EXHIBIT 2.6
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
among
WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC.,
NEW AMERICAN CAPITAL,
INC.,
PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL GROUP,
INC.,
and
PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION
for the purchase and sale
of
the outstanding capital stock
of
WM ADVISORS, INC.
Dated as of July 25, 2006
96
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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Article I DEFINITIONS
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Article II PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF
STOCK
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2.1
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Delivery of Stock
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2.2
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Closing; Payment of Purchase
Price
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2.3
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Estimated Working Capital
Amount
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2.4
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Post-Closing Working Capital
Purchase Price Adjustment
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2.5
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Purchase Price Adjustment Based on
Changes in Advisory Revenue Run-Rate
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2.6
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Make-Whole Purchase Price
Adjustment
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2.7
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Post-Closing True-Up
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Article III CLOSING DATE
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3.1
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Closing Date
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Article IV REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF SELLER
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4.1
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Organization, Power, etc
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4.2
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Authority Relative to
Agreements
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4.3
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Non-Contravention
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4.4
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Consents, etc
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4.5
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Title to Stock
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4.6
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Capital Stock of the Subject
Companies
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4.7
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Company Financial Statements;
Accounting Controls
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4.8
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Litigation
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4.9
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Compliance with Laws; Permits and
Licenses
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4.10
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Absence of Certain Changes; No
Undisclosed Liabilities
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4.11
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Personnel and Employee Benefits
Matters
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4.12
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Taxes
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4.13
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Properties
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4.14
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Certain Labor Matters
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4.15
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Material Agreements
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4.16
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Intellectual Property
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4.17
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Brokers
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4.18
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Regulatory Reports, Registrations
and Agreements
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4.19
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Certain Fund and Client
Matters
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4.20
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Assets Under Management; Investment
Management Revenues
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4.21
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Intercompany Accounts; Transactions
with Affiliates
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4.22
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Insurance
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Article V REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF PURCHASER
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5.1
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Organization
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5.2
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Authority Relative to
Agreement
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5.3
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Non-Contravention
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5.4
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Consents, etc
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97
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Page
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5.5
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Litigation
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5.6
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Regulatory Reports
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5.7
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Absence of Certain
Changes
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5.8
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Information Supplied
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5.9
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Brokers
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5.10
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Available Funds
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5.11
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Investment Intent
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5.12
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Certain Regulatory
Matters
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Article VI COVENANTS
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6.1
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Conduct of Business
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6.2
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Access; Confidentiality
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6.3
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Reasonable Best Efforts; Taking of
Necessary Action; Notices of Certain Events
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6.4
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CDSC Financing Agreements
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6.5
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Insurance
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6.6
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Names of Subject Companies and
Sponsored Funds; Websites
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6.7
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Post-Closing Cooperation; Retention
of Records and Confidentiality
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6.8
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Public Announcements
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6.9
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Section 15 of the Investment Company
Act
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6.10
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Non-Competition;
Non-Solicitation
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6.11
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401(k) Plans
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6.12
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Further Assurances
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6.13
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Settlement of Intercompany
Accounts
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Article VII EMPLOYEE
MATTERS
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7.1
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General
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7.2
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Termination and Severance
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7.3
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Closing Payments
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7.4
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Welfare Plans
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7.5
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Accrued Vacation
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7.6
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Seller Parent Benefit
Plans
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7.7
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Administration
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Article VIII CONDITIONS TO THE
CLOSING
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8.1
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Conditions to Obligations of Each
Party
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8.2
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Additional Conditions to the
Obligations of Purchaser
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8.3
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Additional Conditions to the
Obligations of Seller and Seller Parent
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Article IX TERMINATION, AMENDMENT
AND WAIVER
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9.1
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Termination
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9.2
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Effect of Termination
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Article X TAX MATTERS
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10.1
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Indemnification for Taxes
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10.2
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Apportionment of Taxes
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10.3
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Tax Returns and Payment of
Taxes
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10.4
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Cooperation; Audits
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98
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Page
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10.5
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Transfer Taxes
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10.6
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Section 338(h)(10)
Election
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10.7
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Allocation of Closing
Payments
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Article XI
INDEMNIFICATION
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11.1
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Indemnification by Seller and Seller
Parent
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11.2
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Indemnification by
Purchaser
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11.3
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Indemnification
Procedures
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11.4
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General
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Article XII GENERAL
PROVISIONS
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12.1
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Survival
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12.2
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Notices
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12.3
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Interpretation
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12.4
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Amendment and Modification;
Waiver
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12.5
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Entire Agreement
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12.6
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Fees and Expenses
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12.7
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Disclosure Letters
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12.8
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Third Party Beneficiaries
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12.9
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Specific Performance
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12.10
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Performance by Seller and
Purchaser
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12.11
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Assignment; Binding
Effect
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12.12
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Governing Law
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12.13
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Jurisdiction; Waiver of Jury
Trial
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12.14
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Severability
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12.15
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Counterparts
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99
LIST OF SCHEDULES AND
EXHIBITS*
Schedules
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1
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Aggregate Base Advisory Revenue
Run-Rate
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2
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Benchmark Fee Revenue
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2.4(a)
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Applicable Accounting Principles for
the Closing Date Balance Sheet
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2.4(b)
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Working Capital Amount Example
Calculation
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2.6
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Fee Rates
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3
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Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund
Annual Fee Revenue
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4
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Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund
Business
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6.3(e)
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Fund Mapping
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6.3(f)
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Separate Account Client
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8.2(f)
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Third Party Consents
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8.2(g)
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Retention Agreements
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8.2(h)
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Third Party Distributors
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Y
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Selected AUM Computation
Factors
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Z
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Special Clients
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Exhibits
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8.2(g)
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Form of Retention Letter for
Wholesalers
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*Principal Financial Group, Inc.
agrees to furnish supplementally to the Commission upon its request
a copy of any omitted schedule or exhibit.
100
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as
of July 25, 2006 (this “ Agreement ”), among
WASHINGTON MUTUAL, INC., a Washington corporation (“
Seller Parent ”), NEW AMERICAN CAPITAL, INC., a
Delaware corporation (“ Seller ”), PRINCIPAL
FINANCIAL GROUP, INC., a Delaware corporation (“ Purchaser
Parent ”), and PRINCIPAL MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, an Iowa
corporation (“ Purchaser ”).
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, Seller owns 3,974 shares of
the common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “
Stock ”), of WM Advisors, Inc., a Washington
corporation (the “ Company ”), constituting all
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company;
WHEREAS, the Company owns all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of each of WM Funds
Distributor, Inc., a Washington corporation, and WM Shareholder
Services, Inc., a Washington corporation;
WHEREAS, Seller is a wholly owned
Subsidiary of Seller Parent, and Purchaser is a wholly owned
Subsidiary of Purchaser Parent;
WHEREAS, certain employees of the
Subject Companies have entered into employment agreements with the
Subject Companies as of the date hereof but to be effective as of
the Closing (as hereinafter defined); and
WHEREAS, on the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth herein, Seller Parent and Seller desire to
sell, and Purchaser desires to purchase, the Stock.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of
the premises and of the mutual covenants and agreements hereinafter
set forth, the parties hereto agree as follows:
Article I
DEFINITIONS
The following terms when used in
this Agreement shall have the following meanings:
“ 12b-1 Plan ”
means any distribution plan adopted by a registered investment
company in accordance with Rule 12b-1 under the Investment Company
Act.
“ 401(k) Plans ”
means defined contribution plans that include a qualified cash or
deferred arrangement within the meaning of Section 401(k) of the
Code.
“ Accounting Firm
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.4(b)(ii).
“ Adjusted Closing Fee
Rate ” means the lower of (i) the applicable Schedule 2.6
Fee Rate and (ii) the actual fee rate payable to (A) a Subject
Company pursuant to the Advisory Contract relating to the relevant
Sponsored Fund, Sub-Advised Fund, Separate
101
Account Client or New Advisory
Client (as applicable) that will be in effect as of immediately
following the Closing or (B) to Purchaser or any of its Affiliates
pursuant to the applicable advisory agreement in effect immediately
following the merger, as approved prior to Closing, of a Sponsored
Fund into a fund sponsored by Purchaser Parent or any of its
Affiliates (not including any performance-based, incentive or
similar fees or any sales, exit, switching, administrative,
distribution or similar fees and after reduction to take into
account any fee waivers, reimbursement obligations or similar
offsets or arrangements to be in effect as of immediately following
the Closing with respect to advisory or sub-advisory services (as
applicable) performed by the Subject Companies or Purchaser or any
of its Affiliates, as applicable, for such Sponsored Fund,
Sub-Advised Fund, Separate Account Client or New Advisory Client
(as applicable)); provided that, in the case of a Sponsored
Fund, its Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate shall apply in any event if (a)
Purchaser initiated the reduction in the applicable fee rate
(including a reduction resulting from a merger of a Sponsored Fund
with a fund (including any newly-formed “shell” fund)
sponsored by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates if and to the
extent that, as proposed by Purchaser, such merger contemplated a
fee rate less than such Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate) or (b) the board of
directors or trustees of any fund sponsored by Purchaser or any of
its Affiliates required a reduction in the applicable fee rate as a
condition to such board’s approval of the merger of a
Sponsored Fund with such fund. Notwithstanding anything herein to
the contrary, in the case of a Sponsored Fund for which clause (a)
or (b) of the proviso in the preceding sentence applies, if the fee
rate determined under clause (ii) was further reduced as a result
of circumstances not described in clause (a) or (b), then the
“Adjusted Closing Fee Rate” shall be the applicable
Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate reduced by the amount of the fee rate
reduction attributable to such circumstances.
“ Adjusted TNW Amount
” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(c)(III).
“ Administration
Contract ” means any written agreement to which a
Sponsored Fund or Subject Company is party that relates to the
provision of administrative, accounting, bookkeeping or transfer
agent services to a Sponsored Fund.
“ Adviser Compliance
Policies ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.18(n).
“ Advisory Client
” means any client to whom any of the Subject Companies
provides investment advisory services or investment sub-advisory
services (including, without limitation, the Sponsored Funds, the
Sub-Advised Funds and the Separate Account Clients).
“ Advisory Contract
” means any written agreement pursuant to which any of the
Subject Companies or any Third Party Adviser provides investment
advisory services or investment sub-advisory services to Advisory
Clients (or, in the case of a Third Party Adviser, a Subject
Company).
“ Affected Employees
” means employees of any of the Subject Companies immediately
prior to the Closing Date (other than employees of any of the
Subject Companies who are on long-term disability
leave).
102
“ Affiliate ”
means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly
or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is
controlled by, or is under common control with such first Person.
The term “control” (including its correlative meanings
“controlled by” and “under common control
with”) means possession, directly or indirectly, of power to
direct or cause the direction of management or policies (whether
through ownership of securities or other ownership interests, by
contract, or otherwise).
“ Affiliate Transaction
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.21(b).
“ Aggregate Base Advisory
Revenue Run-Rate ” means the amount set forth on Schedule
1 as “Aggregate Base Advisory Revenue Run
Rate.”
“ Aggregate Closing
Advisory Revenue Run-Rate ” means the sum of the Closing
Advisory Revenue Run-Rates for all Sponsored Funds, Sub-Advised
Funds, Separate Account Clients and New Advisory Clients with
respect to which Client Consent has been obtained (and remains in
effect) as of the Closing Date.
“ Agreement ” has
the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
“ Ancillary Agreements
” means the Bank Channel Distribution Agreement and the
Transition Services Agreement.
“ Applicable Law
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“ Appraiser ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.
“ Assets ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.13(a).
“ Bank Channel ”
means the distribution channel consisting of the marketing and
sales of and provision of shareholder, administrative and other
services relating to, investment products, by employees holding
Series 6 and Series 7 licenses, point of sale representatives and
their direct supervisors and others, through the retail branch
banking system of or otherwise by Seller and its Affiliates,
including all such operations located or accessible at bank
branches or online through the website that services the retail
bank customers of Seller and its Affiliates.
“ Bank Channel Distribution
Agreement ” means the Distribution Agreement
substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, including the letter
agreement annexed thereto.
