EXHIBIT 2.1

 

EXECUTION COPY

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

by and among

 

GOLDEN ENTERPRISES, INC.,

 

a Delaware corporation,

 

and

 

UTZ QUALITY FOODS, INC.,

 

a Pennsylvania corporation,

 

and

 

WESTMINSTER SUB, INC.,

 

a Delaware corporation,

 

Dated as of July 18, 2016

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page
ARTICLE I THE MERGER		2
Section 1.1	The Merger	2
Section 1.2	Closing	2
Section 1.3	Effective Time	2
Section 1.4	Effects of the Merger	2
Section 1.5	Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws	2
Section 1.6	Directors and Officers	3
ARTICLE II EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK		3
Section 2.1	Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock	3
Section 2.2	Surrender and Payment	4
Section 2.3	Dissenting Shares	5
Section 2.4	Adjustments	6
Section 2.5	Withholding Rights	6
Section 2.6	Lost Certificates	6
Section 2.7	Treatment of Stock Options	6
ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY		7
Section 3.1	Organization; Standing and Power; Charter Documents; Subsidiaries	7
Section 3.2	Capital Structure	8
Section 3.3	Authority; Non-contravention; Governmental Consents	9
Section 3.4	SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Sarbanes-Oxley Act	11
Section 3.5	Absence of Certain Changes or Events	13
Section 3.6	Taxes	14
Section 3.7	Intellectual Property	16
Section 3.8	Compliance; Permits	17
Section 3.9	Litigation	17
Section 3.10	Related Party Transactions	18
Section 3.11	Employee Matters	18
Section 3.12	Real Property and Personal Property Matters	21
Section 3.13	Environmental Matters	22
Section 3.14	Quality and Safety of Products	23
Section 3.15	Material Contracts	23
Section 3.16	Customers, Suppliers and Distributors	25
Section 3.17	Information Statement	25
Section 3.18	Brokers’ and Finders’ Fees	25
Section 3.19	Fairness Opinion	26

 

 

ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB		26
Section 4.1	Organization	26
Section 4.2	Authority; Non-contravention; Governmental Consents	26
Section 4.3	Information Statement	27
Section 4.4	Financial Capability	27
Section 4.5	Legal Proceedings	27
Section 4.6	Ownership of Company Common Stock	28
ARTICLE V COVENANTS		28
Section 5.1	Conduct of Business of the Company	28
Section 5.2	No Right to Control Other Party’s Business	30
Section 5.3	Other Actions	30
Section 5.4	Access to Information; Confidentiality	31
Section 5.5	No Solicitation	31
Section 5.6	Stockholder Consent; Information Statement	34
Section 5.7	Notices of Certain Events	36
Section 5.8	Employees; Benefit Plans	36
Section 5.9	Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance	37
Section 5.10	Reasonable Best Efforts	39
Section 5.11	Public Announcements	40
Section 5.12	Takeover Statutes	40
Section 5.13	Rule 16 Matters	40
Section 5.14	Due Diligence	41
Section 5.15	Further Assurances	41
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS		41
Section 6.1	Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger	41
Section 6.2	Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub	41
Section 6.3	Conditions to Obligation of the Company	42
ARTICLE VII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER		43
Section 7.1	Termination By Mutual Consent	43
Section 7.2	Termination By Parent or the Company	43
Section 7.3	Termination By Parent	43
Section 7.4	Termination By the Company	44
Section 7.5	Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination	44
Section 7.6	Fees and Expenses	45
Section 7.7	Amendment	46
Section 7.8	Extension; Waiver	46
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS		46
Section 8.1	Definitions	46
Section 8.2	Interpretation; Construction	54

 

 

Section 8.3	Survival	54
Section 8.4	Governing Law	54
Section 8.5	Submission to Jurisdiction	55
Section 8.6	Waiver of Jury Trial	55
Section 8.7	Notices	56
Section 8.8	Entire Agreement	57
Section 8.9	No Third Party Beneficiaries	57
Section 8.10	Severability	57
Section 8.11	Assignment	57
Section 8.12	Remedies	57
Section 8.13	Specific Performance	57
Section 8.14	Counterparts; Effectiveness	58

 

EXHIBITS AND SCHEDULES

 

Exhibit A	Form of Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
Exhibit B	Stockholder Consent

 

Company Disclosure Letter

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (this “Agreement”), is made and entered into as of July 18, 2016, by and among Golden Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), Utz Quality Foods, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Parent”), and Westminster Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned Subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”). Capitalized terms used herein (including in the immediately preceding sentence) and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in Section 8.1 hereof.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the parties intend that Merger Sub be merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving that merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;

 

WHEREAS, in the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each share of common stock, par value $0.66-²/₃ per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration;

 

WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Company Board”) has unanimously (a) determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, and declared it advisable, to enter into this Agreement with Parent and Merger Sub, (b) approved the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, and (c) resolved, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, to recommend adoption of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company;

 

WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Merger Sub have, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, unanimously approved and declared advisable this Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, following the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and as a condition and material inducement to the Parent and the Merger Sub to enter into this Agreement, the Company has agreed to use its best efforts to obtain a written consent from certain stockholders of the Company pursuant to which such stockholders will approve and adopt this Agreement in accordance with Section 251(c) of the DGCL as more particularly set forth in this Agreement; and

 

WHEREAS, the parties desire to make certain representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the Merger and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and also to prescribe certain conditions to the Merger.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, the parties, intending to be legally bound, agree as follows:

 

 

ARTICLE I
THE MERGER

 

Section 1.1           The Merger. On the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and in accordance with the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), at the Effective Time, (a) Merger Sub will merge with and into the Company (the “Merger”), and (b) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub will cease and the Company will continue its corporate existence under the DGCL as the surviving corporation in the Merger (sometimes referred to herein as the “Surviving Corporation”).

 

Section 1.2           Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, the closing of the Merger (the “Closing”) will take place at 10:00 a.m. (CST), as soon as practicable (and, in any event, within three (3) Business Days) after satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all conditions to the Merger set forth in ARTICLE VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the satisfaction or, to the extent permitted hereunder, waiver of all such conditions), unless this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to its terms or unless another time or date is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto. The Closing shall be held at the offices of Sirote & Permutt, P.C., 2311 Highland Avenue South, Birmingham, Alabama 35205 (unless another place is agreed to in writing by the parties hereto) or by fax, pdf or other electronic exchange of the signature pages and other deliveries required at the Closing. The actual date of the Closing is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”.

 

Section 1.3           Effective Time. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, at the Closing, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub will cause a certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL and shall make all other filings or recordings required under the DGCL. The Merger will become effective at such time as the Certificate of Merger has been duly filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware or at such later date or time as may be agreed upon in writing by the Company and Parent and specified in the Certificate of Merger in accordance with the DGCL (the effective time of the Merger being hereinafter referred to as the “Effective Time”).

 

Section 1.4           Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth herein and in the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, all property, rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises, licenses and authority of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving Corporation, and all debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of each of the Company and Merger Sub shall become the debts, liabilities, obligations, restrictions and duties of the Surviving Corporation.

 

Section 1.5           Certificate of Incorporation; Bylaws. At the Effective Time, (a) the certificate of incorporation of the Company shall be amended so as to read in its entirety as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto, and, as so amended, shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof or as provided by applicable Law, and (b) the bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation (except that the name of the corporation shall be “Golden Enterprises, Inc.”) until thereafter amended in accordance with the terms thereof, the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation or as provided by applicable Law.

 

 

Section 1.6          Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of Merger Sub, in each case, immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors and officers, respectively, of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in accordance with the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II
EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 2.1           Effect of the Merger on Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, as a result of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company or the holder of any capital stock of Parent, Merger Sub or the Company:

 

(a)           Cancellation of Certain Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock that is owned by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries will automatically be cancelled and retired and will cease to exist, and no consideration will be delivered in exchange therefor.

 

(b)           Conversion of Company Common Stock. Each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than (i) shares to be cancelled and retired in accordance with Section 2.1(a), and (ii) Dissenting Shares) will be converted into the right to receive $12.00 in cash, without interest (the “Merger Consideration”).

 

(c)           Cancellation of Shares. At the Effective Time, all shares of Company Common Stock will no longer be outstanding and all shares of Company Common Stock will be cancelled and retired and will cease to exist, and, subject to Section 2.3, each holder of a certificate formerly representing any such shares (each, a “Certificate”) will cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.2 hereof.

 

(d)           Conversion of Merger Sub Capital Stock. Each share of common stock, par value $.01 per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one newly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

 

 

Section 2.2           Surrender and Payment.

 

(a)           Prior to the Effective Time, Parent shall appoint an exchange agent reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Exchange Agent”) to act as the agent for the purpose of exchanging the Merger Consideration for: (i) the Certificates, or (ii) book-entry shares which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented the shares of Company Common Stock (the “Book-Entry Shares”). At the Effective Time, Parent shall deposit, or cause the Surviving Corporation to deposit, with the Exchange Agent, sufficient funds to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration that is payable in respect of all of the shares of Company Common Stock represented by the Certificates and the Book-Entry Shares (the “Payment Fund”) in amounts and at the times necessary for such payments. If for any reason (including losses) the Payment Fund is inadequate to pay the amounts to which holders of shares of Company Common Stock shall be entitled under Section 2.1(b), Parent shall deposit or shall take all steps necessary to enable or cause the Surviving Corporation promptly to deposit in trust additional cash with the Exchange Agent sufficient to make all payments required under this Agreement, and Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall in any event be liable for the payment thereof. The Payment Fund shall not be used for any other purpose. The Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Exchange Agent, in connection with the exchange of shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration. Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent shall send, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each record holder of shares of Company Common Stock at the Effective Time, a letter of transmittal and instructions (which shall specify that the delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Certificates or transfer of the Book-Entry Shares to the Exchange Agent) for use in such exchange.

 

(b)           Each holder of shares of Company Common Stock that have been converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration shall be entitled to receive the Merger Consideration in respect of the Company Common Stock represented by a Certificate or Book-Entry Share upon (i) surrender to the Exchange Agent of a Certificate, together with a duly completed and validly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as may reasonably be requested by the Exchange Agent, or (ii) receipt of an “agent’s message” by the Exchange Agent (or such other evidence, if any, of transfer as the Exchange Agent may reasonably request) in the case of Book-Entry Shares. Until so surrendered or transferred, as the case may be, and subject to the terms set forth in Section 2.3, each such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, as applicable, shall represent after the Effective Time for all purposes only the right to receive the Merger Consideration payable in respect thereof. No interest shall be paid or accrued on the cash payable upon the surrender or transfer of any Certificate or Book-Entry Share. Upon payment of the Merger Consideration pursuant to the provisions of this ARTICLE II, each Certificate or Book-Entry Share so surrendered shall immediately be cancelled.

 

(c)           If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be paid to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Certificate or the transferred Book-Entry Share, as applicable, is registered, it shall be a condition to such payment that (i) such Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer or such Book-Entry Share shall be properly transferred, and (ii) the Person requesting such payment shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other Tax required as a result of such payment to a Person other than the registered holder of such Certificate or Book-Entry Share, as applicable, or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

(d)           All Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender of Certificates or transfer of Book-Entry Shares in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been paid in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate or Book-Entry Shares, and from and after the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of shares of Company Common Stock on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates or Book-Entry Shares are presented to the Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth, in this ARTICLE II.

 

 

(e)           Any portion of the Payment Fund that remains unclaimed by the holders of shares of Company Common Stock six (6) months after the Effective Time shall be returned to Parent, upon demand, and any such holder who has not exchanged shares of Company Common Stock for the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 2.2 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of the Merger Consideration. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Parent shall not be liable to any holder of shares of Company Common Stock for any amounts paid to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Laws. Any amounts remaining unclaimed by holders of shares of Company Common Stock two (2) years after the Effective Time (or such earlier date, immediately prior to such time when the amounts would otherwise escheat to or become property of any Governmental Entity) shall become, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, the property of Parent free and clear of any claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.

 

(f)           Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent in respect of any Dissenting Shares shall be returned to Parent, upon demand.

 

Section 2.3           Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary, including Section 2.1, shares of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares cancelled in accordance with Section 2.1(a)) and held by a holder who has not voted in favor of adoption of this Agreement or consented thereto in writing and who has properly exercised appraisal rights of such shares in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (such shares of Company Common Stock being referred to collectively as the “Dissenting Shares” until such time as such holder fails to perfect or otherwise loses such holder’s appraisal rights under the DGCL with respect to such shares) shall not be converted into a right to receive the Merger Consideration, but instead shall be entitled to only such rights as are granted by Section 262 of the DGCL; provided, however, that if, after the Effective Time, such holder fails to perfect, withdraws or loses such holder’s right to appraisal pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL or if a court of competent jurisdiction shall determine that such holder is not entitled to the relief provided by Section 262 of the DGCL, such shares of Company Common Stock shall be treated as if they had been converted as of the Effective Time into the right to receive the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 2.1(b), without interest thereon, upon surrender of such Certificate formerly representing such share or transfer of such Book-Entry Share, as the case may be. The Company shall provide Parent prompt written notice of any demands received by the Company for appraisal of shares of Company Common Stock, any withdrawal of any such demand and any other demand, notice or instrument delivered to the Company prior to the Effective Time pursuant to the DGCL that relates to such demand, and Parent shall have the opportunity and right to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to such demands. Except with the prior written consent of Parent, the Company shall not make any payment with respect to, or settle or offer to settle, any such demands.

 

 

Section 2.4           Adjustments. Without limiting the other provisions of this Agreement, if at any time during the period between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, any change in the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company shall occur (other than the issuance of additional shares of capital stock of the Company as permitted by this Agreement), including by reason of any reclassification, recapitalization, stock split (including reverse stock split) or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, or any stock dividend or distribution paid in stock, the Merger Consideration and any other amounts payable pursuant to this Agreement shall be appropriately adjusted to reflect such change.

 

Section 2.5           Withholding Rights. Each of the Exchange Agent, Parent, Merger Sub and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the consideration otherwise payable to any Person pursuant to this ARTICLE II such amounts as may be required to be deducted and withheld with respect to the making of such payment under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and applicable Treasury Regulations, or any provision of state, local or foreign Tax Law. To the extent that amounts are so deducted and withheld by the Exchange Agent, Parent, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person in respect of which the Exchange Agent, Parent, Merger Sub or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, made such deduction and withholding.

 

Section 2.6           Lost Certificates. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit (in a form acceptable to Parent) of that fact by the Person claiming such Certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed and, if required by Parent, the posting by such Person of a bond, in such reasonable amount as Parent may direct, as indemnity against any claim that may be made against it with respect to such Certificate, the Exchange Agent will issue, in exchange for such lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, the Merger Consideration to be paid in respect of the shares of Company Common Stock formerly represented by such Certificate as contemplated under this ARTICLE II.

 

Section 2.7           Treatment of Stock Options.

