Exhibit 10.1
SPECIALTY SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTATION, INC.
UCA,
LLC
PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
By and
Among
SYMMETRY MEDICAL USA INC.
(Purchaser)
and
LOUIS
C. WALLACE
CHARLES O. MANN, JR.
(Sellers)
DATED: August 29,
2007
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
1 - DEFINITIONS
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1
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ARTICLE
2 - PURCHASE OF EQUITY INTERESTS; PURCHASE PRICE
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9
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2.1. Purchase and Sale of Equity
Interests
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9
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2.2. Purchase Price
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9
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2.3. Working Capital Adjustment
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10
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2.4. Escrow Agreement
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11
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2.5. Closing and Closing Deliveries
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12
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ARTICLE
3 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
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14
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3.1. Organization and Good Standing
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14
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3.2. Authority; No Conflict
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14
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3.3. Capitalization
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15
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3.4. Clear Title
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16
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3.5. Condition of Assets
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16
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3.6. Legal Proceedings
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16
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3.7. Labor Matters
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16
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3.8. Tax Matters
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17
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3.9. Employee Benefits
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18
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3.10. Guarantees
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20
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3.11. Financial Statements
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20
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3.12. Absence of Certain
Developments
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21
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3.13. Intellectual Property
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23
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3.14. Compliance with Laws
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24
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3.15. Contracts
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24
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3.16. Contracts; Compliance
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26
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3.17. Real Estate
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26
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3.18. Accounts Receivable
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27
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3.19. Books and Records; Bank
Accounts
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27
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3.20. Employees
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28
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3.21. Investments
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28
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3.22. Insurance
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29
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3.23. Brokers
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29
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3.24. Environmental Matters
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30
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3.25. Debt
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30
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3.26. Customers and Suppliers
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31
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3.27. Sellers Loans
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31
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3.28. Adequacy of Properties
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31
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3.29. Related Party Transactions
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31
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3.30. Permits
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31
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3.31. Warranty and Product Liability
Claims
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32
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3.32. Defective Products
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32
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3.33. Absence of Undisclosed
Liabilities
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32
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3.34. Closing Date
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32
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3.35. Health Regulations
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33
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3.36. Additional Contract
Representations
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34
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3.37. Representations and Warranties
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34
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3.38. Assignability of Representations and
Warranties
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34
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ARTICLE
4 - COVENANTS OF SELLERS
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34
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4.1. Further Assurances
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34
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4.2. Non-Disclosure and
Non-Competition
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34
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ARTICLE
5 - REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
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34
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5.1. Organization
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34
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5.2. Due Authorization
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34
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5.3. No Breach
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35
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5.4. Investment Representations
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35
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5.5. Brokers
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35
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ARTICLE
6 – CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
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35
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ARTICLE
7 - INDEMNIFICATION
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36
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7.1. Survival of Representations and
Warranties
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36
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7.2. Indemnification by Sellers
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37
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7.3. Escrow, Time Limits and
Insurance
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38
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7.4. Indemnification by Purchaser
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39
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7.5. Procedure for
Indemnification
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39
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ARTICLE
8 - TAX MATTERS
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41
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8.1. Tax Returns
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41
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8.2. Controversies
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42
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8.3. Transfer Taxes
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43
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8.4. Post-Closing Access and
Cooperation
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43
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ARTICLE
9 - PERFORMANCE FOLLOWING THE CLOSING DATE
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43
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9.1. Further Acts and Assurances
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43
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9.2. Employee Matters
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43
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ARTICLE
10 - MISCELLANEOUS
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44
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10.1. Preservation of and Access to
Records
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44
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10.2. Specific Performance
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44
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10.3. Public and Private
Announcements
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45
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10.4. Notices
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46
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10.5. Entire Agreement
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46
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10.6. Amendments
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46
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10.7. Successors and Assigns
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46
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10.8. Fees and Expenses
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46
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10.9. Counterparts and Facsimile
Signature
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47
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10.10. Headings
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47
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10.11. Number and Gender
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47
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10.12. Severability
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47
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10.13. Parties in Interest
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47
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10.14. Waiver
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47
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10.15. Construction
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48
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10.16. Dispute Resolution
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48
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PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
THIS PURCHASE
AGREEMENT (this “Agreement”) is made and
entered into on the 29 th day of August, 2007, by and
between Symmetry Medical USA Inc. , a duly organized
Delaware Corporation with a principal place of business in Warsaw,
Indiana (“Purchaser”) and Louis C. Wallace
(“Wallace”) of Nashville, Tennessee and
Charles O. Mann, Jr. , (“Mann”) of Maury
County, Tennessee (collectively “Sellers”).
RECITALS
A.
Sellers own (i) all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of Specialty Surgical Instrumentation, Inc., a Tennessee
corporation with a principal place of business in Nashville,
Tennessee, (the “Shares”); and (ii) all of the
membership interests in UCA, LLC, a Tennessee member-managed
limited liability company, (the “Membership
Interests”). Collectively Specialty Surgical Instrumentation,
Inc (“SSI”) and UCA, LLC (“UCA”) are
referred to herein as the “Companies” and individually
as a “Company.” The Shares and the Membership
Interests shall collectively be referred to herein as the
“Equity Interests”).
B.
SSI owns 100% of the Specialty Surgical Instrumentation
Distribution and SSI Ultra Instrument Business, these being
divisions of SSI not separately incorporated.
C.
Purchaser desires to purchase the Equity Interests held by Sellers
and Sellers desire to sell the Equity Interests to Purchaser on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.
Purchaser’s wholly-owned subsidiary will purchase the real
estate used by SSI and UCA and owned by MFW Investments under a
separate Real Property Sale and Purchase Agreement.
D.
Upon consummation of the purchase and sale of the Equity Interests
pursuant to this Agreement, Purchaser will own all of the issued
and outstanding equity of the Companies.
AGREEMENT
In consideration
of the foregoing Recitals and the mutual promises contained in this
Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt
and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged and intending to
be legally bound, Purchaser and Sellers agree as
follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
For purposes of
this Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
specified:
“
Affiliate ” when used in reference to a specified
Person, means any Person that, directly or indirectly, through one
or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under
common control with the specified Person.
“
Agreement ” has the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“
Ancillary Documents ” are all documents, instruments
and agreements to be executed and delivered by Purchaser, Sellers
or the Companies pursuant to this Agreement including the Schedules
and Exhibits and including, but not limited to, the Earn-Out
Agreement and the Real Property Sale and Purchase
Agreement.