“ Base Advisory Revenue
Run-Rate ” means, with respect to a Sponsored Fund,
Sub-Advised Fund or Separate Account Client (as applicable), the
product of (i) the Base Assets Under Management of such Sponsored
Fund, Sub-Advised Fund or Separate Account Client (as applicable),
multiplied by (ii) the applicable Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate.
“ Base Assets Under
Management ” means, with respect to a Sponsored Fund,
Sub-Advised Fund or Separate Account Client (as applicable), the
dollar amount of assets
103
under management by the Subject
Companies for such Sponsored Fund, Sub-Advised Fund or Separate
Account Client (as applicable) as of the Base Date.
“ Base Date ”
means April 30, 2006.
“ Base Purchase Price
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“ Benchmark Fee Revenue
” means, for any Make-Whole Year, the amount set forth on
Schedule 2 as “Benchmark Fee Revenue”. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if a Client Consent with respect to any Special
Client has not been obtained or is not in effect, then, to the
extent the Purchase Price has been adjusted as a result thereof
pursuant to Section 2.5 and has not been trued-up pursuant to
Section 2.7, the Benchmark Fee Revenue shall not include the
amount(s) indicated on Schedule 2 that are attributable to such
Special Client.
“ Benefit Plans ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(b).
“ Board Governance
Matters ” has the meaning set forth in Section
6.3(e).
“ Broker-Dealer Compliance
Policies ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.18(n).
“ Business ”
means the business and operations of the Company and its
Subsidiaries as conducted as of the date hereof and at any time
between the date hereof and Closing.
“ Business Day ”
means any day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or a day on which
banks in Seattle, Washington, or New York, New York, are authorized
or obligated by law or executive order to be closed.
“ Cap ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 11.1(b)(A).
“ CDSC Financing
Agreements ” means, collectively, (i) that certain Second
Amended and Restated Purchase and Sale Agreement, dated as of March
20, 1998, by and among the Company, Citibank N.A. and Citicorp
North America, Inc., (ii) that certain Seventh Facility Amendment,
dated as of June 30, 2005, by and among WM Funds Distributor, Inc.,
the Company, Seller, Citibank N.A. and Citicorp North America,
Inc., (iii) that certain Third Amended and Restated Servicing
Agreement, dated as of March 5, 1999, by and among the WM Funds
Distributor, Inc., Citibank N.A. and Citicorp North America, Inc.,
(iv) that certain Third Amended and Restated Collection Agency
Agreement, dated as of March 5, 1999, by and among WM Funds
Distributor, Inc., Citibank, N.A., Citicorp North America, Inc.,
and Bankers Trust Company, (v) that certain Fourth Amended and
Restated Manager Undertaking, dated as of March 20, 1998, by and
among the Company, Citibank, N.A. and Citicorp North America, Inc.,
(vi) that certain Fourth Amended and Restated Parent Undertaking,
dated as of March 20, 1998, by and among Seller, Citibank, N.A.,
and Citicorp North America, Inc., and (vii) the related agreements
amended thereby and other transaction documents contemplated
thereby.
104
“ Claim Notice ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(a).
“ Client Consent
” means:
(i)
With respect to a Sponsored Fund, that the Subject Companies shall
have obtained Fund Board Approval and Sponsored Fund Shareholder
Approval of ( A ) a new Advisory Contract contemplated by
Section 6.3(e)(i) to be in effect with respect to such Sponsored
Fund as of immediately following the Closing on the terms and
conditions contemplated by the first sentence of Section 6.3(e),
and ( B ) in the case of each Sponsored Fund listed in
Schedule 8.2(f)(ii) (except to the extent that Purchaser shall have
waived in writing the condition set forth in Section 8.2(f)(ii)(B)
with respect to any such Sponsored Fund), the merger of such
Sponsored Fund with a fund sponsored by Purchaser or any of its
Affiliates as contemplated by Section 6.3(e);
(ii)
With respect to a Sub-Advised Fund, that the Subject Companies
shall have obtained Fund Board Approval and (solely in the event
that shareholder approval is required under Section 15 of the
Investment Company Act, as determined by the sponsor of such
Sub-Advised Fund), Sub-Advised Fund Shareholder Approval of a new
Advisory Contract to be in effect with respect to such Sub-Advised
Fund as of immediately following the Closing on the terms and
conditions contemplated by the first sentence of Section
6.3(e);
(iii)
With respect to a Separate Account Client, that the Subject
Companies shall have obtained its Separate Account Consent on the
terms and conditions contemplated by Section 6.3(f); and
(iv)
With respect to a New Advisory Client, that the Subject Companies
shall have obtained (A) in the case of a New Advisory Client that
is not an investment company (or series thereof) registered under
the Investment Company Act, such consent of such New Advisory
Client to the “assignment” of its Advisory Contract
resulting from the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement as is required under the terms of such Advisory
Contract and Applicable Law, or (B) in the case of a New Advisory
Client that is an investment company (or series thereof) registered
under the Investment Company Act, such approval by the board of
directors or trustees (as applicable) and (in the event that such
shareholder approval is required under Section 15 of the Investment
Company Act) the shareholders of such New Advisory Client as is
required under the Investment Company Act of a new Advisory
Contract to be in effect with respect to such New Advisory Client
as of immediately following the Closing on the terms and conditions
contemplated by the first sentence of Section 6.3(e).
“ Closing ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“ Closing Adjusted Assets
Under Management ” means, with respect to a Sponsored
Fund, Sub-Advised Fund, Separate Account Client or New Advisory
Client (as applicable), the dollar amount of assets under
management by the Subject Companies for such Sponsored Fund,
Sub-Advised Fund, Separate Account Client or New Advisory Client
(as applicable) as of the Base Date (or, in the case of a New
Advisory Client, such
105
later date as such New Advisory
Client first became an Advisory Client of the Subject Companies),
as adjusted to reflect net asset flows (i.e., sales, redemptions,
purchases, contributions, deposits, withdrawals, exchanges,
surrenders, dividend payments, interest payments, reinvestments of
dividends and reinvestments of interest) with respect to assets
under management by the Subject Companies for such Sponsored Fund,
Sub-Advised Fund, Separate Account Client or New Advisory Client
(as applicable) following the Base Date (or, in the case of a New
Advisory Client, such later date as such New Advisory Client first
became an Advisory Client of the Subject Companies) (excluding any
assets purchased or contributed by Seller Parent or its Affiliates
for their own accounts) through and including the Business Day
prior to the Closing Date. (For the avoidance of doubt, the
calculation of Closing Adjusted Assets Under Management pursuant to
the immediately preceding sentence is intended to exclude any
increase or decrease in assets under management resulting from
market appreciation or depreciation from and after the Base Date
(or, in the case of a New Advisory Client, such later date as such
New Advisory Client first became an Advisory Client of the Subject
Companies).)
“ Closing Advisory Revenue
Run-Rate ” means, with respect to a Sponsored Fund,
Sub-Advised Fund, Separate Account Client or New Advisory Client
(as applicable), the product of (i) the Closing Adjusted Assets
Under Management of such Sponsored Fund, Sub-Advised Fund, Separate
Account Client or New Advisory Client (as applicable), multiplied
by (ii) the applicable Adjusted Closing Fee Rate.
“ Closing Date ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.
“ Closing Date Balance
Sheet ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(a).
“ Closing Payment
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3.
“ Code ” means
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or any successor
thereto.
“ Company ” has
the meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ Company Financial
Statements ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.7(a).
“ Confidentiality
Agreement ” means the Confidentiality Agreement, dated as
of April 4, 2006, between Seller Parent and Purchaser relating to,
among other things, the confidentiality of certain information
provided by or on behalf of Seller Parent to Purchaser with respect
to the Company and its Subsidiaries.
“ Contract ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.3.
“ Damages ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(a).
“ Deductible ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.1(b).
“ Deferred Compensation
Liabilities ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7.6.
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Deferred Compensation
Plans ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 7.6.
“ Distribution
Agreement ” means (i) any agreement between a Sponsored
Fund and a Subject Company or (ii) any agreement between a
Sponsored Fund or Subject Company and a Third Party intermediary,
Seller, Seller Parent or any of their Subsidiaries (other than the
Subject Companies) pursuant to which (A) such intermediary makes
available to its clients or customers investment products for which
any Subject Company serves as an investment adviser, sub-advisor or
distributor or provides shareholder services with respect to such
investment products or pursuant to which such intermediary and any
Subject Company share revenues relating to such
intermediary’s clients or customers or (B) any Subject
Company or an Affiliate thereof makes available to its clients or
customers investment products for which any Subject Company serves
as an investment adviser, sub-advisor or distributor or provides
shareholder services with respect to such investment products
(including, in each case, without limitation, any agreement or
arrangement pursuant to which a Subject Company makes payments to
an intermediary out of its own resources, for services relating to
the distribution of fund shares, shareholder services or the
provision of non-distribution services for or on behalf of
purchasers of Sponsored Fund shares or the Sponsored
Funds).
“ Election Forms
” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.
“ Elections ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 10.6.
“ ERISA ” means
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
“ Estimated Accruals
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7(b).
“ Estimated Working Capital
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3.
“ Exchange Act ”
means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
“ Fixed Annuity and
Variable Annuity Products ” means fixed annuity products,
variable annuity and variable life insurance products.
“ Fund Board Approval
” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(e).
“ Fund Filings ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19(d).
“ Fund Shareholder
Approvals ” has the meaning set forth in Section
6.3(e).
“ GAAP ” means
generally accepted accounting principles in the United
States.
“ Governmental
Approvals ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.4(a).
“ Governmental
Authority ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.3.
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“ HSR Act ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
“ Indemnified Entity
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(a).
“ Indemnified Purchaser
Entities ” has the meaning set forth in Section
11.1(a).
“ Indemnified Seller
Entities ” has the meaning set forth in Section
11.2(a).
“ Indemnifying Party
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(a).
“ Intellectual Property
” means U.S. and foreign intellectual property, including
patents and patent applications, inventions, discoveries,
processes, algorithms, formulae, technology, know-how, designs,
ideas, research and development, and related improvements;
copyrights and copyrightable works (including software, code,
applications, databases, website content, documentation and related
items in any and all forms and media), and registrations and
applications to register or renew the registration of any of the
foregoing; Trademarks, service marks, trade names, corporate names,
domain names, logos, trade dress, including all goodwill associated
with the foregoing, and other source indicators, and registrations
and applications to register or renew the registration of any of
the foregoing (including all product names or other active or
dormant Trademarks, whether currently or previously used in the
Business); trade secrets and confidential or proprietary
information.
“ Intercompany Balances
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.21(a).
“ Interim Period
” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“ Investment Advisers
Act ” means the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC
thereunder.
“ Investment Company
Act ” means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended, and the rules and regulations of the SEC
thereunder.
“ IRS ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.11(c).
“ Knowledge of Seller
” means the actual knowledge of any of the individuals
identified in Section 1.1 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, or
(except in the case of representations and warranties, other than
the representations and warranties in Section 4.19, regarding the
Sub-Advised Funds) the actual knowledge that would have been
obtained by any of such individuals after due inquiry of those
employees of Seller Parent or its Subsidiaries that such
individuals would reasonably expect to have knowledge of the
relevant subject matter.
“ Leased Real Property
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13(c).
“ Lien ” means
any mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, security interest or other
similar encumbrance or any adverse claim of any kind.
108
“ Make-Whole At 95%
” means, for any Make-Whole Year, the excess, if any, of (i)
the product of (x) the lesser of 95% and the National Channel
Shortfall Percentage, multiplied by (y) Benchmark Fee Revenue for
such Make-Whole Year over (ii) the Selected Annual Fee Revenue for
such Make-Whole Year.
“ Make-Whole At 100%
” means, for any Make-Whole Year, the excess, if any, of (i)
the product of (x) the lesser of 100% and the National Channel
Shortfall Percentage, multiplied by (y) Benchmark Fee Revenue for
such Make-Whole Year over (ii) the Selected Annual Fee Revenue for
such Make-Whole Year.
