Exhibit 2.1
STOCK PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
BY AND AMONG
ON ASSIGNMENT,
INC.
VSS HOLDING, INC.
AND
THE STOCKHOLDERS AND
OPTIONHOLDERS
NAMED ON SCHEDULE I HERETO
December 20, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
|
|
Page
|
|
ARTICLE I
|
|
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMPANY
SECURITIES
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.1
|
|
Purchase and Sale of the Common Shares from the
Stockholders
|
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
|
Further Assurances
|
|
1
|
|
1.3
|
|
The Closing
|
|
2
|
|
1.4
|
|
Actions at the Closing
|
|
2
|
|
1.5
|
|
Purchase Price for the Company
Securities
|
|
2
|
|
1.6
|
|
Treatment of Company Stock Options
|
|
3
|
|
1.7
|
|
Adjustments to Purchase Price
|
|
4
|
|
1.8
|
|
Escrow
|
|
5
|
|
1.9
|
|
Earnout
|
|
6
|
|
1.10
|
|
Securityholders’ Representative
|
|
9
|
|
1.11
|
|
Currency
|
|
11
|
|
1.12
|
|
Withholding
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING
SECURITYHOLDERS REGARDING THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS AND THE
COMPANY SECURITIES
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2.1
|
|
Selling Securityholders Representations and
Warranties
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
AND THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS REGARDING THE COMPANY
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
3.1
|
|
Organization, Qualification and Corporate
Power
|
|
13
|
|
3.2
|
|
Capitalization
|
|
14
|
|
3.3
|
|
Authorization of Transaction
|
|
15
|
|
3.4
|
|
Noncontravention
|
|
15
|
|
3.5
|
|
Undisclosed Liabilities
|
|
16
|
|
3.6
|
|
Tax Matters
|
|
16
|
|
3.7
|
|
Assets
|
|
18
|
|
3.8
|
|
Owned Real Property
|
|
18
|
|
3.9
|
|
Real Property Leases
|
|
18
|
|
3.10
|
|
Intellectual Property
|
|
19
|
|
3.11
|
|
Contracts
|
|
19
|
|
3.12
|
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
21
|
|
3.13
|
|
Powers of Attorney
|
|
21
|
|
3.14
|
|
Insurance
|
|
21
|
|
3.15
|
|
Litigation
|
|
21
|
|
3.16
|
|
Employees
|
|
21
|
|
3.17
|
|
Employee Benefits
|
|
23
|
|
3.18
|
|
Environmental Matters
|
|
25
|
|
3.19
|
|
Legal Compliance
|
|
25
|
i
|
3.20
|
|
Existing Customers and Suppliers
|
|
25
|
|
3.21
|
|
Permits
|
|
26
|
|
3.22
|
|
Certain Business Relationships With Affiliates,
Officers and Directors
|
|
26
|
|
3.23
|
|
Books and Records
|
|
26
|
|
3.24
|
|
Brokers’ Fees
|
|
26
|
|
3.25
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
26
|
|
3.26
|
|
Guarantees
|
|
27
|
|
3.27
|
|
Earnout Payments
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV
|
|
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE
BUYER
|
|
27
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
4.1
|
|
Organization, Qualification and Corporate
Power
|
|
27
|
|
4.2
|
|
Authorization of Transaction
|
|
27
|
|
4.3
|
|
Noncontravention
|
|
27
|
|
4.4
|
|
Litigation
|
|
28
|
|
4.5
|
|
Investment Intent
|
|
28
|
|
4.6
|
|
Sophistication of the Buyer
|
|
28
|
|
4.7
|
|
Buyer Financial Capacity
|
|
28
|
|
4.8
|
|
SEC Filings; Financial Statements
|
|
28
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V
|
|
COVENANTS
|
|
29
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5.1
|
|
Closing Efforts
|
|
29
|
|
5.2
|
|
Governmental and Third-Party Notices and
Consents
|
|
29
|
|
5.3
|
|
Operation of Business
|
|
29
|
|
5.4
|
|
Access to Information
|
|
32
|
|
5.5
|
|
Expenses
|
|
32
|
|
5.6
|
|
Director and Officer Indemnification
|
|
32
|
|
5.7
|
|
Employment Matters.
|
|
33
|
|
5.8
|
|
Company ESOP Matters
|
|
34
|
|
5.9
|
|
Tax Matters
|
|
35
|
|
5.10
|
|
FIRPTA
|
|
38
|
|
5.11
|
|
Withholding Forms
|
|
38
|
|
5.12
|
|
Financial Statements
|
|
38
|
|
5.13
|
|
Valid Issuance of Buyer Common Stock
|
|
39
|
|
5.14
|
|
Registration of Buyer Common Stock
|
|
39
|
|
5.15
|
|
Accounts Receivable
|
|
40
|
|
5.16
|
|
Guarantees
|
|
40
|
|
5.17
|
|
Professional Liability Insurance
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI
|
|
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
|
|
40
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
6.1
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of the
Buyer
|
|
40
|
|
6.2
|
|
Conditions to Obligations of the Company and the
Selling Securityholders
|
|
42
|
ii
|
ARTICLE VII
|
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
|
43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
7.1
|
|
Indemnification by the Selling
Securityholders
|
|
43
|
|
7.2
|
|
Indemnification by the Buyer
|
|
43
|
|
7.3
|
|
Indemnification Claims
|
|
44
|
|
7.4
|
|
Survival
|
|
46
|
|
7.5
|
|
Limitations
|
|
47
|
|
7.6
|
|
Treatment of Indemnity Payments
|
|
49
|
|
7.7
|
|
Subrogation of Rights
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
|
|
TERMINATION
|
|
49
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
8.1
|
|
Termination of Agreement
|
|
49
|
|
8.2
|
|
Effect of Termination
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IX
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
|
50
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE X
|
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
|
59
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10.1
|
|
Press Releases and Announcements
|
|
59
|
|
10.2
|
|
Reliance
|
|
59
|
|
10.3
|
|
No Third Party Beneficiaries
|
|
60
|
|
10.4
|
|
Entire Agreement
|
|
60
|
|
10.5
|
|
Succession and Assignment
|
|
60
|
|
10.6
|
|
Counterparts and Facsimile Signature
|
|
60
|
|
10.7
|
|
Headings
|
|
60
|
|
10.8
|
|
Notices
|
|
60
|
|
10.9
|
|
Governing Law
|
|
61
|
|
10.10
|
|
Amendments and Waivers
|
|
61
|
|
10.11
|
|
Severability
|
|
62
|
|
10.12
|
|
Submission to Jurisdiction
|
|
62
|
|
10.13
|
|
Construction
|
|
62
|
|
10.14
|
|
Specific Performance
|
|
62
|
iii
|
Schedule I
|
|
List of Selling Securityholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule II
|
|
List of Employees of the Company
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule 1.7(a)
|
|
Estimated Closing Balance Sheet and Estimated
Working Capital
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule 1.9
|
|
Earnout Calculation
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule 1.9(a)
|
|
Certain Earnout Distribution
Arrangements
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule 1.9(c)
|
|
Budgeted EBITDA
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Disclosure Schedule
|
|
Disclosures and Exceptions to Selling
Securityholders and Company Representations and
Warranties
|
|
|
iv
STOCK PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
This Stock Purchase Agreement (this
“ Agreement ”) is made as of December 20, 2006
by and among On Assignment, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“ Buyer ”), VSS Holding, Inc., a Nevada
corporation (the “ Company ”), the stockholders
of the Company listed on Schedule I attached hereto
(individually, a “ Stockholder ” and,
collectively, the “ Stockholders ”), who own all
of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company, and
each holder of a Company Stock Option (as defined herein) listed on
Schedule I attached hereto (individually, an “
Optionholder ” and, collectively, the “
Optionholders ”). For purposes of this Agreement, the
term “ Selling Securityholders ” shall refer to
the Stockholders and the Optionholders, collectively.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT
Each of the Stockholders owns the
number of issued and outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Company (collectively, the “ Common Shares ”)
set forth opposite his, her or its name on Schedule I
attached hereto, which Common Shares in the aggregate represent all
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company, and each Optionholder is the rightful holder of
outstanding Company Stock Options representing the right to acquire
the number of Common Shares upon exercise of such Company Stock
Option set forth opposite his or her name on Schedule I
attached hereto, which in the aggregate represent all outstanding
Company Stock Options.
The Buyer desires to purchase, and
the Selling Securityholders desire to sell, the Company Securities
(as defined herein) for the consideration set forth below, subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Now, therefore, in consideration of
the representations, warranties and covenants herein contained, the
Parties agree as follows.
ARTICLE I
PURCHASE AND SALE OF COMPANY SECURITIES
1.1
Purchase and Sale of the Common
Shares from the Stockholders . Subject to and upon the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, at the Closing, each Stockholder
shall sell, transfer, convey, assign and deliver to the Buyer, and
the Buyer shall purchase, acquire and accept from each Stockholder,
all of the Common Shares owned by such Stockholder, as set forth
opposite such Stockholder’s name on Schedule I
attached hereto. At the Closing, each Stockholder shall deliver to
the Buyer appropriate evidence of the transfer of the Common Shares
owned by such Stockholder to the Buyer.
