<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 2.1
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
BY AND BETWEEN
CHIQUITA BRANDS INTERNATIONAL, INC.
AND
PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP COMPANY
FEBRUARY 22, 2005
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE 1. PURCHASE AND SALE OF
SHARES.......................................... 1
1.1
Transfer of Shares........................................
1
ARTICLE 2.
CONSIDERATION........................................................
1
2.1
Purchase Price............................................
1
2.2
Other Payments............................................
1
2.3
EBITDA Adjustment.........................................
4
ARTICLE 3. CLOSING; OBLIGATIONS OF THE
PARTIES.................................. 5
3.1
Closing Date..............................................
5
3.2
Obligations of the Parties at the Closing.................
5
ARTICLE 4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF SELLER............................. 6
4.1
Corporate Status..........................................
6
4.2
Authority.................................................
7
4.3
No Conflict...............................................
7
4.4
Capitalization............................................
7
4.5
Financial Statements......................................
9
4.6
Real Property.............................................
10
4.7
Assets....................................................
11
4.8
Material Contracts........................................
11
4.9
Intellectual Property.....................................
13
4.10
Litigation, Claims and Proceedings........................
14
4.11
Environmental and Safety and Health Matters...............
14
4.12
Compliance with Law.......................................
16
4.13
Employee Matters and Benefit Plans........................
17
4.14
Taxes.....................................................
18
4.15
Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities........................
20
4.16
Absence of Certain Changes................................
20
4.17 Labor
Matters............................................. 20
4.18
Customers and Suppliers...................................
21
4.19
Accounts Receivable.......................................
22
4.20
Affiliated Transactions...................................
22
4.21
Insurance.................................................
22
4.22
Payments..................................................
22
4.23
Finder's Fee..............................................
23
ARTICLE 5. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
OF PURCHASER.......................... 23
5.1
Corporate Status..........................................
23
5.2
Authority.................................................
23
5.3
No Conflict...............................................
23
5.4
Compliance with Law.......................................
24
5.5 Sufficient
Funds.......................................... 24
5.6
Finder's Fee..............................................
24
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5.7
No Reliance...............................................
24
5.8
Investment Intent.........................................
25
ARTICLE 6.
COVENANTS............................................................
25
6.1
Interim Operations of the Companies.......................
25
6.2
Consents..................................................
26
6.3
Publicity.................................................
27
6.4
Access to Records and Properties..........................
28
6.5
Further Action............................................
30
6.6
Expenses..................................................
31
6.7
Notification of Certain Matters...........................
31
6.8
Employee Benefit Plans....................................
31
6.9
Non-Competition, Non-Solicitation and Non-Disclosure......
34
6.10
Intercompany Indebtedness.................................
35
6.11 Debt
and Guarantees....................................... 36
6.12
Supplements to Disclosure Schedule........................
36
6.13
Non-Solicitation..........................................
36
6.14
Obligations with Respect to Certain Insurance Claims......
37
6.15
Obligation with Respect to Fresh Advantage................
38
ARTICLE 7. CLOSING
CONDITIONS...................................................
38
7.1
Conditions to Obligations of Seller and Purchaser to
Consummate the Transaction................................
38
7.2
Additional Conditions to Obligations of Purchaser.........
38
7.3
Additional Conditions to Obligations of Seller............
40
ARTICLE 8. CERTAIN TAX
MATTERS..................................................
41
8.1
Responsibility for Filing Tax Returns.....................
41
8.2
Cooperation on Tax Matters................................
41
8.3
Tax Sharing Agreements....................................
42
8.4
Tax Indemnifications......................................
42
8.5
Certain Non-income Taxes..................................
43
8.6
Section 338(h)(10) Election...............................
44
ARTICLE 9. ADDITIONAL
INDEMNIFICATION...........................................
44
9.1
Survival..................................................
44
9.2
Additional Indemnification................................
44
9.3
Indemnification Procedures................................
46
9.4
Indemnification Limitations...............................
47
ARTICLE 10.
TERMINATION.........................................................
48
10.1
Termination...............................................
48
10.2
Effect of Termination and Abandonment.....................
49
ARTICLE 11.
MISCELLANEOUS.......................................................
49
11.1
Intentionally Deleted.....................................
49
11.2
Notices...................................................
49
11.3
Certain Definitions; Interpretation.......................
50
11.4
Severability..............................................
55
11.5
Entire Agreement; No Third-Party Beneficiaries............
55
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11.6 Amendment;
Waiver......................................... 55
11.7 Binding Effect;
Assignment................................ 55
11.8 Disclosure
Schedule....................................... 55
11.9 Governing Law;
Jurisdiction............................... 56
11.10
Enforcement...............................................
56
11.11
Construction..............................................
56
11.12
Counterparts..............................................
56
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INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS
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Term
Section
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338(h)(10)
Entity...................................
8.6
Accountants.........................................
2.2(d)(iii)
Accounts
Receivable.................................
4.19
Acquisition
Proposal................................
6.13
Action..............................................
11.3(a)(i)
Actual Payment
Amount...............................
2.2(a)
Adjustment
Amount...................................
2.2(c)
affiliate...........................................
11.3(a)(ii)
Affiliated
Group....................................
11.3(a)(iii)
Agreement...........................................
Recitals
Assets..............................................
4.7
Audited
Statements..................................
6.4(b)
Average Working
Capital.............................
2.2(b)
Business............................................
4.4(d)
Cause...............................................
6.8(d)
CBAs................................................
4.17(a)
Clayton County
Arrangements.........................
11.3(a)(v)
Cleanup.............................................
11.3(a)(v)
Closing.............................................
3.1
Closing
Date........................................
3.1
Closing Date Financial
Statements...................
2.2(d)(i)
Closing Date Working
Capital........................
2.2(d)(i)
Code................................................
11.3(a)(vi)
Commitment
Letter...................................
5.5
Companies...........................................
Recitals
Companies Covered
Employees.........................
6.8(b)
Companies Owned Intellectual
Property...............
4.9(b)
Companies Used Intellectual
Property................
4.9(b)
Company
Plans.......................................
4.13(a)
Company
Release.....................................
11.3(a)(vii)
Confidential
Material...............................
6.9(c)
Confidentiality
Agreement...........................
6.4(a)
Contract............................................
4.8(a)(i)
control.............................................
11.3(a)(viii)
DOJ.................................................
6.2(a)
EBITDA..............................................
11.3(a)(ix)
Effective
Time......................................
3.1
Encumbrances........................................
4.3
Environmental
Claim.................................
11.3(a)(x)
Environmental
Law...................................
4.11(a)
ERISA...............................................
11.3(a)(xi)
ERISA
Affiliate.....................................
4.13(f)
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Estimated
Payment...................................
2.2(a)
Estimated Payment Adjustment
Amount.................
2.2(a)
Financial
Statements................................
4.5(a)
FTC.................................................
6.2(a)
GAAP................................................
4.5(b)
Goldman
Fee.........................................
4.23
Governmental
Authority..............................
11.3(a)(xii)
Governmental
Order..................................
11.3(a)(xiii)
Guarantees..........................................
6.11
Hazardous
Substance.................................
4.11(a)
HSR
Act.............................................
4.3
Indemnified
Party...................................
9.3(a)
Indemnifying
Party..................................
9.3(a)
Intercompany
Notes..................................
11.3(a)(xiv)
Key Customers and
Suppliers.........................
4.18
Key
Employees.......................................
4.13(h)
knowledge...........................................
11.3(a)(xv)
Law.................................................
11.3(a)(xvi)
Leased Real
Property................................
4.6(c)
Losses..............................................
9.2(a)
Material
Contracts..................................