“ Make-Whole
Calculation ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.6(a).
“ Make-Whole Payment
” means, for any Make-Whole Year, the sum of (i) the
Make-Whole At 95% plus (ii) 50% of the difference, if any, between
(a) the Make-Whole At 100% and (b) the Make-Whole At 95%;
provided that the Make-Whole Payment for any Make-Whole Year
shall not exceed $30 million.
“ Make-Whole Reconciliation
Amount ” means the following amount, if any: (i) if the
Selected Asset Shortfall Amount equals or exceeds the sum of the
Make-Whole Payments, zero; and (ii) in each other case, the excess,
if any, of (x) the sum of the Make-Whole Payments paid by Seller to
Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.6 over (y) the Selected Asset
Shortfall Amount (but in no event more than the sum of the
Make-Whole Payments).
“ Make-Whole Years
” means the 12 month periods ending on the first four
anniversaries of the Closing.
“ Material Adverse
Effect ” means (a) any effect on or change to any Subject
Company that is or would reasonably be expected to be, either
individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to the
business, operations or financial or other condition of the Subject
Companies, taken as a whole, other than any such effect or change
attributable to or resulting from (i) this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby (other than relating to or arising
out of a breach of Section 4.3), (ii) any change in the capital
markets or securities markets, (iii) any change in general economic
conditions or interest rates, (iv) any change or condition
affecting the industries in which the Subject Companies operate
generally, or (v) any change in Applicable Law or GAAP or in the
official interpretations thereof; provided, that the exceptions set
forth in clauses (ii) through (v) shall only apply to the extent
that such effect or change does not have or cause a
disproportionate effect or change on the Subject Companies, taken
as a whole, relative to comparable Persons in the investment
management industry; and further provided that for purposes of the
first sentence of Section 4.10 only, any decline in the Aggregate
Closing Advisory Revenue Run-Rate compared to the Aggregate Base
Advisory Revenue Run-Rate that results solely from the failure to
obtain Client Consents with respect to Sponsored Funds, Sub-Advised
Funds, Separate Account Clients or New Advisory Clients and/or
withdrawals from assets under management by the Subject Companies
for Sponsored Funds, Sub-Advised Funds, Separate Account Clients or
New Advisory Clients following the Base Date, to the extent that
such decline results in an
109
adjustment to the Purchase Price
pursuant to Section 2.5, shall not constitute a Material Adverse
Effect (but any other factor that causes or contributes to such
decline, including any factor that causes clients not to deliver
Client Consents or to effect withdrawals, shall not be excluded by
this proviso); or (b) any effect, change or circumstance that would
reasonably be expected to prohibit or materially impair the ability
of Seller Parent, Seller or any Affiliate of Seller, as applicable,
to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Ancillary Agreements or perform their respective obligations
hereunder and thereunder on a timely basis.
“ Material Contract
” means any written or oral Contract to which any of the
Subject Companies is a party or by which any of them or any of
their assets is bound which (i) is an Advisory Contract or is a
Distribution Agreement pursuant to which any Subject Company has
preferred provider status as of the date hereof, (ii) by its terms
does not terminate or is otherwise not cancelable within 180 days
without penalty, cost or liability and requires aggregate payments
by the Subject Companies in excess of $100,000 per year for any
such Contract, (iii) provides for future payments or the
acceleration or vesting of payments in excess of $25,000 that are
conditioned, in whole or in part, on a change in control of any of
the Subject Companies, (iv) contains provisions restricting in any
material respects the ability of such Subject Company to compete or
engage in any business activity in any location, or that would so
limit the freedom of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or any of
the Subject Companies after Closing; (v) directly relates to any
material Intellectual Property that is owned or licensed by any
Subject Company, (vi) contains provisions requiring future
contingent or definitive “earnout” or similar payments
to be made by a Subject Company in connection with acquisitions of
assets or equity interests of a business or the hiring of any
employees, which future payments could in the aggregate exceed
$250,000 for any such Contract (or series of related Contracts),
(vii) is a Distribution Agreement or an Administration Contract,
(viii) relates to indebtedness for money borrowed by such Subject
Company (or other financing arrangements having the economic effect
of indebtedness, whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured
by any asset) in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate for any such
Contract, (ix) is a lease or sublease of real property which
requires aggregate payments by or to the Subject Companies in
excess of $100,000 per year for any such lease or sublease, (x) is
a Contract between any of the Subject Companies, on the one hand,
and Seller Parent or any of its Affiliates (other than the Subject
Companies), on the other hand, which provides for aggregate
payments by or to the Subject Companies in excess of $100,000 per
year for any such Contract, (xi) relates to any joint venture,
partnership, limited liability company or other similar agreement
or arrangements (including any agreement providing for joint
research, development or marketing); (xii) relates to the
acquisition or disposition of any business, a material amount of
stock or assets of any other Person or any material real property
(whether by merger, sale of stock, sale of assets or otherwise),
including any option agreement; (xiii) relates to any interest
rate, derivatives or hedging transaction; (xiv) is an agreement
(including any “take-or-pay” or keepwell agreement)
under which (A) any Person has directly or indirectly guaranteed
any liabilities or obligations of any of the Subject Companies or
(B) any of the Subject Companies has directly or indirectly
guaranteed any liabilities or obligations of any other Person (in
each case other than endorsements for the purpose of collection in
the ordinary course of business); or (xv) is otherwise material
to
110
the business or operations of the
Subject Companies, taken as a whole; provided ,
however , in no event shall the definition of Material
Contract be deemed to include Benefit Plans; and, provided
further , that a Material Contract shall also include any
custody agreement, administration contract, transfer agent
agreement, accounting services agreement, shareholder services
agreement and similar agreement, by which a Sponsored Fund is bound
or pursuant to which a Sponsored Funds receives
services.
“ NASD ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.18(e).
“ National Channel
Shortfall Percentage ” means, as to any Make-Whole Year,
the quotient (expressed as a percentage) of (i) Purchaser’s
Retail Mutual Fund Annual Fee Revenue in such Make-Whole Year
divided by (ii) Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund Benchmark
Annual Fee Revenue.
“ New Advisory Client
” means any Advisory Client (including a Separate Account
Client) for whom the Subject Companies first commenced providing
investment advisory services following the Base Date and prior to
the Closing; provided , that New Advisory Clients shall not
include a registered investment company (or series thereof) or
Seller, Seller Parent or any of their Affiliates.
“ Owned Intellectual
Property ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.16(a).
“ Permits ” has
the meaning set forth in Section 4.9.
“ Permitted Liens
” means (i) Liens for Taxes, assessments or other
governmental charges not yet due or which are being contested in
good faith by appropriate proceedings, and, in each case, for which
adequate reserves with respect thereto have been made in the
Company Financial Statements in accordance with GAAP, (ii)
carriers’, warehousemen’s, mechanics’,
materialmen’s, repairman’s or other similar Liens that
are not material to the Subject Companies in the aggregate, (iii)
easements, rights of way, building, zoning and other similar
encumbrances or title defects that are not material to the Subject
Companies in the aggregate, and (iv) Liens on assets of any of the
Subject Companies incurred in the ordinary course of business which
do not materially impair business operations or the use of such
properties in the ordinary course of business and that are not
material to the Subject Companies in the aggregate.
“ Person ” means
any individual, corporation, company, partnership (limited or
general), limited liability company, joint venture, association,
trust, unincorporated organization or other business
entity.
“ Pre-Closing Period
” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1.
“ Privacy Policies
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(n).
“ Purchase Price
” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“ Purchaser ” has
the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
111
“ Purchaser Disclosure
Letter ” means the disclosure letter delivered by
Purchaser to Seller at the time of execution hereof.
“ Purchaser Fund Board
Approval ” has the meaning set forth in Section
6.3(e).
“ Purchaser Material
Adverse Effect ” has the meaning set forth in Section
5.4(a).
“ Purchaser Parent
” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
“ Purchaser’s
Affiliated Group ” means any corporation, or group of
corporations, which files a Tax Return together with Purchaser
Parent on a consolidated, combined or unitary basis.
“ Purchaser’s Retail
Mutual Fund Annual Fee Revenue ” means, for each
Make-Whole Year after Closing, the aggregate advisory or
sub-advisory fee revenue that would have been earned in respect of
the funds included in Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund Business
based on the daily average Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund AUM
during such Make-Whole Year if the relevant Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate
for each such fund applied. For purposes of the determination of
“Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund Annual Fee
Revenue,” in the case of each Sponsored Fund that is merged
into a fund sponsored by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates that
exists as of the date hereof, the applicable fee rate shall be the
weighted average fee rates of such Sponsored Fund and such fund
sponsored by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, with such
weighting calculated based on assets under management as of the
Base Date as reflected in Schedule 3.
“ Purchaser’s Retail
Mutual Fund AUM ” means, as of any date of determination,
the dollar amount of assets under management by Purchaser’s
Retail Mutual Fund Business (and, for dates prior to Closing, the
Subject Companies), as of the Base Date, as adjusted to reflect net
asset flows (i.e., sales, redemptions, purchases, contributions,
deposits, withdrawals, exchanges, surrenders, dividend payments,
interest payments, reinvestments of dividends and reinvestments of
interest) with respect to such assets under management following
the Base Date through and including the date of determination, but
excluding Selected AUM. (For the avoidance of doubt, the
calculation of Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund AUM pursuant to
the immediately preceding sentence is intended to exclude any
increase or decrease in assets under management resulting from
market appreciation or depreciation from and after the Base
Date.)
“ Purchaser’s Retail
Mutual Fund Benchmark Annual Fee Revenue ” means the
amount set forth on Schedule 3.
“ Purchaser’s Retail
Mutual Fund Business ” means the operations of Purchaser
and its Affiliates (including, after Closing, the Subject
Companies) distributing, and acting as an advisor or sub-advisor
to, Retail Mutual Funds sold through broker-dealers in the United
States; provided , however , that Purchaser’s
Retail Mutual Fund Business shall exclude the mutual fund business
of Purchaser and its Affiliates related to (a) 401(k) Plans
sponsored by third parties for which Purchaser or its Affiliates
provide recordkeeping, trust, custodial, investment advisory, or
other services, (b) participant asset rollovers from such 401(k)
Plans into other products manufactured, distributed, or
112
serviced by Purchaser and its
Affiliates, and (c) Purchaser’s or its Affiliates’
mutual funds sold by Purchaser’s or its Affiliates’
career insurance agents. For the avoidance of doubt, the
Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund Business as of the Base Date
consisted of the assets under management described in Schedule
4.
“ Registered Fund
Clients ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.19(a).
“ Registered Separate
Account ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.19(f).
“ Retail Mutual Fund
” means any corporation, trust or other juridical entity (i)
organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof,
(ii) which is registered as an investment company under Section 8
of the Investment Company Act (and which has not elected to be
treated as a business development company pursuant to Section 54 of
the Investment Company Act), and (iii) which has registered, or
proposes to register, its securities under the Securities Act for
public offering and sale.
“ Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate
” means, in respect of any Sponsored Fund, Sub-Advised Fund,
Separate Account Client or New Advisory Client (as applicable), or
the Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund AUM, as the case may be,
the fee rate set forth on Schedule 2.6, which schedule sets forth
the relevant fee rates as of April 30, 2006.
“ Seattle Sublease
” means the Sublease Agreement, dated as of July 1, 1999,
between Washington Mutual Bank, a Washington state chartered stock
savings bank, and the Company, as amended by the First Amendment to
Sublease Agreement, made effective as of July 1, 2004, between
Washington Mutual Bank, a federal association, successor by way of
merger to Washington Mutual Bank, a Washington state chartered
stock savings bank, and the Company.
“ SEC ” means the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Section 338
Allocation ” has the meaning set forth in Section
10.6.
“ Securities Act
” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the SEC thereunder.
“ Selected Annual Fee
Revenue ” means, for each Make-Whole Year after Closing,
the advisory or sub-advisory fee revenue that would have been
earned in respect of the daily average Selected AUM during such
Make-Whole Year if the relevant Schedule 2.6 Fee Rate (or, in the
case of Selected AUM managed for a Special Client, such lower rate
as applied from time to time during such Make-Whole Year) applied.
