “Closing” ) shall take place as soon
as practicable following the date on which the conditions set forth
in Article 8 hereto shall have been satisfied or waived (the
“Closing Date” ), at the offices of Goldfarb,
Levy, Eran & Co., Eliahu House, Tel Aviv, unless another place
or time is mutually agreed upon by ECI Telecom and Veraz. Upon the
Closing, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be
effective as if the Closing had occurred on September 30, 2002
(the “Effective Date” ), as more fully described
in Section 9 below.
3.2 Actions at
Closing . At the Closing, the following actions shall occur
concurrently:
3.2.1
Seller Actions . The Sellers shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to Veraz the following: (a) a bill of sale relating
to transfer of Sellers’ right, title and interest in the
Transferred Assets in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit A ; (b) a duly signed Assignment and
Assumption Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B relating to the assignment of any and all
Assigned Contracts and assumption of the Assumed Liabilities, and
signed consents to the assignments of the other parties to such
Contracts and to Permits that have been obtained; (c) all
agreements in the forms attached hereto as Schedules 6.3(a) and
(b) executed by the Business Employees; (d) a copy of the
resolutions of the boards of directors of ECI Telecom and NGTS
authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby and any other
corporate approvals required pursuant to the Companies Law and the
Sellers’ and Veraz’s Articles of Association; and
(e) all other documents and instruments required hereunder to
be delivered by the Sellers to Veraz.
3.2.2
Veraz Actions . Veraz shall deliver or cause to be delivered
to the Sellers (a) a duly signed Assignment and Assumption
Agreement in the form attached hereto as
4.
Exhibit B relating to the assignment of any and all
Assigned Contracts and assumption of the Assumed Liabilities;
(b) a copy of the resolutions of the boards of directors of
Veraz authorizing the transactions contemplated hereby and
(c) all other documents and instruments required hereunder to
be delivered by Veraz to the Sellers.
3.2.3
Other Agreements . Each party shall deliver or cause to be
delivered to the other:
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(i)
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Intellectual Property Assignment
Agreement relating to the VoIP IP, substantially in the form of
Exhibit C hereto (the “IP Agreement”
);
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(ii)
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Intellectual Property License
Agreement relating to the DCME Business and certain license-backs
relating to VoIP IP, substantially in the form of
Exhibit D hereto the ( “License
Agreement” );
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(iii)
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Services Agreement, substantially in
the form of Exhibit E hereto; and
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(iv)
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Sublease Agreement with ECI Telecom,
substantially in the form of Exhibit F
hereto.
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3.2.4
Schedule Update . The Sellers shall deliver to Veraz an
addendum to Schedule 2.1.2 identifying any additional
Contracts entered into prior to the Closing that, based on the
principles used in preparing Schedule 2.1.2 attached
hereto, ought to be assigned to Veraz pursuant to this Agreement.
Upon Veraz’s written approval, which approval shall not be
unreasonably withheld, such addendum shall be deemed part of
Schedule 2.1.2 , and such Contracts shall be deemed
Assigned Contracts, for all purposes of this Agreement.
4.
Representations and
Warranties of ECI Telecom and of NGTS
Each of the
Sellers hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to Veraz
that the following representations and warranties are true and
accurate in all respects, as of the date hereof and as of the
Closing Date, and acknowledges that Veraz is entering into this
Agreement in reliance thereon:
4.1
Organization, Qualification and Corporate Power . Each
Seller is a company duly organized and validly existing under the
laws of the State of Israel. Each Seller has the corporate power
and authority to own and hold its properties and to carry on its
business as now conducted, and to execute, deliver and perform this
Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the valid and legal binding
obligation of each Seller, enforceable against it in accordance
with its terms.
