“Agreed Amount” shall mean part, but not all, of the Claimed Amount as mutually agreed by the Parties.
“Agreement” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Applicable Earnout Amount” shall refer to either the 2007 Earnout Amount or the 2008 Earnout Amount, as determined in accordance with Section 1.8 hereof.
“Applicable Earnout EBITDA” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(b).
“Arbiter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(b)(iii).
“Arbitrator” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 6.3(e).
“Available Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(c).
“Barton” shall mean Barton & Associates, Inc.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than (a) a Saturday or Sunday or (b) a day on which banking institutions located in Boston, Massachusetts or Los Angeles, California are permitted or required by law, executive order or governmental decree to remain closed.
“Buyer” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Buyer Certificate” shall mean a certificate, executed by the Buyer, to the effect that each of the conditions specified in clauses (a) through (c) of Section 5.3 is satisfied in all respects.
“Buyer Common Stock” shall mean shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Buyer.
“Buyer Common Stock Price” shall mean the average daily closing price of the Buyer Common Stock for the ten trading day period ending three trading days prior to the Closing Date.
“Buyer Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change, event, circumstance or development with respect to, or material adverse effect on, the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Buyer. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that the terms “material,” “materially” or “materiality” as used in this Agreement with an initial lower case “m” shall have their respective customary and ordinary meanings, without regard to the meaning ascribed to Buyer Material Adverse Effect.
“Buyer Reports” shall mean (a) the Buyer’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2005, as filed with SEC, and (b) all other reports filed by the Buyer under Section 13 or subsections (a) or (c) of Section 14 of the Exchange Act with the SEC since December 31, 2005.
“Cash Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.5(c).
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“CERCLA” shall mean the federal Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended.
“Claim Notice” shall mean written notification which contains (i) a description of the Damages incurred or reasonably and in good faith expected to be incurred by the Indemnified Party and the Claimed Amount of such Damages, to the extent then known, (ii) a statement that the Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under Article VI for such Damages and a reasonable explanation of the basis therefor, and (iii) a demand for payment in the amount of such Damages (to the extent known at that time).
“Claimed Amount” shall mean the amount of any Damages incurred by the Indemnified Party.
“Closing” shall mean the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
“Closing Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(b)(ii).
“Closing Date” shall mean (i) two Business Days after the last of the conditions set forth in Sections 5.1, 5.2, and 5.3 are satisfied other than those conditions that are to be satisfied at Closing or (ii) at such other time as the parties may agree.
“Closing Working Capital” shall be calculated in accordance with Schedule 1.6(a) attached hereto as of the close of business on the Closing Date and (i) subject to Section 4.8 and (ii) reducing the amount, to the extent included on the Closing Balance Sheet, by (A) one half of the accrued earnout obligation of the Company, (B) any transaction expenses due and not paid in connection with the execution of this Agreement and the consummation of transactions contemplated hereby, (including all costs associated with the standby letters of credit) to the extent not paid for or reimbursed (which reimbursement shall occur promptly after the Closing Date) by the Company Stockholders.
“Closing Working Capital Statement” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(b)(ii).
“Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended and in effect at the relevant time.
“Commercial Rules” shall mean the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the AAA.
“Company” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Company Certificate” shall mean a certificate, executed by the Company and the Indemnification Representative, to the effect that each of the conditions specified in clauses (a) through (c) of Section 5.2 is satisfied in all respects.
“Company Debt” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.8.
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“Company Intellectual Property” shall mean the Intellectual Property owned by or licensed to the Company and covering, incorporated in, underlying or used in connection with the business of the Company as presently conducted.