 

(a)           The Company shall take all requisite action so that, at the Effective Time, each option to acquire shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Company Stock Option”) that is outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested or exercisable, shall be, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub, the Company, the holder of that Company Stock Option or any other Person, cancelled and converted into the right to receive from Parent and the Surviving Corporation, as promptly as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of (x) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, multiplied by (y) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price under such Company Stock Option, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.5. The Surviving Corporation will not assume any options to acquire shares of Company Common Stock nor substitute any options to acquire shares of the capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.

 

 

(b)           At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, the Company Board, the compensation committee of the Company Board and/or the stock option committee of the Company Board, as applicable, shall adopt any resolutions and take any actions (including obtaining any employee consents) that may be necessary to effectuate the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 2.7.

 

ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the correspondingly numbered Section of the disclosure letter, dated the date of this Agreement and delivered by the Company to Parent prior to the execution of this Agreement (the “Company Disclosure Letter”), that relates to such Section or in another Section of the Company Disclosure Letter to the extent that it is reasonably apparent on the face of such disclosure that such disclosure is applicable to such Section, the Company hereby represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub as follows:

 

Section 3.1           Organization; Standing and Power; Charter Documents; Subsidiaries.

 

(a)           Organization; Standing and Power. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is a corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing) under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization, and has the requisite corporate, limited liability company or other organizational, as applicable, power and authority to own, lease and operate its assets and to carry on its business as now conducted. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation, limited liability company or other legal entity and is in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing) in each jurisdiction where the character of the assets and properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of its business makes such qualification or license necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or to be in good standing, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)           Charter Documents. The Company has Made Available to Parent a correct and complete copy of the certificate of incorporation (including any certificate of designations), bylaws or like organizational documents, each as amended to date (collectively, the “Charter Documents”), of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any of the provisions of its Charter Documents.

 

(c)           Subsidiaries. Section 3.1(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter lists each of the direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company, its place of organization, the owner of each outstanding share of capital stock of each such Subsidiary and the number of shares owned. Each such Subsidiary is wholly-owned by either the Company or a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, each such Subsidiary have been validly issued, were issued free of pre-emptive rights and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are free and clear of all Liens, including any restriction on the right to vote, sell or otherwise dispose of such capital stock or other equity or voting interests, except for any Liens imposed by applicable securities Laws. Except for the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, its Subsidiaries, the Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any capital stock of, or other equity or voting interests in, any Person.

 

 

Section 3.2          Capital Structure.

 

(a)          Capital Stock. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of Thirty-Five Million (35,000,000) shares of Company Common Stock, par value $0.66-2/3 per share. As of the date of this Agreement, (i) 11,291,757 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, and (ii) 2,537,036 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and held by the Company in its treasury. All of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to any pre-emptive rights. No Subsidiary of the Company owns any shares of Company Common Stock.

 

(b)          Stock Options; Awards.

 

(i)          An aggregate of 310,000 shares of Company Common Stock are subject to issuance pursuant to Company Stock Options granted under the Company’s 2014 Long Term Incentive Plan (such plan and the award or other applicable agreements entered into thereunder, in each case as amended through the date hereof, are collectively referred to herein as the “Company Stock Plan”). Section 3.2(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of each outstanding Company Stock Option granted under the Company Stock Plan and (A) the name of the holder of such Company Stock Option, (B) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such outstanding Company Stock Option, (C) the exercise price of such Company Stock Option, (D) the date on which such Company Stock Option was granted or issued, (E) the applicable vesting schedule, and the extent to which such Company Stock Option is vested and exercisable as of the date hereof, and (F) the date on which such Company Stock Option expires. All shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance under the Company Stock Plan, upon issuance in accordance with the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

(ii)         Except as set forth on Section 3.2(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Letter, there are no Contracts to which the Company is a party obligating the Company to accelerate the vesting of any Company Stock Option as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (whether alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events). Other than the Company Stock Options, there are no outstanding (A) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for Voting Debt or shares of capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of the Company, (B) options, warrants or other agreements or commitments to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any Voting Debt or shares of capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of) the Company, or (C) restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, profit participation rights, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any shares of capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of the Company, in each case that have been issued by the Company or its Subsidiaries (the items in clauses (A), (B) and (C), together with the capital stock of the Company, being referred to collectively as “Company Securities”). All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, all outstanding Company Stock Options, and all outstanding shares of capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, have been issued or granted, as applicable, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable securities Laws.

 

 

(iii)        There are no outstanding Contracts requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any voting agreement with respect to any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities.

 

(c)           Voting Debt. No bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness issued by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (i) having the right to vote on any matters on which stockholders or equityholders of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may vote (or which is convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities having such right), or (ii) the value of which is directly based upon or derived from the capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, are issued or outstanding (collectively, “Voting Debt”).

 

(d)           Company Subsidiary Securities. There are no outstanding (i) securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for Voting Debt, capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) options, warrants or other agreements or commitments to acquire from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or obligations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, any Voting Debt, capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests in) any Subsidiary of the Company, or (iii) restricted shares, restricted stock units, stock appreciation rights, performance shares, profit participation rights, contingent value rights, “phantom” stock or similar securities or rights that are derivative of, or provide economic benefits based, directly or indirectly, on the value or price of, any capital stock or voting securities of, or other ownership interests in, any Subsidiary of the Company, in each case that have been issued by a Subsidiary of the Company (the items in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), together with the capital stock, voting securities or other ownership interests of such Subsidiaries, being referred to collectively as “Company Subsidiary Securities”).

 

Section 3.3            Authority; Non-contravention; Governmental Consents.

 

(a)           Authority. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and, subject to, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, adoption of this Agreement by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (the “Requisite Company Vote”), to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, subject only, in the case of consummation of the Merger, to the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote. The Requisite Company Vote is the only vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock necessary to approve and adopt this Agreement, approve the Merger and consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due execution and delivery by Parent and Merger Sub, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other similar Laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

 

(b)          Non-contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company, and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, do not and will not: (i) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, the Charter Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; (ii) subject to compliance with the requirements set forth in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 3.3(c) and, in the case of the consummation of the Merger, obtaining the Requisite Company Vote, conflict with or violate any Law applicable to the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets; (iii) except as set forth on Section 3.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter, result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or alter the rights or obligations of any third party under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation, or require any Consent under, any Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or otherwise bound; or (iv) result in the creation of a Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for any conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, alterations, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations or Liens, or where the failure to obtain any Consents, in each case, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)          Governmental Consents. No consent, approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing with or notice to (any of the foregoing being a “Consent”), any supranational, national, state, municipal, local or foreign government, any instrumentality, subdivision, court, administrative agency or commission or other governmental authority, or any quasi-governmental or private body exercising any regulatory or other governmental or quasi-governmental authority (each, a “Governmental Entity” and collectively, the “Governmental Entities”) is required to be obtained or made by the Company in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, except for: (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware; (ii) the filing of the Information Statement with the SEC in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) such Consents as may be required under (A) the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”) or (B) any other Laws that are designed or intended to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade or significant impediments or lessening of competition or creation or strengthening of a dominant position through merger or acquisition (“Foreign Antitrust Laws” and, together with the HSR Act, the “Antitrust Laws”), in any case that are applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) such Consents as may be required under applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the securities Laws of any foreign country or the rules and regulations of NASDAQ (“NASDAQ”); (v) the other Consents of Governmental Entities listed in Section 3.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter; and (vi) such other Consents that if not obtained, would not prevent, materially delay or materially impede the Closing.

 

 

(d)          Board Approval. The Company Board, by resolutions duly adopted by unanimous vote at a meeting of all directors of the Company duly called and held and, as of the date hereof, not subsequently rescinded or modified in any way, has, as of the date hereof (i) determined that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company’s stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable the “agreement of merger” (as such term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL) contained in this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the DGCL, (iii) directed that the “agreement of merger” contained in this Agreement be submitted to Company’s stockholders for adoption, and (iv) resolved to recommend that Company stockholders adopt the “agreement of merger” set forth in this Agreement (collectively, the “Company Board Recommendation”).

 

(e)          Takeover Statutes. No “fair price,” “moratorium,” “control share acquisition,” “business combination” or other similar anti-takeover statute or regulation (including Section 203 of the DGCL) enacted under any federal, state, local or foreign Laws applicable to the Company is applicable to this Agreement, the Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than Section 203 of the DGCL. The Company Board has taken all actions so that the restrictions contained in Section 203 of the DGCL applicable to a “business combination” (as defined in such Section 203) will not apply to the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

Section 3.4          SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Internal Controls; Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

(a)          SEC Filings. The Company has timely filed with or furnished to, as applicable, the SEC all registration statements, prospectuses, reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents (including exhibits and all other information incorporated by reference) required to be filed or furnished by it with the SEC since May 30, 2013 (the “Company SEC Documents”). As of their respective filing dates (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing, as of the date of the last such amendment or superseding filing prior to the date hereof), each of the Company SEC Documents complied as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Documents. None of the Company SEC Documents, including any financial statements, schedules or exhibits included or incorporated by reference therein at the time they were filed (or, if amended or superseded by a subsequent filing, as of the date of the last such amendment or superseding filing prior to the date hereof), contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. None of the Company’s Subsidiaries is required to file or furnish any forms, reports or other documents with the SEC.

 

 

(b)          Financial Statements. Each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes thereto) contained in the Company SEC Documents: (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as of their respective dates; (ii) was prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, as may be permitted by the SEC for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q); and (iii) fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its Subsidiaries at the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of the Company’s operations and cash flows for the periods indicated therein, subject, in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to normal and year-end audit adjustments as permitted by GAAP and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC.

 

(c)          Internal Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has established and maintains a system of “internal controls over financial reporting” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurance (i) regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, (ii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company and its Subsidiaries are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Company Board, and (iii) regarding prevention or timely detection of the unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ assets that could have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

(d)          Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) are designed to reasonably ensure that all material information (both financial and non-financial) required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the SEC, and that all such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to make the certifications of the chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Company required under the Exchange Act with respect to such reports. The Company has disclosed, based on its most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures prior to the date of this Agreement, to the Company’s auditors and the audit committee of the Company Board and on Section 3.4(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting that could adversely affect in any material respect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information, and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. For purposes of this Agreement, the terms “significant deficiency” and “material weakness” shall have the meaning assigned to them in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard 2, as in effect on the date of this Agreement.

 

 

(e)           Undisclosed Liabilities. The audited balance sheet of the Company dated as of May 29, 2015, contained in the Company SEC Documents filed prior to the date hereof is hereinafter referred to as the “Company Balance Sheet.” Except as set forth on Section 3.4(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any Liabilities other than Liabilities that (i) are reflected or recorded on the Company Balance Sheet (including in the notes thereto), (ii) were incurred since the date of the Company Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business, (iii) are incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (iv) would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, or (v) have been discharged or paid in full before the date of this Agreement.

 

(f)            Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to, or has any commitment to become a party to, any joint venture, off balance sheet partnership or any similar Contract (including any Contract or arrangement relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated Affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose Person, on the other hand, or any “off balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act)), where the result, purpose or intended effect of such Contract is to avoid disclosure of any material transaction involving, or material liabilities of, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in the Company’s or such Subsidiary’s published financial statements or other Company SEC Documents.

 

(g)           Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance. Each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer and each former principal financial officer of the Company, as applicable) has made all certifications required by Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act and Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (including the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) with respect to the Company SEC Documents, and the statements contained in such certifications are true and accurate in all material respects. For purposes of this Agreement, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has outstanding (nor has arranged or modified since the enactment of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) any “extensions of credit” (within the meaning of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) to directors or executive officers (as defined in Rule 3b-7 under the Exchange Act) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The Company is otherwise in compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable listing and corporate governance rules of NASDAQ, except for any non-compliance that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.5           Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, except as set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Reports filed on Form 10-Q with the SEC since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, and except in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, the business of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has been conducted in the ordinary course of business and there has not been or occurred:

 

 

(a)           any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, condition, change or effect that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(b)           except as set forth on Section 3.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter, any event, condition, action or effect that, if taken during the period from the date of this Agreement through the Effective Time, would constitute a breach of Section 5.1.

 

Section 3.6           Taxes.

 

(a)           Tax Returns and Payment of Taxes. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have duly and timely filed or caused to be filed (taking into account any valid extensions) all material Tax Returns required to be filed by them. Such Tax Returns are true, complete and correct in all material respects. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return other than extensions of time to file Tax Returns obtained in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice. Except as set forth on Section 3.6 of the Company Disclosure Letter, all material Taxes due and owing by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have been timely paid or, where payment is not yet due, the Company has made an adequate provision for such Taxes in the Company’s financial statements (in accordance with GAAP). The Company’s most recent financial statements reflect an adequate reserve (in accordance with GAAP) for all material Taxes payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries through the date of such financial statements. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has incurred any Liability for Taxes since the date of the Company’s most recent financial statements outside the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices.

 

(b)           Availability of Tax Returns. The Company has Made Available to Parent correct and complete copies of all federal, state, local and foreign income, franchise and other material Tax Returns filed by or on behalf of the Company or its Subsidiaries for any Tax period ending after May 29, 2013.

 

(c)           Withholding. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have withheld and paid each material Tax required to have been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any Employee, independent contractor, creditor, customer, shareholder or other party, and materially complied with all information reporting and backup withholding provisions of applicable Law.

 

(d)           Liens. There are no Liens for material Taxes upon the assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than for current Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and for which adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP has been made in the Company’s financial statements.

 

(e)           Tax Deficiencies and Audits. No deficiency for any material amount of Taxes which has been proposed, asserted or assessed in writing by any taxing authority against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries remains unpaid. There are no waivers or extensions of any statute of limitations currently in effect with respect to Taxes of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. There are no audits, suits, proceedings, investigations, claims, examinations or other administrative or judicial proceedings ongoing or pending with respect to any material Tax Liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(f)            Tax Jurisdictions. No claim has been made in writing by any taxing authority in a jurisdiction in which the Company and its Subsidiaries do not file Tax Returns that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be subject to Tax in that jurisdiction.

 

(g)           Tax Rulings. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has requested or is the subject of or bound by any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum or similar ruling or memorandum with any taxing authority with respect to any material Taxes, nor is any such request outstanding.

 

(h)           Consolidated Group; Transferee Liability and Tax Agreements. The Company files federal income Tax Returns as a part of a consolidated group with its wholly-owned Subsidiaries. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) has any material Liability for Taxes of any Person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) under Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any comparable provision of local, state or foreign Law), as a transferee or successor, by Contract, or otherwise, or (ii) is a party to, bound by or has any material Liability under any Tax sharing, allocation or indemnification agreement or arrangement (other than customary Tax indemnifications contained in credit or other commercial agreements the primary purpose of which agreements does not relate to Taxes).

 

(i)            Change in Accounting Method. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has agreed to make, nor is it required to make, any adjustment under Section 481(a) of the Code or any comparable provision of state, local or foreign Tax Laws by reason of a change in accounting method or otherwise.