“
Applicable Laws ” means any and all laws, ordinances,
constitutions, regulations, statutes, treaties, rules, codes,
licenses, certificates, franchises, Permits, legal requirements and
Injunctions adopted, enacted, implemented, promulgated, issued or
entered by or under the authority of any Governmental Body having
jurisdiction over a specified Person or any of such Person’s
properties or assets. Applicable Laws include any laws,
regulations, ordinances, constitutions, regulations, statutes,
treaties, rules, codes, licenses, certificates, franchises,
Permits, or other legal requirements governing the Companies, their
properties, assets and operations.
“
Arbitration ” has the meaning set forth in Section
10.16 of this Agreement.
“ Balance
Sheets ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.11(a) of this Agreement.
“ Balance
Sheet Dates ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.11(a) of this Agreement.
“ Benefit
Plan ” means any and all bonus, stock option, restricted
stock, stock purchase, stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, profit-sharing, deferred compensation, severance,
retention, pension, retirement, health, disability, life or other
insurance, death benefit, incentive compensation, welfare, or any
other employee benefit plan, policy or arrangement maintained,
sponsored or contributed to by either of the Companies for the
benefit of any Employee.
“
Business ” means the business operations of SSI and
UCA, including Specialty Surgical Instrumentation Distribution and
SSI Ultra Instrument.
“
Cash ” means all cash as shown on the Balance Sheets
of the Companies as either in-hand or accrued as of the Closing
Date.
“
CERCLA ” means the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et
seq.).
“
Closing ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.5(a) of this Agreement.
“ Closing
Date ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a)
of this Agreement.
“
Code ” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
“
Companies ” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals
to this Agreement.
“
Companies Welfare Plans ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.2(c) of this Agreement.
2
“
Confidential Information ” means any information or
compilation of information not generally known to the public or the
industry in which the Companies are engaged and which the Companies
have not disclosed to third parties without a written obligation of
confidentiality, which is proprietary to the Companies, relating to
the Companies’ procedures, techniques, methods, concepts,
ideas, affairs, products, processes and services, including, but
not limited to, information, to the extent proprietary to the
Companies, relating to marketing, merchandising, selling, research,
development, manufacturing, purchasing, accounting, engineering,
financing, costs, customers, plans, pricing, billing, needs of
customers and products and services used by customers, all lists of
customers and their addresses, prospects, sales calls, products,
services, prices and the like as well as any specifications,
formulas, plans, drawings, accounts or sales records, sales
brochures, code books, manuals, trade secrets, knowledge, know-how,
pricing strategies, operating costs, sales margins, methods of
operations, invoices or statements and the like. Confidential
Information shall not include information which (i) becomes
generally available to the public other than as a result of a
disclosure by a party to this Agreement, (ii) was available on a
non-confidential basis prior to its disclosure, or (iii) is
independently developed as evidenced by written records without
making use of the Confidential Information.
“
Contract ” means any agreement, lease of personal or
mixed property, license, contract, obligation, promise, commitment,
arrangement, understanding or undertaking, instrument, document
(whether written or oral and whether express or implied) of any
type, nature or description, but excluding leases of Leased Real
Estate. As used herein, the word “Contract” shall be
limited in scope if modified by an adjective specifying the type of
contract to which this Agreement or a Section hereof
refers.
“
Damages ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.1(f) of this Agreement.
“
Debt ” means: (i) any long-term or short-term
interest-bearing indebtedness of the Companies owed to third
parties; (ii) any inter-company indebtedness; (iii) Sellers’
guarantees outstanding, issued to secure obligations of the
Companies; (iv) any capital leases; and (v) any letters of credit
(whether drawn against or not).
“ Debt
Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(b)
of this Agreement.
“
Debt-Free ” means that all Debt shall be deducted from
the Interim Purchase Price and Final Purchase Price payable to
Sellers determined as due as of the Closing Date.
“
Disclose ” means to reveal, deliver, divulge,
disclose, publish, copy, communicate, show or otherwise make known
or available to any other Person, or in any way to copy, any of the
Confidential Information of the Companies.
“Earn-Out
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2(c) of this Agreement.
“
Employees ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.20(a) of this Agreement.
“
Encumbrance ” means and includes:
(i)
with respect to any personal property, any intangible property or
any property other than real property, any security or other
property interest or right, claim,
3
lien, pledge, option,
security interest, contingent or conditional sale, or other title
claim or retention agreement or lease or use agreement in the
nature thereof whether voluntarily incurred or arising by operation
of law, and including any agreement to grant or submit to any of
the foregoing in the future; and
(ii)
with respect to any real property, any mortgage, lien, easement,
interest, right-of-way, condemnation or eminent domain proceeding,
encroachment, any building, use or other form of restriction,
encumbrance or other claim (including adverse or prescriptive) or
right of third parties (including any Governmental Body), any lease
or sublease, boundary dispute, and agreements with respect to any
real property including: purchase, sale, right of first refusal,
option, construction, building or property service, maintenance,
property management, conditional or contingent sale, use or
occupancy, franchise or concession, whether voluntarily incurred or
arising by operation of law, and including any agreement to grant
or submit to any of the foregoing in the future.
“
Environmental Laws ” means any and all Applicable
Laws, all court orders, decrees, arbitration awards, and applicable
common law which pertain to environmental matters or environmental
contamination of any type whatsoever, including, but not limited
to, those (i) regulating the manufacturing process, use,
treatment, generation, transportation, storage, control,
management, recycling or disposal of any Hazardous Material,
including, but not limited to, CERCLA, SARA, the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. § 6901 et seq.),
the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. § 1801
et seq.), the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. §
1251 et seq.), the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. § 1251 et seq.),
the Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. § 7401 et seq.), the Toxic
Substances Control Act (15 U.S.C. § 2601 et seq.), the Safe
Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. § 300F et seq.), and/or
(ii) relating to the protection, preservation or conservation
of the environment, or protection of wildlife, endangered species,
wetlands or national resources.
“
Environmental Permits ” means every license, permit,
registration, governmental approval, agreement and consent applied
for, pending by, issued or given to either of the Companies in
connection with the operation of the Business, and every agreement
with a Governmental Body entered into by either of the Companies in
connection with the operation of the Business, which is in effect
or has been applied for or is pending in each case which is
required under or is issued pursuant to Environmental
Laws.