“Company Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse change, event, circumstance or development that would have (or could reasonably be expected to have) a material adverse effect on, the business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company or the ability of the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, other than any change, event, circumstance or development with respect to, or material adverse effect on, (i) the economy in general, (ii) the industry in which the Company operates, including changes in legal, accounting or regulatory changes or conditions, except to the extent the effect on the Company is materially disproportionate to others in the industry, (iii) the announcement of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and the performance of the obligations of the Parties under this Agreement (including any cancellations or delays in contract awards and any impact on relationships with customers or suppliers to the extent relating to the announcement of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby or the performance of the obligations of the Parties hereunder), (iv) the effect of any change arising in connection with earthquakes, hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions or any escalation or material worsening of any such hostilities, acts of war, sabotage or terrorism or military actions, or (v) the effect of any action taken by the Buyer or its Affiliates with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby or with respect to the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, the Parties agree that the terms “material,” “materially” or “materiality” as used in this Agreement with an initial lower case “m” shall have their respective customary and ordinary meanings, without regard to the meaning ascribed to Company Material Adverse Effect.
“Company Plan” shall mean any Employee Benefit Plan for the benefit of any current or former employee, director or consultant of the Company or any dependent or beneficiary thereof that is maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to, by the Company or any ERISA Affiliate or with respect to which the Company has any liability.
“Company Shares” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(d).
“Company Stockholder” shall have the meaning set forth in the second paragraph of this Agreement.
“Company Stock Plan” shall mean each of the Company 1998 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended August 10, 1999, the Company Amended and Restated 2001 Share Incentive Plan and the Company Amended and Restated 2004 California Share Incentive Plan.
“Company Unvested Stock Option” shall mean each Option that remains outstanding as of the Effective Time, but which has not vested and become exercisable as of the Effective Time (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
“Company Vested Stock Option” shall mean each Option that remains outstanding as of the Effective Time to the extent that such Option has become vested and exercisable as of the Effective Time (after giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
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“Confidential Information” shall mean any confidential or proprietary information of the Company that is furnished to the Buyer by the Company in connection with this Agreement; provided, however, that it shall not include any information (A) which, at the time of disclosure, is available publicly, (B) which, after disclosure, becomes available publicly through no fault of the Buyer, (C) which the Buyer knew or to which the Buyer had access prior to disclosure without an obligation of confidentiality or (D) which the Buyer rightfully obtains from a source other than the Company without an obligation of confidentiality.
“Continuing Employees” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.9(a).
“Damages” shall mean any and all debts, obligations and other liabilities (whether absolute, accrued, contingent, fixed or otherwise, or whether known or unknown, or due or to become due or otherwise), monetary damages, fines, fees, penalties, interest obligations, deficiencies, losses and expenses (including amounts paid in settlement, interest, court costs, costs of investigators, fees and expenses of attorneys, accountants, financial advisors and other experts, and other expenses of litigation), other than those costs and expenses of arbitration of a Dispute which are to be shared equally by the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party as set forth in Section 6.3(e)(v), excluding, however, consequential or incidental damages, including lost profits, other than to third parties.
“Definitive Financing Agreements” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.21.
“Disclosure Schedule” shall mean the disclosure schedule provided by the Company to the Buyer on the date hereof.
“Dispute” shall mean the dispute resulting if the Indemnifying Party in a Response disputes its liability for all or part of the Claimed Amount.
“Dissenting Shares” shall mean Company Shares held as of the Effective Time by a Company Stockholder who has not voted such Company Shares in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and with respect to which appraisal shall have been duly demanded and perfected in accordance with Section 262 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and not effectively withdrawn or forfeited prior to the Effective Time.
“Dollars” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.11.
“Earnout Arbiter” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(b).
“Earnout EBITDA” shall mean the Company’s EBITDA, which is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization, for the 2007 Earnout Period or 2008 Earnout Period, as applicable.
“Earnout Period” shall refer to either the 2007 Earnout Period or the 2008 Earnout Period, as determined in accordance with Section 1.8 hereof.
“Effective Time” shall mean the time at which the Surviving Corporation files the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
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“Employee Benefit Plan” shall mean any employment, consulting, severance, termination, pension, retirement, profit sharing, bonus, incentive, deferred compensation, retention, change in control, savings, life, health, disability, accident, medical, insurance, vacation or other employee compensation or welfare fringe benefit plan, program, arrangement, agreement or commitment, and any stock option, stock appreciation, restricted stock, phantom equity or other equity-based plan, program, arrangement, agreement, policy (whether formal or informal) or commitment, including each “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA.
