STOCK AND ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
by and among
WEIDER GLOBAL NUTRITION,
LLC
and
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL,
INC. and
WEIDER NUTRITION GROUP,
INC.
dated as of
April 1, 2005
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ARTICLE
I
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Certain
Definitions
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0
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ARTICLE
II
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Closing;
Purchase and Sale
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7
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Section
2.1.
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Time and Place
of Closing
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7
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Section
2.2.
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Assets Being
Sold
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8
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Section
2.3.
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Excluded
Assets
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9
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Section
2.4.
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Assumed
Liabilities
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10
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Section
2.5.
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Excluded
Liabilities
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12
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Section
2.6.
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Consideration
for the Weider Assets.
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12
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Section
2.7.
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Deliveries by
Sellers
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13
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Section
2.8.
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Deliveries by
Buyer
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14
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Section
2.9.
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Assignment of
Contracts and Rights.
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15
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Section
2.10.
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Indemnification.
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16
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Section
2.11.
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Indemnity for
Surviving Representations and Warranties; Limitation.
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17
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Section
2.12.
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Sole
Remedy
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17
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Section
2.13.
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Sales
Tax
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18
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ARTICLE
III
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Representations and Warranties of
Sellers
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18
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Section
3.1.
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Organization,
Standing and Power
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18
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Section
3.2.
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Capitalization
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18
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Section
3.3.
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Weider Assets
Complete; Title to Weider Assets
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19
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Section
3.4.
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Authority
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19
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Section
3.5.
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Noncontravention
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19
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Section
3.6.
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Absence of
Undisclosed Liabilities
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20
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Section
3.7.
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Absence of
Changes
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20
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Section
3.8.
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Litigation
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20
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Section
3.9.
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Properties;
Assets
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20
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Section
3.10.
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Intangibles/Inventions
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20
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Section
3.11.
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Tax
Matters
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21
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Section
3.12.
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Banks; Powers
of Attorney
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21
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Section
3.13.
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Employee
Arrangements
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21
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Section
3.14.
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Material
Contracts
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21
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Section
3.15.
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Insurance
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21
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Section
3.16.
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Conduct of
Business.
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21
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ARTICLE
IV
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Representations and Warranties of
Buyer
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22
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Section
4.1.
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Organization,
Standing and Power
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22
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Section
4.2.
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Authority
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23
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Section
4.3.
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Noncontravention
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23
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ARTICLE
V
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Covenants of
Sellers and Buyer
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23
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Section
5.1.
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Investigation
of Business; Access to Properties and Records.
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23
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Section
5.2.
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Agreement to
Cooperate
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24
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Section
5.3.
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Further
Assurances; Contract Audits
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24
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Section
5.4.
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No
Disclosure.
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25
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Section
5.5.
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Intangibles.
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25
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Section
5.6.
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Intercompany
Arrangements and Accounts.
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25
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Section
5.7.
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Insurance
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26
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Section
5.8.
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Collection of
Receivables; Forwarding of Payments
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26
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Section
5.9.
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Assignment of
Export Rights
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26
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Section
5.10.
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Facilities
Inspection
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26
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Section
5.11.
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Covenant Not
to Compete; Nonsolicitation.
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26
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Section
5.12.
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Ownership of
International Subsidiary Stock
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27
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ARTICLE
VI
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Tax
Matters
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27
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Section
6.1.
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Tax
Representations
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27
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Section
6.2.
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Allocation
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28
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Section
6.3.
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Tax
Obligations of Sellers
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28
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Section
6.4.
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Tax
Obligations of Buyer
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28
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Section
6.5.
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Transfer
Taxes; Apportionment of Taxes.
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28
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Section
6.6.
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Refunds and
Credits.
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29
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Section
6.7.
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Cooperation
and Exchange of Information.
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29
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Section
6.8.
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Tax
Contests.
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30
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ARTICLE
VII
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Conditions to
Buyer’s Obligation to Close
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31
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Section
7.1.
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Representations, Warranties and Covenants of
Sellers
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31
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Section
7.2.
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No
Order
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31
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Section
7.3.
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Managing
Member Authorization
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31
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Section
7.4.
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Special
Committee Authorization
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31
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Section
7.5.
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Deliveries
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31
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Section
7.6.
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Litigation
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31
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Section
7.7.
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Consents and
Approvals
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32
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Section
7.8.
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No
Liens
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32
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Section
7.9.
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Date of
Consummation
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32
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ARTICLE
VIII
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Conditions to
Sellers’ Obligation to Close
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32
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Section
8.1.
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Representations, Warranties and Covenants of
Buyer
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32
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Section
8.2.
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No
Order
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33
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Section
8.3.
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Board
Authorization
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33
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Section
8.4.
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Special
Committee Authorization
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33
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Section
8.5.
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Fairness
Opinion
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33
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Section
8.6.
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Resignation of
Richard Blair
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33
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Section
8.7.
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Deliveries
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33
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Section
8.8.