“
Environmental Representations ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 3.24 of this Agreement.
“Equity
Interests” means 100% of the Shares and 100% of
the Membership Interests.
“
ERISA ” means the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended.
“
Escrowed Funds ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(a) of this Agreement.
“
Facility ” means any facility as defined in
CERCLA.
“ Final
Closing Statement ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3(c) of this Agreement.
4
“ Final
Purchase Price ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(b) of this Agreement.
“
GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States.
“
Governmental Body ” means any:
(i)
nation, state, county, city, town, village, district or other
jurisdiction of any nature;
(ii)
federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other
government;
(iii)
governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature
(including any governmental agency, branch, board, commission,
department, instrumentality, office or other entity, and any court
or other tribunal);
(iv)
multinational organization or body; and/or
(v)
body exercising, or entitled to exercise, any administrative,
executive, judicial, legislative, police, regulatory or taxing
authority or power of any nature.
“
Hazardous Materials ” means any and all
(i) dangerous, toxic or hazardous pollutants, contaminants,
chemicals, wastes, materials or substances listed or identified in,
or directly or indirectly regulated by, any Environmental Laws, and
(ii) any of the following, whether or not included in the
foregoing: polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos in any form or
condition, urea-formaldehyde, petroleum (including crude oil or any
fraction thereof), natural gas, natural gas liquids, liquefied
natural gas, synthetic gas usable for fuel or mixtures thereof,
nuclear fuels or materials, chemical wastes, man-made radioactive
materials, explosives and known possible carcinogens.
“
Indemnified Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.5(a) of this Agreement.
“
Indemnifying Party ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.5(a) of this Agreement.
“
Injunction ” means any and all writs, rulings, awards,
directives, injunctions (whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent), judgments, decrees or orders (whether executive,
judicial or otherwise) adopted, enacted, implemented, promulgated,
issued, entered or applicable by or under the authority of any
Governmental Body.
“
Intellectual Property ” means any and all:
(i) inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether
or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all
patents, patent applications and patent disclosures, together with
all reissuances, continuations, continuations in part, revisions,
extensions and re-examinations thereof; (ii) trademarks,
service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, assumed names and
corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations,
derivations and combinations thereof and including all goodwill
associated therewith, and all applications, registrations and
renewals in connection therewith; (iii) copyrightable works,
all copyrights and all applications, registrations and renewals in
connection therewith; (iv) mask works and all applications,
registrations and renewals in connection therewith; (v) trade
secrets and confidential business information (including
ideas,
5
research and
development, know-how, technology, formulas, compositions,
manufacturing and production processes and techniques, technical
data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer and supplier
lists, pricing and cost information and business and marketing
plans and proposals); (vi) computer software and all related
and necessary licenses (including data and related software program
documentation in computer-readable and hard-copy forms other than
for so-called off-the-shelf products); (vii) other
intellectual property and proprietary rights of any kind, nature or
description, including web sites, web site domain names and other
e-commerce assets and resources of any kind or nature; and
(viii) copies of tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever
form or medium).
“ Interim
Purchase Price ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2(a) of this Agreement.
“ IRS
” means the United States Internal Revenue
Service.
“ Leased
Real Estate ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.17(a) of this Agreement.
“
Leases ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.17(a) of this Agreement.
“ Letter
of Credit ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.4(c).
“
Liability ” or “ Liabilities ”
means any and all debts, liabilities and/or obligations of any
type, nature or description (whether known or unknown, asserted or
unasserted, secured or unsecured, absolute or contingent, accrued
or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated and whether due or to
become due).
“
Material Adverse Effect ” or “ Material
Adverse Change ” means, in connection with the Companies
with due consideration to the size and complexity of the Business
and transactions contemplated by this Agreement, any event, change
or effect that is materially adverse, individually or in the
aggregate, to the condition (financial or otherwise), properties,
assets, Liabilities, revenues, income, business, operations,
results of operations of such Persons, taken as a whole. In
furtherance of the foregoing, and notwithstanding anything to the
contrary set forth in this Agreement, any Material Adverse Effect
or any Material Adverse Change with respect to the Companies shall
be evaluated on the basis of the Companies individually or taken as
a whole (in the aggregate).
“Membership
Interests” means 100% of the outstanding
membership interests of UCA.
“
Ordinary Course of Business ” means an action taken by
a Person only if:
(i)
such action is consistent with the past practices of such Person,
is in compliance with all Applicable Laws and is taken in the
ordinary course of the normal day-to-day operations of such Person;
and
(ii)
such action is not required to be authorized by the board of
directors of such Person (or by any Person or group of Persons
constituting a governing body of a Person exercising similar
authority).
“ Overlap
Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a)
of this Agreement.
6
“ Owned
Real Estate ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.17 of this Agreement.
“
Permits ” means all permits, licenses, consents,
franchises, orders, certifications, registrations, certificates of
authority, variances, approvals, local siting approvals and other
authorizations obtained from, or filed with any Governmental Body
or other Person, or other similar rights, including, without
limitation, those listed on Schedule 3.30 of the
Schedules.
“Permitted
Liabilities” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.11(a) of this Agreement.
“
Person ” means any individual, corporation (including
any non-profit corporation), general, limited or limited liability
partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, estate,
trust, association, organization, or other entity or Governmental
Body.
“
Pre-Closing Period ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.8(b) of this Agreement.
“
Proceeding ” means any suit, litigation, arbitration,
hearing, audit, investigation, order, or other action (whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative) commenced,
brought, conducted, or heard by or before, or otherwise involving,
any Governmental Body or arbitrator.
“
Purchase Price Escrow Agreement ” has the meaning set
forth in Section 2.4(a) of this Agreement.
“
Purchaser ” has the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“
Purchaser Indemnities ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.1(f) of this Agreement.
“
Purchaser Welfare Plans ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.2(c) of this Agreement.
“ Real
Estate ” means the Owned Real Estate and the Leased Real
Estate.
“ Real
Property Sale and Purchase Agreement ” means the
agreement between Sellers’ Affiliate, MFW Investments, and
Purchaser’s wholly owned subsidiary, Symmetry Medical SSI
Real Estate, LLC, for the sale of the real estate commonly known as
200 River Hills Drive, Nashville, Davidson County,
Tennessee.
