Stock Purchase Agreement, dated December 15, 2021, by and among the Company, its UK-based subsidiary Altair Engineering Ltd., the stockholders of December 2015 Software Limited named therein and a sellers representative named therein
Exhibit 10.2
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the Agreement), dated as of December 15, 2021, is by and among:
Oliver Robinson, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Oliver Robinson);
Thomas Quarendon, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Thomas Quarendon);
Martin Jupp, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Martin Jupp);
Samuel Manning, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Samuel Manning);
Peter Quarendon, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Peter Quarendon);
Benjamin Scurr, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Benjamin Scurr);
Declan Vibert, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Declan Vibert);
Kevin Weekes, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Kevin Weekes); and
Kate Marshall, an individual residing at the address set forth in Exhibit A Annexed hereto (Kate Marshall);
(each of Oliver Robinson (other than in his capacity as the Sellers Representative), Thomas Quarendon, Martin Jupp, Samuel Manning, Peter Quarendon, Benjamin Scurr, Declan Vibert, Kevin Weekes and Kate Marshall, a Seller and Oliver Robinson, Thomas Quarendon, Martin Jupp, Samuel Manning, Paul Quarendon, Benjamin Scurr, Declan Vibert, Kevin Weekes and Kate Marshall, collectively, the Sellers);
Altair Engineering Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales with registered number 03051069 whose registered office is at Imperial House, Holly Walk, Royal Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4JG (the Purchaser);
solely with respect to Section 7.4, Section 7.17 and Section 7.18, Altair Engineering Inc., a Delaware corporation and the direct owner of all of the outstanding capital stock of the Purchaser (Parent); and
Oliver Robinson, in his capacity as the representative of the Sellers (the Sellers Representative).
Each of the Sellers, the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser is referred to herein individually as a Party and collectively as the Parties.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Sellers own all of the outstanding capital stock or equity interests of December 2015 Software Limited, a private limited company with its registered office address at Worsley Lodge, Common Hill Road, Braishfield, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0QF (the Company), consisting of 769,500 ordinary shares of the Companys share capital, each with a nominal value of GBP 0.001 (the Company Shares);
WHEREAS, World Programming Limited is a private limited company with its registered office address at Osprey House, Budds Lane, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0HA (the Operating Company) which together with the Company carries on the business of (i) developing, marketing, distributing, licensing and selling software and activities related thereto (including training, support, customization and maintenance of software), and (ii) performing professional and consulting services (including but not limited to development, implementation and management services) relating to Software and other products (as presently conducted, the Business);
WHEREAS, the Sellers desire to sell and transfer to the Purchaser, and the Purchaser desires to purchase from the Sellers, the Business, such sale and transfer to be given effect by (a) the Sellers selling and transferring all of the Company Shares to the Purchaser effective as of the date hereof in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement; (b) the Sellers, other than Samuel Manning, selling and transferring all of the shares in the issued share capital of the Operating Company to the Purchaser in accordance with the terms and conditions of an agreement effective concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement);
WHEREAS, to induce the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement and the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement, each of the following Sellers has agreed to enter into a restrictive covenant agreement with the Purchaser, concurrent with the execution of this Agreement: Oliver Robinson, Martin Jupp and Thomas Quarendon (such Sellers being referred to as the Designated Employees and such restrictive covenant agreements being referred to as the Covenant Agreements);
WHEREAS, to induce the Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, each Seller has agreed to provide the release set forth in Section 5.4; and
WHEREAS, the Sellers have agreed to appoint Oliver Robinson as their representative for the purposes of this Agreement;
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and undertakings contained herein, and subject to and on the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Sellers, the Sellers Representative, the Purchaser and (solely with respect to Section 7.4, Section 7.17 and Section 7.18) the Parent, hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
Location in the Agreement; Interpretations
Section 1.1 Definitions. The definitions of certain terms are set forth in Article VIII of this Agreement.
Section 1.2 Interpretation. Unless otherwise indicated to the contrary herein by the context or use thereof:
(a) The headings and captions contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
(b) Whenever the words include, includes or including are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words without limitation.
(c) The words hereof, herein and herewith and words of similar import shall, unless expressly otherwise stated, be construed to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and article, section, paragraph, exhibit, appendix and schedule references are to the articles, sections, paragraphs, exhibits, appendices and schedules of this Agreement unless expressly otherwise specified.
(d) The meaning assigned to each term herein shall be equally applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of such term, and words denoting any gender shall include all genders. Where a word or phrase is defined herein, each of its other grammatical forms shall have a corresponding meaning.
(e) A reference to any Party to this Agreement or any other agreement or document shall include such Partys successors and permitted assigns.
(f) A reference to any legislation or to any provision of any legislation shall include any amendment thereto, and any modification or re-enactment thereof, any legislative provision substituted therefor and all regulations and statutory instruments issued thereunder or pursuant thereto.
(g) The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event that an ambiguity or a question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement.
(h) The terms of this Section 1.2 shall apply to the Disclosure Letter (and each schedule in the Sellers Disclosure Schedule comprised therewith), to the Covenant Agreements and to each document included in the exhibits annexed hereto (if any) unless expressly otherwise stated therein.
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(i) All monetary amounts are intended to reference United States dollars except where £ are expressly referenced.
Section 1.3 Timing. This Agreement provides for the execution of this Agreement to occur simultaneously with the Closing. All references to the Closing Date herein shall mean the date hereof unless for any unforeseen reason the Closing occurs subsequent to the date hereof, in which case Closing Date shall mean the date on which the Closing is consummated.
ARTICLE II
Sale and Purchase of Securities
Section 2.1 Sale and Purchase of Purchased Securities; Purchase Price. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions contained herein and on the basis of the warranties and covenants herein, effective concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Sellers agree to sell to the Purchaser and procure the sale to the Purchaser, free and clear of any and all Encumbrances, and the Purchaser agrees to purchase the Shares from the Sellers. The Purchaser is not obliged to complete the purchase of any Company Shares unless the Sellers complete the sale of all the Company Shares simultaneously.
Section 2.2 Consideration for the Purchased Securities. Concurrent with the execution of this Agreement, the Company has delivered to the Purchaser a certificate (the Closing Certificate) setting forth (I) the Companys good faith estimate of (a) the aggregate amount of the Company Groups Long-Term Indebtedness as of the Closing Date, the components thereof and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, (b) the aggregate amount of unpaid Company Group Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date, the components thereof and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, (c) the aggregate amount of interest and principal outstanding on the Insider Loans as of the Closing Date, the components thereof and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, (d) the aggregate amount of Company Group Change in Control Payments, the components thereof and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof and (e) the aggregate cash amount payable to the Investment Firm by virtue of the consummation of the Closing pursuant to all agreements among the Company, the Sellers and the Investment Firm (the Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses), together with a brief explanation of how the Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses were calculated and wire transfer instructions for the payment thereof, and (II) the aggregate amount that the Company desires the Purchaser to pay to the Sellers Representative to fund expenditures that the Sellers Representative may incur in performing its obligations under this Agreement (the Sellers Representative Expense Fund) and wire transfer instructions for the payment of such amount to the Sellers Representative. The aggregate consideration to be paid by the Purchaser to the Sellers for the Company Shares (the Purchase Price) is an amount in cash (the Closing Cash Payment Amount) equal to (i) USD 25,000,000 minus (ii) the aggregate amount of the Company Groups Long-Term Indebtedness as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Closing Certificate minus (iii) the aggregate amount of unpaid Company Group Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date as set forth in the Closing Certificate minus (iv) the aggregate amount of principal and interest payable by the Company and its Subsidiaries on all Insider Loans as of the Closing Date, as set forth in the Closing Certificate minus (v) the aggregate amount of Company Group Change in Control Payments as set forth in the Closing Certificate minus (vi) the aggregate amount of the Sellers Representative Expense Fund and minus (vii) the aggregate amount of Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses as set forth in the Closing Certificate.
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Section 2.3 Payment of Purchase Price; Adjustments. Upon consummation of the Closing hereunder, the Purchaser shall:
(a) pay the Closing Cash Payment Amount to the Sellers Solicitors client account (Sellers Solicitors Client Account) for allocation among the Sellers, in accordance with wire transfer instructions set forth in the Closing Certificate;
(b) pay, in accordance with wire transfer instructions set forth in the Closing Certificate, the aggregate amount of the Company Groups Long-Term Indebtedness as of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of unpaid Company Group Transaction Expenses as of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount outstanding under the Insider Loans as of the Closing Date, the aggregate amount of Company Group Change in Control Payments as of the Closing Date and the aggregate amount of the Sellers Representative Expense Fund; and
(c) pay, in accordance with wire transfer instructions provided by the Investment Firm, to the Investment Firm cash in an amount equal to the Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses set forth in the Closing Certificate.
Section 2.4 Adjustment of a Portion of the Purchase Price.
(a) As soon as practicable, but in no event more than ninety days, after the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall deliver to the Sellers Representative a statement (the Closing Statement) setting forth, in reasonable detail, its calculation of each of the Cash and the Working Capital (the Adjustment Positions).
(b) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(c) and Section 2.4(d), the Sellers Representative will have thirty days from the date of delivery of the Closing Statement to review and either approve or disapprove the Purchasers calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Closing Statement. If the Sellers Representative approves the Purchasers calculation of the Adjustment Positions, the Sellers Representative shall promptly so advise the Purchaser in writing. In the event that either (i) the Sellers Representative notifies the Purchaser within such thirty day period that the Sellers Representative agrees with the Purchasers calculation of the Adjustment Positions or (ii) the Sellers Representative fails to provide any notification to the Purchaser with respect to such Closing Statement within such thirty day period, then the Adjustment Positions as determined by the Purchaser and reflected in such Closing Statement will be deemed final.
(c) If the Sellers Representative disagrees with the Purchasers calculation of the Adjustment Positions in the Closing Statement, the Sellers Representative shall notify the Purchaser in writing (the Notice of Disagreement) of such disagreement within thirty days after delivery of the Closing Statement to the Sellers Representative. The Notice of Disagreement will set forth in reasonable detail the basis for the disagreement. Thereafter, the Sellers Representative will work in good faith with the Purchaser to resolve and finally determine the calculation of the Adjustment Positions. If the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser are able to resolve such disagreement within fifteen days after the delivery of the Notice of Disagreement, they shall jointly prepare a revised Closing Statement setting forth the agreed upon Adjustment Positions and the Adjustment Positions as agreed upon by the Purchaser and the Sellers Representative and reflected in such revised Closing Statement will be deemed final.
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(d) If the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser are unable to resolve such disagreement within fifteen days after the delivery of the Notice of Disagreement, the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser will appoint a mutually acceptable independent accounting firm recognized as expert in international accounting matters (the Independent Accountant) and will each submit to the Independent Accountant a written submission (each, a Submission) setting forth such Partys calculation of each of the Adjustment Positions and such Partys positions on the issues in dispute. The engagement of the Independent Accountant will specify that (i) the Independent Accountant shall act as an expert and not an arbitrator, (ii) it will accept as accurate all aspects of the calculation of the Adjustment Positions that have not been identified as disputed items, (iii) it will make its determination based solely on the applicable provisions of this Agreement (and not independent review), (iv) it will base its determination solely on the Submissions (unless the Independent Accountant requests additional information from either the Sellers Representative or the Purchaser), and not on independent investigation, (v) the Independent Accountants sole responsibility is to resolve the disputed items and provide the Parties with a calculation of the Adjustment Positions based on the Parties resolution of the non-disputed items and the Independent Accountants resolution of the disputed items. The Sellers Representative and the Purchaser shall deliver to the Independent Accountant all information reasonably requested by the Independent Accountant to resolve such disputed items and shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such determination to be made, and written notice thereof given to the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser, within thirty days after such information is provided to the Independent Accountant. The determination by the Independent Accountant of the disputed items will be final, binding and conclusive upon the Parties hereto, absent manifest error. The scope of the Independent Accountants engagement (which will not be an audit) will be limited to the resolution of the items identified as disputed items in the Submissions. The fees, costs and expenses of the Independent Accountant, if any, will be paid (A) fully by the Purchaser if the Adjustment Positions as determined by the Independent Accountant are closer to the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Sellers Representatives Submission than the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Purchasers Submission (save as otherwise provided for in (C) hereinafter), (B) fully by the Sellers Representative (from the Sellers Representative Expense Fund or by contributions from the Sellers) if the Adjustment Positions as determined by the Independent Accountant are closer to the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Purchasers Submission than the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Sellers Representatives Submission (save as otherwise provided for in (C) hereinafter) and (C) 50% by the Purchaser and 50% by the Sellers Representative (from the Sellers Representative Expense Fund or by contributions from the Sellers) if the Adjustment Positions as determined by the Independent Accountant are within USD 5,000 (five thousand US dollars) either side of the midway between the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Sellers Representatives Submission and the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Purchasers Submission. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, in the event that the Adjustment Positions are determined pursuant to this Section 2.4(d), then the Adjustment Positions shall be calculated by giving effect to the matters not in dispute as resolved by the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser and giving effect to the Independent Accountants resolution of the matters in dispute, as reflected in a final report by the Independent Accountant, which shall be binding upon the Parties in the absence of manifest error.
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(e) For purposes of this Agreement, the adjustments to the Purchase Price contemplated by this Section 2.4 (the Purchase Price Adjustments) shall be based on (i) the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as set forth in the Closing Statement in the event that either (A) the Sellers Representative notifies the Purchaser within the thirty day period described in Section 2.4(b) that the Sellers Representative agrees with the Purchasers calculation of the Adjustment Positions set forth in the Closing Statement or (B) the Sellers Representative fails to provide any notification to the Purchaser with respect to such Closing Statement within such thirty day period, (ii) the calculation of the Adjustment Positions as agreed upon by the Purchaser and the Sellers Representative if agreement is reached by the Purchaser and the Sellers Representative pursuant to Section 2.4(c) and (iii) the calculation of the Adjustment Positions identified in the last sentence of Section 2.4(d) as being the operative calculation in the event that the Adjustment Positions are determined pursuant to Section 2.4(d). For purposes of this Agreement, (i) the terms Final Cash and Final Working Capital shall mean the calculations of the Cash and Working Capital, respectively, which, pursuant to this Section 2.4(e), are the calculations upon which the Purchase Price Adjustments are to be based and (ii) the term Final Determination Date shall mean the seventh day after the date on which the Final Cash, the Final Working Capital and the Final Deferred Revenues are determined hereunder.
(f) If the Final Cash is more than USD 2,090,000 (such surplus, a Cash Surplus), then, by no later than the tenth Business Day after the Final Determination Date, the Purchaser will pay to the Principal Sellers in cash an amount equal to 25% of the Cash Surplus, such payment to be made to the Sellers Solicitors Client Account and allocated among the Principal Sellers by reference to their respective fractional interests following Closing as set forth in Exhibit A annexed hereto (the Subsequent Fractional Interests).
(g) If the Final Working Capital is more than negative USD 7,070,888 (such surplus, a Working Capital Surplus), then, by no later than the tenth Business Day after the Final Determination Date, the Purchaser will pay to the Principal Sellers in cash an amount equal to 25% of the Working Capital Surplus, such payment to be made to the Sellers Solicitors Client Account and allocated among the Principal Sellers by reference to their respective Subsequent Fractional Interests. For avoidance of doubt, if the Final Working Capital is negative USD 7,070,887, that is deemed to be USD 1 more than negative USD 7,070,888.
(h) If the Final Cash is less than USD 1,710,000 (such deficit, a Cash Deficit), the Cash Deficit will reduce the number of shares of Class A Stock issuable to the Operating Company Participating Sellers under Section 2.5(c)(iii) of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement.
(i) If the Final Working Capital is less than negative USD 8,642,197 (such deficit, a Working Capital Deficit), the Working Capital Deficit will reduce the number of shares of Class A Stock issuable to the Operating Company Participating Sellers under Section 2.5(c)(iii) of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement. For avoidance of doubt, if the Final Working Capital is negative USD 8,642,198, that is deemed to be USD 1 less than negative USD 8,642,197.
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Section 2.5 Joint and Several Liability. All obligations of the Sellers under Section 2.4 shall be joint and several.