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Litigation
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33
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Section
8.9.
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Consents and
Approvals
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33
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Section
8.10.
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Date of
Consummation
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34
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ARTICLE
IX
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Termination
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34
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Section
9.1.
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Termination
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34
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Section
9.2.
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Procedure and
Effect of Termination
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34
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ARTICLE
X
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Miscellaneous
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35
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Section
10.1.
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Counterparts
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35
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Section
10.2.
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Governing Law;
Jurisdiction; Waiver
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35
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Section
10.3.
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Entire
Agreement
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35
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Section
10.4.
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Expenses
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35
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Section
10.5.
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Notices
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35
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Section
10.6.
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Successors and
Assigns
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37
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Section
10.7.
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Survival of
Representations
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37
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Section
10.8.
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Headings;
Definitions
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37
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Section
10.9.
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Amendments and
Waivers
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37
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Section
10.10.
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Interpretation
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37
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Section
10.11.
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Tax Treatment
and Tax Structure
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38
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Section
10.12.
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Severability
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38
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LIST OF
EXHIBITS
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Exhibit
2.7(a)
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Bill of
Sale
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Assignment and
Assumption Agreement
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Assignment and
Assumption of Intangibles Agreement
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European
Agreements
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European
Services Amendment
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Distribution
Termination Agreement between Haleko Italia srl and
Weider
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Germany
GmbH
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Distribution
Termination Agreement between Haleko Hanseatisches
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Lebensmittel
Kontor GmbH & Co. OHG and Weider Nutrition, S.L.
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U.S.
Transition Services Agreement
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Name License
Agreement
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Lease
Assignment Agreement
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Legal
Opinion
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Promissory
Note
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Guarantee
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STOCK AND ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK AND ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this
“ Agreement ”), is dated as of April 1, 2005, by
and between Weider Global Nutrition, LLC (“ WGN
”), a Nevada limited liability company and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Weider Health and Fitness (“ WHF
”) on the one hand, and Weider Nutrition International, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation (“ WNI ”) and its wholly
owned subsidiary, Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation
(“ WNG, ” each of WNI and WNG, a
“Seller,” and together, the “ Sellers
”), on the other hand.
WHEREAS, Sellers are engaged in the business,
among other activities, of advertising, marketing, manufacturing
and distributing products in the field of health and
nutrition;
WHEREAS, a portion of Sellers’ business
consists of advertising, marketing and distributing the
Weider® branded products in the United States, its territories
and possessions (the “ Domestic Business
”);
WHEREAS, Sellers own indirectly all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock (the “ International
Subsidiary Stock ”) of each of (i) Weider Nutrition
Ltd. (“ Weider UK ”), (ii) Weider Nutrition
Group Limited (“ WNG UK ”), (iii) Weider
Germany GmbH (“ Weider Germany ”),
(iv) Weider Nutrition SL (“ Weider Spain
”), (v) Weider Fitness SARL (“ Weider
France ”), (vi) Weider Nutrition Group (Canada) Ltd.
(“ WNG Canada ”) and (vii) Custom
Nutrition, Inc. (Canada) (“ CN Canada ” and,
together with Weider UK, WNG UK, Weider Germany, Weider Spain,
Weider France and WNG Canada, the “ International
Subsidiaries ”);
WHEREAS, the International Subsidiaries are
engaged in the business of advertising, marketing and distributing
the Weider® branded products in international markets (the
“ International Business ,” together with the
Domestic Business, the “ Weider Branded Business
”); and
WHEREAS, WGN (“ Buyer ”),
wishes to purchase and acquire from Sellers, and Sellers desire to
sell to Buyer, the Weider Branded Business (including certain
specified assets and liabilities), subject to and upon the terms
and conditions hereinafter set forth.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, intending
to be legally bound, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Certain
Definitions
In addition to the other defined terms set
forth herein, as used in this Agreement, the following terms shall
have the following respective meanings:
“ Action ” shall mean any
pending, threatened or future action, suit, arbitration, inquiry,
proceeding or investigation by or before any court, arbitrator or
Governmental Authority, whether civil, criminal or other, and
whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent, at the Effective
Date, so long as such Action is based on events that occurred prior
to the Effective Date.
“ Affiliate ” of a
designated person or party shall be any other person or entity who
(or which) directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with, such designated person; for such
purposes, “control” (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled
by” and “under common control with”) means with
respect to such designated person, the possession, directly or
indirectly, of the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the
management or policies of the designated person, whether through
the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or
otherwise.
“ Agreement ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof, as such may be
amended or supplemented from time to time.
“ Ancillary Agreements ”
shall mean, collectively, the Bill of Sale, the Assignment and
Assumption Agreement, the Assignment and Assumption of Intangibles
Agreement, the European Agreements, the Promissory Note, the
Guarantee, the Name License Agreement, the Lease Assignment
Agreement and the U.S. Transition Services Agreement.
“ Applicable Laws ” shall
mean all applicable international, national, federal, provincial,
state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations and
codes.