“
Release ” means any spill, discharge, leak, emission,
escape, leaching, disposing, emptying, pouring, pumping, injection,
dumping, or other release of any Hazardous Materials into the
environment, whether or not notification or reporting to any
governmental agency was or is required, including any Release which
is subject to CERCLA.
“
Rights ” means any and all outstanding subscriptions,
warrants, options, or other arrangements or commitments obligating
(with or without notice or passage of time or both) one or both of
the Companies to issue or dispose of any of its or their (as
opposed to third party) securities.
“
SARA ” means the Superfund Amendments and
Reauthorization Act (42 U.S.C. § 9601 et seq.).
7
“
Sellers ” has the meaning set forth in the
introductory paragraph of this Agreement.
“ Sellers
Indemnities ” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1(f)
of this Agreement.
“
Sellers’ Knowledge ” means the actual knowledge
after a reasonable investigation of Louis C. Wallace and
Charles O. Mann, Jr. or of any officer, member, director or
Senior Management Employees of Companies.
“ Senior
Management Employees ” means Steven L. Tanner, Financial
Manager, Barbara Briley, Controller, Judy Burchett, Instrument
Administrator, Mickey Wormsley, Contract Manager, Keith Sweeney,
Sales Manager of Surgical Instruments, and Amy Roberts, Purchasing
Manager, and the chief executive officer, president, any vice
president or director, of the Companies.
“Shares” means 100% of the
outstanding stock of SSI.
“
Survival Period ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7.1(a) of this Agreement.
“ Target
Working Capital ” means the amount of
$2,946,205
“ Tax
” or “ Taxes ” means any and all net
income, gross income, gross revenue, gross receipts, net receipts,
ad valorem, franchise, profits, deferred, transfer, sales, use,
social security, employment, unemployment, disability, license,
withholding, payroll, privilege, excise, value-added, severance,
stamp, occupation, property, customs, duties, real estate and/or
other taxes, assessments, levies, fees or charges of any kind
whatsoever imposed by any Governmental Body, together with any
interest or penalty relating thereto.
“ Tax
Matter ” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2(a)
of this Agreement.
“ Tax
Return ” or “ Tax Returns ” means any
return, declaration, report, claim for refund or information return
or statement relating to Taxes, including, without limitation, any
schedule or attachment thereto, any amendment thereof, and any
estimated report or statement.
“
Threatened ” means a claim, Proceeding, dispute,
action, or other matter for which any written demand or statement
has been made, orally or in writing, or any oral or written notice
has been given, that would lead a reasonably prudent Person to
conclude that such a claim, Proceeding, dispute, action, or other
matter may be asserted, commenced, taken or otherwise pursued in
the future.
“ Use
” means to appropriate any of the Confidential Information of
the Companies for the benefit of oneself or any other Person other
than the Companies.
“ WARN
Acts ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9(l)
of this Agreement.
“ Working
Capital ” means “Current Assets” less
“Current Liabilities.” “Current
Assets” means the sum of accounts receivable (net of
allowances), prepaid expenses, inventory (net of reserves), cash
and cash equivalents, and other current assets of the Companies as
determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.
“Current Liabilities” means the sum of
accounts
8
payable and accrued
expenses of the Companies, excluding Debt and accrued interest
defined as Debt and as determined in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied.
“ Working
Capital Adjustment ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
ARTICLE 2
PURCHASE OF EQUITY INTERESTS;
PURCHASE PRICE
2.1.
Purchase and Sale of Equity Interests. In reliance upon
the representations, warranties and covenants contained in this
Agreement as of the date hereof and on the Closing Date, Purchaser
agrees to purchase the Equity Interests from Sellers, and Sellers
agree to sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver the Equity
Interests to Purchaser on the terms and conditions set forth in
this Agreement. Such sale, transfer, conveyance, assignment and
delivery of the Equity Interests shall convey good and marketable
title to the Equity Interests, free and clear of any and all Rights
and Encumbrances, and at such time the Equity Interests will be
fully paid and non-assessable. At the Closing Sellers will deliver
to Purchaser certificate(s) evidencing the Shares duly endorsed in
blank or with stock powers duly executed by Sellers and one or more
assignments of the Membership Interests duly executed by
Sellers.
2.2.
Purchase Price.
(a)
The purchase price to be paid to Sellers by Purchaser for the
Equity Interests shall be $14,050,000 as may be adjusted at the
Closing Date, and post Closing as provided by this Agreement. The
cash purchase price will be allocated among the Shares and the
Membership Interests in accordance with Schedule 2.2. The cash
purchase price for the Equity Interests shall be referred to as the
“Interim Purchase Price.” The Interim Purchase
Price shall be adjusted to determine the Final Purchase Price, as
provided in this Section 2.2 and Sections 2.3 and 2.4. The Interim
Purchase Price shall be paid on the Closing Date to Wallace and
Mann by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account
(or accounts) designated by Sellers at least two (2) calendar days
prior to the Closing.
(b)
The Interim Purchase Price has been based on the assumption that
the Companies shall be Debt-Free as of the Closing Date. To the
extent that the Companies have Debt as of the Closing Date, the
Interim Purchase Price shall be reduced on the Closing Date by the
aggregate amount of the Debt (the “Debt Adjustment”)
and such Debt Adjustment shall be paid directly by Purchaser to
such creditor or creditors, but may be paid from Closing
proceeds.
(c)
In addition to the cash consideration set forth in 2.2(a), the
Purchaser will enter into an Earn-Out Agreement with Sellers in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit A attached
hereto. The Earn-Out Agreement includes a separate earn-out formula
for SSI and for UCA. In addition, Purchaser’s wholly-owned
subsidiary will enter into the Real Property Sale and Purchase
Agreement with Sellers’ Affiliate MFW Investments in
substantially the form set forth in Exhibit B attached
hereto.
9
2.3.
Working Capital Adjustment.
(a)
The Working Capital Adjustment will be estimated and made at
Closing based upon the average monthly Working Capital for the six
(6) calendar months ending immediately preceding the month that
includes the Closing Date, as reported on the Companies’
financial statement and the Interim Purchase Price shall then be
further adjusted after the Closing Date by an amount of dollars,
positive or negative, as the case may be, equal to the difference
between the Target Working Capital and the Working Capital as shown
on the Final Closing Statement, which will be used to determine the
Final Purchase Price.