“Environmental Law” shall mean any federal, state or local law, statute, rule, order, directive, judgment, Permit or regulation or the common law relating to the environment, occupational health and safety, or exposure of persons or property to Materials of Environmental Concern, including any statute, regulation, administrative decision or order pertaining to: (i) the presence of or the treatment, storage, disposal, generation, transportation, handling, distribution, manufacture, processing, use, import, export, labeling, recycling, registration, investigation or remediation of Materials of Environmental Concern or documentation related to the foregoing; (ii) air, water and noise pollution; (iii) groundwater and soil contamination; (iv) the release or threatened release into the environment or the workplace of Materials of Environmental Concern, including emissions, discharges, injections, spills, escapes or dumping of Materials of Environmental Concern; (v) transfer of interests in or control of real property which may be contaminated with Materials of Environmental Concern; (vi) community or worker right-to-know disclosures with respect to Materials of Environmental Concern; (vii) the protection of wild life, marine life and wetlands, and endangered and threatened species; (viii) storage tanks, vessels, containers, abandoned or discarded barrels and other closed receptacles and (ix) health and safety of employees and other persons. As used above, the term “release” shall have the meaning set forth in CERCLA. The term “Environmental Law” does not include any changes in Environmental Laws occurring after the Closing Date.
“ERISA” shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended.
“ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any entity which is a member of (1) a controlled group of corporations (as defined in Section 414(b) of the Code), (2) a group of trades or businesses under common control (as defined in Section 414(c) of the Code), or (3) 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 or included the Company.
“Escrow Agreement” shall mean an escrow agreement in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
“Escrow Agent” shall mean Mellon Investor Services, LLC, a New Jersey limited liability company.
“Escrow Cash” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(g).
“Escrow Termination Date” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.9(a).
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“Estimated Closing Balance Sheet” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(i).
“Estimated Closing Working Capital” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(i).
“Estimated Closing Working Capital Excess” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(ii).
“Estimated Closing Working Capital Shortfall” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(ii).
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Excluded Options” shall mean all Company Unvested Stock Options.
“Financial Statements” shall mean:
(a) the audited balance sheets and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company as of the end of and for each of the last two fiscal years, and
(b) the Most Recent Balance Sheet and the unaudited statements of income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the nine months ended as of the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date.
“Financing” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.21.
“Foreign Plans” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.20(m).
“GAAP” shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the United States as of the date hereof.
“Governmental Entity” shall mean any court, arbitrational tribunal, administrative agency or commission or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency.
“Hart-Scott-Rodino Act” shall mean the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended.
“Income Taxes” shall mean any Taxes imposed upon or measured by net income.
“Income Tax Return” shall mean any Tax Return relating to Income Taxes.
“Indemnification Representative” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(a).
“Indemnified Party” shall mean a party entitled, or seeking to assert rights, to indemnification under Article VI.
“Indemnifying Party” shall mean the party from whom indemnification is sought by the Indemnified Party.
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“Indemnitee” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.7(a).
“Intellectual Property” shall mean all (i) patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights, designs and trade secrets, (ii) applications for and registrations of such patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, domain names, copyrights and designs, (iii) processes, formulae, methods, schematics, technology, know-how, computer software programs and applications, and (iv) other tangible or intangible proprietary or confidential information and materials.
“Law” shall mean any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, court order, regulation, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Entity.
“Lease” shall mean any lease, sublease, license or other agreement (written or oral), including all amendments, extensions, renewals, guarantees, and other agreements with respect thereto, pursuant to which the Company leases or subleases any real property from another party.
“Legal Proceeding” shall mean any action, suit, proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation before any Governmental Entity or before any arbitrator.
“Lock-Up Agreement” shall mean a Lock-Up Agreement duly executed and delivered by each of the Company Stockholders, a form of which is attached as Exhibit D hereto.
“Materials of Environmental Concern” shall mean any: pollutants, contaminants or hazardous substances (as such terms are defined under CERCLA), pesticides (as such term is defined under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act), solid wastes and hazardous wastes (as such terms are defined under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act), chemicals, other hazardous, radioactive or toxic materials, oil, petroleum and petroleum products (and fractions thereof), or any other material (or article containing such material) listed or subject to regulation under any law, statute, rule, regulation, order, Permit, or directive due to its potential, directly or indirectly, to harm the environment or the health of humans or other living beings.
