ASSETPURCHASE AGREEMENT ByAnd Among INXINC., ADVANCEDNETWORX,INC., MARKALEXANDER, ROBERTROESCH, GARY CLEVENGER, DEBORAH SHAW, SHERRIMCEVOY, KEVIN JONES, ROBERT TIMM, AND LARRYBLACKWOOD July17, 2009 ASSET PURCHASEAGREEMENT

 

 

This Asset Purchase Agreement (“Agreement”) is made this 17th day of July, 2009 (the “Agreement Date”), by and among: INX Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Buyer”); AdvancedNetworX, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“Seller”); Mark Alexander, Robert Roesch, Gary Clevenger, Deborah Shaw, Sherri McEnvoy, Kevin Jones, Robert Timm and Larry Blackwood, each individuals (together, the “Shareholders” and each, individually, a “Shareholder”).

WHEREAS, Seller is engaged in the business of designing, installing and supporting network, unified communications, datacenter,  computer server and data storage systems and related technology in selected cities in the United States (the “Seller’s Business”);

WHEREAS, as an inducement to Buyer to enter into this Agreement, Shareholders have approved  this Agreement and desire to become a party to this Agreement pursuant to the terms hereof; and

WHEREAS, Seller has provided the Seller disclosure letter dated the same date as this Agreement, together with related schedules, attachments and exhibits thereto the “Seller Disclosure Letter”), which is attached hereto as Exhibit A and incorporated  by reference.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing recitals, the mutual covenants contained herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1.1           Purchase and Sale of Assets.  Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing (defined Section 1.8 below), Seller shall sell, assign, transfer, convey and deliver to Buyer, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, claims, charges, encumbrances and other security interests (collectively, “Security Interests”) other than Permitted Liens (as defined in 3.1(d) below), and Buyer shall purchase only the assets, properties, and rights of Seller described below (all of such specifically described assets, properties and rights being hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Purchased Assets”):

(a)           Personal Property.  All of the equipment, computer hardware, furniture, fixtures, furnishings, computer and telecommunications equipment, appliances and systems which are owned by Seller, leasehold improvements and other personal property listed on Schedule 1.1(a) to the Seller Disclosure Letter;

(b)           Intellectual Property.  (i) All inventions (whether patentable or unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto, and all patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures, together with all reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and reexaminations thereof, including the right to enforce any rights embodied therein and to collect damages for any past, infringement of such rights by third parties, (ii) ideas and conceptions to the extent that such are legally recognized as a proprietary intangible right under common law or by a national (including the United States) or multinational statutory invention registrations, patents, patent registrations and patent applications (including all reissues, divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, extensions and reexaminations) and all rights therein provided by international treaties or conventions and all improvements to the inventions disclosed in each such registration, patent or application, (iii) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos, trade names, and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations, derivations, and combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated therewith, all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, and the right to register, perfect and enforce any rights embodied therein and to collect damages for any past, infringement of such rights by third parties, (iv) all copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (v) all mask works and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (vi) all trade secrets and confidential business information (including ideas, research and development, know-how, formulas, techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications, customer, supplier and vendor lists, pricing and cost information, and business and marketing plans and proposals), (vi) all computer software (including data and related documentation) developed or owned by Seller, including source code, operating systems and specifications, data, databases files, documentation and other materials and documentation related thereto, (vii) all other proprietary rights, (viii) all licenses, and (ix) all copies and tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium) (collectively, (i) through (ix) above, the “Intellectual Property”);

(c)           Domain Names.  All of Seller’s right, title and interest in and to each domain name and the registration thereof, all associated universal resource locators, whether registered in the name of Seller or by any other person on behalf of Seller, together with all goodwill connected with and symbolized by such domain names or locators, and any intellectual property rights relating thereto, including, but not limited to, e-mail addresses, websites, translations, adaptations, derivations, copyrights, and combinations thereof, all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, and the right to register, perfect and enforce any rights embodied therein, including the right to collect damages for any past, infringement of such rights by third parties to the extent any such intellectual property rights exist (the “Domain Names”), each of which is listed on Schedule 1.1(c) to the Seller Disclosure Letter;

(d)           Documents.  A copy of all of Seller’s books, records, papers and documents which relate to the Purchased Assets, including all purchase and sales records and customer and supplier records;

(e)           Inventory.  All inventories of product including raw material, work-in-process, finished products, packing materials, stores and supplies, spare parts, samples, point of sale material and merchandise of Seller held for resale by Seller, but only to the extent listed on Schedule 1.1(e) to the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Inventory”);

(f)           Contract Rights.

(g)           Name.  The right to use the name “AdvancedNetworX, Inc.” and all variants thereof;

(h)           Manufactures’ and Vendors’ Warranties.   All rights under manufacturers’ and vendors’ warranties related to items included in the Purchased Assets, including but not limited to such of the foregoing as are listed on Schedule 1.1(h) to the Seller Disclosure Letter.

(i)           Supplier Rebates.   All rights to vendor rebates and credits relating to periods before or after the Closing; provided, however, that such rights shall not include any rights to rebates or credits relating to (A) defective products or inventory for which Seller has, prior to the Closing (i) submitted a written claim, (ii) returned such defective product or inventory and (iii) recorded a receivable on Seller’s financial records or (B) any fully accrued Cisco VIP.12 rebates that have been properly accounted for by Seller prior to the Closing Date.

(j)           Deposits.   All cash and collateral deposits made under the terms of leases and other contracts included in clause (f) above.

1.2           Assets Excluded from Sale.  Other than the Purchased Assets, Buyer is not purchasing and Seller is not selling any other asset or right of Seller and the parties hereby expressly exclude the assets set forth on Schedule 1.2 to the Seller Disclosure Letter.

1.3           Transfer of Purchased Assets.  Seller shall deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer such other good and sufficient instruments reasonably requested by Buyer transferring to Buyer title to all of the Purchased Assets or Seller’s interest therein, all in accordance with this Agreement.  Such instruments of transfer (a) shall be in the form which is usual and customary for transferring the type of property involved under the laws of the jurisdictions applicable to such transfers, (b) shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel, (c) shall effectively vest in Buyer good and marketable title, or Seller’s interest therein as provided in this Agreement, to all of the Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Security Interests other than Permitted Liens, and (d) where applicable, shall be accompanied by evidence of the discharge of all Security Interests against the Purchased Assets.

1.4           Retained Liabilities.   Buyer shall not assume and shall not be liable for any Liabilities (as defined below) of Seller other than the Assumed Liabilities (as defined in Section 1.5 below) (collectively, the “Retained Liabilities”), and all such Retained Liabilities shall be and remain the responsibility of Seller, including, without limitation, (a) any Liabilities arising out of or the result of any activity associated with the Purchased Assets prior to the Closing, (b) Liabilities under any contract to which Seller is a party (excluding, however, all Liabilities assumed by Buyer hereunder under the Acquired Contracts, the Acquired Partially Completed Contracts, the Acquired Managed Services Contracts and the Acquired Pre-Paid Contracts), (c) Liabilities with respect to certain Taxes (as defined in Section 2.12 below), as more particularly set forth in Section 2.12 below, (d) Liabilities relating to, or arising under or in connection with, any Employee Benefit Plan (as defined in Section 3.1(p) below), and (e) any Liabilities of Seller related to any Environmental Law (as defined in Section 3.1(t) below).  Seller shall discharge in a timely manner or shall make adequate provision for all Retained Liabilities and Shareholders and Seller shall, pursuant to and subject to the terms and limitations contained in Article IX hereunder, jointly and severally indemnify Buyer and hold it harmless against all Retained Liabilities.  As used in this Agreement, the term “Liability” and “Liabilities” shall mean and include any direct or indirect indebtedness, guaranty, endorsement, claim, loss, damage, deficiency, cost, expense, obligation or responsibility, fixed or unfixed, known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured.

1.5      Assumed Liabilities. As of the Closing, Buyer will assume and thereafter in due course pay and fully satisfy, as and when the same shall become due and payable, the following liabilities and obligations (the “Assumed Liabilities”):

(a)           the Liabilities and obligations of Seller arising in the regular and ordinary course of the conduct of Seller’s Business consistent with past practice prior to the Closing Date, under (i) the Acquired Contracts and (ii) the obligations remaining after the Closing under the Acquired Partially Completed Contracts and the Acquired Pre-Paid Contracts, but excluding any liabilities resulting from (A) the Retained Partially Completed Contracts or (B) any warranty claim or breach of any contract prior to the Closing Date;

(b)           all payment liabilities arising under the vendor accounts listed on Schedule 1.5(b) to the Seller Disclosure Letter;

(c)           all Liabilities arising after the Closing Date under the office space lease contracts for the office space located at 1000 Perimeter Park, Suite H, Morrisville, NC, which property lease contracts are set forth on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) to the Seller Disclosure Letter; provided, however, that all rent and any other amounts paid by Seller under such leases prior to Closing for any period after the Closing shall be prorated between Seller and Buyer based on the time period the leased space was occupied by Seller prior to Closing;

(d)           all Liabilities arising after the Closing Date under the equipment lease contracts listed on Schedule 1.5(d) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, with an aggregate remaining balance of approximately $28,646.45.

1.6            Purchase Price.  The purchase price for the Purchased Assets and the covenants of Shareholders and Seller included herein, is an aggregate purchase price of three hundred and ninety-five thousand dollars ($395,000.00), consisting of (i) thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00) in cash (the “Cash Consideration”) plus (ii) two thousand (2,000) shares (the “Stock Consideration”) of Buyer’s common stock, $0.001 par value, (“Buyer Common Stock”) which number of shares was determined by dividing ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) by five dollars ($5.00) per share for purposes of calculating the number of shares of Stock Consideration. Buyer shall retain and hold in escrow in accordance with Section 2.19 below, all shares of Stock Consideration (the “Holdback Shares”) and all stock certificates representing such Holdback Shares, which the parties hereby agree have a value of ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00) based on the calculations set forth above; and (iii) three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000.00) in immediately available funds which shall be paid at Closing by Buyer on Seller’s behalf to Fidelity Bank (the “Bank”), in full satisfaction of all amounts owing by Seller to Bank.

1.7           Additional Purchase Consideration.  As additional consideration for the Purchase, Buyer will pay additional purchase consideration to the Seller following the Closing Date based on and contingent upon certain post-Closing financial performance beginning on the first day of the first full calendar month after the Closing (the “Additional Purchase Consideration”) as set forth in this section 1.7.

(a)           Buyer will pay Seller a variable contingent payment based on and contingent upon the financial performance of Buyer’s business unit that is comprised, after the Closing Date, solely of those business activities conducted by Seller at its current location in North Carolina at and immediately prior to the Closing Date, which are being acquired pursuant to this Agreement (the “Acquired Business Operations”).  For purposes of this Agreement, the term “Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution” means the Operating Income (as defined by GAAP as applied by Buyer in operating its business) contribution attributable to the Acquired Business Operations before any allocation of Buyer’s corporate-level operations and administrative expenses, all as reasonably determined by Buyer using its normal accounting methodologies and processes, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”) and subject to review by Seller.  For the purposes of determining Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution, the cost of amortization of intangibles and other assets acquired pursuant to this Agreement will be considered an expense of the Acquired Business Operations.  The Additional Purchase Consideration will be calculated and paid in three annual components - the first based on the first 12-month period following the Closing Date (the “First Year Measurement Period”), the second based on the second 12-month period following the Closing Date (the “Second Year Measurement Period”) and the third based on the third 12-month period following the Closing Date (the “Third Year Measurement Period”), as set forth below.