(b)
If the Working Capital on the Final Closing Statement
is:
(i)
less than the Target Working Capital, an amount equal to the
deficit shall be payable from Sellers to Purchaser (such amount may
not be paid out of the Escrowed Funds);
(ii)
greater than the amount shown on the Target Working Capital, an
amount equal to the surplus shall be payable from Purchaser to
Sellers;
(iii)
equal to the amount shown on the Target Working Capital, no amount
shall be due to either party.
The adjustment
provided for in this Section 2.3 shall be known as the
“Working Capital Adjustment.”
The Interim
Purchase Price, after application of the Working Capital
Adjustment, shall constitute the “Final Purchase
Price.”
(c)
Within seventy-five (75) calendar days following the Closing Date,
Sellers and Purchaser, as applicable, shall cause the Companies to
prepare and deliver to Purchaser and Sellers, in good faith, a
final balance sheet and closing statement setting forth the Working
Capital Adjustment in accordance with this Section 2.3 (the
“Final Closing Statement”). This Final Closing
Statement shall be prepared by Purchaser’s auditors,
Ernst & Young LLP at Purchaser’s cost. Within thirty
(30) calendar days following Purchaser’s and Sellers’
receipt of the Final Closing Statement, Purchaser or Sellers may
object in good faith to the Working Capital Adjustment in writing.
In the event of any such objection, Purchaser and Sellers shall
attempt to resolve their differences by negotiation. If such
parties are unable to do so within thirty (30) calendar days
following receipt of the objecting party’s objection, Sellers
and Purchaser shall appoint another nationally recognized
accounting firm mutually acceptable to each of Sellers and
Purchaser, which shall, at Sellers’ and Purchaser’s
joint expense, review the Final Closing Statement and determine the
Working Capital Adjustment, if any, within thirty (30) calendar
days of such appointment. Sellers and Purchaser agree to cooperate
with such accounting firm and provide it with such information as
it reasonably requests to enable it to make such determination. The
findings of such accounting firm shall be binding on the parties
hereto. If Purchaser decides to establish a new accrual for
environmental liabilities on the Final Closing Statement, this new
accrual will be excluded from calculation of the Working Capital
Adjustment.
10
(d)
Any amounts owed hereunder shall be paid to the party owed the same
by the party owing the same by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to an account designated by the party owed the same
no later than five (5) business days following the determination by
agreement of Sellers and Purchaser or by binding determination of
said accounting firm of the Working Capital Adjustment, and such
payment shall be accompanied by an additional payment of interest,
calculated based on an 8.25% annual interest rate from the Closing
Date to the date of payment pursuant to this Section
2.3.
2.4.
Escrow Agreement.
(a)
Sellers agree and authorize Purchaser to retain from the Interim
Purchase Price and deposit in an interest bearing escrow account
(the “Escrow Account”) with First Tennessee Bank
National Association, Nashville, Tennessee (“Escrow
Agent”) the sum of Two Million Seventy Thousand and 00/100
Dollars ($2,070,000.00) (the “Escrowed Funds”) as
collateral security to be used as the initial source of funds for
any indemnification obligation of Sellers arising under Section
7.2, in accordance with an escrow agreement in substantially the
form set forth in Exhibit C attached hereto (the
“Purchase Price Escrow Agreement”). The Escrowed Funds
shall not be used for purposes of the Working Capital
Adjustment.
(b)
The term of the Purchase Price Escrow Agreement shall be two (2)
years; provided, however, that on the first anniversary of the
Closing Date, $1,035,000 of the Escrowed Funds, reduced by a
reserve equal to the aggregate amount of any claims previously
asserted by Purchaser pursuant to Section 7.5 that are
unresolved or unpaid as of the first anniversary of the Closing
Date, shall be released to Sellers (but in no event shall this
release of funds reduce the balance of the Escrowed Funds to less
than $1,035,000). On the second anniversary of the Closing Date all
remaining Escrowed Funds, reduced by a reserve equal to the
aggregate amount of any claims previously asserted by Purchaser
pursuant to Section 7.5 that are unresolved or unpaid as of
the second anniversary of the Closing Date, shall be released to
Sellers. All escrow fees shall be shared equally by the parties
and, to the extent known, paid in advance; additional fees incurred
during the term of the Escrow Account shall be paid from income
earned on the Escrowed Funds, or, if such income is insufficient,
paid from the Escrowed Funds.
(c)
As an alternative to establishing the Escrow Account, Sellers may
elect to provide to Purchaser at Closing a standby letter of credit
in the original amount of Two Million Seventy Thousand and 00/100
Dollars ($2,070,000.00), issued in a form and by a financial
institution satisfactory to Purchaser (the “Letter of
Credit”). Such Letter of Credit shall be irrevocable and
shall remain in place for a period of twenty-four (24) months and
thereafter if pending indemnification claims exist at the third
anniversary of the Closing Date, provided, however, that the face
amount of the Letter of Credit may be reduced on the first
anniversary of the Closing Date on the same conditions as and
consistent with the schedule of reductions described in Section
2.4(b). On the second anniversary of the Closing Date, if no
indemnification claim(s) by Purchaser is then pending, the Letter
of Credit may be terminated. If not terminated on the second
anniversary of the Closing Date, the Letter of Credit shall be
terminated following resolution of any indemnification claims
pending on such date. All fees associated with the Letter of Credit
shall be paid by Sellers.
11
2.5.
Closing and Closing Deliveries.
(a)
Closing and Closing Date .
The closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the
“Closing”) shall be held on August 31, 2007 (or as
soon as all conditions in Article 6 are satisfied). The date
on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the
“Closing Date.”
(b)
Closing Deliveries by Sellers
. At the Closing, Sellers shall execute, where necessary or
appropriate, and deliver to Purchaser each and all of the
following:
(i)
The certificates, free of all Encumbrances, evidencing the Shares
duly endorsed by Sellers in blank or accompanied by stock powers
duly executed by Sellers and one or more assignments of the
Membership Interests duly executed by Sellers in favor of Purchaser
or its nominee;
(ii)
The corporate minute books, the corporate seals, and stock books,
if any, for the Companies;
(iii)
A duly executed written opinion letter by counsel for Sellers,
dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to Purchaser;
(iv)
Duly executed resignations of (A) the officers of SSI and UCA
who are designated by Purchaser, and (B) the directors,
limited liability company managers and/or members of SSI and UCA,
all effective as of the Closing Date;
(v)
Certificates of Existence for SSI and UCA issued by the Tennessee
Secretary of State;
(vi)
The non-foreign person affidavit required by Section 1445 of
the Code;
(vii)
Employment Agreements for Louis C. Wallace, Charles O.