For illustrative purposes only, the Selected Annual Fee Revenue as
of the Base Date is calculated on Schedule 2.
“ Selected Asset Shortfall
Amount ” means the sum of (i) the Selected Asset
Shortfall At 95% plus (ii) 50% of the difference, if any, between
(a) the Selected Asset Shortfall At 100% and (b) the Selected Asset
Shortfall At 95%.
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“ Selected Asset Shortfall
At 95% ” means the excess, if any, of (a) the product of
(i) 3.8 and (ii) the Benchmark Fee Revenue, over (b) the sum of the
Selected Annual Fee Revenues for each Make-Whole Year.
“ Selected Asset Shortfall
At 100% ” means the excess, if any, of (a) the product of
(i) 4.0 and (ii) the Benchmark Fee Revenue, over (b) the sum of the
Selected Annual Fee Revenues for each Make-Whole Year.
“Selected AUM
” means, as of any date of
determination, without duplication, the dollar amount of assets
under management by the Subject Companies and by Purchaser and its
Affiliates (including, after the Closing, the Subject Companies) in
the United States (i) through the Bank Channel and (ii) for Seller,
Seller Parent or any of their Affiliates (other than the Subject
Companies) other than in respect of any 401(k) Plan of such Person,
in each case as of the Base Date, as adjusted to reflect net asset
flows (i.e., sales, redemptions, purchases, contributions,
deposits, withdrawals, exchanges, surrenders, dividend payments,
interest payments, reinvestments of dividends and reinvestments of
interest) with respect to such assets under management following
the Base Date, through and including the date of determination.
(For the avoidance of doubt, the calculation of Selected AUM
pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence is intended to
exclude any increase or decrease in assets under management
resulting from market appreciation or depreciation from and after
the Base Date.) For illustrative purposes only, the Selected AUM as
of the Base Date is set forth on Schedule 2. Notwithstanding
anything herein to the contrary, assets advised or subadvised by
the Subject Companies as of the date hereof that are related to any
Fixed Annuity and Variable Annuity Products and that are not
described in Schedule Y of the Seller Disclosure Letter, together
with, for the avoidance of doubt, assets advised or subadvised by
the Subject Companies or, after the Closing, Purchaser and its
Affiliates that are related to any Fixed Annuity and Variable
Annuity Products that are first introduced for distribution in the
Bank Channel after the date hereof, shall be deemed to be assets
under management through the Bank Channel for purposes of the
definition of “Selected AUM”.
“ Seller ” has
the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
“ Seller Disclosure
Letter ” means the disclosure letter delivered by Seller
to Purchaser at the time of execution hereof.
“ Seller Parent ”
has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph
hereof.
“ Seller Parent’s
Group ” means any corporation, or group of corporations,
which files a Tax Return together with Seller Parent on a
consolidated, combined or unitary basis.
“ Seller Permitted
Activities ” means engaging in the business of
distributing and servicing Retail Mutual Funds of third parties at
bank branches through WM Financial Services, Inc. and any other
controlled Affiliate of Seller Parent.
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“ Seller Restricted
Activities ” means engaging in the Territory in the
business of (a) acting as investment adviser or subadviser to or
otherwise sponsoring or managing a Retail Mutual Fund, or (b)
performing fund administration and related activities in respect of
the activities covered by the preceding clause (a).
“ Seller Restricted
Period ” means the period beginning on the Closing Date
and ending on the fifth anniversary of Closing, provided that the
Seller Restricted Period shall in no event exceed the maximum time
period allowed by Applicable Law.
“ Seller Severance Plan
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2.
“ Separate Account
Clients ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.19(a).
“ Separate Account
Consent ” has the meaning set forth in Section
6.3(f).
“ Special Client
” means any of the entities set forth on Schedule Z of the
Seller Disclosure Letter.
“ Sponsored Fund
Shareholder Approval ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.3(e).
“ Sponsored Funds
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19(a).
“ SRO ” has the
meaning set forth in Section 4.18(n).
“ Stock ” has the
meaning set forth in the preamble to this Agreement.
“ Sub-Advised Fund
Shareholder Approval ” has the meaning set forth in
Section 6.3(e).
“ Sub-Advised Funds
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19(a).
“ Subject Companies
” means, collectively, the Company and its
Subsidiaries.
“ Subsidiary ”
means, with respect to any entity, a corporation or other entity of
which the outstanding shares of stock or other equity interests
having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of
directors (or comparable body) of such corporation or other entity
are owned, directly or indirectly, through one or more
intermediaries, by such entity. Ownership through fiduciary, trust,
custodial or similar arrangements for the account of customers
shall not constitute ownership of stock or other equity interests
for purposes of this definition.
“ Tangible Net Worth
” means the total tangible assets of the Company consolidated
with its Subsidiaries minus the total liabilities of the Company
consolidated with its Subsidiaries (in each case as determined in
accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis consistent with the
Company Financial Statements, and Schedule 2.4(a)).
“ Target Working Capital
Amount ” means $11,575,000.
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“ Tax-Exempt Municipal Bond
Fund ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.19(f).
“ Tax Returns ”
means all returns, declarations, reports, estimates, information
returns (including IRS Forms 1098, 1099, 1042 and 1042-S),
statements and other documents (including any related or supporting
information) required to be filed in respect of Taxes, including
any information returns, claims for refunds of Taxes, and any
amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, and “Tax
Return” means any of the foregoing Tax Returns.
“ Taxes ” means
any and all federal, state, county, provincial, local, foreign and
other taxes, charges, fees, levies or other assessments, including
without limitation all net income, alternative or add-on minimum,
gross income, gross receipts, premium, estimated, sales, use, ad
valorem, value-added, environmental, windfall, capital stock,
property, transfer, franchise, profits, license, withholding,
payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, customs,
duties and guaranty fund assessments, together with any interest,
additions to tax or interest, and penalties with respect thereto
imposed by any taxing authority.
“ Territory ”
means the United States of America.
“ Third Party ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(a).
“ Third Party Adviser
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19(w).
“ Third Party Claim
” has the meaning set forth in Section 11.3(b).
“ Third Party Consents
” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(b).
“ Trademarks ”
has the meaning set forth in Section 6.6(a).
“ Transaction Bonus
Plan ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7.3.
“ Transition Services
Agreement ” means the Transition Services Agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B, with such
additions and modifications to the exhibits and schedules thereto
as Purchaser and Seller shall agree to, as contemplated by the
second sentence of Section 6.12.
“ Vacation Policy
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.5.
“ Variable Insurance
Products Fund ” has the meaning set forth in Section
4.19(f).
“ Variable Pay Plan
” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7(b).
“ Variable Pay Plan
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7.7(b).
“ Variable Pay Plan
Participant ” has the meaning set forth in Section
7.7(b).
“ Working Capital
Amount ” means the current assets of the Company
consolidated with its Subsidiaries minus the current liabilities of
the Company
116
consolidated with its Subsidiaries
(in each case as determined in accordance with GAAP, applied on a
basis consistent with the Company Financial Statements, and
Schedule 2.4(a), and including only the line items used in the
example calculation of the Working Capital Amount set forth in
Schedule 2.4(b) hereto).
“ Working Capital
Deficiency Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(c).
“ Working Capital Surplus
Amount ” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(c).
Article II
PURCHASE AND DELIVERY OF STOCK
2.1
Delivery of Stock . On the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in this Agreement, Seller shall, at the
Closing on the Closing Date, transfer, assign and deliver to
Purchaser or its designee certificates evidencing the Stock, free
and clear of Liens other than Liens created by Purchaser or its
Affiliates. Such certificates evidencing the Stock shall be duly
endorsed in blank, or be accompanied by stock transfer powers duly
executed in blank, with all necessary stock transfer tax stamps
affixed thereto and cancelled.
2.2
Closing; Payment of Purchase Price . On the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and against
delivery of the certificates evidencing the Stock as provided in
Section 2.1, Purchaser shall pay, at the Closing on the Closing
Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to such
account or accounts as Seller shall designate in writing to
Purchaser not less than one Business Day prior to the Closing Date
$740,000,000 (the “ Base Purchase Price ”),
subject to adjustment as provided in Sections 2.3 through 2.7 (as
so adjusted, the “ Purchase Price ”).
2.3
Estimated Working Capital Amount . (a) Seller shall use its
reasonable best efforts to cause a full balance sheet closing to
take place on the Closing Date as if it were the last day of a
fiscal period for the Company and its Subsidiaries. Not later than
five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall
deliver to Purchaser a written statement containing an estimated
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries and
an estimated calculation of the Working Capital Amount, in each
case as of the close of business on the Closing Date (the “
Estimated Working Capital Amount ”). The Estimated
Working Capital Amount shall be calculated in accordance with GAAP,
applied on a basis consistent with the Company Financial
Statements, and Schedule 2.4(a).
(b)
If the Estimated Working Capital Amount is less than the Target
Working Capital Amount, the Purchase Price paid by Purchaser at the
Closing shall be decreased by the excess of the Target Working
Capital Amount over the Estimated Working Capital Amount. If the
Estimated Working Capital Amount is greater than the Target Working
Capital Amount, the Purchase Price paid by Purchaser at the Closing
shall be increased by the excess of the Estimated Working Capital
Amount over the Target Working Capital Amount.
2.4
Post-Closing Working Capital Purchase Price Adjustment . The
Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment after the Closing as
specified in this Section 2.4.
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(a)
Closing Date Balance Sheet . As promptly as practicable, but
in any event within 60 days following the Closing, Purchaser shall
deliver to Seller a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and
its Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date (the “ Closing
Date Balance Sheet ”). The Closing Date Balance Sheet
shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP, applied on a basis
consistent with the Company Financial Statements, and Schedule
2.4(a), and shall be accompanied by a written statement setting
forth a calculation of the Working Capital Amount and the Tangible
Net Worth as of the close of business on the Closing Date, based on
the Closing Date Balance Sheet. Seller and Seller Parent shall
assist and cooperate with Purchaser in all commercially reasonable
respects in the preparation of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and
the calculation of the Working Capital Amount and the Tangible Net
Worth, including by providing Purchaser with reasonable access to
any relevant personnel, books and records related to the Company
and its Subsidiaries that are in Seller’s or Seller
Parent’s possession.
(b)
Disputes . (i) Seller and its accountants shall be provided
with reasonable access to the work papers of Purchaser and its
accountants and to the books and records of the Company and its
Subsidiaries in connection with its review of the Closing Date
Balance Sheet and the calculation of the Working Capital Amount and
the Tangible Net Worth; provided , however , that the
auditors and outside accountants of Purchaser and the Subject
Companies shall not be obligated to make work papers available to
Seller or its accountants unless Seller and its accountants have
signed a customary agreement relating to access to such work papers
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such accountants, as
applicable.
(ii)
Seller may dispute amounts on the Closing Date Balance Sheet and/or
the calculation of the Working Capital Amount and the Tangible Net
Worth, by notifying Purchaser in writing within 30 days of
Seller’s receipt of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and
calculation of the Working Capital Amount and the Tangible Net
Worth from Purchaser that Seller believes the Closing Date Balance
Sheet or the calculation of the Working Capital Amount and the
Tangible Net Worth contains mathematical errors or was not prepared
in accordance with Section 2.4(a) and setting forth, in reasonable
detail, the basis for such dispute. Seller shall not challenge the
Closing Date Balance Sheet or calculation of the Working Capital
Amount and the Tangible Net Worth on any other basis. In the event
of such a dispute, Seller and Purchaser shall attempt to reconcile
their differences, and any resolution by them as to any disputed
amounts or calculations shall be final, binding and conclusive on
the parties hereto. If Seller and Purchaser are unable to reach a
resolution with such effect within 30 days after the receipt by
Purchaser of Seller’s written notice of dispute, Seller and
Purchaser shall submit the items remaining in dispute for
resolution to KPMG LLP (or, if such firm shall decline or is unable
to act or is not, at the time of such submission, independent of
Seller and Purchaser, to another independent accounting firm of
international reputation mutually acceptable to Seller and
Purchaser) (either KPMG LLP or such other accounting firm being
referred to herein as the “ Accounting Firm ”),
which shall, within 45 days after such submission, determine and
report to Seller and Purchaser upon such remaining disputed items
or calculations, and such report shall be final, binding and
conclusive on Seller and Purchaser; provided that in no
event shall the Accounting Firm’s determination of such
remaining disputed items or calculations be for an amount that is
outside the range of the Purchaser’s and Seller’s
disagreement. Purchaser and Seller shall make reasonably available
to the Accounting Firm all relevant
118
books and records, any work papers
(including those of the parties’ respective accountants, to
the extent applicable) and supporting documentation relating to the
Closing Date Balance Sheet, the calculation of the Working Capital
Amount and the Tangible Net Worth and any other items reasonably
requested by the Accounting Firm; provided , however
, that the accountants of Seller, Seller Parent, Purchaser and the
Subject Companies shall not be obligated to make work papers
available to the Accounting Firm unless the Accounting Firm has
signed a customary agreement relating to access to such work papers
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such accountants.
