EXHIBIT 1.01
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DATED AS OF
JULY 13, 2007
BY AND AMONG
CLINFORCE, LLC
AND
THE STOCKHOLDERS OF
ASSENT CONSULTING
AND
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of July 13, 2007, by and among
ClinForce, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("BUYER"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (each a "SELLER" and collectively, the "SELLERS") and,
solely for the purpose set forth in the last sentence of SECTION 2.2 herein,
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc. ("CCH").
WHEREAS, Sellers own all of the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock (the "SHARES") of Assent Consulting (the "COMPANY"); and
WHEREAS, Sellers desire to sell to Buyer, and Buyer desires to purchase
and acquire from Sellers all of the Shares, upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE FOREGOING, OF THE
REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND MUTUAL AGREEMENTS HEREINAFTER
CONTAINED, AND OF OTHER GOOD AND VALUABLE CONSIDERATION, THE RECEIPT AND
SUFFICIENCY OF WHICH ARE HEREBY ACKNOWLEDGED, THE PARTIES AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
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The terms defined in this ARTICLE I, whenever used herein (including,
without limitation, the Exhibits and Schedules hereto), shall have the following
meanings for all purposes of this Agreement:
"ADJUSTED EBITDA" means the audited earnings before interest, income
taxes, depreciation and amortization of the Company (determined in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles) as adjusted to reflect certain
one-time revenues and expenses, identified on the Assent Consulting Adjusted
EBITDA Detail for FY 2006 schedule attached hereto as Exhibit 1 (which totaled
$248,371).
"AFFILIATE" of a Person means any other Person that directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, is controlled by, or is
under common control with such Person.
"AGREEMENT" means this agreement among the parties set forth on the
first page hereof, including, without limitation, all Exhibits and Schedules
hereto, as the same may be amended from time to time.
"BALANCE SHEET DATE" means June 30, 2007.
"BUSINESS DAY" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day
on which commercial banks in New York City are required or authorized by law to
be closed.
"BUYER" has the meaning given to it in the caption hereof.
"BUYER CLAIMANT," or "BUYER CLAIMANTS" when the context requires, has
the meaning given to it in SECTION 9.2 hereof.
"CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS" means, with respect to the Company and its
Subsidiaries, all cash and cash equivalents, repayable on demand and freely
remittable as of immediately prior to the Closing. For avoidance of doubt, Cash
and Cash Equivalents shall: (i) be increased by all checks and drafts deposited
for the account of the Company and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the
Closing to the extent such checks and/or drafts have not been
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applied to reduce Indebtedness and (ii) be decreased by all checks and drafts
issued by the Company and its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing to the extent
such checks and drafts have not cleared prior to the Closing.
"CERCLA" has the meaning given to it in SECTION 4.17(A) hereof.
"CLAIM," or "CLAIMS" when the context requires, has the meaning set
forth in SECTION 9.2 hereof.
"CLAIMANT" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 9.4(A) hereof.
"CLOSING" means the closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement which shall be deemed to have occurred immediately prior to the
opening of business on the Closing Date.
"CLOSING BALANCE SHEET" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 3.4(A)
hereof.
"CLOSING DATE" means the second Business Day after the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in ARTICLE IX hereto, or such other date as
the parties may mutually agree, upon which the Closing takes place.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.
"COMPANY" has the meaning given to it in the recitals hereof.
"COMPANY COMPUTER SYSTEMS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.10(H)
hereof.
"COMPANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS" has the meaning set forth in
SECTION 4.10(B) hereof.
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"COMPANY LICENSE RIGHTS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.10(B)
hereof.
"COMPANY RIGHTS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.10(B) hereof.
"COMPANY SOFTWARE PRODUCTS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION
4.10(A)(I) hereof.
"COMPUTER SYSTEMS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.10(H) hereof.
"CONSENTS" means any consent, approval, authorization, license or order
of, registration, declaration or filing with, or notice to, or waiver from, any
federal, state, local, foreign or other Governmental Entity or any Person,
including, without limitation, any security holder, creditor or vendor which is
required to be obtained, made or given in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and/or any Operative Document, the performance by a
Person of its obligations hereunder and/or thereunder and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby and/or thereby.
"DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY" means as an individual, partner, shareholder,
member, creditor, director, officer, principal, agent, employee, trustee,
consultant, advisor or in any other relationship or capacity.
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" means the disclosure schedule attached to this
Agreement as EXHIBIT 4, and includes but is not limited to each of the Schedules
expressly referred to in ARTICLE IV.
EARNOUT EBITDA CALCULATION" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 3.5(B)
hereof.
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"EMPLOYEE" means any employee of the Company or any Subsidiary,
including any employee of any employee leasing company utilized by the Company
or any Subsidiary who has been assigned to the Company's or any Subsidiary's
work-site to perform services under the direction and control of the Company or
any Subsidiary.
"EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any "employee benefit plan" (as defined
under Section 3(3) of ERISA) or any other bonus, deferred compensation, pension,
profit-sharing, retirement, stock purchase, stock option, stock appreciation,
other forms of incentive compensation, excess benefit, supplemental pension
insurance, disability, medical, supplemental unemployment, vacation benefits,
payroll practice, fringe benefit, scholarship, sickness, accident, severance, or
post-retirement compensation or benefit, welfare or any other employee benefit
plan, policy, arrangement or practice, whether written or oral.
"ENCUMBRANCE" means any security interests, liens, pledges, claims of
third parties of any nature whatsoever, leases, levies, charges, escrows,
encumbrances, options, rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions,
conditional sale contracts, title retention contracts, mortgages,
hypothecations, indentures, security agreements or other agreements,
arrangements, contracts, commitments, understandings or obligations, whether
written or oral.
"ENVIRONMENT" means any surface or subsurface physical medium or
natural resource, including, air, land, soil, surface waters, ground waters,
stream and river sediments.
"ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION" means any complaint, summons, citation, notice,
directive, order, claim, litigation, investigation, proceeding, judgment, letter
or other written communication from any Federal, state, local or municipal
agency, department, bureau, office or other authority or any third party
involving a Hazardous Discharge or any violation of any Permit or Environmental
Laws.
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"ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means any federal, state, local or common law,
rule, regulation, ordinance, code, order or judgment (including the common law
and any judicial or administrative interpretations, guidances, directives,
policy statements or opinions) relating to the injury to, or the pollution or
protection of, human health and safety or the Environment.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITIES" means any claims, judgments, damages
(including punitive damages), losses, penalties, fines, liabilities,
encumbrances, liens, violations, costs and expenses (including attorneys' and
consultants' fees) of investigation, assessment, remediation or defense of any
matter relating to human health, safety or the Environment of whatever kind or
nature by any Person or Governmental Entity, (A) which are incurred as a result
of (i) the existence of Hazardous Substances in, on, under, at or emanating from
any Real Property, (ii) the transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of
Hazardous Substances, or (iii) the violation of any Environmental Laws, or (B)
which arise under the Environmental Laws.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"ERISA AFFILIATE" means any entity that would be deemed a "single
employer" with the Company or any Subsidiary under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or
(o) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
"ESCROW AGENT" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 2.3 hereof.
"ESCROW AGREEMENT" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 2.3 hereof.
"ESCROW AMOUNT" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 2.3 hereof.
"ESTIMATED NET INDEBTEDNESS" means a good faith estimate of Net
Indebtedness as mutually agreed to by Buyer and Sellers prior to the Closing.
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"ESTIMATED NET WORKING CAPITAL" means a good faith estimate of Net
Working Capital as mutually agreed to by Buyer and Sellers prior to the Closing.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"FASB 87" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.19(F)(IX) hereof.
"FINANCIAL STATEMENTS" means the consolidated audited balance sheet as
of December 31, 2006 and the related consolidated audited statements of income,
operations, changes in equity and cash flows of the Company and its Subsidiaries
for the fiscal year then ended, including the related notes thereto, and (ii)
the consolidated unaudited balance sheet as of June 30, 2007 and the related
consolidated statements of income, operations, equity and cash flows of the
Company and its Subsidiaries for the five-month period then ended, including the
related notes thereto.
"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles,
applied on a consistent basis.
"GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY" means any federal, state, local or foreign
government, political subdivision, school district, legislature, court, agency,
department, bureau, commission or other governmental regulatory authority, body
or instrumentality, including any industry or other non-governmental
self-regulatory organizations.
"HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means petroleum, petroleum products,
petroleum-derived substances, radioactive materials, hazardous wastes,
polychlorinated biphenyls, lead based paint, radon, urea formaldehyde, asbestos
or any materials containing asbestos, and any materials or substances regulated
or defined as or included in the definition of "hazardous substances,"
"hazardous materials," "hazardous constituents," "toxic substances,"
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"pollutants," "contaminants" or any similar denomination intended to classify or
regulate substances by reason of toxicity, carcinogenicity, ignitability,
corrosivity or reactivity under any Environmental Law.
"INCREMENTAL 2007 ADJUSTED EBITDA" has the meaning set forth on EXHIBIT
3.5(A) hereto.
"INDEBTEDNESS" means all of the obligations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, existing immediately prior to Closing (i) for borrowed money, (ii)
evidenced by notes, bonds, debentures or similar instruments, (iii) for which
interest charges are customarily paid, (iv) under conditional sale or other
title retention agreements relating to property or assets purchased by such
Person, (v) issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or
services (other than trade accounts payable), (vi) earnouts arising in
connection with acquisitions, (vii) under capital leases, (viii) in respect of
interest rate protection agreements, foreign currency exchange agreements or
other interest or exchange rate hedging arrangements, (ix) as an account party
in respect of letters of credit and bankers' acceptances, (x) with respect to
Indebtedness of others secured by (or for which the holder of such Indebtedness
has an existing right, contingent or otherwise to be secured by) any
Encumbrances on property owned or acquired by such Person, (xi) in the nature of
guarantees of Indebtedness of others, or (xii) for all accrued interest on any
of the foregoing. Any contingent liabilities of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries existing immediately prior to Closing which, if in existence on the
date of the Year-End Balance Sheet, would have been required to have been
reported thereon in accordance with GAAP on a balance sheet or the related notes
thereto shall be deemed included within Indebtedness.
"INDEMNITOR" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 9.4(A) hereof.
"INDEPENDENT AUDITOR" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 3.4(B)
hereof.
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"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.
"LICENSED COMPUTER SYSTEMS" has the meaning set forth in SECTION
4.10(H) hereof.
"LICENSED SOFTWARE PRODUCTS" has the meaning as set forth in SECTION
4.10(H) hereof.
"MARKS" has the meaning as set forth in SECTION 4.10(A)(IV) hereof.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means any material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, earnings, operations, assets, liabilities, Properties,
condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, net worth or Permits
of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as whole.
"NET INDEBTEDNESS" means the difference between (i) Indebtedness and
(ii) all Cash and Cash Equivalents.
"NET WORKING CAPITAL" means, as of immediately prior to the Closing,
the Company's and its Subsidiaries' consolidated current assets as of such time
(other than Cash and Cash Equivalents) less the consolidated current liabilities
of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of such time (other than (i) any
Indebtedness that would be included within such current liabilities and (ii) any
Taxes that would be included within such current liabilities), in each case
calculated in accordance with the basis of presentation and accounting
principles identified on EXHIBIT 3.2 attached hereto.
"OPERATIVE DOCUMENT" means any agreement, instrument or other document
to be executed and delivered in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall include, without
limitation, any item that is set forth on SCHEDULE 8.1(N) hereto.
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"OTHER ESCROW" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.5 herein.
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
"PERMITS" means all licenses, certificates of authority, permits,
orders, consents, approvals, registrations, local sitting approvals,
authorizations, qualifications and filings under any federal, state or local
laws or with any Governmental Entities or other private Persons.
"PERSON" means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, firm, joint venture, association, joint stock company, trust,
unincorporated organization or other entity, or any Governmental Entity or
quasi-governmental body or regulatory authority.
"PLAN" means any Employee Benefit Plan established, maintained,
sponsored, or contributed to by the Company, any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate or any employee leasing company on behalf of any Employee, member,
director or shareholder (whether current, former or retired) or their
beneficiaries, or with respect to which the Company or any Subsidiary or any
ERISA Affiliate or any employee leasing company has or has had any obligation on
behalf of such Person.
"PROPERTY," or "PROPERTIES" when the context requires, means any Real
Property and any personal or mixed property, whether tangible or intangible.
"PURCHASE PRICE" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 2.2 hereof.
"REAL PROPERTY" means any real property presently or formerly owned,
used, leased, occupied, managed or operated by the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries.
"RELATED PERSON" has the meaning given to it in SECTION 4.5 hereof.
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"RELATIVE" means the current or former spouse, children, parents or
siblings of an individual (or any spouse of any of the foregoing).
"RELEASE" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 4.17(G) hereof.
"SCHEDULE OF ADJUSTMENTS" has the meaning as set forth in SECTION
3.4(A) hereof.
"SECTION 338 FORM" has the meaning set forth in SECTION 10.3(B) hereof.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"SELLER," or "SELLERS" where the context requires, has a meaning given
to it in the caption hereof.
"SELLER CLAIMANT" has the meaning given to it in SECTION 9.3 hereof.
"SHARES" has the meaning given to it in the recitals hereof.
"SUBSIDIARY," or "SUBSIDIARIES" where the context requires, means any
corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity in which the
Company, directly or indirectly, owns or controls 50% or more of the voting
stock or other ownership interests.
"TAX RETURN" means each and every report, return, declaration,
information return, claim for refund, statement or other information required to
be supplied to a taxing or governmental authority with respect to any Tax or
Taxes, including, without limitation, any combined or consolidated return for
any group of entities including the Company or any Subsidiary.
"TAXES" (or "TAX" where the context requires) means all federal, state,
county, provincial, local, foreign and other taxes (including, without
limitation, income, profits, premium, estimated, excise, sales, use,
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occupancy, stamp, gross receipts, real and personal property, value added,
franchise, ad valorem, severance, capital levy, occupational, production,
transfer, withholding, social security, unemployment insurance, disability,
workers' compensation, employment and payroll related and property taxes and
duty or other governmental charges and assessments), whether attributable to
statutory or nonstatutory rules and whether or not measured in whole or in part
by net income, and including, without limitation, interest, additions to tax or
interest, charges and penalties with respect thereto, and expenses associated
with contesting any proposed adjustment related to any of the foregoing.