 

(j)            Post-Closing Tax Items. The Company and its Subsidiaries will not be required to include any material item of income in, or exclude any material item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any (i) “closing agreement” as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local or foreign income Tax Law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date, (ii) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date, or (iii) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(k)           US Real Property Holding Corporation. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation (as defined in Section 897(c)(2) of the Code) during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(a) of the Code.

 

(l)            Section 355. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” in connection with a distribution described in Section 355 of the Code.

 

(m)          Reportable Transactions. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a party to, or a promoter of, a “reportable transaction” within the meaning of Section 6707A(c)(1) of the Code and Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b).

 

 

Section 3.7          Intellectual Property.

 

(a)          Certain Company-Owned IP. Section 3.7(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list, as of the date hereof, of all Company-Owned IP that is the subject of any issuance, registration, certificate, application or other filing by, to or with any Governmental Entity or authorized private registrar, including registered trademarks, registered copyrights, issued patents, domain name registrations and pending applications for any of the foregoing.

 

(b)          Right to Use; Title. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries is the sole and exclusive owner of all right, title and interest in and to, or has the valid right to use all Intellectual Property used in, held for use in, or necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and contemplated (“Company IP”), free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(c)          Validity and Enforceability; No Transfer or License. The Company and its Subsidiaries’ rights in the Company-Owned IP are valid, subsisting and enforceable, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has taken reasonable steps to maintain the Company-Owned IP and to protect and preserve the confidentiality of all trade secrets included in the Company IP, except where the failure to take such actions would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have transferred ownership of, or granted any exclusive license of or exclusive right to use any material Company Owned IP to any other Person.

 

(d)          Company IP Agreements. Section 3.7(d) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and accurate list of all Company IP Agreements other than licenses for shrink-wrap, click-wrap or other similar commercially available off-the-shelf software that has not been modified or customized by a third party for the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. The consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder will not result in the loss or impairment of any rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any of the Company IP Agreements, except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(e)          Non-Infringement. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth on Section 3.7(e) of the Company Disclosure Letter, (i) the conduct of the businesses of the Company and any of its Subsidiaries has not since May 29, 2013 infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, and is not infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, any Intellectual Property of any other Person; and (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, no third party is infringing upon, violating or misappropriating any Company Intellectual Property.

 

 

(f)          IP Legal Actions and Orders. There are no Legal Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened: (i) alleging any infringement, misappropriation or violation of the Intellectual Property of any Person by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; or (ii) challenging the validity, enforceability or ownership of any Company-Owned IP or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries’ rights with respect to any Company IP, in each case except for such Legal Actions that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its Subsidiaries are not subject to any outstanding Order that restricts or impairs the use of any Company IP, except where compliance with such Order would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.8          Compliance; Permits.

 

(a)          Compliance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and, since May 29, 2013, has been in compliance with, all Laws or Orders applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective businesses or properties is bound, except for such non-compliance that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, since May 29, 2013, no Governmental Entity has issued any notice or notification stating that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is not in compliance with any Law, except where such non-compliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(b)          Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold, to the extent legally required to operate their respective businesses as such businesses are being operated, all permits, licenses, clearances, authorizations and approvals from Governmental Entities (collectively, “Permits”), except for any Permits for which the failure to obtain or hold would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any Permits of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, except for any such suspension or cancellation which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is and, since May 29, 2013, has been in compliance with the terms of all Permits, except where the failure to be in such compliance would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.9          Litigation. Except as set forth on Section 3.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, there is no claim, action, suit, arbitration, proceeding or, to the Knowledge of the Company, governmental investigation (each, a “Legal Action”), pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any executive officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in their capacities as such, in each case by or before any Governmental Entity, other than any such Legal Action that (a) does not involve an amount in controversy in excess of $100,000, and (b) does not seek material injunctive or other material non-monetary relief. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any order, writ, assessment, decision, injunction, decree, ruling or judgment of a Governmental Entity (“Order”), whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, which would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

Section 3.10      Related Party Transactions. Except for compensation arrangements or other employment arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of business that are either terminable by the Company on not more than 30 days’ notice without penalty, which are set forth in a written document filed as an exhibit with the SEC or which are set forth on Section 3.10 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no employee, executive officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any Person owning five percent (5%) or more of the shares of Company Common Stock (or any of such Person’s immediate family members or Affiliates or associates) is a party to any Contract with or binding upon the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their respective assets, rights or properties or has any interest in any property owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or has engaged in any transaction with any of the foregoing within the last twelve (12) months.

 

Section 3.11        Employee Matters.

 

(a)          Schedule. Section 3.11(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains an accurate and complete list, as of the date hereof, of each material plan, program, policy, agreement, collective bargaining agreement or other arrangement providing for compensation, severance, deferred compensation, performance awards, stock or stock-based awards, fringe, retirement, death, disability or medical benefits or other employee benefits or remuneration of any kind, including each employment, severance, retention, change in control or consulting plan, program arrangement or agreement, in each case whether written or unwritten or otherwise, funded or unfunded, including each “employee benefit plan,” within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA, whether or not subject to ERISA, which is or has been sponsored, maintained, contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of any current or former employee, independent contractor, consultant or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (each, a “Company Employee”), or with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has or may have any material Liability (collectively, the “Company Employee Plans”).

 

(b)          Documents. The Company has Made Available to Parent correct and complete copies (or, if a plan is not written, a written description) of all Company Employee Plans and amendments thereto in each case that are in effect as of the date hereof, and, to the extent applicable, (i) all related trust agreements, funding arrangements and insurance contracts now in effect or required in the future as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise, (ii) the most recent determination letter received regarding the tax-qualified status of each Company Employee Plan, (iii) the most recent financial statements for each Company Employee Plan, (iv) the Form 5500 Annual Returns/Reports for the most recent plan year for each Company Employee Plan, (v) the current summary plan description for each Company Employee Plan, and (vi) all actuarial valuation reports related to any Company Employee Plans.

 

 

(c)          Employee Plan Compliance. (i) Each Company Employee Plan has been established, administered, and maintained in all material respects in accordance with its terms and in material compliance with applicable Laws, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) all the Company Employee Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code are so qualified and have received timely determination letters from the IRS and no such determination letter has been revoked nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, has any such revocation been threatened, and to the Knowledge of the Company, no circumstance exists that is likely to result in the loss of such qualified status under Section 401(a) of the Code; (iii) the Company and its Subsidiaries, where applicable, have timely made all material contributions and other material payments required by and due under the terms of each Company Employee Plan and applicable Law, and all benefits accrued under any unfunded Company Employee Plan have been paid, accrued or otherwise adequately reserved to the extent required by, and in accordance with GAAP; (iv) except to the extent limited by applicable Law, each Company Employee Plan can be amended, terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Effective Time in accordance with its terms, without material Liability to Parent, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than ordinary administration expenses and in respect of accrued benefits thereunder); (v) there are no material audits, inquiries or Legal Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened by the IRS or the U.S. Department of Labor, or any similar Governmental Entity with respect to any Company Employee Plan; (vi) there are no material Legal Actions pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Company Employee Plan (in each case, other than routine claims for benefits); and (vii) to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has engaged in a transaction that would reasonably be expected to subject the Company or any Subsidiary to a tax or penalty imposed by either Section 4975 of the Code or Section 502(i) of ERISA.

 

(d)          Plan Liabilities. Neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has incurred or reasonably expects to incur, either directly or indirectly, any material Liability under Title I or Title IV of ERISA, or related provisions of the Code or foreign Law or regulations relating to employee benefit plans.

 

(e)          Certain Company Employee Plans. With respect to each Company Employee Plan:

 

(i)          no such plan is a “multi-employer plan” within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or a “multiple employer plan” within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code and neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has at any time contributed to or had any Liability in respect of any such multi-employer plan or multiple employer plan;

 

(ii)         no Legal Action has been initiated by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to terminate any such plan or to appoint a trustee for any such plan;

 

(iii)        no such plan is subject to the minimum funding standards of Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code; and

 

(iv)        no “reportable event,” as defined in Section 4043 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any such plan.

 

(f)           No Post-Employment Obligations. Except as set forth on Section 3.11(f) of the Company Disclosure Letter, no Company Employee Plan provides post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any Person for any reason, except as may be required by COBRA or other applicable Law, and neither the Company nor any Company ERISA Affiliate has any Liability to provide post-termination or retiree welfare benefits to any Person or ever represented, promised or contracted to any Company Employee (either individually or to Company Employees as a group) or any other Person that such Company Employee(s) or other Person would be provided with post-termination or retiree welfare benefits, except to the extent required by COBRA or other applicable Law.

 

 

(g)          Potential Liability to Government. No Company Employee Plan is or, since May 29, 2013, has been the subject of an examination or audit by a Governmental Entity or is the subject of an application or filing under, or is a participant in, an amnesty, voluntary compliance, self-correction or similar program sponsored by any Governmental Entity.

 

(h)          Section 409A Compliance. Each Company Employee Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been operated in compliance in all material respects with such section and all applicable regulatory guidance (including, without limitation, proposed regulations, notices, rulings, and final regulations).

 

(i)           Health Care Compliance. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries complies in all material respects with the applicable requirements of COBRA or any similar state statute with respect to each Company Employee Plan that is a group health plan within the meaning of Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code or such state statute. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries will be subject to a shared responsibility payment under Section 4980H of the Code for 2015 or 2016.

 

(j)           Effect of Transaction. Except as set forth on Section 3.11(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter, neither the execution of this Agreement, the consummation of the Merger, nor any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will (either alone or upon the occurrence of any additional or subsequent events): (i) entitle any current or former director, employee, contractor or consultant of the Company to severance pay or any other payment; (ii) accelerate the time of payment, funding, or vesting, or increase the amount of compensation due to any such individual, (iii) limit or restrict the right of the Company to merge, amend or terminate any Company Employee Plan, (iv) increase the amount payable or result in any other material obligation pursuant to any Company Employee Plan, or (v) result in “excess parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b) of the Code.

 

(k)          Employment Law Matters. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries: (i) is in compliance with all applicable Laws and agreements respecting hiring, employment, termination of employment, plant closing and mass layoff, employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation and reasonable accommodation, leaves of absence, terms and conditions of employment, wages and hours of work, employee health and safety, leasing and supply of temporary and contingent staff, engagement of independent contractors, including proper classification of same, payroll taxes, and immigration with respect to Company Employees and contingent workers; and (ii) is in compliance with all applicable Laws relating to the relations between it and any labor organization, trade union, work council or other body representing Company Employees, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) immediately above, where the failure to be in compliance with the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(l)           Labor. Neither Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is party to, or subject to, any collective bargaining agreement or other agreement with any labor organization, work council or trade union with respect to any of its or their operations. No material work stoppage, slowdown or labor strike against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to employees who are employed within or outside the United States is pending, threatened or has occurred since May 29, 2013. None of the Company Employees are represented by a labor organization, work council or trade union. Since May 29, 2013, (i) to the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no organizing activity, Legal Action, election petition, union card signing or other union activity or union corporate campaigns of or by any labor organization, trade union or work council directed at the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any Company Employees, and (ii) there have been no Legal Actions or labor grievances pending, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened, relating to any employment related matter involving any Company Employee or applicant, including, but not limited to, charges of unlawful discrimination, retaliation or harassment, failure to provide reasonable accommodation, denial of a leave of absence, failure to provide compensation or benefits, unfair labor practices, or other alleged violations of Law, except, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), any such matter that would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.12        Real Property and Personal Property Matters.

 

(a)          Owned Real Estate. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company or one or more of its Subsidiaries has good and marketable fee simple title to the Owned Real Estate free and clear of any Liens other than the Permitted Liens. Section 3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a true and complete list (including, without limitation, legal descriptions), as of the date hereof, of the Owned Real Estate. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) currently lease all or any part of the Owned Real Estate, (ii) has received written notice from a Governmental Entity of any pending, and to the Knowledge of the Company there is no threatened, condemnation proceeding with respect to any of the Owned Real Estate, or (iii) has received written notice or other communication from a Governmental Entity of any public improvements or planned improvements which have been ordered, commenced or completed and for which an assessment may be levied against the Owned Real Estate. With respect to the Owned Real Estate, all buildings, structures, fixtures and appurtenances comprising the Owned Real Estate are (A) adequate for the purposes for which they are being used, (B) do not encroach on any property owned by any other Person, and (C) not in violation of any Laws regulating building, zoning, fire, safety, environmental, traffic, flood control or health, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(b)         Leased Real Estate. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has a valid and subsisting leasehold estate in each parcel of real property demised under a Lease for the full term of the respective Lease free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens. Section 3.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains a complete and correct list, as of the date hereof, of the Leased Real Estate including with respect to each such Lease the date of such Lease and any material amendments thereto. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, (i) all Leases are valid and in full force and effect except to the extent they have previously expired or terminated in accordance with their terms, and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, no third party, has violated any provision of, or committed or failed to perform any act which, with or without notice, lapse of time or both would constitute a default under the provisions of, any Lease. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has assigned, pledged, mortgaged, hypothecated or otherwise transferred any Lease nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries entered into with any other Person (other than another wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company) any sublease, license or other agreement that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and that relates to the use or occupancy of all or any portion of the Leased Real Estate. Other than with respect to the “self-storage units” that are leased on a month-to-month basis, the Company has Made Available to Parent correct and complete copies of all written Leases (including all material modifications, amendments, supplements, waivers and side letters thereto) pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries thereof leases, subleases or licenses, as tenant, any Leased Real Estate.

 

(c)          Personal Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has good title to, or a valid and binding leasehold interest in, all the personal property owned or leased by it, as the case may be, free and clear of all Liens, other than Permitted Liens. To the Knowledge of the Company, all of the personal property of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in good condition and repair (normal wear and tear excepted); and adequate for the purposes for which such personal property is being used by the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

Section 3.13       Environmental Matters. Except for such matters as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect:

 

(a)          the Company and its Subsidiaries are, and have been since May 29, 2013, in compliance with all Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the possession, maintenance of, compliance with, or application for, all Permits required under applicable Environmental Laws for the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted;

 

(b)          neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has (i) produced, processed, manufactured, generated, transported, treated, handled, used, stored, disposed of or released any Hazardous Substances, except in compliance with Environmental Laws, at any Real Estate, or (ii) exposed any employee or any third party to any Hazardous Substances under circumstances reasonably expected to give rise to any material Liability under any Environmental Law; and

 

(c)          neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice of and there is no Legal Action pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, alleging any Liability or responsibility under or non-compliance with any Environmental Law or seeking to impose any financial responsibility for any investigation, cleanup, removal, containment or any other remediation or compliance under any Environmental Law. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order or written agreement by or with any Governmental Entity or third party imposing any material Liability with respect to any of the foregoing.