Section 2.6 Closing. Subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the transactions contemplated hereby (the Closing) shall take place remotely via the exchange of documents and signatures concurrently with the execution of this Agreement.
Section 2.7 Closing Deliverables by the Sellers. Subject to the satisfaction of all applicable conditions, at or prior to the Closing, the Sellers will deliver, or cause others, as applicable, to deliver, the following duly executed documents to the Purchaser:
(a) evidence that the Sellers have applied to Companies House for the issue of good standing certificates indicating that each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in good standing (where such concept is recognized) in the jurisdiction of its organization and each jurisdiction where it is qualified to do business as a foreign entity;
(b) stock transfer forms duly completed and executed by the registered holders thereof for transfer of the Company Shares to the Purchaser, together with certificates representing the Company Shares (or an indemnity in the agreed form for any missing share certificates, duly executed as a deed) if the Company Shares are certificated;
(c) the minute books, Tax Returns, accountant work papers, and Share transfer records of the Company and its Subsidiaries, provided that if documents and records are located at an office of the Company or its Subsidiaries on the Closing Date, the Sellers shall be deemed to have delivered such documents to the Purchaser;
(d) the Covenant Agreements signed by each of the Designated Employees;
(e) written resignations effective as of the Closing Date from each of the directors and secretary of the Company;
(f) a copy of the new articles of association of the Company, which have been approved and adopted in accordance with the Company Charter Documents;
(g) an executed copy of the Closing Certificate;
(h) a U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form W-8BEN, including all required documents and attachments, properly completed by each Seller; and
(i) all other documents required to be delivered by the Sellers or the Sellers Representative to the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement or reasonably necessary to give effect to the transactions contemplated under this Agreement.
Section 2.8 Withholding. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Purchaser shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from any payment hereunder any amounts that are required to be deducted or withheld on account of Taxes. All such amounts deducted and withheld shall be treated for purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the Person to whom the amount withheld would otherwise have been paid.
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ARTICLE III
Warranties of the Sellers
References herein to the Sellers Disclosure Schedule shall mean all of the disclosure schedules required by this Article III and Articles V and VIII of this Agreement, which shall be schedules to the Disclosure Letter, dated as of the date hereof and referenced to the applicable specific sections and subsections of Articles III, V and VIII of this Agreement, which have been delivered on the date hereof by the Sellers to the Purchaser. Except as Disclosed, (i) with respect to the warranties in Section 3.1(c), each Seller hereby warrants severally as to that Seller and (ii) with respect to all of the warranties set out in this Article III except for the warranties in Section 3.1(c), the Sellers hereby warrant jointly and severally to the Purchaser as follows:
Section 3.1 Existence and Ownership.
(a) The Company (i) is a limited company duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of England and Wales; (ii) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its property and to conduct the Business and any other business that it currently conducts; and (iii) is duly qualified as a foreign limited company licensed and in good standing (where such concept is recognized) under the laws of each jurisdiction in which its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification. Section 3.1(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists each jurisdiction in which the Company is so qualified. The Business is conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries solely through the Company Group. No jurisdiction, other than those referred to in Section 3.1(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, has claimed, in writing or otherwise, that the Company is required to qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity therein. Except for the jurisdictions referred to in Schedule 3.1(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own or lease property in any jurisdiction.
(b) Each of the Companys Subsidiaries (i) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it was formed; (ii) has all requisite power and authority to own and operate its property and to conduct the business that it currently conducts; and (ii) is duly qualified as a foreign entity and is in good standing (where such concept is recognized) under the laws of each jurisdiction in which its ownership, lease or operation of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. With respect to each of the Companys Subsidiaries: (I) Section 3.1(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists each jurisdiction in which such Company Subsidiary is so qualified, (II) no jurisdiction, other than those referred to in Section 3.1(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule with respect to such Company Subsidiary, has claimed, in writing or otherwise, that such Company Subsidiary is required to qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity therein, and (III) except for the jurisdictions referred to in Section 3.1(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule with respect to such Company Subsidiary, such Company Subsidiary does not own or lease property in any jurisdiction other than its jurisdiction of formation. No proceedings have been taken or authorized
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by any Company Subsidiary or any director or officer of any Company Subsidiary or any of the equity owners of the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, by any other Person with respect to the bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, dissolution or winding up of any of the Companys Subsidiaries. The Company does not have, and nor has it had since its incorporation, directly or indirectly, any controlled Affiliates other than the Companys Subsidiaries.
(c) Each of the Sellers has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Seller Document to which such Party is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Seller Documents to which it is a party. The execution, delivery and performance by the Sellers of this Agreement and the other Seller Documents to which any such Party is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary action on behalf of each of the Sellers. This Agreement has been, and, to the extent applicable, each other Seller Document has been, duly executed and delivered by the Sellers, and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement constitutes, and, to the extent applicable, each other Seller Document constitutes, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Sellers, enforceable against the Sellers in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
Section 3.2 Organizational Documents; Books and Records. True, complete and correct copies of the articles of association and certificate of incorporation (including amendments thereto), bylaws (including amendments thereto), share and option register and register of members, statutory books and records, minute books and other organizational documents of each entity in the Company Group (collectively, the Company Charter Documents) have been made available to the Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement. Such documents, minute ledgers, minute books and books of record (including the books of account and statutory registers) as made available to the Purchaser prior to the date hereof, are true, complete and correct in all material respects. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.2 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, the minutes (including actions by written consent without meetings) of the Board of Directors (or other comparable management bodies), committees of the Board of Directors (or other comparable management bodies) and the equity owners of each entity in the Company Group that have been made available to the Purchaser are all of the minutes (and actions by written consent) of the Board of Directors (or other comparable management bodies), committees of the Board of Directors (or other comparable management bodies) and the equity owners of each entity in the Company Group and are true, correct and complete copies thereof in all respects.
Section 3.3 No Contravention. The execution, delivery and performance by the Sellers of this Agreement and each of the other Seller Documents to which any of them are a party and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (a) do not contravene the terms of the Company Charter Documents or any organizational document to which any of the Sellers or the Sellers Representative is subject; (b) do not violate, conflict with or result in any breach, default or contravention of (or with due notice or lapse of time or both would result in any breach, default or contravention of), or the creation of any Encumbrance under, or the breach of any fiduciary duty with respect to, any Contractual Obligation of any entity in the Company Group, any Seller
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or the Sellers Representative or any Law applicable to any entity in the Company Group, any Seller or the Sellers Representative; (c) do not violate any Order of any Governmental Authority against, or binding upon, any entity in the Company Group, any Seller or the Sellers Representative and (d) do not result in the acceleration of, or permit any Person to accelerate or declare due and payable prior to its stated maturity, any liability of any entity in the Company Group or any Seller.
Section 3.4 Governmental Authorization; Third Party Consents. Except as set forth in Section 3.4 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, no approval, consent, exemption, registration, authorization or other action by, or notice to, or filing with, any Governmental Authority or any other Person, and no lapse of a waiting period under any Law, is necessary or required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by, or enforcement against, the Sellers or the Sellers Representative of this Agreement or any of the other Seller Documents, any instruments of transfer referred to herein or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 3.5 No Insolvency. No entity in the Company Group (i) has suspended its payments or become unable or deemed to be unable to pay its debts as they become due, (ii) has made an amicable settlement with its creditors or entered into any moratorium or other arrangement with its creditors generally, (iii) is in judicial reorganization or judicial liquidation; (iv) has been the object of any proceedings for the reorganization or collective discharge of its liabilities under the laws of any jurisdiction, (v) has filed any motion, request or petition of bankruptcy, reorganization, suspension of lawsuits or claims by its creditors or the equivalent thereof, and (vi) is, to the Knowledge of the Operating Sellers, under the threat of any such proceedings. No entity in the Company Group is under voluntary liquidation or any winding-up process or has ceased or proposed to cease to carry on all or a substantial portion of its businesses.
Section 3.6 Legal Proceedings. No actions, suits, proceedings, demands, claims, counterclaims, cross-claims, complaints, disputes, arbitrations, challenges, liens, inquiries or investigations (collectively, Claims) are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened, at law, in equity, in arbitration or before any Governmental Authority against any of the entities in the Company Group or against or relating to the Intellectual Property or other assets owned, leased or licensed by the Company Group on the date hereof, including any Claims contesting the right of any entity in the Company Group to sell, license or use the Intellectual Property sold, licensed or used by any of the entities in the Company Group, nor, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, is there any basis for any of the foregoing. The foregoing includes, without limitation, (a) Claims pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened or (b) to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, any Claims arising out of or related to the current or prior employment of any employees of any entity in the Company Group or the engagement of any consultants by any entity in the Company Group, their use in connection with the business of any entity in the Company Group of any information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of their former employers or their obligations under any agreements with prior employers or customers. No Order has been issued by any court or other Governmental Authority against any entity in the Company Group or any property of any entity in the Company Group or purporting to enjoin or restrain the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any of the other Seller Documents. None of the entities in the Company Group is subject to any actual or, to the Knowledge of the Operating
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Company Sellers, threatened sanctions or enforcement action by any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, any outstanding fines, injunctions, civil, administrative or criminal penalties, settlement, investigations or suspensions or any obligation on the part of any entity in the Company Group to undertake, or to bear all or any portion of the cost of, any remedial action. There are no Claims pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened that are reasonably likely to prohibit or restrain the ability of the Sellers to perform their obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 3.7 Compliance with Laws.
(a) Each entity in the Company Group is in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable Laws, including without limitation, those relating to the sale, license or distribution of any of the Intellectual Property. To the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, there is no existing Law which could reasonably be expected to prohibit or restrict any entity in the Company Group from, or otherwise materially adversely affect any entity in the Company Group in, conducting its business in any jurisdiction in which any such entity now conducts, or proposes to conduct, its business, including without limitation, selling, licensing and/or distributing its Intellectual Property in any jurisdiction.
(b) Each entity in the Company Group has all Permits that are necessary for the conduct of the business of such entity, as presently conducted; such Permits are in full force and effect. Section 3.7(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule contains a list of all material Permits that are required for the operation of the business of the Company Group as presently conducted and as presently intended to be conducted (Material Permits). None of the entities in the Company Group is in default or violation, and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute a default or violation, in any material respect of any term, condition or provision of any Material Permit, and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, there are no facts or circumstances which would reasonably be likely to form the basis for any such default or violation. None of the Material Permits will be impaired or in any way affected by the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. All Material Permits are valid, subsisting and in full force and effect.
(c) No material expenditure is presently required by any entity in the Company Group in order to comply with any existing Law or Order.
(d) Neither any entity in the Company Group nor any of their respective directors, officers, agents or employees, has, directly or indirectly, in violation of any Law (i) made any contribution, gift, bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback, or other payment to any Person, private or public, regardless of form, whether in money, property, or services (A) to obtain favorable treatment in securing business, (B) to pay for favorable treatment for business secured, or (C) to obtain special concessions or for special concessions already obtained, for or in respect of any entity in the Company Group, or (ii) established or maintained any fund or asset that has not been recorded in the books and records of the Company Group.
(e) Each entity in the Company Group has, at all times, been in material compliance with all applicable Laws relating to export controls and trade embargoes. Without limiting the foregoing, no entity in the Company Group has any direct or indirect business relationship with, nor has directly or indirectly delivered any products or services to, nor has directly or indirectly made any of the Company Groups Intellectual Property available to, any Persons located in Cuba, Iran, Sudan, Myanmar, Libya, North Korea or Syria.
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(f) No entity in the Company Group (nor any of the officers, directors, agents, employees or other Persons authorized to act on behalf of any entity in the Company Group) has, directly or indirectly, (i) taken any action which would cause it to be in violation of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption Law, or (ii) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. Each of the entities in the Company Group has instituted, and maintains and enforces, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption Laws.
(g) The operations of each entity in the Company Group are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions where each entity in the Company Group conducts business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the Anti-Money Laundering Laws) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company Group with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, is threatened.
(h) The Sellers have furnished and made available to the Purchaser complete and correct copies of all final reports from audits or examinations performed with respect to any entity in the Company Group by any Governmental Authority within the past five years (the Audit Reports) and any and all corrective action plans resulting from any such Audit Reports. Other than as set forth in the Audit Reports and any corrective action plans furnished or made available to the Purchaser, within the past five years (i) no material deficiencies have been asserted against any entity in the Company Group by any Governmental Authority, (ii) no fine or penalty in excess of £5,000 has been imposed on any entity in the Company Group by any Governmental Authority, and (iii) no similar audits or examinations are currently being performed.
(i) If any entity in the Company Group is required to maintain licenses, registrations, or certifications, from any Governmental Authority, such entity has obtained all such licenses, each of which is listed on Section 3.7(i) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, is current with all license fees, is in compliance in all material respects with all license requirements and is in good standing with all licensing bodies. If such licenses are maintained in the name of an individual employee, such individual employee is identified in Section 3.7(i) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, such employee is in good standing with the Company Group and such employee is in compliance with and in good standing with such Governmental Authorities.
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Section 3.8 Capitalization; Governance.
(a) Section 3.8(a)(i) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) the aggregate authorized and issued equity interests and Equity Equivalents of the Company; (ii) a true and complete list of the equity owners of the Company (including any trust or escrow agent arrangement created in connection with any employee stock option plan) and, opposite the name of each equity owner, the amount of all outstanding equity interests and Equity Equivalents of the Company owned by such equity owner, and the aggregate percentage of voting rights of such equity owner. The Company does not own, of record or beneficially, or control, directly or indirectly, any capital stock, securities convertible into capital stock or any other equity interest in any corporation, association or business entity other than D2S Europe Limited and D2S Property Limited. D2S Europe Limited and D2S Property Limited are wholly-owned by the Company and have been inactive for more than 36 months prior to the Closing Date. None of the entities in the Company Group is, directly or indirectly, a participant in any joint venture, partnership or other non-corporate entity, nor do any of such entities have any other type of investment (including loans) in any third party. The Company does not have a phantom stock plan or any other similar type of plan currently in effect, and no phantom stock rights are outstanding with respect to any such plan.
(b) Except as set forth on Section 3.8(a)(i) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, there are no Equity Equivalents or other options, warrants, conversion privileges, subscription or purchase rights or other rights presently outstanding to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized but unissued equity interests of any entity in the Company Group, or other securities of, or any proprietary interest in, any such entity and there is no outstanding security of any kind convertible into or exchangeable for any such equity or proprietary interest, and there are no commitments, contracts, agreements, arrangements or understandings by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company to issue any of the foregoing interests. There are no voting trusts, stockholder agreements, proxies or other agreements or understandings in effect regarding the governance, the voting or the transfer of any equity interests in any entity in the Company Group.
(c) The Sellers are the sole legal and beneficial owners of one hundred percent (100%) of the issued and outstanding Company Shares in the respective amounts set forth on Section 3.8(a)(i) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule. The Sellers own such Company Shares free and clear of all Encumbrances. All of such Company Shares are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and were issued in compliance with all applicable securities and other Laws.
(d) Section 3.8(d) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists the directors and officers of each entity in the Company Group.
(e) The Company has not been a Subsidiary or division of any other entity and D2S Europe Limited and D2S Property Limited have not been Subsidiaries or divisions of any entity other than the Company.
Section 3.9 Contractual Obligations; No Breach or Default.
(a) In this Agreement, (a) Material Contract means any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment that any of the entities in the Company Group is a party to or bound by, that is of material importance to the business, profits or assets of the Company Group; and (b) Scheduled Contract means any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment required by this Section 3.9 to be referenced in Section 3.9(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule.