4.8(a)
Merrill Lynch
Fee...................................
4.23
Monthly
Statements..................................
2.2(d)(i)
Owned Real
Property.................................
4.6(b)
Permit..............................................
11.3(a)(xvii)
Permitted
Encumbrances..............................
4.6(b)
Person..............................................
11.3(a)(xviii)
PICL................................................
6.14
Pre-Closing
Claims..................................
6.14
Preliminary EBITDA
Statement........................
2.3(a)
Purchase
Price......................................
2.1
Purchaser...........................................
Recitals
Purchaser Indemnified
Parties.......................
9.2(a)
Purchaser Material Adverse
Effect...................
11.3(a)(xix)
Purchaser's 401(k)
Plan.............................
6.8(e)
Real
Property.......................................
4.6(c)
Real Property
Leases................................
4.6(a)(ii)
Reference Balance
Sheet.............................
4.5(a)
Related
Parties.....................................
4.20
Representatives.....................................
6.9(c)
Seller..............................................
Recitals
Seller Indemnified
Parties..........................
9.2(b)
Seller Material Adverse
Effect......................
11.3(a)(xxi)
Seller
Plans........................................
4.13(a)
Seller
Release......................................
11.3(a)(xx)
Shares..............................................
1.1
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Straddle
Period.....................................
8.4(a)(iii)
Subsidiary..........................................
11.3(a)(xxii)
Survival
Period.....................................
9.1
Tax
Return..........................................
11.3(a)(xxv)
Taxes...............................................
11.3(a)(xxiii)
Taxing
Authority....................................
11.3(a)(xxiv)
Termination
Date....................................
10.1(b)
Third-Party
Claim...................................
9.3(a)
Threshold
Amount....................................
9.4
WC Adjustment
Amount................................
2.2(b)
Working
Capital.....................................
2.2(b)
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<PAGE>
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT ("Agreement") is made this 22nd day of
February, 2005, by and between Chiquita
Brands International, Inc., a New Jersey
corporation ("Purchaser"), and Performance
Food Group Company, a Tennessee
corporation ("Seller").
WHEREAS,
Seller owns all of the issued and outstanding shares of the
capital stock of Fresh International Corp.,
a Delaware corporation, Fresh
Advantage, Inc., a Virginia corporation,
Redi-Cut Foods, Inc., an Illinois
corporation, and K.C. Salad Holdings, Inc.,
a Missouri corporation
(collectively, the "Companies"); and
WHEREAS,
Purchaser desires to acquire from Seller, and Seller desires to
sell to Purchaser, all of the issued and
outstanding shares of the capital stock
of the Companies upon and subject to the
terms and conditions contained in this
Agreement.
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises, covenants
and
agreements herein contained, the parties
agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1.
PURCHASE AND SALE OF SHARES
1.1
TRANSFER OF SHARES. Subject to all of the terms and conditions of
this
Agreement, at the Closing, Seller hereby
agrees to sell, transfer and convey to
Purchaser, and Purchaser agrees to purchase
and acquire from Seller, free and
clear of all Encumbrances (as defined in
Section 4.3), 100 shares of common
stock, no par value, of Fresh International
Corp., 1,000 shares of common stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of Fresh
Advantage, Inc., 1,000 shares of Class A
common stock, no par value, of Redi-Cut
Foods, Inc., and 1,000 shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, of K.C.
Salad Holdings, Inc., which constitute
all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Companies
(collectively, the "Shares").
ARTICLE 2.
CONSIDERATION
2.1
PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price (the "Purchase Price") for
the
Shares shall be $855,000,000, subject to
adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3, if
applicable. At the Closing (as defined
below), Purchaser shall deliver the
Purchase Price to Seller by wire transfer
of immediately available funds
pursuant to the wire transfer instructions
provided by Seller.
2.2 OTHER
PAYMENTS.
(a) Payment of Cash and Outstanding Checks in Excess of
Deposits.
Purchaser
agrees that it will pay to Seller at Closing an amount equal to
the
estimated amount of the following balance sheet line items (i)
cash;
and (ii)
"outstanding checks (issued by Seller in payment of obligations
of the
Companies
<PAGE>
and
Subsidiaries) in excess of deposits" as of the most recently
completed
four or
five-week fiscal period prior to the Closing Date for which
financial
statements of the Companies and their Subsidiaries prepared in
accordance
with GAAP consistently applied with the Financial Statements
are
available (the "Estimated Payment"). The "Estimated Payment
Adjustment
Amount"
(which may be a positive or negative number) will be equal to
the
amount
determined by subtracting the actual amount of (i) cash; and
(ii)
"outstanding checks (issued by Seller in payment of obligations of
the
Companies
and Subsidiaries) in excess of deposits" as of the Closing Date
as set
forth in the applicable line items in the Closing Date
Financial
Statements
(the "Actual Payment Amount") from the Estimated Payment.
(b) Working Capital
Adjustment Amount. "Working Capital" as of a
given date
shall mean the amount calculated by subtracting the current
liabilities of the Companies and their Subsidiaries (including
"outstanding checks (issued by Seller in payment of obligations of
the
Companies
and Subsidiaries) in excess of deposits," but excluding (i)
liabilities for income taxes, (ii) capital lease obligations,
(iii)
interest
payable, (iv) the current portion of long-term debt, (v)
intercompany
payables owing to Seller or its Subsidiaries and (vi) any
Seller
insurance allocation accrual), as of that date from the current
assets of
the Companies and their Subsidiaries (other than (i) cash, (ii)
current
deferred income tax assets, (iii) any other income Tax assets
and
(iv)
intercompany receivables owed by Seller or its Subsidiaries) as
of
that date;
provided, that, for the avoidance of doubt, calculations of
inventory
and accounts receivable shall be net of the applicable reserve.
The
"Average Working Capital" of the Companies and their
Subsidiaries
shall be
equal to the average of the Working Capital as of the last day
of
each of
the 12 most recently completed four or five-week fiscal periods
prior to
the Closing Date for which internally prepared financial
statements
of the Companies and their Subsidiaries prepared in accordance
with GAAP
consistently applied with the Financial Statements are
available.
The "WC Adjustment Amount" (which may be a positive or negative
number)
will be equal to the amount determined by subtracting the
Closing
Date
Working Capital (as defined below) from the Average Working
Capital.
For the
avoidance of doubt, Seller shall be fully responsible for the
payment
of, and shall make payment when due on, any "outstanding checks
in
excess of
deposits" as of the Closing Date to the extent such amount has
been
included in the Estimated Payment and the Actual Payment Amount.
An
example of
the internally prepared financial statements and calculation of
Working
Capital as of January 1, 2005 is attached as Section 2.2(b) of
the
Disclosure
Schedule.
(c) Post-Closing Payment. The Estimated Payment Adjustment
Amount
and the WC
Adjustment Amount when added together (which may be a positive
or
negative number) shall collectively be referred to as the
"Adjustment
Amount."
If the Adjustment Amount is positive, the Adjustment Amount
shall
be paid by
wire transfer by Seller to an account specified by Purchaser.
If the
Adjustment Amount is negative, the Adjustment Amount (treated as
if
it were a
positive number) shall be paid by wire transfer by Purchaser to
an
account
2
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specified
by Seller. All payments shall be made together with interest at
a rate of
3% per annum, which interest shall begin accruing on the
Closing
Date and
end on the date that the payment is made. Within three business
days after
the calculation of the Actual Payment Amount and Closing Date
Working
Capital becomes binding and conclusive on the parties pursuant
to
Section
2.2(d), Seller or Purchaser, as the case may be, shall make the
wire
transfer payment provided for in this Section 2.2(c).