1.2
Further Assurances
. At any time and from time to
time after the Closing, at the Buyer’s request and without
further consideration, each of the Selling Securityholders shall
promptly execute and deliver such instruments of sale, transfer,
conveyance, assignment and confirmation, and take all such other
action as the Buyer may reasonably request, more effectively to
transfer, convey and assign to the Buyer, and to confirm the
Buyer’s title to, all of the Common Shares owned by any
Stockholder, to put the Buyer in actual possession and operating
control of the assets, properties and business of the Company, to
assist the Buyer in
exercising all rights with respect
thereto and to carry out the purpose and intent of this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby.
1.3
The Closing
. The Closing shall take place
at the offices of Latham & Watkins LLP, 633 West Fifth Street,
Suite 4000, Los Angeles, CA, commencing at 9:00 a.m. local time on
the Closing Date.
1.4
Actions at the Closing
. At the Closing:
(a)
the Company and the Selling
Securityholders shall deliver to the Buyer the various
certificates, instruments and documents referred to in Section
6.1;
(b)
the Buyer shall deliver to the
Company the various certificates, instruments and documents
referred to in Section 6.2;
(c)
each of the Stockholders shall
deliver to the Buyer all of his, her or its Common Shares, with
appropriate instruments of transfer; and
(d)
the Buyer shall make the deliveries
provided in Section 1.5 and Section 1.6.
1.5
Purchase Price for the Company
Securities .
(a)
The aggregate purchase price to be
paid by the Buyer in respect of all of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company and all of the outstanding Company
Stock Options shall be Forty-One Million Dollars ($41,000,000) (the
“ Purchase Price ”), subject to adjustment
pursuant to Section 1.7 hereof. The Purchase Price shall be payable
in the manner described in paragraph (b) of this Section 1.5 and,
with respect to Company Stock Options outstanding immediately prior
to the Closing Date, in the manner described in Section
1.6(b).
(b)
At the Closing, the Buyer shall
deliver:
(i)
to each Stockholder, the portion of
the Purchase Price (after reduction of the Purchase Price by the
payments specified in (ii) through (vi) below) due to such
Stockholder, based on the percentage set forth opposite each such
person’s name on Schedule I attached hereto, by check
or wire transfer of immediately available funds to be allocated
among the accounts designated by each Stockholder at least two
Business Days prior to Closing;
(ii)
to the Escrow Agent, an amount in
cash equal to $4,100,000 (the “ Escrow Cash ”),
to be invested pursuant to the terms of the Escrow Agreement, as a
reserve to satisfy all or part of any claims for indemnity pursuant
to Article VII and any amounts owed to the Buyer under
Section 1.7(b);
(iii)
to the Persons designated for
payment by the Securityholders’ Representative, the Estimated
Closing Expenses;
(iv)
to the account designated by, and
accessible to, the holders’ Security Representative, the
Representative Fund;
(v)
to the account designated by Therus
C. Kolff, the Settlement Amount; and
(vi)
to the applicable debt holders, the
Debt Repayment.
1.6
Treatment of Company Stock
Options .
(a)
Effective immediately prior to the
Closing, each Company Stock Option then outstanding shall become
fully vested and exercisable with respect to all Common Shares
subject thereto and, at the Closing, each unexercised Company Stock
Option (or portion thereof) then outstanding shall be cancelled,
terminated and extinguished in exchange for the right to receive
the consideration set forth in Section 1.6(b) below, subject to
Section 1.12 below. Upon the cancellation of a Company Stock
Option, each Optionholder shall cease to have any rights with
respect to a Company Stock Option, except the right to receive the
consideration payable with respect thereto pursuant to Section
1.6(b) below. Except as provided in Section 1.7(b)(iv) and Section
1.9(b)(iii), hereof, no interest will be paid or accrue on the cash
payable upon surrender of any Company Stock Option. Prior to the
Closing, the Board of Directors of the Company shall take all such
actions as it deems necessary or desirable to effectuate the
provisions of this Section 1.6(a) and to terminate the Company
Stock Plan effective as of the Closing, including without
limitation, obtaining any consents necessary to effectuate the
foregoing.
(b)
Each Optionholder shall, with
respect to each unexercised Company Stock Option (or portion
thereof) cancelled in accordance with Section 1.6(a), be entitled
to receive, subject to Section 1.12 below: (i) from the Buyer at
the Closing, the portion of the Purchase Price (after reduction of
the Purchase Price by the payments specified in Section 1.5(b)(ii)
through (vi)) due to such Optionholder, based on the percentage set
forth opposite each such person’s name on
Schedule I attached hereto, by check or wire transfer
of immediately available funds to be allocated among the accounts
designated at least two Business Days prior to Closing by each
Optionholder; (ii) if, upon final determination, Closing Working
Capital exceeds Estimated Closing Working Capital, on the date set
forth in Section 1.7(b)(iv) hereof, such Optionholder’s Pro
Rata Share of such excess, determined in accordance with Section
1.7(b)(iv) hereof; (iii) upon any disbursement of funds to
Securityholders from the Escrow Fund pursuant to the Escrow
Agreement, such Optionholder’s Pro Rata Share of such
disbursement; (iv) such Optionholder’s Pro Rata Share of any
disbursement of funds to Securityholders from the Representative
Fund; and (v) at such time or times as any amounts become payable
pursuant to Section 1.9 hereof, an amount equal to such
Optionholder’s Pro Rata Share of any Earnout Amount paid
thereunder.
1.7
Adjustments to Purchase
Price .
(a)
Closing Date Purchase Price
Adjustment .
(i)
Not later than three Business Days
prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall provide the Buyer with
an estimated balance sheet of the Company as of the closing of
business on the Closing Date (the “ Estimated Closing
Balance Sheet ”) and a statement of the estimated Closing
Working Capital derived from the Estimated Closing Balance Sheet
(“ Estimated Closing Working Capital ”). The
Estimated Closing Balance Sheet and Estimated
Closing Working Capital shall be
prepared by the Company in accordance with Schedule 1.7(a)
attached hereto.
(ii)
If Estimated Closing Working Capital
is less than Target Working Capital, then the Purchase Price
payable at Closing will be decreased by the positive difference
between Estimated Closing Working Capital and Target Working
Capital. If Estimated Closing Working Capital is greater than
Target Working Capital, the Buyer shall retain the
excess.
(b)
Post-Closing Date Purchase Price
Adjustment .
(i)
Following the Closing, the Purchase
Price shall be adjusted as provided herein to reflect the
difference between Closing Working Capital and Estimated Closing
Working Capital.
(ii)
Within 30 days following the Closing
Date, the Buyer shall deliver to the Securityholders’
Representative a balance sheet of the Company as of the closing of
business on the Closing Date (the “ Closing Balance
Sheet ”), reviewed by the Company’s accountants,
and a statement of Closing Working Capital derived from the Closing
Balance Sheet (the “ Closing Working Capital Statement
”). The Closing Balance Sheet and the Closing Working Capital
Statement shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP and Schedule
1.7(a) attached hereto; provided, that, to the extent that
Schedule 1.7(a) differs from GAAP, Schedule 1.7(a)
shall govern. Immediately following delivery of the Closing Balance
Sheet and the Closing Working Capital Statement, the
Securityholders’ Representative (and its representative)
shall have reasonable access to the books and records (including
financial statements) of the Company during regular business hours
to the extent necessary to verify the Buyer’s preparation of
the Closing Balance Sheet and its computation of the Closing
Working Capital Statement.
(iii)
The Closing Balance Sheet and the
Closing Working Capital Statement (and the computation of Closing
Working Capital indicated thereon) delivered to the
Securityholders’ Representative by the Buyer shall be
conclusive and binding upon the parties unless the
Securityholders’ Representative, within 30 days after
delivery to the Securityholders’ Representative of the
Closing Balance Sheet and the Closing Working Capital Statement,
notifies the Buyer in writing that the Securityholders’
Representative disputes any of the amounts set forth therein,
specifying the nature of the dispute and the basis therefor. The
parties shall in good faith attempt to resolve any dispute and, if
the parties so resolve all disputes, the Closing Balance Sheet and
the Closing Working Capital Statement (and the computation of
Closing Working Capital indicated thereon), as amended to the
extent necessary to reflect the resolution of the dispute, shall be
conclusive and binding on the parties. If the parties do not reach
agreement in resolving the dispute within 30 days after notice is
given by the Securityholders’ Representative to the Buyer
pursuant to the second preceding sentence, the parties shall submit
the dispute to a nationally recognized independent accounting firm
which is mutually agreeable to the parties (the “
Arbiter ”) for resolution. If the parties cannot agree
on the selection of an independent accounting firm to act as the
Arbiter, the parties shall request the AAA to appoint such firm,
and such appointment shall be conclusive and binding on the
parties. Promptly, but no later than 20 days after acceptance of
his or her appointment as the Arbiter, the Arbiter shall determine
(it being understood that in making such determination, the Arbiter
shall be functioning as an expert and not as an arbitrator), based
solely on written submissions by the
Buyer and the Securityholders’
Representative, and not by independent review, only those issues in
dispute and shall render a written report as to the resolution of
the dispute and the resulting computation of the Closing Working
Capital which shall be conclusive and binding on the parties absent
manifest error. All proceedings conducted by the Arbiter shall take
place in Salt Lake City, Utah. In resolving any disputed item, the
Arbiter (x) shall be bound by the provisions of this Section 1.7
and (y) may not assign a value to any item greater than the
greatest value for such items claimed by either party or less than
the smallest value for such items claimed by either party. The
fees, costs and expenses of the Arbiter shall be equally allocated
to and borne by the Buyer and the Selling
Securityholders.
