Execution Copy
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
By and Among
ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC.,
NEPTUNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION, INC.
and
NU HORIZONS ELECTRONICS CORP.
Dated as of September 19, 2010
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS | 2 |
1.1 | Definitions | 2 |
1.2 | Construction | 11 |
ARTICLE II | THE MERGER | 12 |
2.1 | The Merger | 12 |
2.2 | Closing | 12 |
2.3 | Effective Time | 12 |
2.4 | Effects of the Merger | 12 |
2.5 | Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws | 12 |
2.6 | Directors and Officers | 12 |
ARTICLE III | CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER | 13 |
3.1 | Effect of Merger on Capital Stock | 13 |
3.2 | Exchange of Certificates | 14 |
3.3 | Stock Options and Other Stock-based Compensation | 16 |
ARTICLE IV | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY | 17 |
4.1 | Organization, Standing and Power; Subsidiaries | 17 |
4.2 | Capitalization | 18 |
4.3 | Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 19 |
4.4 | SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided | 21 |
4.5 | Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities | 23 |
4.6 | Absence of Certain Changes or Events | 23 |
4.7 | Agreements, Contracts and Commitments; Insurance | 23 |
4.8 | Litigation | 25 |
4.9 | Environmental Matters | 25 |
4.10 | Taxes | 26 |
4.11 | Real Property; Assets | 27 |
4.12 | Intellectual Property | 28 |
4.13 | Employee Benefit Plans | 31 |
4.14 | Permits | 34 |
4.15 | Compliance With Laws | 34 |
4.16 | Labor Matters | 35 |
4.17 | Customers and Suppliers | 36 |
4.18 | Export and Import Laws and Regulations Compliance | 36 |
4.19 | Data and Records | 37 |
4.20 | Proxy Statement | 37 |
4.21 | Brokers | 37 |
4.22 | Opinion of Financial Advisor | 38 |
4.23 | Accounts Receivable | 38 |
4.24 | Inventory | 39 |
4.25 | Books and Records | 39 |
4.26 | Product and Service Warranties | 40 |
ARTICLE V | REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER | 40 |
5.1 | Organization, Standing and Power | 40 |
5.2 | Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents | 40 |
5.3 | Absence of Changes | 41 |
5.4 | Interim Operations of Purchaser | 41 |
5.5 | Litigation | 42 |
5.6 | Brokers | 42 |
5.7 | Financial Capability | 42 |
5.8 | Information Supplied | 42 |
ARTICLE VI | CONDUCT OF BUSINESS | 42 |
6.1 | Conduct Prior to Effective Time | 42 |
6.2 | Acquisition Proposals | 46 |
6.3 | Certain Tax Matters | 48 |
6.4 | Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust | 49 |
ARTICLE VII | ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS | 49 |
7.1 | Efforts; Consents, Notices and Approvals | 49 |
7.2 | Financing | 51 |
7.3 | Company Stockholder Adoption of the Agreement | 51 |
7.4 | Notification of Certain Matters | 52 |
7.5 | Access to Information | 52 |
7.6 | Public Disclosure | 53 |
7.7 | Indemnification | 53 |
7.8 | Stockholder Litigation | 54 |
7.9 | Section 16 Matters | 54 |
7.10 | Post-Closing Employment Matters | 54 |
7.11 | Maintenance of Insurance Policies | 55 |
7.12 | Further Assurances | 56 |
7.13 | No Other Representations | 56 |
ARTICLE VIII | CONDITIONS | 56 |
8.1 | Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect the Merger | 56 |
8.2 | Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Purchaser to Effect the Merger | 56 |
8.3 | Conditions to Obligation of the Company to Effect the Merger | 57 |
8.4 | Frustration of Closing Conditions | 58 |
ARTICLE IX | TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER | 58 |
9.1 | Termination | 58 |
9.2 | Effect of Termination | 60 |
9.3 | Fees and Expenses | 60 |
9.4 | Amendment | 61 |
9.5 | Extension; Waiver | 61 |
9.6 | Procedure for Termination, Amendment, Extension or Waiver | 61 |
ARTICLE X | MISCELLANEOUS | 62 |
10.1 | Non-survival of Representations and Warranties | 62 |
10.2 | Notices | 62 |
10.3 | Entire Agreement | 63 |
10.4 | No Third-Party Beneficiaries | 63 |
10.5 | Assignment | 63 |
10.6 | Severability | 63 |
10.7 | Counterparts | 63 |
10.8 | Governing Law | 64 |
10.9 | Submission to Jurisdiction | 64 |
10.10 | Remedies | 64 |
10.11 | WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL | 65 |
Exhibit A—Form of Articles of Incorporation
Schedule CK—Company’s Knowledge
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”), dated as of September 19, 2010, is entered into by and among Arrow Electronics, Inc., a New York corporation (“Parent”), Neptune Acquisition Corporation, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent (“Purchaser”), and Nu Horizons Electronics Corp., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”).
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Purchaser and the Company have determined that it would be advisable and in the best interests of their respective stockholders for Parent to acquire the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement;
WHEREAS, to effectuate such acquisition, Purchaser will be merged with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving corporation in the merger (the “Merger”);
WHEREAS, in the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.0066 per share, of the Company (the “Company Common Stock”) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration (as defined below);
WHEREAS, the respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Purchaser have approved this Agreement;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of the Company has (i) determined that the Merger is fair to, and in the best interest of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) declared the advisability of and approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) and (iii) resolved to recommend that the holders of the shares of Company Common Stock approve this Agreement, including the principal terms of the Merger;
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; and
WHEREAS, concurrently herewith, Parent and Purchaser are entering into a Stockholder Agreement (collectively, the “Voting Agreements”) with each director of the Company who beneficially owns shares of Company Common Stock as of the date hereof in respect of such Company Common Stock (each, a “Director Stockholder”);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, Parent, Purchaser and the Company agrees as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
1.1 Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
“2010 Form 10-K” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreements” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).
“Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer by any Person other than Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates relating to, or that is reasonably likely to lead to, directly or indirectly, (i) a merger, consolidation, dissolution, tender offer, exchange offer, joint venture, liquidation, recapitalization, share exchange, business combination or other similar transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) the acquisition by any Person in any manner of a number of shares of any class of equity securities of the Company or any Subsidiary equal to or greater than fifteen percent (15%) of the number of such shares outstanding before such acquisition or (iii) the acquisition by any Person in any manner, directly or indirectly, of assets that constitute fifteen percent (15%) or more of the net revenues, net income, EBITDA or the consolidated total assets of the Company, in each case other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that solely for purposes of Section 9.3, the references to fifteen percent (15%) in this definition shall be replaced by fifty percent (50%).
“Affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act.
“Affiliated Group” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.10(a).
“Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“Book-entry Shares” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b)(i).
“Business Day” has the meaning set forth in Rule 14d-1(g)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.
“Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b)(i).
“Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Change in Board Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(d).
“Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
“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” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Company” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
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“Company Balance Sheet” means the audited balance sheet of the Company as of February 28, 2010.
“Company Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.
“Company Common Stock” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
“Company Disclosure Schedule” has the meaning set forth in the introductory paragraph to Article IV.
“Company Employee Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.13(a).
“Company Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(b).
“Company Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property that is owned by, or exclusively licensed to, Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Company Leases” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.11(b).
“Company Person” means an officer, director, employee, consultant, contractor, subcontractor or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“Company Preferred Stock” means preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share.
“Company Registered Intellectual Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.12(a).
“Company SEC Reports” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.4(a).
“Company Stock Award” means each restricted stock award, restricted unit award and other right, contingent or accrued, to acquire or receive shares of Company Common Stock or benefits measured by the value of such shares, and each aware of any kind consisting of shares of Company Common Stock that may be held, awarded, outstanding, payable or reserved for issuance under any Company stock award, or other equity-based, plan, other than Company Stock Options.
“Company Stock Option” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Company Stock Option Holder” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Company Stock Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(b).
“Company Stockholders Meeting” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).
“Company’s Knowledge” means, with respect to any specific matter, the actual knowledge of the persons listed on Schedule CK to this Agreement, assuming such persons have made due inquiry of any officer or employee of the Company having responsibility for such matter.
“Consent” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(c).
“Contract” means written or oral contract, note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license, or other legally binding agreement, instrument, commitment, guarantee, executory commitment, understanding or obligation.
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“Court” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.9.
“Covered Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.7(a).
“Data Protection Legislation” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19.
“Demand Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c)(i).
“DGCL” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof .
“Director Stockholder” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
“Dissenting Share” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(c)(i).
“DOJ” means the U.S. Department of Justice.
“Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
“Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.10(a).
“Employee Benefit Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA) and any other written or oral plan, agreement, arrangement, policy or practice involving direct or indirect compensation, including insurance coverage, severance benefits, vacation, paid time-off, disability benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses, allowances, educational assistance, loans, stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive or retention compensation or post-retirement compensation and all unexpired severance and retention agreements, written or otherwise, for the benefit of, or relating to, any current or former Company Person or any current or former officer, director, employee, consultant, contractor, subcontractor or agent of an ERISA Affiliate.
“End Date” means the six month anniversary of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that if any of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1(b) relating to, or requiring receipt of, anti-trust or anti-competition approval by any Governmental Authority to consummate the Merger, have not been satisfied prior to the six month anniversary of the date of this Agreement and all of the other conditions set forth in Article VIII shall have been satisfied at such time, “End Date” shall mean the nine month anniversary of the date of this Agreement.
“Environmental Law” means any applicable Law, Permit or Order relating to (A) the protection, investigation or restoration of the environment, human health and safety as affected by the environment or natural resources or (B) the handling, use, storage, treatment, manufacture, transportation, management, disposal, Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance.
“ERISA” means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” means any entity which is a member of (A) a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (B) a group of trades or businesses under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the Code) or (C) an affiliated service group (as defined under Section 414(m) of the Code or the regulations under Section 414(o) of the Code), any of which includes the Company or a Subsidiary.
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“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, together with the rules and regulations thereunder.
“Exchange Fund” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Expenses” means documented out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred or paid by or on behalf of Parent and/or Purchaser in connection with the Merger or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all fees and expenses of law firms, investment banking firms, accountants, experts and consultants to Parent and/or Purchaser but not to exceed $3 million.
“Fairness Opinion” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.22.
“Financial Advisor” means Houlihan Lokey Capital, Inc., the financial advisor to the Company.
“Foreign Export and Import Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).
“FTC” means the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States.
“Government Contract” means any Contract with any Governmental Authority entered into by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound.
“Governmental Authority” means any government, any governmental or quasi-governmental authority or entity or municipality or political or other subdivision thereof, department, commission, board, regulatory or administrative or self-regulating authority, bureau, branch, authority, official, agency or instrumentality and any court, tribunal, arbitrator or judicial body, in each case, whether federal, state, city, municipal, county, local, provincial, foreign, international or multinational.
“Hazardous Substance” means any substance or waste that is (A) listed, classified, regulated as a “hazardous substance”, “hazardous material”, “hazardous chemical” or “hazardous waste” pursuant to any Environmental Law, (B) a petroleum product or by-product, asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyl, radioactive material or radon or (C) any other substance or waste which is regulated by any applicable Governmental Authority pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law or with respect to which liability or standards of conduct are imposed under any Environmental Law.
“HSR Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Insurance Policies” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(g).
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“Intellectual Property” means all intellectual property and intellectual property rights, whether protected, created or arising under the laws of the United States or a foreign jurisdiction, including: (i) all works of authorship including all copyrights and copyrightable works (whether registered or unregistered), and all applications, registrations and renewals thereof; (ii) all patents, patent applications, provisional applications, patent disclosures and invention disclosure statements, together with all reissuances, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutes, extensions, renewals and reexaminations thereof, any confirmation patent, patent of addition and registration patent, as well as any foreign counterparts of any of the foregoing; (iii) all trade secret rights and corresponding rights in confidential information and other non-public information (whether or not patentable), including ideas, formulas, compositions, inventor’s notes, discoveries and improvements, know how, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, testing information, research and development information, inventions, invention disclosures, unpatented blueprints, drawings, specifications, designs, plans, proposals and technical data, business and marketing plans, market surveys, market know-how and customer lists and information; (iv) all mask works and all applications, registrations and renewals in connection therewith; (v) all Software; (vi) all trade names, fictional business names, trade dress rights, trademarks and service marks including all applications, registrations and renewals thereof and logos, including any Internet domain names, and applications therefor and the goodwill associated with the foregoing, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations and combinations and like intellectual property rights; (vii) all industrial designs and any registrations and applications therefor; (viii) all databases and data collections and all rights therein; (ix) all moral and economic rights of authors and inventors, however denominated and (x) any similar or equivalent rights to any of the foregoing anywhere in the world.
“ITAR” means the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, 22 C.F.R. Part 120.
“IT Systems” means, collectively, any electronic data processing, information, record keeping, communications, telecommunications, account management, inventory management and other computer systems (including all Software, firmware, hardware and related documentation) and Internet websites and related content, including, without limitation, the Company’s proprietary software systems.
“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign, international, multinational or administrative Order, constitution, law, common law, ordinance, judicial decision, writ, injunction, license, permit, regulation, rule, code, plan, statute or treaty of a Governmental Authority.
“Letter of Transmittal” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(b)(i).
“Liens” means any mortgage, pledge, lien (statutory or otherwise), assessment, assignment, security interest, charge, levy, easement, right of way, claim or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sales or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any of the foregoing) and any option or other arrangement having the practical effect of any of the foregoing.
“Matching Bid” means a good faith written proposal by Purchaser or Parent in response to a Notice of Superior Proposal.
“Material Adverse Effect” means any fact, change, event, circumstance, occurrence, development or effect (any such item, an “Effect”) that (i) has or would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on the business, assets, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) prevents the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided, however, that none of the following shall be deemed to constitute a Material Adverse Effect (except in the cases of clauses (a), (b), (c), (g) and (h) below to the extent such occurrence disproportionately affects the Company relative to other similarly situated participants in the industries in which the Company operates):
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(a) changes affecting any industry or industries in which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries operates;
(b) changes in global or national political conditions or general economic or market conditions affecting the regions in which the Company or its Subsidiaries operate;
(c) general financial, credit or capital market conditions, including interest rates or exchange rates, or any changes therein;
(d) the announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, including any cancellation of or delays in customer orders, any reduction in sales, any disruption in supplier, distributor, partner or similar relationships, any loss of employees and any actions taken by or inactions of competitors; provided that this exception shall not apply to:
(i) any such cancellation of or delays in customer orders or reduction in sales related to any Material Customer that has (A) from February 28, 2010 to the date hereof terminated, rescinded or repudiated any Contract prior to the anticipated end of the engagement contemplated by such Contract or (B) as of the date of this Agreement, indicated that it is such Material Customer’s intention to stop or decrease the rate of buying materials, products or services from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise reduce or detrimentally alter such Material Customer’s business or relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business) and such termination, rescission, repudiation or indication was not disclosed by the Company in breach of Section 4.17; or
(ii) any such disruption in supplier, distributor, partner or similar relationships related to a Material Supplier that has (A) from February 28, 2010 to the date hereof terminated, rescinded or repudiated any Contract prior to the anticipated end of the engagement contemplated by such Contract or (B) as of the date of this Agreement, indicated that it is such Material Supplier’s intention to stop or decrease the rate of supplying materials, products or services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise reduce or detrimentally alter such Material Supplier’s business or relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business) and such termination, rescission, repudiation or indication was not disclosed by the Company in breach of Section 4.17;
(e) compliance with the terms of this Agreement, any action contemplated by this Agreement or any action taken, or failure to act, to which Parent has consented;
(f) stockholder class action or derivative litigation or other litigation to the extent arising from allegations of a breach of fiduciary or other common law or statutory duty (including any stockholder claims alleging any violations of state common or statutory law, state blue sky laws, federal securities laws or the regulations promulgated thereunder) relating to the negotiation, execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement and/or the consummation or proposed consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(g) acts of war (whether or not declared), the commencement, continuation or escalation of a war, acts of armed hostility, sabotage or terrorism or other international or national calamity or any material worsening of such conditions threatened or existing as of the date of this Agreement;
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(h) changes in Law or GAAP after the date hereof;
(i) any failure by the Company to meet any published or internally prepared estimates of revenues, earnings or other economic performance for any period ending on or after the date of this Agreement (it being understood that the facts and circumstances giving rise to such failure may be deemed to constitute, and may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect if such facts and circumstances are not otherwise described in clauses (a)-(h) of this definition); or
(j) a decline in the price of the Company Common Stock on the NASDAQ Stock Market (it being understood that the facts and circumstances giving rise to such decline may be deemed to constitute, and may be taken into account in determining whether there has been, a Material Adverse Effect if such facts and circumstances are not otherwise described in clauses (a)-(i) of this definition);
“Material Customer” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.