(d) Adjustment Procedure.
(i) Seller shall prepare financial statements (including a
combined balance sheet as of the Closing Date and a combined
statement of operations from January 2, 2005 through the
Closing
Date) (the "Closing Date Financial Statements") of the Companies
and
their Subsidiaries as of the Closing Date in accordance with
GAAP
consistently applied with the Financial Statements. Seller
shall
then determine (A) the Actual Payment Amount and the Working
Capital
as of the Closing Date (the "Closing Date Working Capital")
based
upon the Closing Date Financial Statements and (B) the Average
Working Capital based on the financial statements of the
Companies
and their Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently
applied with the Financial Statements for each of the 12 most
recently completed four or five-week fiscal periods prior to
the
Closing Date for which internally prepared financial statements
of
the Companies and their Subsidiaries prepared in accordance
with
GAAP consistently applied with the Financial Statements are
available (the "Monthly Statements"). Seller shall deliver the
Closing Date Financial Statements, the Monthly Statements and
its
determination of the Actual Payment Amount, the Average Working
Capital and the Closing Date Working Capital (which shall include
a
description in reasonable detail of the components and amounts
thereof) to Purchaser within thirty (30) days following the
Closing
Date.
(ii) If within thirty (30) days following delivery of the
Closing Date Financial Statements, the Monthly Statements and
the
calculation of the Actual Payment Amount, the Average Working
Capital and the Closing Date Working Capital, Purchaser has not
given Seller written notice of its objection as to the Actual
Payment Amount, the Average Working Capital and/or the Closing
Date
Working Capital calculation (which notice shall state in
reasonable
detail the basis of Purchaser's objection), then the Actual
Payment
Amount, the Average Working Capital and Closing Date Working
Capital
calculated by Seller shall be binding and conclusive on the
parties
and be used in computing the Estimated Payment Adjustment Amount
and
the WC Adjustment Amount, respectively.
(iii) If Purchaser duly gives Seller such notice of objection,
and if Seller and Purchaser fail to resolve the issues
outstanding
with respect to
3
<PAGE>
the Closing Date Financial Statements and the calculation of
the
Actual Payment Amount, the Average Working Capital and/or the
Closing Date Working Capital within thirty (30) days of
Seller's
receipt of Purchaser's objection notice, Seller and Purchaser
shall
submit the issues remaining in dispute to Deloitte & Touche
LLP,
independent public accountants (the "Accountants"), for
resolution
in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and in compliance
with
GAAP consistently applied with the Financial Statements. If
issues
are submitted to the Accountants for resolution, (i) Seller and
Purchaser shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the
Accountants
such work papers and other documents and information relating to
the
disputed issues as the Accountants may request and are available
to
that party or its agents and shall be afforded the opportunity
to
present to the Accountants any material relating to the
disputed
issues and to discuss the issues with the Accountants; (ii) the
determination by the Accountants, as set forth in a notice to
be
delivered to both Seller and Purchaser within sixty (60) days of
the
submission to the Accountants of the issues remaining in
dispute,
shall be final, binding and conclusive on the parties and shall
be
used in the calculation of the Actual Payment Amount, the
Average
Working Capital and/or the Closing Date Working Capital, as
applicable; and (iii) Seller and Purchaser will each bear fifty
percent (50%) of the fees and costs of the Accountants for such
determination.
2.3 EBITDA
ADJUSTMENT.
(a) Concurrently with the delivery to Purchaser of the Audited
Statements, Seller shall deliver to Purchaser a preliminary
statement
("Preliminary EBITDA Statement") of the EBITDA based on the
Audited
Statements
(which shall include a description in reasonable detail of the
components
and amounts thereof).
(b) If within ten (10) days following delivery of the
Preliminary
EBITDA
Statement, Purchaser has not given Seller written notice of its
objection
as to the calculation of EBITDA (which notice shall state in
reasonable
detail the basis of Purchaser's objection), then the EBITDA
calculated
by Seller shall be binding and conclusive on the parties and be
used in
computing any adjustment of the Purchase Price pursuant to this
Section
2.3.
(c) If Purchaser duly gives Seller such notice of objection, and
if
Seller and
Purchaser fail to resolve the issues outstanding with respect
to the
Preliminary EBITDA Statement and the calculation of the EBITDA
within ten
(10) days of Seller's receipt of Purchaser's objection notice,
Seller and
Purchaser shall submit the issues remaining in dispute to the
Accountants for resolution in accordance with the terms of the
Agreement
and
consistent with the definition of EBITDA set forth herein. If
issues
are
submitted to the Accountants for resolution: (i) Seller and
Purchaser
shall
furnish or cause to be furnished to the Accountants such work
papers
and other
documents and information relating to
4
<PAGE>
the
disputed issues as the Accountants may request and are available
to
that party
or its agents and shall be afforded the opportunity to present
to the
Accountants any material relating to the disputed issues and to
discuss
the issues with the Accountants; (ii) the determination by the
Accountants, as set forth in a notice to be delivered to both
Seller and
Purchaser
within ten (10) days of the submission to the Accountants of
the
issues
remaining in dispute, shall be final, binding and conclusive on
the
parties
and shall be used in the calculation of any adjustment of the
Purchase
Price pursuant to this Section 2.3; and (iii) Seller and
Purchaser
will each bear fifty percent (50%) of the fees and costs of the
Accountants for such determination.
(d) In the event the amount of EBITDA set forth in Section 2.3(d)
of
the Disclosure Schedule (which
shall include a description in reasonable
detail of
the components and amounts thereof, including the amount of any
corporate
allocation charge and any insurance allocation charge) exceeds
by more
than $4,000,000 the amount of EBITDA based on the Audited
Statements
as finally determined pursuant to this Section 2.3, the
Purchase
Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the product of (i)
the
difference between the amount of EBITDA set forth in Section 2.3(d)
of
the
Disclosure Schedule and the amount of EBITDA based on the
Audited
Statements
as finally determined pursuant to this Section 2.3 and (ii)
8.65. For
the avoidance of doubt, an example of the calculation of EBITDA
for the
year ended January 1, 2005 is set forth in Section 2.3(d) of
the
Disclosure
Schedule.
ARTICLE 3.
CLOSING; OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES
3.1
CLOSING DATE. The closing (the "Closing") shall take place at
10:00
a.m., local time, at the offices of Bass,
Berry & Sims PLC, Nashville,
Tennessee, on the later of (i) five (5)
business days following satisfaction or
waiver of all conditions to Closing set
forth in Article 7 hereof (other than
those conditions that by their nature have
to be satisfied at Closing (but
subject to the satisfaction or waiver of
those conditions)) or (ii) 45 days
after the date of Purchaser's receipt of
the Audited Statements (as defined in
Section 6.4(b)) (the "Closing Date"). The
transfer shall be deemed to have
become effective at 12:01 a.m., California
time on the Closing Date (the
"Effective Time").
3.2
OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES AT THE CLOSING.
(a) At the Closing, Purchaser shall deliver to Seller:
(i) the Purchase Price as specified in Section 2.1, plus the
Estimated Payment;
(ii) a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of
Purchaser, certified by Purchaser's Secretary, authorizing the
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
other
documents
5
<PAGE>
referred to herein to be executed by Purchaser, and the
consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby; and
(iii) a duly executed copy of the Company Release.