(iv)
Upon final determination of Closing
Working Capital as provided in Section 1.7(b)(iii) above, (A) if
Closing Working Capital is greater than Estimated Closing Working
Capital, the Buyer shall retain the excess and (B) if Closing
Working Capital is less than Estimated Closing Working Capital, the
Purchase Price shall be decreased by the excess of Estimated
Closing Working Capital over Closing Working Capital, and the
Selling Securityholders shall pay to the Buyer the amount of such
difference, together with interest thereon from the Closing Date to
the date of payment thereof as determined below, out of the Escrow
Cash as set forth in Section 1.7(b)(v). If such amount is in excess
of the Escrow Cash, then each Selling Securityholder shall pay to
the Buyer its Pro Rata Share of such excess. Interest shall be
equal to the prime rate as set forth in The Wall Street
Journal on the Closing Date.
(v)
If an amount is payable to the Buyer
pursuant to Section 1.7(b)(iv), such amount shall be paid to the
Buyer within two Business Days after a final determination, first
by the Escrow Agent from the Escrow Cash, and then any earnout
payment due to the Selling Securityholders pursuant to Section 1.9
hereof shall be paid in cash directly to the Escrow Agent as Escrow
Cash to the extent of the amount of any payment made to the Buyer
by the Escrow Agent from the Escrow Cash pursuant to this Section
1.7(b)(v).
1.8
Escrow . On the Closing Date, the Buyer shall
deliver to the Escrow Agent the Escrow Cash for the purpose of
securing the indemnification obligations of the Selling
Securityholders set forth in Article VII of this Agreement
and the payment of any amounts owed to the Buyer under Section
1.7(b). The Escrow Cash shall be held as a trust fund and shall not
be subject to any lien, attachment, trustee process or any other
judicial process of any creditor of any Party, and shall be held
and disbursed solely for the purposes and in accordance with the
terms of the Escrow Agreement.
1.9
Earnout .
(a)
Earnout Payment
. In addition to the Purchase
Price payable to the Selling Securityholders pursuant to Sections
1.5, 1.6 and 1.7 hereof, but subject to Schedule 1.9(a)
attached hereto (provided, that the Buyer will have no liability to
any third party as a result of such payments), each Selling
Securityholder shall be entitled to receive its Pro Rata Share of
any Earnout Amount paid hereunder. Such amounts shall be paid by
the Buyer to each Selling Securityholder in (i) cash and (ii) at
the Buyer’s option, up to a maximum of 40% of such amount to
be paid to each Selling Securityholder (without considering the
portion of the Earnout Amount, if any, paid to the Escrow Agent as
Escrow Cash pursuant to Section 1.7(b)(v)) may be
paid in Buyer Common Stock (at the
Buyer Common Stock Price), provided , that , any
payment to the ESOP Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.9 shall
be made by the Buyer in cash. No Other Selling Securityholder shall
be required to accept more than 40% of its Pro Rata portion of the
Earnout Amount (without considering the portion of the Earnout
Amount, if any, paid to the Escrow Agent as Escrow Cash pursuant to
Section 1.7(b)(v)) in Buyer Common Stock.
(b)
Time for Determination
.
(i)
Within 30 days following the
completion of the audited financial statements of the Buyer for
each of the Earnout Periods, the Buyer shall determine the Earnout
EBITDA for such Earnout Period (the “ Applicable Earnout
EBITDA ”) and the Earnout Amount for such Earnout Period
(the “ Applicable Earnout Amount ”) and deliver
to the Securityholders’ Representative a copy of such
computations. Such computations delivered to the
Securityholders’ Representative by the Buyer shall be
conclusive and binding upon the parties, unless the
Securityholders’ Representative, within 30 days after
delivery to the Securityholders’ Representative of such
computations, notifies the Buyer in writing that the
Securityholders’ Representative disputes any of the amounts
set forth therein, specifying the nature of the dispute and the
basis therefor. Immediately following delivery of the computations
of the Applicable Earnout EBITDA and the Applicable Earnout Amount,
the Securityholders’ Representative and its representatives
shall have reasonable access to the books and records (including
financial statements) of the Company during regular business hours
to the extent necessary to verify the Buyer’s computation of
the Applicable Earnout EBITDA and the Applicable Earnout
Amount.
(ii)
The parties shall in good faith
attempt to resolve any dispute and, if the parties so resolve all
disputes, the computations of the Applicable Earnout EBITDA and the
Applicable Earnout Amount, as amended to the extent necessary to
reflect the resolution of the dispute, shall be conclusive and
binding on the parties. If the parties do not reach agreement in
resolving the dispute within 30 days after notice is given by the
Securityholders’ Representative to the Buyer pursuant to
Section 1.9(b)(i) above, the parties shall submit the dispute to a
nationally recognized independent accounting firm which is mutually
agreeable to the parties (the “ Earnout Arbiter
”) for resolution. If the parties cannot agree on the
selection of an independent accounting firm to act as the Earnout
Arbiter, the parties shall request the AAA to appoint such firm,
and such appointment shall be conclusive and binding on the
parties. Promptly, but no later than 20 days after acceptance of
his or her appointment as Earnout Arbiter, the Earnout Arbiter
shall determine (it being understood that in making such
determination, the Earnout Arbiter shall be functioning as an
expert and not as an arbitrator), based solely on written
submissions by the Buyer and the Securityholders’
Representative, and not by independent review, only those issues in
dispute and shall render a written report as to the resolution of
the dispute and the resulting computation of the Applicable Earnout
Amount, which shall be conclusive and binding on the parties absent
manifest error. All proceedings conducted by the Earnout Arbiter
shall take place in Salt Lake City, Utah. In resolving any disputed
item, the Earnout Arbiter (x) shall be bound by the provisions of
this Section 1.9(b)(ii) and (y) may not assign a value to the
Applicable Earnout Amount greater than the greatest value for such
item claimed by either party or less than the smallest value for
such item claimed by either party. The fees, costs and expenses of
the Earnout Arbiter shall be equally allocated to and borne by the
Buyer and the Selling Securityholders.
(iii)
The Applicable Earnout Amount shall
be paid to the Selling Securityholders according to each Selling
Securityholder’s Pro Rata Share as follows: (A) as to
any amounts that are not subject to dispute as set forth in a
notice of the Securityholders’ Representative pursuant to
Section 1.9(b)(ii) above, within five Business Days after the
expiration of the time during which the Securityholders’
Representative may object to the Buyer’s calculation of the
Applicable Earnout Amount; and (B) as to any amounts that are
subject to dispute as set forth in a notice of the
Securityholders’ Representative pursuant to Section
1.9(b)(ii) above, within five Business Days following the date that
the determination of the disputed portion of the Applicable Earnout
Amount shall become binding and conclusive in accordance with
Sections 1.9(b)(i) or 1.9(b)(ii) above, as the case may be, and in
each case together with interest thereon from the date payment is
due following computations and resolutions of disputes to the date
of payment thereof. Interest shall be equal to the prime rate as
set forth in the Wall Street Journal on the date the payment
is due.
(c)
The Parties hereto acknowledge that
the payment of the Applicable Earnout Amount is contingent upon the
future operations of the Acquired Companies. Accordingly, the Buyer
will act in good faith to operate the Acquired Companies in a
manner consistent with its Ordinary Course of Business (except as
otherwise contemplated by this Agreement) and during the Earnout
Periods shall:
(i)
operate the Acquired Companies as a
distinct division, with separate books and records, including
periodic financial statements;
(ii)
not take funds from the Acquired
Companies so that they have inadequate capital to conduct their
business; and
(iii)
the Buyer shall permit the Company
to have access to funds, as may be required by the Company from
time to time in the Ordinary Course of Business, from the Buyer or
under the credit arrangements obtained by the Buyer if, during any
applicable Earnout Period, such credit arrangements by the Buyer
have contractually limited or precluded the Company from obtaining
financing separate and apart from the Buyer.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon
an Acceleration Event, the Buyer shall pay the Selling
Securityholders, upon five Business Days notice, the Liquidated
Earnout Amount in cash.
For purposes of this Section 1.9(c),
each of the following terms shall have the meaning set forth
below:
“ Acceleration Event
” means the occurrence of any of the following events: (i)
the Buyer materially changes the business plan or operations of the
Acquired Companies in a manner that could reasonably be expected to
impair the ability of the Company to reach the applicable Earnout
Amount; (ii) at any time the Buyer is in material breach of
Sections 1.9(c)(i), 1.9(c)(ii), or 1.9(c)(iii) and such breach has
not been cured within 30 days of receipt by the Buyer of notice of
such breach; or (iii) a Change of Control in Buyer
occurs.