“Material Supplier” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.17.
“Merger” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
“Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1(a)(i).
“NDA” means the nondisclosure letter agreement dated May , 2010 between Parent and the Company.
“Notice of Superior Proposal” means written notice from the Company to Parent advising Parent that the Company has received a Superior Proposal.
“Open Source Software” means any Software that is, in whole or in part, subject to the provisions of any Contract that is made generally available to the public without requiring payment of fees or royalties (including without limitation any obligation or condition under any “open source” license such as the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License, Mozilla Public License or BSD licenses), and that requires or conditions the use or distribution of any such Software on the disclosure, licensing or distribution of any source code for any portion of any Software owned or developed by the Company, or its Subsidiaries, or otherwise imposes any limitation, restriction or condition on the right or ability of the Company, or its Subsidiaries to use or distribute any Software owned or developed by the Company, or its Subsidiaries.
“Option Payments” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.3(a).
“Order” means any order, award, injunction, writ, judgment, stipulation, decree or determination entered, issued, promulgated, made or rendered by or with any Governmental Authority.
“Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of business of the Company and its Subsidiaries consistent with past practice.
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“Other Antitrust Laws” means any Law enacted by any Governmental Authority relating to antitrust matters or regulating competition and any analogous or similar Laws of any foreign jurisdiction.
“Parent” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“Parent Benefit Plan” means any “employee pension benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA), any “employee welfare benefit plan” (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA), and any other written or oral plan, agreement, arrangement, policy or practice involving direct or indirect compensation, including insurance coverage, severance benefits, vacation, paid time-off, disability benefits, deferred compensation, bonuses, allowances, educational assistance, loans, stock options, stock purchase, phantom stock, stock appreciation or other forms of incentive or retention compensation or post-retirement compensation that is maintained or sponsored by, or contributed to by, Parent and/or any of its Affiliates.
“Paying Agent” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).
“Permit” means permit, license, franchise, concession, variance, exemption, certificate, approval and/or other similar authorization from a Governmental Authority.
“Permitted Actions” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(b).
“Permitted Liens” means (i) any Lien reflected on the Company Balance Sheet, (ii) Liens for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments that are not yet due and payable, (iii) Liens for carriers, warehousemen, mechanics and materialmen and (iv) Liens incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business that are insignificant, individually or in the aggregate, to the operation of the Company’s business.
“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company, syndicate, person (including a “person” as defined in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), joint stock company, organization, trust, association, entity, or government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality of a government.
“Personal Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.19.
“Proceeding” means an action, audit, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation.
“Proxy Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(b).
“Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in the first paragraph hereof.
“Recommendation” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.3(e).
“Registered Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property that is the subject of an application, certificate, filing, registration or other document issued, filed with, or recorded by any state, government or other public legal authority, including any of the following: (i) issued patents and patent applications; (ii) trademark registrations, renewals and applications; (iii) copyright registrations and applications and (iv) domain name registrations.
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“Release” or “Released” means the actual spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping or disposing into the environment (including the abandonment or disposing of barrels, containers and other closed receptacles containing any Hazardous Substance), whether intentional or unintentional, of any Hazardous Substance.
“Representatives” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.2(a).
“Sarbanes-Oxley Act” means the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Software” means computer software and firmware (including object code, source code, data and related documentation).
“Stockholder Approval” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to the Company, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business association or entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (i) the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company is a general partner or a managing member, (ii) the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries holds voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors or other governing body performing similar functions or (iii) the Company and/or one or more of its Subsidiaries, directly or indirectly, owns or controls more than fifty percent (50%) of the equity, membership, partnership or similar interests.
“Superior Proposal” means any bona fide written Acquisition Proposal to acquire all or substantially all of the equity securities or assets of the Company, pursuant to a tender or exchange offer, a merger, a sale of its assets or other similar transaction, on terms and conditions that the Company Board concludes in good faith (after consultation with the Financial Advisor and outside legal counsel) (a) is reasonably capable of being completed timely on the terms proposed, taking into account all financial, regulatory, legal and other aspects of such proposal, (b) for which financing, to the extent required, is then fully committed or which, in the good-faith judgment of a Board of Directors (based on the advice of the Financial Advisor), is reasonably capable of being timely financed by the Person making the proposal to finance the Acquisition Proposal, and (c) would, if consummated result in a transaction that is more favorable from a financial point of view to the holders of Company Common Stock than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (but excluding any impact on the Director Stockholders of the terms of any stockholders agreement or the absence thereof included as a facet thereof) taking into account all of the terms and conditions of such Acquisition Proposal and this Agreement and the Voting Agreements (including any bona fide offer or proposal by Parent to amend the terms of this Agreement and/or the Voting Agreements).
“Surviving Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1.
“Takeover Law” means any state “moratorium”, “control share acquisition”, “business combination”, “fair price” or other form of anti-takeover Law.
“Tax Returns” means all reports, returns, declarations, statements or other information required to be supplied (including electronically) to a taxing authority in connection with Taxes.
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“Taxes” means all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other similar assessments or liabilities, including income, gross receipts, ad valorem, premium, value-added, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use, services, transfer, withholding, employment, unclaimed property, payroll and franchise taxes imposed by any Governmental Authority responsible for the imposition of taxes and any interest, fines, penalties, assessments or additions to tax resulting from, attributable to or incurred in connection with any tax or any contest or dispute thereof, including liability for the payment of any Taxes as a result of being or having been a member of an Affiliated Group on or before the Effective Time, or a party to any agreement or arrangement whereby liability of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for payments of such amounts was determined or taken into account with reference to the liability or income of any other Person.
“Termination Fee” means an amount equal to three percent (3%) of the aggregate of the Merger Consideration and Option Payments, plus Expenses, less any Expenses theretofore paid by the Company to Parent pursuant to Section 9.3(b).
“Third Party Intellectual Property” means any Intellectual Property owned by a third party to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has a license, sublicense or other agreement, including Software used for internal business processes and operations, but excluding any Intellectual Property that is licensed on an exclusive basis to Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
“U.S. Export and Import Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 4.18(a).
“Voting Agreements” has the meaning set forth in the recitals hereof.
1.2 Construction. Unless expressly specified otherwise, whenever used in this Agreement, the terms “Annex”, “Appendix”, “Article”, “Exhibit”, “Schedule” and “Section” refer to annexes, appendices, articles, exhibits, schedules and sections of this Agreement. Whenever used in this Agreement, the terms “hereby”, “hereof”, “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole, including all articles, sections, schedules and exhibits hereto. Whenever used in this Agreement, the terms “include”, “includes” and “including” mean “include, without limitation,” “includes, without limitation” and “including, without limitation,” respectively. Whenever the context of this Agreement permits, any pronouns used in this Agreement shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and the singular form of nouns and pronouns shall include the plural, and vice versa. “Days” means calendar days unless otherwise specified. Any reference to any Law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise, and also shall be deemed to refer to such Laws as they may be amended after the date of this Agreement. The table of contents and headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. For purposes of this Agreement, the Company shall not be deemed to be an Affiliate or Subsidiary of Purchaser or Parent. No summary of this Agreement prepared by any party shall affect the meaning or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement. The parties hereto have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement and in the event an ambiguity or 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 (or any Affiliate thereof) by virtue of the authorship of any of the provisions of this Agreement.
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ARTICLE II
THE MERGER
2.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the DGCL, Purchaser shall be merged with and into the Company at the Effective Time. At the Effective Time, the separate corporate existence of Purchaser shall cease and the Company shall continue as the surviving corporation (the “Surviving Corporation”) and, in accordance with the DGCL, shall succeed, without other transfer, to all the rights and property of Purchaser and shall be subject to all the debts and liabilities of Purchaser in the same manner as if the Surviving Corporation had itself incurred them.
2.2 Closing. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, the closing of the Merger (the ”Closing”) shall take place at 10:00 A.M. on the second (2nd) Business Day after the satisfaction or (to the extent permitted by applicable Law) waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VIII (other than those that by their terms cannot be satisfied until the time of the Closing but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of such conditions); provided, however, that in the event that such satisfaction occurs on any date from December 13, 2010 to December 31, 2010, the Closing shall occur on January 3, 2011 unless otherwise agreed to by Parent and the Company. The Closing shall take place at the offices of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, One Chase Manhattan Plaza, New York, New York 10005, or at such other location as may be mutually agreed to by Parent and the Company. The date on which the Closing occurs is referred to in this Agreement as the ”Closing Date.”
2.3 Effective Time. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, as soon as practicable on the Closing Date, the parties shall cause (a) a Certificate of Merger prepared and executed in accordance with Section 252(c) of the DGCL to be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the “Certificate of Merger”) and (b) all other filings, recordings, certifications, publications required by the DGCL, in such forms as required by such Laws, to be duly prepared, executed and made. The Merger shall become effective on the date of the filings of the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware at the time specified therein or at such subsequent time and date as Parent and the Company shall agree and specify in the Certificate of Merger. The time at which the Merger becomes effective is referred to in this Agreement as the “Effective Time.”
2.4 Effects of the Merger. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in Section 259 of the DGCL.
2.5 Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. At the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended, shall be amended in its entirety to read as set forth on Exhibit A hereto, and as so amended shall be the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided therein and by applicable Law, and the bylaws of Purchaser in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, until thereafter amended as provided therein and by applicable Law.
2.6 Directors and Officers. The directors and officers of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the initial directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors are elected and qualified.
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ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF SECURITIES IN THE MERGER
3.1 Effect of Merger on Capital Stock.
(a) Conversion of Securities. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Purchaser, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the holder of any of the following securities:
(i) each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than shares of Company Common Stock to be cancelled pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(ii) below and any Dissenting Shares) shall be automatically cancelled and extinguished and be converted into and become the right to receive from the Surviving Corporation $7.00 in cash per share without any interest thereon (the “Merger Consideration”), and all other rights of the holder thereof with respect thereto shall cease to exist;
(ii) each share of Company Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time that is owned by Parent, Purchaser or the Company or any direct or indirect Subsidiary of Parent or the Company shall automatically be cancelled, and no payment shall be made with respect thereto; and
(iii) each share of Purchaser’s capital stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of the same class of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.
(b) 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, 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.
(c) Dissenting Shares.
(i) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any share of Company Common Stock that is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and which is held by a holder who: (A) is entitled to demand and who has made written demand upon the Company for the purchase of such shares and payment in cash of the “fair market value” thereof in the manner prescribed by Section 262 of the DGCL (the “Demand Notice”) and (B) has perfected such holder’s rights in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL, shall be deemed a “Dissenting Share.”
(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, if a holder of any Dissenting Shares shall fail to perfect or otherwise waives, withdraws or loses such holder’s rights under Section 262 of the DGCL or a court of competent jurisdiction determines that such holder is not entitled to relief under Section 262 of the DGCL, then any such shares shall be deemed to have been converted at the Effective Time into, and shall have become, the right to receive the Merger Consideration as set forth in Section 3.1(a)(i) of this Agreement, without any interest thereon.
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(iii) The Company shall give Parent (A) prompt notice of any Demand Notice received by the Company, withdrawals thereof and any other instruments served pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL and received by the Company and (B) the opportunity to direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to the exercise of any rights of the holder of Dissenting Shares under Section 262 of the DGCL. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent or as otherwise required by applicable Law, make any payment with respect to any such exercise of any such rights of the holder of Dissenting Shares under Section 262 of the DGCL or offer to settle or settle any such rights. The parties hereto agree that they will not, and this Agreement does not, confer or seek to confer upon any holder of Company Common Stock any dissenters rights or appraisal rights greater than those provided by Section 262 of the DGCL or otherwise expand or seek to expand the rights provided by Section 262 of the DGCL.
3.2 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) Paying Agent. Prior to the Effective Time, the Company and Parent shall enter into an agreement with the Company’s transfer agent or another paying agent selected by Parent and reasonably acceptable to the Company to act as agent (the “Paying Agent”) and Parent will deposit or cause to be deposited, by wire transfer of immediately available funds, in trust with the Paying Agent for the benefit of the holders of outstanding shares of Company Common Stock that were converted into the right to receive Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 3.1(a)(i), cash in an aggregate amount equal to the sum of (i) the product of the Merger Consideration and the number of shares of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (provided, however, that the portion of the aggregate Merger Consideration allocable to the Dissenting Shares shall not be required to be deposited with the Paying Agent) plus (ii) the aggregate Option Payments (such aggregate amounts being hereinafter referred to as the “Exchange Fund”).
(b) Exchange Procedure.
(i) Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying Agent to deliver to each holder of record of (A) a certificate or certificates which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented outstanding shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Certificate”) or (B) shares of Company Common Stock represented immediately prior to the Effective Time by book-entry (“Book-Entry Shares”), appropriate transmittal materials and instructions (collectively, the “Letter of Transmittal”) (which shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and title to such Certificates shall pass, only upon proper delivery of such Certificates to the Paying Agent or, in the case of Book-Entry Shares, upon adherence to the procedures set forth in the Letter of Transmittal). The Certificates so delivered shall be duly endorsed as the Paying Agent may require. In the event of a transfer of ownership of shares of Company Common Stock represented by Certificates that is not registered in the transfer records of the Company, the consideration provided in Section 3.1(a)(i) may be issued to a transferee if the Certificates representing such shares are delivered to the Paying Agent, accompanied by all documents required to evidence such transfer and by evidence satisfactory to the Paying Agent that any applicable stock transfer taxes have been paid. If any Certificate shall have been lost, stolen, mislaid or destroyed, upon receipt of (x) an affidavit of that fact from the holder claiming such Certificate to be lost, mislaid, stolen or destroyed, (y) such bond, security or indemnity as Parent and the Paying Agent may reasonably require and (z) any other documents necessary to evidence and effect the bona fide exchange thereof, the Paying Agent shall issue to such holder the consideration into which the shares represented by such lost, stolen, mislaid or destroyed Certificate shall have been converted.
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(ii) Promptly after the Effective Time, Parent or the Surviving Corporation shall cause the Paying Agent to deliver the Option Payments, as appropriate, to each individual whose Company Stock Options are cancelled pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.3 hereof.