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(b) Except as Disclosed in Section 3.9(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule or as otherwise provided for in the following provisions of this Section 3.9(b), none of the entities in the Company Group is a party to, or otherwise subject to, any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment which:
(i) is a Material Contract, but excluding any Material Contract Disclosed in the Dataroom;
(ii) is of an unusual or exceptional nature, but excluding any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment of which the Operating Company Sellers do not have Knowledge (such Knowledge in this Section 3.9(b)(ii) being limited to the Operating Company Sellers having only made enquiry amongst themselves and no further enquiry having been made);
(iii) relates to joint ventures, strategic alliances, partnerships licensing arrangements, or sharing of profits or proprietary information, but excluding any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment of which the Operating Company Sellers do not have Knowledge;
(iv) is not in the ordinary and usual course of the business carried on by the Company Group, but excluding any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment of which the Operating Company Sellers do not have Knowledge;
(v) contains covenants of any entity in the Company Group not to compete in any line of business or with any Person in any geographical area or not to solicit or hire any individual with respect to employment, or covenants of any other Person not to compete with any of the entities in the Company Group in any line of business or in any geographical area or not to solicit or hire any Person with respect to employment;
(vi) relates to the acquisition (by merger, purchase of stock, purchase of assets or otherwise) by any entity in the Company Group of any operating business or material assets or the capital stock of any other Person;
(vii) relates to the incurrence, assumption or guarantee of any Indebtedness in excess of £30,000 or imposing an Encumbrance (including a Permitted Encumbrance) on any assets of the Company Group having a fair market value in excess of £30,000, including indentures, guarantees, loans or credit agreements, purchase money obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property, pledge agreements or security agreements;
(viii) enables a third-party to license the Company Groups Software as part of a solution provided to such third-partys customers, but excluding any agreement, arrangement, understanding or commitment that is Disclosed in the Dataroom;
(ix) provides for severance, retention, change in control or other similar payments;
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(x) relates to the employment of (i) any director or officer on a full-time, part-time or consulting or other basis or (ii) any other Person on a full-time, part-time or consulting or other basis (other than, for clause (ii), Contracts prepared on the Companys standard template without any material deviations therefrom, provided that the Company lists the individuals with such Contracts in Section 3.9(b)(x) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule and attaches a copy of such template to Section 3.9(b)(x) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule);
(xi) involves outstanding agreements of guaranty or surety, direct or indirect, by any of the entities in the Company Group;
(xii) provides for indemnification by any of the entities in the Company Group arising out of or in connection with any Company Group Product or service provided by any of the entities in the Company Group, other than indemnification provided to customers and/or counterparties pursuant to agreements Disclosed in the Dataroom or pursuant to a template agreement Disclosed in the Dataroom;
(xiii) involves a commitment by the Company to provide services or software to, or make payments to, Cyban Group Ltd or Adiona Technologies Limited; or
(xiv) involves the agreement to sell Software, products or services to customer on a most favorite customer basis or comparable basis.
(c) Each of the Material Contracts and Scheduled Contracts is in full force and effect and is the legal, valid and binding obligation of one or more entities in the Company Group, enforceable against them in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). None of the entities in the Company Group nor, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, any counterparty is (or will, with the lapse of time, be) in material default thereunder. No party has given notice of any significant dispute with respect to any Material Contract or Scheduled Contract. The Dataroom contains true, correct and complete copies of all of the Material Contracts and Scheduled Contracts, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto. No party to any of the Material Contracts and Scheduled Contracts, including without limitation, those relating to the Intellectual Property, has given notice of its intention to terminate, or of its intention to alter the scope of rights available under, or of its intention to fail to renew, such Material Contract or Scheduled Contract. The Company Group has not received any notice of a default under, or with respect to, any Material Contract or Scheduled Contract. The Company Group has not issued invoices to or accepted any prepayments of any amounts from customers with respect to any Material Contract or Scheduled Contract as to which the Company Group has not yet performed the services or other obligations required pursuant to such Material Contract or Scheduled Contract. The Company Group has paid in full all amounts due under the Material Contracts and Scheduled Contracts, when due, and has satisfied (or will, with the lapse of time, satisfy) or provided (or will, with the lapse of time, provide) for all of its other liabilities and obligations thereunder, as and when required thereunder.
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(d) No agreements or arrangements are in effect with respect to the sale, marketing, distribution, licensing, or promotion of the software programs of any entity in the Company Group by any independent salesperson, distributor, sublicensor, remarketer, sales organization or other third-party, except those existing at the Closing as Disclosed and mutually agreed upon by the Purchaser, the Company and the Sellers, which shall be owned by the Company upon consummation of the Closing.
Section 3.10 Real Property and Real Property Leases.
(a) Except as set forth in Section 3.10(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, no entity in the Company Group owns or otherwise has title to any real estate.
(b) Section 3.10(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete list of all leases of real property pursuant to which any entity in the Company Group leases property to or from any other Person. Except as set forth on Section 3.10(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, (i) all leased property is in the condition required by the applicable lease, and (ii) all leases and other agreements included on Section 3.10(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule are in full force and effect and constitute legal, valid and binding agreements of the parties (and their successors) thereto, enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity). None of the entities in the Company Group is in material default under any such lease, nor, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, is any other party to any such lease in default thereunder, and no event has occurred that with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a material default thereunder. No party has given notice of any significant dispute with respect to any such lease. The Sellers have delivered to the Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of each such lease, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements thereto. Neither the whole nor any portion of the real property subject to the Company Groups real property leases is subject to any Order to be sold nor have any proceedings for the condemnation, expropriation or other taking of all or any portion of any such real property been instituted or, to the Operating Company Sellers Knowledge, threatened by any Governmental Authority, with or without payment therefor. The real property subject to the Company Groups leases complies with all Environmental Laws, was operated in compliance with, and was in compliance with, all Environmental Laws at all times when it was leased by any entity in the Company Group or by any Seller and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, was operated in compliance with, and was in compliance with, all Environmental Laws at all times when it was not leased by any entity in the Company Group or by any Seller.
(c) Neither the Company, the Sellers nor any of their respective Affiliates has any direct or indirect interest in any competitor, supplier or customer of the Company or in any Person from whom or to whom the Company leases any real or personal property or in any other person with whom the Company has any business relationship. For purposes hereof, Person means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, limited liability company, governmental authority or other entity of any kind, and shall include any successor (by merger or otherwise) of such entity.
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Section 3.11 Financial Information; Undisclosed Liabilities.
(a) The Financial Statements of the Company Group for the years 2018 2020 and year-to-date 2021 set forth in Section 3.11(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule (the Financial Statements) are true, complete and correct in all respects, have been prepared in accordance with Applicable Accounting Principles (applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods indicated and with each other) and fairly present in all respects the financial condition and operating results of the Company as of the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated. The Company has not entered into any financing, off balance sheet arrangement or other similar transaction which is not set forth or reflected in the Financial Statements.
(b) The statement of receivables set forth in Section 3.11(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists all of the accounts, notes and other receivables of the Company Group, including any which are not reflected in the Financial Statements, and fairly presents in all respects the notes, accounts and other receivables payable to or for the benefit of the Company Group as of the Closing Date. All such receivables represent valid obligations arising from sales actually made or services actually performed in the ordinary course of the Companys Business, are current and collectible in amounts not less than the aggregate amount thereof in the ordinary course of business and are not subject to any counterclaims or set-offs.
(c) The statement of payables set forth in Section 3.11(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists all of the accounts, notes and other amounts payable by the Company Group, including any which are not reflected in the Financial Statements, and fairly presents in all respects the notes, accounts and other amounts payable by the Company Group as of the Closing Date.
(d) The statement of revenues and end-user sales (invoices) for the years 20182020 and year-to-date 2021 set forth in Section 3.11(d) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule are true, complete and correct in all respects and fairly presents in all respects the end-user sales of the Company Groups software products as of the respective dates and for the respective periods indicated.
(e) All books, records and accounts of the Company Group are true, accurate and complete and are maintained in all material respects in accordance with good business practice and all applicable Laws.
(f) The Company Group has not granted, or agreed to grant, any Encumbrance over any of its assets.
(g) The Company Group does not have any debt, loss, damage, adverse claim, liability or obligation (whether direct or indirect, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due, and whether in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise) which is not adequately reflected or provided for in the balance sheet (the Most Recent Balance Sheet) as of December 9, 2021 (the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date) included within the Financial Statements, other than liabilities that are not material to the Company Group and either are (a) not required by the Applicable Accounting Standards to be reflected or provided for in the Company Groups consolidated balance sheet or (b) incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business since the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date.
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(h) All of the Company Groups accounts receivable have arisen in the Ordinary Course of Business, represent bona fide transactions with third parties, to the Operating Company Sellers Knowledge are not subject to any contests, claims, counterclaims or offsets (except for those for which adequate reserves have been established by the Company in the Companys consolidated balance sheet as of the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date) relating to the amount or validity thereof, have been billed and are collectible in accordance with normal trade practice.
(i) None of the methods of accounting of the Company or its Subsidiaries has changed in the past four years.
(j) A copy of any mortgage on the Company Groups Owned Real Property in effect on the date hereof is set forth in Section 3.11(j) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule.
(k) Section 3.11(k) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule sets forth the Sellers estimate of the Company Groups Working Capital as of the date hereof, including estimates of the various components of Current Assets and Current Liabilities.
Section 3.12 Taxes.
(a) With respect to all Tax Returns of any entity in the Company Group, (i) there is no unassessed Tax deficiency threatened or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, proposed against any entity in the Company Group and (ii) no audit has been notified to any entity in the Company Group or is in progress with respect to any Tax Return, no extension of time is in force with respect to any date on which any Tax Return was or is to be filed and no waiver or agreement is in force for the extension of time for the assessment or payment of any Tax.
(b) Each of the entities in the Company Group has timely filed or caused to be filed all Tax Returns that it was required to file under applicable Law (including all applicable extensions), and all such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all respects, give full disclosure of all material facts, were prepared in substantial compliance with all applicable Law and are not likely to be the subject of any question or dispute with any Taxing Authority.
(c) No charge to Tax will arise to the Company Group as a result of entry into or completion of this Agreement.
(d) None of the entities in the Company Group is in dispute with any Taxing Authority and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, there are no circumstances which are likely to give rise to such a dispute.
(e) No member of the Company Group is or ever has been a close company within the meaning of section 439 Corporation Tax Act 2010.
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(f) All deficiencies for Taxes asserted or assessed against any of the entities in the Company Group have been fully and timely paid or settled and no audit, examination, investigation or other proceeding by any Taxing Authority is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened with respect to any Taxes due from or with respect to of the entities in the Company Group.
(g) There are no Encumbrances for Taxes (other than Taxes not yet due and payable) on any of the assets of the Company Group.
(h) None of the entities in the Company Group is a party to or bound by any Tax allocation or sharing agreement, whether written or unwritten.
(i) The Dataroom contains true, correct and complete copies of all (i) Tax examinations, (ii) extensions of statutory limitations, and (iii) Tax Returns (being comprised of annual corporation tax returns) for each of the entities in the Company Group for the financial years ending 2018, 2019 and 2020.
(j) Each of the entities in the Company Group was incorporated in and is and always has been resident only in the United Kingdom for Tax purposes. No claim has ever been made by any Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where any of the entities in the Company Group does not file Tax Returns that any such entity is or may be subject to taxation by such jurisdiction.
(k) No shares or securities have been issued or transferred to or are held on behalf of any current or former director or employee of the Company Group to which the provisions of Part 7 of Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 apply or have been applied and there are no shares or securities otherwise issued by the Company Group to which the provisions of Part 7 of Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003 apply or have been applied.
(l) Except as set forth in Section 3.12 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, the Company Group has not established (or is a participant in) any bonus, share option, profit related pay or other scheme or arrangement, whether or not approved by HM Revenue & Customs, for the benefit of its current or former directors or employees or any of them.
(m) No relevant steps (within the meaning of Part 7A of Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003) have been taken by an employee benefit trust or another third party for the benefit of any employee or former employee of the Company Group (or any person linked with such employee or former employee) to which an income tax charge has or may apply pursuant to the provisions of Part 7A of Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions) Act 2003.
(n) None of the entities in the Company Group has (i) requested any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return, which Tax Return has since not been filed, (ii) granted any extension for the assessment or collection of Taxes, which Taxes have not since been paid, or (iii) granted to any Person any power of attorney that is currently in force with respect to any Tax matter. None of the entities in the Company Group has ever been a member of any consolidated, combined, affiliated, or unitary group of corporations for any Tax purposes or has any liability for the Taxes of any Person other than an entity in the Company Group which liability is primarily or directly chargeable against or attributable to any other Person.
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(o) None of the entities in the Company Group will be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) use of an improper method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) closing agreement, settlement agreement or similar agreement entered into with any Governmental Authority or Taxing Authority on or prior to the Closing Date; (iv) intercompany transactions; (v) installment sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (vi) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date; or (vii) election under applicable Tax Law to defer the time for inclusion or recognition of income attributable to circumstances occurring or arising on or prior to the Closing Date, including, but not limited to, election under Section 965(h) of the Code, election under Section 1400Z-2 of the Code, or election under Section 108(i) of the Code (or, in each case, any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law). None of the entities in the Company Group has distributed stock of another Person, or has had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purposed or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Section 355 of the Code or Section 361 of the Code.
(p) Each of the entities in the Company Group is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable transfer pricing Laws, including the execution and maintenance of contemporaneous documentation substantiating any transfer pricing practices and methodologies.
(q) The Company Group has, throughout the whole of the last 4 years, been registered and been eligible to be registered and is a taxable person for the purposes of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 and such registration is not subject to any conditions imposed by or agreed with HM Revenue & Customs. The Company Group has complied with the terms of all statutory provisions, regulations, directions, conditions, notices and agreements with HM Revenue & Customs relating to VAT and has not been required by HM Revenue & Customs to give security.
(r) None of the entities in the Company Group has been registered as a member of a group of companies for the purposes of sections 43 to 43C Value Added Tax Act 1994.
(s) All supplies of goods and services made by the Company Group are taxable supplies for the purposes of the VAT and all input tax is deductible in accordance with the provisions of sections 25 and 26 Value Added Tax Act 1994.
(t) There is no instrument to which the Company Group is a party and which is necessary to establish the Company Groups rights or the Company Groups title to any asset, which is liable to stamp duty and which has not been duly stamped, or which would attract stamp duty, interest or penalties if brought into the United Kingdom.
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(u) None of the entities in the Company Group is or ever has been (A) a passive foreign investment company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code or (B) a controlled foreign corporation as defined in Section 957 of the Code. None of the entities in the Company Group has any investment in United States property for purposes of Section 956 of the Code. None of the entities in the Company Group is, or has ever been during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code, a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code. No election under Section 897(i) of the Code has ever been filed by or with respect to any of the entities in the Company Group and there is no such election currently in effect. None of the entities in the Company Group has, or has ever had, a permanent establishment (within the meaning of an applicable Tax treaty) or otherwise has, or has ever had, an office or fixed place of business in a country other than the country in which it is organized. None of the entities in the Company Group has at any time entered into, been engaged in or been a party to or promoter of any scheme, transaction or arrangement that was required by Law to be specifically disclosed to a Governmental Authority (or other Taxing Authority) or a main or dominant purpose or object of which was the avoidance or deferral of, or the obtaining of a reduction in or other advantage in respect of, any Taxes. None of the entities in the Company Group is currently subject to a limitation under Sections 382, 383 or 384 of the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or non-U.S. Law).
(v) None of the Company nor its Subsidiaries is subject to any applicable Tax holidays that could terminate as a result of the transactions contemplated herein.
(w) No Seller is an individual who is a United States citizen, a resident of the United States, or otherwise considered a United States person (as such term is defined in Section 7701(a)(30) of the Code) for any U.S. Tax purposes. No amount, economic benefit or other entitlement that could be received (including in cash or property or vesting of property) as a result of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (whether alone or in conjunction with any other event, including any termination of employment or service on or following the Closing Date) could give rise to any excess parachute payment, as defined under Section 280G(b) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or trigger the excise tax under Section 4999 of the Code.