“ Change in Control
” means the occurrence of any of the following:
a merger or consolidation in which
the Buyer is not the surviving entity, except for a transaction the
principal purpose of which is to change the state of the
Company’s incorporation or a transaction in which 50% or more
of the surviving entity’s outstanding voting stock following
the transaction is held by holders who held 50% or more of the
Buyer’s outstanding voting stock prior to such transaction;
or
the sale, transfer or other
disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Buyer;
or
any reverse merger in which the
Buyer is the surviving entity, but in which 50% or more of the
Buyer’s outstanding voting stock is transferred to holders
different from those who held the stock immediately prior to such
merger; or
the acquisition by any person (or
entity) directly or indirectly of 50% or more of the combined
voting power of the outstanding shares of Buyer capital stock;
or
individuals who constitute the Board
at the date of this Agreement cease for any reason to constitute a
majority thereof; provided, however, that any individual becoming a
director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or
nomination for election by the Buyer’s stockholders, was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then
comprising the Board on the date hereof (the “ Incumbent
Board ”) shall be considered as though such individual
were a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for purposes
of this proviso, any such individual whose initial assumption of
office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election
contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or
other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by
or on behalf of a Person other than the Board.
“ Earnout Liquidation
Factor ” means (a) in the event of an Acceleration Event
occurring after June 30, 2007, the average of (i) the
quotient of the last fiscal quarter’s actual EBITDA divided
by that fiscal quarter’s budgeted EBITDA and (ii) the
quotient of the second to the last fiscal quarter’s actual
EBITDA divided by that fiscal quarter’s budgeted EBITDA (but
not greater than 1.0) or (b) in the event of an Acceleration Event
occurring prior to June 30, 2007, the quotient of the first quarter
2007’s actual EBITDA divided by the first quarter
2007’s budgeted EBITDA (but not greater than 1.0).
“Last fiscal quarter” and “second to last fiscal
quarter” as used herein shall be in relation to the time of
the Acceleration Event and “budgeted EBITDA” shall be
the quarterly budgeted EBITDA amounts for 2007 and 2008 set forth
on Schedule 1.9(c) hereto, unless and until modified by
agreement of the Buyer and the Securityholders’
Representative.
“ Liquidated Earnout
Amount ” means an amount equal to the amount derived by
applying Schedule 1.9 assuming, (a) for an Acceleration
Event occurring in 2007, that (i) the 2007 Earnout EBITDA equals
the product of (x) the 2007 Maximum Target and (y) the Earnout
Liquidation Factor and (ii) the 2008 Earnout EBITDA equals the
product of (x) the 2008 Maximum Target and (y) the Earnout
Liquidation Factor and (b) for an Acceleration Event occurring
in 2008, that (i) the 2008 Earnout EBITDA equals the product
of (x) the total budgeted EBITDA for 2008 as agreed upon in
good faith by the Buyer and the Securityholder’s
Representative and (y) the Earnout Liquidation Factor.
“EBITDA” as used in this definition
shall be determined in a manner
consistent with the calculation of “Earnout EBITDA” in
Schedule 1.9 .
(d)
Acknowledgement of the
Parties . The
Buyer, the Company and the Selling Securityholders acknowledge
that: (i) the payment of the Applicable Earnout Amount
hereunder is an integral part of the consideration to be received
by the Stockholders and the Optionholders pursuant to this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby (and that the
Applicable Earnout Amount could be zero); (ii) the Applicable
Earnout Amount is not dependent upon the operating results of the
Buyer or any subsidiary or Affiliate of the Buyer (other than the
Acquired Companies); (iii) the right of the Selling Securityholders
to a portion of the Applicable Earnout Amount is not transferable
other than by operation of Law; (iv) the right of the Selling
Securityholders to a portion of the Applicable Earnout Amount shall
not be represented by a certificate or other instrument, shall not
represent an ownership interest in the Buyer and shall not entitle
any Selling Securityholder to any rights common to any holder of
Buyer Common Stock; and (v) the right of the Selling
Securityholders to payment of the Applicable Earnout Amount shall
not bear any interest other than in accordance with Section
1.9(b)(iii).
1.10
Securityholders’
Representative .
(a)
The Selling Securityholders hereby
appoint, authorize and empower Mark S. Brouse (Mr. Brouse in
such capacity and any successor appointed pursuant to or in
accordance with Section 1.10(b), the “
Securityholders’ Representative ”) to act on
behalf of each Selling Securityholder in connection with, and to
facilitate the consummation of the transactions under, this
Agreement, which shall include the power and authority (i) to make
all decisions relating to the determination of any adjustments to
the Purchase Price, (ii) to take all action necessary in connection
with the waiver of any condition to the obligations of the Selling
Securityholders to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby,
or the defense and/or settlement of any claims for which the
Selling Securityholders may be required to indemnify the Buyer
pursuant to Article VII hereof, provided, that the
settlement affects the Selling Securityholders on a proportionate
basis with no individual Selling Securityholder becoming liable for
more than his or her Pro Rata Share of any claim, (iii) to give and
receive all notices required to be given under this Agreement,
copies of which shall be promptly provided to each Selling
Securityholder, (iv) to execute and deliver the Escrow Agreement,
(v) to designate and determine amounts to be paid and
recipients of the Estimated Closing Expenses, (vi) to make
payment of the Representative Expenses, (vii) collect and/or
sell any receivable transferred to the Selling Securityholders
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and to distribute the
proceeds thereof to the Selling Securityholders and (viii) to
take any and all additional action as is contemplated to be taken
by or on behalf of the Selling Securityholders by the terms of this
Agreement.
(b)
In the event that the
Securityholders’ Representative dies, becomes unable to
perform his responsibilities hereunder or resigns from such
position, (i) Kathryn Hoffman-Abby or (ii) in her absence, such
person selected by a majority of the Selling Securityholders, shall
fill such vacancy and shall be deemed to be the
Securityholders’ Representative for all purposes of this
Agreement.
(c)
All decisions and actions by the
Securityholders’ Representative, including any agreement
between the Securityholders’ Representative and the Buyer
relating to the
determination of any adjustments to
the Purchase Price, the defense or settlement of any claims for
which the Selling Securityholders may be required to indemnify the
Buyer pursuant to Article VII hereof or the payment of
the Estimated Closing Expenses or the Representative Expenses shall
be binding upon all of the Selling Securityholders, and no Selling
Securityholder shall have the right to object, dissent, protest or
otherwise contest the same.
(d)
By their execution of this
Agreement, the Selling Securityholders agree that:
(i)
the Buyer shall be able to rely
conclusively on the instructions and decisions of the
Securityholders’ Representative as to the determination of
any adjustments to the Purchase Price, the settlement of any claims
for indemnification by the Buyer pursuant to Article VII
hereof, the payment of the Estimated Closing Expenses or the
Representative Expenses or any other actions required to be taken
by the Securityholders’ Representative hereunder, and no
Party hereunder shall have any cause of action against the Buyer or
the Securityholders’ Representative for any action taken by
the Buyer in reliance upon the instructions or decisions of the
Securityholders’ Representative;
(ii)
all actions, decisions and
instructions of the Securityholders’ Representative shall be
conclusive and binding upon all of the Selling Securityholders, and
no Selling Securityholder shall have any cause of action against
the Securityholders’ Representative for any action taken,
decision made or instruction given by the Securityholders’
Representative under this Agreement, except for fraud or
intentional breach of this Agreement by the Securityholders’
Representative;
(iii)
the provisions of this Section 1.10
are independent and severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an
interest and shall be enforceable notwithstanding any rights or
remedies that any Selling Securityholder may have in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv)
remedies available at law for any
breach of the provisions of this Section 1.10 are inadequate;
therefore, the Buyer, the Securityholders’ Representative and
the Company shall be entitled to temporary and permanent injunctive
relief without the necessity of proving damages if any such Party
brings an action to enforce the provisions of this Section 1.10;
and
(v)
the provisions of this Section 1.10
shall be binding upon the executors, heirs, legal representatives
and successors of each Selling Securityholder, and any references
in this Agreement to a Selling Securityholder or to the Selling
Securityholders shall mean and include the successors to the
Selling Securityholders’ rights hereunder, whether pursuant
to testamentary disposition, the laws of descent and distribution
or otherwise.
(e)
In connection with any material
determinations or decisions hereunder, as determined in the good
faith discretion of the Securityholders’ Representative, the
Securityholders’ Representative shall consult with the ESOP
Stockholder regarding such determinations or decisions.
(f)
The Securityholders’
Representative may incur reasonable out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs) on
behalf of the Selling Securityholders in his capacity as the
Securityholders’ Representative (collectively, the “
Representative
Expenses ”). If not paid directly to the
Securityholders’ Representative by the Selling
Securityholders, the Representative Expenses will be paid out of
the Representative Fund and thereafter the Representative Expenses
may be recovered from any Escrow Cash to be distributed to the
Selling Securityholders following the termination of the Escrow
Agreement, provided, that, the Securityholders’
Representative shall have delivered a notice to the Buyer and the
Escrow Agent not less than five Business Days prior to the
termination of the Escrow Agreement setting forth the amount of
such Representative Expenses to be paid to the
Securityholders’ Representative, and such recovery will be
made from the Selling Securityholders according to their respective
Pro Rata Share. The Securityholders’ Representative shall
cause any balance remaining in the Representative Fund at the
termination of the Escrow Agreement to be promptly distributed to
the Selling Securityholders according to their Pro Rata Share;
provided that the Securityholders’ Representative shall be
entitled to retain any portion of the Representative Fund required
to fund Representative Expenses related to unresolved Expected
Claim Notices or Claim Notices.
1.11
Currency . All references herein to
“Dollars” and amounts preceded by a “$”
shall be construed as references to United States
dollars.