Mann, Jr. and Steve Tanner in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit D attached hereto;
(viii)
Non Competition Agreements for Louis C. Wallace,
Charles O. Mann, Jr. and Steven Tanner in the form set forth
in Exhibit E ;
(ix)
the Purchase Price Escrow Agreement executed by Sellers or Letter
of Credit;
(x)
a statement executed by the Companies pursuant to Treas. Reg.
§1.897-2(h), dated no more than thirty (30) days prior to
Closing, certifying that (i) the Equity Interests do not constitute
a U.S. real property interest, or (ii) none of the owners of the
Companies are foreign persons;
(xi)
all third-party consents necessary to operate the
Business;
(xii)
Waiver and Release executed by Sellers and each director, limited
liability company manager and/or member of SSI and UCA;
12
(xiii)
Such other documents and items as are reasonably necessary or
appropriate to effect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby;
(xiv)
Non-Disclosure and Non-Competition Agreement for Sellers, as
required by Section 4.2 of this Agreement and in the form set forth
as Exhibit F ;
(xv)
Real Property Sale and Purchase Agreement executed by
Sellers’ Affiliate, MFW Investments;
(xvii)
Earn-Out Agreement executed by Sellers; and
(xviii) All
third-party consents necessary for Purchaser to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and as set forth in
Article 6.
(c)
Closing Deliveries by Purchaser
. At the Closing, Purchaser shall execute, where necessary or
appropriate, and deliver to Sellers each and all of the
following:
(i)
Payment of the Interim Purchase Price in the manner set forth in
Section 2.2 of this Agreement;
(ii)
A copy certified by the Secretary of Purchaser of the duly adopted
resolutions of the Board of Directors of Purchaser approving this
Agreement, including the Ancillary Documents, and authorizing the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Documents, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby.
(iii)
A duly executed written opinion letter by counsel for Purchaser,
dated as of the Closing Date, addressed to Sellers;
(iv)
A Certificate of Good Standing of Purchaser issued by the Secretary
of State of Purchaser’s state of incorporation or the
equivalent;
(v)
Such other documents and items as are reasonably necessary or
appropriate to effect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or which are customary under local
law;
(vi)
Real Property Sale and Purchase Agreement executed by Symmetry
Medical SSI Real Estate, LLC;
(vii)
Earn-Out Agreement executed by Purchaser;
(viii)
Employment Agreements for Louis C. Wallace, Charles O.
Mann, Jr. and Steve Tanner in substantially the form set forth in
Exhibit D attached hereto;
(ix)
Non Competition Agreements for Louis C. Wallace,
Charles O. Mann, Jr. and Steven Tanner in the form set forth
in Exhibit E ; and
(x)
The Purchase Price Escrow Agreement executed by
Purchaser.
13
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF SELLERS
As an inducement
for Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby, Sellers represents and warrants
to Purchaser that each and all of the following representations and
warranties are true and correct as of the date of this Agreement
and at Closing. The Schedules shall be arranged in paragraphs
corresponding to the sections and subsections contained in this
Article 3.
3.1.
Organization and Good Standing.
(a)
Schedule 3.1 contains a complete and accurate list for
SSI and UCA of their jurisdiction of incorporation (or other
formation). Each of SSI and UCA is duly incorporated or organized,
validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation, with full power and authority to
conduct its respective businesses as same are now being conducted,
to own or use the properties and assets that it purports to own,
lease, operate or use in the conduct of the Business, and to
perform all its obligations under any Contracts. Each of SSI and
UCA is licensed or qualified to transact business and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which,
because of its business conducted there or the nature of its assets
or properties there, it is required to be so licensed or qualified.
Each such foreign jurisdiction is set forth in
Schedule 3.1 .
(b)
Sellers have delivered to Purchaser copies of the organizational
documents of SSI and UCA, as currently in effect.
3.2.
Authority; No Conflict.
(a)
This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid, and binding obligation
of Sellers, enforceable against Sellers in accordance with its
terms. The Ancillary Documents to be delivered by Sellers at
Closing will constitute the legal, valid, and binding obligations
of Sellers, enforceable against Sellers in accordance with their
respective terms. Each of the Sellers has the right, power,
authority, and capacity to execute and deliver this Agreement and
the Ancillary Documents to which he is a party, and to perform his
obligations hereunder and thereunder. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which
the Sellers are or shall be a party have been duly authorized by
all necessary action on the part of Sellers. This Agreement and the
Ancillary Documents have been duly executed and delivered by each
of the Sellers who is a party thereto.
(b)
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2(b) , neither the
execution nor delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Documents nor the consummation or performance of any of the
contemplated transactions will, directly or indirectly:
(i)
contravene, conflict with, or result in a violation of (A) any
provision of the organizational documents of the Companies, or (B)
any resolution adopted by the board of directors, the shareholders
or members of the Companies;
14
(ii)
contravene, conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of,
or constitute a default under (or an event which, with or without
notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) or
result in the invalidity of, or accelerate the performance required
by or cause or give rise to any right of acceleration or
termination of any right or obligation pursuant to any agreement or
commitment to which Sellers or the Companies are a party or by
which Sellers or the Companies (or any of their respective assets
or properties) is subject or bound;
(iii)
result in the creation of, or give any third party the right to
create, any Encumbrance upon the Equity Interests or any assets or
properties of Sellers or the Companies;
(iv)
conflict with any Applicable Laws to which Sellers or the Companies
or any assets or properties of any of the foregoing are
subject;
(v)
terminate or modify, or give any third party the right to terminate
or modify, the provisions or terms of any contract or agreement to
which Sellers or the Companies are a party or by which Sellers or
the Companies, (or any of their respective assets or properties) is
subject or bound;
(vi)
require Sellers or the Companies to obtain any consent;
or
(vii)
result in or give to any Person any additional rights or
entitlement to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed
payments under any contract or agreement to which Sellers or the
Companies are a party or by which any of their respective assets or
properties is subject or bound.
3.3.
Capitalization.