“ Assignment and Assumption
Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(b) .
“ Assignment and Assumption of
Intangibles Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 2.7(c) .
“ Balance Sheet ” shall mean
the Weider Branded Business unaudited consolidated and
consolidating balance sheet at March 1, 2005, prepared in
accordance with historical accounting policies.
“ Bill of Sale ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a) .
“ Business Day ” means any
day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or other day on which banks
are required by law to be closed in the City of Los
Angeles.
“ Buyer ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Recitals hereof.
“ Buyer Group ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) .
“ Cash ” shall mean cash,
money market instruments, bank accounts, bank deposits,
certificates of deposit, lock box receipts, other cash equivalents,
marketable securities and other investment securities.
“ Closing ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.1 .
“ Closing Date ” shall mean
the third Business Day after the date on which the conditions set
forth in Articles VII and VIII (other than conditions precedent
that are not capable of being satisfied until the Closing) shall be
satisfied or duly waived, or, if Sellers and Buyer mutually agree
on a different date, the date upon which they have mutually
agreed.
“ Code ” shall mean the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“ Consents ” shall mean,
collectively, (a) each consent or novation with respect to any
material Weider Contract required to be obtained from the other
party or parties thereto by virtue of the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby in order to avoid the invalidity of the transfer of such
Weider Contract, the termination thereof, a breach or default
thereunder or any other change or modification to the terms thereof
and (b) each consent, approval, order, qualification and
waiver required under applicable law to be obtained by virtue of
the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby.
“ Contract ” shall mean any
contract, agreement, lease, indenture, evidence of indebtedness,
binding commitment or instrument, purchase order or written
offer.
“ Controlling Party ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(c)
.
“ Copyrights ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
“ CN Canada ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Definitive Documents ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.4
.
“ Domestic Business ” shall
have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Effective Date ” shall
mean March 1, 2005.
“ Employment Agreements ”
means all contracts, agreements and commitments of Sellers or any
of their subsidiaries entered into with individual Weider
Employee(s) prior to the date of this Agreement relating to the
employment, retention, severance or compensation of such Weider
Employee(s).
“ European Agreements ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(d)
.
“ Excluded Assets ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3 .
“ Excluded Contracts ” shall
mean the Contracts identified on Schedule 2.3 (j)
.
“ Excluded Liabilities ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.5
.
“ Excluded Taxes ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3 .
“ Fairness Opinion ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 8.5 .
“ Formulas ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
“ GAAP ” shall mean United
States generally accepted accounting principles, as of the date
hereof.
“ Guarantee ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.8(h) .
“ Governmental Authority ”
shall mean any federal, state, local, foreign or supranational
governmental, judicial or regulatory agency, entity or
authority.
“ Income Taxes ” shall mean
Taxes based on income, gain or similar items.
“ Indemnified Party ” means
the Buyer Group or the Seller Group, as the case may be.
“ Indemnifying Party ” means
the Sellers or Buyer, as the case may be.
“ Insurance Policies ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 3.15 .
“ Intangibles ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
“ International Business ”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ International Subsidiary Stock
” shall have the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
“ International Subsidiaries
” shall have the meaning set forth in the
Recitals.
“ Inventions ” shall mean
all inventions, discoveries, improvements, processes, technology,
know-how and other intellectual property, proprietary rights and
trade secrets related exclusively to the Domestic Business.
Inventions shall not include trademarks, service marks, trade
names, trade dress or copyrights, nor any applications or
registrations for any of the foregoing.
“ Knowledge of WNI ” shall
mean the actual knowledge of Joseph Baty, Thomas Elitharp, Daniel
Thomson and Bruce Wood.
“ Legal Opinion ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(h) .
“ Lease Assignment Agreement
” shall have the meaning in Section 2.7(g)
.
“ Licenses ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
“ Liens ” shall mean all,
with respect to any given property(ies), encumbrances, defects of
title, deeds of trust, mortgages, security agreements, security
interests, pledges, liens, conditional sales agreements, claims,
restrictions, charges, options, purchase rights, voting trusts,
leases, subleases, encroachments, covenants, easements and/or
rights of third parties of every kind and character arising or
existing by operation of law, by judicial decree or judgment or
arbitral decision, by contract or otherwise, whether or not accrued
or fixed, absolute or contingent, known or unknown, determined or
determinable and whenever arising, including, but not limited to,
those evidenced by contracts, agreements, leases, indentures, deeds
of trust and security, conditional sale and other title retention
agreements.
“ Loss ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) .
“ Marks ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 3.10 .
“ Material Adverse Effect ”
shall mean a material adverse effect on the operations, business,
properties, assets, liabilities, results of operations or financial
condition of the Weider Branded Business, taken as a
whole.
“ Material Contracts ” shall
mean those contracts set forth on Schedule 3.14
.
“ Mixed Tax Claim ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(c)
.
“ Name License Agreement ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(f)
.