1.12
Withholding
. The Buyer shall be entitled
to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable
pursuant to this Agreement to any Selling Securityholder such
amounts as the Buyer is required to deduct and withhold under the
Code, or any provisions of foreign, state or local Tax Law, with
respect to the making of such payment. To the extent that amounts
are so withheld by the Buyer, such withheld amounts shall be
treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to
the Selling Securityholder, in respect of whom such deduction and
withholding was made by the Buyer.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS
REGARDING THE SELLING SECURITYHOLDERS AND THE COMPANY
SECURITIES
2.1
Selling Securityholders
Representations and Warranties . Each Selling Securityholder severally
represents and warrants to the Buyer that, except as set forth in
the Disclosure Schedule, the statements contained in this Section
2.1 are true and correct as of the date of this Agreement, except
to the extent such representations and warranties are specifically
made as of a particular date (in which case such representations
and warranties will be true and correct as of such
date).
(a)
Title to Shares
. Such Selling Securityholder
holds beneficially and of record and has good and marketable title
to the Common Shares which are to be transferred to the Buyer by
such Selling Securityholder pursuant hereto and/or the Company
Stock Options which are to become fully vested and exercisable or
cancelled, free and clear of any and all covenants, conditions,
restrictions, voting trust arrangements, options, Security
Interests, and adverse claims or rights whatsoever (“
Encumbrances ”), other than restrictions on
transferability under the applicable federal and state securities
Laws. Such Selling Securityholder is not a party to any voting
trust, proxy or other agreement or understanding with respect to
the voting of any capital
stock of the Company. Schedule
I to this Agreement sets forth a true and correct description
of all Company Securities owned or held by such Selling
Securityholder.
(b)
Organization of Certain Selling
Securityholders .
If such Selling Securityholder is a corporation, trust or other
legal entity, it is duly organized, validly existing, and in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
other formation.
(c)
Authorization of
Transaction . Such
Selling Securityholder has the full right, power and authority to
execute and enter into this Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the
Non-Competition Agreement and all other agreements contemplated
hereby to which it is a party, to perform its obligations hereunder
and thereunder and to transfer, convey and sell to the Buyer at the
Closing the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Securityholder
hereunder and, upon consummation of the purchase contemplated
hereby, the Buyer will acquire from such Selling Securityholder
good and marketable title to such Common Shares, free and clear of
any and all Encumbrances, other than any Encumbrances created by
the Buyer and any restrictions on transferability under applicable
federal and state securities Laws. If such Selling Securityholder
is a corporation, trust or other legal entity, the execution and
delivery by such Selling Securityholder of the Escrow Agreement,
this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated hereby to
which it is a party, and the consummation by such Selling
Securityholder of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby
have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate,
trust or other action on the part of such Selling Securityholder.
This Agreement, the Escrow Agreement, the Non-Competition Agreement
and all other agreements contemplated hereby to which it is a
party, have each been, or when executed and delivered by such
Selling Securityholder shall be, duly and validly executed and
delivered by such Selling Securityholder and each constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of such Selling Securityholder,
enforceable against such Selling Securityholder in accordance with
its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting
creditors’ rights and remedies generally and to general
principles of equity.
(d)
Noncontravention
. Subject to compliance with
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and any
applicable state securities and antitrust and trade regulation
Laws, such Selling Securityholder is not a party to, subject to or
bound by any agreement or any judgment, order, writ, prohibition,
injunction or decree of any Governmental Entity which would prevent
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by such
Selling Securityholder or the transfer, conveyance and sale of the
Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Securityholder to the
Buyer pursuant to the terms hereof. Neither the execution and
delivery by such Selling Securityholder of this Agreement, nor the
consummation by such Selling Securityholder of the transactions
contemplated hereby, will (i) conflict with or violate any
provision of the formation or similar documents of such Selling
Securityholder, (ii) require on the part of the Selling
Securityholder any notice to or filing with, or any permit,
authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental Entity,
(iii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute (with or
without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default under,
result in the acceleration of obligations under, create in any
party the right to terminate, accelerate, modify or cancel, or
require any notice, consent or waiver under, any contract or
instrument to which the Selling Securityholder is a party or by
which the Selling Securityholder is bound or to which its assets
are subject, except for (A) any conflict, breach, default,
acceleration, termination, modification or cancellation
which
would not have a material adverse
effect upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby or result in any liability to the Company or (B) any notice,
consent or waiver the absence of which would not have a material
adverse effect upon the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby or result in any liability to the Company, or
(iv) violate any constitution, judgment, ruling, charge,
order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or regulation, or
other restriction of any Governmental Entity applicable to the
Selling Securityholder.
(e)
Powers of Attorney
. There are no outstanding
powers of attorney executed on behalf of such Selling
Securityholder relating to any Common Shares, this Agreement, the
Escrow Agreement and all other agreements contemplated hereby,
other than any power of attorney, including any stock powers,
required to be executed by such Selling Securityholder in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and delivered
to the Buyer at Closing.
(f)
No Claims Against the
Company . Such
Selling Securityholder has not at any time instituted any claim,
proceeding, action, suit or cause of action against the Company or
any of its Affiliates, or any of their respective predecessors or
Affiliates in its capacity as a holder of securities of the
Company, and is not aware of any grounds for any such claim or
proceeding in its capacity as a holder of securities of the
Company.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING
SECURITYHOLDERS REGARDING THE COMPANY
The ESOP Stockholder, severally and
not jointly, represents and warrants to the Buyer and each of the
Company and the Other Selling Securityholders, jointly and
severally, represents and warrants to the Buyer that, except as set
forth in the Disclosure Schedule, the statements contained in this
Article III are true and correct as of the date of this
Agreement, except to the extent such representations and warranties
are specifically made as of a particular date (in which case such
representations and warranties will be true and correct as of such
date). For purposes of this Article III , the phrase “
to the knowledge of the Company and the Selling
Securityholders ” or “ of which the Company is
aware ” or any variation of any of the foregoing or
phrase of similar import shall be deemed to refer to the actual
knowledge of one or more of the Selling Securityholders of a
particular fact, circumstance, event or other matter.
3.1
Organization, Qualification and
Corporate Power .
(a)
Section 3.1 of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a list for each Acquired Company of its name, its
jurisdiction of formation, other jurisdictions in which it is
authorized to do business, and its capitalization. Each Acquired
Company is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized, with
full power and authority to conduct its business as it is now being
conducted and to own, lease or use the properties and assets that
it purports to own, lease or use. Each Acquired Company is duly
qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation and
is in corporate and tax good standing (where such concepts are
recognized under applicable Law) in each state or other
jurisdiction where either the ownership or use of the properties
owned or used by it, or the nature of the activities conducted by
it, requires such qualification.
(b)
Sellers have delivered or made
available to Buyer copies of the Organizational Documents of each
Acquired Company, as currently in effect.
3.2
Capitalization
.
(a)
The authorized capital stock of the
Company consists of 5,000,000 Common Shares, of which 196,750
shares are issued and outstanding.
(b)
Schedule I
and Section 3.2 of the Disclosure
Schedule set forth a list, as of the date of this Agreement, of all
the holders of capital stock of the Company, showing the number of
shares of such capital stock held by each Stockholder. All of the
outstanding equity securities and other securities of each Acquired
Company (other than the Company) are owned of record and
beneficially by one or more of the Acquired Companies, free and
clear of all Encumbrances. All of the issued and outstanding shares
of capital stock of, or other equity interests in, each of the
Acquired Companies have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and nonassessable. Other than contracts relating to
Company Stock Options, there are no unfulfilled contracts relating
to the issuance, sale, or transfer of any equity securities or
other securities of any Acquired Company. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock, or other equity interests in,
each of the Acquired Companies have been offered, issued and sold
in material compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities Laws.
(c)
Section 3.2(c) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a list, as of the date of this Agreement of:
(i) (A) the number of Common Shares issued to date under each
Company Stock Plan, (B) the number of Common Shares subject to
outstanding Company Stock Options under each Company Stock Plan,
and (C) the number of Common Shares reserved for future issuance
under each Company Stock Plan; and (ii) all Optionholders and, with
respect to each such Optionholder’s outstanding Company Stock
Options, (A) the number of Common Shares subject to such Company
Stock Options, (B) the exercise price, the date of grant, the
vesting schedule (including any acceleration provisions with
respect thereto) applicable to such Company Stock Options, and (C)
whether such Company Stock Options are intended to qualify as
incentive stock options (within the meaning of Section 422 of the
Code). The Company has delivered or made available to the Buyer
copies of the Company Stock Plan and each form of stock option
agreement evidencing the grant of any outstanding Company Stock
Option. All Company Stock Options have been granted in material
compliance with applicable federal and state tax and securities
Laws and the terms of the applicable Company Stock Plan.
(d)
(i) No subscription, warrant,
option, convertible security or other right (contingent or
otherwise) to purchase or acquire any shares of capital stock of
any Acquired Company is authorized or outstanding, (ii) no Acquired
Company has an obligation (contingent or otherwise) to issue any
subscription, warrant, option, convertible security or other such
right or to issue or distribute to holders of any shares of its
capital stock any evidence of indebtedness or assets of any
Acquired Company, (iii) no Acquired Company has any obligation
(contingent or otherwise) to purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
any shares of its capital stock or any interest therein or to pay
any dividend or to make any other distribution in respect thereof,
and (iv) there are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation,
phantom stock, restricted stock, profit participation or other
rights based on or measured by the value of any equity security of,
or interest in, any Acquired Company.