The Paying Agent may establish such other reasonable and customary rules and procedures to effect an orderly exchange. The Surviving Corporation shall pay all charges and expenses, including those of the Paying Agent, in connection with the distribution of the Merger Consideration.
(c) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock. The Merger Consideration paid upon the surrender of a Certificate in accordance with the terms of this Article III 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. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer books of the Company shall be closed, and there shall be no further registration of transfers on the stock transfer books of the Surviving Corporation of shares of Company Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, any Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as provided for in this Article III.
(d) Termination of Exchange Fund. Any portion of the Exchange Fund that remains undistributed to the holders of Certificates on the date that is nine (9) months after the Effective Time shall, upon demand, be delivered by the Paying Agent to Parent, and any holder of a Certificate who has not theretofore complied with this Article III shall thereafter look only to Parent for payment of the Merger Consideration, but shall have no greater rights against Parent than may be accorded to a general unsecured creditor of Parent under applicable Law.
(e) No Liability. None of Parent, its Affiliates, Purchaser, the Company, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent or their respective Representatives shall be liable to any Person in respect of any cash delivered to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar Law. If any Certificate has not been surrendered prior to the one (1) -year anniversary of the Effective Time (or immediately prior to such earlier date on which the Merger Consideration in respect of such Certificate would otherwise escheat to or become the property of any Governmental Authority), any such cash in respect of such Certificate shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, become the property of the Surviving Corporation, free and clear of all claims or interest of any Person previously entitled thereto.
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(f) Investment of Exchange Fund. The Paying Agent shall invest any cash included in the Exchange Fund as directed by Parent. Any interest and other income resulting from such investments shall be paid to Parent. No investment loss or other loss incurred by the Exchange Fund shall affect the Merger Consideration payable pursuant to this Article III, and if such loss is realized Parent shall promptly deposit cash into the Exchange Fund to the extent necessary to satisfy the payment obligations set forth in this Article III.
(g) Withholding Rights. Each of Parent, the Surviving Corporation and the Paying Agent shall, upon written notice to the Paying Agent, be entitled to deduct and withhold from the Merger Consideration otherwise payable pursuant to this Agreement such amounts that it is required to deduct and withhold with respect to the making of such payment under the Code or any other applicable Law. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the holder of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Paying Agent. If and to the extent that amounts so withheld are not paid to a taxing authority, such amount shall be tendered to the former holder of the shares of Company Common Stock in respect of which such deduction and withholding were made by Purchaser.
3.3 Stock Options and Other Stock-based Compensation.
(a) Payment for Company Stock Options. At the Effective Time, each then-outstanding option to acquire shares of Company Common Stock (each, a “Company Stock Option” and each holder thereof a “Company Stock Option Holder”), whether or not vested or exercisable, shall be cancelled and converted into the right to receive from Parent or the Survivng 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 (the “Option Payment”). Promptly following the execution of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) deliver written notice to each Company Stock Option Holder informing such holder of the treatment of Company Stock Options as provided above in this paragraph, (ii) use its best efforts to obtain an option surrender agreement from each Company Stock Option Holder who is entitled to an Option Payment, which written notice and option surrender agreement shall be in forms satisfactory to Parent and (iii) take all reasonable action to effectuate the foregoing.
(b) Payment for Company Restricted Shares. At the Effective Time, each then-outstanding share of restricted Company Common Stock (each, a “Company Restricted Share”) shall become vested and shall be treated in the same manner as Company Common Stock hereunder.
(c) Necessary Actions. At or prior to the Effective Time, the Company, the Company Board and the compensation 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 3.3.
(d) Withholding. All amounts payable pursuant to this Section 3.3 shall be subject to any required withholding of Taxes and shall be paid without interest. To the extent that amounts are so withheld and paid over to the appropriate taxing authority, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid.
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(e) Termination of Company Stock Plans. The Company Stock Plans shall terminate as of the Effective Time, and the provisions in any other Company Employee Plan providing for the issuance, transfer or grant of any capital stock of the Company or any interest in respect of any capital stock of the Company shall terminate and be deleted as of the Effective Time and the Company shall take all necessary actions prior to the Effective Time to ensure that following the Effective Time no holder of a Company Stock Option or any participant in any Company Stock Plan or other Company Employee Plan shall have any right thereunder to acquire any capital stock of the Company or the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Parent and Purchaser, subject to those exceptions set forth in the disclosure schedule delivered by the Company to Parent herewith (the “Company Disclosure Schedule”) (the disclosure of an item in one section of the Company Disclosure Schedule as an exception or information relating to a particular representation or warranty being deemed adequately disclosed as an exception with respect to all other representations and warranties to the extent that the relevance of such item to such representations and warranties is reasonably apparent on the face of the disclosed item), as follows:
4.1 Organization, Standing and Power; Subsidiaries.
(a) Organization, Standing and Power. (i) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted. (ii) Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign entity in each jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Subsidiaries. Section 4.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all of the Company’s Subsidiaries as of the date hereof, the jurisdiction of organization or incorporation of each such Subsidiary, and the Company’s direct or indirect equity interest therein. Except as so listed or set forth in Section 4.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries directly or indirectly owns any equity, membership, partnership or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any equity, membership, partnership or similar interest in, any corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company or other business association or entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has at any time been a general partner or managing member of any general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability company or other entity.
(c) Organizational Documents. The Company has made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, each as amended, and the charter, bylaws or other organizational documents of each Subsidiary of the Company, each as amended. All of such organizational documents are in full force and in effect as of the date hereof in the form made available to Parent.
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4.2 Capitalization.
(a) Authorized and Outstanding Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of Company Common Stock, $0.0066 par value, and 1,000,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value. As of August 31, 2010, (i) 18,536,718 shares of Company Common Stock were issued and outstanding, (ii) no shares of Company Common Stock were held in the treasury of the Company, (iii) no shares of Company Common Stock are held by Subsidiaries of the Company and (iv) no shares of Company Preferred Stock were issued and outstanding. No issued and outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are subject to a repurchase or redemption right or right of first refusal or condition of forfeiture in favor of the Company.
(b) Options and Other Shares Reserved for Issuance. Section 4.2(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists as of August 31, 2010 (1) the number of shares of Company Common Stock reserved for future issuance pursuant to Company Stock Options and Company Stock Awards granted and outstanding and (2) the plans or other arrangements under which such Company Stock Options and Company Stock Awards were granted (collectively, the “Company Stock Plans”). Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth as of August 31, 2010 a complete and accurate list of all holders of outstanding Company Stock Options or Company Stock Awards, indicating with respect to each Company Stock Option and Company Stock Award, (1) the number of shares of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Stock Option or Company Stock Award, (2) the exercise price, date of grant and expiration date of such Company Stock Option or Company Stock Award, (3) any acceleration provisions or milestones / vesting dates applicable to such Company Stock Option or Company Stock Award and (4) whether the exercisability of such Company Stock Option or Company Stock Award will be accelerated in any way by the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (and if so, under which Company Stock Plan and to what extent). Except as set forth in Sections 4.2(a) and 4.2(b) of this Agreement and Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) there are no equity securities of any class of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any security exchangeable into or exercisable for such equity securities, issued, reserved for issuance or outstanding and (ii) there are no options, warrants, securities, calls, rights, commitments, instruments or agreements of any kind or character to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound, obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to issue, exchange, transfer, deliver or sell, or cause to be issued, exchanged, transferred, delivered or sold, additional shares of capital stock or other equity interests of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any security or rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any such shares or other equity interests, or obligating the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to grant, extend, accelerate the vesting of, otherwise modify or amend or enter into any such option, warrant, equity security, call, right, commitment or agreement, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has made available to Parent accurate and complete copies of all Company Stock Plans and forms of all agreements evidencing Company Stock Options and Company Stock Awards; except as set forth in Section 4.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all Company Stock Options and Company Stock Awards are pursuant to such forms.
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(c) Status of Shares. All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock are, and all shares of Company Common Stock subject to issuance as specified in Section 4.2(b) above, upon issuance on the terms and conditions specified in the instruments pursuant to which they are issuable, will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, call option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, each as amended, or any agreement to which the Company is a party or is otherwise bound. Except as set forth in Section 4.2(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no obligations, contingent or otherwise, of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of Company Common Stock or the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to provide funds to or, except as contemplated by this Agreement, make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or any other Person.
(d) Capital Stock of Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 4.2(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock and other equity securities or interests of each of the Company’s Subsidiaries are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid (to the extent applicable), nonassessable (to the extent applicable) and free of preemptive rights, and all such shares are owned, of record and beneficially, by the Company free and clear of all Liens, agreements, limitations in the Company’s voting rights, charges or other encumbrances of any nature.
4.3 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Power and Authority; Execution and Delivery. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and 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 by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. Other than, in connection with the Merger, approval of the Merger by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and the filing and recordation of appropriate merger documents as and to the extent such may be required by the DGCL, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties to this Agreement, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies is subject to general principles of law and equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought).
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(b) Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company does not, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with or result in any violation or breach of any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, each as amended, or the charter, bylaws, or other organizational document of any Subsidiary of the Company, (ii) except as set forth in Section 4.3(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, conflict with or result in any material violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a material default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit or creation of any material obligation) under, or require a consent, waiver, approval, authorization or notice under, constitute a change in control under, require the payment of a material penalty under or result in the imposition of any material Lien on the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ assets under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any material written Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets are bound or (iii) subject to compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 4.3(c) hereof, conflict with or violate any Permit, Order or Law applicable to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its or their properties or assets, except in the case of clause (iii) of this Section 4.3(b) for any matters which, individually or in the aggregate, are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(c) Absence of Required Consents. No consent, approval, license, permit, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration, notice or filing (any of the foregoing, a ”Consent”) with any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the pre-merger notification requirements under the HSR Act and Other Antitrust Laws, (ii) the filing of the applicable Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) filings or consents under and compliance with the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the Merger, (iv) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable state securities Laws, (v) filings with the NASDAQ Stock Market and the SEC, (vi) the consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and filings set forth in Section 4.3(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule and (vii) such other Consents which are not, individually or in the aggregate, material.
(d) Required Vote. The affirmative vote for approval of the Merger by the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock on the record date for the Company Stockholders Meeting is the only vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company’s capital stock or other securities necessary to adopt this Agreement and for the consummation by the Company of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Actions by the Company Board. The Company Board, at a meeting duly called and held, has (i) determined that each of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the Merger, are fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) declared the advisability of and duly approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, which approval is sufficient to satisfy the requirements of the DGCL, (iii) resolved to recommend that holders of shares of Company Common Stock approve the principal terms of the Merger (the ”Recommendation”) and (iv) to the extent necessary, adopted a resolution having the effect of causing the Company not to be subject to any state Takeover Law or similar Law that might otherwise apply to the Merger and any other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and, as of the date hereof, none of the aforesaid actions by the Company Board has been amended, rescinded or modified. To the Company’s Knowledge, no Takeover Law is applicable to the Merger or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company has taken all necessary actions so that the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL will not apply to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The Company does not have any “poison pill” or similar antitakeover device.
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4.4 SEC Filings; Financial Statements; Information Provided.
(a) Company SEC Reports. Except as set forth in Section 4.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has filed with the SEC all registration statements, forms, reports and other documents required to be filed by the Company with the SEC since March 1, 2007 (including all certifications required pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act), and copies of all such registration statements, forms, reports and other documents filed by the Company with the SEC since such date are publicly available. All such registration statements, forms, reports, certificates and other documents filed by the Company and that it may file after the date hereof until the Closing are referred to herein as the “Company SEC Reports.” The Company SEC Reports (i) except as set forth in Section 4.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, were filed on a timely basis, (ii) at the time filed, or if amended, as of the time of the last such amendment prior to the date of this Agreement, were prepared in compliance in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and/or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder applicable to such Company SEC Reports and (iii) except as set forth in Section 4.4(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, did not at the time they were filed contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such Company SEC Reports or necessary in order to make the statements in such Company SEC Reports, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. No Subsidiary of the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 15(d) of the Securities Act or Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or is bound by, and neither the Company’s nor its Subsidiaries’ assets or properties are subject to, any Contract required to be disclosed in a Form 10-K, Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed prior to the date hereof that is not disclosed in the Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2010, as filed with the SEC on May 7, 2010, including the consolidated financial statements of the Company set forth therein and the information incorporated by reference to the Company’s definitive proxy statement filed with the SEC on June 14, 2010 (the “2010 Form 10-K”).
(b) Financial Statements. Except as set forth in Section 4.4(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each of the consolidated financial statements (including, in each case, any related notes and schedules) (the “Company Financial Statements”) contained in the Company SEC Reports (i) complied as to form in all material respects, as of their respective dates of filing with the SEC, with applicable accounting requirements and the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements or, in the case of unaudited statements, as permitted by the SEC on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act), (iii) fairly presented in all material respects the consolidated financial condition of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the dates thereof and the consolidated results of its operations and cash flows for the periods indicated, consistent with the books and records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, except that the unaudited interim financial statements were subject to normal and recurring year-end adjustments which were not material in amount and (iv) were prepared from, are in accordance with and accurately reflect in all material respects, the Company’s books and records as of the times and for the periods referred to therein.
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(c) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and have been, in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as set forth in Section 4.4(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each of the principal executive officer of the Company and the principal financial officer of the Company 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 with respect to the Company SEC Reports, and except as set forth in Section 4.4(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the statements contained in such certifications were accurate as of the date they were made. For purposes of this Agreement, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has outstanding, or has arranged any outstanding, “extensions of credit” to directors or executive officers within the meaning of Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company 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 relating to any transaction or relationship between or among the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, on the one hand, and any unconsolidated affiliate, including any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity or person, on the other hand or any “off-balance sheet arrangements” (as defined in Item 303(a) of Regulation S-K of the SEC)). The Company has adopted a code of ethics, as defined by Item 406(b) of Regulation S-K of the SEC, applicable to its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, and persons performing similar functions. Since March 1, 2005, there has not been any change in or waiver of the Company’s code of ethics, and to the Company’s Knowledge, there have been no violations of the Company’s code of ethics by its principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, persons performing similar functions, or other senior executive officers. The Company is in material compliance with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable listing and corporate governance rules of the NASDAQ Global Market.
(d) Internal Controls. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries has established and maintains an effective system of “internal controls over financial reporting” (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act). No material weakness was identified in management’s assessment of internal controls as of February 28, 2010 (nor has any such material weakness since been identified). 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 in Section 4.4(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (x) 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 (y) 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 the foregoing, the terms “significant deficiency” and “material weakness” have the meaning assigned to such terms in Public Company Accounting Oversight Board Auditing Standard 2, as in effect on the date of this Agreement. The audit committee of the Company Board includes an Audit Committee Financial Expert, as defined by Item 401(h)(2) of Regulation S-K.
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(e) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company and its Subsidiaries have established and maintain “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rules 13a-5(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act).
(f) No Resignation. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, Ernst & Young LLP has not resigned or been dismissed as the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company as a result of or in connection with any disagreement with the Company on a matter of accounting practices which materially impacts or would require the restatement of any previously issued financial statements, covering one or more years or interim periods for which the Company is required to provide financial statements, such that they should no longer be relied upon.
4.5 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except (a) as set forth in Section 4.5 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (b) as disclosed in the Company Financial Statements or (c) for normal or recurring liabilities incurred since May 31, 2010 in the Ordinary Course of Business, neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries have incurred any material liabilities, either accrued, contingent or otherwise, required to be reflected in financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
4.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since May 31, 2010, the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their respective businesses only in the Ordinary Course of Business and have not suffered a Material Adverse Effect.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 4.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since May 31, 2010, there has not been any action taken by the Company through the date hereof that, if taken during the period from the date hereof through the Effective Time, would constitute a breach of Section 6.1.
