Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 19, 2021, by and among the Company, Merger Sub, Seller Representative and GCI

Contract Categories: Mergers & Acquisitions - Merger Agreements
EX-2.1 2 ex_236748.htm EXHIBIT 2.1 ex_236748.htm

Exhibit 2.1

 

 

 

 

Redactions with respect to certain portions hereof are denoted with “***”

 

 

 


 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

by and among

 

BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.,

as the Purchaser,

 

BLFS MERGER SUBSIDIARY INC.,
as Merger Sub,

 

ALBERT VIERLING AND WILLIAM BAUMEL,
in their capacity as Seller Representative,

 

and

 

GLOBAL COOLING, INC.,
as the Company,

 

 

Dated as of March 19, 2021

 

 


 

 

 

 

I. MERGER

5

1.1. Merger

5

1.2. Transaction Effective Time

5

1.3. Effect of the Merger

5

1.4. Tax Treatment

5

1.5. Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

5

1.6. Directors and Officers of the Transaction Surviving Corporation

5

1.7. Reserved

5

1.8. Reserved

6

1.9. Merger Consideration

6

1.10. Effect of Merger on Company Securities

6

1.11. Surrender of Company Securities and Payment of Merger Consideration

7

1.12. Effect of Transaction on Merger Sub Stock

8

1.13. Reserved

9

1.14. Reserved

9

1.15. Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action

9

1.16. Appraisal and Dissenter’s Rights

9

1.17. Escrow

9
   

II. CLOSING

10

2.1. Closing

10
   

III. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER AND MERGER SUB

11

3.1. Organization and Standing

11

3.2. Authorization; Binding Agreement

11

3.3. Governmental Approvals

12

3.4. Non-Contravention

12

3.5. Capitalization

12

3.6. SEC Filings and Purchaser Financials

13

3.7. Absence of Certain Changes

14

3.8. Compliance with Laws

14

3.9. Actions; Orders; Permits

14

3.10. Merger Sub Activities

14

3.11. Investment Company Act

14

3.12. Finders and Brokers

15

3.13. Ownership of Merger Consideration

15

3.14. Independent Investigation

15
   

IV. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

15

4.1. Organization and Standing

15

4.2. Authorization; Binding Agreement

16

4.3. Capitalization

16

4.4. Subsidiaries

17

4.5. Governmental Approvals

18

4.6. Non-Contravention

18

4.7. Financial Statements

18

4.8. Absence of Certain Changes

19

4.9. Compliance with Laws

20

4.10. Company Permits

20

4.11. Litigation

20

4.12. Material Contracts

20
 

  

1

 

4.13. Intellectual Property

22

4.14. Taxes and Returns

24

4.15. Real Property

25

4.16. Personal Property

26

4.17. Title to and Sufficiency of Assets

26

4.18. Employee Matters

26

4.19. Benefit Plans

28

4.20. Environmental Matters

30

4.21. Transactions with Related Persons

31

4.22. Insurance

31

4.23. Books and Records

31

4.24. Top Customers and Suppliers

31

4.25 Certain Business Practices

32

4.26  Investment Company Act

32

4.27. Finders and Brokers

32

4.28. Independent Investigation

32

4.29. Information Supplied

33
   

V. COVENANTS

33

5.1. Access and Information

33

5.2. Conduct of Business of the Company

34

5.3. Annual and Interim Financial Statements

36

5.4. No Solicitation

37

5.5. No Trading

38

5.6. Notification of Certain Matters

39

5.7. Efforts

39

5.8. Tax Matters

40

5.9. Further Assurances

41

5.10. The Registration Statement

41

5.11. Company Stockholder Meeting

41

5.12. Public Announcements

42

5.13. Confidential Information

42

5.14. Documents and Information

43
   

VI. SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION

44

6.1. Survival

44

6.2. Indemnification

45

6.3. Limitations and General Indemnification Provisions

45

6.4. Indemnification Procedures

46

6.5. Indemnification Payments

48

6.6. Exclusive Remedy

48
   

VII. CLOSING CONDITIONS

49

7.1. Conditions of Each Party’s Obligations

49

7.2. Conditions to Obligations of the Company

49

7.3. Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser

50

7.4. Frustration of Conditions

52
   

VIII. TERMINATION AND EXPENSES

52

8.1. Termination

52

8.2. Effect of Termination

53

 

2

 

8.3. Fees and Expenses

53

8.4. Termination Fee

54
   

IX. MISCELLANEOUS

91

9.1. Notices

91

9.2. Binding Effect; Assignment

55

9.3. Third Parties

55

9.4. Governing Law; Jurisdiction

55

9.5. WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL

56

9.6. Specific Performance

56

9.7. Severability

56

9.8. Amendment

56

9.9. Waiver

56

9.10. Entire Agreement

57

9.11. Interpretation

57

9.12. Counterparts

58

9.13. Seller Representative

58
   

XI DEFINITIONS

60

10.1. Certain Definitions

60

10.2. Section References

69

 

INDEX OF EXHIBITS

   

Exhibit

Description

   

Exhibit A

Form of Voting Agreement

Exhibit B

Form of Non-Competition Agreement

Exhibit C

Form of Tenney Employment Agreement

 

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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

 

This Agreement and Plan of Merger (this “Agreement”) is made and entered into as of March 19, 2021 by and among (i) BioLife Solutions, Inc., a company incorporated in Delaware (the “Purchaser”), (ii) BLFS Merger Subsidiary Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Purchaser (“Merger Sub), (iii) Albert Vierling and William Baumel, in the capacity as the representatives from and after the Effective Time for the Company Stockholders (as defined below) as of immediately prior to the Effective Time in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement (collectively, the “Seller Representative”), and (v) Global Cooling, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”). The Purchaser, Merger Sub, the Seller Representative and the Company are sometimes referred to herein individually as a “Party” and, collectively, as the “Parties”.

 

RECITALS:

 

A.         The Company, directly and indirectly through its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells ultra-low temperature freezers for life science, pharmaceutical, biomedical/clinical and biotechnology customers;

 

B.         The Purchaser owns all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Merger Sub, which was formed for the sole purpose of the Merger (as defined below);

 

C.         The Parties intend to effect the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company, with the Company continuing as the surviving entity (the “Merger”), as a result of which all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be cancelled and shall cease to exist, in exchange for the right for each Company Stockholder to receive its Pro Rata Share (as defined herein) of the Merger Consideration (as defined herein), all upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”), all in accordance with the terms of this Agreement;

 

E.         The boards of directors of the Company, the Purchaser and Merger Sub have each (i) determined that the Merger is in the best interests of their respective companies and stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, and (iii) determined to recommend to their respective stockholders the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including the Merger;

 

F.         The Purchaser has received voting and support agreements in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto (collectively, the “Voting Agreements”) signed by the Company and certain significant holders of Company Stock;

 

G.         Simultaneously with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Significant Company Holders have each entered a Non-Competition and Non-Solicitation Agreement in favor of Purchaser and the Company, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B hereto (each, a “Non-Competition Agreement”), each of which agreements described in clauses (a) and (b) above will become effective as of the Closing;

 

G.         The Parties intend that the Merger will qualify as a tax-free “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code (as defined herein); and

 

H.         Certain capitalized terms used herein are defined in Article X hereof.

 

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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises set forth above, which are incorporated in this Agreement as if fully set forth below, and the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the Parties hereto agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I
MERGER

 

1.1    Merger. At the Effective Time, and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement, and in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL, Merger Sub and the Company shall consummate the Merger, pursuant to which (i) Merger Sub shall merge with and into the Company, (ii) the separate corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease and (iii) the Company shall continue its corporate existence under the DGCL as the surviving corporation. The Company, as the surviving corporation after the Merger, is hereinafter sometimes referred to as the “Surviving Corporation” (provided, that references to the Company for periods after the Effective Time shall include the Surviving Corporation).

 

1.2    Effective Time. The Parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing the Certificate of Merger for the merger of Merger Sub with and into the Company (the “Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware in accordance with the relevant provisions of the DGCL (the time of such filing, or such later time as may be specified in the Certificate of Merger, being the “Effective Time”).

 

1.3    Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and the applicable provisions of the DGCL. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, from and after the Effective Time, by operation of law, all property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers, franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of Merger Sub and the Company shall become the property, rights, privileges, agreements, powers, franchises, debts, Liabilities, duties and obligations of the Surviving Corporation, which shall include the assumption by the Surviving Corporation of any and all agreements, covenants, duties and obligations of Merger Sub and the Company set forth in this Agreement to be performed after the Effective Time.

 

1.4    Tax Treatment. For federal income tax purposes, the Merger is intended to constitute a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368 of the Code. The Parties adopt this Agreement as a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of the United States Treasury Regulations.

 

1.5    Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. At the Effective Time, the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company, each as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall automatically be amended and restated in their entirety to read identically to the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Merger Sub, as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, and such amended and restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws shall become the respective Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation, except that the name of the Surviving Corporation in such Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws shall be amended to be “Global Cooling, Inc.”.

 

1.6    Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation. At the Effective Time, the board of directors and executive officers of the Surviving Corporation shall be the board of directors and executive officers of Merger Sub, each to hold office in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their respective successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or their earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

1.7    Reserved.

 

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1.8    Reserved.

 

1.9    Merger Consideration.

 

(a)    Merger Consideration Shares. As consideration for the Merger, the Company Stockholders (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the holders of any Company Convertible Securities who converted or exercised their Company Convertible Securities into shares of Company Stock prior to the Closing) collectively shall be entitled to receive from the Purchaser, in the aggregate, 6,646,870 shares of Purchaser Common Stock, which represents 19.9% of the Purchaser Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the date of this Agreement (excluding for the avoidance of doubt any of the Purchaser’s non-vested restricted stock awards) (the “Merger Consideration” and such shares the “Merger Consideration Shares”), provided, that the Merger Consideration otherwise payable to the Company Stockholders is subject to the withholding of the Escrow Shares deposited in the Escrow Account in accordance with Section 1.17, and after the Closing is subject to reduction for the indemnification obligations of the Indemnifying Parties set forth in Article VI.

 

(b)    Merger Consideration Allocation. The Merger Consideration shall be allocated to the Company Stockholders as follows:

 

(i)    first, to the Series B Stockholders in an amount equal to the aggregate Series B Merger Consideration with each Series B Stockholder receiving that stockholder’s Series B Merger Consideration;

 

(ii)    second, to the Series A Stockholders in an amount equal to the aggregate Series A Merger Consideration with each Series A Stockholder receiving that stockholder’s Series A Merger Consideration; and

 

(iii)    finally, the remaining Merger Consideration will be paid to all Company Stockholders, with each Company Stockholder receiving its Proportional Share.

 

For the avoidance of doubt the calculation of the Merger Consideration payable to each Company Stockholder pursuant to this Section 1.9(b) is inclusive of the Escrow Shares.

 

1.10    Effect of Merger on Company Securities. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of any Company Securities or the holders of any shares of capital stock of the Purchaser or Merger Sub:

 

(a)    Company Stock. Subject to clause (b) below, all shares of Company Stock issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will automatically be cancelled and cease to exist in exchange for the right to receive the Merger Consideration (subject to the withholding of the Escrow Shares), with each Company Stockholder being entitled to receive its portion of the Merger Consideration in accordance with Section 1.9(b) above, without interest, upon delivery of the Transmittal Documents in accordance with Section 1.11. As of the Effective Time, each Company Stockholder shall cease to have any other rights in and to the Company or the Surviving Corporation (other than (i) to receive any dividend or other distribution with respect to such Company Stock with a record date occurring prior to the Effective Time, if applicable, (ii) to receive the Merger Consideration, or (iii) the rights set forth in Section 1.16 below).

 

(b)    Treasury Stock. Notwithstanding clause (a) above or any other provision of this Agreement to the contrary, at the Effective Time, if there are any Company Securities that are owned by the Company as treasury shares or any Company Securities owned by any direct or indirect Subsidiary of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Time, such Company Securities shall be canceled and shall cease to exist without any conversion thereof or payment therefor.

 

6

 

(c)    Dissenting Shares. Each of the Dissenting Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be cancelled and cease to exist in accordance with Section 1.16 and shall thereafter represent only the right to receive the applicable payments set forth in Section 1.16.

 

(d)    Company Convertible Securities. Each Company Convertible Security, including without limitation the Company Options, if not exercised or converted prior to the Effective Time, shall be cancelled, retired and terminated and cease to represent a right to acquire, be exchanged for or convert into shares of Company Stock.

 

1.11    Surrender of Company Securities and Disbursement of Merger Consideration.

 

(a)    Prior to the Effective Time, the Purchaser shall appoint its transfer agent, Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., or another agent reasonably acceptable to the Company (the “Exchange Agent”), for the purpose of exchanging the certificates representing Company Stock (“Company Certificates”). At or prior to the Effective Time, the Purchaser shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, with the Exchange Agent the Merger Consideration (less the Escrow Shares, which will be deposited in the Escrow Accounts in accordance with Section 1.17). At or prior to the Effective Time, the Purchaser shall send, or shall cause the Exchange Agent to send, to each Company Stockholder, a letter of transmittal for use in such exchange (a “Letter of Transmittal”) (which shall specify that the delivery of Company Certificates in respect of the Merger Consideration shall be effected, include instructions for effecting such delivery, and risk of loss and title shall pass, only upon proper delivery of the Company Certificates to the Exchange Agent (or a Lost Certificate Affidavit)) for use in such exchange.

 

(b)    Each Company Stockholder shall be entitled to receive its Pro Rata Share of the Merger Consideration (less the Escrow Shares) in respect of the Company Stock represented by the Company Certificate(s) (excluding any Company Securities described in Sections 1.10(b) or 1.10(c)), as soon as reasonably practicable after the Effective Time, but subject to the delivery to the Exchange Agent of the following items prior thereto (collectively, the “Transmittal Documents”): (i) the Company Certificate(s) for its Company Stock (or a Lost Certificate Affidavit), together with a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and (ii) such other documents as may be reasonably requested by the Exchange Agent or the Purchaser. Until so surrendered, each Company Certificate shall represent after the Effective Time for all purposes only the right to receive such portion of the Merger Consideration (subject to the withholding of the Escrow Shares, and as it may be adjusted after the Closing pursuant to Section 1.13) attributable to such Company Certificate.

 

(c)    If any portion of the Merger Consideration is to be delivered or issued to a Person other than the Person in whose name the surrendered Company Certificate is registered immediately prior to the Effective Time, it shall be a condition to such delivery that (i) the transfer of such Company Stock shall have been permitted in accordance with the terms of the Company’s Organizational Documents and any stockholders agreement with respect to the Company, each as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time, (ii) such Company Certificate shall be properly endorsed or shall otherwise be in proper form for transfer and, (iii) the recipient of such portion of the Merger Consideration, or the Person in whose name such portion of the Merger Consideration is delivered or issued, shall have already executed and delivered, if a Significant Company Holder, counterparts to a Non-Competition Agreement, and such other Transmittal Documents as are reasonably deemed necessary by the Exchange Agent or the Purchaser and (iv) the Person requesting such delivery shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other Taxes required as a result of such delivery to a Person other than the registered holder of such Company Certificate or establish to the satisfaction of the Exchange Agent that such Tax has been paid or is not payable.

 

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(d)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, in the event that any Company Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, in lieu of delivery of a Company Certificate to the Exchange Agent, the Company Stockholder may instead deliver to the Exchange Agent an affidavit of lost certificate and indemnity of loss in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser (a “Lost Certificate Affidavit”). Any Lost Certificate Affidavit properly delivered in accordance with this Section 1.11(d) shall be treated as a Company Certificate for all purposes of this Agreement.

 

(e)    After the Effective Time, there shall be no further registration of transfers of Company Stock. If, after the Effective Time, Company Certificates are presented to the Surviving Corporation, the Purchaser or the Exchange Agent, they shall be canceled and exchanged for the applicable portion of the Merger Consideration provided for, and in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.11. No dividends or other distributions declared or made after the date of this Agreement with respect to Purchaser Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time will be paid to the holders of any Company Certificates that have not yet been surrendered with respect to the Purchaser Common Stock to be issued upon surrender thereof until the holders of record of such Company Certificates shall surrender such certificates (or provide a Lost Certificate Affidavit), if applicable, and provide the other Transmittal Documents. Subject to applicable Law, following surrender of any such Company Certificates (or delivery of a Lost Certificate Affidavit), if applicable, and delivery of the other Transmittal Documents, Purchaser shall promptly, but in no event later than five (5) Business Days, deliver to the record holders thereof, without interest, the certificates representing the Purchaser Common Stock issued in exchange therefor and the amount of any such dividends or other distributions with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to such Purchaser Common Stock.

 

(f)    All securities issued upon the surrender of Company Securities in accordance with the terms hereof shall be deemed to have been issued in full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to such Company Securities. Any portion of the Merger Consideration made available to the Exchange Agent pursuant to Section 1.11(a) and any Escrowed Property disbursed to the Escrow Agent in accordance with the Escrow Agreement that remains unclaimed by Company Stockholders eighteen (18) months after the Effective Time shall be returned to the Purchaser, upon demand, and any such Company Stockholder who has not exchanged its Company Stock for the applicable portion of the Merger Consideration in accordance with this Section 1.11 prior to that time shall thereafter look only to the Purchaser for payment of the portion of the Merger Consideration in respect of such shares of Company Stock without any interest thereon (but with any dividends paid with respect thereto). Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the Surviving Corporation, the Purchaser or any Party hereto shall be liable to any Person for any amount properly paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.

 

(g)    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, no fraction of a share of Purchaser Common Stock will be issued by virtue of the Merger or the transactions contemplated hereby, and each Person who would otherwise be entitled to a fraction of a share of Purchaser Common Stock (after aggregating all fractional shares of Purchaser Common Stock that otherwise would be received by such holder) shall instead have the number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock issued to such Person rounded in the aggregate to the nearest whole share of Purchaser Common Stock.

 

1.12    Effect of Transaction on Merger Sub Stock. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any Party or the holders of any Company Securities or the holders of any shares of capital stock of the Purchaser or Merger Sub, each share of Merger Sub Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into an equal number of shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation, with the same rights, powers and privileges as the shares so converted and shall constitute the only outstanding shares of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.

 

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1.13    Reserved.

 

1.14    Reserved.

 

1.15    Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of the Company and Merger Sub are fully authorized in the name of their respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and necessary action, so long as such action is not inconsistent with this Agreement.

 

1.16    Appraisal and Dissenters Rights.’ No Company Stockholder who has validly exercised its appraisal rights pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL (a “Dissenting Stockholder”) with respect to its Company Stock (such shares, “Dissenting Shares”) shall be entitled to receive any portion of the Merger Consideration with respect to the Dissenting Shares owned by such Dissenting Stockholder unless and until such Dissenting Stockholder shall have effectively withdrawn or lost its appraisal rights under the DGCL. Each Dissenting Stockholder shall be entitled to receive only the payment resulting from the procedure set forth in Section 262 of the DGCL with respect to the Dissenting Shares owned by such Dissenting Stockholder. The Company shall give the Purchaser (i) prompt notice of any written demands for appraisal, attempted withdrawals of such demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to applicable Laws that are received by the Company relating to any Dissenting Stockholder’s rights of appraisal and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demand for appraisal under the DGCL. The Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of the Purchaser, voluntarily make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal, offer to settle or settle any such demands or approve any withdrawal of any such demands. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Merger Consideration (including Escrow Shares) shall be reduced by the Pro Rata Share of any Dissenting Stockholders attributable to any Dissenting Shares and the Dissenting Stockholders shall have no rights to any portion of the Merger Consideration (or Escrow Shares) with respect to any Dissenting Shares.

 

1.17    Escrow.

 

(a)    At or prior to the Closing, the Purchaser, the Seller Representative and Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (or such other escrow agent mutually acceptable to the Purchaser and the Company), as escrow agent (the “Escrow Agent”), shall enter into an Escrow Agreement, effective as of the Effective Time, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Purchaser and the Company (the “Escrow Agreement”), pursuant to which the Purchaser shall issue to the Escrow Agent (i) a number of shares of Purchaser Common Stock equal to five percent (5%) of the Merger Consideration (the “General Escrow Amount”) (together with any equity securities paid as dividends or distributions with respect to such shares or into which such shares are exchanged or converted, the “General Escrow Shares”) to be held, along with any other dividends, distributions or other income on the General Escrow Shares (together with the General Escrow Shares, the “General Escrow Property”), in a segregated escrow account (the “General Escrow Account”) and disbursed therefrom in accordance with the terms of Article VI hereof and the General Escrow Agreement ***.

 

9

 

(b)    (i) The General Escrow Property shall not be subject to any indemnification claim to the extent made after the date which is eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date (the “General Expiration Date”) ***; provided, however, with respect to any indemnification claims made in accordance with Article VI hereof on or prior to the Expiration Date that remain unresolved at the time of the applicable Expiration Date (“Pending Claims”), all or a portion of the applicable Escrow Property reasonably necessary to satisfy such Pending Claims (as determined based on the amount of the indemnification claim included in the Claim Notice provided by the Purchaser under Article VI and the Purchaser Stock Price as of the Expiration Date) shall remain in the applicable Escrow Account until such time as such Pending Claim shall have been finally resolved and paid pursuant to the provisions of Article VI. After the applicable Expiration Date, any Escrow Property remaining in the applicable Escrow Account that is not subject to Pending Claims, if any, and not subject to resolved but unpaid claims in favor of an Indemnified Party, shall be transferred by the Escrow Agent to the Company Stockholders that have previously delivered the Transmittal Documents in accordance with Section 1.11, with each such Company Stockholder receiving its Pro Rata Share of such Escrow Property. Promptly after the final resolution of all Pending Claims and payment of all indemnification obligations in connection therewith, the Escrow Agent shall transfer any remaining Escrow Property remaining in the applicable Escrow Account to the Company Stockholders that have previously delivered the Transmittal Documents in accordance with Section 1.11, with each such Company Stockholder receiving its Pro Rata Share of such Escrow Property. ***.