"TRADE SECRETS" means any information which (i) is used in a business,
(ii) is not generally known to the public or to Persons who can obtain economic
value from its disclosure, and (iii) is subject to reasonable efforts to
maintain its secrecy or confidentiality; the term may include but is not limited
to inventions, processes, know-how, formulas, computer software, and mask works
which are not patented and are not protected by registration (e.g., under
copyright or mask work laws); lists of customers, suppliers, and employees, and
data related thereto; business plans and analyses; and financial data.
"2008 CONTRACT STAFFING GROSS PROFIT CALCULATION" has the meaning set
forth in SECTION 3.5(E) hereof.
"YEAR-END BALANCE SHEET" means the audited consolidated balance sheet
of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2006.
ARTICLE II
SALE AND PURCHASE OF SHARES; CLOSING
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2.1 Purchase of Shares.
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Upon the terms and subject to the conditions hereof, and upon the basis of the
agreements, representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, at the
Closing Sellers shall sell to Buyer, and Buyer shall purchase and acquire from
Sellers, the Shares, free and clear of any Encumbrances.
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2.2 Consideration.
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Subject to ARTICLE III, the aggregate consideration for the Shares (the
"PURCHASE PRICE") shall be an amount equal to the difference between (i) 7.46
multiplied by the 2006 Adjusted EBITDA, estimated to be $19,572,504 and (ii)
Estimated Net Indebtedness; provided, however, the Purchase Price shall be
adjusted upward or downward (as applicable), if any, by which $1,506,000 exceeds
or falls short of the Estimated Net Working Capital. The Purchase Price (less
the Escrow Amount) shall be paid to Sellers at the Closing by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the account(s) designated in writing by Sellers
at least two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing. CCH hereby guarantees
Buyer's obligation to make payments to Sellers under this SECTION 2.2 and
SECTION 3.5 hereof
2.3 Escrow Amount.
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Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, Buyer shall withhold
from the Purchase Price otherwise payable at Closing an amount equal to
$1,000,000 (the "ESCROW AMOUNT"). On the Closing Date, Buyer shall cause the
Escrow Amount to be delivered to LASALLE BANK as escrow agent (the "ESCROW
AGENT"), pursuant to an escrow agreement by and among Buyer, Sellers and Escrow
Agent (the "ESCROW AGREEMENT") having terms and conditions reasonably acceptable
to Buyer and Sellers. The Escrow Amount shall be paid to the Escrow Agent on the
Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the account
designated in writing by the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Amount will be held by the
Escrow Agent as partial security for the obligations of Sellers to Buyer
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pursuant to the terms of SECTION 9.2 of this Agreement. Obligations of Sellers
to Buyer pursuant to the terms of SECTION 9.2 of this Agreement shall be
satisfied first by payment from the Escrow Amount, but shall not be limited at
any time to the value of the Escrow Amount. Sellers acknowledge and agree that
Buyer's exercise of its rights under the Escrow Agreement shall not limit
Buyer's right to recover any amounts owed to it that exceed the Escrow Amount
and application of the Escrow Amount shall not be in substitution of or in any
way limit Buyer's exercise of its other rights and remedies hereunder, or under
any other agreement or applicable law.
2.4 The Closing.
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The Closing shall take place at 9:00 a.m., local time, on the Closing Date, at
the offices of Berliner ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇.
ARTICLE III
PURCHASE PRICE ADJUSTMENTS
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3.1 Purchase Price Adjustments.
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The Purchase Price shall be subject to adjustment as set forth below, and all
references in this Agreement to the Purchase Price shall be deemed to be the
Purchase Price as adjusted pursuant to this ARTICLE III.
3.2 Net Working Capital Adjustment.
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(a) If the Purchase Price paid at the Closing was reduced
pursuant to the proviso to the first sentence of SECTION 2.2 and if Net Working
Capital, as finally determined pursuant to this ARTICLE III, is less than the
Estimated Net Working Capital then the Purchase Price shall be reduced
dollar-for-dollar by the amount of such shortfall. If, on the other hand, the
Purchase Price paid at the Closing was reduced pursuant to the proviso to the
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first sentence of SECTION 2.2 and if Net Working Capital as finally determined
pursuant to this ARTICLE III, is more than the Estimated Net Working Capital
then the Purchase Price shall be increased dollar-for-dollar by the amount of
such excess.
(b) If the Purchase Price paid at Closing was not reduced
pursuant to the proviso to the first sentence of SECTION 2.2 and if Net Working
Capital as finally determined pursuant to this ARTICLE III is less than
$1,506,000, then the Purchase Price shall be reduced dollar for dollar by the
amount by which $1,506,000 exceeds such Net Working Capital. If, on the other
hand, the Purchase Price paid at Closing was not reduced pursuant to the proviso
to the first sentence of SECTION 2.2 and if Net Working Capital as finally
determined pursuant to this Article III is more than $1,506,000, the Purchase
Price shall be increased dollar for dollar by the amount by which the final Net
Working Capital exceeds $1,506,000.
3.3 Net Indebtedness Adjustment.
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If Net Indebtedness, as finally determined pursuant to this ARTICLE III, is
greater than Estimated Net Indebtedness the Purchase Price shall be reduced
dollar-for-dollar by the amount of such difference. If Net Indebtedness, as
finally determined pursuant to this ARTICLE III, is less than Estimated Net
Indebtedness the Purchase Price shall be increased dollar-for-dollar by the
amount of such difference.
3.4 Closing Balance Sheet; Schedule of Adjustments.
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The determination of the adjustments, if any, required to be made to the
Purchase Price pursuant to SECTION 3.2 and SECTION 3.3 shall be made pursuant to
the following provisions:
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(a) Within 90 days after the Closing Date, Buyer shall
prepare or cause to be prepared the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as
of immediately prior to the Closing (the "CLOSING BALANCE SHEET") as well as a
calculation of Net Working Capital and Net Indebtedness, and deliver to Sellers
the Closing Balance Sheet, as well as calculations of Net Working Capital, Net
Indebtedness and the adjustments, if any, required to be made to the Purchase
Price pursuant to SECTION 3.2 and SECTION 3.3 (the "SCHEDULE OF ADJUSTMENTS").
(b) Sellers will have a period of thirty (30) days
following the delivery of the Closing Balance Sheet as well as a calculation of
Net Working Capital and Net Indebtedness and the Schedule of Adjustments to
notify Buyer of any disagreements with any of the foregoing. Any such notice
shall be accompanied by supporting documentation containing reasonable detail.
Failure to notify Buyer within such 30-day period shall be deemed acceptance of
the Closing Balance Sheet as well as the calculation of Net Working Capital and
Net Indebtedness and the Schedule of Adjustments. In the event Sellers timely
notify Buyer of any disagreement, the parties agree that each of them will
attempt in good faith to resolve such disagreement. If within thirty (30) days
after delivery to Buyer of the notification by Sellers of a disagreement, the
parties are unable to resolve such disagreement, either Sellers, on the one
hand, or Buyer, on the other hand, shall have the right to submit the
determination of such matters to an independent accountant of national standing
reasonably acceptable to Sellers and Buyer (the "INDEPENDENT AUDITOR"), whose
decision shall be binding on the parties. The cost of the Independent Auditor
shall be paid by the party whose aggregate estimate of the disputed amount or
amounts, as the case may be, differs most greatly from the determination of the
Independent Auditor.
(c) If it is determined pursuant to this SECTION 3.4 that
the Purchase Price paid at the Closing is less than the Purchase Price as
adjusted pursuant to SECTION 3.2 and SECTION 3.3, Buyer shall remit such
difference to Sellers in cash.
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(d) If it is determined pursuant to this SECTION 3.4 that
the Purchase Price paid at the Closing is greater than the Purchase Price as
adjusted pursuant to SECTION 3.2 and SECTION 3.3, Sellers shall remit such
difference to Buyer in cash.
(e) Any cash payment to be made as a result of adjustments
made in accordance with SECTION 3.2 and SECTION 3.3, shall be paid within five
(5) Business Days of the final determination of such adjustments by wire
transfer of immediately available funds. Any such payment shall be made to such
account or accounts as may be designated by the party entitled to such payment
at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date that such payment is to be
made.
3.5 Earnout.
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(a) Subject to the terms and conditions of this SECTION
3.5, the Purchase Price shall be increased by an amount equal to ten times the
Incremental 2007 Adjusted EBITDA but in no event shall the aggregate Purchase
Price (including any earnout payment payment) exceed $24,500,000.
(b) No later than April 30, 2008 Buyer shall prepare or
cause to be prepared a consolidated statement of income of the Company for the
year ended December 31, 2007 together with a calculation of Incremental 2007
Adjusted EBITDA for such year (the "EARNOUT EBITDA CALCULATION").
(c) Sellers will have a period of thirty (30) days
following the delivery of the Earnout EBITDA Calculation to notify Buyer of any
disagreements with the Earnout EBITDA Calculation. Any such notice shall be
accompanied by supporting documentation containing reasonable detail. Failure to
notify Buyer within such 30-day period shall be deemed acceptance of the Earnout
EBITDA Calculation. In the event Sellers timely notify Buyer of any
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disagreement, the parties agree that each of them will attempt in good faith to
resolve such disagreement. If within 30 days after delivery to Buyer of the
notification by Sellers of a disagreement the parties are unable to resolve such
disagreement, either Sellers, on the one hand, or Buyer, on the other hand,
shall have the right to submit the determination to the Independent Auditor,
whose decision shall be binding on the parties. The cost of the Independent
Auditor shall be paid by the party whose estimate of the disputed amount differs
most greatly from the determination of the Independent Auditor.
(d) (i) Up to and including the first $2,000,000 (the
"Other Escrow") of any cash payment to be made as a result of the Company's
achievement of the Incremental 2007 Adjusted EBITDA shall be paid by Buyer
within five (5) Business Days of the final determination of Incremental 2007
Adjusted EBITDA by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Escrow
Agent to be held and disbursed in accordance with the terms and conditions of
the Escrow Agreement.
(ii) Any portion of a cash payment to be made as a
result of the Company's achievement of the Incremental 2007 Adjusted EBITDA in
excess of $2,000,000 shall be paid by Buyer within five (5) Business Days of the
final determination of Incremental 2007 Adjusted EBITDA by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the account designated by Sellers at least three
(3) Business Days prior to the date such payment is made.
(iii) In the event that such cash payment to be made
by Buyer to the Escrow Agent is less than $2,000,000, then any shortfall of such
$2,000,000 shall be contributed within five (5) Business Days of the final
determination of Incremental 2007 Adjusted EBITDA by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the Escrow Agent from (x) the Escrow Amount, if,
and only if, all claims under Section 9.2 hereof have been fully satisfied by
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Sellers pursuant to a settlement agreement with Buyer or a judgment rendered by
a court of competent jurisdiction (having exhausted all appeals) and/or (y) the
Sellers (jointly and severally) so that the total Other Escrow amount held by
the Escrow Agent equals an aggregate of $2,000,000.
(e) No later than April 30, 2009 Buyer shall prepare or
cause to be prepared a consolidated statement of income of the Company for the
year ended December 31, 2008 together with a calculation of the 2008 contract
staffing gross profit for such year (the "2008 CONTRACT STAFFING GROSS PROFIT
CALCULATION").
(f) Sellers will have a period of thirty (30) days
following the delivery of the 2008 Contract Staffing Gross Profit Calculation to
notify Buyer of any disagreements with the 2008 Contract Staffing Gross Profit
Calculation. Any such notice shall be accompanied by supporting documentation
containing reasonable detail. Failure to notify Buyer within such 30-day period
shall be deemed acceptance of the 2008 Contract Staffing Gross Profit
Calculation. In the event Sellers timely notify Buyer of any disagreement, the
parties agree that each of them will attempt in good faith to resolve such
disagreement. If within 30 days after delivery to Buyer of the notification by
Sellers of a disagreement the parties are unable to resolve such disagreement,
either Sellers, on the one hand, or Buyer, on the other hand, shall have the
right to submit the determination to the Independent Auditor, whose decision
shall be binding on the parties. The cost of the Independent Auditor shall be
paid by the party whose estimate of the disputed amount differs most greatly
from the determination of the Independent Auditor.
(g) If the 2008 Contract Staffing Gross Profit Calculation
yields a gross profit of $4,900,000 or more, then Buyer and Sellers shall,
within five (5) Business Days of the final determination of 2008 Contract
19
Staffing Gross Profit Calculation, deliver a joint written instruction letter to
the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow Agent to disburse the Other Escrow
Amount ($2,000,000) to the Sellers by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account designated by Sellers in such instruction letter.
(h) If, on the other hand, the 2008 Contract Staffing
Gross Profit Calculation is less than $4,900,000, then Buyer shall include
$100,000 of actual revenue from permanent placement and conversion revenue in
excess of $300,000 (if any) to the 2008 Contract Staffing Gross Profit
Calculation to determine if the $4,900,000 benchmark is met. If after adding in
this additional revenue the $4,900,000 benchmark is not met, then Buyer and
Sellers shall, within five (5) Business Days of the final determination of 2008
Contract Staffing Gross Profit Calculation, deliver a joint written instruction
letter to the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow Agent to disburse the Other
Escrow Amount ($2,000,000) to Buyer by wire transfer of immediately available
funds to an account designated by Buyer in such instruction letter. If after
adding in any such additional revenue the $4,900,000 benchmark is met, then
Buyer and Sellers shall, within five (5) Business Days of the final
determination of 2008 Contract Staffing Gross Profit Calculation, deliver a
joint written instruction letter to the Escrow Agent instructing the Escrow
Agent to disburse the Other Escrow Amount ($2,000,000) to the Sellers by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by Sellers in
such instruction letter.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLERS
-----------------------------------------
The Sellers, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Buyer as
follows (all such representations and warranties are qualified by the Disclosure
Schedule attached to this Agreement as EXHIBIT 4):
20
4.1 Organization and Qualification.
-------------------------------
The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing in the state of its organization, with full power and authority to own,
lease and operate its Properties and carry on its business as presently owned or
conducted. The Company is licensed or qualified to transact business and is in
good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which, because of
its business conducted there or the nature of its Properties there, it would be
required to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so
licensed or qualified or in good standing would not individually or in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such jurisdiction is set forth on
SCHEDULE 4.1 of the Disclosure Schedule. The name of each director and officer
of the Company, and the position held by each such individual, is set forth on
SCHEDULE 4.1 hereto. The Sellers have provided to Buyer true, correct and
complete copies of all organizational and governing documents, including, but
not limited to, the Company's certificate of incorporation and by-laws,
including all amendments thereto.