4.7 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments; Insurance.
(a) All of the Contracts required to be set forth in paragraphs (b), (c), (f) and (g) of Section 4.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule are valid, subsisting, in full force and effect, binding upon the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, binding upon the other parties thereto in accordance with their respective terms (except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies is subject to general principles of law and equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought). No condition exists that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material default by the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, of any Contract required to be set forth in Company Disclosure Schedule under this Section 4.7. The Company has made available to Parent true and complete copies of all of the Contracts referred to in paragraphs (b), (c), (f) and (g) of this Section 4.7.
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(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.7(b) of the Company Disclosure or as described in the 2010 Form 10-K, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any Contract that is a “material contract” (as such term is defined in Item 601(b)(10) of Regulation S-K of the SEC).
(c) Section 4.7(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list of (i) each employment and severance agreement between the Company (or any of its Subsidiaries) and (A) the chief executive officer of the Company and (B) each other “named executive officer” identified in the 2010 Form 10-K and (ii) all change in control agreements to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party.
(d) Except as set forth in Section 4.7(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has no Government Contracts.
(e) Except as described in the 2010 Form 10-K, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into any transaction with any Company Person or any transaction that would be subject to disclosure pursuant to Item 404 of Regulation S-K of the SEC.
(f) Except as set forth in Section 4.7(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party or subject to a material non-competition or other similar Contract or Order that has or could have the effect of prohibiting the conduct of the business by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in any material respect. Except as set forth in Section 4.7(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has entered into (or is otherwise bound by) any agreement under which it or any of its Subsidiaries or their respective successors is restricted in any material respect from selling, licensing or otherwise distributing any of its technology or products, or providing services to, customers or potential customers or any class of customers, in any geographic area, during any period of time or any segment of the market or line of business. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a guarantor of indebtedness of any other Person other than the Company or its Subsidiaries.
(g) The Company maintains insurance policies (the “Insurance Policies”) for itself and its Subsidiaries with reputable insurance carriers against all risks of a character and, to the Company’s Knowledge, in such amounts as are usually insured against by similarly situated companies in the same or similar businesses. Section 4.7(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists each Insurance Policy (including Insurance Policies providing property, casualty, liability and workers’ compensation coverage and bond and surety arrangements) to which Company or any Subsidiary is currently a named insured. The premiums have been paid on the Insurance Policies for the coverage periods disclosed and, except as set forth in Section 4.7(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, each of the Insurance Policies is in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms (except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies is subject to general principles of law and equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought).
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4.8 Litigation. Except for Proceedings that do not involve an amount in controversy in excess of $100,000.00 or as set forth in Section 4.8 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or as set forth in the Company SEC Reports, there are no Proceedings pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any of their material properties, assets or rights. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject to any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent which would reasonably be expected to be, individually or in the aggregate, material to the Company and/or any of its Subsidiaries.
4.9 Environmental Matters.
(a) Compliance. Except as set forth in Section 4.9(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule:
(i) to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no and has been no Release or threatened Release of any Hazardous Substance at the properties currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries so as to give rise to any material liability or material investigatory, corrective or remedial obligation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Law;
(ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written notice, demand, letter, claim or request for information, or is aware of any pending or threatened notice, demand, letter, claim or request for information, alleging that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may be liable for material violations under any applicable Environmental Law or have any material liability under any applicable Environmental Law;
(iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any written Orders, or is aware of any pending or threatened Orders issued by any Governmental Authority or any indemnity or other agreement entered with any other Person, including leases for real property, imposing any material liabilities or obligations on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any applicable Environmental Law (other than standard lease indemnities or obligations to adhere to Environmental Law or Hazardous Substance control requirements);
(iv) to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries comply and have at all times complied with applicable Environmental Law, in all material respects, and have obtained, maintain in full force and effect and comply with, in all material respects, all Permits required for their operations under any applicable Environmental Law.
(b) Sole Environmental Representation. Notwithstanding the terms of any other representation and warranty contained in this Agreement, this Section 4.9 constitutes the sole representation and warranty of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to Environmental Law and Environmental Matters.
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4.10 Taxes.
(a) Filing of Tax Returns and Payment of Taxes; Definitions. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries and any affiliated, consolidated, combined, unitary or aggregate group (each, an “Affiliated Group”) of which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was a member has filed all material Tax Returns that it was required to file, and all such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects based on all applicable Laws and regulations. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have paid on a timely basis all material Taxes that are or were due and payable regardless of whether they were shown as payable on the applicable Tax Return. The unpaid Taxes of the Company and its Subsidiaries for Tax periods through the date of the Company Balance Sheet do not exceed by any material amount the accruals and reserves for Taxes set forth on the Company Balance Sheet (other than any accruals and reserves for “deferred taxes” or similar items that reflect timing differences between Tax and financial accounting principles) as adjusted for operations through the Effective Date in accordance with past custom and practice. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all material Taxes that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or was required by Law to withhold or collect (including withholding of Taxes pursuant to Sections 1441, 1442, 3121 and 3402 of the Code or similar provisions under any other Laws) have been duly withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper Governmental Authority.
(b) Deficiencies and Audits. The Company has made available to Parent correct and complete copies of all material federal income Tax Returns for all periods from and after January 1, 2006, together with related material examination reports and material statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for all periods from and after January 1, 2006. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no material examination or audit of any Tax Return of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by any Governmental Authority is currently in progress or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened or contemplated. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has waived any statute of limitations with respect to material Taxes or agreed to an extension of time with respect to a material Tax assessment or deficiency.
(c) FIRPTA. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(l)(A)(ii) of the Code.
(d) Change in Accounting Method. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no adjustments under Section 481 of the Code (or any similar adjustments or any provision of the Code or the corresponding federal, state or local Laws related to Taxes) that are required to be taken into account by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries by reason of a change in method of accounting in any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date.
(e) Absence of Group Memberships and Tax Agreements. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries (i) is or has ever been a member of an Affiliated Group, other than a group of which only the Company and its Subsidiaries are or were members or (ii) is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity, Tax sharing, Tax allocation or similar agreement, or is liable for the Taxes of any other person (other than the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.
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(f) Section 355. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has distributed to its stockholders or security holders stock or securities of a controlled corporation, nor has stock or securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries been distributed, in a transaction to which Section 355 of the Code applies (i) in the two (2) years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) in a distribution that could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) that includes the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(g) Tax Shelters; Disclosure Statements. Except as set forth in Section 4.10(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has ever entered into or been a party to (i) a transaction subject to registration pursuant to Code Section 6111 as a “reportable transaction” as defined in Code Section 6707A(c)(1) and within the meaning of Code Section 6111(b)(2) or a “tax shelter” as defined in former Code Section 6111(c) or (d), (ii) a transaction subject to the list requirements of Code Section 6112 or (iii) a tax shelter within the meaning of Code Section 6662(d). None of the Tax Returns filed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries contained a disclosure statement under Sections 6011 or 6662 of the Code (or any predecessor statute) or any similar provision of any other Law.
(h) Liens. There are no material Liens for 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.
(i) Tax Jurisdictions. No material unresolved claim has been made in writing by any taxing authority in a jurisdiction where 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.
(j) 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.
(k) 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 or (ii) installment sale made on or prior to the Closing Date.
4.11 Real Property; Assets.
(a) Owned Property. The Company does not own real property.
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(b) Leased Real Properties. Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all real properties leased, subleased or licensed by the Company or its Subsidiaries (collectively “Company Leases”) and the location, lessor(s) and lessee(s) of such real properties. The Company or a Subsidiary thereof has a valid leasehold estate in and the right to quiet enjoyment of each property covered by a Company Lease. None of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other party to any Company Lease, has materially 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 Company Lease. Except as set forth in Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, each material Company Lease is in full force and effect and is enforceable in accordance with its terms (except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium, or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies is subject to general principles of law and equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought) and shall not cease to be in full force and effect as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as set forth in Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries leases, subleases or licenses any real property to any person other than the Company and its Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all buildings, structures, fixtures and leasehold improvements, whether required to be maintained or repaired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or lessee under each Company Lease or by the lessor thereunder, are in good repair and operating condition in all material respects, subject only to ordinary wear and tear, and are adequate and suitable in all material respects for the purposes for which they are presently being used or held for use, and to the Knowledge of the Company, there are no facts or conditions that, in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely interfere with the current use, occupancy or operation thereof. Except as set forth in Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has made available to Parent complete and accurate copies of the Company Leases.
(c) Assets. Except as set forth in Section 4.11(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all buildings, plants, machinery, equipment and other tangible assets used by them, reflected on the Company Balance Sheet or acquired after the date thereof, except for properties and assets disposed of in the Ordinary Course of Business since the date of the Company Balance Sheet, (ii) all such properties and assets (w) together are sufficient for the continued conduct of such businesses immediately after the Closing in substantially the same manner as conducted immediately prior to the Closing, (x) are structurally sound in all material respects, (y) are in good operating condition and repair, normal wear and tear excepted and (z) are adequate for the uses to which they are being put, and none of such assets is in need of maintenance or repairs, except for ordinary, routine maintenance and repairs that are not material in nature or cost or for which Company or its Subsidiaries is not liable and (iii) all such properties and assets are owned free and clear of all Liens, except for Permitted Liens.
4.12 Intellectual Property.
(a) Schedule of Company Intellectual Property. Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a complete and accurate list of (i) all Registered Intellectual Property included among the Company Intellectual Property (the “Company Registered Intellectual Property”) and (ii) all material unregistered trademarks included among the Company Intellectual Property. For each listed item, Section 4.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule indicates, as applicable, the record owner of and the jurisdictions in which each such item of Company Registered Intellectual Property has been issued or registered.
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(b) Company Intellectual Property Rights. The Company or one of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, owns, or licenses or otherwise possesses rights to use, without any obligation to make any fixed or contingent payments (except as provided in license agreements or support agreements related to Third Party Intellectual Property, including any royalty payments or honorariums, all as identified in Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule), all Company Intellectual Property and Third Party Intellectual Property used or necessary in the conduct of its respective businesses as currently conducted. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has previously licensed, assigned, transferred or otherwise conveyed any right, title or interest in, to or under any of the Company Intellectual Property to any other Person. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is under any obligation to transfer ownership of, or grant any exclusive license with respect to any Company Intellectual Property to any third party. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company Intellectual Property is free and clear of all Liens or rights of any other Person to possession or use. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the extent that any Company Intellectual Property has been developed or created by a Company Person or any third party for the Company (or one of its Subsidiaries), the Company (or its applicable Subsidiary) either (i) has obtained ownership of and is the exclusive owner of such Intellectual Property by operation of Law or by valid assignment or (ii) has obtained a license thereto sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently conducted. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the IT Systems of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries (i) are adequate in all material respects for their intended use and for the operation of the business as currently operated and to the Company’s Knowledge as currently contemplated to be operated by the Company and its Subsidiaries, (ii) are capable of being operated and maintained for their intended use in connection with the operation of the business as currently operated and to the Company’s Knowledge as currently contemplated to be operated other than those third party services that are customary to companies that offer services and products similar to those offered by the Company, (iii) to the extent that specifications exist for portions of the IT Systems, conform in all material respects to such specifications, (iv) are in good working condition, (v) only use Open Source Software or generally commercially available software(including off-the-shelf Software subject to a shrinkwrap or clickwrap license) that is in material compliance with the terms and conditions for use thereof, (vi) to the Company’s Knowledge, (A) are free of all viruses, worms, Trojan horses and other known contaminants and (B) do not contain any bugs, errors or problems, in either case, of a nature that would materially disrupt their operation or have a material adverse impact on the operation of the IT Systems of each of the Company and its Subsidiaries and (vii) other than Third Party Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property exclusively licensed to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, only include Intellectual Property (A) developed by employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries within the scope of their employment, (B) developed by independent contractors who have assigned their rights to the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant to enforceable written agreements or (C) otherwise acquired by the Company or its Subsidiaries from a third party who has assigned all Intellectual Property rights and ownership of all Software to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries.
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(c) Contractual Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the execution and delivery of this Agreement and consummation of the Merger will not result in the material breach of, or create on behalf of any other Person the right to terminate or modify, (i) any Contract relating to any Company Intellectual Property or (ii) any Contract relating to Third Party Intellectual Property. Section 4.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each material Contract pursuant to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has been granted any rights to any (x) Third Party Intellectual Property (except for any generally commercially available software, including off-the-shelf Software subject to a shrinkwrap or clickwrap license), or (y) Company Intellectual Property that has been exclusively licensed to the Company or one of its Subsidiaries. None of the Third Party Intellectual Property contains any Software code licensed under any terms or conditions that impose any requirement that any Software using, linked with, incorporating, distributed with, based on, derived from or accessing the Software code: (i) be made available or distributed in source code form; (ii) be licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (iii) be licensed under terms that allow reverse engineering, reverse assembly, or disassembly of any kind. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all of the foregoing contractual Intellectual Property rights will be available for use by the Surviving Corporation on substantially similar terms and conditions following the Closing.
(d) Valid Rights; No Infringement or Challenge by Others. The Company’s ownership of all Company Intellectual Property and, to the Company’s Knowledge, its rights to all Third Party Intellectual Property, are subsisting and valid. All registrations with the appropriate domestic and foreign agencies in respect of such Company Intellectual Property are valid and in full force and effect and all such registrations and any applications are not subject to the payment of any Taxes or maintenance fees that are unpaid as of Closing by the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, to maintain their validity or effectiveness. To the Company’s Knowledge, no other Person is infringing or misappropriating, and no claim has been made challenging the enforceability or validity of, any of the Company Intellectual Property. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is investigating any potential infringement or misappropriation of the Company Intellectual Property.
(e) No Infringement By the Company. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, the operation of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as such business has been or currently is conducted (including products and Software previously or currently sold, licensed or distributed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries) has not and does not infringe(d) or misappropriate(d) any Intellectual Property right or other right of any third party. Except as set forth in Section 4.12(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any complaint, claim or notice alleging any such infringement, violation or misappropriation, and there are no other suits, judicial, arbitral or other similar proceedings or claims pending or threatened against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries alleging that the conduct of the business of the Company or its Subsidiaries has infringed or misappropriated the Intellectual Property of any other Person. None of the items set forth in Section 4.12(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in or will result in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.
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(f) Protection of Proprietary Rights. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have taken all reasonably necessary measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality, and value of the Company Intellectual Property (including trade secrets and corresponding rights in confidential information) and any proprietary information of third parties provided to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. To the Company’s Knowledge, there has been no unauthorized disclosure of any material trade secret owned by the Company or its Subsidiaries to any third parties.
(g) No Intellectual Property Contracts Affecting Parent. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company is not party to any Contract under which any other Person would be entitled to receive a license or any other right to Intellectual Property of Parent or any of its Affiliates (other than the Company and its Subsidiaries) following the Closing.
4.13 Employee Benefit Plans.
(a) Company Employee Plans; Definitions. Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and accurate list of all Employee Benefit Plans currently maintained, contributed to, or sponsored, by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates and any other material Employee Benefit Plans with respect to which the Company or its Subsidiaries have contingent or ongoing liabilities or obligations (together, the “Company Employee Plans”).