 

ARTICLE II
CLOSING

 

2.1    Closing. Subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII, the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place by electronic exchange of documents and signature pages on a date and at a time to be agreed upon by Purchaser and the Company, which date shall be no later than the second (2nd) Business Day after all the Closing conditions to this Agreement have been satisfied or waived, or at such other date, time or place as the Purchaser and the Company may agree (the date and time at which the Closing is actually held being the “Closing Date”).

 

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ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PURCHASER AND MERGER SUB

 

Except as set forth in (i) the disclosure schedules delivered by the Purchaser and Merger Sub to the Company on the date hereof (the “Purchaser Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, or (ii) those certain SEC Reports filed since January 1, 2018, that are available on the SEC’s website through EDGAR (other than disclosures in the “Risk Factors” or “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” sections of such reports and other disclosures that are similarly predictive or forward-looking in nature) , provided, however, that for purposes of this clause (ii), the relevance of the applicable disclosure or an exception to the applicable representation and warranties would be reasonably apparent on its face, the Purchaser represents and warrants to the Company, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:

 

3.1    Organization and Standing. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub is a company duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of Delaware. The Purchaser and Merger Sub have all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing to do business in each jurisdiction in which the character of the assets and property owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed or in good standing can be cured without material cost or expense and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub has heretofore made available to the Company accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents, as currently in effect. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub is not in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.

 

3.2    Authorization; Binding Agreement. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, to perform each of the Purchaser’s and Merger Sub’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the board of directors of the Purchaser in accordance with the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents, the DGCL and any other applicable Law or any Contract to which the Company or any of its stockholders is a party or by which it or its securities are bound, and (b) no other corporate proceedings, other than as set forth elsewhere in the Agreement, on the part of the Purchaser or Merger Sub are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the Purchaser and Merger Sub is a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Purchaser and Merger Sub and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and such Ancillary Documents by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Purchaser and Merger Sub, enforceable against the Purchaser and Merger Sub in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and moratorium laws and other laws of general application affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by any applicable statute of limitation or by any valid defense of set-off or counterclaim, and the fact that equitable remedies or relief (including the remedy of specific performance) are subject to the discretion of the court from which such relief may be sought (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

 

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3.3    Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 3.3, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority, on the part of the Purchaser or Merger Sub is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Purchaser or Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or the consummation by the Purchaser or Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, other than (a) pursuant to Antitrust Laws, (b) such filings as contemplated by this Agreement, (c) any filings required with Nasdaq or the SEC with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (d) applicable requirements, if any, of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and/ or any state “blue sky” securities Laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, or (e) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Purchaser or Merger Sub.

 

3.4    Non-Contravention. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 3.4, the execution and delivery by the Purchaser and Merger Sub of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party, the consummation by the Purchaser and Merger Sub of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and compliance by the Purchaser and Merger Sub with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of the Purchaser’s or Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 3.3 hereof, and the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to the Purchaser or Merger Sub or any of their properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by the Purchaser or Merger Sub under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Purchaser or Merger Sub under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of, any Purchaser Material Contract, except for any deviations from the foregoing clause (c) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Purchaser.

 

3.5    Capitalization.

 

(a)    The issued and outstanding total number and class of all equity securities are set forth on Schedule 3.5(a). All outstanding Purchaser Common Stock are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, Purchaser’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which Purchaser is a party. None of the outstanding equity securities of Purchaser have been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws.

 

(b)    Prior to giving effect to the merger, Merger Sub is authorized to issue 1,000 shares of Merger Sub Common Stock, of which 1,000 shares are issued and outstanding, and all of which are owned by the Purchaser and are not subject to or issued in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, Merger Sub’s Organizational Documents or any Contract to which Merger Sub is a party. Prior to giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, other than Merger Sub, Purchaser does not have any Subsidiaries or own any equity interests in any other Person. None of the outstanding equity securities of Merger Sub have been issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws.

 

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(c)    Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(a) or Schedule 3.5(c) there are no (i) outstanding options, warrants, puts, calls, convertible securities, preemptive or similar rights, (ii) bonds, debentures, notes or other Indebtedness having general voting rights or that are convertible or exchangeable into securities having such rights or (iii) subscriptions or other rights, agreements, arrangements, Contracts or commitments of any character (other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents), (A) relating to the issued or unissued shares of Purchaser or (B) obligating Purchaser to issue, transfer, deliver or sell or cause to be issued, transferred, delivered, sold or repurchased any options or shares or securities convertible into or exchangeable for such shares, or (C) obligating Purchaser to grant, extend or enter into any such option, warrant, call, subscription or other right, agreement, arrangement or commitment for such capital shares. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5(c), there are no shareholders agreements, voting trusts or other agreements or understandings to which Purchaser is a party with respect to the voting of any shares of Purchaser.

 

3.6    SEC Filings and Purchaser Financials. .

 

(a)    Since January 1, 2017, Purchaser has timely filed all material forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents required to be filed or furnished by Purchaser with the SEC under the Securities Act and/or the Exchange Act, together with any amendments, restatements or supplements thereto, will file all such forms, reports, schedules, statements and other documents required to be filed subsequent to the date of this Agreement, and all such forms, reports, schedules, statements, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents and amendments, restatements or supplements thereto have complied in all material respects with all legal requirements relating thereto, and has paid all fees and assessments due and payable in connection therewith. Except to the extent available on the SEC’s web site through EDGAR, Purchaser has delivered to the Company copies in the form filed with the SEC of all of the following: (i) Purchaser’s annual reports on Form 10-K for each fiscal year of Purchaser beginning with the first year Purchaser was required to file such a form, (ii) Purchaser’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for each fiscal quarter that Purchaser filed such reports to disclose its quarterly financial results in each of the fiscal years of Purchaser referred to in clause (i) above, (iii) all other forms, reports, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents (other than preliminary materials) filed by Purchaser with the SEC since the beginning of the first fiscal year referred to in clause (i) above (the forms, reports, registration statements, prospectuses and other documents referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, whether or not available through EDGAR, are, collectively, the “SEC Reports”) and (iv) all certifications and statements required by (A) Rules 13a-14 or 15d-14 under the Exchange Act, and (B) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906 of SOX) with respect to any report referred to in clause (i) above (collectively, the “Public Certifications”). The SEC Reports (x) were prepared in all material respects in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and SOX, as the case may be, and the rules and regulations thereunder and (y) did not, as of their respective effective dates (in the case of SEC Reports that are registration statements filed pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act) and at the time they were filed with the SEC (in the case of all other SEC Reports) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements made therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Public Certifications are each true as of their respective dates of filing. As used in this Section 3.6, the term “file” shall be broadly construed to include any manner permitted by SEC rules and regulations in which a document or information is furnished, supplied or otherwise made available to the SEC. Purchaser is also in material compliance with all of the other applicable provisions of SOX and the applicable listing and corporate governance rules of NASDAQ.

 

(b)    The financial statements and notes of Purchaser contained or incorporated by reference in the SEC Reports (the “Purchaser Financials”), fairly present in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations, changes in stockholders’ equity, and cash flows of Purchaser at the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in such financial statements, all in accordance with (i) GAAP methodologies applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved and (ii) complied as to form in all material respects with the published rules and regulations of the SEC with respect thereto as of their respective dates, including but not limited to Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable (except as may be indicated in the notes thereto and for the omission of notes and audit adjustments in the case of unaudited quarterly financial statements to the extent permitted by Regulation S-X or Regulation S-K, as applicable).

 

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(c)    Except for (i) those liabilities that are reflected or reserved for in its unaudited consolidated financial statements for the nine-months ended September 30, 2020 as filed with the SEC in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q before the execution of this Agreement, (ii) liabilities and obligations incurred as permitted under this Agreement, (iii) liabilities incurred since September 30, 2020 in the ordinary course of business, and (iv) liabilities that have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, Purchaser and its Subsidiaries do not have and any liabilities or obligations (whether accrued, absolute, contingent or otherwise) of the type required to be disclosed in a balance sheet or the footnotes thereto in accordance with GAAP.

 

3.7    Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7, since September 30, 2020, Purchaser has (a) conducted its business only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (b) not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect or any event, condition, change or effect that could reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.8    Compliance with Laws. Each of the Purchaser and Merger Sub is, and has since its formation been, in compliance with all Laws or Orders applicable to it and the conduct of its business except for such noncompliance which would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Purchaser, and the Purchaser has not received written notice alleging any violation of applicable Law in any material respect by the Purchaser.

 

3.9    Actions; Orders; Permits. There is no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Purchaser, threatened material Action to which the Purchaser is subject which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Purchaser. There is no material Action that the Purchaser has pending against any other Person. The Purchaser is not subject to any Orders of any Governmental Authority, nor are any such Orders pending. The Purchaser holds all material Permits necessary to lawfully conduct its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties, all of which are in full force and effect, except where the failure to hold such Permit or for such Permit to be in full force and effect would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Purchaser. No suspension, cancellation, non-renewal, or adverse modification of any Permits of Purchaser is pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser, threatened, except for any such suspension or cancellation which would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

 

3.10    Merger Sub Activities. Since its formation, Merger Sub has not engaged in any business activities other than as contemplated by this Agreement, does not own directly or indirectly any ownership, equity, profits or voting interest in any Person and has no assets or Liabilities except those incurred in connection with this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party and the Transactions, and, other than this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party, Merger Sub is not party to or bound by any Contract.

 

3.11    Investment Company Act. The Purchaser is not an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

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3.12    Finders and Brokers. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.12, no broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission from the Purchaser, the Target Companies or any of their respective Affiliates in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Purchaser.

 

3.13    Ownership of Merger Consideration. All shares of Purchaser Common Stock to be issued and delivered to the Company Stockholders as Merger Consideration in accordance with Article I shall be, upon issuance and delivery of such Purchaser Common Stock, fully paid and non-assessable, free and clear of all Liens, other than restrictions arising from applicable securities Laws, the Escrow Agreement, and any Liens incurred by any Company Stockholder, and the issuance and sale of such Purchaser Common Stock pursuant hereto will not be subject to or give rise to any preemptive rights or rights of first refusal.

 

3.14    Independent Investigation. The Purchaser has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Target Companies, and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Target Companies for such purpose. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that: (a) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to Purchaser pursuant hereto, and the information provided by or on behalf of the Company for the Registration Statement; and (b) none of the Company nor its respective Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the Target Companies, or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Company Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered to Purchaser pursuant hereto, or with respect to the information provided by or on behalf of the Company for the Registration Statement.

 

ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the disclosure schedules delivered by the Company to the Purchaser on the date hereof (the “Company Disclosure Schedules”), the Section numbers of which are numbered to correspond to the Section numbers of this Agreement to which they refer, the Company hereby represents and warrants to the Purchaser, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing, as follows:

 

4.1    Organization and Standing. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the DGCL and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted. Each Subsidiary of the Company is a corporation or other entity duly formed, validly existing and in good standing under the Laws of its jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted, except where failure to be so qualified to conduct business or license or in good standing can be cured without material cost or expense and would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect. Each Target Company is duly qualified or licensed and in good standing in the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or registered and in each other jurisdiction where it does business or operates to the extent that the character of the property owned, or leased or operated by it or the nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification or licensing necessary. Schedule 4.1 lists all jurisdictions in which any Target Company is qualified to conduct business and all names other than its legal name under which any Target Company does business. The Company has provided to the Purchaser accurate and complete copies of its Organizational Documents and the Organizational Documents of each of its Subsidiaries, each as amended to date and as currently in effect. No Target Company is in violation of any provision of its Organizational Documents.

 

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4.2    Authorization; Binding Agreement. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is or is required to be a party, to perform the Company’s obligations hereunder and thereunder and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, subject to obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Approval. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, (a) have been duly and validly authorized by the Company’s board of directors in accordance with the Company’s Organizational Documents, the DGCL, any other applicable Law or any Contract to which the Company or any of its shareholders is a party or by which it or its securities are bound and (b) other than the Required Company Stockholder Approval, no other corporate proceedings on the part of the Company are necessary to authorize the execution and delivery of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which it is a party or to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been, and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party shall be when delivered, duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement and any such Ancillary Document by the other parties hereto and thereto, constitutes, or when delivered shall constitute, the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions. The Company’s board of directors, by resolutions duly adopted at a meeting duly called and held (i) determined that this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby are in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement and the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement in accordance with the DGCL, (iii) directed that this Agreement be submitted to the Company’s stockholders for adoption and (iv) resolved to recommend that the Company stockholders adopt this Agreement.

 

4.3    Capitalization.

 

(a)    The Company is authorized to issue (i) 600,000 shares of Company Common Stock, 296,719 of which shares are issued and outstanding, and (ii) 160,000 shares of Company Preferred Stock, 143,029 of which shares are issued and outstanding. With respect to the Company Preferred Stock, the Company has designated (A) 83,030 shares of Series A Preferred Stock and (B) 59,999 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. Prior to giving effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, all of the issued and outstanding Company Stock and other equity interests of the Company are set forth on Schedule 4.3(a), along with the beneficial and record owners thereof, all of which shares and other equity interests are owned free and clear of any Liens other than those imposed under the Company Charter. All of the outstanding shares and other equity interests of the Company have been duly authorized, are fully paid and non-assessable and not in violation of any purchase option, right of first refusal, preemptive right, subscription right or any similar right under any provision of the DGCL, any other applicable Law, the Company Charter or any Contract to which the Company is a party or by which it or its securities are bound. The Company holds no shares or other equity interests of the Company in its treasury. None of the outstanding shares or other equity interests of the Company were issued in violation of any applicable securities Laws. The rights, privileges and preferences of the Company Preferred Stock are as stated in the Company Charter and as provided by the DGCL.

 

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(b)    The Company has reserved 140,000 shares of Company Common Stock for issuance to officers, directors, employees and consultants of the Company pursuant to the Company Equity Plan, which was duly adopted by the Company’s board of directors and approved by the Company’s stockholders. Of such shares of Company Common Stock reserved for issuance under the Company Equity Plan, (x) 79,450 of such shares are reserved for issuance upon exercise of currently outstanding Company Options, (y) 32,606 of such shares are currently issued and outstanding that were issued upon exercise of Company Options previously granted under the Company Equity Plan, and (z) 27,944 shares remain available for future awards permitted under the Company Equity Plan. The Company has furnished to the Purchaser complete and accurate copies of the Company Equity Plan and forms of agreements used thereunder. Schedule 4.3(b) sets forth the beneficial and record owners of all outstanding Company Options (including the grant date, number and type of shares issuable thereunder, the exercise price, the expiration date and any vesting schedule). Other than as set forth on Schedule 4.3(b), there are no Company Convertible Securities, or preemptive rights or rights of first refusal or first offer, nor are there any Contracts, commitments, arrangements or restrictions to which the Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any of its stockholders is a party or bound relating to any equity securities of the Company, whether or not outstanding. There are no outstanding or authorized equity appreciation, phantom equity or similar rights with respect to the Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.3(b), there are no voting trusts, proxies, shareholder agreements or any other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the Company’s equity interests. Except as set forth in the Company Charter, there are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any equity interests or securities of the Company, nor has the Company granted any registration rights to any Person with respect to the Company’s equity securities. All of the Company’s securities have been granted, offered, sold and issued in compliance with all applicable securities Laws. As a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no equity interests of the Company are issuable and no rights in connection with any interests, warrants, rights, options or other securities of the Company accelerate or otherwise become triggered (whether as to vesting, exercisability, convertibility or otherwise), other than under the Company Equity Plan.

 

(c)    Each Company Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under the Code so qualifies. Each grant of a Company Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Company Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, and: (i) the stock option agreement governing such grant was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto; (ii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Equity Plan and all other applicable Laws; (iii) the per share exercise price of each Company Option was equal or greater than the fair market value of a share of Company Common Stock on the applicable grant date; and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company.

 

(d)    Except as disclosed in the Company Financials, since January 1, 2019, the Company has not declared or paid any distribution or dividend in respect of its equity interests and has not repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired any equity interests of the Company, and the board of directors of the Company has not authorized any of the foregoing.

 

4.4    Subsidiaries. Schedule 4.4 sets forth the name of each Subsidiary of the Company, and with respect to each Subsidiary (a) its jurisdiction of organization, (b) its authorized shares or other equity interests (if applicable), and (c) the number of issued and outstanding shares or other equity interests and the record holders thereof. All of the outstanding equity securities of each Subsidiary of the Company are duly authorized and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable (if applicable), and were offered, sold and delivered in compliance with all applicable securities Laws, and owned by one or more of the Company or its Subsidiaries free and clear of all Liens (other than those, if any, imposed by such Subsidiary’s Organizational Documents). There are no Contracts to which the Company or any of its Affiliates is a party or bound with respect to the voting (including voting trusts or proxies) of the equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company other than the Organizational Documents of any such Subsidiary. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements, subscriptions, convertible securities or commitments to which any Subsidiary of the Company is a party or which are binding upon any Subsidiary of the Company providing for the issuance or redemption of any equity interests of any Subsidiary of the Company. There are no outstanding equity appreciation, phantom equity, profit participation or similar rights granted by any Subsidiary of the Company. No Subsidiary of the Company has any limitation, whether by Contract, Order or applicable Law, on its ability to make any distributions or dividends to its equity holders or repay any debt owed to another Target Company. Except for the equity interests of the Subsidiaries listed on Schedule 4.4, the Company does not own or have any rights to acquire, directly or indirectly, any equity interests of, or otherwise Control, any Person. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries is a participant in any joint venture, partnership or similar arrangement. There are no outstanding contractual obligations of the Company or its Subsidiaries to provide funds to, or make any investment (in the form of a loan, capital contribution or otherwise) in, any other Person.

 

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4.5    Governmental Approvals. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 4.5, no Consent of or with any Governmental Authority on the part of the Company is required to be obtained or made in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby other than (a) such filings as are expressly contemplated by this Agreement, (b) pursuant to Antitrust Laws or (c) where the failure to obtain or make such Consents or to make such filings or notifications, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

4.6    Non-Contravention. Except as otherwise described in Schedule 4.6, the execution and delivery by the Company (or any other Target Company, as applicable) of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which any Target Company is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound, and the consummation by any Target Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and compliance by any Target Company with any of the provisions hereof and thereof, will not (a) conflict with or violate any provision of any Target Company’s Organizational Documents, (b) subject to obtaining the Consents from Governmental Authorities referred to in Section 4.5 hereof, the waiting periods referred to therein having expired, and any condition precedent to such Consent or waiver having been satisfied, conflict with or violate any Law, Order or Consent applicable to any Target Company or any of its properties or assets, or (c) (i) violate, conflict with or result in a breach of, (ii) constitute a default (or an event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under, (iii) result in the termination, withdrawal, suspension, cancellation or modification of, (iv) accelerate the performance required by any Target Company under, (v) result in a right of termination or acceleration under, (vi) give rise to any obligation to make payments or provide compensation under, (vii) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of any Target Company under, (viii) give rise to any obligation to obtain any third party Consent or provide any notice to any Person or (ix) give any Person the right to declare a default, exercise any remedy, claim a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule, accelerate the maturity or performance, cancel, terminate or modify any right, benefit, obligation or other term under, any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any Company Material Contract, except for any deviations from any of the foregoing clauses (b) or (c) that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

4.7    Financial Statements.

 

(a)    As used herein, the term “Company Financials” means the (i) audited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies (including, in each case, any related notes thereto), consisting of the consolidated balance sheets of the Target Companies as of December 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, and the related consolidated audited income statements, changes in stockholder equity and statements of cash flows for the fiscal years then ended, each audited in accordance with GAAP (the “Audited Company Financials”), (ii) the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies as of December 31, 2020 (the “Balance Sheet Date”), and the related consolidated income statement, changes in stockholder equity and statement of cash flows for the fiscal year then ended, and (iii) once available and delivered by the Company, the audited financial statements prepared pursuant to Section 5.3(b). True and correct copies of the Company Financials have been provided to the Purchaser. The Company Financials (i) accurately reflect the books and records of the Target Companies as of the times and for the periods referred to therein, (ii) were prepared in accordance with GAAP, consistently applied throughout and among the periods involved (except that the unaudited statements exclude the footnote disclosures and other presentation items required for GAAP and exclude year-end adjustments which will not be material in amount), and (iii) fairly present in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Target Companies as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of the operations and cash flows of the Target Companies for the periods indicated.

 

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(b)    All of the financial books and records of the Target Companies are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been maintained in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable Laws. No Target Company has been subject to or involved in any material fraud that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls over financial reporting of any Target Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.7(b), in the past five (5) years, no Target Company or its Representatives has received any written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim regarding the accounting or auditing practices, procedures, methodologies or methods of any Target Company or its internal accounting controls, including any material written complaint, allegation, assertion or claim that any Target Company has engaged in questionable accounting or auditing practices.

 

(c)    The Target Companies do not have any Indebtedness other than the Indebtedness set forth on Schedule 4.7(c), which schedule sets for the amounts (including principal and any accrued but unpaid interest or other obligations) with respect to such Indebtedness. Except as disclosed on Schedule 4.7(c), no Indebtedness of any Target Company contains any restriction upon (i) the prepayment of any of such Indebtedness, or (ii) the incurrence of Indebtedness by any Target Company, or (iii) the ability of the Target Companies to grant any security interest in their respective properties or assets.

 

(d)    Except as set forth on Schedule 4.7(d), no Target Company is subject to any Liabilities or obligations (whether or not required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with GAAP), except for those that are either (i) adequately reflected or reserved on or provided for in the consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as of the Balance Sheet Date contained in the Company Financials or (ii) not material and that were incurred after the Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice (other than Liabilities for breach of any Contract or violation of any Law).

 

(e)    All financial projections with respect to the Target Companies that were delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Purchaser or its Representatives were prepared in good faith, however actual results may vary from the projections;

 

(f)    All accounts, notes and other receivables, whether or not accrued, and whether or not billed, of the Target Companies (the “Accounts Receivable”) arose from sales actually made or services actually performed in the ordinary course of business and represent valid obligations to a Target Company arising from its business. All of the Accounts Receivable are, to the Knowledge of the Company, fully collectible according to their terms in amounts not less than the aggregate amounts thereof carried on the books of the Target Companies (net of reserves) consistent with past practices.