“ Names ” shall mean all
names, marks, trade names and trademarks incorporating the
Weider® name by itself or in combination with any other Name,
and all of the rights thereto and goodwill represented thereby or
pertaining thereto.
“ Non-Controlling Party ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.8(c)
.
“ Permitted Exceptions ”
means (a) Liens for Taxes or governmental assessments, charges
or claims the payment of which is not yet due, or the validity of
which is being contested in good faith; (b) statutory liens of
landlords and liens of repairmen, carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics, materialmen and other similar persons and other liens
imposed by Applicable Law incurred in the ordinary course of
business; (c) Liens relating to deposits and pledges made in
the ordinary course of business in connection with workers’
compensation, unemployment insurance and other types of social
security; (d) with respect to any asset which consists of a
leasehold estate or possessory interest in real property, all Liens
and other title matters (whether or not the same are recorded) to
which the underlying fee estate in such real property is subject;
(e) Liens securing the executory obligations of Sellers or any
of its subsidiaries under any lease that constitutes an “
operating lease ” under GAAP; (f) security
interests granted in the ordinary course of business to the lessors
of leased equipment in respect of such leased equipment;
(g) Liens created in the ordinary course of business after the
date of this Agreement; (h) Liens that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect and (i) the rights and interests of Buyer or any
Affiliate of Buyer as provided in this Agreement or any agreement
entered into pursuant to this Agreement.
“ Pre-Effective Tax Period ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(h)
.
“ Products ” means all
products of any Seller or International Subsidiary manufactured,
advertised, promoted, distributed or sold under the Weider brand
name.
“ Product Liabilities ”
shall mean liabilities and obligations for property or economic
damage, death or personal injury or other product or strict
liability claim or similar claims arising from, caused by or
attributable to, the manufacture, use, consumption or purchase of
any Product.
“ Promissory Note ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.8(g).
“ Proprietary Identifiers ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.10
.
“ Purchase Price ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a)
.
“ SEC ” shall mean the
United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“ Section 1060 Statements and
Forms ” means a statement described in Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1060-1(e) and any corresponding
provision of any Tax Law with respect to Buyer’s acquisition
of the Weider Branded Business and all returns, documents,
statements and other forms that are required to be submitted in
accordance with applicable Tax Laws in connection therewith,
including U.S. Internal Revenue Form 8594 (together with any
schedules or attachments thereto).
“ Seller Group ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(a) .
“ Sellers ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“ Selling Stockholders ”
shall mean WNI, WNG, WNG Holdings, WNI UK and Weider Nutrition BV
collectively.
“ Special Committee ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(j) .
“ Straddle Period ” shall
mean a taxable period beginning before the Effective Date and
ending after the Effective Date with respect to the Weider
Assets.
“ Superior Offer ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(c).
“ Tax Claim ” shall have the
meaning set forth in Section 6.8(a) .
“ Taxes ” or “
Tax ” shall mean (a) any foreign, federal, state
or local income, earnings, profits, gross receipts, franchise,
capital stock, net worth, sales, use, value added, occupancy,
general property, real property, personal property, intangible
property, transfer, fuel, excise, parking, payroll, withholding,
unemployment compensation, social security, retirement or other tax
of any nature; (b) any foreign, federal, state or local
organization fee, qualification fee, annual report fee, filing fee,
occupation fee, assessment, other fee or charge of any nature
imposed by a governmental body; or (c) any deficiency,
interest or penalty imposed with respect to any of the
foregoing.
“ Tax Laws ” shall mean the
Code, federal, state, local or foreign laws relating to Taxes and
any regulations or official administrative pronouncements released
thereunder.
“ Tax Return ” shall mean
all returns and reports, amended returns, information returns,
statements, declarations, estimates, schedules, notices,
notifications, forms, elections, certificates or other documents
required to be filed or submitted to any Governmental Authority
with respect to the determination, assessment, collection or
payment of any Tax or in connection with the administration,
implementation or enforcement of, or compliance with, any
Tax.
“ Third-Party Claims ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.10(c) .
“ U.S. Transition Services
Agreement ” shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.7(e) .
“ Weider Assets ” shall have
the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
“ Weider Books and Records ”
shall mean originals or copies of, including relevant parts or
portions of, all books and records of Sellers and its subsidiaries
(including the International Subsidiaries) relating exclusively to
the operations of the Weider Branded Business, including all
customer lists, mailing lists, distribution lists, price lists,
advertiser lists, sponsor lists, promotional and other contact
lists and all promotional and purchasing materials used exclusively
in the Weider Branded Business.