Section 3.13 No Material Adverse Effect; Ordinary Course of Business. Except as set forth in Section 3.13 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 2019, (I) the business of the Company Group has been operated in the Ordinary Course of Business including with respect to the collection of accounts receivable, the payment of accounts payable, and the licensing of software at all times, and (II):
(a) none of the entities in the Company Group has experienced a Material Adverse Effect nor, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, does any factor or condition exist, and no event has occurred, that would be reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect;
(b) the entities in the Company Group have not participated in any transaction material to the Company Group, or otherwise acted outside the Ordinary Course of Business, including, without limitation, declaring or paying any dividend or declaring or making any distribution to its stockholders or equity holders in respect of its equity interests (other than dividends or distributions to other entities in the Company Group), or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired, directly or indirectly, any equity interests;
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(c) the entities in the Company Group have not increased the compensation of any of its officers or the rate of pay, benefits, commissions or bonuses with respect to any of its officers; the entities in the Company Group have not increased the compensation or the rate of pay, benefits, commissions or bonuses of any of its non-officer employees, except as part of regular compensation increases for such non-officer employees in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(d) the entities in the Company Group have not created or assumed any Encumbrance (other than a Permitted Encumbrance) on a material asset of such entities or issued, created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed any Indebtedness;
(e) the entities in the Company Group have not failed to discharge or satisfy any Encumbrance or pay or satisfy any obligation or liability (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise), other than liabilities being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been provided in the Most Recent Balance Sheet;
(f) the entities in the Company Group have not entered into any Contract other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(g) there has not been any change in accounting policies for the Company Group;
(h) the entities in the Company Group have not sold or transferred any of their assets or canceled any debts or claims or waived any rights, except in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(i) the entities in the Company Group have not disposed of any Intellectual Property or any applications therefor, nor have they entered into any license of Intellectual Property other than licenses of Intellectual Property to customers in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(j) the entities in the Company Group have not entered into any new (or amended any existing) employee benefit plan, nor have the entities in the Company Group changed the benefits made available to its employees;
(k) the entities in the Company Group have not issued or granted any additional equity interests or Stock Equivalents, or altered in any way any its outstanding securities or made any change in its outstanding equity interests or other ownership interests or the capitalization thereof, whether by reason of a reclassification, recapitalization, stock split or combination, exchange or readjustment of shares, stock dividend or otherwise;
(l) the entities in the Company Group have not paid, lent or advanced any amount to, or sold, transferred or leased any properties or assets to, or entered into any agreement or arrangement with, any of their Affiliates;
(m) the entities in the Company Group have not made, changed or revoked any election in respect of Taxes, made any Tax payments inconsistent with past practice except as required by a change in Law occurring subsequent to the establishment of such past practice, made any entity classification election for U.S. federal income Tax purposes, made or surrendered any
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material claim for a refund of Taxes, adopted or changed any accounting method in respect of Taxes, entered into any closing agreement with any Taxing Authority, amended or re-filed any Tax Return, settled any Claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, made any change to the Company Groups intercompany transfer pricing, entered into any arrangement that could result in material subpart F inclusions for the Purchaser (as determined as though each of the non-U.S. entities in the Company Group were a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income Tax purposes), or consented to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, in each case, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(n) there has not been any waiver of any material rights or claims of the entities in the Company Group, other than in the course of good faith disputes with customers in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(o) the entities in the Company Group have not made or committed to make any capital expenditures in excess of £10,000 individually or £25,000 in the aggregate;
(p) the entities in the Company Group have not suffered any labor dispute, strike or other work stoppage;
(q) the entities in the Company Group have not entered into, amended or terminated any Material Contract; and
(r) the entities in the Company Group have not entered into any agreement or made any commitment to do any of the foregoing.
Section 3.14 Employee Matters and Labor Relations.
(a) The Company does not have any Employees, Agency Workers, Consultants or Workers.
(b) There are no complaints, lawsuits or other proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened in any forum by or on behalf of any former Employee, Worker or Consultant or group of Employees, Workers or Consultants of any entity in the Company Group, alleging breach of any employment contract, any Laws or contractual arrangements governing employment or the termination thereof, or other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with employment relationships.
(c) Each entity in the Company Group has at all times been in compliance with all material obligations imposed on it contractually in relation to each former Agency Worker, Consultant, Employee and Worker; and all material obligations imposed on it at any time by any Law, regulation or code of practice relevant to the relations between it and any or all of its former Agency Workers, Consultants, Employees or Workers or between it and any recognized trade union.
(d) The Company Group has not been party to a Relevant Transfer affecting any former Employees or any other person formerly engaged in the business of the Company Group and there has been no variation (or purported variation) of the terms of employment or engagement of any former Employee or such other person for any reason as a result of or connected with a Relevant Transfer.
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Section 3.15 Employee Benefit Plans and Pensions.
(a) Neither the Company nor any other entity in the Company Group maintains or contributes to, nor have they maintained or contributed to, any Plans.
(b) Except as disclosed in Section 3.15(c) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor any of its Affiliates maintains or contributes to, nor have they ever maintained or contributed to, any pension plan.
Section 3.16 Assets.
(a) Each of the entities in the Company Group has good, valid, and marketable title to, or valid leasehold interests under enforceable leases in, all of the properties and assets, whether tangible or intangible, used in its business (collectively, the Assets), in each case free and clear of all Encumbrances except for (i) Encumbrances that will be discharged upon payment of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement and (ii) the obligations of the Company Group under any End-User License Agreements. Upon consummation of the Closing, after giving effect to the payments of Indebtedness to be made pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement and the terms of End-User License Agreements, the entities within the Company Group will hold good and marketable title to all of the assets owned by them, free and clear of all Indebtedness and free and clear of all Encumbrances. The Assets of the Company Group that will be assets of the Company Group immediately after the consummation of the Closing represent all of the assets and properties necessary to conduct the business of the Company Group, as presently conducted and, collectively, represent all of the assets and properties used or currently intended for use in the conduct of the business of the Company Group, as presently being conducted, including without limitation: (i) all of the intellectual property assets and rights owned or used by the Company Group related thereto, including without limitation, all software products marketed under the Companys name, and all e-data management system products, and all components and modules thereto and the source code, object code, data and documentation associated therewith and the copyrights (registered and non-registered), trade secrets, trademarks, tradenames and other proprietary rights associated therewith; (ii) all fixed assets related thereto; (iii) any and all customer lists related thereto; (iv) all customer contracts; (v) all vendor contracts; and (vi) the goodwill associated therewith. Set forth on Schedule 3.16(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule is a listing of all current and prior corporate names of the Company and its Subsidiaries, all assumed names under which the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct business and all names of all predecessor companies of the Company Group, including the names of any entities acquired by any entity in the Company Group (by stock purchase, merger or otherwise) or owned by any such entity or from which any such entity previously acquired material assets. All machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and other material items of personal property used in the Business are in good operating condition and fit for operation in the Ordinary Course of Business (subject to normal wear and tear) with no defects that could reasonably be expected to interfere with the conduct of normal operations of such machinery, equipment, furniture, fixtures and other personal property and are suitable for the purposes for which they are currently being used.
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(b) Section 3.16(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule sets forth all material leases of personal property (Personal Property Leases) relating to personal property used in the Business or to which any of the entities in the Company Group is a party. The Sellers have delivered to the Purchaser true, correct and complete copies of the Personal Property Leases, together with all amendments, modifications or supplements, if any, thereto. Each of the Personal Property Leases is in full force and effect and none of the entities in the Company Group has received or given any notice of any default or event that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default by any of the entities in the Company Group under any of the Personal Property Leases and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, no other party is in default thereof.
Section 3.17 Certain Liabilities. Except for (i) guarantees of indebtedness of another entity in the Company Group or (ii) as specifically set forth and described on Section 3.17 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, none of the entities in the Company Group is directly or indirectly liable upon or with respect to, or obliged in any other way to provide funds in respect of, or to guarantee or assume, any debt, obligation or dividend of any Person. There are no outstanding warranty claims against any of the entities in the Company Group.
Section 3.18 Intellectual Property.
(a) The Company Group owns or possesses a valid and subsisting license to use, sell and license all of the Intellectual Property that is used in connection with, or is necessary for the operation of, the Business of the Company Group as previously conducted, as presently conducted and as presently proposed (by the directors of the Company) to be conducted, free and clear of any royalty, payment, credit or other obligations and free and clear of all Encumbrances (other than Permitted Encumbrances described in Section 3.18(a) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule), subject only to the rights of licensees under the Company Groups end-user license agreements. There are no restrictions that would preclude the Company Group from assigning or transferring to the Purchaser or an Affiliate of the Purchaser all of the Company Groups rights in and to the Company Groups Intellectual Property.
(b) Section 3.18(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists (i) all of the Intellectual Property owned by each of the entities in the Company Group (excluding confidential information and trade secrets), including all filings, registrations and applications for any Intellectual Property filed by any of the entities in the Company Group, and in each case a brief description of each item identifying the type of Intellectual Property (such as Patent, Copyright or trademark), application number, application filing date, registration or grant number, registration or grant date, and the owner or applicant thereof, as applicable. Section 3.18(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule lists each item of Software that is owned by an entity in the Company Group that is material to the Business. None of the Intellectual Property listed on Section 3.18(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule and none of the Companys trade secrets are subject to any outstanding Order, and no Claim is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened, which challenges the validity, enforceability, use or ownership of any of such Intellectual Property or any of the Companys trade secrets.
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(c) Copies of all Intellectual Property and Software (including any Open Source Materials) licenses, sublicenses, distributor agreements and other agreements under which any of the entities in the Company Group is either a licensor, licensee or distributor of Intellectual Property or Software (including any Open Source Materials) (together, the IP Licenses) have been Disclosed in the Companys Dataroom. Each of the entities in the Company Group has performed in all material respects all obligations (save for obligations the performance of which is in the future) imposed upon it by each license, sublicense, distributor agreement and other agreement required to be Disclosed pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, and is not, nor, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, is any other party thereto, in breach of or default thereunder in any material respect, nor is there any event which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a material default thereunder. To the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers (such Knowledge in this Section 3.18(c) being limited to the Operating Company Sellers having only made enquiry amongst themselves and no further enquiry having been made), all of the licenses, sublicenses, distributor agreements and other agreements required to be Disclosed pursuant to the first sentence of this Section 3.18(c) are valid, enforceable and in full force and effect, and will continue to be so on identical terms immediately following the Operative Time.
(d) The conduct of the Business (i) as previously conducted during the immediately preceding six years has not infringed, misappropriated, diluted or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property rights of any other Person, and (ii) as presently conducted, and as presently proposed (by the directors of the Company) to be conducted, does not infringe, misappropriate, dilute, or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property rights of any other Person.
(e) No Claim has been made against the Company Group and no litigation is ongoing involving the Company nor, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, is any litigation threatened, contesting the right of the Company Group to sell, license or use the Intellectual Property presently sold, licensed or used by the Company Group or which challenges the validity, enforceability or ownership of the Intellectual Property.
(f) To the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, no Person is infringing upon or otherwise violating the Intellectual Property rights of the Company Group.
(g) The Company Group is not a party to or bound by any license or other agreement (in individual or template form) requiring the payment by the Company Group of any royalty payment in excess of USD 10,000 per year.
(h) None of the Intellectual Property used by the Company Group is owned, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, by any director, officer or employee of the Company Group. At no time during the conception or reduction to practice of the Company Groups owned Intellectual Property was any developer, inventor or other contributor to such Intellectual Property operating under any grants from any Governmental Authority or subject to any employment agreement, invention assignment, nondisclosure agreement or other Contractual Obligation with any Person that adversely affects the Company Groups ownership rights to its Intellectual Property.
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(i) All former employees, agents, consultants and contractors of the Company Group who have contributed to or participated in the conception and/or development of the Company Groups Intellectual Property have executed and delivered proprietary invention agreements with the Company Group that provide for the assignment of all Intellectual Property developed or otherwise created by them during the course of employment or engagement with the Company Group to an entity in the Company Group, along with a waiver of any non-assignable rights such as moral rights or droit moral with respect thereto, and have delivered to the Company Group any and all documents necessary to properly record such assignments. No such former employee, agent, consultant or contractor of the Company Group has excluded works or inventions made during his or her employment or engagement with the Company Group from his or her assignment of inventions pursuant to such proprietary invention agreements other than any such exclusion that is not material to the Company Group.
(j) To the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers (such Knowledge in this Section 3.18(l) being limited to the Operating Company Sellers having only made enquiry amongst themselves and no further enquiry having been made), all of the Company Groups end-user license agreements for the licensing of the Company Products (other than those terminated by the applicable licensee) are valid, subsisting, in full force and effect, binding upon and enforceable against the parties thereto in all material respects in accordance with their terms. The Company Group has not received any notice of any material default under, or with respect to, any such agreement, nor is any entity in the Company Group in material default of any obligations thereunder.
(k) Except as set forth in Section 3.18(m) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule (in individual or template form), no agreements or arrangements are in effect with respect to the sale, marketing, distribution, licensing or promotion of the Company Products by any independent salesperson, distributor, sublicensor, remarketer, sales organization or other third-party.
(l) Except as Disclosed in the Dataroom, each of the entities in the Company Group has used all software and other materials distributed under a free, open source, or similar licensing model (including but not limited to the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License and GNU Affero General Public License) (Open Source Materials) in compliance with all license terms applicable to such Open Source Materials. Except as Disclosed in the Dataroom, none of the entities in the Company Group has used or distributed any Open Source Materials in connection with any Company Products in a manner that requires or has required (i) any of the entities in the Company Group to permit reverse-engineering of the Company Products, or any other Software or other technology owned by any of the entities in the Company Group; or (ii) any Company Products, or any other Software or other technology owned by any of the entities in the Company Group, to be (x) disclosed or distributed in source code form, (y) licensed for the purpose of making derivative works, or (z) redistributable at no charge.
(m) None of the material Trade Secrets of the Company Group, the value of which is contingent upon maintenance of confidentiality thereof, has been disclosed to any Person (other than representatives and agents of the Company Group), except pursuant to binding written non-disclosure agreements.
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(n) Except as set forth in Section 3.18(p) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, no license agreement entered into by any of the entities in the Company Group grants the licensee thereunder an exclusive right and license to use the Companys Intellectual Property licensed thereunder.
(o) The Company Groups Intellectual Property (i) is of independent creation and (ii) contains only (a) original material created by or on behalf of the Company or (b) material that has been properly licensed from third parties and has been used by or on behalf of the Company Group in accordance with the terms of the applicable license for such materials.
(p) To the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers (but without any freedom to operate search having been performed), there is no intellectual property held by any third-party that could reasonably be expected to prohibit or restrict any entity in the Company Group from, or otherwise materially adversely affect any entity in the Company Group in, conducting its business in any jurisdiction in which any such entity now conducts, or proposes to conduct, its business, including without limitation, selling, licensing, marketing, re-marketing and/or distributing its Intellectual Property in any jurisdiction.
Section 3.19 Network Redundancy and Computer Back-up. Except as set forth in Section 3.19 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, each entity in the Company Group has made back-ups of all computer Software and databases utilized by it and maintains such Software backups and databases at a secure off-site location.
Section 3.20 Potential Conflicts of Interest. Neither the entities in the Company Group, the Sellers, nor any of their respective Affiliates has any direct or indirect interest in any competitor, supplier or customer of any entity in the Company Group or in any Person from whom or to whom any such entity leases any real or personal property or in any other Person with whom any such entity has any other type of business relationship. Except as set forth in Section 3.20 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, no employee, officer, director, equity owner, partner, manager or member of any of the entities in the Company Group, any member of his or her immediate family or any of their respective Affiliates (Related Persons) (i) owes any amount to the Company Group nor do any of the entities in the Company Group owe any amount to, nor have any of the entities in the Company Group committed to make any loan or extend or guarantee credit to or for the benefit of, any Related Person, (ii) is involved in any business arrangement or other relationship with any of the entities in the Company Group (whether written or oral), other than in their own capacity as an employee, officer, director, equity owner, partner, manager or member, (iii) owns any property or right, tangible or intangible, that is used by any of the entities in the Company Group (other than employment agreements) or (iv) has any Claim or cause of action against any of the entities in the Company Group.
Section 3.21 Trade Relations. Section 3.21 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule sets forth a list identifying each customer of the Company Group during the Companys current fiscal year (through November 30, 2021) and the preceding two fiscal years, showing the total sales (invoices) by the Company Group to each such customer during each such period. Except as set forth in Section 3.21 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, there exists no actual or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened termination, cancellation or limitation of, or any adverse modification or change in, the business relationship of any entity in the Company Group, or the business of any such entity, with any customer or material supplier or any group of customers or suppliers of any such entity, and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company
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Sellers, there exists no present condition or state of fact or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect with respect to any customer or material supplier or any group of customers or suppliers of any entity in the Company Group, or prevent any entity in the Company Group from conducting such business relationships or such business with any such customer, supplier or group of customers or suppliers after the Closing in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted by the Company Group.