 

4.8    Absence of Certain Changes. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.8, since the Balance Sheet Date, each Target Company has (a) conducted its business only in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (b) not been subject to a Material Adverse Effect and (c) has not taken any action or committed or agreed to take any action that would be prohibited by Section 5.2(b) (without giving effect to Schedule 5.2) if such action were taken on or after the date hereof without the consent of the Purchaser.

 

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4.9    Compliance with Laws. No Target Company is or has been in material conflict or material non-compliance with, or in material default or violation of, nor has any Target Company received, since January 1, 2016, any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any material conflict or non-compliance with, or material default or violation of, any applicable Laws by which it or any of its properties, assets, employees, business or operations are or were bound or affected.

 

4.10    Company Permits. Each Target Company (and its employees who are legally required to be licensed by a Governmental Authority in order to perform his or her duties with respect to his or her employment with any Target Company), holds all Permits necessary to lawfully conduct in all material respects its business as presently conducted, and to own, lease and operate its assets and properties (collectively, the “Company Permits”). The Company has made available to the Purchaser correct and complete copies of all material Company Permits, all of which material Company Permits are listed on Schedule 4.10. All of the Company Permits are in full force and effect, and no suspension or cancellation of any of the Company Permits is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened. No Target Company is in violation in any material respect of the terms of any Company Permit, and no Target Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of any Actions relating to the revocation or modification of any Company Permit.

 

4.11    Litigation. Except as described on Schedule 4.11, there is no (a) Action of any nature currently pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened; or (b) Order now pending or outstanding or that was rendered by a Governmental Authority in the past five (5) years, in either case of (a) or (b) by or against any Target Company, its current or former directors or officers (provided, that any litigation involving the directors, officers of a Target Company must be related to the Target Company’s business, equity securities or assets), its business, equity securities or assets. The items listed on Schedule 4.11, if finally determined adversely to the Target Companies, will not have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect upon any Target Company. In the past five (5) years, none of the current officers or directors of any Target Company have been charged with, indicted for, arrested for, or convicted of any felony or any crime involving fraud.

 

4.12    Material Contracts.

 

(a)    Schedule 4.12(a) sets forth a correct and complete list of, and the Company has made available to the Purchaser (including written summaries of oral Contracts), correct and complete copies of, each Contract to which any Target Company is a party or by which any Target Company, or any of its properties or assets are bound or affected (each Contract required to be set forth on Schedule 4.12(a), a “Company Material Contract”) that:

 

(i)    contains covenants that limit the ability of any Target Company (A) to compete in any line of business or with any Person or in any geographic area or to sell, or provide any service or product or solicit any Person, including any non-competition covenants, employee and customer non-solicit covenants, exclusivity restrictions, rights of first refusal or most-favored pricing clauses or (B) to purchase or acquire an interest in any other Person;

 

(ii)    involves any joint venture, profit-sharing, partnership, limited liability company or other similar agreement or arrangement relating to the formation, creation, operation, management or control of any partnership or joint venture;

 

(iii)    evidences Indebtedness (whether incurred, assumed, guaranteed or secured by any asset) of any Target Company having an outstanding principal amount in excess of $100,000;

 

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(iv)    involves the acquisition or disposition, directly or indirectly (by merger or otherwise), of assets with an aggregate value in excess of $100,000 (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or shares or other equity interests of any Target Company or another Person;

 

(v)    relates to any merger, consolidation or other business combination with any other Person or the acquisition or disposition of any other entity or its business or material assets or the sale of any Target Company, its business or material assets;

 

(vi)    by its terms, individually or with all related Contracts, calls for aggregate payments or receipts by the Target Companies under such Contract or Contracts of at least $100,000 per year or $250,000 in the aggregate;

 

(vii)    is with any Top Customer or Top Supplier;

 

(viii)    obligates the Target Companies to provide continuing indemnification or a guarantee of obligations of a third party after the date hereof in excess of $100,000;

 

(ix)    is between any Target Company and any directors, officers or employees of a Target Company (other than at-will employment arrangements with employees entered into in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), including all non-competition, severance and indemnification agreements, or any Related Person;

 

(x)    obligates the Target Companies to make any capital commitment or expenditure in excess of $100,000 (including pursuant to any joint venture);

 

(xi)    relates to a material settlement entered into within three (3) years prior to the date of this Agreement or under which any Target Company has outstanding obligations (other than customary confidentiality obligations);

 

(xii)    provides another Person (other than another Target Company or any manager, director or officer of any Target Company) with a power of attorney;

 

(xiii)    relates to the development, ownership, licensing or use of any Intellectual Property by, to or from any Target Company, other than Off-the-Shelf Software; or

 

(xiv)    is otherwise material to any Target Company and not described in clauses (i) through (xiii) above.

 

(b)    Except as disclosed in Schedule 4.12(b) or as otherwise disclosed in Schedule 4.12(a), with respect to each Company Material Contract: (i) such Company Material Contract is valid and binding and enforceable in all respects against the Target Company party thereto and, to the Knowledge of the Company, each other party thereto, and is in full force and effect (except, in each case, as such enforcement may be limited by the Enforceability Exceptions); (ii) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not affect the validity or enforceability of any Company Material Contract; (iii) no Target Company is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute a material breach or default by any Target Company, or permit termination or acceleration by the other party thereto, under such Company Material Contract; (iv) to the Knowledge of the Company, no other party to such Company Material Contract is in breach or default in any material respect, and no event has occurred that with the passage of time or giving of notice or both would constitute such a material breach or default by such other party, or permit termination or acceleration by any Target Company, under such Company Material Contract; (v) no Target Company has received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of an intention by any party to any such Company Material Contract that provides for a continuing obligation by any party thereto to terminate such Company Material Contract or amend the terms thereof, other than modifications in the ordinary course of business that do not adversely affect any Target Company in any material respect; and (vi) no Target Company has waived any material rights under any such Company Material Contract.

 

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4.13    Intellectual Property.

 

(a)    Schedule 4.13(a)(i) sets forth: (i) all U.S. and foreign registered Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Internet Assets and applications owned or licensed by a Target Company or otherwise used or held for use by a Target Company in which a Target Company is the owner, applicant or assignee (“Company Registered IP”), specifying as to each item, as applicable: (A) the nature of the item, including the title, (B) the owner of the item, (C) the jurisdictions in which the item is issued or registered or in which an application for issuance or registration has been filed and (D) the issuance, registration or application numbers and dates; and (ii) all material unregistered Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by a Target Company. Schedule 4.13(a)(ii) sets forth all Intellectual Property licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions (“Company IP Licenses”) (other than “shrink wrap,” “click wrap,” and “off the shelf” software agreements and other agreements for Software commercially available on reasonable terms to the public generally with license, maintenance, support and other fees of less than $20,000 per year (collectively, “Off-the-Shelf Software”), which are not required to be listed, although such licenses are “Company IP Licenses” as that term is used herein), under which a Target Company is a licensee or otherwise is authorized to use or practice any Intellectual Property, and describes (A) the applicable Intellectual Property licensed, sublicensed or used and (B) any royalties, license fees or other compensation due from a Target Company, if any. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13(a)(iii), each Target Company owns, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens), has valid and enforceable rights in, and has the unrestricted right to use, sell, license, transfer or assign, all Intellectual Property currently used, licensed or held for use by such Target Company, and previously used or licensed by such Target Company, except for the Intellectual Property that is the subject of the Company IP Licenses. To the Knowledge of the Company, no item of Company Registered IP that consists of a pending Patent application fails to identify all pertinent inventors, and for each Patent and Patent application in the Company Registered IP, the Target Companies have obtained valid assignments of inventions from each inventor. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.13(a)(iv), all Company Registered IP is owned exclusively by the applicable Target Company without obligation to pay royalties, licensing fees or other fees, or otherwise account to any third party with respect to such Company Registered IP, and such Target Company has recorded assignments of all Company Registered IP.

 

(b)    Each Target Company has a valid and enforceable license to use all Intellectual Property that is the subject of the Company IP Licenses applicable to such Target Company. The Company IP Licenses include all of the licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions necessary to operate the Target Companies as presently conducted. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Target Company has performed all obligations imposed on it in the Company IP Licenses, has made all payments required to date, and such Target Company is not, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is any other party thereto, in breach or default thereunder, nor has any event occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder. The continued use by the Target Companies of the Intellectual Property that is the subject of the Company IP Licenses in the same manner that it is currently being used is not restricted by any applicable license of any Target Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, all registrations for Copyrights, Patents, Trademarks and Internet Assets that are owned by or exclusively licensed to any Target Company are valid, in force and in good standing with all required fees and maintenance fees having been paid with no Actions pending, and all applications to register any Copyrights, Patents and Trademarks are pending and in good standing, all without challenge of any kind. No Target Company is party to any Contract that requires a Target Company to assign to any Person all of its rights in any Intellectual Property developed by a Target Company under such Contract.

 

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(c)    Schedule 4.13(c) sets forth all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions under which a Target Company is the licensor (each, an “Outbound IP License”), and for each such Outbound IP License, describes (i) the applicable Intellectual Property licensed, (ii) the licensee under such Outbound IP License, and (iii) any royalties, license fees or other compensation due to a Target Company, if any. Each Target Company has performed all obligations imposed on it in the Outbound IP Licenses, and such Target Company is not, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is any other party thereto, in breach or default thereunder, nor has any event occurred that with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute a default thereunder.

 

(d)    No Action is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against a Target Company that challenges the validity, enforceability, ownership, or right to use, sell, license or sublicense, or that otherwise relates to, any Intellectual Property currently owned, licensed, used or held for use by the Target Companies, nor, to the Knowledge of the Company, is there any reasonable basis for any such Action. No Target Company has received any written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice or claim asserting or suggesting that any infringement, misappropriation, violation, dilution or unauthorized use of the Intellectual Property of any other Person is or may be occurring or has or may have occurred, as a consequence of the business activities of any Target Company, nor to the Knowledge of the Company is there a reasonable basis therefor. There are no Orders to which any Target Company is a party or is otherwise bound that (i) restrict the rights of a Target Company to use, transfer, license or enforce any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, (ii) restrict the conduct of the business of a Target Company in order to accommodate a third Person’s Intellectual Property, or (iii) other than the Outbound IP Licenses, grant any third Person any right with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, no Target Company is currently infringing, or has, in the past, infringed, misappropriated or violated any Intellectual Property of any other Person in any material respect in connection with the ownership, use or license of any Intellectual Property owned or purported to be owned by a Target Company or, otherwise in connection with the conduct of the respective businesses of the Target Companies. To the Company’s Knowledge, no third party is currently, or in the past five (5) years has been, infringing upon, misappropriating or otherwise violating any Intellectual Property owned, licensed by, licensed to, or otherwise used or held for use by any Target Company (“Company IP”) in any material respect.

 

(e)    All officers, directors, employees and independent contractors of a Target Company (and each of their respective Affiliates) have assigned to the Target Companies all Intellectual Property arising from the services performed for a Target Company by such Persons and all such assignments of Company Registered IP have been recorded. To the Knowledge of the Company, no current or former officers, employees or independent contractors of a Target Company have claimed any ownership interest in any Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, there has been no violation of a Target Company’s policies or practices related to protection of Company IP or any confidentiality or nondisclosure Contract relating to the Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company. The Company has made available to the Purchaser true and complete copies of all written Contracts referenced in subsections under which employees and independent contractors assigned their Intellectual Property to a Target Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of any Target Company is obligated under any Contract, or subject to any Order, that would materially conflict with the business of any Target Company as presently conducted or contemplated to be conducted. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Target Company has taken reasonable security measures in order to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of the material Company IP.

 

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(f)    To the Knowledge of the Company, no Person has obtained unauthorized access to third party information and data (including personally identifiable information) in the possession of a Target Company, nor has there been any other material compromise of the security, confidentiality or integrity of such information or data, and no written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral complaint relating to an improper use or disclosure of, or a breach in the security of, any such information or data has been received by a Target Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Target Company has complied in all material respects with all applicable Laws and Contract requirements relating to privacy, personal data protection, and the collection, processing and use of personal information and its own privacy policies and guidelines. To the Knowledge of the Company, the operation of the business of the Target Companies has not and does not violate any right to privacy or publicity of any third person, or constitute unfair competition or trade practices under applicable Law.

 

(g)    The consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the material breach, material modification, cancellation, termination, suspension of, or acceleration of any payments with respect to, or release of source code because of (i) any Contract providing for the license or other use of Intellectual Property owned by a Target Company, or (ii) any Company IP License. Following the Closing, the Company shall be permitted to exercise, directly or indirectly through its Subsidiaries, all of the Target Companies’ rights under such Contracts or Company IP Licenses to the same extent that the Target Companies would have been able to exercise had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred, without the payment of any additional amounts or consideration other than ongoing fees, royalties or payments which the Target Companies would otherwise be required to pay in the absence of such transactions.

 

4.14    Taxes and Returns.

 

(a)    Each Target Company has or will have timely filed, or caused to be timely filed, all United States federal income Tax Returns, and all other material federal, state, local and foreign Tax Returns required to be filed by it (taking into account all available extensions), which Tax Returns are true, accurate, correct and complete in all material respects, and has paid, collected or withheld, or caused to be paid, collected or withheld, all material Taxes required to be paid, collected or withheld, other than such Taxes for which adequate reserves in the Company Financials have been established. Each Target Company has complied with all material applicable laws relating to Tax.

 

(b)    There is no Action currently pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against a Target Company by a Governmental Authority in a jurisdiction where the Target Company does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.

 

(c)    No Target Company is being audited by any Tax authority or has been notified in writing or, to the Knowledge of the Company, orally by any Tax authority that any such audit is contemplated or pending. There are no claims, assessments, audits, examinations, investigations or other Actions pending against a Target Company in respect of any Tax, and no Target Company has been notified in writing of any proposed Tax claims or assessments against it (other than, in each case, claims or assessments for which adequate reserves in the Company Financials have been established).

 

(d)    There are no Liens with respect to any Taxes upon any Target Company’s assets, other than Permitted Liens.

 

(e)    Each Target Company has collected or withheld all material Taxes currently required to be collected or withheld by it, and all such Taxes have been paid to the appropriate Governmental Authorities or set aside in appropriate accounts for future payment when due.

 

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(f)    No Target Company has any outstanding waivers or extensions of any applicable statute of limitations to assess any amount of Taxes. There are no outstanding requests by a Target Company for any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return or within which to pay any Taxes shown to be due on any Tax Return.

 

(g)    No Target Company has made any change in accounting method (except as required by a change in Law) or received a ruling from, or signed an agreement with, any taxing authority that would reasonably be expected to have a material impact on its Taxes following the Closing.

 

(h)    No Target Company has participated in, or sold, distributed or otherwise promoted, any “reportable transaction,” as defined in U.S. Treasury Regulation section 1.6011-4.

 

(i)    No Target Company has any Liability or potential Liability for the Taxes of another Person (other than another Target Company) that are not adequately reflected in the Company Financials (i) under any applicable Tax Law, (ii) to the Knowledge of the Company, as a transferee or successor, or (iii) by contract, indemnity or otherwise (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes). No Target Company is a party to or bound by any Tax indemnity agreement, Tax sharing agreement or Tax allocation agreement or similar agreement, arrangement or practice (excluding commercial agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business the primary purpose of which is not the sharing of Taxes) with respect to Taxes (including advance pricing agreement, closing agreement or other agreement relating to Taxes with any Governmental Authority) that will be binding on any Target Company with respect to any period following the Closing Date.

 

(j)    No Target Company has requested, or is it the subject of or bound by any private letter ruling, technical advice memorandum, closing agreement or similar ruling, memorandum or agreement with any Governmental Authority with respect to any Taxes following the Closing, nor is any such request outstanding.

 

(k)    No Target Company: (i) has constituted either a “distributing corporation” or a “controlled corporation” (within the meaning of Section 355(a)(1)(A) of the Code) in a distribution of securities (to any Person or entity that is not a member of the consolidated group of which the Company is the common parent corporation) qualifying for, or intended to qualify for, Tax-free treatment under Section 355 of the Code (A) within the two-year period ending on the date hereof or (B) in a distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a “plan” or “series of related transactions” (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in conjunction with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; or (ii) is or has ever been (A) a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code, or (B) a member of any consolidated, combined, unitary or affiliated group of corporations for any Tax purposes other than a group of which the Company is or was the common parent corporation.

 

(l)    No Target Company has Knowledge of any fact or circumstance that would reasonably be expected to prevent the Merger from qualifying as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

4.15    Real Property. Schedule 4.15 contains a complete and accurate list of all premises currently leased or subleased or otherwise used or occupied by a Target Company for the operation of the business of a Target Company, and of all current leases, agreements and documents related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof (collectively, the “Company Real Property Leases”), as well as the current annual rent and term under each Company Real Property Lease. The Company has provided to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of each of the Company Real Property Leases, and in the case of any oral Company Real Property Lease, a written summary of the material terms of such Company Real Property Lease. The Company Real Property Leases are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or both or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a default on the part of a Target Company or any other party under any of the Company Real Property Leases, and no Target Company has received notice of any such condition. No Target Company owns any real property or any interest in real property (other than the leasehold interests in the Company Real Property Leases).

 

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4.16    Personal Property. Each item of Personal Property which is currently owned, used or leased by a Target Company with a book value or fair market value of greater than Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000) is set forth on Schedule 4.16, along with, to the extent applicable, a list of lease agreements, lease guarantees, security agreements and other agreements related thereto, including all amendments, terminations and modifications thereof or waivers thereto (“Company Personal Property Leases”). Except as set forth in Schedule 4.16, all such items of Personal Property are in good operating condition and repair (reasonable wear and tear excepted consistent with the age of such items), and are suitable for their intended use in the business of the Target Companies in all material respects. The operation of each Target Company’s business as it is now conducted or presently proposed to be conducted is not dependent upon the right to use the Personal Property of Persons other than a Target Company, except for such Personal Property that is owned, leased or licensed by or otherwise contracted to a Target Company. The Company has provided to the Purchaser a true and complete copy of each of the Company Personal Property Leases, and in the case of any oral Company Personal Property Lease, a written summary of the material terms of such Company Personal Property Lease. The Company Personal Property Leases are valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with their terms and are in full force and effect. To the Knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which (whether with or without notice, lapse of time or both or the happening or occurrence of any other event) would constitute a default on the part of a Target Company or any other party under any of the Company Personal Property Leases, and no Target Company has received notice of any such condition.

 

4.17    Title to and Sufficiency of Assets. Each Target Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in or right to use, all of its assets, free and clear of all Liens other than (a) Permitted Liens, (b) the rights of lessors under leasehold interests, (c) Liens specifically identified on the Interim Balance Sheet and (d) Liens set forth on Schedule 4.17. The assets (including Intellectual Property rights and contractual rights) of the Target Companies constitute all of the assets, rights and properties that are used in the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as it is now conducted and presently proposed to be conducted or that are used or held by the Target Companies for use in the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies, and taken together, are adequate and sufficient for the operation of the businesses of the Target Companies as currently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.

 

4.18    Employee Matters.

 

(a)    Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18(a), no Target Company is a party to any collective bargaining agreement or other Contract covering any group of employees, labor organization or other representative of any of the employees of any Target Company, and the Company has no Knowledge of any activities or proceedings of any labor union or other party to organize or represent such employees. There has not occurred or, to the Knowledge of the Company, been threatened any strike, slow-down, picketing, work-stoppage, or other similar labor activity with respect to any such employees. Schedule 4.18(a) sets forth all unresolved labor controversies (including unresolved grievances and age or other discrimination claims), if any, that are pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened between any Target Company and Persons employed by or providing services as independent contractors to a Target Company. No current officer or key employee of a Target Company has provided any Target Company written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice of his or her plan to terminate his or her employment with any Target Company.

 

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(b)    Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18(b), each Target Company (i) is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment, health and safety and wages and hours, and other Laws relating to discrimination, disability, labor relations, hours of work, payment of wages and overtime wages, pay equity, immigration, workers compensation, working conditions, employee scheduling, occupational safety and health, family and medical leave, and employee terminations, and has not received written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral notice that there is any pending Action involving unfair labor practices against a Target Company, (ii) is not liable for any material past due arrears of wages or any material penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing, and (iii) is not liable for any material payment to any Governmental Authority with respect to unemployment compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for employees, independent contractors or consultants (other than routine payments to be made in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice). There are no Actions pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against a Target Company brought by or on behalf of any applicant for employment, any current or former employee, any Person alleging to be a current or former employee, or any Governmental Authority, relating to any such Law or regulation, or alleging breach of any express or implied contract of employment, wrongful termination of employment, or alleging any other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship.

 

(c)    Schedule 4.18(c) hereto sets forth a complete and accurate list as of the date hereof of all employees of the Target Companies showing for each as of such date (i) the employee’s name, job title or description, employer, location, salary level (including any bonus, commission, deferred compensation or other remuneration payable (other than any such arrangements under which payments are at the discretion of the Target Companies)), (ii) any bonus, commission or other remuneration other than salary paid during the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and (iii) any wages, salary, bonus, commission or other compensation due and owing to each employee during or for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(c), (A) no employee is a party to a written employment Contract with a Target Company and each is employed “at will”, and (B) the Target Companies have paid in full to all their employees all wages, salaries, commission, bonuses and other compensation due to their employees, including overtime compensation, and no Target Company has any obligation or Liability (whether or not contingent) with respect to severance payments to any such employees under the terms of any written or, to the Company’s Knowledge, oral agreement, or commitment or any applicable Law, custom, trade or practice. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.18(c), each Target Company employee has entered into the Company’s standard form of employee non-disclosure, inventions and restrictive covenants agreement with a Target Company (whether pursuant to a separate agreement or incorporated as part of such employee’s overall employment agreement), a copy of which has been made available to the Purchaser by the Company.