(e)
There is no agreement, written or
oral, between any Acquired Company and any holder of its
securities, or, to the Company’s and the Selling
Securityholders’ knowledge, among any holders of its
securities, relating to the sale or transfer (including agreements
relating to rights of first refusal, co sale rights or “drag
along” rights), registration under the Securities Act, or
voting, of the capital stock of such Acquired Company.
3.3
Authorization of
Transaction . The
Company has all requisite power and authority to execute and
deliver this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated hereby
to which the Company is a party and to perform its obligations
hereunder and thereunder. The execution and delivery by the Company
of this Agreement and all other agreements contemplated hereby to
which the Company is a party, and the consummation by the Company
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, have been duly
and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Company. This Agreement and all other agreements
contemplated hereby to which the Company is a party, have each
been, or when executed and delivered by the Company will be, duly
and validly executed and delivered by the Company and each
constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting
creditors’ rights and remedies generally and to general
principles of equity.
3.4
Noncontravention
. Subject to compliance with
the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and any
applicable state securities and antitrust and trade regulation
Laws, neither the execution and delivery by the Company of this
Agreement, nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated hereby, will (a) conflict with or violate any
provision of the Organizational Documents of any Acquired Company,
(b) require on the part of any Acquired Company any notice to or
filing with, or any permit, authorization, consent or approval of,
any Governmental Entity, (c) conflict with, result in a breach of,
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default under, result in the acceleration of obligations under,
create in any party the right to terminate, accelerate, modify or
cancel, or require any notice, consent or waiver under, any
contract or instrument set forth on Section 3.10(d), 3.11 or
3.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, (d) result in the imposition of
any Security Interest upon any assets of the Acquired Company, or
(e) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to any Acquired Company or any of the
properties or assets of any Acquired Company.
3.5
Undisclosed
Liabilities .
Except for (a) liabilities that are reflected, or for which
reserves were established, on the Most Recent Balance Sheet, (b)
liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business from and
after the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date and (c) liabilities
arising under this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby, the Company has no liabilities of any nature that would be
required to be reflected on a balance sheet for the Company
prepared in accordance with GAAP or that would be reasonably be
expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect. At the Closing,
the Company will have no debt for borrowed money
outstanding.
3.6
Tax Matters
.
(a)
Filing of Tax Returns
. Each Acquired Company has
timely filed with the appropriate Governmental Entities all
material Tax Returns required to be filed under any applicable
Laws. All such Tax Returns are complete and accurate in all
material respects. The Acquired Companies are not currently the
beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax
Return. No written claim has ever been made by any Governmental
Entity in a jurisdiction where any Acquired Company does not file
Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that
jurisdiction.
(b)
Payment of Taxes
. All Taxes due and owing by
the Acquired Companies and any of their predecessors or affiliates
(whether or not shown on any Tax Returns) have been paid on a
timely basis. The unpaid Taxes of the Acquired Companies did not,
(i) as of the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet, exceed the
accruals and reserve for Tax liability (excluding any reserve for
deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between
book and Tax income) set forth on the face of the Most Recent
Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto), and (ii) will not
exceed that reserve as adjusted for operations and transactions
through the Closing Date in accordance with past custom and
practice of such Acquired Companies in filing its Tax
Returns.
(c)
Audits, Investigations or
Claims . No
deficiencies for Taxes of the Acquired Companies have been claimed
or proposed or assessed in writing by any Governmental Entity.
There are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Selling
Securityholders or the Acquired Companies, threatened audits,
assessments or other actions for or relating to any liability in
respect of Taxes of the Acquired Companies (or their predecessors
or affiliates), and there are no matters under discussion with any
governmental authorities, or known to the Selling Securityholders
or the Acquired Companies, with respect to Taxes that are likely to
result in an additional liability for Taxes with respect to the
Acquired Companies (or their predecessors or affiliates). The
Company has delivered or made available to Buyer complete and
accurate copies of foreign, federal, state and local Tax Returns of
the Acquired Companies (and their respective predecessors and
affiliates) for the years ended December 31, 2000, 2001, 2002,
2003, 2004 and 2005, and complete and accurate copies of all
examination reports and statements of deficiencies assessed against
or agreed to by any Acquired Company (and their respective
predecessors) since December 31, 2001. The Tax Returns of the
Acquired Companies have been audited by the IRS or the prescribed
Governmental Entity in the relevant jurisdiction or are closed by
the statute of limitations for all taxable years through the
taxable years specified for such Tax Returns in Section 3.6(c) of
the Disclosure Schedule. The Acquired Companies have not (nor has
any predecessor or affiliate) waived any statute of limitations in
respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to
a Tax assessment or deficiency, nor has any request been made in
writing for any such extension or waiver. No power of attorney
(other than powers of attorney authorizing employees of the Company
to act on behalf of the Company) with respect to any Taxes has been
executed or filed with any Tax authority or other Governmental
Entity.
(d)
Tax Elections
. All material elections with
respect to Taxes affecting any Acquired Company as of the date
hereof are set forth on Section 3.6(d) of the Disclosure Schedule.
No Acquired Company (i) has agreed, and is not required, to make
any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code by reason of a
change in accounting method or otherwise;
(ii) has elected at any time to be
treated as an S corporation within the meaning of Sections 1361 or
1362 of the Code; or (iii) has made any of the foregoing elections
and is not required to apply any of the foregoing rules under any
comparable state or local Tax provision.
(e)
Tax Sharing and Pre-Filing
Agreements . There
are no Tax-sharing, indemnity, allocation, pre-filing, or advance
pricing agreements or similar arrangements with respect to or
involving any Acquired Company, and, after the Closing Date, no
Acquired Company shall be bound by any such agreements or similar
arrangements or have any liability thereunder for amounts due in
respect of periods prior to the Closing Date.
(f)
Other Entity Liability
. No Acquired Company has ever
been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal
income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which is
the Company). No Acquired Company has any liability for the Taxes
of any Person (other than Taxes of the Company) (i) under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state,
local, or foreign law), (ii) as a transferee or successor, (iii) by
contract, or (iv) otherwise.
(g)
USRPHC . No Acquired Company has ever been a
United State real property holding corporation within the meaning
of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period
specified in section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(h)
Partnerships and Single Member
LLCs . No Acquired
Company (i) is a partner for Tax purposes with respect to any joint
venture, partnership, or other arrangement or contract which is
treated as a partnership for Tax purposes, or (ii) owns a single
member limited liability company which is treated as a disregarded
entity.
(i)
Disallowance of Interest
Deductions . None
of the outstanding indebtedness of the Acquired Companies
constitutes indebtedness with respect to which any interest
deductions may be disallowed under Sections 163(i) or 163(l) or 279
of the Code or under any other provision of applicable
Law.
(j)
Tax Shelters
. The Acquired Companies have
not entered into any transaction identified as a “ listed
transaction ” for purposes of Treasury Regulations
Sections 1.6011-4(b)(2) or 301.6111-2(b)(2). If any Acquired
Company has entered into any transaction such that, if the
treatment claimed by it were to be disallowed, the transaction
would constitute a substantial understatement of federal income tax
within the meaning of Code Section 6662, then it believes that it
has either (x) substantial authority for the tax treatment of such
transaction or (y) disclosed on its Tax Return the relevant facts
affecting the tax treatment of such transaction.
(k)
Spin-Offs . The Acquired Companies have not
distributed the stock of any corporation in a transaction
satisfying the requirements of Section 355 of the Code since
December 31, 2004, and the stock of the Acquired Companies has not
been distributed in a transaction satisfying the requirements of
Section 355 of the Code since December 31, 2004.
3.7
Assets .
(a)
Each Acquired Company has good and
marketable title to all of the material assets (tangible or
intangible) purported to be owned by such Acquired Company, free
and clear
of all Security Interests. Each
Acquired Company owns or leases all tangible assets sufficient for
the conduct of its business as presently conducted. Such tangible
assets, taken as a whole, have been maintained in accordance with
normal industry practice, are in functional operating condition and
repair (subject to normal wear and tear) and are suitable for the
purposes for which they are presently used.
(b)
Section 3.7(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth a list of all equipment, motor vehicles and
assets which have a fair market value of over $25,000 as of the
date hereof and which are leased by the Company. Each item of
equipment, motor vehicle and other asset that any Acquired Company
has possession of pursuant to a lease agreement or other
contractual arrangement is in such condition that, if such item of
equipment, motor vehicle or other asset were returned to its lessor
or owner on the Closing Date in accordance with the applicable
lease or contract, the Acquired Company would not be charged any
additional payments due to the condition of such item of equipment,
motor vehicle or other asset.
3.8
Owned Real Property
. The Company does not
currently own, and has not at any time during its existence owned,
any Owned Real Property.