 

 

(d)          The Company has Made Available to Parent correct and complete copies of all environmental assessment reports (such as Phase I and, if any, Phase II reports) and any other environmental studies in its possession or control relating to the Real Estate or the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

Section 3.14        Quality and Safety of Products. Since May 29, 2013, the Company has not received any written notice in connection with any product produced, sold or distributed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any claim or allegation against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor has the Company or any of its Subsidiaries been a party or subject to any Legal Action pending against, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any Legal Action threatened against, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries as a result of manufacturing, storage, quality, packaging, marketing, advertising or labeling of any product produced, sold or distributed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. The manufacturing and storage practices, preparation, ingredients, composition, and packaging, marketing, advertising and labeling for each of the products of the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable Permits and Laws, including applicable Permits and Laws relating to food and beverage manufacturing, storage, preparation, packaging, marketing, advertising and labeling, including the rules and regulations of the Food and Drug Administration except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since May 29, 2013, (a) there have been no recalls of any product of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether ordered by a Governmental Entity or undertaken voluntarily by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, and (b) none of the products of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been adulterated, misbranded, mispackaged, mismarketed, misadvertised or mislabeled in violation of applicable Permit or Law except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect. Since May 29, 2013, each product produced, sold or distributed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is labeled as “natural,” “all natural” or similar terms consists solely of ingredients that are natural and does not contain any added colors, artificial flavors, synthetic substances or GMOs, and each product produced, sold or distributed by or on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that is represented as not containing GMOs does not contain any GMOs.

 

Section 3.15        Material Contracts.

 

(a)          Material Contracts. For purposes of this Agreement, “Company Material Contract” shall mean the following to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or any of their respective assets are bound (excluding any Leases):

 

(i)          any “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the Securities Act), whether or not filed by the Company with the SEC.

 

 

(ii)         any employment or consulting Contract (in each case with respect to which the Company has continuing obligations) with any current or former (x) executive officer of the Company, (y) member of the Company Board, or (z) Company Employee providing for an annual base salary in excess of $100,000;

 

(iii)        any Contract providing for indemnification or any guaranty by the Company or any its Subsidiaries, in each case that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, other than (x) any guaranty by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any of the obligations of the Company or another wholly-owned Subsidiary thereof that was entered into in the ordinary course of business, or (y) any Contract providing for indemnification of customers or other Persons pursuant to Contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business;

 

(iv)        any Contract that purports to limit in any material respect the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, at any time after the consummation of the Merger, Parent or any of its Subsidiaries) (x) to engage in any line of business, or (y) to compete with any Person or operate in any geographical location;

 

(v)         any Contract for the disposition or acquisition, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries after the date of this Agreement of assets for an amount in excess of $100,000;

 

(vi)        any Contract that contains any provision that requires, for a period of six (6) months or more following the Closing Date, the purchase of all of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ requirements for a product or service from a given third party, which product or service is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as whole;

 

(vii)       any Contract that obligates the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to conduct business on an exclusive or preferential basis with any third party or upon consummation of the Merger will obligate Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective Subsidiaries to conduct business on an exclusive or preferential basis with any third party;

 

(viii)      any partnership, joint venture or similar Contract that is material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(ix)         any mortgages, indentures, guarantees, loans or credit agreements, security agreements or other similar Contracts, in each case relating to indebtedness for borrowed money, whether as borrower or lender, in each case in excess of $100,000, other than (x) accounts receivables and payables, and (y) loans to direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries of the Company;

 

(x)          any other Contract under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is obligated to make payment or incur costs in excess of $250,000 in any year and which is not otherwise described in clauses (i)–(ix) above; or

 

(xi)         any Company IP Agreement.

 

 

(b)          Schedule of Material Contracts; Documents. Section 3.15(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of all Company Material Contracts. The Company has Made Available to Parent correct and complete copies of all Company Material Contracts, including any amendments thereto, as in effect as of the date hereof.

 

(c)          No Breach. (i) All the Company Material Contracts are valid and binding on the Company or its applicable Subsidiary, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, and is in full force and effect, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at Law or in equity), (ii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any third party has violated any provision of, or failed to perform any obligation required under the provisions of, any Company Material Contract, and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, any third party is in breach, or has received written notice of breach, of any Company Material Contract.

 

Section 3.16        Customers, Suppliers and Distributors. With respect to the fiscal year ended May 29, 2015, Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists (a) the ten (10) largest (by dollar volume) customers of the Company during such period (showing the dollar volume for each), (b) the ten (10) largest (by dollar volume) suppliers of the Company during such period (showing the dollar volume for each) and (c) the five (5) largest (by dollar volume) distributors of the Company during such period (showing the dollar volume for each). Except as set forth on Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter, no customer, supplier or distributor set forth on Section 3.16 of the Company Disclosure Letter has terminated, materially reduced or, to the Knowledge of the Company, intends to materially reduce, its level of business with the Company.

 

Section 3.17        Information Statement. None of the information included or incorporated by reference in the Information Statement to be filed with the SEC in connection with the Merger, will, at the date it is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by the Company with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein based on information supplied by Parent or Merger Sub expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Information Statement. The Information Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

Section 3.18        Brokers’ and Finders’ Fees. Except for fees payable to North Point Advisors LLC, financial advisor to the special committee of the Company Board (the “Financial Advisor”), pursuant to an engagement letter listed in Section 3.18 of the Company Disclosure Letter, a correct and complete copy of which has been provided to Parent, the Company has not incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any Liability for brokerage or finders’ fees or agents’ commissions or any similar charges in connection with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

 

Section 3.19        Fairness Opinion. The Company has received the opinion of the Financial Advisor (and, if it is in writing, has provided a correct and complete copy of such opinion to Parent) to the effect that, as of the date of this Agreement and based upon and subject to the qualifications and assumptions set forth therein, the Merger Consideration is fair, from a financial point of view, to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock, and, as of the date of this Agreement, such opinion has not been withdrawn, revoked or modified.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB

 

Parent and Merger Sub hereby jointly and severally represent and warrant to the Company as follows:

 

Section 4.1           Organization. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing (with respect to jurisdictions that recognize the concept of good standing) under the Laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.

 

Section 4.2           Authority; Non-contravention; Governmental Consents.

 

(a)          Authority. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, power and authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub and no other corporate or limited liability company, as applicable, proceedings on the part of Parent or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement or to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, subject only to the filing of the Certificate of Merger pursuant to the DGCL. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and Merger Sub and, assuming due execution and delivery by the Company, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against Parent and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other similar Laws affecting creditors rights generally and by general principles of equity.

 

(b)          Non-Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by Parent and Merger Sub and the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, do not and will not: (i) contravene or conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Parent or Merger Sub; (ii) subject to compliance with the requirements set forth in clauses (i) to (iv) of Section 4.2(c), conflict with or violate any Law applicable to Parent or Merger Sub or any of their respective properties or assets; (iii) result in any breach of or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation, or require any Consent under any Contract to which Parent or its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, are a party or otherwise bound; or (iv) result in the creation of any Lien (other than Permitted Liens) on any of the properties or assets of Parent or Merger Sub, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii), (iii) and (iv), for any conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, amendments, accelerations, cancellations or Liens, or where the failure to obtain any Consents, in each case, would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

(c)           Governmental Consents. No Consent of any Governmental Entity is required to be obtained or made by Parent or Merger Sub in connection with the execution, delivery and performance by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement or the consummation by Parent and Merger Sub of the Merger and other transactions contemplated hereby, except for: (i) the filing of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware and appropriate documents with the relevant authorities of other states in which the Company and/or Parent are qualified to do business; (ii) the filing of the Information Statement with the SEC in accordance with the Exchange Act, and such reports under the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) such Consents as may be required under Antitrust Laws, in any case that are applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) such Consents as may be required under applicable state securities or “blue sky” Laws and the securities Laws of any foreign country or the rules and regulations of NASDAQ; and (v) such other Consents which if not obtained or made would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.3           Information Statement. None of the information with respect to Parent or Merger Sub that Parent or any of its Representatives furnishes in writing to the Company expressly for use in the Information Statement, will, at the date such Information Statement is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of any amendment or supplement thereof, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no representation or warranty is made by Parent or Merger Sub with respect to statements made or incorporated by reference therein supplied by the Company or its Representatives expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Information Statement.

 

Section 4.4           Financial Capability. Parent has or will have, and will cause Merger Sub to have, prior to the Effective Time, sufficient funds to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration contemplated by this Agreement and to perform the other obligations of Parent and Merger Sub contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 4.5           Legal Proceedings. As of the date hereof, there is no pending or, to the Knowledge of Parent, threatened, Legal Action against Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, nor is there any injunction, order, judgment, ruling or decree imposed upon Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub, in each case, by or before any Governmental Entity, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

Section 4.6           Ownership of Company Common Stock. Neither Parent nor any of its Affiliates beneficially owns (as defined in Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act) any shares of Company Common Stock.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

Section 5.1           Conduct of Business of the Company. The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, during the period from the date of this Agreement until the Effective Time, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or as required by applicable Law or with the prior written consent of Parent, conduct its business in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, and, to the extent consistent therewith, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to preserve substantially intact its and its Subsidiaries’ business organization, to keep available the services of its and its Subsidiaries’ current officers and employees, to preserve its and its Subsidiaries’ present relationships with customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees and other Persons having business relationships with it. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time, except as otherwise expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as required by a Contract Made Available to Parent, as set forth in Section 5.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter, or as required by applicable Law or with the prior written consent of Parent, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of its Subsidiaries to:

 

(a)          amend or propose to amend the Charter Documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;

 

(b)          (i) split, combine or reclassify any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, (ii) repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, or offer to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire, any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, (iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or distribution (whether in cash, stock, property or otherwise) in respect of, or enter into any Contract with respect to the voting of, any shares of its capital stock (other than dividends from its direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiary);

 

(c)          issue, sell, pledge, dispose of or encumber any Company Securities or Company Subsidiary Securities, other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of any Company Stock Options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement in accordance with its terms;

 

(d)          except as required by any Company Employee Plan or Contract in effect as of the date of this Agreement, (i) increase the compensation payable or that could become payable by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to directors, officers or employees, other than increases in compensation made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) enter into any new or amend in any material respect any existing employment, severance, retention or change in control agreement with any of its past or present officers or employees, other than increases in compensation made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (iii) promote any officers or employees, except as result of the termination or resignation of any officer or employee, or (iv) establish, adopt, enter into, amend, terminate, exercise any discretion under, or take any action to accelerate rights under any Company Employee Plans or any plan, agreement, program, policy, trust, fund or other arrangement that would be a Company Employee Plan if it were in existence as of the date of this Agreement, or make any contribution to any Company Employee Plan, other than contributions required by Law, the terms of such Company Employee Plans as in effect on the date hereof or that are made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

 

(e)          acquire, by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets, or otherwise, any business or Person or division thereof or make any loans, advances or capital contributions to or investments in any Person in excess of $100,000 in the aggregate;

 

(f)          (i) transfer, license, sell, lease or otherwise dispose of any assets (whether by way of merger, consolidation, sale of stock or assets, or otherwise), including the capital stock or other equity interests in any Subsidiary of the Company, provided that the foregoing shall not prohibit the Company and its Subsidiaries from transferring, licensing, selling, leasing or disposing of obsolete equipment or assets being replaced, in each case in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, or (ii) adopt or effect a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

 

(g)          repurchase, prepay or incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such indebtedness of another Person, issue or sell any debt securities or options, warrants, calls or other rights to acquire any debt securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, guarantee any debt securities of another Person, enter into any “keep well” or other Contract to maintain any financial statement condition of any other Person (other than any wholly-owned Subsidiary of it) or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, other than in connection with the financing of ordinary course trade payables consistent with past practices;

 

(h)          enter into or amend in any material respect or modify in any material respect, or consent to the termination of (other than at its stated expiry date), any Company Material Contract or any Lease with respect to material Real Estate or any other Contract or Lease that, if in effect as of the date hereof would constitute a Company Material Contract or Lease with respect to material Real Estate hereunder;

 

(i)          institute, settle or compromise any Legal Actions pending or threatened before any arbitrator, court or other Governmental Entity involving the payment of monetary damages by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of an amount exceeding $100,000 in the aggregate, other than any Legal Action brought against Parent or Merger Sub arising out of a breach or alleged breach of this Agreement by Parent or Merger Sub; provided that neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall settle or agree to settle any Legal Action which settlement involves a conduct remedy or injunctive or similar relief or has a restrictive impact on the Company’s business;

 

(j)          make any material change in any method of financial accounting principles or practices, in each case except for any such change required by a change in GAAP or applicable Law;

 

 

(k)          (i) settle or compromise any material Tax claim, audit or assessment, (ii) make or change any material Tax election, change any annual Tax accounting period, adopt or change any method of Tax accounting, (iii) amend any material Tax Returns or file claims for material Tax refunds, or (iv) enter into any material closing agreement, surrender in writing any right to claim a material Tax refund, offset or other reduction in Tax Liability or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any material Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company or its Subsidiaries;

 

(l)          enter into any material agreement, agreement in principle, letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or similar Contract with respect to any joint venture, strategic partnership or alliance;

 

(m)          except in connection with actions permitted by Section 5.5 hereof, take any action to exempt any Person from, or make any acquisition of securities of the Company by any Person not subject to, any state takeover statute or similar statute or regulation that applies to the Company with respect to a Takeover Proposal or otherwise, including the restrictions on “business combinations” set forth in Section 203 of the DGCL, except for Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(n)          abandon, encumber, convey title (in whole or in part), exclusively license or grant any right or other licenses to material Company IP, other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; or

 

(o)          agree or commit to do any of the foregoing.

 

Section 5.2           No Right to Control Other Party’s Business. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall give, nor is intended to give, Parent, directly or indirectly, any right to control or direct the business or operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the Effective Time. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall exercise, subject to and consistent with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, complete control and supervision over their respective businesses, assets and operations.

 

Section 5.3           Other Actions. From the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth in ARTICLE VII, the Company and Parent shall not, and shall not permit any of their respective Subsidiaries to, take, or agree or commit to take, any action that would reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, prevent, materially delay or materially impede the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

Section 5.4           Access to Information; Confidentiality.

 

(a)          From the date of this Agreement until the earlier to occur of the Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth in ARTICLE VII, upon receipt of one (1) Business Day’s prior written notice from Parent, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, afford to Parent and Parent’s Representatives reasonable access (during normal business hours unless otherwise agreed to by the Company) and in a manner as shall not unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Company or any Subsidiary thereof, to the officers, accountants, agents, properties, offices and other facilities and to all books, records, contracts and other assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, and the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, furnish promptly to Parent such other information concerning the business and properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries as Parent may reasonably request from time to time. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall be required to provide access to or disclose information where such access or disclosure would jeopardize the protection of attorney-client privilege or contravene any Law (it being agreed that the parties shall use their reasonable best efforts to cause such information to be provided in a manner that would not result in such jeopardy or contravention).