Section 3.22 Environmental Matters. Each entity in the Company Group is, and has at all times, within the past five years been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws. There is no civil, criminal or administrative judgement, action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter pending or, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, threatened against the Company Group pursuant to any Environmental Laws; and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, there are no past or present events, conditions, circumstances, activities, practices, incidents, agreements, actions or plans which could reasonably be expected to prevent compliance with, or which have given rise to or will give rise to liability under, any Environmental Laws or liability to third parties related to any Environmental Matters.
Section 3.23 Deposit Accounts; Powers of Attorney. Set forth in Section 3.23 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule is (a) the name of each bank, trust company, savings institution, brokerage firm, mutual fund or other financial institution in which any entity in the Company Group maintains accounts or safe deposit boxes, (b) the names in which the accounts or safe deposit boxes are held, (c) the type of account and account number, and (d) the name of each person or entity authorized to draw thereon or have access thereto. Section 3.23 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule also sets forth the name of each Person holding a general or special power of attorney from or otherwise binding upon any entity in the Company Group and a description of the terms of such power of attorney save where such powers of attorney are Disclosed in the Dataroom to the extent that such disclosures relate to the Company granting a counterparty a power of attorney to enable that counterparty to perfect an assignment of intellectual property from the Company to the counterparty.
Section 3.24 Brokers, Finders or Similar Fees Other than the fees and expenses payable to Centerview Partners UK LLP (the Investment Firm), there are no brokerage commissions, finders fees or similar fees or commissions or expenses payable by any entity in the Company Group in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (Bankers Fees and Expenses) based on any agreement, arrangement or understanding with the Sellers or any entity in the Company Group or any action taken by any such Person. Section 3.24 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule sets forth (x) all agreements among the Investment Firm, the Sellers, the Company and the Operating Company with respect to the payment of Bankers Fees and Expenses to the Investment Firm. The aggregate amount of Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses set forth in the Closing Certificate represent all fees and expenses payable to the Investment Firm with respect to the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the Closing contemplated hereby,
Section 3.25 Subsidies. No subsidy or aid has been specifically made available to any entity in the Company Group by a Governmental Authority within the past three years.
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Section 3.26 Insurance. Section 3.26 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule is a list of all insurance policies and all fidelity bonds held by or applicable to the Company Group, setting forth, in respect of each such policy, the policy name, policy number, carrier, term, type and amount of coverage and annual premium. Excluding insurance policies that have expired and been replaced in the Ordinary Course of Business, no insurance policy insuring any entity in the Company Group has been canceled within the last two years and, to the Knowledge of the Operating Company Sellers, no threat has been made to cancel any insurance policy of any of the entities in the Company Group during such period. All premiums and other amounts payable by entities in the Company Group in respect of all insurance policies of those entities have been paid in full when due. No claim has been made by any entity in the Company Group under any insurance policy.
Section 3.27 Data Protection.
(a) The Company Group has at all times (i) complied with DP Laws (ii) made all necessary and appropriate notifications and registrations, paid all required fees and charges, and had a data protection officer where required, under DP Laws, (iii) maintained complete, accurate and up-to-date records of all processing activities undertaken by it or by a processor on its behalf as required under DP Laws (iv) had in place appropriate technical and organizational measures designed to ensure the security of its systems and of personal data, including protection against unauthorized or unlawful processing and accidental loss, destruction or damage of personal data) as required under DP Laws; and (v) had in place appropriate data protection policies and procedures designed to ensure that the collection, processing, accuracy, storage and retention of personal data by the Company Group complies with DP Laws.
(b) During the three years ending on the date of this Agreement, there has been no material breach of security leading to any accidental or unlawful destruction, loss, alteration or unauthorized disclosure of or access to, any personal data transmitted, stored or otherwise processed by the Company Group or by any processor on its behalf an no such breaches have been suspected or threatened and there are no circumstances likely to give rise to any such breach.
(c) The Company Group has not disclosed or transferred personal data outside the European Economic Area or to any international organization other than in accordance with DP Laws.
(d) All words and expressions used in Section 3.27 that are defined in the GDPR (unless the context requires otherwise) have the meanings given in the GDPR or, in relation to any jurisdiction in which the GDPR is not applicable, are interpreted as references to the words and expressions most closely approximating them under the DP Laws of that jurisdiction.
Section 3.28 Agreement and Other Documents; Disclosure. This Agreement and the Disclosure Letter do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading in any material respect. True, correct and complete copies of each document or agreement listed or described in any Schedule or Section of the Disclosure Letter have been delivered to and received by the Purchaser or otherwise Disclosed in the Dataroom and there are no written amendments or modifications thereto, except as expressly noted in the applicable Schedule or Section of the Disclosure Letter on which such agreement or document is referenced.
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Section 3.29 COVID-19. Section 3.29 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule describes the impact, financial and otherwise, that the coronavirus has had, through the date hereof, on the entities in the Company Group as a whole.
ARTICLE IV
Warranties of the Purchaser
The Purchaser hereby warrants to the Sellers as follows:
Section 4.1 Organization and Good Standing. Parent is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and carry on its business. Parent is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified would have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. The Purchaser is a corporation validly existing and in good standing under the laws of England and Wales and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and carry on its business.
Section 4.2 Authorization. Each of the Purchaser and Parent has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other Purchaser Document to which it is a party, and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution, delivery and performance by each of the Purchaser and Parent of this Agreement and each other Purchaser Document to which it is a party have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on behalf of the Purchaser and Parent. This Agreement and each other Purchaser Document to which it is a party have been duly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and Parent and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties hereto and thereto) this Agreement and each other Purchaser Document to which it is a party constitute the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser and Parent, enforceable against the Purchaser and Parent in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).
Section 4.3 Non-contravention; No Consents.
(a) Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any other Purchaser Document to which it is a party will (a) contravene any provision contained in the organizational documents of the Purchaser or Parent, (b) violate or result in a breach (with or without the lapse of time, the giving of notice or both) of or constitute a default under (i) any contract, agreement, commitment, indenture, mortgage, lease, pledge, note, license, permit or other instrument or obligation or (ii) any Order, Law or other restriction of any Governmental Authority, in each case to which Parent, the Purchaser or their Subsidiaries is a party or by which Parent, the Purchaser or
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their Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the assets or properties of Parent, the Purchaser or their Subsidiaries are subject, (c) result in the creation or imposition of any Encumbrance on any of the assets or properties of Parent, the Purchaser or their Subsidiaries, or (d) result in the acceleration of, or permit any Person to accelerate or declare due and payable prior to its stated maturity, any liability of Parent, the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries.
(b) No notice to, filing with, or authorization, registration, consent or approval of any Governmental Authority or other Person is necessary for the execution, delivery or performance by Parent or the Purchaser of this Agreement or any other Purchaser Documents to which it is a party or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, except for such notices, filings, registrations, consents or approvals that, if not obtained, made or given, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect.
Section 4.4 Litigation. There are no Legal Proceedings pending or, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened that are reasonably likely to prohibit or restrain the ability of the Purchaser or Parent to perform its obligations under this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE V
Covenants and Agreements
Section 5.1 Closing Documents. Prior to or on the Closing Date, assuming that all conditions to the Sellers obligations to consummate the Closing have been satisfied or waived by the Sellers, the Sellers shall execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to the Purchaser, the documents or instruments described in Section 2.7 of this Agreement.
Section 5.2 Seller Release. By executing this Agreement, each Seller acknowledges and confirms that (i) other than in respect of any Insider Loans (such amount being as set out in the Closing Certificate) which are to be satisfied at Closing, such Seller has no claim or right of action of any kind, arising in any capacity or in any jurisdiction, against the Company or any of the Companys Subsidiaries or any of its or their officers, directors or employees; and (ii) to the extent that any such claim or right of action exists or may exist, and whether or not presently known to any party or to the law, such Seller hereby irrevocably waives such claim and releases and forever discharges the Purchaser, the Company, the Companys Subsidiaries, and their officers, directors and employees from all and any liability in respect of it.
Section 5.3 Tax Matters.
(a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Purchaser may, but is not required to, file an election pursuant to Section 338(g) of the Code with respect to the Purchasers acquisition of the entities in the Company Group.
(b) All stock transfer, documentary, stamp duty, sales, use, registration and other similar Taxes, and all conveyance fees, recording charges, and other fees and charges (including interest, penalties and additions to any such Taxes) incurred in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (Transfer Taxes) shall be paid by the Sellers when due, and the Sellers will, at their own expense, file all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such Transfer Taxes. If required by applicable Law, the Purchaser will, and will cause its Affiliates to, join in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation. The Parties shall cooperate, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to cooperate in good faith to minimize the amount of any applicable Transfer Taxes.
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(c) Purchaser, at the sole cost and expense of Sellers, shall prepare and file, or cause to be prepared and filed, all Tax Returns of the entities in the Company Group for any for Pre-Closing Periods and Straddle Periods, in each case, the due date of which (after taking into account any valid extensions of time to file) is after the Closing Date. The Sellers shall reimburse and indemnify Purchaser or its designee, on a joint and several basis, for all amounts shown due on the Tax Returns filed pursuant to this Section 5.5(c) to the extent attributable to any Pre-Closing Period or the portion of any Straddle Period ending at the closing of business on the Closing Date (determined as provided in Section 6.2(a)). Each of the Sellers and the Sellers Representative shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the Purchaser or the Company Group, in connection with the preparation and filing of any Tax Return. Such cooperation shall include the retention and, upon request, the provision of records and information which are reasonably relevant to any such Tax Return.
(d) All amounts which become payable pursuant to Section 2.4 or Section 2.5, and any payment made pursuant to Article VI shall constitute an adjustment to the Purchase Price for applicable Tax purposes, to the extent permitted by applicable Law.
ARTICLE VI
Survival of Warranties and Covenants; Indemnification
Section 6.1 Survival of Warranties. Subject to the limitations and other provisions of this Agreement, the warranties provided for in this Agreement will survive the Closing for a period of two years from the Closing Date for the benefit of the Parties hereto and their successors and assigns, at which point they will expire, except that (i) the IP Warranties will survive the Closing for a period of four years from the Closing Date for the benefit of the Purchaser, at which point they will expire, (ii) the Fundamental Warranties (other than Tax Warranties) will survive the Closing for a period of five years from the Closing Date for the benefit of the Purchaser, at which point they will expire, and (iii) the liability of the Operating Company Sellers in respect of warranties referenced in Section 3.12 or elsewhere in this Agreement regarding (a) Taxes, social security or similar obligations arising out of events occurring on or prior to the Closing Date whether or not provided for or disclosed in the Financial Statements, or (b) Taxes arising out of or in connection with any asset sales or other transfers, reorganizations, or recapitalizations involving the Company Group arising prior to or contemporaneously with the Closing (collectively, the Tax Warranties) shall survive until the statute of limitation period expires with respect to such Taxes, social security or similar obligations. Any claim must be brought if at all within such applicable limitation periods. The survival period of each warranty as provided in this Section 6.1 or otherwise provided at law, is hereinafter referred to as the Survival Period. Any claim for indemnification not made by a Party on or prior to the last day of the applicable Survival Period shall be irrevocably and unconditionally released and waived; provided, however, that any obligation to indemnify and hold harmless under this Article VI shall not
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terminate with respect to any Damages for which the indemnified Party timely asserts a claim for indemnification with reasonable specificity and in writing by notice to the Indemnifying Party in accordance herewith before the termination of the applicable Survival Period and that claim will survive until finally resolved. For the avoidance of doubt, it is the express intent of the Parties hereto that (i) if the applicable Survival Period for a matter contemplated by this Article VI is longer than the statute of limitations that would otherwise have been applicable to such matter, then, by contract, the applicable statute of limitations with respect to such matter shall be extended to the longer Survival Period contemplated hereby and (ii) if the applicable Survival Period for a matter contemplated by this Article VI is shorter than the statute of limitations that would otherwise have been applicable to such matter, then, by contract, the shorter Survival Period contemplated hereby shall apply. The Parties further acknowledge that the applicable Survival Periods set forth in this Section 6.1 for the assertion of claims or bringing of actions under this Agreement are the result of arms-length negotiation between the Parties and that the Parties intend for the time periods to be enforced as agreed by the Parties.
Section 6.2 Indemnification.
(a) Effective upon consummation of the Closing and subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6.2(c) of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement, the Operating Company Participating Sellers, jointly and severally (save unless otherwise stated in Section 6.2(c)), shall indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, its Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and any Person claiming by or through any of them (the Purchaser Indemnified Parties), against and in respect of Damages arising out of, resulting from or incurred in connection with:
(i) any breach of any warranty made by the Sellers in this Agreement;
(ii) any and all Taxes (or the non-payment thereof) of the Company Group (x) resulting from or by reference to any income, profits or gains arising or event occurring in any Pre-Closing Period, and in the portion of any Straddle Period ending at the closing of business on the Closing Date (determined as provided in this Section 6.2(a)), including, for the avoidance of doubt, any such Taxes for which the Sellers are responsible, as provided in Section 5.5(b), or (y) arising from the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Transfer Taxes for which the Sellers are responsible, as provided in Section 5.5(b);
(iii) any Long-Term Indebtedness of the Company Group as of the Closing Date that is not accurately reflected in the Closing Certificate;
(iv) any Company Group Transaction Expenses unpaid as of the Closing Date that are not accurately reflected in the Closing Certificate;
(v) any Company Group Change in Control Payments that are not accurately reflected in the Closing Certificate;
(vi) any unpaid interest or principal outstanding on the Insider Loans as of the Closing Date that are not accurately reflected in the Closing Certificate; and
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(vii) any Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses that are not accurately reflected in the Closing Certificate and any other claims for compensation or reimbursement by the Investment Firm that are not expressly provided for in this Agreement or the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement.
The Purchaser Indemnified Parties shall not be entitled to recover Damages from the Operating Company Sellers for any claim for indemnification pursuant to Section 6.2(a) made after the expiration of the applicable Survival Period, provided that this sentence shall have no bearing on any such claim that is first made prior to the expiration of the applicable Survival Period. The Taxes, if any, attributable to a Straddle Period shall be allocated (i) to the Operating Company Sellers for the period up to and including the close of business on the Closing Date, and (ii) to the Purchaser for the period subsequent to the Closing Date. Any allocation of income or deductions required to determine any Taxes attributable to a Straddle Period shall be made by means of a closing of the books and records of the Company Group as of the close of business on the Closing Date; provided, that exemptions, allowances or deductions that are calculated on an annual basis (including, but not limited to, depreciation and amortization deductions) shall be allocated between the period ending on the Closing Date and the period after the Closing Date in proportion to the number of days in each such period. In the case of any Taxes of the Company Group imposed on a periodic basis (including real property and ad valorem Taxes), the allocation between the Operating Company Sellers and the Purchaser shall be made based on the number of days during the Straddle Period on or before the Closing Date, on the one hand, and the number of days in the Straddle Period after the Closing Date, on the other hand. Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the Purchasers sole recourse for claims against the Operating Company Sellers with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 6.2(a) shall be to bring a claim against the Operating Company Sellers pursuant to Article VI of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement to reduce the number of shares of Class A Stock issuable to the Operating Company Sellers pursuant to the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement.
(b) Any Person providing indemnification pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 or this Section 6.2 is hereinafter referred to as an Indemnifying Party and any Person entitled to be indemnified pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 or this Section 6.2 is hereinafter referred to as an Indemnified Party.