“McGowan Employment Agreement” shall mean that certain Employment Agreement entered into by Michael McGowan and effective as of the Closing Date, a form of which is attached as Exhibit E-1 hereto.
“McGowan Non-Competition Agreement” shall mean that certain Confidentiality, Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement entered into by Michael McGowan and effective as of the Closing Date, a form of which is attached as Exhibit E-2 hereto.
“McGowan Note” shall mean that certain Promissory Note between Oxford Global Resources, Inc. and Michael McGowan, dated June 12, 2001, as amended November 5, 2004.
“Merger” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.1.
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“Merger Consideration” shall mean, collectively, the Cash Consideration, the Stock Consideration, the 2007 Earnout Amount and the 2008 Earnout Amount.
“Most Recent Balance Sheet” shall mean the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date.
“Most Recent Balance Sheet Date” shall mean September 30, 2006.
“Non-Competition Agreement” shall mean a Non-Competition Agreement duly executed and delivered by each of the Company Stockholders, a form of which is attached as Exhibit E hereto.
“Obligations” shall mean all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any indebtedness for borrowed money.
“Option” shall mean each option to purchase or acquire Company Shares granted under any Company Stock Plan.
“Option Adjustment Amount” means the quotient obtained by dividing the Working Capital Shortfall by the sum of the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing plus the number of Options, other than Excluded Options, outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Optionholder” shall mean a holder of Company Vested Stock Options.
“Ordinary Course of Business” shall mean the ordinary course of business consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to frequency and amount).
“Owned Real Property” shall mean each item of real property owned by the Company.
“Parties” shall mean the Buyer, the Transitory Subsidiary, the Company and the Company Stockholders.
“Per Share 2007 Earnout Amount” means the quotient obtained by dividing the 2007 Earnout Amount by the sum of the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing plus the number of Options, other than Excluded Options, outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Per Share 2007 Optionholder Earnout Amount” means the Per Share 2007 Earnout Amount less the Option Adjustment Amount.
“Per Share 2007 Stockholder Earnout Amount” means the sum of (i) the Per Share 2007 Earnout Amount plus (ii) the quotient of the Aggregate Option Adjustment Amount divided by the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Per Share 2008 Earnout Amount” means the quotient obtained by dividing the 2008 Earnout Amount by the sum of the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to
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the Closing plus the number of Options, other than Excluded Options, outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Per Share Cash Consideration” means the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Cash Consideration plus the Aggregate Exercise Price plus $10,000,000 by (ii) the sum of the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing plus the number of Options, other than Excluded Options, outstanding immediately prior to the Closing less (A) (i) $10,000,000 divided by (ii) the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing and (B) (i) the Escrow Cash divided by (ii) the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Per Share Stock Consideration” means the quotient obtained by dividing the Stock Consideration by the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Per Share Option Consideration” means the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Cash Consideration plus the Aggregate Exercise Price plus $10,000,000 by (ii) the sum of the number of Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to the Closing plus the number of Options, other than Excluded Options, outstanding immediately prior to the Closing.
“Permits” shall mean all permits, licenses, registrations, certificates, orders, approvals, franchises, variances and similar rights issued by or obtained from any Governmental Entity (including those issued or required under Environmental Laws and those relating to the occupancy or use of owned or leased real property).
“Person” means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, a limited liability company, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization, any other business entity, or a governmental entity (or any department, agency, or political subdivision thereof).
“Post-Closing Tax Period” shall mean any taxable period beginning after the Closing Date.
“Pre-Closing Tax Period” shall mean any taxable period ending on or before the Closing Date.
“Purchase Price” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.5(c).
“Requisite Stockholder Approval” shall mean the adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger by 95% of the votes represented by the outstanding Company Shares entitled to vote on this Agreement and the Merger.
“Response” shall mean a written response containing the information provided for in Section 6.3(c).