“ Weider Branded Business ”
shall have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Weider Contracts ” shall
mean, other than the Excluded Contracts, all: (a) Contracts
related exclusively to the Domestic Business pursuant to which any
third party purchases the Products from Sellers, (b) Contracts
pursuant to which Sellers purchase any materials from any third
party for use exclusively in connection with the Domestic Business,
(c) Contracts exclusively relating to the distribution of the
Products by the Domestic Business, (d) Contracts involving any
royalty, licensing or similar arrangement relating exclusively to
the Products, (e) Contracts related exclusively to the
Domestic Business pursuant to which any services are provided to
Sellers exclusively with respect to the Products or the Domestic
Business, (f) other Contracts entered into by Sellers from the
date hereof to the Closing Date exclusively relating to the Weider
Domestic Assets or the Domestic Business and (g) all Contracts
listed on Schedule 1(a) .
“ Weider Domestic Assets ”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2 .
“ Weider Employees ” shall
mean the individuals listed on Schedule 1(b) hereto that are
employed by Sellers immediately prior to the Effective Date that
will be employed by Buyer from and after the Effective
Date.
“ Weider France ” shall have
the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Weider Germany ” shall
have the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Weider Lease ” means the
lease listed on Schedule 1(c) hereto.
“ Weider Liabilities ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.4 .
“ Weider Nutrition BV ”
shall mean Weider Nutrition BV.
“ Weider Permits ” shall
have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(n) .
“ Weider Spain ” shall have
the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ Weider UK ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ WGN ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“ WHF ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“ WNG ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“ WNG Canada ” shall have
the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ WNG Holdings ” shall mean
WNG Holdings (International) LTD, Inc.
“ WNG UK ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“ WNI ” shall have the
meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“ WNI UK ” shall mean Weider
Nutrition (WNI) Limited.
ARTICLE II
Closing; Purchase and
Sale
Section 2.1.
Time and Place of
Closing . The closing
(the “ Closing ”) of the purchase of the Weider
Assets and the assumption of the Weider Liabilities (as provided
for in this Article II ) shall take place on the Closing
Date at 10:00 A.M., Pacific Standard Time, at the offices of
Greenberg Glusker Fields Claman Machtinger & Kinsella LLP, 1900
Avenue of the Stars, 21 st Floor, Los Angeles,
California 90067.
Section 2.2.
Assets Being Sold
. Upon the terms and subject to
the satisfaction of all of the conditions set forth herein, on the
Closing Date Sellers will, and will cause their subsidiaries to,
sell, convey, assign, transfer and deliver to Buyer, with such
sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer and delivery being deemed
effective as of the Effective Date, all of Sellers’ and
Sellers’ subsidiaries right, title and interest in the
International Subsidiary Stock and the Weider Domestic Assets
(collectively, the “ Weider Assets ”), and Buyer
will purchase, acquire, accept and pay for, as hereinafter
provided, the Weider Assets and will assume and agree to pay,
perform and discharge when due the Weider Liabilities. Furthermore,
the parties acknowledge that the Sellers have previously delivered
to Buyer the Balance Sheet. For purposes of this Agreement, “
Weider Domestic Assets ” shall mean all of the right,
title and interest of Sellers and their subsidiaries in and to all
of the assets, properties and rights, whether tangible or
intangible, referred to in Paragraphs (a)-(p) immediately
below that are exclusively used in, or exclusively related to, the
Domestic Business ( provided , however , that
notwithstanding the foregoing and the items set forth in
Paragraphs (a)-(p) immediately below, the Weider Domestic
Assets shall not include any of the Excluded
Assets):
(a) all of the Weider Contracts;
(b) all software, software systems,
databases and database systems, whether owned, leased or licensed
by Sellers listed on Schedule 2.2(b) ;
(c) all inventories including raw materials, works
in process and finished goods;
(d) all customer lists, mailing lists, distribution
lists, price lists, advertiser lists and other contact
lists;
(e) all promotional materials and
records;
(f) all accounts receivable;
(g) all credits, prepaid expenses and security
deposits of Sellers;
(h) all of the Intangibles and all rights
thereunder or in respect thereof, including, but not limited to,
rights to sue for and remedies against past, present and future
infringements thereof, and rights of priority and protection of
interests therein under the laws of any jurisdiction worldwide and
all tangible embodiments thereof;
(i) all guarantees, warranties, indemnities and
similar rights in favor of the Sellers with respect to any Weider
Domestic Asset to the extent transferable;
(j) all office equipment listed on Schedule 2.2(j) ;
(k) all of Sellers’ right, title and interest
under the Weider Lease;
(l) any interest in or right to any refund of Taxes
relating to the Weider Domestic Assets, the Domestic Business or
the Weider Liabilities to the extent such Taxes are for, or
applicable to, any taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning
after the Effective Date (a “ Post-Effective Tax
Period ”);
(m) to the extent their transfer is permitted by
Applicable Law, all Weider Books and Records;
(n) to the extent their transfer is permitted by
Applicable Law and assignable under the terms thereof, all
approvals, permits and authorizations of, or issued by, any
Governmental Authority, including all applications therefore,
related exclusively to the Domestic Business (the “ Weider
Permits ”);
(o) all goodwill relating to, or arising from, the
Domestic Business; and
(p) except as provided for in
Section 2.3 hereof, any and all other assets of
Sellers, real or personal, tangible or intangible, not listed above
that are exclusively used in or exclusively related to the Domestic
Business.