(b) At the Closing, Seller will deliver to Purchaser:
(i) stock certificates for the Shares, which certificates
shall be duly endorsed to Purchaser or accompanied by duly
executed
stock powers;
(ii) a copy of resolutions of the Board of Directors of
Seller, certified by Seller's Secretary, authorizing the
execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the other
documents
referred to herein to be executed by Seller, and the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated hereby;
(iii) a duly executed copy of the Seller Release;
(iv) written resignations, effective as of the Closing Date,
from any directors, officers or managing members of the
Companies
and the Subsidiaries requested by Purchaser to resign as of the
Closing;
(v) an opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC in form and
substance
reasonably satisfactory to Purchaser, or, with respect to
certain
matters, opinions of local counsel reasonably satisfactory to
Purchaser or of the general counsel of the Seller or the
Companies;
and
(vi) such other certificates, documents and instruments as
Purchaser may reasonably request in connection with the
consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE 4.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
Seller
represents and warrants to Purchaser as follows:
4.1
CORPORATE STATUS. Each of the Companies and each Subsidiary of
the
Companies is duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation or organization and each (a) has
all requisite corporate or limited
liability company power and authority to own,
operate or lease its properties and assets
and to carry on its business as it is
now being conducted, and (b) is duly
qualified to do business and is in good
standing in each of the jurisdictions
listed on Section 4.1 of the Disclosure
Schedule, which includes each jurisdiction
in which the ownership, operation or
leasing of its properties and assets and
the conduct of its business requires it
to be so qualified, licensed or authorized,
except where the failures to have
such power and authority or to be so
qualified, licensed or authorized would not
have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
Seller has made available to Purchaser a
copy of the certificate
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of incorporation and bylaws (or similar
organization documents), as amended, of
the Companies and each of their
Subsidiaries, each as in effect on the date
hereof.
4.2
AUTHORITY. Seller has all requisite corporate power and authority
to
enter into this Agreement and to consummate
the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by Seller and the
consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly and validly
authorized by the Board of Directors of
Seller and no other corporate
proceedings are necessary to authorize this
Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This
Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by Seller, and (assuming due
authorization and delivery by Purchaser)
this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid
and binding obligation of Seller
enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, subject to general
principles of equity and except as the
enforceability thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar laws of
general application relating to creditors'
rights.
4.3 NO
CONFLICT. Except as set forth in Section 4.3 of the Disclosure
Schedule and except for the notification
requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the "HSR Act"), the
execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by Seller and the
consummation by Seller of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (a) violate,
conflict with or result in the breach
of any term or provision of the charter or
bylaws (or similar organizational
documents) of Seller, any of the Companies
or any of the Subsidiaries, (b)
conflict with or violate any Law applicable
to Seller, the Companies or any
Subsidiary or any of their respective
assets, properties or businesses, (c)
result in the creation of any Encumbrance
(as defined below) on the Shares, (d)
require any action, consent, approval or
authorization by, or any other order
of, filing with or notification to, any
Governmental Authority or (e) conflict
with or violate, result in the breach of
any term or provision of, or constitute
a default (or event which with the giving
of notice or lapse of time, or both,
would become a default) under, or give to
others any rights of termination,
amendment, acceleration, suspension,
revocation or cancellation of, or result in
the creation of any mortgage, pledge,
hypothecation, claim, security interest,
encumbrance, interest, option, lien or
other restriction (collectively,
"Encumbrances") on any of the assets or
properties of Seller, the Companies or
any Subsidiary pursuant to, in the case of
clause (e), any material agreement or
arrangement to which Seller is a party or
by which it is bound or any Material
Contract, except for immaterial violations,
conflicts, breaches or defaults or
violations, conflicts, breaches or defaults
which would occur as a result of the
business or activities in which Purchaser
is or proposes to be engaged or as a
result of any acts or omissions by, or the
status of any facts pertaining to,
Purchaser.
4.4
CAPITALIZATION.
(a) The authorized and outstanding capital stock of the Companies
is
set forth
in Section 4.4(a) of the Disclosure Schedule. All of the
Companies'
issued and outstanding stock is duly authorized, validly
issued,
fully paid, nonassessable, free of any preemptive rights, have
been
issued in compliance with
7
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applicable Law
and is held of record and beneficially by Seller, free and
clear of
any Encumbrance. The Shares constitute all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Companies.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.4(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule,
there are (i) no outstanding obligations, options, warrants,
convertible securities or other rights, agreements, arrangements
or
commitments of any kind relating to the capital stock of the
Companies or
obligating the
Companies to issue or sell or otherwise transfer any shares
of capital
stock of, or any other interest in, the Companies, (ii) no
outstanding obligations of the Companies to repurchase, redeem
or
otherwise
acquire any shares of their respective capital stock or to
provide
funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan,
capital
contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person or (iii) no voting
trusts,
stockholder agreements, proxies or other agreements or
understandings in
effect
with respect to the voting or transfer of any of their
respective
capital
stock.
(c) Section 4.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true
and
complete
list of all Subsidiaries of the Companies, listing for each
Subsidiary
its name, its jurisdiction of organization, the percentage of
stock or
other equity interest of each subsidiary owned by the Companies
or a
Subsidiary and the authorized and outstanding capital stock of
each
such
Subsidiary. Other than the Subsidiaries or as otherwise set forth
in
Section
4.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no other
corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, associations or other
similar
entities
in which the Companies own, of record or beneficially, any
direct
or
indirect equity or other similar interest or any right (contingent
or
otherwise)
to acquire the same. All of the issued and outstanding shares
(or voting
securities) of each of the Subsidiaries are validly issued,
fully
paid, nonassessable, and free of any preemptive rights. Except
as
set forth
in Section 4.4(c) of the Disclosure Schedule, (i) the Companies
own
beneficially and of record all of the outstanding shares of
capital
stock (or
voting securities) of each Subsidiary free and clear of any
Encumbrances, (ii) there are no outstanding obligations,
options,
warrants,
convertible securities or other rights, agreements or
commitments of any kind relating to the capital stock of any
Subsidiary or
obligating
the Companies or any Subsidiary to issue or sell or otherwise
transfer
any shares of capital stock of, or any other interest in, any
Subsidiary, (iii) there are no outstanding obligations of the
Subsidiaries
to
repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of their
respective
capital
stock or to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the
form
of a loan,
capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person, and
(iv) there
are no voting trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other
agreements
or understandings in effect with respect to the voting or
transfer
of any of their respective capital stock.
(d) Except as set forth on Section 4.4(d) of the Disclosure
Schedule,
the "Fresh Cut" business of Seller as such business is
described
in
Seller's public filings with the United States Securities and
Exchange
Commission
(the "Business") is conducted exclusively by the Companies and
the
Subsidiaries. At Closing, the assets and properties of the
Companies
and the
Subsidiaries will
8
<PAGE>
constitute
substantially all of the tangible and intangible property
historically used by them.
4.5
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(a) Seller has made available to Purchaser true and complete
copies
of (i) the
audited combined balance sheets as of January 3, 2004 and
December
28, 2002 and related audited combined statements of earnings,
cash flows
and Seller's net investment for the Companies and their
Subsidiaries for the fiscal years then ended, and (ii) the
unaudited
combined
balance sheet as of January 1, 2005 and related unaudited
combined
statements of earnings and statement of cash flows for the
Companies
and their Subsidiaries for the year ended January 1, 2005
(collectively, the "Financial Statements"). The January 1, 2005
balance
sheet is
referred to herein as the "Reference Balance Sheet."
(b) The Financial Statements (i) have been prepared based on
the
books and
records of the Companies and their Subsidiaries in accordance
with
United States generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
and
the
Companies' normal accounting practices, consistent with past
practice
(except as
may be indicated therein or in the notes or schedules thereto),
(ii)
except with respect to the unaudited Financial Statements
described
under
Section 4.5(a)(ii), are in accordance with Regulation S-X of
the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (iii) present fairly, in
all
material respects, the combined financial condition, combined
results
of
operations and combined statements of cash flow of the Companies
and
their
Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated or for the periods
indicated.