4.2 Authority; No Breach.
---------------------
(a) Each of the Sellers has all requisite power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and the Operative Documents to
which he is a party, and to perform, carry out and consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the Operative Documents to which he is a party have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of each of the Sellers. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of the Sellers and
constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of such Seller, enforceable
against such Seller in accordance with its terms, except as the same may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or
other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally,
or by general equitable principles.
21
(b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.2(B) of the
Disclosure Schedule, neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any
Operative Document by any of the Sellers nor the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated herein or therein, nor the full performance by any
Seller of his obligations hereunder or thereunder do or will: (i) violate any
provision of the certificates of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any
Subsidiary or any other organizational or other governing document relating to
the Company and/or the Subsidiaries; (ii) conflict with, result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under (or an event which, with or without
notice, lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) or result in the
invalidity of, or accelerate the performance required by or cause or give rise
to any right of acceleration or termination of any right or obligation pursuant
to any agreement or commitment to which any Seller, the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which any Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary (or
any of their respective Properties) is subject or bound; (iii) result in the
creation of, or give any third party the right to create, any Encumbrance upon
the Shares or any Properties of any Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary; (iv)
conflict with, violate, result in a breach of or constitute a default under any
writ, injunction, statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation, judgment, award,
Permit, decree, order, or process of any Governmental Entity to which any
Seller, the Company, any Subsidiary or any Properties of any of the foregoing
are subject; (v) terminate or modify, or give any third party the right to
terminate or modify, the provisions or terms of any contract or agreement to
which any Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any
Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary (or any of their respective Properties) is
subject or bound; (vi) require any Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary to
obtain any Consent; (vii) result in or give to any Person any additional rights
22
or entitlement to increased, additional, accelerated or guaranteed payments
under any contract or agreement to which any Seller, Company or any Subsidiary
is a party or by which any of their respective Properties is subject or bound,
or (viii) or result in any adverse change under or termination of any provider
number under any insurance or health coverage contract including Government
Medical Reimbursement Programs.
4.3 Securities and Ownership; Subsidiaries.
---------------------------------------
(a) The authorized and outstanding shares of each class of
capital stock of the Company and the owners of all such outstanding shares of
capital stock (of record and beneficially) are set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3(A) of
the Disclosure Schedule. As of the Closing the only shares of capital stock of
the Company issued and outstanding will be the Shares. All such Shares are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and are not subject to
any preemptive or similar right. No preferred interests, bonds, debentures,
notes, debt instruments, evidences of indebtedness or other securities of any
kind, of the Company are authorized, issued or outstanding. At the Closing,
Sellers are transferring the Shares to Buyer free and clear of any Encumbrances.
(b) The Company has not issued any securities in violation
of any preemptive or similar rights. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3(B) of
the Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding (i) securities convertible
into or exchangeable for any shares of capital stock or other securities of the
Company; (ii) subscriptions, options, "phantom" stock rights, warrants, calls,
commitments, preemptive rights or other rights of any kind (absolute, contingent
or otherwise) entitling any party to acquire or otherwise receive from the
Company any shares of capital stock or other securities or receive or exercise
any benefits or rights similar to any rights enjoyed by or inuring to the holder
23
of capital stock of the Company; (iii) contracts, commitments, agreements,
understandings or arrangements of any kind relating to the issuance of any
membership or other interests, convertible or exchangeable securities, or any
subscriptions, options, warrants or similar rights of the Company or granting to
any Person any right to participate in the equity or income of the Company or to
participate in or direct the election of any director or officer of the Company
or the manner in which any shares of capital stock or other securities of the
Company are voted; or (iv) rights of any Person to be paid as if he, she or it
were a holder of equity or shares of capital stock of the Company or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for equity or shares of capital stock of the
Company, including, without limitation, "phantom" stock and stock appreciation
rights. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3(B) of the Disclosure Schedule, there
are no shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company reserved for
issuance for any purpose and the Company is not a party to any voting
agreements, voting trusts, proxies or other agreements, instruments or
understandings with respect to the voting of any shares of the capital stock or
other securities of the Company, or any agreement with respect to the
transferability, purchase or redemption of any shares of capital stock or other
securities of the Company.
(c) SCHEDULE 4.3(C) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
the names of each Subsidiary and shows for each Subsidiary: (i) its jurisdiction
of organization and each other jurisdiction in which it is qualified to do
business; (ii) the authorized and outstanding capital stock, membership or other
interests or other securities of each Subsidiary; and (iii) the identity of and
number of shares of such capital stock, membership or other interests or other
securities owned (of record and beneficially) by each holder thereof.
24
(d) Each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing in its jurisdiction of organization, with full power and
authority to own, lease and operate its Properties and carry on its business as
presently owned or conducted. Each Subsidiary is licensed or qualified to
transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or limited
liability company, as the case may be, in each of the jurisdictions indicated in
SCHEDULE 4.3(D) of the Disclosure Schedule, which are the only jurisdictions
wherein, because of the business conducted there or the nature of its Properties
there, such Subsidiary would be required to be so licensed or qualified, except
where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not, individually
or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(e) All shares of capital stock, membership or other
interests or other securities of each Subsidiary issued and outstanding are duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Except as set forth on
SCHEDULE 4.3(E) of the Disclosure Schedule, no preferred stock, bonds,
debentures, notes, debt instruments, evidences of indebtedness or other
securities of any kind, of any Subsidiary are authorized, issued or outstanding.
(f) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3(F) of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no outstanding (i) securities convertible into or
exchangeable for any shares of capital stock, membership or other interests or
other securities of any Subsidiary; (ii) subscriptions, options, "phantom" stock
rights, warrants, calls, commitments, preemptive rights or other rights of any
kind (absolute, contingent or otherwise) entitling any party to acquire or
otherwise receive from any Subsidiary any capital stock, membership interests or
other securities or receive or exercise any benefits or rights similar to any
rights enjoyed by or inuring to the holder of membership or other interests or
securities of any Subsidiary; (iii) contracts, commitments, agreements,
understandings or arrangements of any kind relating to the issuance of any
capital stock, membership or other interests, convertible or exchangeable
securities, or any subscriptions, options, warrants or similar rights of any
Subsidiary or
25
granting to any Person any right to participate in the equity or income of any
Subsidiary or to participate in or direct the election of any officer of any
Subsidiary or the manner in which any capital stock, membership or other
interests or other securities or any Subsidiary are voted; or (iv) rights of
any Person to be paid as if he, she or it were a holder of equity, capital
stock or membership interests in any Subsidiary or securities convertible into
or exchangeable for equity, capital stock or membership interests in any
Subsidiary, including, without limitation, "phantom" stock and stock
appreciation rights. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.3(F) of the Disclosure
Schedule, there are no shares of capital stock, membership or other interests
or other securities of any Subsidiary reserved for issuance for any purpose and
no Subsidiary is a party to any voting agreements, voting trusts, proxies or
other agreements, instruments or understandings with respect to the voting of
any shares of the capital stock, membership or other interests or other
securities of such Subsidiary, or any agreement with respect to the
transferability, purchase or redemption of any shares of capital stock,
membership or other interests or other securities of such Subsidiary.
(g) Except for the Subsidiaries and as set forth on
SCHEDULE 4.3(G) of the Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own, Directly
or Indirectly, any economic, voting or other ownership interest in any Person.
4.4 Financial Statements.
---------------------
The Sellers have heretofore delivered to Buyer true, correct and complete copies
of the Financial Statements. The Financial Statements have been prepared from
the books and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries and present fairly (i)
the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries at the
dates thereof and (ii) the consolidated results of operations of the Company and
the Subsidiaries for the periods then ended, in each case in accordance with
GAAP, subject, in the case of interim financial statements, to normal recurring
26
year-end adjustments and the absence of notes. The books and records of the
Company and the Subsidiaries are accurate and complete in all material respects
and have been maintained in accordance with good business practices.
4.5 Interests of Related Persons.
-----------------------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.5 of the Disclosure Schedule, none of the
Sellers, the Company nor the Subsidiaries, nor any member, officer, director,
Relative, or Affiliate of any Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary
(collectively, the "RELATED PERSONS"):
(i) owns any interest in any Person (other than the
beneficial ownership for investment purposes of 2% or less of any class of
equity securities of any Person which is registered under Section 12 of the
Exchange Act) which is a competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or any
Subsidiary or serves as an officer, member, director, employee or consultant for
any such Person;
(ii) owns, in whole or in part, any Property or right
of material significance, used in connection with the business of the Company or
any Subsidiary;
(iii) has an interest in any contract or agreement
pertaining to the business of the Company or any Subsidiary; or
(iv) has any contractual arrangements with the
Company or any Subsidiary.
4.6 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities.
-----------------------------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.6 of the Disclosure Schedule, neither Company
nor any Subsidiary has any liabilities, losses or obligations of any nature
(whether absolute, known or unknown, accrued, fixed, contingent, liquidated,
27
unliquidated, due or to become due, or otherwise), except for (i) liabilities
included or reflected in the Financial Statements and adequately reserved
against therein in accordance with GAAP, or (ii) liabilities or performance
obligations arising subsequent to the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course
of business consistent with past practice (and not as a result of a breach or
default by the Company or any Subsidiary). Sellers do not know of any basis for
the assertion against the Company or any Subsidiary of any liability, loss or
obligation of any nature (whether absolute, known or unknown, accrued, fixed,
contingent, liquidated, unliquidated, due or to become due, or otherwise) except
for the liabilities of the type set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) of the
immediately preceding sentence.
4.7 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
-------------------------------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.7 of the Disclosure Schedule, since December
31, 2006, the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries has been conducted
only in the ordinary and usual course consistent with past practice. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.7 of
the Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2006 neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has:
(a) suffered any Material Adverse Effect, and no fact or
condition exists or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, is contemplated or
threatened that might reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect
in the future;
(b) suffered any material damage, destruction or casualty
loss (whether or not covered by insurance) or condemnation, taking or other
proceeding;
(c) entered into any employment or consulting contract or
commitment (whether oral or written) or compensation arrangement or employee
benefit plan, or changed or committed to change (including any change pursuant
28
to any bonus, pension, profit-sharing or other plan, commitment, policy or
arrangement) the compensation payable or to become payable to any of its
members, officers, directors, Employees, agents or consultants, or made any
pension, retirement, profit-sharing, bonus or other employee welfare or benefit
payment or contribution, other than payments or contributions required by the
governing documents of the foregoing;
(d) made or proposed any change in its accounting or tax
methods, principles or practices, except for such changes which are required by
GAAP (or by law) and are set forth on SCHEDULE 4.7(D) of the Disclosure
Schedule;
(e) authorized, declared, set aside or paid any dividend
or other distribution;
(f) Directly or Indirectly redeemed, purchased or
otherwise acquired any of its shares of capital stock, membership or other
interests or securities or authorized any stock or other split, reclassification
or recapitalization or otherwise changed the terms or provisions of any of its
capital stock, membership or other interests or securities;
(g) incurred any Indebtedness or other liability (whether
known or unknown, absolute, accrued, fixed, contingent, liquidated, unliquidated
or otherwise, and whether due or to become due), except for liabilities
reflected in its respective Financial Statements or incurred after December 31,
2006 in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(h) paid, discharged or satisfied any claim, liability or
obligation other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction of liabilities and
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice;
(i) (A) prepaid any obligation having a fixed maturity of
more than ninety (90) days from the date such obligation was issued or incurred,
or (B) not paid when due, any account payable, or sought the extension of the
payment date of any account payable;
29
(j) permitted or allowed any of its Property to be
subjected to any Encumbrance, except for liens for current Taxes not yet due;
(k) written off as uncollectible any notes or accounts
receivable;
(l) canceled any debts or waived any claims or rights
other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;
(m) sold, transferred, or otherwise disposed of any of its
Properties, except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practice;
(n) disposed of, abandoned or permitted to lapse any
rights to the use of any Company Intellectual Property Rights, or disposed of or
disclosed, or permitted to be disclosed (except as necessary in the conduct of
its business), to any Person other than representatives of Buyer, any trade
secret, formula, process, know-how or similar information not theretofore a
matter of public knowledge;
(o) made any capital expenditures or commitments in excess
of $25,000 in the aggregate for repairs or additions to property, plant,
equipment or tangible capital assets; or
(p) terminated or amended or suffered the termination or
amendment of any contract or agreement pursuant to which the Company or any
Subsidiary would receive from any Person(s) or pay to any Person(s) more than
$10,000, individually or in the aggregate, in any calendar year; or
(q) agreed, whether in writing or otherwise, to take any
action described in this SECTION 4.7.
30
4.8 Taxes.
------
(a) The Company has throughout its existence been
classified for federal, state and local Tax purposes as an S corporation and
each Subsidiary has throughout their existence been classified for federal,
state and local Tax purposes as a disregarded entity.
(b) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.8(B) of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each Subsidiary has duly, timely and
properly filed when due, all federal, state, local, foreign and other Tax
Returns required to be filed by it (including, without limitation, any
consolidated or combined Tax Returns in which it is included) and such Tax
Returns are true, complete and accurate and disclose all Taxes required to be
paid by the Company or any Subsidiary. The Company and each Subsidiary has duly
paid all Taxes due from the Company or such Subsidiary, whether or not shown on
a Tax Return. True, complete and correct copies of all of the Tax Returns of the
Company and the Subsidiaries for the past five (5) fiscal years have been
previously provided to Buyer. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary files or is
required to file any Tax Returns in any jurisdiction other than those set forth
on SCHEDULE 4.8(B) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(c) All amounts required to be withheld by the Company or
any Subsidiary have been collected or withheld and either paid to the
appropriate Governmental Entity or set aside and, to the extent required by law,
held in accounts for such purpose.