(i)

First Year.  The amount of Additional Purchase Consideration to which Seller will be entitled to in respect of the First Year Measurement Period shall be calculated based on achievement of Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution during the First Year Measurement Period and will be an amount equal to Four  Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) times the Attainment Percentage (defined below).  As used in this Section 1.7(a)(i), the term “Performance Ratio” shall mean the percentage resulting from dividing  the Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution during the First Year Measurement Period by One Hundred Thirteen Thousand Seven Hundred Dollars ($113,700).  After establishing the Performance Ratio, the percentage used to calculate the amount of the Additional Purchase Consideration shall be calculated (as used in this Section 1.7(a)(i), the “Attainment Percentage”) as follows:  The Attainment Percentage shall be equal to the Performance Ratio if the Performance Ratio is 100%, however, if the Performance Ratio is less than 100%, the Attainment Percentage shall be reduced by 1% for each 1% that the Performance Ratio is less than 100%, and if the Performance Ratio is more than 100%, the Attainment Percentage shall be increased by 1% for each 1% that the Performance Ratio exceeds 100% up to 150%, and shall increase by 0.5% for each 1% between 150% and 200%; provided, however, if the above calculation results in an Attainment Percentage that is less than 50%, then the Attainment Percentage shall be zero.  In no event shall the amount of Additional Purchase Consideration payable in respect of the First Year Measurement Period exceed seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000).

(ii)

Second Year.  The amount of Additional Purchase Consideration to which Seller will be entitled to in respect of the Second Year Measurement Period shall be calculated based on achievement of Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution during the Second Year Measurement Period and will be an amount equal to  Four  Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) times the Attainment Percentage (defined below).  As used in this Section 1.7(a)(ii), the term “Performance Ratio” shall mean the percentage resulting from dividing the  Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution during the Second Year Measurement Period by Five Hundred Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($515,600).  After establishing the Performance Ratio, the percentage used to calculate the amount of the Additional Purchase Consideration shall be calculated (as used in this Section 1.7(a)(ii), the “Attainment Percentage”) as follows:  The Attainment Percentage shall be equal to the Performance Ratio if the Performance Ratio is 100%, however, if the Performance Ratio is less than 100%, the Attainment Percentage shall be reduced by 1% for each 1% that the Performance Ratio is less than 100%, and if the Performance Ratio is more than 100%, the Attainment Percentage shall be increased by 1% for each 1% that the Performance Ratio exceeds 100% up to 150%, and shall increase by 0.5% for each 1% between 150% and 200%; provided, however, if the above calculation results in an Attainment Percentage that is less than 50%, then the Attainment Percentage shall be zero. In no event shall the amount of Additional Purchase Consideration payable in respect of the Second Year Measurement Period exceed seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000).

(iii)

Third Year.  The amount of Additional Purchase Consideration to which Seller will be entitled to in respect of the Third Year Measurement Period shall be calculated based on achievement of Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution during the Third Year Measurement Period and will be an amount equal to Four  Hundred Thousand Dollars ($400,000) times the Attainment Percentage (defined below).  As used in this Section 1.7(a)(iii), the term “Performance Ratio” shall mean the percentage resulting from dividing the Acquired Business Operating Income Contribution during the Third Year Measurement Period by Nine Hundred Fifty-Three Thousand Dollars ($953,000). After establishing the Performance Ratio, the percentage used to calculate the amount of the Additional Purchase Consideration shall be calculated (as used in this Section 1.7(a)(iii), the “Attainment Percentage”) as follows:  The Attainment Percentage shall be equal to the Performance Ratio if the Performance Ratio is 100%, however, if the Performance Ratio is less than 100%, the Attainment Percentage shall be reduced by 1% for each 1% that the Performance Ratio is less than 100%, and if the Performance Ratio is more than 100%, the Attainment Percentage shall be increased by 1% for each 1% that the Performance Ratio exceeds 100% up to 150%, and shall increase by 0.5% for each 1% between 150% and 200%; provided, however, if the above calculation results in an Attainment Percentage that is less than 50%, then the Attainment Percentage shall be zero.  In no event shall the amount of Additional Purchase Consideration payable in respect of the Third Year Measurement Period exceed seven hundred thousand dollars ($700,000).

(b)           Each payment of Additional Purchase Consideration shall be calculated and paid by Buyer to Seller within ninety (90) days of the end of the applicable measurement period to which such payment relates. In addition, at least forty percent (40%) of all Additional Purchase Consideration shall be paid in cash and the remainder shall be paid to the Seller, at Buyer’s option, in either cash or the issuance to Seller of such number of shares of Buyer Common Stock determined by dividing the percentage of the Additional Purchase Consideration to be paid in shares of Buyer’s Common Stock by the price of Buyer’s Common Stock using the average closing price per share for the Common Stock as reported by the NASDAQ for the five (5) consecutive trading days ending prior to the second day before the date of funding of such payment of Additional Purchase Consideration.

(c)           Concurrently with each payment of Additional Purchase Consideration, Buyer shall deliver to Seller a report with reasonable detail setting forth and calculating the Additional Purchase Consideration being paid to Seller, along with a certificate executed by an executive officer of Buyer, dated the date of delivery, certifying that the Additional Purchase Consideration being delivered to Seller concurrently with such certificate represents all of the Additional Purchase Consideration to which Seller is then entitled hereunder.

1.8           Closing.  The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Closing”) shall take place at the offices of INX Inc. 6401 Southwest Freeway, 1st Floor, Houston, Texas 77074 on the later of (a) the Agreement Date, or (b) the first business day after all of the conditions set forth in Articles VI and VII hereof have been satisfied or waived, or such other place and time as the parties may mutually agree (the “Closing Date”).  All of the deliveries and other transactions required to take place at the Closing and all documents relating thereto shall be interdependent and none shall be effective unless and until all are effective (except to the extent that the party entitled to the benefit thereof has waived satisfaction or performance thereof in writing as a condition precedent hereto).

1.9           Deliveries at the Closing.  At the Closing, (a) Seller shall deliver to Buyer the various certificates, instruments and documents referred to in Article VI below, and (b) Buyer will deliver to Seller the various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Article VII below.

1.10           Consummation of Closing.  All acts, deliveries, and confirmations comprising the Closing, regardless of chronological sequence, shall be deemed to occur contemporaneously and simultaneously upon the occurrence of the last act, delivery, or confirmation of the Closing and none of such acts, deliveries, or confirmations shall be effective unless and until the last of the same shall have occurred.

2.1           Noncompetition, Nonsolicitation and Confidentiality.  For purposes of this Agreement, the following definitions shall apply:

(a)           “Affiliate” with respect to any Person, shall mean and include any Person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Person either as of or following the date of this Agreement;

(b)           “Company Activities” shall mean either (i) designing, installing or supporting computer data networks, IP telephony systems and/or datacenter virtualization projects, (ii) designing, installing or supporting computer networks, unified communications, datacenters, computer servers or data storage systems and related technology, (iii) promoting, marketing or selling computer data network equipment, IP telephony systems, computer servers or data storage systems, or other datacenter related equipment, (iii) designing, implementing, promoting, marketing or selling software applications for IP telephony applications, virtualization software or software to manage datacenters, or (iv) engaging in any other business activities which are conducted, offered or provided by Seller, Buyer or any Affiliate of either of them at any time during the 12-month period prior to the date of this Agreement, including, without limitation, all activities associated with Seller’s Business but expressly excluding any of these activities if performed  (A) in conjunction with employment duties for a hardware manufacturer or  (B) as part of an organization’s internal IT staff.

(c)           “Confidential Information” shall mean any data or information (whether written or not, tangible or intangible), of Buyer, Seller or any Affiliate of either of them, other than Trade Secrets (as defined below), which is valuable to Buyer, Seller or any Affiliate of either of them and not generally known to competitors or which by its nature is generally treated as confidential or proprietary, including, but not limited to, the existence and terms of this Agreement.

(d)           “Noncompete Period” shall mean the period from the Closing Date through the date two years after the Closing Date.

(e)           “Nonsolicitation Period” shall mean (i) with respect to Mark Alexander, the period from the Closing Date through the date five years after the Closing Date and (ii) with respect to all other Shareholders, the period from the Closing Date through the date three years after the Closing Date.

(f)           “Person” shall mean any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, firm, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.

(g)           “Protected Area” shall mean the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.

(h)           “Trade Secrets” shall mean all technical or nontechnical data, formulas, patterns, compilations, or programs, including, without limitation, computer software and related source codes, devices, methods, techniques, drawings, processes, financial data, financial plans, product plans, lists of actual or potential customers or suppliers, or other information similar to any of the foregoing, which derives economic value, actual or potential, from not being generally known to, and not being readily ascertainable by proper means by, other persons who can derive economic value from its disclosure or use.

2.2           Confidentiality.  Buyer, Seller, Alexander and Shareholders shall keep confidential and not disclose the existence of this Agreement, the transactions described herein and all Confidential Information; provided, however, that Seller and Shareholders may, upon obtaining the prior written consent of the Buyer, disclose the existence of this Agreement and the terms hereof, but solely in the manner and subject to any restrictions or limitations imposed on such disclosure by Buyer in connection with granting such prior written consent.  The provisions of this Section 2.2 shall not apply with respect to any Confidential Information which (a) was already known by one party when such information was received from the other party, (b) was available to the general public at the time of such receipt, (c) subsequently becomes known to the general public through no fault or omission by a party hereto, (d) is subsequently disclosed by a third party which has the bona fide right to make such disclosure, (e) is disclosed by any party hereto in confidence to its professional advisors or by Buyer to potential lenders and investors who agree to keep such information confidential, (f) is required to be disclosed by law or a governmental agency, including for income tax reporting purposes and in connection with any filing to be made by Buyer with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or (g) is required to be disclosed in order to enforce this Agreement.

2.3           Trade Secrets.  Seller and Shareholders, as well as the officers, directors and employees of Seller shall hold in confidence at all times after the date hereof all Trade Secrets related to Seller, Buyer and each of their respective Affiliates and shall not disclose, publish or make use of those Trade Secrets at any time after the date hereof, without the prior written consent of Buyer.  The provisions of this Section 2.3 shall not apply with respect to any Trade Secret which (a) was already known by one party when such information was received from the other party, (b) was available to the general public at the time of such receipt, (c) subsequently becomes known to the general public through no fault or omission by a party hereto, (d) is subsequently disclosed by a third party which has the bona fide right to make such disclosure, (e) is disclosed by either in confidence to its professional advisors or by Buyer to potential lenders and investors who agree to keep such information confidential, (f) is required to be disclosed by law or a governmental agency, including for income tax reporting purposes and in connection with any filing to be made by Buyer with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or (g) is required to be disclosed in order to enforce this Agreement.  Nothing in this Agreement shall diminish the rights of Seller or Buyer regarding the protection of Trade Secrets, Confidential Information and other intellectual property pursuant to applicable law.

2.4           Trade Name. Seller and Shareholders shall not, directly or by assisting others, own, manage, operate, join, control or participate in the ownership, management, operation or control of any business conducted under the corporate or trade name of Seller (or any variation thereof) or any of its Affiliates (other than as an employee of Buyer or one of its Affiliates) without the prior written consent of Buyer

 

2.5           Non-Competition.

(a)           Coverage.  Seller and Shareholders hereby acknowledge that Buyer, either directly or indirectly through one or more of its Affiliates, conducts or will conduct Company Activities throughout the Protected Area, and acknowledges that to protect adequately the interest of Buyer in the operation of each Person through which it will engage in Company Activities after the date of this Agreement, it is essential that any noncompete covenant with respect thereto cover all Company Activities in the Protected Area except as specifically provided in Section 2.5(b) below.