(c) Seller's internal control over financial reporting is
sufficient
in all material
respects to provide reasonable assurance (i) that
transactions of the Companies and the Subsidiaries are recorded
as
necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
with
GAAP, (ii)
that receipts and expenditures of the Companies and the
Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with the
authorization of
management, and (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of
the
unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Assets that
could
materially
affect the combined financial statements of the Companies and
the
Subsidiaries. Based on information available and Seller's
internal
control
review conducted through the date hereof, Seller has no
knowledge
of any significant deficiencies or
material weaknesses in the design or
operation
of Seller's internal control over financial reporting with
respect to
the Companies, the Subsidiaries or the Business. The books and
records of
the Companies and the Subsidiaries, all of which have been made
available
to Purchaser, are complete and accurate in all material
respects
and at the
Closing will be in their possession.
(d) The matters relating to Seller and certain of its
Subsidiaries
subject to
an informal inquiry by the Securities and Exchange Commission
and under
investigation by Seller's Audit Committee do not involve or
affect the
financial
9
<PAGE>
reporting,
financial statements or internal controls relating to the
Business
or any of the Companies or Subsidiaries.
(e) Section 4.5(e) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
Seller's
good faith
calculation of excess raw product costs, fruit start-up costs,
excess
insurance allocation costs, executive severance costs and bonus
costs, in
each case, of the Companies and the Subsidiaries for the fiscal
year ended
January 1, 2005.
4.6 REAL
PROPERTY.
(a) Section 4.6(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true
and
complete
list of all of the real property owned or leased by the
Companies
or any
Subsidiary, including any on which one of the Companies' or
their
Subsidiaries' operating facilities is located, as delineated
therein,
including:
(i) with respect to the owned real property, (a) if available,
the street address of each parcel of owned real property, and
(b)
the current owner of each such parcel of owned real property,
and
(ii) with respect to the leased real property, (a) if
available, the street address of each parcel of leased real
property, (b) the identity of the lessor and lessee of each
such
parcel of leased real property, (c) the term of the lease
pertaining
to each such parcel of leased real property and (d) a list of
all
leases, as amended (the "Real Property Leases").
(b) Except as otherwise set forth in Section 4.6(b) of the
Disclosure
Schedule, (i) the Companies or one of their Subsidiaries have
good and
marketable fee simple title to all of the real property owned
by
them (the
"Owned Real Property"), free and clear of all Encumbrances,
except (x)
to the extent of liens reserved against in the Financial
Statements
for the applicable property, (y) liens for taxes not yet due
and
payable or which are being contested in good faith, or (z) liens
that
individually or in the aggregate would not have a Seller Material
Adverse
Effect
(collectively, "Permitted Encumbrances"), (ii) there are no
leases,
subleases,
licenses, concessions or other agreements granting to any
Person the
right to use or occupy the Owned Real Property, and (iii) there
are no
outstanding options, rights of first offer or rights of first
refusal to
purchase the Owned Real Property or any portion thereof or
interest
therein.
(c) The Companies and/or the Subsidiaries have a valid and
subsisting
leasehold estate in and the right to quiet enjoyment of the
material
real properties leased by it as lessee (the "Leased Real
Property"
and, together with the Owned Real Property, the "Real
Property")
under the
Real Property Leases related to such Leased Real Property. The
improvements on the Real Property listed in Section 4.6(c) of
the
Disclosure
Schedule are in all material respects in good operating
condition and in a state of good
maintenance and repair, ordinary wear and
tear
excepted, are adequate and suitable for the purposes for which
they
are
presently being used and there are no condemnation or
appropriation
proceedings
10
<PAGE>
pending or
threatened against any of such real property or the
improvements thereon.
4.7
ASSETS. Except as disclosed in Section 4.7 of the Disclosure
Schedule,
either one of the Companies or a
Subsidiary, as the case may be, owns or leases
all the properties and assets, including,
without limitation, the Companies
Intellectual Property (defined in Section
4.9) and the assets reflected in the
Reference Balance Sheet (except for
inventory or other assets disposed of in the
ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice), but excluding the
Real Property, used or held for use by the
Companies or a Subsidiary in the
conduct of the Business (all such
properties and assets being the "Assets"),
except where the failures to own or lease
such Assets would not have a Seller
Material Adverse Effect. Either one of the
Companies or a Subsidiary, as the
case may be, has good and valid title to,
or in the case of leased or subleased
Assets, valid and subsisting leasehold
interests in, all the Assets, free and
clear of all Encumbrances, except (a) as
disclosed in Section 4.7 of the
Disclosure Schedule, (b) for Permitted
Encumbrances and (c) where the failure to
have good and valid title to or valid or
subsisting leasehold interests in the
Assets would not have a Seller Material
Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in
Section 4.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, the
Assets, together with the Real
Property, are sufficient for the conduct of
the Business as currently conducted
by the Companies and Subsidiaries. The
equipment used or held for use by the
Companies and Subsidiaries is in all
material respects in good operating
condition and in all material respects in a
state of good maintenance and
repair, ordinary wear and tear
excepted.
4.8
MATERIAL CONTRACTS.
(a) Section 4.8(a) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true
and
complete
list of all the Material Contracts to which any of the
Companies
or their
Subsidiaries is a party or by which it is expressly bound. As
used
herein, "Material Contracts" means all of the following:
(i) each agreement or arrangement to which any of the
Companies or any Subsidiary is party or by which it is bound (a
"Contract") that was not entered into in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(ii) each agreement with any Key Customer or Key Supplier;
(iii) each agreement, indenture or other instrument relating
to the borrowing of money, or guaranteeing, or providing
security
for, indebtedness, in an amount in excess of One Million
Dollars
($1,000,000) or otherwise restricting, in any material respect,
the
ability of the Companies or Subsidiaries to incur indebtedness
or
provide security for indebtedness;
11
<PAGE>
(iv) each partnership, material joint venture or material
other similar agreement to which any of the Companies or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of them is otherwise
expressly
bound;
(v) each agreement, arrangement, contract or commitment
restricting or otherwise affecting the ability of the Companies
or
Subsidiaries to engage in any business or compete in any
jurisdiction or otherwise solicit customers;
(vi) each material Real Property Lease, each agreement
covering Companies Used Intellectual Property and each lease of
material equipment or other material Assets;
(vii) each agreement, arrangement, contract or commitment with
a third party for the benefit of any of the Companies or
Subsidiaries or the Business restricting or otherwise affecting
the
ability of the third party to engage in the Business or compete
or
solicit customers of the Business in any jurisdiction;
(viii) each Contract with exclusive supply or requirements
obligations;
(ix) each employment agreement of any of the Companies or any
of their Subsidiaries pursuant to which any employee is entitled
to
receive base salary in excess of $100,000 in any one year and
each
material consulting Contract;
(x) each agreement for the sale or other transfer of a
material Asset or Owned Real Property that has not yet been
consummated and was not entered into in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practice;
(xi) each Contract with Seller or any other affiliate of
Seller;
(xii) each Contract providing for any "earn out" type
arrangements to any Person;
(xiii) each other existing agreement, not otherwise covered by
clauses (i) through (xii), that requires payments by or to any
of
the Companies or any Subsidiary in excess of One Million
Dollars
($1,000,000) during any one year and has not been entered into
in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 4.8(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(i) neither any of the Companies nor any Subsidiary party to
any Material Contract, nor, to the knowledge of Seller, any
other
party thereto, is in breach thereof or default thereunder
except
where such
12
<PAGE>
breach or default would not have a Seller Material Adverse
Effect,
or has given notice of breach or default to any other party
thereunder; and
(ii) each Material Contract is valid and binding on each of
the relevant Companies and their relevant Subsidiaries and, to
the
knowledge of Seller, each respective counterparty thereto, and
each
Material Contract is in full force and effect and is enforceable
in
accordance with its terms, subject to general principles of
equity
and except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar
laws of general application relating to creditors' rights. No
third
party to any Material Contract has notified Seller or any of
the
Companies or Subsidiaries that it intends to terminate or
otherwise
alter any Material Contract.