(d) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.8(D) of the
Disclosure Schedule, (i) there currently are no (nor have there been within the
last five years any) pending or, to the knowledge of any Seller, threatened
actions or proceedings (including, without limitation, audit proceedings) by any
applicable taxing authority for the assessment, collection, adjustment or
deficiency of Taxes against the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii) none of
Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary has received any notice of deficiency or
31
assessment from any federal, state, local or foreign taxing authority with
respect to liabilities for Taxes of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the
knowledge of any Seller, there are no existing or prior facts, circumstances or
conditions that could reasonably be expected to form the basis for such an
action or proceeding or such a notice of deficiency or assessment. No power of
attorney has been executed by, or on behalf of, the Company or any Subsidiary
with respect to any matter relating to Taxes which is currently in force. Except
as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.8(D) of the Disclosure Schedule, there are no
outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation
applicable to any assessment or audit of any Tax or Tax Return of the Company or
any Subsidiary for any period. The Tax Returns of the Company and each
Subsidiary have been examined by the applicable taxing authority for the
respective periods set forth on SCHEDULE 4.8(D) of the Disclosure Schedule, and
all deficiencies asserted as a result of such examinations (or as a result of
any examination of the returns for earlier fiscal years) have been paid or
finally settled.
(e) Other than in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice, none of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary
has taken any action that would have the effect of deferring any Tax liability
of the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the sales, income, business or
operations of the Company or any Subsidiary from a period ending on or prior to
the Closing Date to a period ending after the Closing Date. There are no
deferred Taxes owed by the Company or any Subsidiary as of the Closing Date.
(f) None of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary is a
party to any agreement, contract, arrangement or plan that has resulted or would
result, separately or in the aggregate, in the payment of any "excess parachute
payments" within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
32
(g) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has (i) been a
party to any consolidated or combined Tax Return of any group of which a Company
has not been the parent corporation, or (ii) any liability or obligation to make
any payment to any taxing authority or to its Affiliates on account of Taxes for
any period ending on or prior to the Closing Date imposed under Section 1.1502-6
of the Income Tax Regulations or any similar provision of state or local laws or
the provision of any Tax sharing agreements. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is a party to any Tax sharing agreements.
(h) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.8(H) of the
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is currently the
beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return. There
are no Encumbrances for Taxes upon the assets of the Company or any Subsidiary
except for statutory liens for current Taxes not yet due.
(i) No material differences exist between the amounts of
the book basis and the tax basis of assets that are not accounted for by an
accrual on the books of the Company or any Subsidiary for federal income tax
purposes. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary will be required to recognize
for income tax purposes in a taxable year beginning on or after the Closing Date
any amount of income or gain which it would have been required to recognize
under the accrual method of accounting for tax purposes in a tax period ending
on or before the Closing Date as a result of the installment method of
accounting, the completed contract method of accounting, the cash method of
accounting or a change in method of accounting.
(j) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is or has been
a United States real property holding company (as defined in Section 897(c)(2)
of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(ii) of
the Code.
33
4.9 Assets.
-------
(a) The Company and each Subsidiary has good and freely
transferable title to all the Property and other assets (tangible and
intangible) which it purports to own on the date hereof, including, without
limitation, those reflected in its respective Financial Statements at the
Balance Sheet Date, free and clear of all Encumbrances, except for (i) liens for
current Taxes not yet due and payable, and (ii) Encumbrances set forth on
SCHEDULE 4.9(A) of the Disclosure Schedule.
(b) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary owns any Real
Property. SCHEDULE 4.9(B) of the Disclosure Schedule contains a complete and
correct list of all Real Property leased by the Company and each Subsidiary. The
Company and each Subsidiary enjoys peaceful possession of all such property. The
Sellers have previously delivered to Buyer true, complete and correct copies of
all lease documents relating to such property. All lease documents are
unmodified, in full force and effect and valid, binding and enforceable in
accordance with their terms. All work required to be done by the Company or any
Subsidiary as a tenant on such Real Property has been duly and timely performed.
No event has occurred which constitutes or, with the passing of time or giving
of notice, or both, would constitute, a default under any such lease document.
(c) No Real Property leased by the Company or any
Subsidiary is subject to any rights of way, building use restrictions,
easements, reservations or limitations which would restrict the Company or any
Subsidiary from conducting its business after the Closing. Neither the whole nor
any portion of the Real Property, leaseholds or any other assets of the Company
or any Subsidiary is subject to any governmental decree or order to be sold or
is being condemned, expropriated or otherwise taken by any public authority with
or without payment of compensation therefor, nor has any such condemnation,
expropriation or taking been proposed.
34
(d) All physical Properties of the Company or any
Subsidiary (whether leased or owned) are structurally sound with no defects and
in good operating condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) and are
adequate for the uses to which they are being put and constitute all those
necessary to operate the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as it is
currently conducted and in accordance with recent historical practice, and are
located on the Property of the Company and the Subsidiaries. In addition, to the
knowledge of the Sellers, all management information systems are producing
timely and accurate reports, invoices and payments.
(e) All Real Property leased by the Company or any
Subsidiary and each plan, building, structure, facility or equipment located
thereon, is in material compliance with any applicable deed restrictions or
covenants and all building, zoning, subdivision, health, safety or other laws,
including the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, and none of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary has received
notification of any alleged violation. To the knowledge of the Sellers, there
are no existing or prior facts or circumstances that could form the basis of any
such notification.
(f) All roads bounding each parcel of Real Property are
public roads, and the Company and each Subsidiary has full access to and the
right of ingress and egress over, to and from such roads and the right to use
such roads freely as well as all right to use such roads appurtenant to each
parcel of such property.
35
4.10 Intellectual Property.
----------------------
(a) The Company or one of the Subsidiaries is the
exclusive owner of record of all right, title and interest in and to each of the
following that are being used in its business as currently conducted, and/or
have been or are being developed or acquired for potential use in its business
of and/or that are promoted, sold, licensed or otherwise distributed by it to
any third parties:
(i) all computer programs and databases and their
associated system and user documentation (collectively, the "COMPANY SOFTWARE
PRODUCTS") set forth on SCHEDULE 4.10(A)(I) of the Disclosure Schedule;
(ii) all copyrights and copyright registrations
applications for registration set forth on SCHEDULE 4.10(A)(II) of the
Disclosure Schedule;
(iii) all patents and patent applications set forth
on SCHEDULE 4.10(A)(III) of the Disclosure Schedule;
(iv) all trademarks, service marks and trade names
(collectively the "MARKS"), and the registrations of, and/or applications to
register, any one or more of the Marks in federal, state or foreign
jurisdictions set forth on SCHEDULE 4.10(A)(IV) of the Disclosure Schedule; and
(v) all Trade Secrets and other proprietary rights.
(b) SCHEDULE 4.10(B) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
a list of all license and similar agreements between the Company or any
Subsidiary and third parties, under which the Company or any Subsidiary is
granted rights to the use, reproduction, distribution, manufacture, sale or
licensing of items
36
embodying the patent, copyright, Trade Secret, trademark or other proprietary
rights of such third parties (collectively, the "COMPANY LICENSE RIGHTS").
Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is, nor will the Company or any
Subsidiary be as a result of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any
Operative Document or the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby,
in violation of or lose any rights pursuant to any license and similar
agreements described in SCHEDULE 4.10(B) of the Disclosure Schedule. Except as
set forth on SCHEDULE 4.10(B) of the Disclosure Schedule, no Person is entitled
to any royalty, fee and/or other payment or other consideration of whatever
nature with respect to the Company License Rights or Company Intellectual
Property Rights. The Company License Rights and the Company Intellectual
Property Rights are sometimes collectively referred to as the "COMPANY RIGHTS".
The items referred to in SECTION 4.10(A) and this 4.10(B) are herein referred to
collectively as the "COMPANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS." The Company
Intellectual Property rights constitute all such rights necessary to operate the
business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as it is currently conducted.
(c) SCHEDULE 4.10(C) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth
a list of all agreements under which the Company, any Subsidiary, or their
respective Affiliates has granted any rights of whatever nature to third parties
of, to or under the Company Rights. All such rights granted have been and are
non-exclusive. True, correct and complete copies of all such agreements have
been delivered to Buyer.
(d) No claims with respect to the Company Rights have been
asserted or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, are threatened by any Person, nor
do the Sellers know of any valid grounds for any bona fide claims against the
use by the Company or any Subsidiary of any Company Rights. To the knowledge of
the Sellers, as of the date hereof, there has not been and there is not any
infringement, misappropriation or any other unauthorized use of any of the
Company Rights by any third party, Employee, consultant or former Employee or
consultant of the Company or any Subsidiary.
37
(e) The following are all valid, enforceable and
subsisting: (i) all granted and issued patents listed in SCHEDULE 4.10(A)(III)
of the Disclosure Schedule; (ii) all Marks, and all registrations of, and/or
applications to register, such Marks as described in subparagraph (iv) of
SECTION 4.10(A); (iii) all copyrights and copyright registrations as described
in subparagraph (ii) of SECTION 4.10(A); and (iv) all Trade Secrets and other
proprietary rights as described in subparagraph (v) of SECTION 4.10(A).
(f) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, by reason
of its use, license, sale or other distribution of the Company Rights or
otherwise, been alleged to have infringed upon, violated, misappropriated or
misused any intellectual property right or other proprietary right (including,
without limitation, any patent right, copyright, trade name or Trade Secret) of
any third party.
(g) No Company Rights are subject to any order restricting
in any manner the use or licensing thereof by the Company or any Subsidiary. No
Company, Subsidiary, or their respective Affiliates has entered into any
agreement to indemnify and/or hold harmless any other Person from or against any
cause of action, charge or other claim of infringement of any third party
intellectual property rights. No Company, Subsidiary, or any of their respective
Affiliates has entered into any agreement granting any third party the right to
bring infringement actions, or otherwise to enforce rights with respect to any
Company Intellectual Property Rights or, except as disclosed in SCHEDULE
4.10(G), with respect to any Company License Rights. The Company and the
Subsidiaries have the exclusive right to file, prosecute and maintain all
applications and registrations with respect to the Company Intellectual Property
Rights.
38
(h) Whenever used in this Agreement: (i) "COMPANY COMPUTER
SYSTEMS" means all the computer systems of the Company or any Subsidiary
including, without limitation, all mainframes, PC's and other work stations,
peripherals and other components, and the Company Software Products; (ii)
"LICENSED SOFTWARE PRODUCTS" means any software products licensed by third
parties to the Company or any Subsidiary, including, without limitation, the
software products disclosed on SCHEDULE 4.10(A)(I) or SCHEDULE 4.10(B); (III)
"LICENSED COMPUTER SYSTEMS" means all mainframes, PC's and other work stations,
peripherals and other components, and the Licensed Software Products; and (iv)
"COMPUTER SYSTEMS" collectively refers to Company Computer Systems and Licensed
Computer Systems.
(i) Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.10(I) of the
Disclosure Schedule, each of the Licensed Software Products and the Company
Software Products: (i) is the most recent version of each such software product;
and (ii) conforms substantially to the functional and operational specifications
set forth in the respective user manuals and other documentation for each such
software product. Except as disclosed in SCHEDULE 4.10(I) of the Disclosure
Schedule, the Company and the Subsidiaries own and have possession of all such
technical documentation, software tools (including by way of example and not
limitation, all source code, compilers, system documentation, statements of
principles of operation and schematics, as applicable) for each of the Licensed
Software Products and the Company Software Products as may be necessary and
sufficient for the continued effective use, further development, and maintenance
of the latest version of each such software product.
4.11 Accounts Receivable.
--------------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.11 of the Disclosure Schedule, all of the
accounts, notes and other receivables of the Company and its Subsidiaries
39
represent sales actually made in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past practice for goods or services delivered or rendered in bona fide
arm's-length transactions, constitute only valid, undisputed claims, and have
not been extended or rolled over in order to make them current and will be
collected at their recorded amounts net of reserves for non-collectibility
reflected on the Financial Statements.
4.12 Contracts and Commitments.
--------------------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.12 of the Disclosure Schedule:
(a) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
agreements, contracts, or commitments, written or oral, which either
individually or in conjunction with other agreements, contracts or commitments
with the same party, and in connection with the same matter, relate to
commitments in excess of $25,000 per annum or are otherwise material to its
business, operations or prospects;
(b) No contract or bid is anticipated to result in any
loss to the Company or any Subsidiary upon completion or performance thereof,
and no contract or bid is at prices materially above or below the usual prices
of the Company or any Subsidiary for the same or similar products or services;
(c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has, any
outstanding contracts, agreements or arrangements (i) providing for the
employment of any Person, (ii) providing for the payment of any salary, bonus or
commission based on sales or earnings or (iii) with any Related Person;
(d) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any (i)
employee non-competition agreements, or (ii) agreements or policies that contain
any severance or termination pay liabilities or obligations;
40
(e) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
collective bargaining or union contracts or agreements;
(f) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is restricted
by any agreement or other commitment from carrying on its business as currently
conducted anywhere in the world;
(g) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
obligations for borrowed money or other Indebtedness;
(h) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any
outstanding loans to any Person (other than travel and entertainment advances to
Employees in the ordinary course of business);
(i) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any powers
of attorney outstanding or any obligations or liabilities as guarantor, surety,
co-▇▇▇▇▇▇, endorser, co-maker, indemnitor or otherwise in respect of the
obligation of any other Person;
(j) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to
any partnership or joint venture agreement whether or not a separate legal
entity is created thereby;
(k) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to
any agreement (i) relating to the lease or similar arrangement of any machinery,
equipment, motor vehicles, furniture, fixture or similar property, (ii) to which
any federal, state or local Governmental Entity or authority is a party, (iii)
pursuant to which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be obligated to make
payments, contingent or otherwise, on account of or arising out of prior
acquisitions or sales of businesses, assets or stock of other Persons, (iv)
relating to the sale or other disposition of any of its Property or other
rights, or (v) that would obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to repair,
replace, accept the return of or make any refund in respect of any product or
service sold or performed by the Company or any Subsidiary;
41
(l) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in breach
or default, and, to the knowledge of Sellers, there is no basis for any valid
claim or breach or default, under any contract, license agreement, commitment or
restriction (whether written or oral) to which the Company or any Subsidiary is
a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective
assets are bound and, there exists no event or condition which (whether with or
without notice, lapse of time, or both) would constitute a default thereunder,
give rise to a right to accelerate, modify or terminate any provision thereof or
give rise to any Encumbrance on its Property or a right to any additional or
guaranteed payments; and to the knowledge of the Sellers, no other party to any
such contract, agreement or commitment is in breach or default thereof;
(m) Neither the Company's nor any Subsidiary's agreements
to provide goods and services is subject to any agreement that restricts the
Company's or such Subsidiary's ability to change the price charged for such
goods or services; and
(n) Each contract and agreement referred to in SCHEDULE
4.12 is valid and in full force and effect and constitutes a legal, valid and
binding obligation of the applicable Company or Subsidiary, and, to the
knowledge of the Sellers, the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, and will not cease to be valid and in full force and effect
after the Closing Date; accurate and complete copies thereof, together with all
amendments thereto, have been heretofore delivered to Buyer.