(b)           Covenant.  During the Noncompete Period, neither Seller nor Shareholders shall in any manner, directly or indirectly, engage in or have an equity or profit interest in, or render services to any business that conducts any Company Activities in the Protected Area.  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, nothing in this Agreement shall prevent or prohibit Seller or Shareholders from owning not more than 5% of a class of equity securities issued by any entity listed on any national securities exchange or interdealer quotation system.

2.6           Nonsolicitation of and Noninterference with Employees, Customers and Vendors.  During the applicable Nonsolicitation Period, neither Seller nor Shareholders shall, in any manner, directly or indirectly:

(a)           solicit or attempt to solicit any business from any party which is then or was at any time in the prior twelve (12) months a customer of Buyer or any of its Affiliates for purposes of engaging in any Company Activities in any Protected Area;

(b)           recruit or hire away or attempt to recruit or hire away, on its behalf or on behalf of any other person, firm or corporation, any employee of Buyer or any of its Affiliates; or

(c)           interfere with Buyer’s relationship with any employee, customer, supplier or vendor of Buyer or any of its Affiliates.

2.7           Consideration and Acknowledgment.  In consideration for the covenants and agreements made by Mark Alexander in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6, at Closing the Buyer shall deliver to Mark Alexander forty-five thousand dollars ($45,000) in cash payable at Closing.  In consideration for the covenants and agreements made by each of the Shareholders other than Mark Alexander in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6, at Closing Buyer shall deliver to each other Shareholder five thousand dollars ($5,000) in cash payable at Closing.  Seller, Shareholders and Buyer each acknowledge and agree that the covenants set forth in Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6 are reasonable as to time, scope and territory given Buyer’s need to protect its Trade Secrets, Confidential Information and its substantial investment in the Purchased Assets, its employees, customers and vendors, particularly given the complexity and competitive nature of Buyer’s and its Affiliate’s business.  Seller and Shareholders further acknowledge that (a) it would be difficult to calculate damages to Buyer and its Affiliates from any breach of Seller’s or Shareholders’ obligations under either of Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 or 2.6, (b) that injuries to Buyer and its Affiliates from any such breach would be irreparable and impossible to measure, and (c) that the remedy at law for any breach or threatened breach of Seller’s or Shareholders’ obligations under either of Sections 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 or 2.6 of this Agreement would therefore be an inadequate remedy, and accordingly, Buyer shall, in addition to all other available remedies (including without limitation seeking such damages as it can show it and its Affiliates have sustained by reason of such breach or the exercise of all other rights it has under this Agreement), be entitled to injunctive and other similar equitable remedies.  Each Shareholder acknowledges that he will be subject to separate noncompete and nonsolicitation provisions in connection with his employment by Buyer following the Closing.  Accordingly, if the duration or scope of the noncompete or nonsolicitation applicable to Shareholders under the terms of Buyer’s standard employment documents is for any reason shorter than the duration of the Noncompete Period or Nonsolicitation Period or narrower in scope than as set forth in this Agreement or if any term or condition set forth in Section 7 of the Employment Agreement (as defined in Section 3.1(u) below) conflicts with any term or condition in contained in this Article II, Shareholders hereby acknowledges that they shall be subject to the Noncompete Period and Nonsolicitation Period set forth in this Agreement and the terms and conditions of this Article II shall be given precedence over any conflicting term or condition set forth in Section 7 of the Employment Agreement, notwithstanding any of the terms of such Employment Agreement.

2.8           Further Assurances.  Each party hereto from time to time hereafter at any other party's request and without further consideration shall execute and deliver to such other party such instruments of transfer, conveyance and assignment in addition to those delivered pursuant to this Agreement as shall be reasonably requested to transfer, convey and assign more effectively the Purchased Assets to Buyer, the costs of which shall be paid by the requesting party.

2.9           Expenses.  Except as otherwise provided herein, Buyer, Seller and Shareholders shall each be responsible for their own expenses incurred in connection with the negotiations among the parties, and the authorization, preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.  In addition, Seller shall be responsible for all costs associated with terminating any Employee Benefit Plan of Seller (e.g., 401(k), pension, profit sharing plans) prior to or at Closing.

2.10           Brokers.  Buyer shall indemnify Seller and hold it harmless from and against all claims or demands for commissions or other compensation by any broker, finder, or similar agent claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of Buyer.  Seller and Shareholders shall jointly and severally indemnify Buyer and hold it harmless from and against all claims or demands for commissions or other compensation by any broker, finder or similar agent claiming to have been employed by or on behalf of Seller.  The indemnities provided for by this Section 2.10 shall be pursuant to and subject to the terms and limitations of Article IX hereunder.

2.11           Publicity.  After the Closing Date, all press releases and other public announcements respecting the subject matter hereof shall be made only by Buyer; provided, however, that Seller may make any disclosure required to be made under applicable law if it has determined in good faith that it is necessary to do so and used its best efforts, prior to the issuance of the disclosure, to provide Buyer with a copy of the proposed disclosure and to discuss the proposed disclosure with Buyer.

2.12           Liability for Taxes.

(a)           Definition.  As used herein, “Tax” or “Taxes” means all taxes, however denominated, including any interest or penalties or additions thereto whether disputed or not, including any obligation to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the tax Liability of any other Person that may become payable in respect thereof, imposed by any federal, state, local or foreign government or any agency or political subdivision of any such government, which taxes shall include, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, all income taxes (including, but not limited to, United States federal income taxes and state income Taxes), payroll and employee withholding taxes, unemployment insurance, social security, sales and use taxes, excise taxes, environmental taxes, franchise taxes, gross receipts taxes, occupation taxes, real and personal property taxes, stamp taxes, transfer taxes, withholding taxes, workers’ compensation taxes, escheat, value-added taxes, alternative or add-on minimum taxes and other obligations of the same or of a similar nature, whether discovered before, on or after the Closing.

(b)           Taxes Before  the Closing.  Seller shall be liable for, and shall together with Shareholders, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from, subject to the terms and limitations contained in Article IX hereunder (a) all Taxes (as defined above) and Security Interests relating to any Taxes that are imposed on (either before or after the Closing Date) or incurred with respect to the Purchased Assets for any period ending on or before the Closing Date, (b) any Taxes payable as a result of a breach by Seller or Shareholders of any of the representations set forth in Section 3.1(i) hereof, and (c) any necessary and reasonable attorneys’ fees or other costs incurred by Buyer or its Affiliates in connection with any payment from Seller under this Section 2.12(b).  Buyer and Seller agree to provide assistance to one another and to cooperate fully with one another after the Closing Date to account for all Taxes that may be imposed on or incurred with respect to the Purchased Assets during any period prior to the Closing Date.

(c)            Taxes Following  the Closing.  Buyer shall be liable for, and shall, pursuant to and subject to the terms and limitations contained in Article IX hereunder, indemnify and hold Seller and Shareholders harmless from, (a) all Taxes (as defined above) and Security Interests relating to any Taxes that are imposed on or incurred with respect to the Purchased Assets for any period commencing and ending after the Closing Date, and (b) any necessary and reasonable attorneys’ fees or other costs incurred by Seller or Shareholders in connection with any payment from Buyer under this Section 2.12(c).

(d)           Sales, Transfer and Excise Taxes.  Buyer shall pay directly all excise, sales, transfer and other similar Taxes, levies and charges from any North Carolina state taxing authority, (including all bulk sales taxes, if any), that may be imposed upon, or payable or collectible or incurred in connection with, this Agreement and the transactions contemplated herein.  All obligations under this Section 2.12 shall survive the Closing hereunder and continue until 30 days following the expiration of the statute of limitations on assessment of the relevant Tax.

2.13           Right to Refunds.  If Seller, on the one hand, or Buyer, on the other hand, receives a refund of any Taxes for which the other has paid such Taxes, then the party receiving such refund shall, within 30 days after its receipt, remit such refund to the party who paid such Taxes; provided, however, that this section shall not affect the Liability of the parties for Taxes as set forth in Section 2.12(b) or 2.12(c) hereof.

2.14           Intercompany Transactions.  Prior to the Closing, all intercompany payables and receivables between Seller and any of the Shareholders and between Seller and any of its Affiliates that in any way are related to or otherwise affect any Purchased Asset shall be released by Seller, Shareholders or any Affiliate of either of them, as the case may be, and Shareholders hereby release any claims or other rights he or she may have in and to any of the Purchased Assets.

2.15           Allocation of Purchase Price.  For all income tax purposes, each of the parties shall report the transactions contemplated by this Agreement as an “applicable asset acquisition” by Buyer within the meaning of Section 1060 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.  In connection therewith, each of the parties hereby agrees that the fair market value of any Class I, Class II, Class III, Class IV or Class V assets (as described in Section 1.1060-1(c)(2) of the Treasury Regulations) of Seller at the Closing will be equal to their respective federal income tax bases to Seller immediately prior thereto, and the excess of the total consideration (as determined pursuant to Section 1.1060-1(c)(1) of the Treasury Regulations) paid for the Purchased Assets by Buyer over such aggregate tax bases shall be allocable to Class VI and Class VII assets as described in such Treasury Regulations.  Buyer and Seller shall cooperate in good faith to mutually agree upon and complete IRS Form 8594 (Asset Acquisition Statement Under Section 1060).  Buyer shall prepare and deliver a draft IRS Form 8594 (Asset Acquisition Statement Under Section 1060) to Seller within 180 days after the Closing Date and unless Seller objects to such draft IRS Form 8594 within ten day of its receipt from Buyer, Seller shall be deemed to have agreed to such draft IRS Form 8594.  Seller shall timely file such Form 8594 with the IRS reporting the transaction in compliance with this Section 2.15.  In any proceeding related to the determination of any Tax, no party may contend or represent that the allocation is not a current allocation.

2.16           Name Change.  Seller shall execute and deliver an amendment to its Articles of Incorporation to change its name to a name other than AdvancedNetworX, Inc. or any variant thereof in acceptable form to be filed with the North Carolina Secretary of State office and any other jurisdiction where Seller is qualified to do business within 180 days following the date of this Agreement; provided, however, that for a period of one year following the Closing Date, Buyer  hereby grants to Seller the non-exclusive right and license to use the name  “AdvancedNetworX, Inc.” solely for purposes of facilitating invoicing and billing of customers party to any Retained Partially Completed Contract.

2.17           Employees.  The term “Key Employees” shall be defined as those individuals listed on Schedule 2.17 to the Seller Disclosure Letter.  Seller shall use its commercially reasonable best efforts to cause each Key Employee to enter into the full time employment with Buyer as of the Closing Date and to cause each Key Employee to deliver to Buyer an Employment Agreement (as defined in Section 3.1(u) below) duly executed by such Key Employee.  Buyer hereby agrees to employ each Key Employee in accordance with the Employment Agreement.  Other than the Key Employees, Buyer shall have no obligation to offer employment to any of Seller’s existing employees.