“Section 338(h)(10) Election” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.17(d)(i).
“Securities Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
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“Security Interest” shall mean any mortgage, pledge, security interest, lien, charge or encumbrance (whether arising by contract or by operation of law), other than (i) mechanic’s, materialmen’s, and similar liens, (ii) liens arising under worker’s compensation, unemployment insurance, social security, retirement, and similar legislation, (iii) liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, in each case arising in the Ordinary Course of Business of the Company and not material to the Company, and (iv) liens for taxes not yet due and payable or being contested in good faith.
“Stock Consideration” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.5(c).
“Stockholder Registration Statement” shall mean a registration statement on Form S-3 covering the resale to the public by the Company Stockholders of the Stock Consideration.
“Straddle Period” shall mean any taxable period or portion thereof beginning before and ending after the Closing Date.
“Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other non-corporate business enterprise in which the Company (or another Subsidiary) holds stock or other ownership interests representing (a) more than 50% of the voting power of all outstanding stock or ownership interests of such entity or (b) the right to receive more than 50% of the net assets of such entity available for distribution to the holders of outstanding stock or ownership interests upon a liquidation or dissolution of such entity.
“Surviving Corporation” shall mean the Company, as the surviving corporation in the Merger.
“Target Working Capital” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(a)(ii).
“Tax” or “Taxes” shall mean all taxes, charges, fees, levies or other similar assessments or liabilities in the nature of taxes, including income, gross receipts, ad valorem, premium, value-added, excise, real property, personal property, sales, use, transfer, withholding, employment, unemployment, insurance, social security, business license, business organization, environmental, workers compensation, payroll, profits, license, lease, service, service use, severance, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, customs, duties, franchise and other taxes imposed by the United States of America or any state, local or foreign government, or any agency thereof, or other political subdivision of the United States or any such government, whether or not disputed, 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.
“Tax Proceeding” shall mean any audit, administrative appeal, claim for refund, or contest or defense against any assessment, notice of deficiency, or other proposed adjustment relating to any and all Taxes of the Company.
“Tax Returns” shall mean all reports, returns, declarations, statements or other information required to be supplied to a Taxing authority or Governmental Entity with jurisdiction over Taxes.
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“Transitory Subsidiary” shall have the meaning set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
“Working Capital Excess” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(b)(iv).
“Working Capital Shortfall” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.6(b)(iv).
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 Press Releases and Announcements. No Party shall issue any press release or public announcement relating to the subject matter of this Agreement without the prior written approval of the Buyer and Thomas F. Ryan, which shall not be unreasonably withheld; provided, however, that any Party may make any public disclosure it believes in good faith is required by applicable law, regulation or stock market rule (in which case the disclosing Party shall use reasonable efforts to advise the other Parties and, prior to making the disclosure, provide them with a reasonably opportunity to review a copy of the proposed disclosure and shall consider their comments in good faith). The Parties will consult with each other concerning the means by which the Surviving Company’s employees, customers, and suppliers and others having dealings with the Surviving Company will be informed of the transactions contemplated hereby, and Buyer will have the right to be present for any such communication.
9.2 No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any rights or remedies upon any person other than the Parties and their respective successors and permitted assigns; provided, however, that (a) the provisions of Article VI concerning indemnification are intended for the benefit of the Indemnified Parties, and (b) the provisions of Section 4.7 concerning indemnification are intended for the benefit of the individuals specified therein.
9.3 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents referred to herein) shall constitute the entire agreement among the Parties and supersede any prior understandings, agreements or representations by or among the Parties, written or oral, with respect to the subject matter hereof, including, but not limited to, the Confidentiality Agreement between the Buyer and the Company dated as of July 28, 2006.
9.4 Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, no Party may assign either this Agreement or any of its rights, interests or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval of the other Parties; provided, however, that, subject to Section 1.8(e), Buyer may (i) assign any or all of its rights and interests hereunder to one or more of its Affiliates and (ii) designate one or more of its Affiliates to perform its obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases Buyer nonetheless shall remain responsible for the performance of all its obligations hereunder).
9.5 Counterparts and Facsimile Signature. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. This Agreement may be executed by facsimile signature.