4.13 Customers, Subcontractors and Suppliers.
----------------------------------------
(a) SCHEDULE 4.13(A) of the Disclosure Schedule contains
a true and complete list of the 20 largest customers of the Company and the
42
Subsidiaries in order of dollar volume of sales during its last full fiscal year
and during the four-month period ended April 30, 2007 showing total sales in
dollars from each such customer during each such period.
(b) SCHEDULE 4.13(B) of the Disclosure Schedule sets
forth a list of the 10 largest suppliers of the Company and the Subsidiaries in
order of dollar volume of purchases during its last full fiscal year and during
the four-month period ended April 30, 2007 showing total purchases in dollars
derived from each such supplier during each such period.
(c) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.13(C) of the
Disclosure Schedule:
(i) There has not been any material adverse change
and, to the knowledge of the Sellers, there are no facts which may reasonably be
expected to indicate that any material adverse change may occur in the business
relationship of the Company or any Subsidiary with any customer or supplier
named on SCHEDULES 4.13(A) or 4.13(B) or any other material customer,
subcontractor or supplier.
(ii) Neither Company nor any Subsidiary is engaged in
any disputes with any customers or suppliers and neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary nor the Company or any Seller has any reason to believe that any
customer, subcontractor or supplier intends to discontinue or adversely modify
its relationship with the Company or any Subsidiary after the Closing Date. In
addition, the Sellers do not have any knowledge that any customer or group of
customers of the Company or any Subsidiary is materially dissatisfied with the
Company's or any Subsidiary's services. During the two-year period prior to the
date hereof neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has granted any rebate to any
customer other than volume discounts granted in the ordinary course of business
consistent with past practice.
(d) A list of all of the sales representatives and agents
of the Company and its Subsidiaries for the past two years is set forth on
SCHEDULE 4.13(D). Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is engaged in any
material disputes with any of such sales representatives or agents and to the
knowledge of the Sellers, no such material disputes are threatened.
43
4.14 Insurance.
----------
SCHEDULE 4.14 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of
all insurance policies (including, but not limited to, liability, property and
casualty, workers compensation, directors and officers liability, surety bonds,
key man or company owned life insurance, vehicular and other insurance policies
and contracts) covering the Company or any Subsidiary or otherwise held by or on
behalf of it, or any aspect of its assets or business, indicating the type of
coverage, name of insured, the insurer, the amount of coverage, the deductibles,
the premium, the expiration date, and other material terms thereof and the
aggregate amounts paid thereunder. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.14, there
are no pending claims under any of the foregoing. The Sellers do not know of any
reason why any of such insurance policies will be terminated, suspended,
modified or amended, or not renewed on substantially identical terms (including,
without limitation, premium costs), or will require alteration of any equipment
or any improvements to Real Property occupied by or leased to or by the Company
or any Subsidiary, or the purchase of additional equipment, or the modification
of any of the methods of doing business. SCHEDULE 4.14 of the Disclosure
Schedule also identifies the workers' compensation and unemployment insurance
ratings of the Company and the Subsidiaries with respect to Employees. No party
to any such insurance policy is in default with respect thereto, nor does any
condition exist that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such
a default by any party thereunder. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
failed to give any notice or present any claim under any such insurance policy
in due or timely fashion or as required thereby in a manner which may jeopardize
full recovery thereunder. All such insurance policies provide coverage in
amounts and upon terms that are reasonable and adequate for Persons having
similar businesses, operations and Properties. Complete and accurate copies of
all such policies and related documentation have previously been delivered to
Buyer.
44
4.15 Litigation, etc.
----------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.15 of the Disclosure Schedule, there has not
been in the thirty-six (36) months prior to the date hereof, nor is there
currently, any claim, action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation of any
kind or nature whatsoever, by or before any court or Governmental Entity or
other regulatory or administrative agency or commission or tribunal pending or,
to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened against or involving or potentially
involving the Company or any Subsidiary or its business, assets, Properties,
members, officers or directors, or which questions or challenges the validity of
this Agreement or any action taken or to be taken by the Sellers pursuant to
this Agreement or in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; and,
to the knowledge of the Sellers, there is no valid basis for any such claim,
action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary is subject to any judgment, order, decree or legal requirement which
involves more than $25,000. The Sellers have delivered to Buyer accurate and
complete copies of all documentation relating to any of the foregoing.
4.16 Compliance with Law; Necessary Authorizations; Securities
---------------------------------------------------------
Matters.
--------
(a) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.16(A) of the
Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each Subsidiary is duly complying and has
duly complied at all times, in all material respects, with all applicable laws,
rules, regulations, orders, building and other codes, zoning and other
ordinances, Permits, authorizations, judgments and decrees of all Governmental
45
Entities, in respect of its business, operations and Properties. Except as set
forth on SCHEDULE 4.16(A) of the Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor
any Seller is aware of any present or past failure so to comply or of any past
or present events, activities or practices of the Company or any Subsidiary
which may be construed to indicate interference with or prevention of continued
compliance, in any material respect, with any laws, rules or regulations or
which may give rise to any common law or statutory liability, or otherwise form
the basis of any material claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing or
investigation. Except as disclosed on SCHEDULE 4.16(A) of the Disclosure
Schedule, none of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary, or, to the knowledge
of the Sellers, any of their respective members, officers, directors or
Employees is the subject of any investigation relating to the business of the
Company or any Subsidiary.
(b) The Company and each Subsidiary has duly obtained all
Permits, concessions, grants, franchises, licenses and other governmental
authorizations, Consents, and approvals necessary for the conduct of its
business, except where the failure to so obtain would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
each of the foregoing is set forth on SCHEDULE 4.16(B) of the Disclosure
Schedule and is in full force and effect; the Company and each Subsidiary is in
compliance with all material terms of all the foregoing; there are no
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened which may
result in the revocation, cancellation, suspension or modification thereof, and
the Sellers do not have any knowledge of any basis therefor. The consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby will not result in any such revocation,
cancellation, suspension or modification nor require the Company or any
Subsidiary or Buyer to make any filing or take any action in order to maintain
the validity of any item listed on SCHEDULE 4.16(B) of the Disclosure Schedule.
46
(c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has entered
into any settlement agreement with any Governmental Entity, or with respect to
any litigation involving a Governmental Entity.
4.17 Environmental Matters.
----------------------
(a) To the Sellers' knowledge, all of the operations of
the Company and each Subsidiary comply and have at all times complied, in all
material respects, with all applicable Environmental Laws, and neither the
Company nor any Subsidiary is subject to any Environmental Liabilities. None of
the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Sellers, any other
Person, has engaged in, authorized, allowed or suffered any operations or
activities upon any of the Real Property for the purpose of or in any way
involving the handling, manufacture, treatment, processing, storage, use,
generation, release, discharge, emission, dumping or disposal of any Hazardous
Substances at, on or under the Real Property, except in compliance with all
applicable Environmental Laws. SCHEDULE 4.17(A) of the Disclosure Schedule is a
complete and accurate list of all locations (identified by address, owner/
operator, type of facility, type and form of waste, and period of time the
facility was used) to which the Company or any Subsidiary has ever transported,
or caused to be transported, allowed or arranged for any third party to
transport, any type of Hazardous Substances. No such location is listed or
proposed for listing on the National Priorities List pursuant to Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), 42 U.S.C. ss.
9601 et seq., or any similar inventory of sites requiring investigation or
remediation maintained by any state.
(b) None of the Real Property or any assets of the
Company or any Subsidiary contain any Hazardous Substances in, on, over, under
47
or at such Real Property in concentrations or amounts which would violate
Environmental Laws or impose liability or obligations on the present or former
owner, manager, or operator of the Real Property under the Environmental Laws
for any assessment, investigation, corrective action, remediation or monitoring
of Hazardous Substances. None of the Real Property is listed or proposed for
listing on the National Priorities List pursuant to the CERCLA or any similar
inventory of sites requiring investigation or remediation maintained by any
state. Neither the Sellers, nor the Company, nor any Subsidiary has received
(actually or constructively) any notice, whether oral or written, from any
Governmental Entity or third party of any actual or threatened Environmental
Liabilities with respect to the Real Property, any assets of the Company or any
Subsidiary or the conduct of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary.
(c) There are no underground storage tanks or Hazardous
Substances (other than unregulated quantities of Hazardous Substances stored and
maintained in accordance and compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws
for use in the ordinary course of business of the Company or any Subsidiary) in,
on, over, under or at any presently owned, managed or operated Real Property.
(d) There are no conditions existing at any Real Property
or with respect to any other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, that
require, or which with the giving of notice or the passage of time or both may
require monitoring, assessment, investigation, remedial or corrective action, or
removal or closure pursuant to the Environmental Laws.
(e) The Company and each Subsidiary has provided to Buyer
all environmental reports, assessments, audits, studies, investigations, data
and other written environmental information in its custody, possession or
control concerning its assets and the Real Property.
48
(f) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
contractually, by operation of law, by the Environmental Laws, by common law or
otherwise assumed or succeeded to any Environmental Liabilities of any
predecessors or any other Person.
(g) No Seller, Company or Subsidiary has (actually or
constructively) received any notice or claim (whether written or oral) to the
effect that the Company or any Subsidiary is or may be liable to any
Governmental Entity or any other Person as a result of the Release or threatened
Release of a Hazardous Substance, and, to the knowledge of the Sellers, there
are no existing or prior facts, circumstances or conditions that could form the
basis for such a notice or claim. "RELEASE" means release, spill, emission,
leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, leaching
or migration into the Environment or into or out of any property, including the
movement of Hazardous Substances through or in the air, soil, surface water,
groundwater or real property or other property, whether owned or leased.
4.18 Labor Matters.
--------------
(a) Except to the extent set forth on SCHEDULE 4.18(A) of
the Disclosure Schedule:
(i) there is no labor strike, dispute, grievance,
arbitration proceeding, slowdown or stoppage, or charge of unfair labor practice
actually pending, or to the knowledge of Sellers, threatened against or
affecting, either directly or through any employee leasing arrangement, the
operation of the business of the Company or any Subsidiary;
(ii) neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has,
during the three (3) years prior to the date hereof, experienced, any work
stoppage or other labor dispute including, without limitation, the filing of an
unfair labor practice complaint against it, nor is the Company or any Seller
aware of any fact or circumstance that could result in any of the foregoing;
49
(iii) there are no charges or complaints of
discrimination pending, or to the knowledge of the Sellers, threatened, before
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any state or local agency with
respect to the Company or any Subsidiary, or any representative of the Company
or any Subsidiary, either directly or through any employee leasing arrangement,
and none of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary is aware of any basis for any
such charge or complaint;
(iv) there are no worker's compensations claims
pending against the Company or any Subsidiary, either directly or through any
employee leasing arrangement, and none of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary
is aware of any basis for any such claim; and
(v) during the three (3) years preceding the date
hereof, no unions or other collective bargaining units have been certified or
recognized by the Company or any Subsidiary as representing any of its Employees
and there are no existing union organizing efforts or representation questions
with respect to any of the Employees.
(b) None of Sellers, the Company or any Subsidiary has
received notice of the intent of any Governmental Entity responsible for the
enforcement of labor or employment laws to conduct an investigation with respect
to or relating to the Company or any Subsidiary or any Employees, and, to the
knowledge of the Sellers, no such investigation is in progress. No complaints,
lawsuits or other proceedings are pending, or, to the knowledge of the Sellers,
threatened in any forum by or on behalf of any present or former Employee, any
applicant for employment or classes of the foregoing alleging breach of any
express or implied contract for employment, any law governing employment or the
termination thereof or other discriminatory, wrongful or tortuous conduct in
connection with any employment relationship.
50
4.19 Employee Benefit Plans.
-----------------------
(a) Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.19(A) of the
Disclosure Schedule, there are no Plans. With respect to each Plan, as
applicable, accurate and complete (i) copies of each written Plan (including all
amendments thereto), (ii) written descriptions of each oral Plan, (iii) copies
of related trust or funding agreements, (iv) summary plan descriptions, (v)
summaries of material modifications, (vi) copies of the most recent annual
reports and actuarial valuations and (vii) copies of the most recent
determination letter from the IRS for each Plan intended to qualify under Code
Section 401(a) have been heretofore delivered to Buyer.
(b) None of the Company, the Subsidiaries, their ERISA
Affiliates or any employee leasing company, or any of their respective
predecessors has ever contributed to, contributes to, has ever been required to
contribute to, or otherwise participated in or participates in or in any way,
directly or indirectly, has any liability related to Employees with respect to
any "multiemployer plan" (within the meaning of Sections (3)(37) or 4001(a)(3)
of ERISA or Section 414(f) of the Code) or any single employer pension plan
(within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA) which is subject to
Sections 4063 and 4064 of ERISA.
(c) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is liable for
any liability of any ERISA Affiliate (including predecessors) or any employee
leasing company with regard to any Employee Benefit Plan at any time providing
benefits to Employees, including, without limitation, liabilities under Title IV
of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code, and Section 302(a)(2) of ERISA. All premiums
due to the PBGC by the Company or any Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate have
been paid on a timely basis.