Section 2.3.
Excluded Assets
. The Weider Assets shall not
include (and Sellers shall retain all rights in) any assets of
Sellers other than the Weider Assets (the “ Excluded
Assets ”). Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, the Excluded Assets shall include, and Buyer
acknowledges that there shall be excluded from the Weider Assets,
the following:
(a) Sellers’ and their subsidiaries’
(excluding the International Subsidiaries) corporate books and
records, tax records, work papers and other books and records,
other than the Weider Books and Records;
(b) Weider Books and Records that Sellers are
required by Applicable Laws to retain;
(c) all human resources and other employee-related
files and records related to non-Weider Employees and, to the
extent required by Applicable Law, Weider Employees;
(d) all software, software systems, databases and
database systems, whether owned, leased or licensed by Sellers
except those listed on Schedule 2.2(b) (excluding those
owned exclusively by the International Subsidiaries);
(e) all computers, printers, photocopiers, and
other similar tangible personal property owned by any Seller except
those listed on Schedule 2.2(j) (excluding those owned
exclusively by the International Subsidiaries);
(f) any insurance policies of Sellers or its
Subsidiaries (excluding the International Subsidiaries) or rights
thereunder or proceeds thereof;
(g) all guarantees, warranties, indemnities and
similar rights in favor of the Sellers or any of their Affiliates
to the extent relating to (i) any other Excluded Asset, (ii) any
Excluded Liability or (iii) any matter to the extent Sellers
indemnify Buyer pursuant to Article X hereof;
(h) any interest in or right to any refund of Taxes
of Sellers or their subsidiaries for any period, and any interest
in or right to any refund of Taxes relating to the Weider Assets
(other than refunds of Taxes to any International Subsidiary), the
Weider Branded Business or the Weider Liabilities for, or
applicable to, any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending on or
prior to the Effective Date (a “ Pre-Effective Tax
Period ”);
(i) any other assets of Sellers listed on
Schedule 2.3(i) ;
(j) any Contracts listed on
Schedule 2.3(j) (the “ Excluded
Contracts ”); and
(k) all intellectual property rights not related
exclusively to the Weider Branded Business, including, without
limitation, related to Sellers’ Schiff, Tiger’s Milk,
Multipower and Multaben branded products.
Section 2.4.
Assumed Liabilities
. On and subject to the terms and
conditions set forth in this Agreement, effective as of the
Effective Date, Buyer shall assume from Sellers and its
subsidiaries and pay, discharge, perform or otherwise satisfy the
following liabilities and obligations (whether or not fixed,
contingent or absolute, accrued or unaccrued, known or unknown),
other than the Excluded Liabilities:
(a) all obligations and liabilities of the
International Subsidiaries and the Selling Stockholders associated
with, or resulting from, the purchase and ownership of the
International Subsidiary Stock, including the promissory notes and
other arrangements listed on Schedule 5.6(a) ;
(b) all obligations and liabilities of Sellers
reflected on the Balance Sheet, including, but not limited to, the
following:
(i) accrued personnel-related expenses for Weider
Employees (including, but not limited to, expenses related to their
hiring, severance payments, bonuses, medical and workers’
compensation plans, accrued but unused vacation pay);
(ii) all legal expenses accrued in the ordinary
course of business (not including Sellers’ legal expenses
related to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement);
(v) non-U.S. income Taxes due related to the Weider
Branded Business; and
(c) all obligations and liabilities relating to
trade accounts payable of the Weider Branded Business whether
accrued or payable prior to or after the Effective Date;
(d) all obligations and liabilities relating to
promotions, rebates, returns, broker commissions and chargebacks
related to the Products occurring after the Effective Date
(regardless of when manufactured or offered, as
applicable);
(e) all obligations and liabilities relating to
Taxes (including non-U.S. income Taxes), other than the Excluded
Taxes;
(f) all obligations and liabilities associated with
accounts receivables arising within seventy-five (75) days prior to
the Effective Date and any arising thereafter;
(g) any severance costs and obligations related to
Weider Employees arising after the Effective Date;
(h) all obligations and liabilities under the
Weider Contracts, including any body builder contracts except as
set forth on Schedule 2.4(h) ;
(i) Product Liabilities relating to the
manufacturing, marketing, sale, distribution or use of a Product or
the operation of the Weider Branded Business on or after the
Effective Date (regardless of when manufactured);
(j) all obligations and liabilities relating to
voluntary and involuntary recalls, seizures or withdrawals of
Products occurring on or after the Effective Date (regardless of
when manufactured);
(k) all obligations and liabilities under the
Employment Agreements relating to employees of the Domestic
Business;
(l) all obligations and liabilities with respect to
the Weider Permits to the extent relating to the operation or
conduct of the Weider Branded Business on and after the Effective
Date;
(m) all obligations and liabilities under the
Weider Lease; and
(n) all obligations and liabilities arising out of,
or incident to, the operation of the Weider Branded Business on or
after the Effective Date;
The foregoing liabilities being assumed by
Buyer are referred to hereinafter collectively as the “
Weider Liabilities .”