(c) Except as required by Law or as set forth on Section 4.8(c)
of
the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding material
warranties,
other than
those made in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past
practices, made by the Companies or Subsidiaries and there have
been
no
material warranty claims within the past two (2) years and there
are no
material
unresolved claims thereunder.
(d) Seller has made available to Purchaser each Material
Contract,
other than
as indicated on Section 4.8(a) of the Disclosure Schedule.
4.9
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(a) Section 4.9 of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth a true
and
complete
list of all (i) intellectual property registrations and
applications, Internet domain names and material unregistered
intellectual
property
owned by the Companies or any Subsidiary and (ii) material
intellectual property licensed by the Companies or any Subsidiary
(whether
as
licensee or licensor) (excluding "clickwrap" or "shrinkwrap"
agreements, agreements contained in or pertaining to
"off-the-shelf"
software,
and the terms of use or service for any website, to the extent
each is
commercially available to consumers on nondiscriminatory
pricing
terms).
There are no pending actions against any of the Companies or
any
Subsidiary
of which the Companies or any Subsidiary have been given
written
notice that assert that the Companies or any Subsidiary violate
or
infringe
or unlawfully use the intellectual property rights of others or
challenging the Companies' or any Subsidiary's ownership or use of,
or
the
validity, enforceability or registrability of any intellectual
property.
To the knowledge of Seller, neither any of the Companies nor
any
Subsidiary
violates, infringes upon or unlawfully uses any intellectual
property
owned by another Person. Neither any of the Companies nor any
Subsidiary
has received any written notice alleging any violation,
infringement upon or unlawful use of any intellectual property
rights of
others or
challenging the Companies' or any Subsidiary's ownership or use
of, or
13
<PAGE>
the
validity, enforceability or registrability of any intellectual
property
that remains unresolved on the date hereof. Except as set forth
in Section
4.9(a) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Companies nor
any
Subsidiary has brought or threatened any Action against another
Person
involving
intellectual property, and to the knowledge of Seller, there is
no basis
for any Action regarding the foregoing.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.9(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule,
the Companies or a Subsidiary solely and exclusively owns all
intellectual property owned by the Companies or a Subsidiary
("Companies
Owned
Intellectual Property") and has the valid and enforceable right
to
use all
other material intellectual property used or held for use by
the
Companies
or any Subsidiary ("Companies Used Intellectual Property"),
free
and clear
of all material Encumbrances.
(c) The Companies Owned Intellectual Property and, to the
knowledge
of Seller,
any Companies Used Intellectual Property, (i) has been duly
maintained, (ii) is subsisting, in full force and effect and (iii)
has not
been
cancelled, expired or abandoned.
4.10
LITIGATION, CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS. Except as set forth in
Section
4.10 of the Disclosure Schedule, there are
no Actions that have been brought by
or against any Governmental Authority or
any other Person pending or, to the
knowledge of Seller, threatened against or
by the Companies, any Subsidiary of
the Companies, the Business, any Assets, or
any of their Owned Real Property or
Leased Real Property, which, if adversely
determined, would result in
liabilities in excess of Three Million
Dollars ($3,000,000) or material
injunctive or equitable relief, or would
have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
There are no existing Governmental Orders
naming the Companies or any Subsidiary
as an affected party. Seller makes no
representation in this Section 4.10 as to
any matter the subject matter of which is
specifically covered by Sections 4.9,
4.11, 4.13 or 4.14 of this Agreement.
4.11
ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY AND HEALTH MATTERS. Except as disclosed
in
Section 4.11 of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) The Companies and their Subsidiaries have obtained all
material
Permits
that are required under any Environmental Law for the operation
of
their
businesses as currently being conducted. To Seller's knowledge,
all
such
Permits are valid and in full force and effect, and will survive
the
Closing
without material modification. "Environmental Law" means any
applicable
Law relating to (i) the protection, investigation or
restoration of the environment or natural resources, (ii) the
protection
of human
health and safety as it pertains to exposure to Hazardous
Substances, or (iii) the handling, use, presence, disposal,
treatment,
storage,
release or threatened release of any Hazardous Substance, and
includes,
without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act,
the Clean
Air Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the
Occupational Safety and Health
14
<PAGE>
Act, the
Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, the Safe Drinking Water
Act, the
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide & Rodenticide Act, the
National
Environmental Policy Act, the Emergency Planning & Community
Right-to Know
Act, and
any similar or analogous state statutes. "Hazardous Substance"
means any
substance that is (i) listed, classified or regulated pursuant
to any
Environmental Law, (ii) any petroleum product or by-product,
(iii)
any
asbestos-containing material and (iv) any other substance which is
the
subject of
regulatory action by any Governmental Authority pursuant to any
Environmental Law or which may result in liability pursuant to
any
Environmental Law.
(b) The Companies and their Subsidiaries are in material
compliance
with all
material Permits required under all Environmental Laws that are
used in
the operation of their businesses as currently being conducted.
The
Companies and their Subsidiaries have historically been in
compliance
with all
Permits required under all Environmental Laws, except where the
failures
to comply would not have a Seller Material Adverse Effect. To
the
knowledge
of Seller, no circumstances exist which could cause any
material
Permit to
be revoked, modified or rendered non-renewable upon payment of
the permit
fee.
(c) The Companies, their Subsidiaries and their Real Property are
in
material
compliance with all Environmental Laws. The Companies, their
Subsidiaries and the Real Property have historically been in
material
compliance
with all Environmental Laws, except where the failure to comply
would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Seller Material
Adverse
Effect. To Seller's knowledge, no Hazardous Substance is
located
on any of
the Real Property, except in material compliance with all
Environmental Laws. To Seller's knowledge, no facts or
circumstances exist
which
would reasonably be expected to involve any of the Companies or
any
Subsidiary
in any environmental litigation, or impose upon the Purchaser
or the
Companies or their Subsidiaries any environmental liability
which
would have
a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
(d) To Seller's knowledge, neither any of the Companies nor any
Subsidiary, nor, any other Person, has had a material disposal or
release
of any
Hazardous Substances on, under, in, from, adjacent to or about
the
Real
Property.
(e) None of the Companies nor any Subsidiary has disposed or
arranged
for the disposal of Hazardous Substances on any third party
property
that has subjected or, to the knowledge of Seller, may subject
the
Companies or their Subsidiaries to material liability under any
Environmental Law.
(f) To Seller's knowledge, there has been no discharge or release
at
any
property formerly owned, used, leased or occupied by the Companies
or
any
Subsidiary which has subjected or is expected to subject the
Companies
or their
Subsidiaries to material liability under any Environmental Law.
(g) None of the Companies nor their Subsidiaries have received
any
written
notice, demand, letter, claim or request for information
alleging
violation
15
<PAGE>
of or
liability under any Environmental Law and neither the Companies
nor
their
Subsidiaries are party to any written proceedings, actions,
orders,
decrees or
injunctions alleging material liability under any Environmental
Law.