3.9
Real Property Leases
. Section 3.9 of the
Disclosure Schedule lists all Leases to which any Acquired Company
is a party. The Company has made available to the Buyer copies of
the Leases. With respect to each Lease:
(a)
such Lease is in full force and
effect, and such Lease affords the applicable Acquired Company a
valid leasehold interest to the real property that is the subject
of the Lease;
(b)
the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement do not require the consent of any other party to
such Lease, will not result in a breach of or default under such
Lease, and will not otherwise cause such Lease to cease to be in
full force and effect immediately following the Closing in
accordance with the terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to
the Closing;
(c)
no Acquired Company has collaterally
assigned or granted any Security Interest in such Lease;
and
(d)
no Acquired Company nor, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Selling Securityholders, any other
party, is in breach or violation of, or default under, any such
Lease, and no event has occurred, is pending (including the
transactions contemplated hereby) or, to the knowledge of the
Company and the Selling Securityholders, is threatened, which,
after the giving of notice, with lapse of time, or otherwise, would
permit the termination, modification or acceleration of rent under
such Lease or would constitute a breach or default by the
applicable Acquired Company or, to the knowledge of the Company and
the Selling Securityholders, any other party under such
Lease.
3.10
Intellectual Property
.
(a)
Section 3.10(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule lists each registration or application for registration
for copyrights and each registered trademark and service mark and
any application for registration therefore and each active
registered Internet domain name of any Acquired Company. No
Acquired Company has any patents or patent applications.
(b)
To the knowledge of the Company and
the Selling Securityholders, each Acquired Company owns or has the
right to use all Intellectual Property necessary to conduct the
business of such Acquired Company as presently conducted. Each item
of Company Intellectual Property will be owned or available for use
by the Buyer immediately following the Closing on substantially
identical terms and conditions as it was immediately prior to the
Closing. To the knowledge of the Company and the Selling
Securityholders, no other person or entity is, as of the date
hereof, infringing, violating or misappropriating any of the
Company Intellectual Property.
(c)
To the knowledge of the Company and
the Selling Securityholders, the use of the Company Intellectual
Property by the Acquired Companies does not infringe or violate, or
constitute a misappropriation of, any Intellectual Property rights
of any person or entity. Section 3.10(c) of the Disclosure Schedule
lists each written complaint, claim or notice, or written threat
thereof, received by any Acquired Company alleging any such
infringement, violation or misappropriation since January 1, 2004.
The Acquired Company has made available to the Buyer a summary of
all written documentation in the Company’s possession
relating to claims or disputes known to the Company concerning any
Company Intellectual Property owned by any Acquired
Company.
(d)
Section 3.10(d) of the Disclosure
Schedule identifies each license or other agreement currently in
effect pursuant to which any Acquired Company has licensed,
distributed or otherwise granted any rights to any third party with
respect to, any Company Intellectual Property.
(e)
Section 3.10(e) of the Disclosure
Schedule identifies each item of Company Intellectual Property that
is owned by a party other than any Acquired Company, and the
license or agreement pursuant to which any Acquired Company uses
it, if any (excluding non-customized, off the shelf software
programs licensed by any Acquired Company pursuant to “
shrink wrap ” or “ click-through ”
licenses).
3.11
Contracts .
(a)
Section 3.11 of the Disclosure
Schedule lists the following agreements (written or oral) to which
any Acquired Company is a party as of the date of this
Agreement:
(i)
any agreement for the lease of
personal property from or to third parties providing for lease
payments by any Acquired Company in excess of $25,000 per
annum;
(ii)
any agreement for the purchase of
products or for the receipt of services which involves the payment
by any Acquired Company of more than the sum of $25,000 per
annum;
(iii)
any partnership, joint venture or
limited liability company agreement;
(iv)
any agreement under which any
Acquired Company has created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed (or
may create, incur, assume or guarantee) indebtedness for borrowed
money or any capitalized lease obligation, or under which any
Acquired Company has imposed (or may impose) a Security Interest on
any of its assets, tangible or intangible;
(v)
any agreement for the acquisition of
a business or entity, or substantially all of the assets of a
business or entity (including by merger or
consolidation);
(vi)
any agreement concerning
noncompetition or nonsolicitation, or an agreement that otherwise
materially restricts the ability of any Acquired Company to
compete, to which any Acquired Company is a party;
(vii)
any agreement for the employment of
any individual on a full-time, part-time, consulting or other basis
that is not terminable at will by the applicable Acquired Company
and without the payment of severance, termination or similar
compensation or benefits (other than required by Law) and which
agreement requires payment of amounts after the date hereof in
excess of $75,000 of base pay per annum;
(viii)
any agreement under which any
Acquired Company has advanced or loaned any amount to any of its
directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;
(ix)
any agreement in which any current
or former officer, director or stockholder of the Company is
directly or indirectly interested, including any agreement subject
to Section 5.17;
(x)
any settlement, conciliation or
similar agreement, the performance of which will involve payment
after the Closing Date of consideration in excess of $25,000;
and
(xi)
any agreement (other than agreements
of the type described in subclauses (i) through (x) above) that
involves aggregate future payments by any Acquired Company in
excess of $50,000 per annum, other than an agreement entered into
in the Ordinary Course of Business.
(b)
The Company has made available to
the Buyer a copy of each written agreement listed in Section 3.10
or Section 3.11 of the Disclosure Schedule (the “Scheduled
Agreements”). As of the date hereof, neither any Acquired
Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company or the Selling
Securityholders, any other party, is in material breach or default
under, any Scheduled Agreement, and no event has occurred, is
pending (including the transactions contemplated hereby) or, to the
knowledge of the Company and the Selling Securityholders, is
threatened, which, after the giving of notice, with lapse of time,
or otherwise, would constitute a material breach or default by any
Acquired Company or, to the knowledge of the Company and the
Selling Securityholders, any other party under a Scheduled
Agreement.
3.12
Accounts Receivable
. All accounts receivable of
any Acquired Company reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet
(other than those collected since such date) are valid receivables
and are not subject to material setoffs or counterclaims, except as
reflected in reserves on the Most Recent Balance Sheet. All
accounts receivable (including receivables on the Closing Balance
Sheet) of any Acquired Company that have arisen since the Most
Recent Balance Sheet Date are valid receivables and are not subject
to setoffs or counterclaims, are current and collectible, and will
be collected in accordance with their terms within 120 days of
Closing at their recorded amounts, except as reflected in reserves
for uncollectible accounts in such Acquired Company’s books
and records.
3.13
Powers of Attorney
. There are no outstanding
powers of attorney executed on behalf of any Acquired
Company.
3.14
Insurance . Section 3.14 of the Disclosure Schedule
lists each insurance policy (including medical malpractice, fire,
theft, casualty, comprehensive general liability, workers’
compensation, business interruption, environmental, product
liability and automobile insurance policies and bond and surety
arrangements) to which any Acquired Company is a party, all of
which are in full force and effect. To the knowledge of the Company
and the Selling Securityholders, there is no material claim pending
under any such policy as to which coverage has been questioned,
denied or disputed by the underwriter of such policy. All premiums
due and payable under all such policies have been paid or reflected
in the Financial Statements (unless such premiums became due after
the date of the Financial Statements), no Acquired Company is
liable for retroactive premiums, and each Acquired Company is
otherwise in compliance in all material respects with the terms of
such policies. No Acquired Company, nor to the knowledge of the
Company and the Selling Securityholders, any other party to such
policy is in material breach or default and no event has occurred
that, with the notice or the lapse of time, would constitute such a
material breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or
acceleration under the policy and, to the knowledge of the Company
and the Selling Securityholders, no party has repudiated any
provision of any such policy. The Company has no knowledge of any
threatened termination of, or premium increase with respect to, any
such policy. Each such policy will continue to be in full force and
effect immediately following the Closing in accordance with the
terms thereof as in effect immediately prior to the Closing. Unless
a different level of medical malpractice insurance is required to
be maintained by the Company by a particular State or individual
facility, the Company has, as of the date of this Agreement,
professional liability insurance coverage of $1,000,000 per claim,
with a per claim deductible of $100,000.
3.15
Litigation
. Section 3.15 of the
Disclosure Schedule sets forth each instance in which any Acquired
Company is party or, to the knowledge of the Company and the
Selling Securityholders, is threatened to be made a party to any
action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation of, in, or
before any Governmental Entity. There are no injunctions,
judgments, orders or decrees outstanding against any Acquired
Company on the date hereof.
3.16
Employees .
(a)
Section 3.16(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a list of all current employees of the Acquired
Companies whose annual base salary exceeds $50,000 per year, along
with the position and the annual rate of compensation of each such
person. As of the date hereof, no Acquired Company employee at the
Vice President level or higher has provided notice of such
employee’s intent to terminate employment with such Acquired
Company and, as of the date hereof, to the knowledge of the
Company, no such employee presently plans to terminate employment
with such Acquired Company.
(b)
No Acquired Company is now or has
been a party to or bound by any collective bargaining or similar
agreement, nor during the past five years has any Acquired Company
experienced any strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages, grievances,
lockouts, claims of unfair labor practices or other collective
bargaining disputes and, to the knowledge of the Company, no
such
strikes, slowdowns, work stoppages,
grievances, lockouts, claims of unfair labor practices or other
collective bargaining disputes are threatened. There are no labor
unions or other organizations, either currently or within the past
five years, representing, purporting to represent or, to the
knowledge of the Company, attempting to represent any employees of
any Acquired Company.
(c)
No Acquired Company has violated any
law, order, judgment or arbitration award of any court, arbitrator
or government authority regarding the terms and conditions of
employment of employees, former employees or prospective employees
or other labor related matters, including any laws, orders,
judgments or awards relating to wrongful discharge, discrimination,
personal rights, leaves of absence, wages, hours, collective
bargaining, fair labor standards or occupational health and
safety.