 

(b)          Parent and the Company shall comply with, and shall cause their respective Representatives to comply with, all of their respective obligations under the Confidentiality Agreement, dated April 27, 2016, between Parent and the Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”), which shall survive the termination of this Agreement in accordance with the terms set forth therein.

 

Section 5.5           No Solicitation.

 

(a)          The Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries not to, and shall not authorize or permit its and its Subsidiaries’ directors, officers, employees, agents, advisors and investment bankers (with respect to any Person, the foregoing Persons are referred to herein as such Person’s “Representatives”) to, directly or indirectly, (i) withdraw, qualify or modify, or publicly propose to withdraw, qualify or modify, the Company Recommendation, in each case in a manner adverse to Parent, (ii) solicit, initiate or knowingly take any action to facilitate or encourage the submission of any Takeover Proposal or the making of any proposal that could reasonably be expected to lead to any Takeover Proposal, or, subject to Section 5.5(b), conduct or engage in any discussions or negotiations with, disclose any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, afford access to the business, properties, assets, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to, or knowingly assist, participate in, facilitate or encourage any effort by, any third party that is seeking to make, or has made, any Takeover Proposal, (iii) (A) amend or grant any waiver or release under any standstill or similar agreement with respect to any class of equity securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (B) approve any transaction under, or any third party becoming an “interested stockholder” under, Section 203 of the DGCL, or (iv) enter into any agreement in principle, letter of intent, term sheet, acquisition agreement, merger agreement, option agreement, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement or other Contract relating to any Takeover Proposal (each, a “Company Acquisition Agreement”). Subject to Section 5.5(b), neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall fail to make, withdraw, amend, modify or materially qualify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Merger Sub, the Company Board Recommendation, or recommend a Takeover Proposal, fail to recommend against acceptance of any tender offer or exchange offer for the shares of Company Common Stock within ten (10) Business Days after the commencement of such offer, or make any public statement inconsistent with the Company Board Recommendation, or resolve or agree to take any of the foregoing actions (any of the foregoing, a “Company Adverse Recommendation Change”). The Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to cease immediately and cause to be terminated, and shall not authorize or knowingly permit any of its or their Representatives to continue, any and all existing activities, discussions or negotiations, if any, with any third party conducted prior to the date hereof with respect to any Takeover Proposal and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause any such third party (or its agents or advisors) in possession of non-public information in respect of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that was furnished by or on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries to return or destroy (and confirm destruction of) all such information.

 

 

(b)          Notwithstanding Section 5.5(a), if a third party has delivered to the Company (and not withdrawn), prior to the termination of the Takeover Proposal Review Period, a bona fide, unsolicited Takeover Proposal in writing that did not result from a breach of Section 5.5(a) that the Company Board concludes in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Financial Advisor, constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Company Board, directly or indirectly through any Representative, may, subject to Section 5.5(c), (i) contact such third party that has delivered to the Company (and not withdrawn), prior to the termination of the Takeover Proposal Review Period, such Takeover Proposal in order to clarify the terms of such Takeover Proposal so that the Company Board (or any committee thereof) may inform itself about such Takeover Proposal, (ii) participate in negotiations or discussions with such third party, (iii) thereafter furnish to such third party non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to an executed confidentiality agreement that constitutes an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement (a copy of which shall be promptly (in all events within twenty-four (24) hours) provided for informational purposes to Parent), (iv) following receipt of and on account of a Superior Proposal, make a Company Adverse Recommendation Change, and/or (v) take any action that any court of competent jurisdiction orders the Company to take (which order remains unstayed), but in each case referred to in the foregoing clauses (i) through (v), only if the Company Board concludes in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that the failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to cause the Company Board to be in breach of its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 5.5, the Company Board may not consider or take any other action with respect to any Takeover Proposal delivered to the Company after the termination of the Takeover Proposal Review Period. Nothing contained herein shall prevent the Company Board from disclosing to the Company’s stockholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 and Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act with regard to a Takeover Proposal, if the Company determines, after consultation with outside legal counsel, that failure to disclose such position would constitute a violation of applicable Law.

 

(c)          The Company Board shall not take any of the actions permitted in clauses (i) through (v) of Section 5.5(b) unless the Company shall have delivered to Parent a prior written notice advising Parent that it intends to take such action. The Company shall notify Parent promptly (but in no event later than twenty-four (24) hours) after it obtains Knowledge of the receipt by the Company (or any of its Representatives) of any Takeover Proposal, any inquiry that would reasonably be expected to lead to a Takeover Proposal, any request for non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or for access to the business, properties, assets, books or records of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any third party. In such notice, the Company shall identify the third party making, and details of the material terms and conditions of, any such Takeover Proposal, indication or request. The Company shall keep Parent reasonably informed, on a prompt basis, of the status and material terms of any such Takeover Proposal, indication or request, including any material amendments or proposed amendments as to price and other material terms thereof. The Company shall provide Parent with at least forty-eight (48) hours prior notice of any meeting of the Company Board (or such lesser notice as is provided to the members of the Company Board) at which the Company Board is reasonably expected to consider any Takeover Proposal. The Company shall promptly provide Parent with a list of any non-public information concerning the Company’s business, present or future performance, financial condition or results of operations, provided to any third party, and, to the extent such information has not been previously provided to Parent, copies of such information.

 

 

(d)          Except as set forth in this Section 5.5(d), the Company Board shall not make any Company Adverse Recommendation Change or enter into (or permit any Subsidiary to enter into) a Company Acquisition Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a third party has delivered to the Company (and not withdrawn), prior to the termination of the Takeover Proposal Review Period, a bona fide, unsolicited Takeover Proposal in writing that did not result from a breach of Section 5.5(a) that the Company Board concludes in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Financial Advisor, constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Company Board may make a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or enter into (or permit any Subsidiary to enter into) a Company Acquisition Agreement, if: (i) the Company promptly notifies Parent, in writing, at least two (2) Business Days (the “Notice Period”) before making a Company Adverse Recommendation Change or entering into (or causing a Subsidiary to enter into) a Company Acquisition Agreement, of its intention to take such action with respect to a Superior Proposal, which notice shall state expressly that the Company has received a Takeover Proposal in accordance with the terms of this Section 5.5(d) that the Company Board intends to declare a Superior Proposal and that the Company Board intends to make a Company Adverse Recommendation Change and/or the Company intends to enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement; (ii) the Company attaches to such notice the most current version of the proposed agreement (which version shall be updated on a prompt basis) and the identity of the third party making such Superior Proposal; (iii) the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, and shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause its and its Subsidiaries’ Representatives to, during the Notice Period, negotiate with Parent in good faith to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Takeover Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Proposal, if Parent, in its discretion, proposes to make such adjustments (it being agreed that in the event that, after commencement of the Notice Period, there is any material revision to the terms of a Superior Proposal, including, any revision in price, each of the Notice Period and the Takeover Proposal Review Period shall be extended, if applicable, but only so long as a third party delivered to the Company (and did not later withdraw) prior to the termination of the unextended Takeover Proposal Review Period, a bona fide, unsolicited Takeover Proposal in writing that did not result from a breach of Section 5.5(a) that the Company Board concluded in good faith, after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Financial Advisor, constituted a Superior Proposal, to ensure that at least two (2) Business Days remains in the Notice Period subsequent to the time the Company notifies Parent of any such material revision (it being understood that there may be multiple extensions)); and (iv) the Company Board concludes in good faith, after consulting with outside legal counsel and the Financial Advisor, that such Takeover Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account any adjustments made by Parent during the Notice Period in the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

 

(e)          Other than in connection with a Superior Proposal (which shall be subject to Section 5.5(d) but not this Section 5.5(e)), prior to obtaining the Requisite Company Vote the Company Board may take any action otherwise prohibited by clause (i) of Section 5.5(a), but only in response to a Company Intervening Event and only if (i) the Company has notified Parent in writing that it intends to effect a Company Adverse Recommendation Change due to the occurrence of a Company Intervening Event (which notice shall specify the Company Intervening Event in reasonable detail); (ii) for a period of five (5) Business Days’ following delivery of the notice pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) of this Section 5.5(e), the Company Board shall have discussed and negotiated in good faith and made Company Representatives available to discuss and negotiate in good faith (in each case to the extent Parent desires to negotiate), with Parent Representatives any proposed modifications to the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that the failure to take such action would no longer reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law (it being understood and agreed that any material change to the facts and circumstances relating to the Company Intervening Event shall require a new notice and a three (3) Business Day negotiation period; and (iii) no earlier than the end of the last applicable negotiation period, the Company Board shall have determined in good faith, after considering the terms of any proposed amendment or modification to this Agreement, that the failure to take such action could reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with the Company Board’s fiduciary duties under applicable Law.

 

Section 5.6           Stockholder Consent; Information Statement.

 

(a)          Immediately after the execution of this Agreement and in lieu of calling a meeting of the Company’s stockholders, the Company shall submit a form of irrevocable written consent attached hereto as Exhibit B to record holders of at least 51% of the aggregate voting power of the Company Common Stock (such written consent, as duly executed and delivered by all such record holders, the “Stockholder Consent”), which Stockholder Consent shall be irrevocable, unless this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.4(a). As soon as practicable upon receipt of the Stockholder Consent, the Company will provide Parent with a pdf copy or facsimile of such Stockholder Consent, certified as true and complete by the corporate secretary of the Company. In connection with the Stockholder Consent, the Company shall take all actions necessary to comply, and shall comply in all respects, with the DGCL, including Section 228 and Section 262 thereof, and the Company’s Charter Documents.

 

 

(b)          As promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement (and in any event within 20 days of the date hereof), the Company shall prepare and file with the SEC a written information statement of the type contemplated by Rule 14c-2 of the Exchange Act containing (i) the information specified in Schedule 14C under the Exchange Act concerning the Stockholder Consent, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger (such information statement, including any amendment or supplement thereto, the “Information Statement”), (ii) the notice of action by written consent required by Section 228(e) of the DGCL and (iii) the notice of availability of appraisal rights and related disclosure required by Section 262 of the DGCL. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company will cooperate and consult with each other in the preparation of the Information Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of Parent and Merger Sub will furnish the Company the information relating to it required by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder to be set forth in the Information Statement. The Company shall not file the Information Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, without providing Parent a reasonable opportunity to review and comment thereon (which comments shall be reasonably considered by the Company). The Company shall use its reasonable best efforts to resolve, and each party agrees to consult and cooperate with the other party in resolving, all SEC comments with respect to the Information Statement as promptly as practicable after receipt thereof and to cause the Information Statement in definitive form to be cleared by the SEC and mailed to the Company’s stockholders as promptly as reasonably practicable following filing with the SEC. The Company agrees to consult with Parent prior to responding to SEC comments with respect to the preliminary Information Statement. Each of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company agree to correct any information provided by it for use in the Information Statement which shall have become false or misleading and the Company shall promptly prepare and mail to its stockholders an amendment or supplement setting forth such correction. The Company shall as soon as reasonably practicable (i) notify Parent of the receipt of any comments from the SEC with respect to the Information Statement and any request by the SEC for any amendment to the Information Statement or for additional information and (ii) provide Parent with copies of all written correspondence between the Company and its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, on the other hand, with respect to the Information Statement.

 

(c)          Parent shall use reasonable best efforts to cause the Information Statement to be mailed to the stockholders of the Company as promptly as practicable after, and in any event within two days after, the latest of (i) confirmation from the SEC that it has no further comments on the Information Statement, (ii) confirmation from the SEC that the Information Statement is otherwise not to be reviewed or (iii) expiration of the 10-day period after filing in the event the SEC does not review the Information Statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company agrees that its obligations pursuant to this Section 5.6(c) shall not be affected by any Company Adverse Recommendation Change or the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company or any other Person of any Takeover Proposal. In the event the Stockholder Consent is not obtained and Parent does not terminate this Agreement, then the Company shall, as soon as practicable, prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement related to the Merger and this Agreement and shall take all action necessary to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders for the purpose of adopting this Agreement and use its reasonable best efforts to (A) solicit from the holders of Company Common Stock proxies in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and approval of the Merger, and (B) take all other actions necessary or advisable to secure the vote or consent of the holders of Company Common Stock required by applicable Law to obtain such approval.

 

 

Section 5.7           Notices of Certain Events. The Company shall notify Parent and Merger Sub, and Parent and Merger Sub shall notify the Company, promptly of (a) any material notice or other communication from any Person alleging that the consent of such Person is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (b) any material notice or other communication from any Governmental Entity in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (c) any Legal Actions commenced or to such parties’ knowledge, threatened in writing, against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or Parent or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, that are related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and (d) any event, change or effect between the date of this Agreement and the Effective Time which causes or is reasonably likely to cause the failure of the conditions set forth in Section 6.2(a), Section 6.2(b) or Section 6.2(c) of this Agreement (in the case of the Company and its Subsidiaries) or Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b) of this Agreement (in the case of Parent and Merger Sub), to be satisfied. From time to time, up until the date that is five (5) Business Days prior to the Closing, the Company and its Subsidiaries shall have the right (but not the obligation) to supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Letter with respect to any matters hereafter arising (each a “Schedule Supplement”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, for purposes of determining whether or not the condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) of this Agreement has been satisfied, such Schedule Supplement shall (for the purposes of Section 6.2(a) of this Agreement only) not be deemed to satisfy the otherwise unsatisfied condition in such section; provided, however, that if, due to the matters disclosed by the Company in any Schedule Supplement, Parent determines to exercise its right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 7.3(b), Parent shall deliver the written notice required by such Section 7.3(b) within ten (10) Business Days following its receipt of such Schedule Supplement. Except as specifically set forth in this Section 5.7, in no event shall (x) the delivery of any notice by a party pursuant to this Section 5.7 limit or otherwise affect the respective rights, obligations, representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of the parties or the conditions to the obligations of the parties under this Agreement, or (y) disclosure by the Company or Parent be deemed to amend or supplement the Company Disclosure Letter or constitute an exception to any representation or warranty. This Section 5.7 shall not constitute a covenant or agreement for purposes of Section 6.2(b) or Section 6.3(b).

 

Section 5.8           Employees; Benefit Plans.

 

(a)          During the period commencing at the Effective Time and ending on the one-year anniversary of the Effective Time (or if earlier, the date of the employee’s termination of employment with Parent and its Subsidiaries (including the Surviving Corporation)), Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation and each of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to provide the employees of the Company and its Subsidiaries while employed during such period (collectively, the “Company Continuing Employees”) with base salary, target bonus opportunities (excluding equity-based compensation), and employee benefits that are, in the aggregate, no less favorable than the base salary, target bonus opportunities (excluding equity-based compensation), and employee benefits provided by the Company and its Subsidiaries on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)          With respect to any “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries, excluding both any retiree healthcare plans or programs maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries and any equity compensation arrangements maintained by Parent or any of its Subsidiaries (collectively, “Parent Benefit Plans”) in which any Company Continuing Employees will participate effective as of the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, recognize all service of the Company Continuing Employees with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, as if such service were with Parent, for vesting and eligibility purposes (but not for (i) purposes of early retirement subsidies under any Parent Benefit Plan that is a defined benefit pension plan or (ii) benefit accrual purposes, except for vacation, if applicable) in any Parent Benefit Plan in which such Company Continuing Employees may be eligible to participate after the Effective Time; provided that such service shall not be recognized to the extent that (x) such recognition would result in a duplication of benefits or (y) such service was not recognized under the corresponding Company Employee Plan.