4.2 Authority;
No Violation; Due Execution; Etc. The execution and delivery by
each Seller of this Agreement and the agreements attached as
exhibits hereto and the performance by each Seller of its
obligations hereunder have been (or, as of the Closing Date, will
be) duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and will not
conflict with, or result in any violation of, or default under
(with due notice or lapse of time or both), or give rise to a right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or
loss of any benefit (any such event, an “ECI
Conflict” ) under (i) any provision of applicable
law, (ii) any order of any court or other agency of government
by which either Seller or any of its properties or assets is or
are
5.
bound,
(iii) the Memorandum of Association and Articles of
Association of either Seller, each as amended, or (iv) any
provision of any indenture, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument, permit, concession, franchise or license to which
either Seller is a party or, to the knowledge of either Seller, by
which any of its material properties or assets is or are bound, or
result in the creation or imposition of any Lien upon any assets
(tangible or intangible) of either Seller, in each such event which
is reasonably likely to prevent, impede, delay, avoid, condition,
enjoin, prohibit or otherwise interfere with, in a material way,
the full, valid and complete performance of each Seller’s
obligations under this Agreement.
4.3
Consents . No consent, waiver, approval, order or
authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with, any
court, administrative agency or commission or other local or
foreign governmental authority, instrumentality, agency or
commission ( “Governmental Entity” ) or any
third party (so as not to trigger any ECI Conflict) is required by
or with respect to either Seller in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby by each Seller, except such
consents, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations,
registrations, declarations and filings identified on Schedule 3.05
to the Share Exchange.
5.
Representations and
Warranties of Veraz
Veraz hereby
represents and warrants to each of the Sellers that the following
representations and warranties are true and accurate in all
respects, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, and
acknowledges that the Sellers are entering into this Agreement in
reliance thereon:
5.1
Organization, Qualification and Corporate Power . Veraz is
duly incorporated and validly existing under the laws of the State
of Israel. Veraz has the corporate power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the
valid and legal binding obligation of Veraz, enforceable against
Veraz in accordance with its terms.
5.2 Authority;
Due Execution; Etc . The execution and delivery by Veraz of
this Agreement and the agreements attached as exhibits hereto and
the performance by Veraz of its obligations hereunder have been
(or, as of the Closing Date, will be) duly authorized by all
requisite corporate action.
5.3 Shares
. On the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, 100 ordinary
shares of Veraz are and will be outstanding. All such shares are
duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and
were issued free and clear of any Liens and not in violation of any
preemptive or similar rights. Except as provided in the Share
Exchange, on the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, there are
no rights of any Person to acquire any securities of
Veraz.
6.1 Employees
of Businesses . Subject to the Closing, as soon as practicable,
Veraz or its Affiliates will offer employment to each individual
listed on Schedule 6.1 hereto. Each individual who
accepts Veraz’s offer of employment of Veraz or its
Affiliates and signs an agreement with Veraz or its Affiliates
shall be referred to herein as a “Business
Employee.” As of December 31
st , 2002, the employment relationship between NGTS
and each Business
6.
Employee shall
cease and each such employee shall become an employee of Veraz.
Each of ECI Telecom and NGTS hereby confirms that, notwithstanding
any confidentiality or non-compete obligations of any Business
Employees to ECI Telecom or NGTS, respectively, the Business
Employees shall be permitted to engage in the Businesses, as
mutually contemplated by the Parties prior to the Closing, on
behalf of Veraz and its Affiliates.
6.2 Business
Employee Liability . The Sellers shall pay $200,000, and Veraz
shall pay $500,000, towards bonuses to be distributed by NGTS to
the Business Employees in connection with their termination from
NGTS. Other than such payments, and subject to the proviso set
forth in Section 7.9(A)(ii)(b) hereof, any liability with
respect to Business Employees the grounds for which arose during
the period prior to December 31 st ,
2002 shall be the Sellers’, and any liability with respect to
Business Employees the grounds for which arose any time after
December 31 st ,
2002 shall be Veraz’s.
6.3 Employee
Releases . Each Business Employee shall be requested to execute
and deliver (i) to NGTS a release and confidentiality and
non-competition agreement in the form of
Schedule 6.3(a) hereto and (ii) to Veraz a
declaration in the form of Schedule 6.3(b)
hereto.
6.4 Options
. Any vested options to purchase ordinary shares of ECI Telecom
held by a Business Employee on December 31
st , 2002 shall continue to be exercisable for as
long as the
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