(d) The Company, the Subsidiaries, each ERISA Affiliate,
each Plan, and each "plan sponsor" (within the meaning of Section 3(16) of
51
ERISA) of each "welfare benefit plan" (within the meaning of Section 3(1) of
ERISA) at any time providing benefits to Employees, has complied in all respects
with the requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and Title I, Subtitle B, Part
6 of ERISA.
(e) No "reportable event" within the meaning of Section
4043(b) of ERISA has occurred or is expected to occur, and the consummation of
the transaction contemplated by this Agreement will not result in a reportable
event.
(f) With respect to each of the Plans on SCHEDULE 4.19(A):
(i) each Plan intended to qualify under
Section 401(a) of the Code has been qualified since its inception and has
received a determination letter from the IRS to the effect that the Plan is
qualified under Section 401 of the Code and any trust maintained pursuant
thereto is exempt from federal income taxation under Section 501 of the Code and
nothing has occurred (since the date of the determination letter) or is expected
to occur through the date of the Closing (including, without limitation, the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement) that caused or could cause the loss
of such qualification or exemption or the imposition of any penalty or tax
liability;
(ii) all payments required by any Plan, any
agreement, or by law (including, without limitation, all contributions,
insurance premiums, or intercompany charges) with respect to all periods through
the date of the Closing shall have been made prior to the Closing (on a pro rata
basis where such payments are otherwise discretionary at year end) or provided
for by the Company or any Subsidiary as applicable, by full accruals as if all
targets required by such Plan had been or will be met at maximum levels on its
financial statements;
(iii) no "accumulated funding deficiency", (within
the meaning of Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code), has been or
could
52
be expected to be incurred, whether or not waived, and no excise or other taxes
have been or could be expected to be incurred or are due and owing with respect
to the Plan because of any failure to comply with the minimum funding standards
of ERISA and the Code;
(iv) no claim, lawsuit, arbitration or other action
has, to the knowledge of Sellers, been threatened, asserted, instituted, or
anticipated against the Plans (other than non-material routine claims for
benefits, and appeals of such claims), any trustee or fiduciaries thereof, the
Company, any Subsidiary, any ERISA Affiliate, any member, director, officer, or
employee thereof, or any of the assets of any trust of the Plans;
(v) the Plan complies and has been maintained and
operated in accordance with its terms and applicable law, including, without
limitation, ERISA and the Code;
(vi) no "prohibited transaction," within the meaning
of Section 4975 of the Code and Section 406 of ERISA, has occurred or is
expected to occur with respect to the Plan (and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not constitute or directly or
indirectly result in such a "prohibited transaction");
(vii) no Plan is or, to the knowledge of Sellers, is
expected to be under audit or investigation by the IRS, Department of Labor, or
any other Governmental Entity and no such completed audit, if any, has resulted
in the imposition of any Tax or penalty;
(viii) no proceeding has been or is expected to be
initiated to terminate any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA;
(ix) the present value of all "benefit liabilities"
(whether or not vested) (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA)
based on the actuarial assumptions used for funding purposes (1) as set forth in
the most recent actuarial report; (2) as required by the PBGC for the Plan's
53
termination; and (3) as set forth in Financial Accounting Standards Board SFAS
No. 87 ("FASB 87") using the methodology under FASB 87 to calculate the
projected benefit obligation, did not exceed as of the most recent Plan
actuarial valuation date the then current fair market value of the assets of
such Plan and no amendments or other modifications to such Plan or its actuarial
assumptions were adopted since the date of such Plan's most recent actuarial
report;
(x) each Plan intended to meet requirements for
tax-favored treatment under any provision of the Code satisfies the applicable
requirements under the Code; and
(xi) with respect to each Plan that is funded mostly
or partially through an insurance policy, none of the Company, any Subsidiary or
any ERISA Affiliate has any liability in the nature of retroactive rate
adjustment, loss sharing arrangement or other actual or contingent liability
arising wholly or partially out of events occurring on or before the Closing.
(g) The consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement will not give rise to any liability, including, without
limitation, liability for severance pay, unemployment compensation, termination
pay, or withdrawal liability, or accelerate the time of payment or vesting or
increase the amount of compensation or benefits due to any Employee, member,
director or shareholder of the Company or any Subsidiary (whether current,
former, or retired) or their beneficiaries solely by reason of such
transactions. No amounts payable under any Plan will fail to be deductible for
federal income tax purposes by virtue of Sections 280G or 162(m) of the Code.
(h) None of the Company, any Subsidiary, any ERISA
Affiliate or any employee leasing company maintains, contributes to, or in any
way provides for any benefits of any kind whatsoever (other than under Section
54
4980B of the Code, the Federal Social Security Act, or a plan qualified under
Section 401(a) of the Code) to any current or future retired Employee or
terminated Employee.
(i) None of the Company, any Subsidiary, any ERISA
Affiliate, or any officer or employee thereof, has made any promises or
commitments, whether legally binding or not, to create any additional plan,
agreement, or arrangement for Employees, or to modify or change any existing
Plan.
(j) None of the Company or any Subsidiary or any ERISA
Affiliate has any unfunded liabilities pursuant to any Plan that is not intended
to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code.
(k) No event, condition, or circumstance exists that
would prevent the amendment or termination of any Plan.
4.20 Business Generally.
-------------------
To the knowledge of the Sellers, no events or transactions have occurred which
could be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or which would or could be
expected to prevent or impair the Company or any Subsidiary, after the Closing
Date, from carrying on its business in the same manner as it is presently being
conducted.
4.21 Questionable Payments.
----------------------
None of the Sellers, the Company, the Subsidiaries or any member, director,
officer, or to the knowledge of Sellers, any agent, employee, or any other
Person acting on behalf of any Seller, the Company or any Subsidiary, has,
Directly or Indirectly, used any company funds for unlawful contributions,
gifts, entertainment, or other unlawful expenses; made any unlawful payment to
government officials or employees or to political parties or campaigns;
55
established or maintained any unlawful fund of corporate monies or other assets;
made or received any bribe, or any unlawful rebate, payoff, influence payment,
kickback or other payment; given any favor or gift which is not deductible for
federal income tax purposes; or made any bribe, kickback, or other payment of a
similar or comparable nature, to any governmental or non-governmental Person,
regardless of form, whether in money, property, or services, to obtain favorable
treatment in securing business or to obtain special concessions, or to pay for
favorable treatment for business or for special concessions secured.
4.22 Finders.
--------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4.22, none of the Sellers, the Company, the
Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of Sellers, any of their respective members,
directors or officers, has taken any action that, Directly or Indirectly, would
obligate Buyer or the Company or any Subsidiary, to anyone acting as broker,
finder, financial advisor or in any similar capacity in connection with this
Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.23 Bank Accounts.
--------------
SCHEDULE 4.23 of the Disclosure Schedule contains a true and complete list of
(a) the names and locations of all banks, trust companies, securities brokers
and other financial institutions at which the Company or any Subsidiary has an
account or safe deposit box or maintains a banking, custodial, trading or other
similar relationship, (b) a true and complete list and description of each such
account, box and relationship and (c) the name of every Person authorized to
draw thereon or having access thereto.
4.24 Disclosure.
-----------
No representation or warranty by Sellers in this Agreement, in any documents or
papers furnished to Buyer or any its representatives by or on behalf of Sellers
56
and/or Company, pursuant to this Agreement or any statement contained in the
Disclosure Schedule or any certificates delivered hereunder contains or will
contain any untrue statement of material fact or omits to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained
therein in light of the circumstances under which it was made, not false or
misleading. All copies of contracts, agreements and other documents made
available to Buyer or any of its representatives pursuant hereto are complete
and accurate.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
---------------------------------------
Buyer hereby represents and warrants as follows:
5.1 Organization and Qualification.
Buyer is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in its
jurisdiction of organization.
5.2 Authority.
----------
Buyer has all requisite power and authority to execute and deliver this
Agreement and to perform, carry out and consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by all necessary action on the part of Buyer. This Agreement has been
duly executed and delivered by Buyer and constitutes its legal, valid and
binding obligation, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms,
except as the same may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights of creditors generally, or by general equitable principles.
57
5.3 Certain Proceedings.
--------------------
There is no action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation of any kind or
nature whatsoever, by or before any court or Governmental Entity or other
regulatory or administrative agency or commission or tribunal pending against or
involving Buyer that challenges, or may have the effect of preventing, delaying,
making illegal, or otherwise interfering with, any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. To Buyer's knowledge, no such action, suit,
inquiry, proceeding or investigation has been threatened.
5.4 Finders.
--------
Neither Buyer nor any of its Affiliates has taken any action that, Directly or
Indirectly, would obligate any of the Sellers to pay a fee to anyone acting as a
broker, finder, financial advisor or in any similar capacity in connection with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.5 Funds.
------
Buyer has funds available to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE VI
COVENANTS
---------
6.1 Conduct of Business of Company.
-------------------------------
Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 6.1, from the date hereof and until the Closing
Date, except as contemplated by this Agreement or expressly consented to by an
instrument in writing signed by Buyer, Sellers will cause the Company and each
Subsidiary to: (i) conduct its business and operations only in the ordinary
course, consistent with past practice, (ii) maintain and preserve its Properties
in good repair, order and condition, including, without limitation, performing,
in a manner and on a basis consistent with past practice, all periodic
maintenance and necessary reconditioning, (iii) preserve its business operations
and organizations intact, (iv) keep available the services of its current
58
officers, managers and satisfactorily performing Employees, (v) preserve its
current advantageous business relationships, including, without limitation, the
goodwill of its customers and suppliers and others having business relationships
with it, (vi) pay when due, all accounts payable, (vii) not grant any increase
in the rate or terms of compensation payable, or to become payable to any of its
directors, officers, managers or key Employees; (viii) not grant any increase in
the rate or terms of any Employee Benefit Plan payment or arrangement; (ix) not
enter into any agreement or make any other commitment involving an amount in
excess of $25,000; (x) not, Directly or Indirectly, redeem, purchase or
otherwise acquire any of its shares of capital stock or authorize any stock
split or recapitalization, and (xi) not declare or pay any dividend. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and, except as contemplated in this
Agreement, prior to the Closing Date, Sellers will use all commercially
reasonable efforts to cause the Company and each Subsidiary not take any action
which would result in the incorrectness as of the Closing Date of any
representation and warranty contained in ARTICLE IV without the prior written
consent of Buyer.
6.2 Company Records.
----------------
Prior to the Closing Date, Sellers shall cause the Company and each Subsidiary
to afford Buyer, its attorneys, accountants and representatives, free and full
access to the Company and each Subsidiary and its business, books, records and
Employees, and shall provide to and cause the Company and each Subsidiary to
provide Buyer and its representatives such additional financial and operating
data and other information as Buyer shall from time to time reasonably request.
59
6.3 Filings and Authorizations.
---------------------------
The Sellers and Buyer, as promptly as practicable, (i) shall make, or cause to
be made, all such filings and submissions under laws, rules and regulations
applicable to him, or it or his, or its Affiliates, as may be required to
consummate the transactions contemplated herein, in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, (ii) shall use all commercially reasonable best efforts to
obtain, or cause to be obtained, all authorizations, approvals, consents and
waivers from all governmental and non-governmental Persons necessary to be
obtained by him, or it or his, or its Affiliates, in order to consummate the
transactions contemplated herein, and (iii) shall use all commercially
reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all other actions necessary,
proper or advisable in order for him, or it to fulfill his, or its obligations
hereunder. The Sellers and Buyer shall coordinate and cooperate with one another
in exchanging such information and supplying such reasonable assistance as may
be reasonably requested by each in connection with the foregoing.
6.4 Discussions with Others.
------------------------
From the date hereof until the Closing Date, no Seller will, and Sellers shall
cause the Company, each Subsidiary and each of their respective officers,
directors, Employees or representatives not to, solicit or enter into
discussions or negotiations with any party other than Buyer or encourage,
facilitate, initiate or participate in any discussions with any party other than
Buyer, with regard to a purchase and sale of any portion of the capital stock of
the Company or any Subsidiary, any material portion of the assets of the Company
or any Subsidiary or any merger or consolidation of the Company or any
Subsidiary with any third party.
60
6.5 Further Assurances.
-------------------
The parties hereto shall from time to time after the Closing Date execute and
deliver such additional instruments and documents, as any party hereto may
reasonably request to consummate the transfers and other transactions
contemplated hereby.
6.6 Release of Claims.
------------------
Effective as of the Closing, each Seller hereby releases and forever discharges
the Company and each Subsidiary and their respective officers, directors,
shareholders and Affiliates, from any and all actions, causes of action, suits,
debts, accounts, claims, contracts, demands, agreements, controversies,
judgments, obligations, damages and liabilities of any nature whatsoever in law
or in equity, whether currently known or unknown, suspected or claimed, whether
pursuant to contract, statute or otherwise, in each case, arising out of events
occurring on or prior to the Closing; provided, however, that each Seller does
not release or discharge the Company or the Subsidiaries or Buyer from any
obligation to which the Company, such Subsidiary or Buyer, as the case may be,
has under this Agreement or any employment agreement, entered into at or after
the Closing.
6.7 Covenant of Buyer.
------------------
Buyer agrees that it will not dissolve, liquidate or merge the Company out of
existence or enter into any non-liquidating corporate reorganization during the
earn-out period (i.e., through December 31, 2007) without the prior written
consent of the Sellers (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
unless required by law. Furthermore, Buyer agrees that at all times until
December 31, 2008, (i) the Company's business and operations shall be conducted
in the ordinary course, consistent with past practice and in accordance with the
law; and (ii) Buyer shall at all times be able to separately calculate the gross
profit of the Company in a manner consistent with past practices.