Section 2.5.
Excluded Liabilities.
Except as otherwise provided for in
this Agreement, Buyer is not assuming and Sellers shall remain
bound by and liable for and pay, perform or otherwise
satisfy:
(a) all obligations and liabilities of Sellers or
any of their Affiliates for Taxes to the extent provided in Article
VI;
(b) all obligations and liabilities of Sellers or
any of its subsidiaries (other than the International Subsidiaries)
for borrowed money or in respect of any other long-term
indebtedness, including indebtedness under any bank lines of credit
or bank credit agreements except those obligations and liabilities
relating exclusively to the Domestic Business to the extent they
are set forth on the Balance Sheet;
(c) all obligations and liabilities of Sellers
which are expressly retained by them pursuant to this Agreement and
the Ancillary Agreements;
(d) all obligations and liabilities of Sellers
under the Excluded Contracts;
(e) any severance costs and obligations related to
United States-based employees of the Weider Branded Business other
than the Weider Employees;
(f) all liabilities related to accounts receivable
arising prior to seventy-five (75) days prior to the Effective
Date;
(g) Product Liabilities relating to the marketing,
advertising, sale, distribution or use of a Product and/or the
operation of the Weider Branded Business, in each case, prior to
the Effective Date; and
(h) any and all claims, liabilities and obligations
relating to or arising from the Excluded Assets.
The foregoing liabilities not being assumed by
Buyer are referred to hereinafter collectively as the “
Excluded Liabilities .”
Section 2.6.
Consideration for the Weider
Assets .
(a)
Closing Date Purchase
Price . In consideration
of the sale, transfer, conveyance and assignment of the Weider
Assets by Sellers (and its subsidiaries) to Buyer at the Closing,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, Buyer shall
pay to Sellers an aggregate amount equal to Fourteen Million
Dollars ($14,000,000) (US), which shall be payable as follows:
Twelve Million Nine Hundred Thousand Dollars in cash and One
Million One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($1,100,000)(US) pursuant to
the Promissory Note (the “ Purchase Price
”).
(b) All payments to be made on the Closing Date
pursuant to this Section 2.6 shall be made in United
States Dollars, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
the account or accounts specified in writing by Sellers on or prior
to the Closing Date.
Section 2.7.
Deliveries by Sellers
. At the Closing, Sellers shall
deliver the following to Buyer:
(a) a duly executed bill of sale substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2.7(a) (the
“ Bill of Sale ”) transferring to Buyer all of
the personal property owned or held by Sellers as of the Effective
Date which are included in the Weider Assets free and clear of any
and all material Liens, security interests and encumbrances of any
nature whatsoever;
(b) a duly executed instrument of assignment and
assumption substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
2.7(b) hereto (the “ Assignment and Assumption
Agreement ”) pursuant to which Sellers will delegate to
Buyer, and Buyer will assume, all of the Weider
Liabilities;
(c) a duly executed instrument of assignment and
assumption of the Intangibles substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit 2.7(c) hereto (the “
Assignment and Assumption of Intangibles Agreement
”);
(d) a duly executed amendment to the services
agreement for Europe substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit 2.7(d)(i) , a duly executed distribution termination
agreement between Haleko Italia srl and Weider Germany GmbH
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit
2.7(d)(ii) and a duly executed distribution termination
agreement between Haleko Hanseatisches Lebensmittel Kontor GmbH
& Co. OHG and Weider Nutrition, S.L. substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 2.7(d)(iii) (collectively, the
“ European Agreements ”);
(e) a duly executed transition services agreement
for the United States substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit 2.7(e) (the “ U.S. Transition
Services Agreement ”);
(f) a duly executed license agreement for the use
of the Names substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit 2.7(f) (the “ Name License Agreement
”);
(g) a duly executed instrument of lease assignment
and assumption substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit 2.7(g) (the “ Lease Assignment
Agreement ”);
(h) a legal opinion substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit 2.7(h) (the “ Legal
Opinion ”);
(i) a copy of the resignation(s) of Richard Blair
required under Section 8.6 ;
(j) the officer’s certificate required under
Section 7.1 (along with an incumbency
certificate);
(k) a copy of the resolutions adopted by the (i)
Boards of Directors of each Seller and Selling Stockholder (other
than in the case of WNI UK), in each case, authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Sellers
and the transfer and conveyance of the International Subsidiary
Stock, as applicable, and (ii) the Special Committee of the Board
of Directors (the “ Special Committee ”)
recommending to the Board of Directors of WNI that the Sellers
approve, execute, deliver and perform the Agreement; and
certificates of the Secretary, Assistant Secretary or other
authorized person of Sellers and each Selling Stockholder, as
applicable, dated as of the Closing Date, that such resolutions
were duly adopted and are in full force and effect as of the
Closing Date;
(l) certified copies of the Certificate of
Incorporation and the Bylaws of each Seller;
(m) to the extent applicable, stock certificates
representing all of the issued and outstanding stock of all of the
International Subsidiaries together with duly executed stock
assignments separate from the stock certificates in favor of Buyer;
and
(n) a copy of the Fairness Opinion.