(b) Documentation Relating to Company Employee Plans. With respect to each Company Employee Plan, the Company has made available to Parent a complete and accurate copy of (i) such Company Employee Plan (or a written summary of any unwritten plan), (ii) the most recent annual report (Form 5500) (with respect to those plans for which such form is legally required) filed with the United States Department of Labor – Employee Benefits Security Administration, (iii) each current trust agreement, group annuity contract and summary plan description, if any, relating to any such Company Employee Plan that is subject to the provisions set forth in the Code, (iv) the most recent financial statements for each Company Employee Plan that is funded and (v) the most recent actual report or valuation of each Company Employee Plan.
(c) Administration of Company Employee Plans. Each Company Employee Plan has been administered in all respects in accordance with all applicable Laws (including, where applicable, ERISA and the Code) and the regulations thereunder and in all respects in accordance with its terms and each of the Company, the Company’s Subsidiaries and their ERISA Affiliates has in all respects met its obligations with respect to such Company Employee Plan and has made all required contributions thereto (or reserved such contributions on the Company Balance Sheet). All filings and reports as to each Company Employee Plan required to have been submitted to the Internal Revenue Service or to the United States Department of Labor have been submitted. With respect to the Company Employee Plans, no event has occurred, and there exists no condition or set of circumstances, in connection with which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries could be subject to any material liability under ERISA, the Code or any other applicable Law.
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(d) Benefit Obligations. With respect to the Company Employee Plans, there are no material benefit obligations for which contributions have not been made or properly accrued as required by such Company Employee Plan or applicable Law, and there are no material benefit obligations which have not been accounted for by reserves, or otherwise properly footnoted in accordance with GAAP, on the Company Financial Statements. The assets of each Company Employee Plan which is funded are reported at their fair market value on the books and records of such Company Employee Plan if so required under the terms of such Company Employee Plan or applicable Law.
(e) Qualification of Company Employee Plans. Each Company Employee Plan that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has received a determination, opinion, or advisory letter, as applicable, from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that such Company Employee Plan is so qualified and the plan and trust related thereto are exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and 501(a), respectively, of the Code. If a determination, opinion or advisory letter has been issued with respect to any Company Employee Plan, such determination, opinion or advisory letter has not been revoked and revocation has not been threatened, no act or omission has occurred, that, in any case, could reasonably be expected to adversely affect its qualification.
(f) Absence of Certain Obligations. None of the Company, any Company Subsidiary or any ERISA Affiliate has ever sponsored, maintained or contributed to a Company Employee Plan which was ever subject to Section 412 of the Code or Title IV of ERISA. No Company Employee Plan is funded by a “voluntary employee’s beneficiary association” within the meaning of Section 501(c)(9) of the Code. Except as set forth in Section 4.13(f) or Section 4.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no Company Employee Plan holds securities issued by the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.
(g) Ability to Amend or Terminate. Except as set forth in Section 4.13(g) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company, as applicable, may amend or terminate each Company Employee Plan sponsored or maintained by the Company or the Subsidiary at any time without material liability to the Company or the Subsidiary other than the payment of benefits, and any of the Company’s Subsidiaries which are a party thereto may terminate their participation therein in accordance with the applicable Company Employee Plan documents at any time without material liability to the Company or its Subsidiary other than the payment of benefits, and subject to applicable Law. No Company Employee Plan, plan document or agreement, summary plan description or other written communication distributed generally to Company Persons, by its terms prohibits the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from amending or terminating any Company Employee Plan sponsored or maintained principally by such Company or Subsidiary, as applicable, in accordance with the Company Employee Plan document.
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(h) Employment Related Agreements. Except as set forth in Section 4.13(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule separately for each item in this section, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to (i) any agreement with any current or former stockholder, director, officer, employee, consultant, contractor, subcontractor or agent of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (A) the benefits of which are contingent, in whole or in part, or the terms of which are materially altered, upon the occurrence of a transaction involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the nature of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B) providing any term of employment, compensation or benefit guarantee or (C) providing severance benefits, welfare benefits or other benefits after the termination of employment of such stockholder, director, officer or employee (except as may be required by COBRA), (ii) any agreement, plan or arrangement under which any “disqualified individual,” as defined in Section 280G(c) of the Code, may receive payments from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that will be subject to the tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code or included in the determination of such person’s “parachute payment” under Section 280G of the Code, without regard to Section 280G(b)(4) or (iii) any material agreement or plan binding the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, including any stock option plan, stock appreciation right plan, restricted stock plan, stock purchase plan or severance benefit plan, any of the benefits of which will be materially increased, or the vesting of the benefits of which will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. With respect to any agreement, plan or arrangement identified pursuant to Section 4.13(h)(ii) or (iii), the Company has provided to Parent (A) the information necessary to calculate any excise tax due under Section 4999 of the Code as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement if the Company or Parent may directly or indirectly become liable and the amount of deductions that may be disallowed under Section 280G of the Code as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (B) the Company’s calculation of such excise tax. The Company has made available to Parent a complete and accurate copy of all of the Employee Benefit Plans, Contracts, documents and other instruments referred to in Section 4.13(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
(i) Retiree Benefits. Except as set forth in Section 4.13(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company Employee Plans promises or provides retiree medical or other retiree welfare benefits to any Person, except as required by COBRA or similar state Law.
(j) No Violation. (i) Except as set forth in item (i) of Section 4.13(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, no Company Person is in violation of any material term of any patent disclosure agreement, non-competition agreement, or any restrictive covenant of a former employer or contracting entity relating to the right of any such Company Person to be employed or retained by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries because of the nature of the business conducted or presently proposed to be conducted by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or to the use of trade secrets or proprietary or confidential information of others and (ii) except as set forth in item (ii) of Section 4.13(j) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, no officer of the Company or Person performing an equivalent function for any of the Company’s Subsidiaries has given written notice to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that such officer or Person, or any group of employees, intends to terminate his or her employment with the Company or its Subsidiaries, as applicable, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries have given notice of intention to terminate the employment of any such officer or Person.
(k) Multiemployer Plan. No Company Employee Plan is a “multiemployer plan,” as that term is defined in ERISA Section 4001(a)(3) and neither the Company, any Subsidiaries, or any ERISA Affiliate has contributed to any such plan in the past six (6) years.
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(l) Section 409A Compliance. Each Company Employee Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code has been operated and maintained in compliance with such section and all applicable regulatory guidance (including, without limitation, proposed regulations, notices, rulings, and final regulations).
(m) 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.
(n) No Litigation. (i) There are no actions, suits or claims pending (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against, or with respect to, any Company Benefit Plan or its assets and (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, no set of circumstances exists which may reasonably give rise to an action, claim or lawsuit against, or with respect to, any Company Employee Plan or its assets.
(o) Non-U.S. Plans. Section 4.13(o) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists each Company Employee Plan subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside of the United States. Except for matters that, individually or in the aggregate, would not be reasonably expected to result in material liability to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, with respect to each such Company Employee Plan listed in Section 4.13(o) of the Company Disclosure Schedule: (i) if it is intended to be funded and/or book-reserved, the fair market value of the assets of such funded plan, or the book reserve established for such plan, together with any accrued contributions, is sufficient to procure or provide for the accrued benefit obligations with respect to all current and former participants in such plan according to the actuarial assumptions and valuations most recently used to account for such obligations in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) if it is intended to qualify for special tax treatment it meets all requirements for such treatment; and (iii) it has been registered as required and has been maintained in good standing with applicable Law.
4.14 Permits. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have all material Permits required to conduct their businesses as now being conducted. No suspension or cancellation of any material Permits of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in material compliance with the terms of all such Permits. To the Company’s Knowledge, no such Permit will cease to be effective as a result of the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4.15 Compliance With Laws. Except as set forth in Section 4.15 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries, since March 1, 2005, has materially complied with, is not in material violation of, and has not received any notice alleging any material violation with respect to, any applicable provision of any Law with respect to the conduct of its business, or the ownership or operation of its properties or assets.
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4.16 Labor Matters.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company, any of its Subsidiaries nor their respective Company Persons is a party to or otherwise bound by any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract with a labor union or labor organization. Except as set forth in Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, since March 1, 2007, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been or is the subject of any Proceeding asserting that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has committed an unfair labor practice or seeking to compel it to bargain with any labor union or labor organization, in relation to any union organizing activity, labor strike, dispute, walkout, work stoppage, slow-down or lockout involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, nor (except as set forth in Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule), to the Company’s Knowledge, have any such Proceedings or actions been threatened. Section 4.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all Company employees who are not citizens or permanent resident aliens of the United States who are employed by the Company in the United States. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws regarding employment practices, including, without limitation, Laws relating to workers’ safety and health, sexual harassment, discrimination, equal pay, immigration, wages and hours, workers’ compensation, payment and withholding of taxes and information privacy and security.
(b) All individuals who are or were performing consulting or other services for the Company or its Subsidiaries are or were correctly classified by the Company as either “independent contractors” or “employees” as the case may be, and, at the Closing Date, will qualify for such classification, except for such misclassifications, if any, individually or in the aggregate, which would not be material to the Company. Other than as disclosed in Section 4.16(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened Proceedings against the Company or its Subsidiaries by or on behalf of or related to any individuals currently or formerly classified by the Company or its Subsidiaries as “independent contractors” or “consultants” and, to the Company’s Knowledge, there is no basis for any such Proceedings, except for such Proceedings, if any, individually or in the aggregate, would not be material to the Company.
(c) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has effectuated or announced (i) a plant closing (as defined in the Worker Adjustment and Restraining Notification Act (the “WARN Act”)) affecting any site of employment or one or more facilities or operating units within any site of employment or facility of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) a “mass layoff” (as defined in the WARN Act) or (iii) such other transaction, layoff, reduction in force or employment terminations sufficient in number to trigger application of any similar Law.
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4.17 Customers and Suppliers. Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists each customer of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that constituted one of the Company’s ten (10) largest customers based upon consolidated revenues in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 (each, a “Material Customer”). Except as set forth in Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) from February 28, 2010 to the date hereof no Material Customer has terminated, rescinded or repudiated any Contract prior to the anticipated end of the engagement contemplated by such Contract or (ii) as of the date of this Agreement, no Material Customer has indicated that it is their intention to stop or decrease the rate of buying materials, products or services from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise reduce or detrimentally alter their business or relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business. Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists each supplier of the Company, or of any of its Subsidiaries, that constituted one of the Company’s ten (10) largest suppliers in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2010 (each a “Material Supplier”). Except as set forth in Section 4.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) from February 28, 2010 to the date hereof no Material Supplier has terminated, rescinded or repudiated any Contract prior to the anticipated end of the engagement contemplated by such Contract or (ii) as of the date of this Agreement, no Material Supplier has indicated that it is their intention to stop or decrease the rate of supplying materials, products or services to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise reduce or detrimentally alter their business or relationship with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business other than customary decreases effected in the ordinary course of business of such Material Supplier.
4.18 Export and Import Laws and Regulations Compliance.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, (i) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is, and for the last five (5) years has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable U.S. export and import Laws, including the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. § 2778), ITAR, the Trading With the Enemy Act (50 U.S.C. § 5), the Export Administration Act (P.L. 96-72), the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. § 1701), the Export Administration Regulations (15 C.F.R. 730 et seq.), the Customs Regulations (19 C.F.R. 141 et seq.) and associated executive orders, and the Laws implemented by the Office of Foreign Assets Control, United States Department of the Treasury (collectively, “U.S. Export and Import Laws”), and there are no claims, complaints, charges, investigations, requests for information or disclosures, or Proceedings pending or expected or threatened between the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and the United States government alleging non-compliance with or liability under U.S. Export and Import Laws and (ii) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all currently applicable non-U.S. export and import laws (“Foreign Export and Import Laws”), and there are no claims, complaints, charges, investigations or Proceedings pending or expected or threatened between the Company, any of the Company’s Subsidiaries and a foreign government alleging non-compliance with or liability under Foreign Export and Import Laws.
(b) Except as set forth in Section 4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has prepared and timely applied for all required import and export licenses or other government approvals required in accordance with U.S. Export and Import Laws and Foreign Export and Import Laws, for the conduct of their respective businesses, and has conducted their respective businesses in compliance with such licenses in all material respects.
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(c) No action has been taken by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, as applicable, any director, officer, agent, employee or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any Affiliate thereof, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (15 U.S.C. § 78 et seq.), as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries or, as applicable, any director, officer, agent, employee or Affiliate thereof have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which would be reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
4.19 Data and Records. For the purposes of this Section 4.19, “Data Protection Legislation” means the Laws concerning the protection and/or processing of Personal Information, and “Personal Information” means information about an individual who can be identified by the Person who holds that information.
(a) To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries has complied in all material respects with all applicable requirements of Data Protection Legislation, including (i) the data protection principles, (ii) requests from data subjects for access to data and (iii) notification to, or registration with, applicable data protection regulators.
(b) To the Company’s Knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice from any data protection regulator, a data controller or a data subject (i) alleging non-compliance with any Data Protection Legislation, (ii) requiring the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to change or delete any data (other than as requested by data subjects in the Ordinary Course of Business) or (iii) prohibiting any transfer of data to a place outside the relevant jurisdiction or the European Economic Area.
(c) No individual has claimed or, to the Company’s Knowledge, has the right to claim compensation from the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any Data Protection Legislation, including for unauthorized or erroneous processing or loss or unauthorized disclosure of data.
4.20 Proxy Statement. None of the information included or incorporated by reference in the Proxy Statement, letter to the stockholders, notice of meeting or forms of proxy 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 the Company Stockholders Meeting 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, Purchaser or their Representatives expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement will comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
4.21 Brokers. No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or shall be entitled, or has claimed entitlement to, or is party to a Contract or commitment of the Company regarding any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the Financial Advisor, whose fees and expense will be paid by the Company.
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4.22 Opinion of Financial Advisor. The Financial Advisor has delivered to the Company a written opinion dated the date of this Agreement to the effect, as of such date, that, on the basis of and subject to the assumptions set forth therein, the cash consideration of $7 per share of Company Common Stock to be received by holders of shares of Company Common Stock pursuant to the Merger is fair to the holders of shares of Company Common Stock from a financial point of view (the “Fairness Opinion”), and the Fairness Opinion has not been withdrawn, revoked or modified. The Company has delivered to Parent and Purchaser a signed copy of the Fairness Opinion.
4.23 Accounts Receivable. Except as set forth in Section 4.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the accounts and notes receivable of the Company and its Subsidiaries reflected on the balance sheets included in the most recent Financial Statements, and all accounts and notes receivable arising subsequent to the date of the most recent Financial Statements, (i) arose from bona fide sales transactions in the Ordinary Course of Business and are payable on ordinary trade terms, (ii) to the Company’s Knowledge, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the respective debtors enforceable in accordance with their terms, (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, are not subject to any valid set-off or counterclaim, (iv) do not represent obligations for goods sold on consignment, on approval or on a sale-or-return basis or subject to any other repurchase or return arrangement, (v) are not owed by any Affiliate of the Company and (vi) are not the subject of any Proceedings. Section 4.23 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a description of any security arrangements and collateral securing the repayment or other satisfaction of receivables of the Company and or its Subsidiaries. All steps necessary to render all such security arrangements legal, valid, binding and enforceable, and to give and maintain for the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, a perfected security interest in the related collateral, have been taken.
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4.24 Inventory.