The fees and disbursements of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by
Seller and Purchaser in proportion to the relative differences
between their respective calculations of the remaining disputed
items or calculations and the aggregate amount of such remaining
disputed items or calculations as determined by the Accounting
Firm.
(c)
Purchase Price Adjustment . The Closing Date Balance Sheet
and calculation of the Working Capital Amount and the Tangible Net
Worth shall be deemed final for the purposes of this Section 2.4
upon the earliest of (i) the failure of Seller to notify Purchaser
of a dispute within 30 days of Seller’s receipt of the
Closing Date Balance Sheet from Purchaser, (ii) the resolution of
all disputes, pursuant to Section 2.4(b), by Seller and Purchaser
or (iii) the resolution of all disputes, pursuant to Section
2.4(b), by the Accounting Firm. Within three Business Days of the
Closing Date Balance Sheet and calculation of the Working Capital
Amount and the Tangible Net Worth being deemed final, a Purchase
Price adjustment shall be paid as follows:
(I)
If the Working Capital Amount calculated based on the Closing Date
Balance Sheet is less than the Estimated Working Capital Amount,
Seller shall pay to Purchaser, in immediately available funds, an
amount equal to the excess of the Estimated Working Capital Amount
over the Working Capital Amount based on the Closing Date Balance
Sheet (any such excess, the “ Working Capital Deficiency
Amount ”). Seller shall pay the Working Capital
Deficiency Amount, if applicable, to Purchaser in cash by wire
transfer of immediately available federal funds to such bank
account(s) as shall be designated in writing by Purchaser to Seller
within one (1) Business Day of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and
calculation of the Working Capital Amount being deemed
final.
(II)
If the Working Capital Amount calculated based on the Closing Date
Balance Sheet is greater than the Estimated Working Capital Amount,
Purchaser shall pay to Seller, in immediately available funds, an
amount equal to the excess of the Working Capital Amount based on
the Closing Date Balance Sheet over the Estimated Working Capital
Amount (any such excess, the “ Working Capital Surplus
Amount ”). Purchaser shall pay the Working Capital
Surplus Amount, if applicable, to Seller in cash by wire transfer
of immediately available federal funds to such bank account(s) as
shall be designated in writing by Seller to Purchaser within one
(1) Business Day of the Closing Date Balance Sheet and calculation
of the Working Capital Amount being deemed final.
(III)
If the sum of (i) the Tangible Net Worth on the Closing Date
Balance Sheet, plus (ii) any Purchase Price adjustment in favor of
Purchaser
119
pursuant to Sections 2.3(b) or
2.4(c)(I), minus (iii) any Purchase Price adjustment in favor of
the Seller pursuant to Sections 2.3(b) or 2.4(c)(II) (such sum, the
“ Adjusted TNW Amount ”), is less than
$11,575,000, Seller shall pay to Purchaser, in immediately
available funds, an amount equal to $11,575,000 less the Adjusted
TNW Amount. Seller shall pay such amount, if applicable, to
Purchaser in cash by wire transfer of immediately available federal
funds to such bank account(s) as shall be designated in writing by
Purchaser to Seller within one (1) Business Day of the Closing Date
Balance Sheet and calculation of the Tangible Net Worth being
deemed final.
(d)
Interest on Payments . Any payments required to be made by
Seller or Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.4(c) shall be accompanied
by cash interest thereon calculated from the Closing through the
date of payment at the prime lending rate prevailing during such
period as published in The Wall Street Journal.
(e)
The provisions in Section 2.4(b) relating to resolutions of
disputes by an Accounting Firm are not intended to and shall not be
interpreted to require that the parties refer to such a firm (i)
any dispute arising out of a breach by one of the parties of its
obligations under this Agreement or (ii) any dispute the resolution
of which requires the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement (apart from the mathematical calculation of the Working
Capital Amount and the accounting treatment of current assets and
current liabilities insofar as such treatment affects the Closing
Date Balance Sheet and the calculation of the Working Capital
Amount).
2.5
Purchase Price Adjustment Based on Changes in Advisory Revenue
Run-Rate . The Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment at
the Closing as specified in this Section 2.5.
(a)
Purchase Price Adjustment . If the Aggregate Closing
Advisory Revenue Run-Rate is less than the Aggregate Base Advisory
Revenue Run-Rate, the Purchase Price shall be reduced to the amount
that is equal to the product of the Base Purchase Price and a
fraction, the numerator of which is the Aggregate Closing Advisory
Revenue Run-Rate and the denominator of which is the Aggregate Base
Advisory Revenue Run-Rate; provided , however , that
if the fraction referred to in the preceding clause is less than
eight tenths (0.8), then eight tenths (0.8) shall be used in lieu
of such fraction.
(b)
Delivery of Statements . At least 20 and no more than 30
days before the Closing Date, Seller shall prepare in good faith
and deliver to Purchaser:
(i)
an estimate of the Aggregate
Closing Advisory Revenue Run-Rate, together with supporting
calculations in reasonable detail; and
(ii)
an estimate of the reduction in
the Base Purchase Price, if any, pursuant to this Section
2.5.
Seller and Seller Parent shall give,
and shall cause the Subject Companies and their respective
advisers, counsel and accountants to give, Purchaser and its
advisers, counsel and accountants full access to the Subject
Companies’ books, records and personnel needed to enable
Purchaser
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to participate meaningfully in
determining the estimate of the Aggregate Closing Advisory Revenue
Run-Rate and the estimate of the Base Purchase Price reduction, if
any; provided , however , that the auditors and
outside accountants of Seller, Seller Parent and the Subject
Companies shall not be obligated to make accounting work papers
available to Purchaser or its advisers, counsel and outside
accountants unless Purchaser has signed a customary agreement
relating to access to such accounting work papers in form and
substance reasonably acceptable to Seller’s, Seller
Parent’s and the Subject Companies’ respective
accountants, as applicable.
(c)
Delivery of Statements . Promptly following the close of
business on the Business Day immediately preceding the Closing
Date, Seller shall prepare in good faith and deliver to
Purchaser:
(i)
a statement showing the Aggregate
Closing Advisory Revenue Run-Rate, together with supporting
calculations in reasonable detail; and
(ii)
a statement of the reduction in
the Base Purchase Price, if any, pursuant to this Section
2.5.
Seller and Seller Parent shall give,
and shall cause the Subject Companies and their respective
advisers, counsel and accountants to give, Purchaser and its
advisers, counsel and accountants full access to the Subject
Companies’ books, records and personnel needed to enable
Purchaser to review such statements; provided ,
however , that the auditors and outside accountants of
Seller, Seller Parent or the Subject Companies shall not be
obligated to make work papers available to Purchaser or its
advisers, counsel and outside accountants unless Purchaser has
signed a customary agreement relating to access to such accounting
work papers in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Seller,
Seller Parent, or the Subject Companies, as applicable, and their
respective accountants, as applicable.
(d)
Disputes . If Purchaser disputes the statements delivered by
Seller pursuant to Section 2.5(c), the Closing shall proceed based
on the statements delivered by Seller and such dispute thereafter
shall be resolved as follows. Seller and Purchaser shall first
attempt to reconcile their differences, and any resolution by them
as to any disputed amounts or calculations shall be final, binding
and conclusive on the parties hereto. If Seller and Purchaser are
unable to reach a resolution with such effect within 10 Business
Days, Seller and Purchaser shall submit the items remaining in
dispute for resolution to the Accounting Firm, which shall, within
15 Business Days after such submission, determine and report to
Seller and Purchaser upon such remaining disputed items or
calculations, and such report shall be final, binding and
conclusive on Seller and Purchaser; provided that in no
event shall the Accounting Firm’s determination of such
remaining disputed items or calculations be for an amount that is
outside the range of the Purchaser’s and Seller’s
disagreement. Purchaser and Seller shall make reasonably available
to the Accounting Firm all relevant books and records, any work
papers (including those of the parties’ respective
accountants, to the extent applicable) and supporting documentation
relating to the determination of the Aggregate Closing Advisory
Revenue Run-Rate and the reduction in the Purchase Price, if any;
provided , however , that the parties’ outside
accountants shall not be obligated to make work papers available to
the Accounting Firm unless the Accounting Firm has signed a
customary agreement relating to access to such work papers
in
121
form and
substance reasonably acceptable to such accountants. The fees and
disbursements of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by Purchaser
and Seller in proportion to the relative differences between their
respective calculations of the remaining disputed items or
calculations and the aggregate amount of such remaining disputed
items or calculations as determined by the Accounting
Firm.
(e)
Purchase Price Adjustment . The reduction in the Purchase
Price, if any, shall be deemed final for purposes of this Section
2.5 upon the earliest of (i) the failure of Purchaser to notify
Seller of a dispute within 45 days following the Closing Date, (ii)
the resolution of all disputes, pursuant to Section 2.5(d), by
Seller and Purchaser or (iii) the resolution of all disputes,
pursuant to Section 2.5(d), by the Accounting Firm. Any amount that
is disputed by Purchaser but paid to Seller at Closing and
thereafter resolved in favor of Purchaser shall be promptly paid by
Seller to Purchaser. Any payments required to be made by Seller
pursuant to Section 2.5 shall be accompanied by cash interest
thereon calculated from the Closing through the date of payment at
the prime lending rate prevailing during such period as published
in The Wall Street Journal. The provisions in this Section 2.5
relating to resolutions of disputes by an Accounting Firm are not
intended to and shall not be interpreted to require that the
parties refer to such a firm (i) any dispute arising out of a
breach by one of the parties of its obligations under this
Agreement or (ii) any dispute the resolution of which requires the
construction or interpretation of this Agreement (apart from the
mathematical calculation of the reduction in the Purchase Price
pursuant to this Section 2.5).
2.6
Make-Whole Purchase Price Adjustment . The Purchase Price
shall be subject to further adjustment after the Closing as
specified in this Section 2.6.
(a)
Make-Whole Calculation . As promptly as practicable, but in
any event within 60 days following the end of each of the
Make-Whole Years, Purchaser shall deliver to Seller a calculation
(the “ Make-Whole Calculation ”), with
reasonable supporting documentation, of the following items for
such period: Selected AUM; Selected Annual Fee Revenue;
Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund AUM; Purchaser’s Retail
Mutual Fund Annual Fee Revenue; and the Make-Whole Payment, if any.
In addition, Purchaser shall deliver to Seller a preliminary,
quarterly calculation of such amounts within 45 days after the end
of each of the first three quarterly periods during each of the
Make-Whole Years; provided, that such quarterly calculations shall
be for information purposes only. The Selected AUM and the
Purchaser’s Retail Mutual Fund AUM shall be derived from the
books and records of Purchaser and its Subsidiaries for the
relevant periods of determination. Seller and Seller Parent shall
assist and cooperate with Purchaser in all commercially reasonable
respects in the calculation of such items, including by providing
Purchaser with reasonable access to any relevant personnel, books
and records in the possession of Seller, Seller Parent or any of
their Affiliates.