 

(d)    Schedule 4.18(d) contains a list of all independent contractors (including consultants) currently engaged by any Target Company, along with the position, the entity engaging such Person, date of retention and rate of remuneration, most recent increase (or decrease) in remuneration and amount thereof, for each such Person. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(d), all of such independent contractors are a party to a written Contract with a Target Company. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.18(d), each such independent contractor has entered into customary covenants regarding confidentiality, non-competition and assignment of inventions and copyrights in such Person’s agreement with a Target Company, a copy of which has been provided to the Purchaser by the Company. For the purposes of applicable Law, including the Code, all independent contractors who are currently, or within the last six (6) years have been, engaged by a Target Company are bona fide independent contractors and not employees of a Target Company. Each independent contractor is terminable on fewer than thirty (30) days’ notice, without any obligation of any Target Company to pay severance or a termination fee.

 

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4.19    Benefit Plans.

 

(a)    Set forth on Schedule 4.19(a) is a true and complete list of each material Benefit Plan of a Target Company (each, a “Company Benefit Plan”). With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, there are no funded benefit obligations for which contributions have not been made or properly accrued and there are no unfunded benefit obligations that have not been accounted for by reserves, or otherwise properly footnoted in accordance with GAAP on the Company Financials. No Target Company is or has in the past been a member of a “controlled group” for purposes of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code, nor does any Target Company have any Liability with respect to any collectively-bargained for plans, whether or not subject to the provisions of ERISA. No statement, either written or oral, has been made by any Target Company to any Person with regard to any Company Benefit Plan that was not in accordance with the Company Benefit Plan in any material respect.

 

(b)    Each Company Benefit Plan is and has been operated at all times in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects, including ERISA and the Code. Each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code (i) has been determined by the IRS to be so qualified (or is based on a prototype plan which has received a favorable opinion letter) during the period from its adoption to the date of this Agreement and (ii) its related trust has been determined to be exempt from taxation under Section 501(a) of the Code or the Target Companies have requested an initial favorable IRS determination of qualification and/or exemption within the period permitted by applicable Law. To the Knowledge of the Company, no fact exists which reasonable could be expected to adversely affect the qualified status of such Company Benefit Plans or the exempt status of such trusts.

 

(c)    With respect to each Company Benefit Plan which covers any current or former officer, director, consultant or employee (or beneficiary thereof) of a Target Company, the Company has provided to Purchaser accurate and complete copies, if applicable, of: (i) the currently effective versions of all Company Benefit Plan texts and agreements and related trust agreements or annuity Contracts (including any amendments, modifications or supplements thereto); (ii) the currently effective versions of all summary plan descriptions and material modifications thereto; (iii) the most recent Form 5500, if applicable, and annual report, including all schedules thereto; (iv) the most recent annual and periodic accounting of plan assets; (v) the three (3) most recent nondiscrimination testing reports; (vi) the most recent determination letter received from the IRS, if any; (vii) the most recent actuarial valuation; and (viii) all material communications with any Governmental Authority, within the last three (3) years.

 

(d)    To the Knowledge of the Company, with respect to each Company Benefit Plan: (i) such Company Benefit Plan has been administered and enforced in all material respects in accordance with its terms, the Code and ERISA; (ii) no breach of fiduciary duty has occurred; (iii) no Action is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened (other than routine claims for benefits arising in the ordinary course of administration); (iv) no prohibited transaction, as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred, excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administration exemption; and (v) all contributions and premiums due through the Closing Date have been made in all material respects as required under ERISA or have been fully accrued in all material respects on the Company Financials.

 

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(e)    No Company Benefit Plan is a “defined benefit plan” (as defined in Section 414(j) of the Code), a “multiemployer plan” (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) or a “multiple employer plan” (as described in Section 413(c) of the Code) or is otherwise subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code, and no Target Company has incurred any Liability or otherwise could have any Liability, contingent or otherwise, under Title IV of ERISA and no condition presently exists that is expected to cause such Liability to be incurred. No Company Benefit Plan will become a multiple employer plan with respect to any Target Company immediately after the Closing Date. No Target Company currently maintains or has ever maintained, or is required currently or has ever been required to contribute to or otherwise participate in, a multiple employer welfare arrangement or voluntary employees’ beneficiary association as defined in Section 501(c)(9) of the Code.

 

(f)    There is no arrangement under any Company Benefit Plan with respect to any employee that would result in the payment of any amount that by operation of Sections 280G or 162(m) of the Code would not be deductible by the Target Companies and no arrangement exists pursuant to which a Target Company will be required to “gross up” or otherwise compensate any person because of the imposition of any excise tax on a payment to such person.

 

(g)    With respect to each Company Benefit Plan which is a “welfare plan” (as described in Section 3(1) of ERISA): (i) no such plan provides medical or death benefits with respect to current or former employees of a Target Company beyond their termination of employment (other than coverage mandated by Law); and (ii) there are no reserves, assets, surplus or prepaid premiums under any such plan. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Target Company has complied with the provisions of Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code.

 

(h)    The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents will not: (i) entitle any individual to severance pay, unemployment compensation or other benefits or compensation; (ii) accelerate the time of payment or vesting, or increase the amount of any compensation due, or in respect of, any individual; or (iii) result in or satisfy a condition to the payment of compensation that would, in combination with any other payment, result in an “excess parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code. No Target Company has incurred any Liability for any Tax imposed under Chapter 43 of the Code or civil liability under Section 502(i) or (l) of ERISA.

 

(i)    Except to the extent required by Section 4980B of the Code or similar state Law, no Target Company provides health or welfare benefits to any former or retired employee or is obligated to provide such benefits to any active employee following such employee’s retirement or other termination of employment or service.

 

(j)    All Company Benefit Plans can be terminated at any time as of or after the Closing Date without resulting in any material Liability to the Surviving Corporation or Purchaser or their respective Affiliates for any additional contributions, penalties, premiums, fees, fines, excise taxes or any other charges or liabilities.

 

(k)    Each Company Benefit Plan that is subject to Section 409A of the Code (each, a “Section 409A Plan”) as of the Closing Date is indicated as such on Schedule 4.19(k). No Company Options or other equity-based awards have been issued or granted by the Company that are, or are subject to, a Section 409A Plan. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Section 409A Plan has been administered in compliance, and is in documentary compliance, with the applicable provisions of Section 409A of the Code, the regulations thereunder and other official guidance issued thereunder, and no Target Company has any obligation to any employee or other service provider with respect to any Section 409A Plan that may be subject to any Tax under Section 409A of the Code. No payment to be made under any Section 409A Plan is, or to the Knowledge of the Company will be, subject to the penalties of Section 409A(a)(1) of the Code. There is no Contract or plan to which any Target Company is a party or by which it is bound to compensate any employee, consultant or director for penalty taxes paid pursuant to Section 409A of the Code.

 

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4.20    Environmental Matters. Except for such matters as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect as set forth in Schedule 4.20:

 

(a)    Each Target Company is and has been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, including obtaining, maintaining, and complying in all material respects with all Permits required for its business and operations by Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”), no Action is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to revoke, modify, or terminate any such Environmental Permit, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, no facts, circumstances, or conditions currently exist that could adversely affect such continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits or require capital expenditures to achieve or maintain such continued compliance with Environmental Laws and Environmental Permits.

 

(b)    No Target Company is the subject of any outstanding Order or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person in respect of any (i) Environmental Laws, (ii) Remedial Action, or (iii) Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Material. No Target Company has assumed, contractually or by operation of Law, any Liabilities or obligations under any Environmental Laws.

 

(c)    No Action has been made or is pending, or to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against any Target Company or any assets of a Target Company alleging either or both that a Target Company may be in material violation of any Environmental Law or Environmental Permit or may have any material Liability under any Environmental Law.

 

(d)    No Target Company has disposed of, arranged for or permitted the disposal of, or Released any Hazardous Material, or owned or operated any property or facility, in a manner that has given or would reasonably be expected to give rise to any material Liability or obligation under applicable Environmental Laws. No fact, circumstance, or condition exists in respect of any Target Company or any property currently or formerly owned, operated, or leased by any Target Company or any property to which a Target Company arranged for the disposal or treatment of Hazardous Materials that could reasonably be expected to result in a Target Company incurring any material Environmental Liabilities.

 

(e)    There is no investigation of the business, operations, or currently owned, operated, or leased property of a Target Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, previously owned, operated, or leased property of a Target Company pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened that could lead to the imposition of any Liens under any Environmental Law or material Environmental Liabilities.

 

(f)    To the Knowledge of the Company, there is not located at any of the properties of a Target Company any (i) underground storage tanks, (ii) asbestos-containing material, or (iii) equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls.

 

(g)    The Company has provided to the Purchaser all environmentally related site assessments, audits, studies, reports, analysis and results of investigations that to the Company’s Knowledge have been performed in respect of the currently or previously owned, leased, or operated properties of any Target Company.

 

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4.21    Transactions with Related Persons. Except as set forth on Schedule 4.21, no Target Company nor any of its Affiliates, nor any officer, director, manager, employee, trustee or beneficiary of a Target Company or any of its Affiliates (whether directly or indirectly through an Affiliate of such Person) (each of the foregoing, a “Related Person”) is presently, or in the past three (3) years, has been, a party to any transaction with a Target Company, including any Contract or other arrangement (a) providing for the furnishing of services by (other than as officers, directors or employees of the Target Company), (b) providing for the rental of real property or Personal Property from or (c) otherwise requiring payments to (other than for services or expenses as directors, officers or employees of the Target Company in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) any Related Person or any Person in which any Related Person has an interest as an owner, officer, manager, director, trustee or partner or in which any Related Person has any direct or indirect interest (other than the ownership of securities representing no more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding voting power or economic interest of a publicly traded company). Except as set forth on Schedule 4.21, no Target Company has outstanding any Contract or other arrangement or commitment with any Related Person, and no Related Person owns any real property or Personal Property, or right, tangible or intangible (including Intellectual Property) which is used in the business of any Target Company. The assets of the Target Companies do not include any receivable or other obligation from a Related Person, and the liabilities of the Target Companies do not include any payable or other obligation or commitment to any Related Person.

 

4.22    Insurance.

 

(a)    Schedule 4.22(a) lists all insurance policies (by policy number, insurer, coverage period, coverage amount, and type of policy) held by a Target Company relating to a Target Company or its business, properties, assets, directors, officers and employees, copies of which have been made available to the Purchaser. All premiums due and payable under all such insurance policies have been timely paid and the Target Companies are otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such insurance policies. Each such insurance policy is legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect. No Target Company has any self-insurance or co-insurance programs. In the past five (5) years, no Target Company has received any notice from, or on behalf of, any insurance carrier relating to or involving any change other than in the ordinary course of business, in the conditions of insurance, any refusal to issue an insurance policy or non-renewal of a policy.

 

(b)    Schedule 4.22(b) identifies each individual insurance claim in excess of $50,000 made by a Target Company in the past five (5) years. Each Target Company has reported to its insurers all claims and pending circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a claim, except where such failure to report such a claim would not be reasonably likely have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

4.23    Books and Records. All of the financial books and records of the Target Companies are complete and accurate in all material respects and have been maintained in the ordinary course consistent with past practice and in accordance with applicable Laws.

 

4.24    Top Customers and Suppliers. Schedule 4.24 lists, by dollar volume received or paid, as applicable, for the twelve (12) months ended on December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, the ten (10) largest customers of the Target Companies (the “Top Customers”) and the ten largest suppliers of goods or services to the Target Companies (the “Top Suppliers”), along with the amounts of such dollar volumes. To the Knowledge of the Company, the relationships of each Target Company with Top Suppliers and Top Customers are good commercial working relationships and (i) no Top Supplier or Top Customer within the last twelve (12) months has cancelled or otherwise terminated, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, intends to cancel or otherwise terminate, any material relationships of such Person with a Target Company, (ii) no Top Supplier or Top Customer has during the last twelve (12) months decreased materially or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened to stop, decrease or limit materially, or intends to modify materially its material relationships with a Target Company or intends to stop, decrease or limit materially its products or services to any Target Company or its usage or purchase of the products or services of any Target Company, (iii) to the Company’s Knowledge, no Top Supplier or Top Customer intends to refuse to pay any amount due to any Target Company, and (iv) no Target Company has within the past two (2) years been engaged in any material dispute with any Top Supplier or Top Customer.

 

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4.25    Certain Business Practices.

 

(a)    No Target Company, nor any of their respective directors, officers, and agents acting on their behalf has (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees, to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other local or foreign anti-corruption or bribery Law or (iii) made any other unlawful payment under any applicable Law relating to anti-corruption and bribery. No Target Company, nor any of their respective directors, officers and agents acting on their behalf has directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any unlawful gift or similar benefit in any material amount to any customer, supplier, governmental employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or hinder any Target Company or assist any Target Company in connection with any actual or proposed transaction.

 

(b)    The operations of each Target Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with money laundering statutes in all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority, and no Action involving a Target Company with respect to any of the foregoing is pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(c)    No Target Company or any of their respective directors or officers, or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other Representative acting on behalf of a Target Company is currently identified on the specially designated nationals or other blocked person list or otherwise currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”), and no Target Company has in the last five (5) fiscal years, directly or indirectly, used any funds, or loaned, contributed or otherwise made available such funds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, in connection with any sales or operations in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Myanmar or any other country sanctioned by OFAC or for the purpose of financing the activities of any Person currently subject to, or otherwise in violation of, any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

4.26    Investment Company Act. No Target Company is an “investment company” or a Person directly or indirectly “controlled” by or acting on behalf of an “investment company”, or required to register as an “investment company”, in each case within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

4.27    Finders and Brokers . Except as set forth in Schedule 4.27, no Target Company has incurred or will incur any Liability for any brokerage, finder’s or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Target Company.

 

4.28    Independent Investigation. The Company has conducted its own independent investigation, review and analysis of the business, results of operations, prospects, condition (financial or otherwise) or assets of the Purchaser, and acknowledges that it has been provided adequate access to the personnel, properties, assets, premises, books and records, and other documents and data of the Purchaser for such purpose. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (a) in making its decision to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, it has relied solely upon its own investigation and the express representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedules) and in any certificate delivered to the Company pursuant hereto; and (b) neither the Purchaser nor any of its Representatives have made any representation or warranty as to the Purchaser or this Agreement, except as expressly set forth in this Agreement (including the related portions of the Purchaser Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate delivered to the Company pursuant hereto.

 

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4.29    Information Supplied. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference: (a) in any current report on Form 8-K, and any exhibits thereto or any other report, form, registration or other filing made with any Governmental Authority or stock exchange with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Documents; (b) in the Registration Statement; (c) in the PPM; or (d) in the mailings or other distributions to the Purchaser’s stockholders and/or prospective investors with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or in any amendment to any of documents identified in (a) through (c), will, when filed, made available, mailed or distributed, as the case may be, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. None of the information supplied or to be supplied by the Company expressly for inclusion or incorporation by reference in any of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Press Release and the Closing Filing will, when filed or distributed, as applicable, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company makes no representation, warranty or covenant with respect to any information supplied by or on behalf of the Purchaser or its Affiliates.

 

ARTICLE V
COVENANTS

 

5.1    Access and Information.

 

(a)    During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this Agreement in accordance with Section 8.1 or the Closing (the “Interim Period”), subject to Section 5.13, the Company shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, the Purchaser and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information (including Tax Returns, internal working papers, client files, and client Contracts), of or pertaining to the Target Companies, as the Purchaser or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding the Target Companies and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects (including unaudited quarterly financial statements, including a consolidated quarterly balance sheet and income statement, a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed with or received by a Governmental Authority pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities Laws, and independent public accountants’ work papers (subject to the consent or any other conditions required by such accountants, if any)) and cause each of the Company’s Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Purchaser and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Purchaser and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Target Companies.

 

(b)    During the Interim Period, subject to Section 5.13, the Purchaser shall give, and shall cause its Representatives to give, the Company and its Representatives, at reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable intervals and notice, reasonable access to all offices and other facilities and to all employees, properties, Contracts, agreements, commitments, books and records, financial and operating data and other information (including Tax Returns, internal working papers, client files, client Contracts and director service agreements), of or pertaining to the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries, as the Company or its Representatives may reasonably request regarding the Purchaser, its Subsidiaries and their respective businesses, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects, operations, management, employees and other aspects (including unaudited quarterly financial statements, including a consolidated quarterly balance sheet and income statement, a copy of each material report, schedule and other document filed with or received by a Governmental Authority pursuant to the requirements of applicable securities Laws, and independent public accountants’ work papers (subject to the consent or any other conditions required by such accountants, if any)) and cause each of the Purchaser’s Representatives to reasonably cooperate with the Company and its Representatives in their investigation; provided, however, that the Company and its Representatives shall conduct any such activities in such a manner as not to unreasonably interfere with the business or operations of the Purchaser or any of its Subsidiaries.

 

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5.2    Conduct of Business of the Company.

 

(a)    Unless the Purchaser shall otherwise consent in writing (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), during the Interim Period, except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or as set forth on Schedule 5.2, or as otherwise required by any Governmental Authority, the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, (i) conduct their respective businesses, in all material respects, in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice, (ii) comply with all Laws applicable to the Target Companies and their respective businesses, assets and employees, and (iii) take all commercially reasonable measures necessary or appropriate to preserve intact, in all material respects, their respective business organizations, to keep available the services of their respective managers, directors, officers, employees and consultants, and to preserve the possession, control and condition of their respective material assets, all as consistent with past practice.

 

(b)    Without limiting the generality of Section 5.2(a) and except as contemplated by the terms of this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents as set forth on Schedule 5.2, during the Interim Period, without the prior written consent of the Purchaser (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), the Company shall not, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to not:

 

(i)    amend, waive or otherwise change, in any respect, its Organizational Documents, except as required by applicable Law;

 

(ii)    except, as otherwise provided under the Company Equity Plan, authorize for issuance, issue, grant, sell, pledge, dispose of or propose to issue, grant, sell, pledge or dispose of any of its equity securities or any options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions or rights of any kind to acquire or sell any of its equity securities, or other securities, including any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of its shares or other equity securities or securities of any class and any other equity-based awards, or engage in any hedging transaction with a third Person with respect to such securities;

 

(iii)    split, combine, recapitalize or reclassify any of its shares or other equity interests or issue any other securities in respect thereof or pay or set aside any dividend or other distribution (whether in cash, equity or property or any combination thereof) in respect of its equity interests, or directly or indirectly redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire or offer to acquire any of its securities;

 

(iv)    except for any existing credit facilities, incur, create, assume, prepay or otherwise become liable for any Indebtedness (directly, contingently or otherwise) in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate, make a loan or advance to or investment in any third party (other than advancement of expenses to employees in the ordinary course of business), or guarantee or endorse any Indebtedness, Liability or obligation of any Person in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate;

 

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(v)    increase the wages, salaries or compensation of its employees other than in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practice, and in any event not in the aggregate by more than five percent (5%), or make or commit to make any bonus payment (whether in cash, property or securities) to any employee, or materially increase other benefits of employees generally, or enter into, establish, materially amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan with, for or in respect of any current consultant, officer, manager director or employee, in each case other than as required by applicable Law, pursuant to the terms of any Company Benefit Plans or in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(vi)    make or rescind any material election relating to Taxes, settle any material claim, action, suit, litigation, proceeding, arbitration, investigation, audit or controversy relating to Taxes, or make any material change in its accounting or Tax policies or procedures, in each case except as required by applicable Law or in compliance with GAAP;

 

 

(vii)    except in the ordinary course of business, transfer or license to any Person or otherwise extend, materially amend or modify, permit to lapse or fail to preserve any material Company Registered IP, Company Licensed IP or other Company IP (excluding non-exclusive licenses of Company IP to Target Company customers in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or disclose to any Person who has not entered into a confidentiality agreement any Trade Secrets;

 

(viii)    terminate, or waive or assign any material right under, any Company Material Contract or enter into any Contract that would be a Company Material Contract, in any case outside of the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(ix)    fail to maintain its books, accounts and records in all material respects in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(x)    establish any Subsidiary or enter into any new line of business;

 

(xi)    fail to use commercially reasonable efforts to keep in force insurance policies or replacement or revised policies providing insurance coverage with respect to its assets, operations and activities in such amount and scope of coverage substantially similar to that which is currently in effect;

 

(xii)    revalue any of its material assets or make any material change in accounting methods, principles or practices, except to the extent required to comply with GAAP and after consulting with the Company’s outside auditors;

 

(xiii)    waive, release, assign, settle or compromise any claim, action or proceeding (including any suit, action, claim, proceeding or investigation relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby), other than waivers, releases, assignments, settlements or compromises that involve only the payment of monetary damages (and not the imposition of equitable relief on, or the admission of wrongdoing by, a Target Company or its Affiliates) not in excess of $100,000 (individually or $200,000 in the aggregate), or otherwise pay, discharge or satisfy any Actions, Liabilities or obligations, unless such amount has been reserved in the Company Financials;

 

(xiv)    except as otherwise required by a Governmental Authority, close or materially reduce its activities, or effect any layoff or other personnel reduction or change, at any of its facilities;

 

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(xv)    acquire, including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of equity interests or assets, or any other form of business combination, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, other business organization or any division thereof, or any material amount of assets outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(xvi)    make capital expenditures in excess of $100,000 (individually for any project (or set of related projects) or $250,000 in the aggregate);

 

(xvii)    adopt a plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization;

 

(xviii)    voluntarily incur any Liability or obligation (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) in excess of $100,000 individually or $250,000 in the aggregate other than pursuant to the terms of a Company Material Contract or Company Benefit Plan;

 

(xix)    sell, lease, license, transfer, exchange or swap, mortgage or otherwise pledge or encumber (including securitizations), or otherwise dispose of any material portion of its properties, assets or rights;

 

(xx)    enter into any agreement, understanding or arrangement with respect to the voting of equity securities of the Company;

 

(xxi)    take any action that would reasonably be expected to significantly delay or impair the obtaining of any Consents of any Governmental Authority to be obtained in connection with this Agreement;

 

(xxii)    accelerate the collection of any trade receivables or delay the payment of trade payables or any other liabilities other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice;

 

(xxiii)    enter into, amend, waive or terminate (other than terminations in accordance with their terms) any transaction with any Related Person (other than compensation and benefits and advancement of expenses, in each case, provided in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice); or

 

(xxiv)    authorize or agree to do any of the foregoing actions.