 

 

(c)          This Section 5.8 shall be binding upon and inure solely to the benefit of each of the parties to this Agreement, and nothing in this Section 5.8, express or implied, shall confer upon any other Person any rights or remedies of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Section 5.8. Nothing contained herein, express or implied (i) shall be construed to establish, amend or modify any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement or (ii) shall alter or limit the ability of the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any of their respective Affiliates to amend, modify or terminate any benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement at any time assumed, established, sponsored or maintained by any of them. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the terms set forth in this Section 5.8 shall not create any right in any Company Employee or any other Person to any continued employment with the Surviving Corporation, Parent or any of their respective Subsidiaries or compensation or benefits of any nature or kind whatsoever.

 

(d)          With respect to matters described in this Section 5.8, the Company will not send any written notices or other written communication materials to Company Employees without the prior written consent of Parent.

 

Section 5.9           Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a)          Parent and Merger Sub agree that all rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation by the Company now existing in favor of each Person who is now, or has been at any time prior to the date hereof or who becomes prior to the Effective Time an officer or director of the Company or its Subsidiaries (each an “Indemnified Party”) as provided in the Company Charter Documents, in each case as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or pursuant to any other Contracts in effect on the date hereof and disclosed in Section 5.9 of the Company Disclosure Letter, shall be assumed by the Surviving Corporation in the Merger, without further action, at the Effective Time and shall survive the Merger and shall remain in full force and effect in accordance with their terms, and, in the event that any proceeding is pending or asserted or any claim made during such period, until the final disposition of such proceeding or claim.

 

(b)          For a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law, Parent and the Surviving Corporation (the “Indemnifying Parties”) shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Indemnified Party against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines arising in whole or in part out of actions or omissions in their capacity as such occurring at or prior to the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), and shall reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities, fees, expenses, judgments and fines as such expenses are incurred, subject to the Surviving Corporation’s receipt of an undertaking by such Indemnified Party to repay such legal and other fees and expenses paid in advance if it is ultimately determined in a final and non-appealable judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction that such Indemnified Party is not entitled to be indemnified under applicable Law; provided, however, that the Surviving Corporation will not be liable for any settlement effected without the Surviving Corporation’s prior written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

 

(c)          The Surviving Corporation shall, and Parent shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, (i) maintain in effect for a period of six (6) years after the Effective Time, if available, the current policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time (provided that the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies, of at least the same coverage and amounts and containing terms and conditions that are not materially less advantageous to the directors and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries when compared to the insurance maintained by the Company as of the date hereof), or (ii) obtain as of the Effective Time “tail” insurance policies with a claims period of six (6) years from the Effective Time with at least the same coverage and amounts and containing terms and conditions that are not materially less advantageous to the directors and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries, in each case with respect to claims arising out of or relating to events which occurred before or at the Effective Time (including in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement); provided, however, that in no event will the Surviving Corporation be required to expend an annual premium for such coverage in excess of three hundred percent (300%) of the last annual premium paid by the Company for such insurance prior to the date of this Agreement, which amount is set forth on Section 5.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Letter (the “Maximum Premium”). If such insurance coverage cannot be obtained at an annual premium equal to or less than the Maximum Premium, the Surviving Corporation will obtain, and Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to obtain, that amount of directors’ and officers’ insurance (or “tail” coverage) obtainable for an annual premium equal to the Maximum Premium.

 

(d)          The obligations of Parent and the Surviving Corporation under this Section 5.9 shall survive the consummation of the Merger and shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any Indemnified Party to whom this Section 5.9 applies without the written consent of such affected Indemnified Party (it being expressly agreed that the Indemnified Parties to whom this Section 5.9 applies shall be third party beneficiaries of this Section 5.9, each of whom may enforce the provisions of this Section 5.9).

 

(e)          In the event Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of their respective successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity in such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, then, and in either such case, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of Parent or the Surviving Corporation, as the case may be, shall assume all of the obligations set forth in this Section 5.9. The agreements and covenants contained herein shall not be deemed to be exclusive of any other rights to which any Indemnified Party is entitled, whether pursuant to Law, Contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Agreement is intended to, shall be construed to or shall release, waive or impair any rights to directors’ and officers’ insurance claims under any policy that is or has been in existence with respect to the Company or its officers, directors and employees, it being understood and agreed that the indemnification provided for in this Section 5.9 is not prior to, or in substitution for, any such claims under any such policies.

 

 

Section 5.10         Reasonable Best Efforts.

 

(a)          Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement (including those contained in this Section 5.10), each of the parties hereto shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other parties in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, and to satisfy all conditions to, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) the obtaining of all necessary permits, waivers, consents, approvals and actions or nonactions from Governmental Entities and the making of all necessary registrations and filings (including filings with Governmental Entities) and the taking of all steps as may be necessary to obtain an approval or waiver from, or to avoid an action or proceeding by, any Governmental Entities, (ii) the obtaining of all consents or waivers from third parties that are material to the Company’s business or otherwise necessary to consummate the Merger, and (iii) the execution and delivery of any additional instruments necessary to consummate the Merger and to fully carry out the purposes of this Agreement. The Company and Parent shall, subject to applicable Law, promptly (x) cooperate and coordinate with the other in the taking of the actions contemplated by the preceding sentence, and (y) supply the other with any information that may be reasonably required in order to effectuate the taking of the actions contemplated by the preceding sentence. Each party hereto shall promptly inform the other party or parties hereto, as the case may be, of any communication from any Governmental Entity regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. If the Company or Parent receives a request for additional information or documentary material from any Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, then it shall use reasonable best efforts to make, or cause to be made, as soon as reasonably practicable and after consultation with the other party, an appropriate response in compliance with such request, and, if permitted by applicable Law and by any applicable Governmental Entity, provide the other party’s counsel with advance notice and the opportunity to attend and participate in any meeting with any Governmental Entity in respect of any filing made thereto in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Neither Parent nor the Company shall commit to or agree (or permit their respective Subsidiaries to commit to or agree) with any Governmental Entity to stay, toll or extend any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act or other applicable Antitrust Laws, without the prior written consent of the other (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

(b)          Without limiting the generality of the undertakings pursuant to Section 5.10(a) hereof, the parties hereto shall (i) provide or cause to be provided as promptly as reasonably practicable to Governmental Entities with jurisdiction over the Antitrust Laws (each such Governmental Entity, a “Governmental Antitrust Authority”) information and documents requested by any Governmental Antitrust Authority as necessary, proper or advisable to permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including preparing and filing any notification and report form and related material required under the HSR Act and any additional consents and filings under any other Antitrust Laws as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement (provided that in the case of the filing under the HSR Act, such filing shall be made within ten (10) Business Days of the date of this Agreement) and thereafter to respond as promptly as practicable to any request for additional information or documentary material that may be made under the HSR Act or any other applicable Antitrust Laws and (ii) subject to the terms set forth in Section 5.10(c) hereof, use their reasonable best efforts to take such actions as are necessary or advisable to obtain prompt approval of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by any Governmental Entity or expiration of applicable waiting periods.

 

 

(c)          In the event that any administrative or judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Entity or private party challenging the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, or any other agreement contemplated hereby, the Company, Parent and Merger Sub shall cooperate in all respects, discuss in good faith actions to take and use their respective reasonable best efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(d)          Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement, none of Parent, Merger Sub or any of their Subsidiaries shall be required to, and the Company may not, without the prior written consent of Parent, become subject to, consent to, or offer or agree to, or otherwise take any action with respect to, any requirement, condition, limitation, understanding, agreement or Order to (i) sell, license, assign, transfer, divest, hold separate or otherwise dispose of any assets, business or portion of business of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries, or (ii) impose any restriction, requirement or limitation on the operation of the business or portion of the business of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries which, in the case of the foregoing clauses (i) and (ii), could have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or assets of the Company, the Surviving Corporation, Parent, Merger Sub or any of their respective Subsidiaries.

 

Section 5.11         Public Announcements. The initial press release with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be a release mutually agreed to by the Company and Parent. Thereafter, each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub agrees that no public release or announcement concerning the transactions contemplated hereby shall be issued by any party without the prior written consent of the Company and Parent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), except as such release or announcement may be permitted by Section 5.5 or required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any applicable United States securities exchange or Governmental Entity to which the relevant party is subject, wherever situated, in which case the party required to make the release or announcement shall consult with the other party about, and allow the other party reasonable time to comment on such release or announcement in advance of such issuance.

 

Section 5.12         Takeover Statutes. If any “control share acquisition”, “fair price”, “moratorium” or other anti-takeover Law becomes or is deemed to be applicable to the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, the Merger or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, then each of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub, and their respective boards of directors shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and otherwise act to render such anti-takeover Law inapplicable to the foregoing.

 

Section 5.13         Rule 16 Matters. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company shall take all such steps as may be required to cause to be exempt under Rule 16b-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act any dispositions of shares of Company Common Stock (including derivative securities with respect to such shares) that are treated as dispositions under such rule and result from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement by each director or officer of the Company who is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act with respect to the Company.

 

 

Section 5.14         Due Diligence. Within five (5) Business Days following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver to Parent one or more CDs (which shall be permanent and accessible, without the need for any password, with readily and commercially available software) containing, in electronic format, all documents (including legal, financial and tax) posted as of the second Business Day prior to the date of this Agreement to the electronic data site hosted by Intralinks and established by the Company or its Representatives for the purpose of providing an archival copy of the documents to Parent and its Representatives (the “Diligence Disc”).

 

Section 5.15         Further Assurances. At and after the Effective Time, the officers and directors of the Surviving Corporation shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any deeds, bills of sale, assignments or assurances and to take and do, in the name and on behalf of the Company or Merger Sub, any other actions and things to vest, perfect or confirm of record or otherwise in the Surviving Corporation any and all right, title and interest in, to and under any of the rights, properties or assets of the Company acquired or to be acquired by the Surviving Corporation as a result of, or in connection with, the Merger.

 

ARTICLE VI
CONDITIONS

 

Section 6.1           Conditions to Each Party’s Obligation to Effect the Merger. The respective obligations of each party to this Agreement to effect the Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver on or prior to the Closing Date of each of the following conditions:

 

(a)          Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement will have been duly adopted by the Requisite Company Vote.

 

(b)          Regulatory Approvals. The waiting period applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act (or any extension thereof) shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c)          No Injunctions, Restraints or Illegality. No Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over any party hereto shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Laws or Orders that remain in effect , whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that make illegal, enjoin or otherwise prohibit consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

Section 6.2           Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub. The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger are also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by Parent and Merger Sub on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

 

(a)          Representations and Warranties. (i) The representations and warranties of the Company (other than in Section 3.1(a), Section 3.1(c) (first and second sentences), Section 3.2(a) (second sentence), Section 3.2(b), Section 3.2(d), Section 3.3(a), Section 3.4(b), Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.10) set forth in ARTICLE III of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any limitation indicated by the words “Company Material Adverse Effect,” “in all material respects,” “in any material respect,” “material” or “materially”) when made and as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Company Material Adverse Effect, and (ii) the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3.1(a), Section 3.1(c) (first and second sentences), Section 3.2(a) (second sentence), Section 3.2(b), Section 3.2(d), Section 3.3(a), Section 3.4(b), Section 3.5(a) and Section 3.10 shall be true and correct in all respects when made and as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date).

 

(b)          Performance of Covenants. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants, required to be performed by or complied with by it hereunder.

 

(c)          Company Material Adverse Effect. Since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have been any Company Material Adverse Effect or any event, change or effect that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Company Material Adverse Effect.

 

(d)          Officers Certificate. Parent will have received a certificate, signed by the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of the Company, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.2(a), Section 6.2(b) and Section 6.2(c) hereof.

 

Section 6.3           Conditions to Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the Company to effect the Merger is also subject to the satisfaction or waiver by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

 

(a)          Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and Merger Sub set forth in ARTICLE IV of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects (without giving effect to any limitation indicated by the words “material adverse effect,” “in all material respects,” “in any material respect,” “material” or “materially”) when made and as of immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct in all respects as of that date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be so true and correct would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on Parent’s and Merger Sub’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)          Performance of Covenants. Parent and Merger Sub shall have performed in all material respects all obligations, and complied in all material respects with the agreements and covenants, required to be performed by or complied with by them hereunder.

 

 

(c)          Officer’s Certificate. The Company will have received a certificate, signed by an officer of Parent, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 6.3(a) and Section 6.3(b).

 

ARTICLE VII
TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER

 

Section 7.1           Termination By Mutual Consent. This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Effective Time (notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company) by mutual written consent of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company.

 

Section 7.2           Termination By Parent or the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by either Parent or the Company at any time prior to the Effective Time (notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company):

 

(a)          if the Merger has not been consummated on or before six (6) months from the date of this Agreement (the “End Date”); provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.2(a) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Merger to be consummated on or before the End Date; or

 

(b)          if any Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law or Order making illegal, permanently enjoining or otherwise permanently prohibiting the consummation of the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Law or Order shall have become final and nonappealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.2(b) shall not be available to any party whose breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement has been the cause of, or resulted in, the issuance, promulgation, enforcement or entry of any such Law or Order.

 

Section 7.3           Termination By Parent. This Agreement may be terminated by Parent at any time prior to the Effective Time (notwithstanding any approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company):

 

(a)          if (i) a Company Adverse Recommendation Change shall have occurred (whether due to a Superior Proposal or a Company Intervening Event), (ii) the Company shall have entered into, or publicly announced its intention to enter into, a Company Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement), (iii) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 5.5, (iv) the Company Board fails to reaffirm (publicly, if so requested by Parent) the Company Board Recommendation within ten (10) Business Days after the date any Takeover Proposal (or material modification thereto) is first publicly disclosed by the Company or the Person making such Takeover Proposal, (v) a tender offer or exchange offer relating to Company Common Stock shall have been commenced by a Person unaffiliated with Parent and the Company shall not have sent to its stockholders pursuant to Rule 14e-2 under the Securities Act, within ten (10) Business Days after such tender offer or exchange offer is first published, sent or given, a statement reaffirming the Company Board Recommendation and recommending that stockholders reject such tender or exchange offer, or (vi) the Company or the Company Board (or any committee thereof) shall publicly announce its intentions to do any of the actions specified in this Section 7.3(a);

 

 

(b)          if there shall have been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions to the Closing of the Merger set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b), as applicable, would not be satisfied and, in either such case, such breach is incapable of being cured by the End Date; provided that Parent shall have given the Company at least thirty (30) days’ written notice prior to such termination stating Parent’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.3(b); or

 

(c)          if the Stockholder Consent, duly executed by stockholders holding at least 51% of the aggregate voting power of the Company Common Stock, shall not have been delivered to Parent and the Company prior to 5:00 p.m. Birmingham, AL time on the calendar day immediately following the date of this Agreement.