(b)
Disputes . (i) Seller and its accountants shall be provided
with reasonable access to the work papers of Purchaser and its
accountants and to the books and records of the Purchaser and its
Subsidiaries in connection with its review of the Make-Whole
Calculation delivered by Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.6(a);
provided , however , that Purchaser’s outside
accountants shall not be obligated to make work papers available to
Seller or its accountants unless Seller and its outside accountants
have signed a customary agreement relating to access to
122
such work papers
in form and substance reasonably acceptable to Purchaser and
Purchaser’s outside accountants.
(ii)
Seller may dispute any amounts on the Make-Whole Calculation by
notifying Purchaser in writing of any such disputed amounts or
calculations and setting forth, in reasonable detail, the basis for
such dispute within 30 days of Seller’s receipt of the
Make-Whole Calculation from Purchaser. In the event of such a
dispute, Seller and Purchaser shall attempt to reconcile their
differences, and any resolution by them as to any disputed amounts
or calculations shall be final, binding and conclusive on the
parties hereto. If Seller and Purchaser are unable to reach a
resolution with such effect within 30 days after the receipt by
Purchaser of Seller’s written notice of dispute, Seller and
Purchaser shall submit the items remaining in dispute for
resolution to the Accounting Firm, which shall, within 45 days
after such submission, determine and report to Seller and Purchaser
upon such remaining disputed items or calculations, and such report
shall be final, binding and conclusive on Seller and Purchaser;
provided that in no event shall the Accounting Firm’s
determination of such remaining disputed items or calculations be
for an amount that is outside the range of the Purchaser’s
and Seller’s disagreement. Purchaser and Seller shall make
reasonably available to the Accounting Firm all relevant books and
records, any work papers (including those of the parties’
respective accountants, to the extent applicable) and supporting
documentation relating to the Make-Whole Calculation;
provided , however , that the parties’ outside
accountants shall not be obligated to make work papers available to
the Accounting Firm unless the Accounting Firm has signed a
customary agreement relating to access to such work papers in form
and substance reasonably acceptable to such accountants. The fees
and disbursements of the Accounting Firm shall be borne by
Purchaser and Seller in proportion to the relative differences
between their respective calculations of the remaining disputed
items or calculations and the aggregate amount of such remaining
disputed items or calculations as determined by the Accounting
Firm.
(c)
Make-Whole Purchase Price Adjustment . The calculation of
the amount of the Make-Whole Payment shall be deemed final for the
purposes of this Section 2.6 upon the earliest of (i) the failure
of Seller to notify Purchaser of a dispute within 30 days of
Seller’s receipt of the Make-Whole Calculation for the
applicable period from Purchaser, (ii) the resolution of all
disputes, pursuant to Section 2.6(b), by Seller and Purchaser or
(iii) the resolution of all disputes, pursuant to Section 2.6(b),
by the Accounting Firm. Within three Business Days of any
calculation of the amount of the Make-Whole Payment being deemed
final, Seller shall pay to Purchaser an amount equal to the finally
determined Make-Whole Payment in cash by wire transfer of
immediately available federal funds to such bank account(s) as
shall be designated in writing by Purchaser.
(d)
Make-Whole Reconciliation Amount . If any Make-Whole Payment
is paid by Seller to Purchaser pursuant to Section 2.6(c) above in
respect of any Make-Whole Year, then within 10 Business Days
following the date on which the Make-Whole Payment for the
Make-Whole Year ending on the fourth anniversary of Closing becomes
final as provided in Section 2.6(c), Purchaser shall deliver to
Seller a calculation of the Make-Whole Reconciliation
123
Amount. The
calculation of the Make-Whole Reconciliation Amount shall use the
final calculations for each Make-Whole Payment and related items as
finally determined pursuant to Section 2.6(c) above. Within three
Business Days of the delivery of the calculation of the Make-Whole
Reconciliation Amount, Purchaser shall pay to Seller an amount
equal to the finally determined Make-Whole Reconciliation Amount,
if any, in cash by wire transfer of immediately available federal
funds to such bank account(s) as shall be designated in writing by
Seller.
2.7
Post-Closing True-Up . (a) If (i) (x) Fund Shareholder
Approval was not obtained with respect to any Sponsored Fund or
(solely to the extent that approval of the shareholders of a
Sub-Advised Fund is required under Section 15 of the Investment
Company Act, as determined by the sponsor of such Sub-Advised Fund)
Sub-Advised Fund, or (y) any Separate Account Consent was not
obtained prior to Closing, (ii) the Purchase Price was adjusted at
Closing pursuant to Section 2.5 as a result of the failure to
obtain such Fund Shareholder Approval or Separate Account Consent,
as the case may be, and (iii) on or prior to the 120
th day after the Closing Date any such Fund
Shareholder Approval or Separate Account Consent is obtained and in
full force and effect as of the 120 th day after the Closing Date, then Purchaser
shall pay to Seller, on the 130 th day after the Closing Date, an amount
equal to the excess, if any, of (I) the Purchase Price that would
have been paid if the Aggregate Closing Advisory Revenue Run-Rate
had been calculated as provided in Section 2.7(b) and assuming that
such Fund Shareholder Approval or Separate Account Consent, as the
case may be, had been obtained prior to Closing over (II) the
Purchase Price that was paid at Closing, provided that in no
event shall Purchaser be obligated to pay Seller, in respect of any
Fund Shareholder Approval or Special Client Consent, an amount in
excess of the lesser of (s) the reduction of the Purchase Price
pursuant to Section 2.5 attributable to the relevant Sponsored
Fund, Sub-Advised Fund or Special Account Client, as the case may
be, and (t) the amount of the increase in the Purchase Price
pursuant to this Section 2.7 that is attributable to the specific
Sponsored Fund, Sub-Advised Fund or Special Account Client, as the
case may be.
(b)
For purposes of calculating the Aggregate Closing Advisory Revenue
Run-Rate in respect of the relevant Sponsored Funds, Sub-Advised
Funds and Separate Account Clients to which this Section 2.7
applies: (A) references to the Closing and the Closing Date in the
definitions of Aggregate Closing Advisory Revenue Run-Rate and
Closing Adjusted Assets Under Management shall be deemed to be
references to the Business Day immediately following the date that
the relevant Fund Shareholder Approval or Separate Account Consent
is obtained; and (B) references to the Closing in the definition of
Adjusted Closing Fee Rate shall be deemed to be references to the
Business Day immediately following the later of (u) the date that
the relevant Fund Shareholder Approval or Separate Account Consent
is obtained and (v) the date that any new Advisory Contract or
merger, as the case may be, takes effect.
(c)
The procedures for resolving disputes between Seller and Purchaser
set forth in Section 2.5(d) shall apply, mutatis mutandis ,
to any disputes arising under this Section 2.7.
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Article III
CLOSING DATE
3.1
Closing Date . Unless this Agreement shall have theretofore
been terminated and the transactions herein abandoned pursuant to
Section 9.1, subject to the provisions of Article VIII, the closing
(the “ Closing ”) of the purchase and sale of
the Stock provided for in Article II shall take place at the
offices of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, 425 Lexington
Avenue, New York, New York, as of 4:01 p.m., New York City time, on
the last Business Day of the first calendar month during which all
conditions set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2 and 8.3 (other than
conditions relating to delivery of certificates at the Closing) are
satisfied or waived at least two (2) Business Days prior to such
calendar month-end, or at such other place and time and on such
other date as the parties may agree in writing, in either such case
provided that all conditions set forth in Sections 8.1, 8.2
and 8.3 remain satisfied or waived as of the Closing. The date on
which the Closing occurs is herein called the “ Closing
Date ”.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Except as set forth in the Seller
Disclosure Letter, Seller and Seller Parent, jointly and severally,
represent and warrant to Purchaser and Purchaser Parent, as of the
date hereof and as of the Closing Date, that:
4.1
Organization, Power, etc . (a) Each of Seller and Seller
Parent is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation.
(b)
Each of the Subject Companies has been duly incorporated or
organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Where
applicable, each of the Subject Companies is duly qualified or
licensed as a foreign corporation or other entity to do business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the nature of
its business or properties makes such qualification or license
necessary, and each of the Subject Companies has full power and
authority necessary to own all of its properties and assets and to
carry on its business as it is now being conducted, except where
failure to be so qualified, licensed or in good standing or to have
such power or authority (as applicable) would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. True and complete
copies of the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries, as in effect as of the date
hereof, have heretofore been delivered or made available to
Purchaser.
4.2
Authority Relative to Agreements . Each of Seller, Seller
Parent and any Affiliate of Seller which is to be a party to an
Ancillary Agreement, as applicable, has the corporate power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements, to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder,
and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
The execution and delivery by each of Seller, Seller Parent and any
Affiliate of Seller which is to be a party to an Ancillary
Agreement, as applicable, of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements, the performance of its obligations hereunder and
thereunder and its consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action. This Agreement has been,
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and the Ancillary Agreements upon
their execution and delivery at Closing will have been, duly and
validly executed and delivered by Seller, Seller Parent and any
Affiliate of Seller which is to be a party to an Ancillary
Agreement, as applicable, and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery by Purchaser or its Affiliates party
thereto, constitute their legal and binding obligations,
enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, except as
may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable
principles.
4.3
Non-Contravention . The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Seller and Seller Parent do not, and the execution and
delivery of the Ancillary Agreements by Seller, Seller Parent and
any Affiliate of Seller which is to be a party to an Ancillary
Agreement, as applicable, will not, and their consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and their performance
of the obligations which they are obligated to perform or cause to
be performed hereunder and thereunder will not: (a) violate any
provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws or other
organizational documents of any of them or of any Subject Company
or Sponsored Fund; or (b) assuming that all consents,
authorizations, orders or approvals of, filings or registrations
with, and notices to, any national, state or local government or
political subdivision thereof, any entity, authority or body
exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or
administrative functions of or pertaining to government, any court,
tribunal or arbitrator, and any self-regulatory organization
(“ Governmental Authority ”) referred to in
Section 4.4(a), all Third Party Consents referred to in Section
4.4(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, and all Client Consents of
Advisory Clients contemplated by Section 6.3 have been obtained or,
in the case of filings, registrations and notices, made, (i)
conflict with or violate any law, regulation, rule, order, judgment
or decree of any Governmental Authority (“ Applicable
Law ”), (ii) except as set forth in Section 4.3 of the
Seller Disclosure Letter, require the consent of or other action by
any Person under, violate, result in the termination or
acceleration of or of any right under, give rise to or modify any
right or obligation under (whether or not in combination with any
other event or circumstance), or conflict with, breach or
constitute a default under (in each case with or without notice,
the passage of time or both), any mortgage, indenture, lease,
license, note, contract, agreement, commitment, Benefit Plan or
other instrument or arrangement (each a “ Contract
”) to which any of them or any Subject Company or Sponsored
Fund is a party or by which any of their respective properties or
other assets is bound or (iii) result in the creation of any Lien
on the Stock or any of the stock, assets or properties of any
Subject Company or any Sponsored Fund, except, in the case of
clauses (ii) and (iii), for any such violation, termination,
acceleration, conflict, default or Lien as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.4
Consents, etc . (a) Except for (i) the filing of notice
under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976
(“ HSR Act ”), and the expiration or early
termination of the applicable waiting period, and (ii) as described
in Section 4.4(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, no consent,
authorization, order or approval of, filing or registration with,
or notice to, any Governmental Authority (collectively, “
Governmental Approvals ”) is required for the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements by Seller, Seller Parent or any Affiliate of Seller, as
applicable, the performance by them of their respective obligations
hereunder and thereunder and their consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, except in any such case for any
such Governmental Approvals the failure of
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which to be obtained or, in the case
of filings, registrations and notices, made would not, individually
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b)
Except as described in Section 4.4(b) of the Seller Disclosure
Letter or as contemplated by Section 6.3 hereof, no consent,
authorization, approval or waiver from or notice to any party
(other than a Governmental Authority) to any Contract
(collectively, “ Third Party Consents ”) to
which Seller, Seller Parent, any Affiliate of Seller or any
Sponsored Fund is a party or by which any of their respective
properties are bound is required for the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Ancillary Agreements by Seller, Seller
Parent or any Affiliate of Seller, as applicable, the performance
by them of their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder
and their consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, except in any such case for any such Third Party Consent
the failure of which to be obtained or made would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.5
Title to Stock . Upon the delivery and payment for the Stock
as contemplated herein, Seller will transfer to Purchaser good and
valid title to the Stock, free and clear of any Liens (other than
Liens created or incurred by Purchaser or any of its Affiliates).