 

5.3    Annual and Interim Financial Statements.

 

(a)    During the Interim Period, within thirty (30) calendar days following the end of each calendar month, each three-month quarterly period and each fiscal year, the Company shall deliver to the Purchaser an unaudited consolidated income statement and an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Target Companies for the period from the Balance Sheet Date through the end of such calendar month, quarterly period or fiscal year and the applicable comparative period in the preceding fiscal year.

 

(b)    Promptly after the date of this Agreement (but in no event later than March 31, 2021), the Company shall use its best efforts to deliver to the Purchaser, audited consolidated financial statements of the Target Companies for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2020, which financial statements shall have been audited in accordance with AICPA auditing standards by a AICPA qualified auditor.

 

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5.4    No Solicitation.

 

(a)    For purposes of this Agreement, (i) an “Acquisition Proposal” means any inquiry, proposal or offer, or any indication of interest in making an offer or proposal, from any Person or group at any time relating to an Alternative Transaction, and (ii) an “Alternative Transaction” means (A) with respect to the Company and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning the sale of (x) all or any material part of the business or assets of the Target Companies (other than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice) or (y) any of the shares or other equity interests or profits of the Target Companies, in any case, whether such transaction takes the form of a sale of shares or other equity interests, assets, merger, consolidation, issuance of debt securities, management contract, joint venture or partnership, or otherwise and (B) with respect to the Purchaser and its Affiliates, a transaction (other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement) concerning a business combination involving Purchaser.

 

(b)    During the Interim Period, in order to induce the other Parties to continue to commit to expend management time and financial resources in furtherance of the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall not, and shall cause its Representatives to not, without the prior written consent of the Company and the Purchaser, directly or indirectly, (i) solicit, initiate or facilitate the making, submission or announcement of, or intentionally encourage, any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) furnish any non-public information regarding such Party or its Affiliates or their respective businesses, operations, assets, Liabilities, financial condition, prospects or employees to any Person or group (other than a Party to this Agreement or their respective Representatives) in connection with or in response to an Acquisition Proposal, (iii) engage or participate in negotiations with any Person or group with respect to, or that could reasonably be expected to lead to, an Acquisition Proposal, (iv) approve, endorse or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, endorse or recommend, any Acquisition Proposal, (v) negotiate or enter into any letter of intent, agreement in principle, acquisition agreement or other similar agreement related to any Acquisition Proposal (each and “Alternative Transaction Agreement”) or (vi) release any third Person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality agreement to which such Party is a party.

 

(c)    Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 5.4(b), prior to obtaining the Required Company Stockholder Approval, the Company’s board of directors may, directly or indirectly, with respect to any third party (and its Representatives) that has made an Acquisition Proposal after the date of this Agreement that was not solicited in violation of Section 5.4(b) and that the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and its outside legal counsel) either constitutes or is reasonably expected to lead to a Superior Proposal, (x) engage or participate in discussions or negotiations with such third party (and its Representatives), and/or (y) furnish any non-public information relating to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to such third party (and its Representatives and actual and potential debt financing sources), provided that, in the case of any action taken pursuant to the foregoing (x) or (y): (i) the Company’s board of directors has determined in good faith (after consultation with its financial advisor and its outside legal counsel) that the failure to take such action would reasonably be expected to be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties; (ii) either the Company is already a party to a confidentiality agreement with such third party or the Company enters into a confidentiality agreement with such third party; (iii) the Company notifies the Purchaser of the identity of such Person and provides the Purchaser with the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal; and (iv) contemporaneously with furnishing any non-public information to such third party (and/or its Representatives), the Company furnishes such non-public information to the Purchaser (and/or its Representatives) (to the extent such information has not been previously furnished).

 

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(d)    Each Party shall notify the others as promptly as practicable (and in any event within 48 hours) in writing of the receipt by such Party or any of its Representatives of (i) any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information or requests for discussions or negotiations regarding or constituting any Acquisition Proposal or any bona fide inquiries, proposals or offers, requests for information, and (ii) any request for non-public information relating to such Party or its Affiliates in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, specifying in each case, the material terms and conditions thereof and the identity of the party making such inquiry, proposal, offer or request for information. Each Party shall keep the others promptly informed of the status of any such inquiries, proposals, offers or requests for information. During the Interim Period, each Party shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any solicitations, discussions or negotiations with any Person with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and shall, and shall direct its Representatives to, cease and terminate any such solicitations, discussions or negotiations.

 

(e)    Subject to the provisions of this Section 5.4, (A) the Company’s board of directors shall (x) recommend that the Company’s stockholders adopt this Agreement and approve the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby requiring approval of the Company’s stockholders in accordance with the applicable provisions of the DGCL (the “Company Board Recommendation”) and (y) include the Company Board Recommendation in the Company’s proxy statement and/or notice of the Company Stockholder Meeting, and (B) neither the Company’s board of directors nor any committee thereof shall (i) fail to make, withdraw, amend, modify or qualify the Company Board Recommendation, or publicly propose to withhold, withdraw, amend, modify or qualify the Company Board Recommendation, (ii) approve, endorse, adopt or recommend, or publicly propose to approve, endorse, adopt or recommend, an Acquisition Proposal, or (iii) fail to include the Company Board Recommendation in the Company’s proxy statement (the actions or inactions referred to in the preceding clauses (i), (ii), and (iii) being referred to herein as a “Adverse Recommendation Change”).

 

(f)    Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time prior to the receipt of the Required Company Stockholder Approval, the Company’s board of directors may effect an Adverse Recommendation Change or enter into (or permit any Affiliate to enter into) an Alternative Transaction Agreement, if, and only if: (i) the Company promptly notifies the Purchaser, in writing, at least five (5) Business Days (the “Superior Proposal Notice Period”) before making an Adverse Recommendation Change, of its intention to take such action with respect to a Superior Proposal, which notice shall state expressly that the Company has received an Acquisition Proposal that the Company’s board of directors intends to declare a Superior Proposal and that the Company’s board of directors intends to effect an Adverse Recommendation Change; (ii) the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, during the Superior Proposal Notice Period, negotiate with the Purchaser in good faith to make such adjustments in the terms and conditions of this Agreement so that such Acquisition Proposal ceases to constitute a Superior Proposal, if the Purchaser, in its discretion, proposes to make such adjustments (it being agreed that in the event that, after commencement of the Superior Proposal Notice Period, there is any material revision to the terms of a Superior Proposal, including any revision in price, the Superior Proposal Notice Period shall be extended, if applicable, to ensure that at least three (3) Business Days remain in the Superior Proposal Notice Period subsequent to the time the Company notifies the Purchaser of any such material revision (it being understood that there may be multiple extensions)); and (iii) the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith, after consulting with outside legal counsel and its financial advisors, that such Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal after taking into account any adjustments made by the Purchaser during the Superior Proposal Notice Period in the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

 

5.5    No Trading. The Company acknowledges and agrees that it is aware, and that the Company’s Affiliates are aware (and each of their respective Representatives is aware or, upon receipt of any material nonpublic information of the Purchaser, will be advised) of the restrictions imposed by U.S. federal securities laws and the rules and regulations of the SEC and Nasdaq promulgated thereunder or otherwise (the “Federal Securities Laws”) and other applicable foreign and domestic Laws on a Person possessing material nonpublic information about a publicly traded company. The Company hereby agrees that, while it is in possession of such material nonpublic information, it shall not purchase or sell any securities of the Purchaser (other than to engage in the Merger in accordance with Article I), communicate such information to any third party, take any other action with respect to the Purchaser in violation of such Laws, or cause or encourage any third party to do any of the foregoing.

 

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5.6    Notification of Certain Matters. During the Interim Period, each Party shall give prompt notice to the other Parties if such Party or its Affiliates: (a) fails to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to be complied with or satisfied by it or its Affiliates hereunder in any material respect; (b) receives any notice or other communication in writing from any third party (including any Governmental Authority) alleging (i) that the Consent of such third party is or may be required in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (ii) any non-compliance with any material Law by such Party or its Affiliates; (c) receives any notice or other communication from any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (d) discovers any fact or circumstance that, or becomes aware of the occurrence or non-occurrence of any event the occurrence or non-occurrence of which, would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VII not being satisfied or the satisfaction of those conditions being materially delayed; or (e) is notified in writing of the commencement or threat, of any Action against such Party or any of its Affiliates, or any of their respective properties or assets, or, to the Knowledge of such Party, any officer, director, partner, member or manager, in his, her or its capacity as such, of such Party or of its Affiliates with respect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No such notice shall constitute an acknowledgement or admission by the Party providing the notice regarding whether or not any of the conditions to the Closing have been satisfied or in determining whether or not any of the representations, warranties or covenants contained in this Agreement have been breached.

 

5.7    Efforts.

 

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, and shall cooperate fully with the other Parties, to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things reasonably necessary, proper or advisable under applicable Laws and regulations to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (including the receipt of all applicable Consents of Governmental Authorities) and to comply as promptly as practicable with all requirements of Governmental Authorities applicable to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(b)    In furtherance and not in limitation of Section 5.7(a), to the extent required under any Laws that are designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or effect of monopolization or restraint of trade (“Antitrust Laws”), each Party hereto agrees to make any required filing or application under Antitrust Laws, as applicable, at such Party’s sole cost and expense, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby as promptly as practicable, to supply as promptly as reasonably practicable any additional information and documentary material that may be reasonably requested pursuant to Antitrust Laws and to take all other actions reasonably necessary, proper or advisable to cause the expiration or termination of the applicable waiting periods under Antitrust Laws as soon as practicable, including by requesting early termination of the waiting period provided for under the Antitrust Laws. Each Party shall, in connection with its efforts to obtain all requisite approvals and authorizations for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any Antitrust Law, use its commercially reasonable efforts to: (i) cooperate in all respects with each other Party or its Affiliates in connection with any filing or submission and in connection with any investigation or other inquiry, including any proceeding initiated by a private Person; (ii) keep the other Parties reasonably informed of any communication received by such Party or its Representatives from, or given by such Party or its Representatives to, any Governmental Authority and of any communication received or given in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, in each case regarding any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iii) permit a Representative of the other Parties and their respective outside counsel to review any communication given by it to, and consult with each other in advance of any meeting or conference with, any Governmental Authority or, in connection with any proceeding by a private Person, with any other Person, and to the extent permitted by such Governmental Authority or other Person, give a Representative or Representatives of the other Parties the opportunity to attend and participate in such meetings and conferences; (iv) in the event a Party’s Representative is prohibited from participating in or attending any meetings or conferences, the other Parties shall keep such Party promptly and reasonably apprised with respect thereto; and (v) use commercially reasonable efforts to cooperate in the filing of any memoranda, white papers, filings, correspondence or other written communications explaining or defending the transactions contemplated hereby, articulating any regulatory or competitive argument, and/or responding to requests or objections made by any Governmental Authority.

 

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(c)    As soon as reasonably practicable following the date of this Agreement, the Parties shall reasonably cooperate with each other and use (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to use) their respective commercially reasonable efforts to prepare and file with Governmental Authorities requests for approval of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to have such Governmental Authorities approve the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Each Party shall give prompt written notice to the other Parties if such Party or any of its Representatives receives any notice from such Governmental Authorities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and shall promptly furnish the other Parties with a copy of such Governmental Authority notice. If any Governmental Authority requires that a hearing or meeting be held in connection with its approval of the transactions contemplated hereby, whether prior to the Closing or after the Closing, each Party shall arrange for Representatives of such Party to be present for such hearing or meeting. If any objections are asserted with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement under any applicable Law or if any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by any applicable Governmental Authority or any private Person challenging any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Ancillary Document as violative of any applicable Law or which would otherwise prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, the Parties shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to resolve any such objections or Actions so as to timely permit consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents, including in order to resolve such objections or Actions which, in any case if not resolved, could reasonably be expected to prevent, materially impede or materially delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby. In the event any Action is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a Governmental Authority or private Person challenging the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, or any Ancillary Document, the Parties shall, and shall cause their respective Representatives to, reasonably cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any such Action and to have vacated, lifted, reversed or overturned any Order, whether temporary, preliminary or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents.

 

(d)    Prior to the Closing, each Party shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any Consents of Governmental Authorities or other third Persons as may be necessary for the consummation by such Party or its Affiliates of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or required as a result of the execution or performance of, or consummation of the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement by such Party or its Affiliates, and the other Parties shall provide reasonable cooperation in connection with such efforts.

 

5.8    Tax Matters. Each of the Parties shall use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Merger to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. None of the Parties shall (and each of the Parties shall cause their respective Subsidiaries not to) take any action, or fail to take any action, that could reasonably be expected to cause the Merger to fail to qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code. The Parties intend to report and, except to the extent otherwise required by Law, shall report, for federal income tax purposes, the Merger as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.

 

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5.9    Further Assurances. The Parties hereto shall further cooperate with each other and use their respective commercially reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause to be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable on their part under this Agreement and applicable Laws to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as soon as reasonably practicable, including preparing and filing as soon as practicable all documentation to effect all necessary notices, reports and other filings.

 

5.10    The Registration Statement.

 

(a)    Unless the S-4 Registration Statement has been filed pursuant to Section 5.10(b), Purchaser hereby covenants and agrees to file a registration statement on Form S-3 or equivalent (“Registration Statement”) with the SEC to register the resale of the Merger Consideration Shares, no later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the Closing Date, and to use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective as promptly as possible after such filing. The Company shall provide Purchaser with such information concerning the Target Companies and their stockholders, officers, directors, employees, assets, Liabilities, condition (financial or otherwise), business and operations that may be required or appropriate for inclusion in the Registration Statement, or in any amendments or supplements thereto, which information provided by the Company shall be true and correct and not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not materially misleading.

 

(b)    The Parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the issuance of the Merger Consideration Shares pursuant to this Agreement is intended to qualify for an exemption to registration under the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D. Upon execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Purchaser and the Company shall promptly cause the offering materials for an exempt private placement of securities (the “PPM”) to be prepared. The Company shall furnish to Purchaser all information concerning the Company and its directors, officers and stockholders and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with preparation of the PPM, including the Financial Statements required by Section 5.3(b). Each of the Company and the Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects to prepare the PPM and to deliver it to the Company’s Stockholder. If either Party becomes aware prior to the Effective Time of any information that would cause any of the statements in the PPM to be false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or to omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not false or misleading, that Party shall promptly inform the other thereof and each of the Company and Purchaser shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cooperate with each other in all reasonable respects to correct the PPM. In the event, Purchaser with the advice of its legal counsel, reasonably determines that such issuance is not eligible for an exemption from registration, Purchaser shall promptly file a registration statement on Form S-4 (the “S-4 Registration Statement”) to register the Merger Consolation Shares.

 

5.11    Company Stockholder Meeting. The Company shall take, in accordance with applicable Law and its Organizational Documents, all action necessary to convene an appropriate meeting of its stockholders to consider and vote upon the adoption of this Agreement and any other matters required to be approved or adopted by the Company Stockholders for consummation of the Merger (including any adjournment or postponement, the “Company Stockholder Meeting”), as promptly as practicable after the provision by Purchaser of the PPM. The Company’s Board of Directors shall make the Company Board Recommendation at the Company Stockholder Meeting. The Company shall solicit, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain approval and adoption of this Agreement by the Company Stockholders.

 

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5.12    Public Announcements.

 

(a)    The Parties agree that during the Interim Period no public release, filing or announcement concerning this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby shall be issued by any Party or any of their Affiliates without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed), except as such release or announcement may be required by applicable Law or the rules or regulations of any securities exchange, in which case the applicable Party shall use commercially reasonable efforts to allow the other Parties reasonable time to comment on, and arrange for any required filing with respect to, such release or announcement in advance of such issuance.

 

(b)    The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the execution of this Agreement (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), issue a press release announcing the execution of this Agreement (the “Signing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Signing Press Release, the Purchaser shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Signing Filing”) with the Signing Press Release and a description of this Agreement as required by Federal Securities Laws, which the Company shall review and comment upon prior to filing (with the Company reviewing and commenting upon such Signing Filing in any event no later than the third (3rd) Business Day after the receipt of such Signing Filing from the Purchaser). The Parties shall mutually agree upon and, as promptly as practicable after the Closing (but in any event within four (4) Business Days thereafter), issue a press release announcing the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing Press Release”). Promptly after the issuance of the Closing Press Release, the Purchaser shall file a current report on Form 8-K (the “Closing Filing”) with the Closing Press Release and a description of the Closing as required by Federal Securities Laws which the Seller Representative shall review and may comment upon prior to filing. In connection with the preparation of the Signing Press Release, the Signing Filing, the Closing Filing, the Closing Press Release, or any other report, statement, filing notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any Governmental Authority or other third party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, each Party shall, upon request by any other Party, furnish the Parties with all information concerning themselves, their respective directors, officers and equity holders, and such other matters as may be reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, or any other report, statement, filing, notice or application made by or on behalf of a Party to any third party and/ or any Governmental Authority in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5.13    Confidential Information.

 

(a)    The Company hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, the Company shall, and shall cause its respective Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Purchaser Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing their obligations hereunder or thereunder, enforcing their rights hereunder or thereunder, or in furtherance of their authorized duties on behalf of the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Purchaser Confidential Information without the Purchaser’s prior written consent except as required by applicable Law; and (ii) in the event that the Company, the Seller Representative or any of their respective Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any Purchaser Confidential Information, (A) provide the Purchaser to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Purchaser or an Affiliate thereof may seek, at Purchaser’s cost, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 5.13(a), and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Purchaser waives compliance with this Section 5.13(a), furnish only that portion of such Purchaser Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised in writing by counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such Purchaser Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Company shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Purchaser or destroy (at Purchaser’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Purchaser Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that the Company and its Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or bona fide record retention policies; and provided, further, that any Purchaser Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement for so long as such Purchaser Confidential Information is retained.

 

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(b)    The Purchaser hereby agrees that during the Interim Period and, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, it shall, and shall cause its Representatives to: (i) treat and hold in strict confidence any Company Confidential Information, and will not use for any purpose (except in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents, performing its obligations hereunder or thereunder or enforcing its rights hereunder or thereunder), nor directly or indirectly disclose, distribute, publish, disseminate or otherwise make available to any third party any of the Company Confidential Information without the Company’s prior written consent; and (ii) in the event that the Purchaser or any of its Representatives, during the Interim Period or, in the event that this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article VIII, for a period of two (2) years after such termination, becomes legally compelled to disclose any Company Confidential Information, (A) provide the Company to the extent legally permitted with prompt written notice of such requirement so that the Company may seek, at the Company’s sole expense, a protective Order or other remedy or waive compliance with this Section 5.13(b) and (B) in the event that such protective Order or other remedy is not obtained, or the Company waives compliance with this Section 5.13(b), furnish only that portion of such Company Confidential Information which is legally required to be provided as advised in writing by counsel and to exercise its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain assurances that confidential treatment will be accorded such Company Confidential Information. In the event that this Agreement is terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby are not consummated, the Purchaser shall, and shall cause its Representatives to, promptly deliver to the Company or destroy (at the Purchaser’s election) any and all copies (in whatever form or medium) of Company Confidential Information and destroy all notes, memoranda, summaries, analyses, compilations and other writings related thereto or based thereon; provided, however, that the Purchaser and its Representatives shall be entitled to keep any records required by applicable Law or bona fide record retention policies; and provided, further, that any Company Confidential Information that is not returned or destroyed shall remain subject to the confidentiality obligations set forth in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Purchaser and its Representatives shall be permitted to disclose any and all Company Confidential Information to the extent required by the Federal Securities Laws.

 

5.14    Documents and Information. After the Closing Date, the Purchaser and the Company shall, and shall cause their respective Subsidiaries to, until the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date, retain all books, records and other documents pertaining to the business of the Target Companies in existence on the Closing Date and make the same available for inspection and copying by the Purchaser during normal business hours of the Company and its Subsidiaries, as applicable, upon reasonable request and upon reasonable notice. No such books, records or documents shall be destroyed after the seventh (7th) anniversary of the Closing Date by the Purchaser or its Subsidiaries (including any Target Company) without first advising the Purchaser in writing and giving the Purchaser a reasonable opportunity to obtain possession thereof. Seller Representative, for purposes of fulfilling its obligations under this Agreement, shall have access to and be permitted to keep copies of all pertinent transaction documents relative to the Merger.

 

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5.15    Directors and Officers Indemnification. The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the exculpation or indemnification rights thereunder with respect to actions or events occurring prior to or on the Effective Time for individuals who were entitled to such exculpation or indemnification prior to the Effective Time.

 

ARTICLE VI
SURVIVAL AND INDEMNIFICATION

 

6.1    Survival.

 

(a)    All representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits hereto and all certificates, documents, instruments and undertakings furnished pursuant to this Agreement) shall survive the Closing through and until and including the General Expiration Date; provided, however, that (i) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.1 (Organization and Standing), 4.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), 4.3 (Capitalization), and 4.27 (Finders and Brokers), shall survive until seven (7) years after the Closing Date and (ii) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 4.14 (Taxes and Returns), 4.19 (Benefit Plans) and 4.20 (Environmental Matters), shall each survive until sixty (60) days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. Additionally, Fraud Claims relating to the Company shall survive seven (7) years after the Closing Date. All covenants, obligations and agreements of the Company contained in this Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits hereto and all certificates, documents, instruments and undertakings furnished by the Company pursuant to this Agreement), including any indemnification obligations, shall survive the Closing and continue until fully performed in accordance with their terms.

 

(b)    The representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered by or on behalf of the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement shall survive the Closing through and until and including the General Expiration Date. All covenants, obligations and agreements of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits hereto and all certificates, documents, instruments and undertakings furnished by the Purchaser pursuant to this Agreement), including any indemnification obligations, shall survive the Closing and continue until fully performed in accordance with their terms.

 

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6.2    Indemnification.