 

Section 7.4           Termination By the Company. This Agreement may be terminated by the Company at any time prior to the Effective Time (notwithstanding, in the case of Section 7.4(b) immediately below, any approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company):

 

(a)          if the Company Board authorizes the Company, in full compliance with the terms of this Agreement, including Section 5.5 hereof, to enter into a Company Acquisition Agreement (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) in respect of a Superior Proposal delivered to the Company prior to the termination of the Takeover Proposal Review Period; provided that the Company shall have paid any amounts due pursuant to Section 7.6(b) hereof in accordance with the terms, and at the times, specified therein; and provided further that in the event of such termination, the Company substantially concurrently enters into such Company Acquisition Agreement; or

 

(b)          if there shall have been a breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent or Merger Sub set forth in this Agreement such that the conditions to the Closing of the Merger set forth in Section 6.3(a) or Section 6.3(b), as applicable, would not be satisfied and, in either such case, such breach is incapable of being cured by the End Date; provided that the Company shall have given Parent at least thirty (30) days’ written notice prior to such termination stating the Company’s intention to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 7.4(b).

 

Section 7.5           Notice of Termination; Effect of Termination. The party desiring to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this ARTICLE VII (other than pursuant to Section 7.1) shall deliver written notice of such termination to each other party hereto specifying with particularity the reason for such termination, and any such termination in accordance with Section 7.5 shall be effective immediately upon delivery of such written notice to the other party. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this ARTICLE VII, it will become void and of no further force and effect, with no Liability on the part of any party to this Agreement (or any stockholder, director, officer, employee, agent or Representative of such party) to any other party hereto, except (a) with respect to Section 5.4(b), this Section 7.5, Section 7.6 and ARTICLE VIII (and any related definitions contained in any such Sections or Article), which shall remain in full force and effect and (b) with respect to any Liabilities or damages incurred or suffered by a party, to the extent such Liabilities or damages were the result of fraud or the willful breach by another party of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or other agreements set forth in this Agreement.

 

 

Section 7.6           Fees and Expenses.

 

(a)          If this Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to Section 7.3(a), or Section 7.3(c), then the Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds), within five (5) Business Days following such termination, a fee in an amount equal to the Termination Fee.

 

(b)          If this Agreement is terminated by the Company pursuant to Section 7.4(a), then the Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds), within five (5) Business Days following such termination, a fee in an amount equal to the Termination Fee.

 

(c)          If this Agreement is terminated (i) by Parent pursuant to Section 7.3(b), provided that the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained, or (ii) by the Company or Parent pursuant to Section 7.2(a) hereof, provided that the Requisite Company Vote shall not have been obtained, and, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) immediately above, (A) prior to such termination (in the case of termination pursuant to Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.3(b)), a Takeover Proposal shall (1) in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 7.2(a), have been publicly disclosed and not withdrawn or (2) in the case of a termination pursuant to Section 7.3(b), have been publicly disclosed or otherwise made or communicated to the Company or the Company Board, and not withdrawn, and (B) within six (6) months following the date of such termination of this Agreement the Company shall have entered into a definitive agreement with respect to any Takeover Proposal, or any Takeover Proposal shall have been consummated (in each case whether or not such Takeover Proposal is the same as the original Takeover Proposal made, communicated or publicly disclosed), then in any such event the Company shall pay to Parent (by wire transfer of immediately available funds), immediately prior to and as a condition to consummating such transaction, the Termination Fee. If a Person (other than Parent) makes a Takeover Proposal that has been publicly disclosed and subsequently withdrawn prior to such termination or the expiration of the Takeover Proposal Review Period, as applicable, and, within six (6) months following the date of the termination of this Agreement, such Person or any of its Affiliates makes a Takeover Proposal that is publicly disclosed, such initial Takeover Proposal shall be deemed to have been “not withdrawn” for purposes of clauses (1) and (2) of this paragraph (c).

 

(d)          The Company acknowledges and hereby agrees that the provisions of this Section 7.6 are an integral part of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the Merger), and that, without such provisions, Parent and Merger Sub would not have entered into this Agreement. In the event of any litigation between the parties relating to the payment of the amounts due pursuant to this Section 7.6, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover from the non-prevailing party its costs and expenses (including its attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred or accrued in connection with such suit. The parties acknowledge and agree that in no event shall the Company be obligated to pay the Termination Fee on more than one occasion. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the parties hereby acknowledge that in the event that the Termination Fee becomes payable and is paid by the Company pursuant to this Section 7.6, the Termination Fee shall be Parent’s and Merger Sub’s sole and exclusive remedy for monetary damages under this Agreement.

 

 

(e)          Except as set forth in Section 7.6(d), all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby will be paid by the party incurring such Expenses.

 

Section 7.7           Amendment. At any time prior to the Effective Time, this Agreement may be amended or supplemented in any and all respects, whether before or after receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, by written agreement signed by each of the parties hereto; provided, however, that following the receipt of the Requisite Company Vote, there shall be no amendment or supplement to the provisions of this Agreement which by Law or in accordance with the rules of any relevant self-regulatory organization would require further approval by the holders of Company Common Stock without such approval.

 

Section 7.8           Extension; Waiver. At any time prior to the Effective Time, Parent or Merger Sub, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, may (a) extend the time for the performance of any of the obligations of the other party(ies), (b) waive any inaccuracies in the representations and warranties of the other party(ies) contained in this Agreement or in any document delivered under this Agreement, or (c) unless prohibited by applicable Law, waive compliance with any of the covenants, agreements or conditions contained in this Agreement. Any agreement on the part of a party to any extension or waiver will be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by such party. The failure of any party to assert any of its rights under this Agreement or otherwise will not constitute a waiver of such rights.

 

ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS

 

Section 8.1           Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following terms will have the following meanings when used herein with initial capital letters:

 

“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement” means a confidentiality and standstill agreement that contains confidentiality and standstill provisions that are no less favorable to the Company than those contained in the Confidentiality Agreement.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such first Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of that Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by Contract or otherwise.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Antitrust Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

 

“Book-Entry Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

“Business Day” means any day, other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banking institutions located in Wilmington, Delaware are authorized or required by Law or other governmental action to close.

 

“Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(c).

 

“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.

 

“Charter Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(b).

 

“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.

 

“COBRA” means the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended, and as codified in Section 4980B of the Code and Section 601, et. seq., of ERISA.

 

“Code” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5.

 

“Company” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Company Acquisition Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).

 

“Company Adverse Recommendation Change” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).

 

“Company Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(e).

 

“Company Board” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Company Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(d).

 

“Company Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.

 

“Company Continuing Employees” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a).

 

“Company Disclosure Letter” has the meaning set forth in the introductory language in ARTICLE III.

 

“Company Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).

 

“Company Employee Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).

 

“Company ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person that, together with such first Person, would be treated as a single employer within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.

 

 

“Company Intervening Event” means a material event or circumstance that was not known to the Company Board on the date of this Agreement, which event or circumstance becomes known to the Company Board prior to the Requisite Company Vote; provided, however, that in no event shall any inquiry, offer or proposal that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to a Takeover Proposal constitute a Company Intervening Event.

 

“Company IP” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7(b).

 

“Company IP Agreements” means all licenses, sublicenses, consent to use agreements, covenants not to sue and permissions and other Contracts, including the right to receive royalties or any other consideration, whether written or oral, relating to Intellectual Property and to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a licensor or licensee.

 

“Company Material Adverse Effect” means any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change that is, or would reasonably be expected to become, individually or in the aggregate, materially adverse to (i) the business, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby on a timely basis; provided, however, that “Company Material Adverse Effect” shall not include any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change arising out of, attributable to, or resulting from: (A) changes in general economic or political conditions, (B) general conditions in the industries in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate; (C) any changes in United States financial, banking or securities markets in general, including any disruption thereof and any decline in the price of any security or any market index or any change in prevailing interest rates; (D) acts of war (whether or not declared), armed hostilities or terrorism, or the escalation or worsening thereof; (E) any action expressly required by this Agreement or any action taken (or omitted to be taken) with the prior written consent of or at the prior written request of Parent; (F) any changes in applicable Laws or GAAP or the enforcement, implementation or interpretation thereof after the date of this Agreement, (G) the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or (H) any failure by the Company to meet any internal or published projections, forecasts or revenue or earnings predictions (provided the underlying causes of such failure (subject to the other provisions of this definition) shall not be excluded; provided, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition or change referred to in clauses (A), (B), (C), (D) and (F) shall not be excluded if such event, occurrence, fact, condition or change has a materially disproportionate adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries as compared to other companies in the industry in which the Company and its Subsidiaries operate.

 

“Company Material Contract” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(a).

 

“Company-Owned IP” means all Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

“Company SEC Documents” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

“Company Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

“Company Stock Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(a).

 

 

“Company Stock Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b).

 

“Company Subsidiary Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(d).

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.4.

 

“Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

“Contracts” means any contracts, agreements, licenses, notes, bonds, mortgages, indentures, leases or other binding instruments or binding commitments, whether written or oral, and any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto.

 

“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

 

“Diligence Disc” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14.

 

“Dissenting Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.

 

“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3.

 

“End Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.2(a).

 

“Environmental Laws” means any applicable Law, and any Order or binding agreement with any Governmental Entity: (a) relating to pollution (or the cleanup thereof) or the protection of natural resources, endangered or threatened species, human health or safety, or the environment (including ambient air, soil, surface water or groundwater, or subsurface strata); or (b) concerning the presence of, exposure to, or the management, manufacture, use, containment, storage, recycling, reclamation, reuse, treatment, generation, discharge, transportation, processing, production, disposal or remediation of any Hazardous Substance. The term “Environmental Law” includes, without limitation, the following (including their implementing regulations and any state analogs): the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended by the Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, 42 U.S.C. § 6901, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act of 1972, as amended by the Clean Water Act of 1977, 33 U.S.C. § 1251, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 2601, et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. § 11001, et seq.; the Clean Air Act of 1966, as amended by the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990, 42 U.S.C. § 7401, et seq.; and the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, as amended, 29 U.S.C. § 651, et seq.

 

“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.

 

“Exchange Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

“Exchange Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

 

“Expenses” means, with respect to any Person, all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, financial advisors and investment bankers of such Person and its Affiliates), incurred by such Person or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and any transactions related thereto, any litigation with respect thereto, the preparation, printing, filing and mailing of the Information Statement, the filing of any required notices under the HSR Act or Foreign Antitrust Laws, or in connection with other regulatory approvals, and all other matters related to the Merger other transactions contemplated hereby.

 

“Financial Advisor” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.18.

 

“Foreign Antitrust Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

“GAAP” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(b).

 

“Governmental Antitrust Authority” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.10(b).

 

“Governmental Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

“Hazardous Substance” shall mean (a) any material, substance, chemical, waste, product, derivative, compound, mixture, solid, liquid, mineral or gas, in each case, whether naturally occurring or man-made, that is hazardous, acutely hazardous, toxic, or words of similar import or regulatory effect under Environmental Laws, and (b) any petroleum or petroleum-derived products, radon, radioactive materials or wastes, asbestos in any form, lead or lead-containing materials, urea formaldehyde foam insulation and polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

“HSR Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(a).

 

“Indemnifying Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(b).

 

“Information Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(b).

 

“Intellectual Property” means all worldwide common law and statutory right, title and interest in intellectual property and other similar proprietary rights, whether registered or unregistered (including applications and renewals), together with all goodwill and moral rights associated with such intellectual property including without limitation, any and all trademarks, service marks, tradenames, business names, logos, trade dress and domain names; works of authorship, copyrights, copyright registrations, designs, “economic” rights and mask work rights; trade secrets, whether or not patentable, and know-how; software, including data files, source code, object code, application programming interfaces, databases and other software related specifications and documentation; inventions (whether or not patentable), discoveries, improvements, patents (including all reissues, divisions, provisionals, continuations and continuations-in-part, re-examinations, renewal and extensions thereof), patent applications and patent rights; and similar intangible property in which any Person holds proprietary rights, title, interests or protections, however arising.

 

 

“IRS” means the United States Internal Revenue Service.

 

“Knowledge” means, when used with respect to the Company, the actual or constructive knowledge of any officer or director of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, after reasonable inquiry.

 

“Laws” means any domestic or foreign laws, common law, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, codes, Orders or legally enforceable requirements enacted, issued, adopted, promulgated, enforced, ordered or applied by any Governmental Entity.

 

“Lease” shall mean all leases, subleases and other agreements under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries leases, uses or occupies, or has the right to use or occupy, any real property.

 

“Leased Real Estate” shall mean all real property that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries leases, subleases or otherwise uses or occupies, or has the right to use or occupy, pursuant to a Lease.

 

“Legal Action” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.

 

“Liability” shall mean any liability, indebtedness or obligation of any kind (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured or otherwise, and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP).

 

“Liens” means, with respect to any property or asset, all pledges, liens, mortgages, charges, encumbrances, hypothecations, options, rights of first refusal, rights of first offer and security interests of any kind or nature whatsoever.

 

“Made Available” means such document was posted as of the second Business Day prior to the date hereof to the electronic data site hosted by Intralinks and established by the Company or its Representatives for the purpose of providing due diligence materials and information to Parent and its Representatives.

 

“Maximum Premium” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.9(c).

 

“Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

 

“Merger Sub” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).

 

“NASDAQ” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(c).

 

“Notice Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(d).

 

“Order” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.9.

 

“Owned Real Estate” shall mean any real estate owned in fee by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, together with all buildings, structures, fixtures and improvements thereon and all of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ rights thereto, including without limitation, all easements, rights of way and appurtenances relating thereto.

 

 

“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.

 

“Parent Benefit Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(b).

 

“Payment Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(a).

 

“Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(b).

 

“Permitted Liens” means (a) statutory Liens for current Taxes or other governmental charges not yet due and payable or the amount or validity of which is being contested in good faith (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof), (b) mechanics’, carriers’, workers’, repairers’ and similar statutory Liens arising or incurred in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not delinquent or which are being contested by appropriate proceedings (provided appropriate reserves required pursuant to GAAP have been made in respect thereof), (c) zoning, entitlement, building and other land use regulations imposed by Governmental Entities having jurisdiction over such Person’s owned or leased real property, which are not violated by the current use and operation of such real property, (d) covenants, conditions, restrictions, easements and other similar non-monetary matters of record affecting title to such Person’s owned or leased real property, which do not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses, (e) any right of way or easement related to public roads and highways, which do not materially impair the occupancy or use of such real property for the purposes for which it is currently used in connection with such Person’s businesses, (f) Liens arising under workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement and similar legislation, and (g) any other Liens that, in the aggregate, do not materially impair the value or the continued use and operation of the assets or properties to which they relate.