The Stock has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully
paid and nonassessable.
4.6
Capital Stock of the Subject Companies . (a) The authorized
capital stock of the Company consists of 10,000 shares of common
stock, par value $0.25 per share, of which 3,974 shares are issued
and outstanding and owned, beneficially and of record, by Seller,
free and clear of any Liens. There are no outstanding obligations,
warrants, options or other rights to subscribe for or purchase from
the Company, Seller or Seller Parent, or any of their Affiliates,
or other contracts or commitments providing for the issuance of or
granting any Person the right to acquire, shares of any class of
stock of the Company, or any securities or other instruments
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of any
class of stock of the Company. There are no outstanding (i) voting
trusts, proxies or other similar agreements or understandings to
which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound with respect to the
voting of any shares of capital stock of or other voting or equity
interests in the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii)
contractual obligations or commitments of any character restricting
the transfer of, or requiring the registration for sale of, any
shares of capital stock of or other voting or equity interests in
the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
(b)
Section 4.6(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth, as to
each Subsidiary of the Company, its jurisdiction of organization.
All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary
of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
and are wholly-owned by the Company, free and clear of any Liens,
except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.6(b) of the Seller
Disclosure Letter. There are no outstanding obligations, warrants,
options or other rights to subscribe for or purchase from any such
Subsidiary, or other contracts or commitments providing for the
issuance of or granting any Person the right to acquire, shares of
any class of stock of any Subsidiary of the Company, or any
securities or other instruments convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for shares of any class of stock of any Subsidiary of
the Company.
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(c)
Except as set forth in Section 4.6(c) of the Seller Disclosure
Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries owns any
shares of capital stock of or other voting or equity interests in
(including any securities exercisable or exchangeable for or
convertible into capital stock of or other voting or equity
interests in) any other Person.
4.7
Company Financial Statements; Accounting Controls . (a) The
Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition and
the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive
income, retained earnings and cash flows (including, in each case,
any related notes thereto and the reports of the Company’s
independent auditors thereon) for fiscal periods commencing on or
after January 1, 2003 set forth in Section 4.7 of the Seller
Disclosure Letter (collectively, the “ Company Financial
Statements ”) were prepared in accordance with GAAP
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved
(except as may be set forth in the notes thereto, and except for
the absence of footnotes in financial statements for interim
periods), and fairly present in all material respects the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries
at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of
their operations and cash flows at and for the periods indicated
(subject, in the case of financial statements for interim periods,
to normal year-end adjustments which will not be material to the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole).
(b)
The Company and its Subsidiaries have devised and maintained
systems of internal accounting controls with respect to the
Business sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (
i ) all transactions are executed in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization, ( ii )
all transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the
preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to
maintain proper accountability for items, ( iii ) access to
their property and assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization and (
iv ) the recorded accountability for items is compared with
the actual levels at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.
(c)
The Company Financial Statements accurately reflect in the
aggregate all amounts charged to the Subject Companies for services
provided by Seller, Seller Parent or any of their Affiliates (other
than the Subject Companies) to the Subject Companies (including,
without limitation, any migration of information technology systems
to systems of the the Seller or Seller Parent or any of their
Affiliates (other than the Subject Companies)), whether in
connection with the operation of the Business or otherwise,
including all amounts charged that relate to the individuals listed
on Section 4.7(c)(i) of the Seller Disclosure Letter. Section
4.7(c)(ii) of the Seller Disclosure Letter contains an accurate
list of all such services. Such amounts charged were not less than
the actual costs incurred by Seller, Seller Parent and their
Affiliates in providing such services.
(d)
The reports set forth in Section 4.7(d) of the Seller Disclosure
Letter are accurate in all material respects and all of the data
set forth therein have been derived from the books and records of
the Subject Companies.
4.8
Litigation . Except as set forth in Section 4.8 of the
Seller Disclosure Letter, there is no action, suit or proceeding
pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller, threatened against any
Subject Company or Registered Fund Client before any Governmental
Authority or
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arbitrator that would reasonably be
expected to be material to the Subject Companies, taken as a whole,
or prohibit or materially impair the ability of Seller Parent or
Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or
perform their respective obligations hereunder on a timely basis.
Except as set forth in Section 4.8 of the Seller Disclosure Letter,
there are no settlement agreements or similar written agreements
with any Governmental Authority and there are no outstanding
judgments, decrees, injunctions or orders of any Governmental
Authority to which any of the Subject Companies, any of the
Sponsored Funds or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any of the
Sub-Advised Funds is subject or by which any of their respective
assets or properties is bound or affected that would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.9
Compliance with Laws; Permits and Licenses . The operations
of each of the Subject Companies are being and, since January 1,
2003, have been, conducted in compliance with all Applicable Laws,
except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the Knowledge
of Seller, none of the Subject Companies has been charged or is or
has been since January 1, 2003 under investigation with respect to
any material violations of any Applicable Laws. Each of the Subject
Companies holds all permits, certificates, licenses, approvals,
orders and other authorizations (“ Permits ”) of
each Governmental Authority which are necessary for the operation
of the Business, except where the failure to hold any such Permit
would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
Except as set forth in Section 4.9 of the Seller Disclosure Letter,
(i) the material Permits are valid and in full force and effect,
(ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in default
under, and no condition exists that with notice or lapse of time or
both would constitute a default under, the material Permits and
(iii) none of the material Permits will be terminated or impaired
or become terminable, in whole or in part, as a result of the
transactions contemplated hereby. Except as set forth in Section
4.9 of the Seller Disclosure Letter, since January 1, 2004, none of
the Subject Companies has received any written or, to the Knowledge
of Seller, oral notification from any Governmental Authority
asserting that any Person is not in compliance with any of the
statutes, regulations or ordinances that such Governmental
Authority enforces or that such Governmental Authority intends to
revoke or suspend any Permit, except where such noncompliance,
revocation or suspension would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
4.10
Absence of Certain Changes; No Undisclosed Liabilities . (a)
Since December 31, 2005, there has been no change, event or
development affecting the Subject Companies which has had or would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Since
December 31, 2005, no event or circumstance has occurred or arisen
that, if it occurred or arose between the date hereof and Closing,
would constitute a breach of Section 6.1.
(b)
Except as contemplated by this Agreement or as set forth in Section
4.10(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, and except to the extent
of (i) liabilities disclosed or reserved for in the Company
Financial Statements and (ii) liabilities incurred by the Subject
Companies after December 31, 2005 in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice that have not had and would
not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, the Subject Companies do not
have any liabilities or obligations (known, unknown, accrued,
absolute, contingent or otherwise).
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4.11
Personnel and Employee Benefits Matters . (a) Section
4.11(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a complete and
correct list of all employees of and consultants to any of the
Subject Companies (identified separately as employees or
consultants, as appropriate, and indicating each employee who is on
an approved leave of absence) as of the Business Day before the
date hereof. As of the date of this Agreement, no officer of any of
the Subject Companies has provided any of the Subject Companies
with notice of termination of employment or, to the Knowledge of
Seller, intends to terminate employment with any of the Subject
Companies. Each employee of the Subject Companies has been properly
classified as “exempt” or “non-exempt” for
all purposes under Applicable Law (including, but not limited to,
the Fair Labor Standards Act).
(b)
Section 4.11(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a list
of each (i) “employee benefit plan” (within the meaning
of Section 3(3) of ERISA), (ii) severance, deferred compensation,
change in control and employment plan, program or agreement and
(iii) vacation, incentive, bonus, stock option, stock purchase,
deferred compensation and restricted stock plan, program or policy
sponsored, maintained or contributed to by any of the Subject
Companies, Seller Parent, Seller or any of their Affiliates, in
which present or former employees of the Subject Companies
participate or are eligible to participate (collectively, “
Benefit Plans ”).
(c)
With respect to each Benefit Plan, to the extent applicable to any
such Benefit Plan, Seller has provided or made available to
Purchaser (i) true and complete copies of all written Benefit
Plans; (ii) written descriptions of all unwritten Benefit Plans;
(iii) any and all trust agreements; insurance contracts or other
funding arrangements; (iv) the most recent IRS determination
letter; (v) the current summary plan description; (vi) all material
communications received from or sent to the Internal Revenue
Service (“ IRS ”), the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation or the Department of Labor (including a written
description of any oral communication); and (vii) any and all
amendments and modifications to any such document.
(d)
The Benefit Plans are in compliance with all applicable
requirements of ERISA, the Code, and other Applicable Laws and have
been administered in accordance with their terms and such laws, in
each case in all material respects. Each Benefit Plan that is
intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401 of the
Code has received a favorable determination letter as to its
qualification, and nothing has occurred that would reasonably be
expected to adversely affect such qualification.
(e)
Except for ordinary and usual claims for benefits by participants
and beneficiaries, there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of
Seller, threatened claims and no pending or, to the Knowledge of
Seller, threatened litigation with respect to any Benefit
Plan.
(f)
Except as expressly provided in this Agreement or as set forth in
Section 4.11(f) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, none of the
Seller, the Seller Parent or any of the Subject Companies has any
commitment, intention or understanding to create, modify or
terminate any Benefit Plan prior to the Closing Date. All
contributions required to be made to or in respect of each Benefit
Plan have been made on a timely basis and in accordance with the
terms of such plan or Applicable Law, and all liabilities in
respect of any such Benefit Plan have been accrued in accordance
with GAAP. No Subject Company has incurred or would reasonably be
expected to incur any material liability (other than with respect
to the payment of premiums) under Title
130
IV of ERISA in
connection with any Benefit Plan. No asset of the Subject Companies
is subject to any Lien arising under Section 302(f) of ERISA or
Section 412(n) of the Code and no event has occurred and no
condition or circumstance has existed that could give rise to any
such lien. None of the Subject Companies is required to provide any
security under Section 307 of ERISA or Section 401(a)(29) or 412(f)
of the Code and, to the Knowledge of Seller, no event has occurred
and no condition or circumstance has existed that could reasonably
be expected to give rise to any such requirement to provide any
such security.
(g)
Except as set forth in Section 4.11(g) of the Seller Disclosure
Letter or as accrued or disclosed in the books and records of the
Subject Companies, none of the Seller, Seller Parent, or any of the
Subject Companies maintains any Benefit Plan providing for
post-employment or retiree health, life insurance and/or other
welfare benefits having unfunded liabilities, and none of the
Seller, Seller Parent, or any of the Subject Companies has any
obligation to provide any such benefits to any retired or former
employees of the Subject Companies following such employees’
retirement or termination of service, except to the extent provided
by Part 6 of Subtitle I of ERISA or Section 4980B of the
Code.
(h)
Except as set forth in Section 4.11(h) of the Seller Disclosure
Letter, the execution of this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and thereby do not and will not constitute a triggering
event under any Benefit Plan or otherwise that (either alone or
upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent event) will or
may result in any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise),
acceleration, vesting or increase in benefit to any employee or
former employee or director of the Subject Companies.
4.12
Taxes . Except as set forth in Section 4.12 of the Seller
Disclosure Letter: (a)(i) all material Tax Returns required to be
filed by or with respect to each Subject Company have been timely
filed and all such Tax Returns are true and complete in all
material respects; (ii) all material Taxes required to be paid by
or with respect to each Subject Company have been timely paid; and
(iii) there are no pending or, to the Knowledge of Seller,
threatened actions or proceedings for the assessment or collection
of any material Taxes against or with respect to any of the Subject
Companies.
(b)
Since January 1, 2000, each Subject Company has been a member of
the affiliated group (within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the
Code) of which Seller Parent is the common parent.
(c)
All Taxes required to be withheld by or with respect to any of the
Subject Companies have been timely withheld and paid to the proper
taxing authority.