 

(a)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VI and as acknowledged in the Letter of Transmittal executed by each Company Stockholder, from and after the Closing, the Company Stockholders and their respective successors and assigns (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Agreement, a “Company Indemnifying Party”) will severally (based on their Pro Rata Share) indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Purchaser, its Affiliates and each of their respective shareholders, officers, directors, managers, employees, successors and permitted assigns (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Agreement, a “Purchaser Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all losses, Actions, Orders, Liabilities, damages (including consequential damages), diminution in value, Taxes, interest, penalties, Liens, amounts paid in settlement, costs and expenses (including reasonable expenses of investigation and court costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses), (any of the foregoing, a “Loss”) paid, suffered or incurred by, or imposed upon, any Purchaser Indemnified Party to the extent arising in whole or in part out of or resulting directly or indirectly from (whether or not involving a Third Party Claim): (a) the breach of any representation or warranty made by the Company set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by the Company, any Company Stockholder or the Seller Representative; (b) the breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of the Company set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by the Company, any Company Stockholder or the Seller Representative; (c) any Action by Person(s) who were holders of equity securities of a Target Company, including options, warrants, convertible debt or other convertible securities or other rights to acquire equity securities of a Target Company, prior to the Closing arising out of the sale, purchase, termination, cancellation, expiration, redemption or conversion of any such securities; ***.

 

(b)    Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VI, from and after the Closing, the Purchaser and its successors and assigns (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Agreement, a “Purchaser Indemnifying Party” and, together with the Company Indemnifying Party, the “Indemnifying Party”) will indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company, its Affiliates and each of their respective shareholders, officers, directors, managers, employees, successors and permitted assigns (each, with respect to any claim made pursuant to this Agreement, a “Company Indemnified Party” and, together with the Purchaser Indemnified Party, the “Indemnified Party”) from and against any and all Losses paid, suffered or incurred by, or imposed upon, any Company Indemnified Party to the extent arising in whole or in part out of or resulting directly or indirectly from (whether or not involving a Third Party Claim): (a) the breach of any representation or warranty made by the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by the Purchaser or (b) the breach of any covenant or agreement on the part of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by the Purchaser.

 

6.3    Limitations and General Indemnification Provisions.

 

(a)    Except as otherwise expressly provided in this this Article VI, the Indemnified Parties will not be entitled to receive any indemnification payments under Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.2(b) unless and until the aggregate amount of Losses incurred by the Indemnified Parties for which they are otherwise entitled to indemnification under this Article VI exceeds Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (the “Basket”), in which case the Indemnifying Parties shall be obligated to the Indemnified Parties for the amount of all Losses of the applicable Indemnified Parties from the first dollar of Losses of the Indemnified Parties required to reach the Basket; provided, however, that the Basket shall not apply to (i) indemnification claims for breaches of any of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Sections 4.1 (Organization and Standing), 4.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), 4.3 (Capitalization), and 4.27 (Finders and Brokers), or (ii) indemnification claims for breaches of any of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser contained in Sections 3.14.1 (Organization and Standing), 3.2 (Authorization; Binding Agreement), 3.5 (Capitalization), and 3.12 (Finders and Brokers) or (iii) Fraud Claims.

 

(b)    The maximum aggregate amount of indemnification payments to which the Company Indemnifying Parties will be obligated to pay in the aggregate in connection with Article IV (excluding Fraud Claims) shall not exceed the amount of the General Escrow Property in the Escrow Accounts at such time, *** and in the case of Fraud Claims, shall not exceed an amount equal to the Merger Consideration actually paid (based on the Purchaser Stock Price).

 

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(c)    The maximum aggregate amount of indemnification payments to which the Purchaser Indemnifying Parties will be obligated to pay in the aggregate (excluding Fraud Claims) shall not exceed an amount equal to 5% of the value of the Merger Consideration, and in the case of Fraud Claims, shall not exceed an amount equal to the Merger Consideration actually paid (based on the Purchaser Stock Price).

 

(d)    In no event shall any Indemnified Party be entitled to recover or make a claim for any amounts in respect of, and in no event shall Losses be deemed to include any punitive, special, consequential or exemplary damages except to the extent actually paid to a third party in a Third Party Claim.

 

(e)    Solely for purposes of determining the amount of Losses under this Article VI (and, for the avoidance of doubt, not for purposes of determining whether there has been a breach giving rise to the indemnification claim), all of the representations, warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement (including the disclosure schedules hereto) or any Ancillary Document that are qualified by materiality, Material Adverse Effect or words of similar import or effect will be deemed to have been made without any such qualification.

 

(f)    The amount of any Losses suffered or incurred by any Indemnified Party shall be reduced by the amount of any insurance proceeds paid to the Indemnified Party or any Affiliate thereof as a reimbursement with respect to such Losses (and no right of subrogation shall accrue to any insurer hereunder, except to the extent that such waiver of subrogation would prejudice any applicable insurance coverage), net of the costs of collection and the increases in insurance premiums resulting from such Loss or insurance payment.

 

6.4    Indemnification Procedures.

 

(a)    The Seller Representative shall have the sole right to act on behalf of the Company Indemnifying Parties with respect to any indemnification claims made pursuant to this Article VI, including defending and settling any indemnification claims hereunder and receiving any notices on behalf of the Company Indemnifying Parties.

 

(b)    In order to make a claim for indemnification hereunder, the Purchaser on behalf of a Purchaser Indemnified Party or the Seller Representative on behalf of a Company Indemnified Party (as applicable, the “Notifying Person”) must provide written notice (a “Claim Notice”) of such claim to (A) the Seller Representative, in the case of a claim on behalf of a Purchaser Indemnified Party or (B) the Purchaser, in the case of a claim on behalf of a Company Indemnified Party (such Person entitled to receive notice under clauses (A) or (B) as applicable), the “Notified Person”) (and to the Escrow Agent in the case of a Claim Notice on behalf of a Purchaser Indemnified Party), which Claim Notice shall include (i) a reasonable description of the facts and circumstances which relate to the subject matter of such indemnification claim to the extent then known and (ii) the amount of Losses suffered by the Indemnified Party in connection with the claim to the extent known or reasonably estimable (provided, that the Notifying Person, may thereafter in good faith adjust the amount of Losses with respect to the claim by providing a revised Claim Notice to the Notified Person and the Escrow Agent in the case of a Claim Notice on behalf of a Purchaser Indemnified Party); provided, that the copy of any Claim Notice provided to the Escrow Agent shall be redacted for any confidential or proprietary information of the Indemnifying Party or the Indemnified Party described in clause (i).

 

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(c)    In the case of any claim for indemnification under this Article VI arising from a claim of a third party (including any Governmental Authority) (a “Third Party Claim”), the Notifying Person must give a Claim Notice with respect to such Third Party Claim to the Notified Person promptly (but in no event later than thirty (30) days) after the Indemnified Party’s receipt of notice of such Third Party Claim; provided, that the failure to give such notice will not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its indemnification obligations except to the extent that the defense of such Third Party Claim is materially and irrevocably prejudiced by the failure to give such notice. The Notified Person will have the right to defend and to direct the defense against any such Third Party Claim in its name and at its expense, and with counsel selected by the Notified Person, unless (i) the Notified Person fails to acknowledge fully to the Notifying Person the obligations of the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party within twenty (20) days after receiving notice of such Third Party Claim or contests, in whole or in part, its indemnification obligations therefor or (ii) at any time while such Third Party Claim is pending, (A) there is a conflict of interest between the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party in the conduct of such defense, (B) the applicable third party alleges a Fraud Claim, (C) such claim is criminal in nature, could reasonably be expected to lead to criminal proceedings, or seeks an injunction or other equitable relief against the Indemnified Party or (D) the amount of the Third Party Claim against the Company exceeds or is reasonably expected to exceed the value of the remaining Escrow Property in the applicable Escrow Account (after deducting any amounts for pending but unresolved indemnification claims and resolved but unpaid indemnification claims). If the Notified Person on behalf of the Indemnifying Party elects, and is entitled, to compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, it will within twenty (20) days (or sooner, if the nature of the Third Party Claim so requires) notify the Notifying Person of its intent to do so, and the Notifying Person and the Indemnified Party will, at the request and expense of the Indemnifying Party, cooperate in the defense of such Third Party Claim. If the Notified Person elects not to, or at any time is not entitled under this Section 6.4 to, compromise or defend such Third Party Claim, fails to notify the Notifying Person of its election as herein provided or refuses to acknowledge or contests its obligation to indemnify under this Agreement, the Notifying Person on behalf of the Indemnified Party may pay, compromise or defend such Third Party Claim. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the Indemnifying Party will have no indemnification obligations with respect to any such Third Party Claim which is settled by the Indemnified Party or the Notifying Person without the prior written consent of the Notified Person on behalf of the Indemnifying Party (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned); provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the Indemnified Party will not be required to refrain from paying any Third Party Claim which has matured by a final, non-appealable Order, nor will it be required to refrain from paying any Third Party Claim where the delay in paying such claim would result in the foreclosure of a Lien upon any of the property or assets then held by the Indemnified Party or where any delay in payment would cause the Indemnified Party material economic loss. The Notified Person’s right on behalf of the Indemnifying Party to direct the defense will include the right to compromise or enter into an agreement settling any Third Party Claim; provided, that no such compromise or settlement will obligate the Indemnified Party to agree to any settlement that that requires the taking or restriction of any action (including the payment of money and competition restrictions) by the Indemnified Party other than the execution of a release for such Third Party Claim and/or agreeing to be subject to customary confidentiality obligations in connection therewith, except with the prior written consent of the Notifying Person on behalf of the Indemnified Party (such consent to be withheld, conditioned or delayed only for a good faith reason). Notwithstanding the Notified Person’s right on behalf of the Indemnifying Party to compromise or settle in accordance with the immediately preceding sentence, the Notified Person may not settle or compromise any Third Party Claim over the objection of the Notifying Person on behalf of the Indemnified Party; provided, however, that consent by the Notifying Person on behalf of the Indemnified Party to settlement or compromise will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. The Notifying Person on behalf of the Indemnified Party will have the right to participate in the defense of any Third Party Claim with counsel selected by it subject to the Notified Party’s right on behalf of the Indemnifying Party to direct the defense.

 

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(d)    With respect to any direct indemnification claim that is not a Third Party Claim, the Notified Person will have a period of thirty (30) days after receipt of the Claim Notice to respond thereto. If the Notified Person does not respond within such thirty (30) days, the Notified Person will be deemed to have accepted responsibility for the Losses set forth in such Claim Notice subject to the limitations on indemnification set forth in this Article VI and will have no further right to contest the validity of such Claim Notice. If the Notified Person responds within such thirty (30) days and rejects such claim in whole or in part, the Indemnified Party will be free to pursue such remedies as may be available under this Agreement, any Ancillary Documents or applicable Law.

 

6.5    Indemnification Payments. Any indemnification claims against the Company (other than Fraud Claims ***) shall be satisfied solely by the General Escrow Property (with such indemnification first be applied against the General Escrow Shares and then against any other General Escrow Property), and no Company Indemnifying Party shall be required to make any out-of-pocket payment for indemnification other than in connection with Fraud Claims, which shall not exceed an amount equal to the Merger Consideration actually paid (based on the Purchaser Stock Price); ***. Any indemnification obligation of a Company Indemnifying Party under this Article VI will be paid within five (5) Business Days after the determination of such obligation in accordance with Section 6.3(a) (and the Purchaser and the Seller Representative will provide or cause to be provided to the Escrow Agent any written instructions or other information or documents required by the Escrow Agent to do so). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, any indemnification payments by the Company Indemnifying Parties will be made to Purchaser or its successors. With respect to any indemnification payment, the value of each Escrow Share or any other share of Purchaser Common Stock for purposes of determining the indemnification payment shall be the Purchaser Stock Price on the date that the indemnification claim is finally determined in accordance with this Article VI. Any Escrow Shares or other shares of Purchaser Common Stock received by Purchaser as an indemnification payment shall be promptly cancelled by Purchaser after its receipt thereof. Without limiting any of the foregoing or any other rights of the Purchaser Indemnified Parties under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document or at law or equity, in the event that an Indemnifying Party of the Company fails or refuses to promptly indemnify an Indemnified Party as provided herein or otherwise fails or refuses to make any payments required under any Ancillary Document, in either case, where it is established that such Indemnifying Party of the Company is obligated to provide such indemnification or to make such payment, the applicable Indemnified Party shall, in its sole discretion, be entitled to claim a portion of the shares of Purchaser Common Stock then owned by such Indemnifying Party up to an amount equal in value (based on the then current Purchaser Stock Price) to the amount owed by such Indemnifying Party. In the event that such Company Indemnifying Party fails to promptly transfer any such shares of Purchaser Common Stock pursuant to this Section 6.5, the Purchaser shall be and hereby is authorized as the attorney-in-fact for such Company Indemnifying Party to transfer such shares of Purchaser Common Stock to the proper recipient thereof as required by this Section 6.5, and may transfer such shares of Purchaser Common Stock and cancel the stock certificates for such shares on the books and records of Purchaser and issue new stock certificates to such transferee and may instruct its agents and any exchanges on which Purchaser Common Stock is listed or traded to do the same.

 

6.6    Exclusive Remedy. From and after the Closing, except with respect to Fraud Claims or claims seeking injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief (including pursuant to Section 9.6), or claims under the Ancillary Documents, indemnification pursuant to this Article VI shall be the sole and exclusive remedy for the Parties with respect to matters arising under this Agreement of any kind or nature, including for any misrepresentation or breach of any warranty, covenant, or other provision contained in this Agreement or in any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant to this Agreement or otherwise relating to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the negotiation and discussion thereof.

 

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ARTICLE VII
CLOSING CONDITIONS

 

7.1    Conditions to Each Partys Obligations’. The obligations of each Party to consummate the Merger and the other transactions described herein shall be subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (where permissible) by the Company and the Purchaser of the following conditions:

 

(a)    Required Company Stockholder Approval. The Company Stockholder Meeting shall have been held in accordance with the DGCL and the Company’s Organizational Documents, and at such meeting, the requisite vote of the Company Stockholders (including any separate class or series vote that is required, whether pursuant to the Company’s Organizational Documents, any stockholder agreement or otherwise) shall have authorized, approved and consented to, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which the Company is or is required to be a party or bound, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including the Merger (the “Required Company Stockholder Approval”).

 

(b)    Antitrust Laws. Any waiting period (and any extension thereof) applicable to the consummation of this Agreement under any Antitrust Laws shall have expired or been terminated.

 

(c)    Requisite Regulatory Approvals. All Consents required to be obtained from or made with any Governmental Authority in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been obtained or made.

 

(d)    Requisite Consents. The Consents required to be obtained from or made with any third Person (other than a Governmental Authority) in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement that are set forth in Schedule 7.1(d) shall have each been obtained or made.

 

(e)    No Adverse Law or Order. No Governmental Authority shall have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any Law (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent) or Order that is then in effect and which has the effect of making the transactions or agreements contemplated by this Agreement illegal or which otherwise prevents or prohibits consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

7.2    Conditions to Obligations of the Company. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7.1, the obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (by the Company) of the following conditions:

 

(a)    Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties of the Purchaser set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Purchaser pursuant hereto shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (i) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been accurate as of such date), and (ii) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on, or with respect to, the Purchaser.

 

(b)    Agreements and Covenants. The Purchaser shall have performed in all material respects all of the Purchaser’s obligations and complied in all material respects with all of the Purchaser’s agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)    No Purchaser Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Purchaser since the date of this Agreement which is continuing and uncured.

 

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(d)    Closing Deliveries.

 

(i)    Officer Certificate. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Purchaser in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.2(a), 7.2(b) and 7.2(c).

 

(ii)    Secretary Certificate. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a certificate from its secretary or other executive officer certifying as to, and attaching, (A) copies of the Purchaser’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date, (B) the resolutions of the Purchaser’s board of directors authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or by which it is bound, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and (C) the incumbency of officers authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which the Purchaser is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.

 

(iii)    Good Standing. The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Company a good standing certificate (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for the Purchaser certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority of the Purchaser’s jurisdiction of organization, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdictions.

 

(iv)    Escrow Agreement. The Company shall have received a copy of the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Purchaser and the Escrow Agent.

 

(v)    Tenney Employment Agreement. The Company shall have received an employment agreement with Maurice Tenney in substantially the form attached as Exhibit C hereto (the “Tenney Employment Agreement”), duly executed by the Purchaser.

 

7.3    Conditions to Obligations of the Purchaser. In addition to the conditions specified in Section 7.1, the obligations of the Purchaser and Merger Sub to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction or written waiver (by the Purchaser) of the following conditions:

 

(a)    Representations and Warranties. All of the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement and in any certificate delivered by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto shall be true and correct on and as of the date of this Agreement and on and as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date, except for (i) those representations and warranties that address matters only as of a particular date (which representations and warranties shall have been accurate as of such date), and (ii) any failures to be true and correct that (without giving effect to any qualifications or limitations as to materiality or Material Adverse Effect), individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on, or with respect to, the Target Companies, taken as a whole.

 

(b)    Agreements and Covenants. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all of its obligations and complied in all material respects with all of its agreements and covenants under this Agreement to be performed or complied with by it on or prior to the Closing Date.

 

(c)    No Material Adverse Effect. No Material Adverse Effect shall have occurred with respect to the Target Companies taken as a whole since the date of this Agreement which is continuing and uncured.

 

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(d)    Certain Ancillary Documents. Each Non-Competition Agreement shall be in full force and effect in accordance with the terms thereof as of the Closing.

 

(e)    Exemption from Registration or Effective Registration Statement. Purchaser shall have received evidence reasonably acceptable to Purchaser and its legal counsel that the Merger Consideration Shares shall qualify for an exemption from registration under the Securities Act or the S-4 Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the SEC and shall remain effective as of the Closing, and no stop order or similar order shall be in effect with respect to the Registration Statement.

 

(f)    Closing Deliveries.

 

(i)    Officer Certificate. The Purchaser shall have received a certificate from the Company, dated as the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company in such capacity, certifying as to the satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections 7.3(a), 7.3(b) and 7.3(c)

 

(ii)    Secretary Certificate. The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser a certificate executed by the Company’s secretary certifying as to the validity and effectiveness of, and attaching, (A) copies of the Company’s Organizational Documents as in effect as of the Closing Date (immediately prior to the Effective Time), (B) the requisite resolutions of the Company’s board of directors authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and each Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party or bound, and the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the adoption of the Surviving Corporation Organizational Documents, and recommending the approval and adoption of the same by the Company Stockholders at a duly called meeting of stockholders, (C) evidence that the Required Company Stockholder Approval has been obtained and (D) the incumbency of officers of the Company authorized to execute this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to which the Company is or is required to be a party or otherwise bound.

 

(iii)    Good Standing. The Company shall have delivered to the Purchaser good standing certificates (or similar documents applicable for such jurisdictions) for each Target Company certified as of a date no earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the Closing Date from the proper Governmental Authority of the Target Company’s jurisdiction of organization, in each case to the extent that good standing certificates or similar documents are generally available in such jurisdictions.

 

(iv)    Employment Agreements. The Purchaser shall have received Tenney Employment Agreement, effective as of the Closing, in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Purchaser, such employment agreement duly executed by the parties thereto.

 

(v)    Escrow Agreement. The Purchaser shall have received a copy of the Escrow Agreement, duly executed by the Seller Representative and the Escrow Agent.

 

(vi)    Transmittal Documents. The Exchange Agent shall have received from each Company Stockholder the Transmittal Documents, each in form reasonably acceptable for transfer on the books of the Company.

 

(vii)    Company Convertible Securities. The Purchaser shall have received evidence reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser that the Company shall have terminated, extinguished and cancelled in full any outstanding Company Convertible Securities or commitments therefor.

 

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(viii)    Resignations. Subject to the requirements of Section 5.18, the Purchaser shall have received written resignations, effective as of the Closing, of each of the directors and officers of the Company as requested by the Purchaser prior to the Closing.

 

(ix)    Non-Competition Agreements. The Purchaser shall have received Non-Competition Agreements from the Significant Company Holders, duly executed by each such Significant Company Holder and the Company.

 

(x)    Termination of Certain Contracts. The Purchaser shall have received evidence reasonably acceptable to the Purchaser that the Contracts involving the Target Companies and/or Company Stockholders or other Related Persons set forth on Schedule 7.3(f)(x) shall have been terminated with no further obligation or Liability of the Target Companies thereunder.

 

7.4    Frustration of Conditions. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, no Party may rely on the failure of any condition set forth in this Article VII to be satisfied if such failure was caused by the failure of such Party or its Affiliates (or with respect to the Company, any Target Company or Company Stockholder) failure to comply with or perform any of its covenants or obligations set forth in this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION AND EXPENSES

 

8.1    Termination. This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing as follows:

 

(a)    by mutual written consent of the Purchaser and the Company;

 

(b)    by written notice by the Purchaser or the Company if any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VII have not been satisfied or waived by June 1, 2021 (the “Outside Date”); provided, however, the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 8.1(b) shall not be available to a Party if the breach or violation by such Party or its Affiliates of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement was the cause of, or resulted in, the failure of the Closing to occur on or before the Outside Date;

 

(c)    by written notice by either the Purchaser or the Company if a Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an Order or taken any other action permanently restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and such Order or other action has become final and non-appealable; provided, however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(c) shall not be available to a Party if the failure by such Party or its Affiliates to comply with any provision of this Agreement has been a substantial cause of, or substantially resulted in, such action by such Governmental Authority;

 

(d)    by written notice by the Company to Purchaser, if (i) there has been a breach by the Purchaser of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of the Purchaser shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.2(a) or Section 7.2(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to the Purchaser or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that the Company shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(d) if at such time the Company is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;

 

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(e)    by written notice by the Purchaser to the Company, if (i) there has been a breach by the Company of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained in this Agreement, or if any representation or warranty of such Parties shall have become untrue or inaccurate, in any case, which would result in a failure of a condition set forth in Section 7.3(a) or Section 7.3(b) to be satisfied (treating the Closing Date for such purposes as the date of this Agreement or, if later, the date of such breach), and (ii) the breach or inaccuracy is incapable of being cured or is not cured within the earlier of (A) twenty (20) days after written notice of such breach or inaccuracy is provided to the Company or (B) the Outside Date; provided, that the Purchaser shall not have the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section 8.1(e) if at such time the Purchaser is in material uncured breach of this Agreement;

 

(f)    by written notice by the Purchaser to the Company, if there shall have been a Material Adverse Effect on the Target Companies taken as a whole following the date of this Agreement which is uncured and continuing; or

 

(g)    by written notice by either the Purchaser or the Company to the other, if the Company Stockholder Meeting is held (including any adjournment or postponement thereof) and has concluded, the Company Stockholders have duly voted, and the Required Company Stockholder Approval was not obtained.