(a)           Despite anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this Agreement shall not constitute an assignment or transfer of, or an agreement to assign or transfer, any Governmental Approval (defined below), contract, instrument, lease, permit or other agreement or arrangement or any claim, right or benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom if an assignment or transfer or an attempt to make such an assignment or transfer without the consent of a third party would constitute a breach or violation thereof or would violate any applicable law or regulation, or would otherwise affect adversely the rights of Seller or Buyer thereunder; and any transfer or assignment by Seller of any interest under any such Governmental Approval, contract, instrument, lease, permit or other agreement or arrangement that requires the consent or approval of a third party shall be made subject to such consent or approval being first obtained.  As used herein, “Governmental Approval” means any consent, approval, authorization, waiver, permit, grant, franchise, concession, agreement, license, exemption or order of, registration, certificate, declaration or filing with, or report or notice to, any federal, state or local government, or any political subdivision thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, including, without limitation, any governmental authority, agency, department, board, commission or instrumentality of the United States, any state of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, and any tribunal or arbitrator(s) of competent jurisdiction, and any self-regulatory organization.

(b)           Seller will give any required notices, and Buyer and Seller will cooperate following the Closing, using their respective commercially reasonable best efforts, in order to obtain necessary third party consents to the sale and transfer of the Purchased Assets as contemplated by this Agreement.

(c)           Seller and Buyer will give any notices to, make any filings with, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any Governmental Approval in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d)           With respect to any consents or approvals that have not been obtained on or before the Closing Date, Seller and Buyer shall cooperate in any lawful arrangement that is reasonable for both Buyer and Seller (considering all relevant factors including practicality, financial burden and risk) to provide that Buyer shall receive the interest of Seller in the net benefits under any such Governmental Approval, contract, instrument, lease, permit or other agreement or arrangement or any claim, right or benefit arising thereunder or resulting therefrom.  Such arrangements may include (if lawful and reasonable considering all relevant factors) the performance by Buyer as agent for Seller such that Buyer will derive the benefit of such agreement to the extent that Buyer would have benefited if the necessary third party consent or approval had been obtained.  Seller and Buyer agree to use their respective good faith, commercially reasonable efforts to negotiate and document any such arrangements.

2.19           Holdback Shares.  On the Closing Date Buyer shall retain the Holdback Shares to be held by Michael Narsete, P.C. (“Escrow Agent”) in escrow to satisfy any claims by Buyer against Seller or Shareholders for a period of up to one (1) year after the Closing Date (the “Escrow Period”), in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and that certain Escrow Agreement, dated July 17, 2009, among, Buyer, Seller and each of the Shareholders.  At the end of each calendar month during the Escrow Period Buyer shall, in good faith, determine the amount of any claims under this Agreement and deliver to Seller notice of the number of Holdback Shares to be disbursed to address any such claims by Buyer.  Following the expiration of the Escrow Period, Buyer shall cause the remaining balance of the Holdback Shares, after the payment of all such claims and reservation of amounts reasonably deemed sufficient to satisfy unresolved claims of which Seller has been provided prior written notice, to be distributed by the Escrow Agent to Seller within five (5) Business Days in accordance with the terms of this Agreement.  The costs and expenses associated with the establishment and maintenance of the escrow of the Holdback Shares shall be borne solely by Buyer.

 

2.20           Retained Partially Completed Contracts.  There are certain uncompleted customer contracts of Seller that will be retained by Seller after Closing, either because such contracts were already substantially fulfilled and billed by Seller prior to Closing, or because the consent to assignment of the contract cannot be obtained from the customer, or for other reasons.  All of these retained partially completed customer contracts (the “Retained Partially Completed Contracts”) are listed on Schedule 2.20 to the Seller Disclosure Letter.  Seller shall retain the Retained Partially Completed Contracts following the Closing, and will retain the obligations and duties under the Retained Partially Completed Contracts following Closing, but shall utilize Buyer exclusively as Seller’s agent to perform the services to the customer required to complete the Retained Partially Completed Contracts following Closing.  Seller and Buyer shall cooperate with each other in good faith to ensure that customers party to a Retained Partially Completed Contract, properly direct to Seller all payments owed to Seller thereunder.  In the event that through error or mistake, any customer party to a Retained Partially Completed Contract, directly pays Buyer for any amount owed by such customer to Seller under a party to a Retained Partially Completed Contract, Buyer shall promptly forward such misdirected amounts to Seller.

 

(a)           In order to fulfill any obligation or duty under the Retained Partially Completed Contracts to deliver products to the customer following the Closing, Seller shall acquire such products exclusively from Buyer, at a price equal to the price to be billed to the customer under the Retained Partially Completed Contract, such that any gross profit generated from deliveries of products to the customer under the Retained Partially Completed Contracts after the Closing is fully realized by Buyer and no gross profit is realized by Seller following the Closing.

 

(b)           Seller shall engage Buyer, as Seller’s exclusive agent, to perform any and all services that are required to complete the Retained Partially Completed Contracts, billing Seller for such services at Buyer’s Service Billing Rates (defined below) for such services.  Buyer’s hourly billing rates for service work, which shall apply for all purposes under this Agreement, are set forth on Schedule 2.20(b) to the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Buyer’s Service Billing Rates”).

 

2.21           Acquired Partially Completed Contracts.  There will be certain partially completed customer contracts of Seller, other than the Acquired Managed Services Contacts (as defined below) and the Acquired Pre-Paid Contracts (as defined below), that will be assigned or conveyed to Buyer by Seller pursuant to this Agreement for which Seller has already performed a certain portion of such contracts prior to closing, and/or Seller has already billed the customer prior to Closing for a portion of such contracts, which acquired partially completed contracts are listed on Schedule 2.21 to the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Acquired Partially Completed Contracts”).  Following the Closing, Seller and Buyer shall cooperate to ensure that Buyer and Seller share in the Economic Benefit (defined below) of each of the Acquired Partially Completed Contracts based on the percentage of the total contract that was completed by Seller prior to the Closing as compared to the total percentage of the contract that was completed by Buyer following the Closing.  For this purpose, the percentage of completion of each such Acquired Partially Completed Contract shall be calculated based upon the total Direct Cost (defined below) of performing such contract incurred by Seller prior to the Closing, as compared to the total Direct Cost of performing such contract by Buyer following the Closing, calculated after the Acquired Partially Completed Contract is completed by Buyer following the Closing.  As used in this Section 2.21, the term “Direct Cost” shall mean any (a) direct cost of inventory, goods and equipment, including freight and shipping costs, (b) direct, unburdened labor cost of technician and/or engineering employees, and (c) direct cost of a subcontractor used to perform the contract; provided that Seller’s Direct Cost shall be reduced by the amount of any warranty claim by customer or rejection of deliverables by customer that occur after the Closing but relate to goods or services provided by Seller prior to the Closing.  Buyer shall incur no Direct Cost of performing such contracts prior to the Closing and Seller shall incur no Direct Cost of performing such contracts after the Closing.  Schedule 2.21 to the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth all of the Direct Cost that Seller has incurred in performing the Acquired Partially Completed Contracts as of the Closing Date and shall be the Direct Cost used following the Closing to calculate the percentage of total Direct Cost incurred by Seller prior to the Closing as compared to the percentage of total Direct Cost incurred by Buyer following the Closing.  After each of the Acquired Partially Completed Contracts has been completed by Buyer following the Closing, Buyer shall, as soon as practicable, provide Seller with a complete accounting of the cost incurred by Buyer in performing such contract, and Buyer shall pay Seller, or Seller shall pay Buyer, as the case may be, in order to ensure that Buyer and Seller each receive their appropriate percentage of the total Economic Benefit from each such contract.  As used in this Section 2.21, the term “Economic Benefit” shall mean the total contract amount less the total of all combined Direct Costs incurred by Seller and Buyer in the performance of such contract, and shall take into consideration which party (Buyer or Seller) received funds from the customer in payment of such contract.

2.22           Warranty Matters.  Buyer is not assuming any liability to perform warranty work for equipment or services provided by Seller to customers prior to the Closing Date.  Seller shall be responsible for the cost of supplying warranty service, if any, after the Closing Date related to revenue recognized by Seller prior to the Closing.  Because (i) Seller will not have the necessary resources to perform such warranty service after the Closing, (ii) performing such warranty service in a satisfactory manner is necessary in order to maintain a satisfactory customer relationship between the customer and Buyer following the Closing, (iii) the cost of performing such warranty service cannot be determined until the warranty service period is completed, and (iv) if Seller was unable or unwilling to ensure that such warranty service was provided such could result in a material adverse effect on Buyer’s relationship with a customer following the Closing, Buyer and Seller agree as follows:

 

(a)           After the Closing, Buyer will perform the above-referenced warranty service on behalf of Seller, using commercially reasonable efforts to perform such warranty services in a satisfactory and efficient manner.

 

(b)           Buyer shall invoice Seller for all such warranty service, invoicing Seller for such services at a rate of seventy five percent (75%) of Buyer’s Service Billing Rates for service work and at a ten percent (10%) markup for parts, inventory, or subcontracted services used in the performance of such warranty service, and Seller shall pay such invoices within thirty (30) days of invoice date. Any amounts that remain unpaid by Seller to Buyer for the performance by Buyer of the above-mentioned warranty service shall be offset from the Additional Purchase Consideration or any other amount owed or payable by Buyer to Seller or Shareholders under this Agreement.

2.23           Buyer Purchase of Required Unreceived Inventory.  Buyer shall purchase, as required to fulfill orders for customers, the products that Seller had on order with Seller’s vendors on the Closing Date, but which were not received into Seller’s inventory on the Closing Date, including the inventory which was on order with Seller’s vendors on the Closing Date listed on Schedule 2.23 to the Seller Disclosure Letter, but only to the extent necessary to fulfill Buyer’s customers orders, including but not limited to the Acquired Contracts and Buyer’s acquired interest in the Acquired Partially Completed Contracts, the Acquired Managed Services Contracts and the Acquired Pre-Paid Contracts.  The price paid by Buyer for Seller’s inventory shall be equal to Seller’s actual cost from Seller’s vendor of such inventory, including freight and shipping cost from Seller’s vendor for such products, and Buyer shall pay Seller for such inventory purchases on the date that Seller’s invoice is due to Seller’s vendor or finance company for Seller’s purchase of such inventory from Seller’s vendor.

2.24           Customer Payments.  Following the Closing, it is anticipated that certain customers might possibly pay the incorrect party for invoices of the other party, due to administrative error, or for other reasons.  Buyer and Seller agree to pay to the other party any payments received by one party that rightfully belong to the other party within five business days of receipt of such payment.

2.25           Managed Services Contracts.  Seller has entered into the customer contracts set forth on Schedule 2.25 of the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Acquired Managed Services Contracts”) relating to the provision of monitoring services under Seller’s managed services program for which Seller has already performed a certain portion of such contracts prior to Closing, and/or Seller has already billed the customer prior to Closing for a portion of such contracts.  Seller and Buyer hereby agree that all Acquired Managed Services Contracts shall be assigned and conveyed to Buyer by Seller pursuant to this Agreement on the Closing Date.  Buyer and Seller hereby agree that an amount equal to the Completed Portion, as of the Closing Date, of all amounts due or paid by Seller’s customers in respect of such the Acquired Managed Services Contacts in respect of the month of July 2009 shall be paid to and retained by Seller and all other amounts due or paid by customers party to such Acquired Managed Services Contracts in respect of the month of July 2009 and thereafter shall be paid to and retained by Buyer.  For purpose of this Agreement, the term “Completed Portion” shall mean an amount equal to all amounts paid or due from customers party to such Acquired Managed Services Contracts in respect of the month of July 2009 multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days that have elapsed in July 2009 as of the Closing Date and the denominator of which is thirty (30). Any amounts that are due Buyer as of Closing Date pursuant to this Section 2.25 shall be offset from the Cash Consideration or any other amount owed or payable by Buyer to Seller or Shareholders under this Agreement at Closing and to the extent that any amounts owed pursuant to this Section 2.25 are identified by Buyer or Seller after the Closing Date and remain unpaid by Seller to Buyer for the performance by Buyer of the Acquired Managed Services Contracts after the Closing Date, such amounts shall be immediately paid by Seller to Buyer.