(a) Except as disclosed in Section 4.24 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the inventory was purchased from a source other than the manufacturer thereof or a distributor duly licensed or franchised to distribute such items by such manufacturer and, except for inventory purchased for customer specific requirements (so long as such inventory is subject to a contract for the purchase thereof by such customer), all such items of inventory meet the requirements for return to the manufacturer under the applicable franchise agreement other than as a result of quantity limitations with respect to such return rights. All the inventory is good and merchantable and consists of a quality and quantity usable and salable in the Ordinary Course of Business, subject to normal and customary allowances in the industry for spoilage, damage and outdated items. With respect to any inventory disclosed in Section 4.24 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company, as part of its normal business practices, has a policy requiring it to disclose to any purchaser of such inventory that such items were not purchased directly from the manufacturer or distributor and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the Company complies with such policy. The Company implements, as a matter of ordinary course business practice, processes for validating the origin, authenticity and integrity of the products they sell, and such validation processes are adequate to ensure the origin, authenticity and integrity of such products.
(b) To the extent that any inventory intended to be sold to the military are, in order to meet military or other specifications, required to be accompanied by (or the seller thereof is required to maintain) traceability, testing or other documentation, all such documentation has been so maintained and is in the possession of the Company.
(c) Except as disclosed in Section 4.24(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, all items included in the inventory are the property of the Company, are free and clear of any Liens other than Permitted Liens, have not been pledged as collateral, are not held by the Company on consignment from others and conform in all material respects to all standards applicable to such inventory or its use or sale imposed by Governmental Authorities.
(d) Except as disclosed in Section 4.24(d) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not sold any inventory with respect to which the purchaser thereof has the right of return to the Company or to cause the Company to repurchase, for any reason, except pursuant to the standard product warranties of such entity for product quality or mistake in shipment or implied warranties at law for title against infringement.
4.25 Books and Records. Except as disclosed in Section 4.25 of the Company’s Disclosure Schedule, the minute books and other similar records of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries as made available to Parent prior to the execution of this Agreement (a) are under the exclusive ownership and direct control of the Company or the Subsidiary of the Company to which such books and records pertain, and are located at the principal offices of the Company or such Subsidiary (if different than the principle offices of the Company) and (b) contain a true and complete record, in all material respects, of all action taken at all meetings and by all written consents in lieu of meetings of the stockholders, the boards of directors and committees of the boards of directors of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries. The stock transfer ledgers and other similar records of the Subsidiaries as made available to Parent prior to the execution of this Agreement accurately reflect all record transfers after March 1, 2005, and prior to the execution of this Agreement in the capital stock of the Subsidiaries.
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4.26 Product and Service Warranties. Copies of the standard terms and conditions for products sold by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have been delivered or otherwise made available to Parent. Except as disclosed in Section 4.26 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has made any other written warranties relating to its products or services, that would increase their respective warranty obligations. There are no material pending claims against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on account of product or services warranties or with respect to the sale of defective or inferior products.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER
Parent and Purchaser each represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
5.1 Organization, Standing and Power. Each of Parent and Purchaser is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of its incorporation, has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now being conducted, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, individually or in the aggregate, would materially impair its ability to perform its obligations hereunder.
5.2 Authority; No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.
(a) Power and Authority; Execution and Delivery. Each of Parent and Purchaser has all requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by Parent and Purchaser and the consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of each of Parent and Purchaser, subject to adoption of this Agreement by Parent in its capacity as the sole stockholder of Purchaser immediately after the execution and delivery hereof, and no other corporate proceedings on the part of Parent are necessary to authorize this Agreement or to consummate the Merger. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by each of Parent and Purchaser and, assuming due and valid authorization, execution, and delivery by the Company, constitutes the valid and binding obligation of each of Parent and Purchaser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except in all cases as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, conservatorship, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar Laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and except that the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies is subject to general principles of law and equity and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought.
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(b) Absence of Conflicts. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by each of Parent and Purchaser does not, and the consummation by Parent and Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not, (i) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Parent, each as amended, or the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of Purchaser, (ii) conflict with, or result in any violation or breach of, or constitute (with or without notice or lapse of time, or both) a default (or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or acceleration of any obligation or loss of any material benefit) under, or require a consent or waiver under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Contract to which Parent or Purchaser is a party or by which either of them or any of their respective properties or assets may be bound or (iii) subject to compliance with the requirements specified in clauses (i) through (vi) of Section 5.2(d), conflict with or violate any Permit, Order or Law applicable to Parent or Purchaser or any of their respective properties or assets, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) of this Section 5.2(b) for any such conflicts, violations, breaches, defaults, terminations, cancellations, accelerations or losses which, individually or in the aggregate, would not materially impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their respective obligations hereunder.
(c) Board Recommendation. The respective Boards of Directors of Parent and Purchaser have declared the advisability of, and have duly adopted and approved, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger.
(d) Absence of Required Consents. No Consent of or with any Governmental Authority is required by or with respect to Parent or Purchaser in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by Parent or Purchaser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for (i) the pre-merger notification requirements under the HSR Act and Other Antitrust Laws, (ii) the filing of the applicable Certificates of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, (iii) filings or consents under and compliance with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as may be required in connection with this Agreement and the Merger, (iv) such consents, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required under applicable state securities Laws, (v) compliance with any applicable requirements of the New York Stock Exchange and the SEC and (vi) such consents, approvals, licenses, permits, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations, notices and filings the failure of which to make or obtain, individually or in the aggregate, would not materially impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their respective obligations hereunder.
5.3 Absence of Certain Changes. Since the date of the Parent’s last periodic report filed with the SEC, the Parent has (a) conducted its and the Purchaser’s business in the Ordinary Course of Business, except for such conduct that may be deemed to be outside the Ordinary Course of Business that, individually or in the aggregate, would not materially impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their respective obligations hereunder, and (b) has not suffered an adverse effect that would materially impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their respective obligations hereunder.
5.4 Interim Operations of Purchaser. Purchaser was formed solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, has not engaged in any other business activities and has conducted its operations only as contemplated hereby.
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5.5 Litigation. There are no Proceedings pending, or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against, relating to or affecting Parent or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties before any Governmental Authority or any arbitrator that could reasonably be expected to materially restrict or enjoin the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or prevent or materially delay the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or of Parent or Purchaser to perform their respective obligations hereunder.
5.6 Brokers. No agent, broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other firm or Person is or shall be entitled, or has claimed entitlement to, or is party to a Contract or commitment of Parent or Purchaser regarding any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in connection with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except Goldman Sachs & Co., whose fees and expense will be paid by Parent.
5.7 Financial Capability. Parent has or will have, and will cause Purchaser to have, prior to the Effective Time, sufficient funds from cash on hand and available to it under existing commercial financing arrangements and lines of credit to pay the aggregate Merger Consideration contemplated by this Agreement and to perform the other obligations of Parent and Purchaser contemplated by this Agreement.
5.8 Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by Parent or Purchaser or their Representatives for inclusion or incorporation by reference in the Proxy Statement will, at the date the Proxy Statement is first mailed to the Company’s stockholders or at the time of the Company Stockholder Meeting or at any 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 the make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.
ARTICLE VI
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
6.1 Conduct Prior to Effective Time. Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement, as set forth in Section 6.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or with the prior written consent of Parent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, from and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, act in the Ordinary Course of Business, and use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain and preserve its and each Subsidiary’s business organization, assets, and properties, and to preserve the goodwill of the Company.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, from and after the date of this Agreement until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with its terms or the Effective Time, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Parent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed):
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(a) (i) declare, set aside or pay any dividends on, or make any other distributions (whether in cash, securities or other property) in respect of, any of its capital stock, (ii) split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution for shares of its capital stock or any of its other securities or (iii) purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any shares of its capital stock or any other securities or any rights, warrants or options (other than the forfeiture (at no cost to the Company or its Subsidiaries) of Company Stock Options pursuant to any Company Stock Plan, by employees in connection with the termination of such employee’s employment) to acquire any such shares or other securities or securities the value of which is measured by such securities;
(b) issue, deliver, sell, grant, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber any shares of its capital stock, any other voting securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire, any such shares, voting securities or convertible or exchangeable securities, “phantom” stock, “phantom” stock rights, stock appreciation rights or stock-based performance units or securities the value of which is measured by such securities (other than the issuance of shares of Company Common Stock upon the exercise of Company Stock Options or Company Stock Awards outstanding on the date of this Agreement in accordance with their present terms), or amend the terms of any of the foregoing, except as expressly contemplated by Section 3.3 of this Agreement;
(c) amend its (or permit any of its Subsidiaries to amend their respective) Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other comparable charter or organizational documents, except as expressly provided by this Agreement;
(d) acquire (i) by merging or consolidating with, or by purchasing all or a substantial portion of the assets or any stock of, or by any other manner, any business or any other Person or division thereof or (ii) any assets that are material, in the aggregate, to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except inventory purchased in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(e) sell, lease, license, pledge, or otherwise dispose of or encumber any material properties or assets of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries;
(f) except for sales of inventory that are in the Ordinary Course of Business, sell, dispose of, or otherwise transfer any assets material to the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole (including any accounts, leases, Contracts or Intellectual Property or any assets or the stock of any Subsidiaries);
(g) adopt or implement any stockholder rights plan;
(h) except as contemplated in Sections 6.2(d) and 9.1, enter into a Contract with respect to any merger, consolidation, liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization or business combination, or any acquisition or disposition of all or any substantial portion of the assets or securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
(i) (i) incur any new indebtedness for borrowed money, other than such indebtedness as is reflected on the Company Balance Sheet or pursuant to existing lines of credit disclosed thereon, or guarantee any such indebtedness of another Person, (ii) issue, sell or amend any debt securities or warrants 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 agreement to maintain any financial statement condition of another Person or enter into any arrangement having the economic effect of any of the foregoing, (iii) make any loans or advances (in each case other than for employee travel or other business purposes or for employee tuition reimbursement in each case in the Ordinary Course of Business) or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other Person, other than the Company or any of its direct or indirect wholly- or majority-owned Subsidiaries or (iv) enter into any hedging agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement the value of which may change with fluctuations in commodities or equities, prices or exchange rates or other derivative instruments;
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(j) make any capital expenditures or other expenditures with respect to property, plant or equipment during any fiscal quarter period in excess of $100,000.00 in the aggregate for the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(k) make any change in its pricing policies, credit practices, the rate or timing of its payment of accounts payable, the collection of its accounts receivable, its earnings accrual rates on Contracts or change its accounting methods, principles or practices, except insofar as may be required by a change in GAAP or Law or, except as so required, change any assumption underlying, or method of calculating, any bad debt, contingency or other reserve or revalue any assets, or make any change in its fiscal year;
(l) (i) pay, discharge, settle, satisfy, fund or accept any material claims, liabilities, disputes, audit or investigation findings or results or obligations (whether absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise) in existence as of the date hereof, other than in accordance with their terms as in effect on the date of this Agreement, or claims, liabilities or obligations reflected or reserved against in, the most recent consolidated financial statements (or the notes thereto) of the Company included in the Company SEC Reports filed prior to the date of this Agreement (to the extent so reflected or reserved against) or (ii) waive any material benefits of, modify in any adverse respect, fail to enforce, or consent to any matter with respect to which its consent is required under, any confidentiality or similar Contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party;
(m) terminate any material Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is party (other than expiration of any such Contract pursuant to its terms), or waive, release or assign any material rights or claims (including any write-off or other compromise of any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), or except in the Ordinary Course of Business modify or amend any material Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is party;
(n) terminate any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is party (other than expiration of any such Contract pursuant to its terms), or waive, release or assign any rights or claims (including any write-off or other compromise of any accounts receivable of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries), or modify or amend any such Contract to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is party;
(o) except in the Ordinary Course of Business (i) enter into, or modify the terms of, any Contract relating to the rendering of services or the distribution, sale or marketing by third parties of the products of, or products licensed by, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) license, or modify the terms of any license of, any material intellectual property rights to or from any third party, other than non-exclusive licenses which may be canceled without penalty by the Company or its Subsidiaries upon written notice of thirty (30) days or less;
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(p) except as expressly provided by Section 3.3 or as may be required by applicable Law, (i) take any action with respect to, adopt, enter into, terminate or amend any employment, severance or similar agreement, policy, practice or arrangement or benefit plan or compensation for the benefit or welfare of any current or former Company Person (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business with respect to any employment-related actions taken with respect to a current or former Company Person) or any collective bargaining agreement, (ii) increase the compensation or benefits of (including promotions), or, other than as may be required under an existing Contract, pay any bonus to, any Company Person, (iii) amend or accelerate the right to payment or vesting of any compensation or benefits, including any outstanding options or any restricted stock awards, (iv) pay any material benefit not provided for as of the date of this Agreement under any Company Employee Plan, (v) adopt, grant any awards under, or otherwise change or expand the benefits of or the persons entitled to participate in, any bonus, incentive, performance, severance or other compensation plan or arrangement or benefit or compensation plan (including, without limitation, any medical, dental or related or similar healthcare benefit plan), policy, practice or arrangement, including the grant of stock options, stock appreciation rights, stock based or stock related awards, performance units or restricted stock, or the removal of existing restrictions in any benefit plans or agreements or awards made thereunder, (vi) terminate the employment or take other adverse actions with respect to any of the Company executives and other employees identified in Section 6.1(p) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (vii) employ or offer to employ or promote or offer to promote, terminate or give notice of intent to terminate, any executive officer of the Company or Person performing an equivalent function for any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or (viii) take any action (other than in the Ordinary Course of Business with respect to payment of compensation) to fund or in any other way secure the payment of compensation or benefits under any Employee Plan or Contract;
(q) (i) rescind or, other than consistent with prior year Tax reporting of similar items, make any Tax election, (ii) settle or compromise any Tax liability, (iii) amend any Tax Return, (iv) make a request for a written ruling of a taxing authority relating to Taxes or file a request for a pre-filing agreement or similar procedure or (v) enter into a legally binding agreement with a taxing authority with respect to Taxes;
(r) close (except pursuant to the existing terms of leases disclosed in Section 4.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule entered into prior to the date of this Agreement (and without giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement)) or open any material facility or office, or initiate, compromise or settle any material Proceeding;
(s) authorize any transfer of any shares of Company Common Stock in violation of the Voting Agreements or authorize the removal of any legend restricting the transfer of such shares;
(t) fail to maintain insurance at levels substantially comparable to levels existing as of the date of this Agreement or to timely file claims thereunder (provided that the Company shall not pay or incur liability for any materially increased premium without Parent’s consent, not to be unreasonably withheld);
(u) fail to pay accounts payable and other obligations in the Ordinary Course of Business;
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(v) agree to any covenant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries not to compete or other covenant of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries restricting the marketing or distribution of the products or services of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or otherwise limiting in any material respect the freedom of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any area or to own, operate, sell, transfer, pledge or otherwise dispose of or encumber any material assets or that would so limit the freedom of Parent or any of its affiliates after the consummation of the Merger, except for territorial limitations set forth in supplier or distribution agreements entered into in the Ordinary Course of Business; or
(w) authorize any of, or commit or agree, in writing or otherwise, to take any of, the foregoing actions described in (a) through (v) above.