(c) Effective upon consummation of the Closing, Samuel Manning, Peter Quarendon, Kevin Weekes and Benjamin Scurr shall each (on a several basis) indemnify and hold harmless the Purchaser, its Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, agents and representatives, and any Person claiming by or through any of them (the Purchaser Indemnified Parties), against and in respect of Damages arising out of, resulting from or incurred in connection with any breach of Sections 3.1(c), 3.3, 3.4, 3.8 or 3.12(w) of this Agreement or the last sentence of Section 3.6 of this Agreement by each of Samuel Manning, Peter Quarendon, Kevin Weekes and Benjamin Scurr with respect to themselves only (i.e. on a several basis) or with any breach of Sections 3.1(c), 3.3, 3.4, 3.8 or 3.12(w) of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement or the last sentence of Section 3.6 of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement by each of Peter Quarendon, Kevin Weekes and Benjamin Scurr with respect to themselves only (i.e. on a several basis), subject to each of Samuel Mannings, Peter Quarendons, Kevin Weekess and Benjamin Scurrs Liability Cap and the following provisions of this Section 6.2(c). Such Damages shall be payable within twenty Business Days after a
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determination is made, either pursuant to arbitration in accordance with Section 7.4 or pursuant to agreement by the Sellers Representative and the Purchaser. For each of Samuel Manning, Peter Quarendon, Kevin Weekes and Benjamin Scurr, the term Liability Cap means the aggregate cash consideration theretofore paid to each of Samuel Manning, Peter Quarendon, Kevin Weekes and Benjamin Scurr under this Agreement. The indemnification obligation for each Seller named under this Section 6.2(c) shall not apply to any claims for Damages unless and until such Damages exceed USD 20,000 (Claims Threshold), in which case such Seller shall be required to pay or be liable for all such Damages from the first dollar of such Damages irrespective of the Claims Threshold.
(d) Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, there shall be no duplication of recovery with respect to any matter for which indemnification is claimed pursuant to this Article VI and any matter for which indemnification is claimed under the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement and any of the ancillary agreements delivered hereunder or thereunder.
(e) Effective upon consummation of the Closing, the Purchaser shall indemnify and hold harmless the Sellers and any Person claiming by or through any of them, against and in respect of all Damages arising out of, resulting from or incurred in connection with any breach of any warranty made by the Purchaser in this Agreement.
Section 6.3 Procedures for Claims. The following provisions shall apply with respect to any indemnification claims made by the Purchaser against Samuel Manning pursuant to this Article VI and any claims made by the Sellers against the Purchaser pursuant to this Article VI (it being understood that any claims made by the Purchaser against the Operating Company Sellers with respect to the matters set forth in Section 6.2(a) shall be governed by the procedures set forth in Section 6.3 of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement):
(a) In the case of any claim for indemnification arising from a claim of a third party (a Third Party Claim), an Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice, following such Indemnified Partys receipt of such claim or demand, to the Indemnifying Party of any claim or demand of which such Indemnified Party has knowledge and as to which it may request indemnification hereunder (a Third Party Claim Notice); provided, however, that failure to give such notice will not affect such Indemnified Partys rights furnished hereunder unless, and then solely to the extent that, the rights of the Parties from whom indemnity is sought are materially prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Indemnifying Party shall have the right to defend and to direct the defense against any such claim or demand, in its name or in the name of the Indemnified Party, as the case may be, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, and with counsel selected by the Indemnifying Party that is acceptable to the Indemnified Party (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) unless (i) such claim or demand seeks an order, injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party, (ii) upon assumption of the defense, the Indemnifying Party fails to acknowledge in writing to the Indemnified Party its indemnity obligations with respect to the full amount of Damages from such Third Party Claim without deduction, set-off or counterclaim hereunder (except for the express limitations set forth in this Agreement) and its obligations to hold harmless the Indemnified Parties therefrom or (iii) the Indemnified Party shall have reasonably concluded that (x) there is a conflict of interest between the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party in the conduct of the defense of such
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claim or demand, (y) the Indemnified Party has one or more defenses not available to the Indemnifying Party or (z) if the Indemnified Party is a Purchaser Indemnified Party, the underlying matter is a criminal matter, is a matter that reasonably could be expected to impact the business reputation of the Parent or is a matter that reasonably could, if the Third Party Claim is sustained, be expected to adversely impact (I) any Tax position with respect to any Tax period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date or (II) the Intellectual Property, in each case, of the Company Group, of the Purchaser or of any other Affiliate of the Purchaser. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Indemnified Party shall, at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, cooperate with the Indemnifying Party, and keep the Indemnifying Party fully informed, in the defense of such claim or demand. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of any claim or demand with counsel employed at its own expense; provided, however, that, in the case of any claim or demand described in clause (i) or (ii) of the second preceding sentence or as to which the Indemnifying Party shall not in fact have employed counsel that is acceptable to the Indemnified Party (such acceptance not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed) to assume the defense of such claim or demand, the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Indemnified Partys counsel shall be at the expense of the Indemnifying Party, except as otherwise provided in Section 2.5(c)(iv)(B). The Indemnifying Party shall have no indemnification obligations with respect to any such claim or demand which shall be settled by the Indemnified Party without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. The Indemnifying Party shall not settle any such claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, unless (A) such settlement is accompanied by a document releasing the Indemnified Party from all liability with respect to the matter in controversy, (B) such settlement shall not limit, damage or interfere with the continuing operation of the Business in any respect and (C) if the Indemnified Party is a Purchaser Indemnified Party, such settlement shall not involve a criminal matter, a matter that reasonably could be expected to impact the business reputation of the Purchaser, Parent or any of their Subsidiaries or a matter that reasonably could be expected to adversely impact the Intellectual Property of the Company Group, of the Purchaser or of any Affiliate of the Purchaser. For purposes of determining whether notice has been provided hereunder within an applicable Survival Period, notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date that the Third Party Claim Notice is deemed received pursuant to Section 7.1.
(b) In the event that an Indemnified Party determines that it has a claim for Damages against an Indemnifying Party hereunder (other than as a result of a Third Party Claim) (an Interparty Claim), the Indemnified Party shall give prompt written notice thereof to the Indemnifying Party, specifying the amount of such claim, the section of this Agreement under which such claim arises and any other relevant facts and circumstances relating thereto (an Interparty Claim Notice); provided, however, that failure to give such notice promptly will not affect such Indemnified Partys rights furnished hereunder unless, and then solely to the extent that, the rights of the Parties from whom indemnity is sought are materially prejudiced as a result of such failure. The Indemnified Party shall provide the Indemnifying Party with reasonable access to its books and records for the purpose of allowing the Indemnifying Party a reasonable opportunity to verify any such claim for Damages. The Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party shall negotiate in good faith for a thirty day period (beginning on the date the Indemnified Party provides an Interparty Claim Notice hereunder) regarding the resolution of any disputed claims for Damages. If no resolution is reached with regard to such disputed Interparty Claim between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party within such thirty day period, the Indemnified Party shall be entitled to seek appropriate remedies in accordance with the terms hereof. For purposes of determining whether notice has been provided hereunder within an applicable Survival Period, notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date that the Interparty Claim Notice is deemed received pursuant to Section 7.1.
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(c) Promptly (and in any event within ten Business Days) following a final determination of the amount of any Damages claimed by the Indemnified Party by either (i) a determination of an arbitrator pursuant to Section 7.3(d)(iii) or (ii) the mutual agreement by the Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party (in either such case, a Final Damages Determination), the Person required to pay such Damages shall pay such Damages by wire transfer to the address provided by the Person entitled to receive such Damages.
ARTICLE VII
Miscellaneous
Section 7.1 Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed received (a) on the date of delivery if delivered personally or by telecopy, electronic mail in portable document format (.pdf) form or facsimile, (b) on the first Business Day following the date of dispatch if delivered by a recognized next-day courier service or (c) on the fifth Business Day following the date of mailing if delivered by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. All notices hereunder must be delivered as set forth below, or pursuant to instructions as may be designated in writing by the Party to receive such notice:
If to the Purchaser: | Altair Engineering Inc. | |
1820 E. Big Beaver Road | ||
Troy, Michigan 48083 | ||
Telephone: 248 ###-###-####, ext. 453 | ||
Facsimile: 248 ###-###-#### | ||
Email (for pdf notice): ***@*** | ||
Attn: Raoul Maitra, General Counsel | ||
With a copy to: | CMS Hasche Sigle | |
Partnerschaft von Rechtsanwälten und Steuerberatern mbB | ||
Schöttlestraße 8 70597 Stuttgart | ||
Germany | ||
Telephone: +49 ###-###-#### | ||
Facsimile: +49 ###-###-#### | ||
Email (for pdf notice): ***@*** | ||
Attn: John Hammond | ||
and with a copy to: | Lowenstein Sandler LLP | |
1251 Avenue of the Americas | ||
New York, New York 10020 | ||
Telephone: (973 ###-###-#### | ||
Facsimile: (973) 597-2351 | ||
Email (for pdf notice): ***@*** | ||
Attn: Peter H. Ehrenberg, Esq. |
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If to the Sellers, to the Sellers Representative | Oliver Robinson | |
c/o the Company | ||
Worsley Lodge, Common Hill Road, Braishfield, Romsey, Hampshire SO51 0QF | ||
Telephone: +44 7879 677786 | ||
Email (for pdf notice): ***@*** | ||
With a copy to: | Keystone Law (for each of the Sellers and the Sellers Representative) | |
48 Chancery Lane | ||
London WC2A 1JF | ||
Telephone: +44 20 3319 3700 | ||
Facsimile: +44 ###-###-#### | ||
Email (for pdf notice): ***@*** | ||
Attn: Claire Blewett |
Section 7.2 Expenses. Except as otherwise provided herein, each Party shall pay its own expenses incident to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and the Sellers shall pay all expenses of the Sellers Representative and each entity in the Company Group relating hereto.
Section 7.3 Payments.
(a) Cash payments to be made to the Sellers under this Agreement, including any payment by the Sellers Representative from the Sellers Representative Expense Fund should the Sellers Representative determine that the Sellers Representative no longer requires any of the money held in the Sellers Representative Expense Fund, will be made by electronic transfer of immediately available funds to the Sellers Solicitors Client Account or to any other single client account in the United Kingdom of a reputable law firm of which the Sellers Representative gives the Purchaser at least three business days notice from time to time.
(b) Payment of any sum to the Sellers Solicitors Client Account or otherwise in accordance with Section 7.3(a) will discharge the obligations of the Purchaser to pay the sum in question and the Purchaser is not concerned to see the application of the monies so paid.
(c) Payments to be made to the Purchaser under this Agreement will be made in US dollars calculated at the exchange rate quoted by the Bank of England for the conversion of pounds into US dollars at midday on the day before the due date for payment, by electronic transfer of immediately available fund to an account of the Purchaser of which the Purchaser gives at least three business days notice.
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(d) If
(i) any deduction of or withholding is required by law to be made from any sum payable by any Seller to the Purchaser under this Agreement, the Seller shall pay such increased sum as will, after the deduction or withholding has been made, leave the Purchaser with the same amount as it would have been entitled to receive in the absence of such requirement to make a deduction or withholding; and
(ii) any sum paid or payable to the Purchaser under this Agreement (Original Sum) is or will be chargeable to Tax, the Sellers shall pay on demand to the Purchaser such additional sum as ensures that, after payment of the Tax, the Purchaser is left with an amount equal to the Original Sum, and for these purposes a sum shall be regarded as chargeable to Tax in circumstances where it would have been chargeable to Tax but for some relief available to the Purchaser;
(iii) save that if the Sellers make an increased payment pursuant to Section 7.3(a) above in respect of which the Purchaser receives or is granted any credit against, relief for, repayment of, any Tax payable by the Purchaser, which credit, relief, or repayment the Purchaser would not otherwise have received or been granted, the Purchaser shall reimburse the Sellers such amount as leaves the Purchaser in no worse position than it would have been in had there been no such deduction or withholding. The Purchaser shall notify the Sellers Representative of such credit, relief, or repayment and shall pay the Sellers in accordance with this Section 7.3 promptly after receiving or being granted the credit, relief or repayment in question.
Section 7.4 Governing Law.
(a) This Agreement, and all matters arising directly or indirectly from this Agreement, shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the Laws of England and Wales, without giving effect to the conflict of law provisions thereof. Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.4(d) and Section 7.15 (which shall govern in the event of any inconsistency with this Section 7.4) or elsewhere in this Agreement, any unresolved controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be submitted to arbitration pursuant to this Section 7.4. The Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to seek to settle amicably any dispute, controversy or claim arising out of or in connection with this Agreement, the transactions contemplated hereby or the breach, termination or validity hereof (a Dispute). Before referring any such Dispute to arbitration, a Party must notify the other Parties of its wish to settle amicably the Dispute. Such notice (the Dispute Notice) shall include a written statement of the dispute and copies of any documents related thereto. Each Party shall appoint one representative to negotiate on their behalf to attempt to reach an amicable settlement. Parent shall be deemed to be a Party for purposes of Section 7.4.
(b) Failing an amicable settlement within two months of the receipt of the Dispute Notice, the Dispute shall be finally settled by arbitration under the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce then in effect (the Rules), except as modified herein. The arbitration shall be held in London (UK).
(c) In an arbitration the following provisions shall apply:
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(i) This agreement to arbitrate shall be specifically enforceable. The arbitrator, and not a court, shall also be authorized to determine whether this agreement to arbitrate applies to any claim, discrepancy or dispute sought to be resolved hereunder.
(ii) There shall be one arbitrator, selected in accordance with the Rules.
(iii) The arbitrator shall be skilled in the field of intellectual property law, applicable governing law and the other legal and business aspects of the subject matter of this Term Sheet or the Transaction Documents, as applicable, and also shall have served as an arbitrator at least three times prior to such arbitrators service as an arbitrator in this arbitration.
(iv) Barring extraordinary circumstances, the arbitrator shall render an award within four months from the date on which the arbitrator is selected. The arbitrator may extend this time limit in the interests of justice. Failure to adhere to this time limit shall not constitute a basis for challenging the award.
(v) The parties shall be entitled to discovery in the arbitration except that any party shall be entitled to request no more than 1,000 pages of documents and to take no more than three depositions not to exceed four hours for each such deposition. Any party shall be entitled to depose any expert who will testify in the arbitration proceeding but shall pay the regular hourly rate of such expert during such deposition. In addition to the foregoing, any party shall be entitled to take the deposition of a witness who will testify at the arbitration but who is unavailable to testify at the hearing to preserve such witness testimony for the arbitration hearing.
(vi) The parties shall exchange a copy of all exhibits for the arbitration hearing and shall identify each witness who will testify at the arbitration, with a summary of the anticipated testimony of such witness ten days before the arbitration hearing.
(vii) The arbitrator shall be authorized to award direct compensatory damages, but shall not be authorized (a) to award non-economic damages, (b) to award punitive damages other than to compensate the Purchaser for punitive damages claimed in a Third-Party Claim, (c) to award indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages other than to compensate the Purchaser for indirect, special, incidental or consequential damages claimed in a Third-Party Claim or (d) to reform, modify or materially change the Transaction Documents, except as expressly authorized herein or therein. The arbitrator shall be entitled to issue injunctive and other forms of equitable relief.
(viii) The parties hereto hereby waive any rights of application or appeal to the fullest extent permitted by law in connection with any question of law arising in the course of the arbitration or with respect to any award made, except for actions to enforce an arbitral award in any court of competent jurisdiction.
(ix) The arbitrator shall be required to make written findings of fact and conclusions of law to support the arbitrators award. The award shall be final and binding upon the parties hereto, and shall be the sole and exclusive remedy among the parties hereto regarding any claims, counterclaims, issues, or accounting presented to the arbitrator. Judgement upon any award may be entered in any court of competent jurisdiction.
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(x) Judgement upon the award of the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof or such court may be asked to confirm judicially the award and order its enforcement, as the case may be.
(xi) Each of the parties hereto shall bear its own attorneys fees, costs and expenses and an equal share of the arbitrators fees and administrative fees of the arbitration. The parties agree that failure or refusal of a party to pay its required share of the deposits for arbitrator compensation or administrative charges shall constitute a waiver by that party to present evidence or cross-examine witnesses. In such event, the other parties shall be required to present evidence and legal argument as the arbitrator may require for the making of an award.
(xii) Except as may be required by law, neither a Party nor its representatives may disclose the existence, content, or results of any arbitration hereunder without the prior written consent of all Parties.
(xiii) This agreement to arbitrate shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each party hereto and thereto.