2.26           Clifton Settlement.  Seller and Shareholders shall, within one business day of the Closing Date, pay all amounts owing to Rebeka Clifton pursuant to that certain Mutual Release Agreement, dated July 15, 2009, among Seller, Shareholders, Rebeka K. Clifton and John Christopher Clifton.

2.27           Post-Closing Activity of Seller.  In order to ensure that Seller meets its financial obligations to Buyer as provided for in Sections 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.24, 2.25 and 2.26 hereof following the Closing, Seller and Shareholders agree as follows:

(a)           Until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Escrow Period or (ii) Buyer has issued written instruction to the Escrow Agent to release the entire balance of the Holdback Shares to Seller as provided for herein, Shareholders will be the only officers, directors, employees and shareholders of Seller;

(b)           Until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Escrow Period or (ii) Buyer has issued written instruction to the Escrow Agent to release the entire balance of the Holdback Shares to Seller as provided for herein, Shareholders will cause Seller to maintain capital sufficient to meet Seller’s obligations to Buyer under Sections 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.24, 2.25 and 2.26 hereof;

(c)           Until the earlier of (i) the expiration of the Escrow Period or (ii) Buyer has issued written instruction to the Escrow Agent to release the entire balance of the Holdback Shares to Seller as provided for herein, neither Seller nor Shareholders shall grant any Security Interest in any assets of Seller; and

(d)           Shareholders hereby jointly and severally, personally guarantee the prompt and complete payment of all amounts owed by Seller to Buyer under Sections 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.24, 2.25 and 2.26 hereof.

(e)           Shareholders and the Seller hereby acknowledge and agree that Buyer shall have the right but not the obligation to set-off any amount payable to Buyer by Seller or Shareholders pursuant to Sections 2.20, 2.21, 2.22, 2.23 2.24, 2.25 or 2.26 against Additional Purchase Consideration or any amount owed or payable by Buyer to Seller or Shareholders under this Agreement at Closing or thereafter.

3.1           Representations and Warranties of Seller and Shareholders.  Seller and Shareholders jointly and severally represent and warrant to Buyer that the statements contained in this Section 3.1 are correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section 3.1 with respect to itself).  Seller and Shareholders further jointly and severally represent and warrant to Buyer as follows:

(a)           Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power.  Seller is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation.  Seller is duly authorized to conduct business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except where the lack of such qualification would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the business, financial condition, operations, or results of operations of Seller.  Seller has full corporate power and authority to carry on the businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties owned and used by it.  Schedule 3.1(a) to the Seller Disclosure Letter lists the shareholders, directors and officers of Seller.  For purposes of this Agreement, the term "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any change or effect that is materially adverse to the business, assets, operations, financial condition or results of operations of such Person and its subsidiaries, either separately or when taken as a whole.

(b)           Noncontravention.  Neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement or any Ancillary Agreement (as defined in Section 3.1(u) below) to which Seller is party, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby, will (i) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Seller is subject or any provision of the charter or bylaws of Seller or (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which Seller is a party or by which it is bound or to which its assets are subject (or result in the imposition of any Security Interest upon any of its assets), except where the violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration, termination, modification, cancellation, failure to give notice, or Security Interest would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller or on the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.  Seller does not need to give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order for the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except where the failure to give notice, to file, or to obtain any authorization, consent, or approval would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller or on the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c)           Brokers' Fees. Neither Seller nor any Shareholder has any liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(d)           Title to Assets. Except for the Security Interests expressly set forth on Schedule 3.1(d) to the Seller Disclosure Letter (the “Permitted Liens”), Seller has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the Purchased Assets, free and clear of any Security Interest.  Upon the sale, assignment, transfer and conveyance of the Purchased Assets to Buyer hereunder, there will be vested in Buyer good and marketable title to all Purchased Assets, free and clear of all Security Interests other than Permitted Liens.

(e)           Financial Statements. Attached as Schedule 3.1(e) to the Seller Disclosure Letter are the balance sheets and statements of income, as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2007 and December 31, 2008 (the “Most Recent Fiscal Year End”), as well as for the six months ended June 30, 2009 for Seller (collectively the “Financial Statements”), which Seller represents are the true and correct balance sheets and statements of income for such periods, and which have been prepared on a consistent basis.

(f)           Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End.  Since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End, Seller has operated consistent with past custom and practice, including with respect to quantity and frequency and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (the “Ordinary Course of Business”); all of Seller’s financial statements for monthly periods since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End have been prepared on a consistent basis; and there has not been any Material Adverse Effect. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing since that date:

(v)           Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(f)(v) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, Seller has not granted any increase in the base compensation of any of its directors, officers, and employees outside of the Ordinary Course of Business;

(vi)          Seller has not suffered any Material Adverse Effect and to the knowledge of Seller and each Shareholder, no event has occurred which, so far as reasonably can be foreseen, may result in any such Material Adverse Effect;

(g)           Undisclosed Liabilities.  Seller does not have any material liability, whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due, including any liability for Taxes, except for (i) Liabilities set forth on the face of the Financial Statements (rather than in any notes thereto) and (ii) Liabilities which have arisen after the Most Recent Fiscal Year End in the Ordinary Course of Business.

(h)           Legal Compliance.  Seller has complied with all applicable laws (including rules, regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and all agencies thereof), and no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice has been filed or commenced against it alleging any failure so to comply, except where the failure to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Purchased Assets.

(i)           Tax Matters.

(i)           Seller does not own any real property.

(l)           Inventory; Contracts.

 

(A)           any agreement (or group of related agreements) for the lease of real or personal property to or from any Person providing for lease or rental payments;

 

(B)           all customer contracts related to Seller’s Business as of the date of this Agreement;

 

(C)           any agreement or group of related agreements for the sale of supplies, products, or other personal property, or for the furnishing or receipt of services, the performance of which will extend over a period of more than one year from the date of such agreement or from the date of this Agreement;

 

(D)           any agreement concerning a partnership or joint venture;

 

(E)           any agreement or group of related agreements under which Seller created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money, or any capitalized lease obligation, or under which Seller has imposed an encumbrance of any kind on any of the Purchased Assets, tangible or intangible;

 

(F)           any agreement concerning confidentiality or non-competition with respect to Seller’s Business; and

 

(G)           any agreement under which the consequences of a default or termination could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Seller’s Business.

 

With respect to each of the contracts and / or agreements mentioned above in this Section 3.1(l), (1) the agreement is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (2) the agreement will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, subject to the receipt of all necessary consents to the assignment of such agreements to Buyer to the extent such agreements may be assigned, and, with respect to enforcement, except as such enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity, (3) Seller is not in breach or default, and no other party is in breach or default, under the agreement, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under the agreement; and (4) Seller has not repudiated and no other party has repudiated, any provision of the agreement.   Seller makes no warranty to Buyer regarding the assignability of any individual contract and/or agreement other than as indicated by the specific terms and/or conditions set forth therein.  However, Seller and Shareholders agree to use reasonable commercial efforts to assist Buyer in securing assignment of the contracts and/or agreements mentioned above in this Section 3.1(l).

 

(n)           Litigation. Schedule 3.1(n) to the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth each instance in which Seller (i) is subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or (ii) is a party or, to the knowledge of Seller,  is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or investigation of, in, or before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator.

(o)           Employees. To the knowledge of Seller, no executive, key employee, or significant group of employees plans to terminate employment with Seller, except as contemplated by consummation of the transaction provided for in this Agreement. Seller is not a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, nor has it experienced any strike or material grievance, claim of unfair labor practices, or other collective bargaining dispute within the past three years.  Seller has not committed any material unfair labor practice. Neither Seller nor any of the directors and officers of Seller has any knowledge of any organizational effort presently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any labor union with respect to employees of Seller.  Schedule 3.1(o) to the Seller Disclosure Letter sets forth a true and complete list of:  (i) the names, title and current salaries of all officers of Seller; (ii) the wage rates (or wages if applicable) for each exempt and nonexempt, salaried and hourly employees of Seller; (iii) all scheduled or contemplated increases in compensation or bonuses; and (iv) all scheduled or contemplated employee promotions.

(p)           Employee Benefits.

(q)           Guaranties.  Seller is not a guarantor of, nor is Seller otherwise responsible for, any Liability of any other Person.

(r)           Authorization of Transaction. Seller has full power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements to which it is a party and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder.  Each Shareholder has full legal capacity to enter into, execute and deliver this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement to which such Shareholder is a party, to fully perform his obligations hereunder and thereunder.  This Agreement and each of the Ancillary Agreements constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Seller and Shareholders, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and conditions, except (i) as the same may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other laws of general application now or hereafter in effect relating to the rights and remedies of creditors, and (ii) that the availability of the remedy of specific performance or of injunctive or other forms of equitable relief may be subject to equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.  Neither Seller nor any shareholder needs to give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any of the Ancillary Agreements.

(s)           Tangible Assets.  Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(s) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, the Purchased Assets are free from defects (patent and latent), have been maintained in accordance with normal industry practice, are in good operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear), and are suitable for the purposes for which it presently is used and presently is proposed to be used. The Personal Property items listed on Schedule 1.1(a) to the Seller Disclosure Letter are substantially all of the tangible assets that are being used by Seller to operate the Seller’s Business.

(t)           Environmental Matters.

(i)           Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(t) to the Seller Disclosure Letter or in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws, (A) to the best of Seller’s and Shareholders’ knowledge, Seller has never generated, transported, used, stored, treated, disposed of or managed any Hazardous Waste (as defined below); (B) while Seller has leased the real property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, no Hazardous Material (as defined below) has ever been spilled, released or disposed of at the real property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii), or has ever been located in the soil or groundwater at any such property; (C) while Seller has leased the real property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii), no Hazardous Material has ever been transported from any real property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) for treatment, storage or disposal at any other place; (D) to the best of Seller’s and Shareholders’ knowledge, Seller does not presently own, operate, lease or use any site on which underground storage tanks are located; and (E) while Seller has leased the real property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii), no Security Interest has ever been imposed by any governmental agency on any of the Purchased Assets as a result of the violations of Environmental Laws (as defined below).

(ii)           Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(t) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, (A) Seller has no material liability under, nor has it ever violated, any Environmental Law (as defined below) with respect to any property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) to the Seller Disclosure Letter; (B) each property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) and any facilities and operations thereon, are presently in compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws; (C) Seller has never entered into or been subject to any judgment, consent decree, compliance order or administrative order with respect to any environmental or health and safety matter or received any request for information, notice, demand letter, administrative inquiry or formal or informal complaint or claim with respect to any environmental or health and safety matter or the enforcement of any Environmental Law; and (D) Seller has no reason to believe that any of the items enumerated in clause (C) of this Subsection will be forthcoming.

(iii)           Except as set forth in Schedule 3.1(t) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, to the knowledge of Seller, no property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) to the Seller Disclosure Letter contains any asbestos or asbestos-containing material, any polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCB”s) or equipment containing PCBs, or any urea formaldehyde foam insulation.

(iv)           Seller shall provide to Buyer, at or prior to the Closing, copies of all documents, records, and information available to it concerning any environmental or health and safety matter relevant to Seller regarding any of the property listed on Schedule 3.1(j)(ii) to the Seller Disclosure Letter, whether generated by Seller or others, including, without limitation, environmental audits, environmental risk assessments, site assessments, documentation regarding off-site disposal of Hazardous Materials, spill control plans and reports, correspondence, permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations related to environmental or health and safety matters issued by any governmental agency.