(d)
There are no Liens for Taxes (other than Permitted Liens) on any
assets of the Subject Companies.
(e)
(i) None of the Subject Companies is a party to or has any
obligations or liabilities arising pursuant to any Tax sharing,
allocation, indemnification or similar agreement, and (ii) since
January 1, 2000, none of the Subject Companies has been a member of
a
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consolidated,
combined or other affiliated group for the purposes of filing any
Tax Return or has been subject to any transferee
liabilities.
(f)
No extension or waiver of the statute of limitations has been
granted for any Tax Return relating to any Subject Company, that
(after giving effect to such extension or waiver) has not yet
expired.
(g)
(i) None of the Tax Returns relating to any Subject Company is
currently under any audit or examination by any taxing authority,
(ii) no notification has been received that such an audit or
examination is pending or threatened, (iii) since January 1, 2000,
no issues have been raised in writing by any taxing authority with
respect to Taxes relating to any Subject Company, (iv) no power of
attorney that is currently in force has been granted by or with
respect to any Subject Company with respect to any matter relating
to Taxes, and (v) there is no advance ruling from or similar
agreement with, a taxing authority that would affect the Tax
liability of any of the Subject Companies after the
Closing.
(h)
To the Knowledge of Seller, all contracts sold, distributed, issued
or administered by any Subject Company in connection with any plan
described in Sections 401, 403, 408, or 457 or any similar
provision of the Code or an employee benefit plan within the
meaning of ERISA are in compliance in all material respects with
all applicable Code and ERISA requirements and the terms of such
contracts and selling or offering documents relating
thereto.
(i)
To the Knowledge of Seller, all financial products, life insurance,
annuity or other contracts sold, distributed, issued or
administered by any Subject Company have been sold, distributed,
issued, and administered by the Subject Company and its Affiliates
in accordance in all material respects with all Applicable Laws,
including, without limitation, the Code and ERISA, and the terms of
such products, insurance, annuity or contracts and selling or
offering documents relating thereto.
(j)
None of the Subject Companies has participated (within the meaning
of Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4(c)) in or has been a
“material advisor” (within the meaning of Section 6111
of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder)
with respect to any “reportable transaction” (within
the meaning of Section 6707A(c) of the Code and the Treasury
Regulations promulgated under Section 6011 of the
Code).
4.13
Properties .
(a)
Title to Assets, Etc . The Company and its Subsidiaries have
good and valid title to, or otherwise have the right to use
pursuant to a valid and enforceable lease, license or similar
contractual arrangement or, to the extent set forth on Section 4.13
of the Seller Disclosure Letter or so indicated in Section 4.7(c)
of the Seller Disclosure Letter, an administrative services
agreement, all of the assets (real and personal, tangible and
intangible, including all Intellectual Property) that are used or
held for use in connection with the Business or are reflected on
the balance sheet included in the most recent Company Financial
Statements (collectively, the “ Assets ”),
except for accounts receivable collected since the date of
such
132
balance sheet in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, in
each case free and clear of any Lien other than Permitted
Liens.
(b)
Sufficiency of Assets, Etc . The Assets constitute all of
the assets required for or used in the conduct of the Business. The
Assets are in good repair and operating condition, subject only to
ordinary wear and tear, and are adequate and suitable for the
purposes for which they are presently being used or held for use.
To the Knowledge of Seller, there are no facts or conditions
affecting any material Assets that would reasonably be expected,
individually or in the aggregate, to interfere with the use,
occupancy or operation of such Assets.
(c)
Real Property . A Subject Company has a valid and
enforceable leasehold interest in each of the leased premises in
which the Subject Companies currently conduct the Business (the
“ Leased Real Property ”), except as may be
affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
generally or general equitable principles. As of the date hereof,
there is no material default (or event or circumstance which, with
the giving of notice or lapse of time, would constitute such a
default) by the lessee or, to the Knowledge of Seller, the lessor
under any such lease. The use and operation of the Leased Real
Property in the conduct of the Business do not violate in any
material respect any Applicable Law, covenant, condition,
restriction, easement, Permit or agreement. None of the Subject
Companies owns any real property in fee simple.
4.14
Certain Labor Matters . None of the Subject Companies is a
party to any collective bargaining agreement and there are no labor
unions or other organizations representing, purporting to represent
or, to the Knowledge of Seller, attempting to represent any
employees of the Subject Companies. There is no pending or, to the
Knowledge of Seller, threatened strike, slowdown, picketing, work
stoppage, concerted refusal to work overtime or other similar labor
activity with respect to any employees of the Subject Companies. To
the Knowledge of Seller, there are no labor controversies pending
against any of the Subject Companies which would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
4.15
Material Agreements . Section 4.15 of the Seller Disclosure
Letter identifies each Material Contract to which any Subject
Company or Sponsored Fund is a party or by which any of their
assets or properties are bound or affected as of the date of this
Agreement ( provided that Seller need not so identify a
Distribution Agreement described in clause (ii) of the definition
of Material Contract or any agreement described in the second
proviso of the definition of Material Contract unless such
Distribution Agreement or such other agreement required aggregate
payments by the Subject Companies in excess of $100,000 (excluding
“adviser paid fees” and 12b-1 fees) for the 12 months
ended March 31, 2006) and Seller has made available to Purchaser
prior to the date of this Agreement a true and correct copy of each
Material Contract identified in Section 4.15 of the Seller
Disclosure Letter. The Material Contracts required to be identified
in Section 4.15 of the Seller Disclosure Letter (without limitation
to what constitutes a Material Contract for any other purpose
hereof) include Distribution Agreements relating to at least 90% of
the revenue sharing payments (excluding “adviser paid
fees” and 12b-1 fees) for the twelve months ended March 31,
2006 and at least sixty percent (60%) of the assets under
management by the Subject Companies and the Sponsored Funds as of
the date hereof. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect, each such Material Contract to which any
of the Subject Companies or
133
Sponsored Funds is a party or by
which any of their assets or properties are bound or affected as of
the date of this Agreement is in full force and effect, is a legal
and binding obligation of the applicable Subject Company or
Sponsored Fund and, to the Knowledge of Seller, each of the other
parties thereto, in each case enforceable in accordance with its
terms, except as may be affected by bankruptcy, insolvency,
fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar
laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or
general equitable principles. No condition exists or event has
occurred which (whether with or without notice or lapse of time or
both) would constitute a breach or default (or is alleged to
constitute a breach or default) by any of the Subject Companies or
Sponsored Funds or, to the Knowledge of Seller, any other party
thereto under, or result in a right of termination of (and no
notice of any intent to terminate has been received by any of the
Subject Companies, Seller or Seller Parent), or give rise to any
right to accelerate or otherwise modify any other right or
obligation under, any such Material Contract to which any of the
Subject Companies or Sponsored Funds is a party or by which any of
their assets or properties are bound or affected as of the date of
this Agreement, except as would not reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect.
4.16
Intellectual Property . (a) Section 4.16(a) of the Seller
Disclosure Letter lists and separately identifies according to the
following categories all Intellectual Property owned (the “
Owned Intellectual Property ”) by any of the Subject
Companies or the Sponsored Funds that is registered or subject to
an application for registration or that is otherwise material to
the Business, all Intellectual Property provided to any Subject
Company or Sponsored Fund by Seller, Seller Parent or any of their
Affiliates (other than the Subject Companies and the Sponsored
Funds) and all agreements to which any of the Subject Companies or
Sponsored Funds is a party or by which any of them is otherwise
bound or affected that relate to Intellectual Property, including
(i) licenses of Intellectual Property to a Subject Company or
Sponsored Fund by any other Person, (ii) licenses of Intellectual
Property to any other Person by a Subject Company or Sponsored
Fund, (iii) agreements otherwise granting or restricting the right
to use Intellectual Property and (iv) agreements transferring,
assigning, indemnifying with respect to or otherwise relating to
Intellectual Property used or held for use in the Business, in each
case to the extent material to the Business. Except as set forth in
Section 4.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, as contemplated by
Section 6.6, or as would not reasonably be expected to be material
to the Business: (a) the Subject Companies own or have the right to
use all the Intellectual Property used or held for use in the
Business and (b) (i) such Intellectual Property that is registered
in the name of any of the Subject Companies is valid and
enforceable; (ii) to the Knowledge of Seller, such Intellectual
Property is not being infringed or violated by any other Person;
and (iii) to the Knowledge of Seller, the conduct of the Business
and the use by the Subject Companies or Sponsored Funds of such
Intellectual Property do not infringe, conflict with or violate the
Intellectual Property of any other Person. To the Knowledge of
Seller, none of the Owned Intellectual Property is being infringed
or otherwise used or being made available for use by any Person
without a license or permission from the Subject Companies, except
as set forth in Section 4.16(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter.
The Subject Companies are the exclusive owners of the Owned
Intellectual Property set forth in Section 4.16(a) of the Seller
Disclosure Letter, free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted
Liens. Without limitation, Seller owns or has the right to use any
websites maintained or operated in connection with the Business,
and, as of Closing, such websites shall be separated from the
websites of Seller and Seller Parent and all rights and assets
relating thereto shall be transferred to the Company.
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(b)
Except as set forth in Section 4.16(b) of the Seller Disclosure
Letter, the Subject Companies have taken all actions reasonably
necessary to ensure full protection of the material Intellectual
Property under any Applicable Law (including making and maintaining
in full force and effect all necessary filings, registrations and
issuances). Each of the Subject Companies has taken all actions
reasonably necessary to maintain the secrecy of all confidential
Intellectual Property used in the Business. To the Knowledge of
Seller, none of the Subject Companies is using any material
Intellectual
Property in a manner that would reasonably be expected to result in
the cancellation or unenforceability of such Intellectual
Property.
4.17
Brokers . No broker, investment banker, financial advisor or
other Person, other than Morgan Stanley & Co., Incorporated,
the fees and expenses of which will be paid by Seller Parent, is
entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial
advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Seller Parent or Seller or any
of their Affiliates.
4.18
Regulatory Reports, Registrations and Agreements . (a) Each
of the Subject Companies has filed all regulatory reports,
schedules, forms, registrations, financial statements, sales
literature, statements, notices, filings and other documents,
together with any amendments required to be made with respect
thereto, that it was required under Applicable Law to file since
January 1, 2003 with any Governmental Authority. Except as set
forth in Section 4.18(a) of the Seller Disclosure Letter, such
filings complied in all material respects with Applicable Law and
did not at the time they were filed contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were or
are made, not misleading. Except as set forth in Section 4.18(a) of
the Seller Disclosure Letter, Seller has made available to
Purchaser complete and correct copies of (i) all such filings, (ii)
all audit or inspection reports provided by any Governmental
Authority in respect of the Subject Companies and all written
responses thereto made by the Subject Companies since January 1,
2003 and (iii) all non-routine correspondence relating to any
investigation of the Subject Companies by any Governmental
Authority since January 1, 2003.
(b)
Section 4.18(b) of the Seller Disclosure Letter identifies each
Subject Company which is registered or licensed as of the date of
this Agreement as (i) a broker-dealer under the Exchange Act or
under any similar state or foreign laws, (ii) an investment adviser
under the Investment Advisers Act or under any similar state or
foreign laws, or (iii) a transfer agent under the Exchange Act or
under any similar state or foreign laws, in each case together with
a listing of all such registrations and licenses held with all
applicable Governmental Authorities. Seller has made available to
Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement a true and correct
copy of the Form BD, Form ADV, Form TA-1 or other applicable
registration forms of each Subject Company registered in any of the
capacities described in the immediately preceding sentence as in
effect on the date of this Agreement.
(c)
Section 4.18(c) of the Seller Disclosure Letter identifies each
no-action letter and exemptive order issued to any of the Subject
Companies or Sponsored Funds that remains applicable to its
business as conducted on the date of this Agreement. Prior to the
date of this Agreement, Seller has made available to Purchaser a
true and correct copy of each such no-action letter and exemptive
order. The Subject Companies or Sponsored Funds, as
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applicable, have
complied with all representations, te