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9.6 Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
9.7 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder shall be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly delivered four business days after it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or one business day after it is sent for next business day delivery via a reputable nationwide overnight courier service, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below:
If to the Company:
Michael J. McGowan President & COO Oxford Global Resources, Inc. 100 Cummings Center, Suite 206L Beverly, MA 01915 | Copy to:
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP 1100 Winter Street, Suite 4650 Waltham, MA 02451 Attention: John H. Chory, Esq. |
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If to the Indemnification Representative:
Thomas F. Ryan 206 Locha Drive Jupiter, FL 33458 | Copy to:
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP 1100 Winter Street, Suite 4650 Waltham, MA 02451 Attention: John H. Chory, Esq. |
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If to the Buyer:
Peter T. Dameris Chief Executive Officer and President On Assignment, Inc. 26651 West Agoura Road Calabasas, CA 91302 | Copy to:
Latham & Watkins LLP 633 West Fifth St., Ste. 4000 Los Angeles, California 90071 Attention: Steven B. Stokdyk, Esq. |
Any Party may give any notice, request, demand, claim or other communication hereunder using any other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service, telecopy, telex, ordinary mail or electronic mail), but no such notice, request, demand, claim or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until it actually is received by the party for whom it is intended. Any Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties notice in the manner herein set forth.
9.8 Governing Law. This Agreement (including the validity and applicability of the arbitration provisions of this Agreement, the conduct of any arbitration of a Dispute, the enforcement of any arbitral award made hereunder and any other questions of arbitration law or procedure arising hereunder) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of Delaware without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or
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rule that would cause the application of laws of any jurisdictions other than those of the State of Delaware.
9.9 Amendments and Waivers. The Parties may mutually amend any provision of this Agreement at any time prior to the Closing. No amendment of any provision of this Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Buyer, the Company and the Indemnification Representative. No waiver of any right or remedy hereunder shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the Party giving such waiver. No waiver by any Party with respect to any default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder shall be deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.
9.10 Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other situation or in any other jurisdiction. If the final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction declares that any term or provision hereof is invalid or unenforceable, the Parties agree that the court making the determination of invalidity or unenforceability shall have the power to limit the term or provision, to delete specific words or phrases, or to replace any invalid or unenforceable term or provision with a term or provision that is valid and enforceable and that comes closest to expressing the intention of the invalid or unenforceable term or provision, and this Agreement shall be enforceable as so modified.
9.11 Submission to Jurisdiction. Each Party (a) submits to the jurisdiction of any federal court sitting in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including any action or proceeding for the enforcement of any arbitral award made in connection with any arbitration of a Dispute hereunder), (b) agrees that all claims in respect of such action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such court, (c) waives any claim of inconvenient forum or other challenge to venue in such court, (d) agrees not to bring any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court and (e) waives any right it may have to a trial by jury with respect to any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement; provided in each case that, solely with respect to any arbitration of a Dispute, the Arbitrator shall resolve all threshold issues relating to the validity and applicability of the arbitration provisions of this Agreement, contract validity, applicability of statutes of limitations and issue preclusion, and such threshold issues shall not be heard or determined by such court. Each Party agrees to accept service of any summons, complaint or other initial pleading made in the manner provided for the giving of notices in Section 9.7, provided that nothing in this Section 9.11 shall affect the right of any Party to serve such summons, complaint or other initial pleading in any other manner permitted by law.
9.12 Construction.
(a) The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the Parties to express their mutual intent, and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any Party.
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(b) Any reference to any federal, state, local or foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise.
(c) Any reference herein to “including” shall be interpreted as “including without limitation.”
(d) Any reference to any Article, Section or paragraph shall be deemed to refer to an Article, Section or paragraph of this Agreement, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
9.13 Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges and agrees that the other Parties would be damaged irreparably if any provision of this Agreement is not performed in accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party agrees that the other Parties will be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this Agreement and its terms and provisions in any Legal Proceeding instituted in any court of the United States or any state thereof having jurisdiction over the Parties and the matter, subject to Sections 9.8 and 9.11, in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in equity.
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