(v)           For purposes of this Section 3.1(t), (i) “Hazardous Material” shall mean and include any hazardous waste, hazardous material, hazardous substance, petroleum product, oil, toxic substance, pollutant, contaminant or other substance which may pose a threat to the environment or to human health or safety, as defined or regulated under any Environmental Law; (ii) “Hazardous Waste” shall mean and include any hazardous waste as defined or regulated under any Environmental Law; and (iii) “Environmental Law” shall mean any environmental or health and safety-related law, regulation, rule, ordinance or bylaw at the foreign, federal, state or local level, whether existing as of the date hereof, previously enforced or subsequently enacted.

(u)           Consents.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1(u), no consent of any third party is required to be obtained by Seller for the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Assignment, Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement, dated as of the  Agreement Date, between Buyer and Seller in the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the “Assignment Agreement”), each of the Employment Agreements, dated as of the Agreement Date, between Buyer and each Shareholder, respectively in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C (the “Employment Agreements”) or each of the Lock-Up Agreements, dated as of the Agreement Date, between Buyer and each Shareholder and Seller, respectively in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the “Lock-Up Agreements” and collectively, the “Ancillary Agreements”) or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(v)           Disclosure.  This Agreement and the schedules, attachments, written statements, documents, certificates, or other items prepared or supplied to Buyer by or on behalf of Seller with respect to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and each Ancillary Agreement are correct, complete and authentic, and all contracts and other agreements or instruments included hereunder or thereunder are valid, subsisting and binding on the parties thereto in accordance with their terms.  Neither this Agreement, nor any other Ancillary Agreement nor any of the schedules, attachments, written statements, documents, certificates, or other items prepared or supplied to Buyer by or on behalf of Seller with respect to the transactions contemplated in this Agreement (the “Transaction Documents”) contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit a material fact necessary to make each statement contained herein or therein not misleading.  Neither Seller nor any responsible officer or manager or Shareholders have intentionally concealed any fact known by such person to have a Material Adverse Effect.  There is no fact known by Seller or any Shareholder not disclosed in writing to Buyer by Seller or Shareholders that materially and adversely affects, or so far as may reasonably be foreseen by the Seller, is likely to materially and adversely affect, the Purchased Assets, the condition of their commercialization or the ability of Seller or Shareholders to perform the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(w)           Investor Qualifications.

(ii)           Seller and each Shareholder can bear the economic risk of their respective investment in the Buyer Common Stock and have such knowledge and experience in financial and business matters that they are each capable of evaluating the merits and the risks of the investment in Buyer.  Seller and each Shareholder understand that the per share value of the Buyer Common Stock may fluctuate from time to time and that the per share value of the Buyer Common Stock at the time of Closing or at the time of issuance to Seller is not a representation by Buyer that Seller or any Shareholder could now or at any time in the future receive such per share amount in connection with any transaction involving the Buyer Common Stock.  Seller and each Shareholder have been furnished with all materials relating to the business, finances and operations of Buyer which have been requested, including, without limitation all certificates, instruments, agreements and other documents defining the rights, limitations and preferences of the Buyer Common Stock.  Seller and each Shareholder have conducted their own investigation of Buyer and are not relying on any representations or warranties of Buyer other than those expressly set forth herein.  Seller and each Shareholder understand that Buyer is under no obligation to register the Buyer Common Stock on the behalf of Seller or any Shareholder;

(iii)           Seller is acquiring the Buyer Common Stock for its own account with the present intention of holding such securities for purposes of investment, and that it has no intention of selling such securities in a public distribution in violation of the federal securities laws or any applicable state securities laws; and

3.2           Representations and Warranties of Buyer. Buyer represents and warrants to Seller and each shareholder that the statements contained in this Section 3.2 are correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section 3.2), except as set forth in Schedule 3.2 to the Seller Disclosure Letter.

(a)           Organization of Buyer. Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation.

(b)           Authorization of Transaction. Buyer has full power and authority (including full corporate power and authority) to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder.  The shares of Buyer Common Stock issued by Buyer as Stock Consideration when issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement will be validly issued, fully paid,  non-assessable and not otherwise pledged to any third party. This Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms and conditions, except as enforcement may be limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally and (ii) the effect of rules of law governing the availability of equitable remedies. Buyer need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

(c)           Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will (i) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Buyer is subject, or any provision of Buyer’s charter or bylaws or (ii) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to which Buyer is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets is subject.

(d)           Brokers' Fees. Buyer has no liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for which Seller could become liable or obligated.

(e)           No Knowledge of Misrepresentation or Omission. Buyer does not have any knowledge that any of the representations and warranties of Seller made herein are not true and correct in any material respect.

(f)           No Other Representations or Warranties.  Buyer hereby acknowledges that with the exception of Seller’s and Shareholders’ representations and warranties set forth in the Transaction Documents, Seller and Shareholders make no other representations or warranties, express or implied, to Seller with respect to the Purchased Assets.

Seller and Shareholders jointly and severally covenant and agree with Buyer as follows:

4.1           Consummation of Agreement.  Seller and each Shareholder shall use commercially reasonable efforts to perform and fulfill all conditions and obligations on its part to be performed and fulfilled under this Agreement, to the end that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be fully carried out.

4.2           Satisfaction of Conditions.  Seller and each Shareholder will use reasonable efforts to obtain as promptly as practicable the satisfaction of the conditions to Closing set forth in Article VI and any necessary consents or waivers under or amendments to leases and other contracts by which Seller is bound.

4.3           Notices and Consents.  Seller will give any notices to, make any filings with, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies.

4.4           Regular Course of Business.  Between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Shareholders will not cause or permit Seller to engage in any practice, take any action, or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary Course of Business.  Further, Seller will operate Seller’s Business in accordance with the reasonable judgment of its management diligently and in good faith, consistent with past management practices, and continue to use its reasonable efforts to keep available the services of present officers and employees (other than planned retirements) and to preserve its present relationships with persons having business dealings with it.  Shareholders will not cause or permit Seller to take any actions which would require a supplement or amendment to the items required to be disclosed pursuant to Section 3.1.  Further, between the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, Seller will:

(a)           communicate regularly with Buyer and keep Buyer closely advised of any material developments relating to Seller and the Purchased Assets;

(b)           pay all of its trade accounts payable as they become due in the Ordinary Course of its Business;

(c)           maintain its books and records in the usual, regular and ordinary manner, on a basis consistent with prior periods, and will comply with all laws applicable to each;

(d)           keep and maintain all approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, domain name registrations, operating authorities, certificates of public convenience, orders and other permits in full force and effect, continue to operate Seller’s Business pursuant to such approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, operating authorities, certificates of public convenience, orders and other permits and take all steps necessary to meet requirements on pending applications for approvals, authorizations, consents, licenses, operating authorities, certificates of public convenience, orders and permits; and

(e)           not increase the discounts or other sales promotions it offers to customers over the discounts and promotions offered by Seller during the 3 month period immediately preceding the date of this Agreement.

4.5           Preservation of Business.  Seller agrees that the Purchased Assets will be used, preserved, and maintained, as far as practicable, in the Ordinary Course of Business, to the same extent and in the same condition as said assets, property, and rights are used, preserved and maintained on the date of this Agreement, and no unusual or novel methods of purchase, sale, management, or operation of said Purchased Assets or Seller’s Business will be made or instituted.  Without the prior consent of Buyer, Seller will not encumber any of the Purchased Assets or make any commitments relating to such assets, property, or business, except in the Ordinary Course of Business.

4.6           Insurance.  Seller will keep or cause to be kept in effect and undiminished the insurance now in effect on its various properties and assets, and will purchase such additional insurance, at Buyer's cost, as Buyer may request.

4.7           Employees.  Seller will not grant to any employee of Seller any promotion, any increase in compensation, or any bonus or other award other than promotions, increases, or awards that are regularly scheduled in the Ordinary Course of Business or contemplated on the date of this Agreement or that are, in the reasonable judgment of management of Seller, in its best interest.

4.8           No Violations.  Seller will comply in all material respects with all statutes, laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations applicable to Seller’s Business.

4.9           Public Announcements.  Shareholders will not and will cause Seller not to issue any press release or other announcement to the employees, customers, or suppliers of Seller related to this Agreement or this purchase without the approval of Buyer, unless required by law, in which case Buyer and Seller will consult with each other regarding the announcement.  Buyer will provide written approval of communications to Seller’s employees, customers or suppliers necessary to effect the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.

4.10           Company Examinations and Investigations.  Prior to the Closing Date, Seller agrees that Buyer shall be entitled, through its employees and representatives, including, without limitation, its attorneys and accountants, to make such investigation of Seller and such examination of the books, records and financial condition of Seller as Buyer reasonably desires.  Any such investigation and examination shall be conducted at reasonable times and under reasonable circumstances and Seller shall cooperate fully therein.  In order that Buyer may have full opportunity to make such business, accounting and legal review, examination or investigation as it may wish of the business and affairs of Seller, Seller shall furnish the representatives of Buyer during such period with all such information concerning the affairs of Seller as such representatives may reasonably request and cause its officers, employees, consultants, agents, accountants and attorneys to cooperate fully with such representatives in connection with such review and examination and to make full disclosure to Buyer of all material facts affecting the financial condition and business operation of Seller.

4.11           Continued Effectiveness of Representations and Warranties of Seller.  From the date hereof through the Closing Date, Seller shall conduct its Seller’s Business in a commercially reasonable manner and in such a manner so that the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.1 shall continue to be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and as of the Closing Date.

4.12           Supplements to Schedules.  From time to time prior to the Closing, Seller will promptly supplement or amend the disclosure schedules with respect to any matter hereafter arising that, if existing or occurring at the date of this Agreement, would have been required to be set forth or described in any schedule and will promptly notify Buyer of any breach by Seller that it discovers of any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement.  No supplement or amendment of any Schedule made pursuant to this section will be deemed to cure any breach of any representation of or warranty made in this Agreement unless Buyer specifically and reasonably agrees thereto in writing.

4.13           No Solicitation.  Until the Closing or termination pursuant to Article VIII of this Agreement, neither Seller nor any of its directors, officers, employees, or agents shall, directly or indirectly, encourage, solicit, initiate, or enter into any discussions or negotiations concerning any disposition of any of the capital stock or all or substantially all of the assets of Seller (other than pursuant to this Agreement), or any proposal therefor, or furnish or cause to be furnished any information concerning Seller to any party in connection with any transaction involving the acquisition of the capital stock or the Purchased Assets of Seller by any person other than Buyer.  Seller will promptly inform Buyer of any inquiry (including the terms thereof and the person making such inquiry) received by any responsible officer or director of Seller after the date hereof and believed by such person to be a bona fide, serious inquiry relating to any such proposal.

4.14           Loss or Threatened Loss of Customer or Supplier.  Other than as set forth on Schedule 4.14, prior to the Closing, Seller shall promptly notify Buyer in the event of a loss or threatened loss of any material supplier, customer or affiliate of Seller, and shall cause employees of Seller to be made available to call upon such customer, supplier or affiliate, together with Buyer to assist Buyer in regaining or retaining such customer, supplier or affiliate.

4.15           Notice of Developments.  Seller will give prompt written notice to Buyer of any material development causing a breach of any of its own representations and warranties in Section 3.1 above.