(a)
The authorized capital stock of SSI consists solely of 20,000
shares of common voting stock, no par value, of which 11,559 shares
are issued and outstanding on the date hereof, and are all owned
beneficially and of record by Sellers, free and clear of all Rights
and Encumbrances. The Equity Interests are validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with
Applicable Laws. None of the Equity Interests have been issued in
violation of the rights of any Person. As of the date hereof,
(i) there are no Rights outstanding, and (ii) there are
no agreements, understandings or commitments relating to the rights
of Sellers to vote or dispose of the shares except as set forth on
Schedule 3.3(a) , all of which shall be released or
terminated on or before Closing.
(b)
All of the Membership Interests of UCA are owned beneficially and
of record by Sellers, free and clear of all Rights and
Encumbrances. The Membership Interests are validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with
Applicable Laws. None of the Membership Interests have been issued
in violation of the rights of any Person. As of the date hereof,
(i) there are no Rights outstanding, and (ii) there are
no agreements, understandings or commitments relating to the rights
of Sellers to vote or dispose of the Membership Interests except as
set forth on Schedule 3.3(b) ,.
15
3.4.
Clear Title. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.4 or the leased property disclosed in
Schedule 3.15(d) hereto, on the Closing Date,
(i) the Companies hold good title (or valid and enforceable
leasehold interests) to their personal property, and
(ii) such personal property is and shall be free and clear of
any and all Encumbrances of any kind, nature and description
whatsoever, except for Encumbrances which are disclosed, reflected
or reserved for or against in the Balance Sheets, or are being
released by payment from Closing proceeds.
3.5.
Condition of Assets. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.5 , all of the properties and assets of the
Companies are the assets used to operate the Business as currently
conducted, (i) such properties and assets have been adequately
maintained, consistent with past practices, and are in operating
condition, normal wear and tear excepted, and (ii) all leased
property is in the condition received by the Companies at the time
of the lease, normal wear and tear excepted.
3.6.
Legal Proceedings. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.6 , there is not now pending nor have been
in the thirty-six (36) months prior to the date hereof, any
Proceedings of any kind or nature whatsoever, at law or in equity,
by or before any court or Governmental Body. Except as set forth on
Schedule 3.6 , there are no Proceedings of any kind or
nature whatsoever, at law or in equity, by or before any court or
Governmental Body, or to Sellers’ Knowledge, Threatened
against:
(a)
the Companies, their assets, properties, officers or directors, or
which questions or challenges the validity of this Agreement, any
Ancillary Document or any action taken or to be taken by Sellers
pursuant to this Agreement, the Ancillary Document or in connection
with the contemplated transactions; and, to Sellers’
Knowledge, there is no valid basis for any such claim, action,
suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation;
(b)
Sellers, which would adversely affect the consummation of the
contemplated transactions; or
(c)
the Companies are not subject to any judgment, order or decree. The
Companies have delivered to Purchaser copies of all pleadings,
correspondence, and other documents relating to any of the
foregoing.
3.7.
Labor Matters. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.7 hereto, the Companies have never been a
party to any collective bargaining agreement or other labor
Contract and there is not presently pending or existing, and to
Sellers’ Knowledge or the Companies’, there is not
Threatened (i) any strike, slowdown, walkout, picketing, work
stoppage, labor arbitration or other Proceeding in respect of the
grievance of any employee, (ii) any application or complaint
filed by any employee or union with the National Labor Relations
Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the
Occupational Safety and Health Administration or any comparable
Governmental Body, (iii) any other employee claim under any
Applicable Laws; or (iv) any organizational activity or other labor
dispute against or affecting the Companies, and no application for
certification of a collective bargaining agreement is pending or,
to Sellers’ Knowledge, is Threatened. There is no lockout of
any employees by the Companies and no such action is contemplated
by the Companies. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.7
hereto, there is no Proceeding pending or, to Sellers’
Knowledge, Threatened by any Person against the Companies
16
or any of their current
or former officers, directors or employees relating to employment,
equal employment opportunity, discrimination, harassment, wrongful
discharge, unfair labor practices, immigration, wages, hours,
benefits, collective bargaining, the payment of social security or
similar Taxes, occupational safety and health or plant closing.
Except as disclosed in Schedule 3.7 , there are no
worker’s compensation claims pending against the Companies,
and to Sellers’ Knowledge there is no basis for any such
claim.
3.8.
Tax Matters.
(a)
Tax Returns . The Companies
have timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, with the
appropriate taxing authorities, all Tax Returns that are required
to be filed by, or with respect to the Companies on or prior to the
Closing Date. The Tax Returns have accurately reflected and will
accurately reflect all Liability for Taxes of the Companies for the
periods covered thereby. Schedule 3.8(a) lists all
income Tax Returns filed with any Governmental Body with respect to
the Companies for the taxable periods ended on or after December
31, 2002.
(b)
Payment of Taxes . All
Taxes and Tax Liabilities of the Companies for all taxable years or
periods that end on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to
any taxable year or period beginning before and ending after the
Closing Date, the portion of such taxable year or period ending on
the day immediately preceding the Closing Date (“Pre-Closing
Period”) have been timely paid to the extent due and/or
adequate provisions have been made for taxes which have accrued
and/or become due or become due through the Closing Date and there
are no further Liabilities for any Taxes, except as reflected in
Schedule 3.8(b) .
(c)
Other Tax Matters . Except
as set forth in Schedule 3.8(c) :
(i)
The Companies have not been the subject of a dispute or claim or an
audit or other examination of Taxes by the Tax authorities of any
Governmental Body, nor have the Companies received any notices from
any such taxing authority.
(ii)
Sellers and the Companies have not (A) entered into an
agreement or waiver or been requested to enter into an agreement or
waiver extending any statute of limitations relating to the payment
or collection of Taxes of the Companies, or (B) contested the
Tax Liability of the Companies before any Governmental
Body.
(iii)
The Companies have not been included in any
“consolidated,” “unitary” or
“combined” Tax Return provided for under Applicable Law
with respect to Taxes for any taxable period for which the statute
of limitations has not expired.
(iv)
All Taxes which the Companies are (or have been) required by law to
withhold or collect have been duly withheld or collected, and have
been timely paid over to the proper authorities to the extent due
and payable.
(v)
There are no Tax sharing, allocation, indemnification or similar
agreements in effect as between the Companies or any predecessor
thereof and any other party (including Sellers and any
predecessors) under which Purchaser or the Companies would be
liable for any Taxes or other claims of any Person.
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(vi)
Within the past ten (10) years, the Companies have not (A) acquired
assets from another corporation in a transaction in which
Companies’ tax basis for the acquired assets was determined,
in whole or in part, by reference to the Tax basis of the acquired
assets (or any other property) in the hands of the transferor or
(B) acquired the stock of any corporation that is or was a
qualified subchapter S subsidiary.