61
ARTICLE VII
RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS
---------------------
7.1 Non-Competition of Sellers.
---------------------------
Each Seller agrees that for the period commencing on the Closing Date and
expiring on the later of (x) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and, (y)
subject to the terms and condition of each Seller's Employment Agreement, the
second anniversary of the first date in which such Seller is no longer employed
by the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates, such Seller will not,
nor will any of his respective Affiliates, without the prior written consent of
Buyer, Directly or Indirectly, or by action in concert with others, own, manage,
operate, join, control, finance or participate in, or participate in the
ownership, management, operation, control or financing of, or be connected as a
principal, agent, representative, consultant, employee, investor, owner,
partner, manager, joint venturer or otherwise with, or permit his name to be
used by or in connection with, any business, enterprise or other entity engaged
anywhere in the United States, in or in competition with (i) any business or
operations of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates as of the
Closing Date and (ii) any business or operations of the Company or any
Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates prior to the termination of such Seller's
employment; provided, however, that this Agreement shall not prevent the
beneficial ownership for investment purposes of 2% or less of any class of
equity securities of any such Person which are registered under Section 12 of
the Exchange Act.
7.2 Non-Solicitation of Employees.
------------------------------
Each Seller agrees that for the period commencing on the Closing Date and
expiring on the later of (x) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and, (y)
subject to the terms and condition of each Seller's Employment Agreement, the
second anniversary of the first date in which such Seller is no longer employed
62
by the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates, such Seller will not,
nor will any of his Affiliates, without the written consent of Buyer, Directly
or Indirectly, for their own account or on behalf of any other Person, hire any
person who is an officer or key Employee of the Company or any Subsidiary or any
of their Affiliates, or induce or attempt to induce any such officer or key
Employee to leave his or her employment with the Company or any Subsidiary or
any of their Affiliates.
7.3 Non-Solicitation or Interference with Customers, and
----------------------------------------------------
Suppliers.
----------
Each Seller agrees that for the period commencing on the Closing Date
and expiring on the later of (x) the fifth anniversary of the Closing Date and,
(y) subject to the terms and condition of each Seller's Employment Agreement,
the second anniversary of the first date in which such Seller is no longer
employed by the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates, such Seller
will not, nor shall any of his respective Affiliates, without the written
consent of Buyer, Directly or Indirectly, for their own account or on behalf of
any other Person, solicit, divert, take away or attempt to take away any of the
customers, or suppliers of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their
Affiliates or the business or patronage of any such customers, or suppliers or
in any way interfere with, disrupt or attempt to disrupt any relationships
existing prior to termination of such Seller's employment, between the Company
or any Subsidiary or any of their Affiliates and any of their respective
customers, subcontractors and suppliers or other Persons with whom it deals, or
contact or enter into any business transaction with any such customers,
subcontractors and suppliers or other Persons for any purpose.
63
7.4 Confidential Information.
-------------------------
No Seller nor any of his Affiliates shall at any time use or disclose to or for
the benefit of any Person other than Buyer, the Company or the Subsidiaries, any
information, knowledge or data relating to the business of the Company or any
Subsidiary (including, without limitation, information relating to accounts,
financial dealings, transactions, trade secrets, intangibles, customer lists,
pricing lists, processes, plans and proposals), whether or not marked or
otherwise identified as confidential or secret.
7.5 Acknowledgments.
----------------
Each Seller acknowledges that, in view of the nature of the business of the
Company and the Subsidiaries and the business objectives of Buyer in entering
into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, the restrictions
contained in this ARTICLE VII are reasonably necessary to protect the legitimate
business interests of Buyer, the Company and the Subsidiaries and that any
violation of such restrictions will result in irreparable injury to Buyer, the
Company and the Subsidiaries for which damages will not be an adequate remedy.
Each Seller therefore acknowledges that, if any such restrictions are violated,
Buyer and/or the Company, the Subsidiaries and any of their Affiliates shall be
entitled to preliminary and injunctive relief against such Seller as well as to
an equitable accounting of earnings, profits and other benefits arising from
such violation. Sellers agree that the periods of time in this ARTICLE VII shall
be computed by excluding from such computation any time during which Sellers are
in violation of any provision of this ARTICLE VII.
ARTICLE VIII
CONDITIONS TO CLOSING
---------------------
8.1 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Buyer.
---------------------------------------------
The obligation of Buyer under this Agreement to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement on the Closing Date shall be subject to the
satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing Date, of all of the following
conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by Buyer:
64
(a) Representations and Warranties Accurate. The
representations and warranties of the Sellers contained in this Agreement which
are qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct in all respects, and
those not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects.
(b) Performance by Sellers. Each of the Sellers shall
have performed and complied in all material respects with all covenants and
agreements required to be performed or complied with by him hereunder on or
prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Consents. All Consents required in connection with
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
Closing (including those set forth on EXHIBIT 8.1(C) hereto) shall have been
duly obtained, made or given and shall be in full force and effect, without the
imposition upon Buyer, its Affiliates or the Business of any condition,
restriction or required undertaking.
(d) No Legal Prohibition. No suit, action, investigation,
inquiry or other proceeding by any Governmental Entity or other Person shall
have been instituted or threatened which arises out of or relates to this
Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby and no injunction, order,
decree or judgment shall have been issued and be in effect or threatened to be
issued by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, and no statute,
rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any Governmental
Entity and be in effect, which in each case restrains or prohibits the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
65
(e) Certificate. Buyer shall have received a certificate,
dated the Closing Date, signed by each of the Sellers to the effect that the
conditions set forth in SECTIONS 8.1(A), 8.1(B), 8.1(C) and 8.1(K) have been
satisfied.
(f) Opinion of Counsel for Sellers. Buyer shall have
received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, from Berliner ▇▇▇▇▇, counsel to the
Sellers, having terms and conditions reasonably acceptable to Buyer.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. No material adverse
change shall have occurred in the business or prospects of the Company and no
other event, loss, damage, condition or state of facts of any kind shall exist
which has a Material Adverse Effect or can reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Execution of Employment Agreements. Buyer and/or one
of its Affiliates, on the one hand, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, on the
other, shall have executed and delivered employment agreements substantially in
the form annexed hereto as EXHIBIT 8.1(H)(1) and EXHIBIT 8.1(H)(2),
respectively.
(i) Due Diligence. There shall have been a satisfactory
due diligence investigation by Buyer, and its agents, as determined in Buyer's
sole discretion, of the financial, operating and business affairs and prospects
of the business.
(j) Indebtedness. All Indebtedness shall be repaid in
full at the Closing.
(k) Employee Bonus Plans. All bonus, stock option,
phantom stock or other plans or arrangements shall have been terminated in full
with no post-Closing liability to the Company, the Subsidiaries or Buyer.
66
(l) Delivery of Shares. Sellers shall have delivered to
Buyer the Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances.
(m) Certificate of Non-Foreign Status. Each Seller shall
deliver to Buyer a certificate of non-foreign status as provided for in Treasury
Regulations section 1.1445-2(b)(2).
(n) Execution of Escrow Agreement. La Salle Bank, Buyer
and Sellers shall have executed and delivered an Escrow Agreement having terms
and conditions reasonably acceptable to Buyer.
(o) Additional Documents, etc. There shall have been
delivered to Buyer each of the agreements, documents, certificates and other
items set forth on SCHEDULE 8.1(N) of this Agreement to be delivered by Buyer.
8.2 Conditions Precedent to Obligations of Sellers.
-----------------------------------------------
The obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement on the Closing Date shall be subject
to the satisfaction, at or prior to the Closing Date, of all of the following
conditions, any one or more of which may be waived by Sellers.
(a) Representations and Warranties Accurate. The
representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement which are
qualified as to materiality shall be true and correct in all respects, and those
not so qualified shall be true and correct in all material respects, as of the
date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect
as though made on and as of the Closing Date.
67
(b) Performance by Buyer. Buyer shall have performed and
complied in all material respects with all covenants and agreements required to
be performed or complied with by it hereunder on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) No Legal Prohibition. No suit, action, investigation,
inquiry or other proceeding by any Governmental Entity or other Person shall
have been instituted or threatened which arises out of or relates to this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby and no injunction, order,
decree or judgment shall have been issued and be in effect or threatened to be
issued by any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction, and no statute,
rule or regulation shall have been enacted or promulgated by any Governmental
Entity and be in effect, which in each case restrains or prohibits the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(d) Certificate. The Sellers shall have received a
certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed on behalf of Buyer by an officer of
Buyer, to the effect that the conditions set forth in SECTIONS 8.2(A), 8.2(B)
and 8.2(C) have been satisfied.
(e) Additional Documents, etc. There shall have been
delivered to the Sellers each of the agreements, documents and other items set
forth on SCHEDULE 8.1(E) of this Agreement to be delivered to the Sellers.
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION
---------------
9.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties.
-------------------------------------------
All representations and warranties contained in ARTICLES IV and V shall survive
the Closing and shall remain in full force and effect until the last day of the
eighteenth month immediately following the Closing Date; provided, however, (x)
that the representations and warranties contained in SECTIONS 4.2, 4.16 and 4.17
shall remain in full force and effect until 60 days after the expiration of the
68
applicable statute of limitations; (y) that the representations and warranties
contained in SECTIONS 4.8 shall remain in full force and effect until 120 days
after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations; (z) and the
representations and warranties contained in the first sentence of SECTION 4.1
and in SECTION 4.3 shall remain in full force and effect indefinitely; provided,
further, that any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement that would
otherwise terminate in accordance with this Section 9.1 will continue to survive
with respect to any Claim if a notice shall have been timely given under this
Agreement on or prior to such termination date, until the related Claim for
indemnification has been satisfied or otherwise resolved..
9.2 Indemnification by Sellers.
---------------------------
From and after the Closing, Sellers shall jointly and severally indemnify and
hold Buyer, its Affiliates, the Company, the Subsidiaries and their respective
directors, officers, employees, shareholders, members, partners, agents,
successors and assigns (collectively "BUYER CLAIMANTS" and individually "BUYER
CLAIMANT") harmless from and defend each of them from and against any and all
demands, claims, actions, liabilities, losses, costs, damages or expenses
whatsoever including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses (and costs and reasonable attorneys' fees in respect of any suit to
enforce this provision) (collectively, "CLAIMS") asserted against, imposed upon
or incurred by Buyer Claimants resulting from or arising out of (i) any alleged
inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of the Sellers contained
herein; (ii) any Claims against Buyer Claimants by any third party or
governmental entity or agency relating to any violation of federal, state or
agency law, rule or regulation with respect to any wage and hour law or
employment law; (iii) any breach of any covenant or obligation of any of the
Sellers contained herein. The Buyer Claimants' right to indemnification shall
not be limited or affected in any way by any pre-Closing investigation by Buyer.
69
Sellers shall not be required to indemnify a Buyer Claimant under clause (i) of
the first sentence of this SECTION 9.2 unless the aggregate cumulative sum of
all amounts for which indemnity would otherwise be due under clause (i) of the
first sentence of this SECTION 9.2 exceeds $200,000, in which case Sellers shall
only be responsible for such excess. In addition, the maximum aggregate
liability of Sellers for indemnification under clause (i) of the first sentence
of this SECTION 9.2 shall not exceed the 30% of the total Purchase Price. The
limitations set forth in the immediately two preceding sentences shall not apply
to Claims arising from any inaccuracy or breach of the representations or
warranties contained in the first sentence of SECTION 4.1 and in SECTIONS 4.3,
or 4.16; provided, however, that any such Claims will be limited to the total
Purchase Price.
9.3 Indemnification by Buyer.
-------------------------
From and after the Closing, Buyer shall indemnify and hold Sellers, their
Affiliates and their agents, successors and assigns (collectively "SELLER
CLAIMANTS" and individually "SELLER CLAIMANT") harmless from and defend each of
them from and against any and all Claims asserted against, imposed upon or
incurred by the Seller Claimants resulting from or arising out of (i) any
inaccuracy or breach of any representation or warranty of Buyer contained
herein; and (ii) any breach of any covenant or obligation of Buyer contained
herein. Buyer shall not be required to indemnify a Seller Claimant under clause
(i) of the first sentence of this SECTION 9.3 unless the aggregate cumulative
sum of all amounts for which indemnity would otherwise be due under clause (i)
of the first sentence of this SECTION 9.3 exceeds $200,000, in which case Buyer
shall only be responsible for such excess. In addition, Buyer's aggregate
maximum liability for indemnification under clause (i) of the first sentence of
this SECTION 9.3 shall not exceed 30% of the total Purchase Price.
70
9.4 Terms and Conditions of Indemnification.
----------------------------------------
The respective obligations and liabilities of Sellers and Buyer to indemnify
pursuant to this ARTICLE X shall be subject to the following terms and
conditions:
(a) The party seeking indemnification (the "CLAIMANT")
must give the other party or parties, as the case may be (the "Indemnitor"),
prompt written notice of any such Claim. The Claimant's failure to give prompt
notice, however, shall not serve to eliminate or limit the Claimant's right to
indemnification hereunder except to the extent such failure materially
prejudices the rights of the Indemnitor.
(b) The respective obligations and liabilities of Sellers
and Buyer to indemnify pursuant to this ARTICLE IX in respect of any Claim by a
third party shall be subject to the following additional terms and conditions:
(i) The Indemnitor shall have the right to undertake,
by counsel or other representatives of its own choosing reasonably satisfactory
to Claimant, the defense, compromise, and settlement of such Claim.
(ii) In the event that the Indemnitor shall elect not
to undertake such defense, or within ten days after notice of any such Claim
from the Claimant shall fail to defend, the Claimant shall have the right to
undertake the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim, by counsel or
other representatives of its own choosing, on behalf of and for the account and
risk of the Indemnitor.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in this SECTION 9.4 to
the contrary, (A) if there is a reasonable probability that a Claim may
materially and adversely affect the Claimant other than as a result of money
damages or other money payments, the Claimant shall have the right, to
participate in the defense, compromise or settlement of the Claim, (B) the
71
Indemnitor shall not, without the Claimant's written consent, settle or
compromise any Claim or consent to entry of any judgment which does not include
as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claiming party or the
plaintiff to the Claimant of a release from all liability in respect of such
Claim, and (C) in the event that the Indemnitor undertakes defense of any Claim,
the Claimant by counsel or other representative of its own choosing and at its
sole cost and expense, shall have the right to consult with the Indemnitor and
its counsel or other representatives concerning such Claim and the Indemnitor
and the Claimant and their respective counsel or other representatives shall
cooperate with respect to such Claim, subject to the execution and delivery of a
mutually satisfactory joint defense agreement.