(h) None of the Companies or their Subsidiaries have entered
into
any
agreement that may require them to pay to, reimburse,
guarantee,
pledge,
defend, indemnify or hold harmless any person from or against
any
liabilities or costs arising in connection with or relating to
Environmental Laws.
(i) Seller has delivered or made available to Purchaser copies
of
all
environmental assessments, audits, studies and other
environmental
reports in
its possession relating to the Companies, their Subsidiaries
and the
Real Property.
(j) Except for such expenditures that have been included in the
projected
budgets for the Companies or its Subsidiaries, which have been
provided
to Purchaser, to Seller's knowledge, none of the Companies nor
their
Subsidiaries is required to make any capital or other
expenditures
to comply
with applicable Environmental Law exceeding $500,000.
4.12
COMPLIANCE WITH LAW. Except as disclosed in Section 4.12 of the
Disclosure Schedule, to the knowledge of
Seller, the Companies and the
Subsidiaries have conducted and are
currently conducting their business in
accordance with all Laws and Governmental
Orders applicable to the Companies or
any Subsidiary or any of the Assets, the
Real Property or their business, except
where the violation of such Laws or
Governmental Orders would not have a Seller
Material Adverse Effect. Neither the
Companies nor any Subsidiary has received
any outstanding or uncured written notice
alleging any default or violation of
any Law or Governmental Order nor to
Seller's knowledge is there any reasonable
basis for any such allegation, which, if
true, would have a Seller Material
Adverse Effect. The Companies and the
Subsidiaries have each Permit required by
Law for the operation of the Business,
except where the failure to have any such
Permit would not have a Seller Material
Adverse Effect. Each Permit is valid,
binding and in full force and effect and
none of the Companies or Subsidiaries
is in default thereunder (or would be with
the giving of notice or lapse of time
or both) except for such defaults as would
not have a Seller Material Adverse
Effect. Seller makes no representation in
this Section 4.12 as to any matter the
subject matter of which is specifically
covered by Section 4.9, 4.11, 4.13 or
4.14 of this Agreement.
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4.13
EMPLOYEE MATTERS AND BENEFIT PLANS.
(a) Section 4.13(a)(i) of the Disclosure Schedule identifies
each
employment, bonus, deferred compensation, pension, stock option,
stock
appreciation right, profit-sharing or retirement plan, arrangement
or
practice,
each medical, vacation, retiree medical, severance pay plan,
and
each other
agreement or fringe benefit plan, arrangement or practice, of
the Seller
which affects or covers any current employee of the Companies
or a
Subsidiary, including all "employee benefit plans" as defined
by
Section 3(3) of ERISA
(collectively, the "Seller Plans"). Purchaser will
have no
liabilities or obligations under any Seller Plan, except as
specifically provided in this Agreement. Section 4.13(a)(ii) of
the
Disclosure
Schedule identifies each employment, bonus, deferred
compensation, pension, stock option, stock appreciation right,
profit-sharing or retirement plan, arrangement or practice, each
medical,
vacation,
retiree medical, severance pay plan, and each other agreement
or
fringe
benefit plan, arrangement or practice, of the Seller, the
Companies
or any
Subsidiary which affects or covers any current employee of the
Companies
or a Subsidiary, including all "employee benefit plans" as
defined by
Section 3(3) of ERISA (collectively, the "Company Plans").
(b) Except as set forth on Section 4.13(b) of the Disclosure
Schedule,
for each Company Plan, correct and complete copies of the plan
documents
and summary plan descriptions, the most recent Form 5500 annual
report,
the most recent favorable determination letter (if applicable),
and all
related trust agreements, insurance contracts and funding
agreements
which implement each such Company Plan, have been made
available
to Purchaser.
(c) Neither the Companies nor any Subsidiary has any
commitment,
whether
formal or informal, (i) to create any additional such Company
Plan; (ii)
to modify or change any such Company Plan; or (iii) to maintain
for any
period of time any such Company Plan, except as described in
Section
4.13 of the Disclosure Schedule.
(d) Except as disclosed in Section 4.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule,
(i)
neither the Companies, any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of
Seller,
any Company Plan or any trustee, administrator, fiduciary or
sponsor of
any Company Plan has engaged in any prohibited transactions as
defined in
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code for which
there is
no statutory exemption under Section 408 of ERISA or Section
4975
of the
Code; (ii) all material filings, reports and descriptions as to
all
Company
Plans (including Form 5500 annual reports, summary plan
descriptions, and summary annual reports) required to have been
made or
distributed to participants, the Internal Revenue Service, the
United
States
Department of Labor and other governmental agencies have been
made
in a
timely manner or will be made in a timely manner on or prior to
the
Closing
Date; (iii) there is no material litigation, disputed claim,
governmental proceeding or investigation pending or, to the
knowledge of
Seller,
threatened with respect to any Company Plan, the related
trusts,
or any
fiduciary, trustee, administrator or sponsor of any Company
Plan;
and (iv)
all Company Plans have been established,
17
<PAGE>
maintained
and administered in all material respects in accordance with
their
governing documents and applicable provisions of ERISA and the
Code.
(e) Except as disclosed in Section 4.13 of the Disclosure
Schedule,
none of
the Company Plans provide for continuing benefits or coverage
after
termination or retirement from employment, except for COBRA
rights
under a
"group health plan" as defined in Section 4980B(g) of the Code
and
Section
607 of ERISA.
(f) Except for the Midwest Pension Plan (contributed to pursuant
to
the
collective bargaining agreement between Redi-Cut Foods, Inc.
and
Manufacturing, Production and Service Workers Union, Local 24),
neither
the
Companies, any Subsidiary, nor any entity required to be
aggregated
with the
Companies or any Subsidiary under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o)
of the
Code ("ERISA Affiliate") has ever sponsored, participated in,
or
contributed to (or been required to contribute to) either a plan
subject
to Title
IV of ERISA, or a multiemployer plan as defined in Section
4001(a)(3)
of ERISA. Neither the Companies, any Subsidiary nor any ERISA
Affiliate
has ever withdrawn from such a multiemployer plan nor incurred
any
liability as a result of any partial or complete withdrawal by
any
employer
from a multiemployer plan as described under Sections 4201,
4203,
or 4205 of
ERISA. No event has occurred that presents a material risk of a
partial
withdrawal from the Midwest Pension Plan. The aggregate
withdrawal
liability
of the Companies, Subsidiaries and ERISA Affiliates, computed
as
if a
complete withdrawal by the Companies, Subsidiaries and ERISA
Affiliates
had occurred under the Midwest Pension Plan on the date hereof,
would not exceed
$50,000.
(g) Each Company Plan that is intended to be qualified within
the
meaning of
Section 401(a) of the Code has received a determination letter
from the
Internal Revenue Service that it is so qualified, and no fact
or
event has
occurred since the date of such determination letter that could
adversely
affect the qualified status of any such Company Plan.
(h) As of the date hereof, Seller has not received any
notification
or other
direct indication from any employee listed in Section 4.8(h) of
the
Disclosure Schedule (collectively, "Key Employees") that such
employee
intends to
terminate his or employment with any of the Companies.
4.14
TAXES. Except as set forth in Section 4.14 of the Disclosure
Schedule:
(a) Each of the Companies and the Subsidiaries has filed, or
Seller
has filed
on behalf of each of them, all Tax Returns required to be filed
on or
before the date of this Agreement, except where the failure to
file
such Tax
Returns or to pay such Taxes shown thereon as owing would not
have a
Seller Material Adverse Effect, all such Tax Returns are true,
correct
and complete in all material respects and all Taxes shown due
with
respect to
the periods covered by such Tax Returns have been paid. True
and
correct copies of all federal, state and local
18
<PAGE>
income Tax
Returns filed by or on behalf of each of the Companies and the
Subsidiaries for all periods since December 31, 2001, have been
heretofore
made
available to Purchaser except for such returns where Seller files
a
consolidated return that includes any Company or any Subsidiary.