 

(h)    by Purchaser by written notice to the Company, if at any time the Company’s board of directors (or a committee thereof) has effected an Adverse Recommendation Change; or

 

(i)    by the Company by written notice to the Purchaser, at any time prior to receiving the Required Company Stockholder Approval, if (i) the Company has received a Superior Proposal and the Company’s board of directors authorized the Company to enter into an Alternative Transaction Agreement to consummate a transaction contemplated by that Superior Proposal and (ii) the Company has complied with Section 5.4 with respect to such Superior Proposal.

 

8.2    Effect of Termination. This Agreement may only be terminated in the circumstances described in Section 8.1 and pursuant to a written notice delivered by the applicable Party to the other applicable Parties, which sets forth the basis for such termination, including the provision of Section 8.1 under which such termination is made. In the event of the valid termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void, and there shall be no Liability on the part of any Party or any of their respective Representatives, and all rights and obligations of each Party shall cease, except: (i) Sections 5.12, 5.13, 8.3, 8.4, and this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and (ii) nothing herein shall relieve any Party from Liability for any willful breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation under this Agreement or any Fraud Claim against such Party, in either case, prior to termination of this Agreement. Without limiting the foregoing, and except as provided in Sections 8.3 and this Section 8.2 and subject to the right to seek injunctions, specific performance or other equitable relief in accordance with Section 9.6, the Parties’ sole right prior to the Closing with respect to any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement contained in this Agreement by another Party or with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be the right, if applicable, to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1.

 

8.3    Fees and Expenses. Subject to Sections 8.4, and 9.13 all Expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be paid by the Party incurring such expenses. As used in this Agreement, “Expenses” shall include all out-of-pocket expenses (including all fees and expenses of counsel, accountants, investment bankers, financial advisors, financing sources, experts and consultants to a Party hereto or any of its Affiliates) incurred by a Party or on its behalf in connection with or related to the authorization, preparation, negotiation, execution or performance of this Agreement or any Ancillary Document related hereto and all other matters related to the consummation of this Agreement.

 

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8.4    Termination Fee.

 

(a)    Notwithstanding Section 8.3 above, in the event that there is a valid and effective termination of this Agreement by Purchaser pursuant to Section 8.1(h) or by the Company pursuant to Section 8.1(i) then the Company shall pay to Purchaser a termination fee equal to *** ($***) (such amount, the “Termination Fee”).

 

(b)    The Termination Fees shall be paid by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated in writing by Purchaser. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, the Parties expressly acknowledge and agree that, with respect to any termination of this Agreement in circumstances where a Termination Fee is payable, the payment of the Termination Fee shall, in light of the difficulty of accurately determining actual damages, constitute liquidated damages with respect to any claim for damages or any other claim which Purchaser would otherwise be entitled to assert against the Company or any of its Affiliates or any of their respective assets, or against any of their respective directors, officers, employees or shareholders with respect to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and shall constitute the sole and exclusive remedy available to Purchaser, provided, that the foregoing shall not limit (x) the Company from Liability for any Fraud Claim relating to events occurring prior to termination of this Agreement or (y) the rights of Purchaser or the Company to seek specific performance or other injunctive relief in lieu of terminating this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS

 

9.1    Notices. All notices, consents, waivers and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given when delivered (i) in person, (ii) by facsimile or other electronic means (including email), with affirmative confirmation of receipt, (iii) one (1) Business Day after being sent, if sent by reputable, nationally recognized overnight courier service or (iv) three (3) Business Days after being mailed, if sent by registered or certified mail, pre-paid and return receipt requested, in each case to the applicable Party at the following addresses (or at such other address for a Party as shall be specified by like notice):

 

If to the Purchaser or Merger Sub at or prior to the Closing, to:

BioLife Solutions, Inc.
303 Monte Villa Parkway, Suite 310
Attn: Roderick de Greef
Telephone No.: (425) 402-1400

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11th Floor
New York, New York 10105
Attn: Barry I. Grossman, Esq.
Facsimile No.: (212) 370-7889
Telephone No.: (212) 370-1300
Email: ***@***

 

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If to the Company, to:

Global Cooling, Inc.
6000 Poston Road

Athens, Ohio USA 45701
Attn: Maurice H. Tenney
Facsimile No.: (740) 274-7901

Telephone No.: (978) 821-6315
Email: ***@***

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
191 W Nationwide Blvd.

Suite 300

Columbus, OH 43215
Attn: Christian Gonzalez
Facsimile No.: (614) 628-6890
Telephone No.: (614) 628-6921
Email: ***@***

If to the Seller Representative to:

Ohio Innovation Fund
 629 N High St 4th Floor Columbus, OH 43215
Attn: William Baumel
Telephone No.:  (408) 550-534
Email: ***@***

and

Albert Vierling

9 Old Military Road

Hilton Head, SC 29928

Telephone No.: (513) 543-8406

Email: ***@***

with a copy (which will not constitute notice) to:

Dinsmore & Shohl LLP
191 W Nationwide Blvd.

Suite 300

Columbus, OH 43215
Attn: Christian Gonzalez
Facsimile No.: (614) 628-6890
Telephone No.: (614) 628-6921
Email: ***@***

 

9.2    Binding Effect; Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns. This Agreement shall not be assigned by operation of Law or otherwise without the prior written consent of the Purchaser and the Company (and after the Closing, the Purchaser and the Seller Representative), and any assignment without such consent shall be null and void; provided that no such assignment shall relieve the assigning Party of its obligations hereunder.

 

9.3    Third Parties. Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any instrument or document executed by any party in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall create any rights in, or be deemed to have been executed for the benefit of, any Person that is not a Party hereto or thereto or a successor or permitted assign of such a Party.

 

9.4    Governing Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and enforced in accordance with the Laws of the State of Delaware without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof. All Actions arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be heard and determined exclusively in any state or federal court located in Delaware (or in any appellate court thereof) (the “Specified Courts”). Each Party hereto hereby (a) submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of any Specified Court for the purpose of any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement brought by any Party hereto and (b) irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert by way of motion, defense or otherwise, in any such Action, any claim that it is not subject personally to the jurisdiction of the above-named courts, that its property is exempt or immune from attachment or execution, that the Action is brought in an inconvenient forum, that the venue of the Action is improper, or that this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may not be enforced in or by any Specified Court. Each Party agrees that a final judgment in any Action shall be conclusive and may be enforced in other jurisdictions by suit on the judgment or in any other manner provided by Law. Each Party irrevocably consents to the service of the summons and complaint and any other process in any other Action relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, on behalf of itself, or its property, by personal delivery of copies of such process to such Party at the applicable address set forth in Section 9.1. Nothing in this Section 9.4 shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner permitted by Law.

 

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9.5    WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY WITH RESPECT TO ANY ACTION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY. EACH PARTY HERETO (A) CERTIFIES THAT NO REPRESENTATIVE OF ANY OTHER PARTY HAS REPRESENTED, EXPRESSLY OR OTHERWISE, THAT SUCH OTHER PARTY WOULD NOT, IN THE EVENT OF ANY ACTION, SEEK TO ENFORCE THAT FOREGOING WAIVER AND (B) ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT AND THE OTHER PARTIES HERETO HAVE BEEN INDUCED TO ENTER INTO THIS AGREEMENT BY, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MUTUAL WAIVERS AND CERTIFICATIONS IN THIS SECTION 9.5.

 

9.6    Specific Performance. Each Party acknowledges that the rights of each Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby are unique, recognizes and affirms that in the event of a breach of this Agreement by any Party, money damages may be inadequate and the non-breaching Parties may have not adequate remedy at law, and agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed by an applicable Party in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached. Accordingly, each Party shall be entitled to seek an injunction or restraining order to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to seek to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof, without the requirement to post any bond or other security or to prove that money damages would be inadequate, this being in addition to any other right or remedy to which such Party may be entitled under this Agreement, at law or in equity.

 

9.7    Severability. In case any provision in this Agreement shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable in a jurisdiction, such provision shall be modified or deleted, as to the jurisdiction involved, only to the extent necessary to render the same valid, legal and enforceable, and the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions hereof shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby nor shall the validity, legality or enforceability of such provision be affected thereby in any other jurisdiction. Upon such determination that any term or other provision is invalid, illegal or incapable of being enforced, the Parties will substitute for any invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision a suitable and equitable provision that carries out, so far as may be valid, legal and enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid, illegal or unenforceable provision.

 

9.8    Amendment. This Agreement may be amended, supplemented or modified only by execution of a written instrument signed by the Purchaser, the Company and the Seller Representative.

 

9.9    Waiver. The Purchaser on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, the Company on behalf of itself and its Affiliates, and the Seller Representative on behalf of itself and the Company Stockholders, may in its sole discretion (i) extend the time for the performance of any obligation or other act of any other non-Affiliated Party hereto, (ii) waive any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties by such other non-Affiliated Party contained herein or in any document delivered pursuant hereto and (iii) waive compliance by such other non-Affiliated Party with any covenant or condition contained herein. Any such extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed by the Party or Parties to be bound thereby (including by the Purchaser or the Seller Representative in lieu of such Party to the extent provided in this Agreement). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no failure or delay by a Party in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any other right hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any waiver of any provision of this Agreement after the Closing shall also require the prior written consent of the Purchaser.

 

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9.10    Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the documents or instruments referred to herein, including any exhibits and schedules attached hereto, which exhibits and schedules are incorporated herein by reference, together with the Ancillary Documents, embody the entire agreement and understanding of the Parties hereto in respect of the subject matter contained herein. There are no restrictions, promises, representations, warranties, covenants or undertakings, other than those expressly set forth or referred to herein or the documents or instruments referred to herein, which collectively supersede all prior agreements and the understandings among the Parties with respect to the subject matter contained herein.

 

9.11    Interpretation. The table of contents and the Article and Section headings contained in this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the agreement of the Parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. In this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires: (a) any pronoun used shall include the corresponding masculine, feminine or neuter forms, and words in the singular, including any defined terms, include the plural and vice versa; (b) reference to any Person includes such Person’s successors and assigns but, if applicable, only if such successors and assigns are permitted by this Agreement, and reference to a Person in a particular capacity excludes such Person in any other capacity; (c) any accounting term used and not otherwise defined in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document has the meaning assigned to such term in accordance with GAAP; (d) “including” (and with correlative meaning “include”) means including without limiting the generality of any description preceding or succeeding such term and shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “without limitation”; (e) the words “herein,” “hereto,” and “hereby” and other words of similar import shall be deemed in each case to refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular Section or other subdivision of this Agreement; (f) the word “if” and other words of similar import when used herein shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the phrase “and only if”; (g) the term “or” means “and/or”; (h) any reference to the term “ordinary course” or “ordinary course of business” shall be deemed in each case to be followed by the words “consistent with past practice”; (i) any agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order defined or referred to herein or in any agreement or instrument that is referred to herein means such agreement, instrument, insurance policy, Law or Order as from time to time amended, modified or supplemented, including (in the case of agreements or instruments) by waiver or consent and (in the case of statutes, regulations, rules or orders) by succession of comparable successor statutes, regulations, rules or orders and references to all attachments thereto and instruments incorporated therein; (j) except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement to the words “Section,” “Article”, “Schedule” and “Exhibit” are intended to refer to Sections, Articles, Schedules and Exhibits to this Agreement; and (k) the term “Dollars” or “$” means United States dollars. Any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s directors shall include any member of such Person’s governing body and any reference in this Agreement to a Person’s officers shall include any Person filling a substantially similar position for such Person. Any reference in this Agreement or any Ancillary Document to a Person’s shareholders or stockholders shall include any applicable owners of the equity interests of such Person, in whatever form, including with respect to the Purchaser its stockholders under the DGCL, as then applicable, or its Organizational Documents. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. Consequently, in the event an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted jointly by the Parties hereto, and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any provision of this Agreement. To the extent that any Contract, document, certificate or instrument is represented and warranted to by the Company to be given, delivered, provided or made available by the Company, in order for such Contract, document, certificate or instrument to have been deemed to have been given, delivered, provided and made available to the Purchaser or its Representatives, such Contract, document, certificate or instrument shall have been posted to the electronic data site maintained on behalf of the Company for the benefit of the Purchaser and its Representatives and the Purchaser and its Representatives have been given access to the electronic folders containing such information.

 

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9.12    Counterparts. This Agreement and each Ancillary Document may be executed and delivered (including by facsimile or other electronic transmission) in one or more counterparts, and by the different Parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when executed shall be deemed to be an original but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

 

9.13    Seller Representative.

 

(a)    Each Company Stockholder, by delivery of a Letter of Transmittal, on behalf of itself and its successors and assigns, hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint Albert Vierling and William Baumel, collectively in their capacity as the Seller Representative, as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of such Persons with full powers of substitution to act in the name, place and stead of thereof with respect to the performance on behalf of such Person under the terms and provisions of this Agreement and the Ancillary Documents to which the Seller Representative is a party or otherwise has rights in such capacity (together with this Agreement, the “Seller Representative Documents”), as the same may be from time to time amended, and to do or refrain from doing all such further acts and things, and to execute all such documents on behalf of such Person, if any, as the Seller Representative will deem necessary or appropriate in connection with any of the transactions contemplated under the Seller Representative Documents, including: (i) managing, controlling, defending and settling on behalf of an Indemnifying Party any indemnification claims against any of them under Article VI, including controlling, defending, managing, settling and participating in any Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 6.4(c); (ii) acting on behalf of such Person under the Escrow Agreement; (iii) terminating, amending or waiving on behalf of such Person any provision of any Seller Representative Document (provided, that any such action, if material to the rights and obligations of the Company Stockholders in the reasonable judgment of the Seller Representative, will be taken in the same manner with respect to all Company Stockholders unless otherwise agreed by each Company Stockholder who is subject to any disparate treatment of a potentially material and adverse nature); (iv) signing on behalf of such Person any releases or other documents with respect to any dispute or remedy arising under any Seller Representative Document; (v) employing and obtaining the advice of legal counsel, accountants and other professional advisors as the Seller Representative, in its reasonable discretion, deems necessary or advisable in the performance of its duties as the Seller Representative and to rely on their advice and counsel; (vi) incurring and paying reasonable costs and expenses, including fees of brokers, attorneys and accountants incurred pursuant to the transactions contemplated hereby, and any other reasonable fees and expenses allocable or in any way relating to such transaction or any indemnification claim, whether incurred prior or subsequent to Closing; (vii) receiving all or any portion of the consideration provided to the Company Stockholders under this Agreement and to distribute the same to the Company Stockholders in accordance with their Pro Rata Share; and (viii) otherwise enforcing the rights and obligations of any such Persons under any Seller Representative Document, including giving and receiving all notices and communications hereunder or thereunder on behalf of such Person. All decisions and actions by the Seller Representative, including any agreement between the Seller Representative and the Purchaser, the Purchaser or any Indemnified Party relating to the defense or settlement of any claims for which an Indemnifying Party may be required to indemnify an Indemnified Party pursuant to Article VI, shall be binding upon each Company Stockholder and their respective successors and assigns, and neither they nor any other Party shall have the right to object, dissent, protest or otherwise contest the same. The provisions of this Section 9.13 are irrevocable and coupled with an interest. The Seller Representative hereby accepts its appointment and authorization as the Seller Representative under this Agreement.

 

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(b)    Any other Person, including the Purchaser, the Company and the Indemnified Parties and the Indemnifying Parties may conclusively and absolutely rely, without inquiry, upon any actions of the Seller Representative as the acts of the Company Stockholders under any Seller Representative Documents. The Purchaser, the Company and each Indemnified Party and Indemnifying Party shall be entitled to rely conclusively on the instructions and decisions of the Seller Representative as to (i) the settlement of any indemnification claims by an Indemnified Party pursuant to Article VI, (ii) any payment instructions provided by the Seller Representative or (iii) any other actions required or permitted to be taken by the Seller Representative hereunder, and no Company Stockholder nor any Indemnifying Party shall have any cause of action against the Purchaser, the Company or any other Indemnified Party for any action taken by any of them in reliance upon the instructions or decisions of the Seller Representative. The Purchaser, the Company and the other Indemnified Parties shall not have any Liability to any Company Stockholder or Indemnifying Party for any allocation or distribution among the Company Stockholders by the Seller Representative of payments made to or at the direction of the Seller Representative. All notices or other communications required to be made or delivered to a Company Stockholder under any Seller Representative Document shall be made to the Seller Representative for the benefit of such Company Stockholder, and any notices so made shall discharge in full all notice requirements of the other parties hereto or thereto to such Company Stockholder with respect thereto. All notices or other communications required to be made or delivered by a Company Stockholder shall be made by the Seller Representative (except for a notice under Section 9.13(d) of the replacement of the Seller Representative).

 

(c)    The Seller Representative will act for the Company Stockholders on all of the matters set forth in this Agreement in the manner the Seller Representative believes to be in the best interest of the Company Stockholders, but the Seller Representative will not be responsible to the Company Stockholders for any Losses that any Company Stockholder or any Indemnifying Party may suffer by reason of the performance by the Seller Representative of the Seller Representative’s duties under this Agreement, other than Losses arising from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct by the Seller Representative in the performance of its duties under this Agreement. From and after the Closing, the Company Stockholders shall jointly and severally indemnify, defend and hold the Seller Representative harmless from and against any and all Losses reasonably incurred without gross negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Seller Representative (in its capacity as such) and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Seller Representative’s duties under any Seller Representative Document, including the reasonable fees and expenses of any legal counsel retained by the Seller Representative. In no event shall the Seller Representative in such capacity be liable hereunder or in connection herewith for any indirect, punitive, special or consequential damages. The Seller Representative shall not be liable for any act done or omitted under any Seller Representative Document as the Seller Representative while acting in good faith and without willful misconduct or gross negligence, and any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel shall be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The Seller Representative shall be fully protected in relying upon any written notice, demand, certificate or document that it in good faith believes to be genuine, including facsimiles or copies thereof, and no Person shall have any Liability for relying on the Seller Representative in the foregoing manner. In connection with the performance of its rights and obligations hereunder, the Seller Representative shall have the right at any time and from time to time to select and engage, at the reasonable cost and expense of the Company Stockholders, attorneys, accountants, investment bankers, advisors, consultants and clerical personnel and obtain such other professional and expert assistance, maintain such records and incur other reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, as the Seller Representative may reasonably deem necessary or appropriate from time to time. All of the indemnities, immunities, releases and powers granted to the Seller Representative under this Section 9.13 shall survive the Closing and continue indefinitely.

 

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(d)    If the Seller Representative shall die, become disabled, dissolve, resign or otherwise be unable or unwilling to fulfill its responsibilities as representative and agent of Company Stockholders, then the Company Stockholders shall, within ten (10) days after such death, disability, dissolution, resignation or other event, appoint a successor Seller Representative (by vote or written consent of the Company Stockholders holding in the aggregate a Pro Rata Share in excess of fifty percent (50%)), and promptly thereafter (but in any event within two (2) Business Days after such appointment) notify the Purchaser in writing of the identity of such successor. Any such successor so appointed shall become the “Seller Representative” for purposes of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE X
DEFINITIONS

 

10.1    Certain Definitions. For purpose of this Agreement, the following capitalized terms have the following meanings:

 

Accounting Principles” means in accordance with GAAP as in effect at the date of the financial statement to which it refers or if there is no such financial statement, then as of the Closing Date, using and applying the same accounting principles, practices, procedures, policies and methods (with consistent classifications, judgments, elections, inclusions, exclusions and valuation and estimation methodologies) used and applied by the Target Companies in the preparation of the latest audited Company Financials.

 

“Action” means any notice of noncompliance or violation, or any claim, demand, charge, action, suit, litigation, audit, settlement, complaint, stipulation, assessment or arbitration, or any request (including any request for information), inquiry, hearing, proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly Controlling, Controlled by, or under common Control with such Person.

 

“Ancillary Documents” means each agreement, instrument or document attached hereto as an Exhibit, and the other agreements, certificates and instruments to be executed or delivered by any of the Parties hereto in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement.

 

“Benefit Plans” of any Person means any and all deferred compensation, executive compensation, incentive compensation, equity purchase or other equity-based compensation plan, employment or consulting, severance or termination pay, holiday, vacation or other bonus plan or practice, hospitalization or other medical, life or other insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit sharing, pension, or retirement plan, program, agreement, commitment or arrangement, and each other employee benefit plan, program, agreement or arrangement, including each “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA, maintained or contributed to or required to be contributed to by a Person for the benefit of any employee or terminated employee of such Person, or with respect to which such Person has any Liability, whether direct or indirect, actual or contingent, whether formal or informal, and whether legally binding or not.

 

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday on which commercial banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized to close for business, excluding as a result of “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee” or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any governmental authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems, including for wire transfers, of commercially banking institutions in New York, New York are generally open for use by customers on such day.

 

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Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any successor statute thereto, as amended. Reference to a specific section of the Code shall include such section and any valid treasury regulation promulgated thereunder.

 

“Company Charter” means the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended and effective under the DGCL, prior to the Effective Time.

 

“Company Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

“Company Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning the Target Companies or any of their respective Representatives, furnished in connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that Company Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by the Purchaser or its Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by the Company or its Representatives to the Purchaser or its Representatives was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Company Confidential Information.

 

“Company Convertible Securities” means, collectively, the Company Options and any other options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase any capital stock of the Company or securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or that otherwise confer on the holder any right to acquire any capital stock of the Company.

 

“Company Equity Plan” means the Global Cooling, Inc. Stock Option Plan.

 

“Company Option” means an option to purchase Company Stock that was granted pursuant to the Company Equity Plan.

 

“Company Preferred Stock” means (i) the Series A Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share and (ii) the Series B Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company.

 

“Company Securities” means, collectively, the Company Stock, the Company Options and any other Company Convertible Securities.

 

Company Stock” means any shares of the Company Common Stock and the Company Preferred Stock.