(d)
Each Acquired Company has properly
classified all of its service providers as either employees or
independent contractors. Each Acquired Company has withheld and
paid to the appropriate governmental authority all amounts required
to be withheld from compensation paid to its employees and is not
liable for any arrears of taxes, penalties or other sums for
failure to withhold and pay applicable taxes. Each Acquired Company
has paid in full to its employees or adequately accrued for in
accordance with GAAP all wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses,
benefits and other compensation due to or on behalf of such
employees. There is no claim in dispute against any Acquired
Company with respect to payment of wages, salary or overtime pay
that has been asserted or is now pending or threatened with respect
to any current or former service providers of such Acquired
Company.
(e)
In the three years prior to the date
hereof, no Acquired Company has effectuated (i) a “ plant
closing ” (as defined in the Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act (the “ WARN Act ”)
or any similar state, local or foreign Law) affecting any site of
employment or one or more facilities or operating units within any
site of employment or facility of any Acquired Company, or (ii) a
“ mass layoff ” (as defined in the WARN Act, or
any similar state, local or foreign law) affecting any site of
employment or facility of any Acquired Company. No Acquired Company
has material liabilities, whether contingent or absolute, relating
to workers’ compensation benefits that are not fully insured
against by a bona fide third-party insurance carrier to the extent
required by applicable Law. With respect to each state
workers’ compensation arrangement that is funded wholly or
partially through an insurance policy or public or private fund,
all premiums required to have been paid to date under such
insurance policy or fund have been paid.
(f)
Section 3.16(f) of the Disclosure
Schedule sets forth any and all indebtedness in excess of $10,000
owed by any current or former employee, consultant or director of
any Acquired Company to any Acquired Company.
3.17
Employee Benefits
.
(a)
Section 3.17(a) of the Disclosure
Schedule contains a complete and accurate list of all Company
Plans. Complete and accurate copies of (i) all Company Plans which
have been reduced to writing (including all amendments thereto),
(ii) written summaries of all unwritten Company Plans, (iii) all
related current trust agreements, insurance contracts and summary
plan
descriptions and material written
employee communications distributed generally to employees within
12 months preceding the date hereof regarding such Company
Plans, (iv) the most recent annual reports filed on IRS Form 5500
(including all exhibits and attachments thereto) for each Company
Plan, (v) if a Company Plan is intended to qualify under Section
401(a) of the Code, the most recent IRS determination or opinion
letter applicable to such Company Plan, and (vi) all material,
non-routine communications with any governmental entity or agency,
including the U.S. Department of Labor, the IRS and the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation, within the three years preceding the
date hereof and relating to a Company Plan have been made available
to Buyer. Except as necessary to comply with applicable Laws, none
of the Acquired Companies has made any plan or commitment to create
any new or additional Company Plan or to modify any existing
Company Plan that would result in a material increase in the
compensation or benefits provided to any current or former
employee, consultant or director of any Acquired Company or the
spouses, beneficiaries or other dependents thereof.
(b)
Each of the Acquired Companies has,
in all material respects, (i) timely made or, to the extent not yet
due, accrued on its consolidated financial statements, all required
contributions (including all employer contributions and employee
salary reduction contributions) thereto, and (ii) timely paid all
premiums and expenses to or in respect of such Company Plan. Each
of the Acquired Companies and each Company Plan are in compliance
in all material respects with the applicable provisions of ERISA,
the Code and foreign law applicable to any Company Plan and any
regulations thereunder. Except as set forth on Section 3.17(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule, no Company Plan or related trust holds
assets that include securities issued by any Acquired
Company.
(c)
With respect to each Company Plan,
(i) no breaches of fiduciary duty or other failures to act or
comply in connection with the administration or investment of the
assets of a Company Plan in connection with which any Acquired
Company or a fiduciary could reasonably be expected to incur a
material liability have occurred; and (ii) no non-exempt
prohibited transaction within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA
or Section 4975 of the Code that could reasonably be expected to
result in material liability to any Acquired Company has occurred;
and (iii) no lien has been imposed under the Code, ERISA or
any comparable foreign law.
(d)
There are no Legal Proceedings
(including without limitation any audits or investigation by the
IRS, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty
Corporation or any other federal, state or foreign Governmental
Authority), except claims for benefits payable in the normal
operation of the Company Plans, pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened, against, by, on behalf of, relating to or
involving any Company Plan.
(e)
Each Company Plan that is intended
to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a
favorable determination or opinion letter from the IRS on which
each Acquiring Company that is a participating employer in such
Company Plan is entitled to rely and (i) no prototype plan has been
modified or amended such that the plan would be considered an
individually designed plan, (ii) no such determination or opinion
letter has been revoked and revocation has not been threatened, and
(iii) no act or omission has occurred that would reasonably be
expected to adversely affect the qualification of such Company
Plan. Each Company Plan that is intended to qualify under any law
of any foreign jurisdiction has received any required approval of a
governmental authority of a foreign jurisdiction which approval
has
not been revoked and, to the
knowledge of the Company, no event or circumstance exists that has
adversely affected or is likely to adversely affect such
qualification or approval.
(f)
No Company Plan is, and no Acquired
Company nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains, contributes to, or, in
the six years preceding the date of this Agreement, has maintained
or been obligated to contribute to an Employee Benefit Plan subject
to Section 412 of the Code, Title IV of ERISA or comparable funding
obligations imposed under the laws of any foreign
jurisdiction.
(g)
At no time in the six years
preceding the date of this Agreement has any Acquired Company or
any ERISA Affiliate been obligated to contribute to any “
multiemployer plan ” (as defined in Section 4001(a)(3)
of ERISA) or “ multiple employer plan ” (as
defined in Section 413(c) of the Code).
(h)
No Acquired Company has obligations
under any Company Plan or otherwise to provide benefits after
termination of employment or service to any current or former
employees, consultants or directors of any Acquired Company (or to
any spouse, dependent or beneficiary of any of the foregoing),
including but not limited to obligations to provide health,
accident, disability or life insurance coverage, but excluding
continuation of health coverage required to be continued under
Section 4980B of the Code or other applicable law and insurance
conversion privileges provided under state law. There has been no
communication to any current or former employee, consultant or
director or any retiree of any Acquired Company, or the spouses,
dependents or beneficiaries of any of the foregoing, that would
reasonably be expected to promise or guarantee any such health,
accident, disability or life insurance coverage.
(i)
Neither the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, either alone or in combination with another
event (whether contingent or otherwise) will (i) entitle any
current or former employee, consultant or director of any Acquired
Company or any group of such employees, consultants or directors to
any payment or benefit; (ii) increase the amount of compensation or
benefits due to any such employee, consultant or director; or (iii)
accelerate the vesting, funding or time of payment of any
compensation, equity award or other benefit.
(j)
Each Company Plan that is a
nonqualified deferred compensation plan subject to Code Section
409A has been operated and administered in good faith compliance
with Code Section 409A from the period beginning January 1, 2005
through the date hereof.
(k)
With respect to each Company Plan
providing compensation or benefits to any employee or former
employee of any Acquired Company (or any dependent or beneficiary
thereof) which is subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside
of the United States (the “ Foreign Plans ”):
(i) such Foreign Plan has been maintained in all material respects
in accordance with all applicable requirements and all applicable
laws, (ii) if intended to qualify for special tax treatment, such
Foreign Plan meets all requirements for such treatment, (iii) if
intended or required to be funded and/or book-reserved, such
Foreign Plan has been funded and/or book reserved, as appropriate,
based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions, and (iv) no material
liability exists or reasonably could be imposed upon the assets of
any Acquired Company by reason of such Foreign Plan.
(l)
Each Acquired Company is in
compliance in all material respects with (i) the requirements of
the applicable health care continuation and notice provisions of
Section 4980B of the Code, as amended, and the regulations
(including proposed regulations) thereunder and any similar state
law, and (ii) the applicable requirements of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, as amended, and the
regulations (including the proposed regulations)
thereunder.
(m)
Neither the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, either alone or in combination with another
event (whether contingent or otherwise) will result in any
“parachute payment” under Code Section 280G (whether or
not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation for
services rendered).
(n)
ESOP Stockholder
.
(i)
The ESOP Stockholder and the ESOP
Stockholder Trust have been operated and administered at all times
in compliance with their terms and with the provisions of
applicable Law, including without limitation, applicable provisions
of ERISA and the Code. Since inception, (A) the ESOP Stockholder
and the ESOP Stockholder Trust have been tax-qualified and
tax-exempt, and (B) the ESOP Stockholder has constituted a valid
“employee stock ownership plan” (within the meaning of
Code Section 409).
(ii)
No Person has
made an election under Section 1042(a)(1) of the Code with respect
to any Common Shares or other securities held by the ESOP
Stockholder Trust.
(iii)
In connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the ESOP
Stockholder has retained the services of the Independent Fiduciary.
The Independent Fiduciary is an “investment manager”
(within the meaning of Section 3(38) of ERISA) of the ESOP
Stockholder and has full discretionary investment management
authority with respect to the Common Shares held by the ESOP
Stockholder Trust. The Independent Fiduciary has sole authority,
power and responsibility to determine whether the ESOP Stockholder
will participate in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and to direct the ESOP Stockholder Trustee to so participate. The
Independent Fiduciary has obtained an opinion rendered to the
Independent Fiduciary by Duff & Phelps, an “independent
appraiser” (within the meaning of Code Section
401(a)(28)