Except as
set forth
in Section 4.14 of the Disclosure Schedule, all Taxes not yet
due and
payable by the Companies and the Subsidiaries have been
properly
accrued on
the books of account of the Companies in accordance with GAAP.
(b) There are no (i)
examinations, audits, actions, proceedings,
investigations or disputes pending of which Seller or any of the
Companies
or their
Subsidiaries have been notified in writing, (ii) claims
asserted
in writing
for Taxes, (iii) waivers or extensions of statutes of
limitation
with respect to Taxes currently in effect, or (iv) closing
agreements, or similar agreements entered into or issued by any
Taxing
Authority,
in each case with respect to any Company or Subsidiary, that
may, in
each case, increase any Taxes of such Company or Subsidiary by
a
material
amount.
(c) No Taxing Authority has asserted that any of the Companies
or
any
Subsidiary is subject to Tax or obligated to file a Tax Return in
a
jurisdiction in which such Company or Subsidiary does not pay Tax
or file
a Tax
Return.
(d) None of the Companies nor any Subsidiary is a party to any
Tax
allocation
or sharing agreement.
(e) There are no liens for Taxes upon the Assets or properties
of
the
Companies or any Subsidiary (whether real, personal or mixed,
tangible
or
intangible) except for statutory liens for Taxes not yet due or
payable.
(f) None of the Seller, any of the Companies nor any of their
Subsidiaries is a "foreign person" within the meaning of Section
1445 of
the
Code.
(g) None of the Companies nor any Subsidiary has been a United
States
real property holding corporation within the meaning of Code
Section
897(c)(2) during the applicable period specified in Code
Section
897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
(h) Except with respect to any Affiliated Group of which the
Seller,
the
Companies or a Subsidiary is the common parent, none of the
Companies
nor any
Subsidiary (i) has been a member of an Affiliated Group or (ii)
has any
liability to pay, reimburse, indemnify, or otherwise bear the
Taxes of
any Person under Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision
of state, local or foreign law), as a transferee or successor,
by
contract or otherwise.
(i) Each Affiliated Group has filed all Tax Returns that it was
required
to file for each taxable period during which any of the
Companies
or any
Subsidiary was a member of that Affiliated Group, and has paid
all
Taxes
shown thereon as owing, except where the failure to file such
Tax
Returns or
pay such Taxes would not have a Seller Material Adverse Effect.
19
<PAGE>
(j) Each of the Companies and their Subsidiaries has withheld
and/or
paid all
Taxes required to have been withheld and/or paid in connection
with
amounts paid or owed to any employee, independent contractor,
creditor,
stockholder, member or other third party.
(k) No Company or Subsidiary has reported, and Seller has not
reported
with respect to any Company or Subsidiary, any "reportable
transaction" as
defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.6011-4 or any
transaction that is required to be reported to any Taxing
Authority
pursuant
to any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or
foreign
Law.
4.15
ABSENCE OF UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. Except for liabilities or
obligations which are accrued or reserved
against in the Reference Balance Sheet
(or reflected in the notes thereto) or in
connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the
Companies and their Subsidiaries do not have
any liabilities or obligations (contingent
or absolute) which would constitute a
Seller Material Adverse Effect. Seller
makes no representation in this Section
4.15 as to any matter the subject matter of
which is specifically covered by
Sections 4.9, 4.11, 4.13 or 4.14 of this
Agreement.
4.16
ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES. Except as (a) disclosed on the
Reference
Balance Sheet; (b) disclosed in Section
4.16 of the Disclosure Schedule; or (c)
expressly contemplated by this Agreement,
since the date of the Reference
Balance Sheet, neither the Companies nor
their Subsidiaries have: (i) suffered
any change constituting a Seller Material
Adverse Effect; (ii) split, combined
or reclassified their capital stock; (iii)
materially changed their accounting
principles, practices or methods, except as
required by GAAP or applicable Law;
(iv) declared or paid any dividend or other
distribution of cash or other assets
or made any payments to Seller or its
affiliates (in each case, on a net basis),
or released any claims against Seller or
its affiliates, except for (A)
participation in Seller's cash management
program pursuant to which cash
collected by the Companies and their
Subsidiaries is swept by Seller to reduce
amounts outstanding under the Intercompany
Notes and expenditures made by the
Companies and the Subsidiaries are paid
with funds provided by Seller increasing
the balances of the Intercompany Notes,
consistent with past practice, and (B)
the payment of any accounts payable to
Seller or its affiliates arising from the
sale in the ordinary course of business of
food or other products or services to
the Companies and the Subsidiaries by
Seller or such affiliates consistent with
past practice; (v) materially increased any
compensation or expanded any
perquisites of employees; (vi) paid any
liabilities or collected any receivables
other than in the ordinary course of
business based on the normal terms thereof
and consistent with past practice; (vii)
sold or otherwise transferred any
material asset of the Companies or the
Subsidiaries; or (viii) otherwise
operated the business other than in the
ordinary course consistent with past
practices.
4.17 LABOR
MATTERS.
(a) Section 4.17(a) of the Disclosure Schedule lists each
collective
bargaining
agreement, work rule or practice, or other labor-related
Contract
(collectively, "CBAs") to which any of the Companies or one of
their
Subsidiaries
20
<PAGE>
is a party or by
which it is bound, or which pertain to any of the
employees
of the Companies or the Subsidiaries. There is no material
arbitration, material grievance, labor dispute, strike, slowdown
or
stoppage
in progress or pending or, to the knowledge of Seller,
threatened, against or involving the Companies or any Subsidiary.
Since
December
28, 2002, neither the Companies nor any Subsidiary has
experienced any material arbitration, material grievance, labor
dispute,
strike,
lockout, slowdown or stoppage. Seller has no knowledge of any
labor
union organizing activities or proceedings with respect to any
employees
of the Companies or their Subsidiaries. Since December 28,
2002,
there has
been no request for collective bargaining or for a
representation election from, or any demand for recognition or
certification by, any employee, union, labor organization, works
council
or the
National Labor Relations Board or any other labor relations
tribunal
or authority, and there are no representation or certification
proceedings or petitions seeking a representation proceeding
presently
pending or
threatened in writing to be brought or filed with the National
Labor
Relations Board or any other labor relations tribunal or
authority.
(b) Since December 28, 2002 and except as set forth in Section
4.17(b) of
the Disclosure Schedule, the Companies and the Subsidiaries
have not
received notice of (i) any unfair labor practice charge or
complaint
pending or threatened before the National Labor Relations Board
or any
other Governmental Authority, (ii) any complaints, grievances
or
arbitrations arising out of any CBAs or otherwise, (iii) any charge
or
complaint
with respect to or relating to them pending before the Equal
Employment
Opportunity Commission or any other Governmental Authority
responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment practices,
(iv) the
intent of any
Governmental Authority responsible for the enforcement of
labor,
employment, child labor, immigration, or occupational safety
and
health
Laws to conduct an investigation with respect to or relating to
them or
notice that such investigation is in progress, or (v) any
complaint,
lawsuit or other proceeding pending or threatened in any forum
by or on
behalf of any present or former employee of such entities, any
applicant
for employment or classes of the foregoing alleging breach of
any
express or implied contract of employment, any applicable Law
governing
employment or the termination thereof or other discriminatory,
wrongful
or tortuous conduct in connection with the employment
relationship, except, in each case under clauses (i) through (v)
above,
for such
charges, complaints, investigations, compla