(vii)
There is no action, suit, taxing authority proceeding, audit or
investigation now in progress, pending or, to Sellers’
Knowledge, Threatened against or with respect to the Companies with
respect to any Tax.
(viii)
The Companies do not reasonably expect any taxing authority to
claim or assess any additional Tax against them for any period
ending on or prior to the Closing Date, and to Sellers’
Knowledge, there is no basis for any such claim or
assessment.
(ix)
The Companies have not distributed stock of another Person, nor had
its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that
purported or was intended to be governed in whole or in part by IRC
Section 355 or Section 361.
(x)
The Companies have not been a member of an affiliated or similar
group filing a consolidated, combined, unitary or similar income
tax return or has any liability for the Taxes of any Person under
Treas. Reg. §1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,
local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by agreement,
or otherwise.
3.9.
Employee Benefits.
(a)
Schedule 3.9 (a) is a complete list of each
“Benefit Plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
ERISA) and each other employee benefit plan, agreement, policy,
trust fund or arrangement (whether written or unwritten, insured or
self-insured) maintained or contributed to (or with respect to
which any obligation to contribute has been undertaken) by the
Companies on behalf of any employee or other service provider of
the Companies (whether current, former, or retired) or their
beneficiaries or with respect to which the Companies have any
obligation or liability (contingent or otherwise) (each
“Benefit Plan”). With respect to each Benefit Plan,
Sellers has delivered to Purchaser (1) current, accurate and
complete copies of each such Benefit Plan and all contracts
relating thereto (including without limitation all trust
agreements, insurance or annuity contracts, investment management
agreements, record keeping agreements and other material documents
or instruments relating thereto), and in the case of any Benefit
Plan that is not in written form, an accurate description of all
material aspects of that Benefit Plan; (2) copies of the most
recent Internal Revenue Service determination letter (including
copies of any outstanding requests for determination letters) or
opinion letter with respect to each such Benefit Plan which is an
“employee pension benefit plan” (within the meaning of
Section 3(2) of ERISA) intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of
the IRC; and (3) copies of the most recent Forms 5500 annual report
and accompanying schedules, and the most recent summary plan
descriptions.
(b)
Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9(b) , all Benefit Plans
are fully funded and administered in accordance with Applicable
Law, and comply in form and in operation in all material respects
with the requirements of Applicable Law.
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(c)
Each Benefit Plan has been maintained, funded and administered in
accordance with the terms of such Benefit Plan and complies in form
and in operation in all material respects with the requirements of
Applicable Law, including ERISA and the IRC.
(d)
All contributions (including employer contributions and employee
salary reduction contributions) that are due have been made to each
Benefit Plan that is an “employee pension benefit plan”
(within the meaning of Section 3(2) of ERISA). All premiums or
other payments that are due have been paid with respect to each
such Benefit Plan that is an “employee welfare benefit
plan” (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
ERISA).
(e)
Each Benefit Plan that is intended to meet the requirements of a
“qualified plan” under Section 401(a) of the IRC has
received a determination letter from the IRS to the effect that it
meets the requirements of Section 401(a) of the IRC.
(f)
Neither the Companies or any of their predecessors has ever
contributed to, contributes to, has ever been required to
contribute to, or otherwise participated in or maintains sponsors
or in any way, directly or indirectly, has any liability with
respect to any plan subject to Section 412 of the IRC, Section 302
of ERISA or Title IV of ERISA, including, without limitation, any
employee pension benefit plan that is a “defined benefit
plan” (as defined in ERISA §3(35), any
“multiemployer plan” (within the meaning of Sections
3(37) or 4001(a)(3) of ERISA or Section 414(f) of the IRC) or any
single employer pension plan (within the meaning of Section
4001(a)(15) of ERISA) which is subject to Sections 4063, 4064 or
4069 of ERISA.
(g)
No non-exempt “prohibited transaction,” within the
meaning of Section 4975 of the IRC and Section 406 of ERISA,
has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to the
Employee Benefit Plans.
(h)
No Benefit Plan is under, and neither Sellers nor the Companies
have received any notice of, an audit or investigation by the IRS,
Department of Labor or any other Governmental Body and no such
completed audit, if any, has resulted in the imposition of any tax
or penalty.
(i)
The Companies have no unfunded liabilities pursuant to any Benefit
Plan that is not intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the IRC and is an employee pension benefit plan within the meaning
of Section 3(2) of ERISA, a nonqualified deferred compensation plan
or an excess benefit plan. Schedule 3.9(i) of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true, correct and complete list of
each Benefit Plan which is a nonqualified deferred compensation
plan. Each such nonqualified compensation plan, whether
deferred or otherwise, is not subject to IRC 409A.
(j)
The consummation of the contemplated transactions alone, or in
combination with a termination of any employee, officer, director,
or other service provider or shareholder of the Companies (whether
current, former or retired): (i) will not give rise to any
liability under any Benefit Plan, including, without limitation,
liability for severance pay, unemployment compensation, termination
pay or withdrawal liability, or accelerate the time of payment or
vesting or increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to
any employee, officer, director, other service provider or
shareholder of the Companies (whether current, former or retired)
or their beneficiaries; and (ii) will not cause any Benefit Plan or
contract of insurance or
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other ancillary
agreement to become void or voidable or cause any increase in cost,
other than cost increases or decreases attributable to annual
renewal. No amount that can be received (whether in cash or
property or the vesting of property), as a result of the
consummation of the contemplated transactions, by any employee,
shareholder or other service provider of the Companies who is a
“disqualified individual” (as such term is defined in
Treas. Reg. §1.280G–1) under any Benefit Plan or
otherwise can be characterized as an “excess parachute
payment” (as defined in Sections 280G(b)(1) and 280G(b)(5) of
the IRC).
(k)
Any individual who performs services for the Companies and who is
not treated as an employee for federal income tax purposes by the
Companies is not an employee under applicable law or for any
purpose including, without limitation, for tax withholding purposes
or employee Benefit Plan purposes.
(l)
WARN Compliance. The Companies have complied in all respects with
the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, 29 U.S.C.
§ 2101 et seq., and its corresponding regulations, and
Tennessee Code Annotated § 50-1-601 et seq., and its
corresponding regulations, in each case
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