Buyer covenants and agrees with Seller as follows:

5.1           Efforts of Buyer.  Buyer shall use commercially reasonable efforts to perform and fulfill all conditions and obligations on its part to be performed and fulfilled under this Agreement, to the end that the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall be fully carried out.

5.2           Public Announcements.  Subject to applicable law, at all times Buyer will promptly advise, and obtain the approval of, Seller before issuing or permitting any of Buyer’s directors, officers, employees, representatives, agents or subsidiaries to issue any press release with respect to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

5.3           Notices and Consents.  Buyer will give any notices to, make any filings with, and use its reasonable best efforts to obtain any authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies.

5.4           Notice of Developments.  Buyer will give prompt written notice to Seller of any material development causing a breach of any of its own representations and warranties in Section 3.2 above.

Each and every obligation of Buyer under this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

6.1           Representations and Warranties; Performance.  Each of the representations and warranties made by Seller and Shareholders herein will be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing with the same effect as though made at that time except for changes specifically contemplated, permitted, or required by this Agreement; Seller and each Shareholder will have performed and complied with all agreements, covenants, and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed and complied with by each prior to the Closing; and Buyer will have received, at the Closing, a certificate of the Chief Executive Officer of Seller, signed on behalf of Seller, stating that each of the representations and warranties made by Seller herein is true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing except for changes contemplated, permitted, or required by this Agreement and that Seller has performed and complied with all agreements, covenants, and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed and complied with by it prior to the Closing.  For the purposes of this section and determining whether a provision has been breached in a material respect, any representation or warranty of a party that is qualified by a materiality standard shall be read without regard to any such materiality qualification as if such qualification were not contained herein.

6.2           Litigation.  No material action, suit, or proceeding before any court, governmental or regulatory authority will have been commenced and be continuing, and no investigation by any governmental or regulatory authority will have been commenced and be continuing, and no action, investigation, suit, or proceeding will be, to the knowledge of Seller and each Shareholder, threatened at the time of Closing, against Seller, Shareholders, Buyer or any of their Affiliates, associates, officers, managers or directors, seeking to restrain, prevent, or change the transactions contemplated hereby, questioning the validity or legality of the transactions contemplated hereby, or seeking damages in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

6.3           Absence of Material Change.  From the date of this Agreement to the Closing, there shall not have occurred any event, change, effect, act, discovery, or occurrence (or any combination of the forgoing) (whether or not referred to or described herein or in any Exhibit or Schedule hereto) that individually or in the aggregate would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

6.4           Company Action.  Seller will have furnished to Buyer a copy, certified by an officer of Seller, of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Seller and the shareholders of Seller authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement.

6.5           Consents.  Seller shall have made all filings with and notifications of governmental authorities and regulatory agencies required to be made by it in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the performance of the transactions contemplated hereby and the continued operation of Seller’s business by Buyer subsequent to the Closing, and Buyer shall have received such governmental consents or permits required to use and own the Purchased Assets, if any.

6.6           Release of Liens.  All Security Interests on the Purchased Assets, other than Permitted Liens, shall have been terminated and released, and Buyer shall have received releases and such other documents evidencing such transactions.

6.7           Assignment, Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement.  Seller shall have executed and delivered an Assignment Agreement .

6.8           Employment Agreements.  Each Shareholder shall have executed and delivered to Buyer an Employment Agreement and each other Key Employee and each other employee of Seller that has been extended an offer of employment with Buyer or Buyer’s affiliate shall each have executed and delivered Buyer’s or Buyer’s affiliate’s form of employment agreement (subject to such changes as the respective parties thereto may hereafter agree in writing).

6.9           Confidentiality, Development and Non-Interference Agreement.  Buyer (or Buyer’s affiliate) and Shareholders and other Key Employees and each other employee of Seller that has been extended an offer of employment with Buyer or Buyer’s affiliate shall have executed and delivered Buyer’s or Buyer’s affiliate’s form of Confidentiality, Development and Non-Interference Agreement (subject to such changes as the respective parties thereto may hereafter agree in writing).

6.10         Lock-Up Agreement.  Seller and the Shareholders shall each have executed and delivered Buyer’s form of Lock-Up Agreement.

6.11         Legal Opinion of Seller’s Counsel.  Buyer shall have received an opinion of Seller’s legal counsel, Smith, Anderson, Blount, Dorsett, Mitchell & Jernigan, L.L.P., in a form acceptable to Buyer.

 

Each and every obligation of Seller under this Agreement is subject to the satisfaction, at or before the Closing, of each of the following conditions:

7.1           Representations and Warranties; Performance.  Each of the representations and warranties made by Buyer herein will be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing with the same effect as though made at that time except for changes contemplated, permitted, or required by this Agreement; Buyer will have performed and complied with all agreements, covenants, and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed and complied with by it prior to the Closing; and Seller will have received, at the Closing, a certificate of Buyer, stating that each of the representations and warranties made by Buyer herein is true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing except for changes contemplated, permitted, or required by this Agreement and that Buyer has performed and complied with all agreements, covenants, and conditions required by this Agreement to be performed and complied with by it prior to the Closing. For the purposes of this section and determining whether a provision has been breached in a material respect, any representation or warranty of a party that is qualified by a materiality standard shall be read without regard to any such materiality qualification as if such qualification were not contained herein.

7.2           Corporate Action.  Buyer will have furnished to Seller a copy, certified by an officer of Buyer, of the resolutions of the Board of Directors of Buyer authorizing the execution, delivery, and performance of this Agreement.

7.3           Absence of Material Change.  From the date of this Agreement to the Closing, there has not occurred any event, change, effect, act, discovery, or occurrence (or any combination of the forgoing) (whether or not referred to or described herein or in any Exhibit or Schedule hereto) that individually or in the aggregate would have, or would reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect.

7.4           Assignment, Bill of Sale and Assumption Agreement.  Buyer shall have executed and delivered an Assignment Agreement.

7.5           Purchase Price.  Buyer shall have tendered delivery of the purchase price set forth in Section 1.6 to Seller.

7.6           Employment Agreements. Buyer shall have executed and delivered to each of the Shareholders the Employment Agreements.

 

7.7           Litigation.  No material action, suit, or proceeding before any court, governmental or regulatory authority will have been commenced and be continuing, and no investigation by any governmental or regulatory authority will have been commenced and be continuing, and no action, investigation, suit, or proceeding will be threatened at the time of Closing, against Buyer or any of its  Affiliates, associates, officers, managers or directors, seeking to restrain, prevent, or change the transactions contemplated hereby, questioning the validity or legality of the transactions contemplated hereby, or seeking damages in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

8.1           Termination By Buyer.  Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to Seller at any time prior to the Closing (a) in the event Seller or any Shareholder has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement in any material respect, Buyer has notified Seller and Shareholders of the breach, and the breach has continued without cure for a period of 15 days after the notice of breach or is otherwise not reasonably susceptible to cure or (b) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before July 31, 2009 by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under Article VI hereof (unless the failure results primarily from Buyer breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement).  For the purposes of this section and determining whether a provision has been breached in a material respect, any representation or warranty of a party that is qualified by a materiality standard shall be read without regard to any such materiality qualification as if such qualification were not contained herein.

8.2           Termination By Seller.  Seller may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to Buyer at any time prior to the Closing (a) in the event Buyer has breached any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement in any material respect, Seller has notified Buyer of the breach, and the breach has continued without cure for a period of 15 days after the notice of breach or is otherwise not reasonably susceptible to cure or (b) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before July 31, 2009, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under Article VII hereof (unless the failure results primarily from Seller breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement). For the purposes of this section and determining whether a representation or warranty has been breached in a material respect, any representation or warranty of a party that is qualified by a materiality standard shall be read without regard to any such materiality qualification as if such qualification were not contained herein.

8.3           Termination By Mutual Consent.  Anything herein or elsewhere to the contrary notwithstanding, this Agreement may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to the Closing without further obligation or liability on the part of any party by the mutual written consent of Buyer and Seller.

8.4           Effect of Termination.  If this Agreement terminates pursuant to any provision of this Article VIII and the transactions contemplated hereunder are not consummated, this Agreement shall be null and void and have no further force or effect, except that any such termination shall be without prejudice to the rights of any party on account of the nonsatisfaction of the conditions set forth in Articles VI and VII resulting from the breach or violation of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements of another party under this Agreement.

9.1           Survival.  Each covenant or agreement in this Agreement shall survive the Closing without limitation as to time until fully performed in accordance with its terms.  Each representation and warranty in this Agreement, any Transaction Document or in the Schedules or Exhibits shall survive the Closing until the twelve-month anniversary of the Closing Date (the “Survival Date”).  Buyer hereby agrees that it shall not make any claim (for indemnification or otherwise) or take any action against Seller or any Shareholder with respect to the inaccuracy or breach of any of Seller's or any Shareholder’s representations or warranties at any time after the Survival Date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following representations and warranties (collectively, the “Specified Representations”) shall survive the Closing as follows:  (a) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1(a), (b), (c), (d), (g) and (r) shall survive the Closing without limitation as to time, and (b) the representations and warranties contained in Sections 3.1(i), 3.1(p) and 3.1(t) shall survive the Closing until 30 days after the expiration of the statutes of limitations, if any, applicable to the matters addressed therein.  

9.2           Indemnification by Seller and Shareholders.  From and after the date hereof, Seller and the Shareholders agree, jointly and severally, to indemnify fully, hold harmless, protect and defend Buyer and its Affiliates, and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, successors and assigns from and against:

(a)           any and all Losses (as defined below) incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon any inaccuracy in, or breach of, any of the representations or warranties of any of Seller or Shareholders contained in this Agreement, any Transaction Document or in the Schedules or Exhibits hereto or thereto;

(b)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon any failure to perform, or other breach of, any of the covenants or agreements of any of Seller or Shareholders contained in or incorporated into this Agreement, any Transaction Document or in the Schedules or Exhibits hereto or thereto;

(c)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon any of Seller’s assets that are not Purchased Assets or any of the Retained Liabilities;

(d)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon Seller’s ownership or use of the Purchased Assets prior to the Closing, including any Liability for any Taxes;

(e)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon the operation of Seller’s business prior to or after the Closing; and

(f)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon any claims made for workers’ compensation benefits or under any Employee Benefit Plan due with respect to any event occurring or circumstance existing prior to the Closing.

The right of Buyer and its Affiliates (and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, successors and assigns) to be indemnified hereunder for any Loss shall not be limited or affected by any investigation conducted or notice or knowledge obtained by or on behalf of any such Persons.

9.3           Indemnification by Buyer.  From and after the date hereof, Buyer agrees to indemnify fully, hold harmless, protect and defend Seller and Shareholders, and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, successors and assigns from and against:

(a)           any and all Losses (as defined below) incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon any inaccuracy in, or breach of, any of the representations or warranties of Buyer contained in this Agreement, any Transaction Document or in the Schedules or Exhibits hereto or thereto;

(b)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon any failure to perform, or other breach of, any of the covenants or agreements of Buyer contained in or incorporated into this Agreement, any Transaction Document or in the Schedules or Exhibits hereto or thereto;

(c)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon Buyer’s ownership,  use or control of the Purchased Assets after the Closing or failure to perform any of the obligations assumed by Buyer after the Closing with respect to the Assumed Liabilities after the Closing; and

(d)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon Buyer and/or its Affiliates Liability for any Taxes related to the Purchased Assets after the Closing; and

(e)           any and all Losses incurred by any of them arising out of, relating to or based upon the operation of Buyer’s business after the Closing.