 

“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited or general partnership, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, trust, association, joint venture, Governmental Entity and other entity and group (which term will include a “group” as such term is defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act).

 

“Real Estate” means the Owned Real Estate and the Leased Real Estate.

 

“Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.5(a).

 

“Requisite Company Vote” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).

 

“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(g).

 

“SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Securities Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4(a).

 

 

“Stockholder Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a).

 

“Subsidiary” means, when used with respect to any party, any corporation or other organization, whether incorporated or unincorporated, a majority of the securities or other interests of which having by their terms ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such party or by any one or more of its subsidiaries, or by such party and one or more of its subsidiaries.

 

“Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Takeover Proposal involving the direct or indirect acquisition pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation or other business combination, of all or substantially all of the Company’s consolidated assets or a majority of the outstanding Company Common Stock, that the Company Board concludes in good faith (after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Financial Advisor) is more favorable from a financial point of view to the holders of Company Common Stock than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, taking into account (a) all financial considerations, (b) the identity of the third party making such Takeover Proposal, (c) the anticipated timing, conditions (including any financing condition or the reliability of any debt or equity funding commitments) and prospects for completion of such Takeover Proposal, (d) the other terms and conditions of such Takeover Proposal and the implications thereof on the Company, including relevant legal, regulatory and other aspects of such Takeover Proposal deemed relevant by the Company Board and (e) any revisions to the terms of this Agreement and the Merger proposed by the Parent during the Notice Period set forth in Section 5.5(d).

 

“Surviving Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.

 

“Takeover Proposal” means a proposal or offer from, or indication of interest in making a proposal or offer by, any Person (other than Parent and its Subsidiaries, including Merger Sub) relating to any (a) direct or indirect acquisition of assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including any voting equity interests of Subsidiaries, but excluding sales of assets in the ordinary course of business) equal to fifteen percent (15%) or more of the fair market value of the Company’s consolidated assets or to which fifteen percent (15%) or more of the Company’s net revenues or net income on a consolidated basis are attributable, (b) direct or indirect acquisition of fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting equity interests of the Company, (c) tender offer or exchange offer that if consummated would result in any Person beneficially owning (within the meaning of Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act) fifteen percent (15%) or more of the voting equity interests of the Company, (d) merger, consolidation, other business combination or similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, pursuant to which such Person would own fifteen percent (15%) or more of the consolidated assets, net revenues or net income of the Company, taken as a whole, or (e) liquidation or dissolution (or the adoption of a plan of liquidation or dissolution) of the Company or the declaration or payment of an extraordinary dividend (whether in cash or other property) by the Company.

 

“Takeover Proposal Review Period” means the period commencing on the date of this Agreement and terminating at 5:00 p.m. Birmingham, AL time on the third calendar day following the date of this Agreement.

 

 

“Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign and other income, gross receipts, sales, use, production, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, registration, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, unemployment, estimated, excise, severance, environmental, stamp, occupation, premium, property (real or personal), real property gains, escheat, unclaimed property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest, additions or penalties with respect thereto and any interest in respect of such additions or penalties.

 

“Tax Returns” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or statement or other document required to be filed with or provided to any taxing authority in respect of Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.

 

“Termination Fee” means 4% of the aggregate Merger Consideration.

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

“Voting Debt” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(c).

 

Section 8.2           Interpretation; Construction.

 

(a)          The table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only, do not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in this Agreement is made to a Section, Exhibit or Schedule, such reference shall be to a Section of, Exhibit to or Schedule of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.” A reference in this Agreement to “$” or “dollars” is to U.S. dollars. The words “hereof,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import when used in this Agreement shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement. References to “this Agreement” shall include the Company Disclosure Letter.

 

(b)          The parties have participated jointly in negotiating and drafting this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.3           Survival. None of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement or in any instrument delivered under this Agreement will survive the Effective Time. This Section 8.3 does not limit any covenant of the parties to this Agreement which, by its terms, contemplates performance after the Effective Time. The Confidentiality Agreement will (a) survive termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms and (b) terminate as of the Effective Time.

 

Section 8.4           Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal Laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of Law provision or rule (whether of the State of Delaware or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of Laws of any jurisdiction other than those of the State of Delaware.

 

 

Section 8.5           Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably agrees that any legal action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder brought by any other party hereto or its successors or assigns shall be brought and determined exclusively in the state and federal courts of the State of Delaware. Each of the parties hereto agrees that mailing of process or other papers in connection with any such action or proceeding in the manner provided in Section 8.7 or in such other manner as may be permitted by applicable Laws, will be valid and sufficient service thereof. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably submits with regard to any such action or proceeding for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, to the personal jurisdiction of the aforesaid courts and agrees that it will not bring any action relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in any court or tribunal other than the aforesaid courts. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert, by way of motion, as a defense, counterclaim or otherwise, in any action or proceeding with respect to this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder, or for recognition and enforcement of any judgment in respect of this Agreement and the rights and obligations arising hereunder (a) any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the above named courts for any reason other than the failure to serve process in accordance with this Section 8.5, (b) any claim that it or its property is exempt or immune from jurisdiction of any such court or from any legal process commenced in such courts (whether through service of notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution of judgment, execution of judgment or otherwise), and (c) to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable Law, any claim that (x) the suit, action or proceeding in such court is brought in an inconvenient forum, (y) the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper, or (z) this Agreement, or the subject matter hereof, may not be enforced in or by such courts.

 

Section 8.6           Waiver of Jury Trial. EACH PARTY ACKNOWLEDGES AND AGREES THAT ANY CONTROVERSY WHICH MAY ARISE UNDER THIS AGREEMENT IS LIKELY TO INVOLVE COMPLICATED AND DIFFICULT ISSUES AND, THEREFORE, EACH SUCH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LEGAL ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT. EACH PARTY TO THIS AGREEMENT CERTIFIES AND ACKNOWLEDGES THAT (A) NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT SEEK TO ENFORCE THE FOREGOING WAIVER IN THE EVENT OF A LEGAL ACTION, (B) SUCH PARTY HAS CONSIDERED THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS WAIVER, (C) SUCH PARTY MAKES THIS WAIVER VOLUNTARILY, AND (D) SUCH PARTY HAS BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 8.6.

 

 

Section 8.7           Notices. All notices, requests, consents, claims, demands, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been given (a) when delivered by hand (with written confirmation of receipt), (b) when received by the addressee if sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier (receipt requested), (c) on the date sent by facsimile or e-mail of a PDF document (with confirmation of transmission) if sent during normal business hours of the recipient, and on the next Business Day if sent after normal business hours of the recipient, or (d) on the third (3rd) day after the date mailed, by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Such communications must be sent to the respective parties at the following addresses (or at such other address for a party as shall be specified in a notice given in accordance with this Section 8.7):

 

If to the Company, then to:		Golden Enterprises, Inc. One Golden Flake Drive Birmingham, AL 35205 Facsimile: (205) 458-7313 Email: mmccutcheon@goldenflake.com Attention: Mark W. McCutcheon, President and Chief Executive Officer
with a copy (which will not constitute notice to the Company) to:		Sirote & Permutt, PC 2311 Highland Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205 Facsimile: (205) 212-3887 Email: tcarlisle@sirote.com Attention: W. Todd Carlisle, Esq.
If to Parent or Merger Sub, or the Surviving Corporation after the Closing, then to:		Utz Quality Foods, Inc. 900 High Street Hanover, PA 17331 Facsimile: (717) 637-0745 Email: dlissette@utzsnacks.com Attention: Dylan B. Lissette, President and Chief Executive Officer
with a copy (which will not constitute notice to Parent or Merger Sub) to:		Cozen O’Connor One Liberty Place 1650 Market Street, Suite 2800 Philadelphia, PA 19103 Facsimile: (215) 701-2346 Email: llaubach@cozen.com Attention: Larry P. Laubach, Esq.

 

or to such other Persons, addresses or facsimile numbers as may be designated in writing by the Person entitled to receive such communication as provided above.

 

 

Section 8.8           Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the Exhibits to this Agreement), the Company Disclosure Letter and the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and supersede all other prior and contemporaneous representations, warranties, agreements and understandings, both written and oral, among the parties to this Agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement. In the event of any inconsistency between the statements in the body of this Agreement, the Confidentiality Agreement and the Company Disclosure Letter (other than an exception expressly set forth as such in the Company Disclosure Letter), the statements in the body of this Agreement will control.

 

Section 8.9           No Third Party Beneficiaries. Except as provided in Section 5.9 hereof (which shall be to the benefit of the parties referred to in such section), this Agreement is for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their permitted assigns and respective successors and nothing herein, express or implied, is intended to or shall confer upon any other Person any legal or equitable right, benefit or remedy of any nature whatsoever under or by reason of this Agreement.

 

Section 8.10         Severability. If any term or provision of this Agreement is invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other term or provision of this Agreement or invalidate or render unenforceable such term or provision in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the parties hereto shall negotiate in good faith to modify this Agreement so as to effect the original intent of the parties as closely as possible in a mutually acceptable manner in order that the transactions contemplated hereby be consummated as originally contemplated to the greatest extent possible.

 

Section 8.11         Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that Parent or Merger Sub may, without the prior written consent of the Company, assign all or any portion of its rights under this Agreement to an Affiliate of Parent or, for collateral security purposes, assign to any source of financing to the Parent or the Surviving Corporation. No assignment shall relieve the assigning party of any of its obligations hereunder.

 

Section 8.12         Remedies. Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement, any and all remedies expressly conferred upon a party to this Agreement will be cumulative with, and not exclusive of, any other remedy contained in this Agreement, at Law or in equity. The exercise by a party to this Agreement of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise by it of any other remedy.

 

Section 8.13         Specific Performance. The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur if any provision of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with the terms hereof and that the parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of this Agreement or to enforce specifically the performance of the terms and provisions hereof in any federal court located in the State of Delaware or any Delaware state court, in addition to any other remedy to which they are entitled at Law or in equity.

 

 

Section 8.14         Counterparts; Effectiveness. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts (whether original, PDF or facsimile), all of which will be one and the same agreement. This Agreement will become effective when each party to this Agreement will have received counterparts signed by all of the other parties.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.

 

	COMPANY:
	GOLDEN ENTERPRISES, INC.
	By:	/s/ Mark W. McCutcheon
	Name:	Mark W. McCutcheon
	Title:	Chief Executive Officer
	PARENT:
	UTZ QUALITY FOODS, INC.
	By:	/s/ Dylan Lissette
	Name:	Dylan B. Lissette
	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer
	MERGER SUB:
	WESTMINSTER SUB, INC.
	By:	/s/ Dylan Lissette
	Name:	Dylan B. Lissette
	Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer

  

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED CERTIFICATE OF
INCORPORATION OF THE SURVIVING CORPORATION

 

See attached.

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF STOCKHOLDER CONSENT

 

GOLDEN ENTERPRISES, INC.

 

WRITTEN CONSENT OF CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING PURSUANT TO SECTION 228 OF THE DELAWARE GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

Pursuant to Section 228 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”), the Certificate of Incorporation of Golden Enterprises, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), as amended, and Article II, Section 11 of the Bylaws of the Company, as amended, the undersigned holders of common stock of the Company, par value $0.66-2/3 per share (“Company Common Stock”), constituting approximately [___]% of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock, hereby irrevocably consent in writing to the following actions and adoptions of the following resolutions in lieu of a meeting of stockholders, and deliver this consent to the corporate secretary of the Company:

 

WHEREAS, pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Merger Agreement”) among the Company, Utz Quality Foods, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation (“Parent”), and Westminster Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent (“Merger Sub”), Merger Sub will be merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”), with the Company surviving the Merger on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Merger Agreement (each capitalized term used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to such term in the Merger Agreement);

 

WHEREAS, in connection with the Merger, among other things, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, all Company Stock Options that are outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time, whether or not then vested or exercisable, will be cancelled and converted into the right to receive an amount in cash, without interest, equal to the product of (i) the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option, multiplied by (ii) the excess, if any, of the Merger Consideration over the per share exercise price under such Company Stock Option, less any Taxes required to be withheld in accordance with Section 2.5 of the Merger Agreement;

 

WHEREAS, the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company’s stockholders, (ii) approved and declared advisable the “agreement of merger” (as such term is used in Section 251 of the DGCL) contained in the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Merger, in accordance with the DGCL, (iii) directed that the “agreement of merger” contained in the Merger Agreement be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for adoption, and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Company stockholders adopt the “agreement of merger” set forth in the Merger Agreement;

  

WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement, each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding prior to the Effective Time other than (i) shares of Company Common Stock that are owned by Parent, Merger Sub or the Company (as treasury stock or otherwise) or any of their respective direct or indirect wholly-owned Subsidiaries and (ii) Dissenting Shares, will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration; and

 

WHEREAS each of the undersigned stockholders, and those persons approving the execution of this written consent on behalf of such stockholder, has received and reviewed a copy of the Merger Agreement and the exhibits and attachments thereto and such other information as it believes necessary to make an informed decision in connection therewith, and each such stockholder has had the opportunity to consult with its own legal, tax and financial advisors regarding the consequences to it of the Merger, the Merger Agreement, the execution of this action by written consent and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby and hereby.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:

 

RESOLVED, that each undersigned stockholder of the Company, in its capacity as a stockholder of the Company, hereby votes all of the shares of Company Common Stock held by such stockholder in favor of the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of the Merger and the transactions and agreements contemplated thereby; provided however that this written consent shall be of no further force or effect following any termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms;

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that each undersigned stockholder agrees that the adoption of the Merger Agreement and approval of the Merger by such stockholder pursuant to this written consent shall constitute approval by such stockholder of the specific terms of the Merger;

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that each undersigned stockholder hereby affirmatively waives (i) any right of appraisal the undersigned may have arising in connection with the Merger under Section 262 of Chapter 1 of the DGCL and under any other applicable law or regulation granting such stockholder the right to have such stockholder’s shares of capital stock of the Company appraised in connection with the Merger, and (ii) any rights to otherwise dissent from the transactions contemplated by the whereas clauses and resolutions set forth herein;

 

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that each undersigned stockholder hereby waives on its own behalf any notice with respect to the Merger which such stockholder may be entitled pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws or any agreements between the Company and such stockholder, each, as in effect as of the date hereof;

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that the officers of the Company be, and each hereby is, authorized, directed and empowered to cause the transactions contemplated by these resolutions to be consummated and performed in the manner set forth therein and from time to time to do or cause to be done, all such other acts or things, and to execute and deliver all such agreements, instruments, certificates and other documents as any officer of the Company shall deem in his or her sole discretion necessary or appropriate; and

 

FURTHER RESOLVED, that this written consent may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument, and signatures transmitted by facsimile or pdf copy shall be original signatures for all purposes and such execution and transmission shall be considered valid, binding and effective for all purposes.

 

This written consent shall be filed with records of action by the stockholders of the Company.

 

[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]