6.2 Acquisition Proposals.
(a) Subject to Section 6.2(b), following the date of this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time or, if earlier, the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Article IX, the Company shall not, nor shall it permit any of the Company’s Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, other agents, advisors or representatives (such directors, officers, employees, investment bankers, attorneys, accountants, other agents, advisors and representatives collectively, ”Representatives”) to, directly or indirectly, (i) initiate, solicit, encourage (including by way of providing information), facilitate or induce the submission of any inquiries, proposals or offers relating to any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) engage or participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, or provide or cause to be provided any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with, or have any discussions with any Person relating to, an Acquisition Proposal, or otherwise encourage or facilitate any effort or attempt to make or implement an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) approve, endorse or recommend, or propose publicly to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, except as provided in Section 6.2(d) or (iv) enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, merger agreement, option agreement or other similar Contract relating to any Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall promptly notify Parent after receipt of an actual or proposed Acquisition Proposal orally and in writing (which notice shall include the material terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal and the Person submitting the same). The Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitation, encouragement, discussion or negotiation with any Persons conducted heretofore by the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their respective Representatives with respect to any Acquisition Proposal. The Company shall ensure that its Representatives and its Subsidiaries’ Representatives are aware of the provisions of this Section 6.2.
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(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in Section 6.2(a), if at any time following the date of this Agreement and prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, (i) the Company receives an unsolicited written Acquisition Proposal that was not received in violation of Section 6.2(a) and that the Company Board believes in good faith to be bona fide and (ii) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Financial Advisor and outside legal counsel, that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes or could reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, then the Company may, prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval and subject to compliance with the provisions of this Section 6.2, (A) furnish information with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries to the Person (and its Representatives) making such Acquisition Proposal and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations with the Person (and its Representatives) making such Acquisition Proposal regarding such Acquisition Proposal (“Permitted Actions”) if the Company Board concludes in good faith, after consultation with the Financial Advisor and outside legal counsel, that, as a result of such Acquisition Proposal, the failure to take such Permitted Action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law. With respect to an Acquisition Proposal that constitutes or could reasonably be expected to result in a Superior Proposal, the Company will not, and will not allow its or its Subsidiaries’ Representatives to, disclose any non-public information to such Person without entering into one or more confidentiality agreements with such Person on terms no less favorable in the aggregate to the Company than those contained in the NDA (“Acceptable Confidentiality Agreements”) and will promptly provide Parent with a copy of such executed Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement and any information provided thereunder not previously provided to Parent; and provided further that the Company shall have delivered written notice to Parent at least two (2) Business Days in advance of taking any action permitted pursuant to subclauses (A) and (B) of clause (ii) of this Section 6.2(b). The Company shall promptly (and in no event later than 24 hours following the Company’s Knowledge of, but in no event later than two (2) Business Days after, receipt thereof) notify Parent and Purchaser orally and in writing (which notice shall include the material terms and conditions of the Acquisition Proposal and the Person submitting the same) in the event it receives an Acquisition Proposal (or any communication from a Person that such Person is considering making an Acquisition Proposal) from a Person or group of related Persons and shall keep Parent and Purchaser reasonably informed orally and in writing as to the status and any material developments, discussions and negotiations concerning the same, including prompt written notice to Parent of any determination by the Company Board (or any special committee thereof) that a Superior Proposal has been made.
(c) Except as permitted by Section 6.2(d), neither the Company Board nor any committee thereof shall directly or indirectly (i) amend, withdraw, modify, change, condition or qualify or publicly propose to withdraw or modify, the Recommendation, (ii) approve or recommend or publicly propose to approve or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal or (iii) except as permitted by Section 6.2(f), take any other action or make any other public statement inconsistent with the Recommendation.
(d) Notwithstanding Section 6.2(a) and Section 6.2(c), at any time prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval, in response to a Superior Proposal, the Company Board may withdraw, modify, change, condition or qualify the Recommendation in a manner adverse to Parent and Purchaser (“Change in Board Recommendation”); provided, however, that the Company Board may not effect a Change in Board Recommendation pursuant to this Section 6.2(d) unless: (i) the Company has complied with this Section 6.2; (ii) (A) the Company has delivered a Notice of Superior Proposal to Parent and (B) either (1) Parent does not make a Matching Bid on or before the fifth (5th) Business Day following Parent’s actual receipt of such Notice of Superior Proposal or (2) following receipt of a Matching Bid within such five (5) Business Day period, the Company Board concludes in good faith, after consultation with the Financial Advisor and outside legal counsel and after taking into consideration the Matching Bid, that the Superior Proposal to which the Notice of Superior Proposal relates continues to be a Superior Proposal (provided that any material amendment to the terms of such Superior Proposal after the initial Notice of Superior Proposal shall require a new Notice of Superior Proposal and restart the five (5) Business Day period referred to above) and (iii) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Financial Advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect a Change in Board Recommendation would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law.
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(e) Notwithstanding anything in this Section 6.2 to the contrary, at any time prior to receipt of the Stockholder Approval, the Company Board may, in response to a Superior Proposal, cause the Company to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d) and concurrently with such termination enter into a definitive agreement providing for the transactions contemplated by such Superior Proposal; provided, however, that the Company shall not terminate this Agreement unless: (i) the Company shall have complied in all material respects with the provisions of this Section 6.2; (ii) (A) the Company has negotiated in good faith with Parent if Parent has notified the Company of its intent to submit a Matching Bid or (B) Parent has not made a Matching Bid and five (5) Business Days have elapsed since the Company has provided the Notice of Superior Proposal and, in each case, the Acquisition Proposal remains a Superior Proposal; (iii) the Company Board determines in good faith, after consultation with the Financial Advisor and outside legal counsel, that the failure to effect such termination would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable Law and (iv) the Company has complied with all applicable requirements of Section 9.3(b) (including the payment of the Termination Fee prior to or on the date of such termination) in connection with such Superior Proposal.
(f) Nothing contained in this Section 6.2 or elsewhere in this Agreement shall prohibit the Company from (i) taking and disclosing to its shareholders a position contemplated by Rule 14d-9 or Rule 14e-2(a) promulgated under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any such disclosure other than (x) a "stop-look-and-listen" communication to the stockholders of the Company pursuant to Rule 14d-9(f) promulgated under the Exchange Act (or any similar communications to the stockholders of the Company), (y) an express rejection of any applicable Acquisition Proposal or (z) an express reaffirmation of its Recommendation to the stockholders of the Company in favor of the Merger shall be deemed to be a Change of Recommendation or (ii) making any disclosure to the Company’s shareholders if, in the good faith judgment of the Board of Directors of the Company, failure so to disclose would be inconsistent with applicable Law; provided, however, that in no event shall the Company or its Board of Directors or any committee thereof take, agree or resolve to take any action prohibited by Section 6.2(d).
(a) From the date hereof until the Effective Time, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, (i) promptly notify Parent of any Proceeding arising from the date hereof until the Effective Date against or with respect to the Company or any Subsidiaries in respect of any material Tax and not settle or compromise any such Proceeding or other action without Parent’s prior written consent and (ii) promptly provide to Parent a written copy of any U.S. Federal income Tax Return filed with the Internal Revenue Service during the period from the date hereof through the Effective Date.
(b) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into or effect any transaction that would result in a material recognition of income or gain by the Company or any Subsidiary, other than transactions entered into or effected in the Ordinary Course of Business.
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6.4 Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust. In the event that, prior to the Stockholder Approval, the Nu Horizons Electronic Corp. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust has not been terminated, and all assets thereof have not been distributed to the participants and beneficiaries thereto, the Company shall retain an independent fiduciary to vote the shares of the Company held under such plan and trust at any Company Stockholders Meeting held in connection with the Merger.
ARTICLE VII
(a) General.
(i) Subject to the terms and conditions herein provided, each of the parties hereto shall use its reasonable best efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, as promptly as practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and to cooperate with each of the other parties hereto in connection with the foregoing, including using commercially reasonable best efforts: (A) to obtain all necessary waivers, consents and approvals from third parties; (B) to obtain all necessary consents, approvals and authorizations as are required to be obtained under any Laws; (C) to lift or rescind any Order adversely affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby; (D) to effect all necessary registrations, notifications, applications and filings with Governmental Authorities, as promptly as is reasonably practicable and (E) to fulfill all conditions to this Agreement. In furtherance and not in limitation of the foregoing, each party shall: (I) make an appropriate filing of a Notification and Report Form pursuant to the HSR Act or any applicable Other Antitrust Laws with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as promptly as practicable and supply as promptly as practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be requested pursuant to the HSR Act or applicable Other Antitrust Laws (including by substantially complying with any second request for information pursuant to the HSR Act or applicable Other Antitrust Laws); (II) make any additional filings required by any applicable antitrust Laws and take all other actions reasonably necessary, proper or advisable, as determined upon the reasonable mutual agreement of the parties, subject to Section 7.1(a)(ii), to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under the HSR Act or Other Antitrust Laws, and comply with applicable antitrust Laws, as promptly as practicable and (III) subject to applicable Laws relating to access to and the exchange of information, use its reasonable best efforts to (x) cooperate with each other in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry under or relating to any antitrust Law; (y) keep the other parties informed of any communication received by such party from, or given by such party to, the FTC, the Antitrust Division of the DOJ or any other Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private party, in each case regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and (z) consult with the other parties in advance of any meeting or conference with the FTC, the DOJ or any such other Governmental Authority, and to the extent permitted by the FTC, the DOJ or such other applicable Governmental Authority, give the other parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences.
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(ii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, in connection with any filing or submission required or action to be taken by either Parent or the Company to effect the Merger and to consummate the other transactions contemplated hereby, the Company shall not, without Parent’s prior written consent, commit to, and none of Parent or Purchaser shall be required to (a) propose or agree to accept any undertaking or condition, enter into any consent decree, effect any divestiture, hold separate any assets, business or other holdings or otherwise take or commit to take any action, that (1) limits its or its Affiliates’ freedom of action with respect to, or its ability to retain, the Company or any of the businesses, product lines or assets of the Company, Parent or any of Parent’s Affiliates, (2) would result in a change, event, circumstance, development or effect that is or is reasonably likely to have an adverse effect on the business, assets, liabilities, capitalization, prospects, condition (financial or other), or results of operations of Parent and/or Affiliates of Parent or (3) would impose or result in any material limitation on the ability of Parent to exercise full rights of ownership with respect to the shares of the Surviving Corporation following the Closing, or (b) commence or defend any litigation or Proceeding involving any Governmental Authority.
(iii) Without expanding its obligations hereunder, the obligation of Parent and Purchaser to use “reasonable best efforts” under Section 7.1(a)(i) to obtain waivers, consents and approvals to loan agreements, leases and other Contracts specifically shall not include any obligation to agree to, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall agree (without the prior consent of Parent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld) to, a modification of the terms of such documents, or to make any guaranty or monetary payment in consideration of such waiver, consent or approval.
(iv) Without prejudice or limitation to the representations, warranties or covenants in this Agreement, each party acknowledges and agrees that the issuance of security clearances is in the discretion of the appropriate Governmental Authorities, and no party shall bear responsibility for the results of the exercise of such discretion.
(b) State Takeover Law. Without limiting the generality of Section 7.1(a), if any Takeover Law or any state “blue sky” Law shall become applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or by the Voting Agreements, the Company and the Company Board shall grant such approvals and take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms contemplated hereby and thereby, and otherwise act to minimize the effects of such statute or regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
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(a) Calling of Company Stockholders Meeting. The Company shall, acting through the Company Board, duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a meeting of its stockholders (the “Company Stockholders Meeting”) for the purpose of obtaining the approval of the principal terms of the Merger by the stockholders of the Company (the “Stockholder Approval”). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of the Company pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 7.3(a) shall not be affected by (i) the commencement, public proposal, public disclosure or communication to the Company of any Acquisition Proposal or (ii) the withdrawal or modification by the Company Board of its approval or recommendation of this Agreement or the Merger.
(b) Preparation of Proxy Statement. The Company shall, no later than fifteen (15) Business Days following the execution of this Agreement, prepare and file with the SEC a proxy statement (the “Proxy Statement”) in accordance with the Exchange Act and any other applicable Laws, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to respond to any comments of the SEC or its staff to the satisfaction of the SEC or its staff within five (5) Business Days following receipt thereof and to cause the Proxy Statement to be mailed to the Company’s stockholders within five (5) Business Days following clearance of the Proxy Statement by the SEC, provided that the preceding time periods shall be extended to the extent of any failure by Parent to provide comments within the time periods set forth in the last sentence of this Section 7.3(b). The Proxy Statement shall include the Recommendation unless prior to the date of mailing a Change in Board Recommendation shall have occurred pursuant to Section 6.2(d). The Company shall notify Parent promptly upon the receipt of any comments from the SEC or its staff or any other government officials and of any request by the SEC or its staff or any other government officials for amendments or supplements to the Proxy Statement or for additional information, and shall supply Parent with copies of all correspondence between the Company or any of its Representatives, on the one hand, and the SEC, or its staff, or any other government officials, on the other hand, with respect to the Proxy Statement. The Company shall consult with Parent and its counsel prior to responding to any comments from the SEC or its staff or any other government officials. If at any time prior to the Company Stockholders Meeting there shall occur any event that should be set forth in an amendment or supplement to the Proxy Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and mail to its stockholders and file with the SEC any such amendment or supplement. The Company shall not file or mail any Proxy Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto, to the Company’s stockholders prior to consultation with Parent and consideration in good faith of any comments submitted by Parent, which comments of Parent shall be accepted so long as they are reasonable and not in violation of applicable Law. Parent shall provide comments regarding any draft of the Proxy Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto promptly, and in any event, with respect to the initial draft of the Proxy Statement, within five (5) Business Days following Parent’s receipt thereof, and with respect to any amendment or supplement thereto, within three (3) Business Days following Parent’s receipt thereof.
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(c) Voting of Shares by Parent and Purchaser. Parent shall cause all shares of Company Common Stock owned by Parent or Purchaser or any other subsidiary of Parent to be voted in favor of the approval of the principal terms of the Merger.
(a) Subject to compliance with applicable Laws, the Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries and the Company’s and such Subsidiaries’ Representatives to, afford to Parent and its Representatives access, upon reasonable notice and at all reasonable times, during the period prior to the Effective Time, to all of the Company’s and all of its Subsidiaries’ properties, books, records, Contracts, commitments and personnel and shall furnish Parent all financial, operating and other data and information as Parent may request. Unless otherwise required by Law, Parent will hold any such information which is non-public in confidence in accordance with the NDA. No information or knowledge obtained in any investigation pursuant to this Section 7.5 or otherwise shall affect or be deemed to modify any representation or warranty contained in the Agreement or the conditions to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, it is understood and agreed to by each party that (i) any exchange of information under this Agreement shall not affect, in any way, each party’s relative competitive position to the other party or to other entities and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries may deny access to any information if the Company believes, upon advice of outside counsel, that providing access to such information to Parent and its Representatives would violate applicable antitrust Laws or any confidentiality agreement or similar agreement or arrangement to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party (which the Company shall use commercially reasonable best efforts to cause the counterparty thereto to waive).
(b) The parties acknowledge that Parent and the Company have previously executed the NDA, which shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with its terms, except as expressly modified herein.
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(c) Promptly following the date hereof, the Company shall use reasonable best efforts to cause Ernst & Young LLP to allow Parent full and complete access to its work papers with respect to its audit of the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of May 31, 2010, and the related statements of income, cash flows and changes in equity for the fiscal year then ended.