Section 7.5 Assignment; Successors and Assigns; Limited Third Party Rights. Except as otherwise provided herein, this Agreement may not be assigned, and any attempted assignment shall be null and void. The Purchaser may assign any or all of its rights under this Agreement to any Affiliate of the Purchaser, provided that the Purchaser shall remain secondarily liable for all obligations of the Purchaser hereunder. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors, permitted assigns and legal representatives. This Agreement shall be for the sole benefit of the Parties and their respective successors, assigns and legal representatives and is not intended, nor shall be construed, to give any Person, other than the Parties hereto and their respective successors, assigns and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim hereunder; provided, however, that Article VI shall also be for the benefit of the Purchaser Indemnified Parties.
Section 7.6 Counterparts; Facsimile.
(a) This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, by facsimile or otherwise. Each such counterpart shall be deemed an original agreement, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(b) Transmission of an executed counterpart of this Agreement (and not just a signature page) by email in PDF (JPEG or other agreed format) will take effect as the transmission of an executed wet ink counterpart of this Agreement. If this method of transmission is adopted, without prejudice to the validity of the Agreement so made, each Party will on request provide the others with wet ink hardcopy originals of their counterpart.
(c) No counterpart will be effective until each Party has delivered to the others at least one executed counterpart.
Section 7.7 Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
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Section 7.8 Entire Agreement and Fraud. This Agreement, including the disclosure schedules and Exhibits attached thereto or delivered herewith, the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement and any confidentiality agreement heretofore delivered in anticipation of the execution of this Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties with respect to the matters covered hereby and supersedes all previous written, oral or implied understandings among them with respect to such matters. Nothing in this Agreement shall limit or exclude the liability of any Party for the fraud of that Party or arising out of the fraud of any of its directors, employees, officers, agents or advisers.
Section 7.9 Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified only in a writing signed by the Party against whom enforcement of such amendment or modification is sought.
Section 7.10 Third Party Rights. No third party shall have any right to rely upon or enforce any term of this Agreement pursuant to the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999. The rights of the parties to terminate, rescind or vary this Agreement are not subject to the consent of any third party and no third party may enforce any term of this Agreement unless it has first (and as a pre-condition of commencing any legal proceedings in relation to such enforcement) confirmed by notice in writing to each of the parties to this Agreement that in doing so, it agrees to be bound by the terms of Section 7.3(d)(iii).
Section 7.11 Waiver. Any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement may be waived at any time by the Party or Parties entitled to the benefit thereof, but only by a writing signed by the Party or Parties waiving such terms or conditions.
Section 7.12 Severability. The invalidity of any portion hereof shall not affect the validity, force or effect of the remaining portions hereof. If it is ever held that any restriction hereunder is too broad to permit enforcement of such restriction to its fullest extent, such restriction shall be enforced to the maximum extent permitted by Law.
Section 7.13 Schedules. All references herein to Schedules or the Sellers Disclosure Schedule refer to the disclosure schedules delivered by the Sellers to the Purchaser contemporaneous with the execution of this Agreement.
Section 7.14 Set-off. The Purchaser shall be entitled to offset:
(a) any amount due from the Sellers to the Purchaser under this Agreement against any obligation owed by the Purchaser to the Sellers pursuant to this Agreement; and
(b) any amount due from any of the Operating Company Sellers under or pursuant to the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement (including any claims for breach of the Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement) against any obligation owed by the Purchaser to them under this Agreement.
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Section 7.15 Sellers Representative.
(a) Authorization of the Sellers Representative. Each Seller irrevocably appoints, authorizes and empowers the Sellers Representative as its exclusive agent, proxy and attorney-in-fact, for and on its behalf, for all purposes specified in this Agreement and any other Seller Document to which such Seller is a party, including, without limitation, (i) the full power and authority on such Sellers behalf to perform the activities on behalf of the Seller contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) negotiating the resolution and/or final settlement and release of any monetary or non-monetary issues, disputes, claims (including claims brought by third parties), proceedings and/or litigation arising under this Agreement (including without limitation Articles II and VI of this Agreement) or any other Seller Document, (iv) acting on behalf of such Seller in any litigation, arbitration or other judicial or administrative proceeding involving this Agreement (including without limitation Articles II and VI of this Agreement) or any other Seller Document, (v) executing all such documents as the Sellers Representative shall deem necessary or appropriate in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including without limitation Articles II and VI of this Agreement) or any other Seller Document, including all amendments, waivers, ancillary agreements, stock powers, certificates and documents that the Sellers Representative deems necessary or appropriate in connection with the consummation of such transactions, (vi) doing or refraining from doing any further act or deed in the name of and on behalf of such Seller that the Sellers Representative deems necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion relating to the subject matter of this Agreement (including without limitation Articles II and VI of this Agreement) or any other Seller Document, as fully and completely as such Seller could do if personally present, and (vii) receiving service of process in connection with any claims under this Agreement (including without limitation Articles II and VI of this Agreement) or any other Seller Document, in the name of and on behalf of such Seller. Each Seller agrees that such agency and proxy are coupled with an interest, are therefore irrevocable without the consent of the Sellers Representative and shall survive the death, incapacity, bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation (in each case, if applicable) of each Seller. All decisions and actions by the Sellers Representative pursuant to, or permitted by, this Agreement or related thereto shall be binding upon each Seller, and each Seller shall have no right to object, dissent, protest or otherwise contest the same. For the avoidance of doubt, (i) any action that may be taken by any Seller pursuant to Article VI, either as an Indemnifying Party or an Indemnified Party, shall be taken solely by the Sellers Representative, (ii) any notice to be given to any Seller pursuant to Article II or Article VI shall be sufficient if given to the Sellers Representative and (iii) any agreement reached by the Purchaser or Parent with the Sellers Representative under Article II or Article VI shall be binding upon all the Sellers, it being understood that for all purposes, the Sellers Representative shall act on behalf of all of the Sellers with respect to Article II and Article VI.
(b) Death or incapacity of the Sellers Representative. In the event of the Sellers Representatives death or incapacity, the Sellers shall promptly appoint a new Sellers Representative by agreement of all of the Sellers, or failing agreement within one week, Sellers holding prior to Closing a majority of the initial fractional interests listed in the column headed Fractional Interests in Exhibit A annexed hereto (Fractional Interests) shall make such appointment, and shall send notice of such appointment to the Purchaser.
Section 7.16 Specific Performance. The Sellers acknowledge and agree that the breach of this Agreement would cause irreparable damage to the Purchaser and that the Purchaser will not have an adequate remedy at law. Therefore, the obligations of the Sellers under this Agreement, including the Sellers obligation to sell the Company Shares to the Purchaser, shall be enforceable by a decree of specific performance issued by any court of competent jurisdiction, and appropriate injunctive relief may be applied for and granted in connection therewith. Such remedies shall, however, be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies which any Party may have under this Agreement or otherwise.
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Section 7.17 Parent Guarantee. Parent hereby agrees to be jointly and severally liable for the prompt and complete performance of the Purchasers payment obligations under this Agreement, but subject to the same limitations as those on the Purchasers obligations hereunder. The Parents obligations are unconditional irrespective of any circumstances which might otherwise constitute, by operation of law, a discharge of a guarantor or surety and it shall not be necessary for the Sellers to institute or exhaust any remedies or causes of action against the Purchaser or any other Person as a condition to the obligations of Parent hereunder. Except as provided in this Agreement, Parent hereby irrevocably waives any right to receive a formal notification or to request that any other formalities or protest be accomplished in connection with its obligations hereunder.
Section 7.18 Parent hereby irrevocably appoints the Purchaser as its agent to accept service of process in England and Wales in any claim arising out of this Agreement, service upon which shall be deemed completed whether or not forwarded to or received by Parent.
ARTICLE VIII
Definitions
Section 8.1 Certain Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
Affiliate means, with respect to any Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such Person save that where such term is used in connection with the Company it shall specifically exclude the Operating Company. The term control means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise, and the terms controlled and controlling have meanings correlative thereto.
Agency Worker means any individual who is supplied by a third party to work for and under the supervision and direction of any entity in the Company Group.
Applicable Accounting Standards means generally accepted United Kingdom accounting policies. including FRS 102.
Business Day means a day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, on which commercial banks in the State of Michigan and in the United Kingdom are open for the general transaction of business.
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Cash means, as of 11:59 p.m. London Time on the day immediately prior to the date hereof (the Operative Time), all cash and cash equivalents of the Company Group and the Operating Company, as determined in accordance with Applicable Accounting Standards using the same accounting methods, policies, practices and procedures, with consistent classifications, judgements and estimation methodology, as were used in the preparation of the Most Recent Balance Sheet, excluding the effects of transactions on the Closing Date after the Closing outside of the Ordinary Course of Business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Cash shall include uncashed and uncleared checks and other deposits or transfers received or deposited for the accounts of the Operating Company and the entities in the Company Group, including ACH transactions and other wire transfers, but shall exclude all outbound ACH and issued but uncleared checks, in each case, as of the Operative Time.
Class A Stock means the Class A Common Stock of Parent, par value USD .0001 per share.
Code means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company Group means the Company and any other entity that is a controlled Subsidiary or a controlled Affiliate of the Company. Unless the context expressly indicates to the contrary, each reference to the Company Group constitutes a reference to each of the Company and each other Person that is part of the Company Group.
Company Group Change in Control Payments means all amounts payable under any Contract or Plan as of the Closing Date by the Company Group as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (a) all unpaid severance obligations existing as of the Closing, including the employer portion of any payroll taxes thereon, (b) all amounts payable under the Company Groups benefit plans as a result of the Closing, including the employer portion of any payroll taxes thereon, and (c) all unpaid bonus or other amounts that are payable as a result of the Closing under any other plan or arrangement established for the benefit of the Company Groups directors, officers and employees, including the employer portion of any payroll taxes thereon.
Company Group Product means any product or service offering of any entity in the Company Group marketed, sold, licensed or distributed by any entity in the Company Group.
Company Group Transaction Expenses means all unpaid expenses incurred by the Company Group on or before the Closing Date in connection with the negotiation, preparation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and the Closing, including, without limitation, (i) out-of-pocket costs, fees and disbursements of financial advisors, attorneys, accountants and other advisors and service providers, and (ii) severance, bonus or retention payments to directors, officers or employees not included within the definition of Company Group Change in Control Payments, which expenses (with respect to clauses (i) and (ii) (a) have not been paid by the Company Group as of the Closing Date and (b) have arisen as a consequence of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Contract means any contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, mortgage, loan, instrument, lease, license, commitment or other arrangement, understanding, undertaking, commitment or obligation, whether written or oral.
Contractual Obligations means, as to any Person, any provision of any security issued by such Person or of any Contract to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its property is bound.
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Consultant means any individual who is not an Agency Worker, Employee or Worker who has undertaken to do or perform personally, or is supplied to do or perform personally, any work or services for the Company.
Copyrights means any United States, United Kingdom or other copyright registrations and applications for registration and renewals thereof, and any non-registered copyrights.
Current Assets means the combined current assets of the Operating Company and the entities in the Company Group as of the Operative Time, classified in accordance with the Applicable Accounting Standards (except as otherwise expressly provided in this definition) applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements, excluding inter-company balances, including the following:
(a) all inventory, other than inventory that is obsolete or non-saleable in the Ordinary Course of Business; and
(b) all accounts receivable (other than SAS Directed Receivables) less an allowance for doubtful accounts consistent with prior practices and in all cases excluding any accounts receivable that are past due more than 90 days as of the Closing Date; and
(c) all prepaid expenses and deposits; but
(d) excluding Cash; and
(e) excluding research and development tax credits, other tax credits, Tax Refunds and any other future or deferred Tax assets; and
(f) excluding amounts historically categorized as recovery of revenue in the Companys Financial Statements; and
(g) excluding accrued services (or any other assets) arising out of any relationships with Adiona Technologies Ltd or Cyban Group Ltd.
Current Liabilities means the combined current liabilities of the Operating Company and the entities in the Company Group as of the Operative Time, classified in accordance with the Applicable Accounting Standards (except as otherwise expressly provided in this definition), applied on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements, excluding inter-company balances, including the following:
(a) trade and accounts payable and outstanding checks; and
(b) accrued expenses; and
(c) Taxes payable; and
(d) any accrued employee compensation, including bonuses, commissions, pension, retirement, vacation, holiday, sick leave, related employee benefits, and similar compensation obligations.
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In calculating Current Liabilities, regardless of whether Applicable Accounting Standards would require an adjustment, all Deferred Revenues shall be treated as Current Liabilities.
Damages means any and all claims, costs, expenses, damages, liabilities, losses or deficiencies (including, without limitation, attorneys fees and other costs and expenses incident to any suit, action or proceeding).
Dataroom means the electronic data room hosted by Midaxo, Inc. with the title The Altair Midaxo Platform.
Deferred Revenues means all deferred revenues of the Company Group as of the Operative Time.
Disclosed means those matters fully, fairly and accurately disclosed in the Disclosure Letter in such a manner and in such detail to enable the Purchaser to make an informed and accurate assessment of the matter concerned and its potential impact (including the potential cost, liability or financial effect) on the Company and the business carried on by the Company as at the date of this Agreement.
Disclosure Letter means the letter (which shall include the Sellers Disclosure Schedule) dated as at the date of this Agreement from the Sellers to the Purchaser and delivered to the Purchaser on behalf of the Sellers prior to exchange of this Agreement, disclosing certain matters in relation to the warranties given by the Sellers pursuant to Article III.
DP Laws (i) means all law and regulation relating to data protection and privacy which is from time to time applicable to the Company in any jurisdiction (including the Data Protection Act 1998, the Privacy and Electronic Communications (EC Directive) Regulations 2003, the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018) together with all applicable codes of conduct and practice, guidance and opinions relating to data protection and privacy issued in any relevant jurisdiction by, or with the approval of, any Authority or any trade association of which the Company is a member (ii) words and expressions used in Section 3.27 which are defined in GDPR (unless the context requires otherwise) have the meanings given in GDPR or, in relation to any jurisdiction in which GDPR is not applicable, are interpreted as references to the words and expressions most closely approximating them under the GDPR.
Employee means any director, officer or other individual employed by the Company or its Subsidiaries under a contract of employment.
Employee Benefit Plan means any agreement, commitment, arrangement, scheme, custom or practice (in each case whether or not (a) enforceable, (b) a registered pension scheme under the Finance Act 2004 or (c) funded for in advance) for the payment of any pension, allowance, lump sum or other benefit on or after death, accident, retirement or termination of employment (whether voluntary or not) or during any period of sickness or disablement.
Encumbrance means any mortgage, charge, pledge, lien, option, restriction, right of first refusal, right of pre-emption, retention of title arrangement, deed of trust, security interest, claim, lease, charge, option, easement, servitude, proxy, voting trust or agreement, transfer restriction under any shareholder or other third party right, interest or claim of any kind (in each case whether actual or contingent) and any agreement to create any of the above.
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End-User License Agreements means the End-User License Agreements listed in Section 8 of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule, copies of which have been delivered to the Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement.
Environmental Laws means any Laws, as well as Orders issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to pollution, protection of the environment, public health and safety or other Environmental Matters and all other applicable regulatory guidance, and any applicable provisions of common law, codes and civil law, as well as Orders issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to the protection of human health and safety, protection of the environment, the protection of natural resources, the use and occupancy of the real property owned or leased by the Company Group or providing for any remedy or right of recovery or right of injunctive relief with respect to Environmental Matters, as these Laws, guidance, provisions or Orders were adopted in the past or presently are in effect.
Environmental Matters means all matters, conditions, liabilities, obligations, damages, losses, claims, requirements, prohibitions, and restrictions arising out of or relating to the protection of human health and safety and/or the environment, including damages to and restoration of natural resources, or the production, storage, handling, use, emission, release, discharge, dispersal, or disposal of any Regulated Substance.
Equity Equivalents means any security or obligation which is by its terms, directly or indirectly, convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of common stock or other capital stock or any other equity interest of the Company , as the case may be, and any option, warrant or other subscription or purchase right with respect to common stock or other capital stock or any other equity interest of the Company Group.