Section 2.8.
Deliveries by Buyer
. At the Closing, Buyer shall
deliver, and in the case of the Guarantee, shall cause WHF to
deliver, the following to Sellers:
(a) Cash in the amount of Twelve Million Nine
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($12,900,000), by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the bank account(s) designated by
Sellers pursuant to Section 2.6(a)
above;
(b) a duly executed copy of the Assignment and
Assumption Agreement;
(c) a duly executed copy of the Assignment and
Assumption of Intangibles Agreement;
(d) a duly executed copy of the U.S. Transition
Services Agreement;
(e) a duly executed copy of the Name License
Agreement;
(f) a duly executed copy of the Lease Assignment
Agreement;
(g) a duly executed promissory note in favor of the
Sellers in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 2.8(g ) (the
“ Promissory Note ”) pursuant to which Buyer
agrees to pay Sellers the amount on the terms set forth
therein;
(h) a duly executed guarantee in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit 2.8(h ) pursuant to which WHF guarantees
the obligations of Buyer under this Agreement and the Ancillary
Agreements and agrees to be bound by the terms of Section 5.11
hereof (the “ Guarantee ”);
(i) the officer’s certificate required under
Section 8.1 ;
(j) cash in the amounts due to Sellers as set forth
on Schedule 5.6(b) by wire transfer in immediately available funds
to the account(s) designated by Sellers pursuant to Section 2.6(a)
above;
(k) a certified copy of the Articles of
Organization and Operating Agreement of Buyer;
(l) a certificate of good standing of Buyer from
the Secretary of State of Nevada;
(m) a copy of the resolutions adopted by the
Managing Member (as defined in the Buyer’s Operating
Agreement) of Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement by Buyer; and
(n) a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Board
of Directors of the Managing Member of Buyer authorizing the Buyer,
to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement.
Section 2.9.
Assignment of Contracts and
Rights .
(a) Anything in this Agreement to the contrary
notwithstanding, this Agreement shall not constitute an agreement
(i) to transfer or assign any Weider Asset, or any claim,
right or benefit arising under such Weider Asset, or (ii) to
enter into or consummate any of the Ancillary Agreements if,
without the consent of a third party, such transfer and assignment
or other transaction would constitute a breach of, or default
under, any agreement to which Sellers or their Affiliates are
parties, or would, in any material way, adversely affect the rights
of Buyer or its Affiliates or Sellers or their Affiliates under any
Weider Asset.
(b) If any such consent is not obtained prior to
Closing and as a result thereof Buyer shall be prevented by such
third party from receiving the rights and benefits with respect to
such Weider Asset (or such other transaction) intended to be
transferred hereunder, or if an attempted assignment thereof (or
such transaction) would be ineffective or would adversely affect
the rights of Sellers thereunder so that Buyer would not in fact
receive all such rights, Sellers and Buyer will cooperate in any
lawful and commercially reasonable arrangement, as Buyer and
Sellers shall agree, under which Buyer would, to the extent
practicable, obtain the economic claims, rights and benefits under
such asset and assume the economic burdens, liabilities and
obligations with respect thereto in accordance with this Agreement,
including by subcontracting, sublicensing, or subleasing to Buyer.
Sellers will promptly pay to Buyer when received all monies
received by Sellers under any such Weider Asset or any claim, right
or benefit arising thereunder, and Buyer will indemnify and
promptly pay Sellers for all liabilities of Sellers associated with
such Weider Asset that arise due to the fact that such asset was
not transferred to Buyer on the Closing Date.
Section 2.10.
Indemnification
.
(a)
Products Liability
Indemnity . Sellers
shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Buyer, its Affiliates,
shareholders, members, managers, officers, directors, successors,
assigns and agents (collectively, “ Buyer Group
”) from and against all damages, losses, liabilities and
expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees) (hereinafter,
a “ Loss ”) arising from claims asserted
against, resulting to, imposed upon or incurred by any member of
the Buyer Group relating to, or resulting from, any Product
Liabilities for Products sold prior to the Effective Date, other
than for claims that arise from the Weider Liabilities. Buyer shall
indemnify, defend and hold harmless Sellers, its Affiliates,
shareholders, officers, directors, successors, assigns and agents
(collectively, “ Seller Group ”) from and
against all damages, losses, liabilities and expenses (including
reasonable attorney’s fees) arising from claims asserted
against, resulting to, imposed upon or incurred by any member of
the Seller Group relating to, or resulting from, any Product
Liabilities for Products manufactured and sold following the
Effective Date. For clarification, this Section 2.10 shall survive
closing.