(a) For six (6) years after the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation will, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless (including advancement of expenses) the current and former directors and officers of the Company and its Subsidiaries (the “Covered Parties”) in respect of acts or omissions occurring on or prior to the Effective Time to the fullest extent provided in their respective Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or similar governing instruments as in effect as of the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that such indemnification shall be subject to any limitation imposed from time to time under applicable Law. For a period of six (6) years following the Effective Time, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation to, provide for indemnification and exculpation of the Covered Persons in respect of acts or omissions occurring prior to the Effective Time, other than such acts or omissions deemed by an applicable arbitral or judicial body in a final non-appealable order or judgment to be gross negligence or willful misconduct, in a manner consistent with and no less favorable than the indemnification and exculpation provisions with respect to the Covered Parties that are presently set forth in the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or similar governing instruments and any indemnification agreement between the Company and any Covered Party.
(b) Parent agrees that the Company and, from and after the Effective Time, the Surviving Corporation, shall cause to be maintained in effect for not less than six (6) years from the Effective Time the insurance coverage provided under the policies of directors’ and officers’ liability insurance maintained by the Company at the date of this Agreement; provided, that (i) after the Effective Time, Parent or the Surviving Corporation may substitute therefor policies issued by reputable and financially sound carriers reasonably acceptable to the beneficiaries of such policies that provide at least the same coverage, on terms and conditions which are no less advantageous to such persons but only if such substitution does not result in any gaps or lapses in coverage with respect to matters occurring prior to the Effective Time and (ii) the Surviving Corporation shall not be required to pay an annual premium for such coverage in excess of two hundred fifty percent (250%) of the last annual premium paid by the Company prior to the date of this Agreement; and if the Surviving Corporation is unable to obtain the insurance required by this Section, it shall obtain as much comparable insurance as possible for such six-year period for an annual premium equal to such maximum amount. Parent’s obligations under this paragraph may be satisfied by the purchase of a “tail” insurance policy that provides the coverage described above.
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(c) Subject to applicable Law, Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall honor all indemnification agreements between the Company and the Covered Parties in effect as of the date hereof.
(d) In the event the Surviving Corporation or any of its successors or assigns (i) consolidates with or merges into any other Person and shall not be the continuing or surviving corporation or entity of such consolidation or merger or (ii) transfers or conveys all or substantially all of its properties or assets to any Person, then, and in each such case, to the extent necessary to effect the purposes of this Section 7.7, proper provision shall be made so that the successors and assigns of the Surviving Corporation assume the obligations set forth in this Section 7.7; provided, however, that, in the case of any such assignment by the Surviving Corporation, the Surviving Corporation shall remain liable for all of its obligations under this Agreement. The obligations under this Section 7.7 shall not be terminated or modified in such a manner as to adversely affect any indemnitee to whom this Section 7.7 applies without the written consent of such affected indemnitee. This Section 7.7 shall survive the Effective Time, is intended to benefit the Covered Persons, and shall be enforceable by any of them.
7.9 Section 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 shares of Company Common Stock) 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.
(a) From the Closing Date until its first (1st) anniversary, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to, provide each active employee of the Company or its Subsidiaries as of the Effective Time (each, an “Employee”) with benefits and compensation that are substantially comparable in the aggregate to the benefits and compensation, excluding equity and equity-based incentive plans and individual agreements, that are provided by the Company to the Employee immediately prior to the date of this Agreement. Nothing in this Section 7.10 shall be deemed to prohibit Parent from, at any time after the Effective Time, changing the title, rank or job duties of any Employee or from terminating any Employee.
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(b) Subject to applicable Law, with respect to each Parent Benefit Plan in which any Employee will participate after the Closing Date, Parent shall, or shall cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to, recognize all service of the Employees with the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, for purposes of eligibility to participate and vesting and, only in the case of any Parent Benefit Plan that provides vacation benefits or any other form of paid time-off benefits, for purposes of benefit accrual, under any such Parent Benefit Plan, but only to the extent such service was recognized under a similar Company Employee Plan immediately prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Subject to applicable Law, Parent shall use commercially reasonable efforts to, and cause the Surviving Corporation and its Subsidiaries to, (i) waive all limitations as to preexisting conditions, exclusions and waiting periods with respect to participation and coverage requirements applicable to the Employees under any Parent Benefit Plan that is a welfare benefit plan in which such Employees may be eligible to participate after the Closing Date, other than limitations or waiting periods that are already in effect with respect to such Employees and that have not been satisfied as of the Closing Date under any welfare benefit plan maintained for the Employees immediately prior to the Closing Date and (ii) provide each Employee with credit for any co-payments and deductibles paid prior to the Closing Date in satisfying any applicable deductible or out-of-pocket requirements under any Parent Benefit Plans that are welfare plans in which such Employees are eligible to participate in after the Closing Date, in each of cases (i) and (ii) above, without duplication of benefits.
(d) If any Employee is terminated from employment by Parent, the Surviving Corporation or any of its Subsidiaries on or after the Closing Date and before the first anniversary of the Closing Date, such Employee shall be eligible to receive severance benefits comparable to those that would have been provided by the Company or its Subsidiaries to such Employee under the terms of any generally applicable severance policy of the Company or its Subsidiaries in effect immediately prior to the date of this Agreement.
(e) Nothing contained in this Section 7.10 shall (i) be treated as an amendment of any particular Parent Benefit Plan, (ii) obligate Parent or any of its Subsidiaries to (A) maintain any particular Company Employee Plan or Parent Benefit Plan, other than as set forth in Section 7.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule or (B) retain the employment of any particular Employee or (iii) create any third party beneficiary rights in any Person, including any current or former Company Person.
7.11 Maintenance of Insurance Policies. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all of the Insurance Policies will be in full force and effect following the Effective Time.
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7.13 No Other Representations. Parent and Purchaser acknowledge and agree that the Company has not made and is not making any representations or warranties whatsoever regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, express or implied, except as provided in Article IV, and that Parent and Purchaser are not relying and has not relied on any representations or warranties whatsoever regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, express or implied, except as provided in Article IV. The Company acknowledges and agrees that Parent and Purchaser have not made and are not making any representations or warranties whatsoever regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, express or implied, except as provided in Article V, and that the Company is not relying and has not relied on any representations or warranties whatsoever regarding the subject matter of this Agreement, express or implied, except as provided in Article V.
ARTICLE VIII
(a) Company Stockholder Approval. This Agreement and the Merger shall have been approved and adopted by the requisite vote of the stockholders of the Company under the DGCL and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended;
(b) Regulatory Approvals. Any requisite waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of the Merger under the HSR Act and any Other Antitrust Laws shall have expired or been terminated, and there shall be no Order issued by any other Governmental Authority pursuant to any Other Antitrust Laws; and
(c) No Injunctions, Restraints or Illegality. There shall not be in effect any Order or Law enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced by any court or other Governmental Authority which has the effect of restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting or making illegal the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and there shall not be pending any Proceeding in, before or by any Governmental Authority which could reasonably be expected to result in the issuance of any such Order or the enactment, promulgation or deemed applicability to Parent or the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement of any such Law.
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(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 4.1(a)(i), (b) and (c) shall be true and correct in all material respects immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time. The representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Sections 4.2, 4.3(a), (b)(i), (c), (d) and (e), 4.20, 4.21 and 4.22 shall be true and correct immediately prior to the Effective Time, as if made at and as of such time (except, with respect to the representations and warranties in Section 4.2, for such inaccuracies that are de minimis in amount and 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). All other representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Article IV of this Agreement shall be true and correct (without giving effect to any materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification or exceptions contained therein except in the representations and warranties contained in Section 4.6(a)) 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 true and correct would not have, or could not reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
(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 Material Adverse Effect.
(d) Officers Certificate. Parent shall 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 8.2(a), Section 8.2(b) and Section 8.2(c) hereof.
(e) FIRPTA Certificate. Parent shall have received from the Company a duly executed certificate meeting the requirements of Treasury Regulation Sections 1.897-2(h) and 1.1445-2(c)(3).
(f) Consents. The consents, waivers, approvals, authorizations and notices set forth in Section 8.2(f) of the Company Disclosure Schedule (i) shall have been obtained, (ii) shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, (ii) shall not be subject to the satisfaction of any condition that has not been satisfied or waived and (iv) shall be in full force and effect.
(g) No Restrictions. There shall be pending no Law, Proceeding, action, suit, litigation or Order by any Governmental Authority that (a) imposes or seeks to impose any limitation upon the ability of Parent, Purchaser or the Company or any of their respective Affiliates to acquire or hold, or which requires any of such parties to dispose of or hold separately, any portion of their assets or business, (b) imposes limitations on the ability of any such parties to conduct, own or operate their businesses or assets or (c) imposes or seeks to impose any limitation upon Parent’s full rights of ownership of the Surviving Corporation after the Closing.
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(a) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of Parent and Purchaser set forth in Article V of this Agreement shall be true and correct in all respects 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 materially impair the ability of Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their respective obligations hereunder.
(b) Performance of Covenants. Parent and Purchaser 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) Officers Certificate. The Company shall have received a certificate, signed by the chief executive officer or chief financial officer of Parent, certifying as to the matters set forth in Section 8.3(a) and Section 8.3(b) hereof.
ARTICLE IX
(a) by mutual written consent of Parent and the Company;
(b) by either Parent or the Company upon written notice to the other party:
(i) if the Merger has not been consummated on or before the End Date; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 9.1(b)(i) 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;
(ii) if any Governmental Authority 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 9.1(b)(ii) 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;
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(iii) if this Agreement has been submitted to the stockholders of the Company for adoption at a duly convened Company Stockholders Meeting and the Stockholder Approval shall not have been obtained at such meeting (including any adjournment or postponement thereof); or
(iv) in the event of a breach by the other party of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained in this Agreement which breach would permit the terminating party to refuse to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to the standards set forth in Section 8.2(a) or (b) or Section 8.3(a) or (b), as applicable; provided, that the party seeking termination is not then in material breach of any covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement and has not willfully breached any of such party’s representations and warranties contained in this Agreement; and provided further, that if such breach in the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements is curable prior to the End Date through the exercise of reasonable efforts and the breaching party exercises reasonable efforts to cure such breach, then the non-breaching party may not terminate this Agreement under this Section 9.1(b)(iv) prior to fifteen (15) days following the receipt of written notice of such breach by the other party; provided further, that the failure of Parent to deposit (or caused to be deposited) the Merger Consideration in the Exchange Fund at the Closing prior to the Effective Time to the extent required hereunder and to the extent all of the conditions set forth in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 have been met, shall not be subject to cure hereunder, and in the event of such breach, the Company may thereupon terminate this Agreement immediately.
(c) by Parent upon written notice to the Company: if (i) a Change in Board Recommendation shall have occurred, (ii) the Company shall have breached or failed to perform in any material respect any of the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 6.2, (iii) following a written request from Parent, the Company Board fails to reaffirm (publicly, if so requested by Parent) the Recommendation within ten (10) Business Days after the date any Acquisition Proposal (or material modification thereto) is first publicly disclosed by the Company or the Person making such Acquisition Proposal, (iv) a tender offer or exchange offer relating to Company Common Stock shall have been commenced by a Person not Affiliated 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 Recommendation and recommending that stockholders reject such tender or exchange offer or (v) 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 9.1(c); or
(d) by the Company upon written notice to Parent: if prior to the receipt of the Stockholder Approval at the Company Stockholders Meeting, the Company Board authorizes the Company, in compliance with Section 6.2(e) in all respects (except, for the avoidance of doubt, that the meaning of the word "material" appearing in clause (i) of Section 6.2(e) shall not be deemed to be modified in any way)and in material compliance with all other terms of this Agreement, to enter into an 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 Acquisition Proposal (other than an Acceptable Confidentiality Agreement) in respect of a Superior Proposal; provided that the Company shall have paid any amounts due pursuant to Section 9.3(b)(ii) hereof in accordance with the terms, and at the times, specified therein.
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(a) General. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.3, each party shall bear all of the fees and expenses incurred by it in connection with the negotiation and performance of this Agreement, and no party may recover any such fees and expenses from the other parties upon any termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that Parent shall be responsible for the payment of any filing or similar fees in connection with the HSR Act or Other Antitrust Laws.
(b) Payment of Fees by the Company to Parent.
(i) If Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Sections 9.1(c)(i) or (iii), or pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(v) if the applicable announcement relates to any of the actions specified in Sections 9.1(c)(i) or (iii), the Company shall immediately pay to Parent the Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of same-day available funds; however, the Company shall not be required to pay the Termination Fee following any termination by Parent under this provision if the Company had the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(iv) at the time of such termination by Parent and had so notified Parent in writing prior to the time of such termination by Parent.
(ii) If the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(d), then the Company shall pay to Parent the Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of same-day available funds on the date of and as a precondition to such termination;
(iii) (x) If after the date hereof an Acquisition Proposal shall have been made (whether or not conditional or subsequently withdrawn), and thereafter either Parent or the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Sections 9.1(b)(i) or (iii), or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Sections 9.1(b)(iv), 9.1 (c)(ii) or (9.1)(c)(iv), or pursuant to Section 9.1(c)(v) if the applicable announcement relates to any of the actions specified in Sections 9.1(c)(ii) or (iv), then the Company shall pay the Expenses upon demand in cash by wire transfer of same-day available funds; and (y) if concurrently therewith, or at any time within eighteen (18) months after such termination, the Company enters into a merger agreement, acquisition agreement or similar Contract (including a letter of intent) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, or an Acquisition Proposal is consummated, including for the avoidance of doubt a Superior Proposal, then the Company shall pay the Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of same-day available funds upon the consummation of such Acquisition Proposal;
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(iv) If (x) either the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to Sections 9.1(b)(i) or (iii), or Parent terminates this Agreement pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(iv), then the Company shall pay to Parent the Expenses upon demand in cash by wire transfer of same-day available funds; and (y) concurrently with the termination of this Agreement by the Company pursuant to Section 9.1(b)(iii) or at any time within eighteen (18) months after such termination, the Company enters into a merger agreement, acquisition agreement or similar Contract (including a letter of intent) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal, or an Acquisition Proposal is consummated, including for the avoidance of doubt a Superior Proposal, then the Company shall pay the Termination Fee in cash by wire transfer of same-day available funds upon the consummation of such Acquisition Proposal.
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall not be required to pay to Parent (i) the Expenses on more than one occasion, (ii) a Termination Fee on more than one occasion, or (iii) an amount greater than the Termination Fee.
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ARTICLE X
If to Parent or Purchaser:
Arrow Electronics, Inc.
50 Marcus Drive
Melville, NY 11747
Attention: Peter Brown
Facsimile No.: (631) 391-4379
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP
One Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, NY 10005
Attention: Howard Kelberg
David J. Wolfson
Facsimile No.: (631) 391-4379
If to the Company:
Nu Horizons Electronics Corp.
70 Maxess Road
Melville, New York 11747
Attention: Martin Kent
Facsimile No.: 631-396-5060
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Farrell Fritz, P.C.
1320 RXR Plaza
Uniondale, New York 11556
Attention: Nancy D. Lieberman, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (516) 336-2778
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and/or to such other respective addresses and/or addressees as may be designated by notice given in accordance with the provisions of this Section 10.2.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Parent, Purchaser and the Company have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the date first written above by their respective officers thereunto duly authorized.
PARENT | ||
ARROW ELECTRONICS, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Peter S. Brown | |
Name: | Peter S. Brown | |
Title: | Senior Vice President and General Counsel |
PURCHASER | ||
NEPTUNE ACQUISITION CORPORATION, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Peter S. Brown | |
Name: | Peter S. Brown | |
Title: | Director and Vice President |
COMPANY | ||
NU HORIZONS ELECTRONICS CORP. | ||
By: | /s/ Arthur Nadata | |
Name: | Arthur Nadata | |
Title: | Chairman |
[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]
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