9.5 Qualifications.
---------------
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, for purposes of the
indemnification provisions in this ARTICLE IX, the determination of (i) whether
any representation warranty or covenant has been breached and (ii) the amount of
any Damages shall be made without giving effect to any "Material Adverse Effect"
qualification or any materiality or similar qualification contained in the
representations, warranties, covenants or agreements herein.
ARTICLE X
TAX MATTERS
-----------
10.1 Tax Payments.
-------------
(a) Sellers shall pay all Taxes payable with respect to
the Company and each Subsidiary for all periods ending on or prior to the
Closing Date or the portion of a period up to the Closing Date that includes
(but does not end on) the Closing Date, including all Taxes (i) imposed on or
payable by the Company and each Subsidiary with respect to any taxable period or
portion thereof that ends on or before the Closing Date, (ii) imposed on or
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payable by the Company and each Subsidiary under Treasury Regulation 1.1502-6
(or any similar state, local or foreign law) by reason of the Company or any
Subsidiary having been included in any consolidated, affiliated, combined or
unitary group, and (iii) relating to any payments required to be made after the
Closing Date under any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing or Tax allocation agreement
(whether or not in writing) entered into prior to the Closing Date.
(b) To the extent not otherwise provided for under
applicable law, Taxes attributable to the taxable year or period of the Company
or any Subsidiary beginning on or before and ending after the Closing Date,
shall be apportioned to the period ending on the Closing Date and to the period
beginning on the day after the Closing Date by means of a closing of the books
and records of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the close of business on
the Closing Date. To the extent not susceptible to such allocation, then Taxes
shall be apportioned on the basis of elapsed days unless such Tax is
transaction-based, in which case such Tax shall be apportioned to the period in
which the related transaction occurred/occurs.
(c) Buyer shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file
or cause to be filed all Tax Returns for the Company and the Subsidiaries for
all periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date which are filed after the
Closing Date. A reasonable time before any such Tax Return is due to be filed,
Buyer shall provide a draft to Sellers for review by Sellers. If Sellers
disagree with any item on the return, Buyer and Sellers shall confer and seek to
reach agreement, and, if they cannot agree, the matter shall be referred to
Independent Auditor, and the decision of the Independent Auditor shall be final
and binding on Buyer and Sellers. The cost of the Independent Auditor shall be
paid by the party whose aggregate estimate of the disputed amount or amounts, as
the case may be, differs most greatly from the determination of the Independent
Auditor.
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(d) Buyer, the Company, the Subsidiaries and Sellers
shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other
party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns and any audit, litigation or
other proceeding with respect to Taxes. Such cooperation shall include the
retention and (upon the other party's request and at the expense of the
requesting party) the provision of records and information reasonably relevant
to any such audit, litigation, or other proceeding and making employees
available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional information and
explanation of any material provided hereunder. The Company, Sellers, and Buyer
agree (A) to retain all books and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent
to the Company and the Subsidiaries relating to any taxable period beginning
before the Closing Date until expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to
the extent notified by Buyer or Sellers, any extensions thereof) of the
respective taxable periods, and to abide by all reasonable record retention
agreements entered into with any taxing authority, and (B) to give the other
party reasonable written notice prior to destroying or discarding any such books
and records and, if the other party so requests. The Company, the Subsidiaries
or Sellers, as the case may be, shall allow the other party to take possession
of such books and records. Buyer and Sellers further agree, upon request, to use
their best efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from any
Governmental Entity or any other Person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce
or eliminate any Tax that could be imposed (including with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby).
(e) All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and
interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement shall be paid 50% by
Sellers and 50% by Buyer when due, and Buyer shall file all necessary Tax
Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer, documentary,
sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees.
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10.2 Audits.
-------
(a) Except as otherwise provided in this ARTICLE X, with
respect to any issue that may affect the Tax liabilities of the Company or any
Subsidiary for taxable periods ending on or prior to the Closing Date, each of
Buyer and Sellers shall promptly notify the other in writing within ten (10)
Business Days from its receipt of notice of (i) any pending Tax audits or
assessments of the Company or any Subsidiary, and (ii) any pending Tax audits or
assessments of any of Sellers relating to the Company or any Subsidiary.
(b) Sellers shall have the right to represent the
interests of the Company and any Subsidiary in any Tax audit or administrative
or court proceeding to the extent relating to Taxes pertaining to periods
preceding the Closing Date, and to employ counsel (reasonably satisfactory to
Buyer) of its choice at the expense of the Sellers, provided that Sellers shall
(i) provide Buyer with all notices from, and correspondences with, any taxing
authority, keep Buyer informed and consult with Buyer with respect to any issue
relating to such audit or proceeding and permit Buyer to participate therein,
and (ii) take no action that may have an effect on the Company, any Subsidiary
or Buyer without the prior written consent of Buyer. Notwithstanding the
preceding sentence, Buyer shall have the right to represent the interests of the
Company and/or any Subsidiary in any Tax audit or administrative or court
proceeding for which Sellers fail or elect not to represent the interests of the
Company and/or such Subsidiary, and to employ counsel of its choice at Sellers'
expense. Buyer and Sellers shall cooperate, and Buyer shall cause the Company
and the Subsidiaries to cooperate with Sellers with respect to any Tax audit or
administrative or court proceeding relating to Taxes referred to in the first
sentence of this SECTION 10.2(B); provided that the party requesting said
assistance shall pay any out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by the party
providing such assistance.
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10.3 Section 338 Elections; Election Allocations.
--------------------------------------------
(a) Sellers agree to join with Buyer in making an
election under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code (and at Buyer's request, any
corresponding elections under state, local or foreign law, or elections
corresponding to Section 338(g) of the Code and corresponding elections under
state, local or foreign law) with respect to the Company and any of its
Subsidiaries based on the allocations of Purchase Price set forth in SCHEDULE
10.3(A). Sellers will pay any Taxes resulting from the making of the Section
338(h)(10) Elections.
(b) At the Closing, Sellers will deliver to Buyer an IRS
Form 8023, and any similar form provided under state, local or foreign law,
reflecting each Section 338(h)(10) election, each fully executed by Sellers. As
reasonably requested from time to time by Buyer (whether before, at or after the
Closing), Sellers shall assist and provide the necessary information to Buyer in
connection with the preparation of any form or document required to effect a
valid and timely Section 338(h)(10) Election, including IRS Form 8883, any
similar form under state, local or foreign law and any schedules or attachments
thereto (collectively, "Section 338 Forms"). Upon delivery of any Section 338
Form by Buyer to Sellers, Sellers shall duly and promptly execute such form and
deliver it to Buyer. If Buyer determines that any change is to be made in a
Section 338 Form previously executed and delivered to Buyer, then Buyer may
prepare a new Section 338 Form and deliver such new Section 338 Form to Sellers
and Sellers shall duly and promptly execute such form and deliver it to Buyer.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
-------------
11.1 Termination.
------------
This Agreement may be terminated, and the transactions contemplated herein may
be abandoned:
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(a) any time before the Closing, by mutual written
agreement of the Sellers and Buyer;
(b) any time before the Closing, by the Sellers, on the
one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, (i) in the event of a material breach
hereof by any non-terminating party if such non-terminating party fails to cure
such breach within five (5) Business Days following notification thereof by the
terminating party or (ii) upon notification to the non-terminating party by the
terminating party that the satisfaction of any condition to the terminating
party's obligations under this Agreement becomes impossible or impracticable
with the use of commercially reasonable efforts if the failure of such condition
to be satisfied is not caused by a breach hereof by the terminating party; or
(c) any time after August 15, 2007 by the Sellers, on the
one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, upon notification to the non-terminating
party by the terminating party if the Closing shall not have occurred on or
before such date and such failure to consummate is not caused by a breach of
this Agreement by the terminating party.
11.2 Effect of Termination.
----------------------
If this Agreement is validly terminated pursuant to SECTION 11.1, this Agreement
will forthwith become null and void, and there will be no liability or
obligation on the part of any party (or any of their respective officers,
directors, employees, partners, agents or other representatives or Affiliates),
except as provided in the next succeeding sentence and except that the
provisions with respect to expenses in SECTION 11.3 and public and private
announcements in SECTION 11.14 will continue to apply following any such
termination. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Agreement to the
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contrary, upon termination of this Agreement pursuant to SECTION 11.1(B) or
SECTION 11.1(C), the Sellers will remain liable to Buyer for any breach of this
Agreement by any of the Sellers existing at the time of such termination, and
Buyer will remain liable to the Sellers for any breach of this Agreement by
Buyer existing at the time of such termination, and the Sellers, on the one
hand, or Buyer, on the other hand, may seek such remedies, including damages and
fees of attorneys, against the other with respect to any such breach as are
provided in this Agreement or as are otherwise available at law or in equity.
11.3 Expenses.
---------
Each party hereto shall each pay its own legal, accounting, due diligence and
finders expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and Sellers shall pay all such expenses of the Company.
11.4 Amendment.
----------
This Agreement may not be modified, amended, altered or supplemented except by a
written agreement executed by Buyer and Sellers.
11.5 Entire Agreement.
-----------------
This Agreement, together with the Exhibits and Schedules hereto and the
instruments and other documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement, contain
the entire agreement of the parties relating to the subject matter hereof, and
supersede all prior agreements, understandings, representations, warranties and
covenants of any kind between the parties. All others are specifically waived.
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11.6 Waivers.
--------
Waiver by any party of any breach of or failure to comply with any provision of
this Agreement by the other party shall not be construed as, or constitute, a
continuing waiver of such provision, or a waiver of any other breach of, or
failure to comply with, any other provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any
such breach or failure or of any term or condition of this Agreement shall be
effective unless in a written notice signed by the waiving party and delivered,
in the manner required for notices generally, to each affected party.
11.7 Notices.
--------
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be validly given or made if
in writing, (i) when delivered personally (by courier service or otherwise),
(ii) when sent by telecopy, or (iii) when actually received if mailed by
first-class certified or registered United States mail or recognized overnight
courier service, postage-prepaid and return receipt requested, and all legal
process with regard hereto shall be validly served when served in accordance
with applicable law, in each case to the address of the party to receive such
notice or other communication set forth below, or at such other address as any
party hereto may from time to time advise the other parties pursuant to this
Subsection:
If to any Seller:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
and
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
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With a copy to:
Berliner ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ (Direct Line)
Telecopier: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
If to Buyer:
Cross Country Healthcare, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Telecopier: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
11.8 Counterparts.
-------------
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall
be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same document.
11.9 Governing Law.
--------------
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of Delaware applicable to agreements made and to be
performed entirely within such State, without regard to the conflicts of law
principles of such State. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives
personal service of process and consents to service of process by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested addressed to such party at its address
set forth in Section 11.7. Each of the parties hereto hereby consents to the
exclusive jurisdiction of the United States District Court in Delaware and of
any Delaware state court for the purposes of all legal proceedings arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each
party hereto irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection which he or it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue in any
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such court or that any such proceeding which is brought in accordance with this
Section has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Subject to applicable law,
process in any such proceeding may be served on any party anywhere in the world,
whether within or without the jurisdiction of any such court. Nothing herein
shall affect the right of any party to serve legal process in any other manner
permitted by law or at equity or to enforce in any lawful manner a judgment
obtained in one jurisdiction in any other jurisdiction. Sellers agree that a
final judgment in any such action or proceeding shall be conclusive and may be
enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner
provided by law.
11.10 Binding Effect; Third Party Beneficiaries; Assignment.
------------------------------------------------------
This Agreement shall be binding upon, inure to the benefit of, and be
enforceable by, the parties hereto and their respective legal representatives,
successors and permitted assigns. Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing
expressed or referred to in this Agreement is intended or shall by construed to
give any Person other than the parties to this Agreement, or their respective
legal representatives, successors and permitted assigns, any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision
contained herein. None of the parties may assign this Agreement nor any of its
rights hereunder, other than any right to payment of a liquidated sum, nor
delegate any of its obligations hereunder, without the prior written consent of
the other parties, except that Buyer may assign its rights under this Agreement
to any Affiliate or to any Person providing financing for the transaction
contemplated hereby.
11.11 Severability.
-------------
Any provision of this Agreement which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
jurisdiction shall not invalidate the remaining provisions hereof, and any such
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prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or
render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction, and any such
provision, to the extent invalid or unenforceable, shall be replaced by a valid
and enforceable provision which comes closest to the intention of the parties
underlying such invalid or unenforceable provision.
11.12 Headings; Interpretation.
-------------------------
The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not modify define, limit, expand or otherwise affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The use of any gender herein shall
be deemed to be or include the other genders and the use of the singular herein
shall be deemed to be or include the plural (and vice versa), wherever
appropriate.
11.13 No Agency.
----------
No party hereto shall be deemed hereunder to be an agent of, or partner or joint
venturer with, any other party hereto.
11.14 Public and Private Announcements.
---------------------------------
Prior to Closing, neither Buyer nor Sellers will issue or cause the publication
of any press release or otherwise make any public and/or private statement with
respect to the transactions contemplated hereby without the prior written
consent of the parties hereto, provided, that any party hereto may make a public
and/or private announcement to the extent required by law, judicial process or
the rules, regulations or interpretations of the Securities and Exchange
Commission or any national securities exchange.
11.15 Intentionally Deleted.
----------------------
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11.16 Knowledge.
----------
For the purposes of this Agreement, the terms "knowledge of the Sellers" or
words of like import mean the knowledge after due inquiry into the subject
matter of such representations, warranty or other statement and reasonable
investigation of (i) any Seller, (ii) any of the current officers, directors and
members of the Company or the Subsidiaries and (iii) any other Person who has
responsibility with respect to the relevant subject matter.
11.17 Accounting Terms.
-----------------
Any accounting terms used in this Agreement shall, unless otherwise defined in
this Agreement, have the meaning ascribed thereto by GAAP.
11.18 Interpretation.
---------------
In this Agreement, unless a contrary intention appears, (i) the words "herein",
"hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this
Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other
subdivision, and to any certificates delivered pursuant hereto; and (ii)
reference to any Article or Section means such Article or Section hereof.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement
as of the date first above written.
CROSS COUNTRY HEALTHCARE, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: VP of Corporate Development
CLINFORCE, LLC
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
Title: President
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
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