 

“Company Stockholders” means, collectively, the holders of Company Stock.

 

“Consent” means any consent, approval, waiver, authorization or Permit of, or notice to or declaration or filing with any Governmental Authority or any other Person.

 

“Contracts” means all contracts, agreements, binding arrangements, bonds, notes, indentures, mortgages, debt instruments, purchase order, licenses (and all other contracts, agreements or binding arrangements concerning Intellectual Property), franchises, leases and other instruments or obligations of any kind, written or oral (including any amendments and other modifications thereto).

 

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“Control” of a Person means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise. “Controlled”, “Controlling” and “under common Control with” have correlative meanings. Without limiting the foregoing a Person (the “Controlled Person”) shall be deemed Controlled by (a) any other Person (i) owning beneficially, as meant in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act, securities entitling such Person to cast ten percent (10%) or more of the votes for election of directors or equivalent governing authority of the Controlled Person or (ii) entitled to be allocated or receive ten percent (10%) or more of the profits, losses, or distributions of the Controlled Person; (b) an officer, director, general partner, partner (other than a limited partner), manager, or member (other than a member having no management authority that is not a Person described in clause (a) above) of the Controlled Person; or (c) a spouse, parent, lineal descendant, sibling, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, mother-in-law, father-in-law, sister-in-law, or brother-in-law of an Affiliate of the Controlled Person or a trust for the benefit of an Affiliate of the Controlled Person or of which an Affiliate of the Controlled Person is a trustee.

 

“Copyrights” means any works of authorship, mask works and all copyrights therein, including all renewals and extensions, copyright registrations and applications for registration and renewal, and non-registered copyrights.

 

“Environmental Law” means any Law in any way relating to (a) the protection of human health and safety, (b) the protection, preservation or restoration of the environment and natural resources (including air, water vapor, surface water, groundwater, drinking water supply, surface land, subsurface land, plant and animal life or any other natural resource), or (c) the exposure to, or the use, storage, recycling, treatment, generation, transportation, processing, handling, labeling, production, release or disposal of Hazardous Materials, including the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 USC. Section 9601 et. seq., the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, 42 USC. Section 6901 et. seq., the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 USC. Section 2601 et. seq., the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 USC. Section 1151 et seq., the Clean Air Act, 42 USC. Section 7401 et seq., the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 USC. Section 111 et. seq., Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 USC. Section 651 et. seq. (to the extent it relates to exposure to Hazardous Substances), the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, 15 USC. Section 2601 et. seq., the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 USC. Section 300f et. seq., the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and analogous state acts.

 

“Environmental Liabilities” means, in respect of any Person, all Liabilities, obligations, responsibilities, Remedial Actions, Losses, damages, costs, and expenses (including all reasonable fees, disbursements, and expenses of counsel, experts, and consultants and costs of investigation and feasibility studies), fines, penalties, sanctions, and interest incurred as a result of any claim or demand by any other Person or in response to any violation of Environmental Law, whether known or unknown, accrued or contingent, whether based in contract, tort, implied or express warranty, strict liability, criminal or civil statute, to the extent based upon, related to, or arising under or pursuant to any Environmental Law, Environmental Permit, Order, or Contract with any Governmental Authority or other Person, that relates to any environmental, health or safety condition, violation of Environmental Law, or a Release or threatened Release of Hazardous Materials.

 

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

 

“Exchange Act” means the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

“Fraud Claim” means any claim based in whole or in part upon fraud, willful misconduct or intentional misrepresentation.

 

GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles as in effect in the United States of America.

 

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“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, local, foreign or other governmental, quasi-governmental or administrative body, instrumentality, department or agency or any court, tribunal, administrative hearing body, arbitration panel, commission, or other similar dispute-resolving panel or body.

 

“Hazardous Material” means any waste, gas, liquid or other substance or material that is defined, listed or designated as a “hazardous substance”, “pollutant”, “contaminant”, “hazardous waste”, “regulated substance”, “hazardous chemical”, or “toxic chemical” (or by any similar term) under any Environmental Law, or any other material regulated, or that could result in the imposition of Liability or responsibility, under any Environmental Law, including petroleum and its by-products, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, radon, mold, and urea formaldehyde insulation.

 

Indebtedness” of any Person means, without duplication, (a) all indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money (including the outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest), (b) all obligations for the deferred purchase price of property or services (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business), (c) any other indebtedness of such Person that is evidenced by a note, bond, debenture, credit agreement or similar instrument, (d) all obligations of such Person under leases that should be classified as capital leases in accordance with GAAP, (e) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any line or letter of credit, banker’s acceptance, guarantee or similar credit transaction, in each case, that has been drawn or claimed against, (f) all obligations of such Person in respect of acceptances issued or created, (g) all interest rate and currency swaps, caps, collars and similar agreements or hedging devices under which payments are obligated to be made by such Person, whether periodically or upon the happening of a contingency, (h) all obligations secured by an Lien on any property of such Person, (i) any premiums, prepayment fees or other penalties, fees, costs or expenses associated with payment of any Indebtedness of such Person and (j) all obligation described in clauses (a) through (i) above of any other Person which is directly or indirectly guaranteed by such Person or which such Person has agreed (contingently or otherwise) to purchase or otherwise acquire or in respect of which it has otherwise assured a creditor against loss.

 

“Intellectual Property” means all of the following as they exist in any jurisdiction throughout the world: Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, Internet Assets, Software and other intellectual property, and all licenses, sublicenses and other agreements or permissions related to the preceding property.

 

“Internet Assets” means any and all domain name registrations, web sites and web addresses and related rights, items and documentation related thereto, and applications for registration therefor.

 

“IRS” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (or any successor Governmental Authority).

 

“Knowledge” means, with respect to (i) the Company, the actual knowledge of the executive officers or directors of any Target Company, after reasonable inquiry or (ii) any other Party, (A) if an entity, the actual knowledge of its directors and executive officers, after reasonable inquiry, or (B) if a natural person, the actual knowledge of such Party after reasonable inquiry.

 

“Law” means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other law, statute, legislation, principle of common law, ordinance, code, edict, decree, proclamation, treaty, convention, rule, regulation, directive, requirement, writ, injunction, settlement, Order or Consent that is or has been issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.

 

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“Liabilities” means any and all liabilities, Indebtedness, Actions or obligations of any nature (whether absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise, whether known or unknown, whether direct or indirect, whether matured or unmatured, whether due or to become due and whether or not required to be recorded or reflected on a balance sheet under GAAP or other applicable accounting standards), including Tax liabilities due or to become due.

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, attachment, right of first refusal, option, proxy, voting trust, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof), restriction (whether on voting, sale, transfer, disposition or otherwise), any subordination arrangement in favor of another Person, or any filing or agreement to file a financing statement as debtor under the Uniform Commercial Code or any similar Law.

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any specified Person, any fact, event, occurrence, change or effect that has had, or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect upon (a) the business, assets, Liabilities, results of operations, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of such Person and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (b) the ability of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries on a timely basis to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Ancillary Documents to which it is a party or bound or to perform its obligations hereunder or thereunder; provided, however, that for purposes of clause (a) above, any changes or effects directly or indirectly attributable to, resulting from, relating to or arising out of the following (by themselves or when aggregated with any other, changes or effects) shall not be deemed to be, constitute, or be taken into account when determining whether there has or may, would or could have occurred a Material Adverse Effect: (i) general changes in the financial or securities markets or general economic or political conditions in the country or region in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries do business; (ii) changes, conditions or effects that generally affect the industries in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries principally operate; (iii) changes in GAAP or other applicable accounting principles or mandatory changes in the regulatory accounting requirements applicable to any industry in which such Person and its Subsidiaries principally operate; (iv) conditions caused by acts of God, terrorism, war (whether or not declared), natural disaster, epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak (including the COVID-19 virus or any variant strain thereof); and (v) any failure in and of itself by such Person and its Subsidiaries to meet any internal or published budgets, projections, forecasts or predictions of financial performance for any period (provided that the underlying cause of any such failure may be considered in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur to the extent not excluded by another exception herein); provided further, however, that any event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change referred to in clauses (i) - (iv) immediately above shall be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect has occurred or could reasonably be expected to occur to the extent that such event, occurrence, fact, condition, or change has a disproportionate effect on such Person or any of its Subsidiaries compared to other participants in the industries in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries primarily conducts its businesses.

 

“Merger Sub Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Merger Sub.

 

“Nasdaq” means the Nasdaq Capital Market.

 

“Order” means any order, decree, ruling, judgment, injunction, writ, determination, binding decision, verdict, judicial award or other action that is or has been made, entered, rendered, or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.

 

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“Organizational Documents” means, with respect to any Person that is an entity, its certificate of incorporation or formation, bylaws, operating agreement, memorandum and articles of association or similar organizational documents, in each case, as amended.

 

“Patents” means any patents, patent applications and the inventions, designs and improvements described and claimed therein, patentable inventions, and other patent rights (including any divisionals, provisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, substitutions, or reissues thereof, whether or not patents are issued on any such applications and whether or not any such applications are amended, modified, withdrawn, or refiled).

 

“PCAOB” means the U.S. Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (or any successor thereto).

 

Permits” means all federal, state, local or foreign or other third-party permits, grants, easements, consents, approvals, authorizations, exemptions, licenses, franchises, concessions, ratifications, permissions, clearances, confirmations, endorsements, waivers, certifications, designations, ratings, registrations, qualifications or orders of any Governmental Authority or any other Person.

 

“Permitted Liens” means (a) Liens for Taxes or assessments and similar governmental charges or levies, which either are (i) not delinquent or (ii) being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, and adequate reserves have been established with respect thereto, (b) other Liens imposed by operation of Law arising in the ordinary course of business for amounts which are not due and payable and as would not in the aggregate materially adversely affect the value of, or materially adversely interfere with the use of, the property subject thereto, (c) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course of business in connection with social security, (d) Liens on goods in transit incurred pursuant to documentary letters of credit, in each case arising in the ordinary course of business, or (v) Liens arising under this Agreement or any Ancillary Document.

 

“Person” means an individual, corporation, partnership (including a general partnership, limited partnership or limited liability partnership), limited liability company, association, trust or other entity or organization, including a government, domestic or foreign, or political subdivision thereof, or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

 

“Personal Property” means any machinery, equipment, tools, vehicles, furniture, leasehold improvements, office equipment, plant, parts and other tangible personal property.

 

“Proportional Share” means with respect to each Company Stockholder, a fraction expressed as a percentage equal to (i) the number of shares of the Company Stock that such Company Stockholder holds on an as converted to Common Stock basis as of the Closing Date, divided by (ii) the total number of shares of Company Stock issued and outstanding as of the Closing Date on a fully-diluted and as converted to Common Stock basis.

 

“Pro Rata Share” means with respect to each Company Stockholder, a fraction expressed as a percentage equal to (i) the portion of the Merger Consideration payable by the Purchaser to such Company Stockholder in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, divided by (ii) the total Merger Consideration payable by the Purchaser to all Company Stockholders in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.

 

“Purchaser Common Stock” means the shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Purchaser.

 

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“Purchaser Stock Price” means a price per share equal to the VWAP of Purchaser Common Stock listed by the principal exchange or securities market on which shares of Purchaser Common Stock are then traded (or any successor exchange or quotation system on which such shares are listed or quoted) for the ten (10) Trading Day period ending on the Trading Day immediately prior to the date of determination, ***. Any determinations of the Purchaser Stock Price shall be appropriately adjusted for any stock dividend, stock split, stock combination, recapitalization or other similar transaction during such period.

 

“Purchaser Confidential Information” means all confidential or proprietary documents and information concerning the Purchaser or any of its Representatives; provided, however, that Purchaser Confidential Information shall not include any information which, (i) at the time of disclosure by the Company, the Seller Representative or any of their respective Representatives, is generally available publicly and was not disclosed in breach of this Agreement or (ii) at the time of the disclosure by the Purchaser or its Representatives to the Company, the Seller Representative or any of their respective Representatives, was previously known by such receiving party without violation of Law or any confidentiality obligation by the Person receiving such Purchaser Confidential Information. For the avoidance of doubt, from and after the Closing, Purchaser Confidential Information will include the confidential or proprietary information of the Target Companies.

 

Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal, or leaching into the indoor or outdoor environment, or into or out of any property.

 

“Remedial Action” means all actions to (i) clean up, remove, treat, or in any other way address any Hazardous Material, (ii) prevent the Release of any Hazardous Material so it does not endanger or threaten to endanger public health or welfare or the indoor or outdoor environment, (iii) perform pre-remedial studies and investigations or post-remedial monitoring and care, or (iv) correct a condition of noncompliance with Environmental Laws.

 

“Representatives” means, as to any Person, such Person’s Affiliates and the respective managers, directors, officers, employees, independent contractors, consultants, advisors (including financial advisors, counsel and accountants), agents and other legal representatives of such Person or its Affiliates.

 

SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (or any successor Governmental Authority).

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

“Series A Original Issue Price” has the same meaning as in the Company Charter.

 

“Series A Stockholder” means a holder of the Company’s Series A Preferred Stock.

 

“Series A Liquidation Preference” means with respect to each Series A Stockholder, an amount equal to the Series A Original Issue Price, plus any dividends accrued but unpaid thereon.

 

“Series A Merger Consideration” means with respect to each Series A Stockholder an amount of Purchaser Common Stock that is equal to (a) such Series A Stockholder’s Series A Liquidation Preference as of the Closing Date, divided by (b) Purchaser Stock Price.

 

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“Series B Original Issue Price” has the same meaning as in the Company Charter.

 

“Series B Stockholder” means a holder of the Company’s Series B Preferred Stock.

 

“Series B Liquidation Preference means with respect to each Series B Stockholder, an amount equal to the Series B Original Issue Price, plus any dividends accrued but unpaid thereon.

 

“Series B Merger Consideration” means with respect to each Series B Stockholder an amount of Purchaser Common Stock that is equal to (a) such Series B Stockholder’s Series B Liquidation Preference as of the Closing Date, divided by (b) Purchaser Stock Price.

 

“Significant Company Holder” means any Company Stockholder set forth on Schedule 10.1.

 

“Software” means any computer software programs, including all source code, object code, and documentation related thereto and all software modules, tools and databases.

 

“SOX” means the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended.

 

Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, partnership, association or other business entity of which (i) if a corporation, a majority of the total voting power of shares of stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, or (ii) if a partnership, association or other business entity, a majority of the partnership or other similar ownership interests thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof. For purposes hereof, a Person or Persons will be deemed to have a majority ownership interest in a partnership, association or other business entity if such Person or Persons will be allocated a majority of partnership, association or other business entity gains or losses or will be or control the managing director, managing member, general partner or other managing Person of such partnership, association or other business entity. A Subsidiary of a Person will also include any variable interest entity which is consolidated with such Person under applicable accounting rules.

 

“Superior Proposal” means a bona fide written Acquisition Proposal with respect to the Company involving the direct or indirect acquisition pursuant to a tender offer, exchange offer, merger, consolidation, or other business combination, of all or substantially all of the consolidated assets of such party or at least a majority of the outstanding common stock of the Company, that the Company’s board of directors determines in good faith (after consultation with outside legal counsel and the Company’s financial advisor) is more favorable from a financial point of view to the holders of such the Company’s common stock than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, taking into account all the legal, financial, regulatory and other aspects of such Acquisition Proposal..

 

“Target Company” means each of the Company and its direct and indirect Subsidiaries.

 

Tax Return” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, information return or other documents (including any related or supporting schedules, statements or information) filed or required to be filed in connection with the determination, assessment or collection of any Taxes or the administration of any Laws or administrative requirements relating to any Taxes.

 

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“Taxes” means (a) all direct or indirect federal, state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, value-added, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, social security and related contributions due in relation to the payment of compensation to employees, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, alternative minimum, estimated, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto, (b) any Liability for payment of amounts described in clause (a) whether as a result of being a member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period or otherwise through operation of law and (c) any Liability for the payment of amounts described in clauses (a) or (b) as a result of any tax sharing, tax group, tax indemnity or tax allocation agreement with, or any other express or implied agreement to indemnify, any other Person.

 

“Trade Secrets” means any trade secrets, confidential business information, concepts, ideas, designs, research or development information, processes, procedures, techniques, technical information, specifications, operating and maintenance manuals, engineering drawings, methods, know-how, data, mask works, discoveries, inventions, modifications, extensions, improvements, and other proprietary rights (whether or not patentable or subject to copyright, trademark, or trade secret protection).

 

“Trademarks” means any trademarks, service marks, trade dress, trade names, brand names, internet domain names, designs, logos, or corporate names (including, in each case, the goodwill associated therewith), whether registered or unregistered, and all registrations and applications for registration and renewal thereof.

 

“Trading Day” means any day on which shares of Purchaser Common Stock are actually traded on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which the Purchaser Common Stock are then traded.

 

“VWAP” means, as of any date, the dollar volume-weighted average price for Purchaser Common Stock on the principal securities exchange or securities market on which such shares are then traded during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg through its “HP” function (set to weighted average) or, if the foregoing does not apply, the dollar volume-weighted average price of Purchaser Common Stock in the over-the-counter market on the electronic bulletin board for Purchaser Common Stock during the period beginning at 9:30:01 a.m., New York time, and ending at 4:00:00 p.m., New York time, as reported by Bloomberg, or, if no dollar volume-weighted average price is reported for such security by Bloomberg for such hours, the average of the highest closing bid price and the lowest closing ask price of any of the market makers for Purchaser Common Stock as reported by NASDAQ; provided, that if the VWAP cannot be calculated for Purchaser Common Stock on such date on any of the foregoing bases, the VWAP of such security on such date shall be the fair market value as reasonably determined in good faith by Purchaser.

 

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10.2    Section References. The following capitalized terms, as used in this Agreement, have the respective meanings given to them in the Section as set forth below adjacent to such terms:

 

Term

Section

  Term Section

Accounts Receivable         

4.7(e)

  Audited Company Financials          4.7(a)

Acquisition Proposal         

5.4(a)

  Basket          6.3(a)

Adverse Recommendation Change         

5.4(e)

  Certificate of Merger          1.2

Agreement         

Preamble

  Claim Notice          6.4(b)

Alternative Transaction         

5.4(a)

  Closing          2.1

Alternative Transaction Agreement         

5.4(b)

  Closing Date          2.1

Antitrust Laws         

5.7(b)

  Closing Filing           5.12(b)

 

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Term Section   Term Section

Closing Press Release          

5.12(b)

  Letter of Transmittal          1.11(a)

Company         

Preamble

  Loss          6.2

Company Benefit Plan         

4.19(a)

  Lost Certificate Affidavit          1.11(d)

Company Board Recommendation         

5.4(e)

  Merger          Recitals

Company Certificates         

1.11(a)

  Merger Consideration          1.8

Company Disclosure Schedules         

Article IV

  Merger Sub          Preamble

Company Financials         

4.7(a)

  Non-Competition Agreement          Recitals

Company IP         

4.13(d)

  OFAC          4.25

Company IP Licenses         

4.13(a)

  Off-the-Shelf Software          4.13(a)

Company Material Contracts         

4.12(a)

  Outbound IP License          4.13(c)

Company Permits         

4.10

  Outside Date          8.1(b)

Company Personal Property Leases         

4.16

  Party(ies)          Preamble

Company Preferred Stock Exchange         

1.7

  Pending Claims          1.17(b)

Company Real Property Leases         

4.15

  PPM          5.10(b)

Company Registered IP         

4.13(a)

  Public Certifications          3.6(a)

Company Stockholder Meeting         

5.11

  Purchaser          Preamble

DCGL         

Recitals

  Purchaser Disclosure Schedules          Article III

Dissenting Shares         

1.16

  Registration Statement          5.10(a)

Dissenting Stockholder         

1.16

  Related Person          4.21

Effective Time         

1.2

  Required Company Stockholder Approval          7.1(a)

Enforceability Exceptions         

3.2

  S-4 Registration Statement          5.10(b)

Environmental Permits         

4.20(a)

  SEC Reports          3.6(a)

Escrow Account         

1.17(a)

  Section 409A Plan          4.19(k)

Escrow Agent         

1.17(a)

  Seller Representative          Preamble

Escrow Agreement         

1.17(a)

  Seller Representative Documents          9.13(a)

Escrow Amount         

1.17(a)

  Signing Filing           5.12(b)

Escrow Property         

1.17(a)

  Signing Press Release           5.12(b)

Escrow Shares         

1.17(a)

  Specified Courts          9.4

Exchange Agent         

1.11(a)

  Superior Proposal Notice Period          5.4(f)

Expenses         

8.3

  Merger Consideration          1.8

Expiration Date         

1.17(b)

  Surviving Corporation          1.1

Federal Securities Laws         

5.5

  Termination Fee          8.4

Incentive Plan         

5.10(a)

  Third Party Claim          6.4(c)

Indemnified Party         

6.2

  Top Customers          4.24

Indemnifying Party         

6.2

  Top Suppliers          4.24

Balance Sheet Date         

4.7(a)

  Transmittal Documents          1.11(b)

Interim Period         

5.1(a)

  Voting Agreements          Recitals

 

 

{REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK; SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS}

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each Party hereto has caused this Agreement and Plan of Merger to be signed and delivered as of the date first written above.

 

  The Purchaser:  
       
  BIOLIFE SOLUTIONS, INC.  
       
       
  By: /s/ Michael Rice  
    Name: Michael Rice  
    Title: Chief Executive Officer  
       
       
  Merger Sub:  
       
  BLFS MERGER SUBSIDIARY, INC.  
       
       
  By: /s/ Michael Rice  
    Name: Michael Rice  
    Title: President  
       
  The Company:  
       
  GLOBAL COOLING, INC.  
       
       
  By: /s/ Maurice “Dusty” Tenney  
    Name: Maurice “Dusty” Tenney  
    Title: Chief Executive Officer  
       
  The Seller Representative:  
       
  Albert Vierling, solely in the capacity as Seller Representative hereunder  
       
       
  By: /s/ Albert Vierling  
       
  William Baumel, solely in the capacity as Seller Representative hereunder  
       
       
  By: /s/ William Baumel  

 

 

 

[Signature Page to Merger Agreement]