Existing Judgement means the judgement of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina Western Division (case number 5:10-CV-25-FL) against the Operating Company dated July 15, 2016 which initially was in the amount of USD 79,129,905.00 and as of November 30, 2021 (being the latest date that a Notice of Partial Satisfaction Of Judgment was issued by the aforesaid Court) is in the amount of USD 66,507,238.54
Fundamental Warranties means each of the warranties set forth in Sections 3.1, 3.8, 3.16 and 3.24 and each of the Tax Warranties.
General Warranties means each of the warranties in Article III other than the Fundamental Warranties and the IP Warranties.
GBP or £ means British Pounds Sterling.
Governmental Authority means any national, federal, state, provincial, county, municipal or local government, foreign or domestic, or the government of any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, or any entity, authority, agency, ministry, court or other similar body exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative authority or functions of or pertaining to government, including any authority or other quasi-governmental entity established to perform any of such functions.
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Indebtedness of any Person means, without duplication, (i) the principal of, and accreted value and accrued and unpaid interest in respect of, (A) indebtedness for borrowed money or indebtedness issued or incurred in substitution or exchange for indebtedness for borrowed money and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds, mortgages or other similar instruments; (ii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, including all seller notes and earn-out payments, whether or not matured (but excluding current trade liabilities incurred in the Ordinary Course of Business); (iii) all conditional sale obligations and all obligations under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable and other accrued current liabilities arising in the Ordinary Course of Business); (iv) all obligations under leases which are required under the Applicable Accounting Standards to be recorded as capital leases; (v) commitments or obligations by which such Person assures a creditor against loss (including contingent reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit, but only to the extent drawn); (vi) obligations or commitments to repay deposits or other amounts advanced by and owing to third parties (but excluding the current liabilities of such Person); (vii) obligations under any interest rate, currency or other hedging agreement; (viii) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (vii) of any other Persons the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable for, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor, surety or otherwise or other contingent liabilities (including so-called make-whole, take-or-pay or keep well agreements); (ix) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (viii) of other Persons secured by any Encumbrance on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person); and (x) with respect to any indebtedness, obligation, claim or liability of a type described in clauses (i) through (ix) above, all accrued and unpaid interest, premiums, penalties, breakage costs, unwind costs, fees, termination costs, redemption costs, expenses and other charges with respect to any thereof; provided that Indebtedness shall not include any indebtedness owing solely from one entity in the Company Group to another entity in the Company Group.
Insider Loans means loans made by any officer, director or employee to the Company or its Subsidiaries.
Intellectual Property means the Company Groups Copyrights, Patents, Trade Secrets, Trademarks, Internet Assets, Software and any other proprietary rights or intangible assets recognized under any Laws or international conventions, and in any country or jurisdiction in the world, as intellectual creations to which rights of ownership accrue, all applications, disclosures, renewals, extensions, continuations or reissues thereof, all licenses with respect thereto and all rights arising thereunder, including without limitation, all web domains, service marks, documentation, test cases, know-how, trade secrets, algorithms related to the unique computational technology of external approximations and its software implementation (containing all intellectual property rights including copyrights) which constitute the foundation for the Company Groups core application intended for analysis and simulation.
Intellectual Property Licenses means (i) any grant to a third Person of any right to use any of the Intellectual Property, and (ii) any grant to the Company Group of a right to use a third-persons intellectual property rights.
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Internet Assets means any Internet domain names and other computer user identifiers and any rights in and to sites on the worldwide web, including rights in and to any text, graphics, audio and video files and html or other code incorporated in such sites.
IP Warranties means the warranties set forth in Section 3.18.
Knowledge, with respect to the Operating Company Sellers, means the actual knowledge, after due inquiry, of the Operating Company Sellers, and with respect to the Purchaser, means the actual knowledge, after due inquiry, of Stephanie Buckner, Matt Brown and Raoul Maitra.
Law means any statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation or other comparable requirement applicable to the Company Group in any jurisdiction worldwide.
Legal Proceeding means any judicial, administrative or arbitral actions, suits, investigations, proceedings or claims by or before a Governmental Authority.
Long-Term Indebtedness means all Indebtedness of the Company Group as of the Closing Date other than any such Indebtedness that constitutes a Current Liability.
Material Adverse Effect means a change, effect, event, occurrence or circumstance that is materially adverse to (i) the business, assets, properties, results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company Group, taken as a whole, or (ii) the ability of the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform their respective obligations under this Agreement or the other documents contemplated hereby; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (i) above, Material Adverse Effect shall not include the following, either alone or in combination, nor shall any of the following be taken into account in determining whether there has been a Material Adverse Effect: (a) effects, changes, events, developments, circumstances or conditions that generally affect the industry in which the Business operates; (b) general business, financial or economic conditions; (c) national or international political or social conditions, including the engagement in hostilities, whether or not pursuant to the declaration of a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any actual or threatened military or terrorist attack, (d) changes or developments resulting or caused by natural disasters or (e) changes in the Applicable Accounting Standards or in the interpretation or enforcement thereof; provided, however, that the foregoing clauses (a) through (e) shall not apply if such effect, change, event, development or circumstance disproportionately adversely affects the Company Group, taken as a whole, or the Purchaser and its Affiliates, taken as a whole, as the case may be, compared to other Persons that operate in the industry in which the Business operates.
Operating Company Sellers means the Sellers other than Samuel Manning.
Operating Company Participating Sellers means the Operating Company Sellers other than Peter Quarendon, Kevin Weekes and Benjamin Scurr.
Order means any order, injunction, judgement, decree, ruling, writ, assessment or award of a Governmental Authority.
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Ordinary Course of Business means the ordinary and usual course of day-to-day operations of the business of the Company Group through the date hereof consistent with past practice.
Patents means any United States, United Kingdom or other patents and patent applications, including any divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions or reissues thereof, whether or not patents are issued on such applications and whether or not such applications are modified, withdrawn or resubmitted.
Permits means any approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, permits or certificates of a Governmental Authority.
Permitted Encumbrance means (i) statutory liens securing payments not yet due, (ii) such imperfections or irregularities of title, claims, liens, charges, security interests, easements, covenants and other restrictions or encumbrances as do not materially affect the use of the properties or assets subject thereto or affected thereby or otherwise materially impair the operation of the Business and (iii) mortgages, or deeds of trust, security interests or other encumbrances on title related to Indebtedness to be repaid pursuant to Section 2.3 of this Agreement.
Person means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, joint stock company, unincorporated organization or association, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity.
Plan means any employee benefit or social welfare plan, program, obligation, arrangement, policy, agreement or commitment (whether maintained by any entity in the Company Group or by any Governmental Authority), including, without limitation, any employment, consulting or deferred compensation agreement, executive compensation, bonus, incentive, pension, profit-sharing, savings, retirement, stock option, stock purchase or severance pay plan, and any life, health, disability or accident insurance plan, whether oral or written, as to which any entity in the Company Group had, has or in the future could have any direct or indirect, actual or contingent, liability
Pre-Closing Period means any Tax period ending on or before the Closing Date.
Purchaser Documents means this Agreement and each other agreement, document, instrument or certificate to be executed by the Purchaser in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Purchaser Material Adverse Effect means a change, effect, event, occurrence or circumstance that is materially adverse to the ability of Parent or the Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or perform such entitys obligations under this Agreement or the other documents contemplated hereby.
Regulated Substances means any chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic or hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products or other substances or materials regulated under any Environmental Law.
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Relative of a natural Person means any spouse, parent, grandparent, child, grandchild or sibling of such Person, and any offspring of any of the foregoing.
Relevant Transfer means a relevant transfer under the Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006.
SAS Directed Receivables means obligations of certain customers of the Company that are outstanding as of the date hereof and that are required to be paid to SAS unless and until the Existing Judgement is satisfied.
Seller Documents means this Agreement, the Covenant Agreements and each other agreement, document, instrument or certificate to be executed by any of the Sellers or the Sellers Representative in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Software means any and all (i) computer programs, including any and all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code or object code form, (ii) databases, compilations, and any other electronic data files, including any and all collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (iii) descriptions, flow-charts, technical and functional specifications, and other work product used to design, plan, organize, develop, test, troubleshoot and maintain any of the foregoing, (iv) without limitation to the foregoing, any computer software programs that incorporate and run the pricing models, formulae and algorithms of any entity in the Company Group, as well as any computer software programs that have been produced, written or created by any entity in the Company Group or any of their Affiliates and (v) all documentation, including technical, end-user, training and troubleshooting manuals and materials, relating to any of the foregoing, including without limitation, the Company Group software products listed in Section 3.18(b) of the Sellers Disclosure Schedule and all components and modules thereto.
Straddle Period means any Tax period that begins on or before and ends after the Closing Date.
Subsidiary, when used with respect to any Person, means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, whether incorporated or unincorporated, that is consolidated with such Person for financial reporting purposes. Without limitation, with respect to the Company, the term Subsidiary includes D2S Europe Limited and D2S Property Limited.
Tax, tax, Taxes or taxes means (i) all domestic and foreign taxes, charges, fees, imposts, levies or other assessments, including all net income, gross receipts, capital, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer, franchise, profits, inventory, capital stock, license, withholding, payroll, employment, social security, unemployment, excise, escheat, severance, stamp, occupation, property, dividend and estimated taxes, customs duties, fees, assessments and charges of any kind whatsoever, (ii) all income tax or national insurance contributions whether arising before or after Closing in respect of the grant, exercise, surrender, exchange or other disposal of an option or other right to acquire securities or in respect of any acquisition, holding, variation or disposal of employment related securities where the acquisition of the security will be granted the option or other right to acquire the security occurred on or before Closing, (iii) any liability in
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respect of any non-availability, inability to use, loss or restriction of any loss, relief, allowance or credit in respect of any tax (other than the repayment of tax), (iv) all interest, penalties, fines, additions to tax or additional amounts imposed by any Taxing Authority in connection with any item described in clause (i), and (v) any transferee liability in respect of any items described in clauses (i) and/or (ii) payable by reason of Contract, assumption, transferee liability, operation of Law, Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any predecessor or successor thereof of any analogous or similar provision under Law) or otherwise.
Taxing Authority means the Internal Revenue Service and any other Governmental Authority responsible for the administration of any Tax.
Tax Return means any return, report or statement with respect to any Tax (including any attachments thereto, and any amendment thereof) including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Tax, and combined, consolidated or unitary returns for any group of entities that includes the Company Group or any of their Affiliates.
Trade Secret means any confidential information that derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons not authorized to receive it, including customer lists, programs, the source code of all Software, research records, processes, procedures, manufacturing formulae, programming methodology, technical information and know-how, technology, blue prints, designs, plans, inventions (whether patentable and whether reduced to practice), invention disclosures and improvements thereto; provided that notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Trade Secrets does not include any Software that is an off-the-shelf product or a product that is in the public domain.
Trademarks means any United States, British or other trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, designs and logos, corporate names, product or service identifiers, slogans, pictures or any other symbols used to identify any good and/or service, whether registered or unregistered, and all registrations and applications for registration thereof.
Worker means any individual who is supplied by a third party to work for and under the supervision and direction of the Company.
Working Capital shall mean the consolidated Current Assets of the Operating Company and the Company Group as of the Operative Time minus the consolidated Current Liabilities of the Operating Company and the Company Group as of the Operative Time.
Other Definitions. The following table identifies the sections in this Agreement where certain other definitions are set forth:
Defined Term | Section | |
Adjustment Positions | Section 2.4(a) | |
Agreement | Opening paragraph | |
Anti-Money Laundering Laws | Section 3.7(g) | |
Annual Financial Statements | Section 3.11(a) |
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Defined Term | Section | |
Assets | Section 3.16(a) | |
Audit Reports | Section 3.7(h) | |
Bankers Fees and Expenses | Section 3.24 | |
Basket Amount | Section 6.2(c)(i) | |
Business | Recitals | |
Cash Consideration | Section 2.1 | |
Cash Deficit | Section 2.4(h) | |
Cash Surplus | Section 2.4(f) | |
Claims | Section 3.6 | |
Claims Threshold | Section 6.2(c) | |
Closing | Section 2.6 | |
Closing Date | Section 1.3 | |
Closing Cash Payment Amount | Section 2.3(a) | |
Closing Certificate | Section 2.2 | |
Closing Statement | Section 2.4(a) | |
Company | Recitals | |
Company Charter Documents | Section 3.2 | |
Company Shares | Recitals | |
Covenant Agreements | Recitals | |
Damages | Section 6.2(a) | |
Designated Employees | Recitals | |
Dispute | Section 7.4(a) | |
Dispute Notice | Section 7.4(a) | |
Final Working Capital | Section 2.4(e) | |
Final Damages Determination | Section 6.3(c) | |
Final Determination Date | Section 2.4(e) | |
Financial Reports | Section 3.11(a) | |
Financial Statements | Section 3.11(a) | |
Fractional Interests | Section 7.15(b) | |
Indemnified Party | Section 6.2(b) | |
Indemnifying Party | Section 6.2(b) | |
Independent Accountant | Section 2.4(d) | |
Interparty Claim | Section 6.3(b) | |
Interparty Claim Notice | Section 6.3(b) | |
Investment Firm | Section 3.24 | |
Investment Firm Closing Fees and Expenses | Section 2.2 | |
Liability Cap | Section 6.2(c) | |
Material Contracts | Section 3.9(a) | |
Material Permits | Section 3.7(b) | |
Maximum Fees and Expenses | Section 3.24 | |
Most Recent Balance Sheet | Section 3.11(g) | |
Most Recent Balance Sheet Date | Section 3.11(g) |
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Defined Term | Section | |
Notice of Disagreement | Section 2.4(c) | |
Open Source Materials | Section 3.18(n) | |
Operating Company | Recitals | |
Operating Company Stock Sale and Purchase Agreement | Recitals | |
Operative Time | Definition of Cash | |
Original Sum | Section 7.3(d)(ii) | |
Owned Real Property | Section 3.10(a) | |
Parent | Recitals | |
Parent Reports | Section 4.5 | |
Party; Parties | Opening Paragraph | |
Personal Property Leases | Section 3.16(b) | |
Purchaser | Opening Paragraph | |
Purchase Price | Section 2.2 | |
Purchaser Indemnified Parties | Section 6.2(a) | |
Purchaser Price Adjustments | Section 2.4(e) | |
Related Persons | Section 3.20 | |
Rules | Section 7.4(a) | |
Sellers | Opening paragraph | |
Sellers Disclosure Schedule | Lead-in to Article III | |
Sellers Representative | Recitals | |
Sellers Representative Expense Fund | Section 2.2 | |
Statement of Payables | Section 3.11(a) | |
Statement of Receivables | Section 3.11(a) | |
Statement of Revenues | Section 3.11(a) | |
Subsequent Fractional Interests | Section 2.4(f) | |
Survival Period | Section 6.1 | |
Tax Warranties | Section 6.1 | |
Third Party Claim | Section 6.3(a) | |
Third Party Claim Notice | Section 6.3(a) | |
Transfer Taxes | Section 5.5(b) | |
Working Capital Submission | Section 2.4(d) | |
Working Capital Deficit | Section 2.4(h) | |
Working Capital Surplus | Section 2.4(f) |
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
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SELLERS: |
/s/ Oliver Robinson |
Oliver Robinson |
/s/ Thomas Quarendon |
Thomas Quarendon |
/s/ Martin Jupp |
Martin Jupp |
/s/ Samuel Manning |
Samuel Manning |
/s/ Peter Quarendon |
Peter Quarendon |
/s/ Benjamin Scurr |
Benjamin Scurr |
/s/ Declan Vibert |
Declan Vibert |
/s/ Kevin Weekes |
Kevin Weekes |
/s/ Kate Marshall |
Kate Marshall |
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PURCHASER: | ||
ALTAIR ENGINEERING LIMITED | ||
By: | /s/ Royston Jones | |
Name: Royston Jones | ||
Title: Director | ||
PARENT: | ||
solely as to Section 7.4, Section 7.17 and Section 7.18: | ||
ALTAIR ENGINEERING INC. | ||
By: | /s/ James R. Scapa | |
Name: James R. Scapa | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
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LIST OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Company Shares
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