The right of the Seller and Shareholders (and their respective directors, officers, agents and employees, successors and assigns) to be indemnified hereunder for any Loss shall not be limited or affected by any investigation conducted or notice or knowledge obtained by or on behalf of any such Persons.

9.4           Losses.   For purposes of this Agreement the term “Losses” shall mean any and all losses, costs, claims, damages, Taxes, Liabilities, obligations, judgments, settlements, awards, demands, offsets, reasonable out-of-pocket costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees (including any such reasonable costs, expenses and attorneys’ fees incurred in enforcing a party’s right to indemnification against any indemnifying party or with respect to any appeal) and penalties and interest, if any.

9.5           Procedure for Indemnification for Third Party Claims.

(a)           Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Sections 9.2 and 9.3 of notice of the commencement of any proceeding against it, such indemnified party will, if a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party under such Section, give notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of such claim, but the failure to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party of any Liability that it may have to any indemnified party, except to the extent that the indemnifying party demonstrates that the defense of such action is prejudiced by the indemnifying party’s failure to give such notice.

(b)           If any proceeding referred to in Section 9.5(a) is brought against an indemnified party and it gives notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of such proceeding, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in such proceeding and, to the extent that it wishes (unless (i) the indemnifying party is also a party to such proceeding and the indemnified party determines in good faith that joint representation would be inappropriate, or (ii) the indemnifying party fails to provide reasonable assurance to the indemnified party of its financial capacity to defend such proceeding and provide indemnification with respect to such proceeding), to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and, after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such proceeding, the indemnifying party will not, as long as it diligently conducts such defense, be liable to the indemnified party under this Article IX for any fees of other counsel or any other expenses with respect to the defense of such proceeding, in each case subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense of such proceeding, other than reasonable costs of investigation.  If the indemnifying party assumes the defense of a proceeding (as opposed to participating in the defense as provided above), (i) it will be conclusively established for purposes of this Agreement that the claims made in that proceeding are within the scope of and subject to indemnification; (ii) no compromise or settlement of such claims may be effected by the indemnifying party without the indemnified party’s consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless (A) there is no finding or admission of any violation of law or any violation of the rights of any Person and no effect on any other claims that may be made against the indemnified party, and (B) the sole relief provided is monetary damages that are paid in full by the indemnifying party; and (iii) the indemnified party will have no Liability with respect to any compromise or settlement of such claims effected without its consent.  If notice is given to an indemnifying party of the commencement of any proceeding and the indemnifying party does not, within 10 days after the indemnified party’s notice is given, give notice to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense of such proceeding, the indemnifying party will be bound by any determination made in such proceeding or any compromise or settlement effected by the indemnified party.

(c)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an indemnified party determines in good faith that there is a reasonable probability that a proceeding may adversely affect it or its Affiliates other than as a result of monetary damages for which it would be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, the indemnified party may, by notice to the indemnifying party, assume the exclusive right to defend, compromise, or settle such proceeding, but the indemnifying party will not be bound by any determination of a proceeding so defended or any compromise or settlement effected without its consent (which may not be unreasonably withheld).

 

(d)           Both parties hereby consent to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any court in which a proceeding is brought by a third party against any indemnified person for purposes of any claim that an indemnified person may have under this Agreement with respect to such proceeding or the matters alleged therein, and agree that process may be served on either party with respect to such a claim anywhere in the world.

9.6           Set-Off Rights; Character of Indemnity Payments.  The indemnifying party shall promptly pay the indemnified party any amount due under this Article IX.  Buyer shall have the right, but not the obligation, to set-off against the Additional Purchase Consideration any amount Seller or any Shareholder may be obligated to pay Buyer under the terms of this Agreement.  If, contrary to the intent of the parties, any payment made pursuant to this Article IX is treated as taxable income to the recipient, then the payor shall indemnify and hold harmless the recipient from any Liability for Taxes attributable to the receipt of such payment.  For purposes of this Section 9.6, the indemnified party will be considered to be liable for Tax in respect of any payment treated as taxable income at the highest marginal tax rate then in effect for corporations in the jurisdiction so characterizing the payment for the year such payment is considered to be earned by the indemnified party.

9.7           Limitation on Shareholders’ Liability.  Each of the parties hereby agrees that the maximum liability of Shareholders under this Agreement in respect of any indemnity claims under this Article IX shall not exceed the aggregate purchase price (including any Additional Purchase Consideration) under this Agreement.

 

10.1           Notices.  All notices, communications and deliveries hereunder shall be made in writing signed by the party making the same, shall specify the Section hereunder pursuant to which it is given or being made, and shall be delivered by registered or certified mail (with postage and other fees prepaid) as follows:

To Buyer:

INX Inc.

Attn:  James H. Long, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer

6401 Southwest Freeway

Houston, Texas  77074

Telecopy: (713) 795-2307

Email:   ***@***

With a copy to:

Mayer Brown LLP

Attn: Robert F. Gray, Jr.

700 Louisiana Street

Suite 3600

Houston, Texas  77002

Telecopy:   ###-###-####

Email:   ***@***

To Seller or Shareholders:

Mark Alexander

1000 Perimeter Park, Suite H

Morrisville, NC 27560

Telecopy:   ###-###-####

Email: ***@***

with a copy to:                                

Smith Anderson et al.

Attn: Merrill Mason

Post Office Box 2611

Raleigh, North Carolina ###-###-####

Telecopy: (919) 821-6800

Email: ***@***

or to such other representative or at such other address of a party as such party hereto may furnish to the other parties in writing. Such notice shall be effective upon the date of delivery or the intended recipient’s refusal to accept delivery.  After any notice is made hereunder, the party taking such action will use its best efforts to deliver a copy of such notice to the e-mail address of the intended recipients as soon as practical but in no event later than 12 hours after such action has been taken.

10.2            Attachments.  All schedules and exhibits attached hereto are hereby incorporated into this Agreement and are hereby made a part hereof as if set out in full in this Agreement.

10.3           Assignment; Successors in Interest.  No assignment or transfer by any party of its respective rights and obligations hereunder shall be made except with the prior written consent of the other parties hereto, except Buyer shall be permitted to assign its rights and obligations hereunder to one of its Affiliates, but no such assignment will release Buyer from its obligations hereunder.  This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and permitted assigns and any reference hereto shall also be a reference to a permitted successor or assign.

10.4           Number; Gender.  Whenever the context so requires, the singular number shall include the plural and the plural shall include the singular, and the gender of any pronoun shall include the other genders.

10.5           Captions.  The titles and captions contained in this Agreement are inserted herein only as a matter of convenience and for reference and in no way define, limit, extend or describe the scope of this Agreement or the intent of any provision hereof. Unless otherwise specified to the contrary, all references to Articles and Sections are references to Articles and Sections of this Agreement and all references to Exhibits are references to Exhibits to this Agreement.

10.6           Controlling Law; Venue; Integration: Amendment.  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas without regard to choice of law provisions, statutes, regulations or principles of this or any other jurisdiction.  Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts of the State of Texas for any action, suit or proceeding arising in connection with this Agreement, and agrees that any such action suit or proceeding shall be brought only in any such court in Houston, Texas (and waives any objection based on forum non conveniens or any other jurisdiction to venue therein).  This Agreement (and the related written agreements to be entered into in connection with this Agreement) supersedes all negotiations, agreements and understandings among the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and constitutes the entire agreement among the parties hereto. This Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented except by the written agreement of Seller and Buyer.  EACH PARTY IRREVOCABLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHTS TO TRIAL BY JURY IN CONNECTION WITH ANY LITIGATION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

10.7           Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, including the signature pages, each of which shall be deemed an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.  In addition, the parties agree that the counterparts of this Agreement so signed may be evidenced by delivery of a telecopy or other electronic transmission of the signature page image to this Agreement to the other party at the number listed in Section 10.1 and that such telecopied signature pages shall be treated for all purposes as original signatures to this Agreement.

10.8           Enforcement of Certain Rights.  Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon or give any person, firm or corporation other than the parties hereto, their successors or permitted assigns, any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, or result in such person, firm or corporation being deemed a third party beneficiary of this Agreement.

10.9           Waiver.  Any agreement on the part of a party hereto to any extension or waiver shall be valid only if set forth in an instrument in writing signed on behalf of such party.  A waiver by one party of the performance of any covenant, agreement, obligation, condition, representation or warranty shall not be construed as a waiver of any other covenant, agreement, obligation, condition, representation or warranty. A waiver by any party of the performance of any act shall not constitute a waiver of the performance of any other act or an identical act required to be performed at a later time.

10.10         Arbitration; Legal Proceedings.

(a)           The parties shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach, termination or validity hereof or the transactions contemplated herein promptly by negotiation between a representative of Buyer and Seller.  Either Seller or Buyer may give the other written notice that a dispute exists (a “Notice of Dispute”). The Notice of Dispute shall include a statement of such party's position and the name and title of the representative who will represent such party. Within ten (10) days of the delivery of the Notice of Dispute, a representative from each party hereto shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place, and thereafter as long as they reasonably deem necessary, to attempt to resolve the dispute. All documents and other information or data on which each party relies concerning the dispute shall be furnished or made available on reasonable terms to the other party at or before the first meeting of the parties as provided by this paragraph.

(b)           Except as provided in Section 10.10(d) below, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the breach, termination or validity hereof, or the transactions contemplated herein, if not settled by negotiation as provided in paragraph (a) of this Section 10.10, shall be settled by arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules (“CAR”) of the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), by one arbitrator selected by mutual agreement of the parties.  In the event the parties cannot agree to an arbitrator, the arbitrator shall be selected by the CAR, Selection of Arbitrators.  Either party may initiate arbitration by delivering a written election to arbitrate to the other party at any time after twenty (20) days following the delivery of a Notice of Dispute if the dispute has not then been settled by negotiation, or sooner if the other party fails to participate in negotiation in accordance with paragraph (a) above. The arbitration procedure shall be governed by the United States Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. Section 1-16 (the “Act”) and shall be held in Houston, Texas, and the award rendered by the arbitrator shall be final and binding on the parties and may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof, subject to the court’s authority to modify or review the award as provided in the Act.

(c)           Each party shall bear its own costs and shall share equally the fees and expenses of the arbitrator.

(d)           Each party hereby acknowledges and agrees that this Section 10.10 shall not apply to any claim, controversy, action suit or proceeding in which a party hereto seeks specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable relief and that such party may initiate any such claim, controversy, action suit or proceeding in accordance with Section 10.6 hereof.

10.11        Reliance on Counsel and Other Advisors.  Each party has consulted such legal, financial, technical or other experts as it deems necessary or desirable before entering into this Agreement. Each party represents and warrants that it has read, knows, understands and agrees with the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

10.12        Injunctive Relief.  The parties to this Agreement hereby agree that any remedy at law for any breach of the provisions contained in this Agreement shall be inadequate and that any party, to the extent permitted by applicable law, shall be entitled to injunction relief in addition to any other remedy such party might have under this Agreement.

10.13        Severability.  If a judicial or arbitral determination is made that any of the provisions of this Agreement constitutes an unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable restriction against Seller or Shareholders the provisions of this Agreement shall be rendered void only to the extent that such judicial or arbitral determination finds such provisions to be unreasonable or otherwise unenforceable with respect to Seller or Shareholders.

10.14      Attorney Fees. In the event of a dispute arising under this Agreement, the prevailing party in any subsequent arbitration or litigation proceeding brought to enforce this Agreement shall be entitled to reimbursement of costs and reasonable attorney fees.

[Signature Page Follows]

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Asset Purchase Agreement as of the day and year first written above.