AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
BY AND AMONG
GOTO.COM, INC.,
PAW ACQUISITION CORP.
AUCTIONROVER.COM, INC.
M. SCOT WINGO
AND
ARIS A. BUINEVICIUS
DATED AS OF MARCH 8, 2000
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I THE MERGER...................................................................................2
1.1 The Merger...........................................................................2
1.2 Effective Time.......................................................................2
1.3 Effect of the Merger.................................................................2
1.4 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws....................................................2
1.5 Directors and Officers...............................................................3
1.6 Merger Consideration.................................................................3
1.7 Dissenting Shares for Holders of Company Capital Stock...............................5
1.8 Surrender of Certificates............................................................6
1.9 Tax Consequences.....................................................................8
ARTICLE II REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS...............8
2.1 Organization of the Company..........................................................9
2.2 Company Capital Structure............................................................9
2.3 Subsidiaries........................................................................10
2.4 Authority...........................................................................10
2.5 Company Financial Statements........................................................11
2.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities..........................................................11
2.7 No Changes..........................................................................12
2.8 Tax and Other Returns and Reports...................................................13
2.9 Restrictions on Business Activities.................................................15
2.10 Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances..............................16
2.11 Intellectual Property...............................................................16
2.12 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments...............................................19
2.13 Interested Party Transactions.......................................................21
2.14 Litigation..........................................................................21
2.15 Insurance...........................................................................21
2.16 Minute Books........................................................................21
2.17 Environmental Matters...............................................................22
2.18 Brokers' and Finders' Fees; Third Party Expenses....................................22
2.19 Employee Matters and Benefit Plans..................................................23
2.20 Compliance with Laws................................................................26
2.21 Officer Matters.....................................................................26
2.22 Year 2000 Compliance................................................................26
2.23 Warranties; Indemnities.............................................................27
2.24 Complete Copies of Materials........................................................27
2.25 Representations Complete............................................................27
2.26 HSR Representation..................................................................27
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ARTICLE III REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB...................................27
3.1 Organization, Standing and Power....................................................27
3.2 Authority...........................................................................27
3.3 Capital Structure...................................................................28
3.4 SEC Documents; Parent Financial Statements..........................................29
3.5 No Material Adverse Effect..........................................................29
3.6 Litigation..........................................................................29
ARTICLE IV CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME........................................................29
4.1 Conduct of Business of the Company..................................................29
4.2 No Solicitation by the Company......................................................33
ARTICLE V ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS.......................................................................34
5.1 Fairness Hearing; Shareholder Approval..............................................34
5.2 Nasdaq Listing......................................................................35
5.3 Restrictions on Transfer............................................................35
5.4 Access to Information...............................................................35
5.5 Confidentiality.....................................................................35
5.6 Expenses............................................................................35
5.7 Public Disclosure...................................................................36
5.8 Consents............................................................................36
5.9 FIRPTA Compliance...................................................................36
5.10 Reasonable Efforts..................................................................36
5.11 Notification of Certain Matters.....................................................36
5.12 Affiliate Agreements................................................................37
5.13 Additional Documents and Further Assurances.........................................37
5.14 S-8 Registration....................................................................37
5.15 Termination of 401(k) Plan..........................................................37
5.16 Conversion of Preferred Stock.......................................................37
5.17 Exercise of Warrant.................................................................37
5.18 HSR Act.............................................................................38
5.19 Waiver of Acceleration..............................................................38
5.20 Release of Guaranties...............................................................38
5.21 Disability Insurance................................................................39
ARTICLE VI CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER...................................................................39
6.1 Conditions to Obligations of Each Party to Effect the Merger........................39
6.2 Additional Conditions to Obligations of the Company.................................39
6.3 Additional Conditions to the Obligations of Parent and Merger Sub...................40
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ARTICLE VII SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES; INDEMNITY; ESCROW.............................42
7.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties..........................................42
7.2 Indemnity...........................................................................42
7.3 Exclusive Remedy....................................................................43
7.4 Escrow Arrangements.................................................................43
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER........................................................50
8.1 Termination.........................................................................50
8.2 Effect of Termination...............................................................51
8.3 Amendment...........................................................................52
8.4 Extension; Waiver...................................................................52
ARTICLE IX GENERAL PROVISIONS.........................................................................52
9.1 Notices.............................................................................52
9.2 Interpretation......................................................................54
9.3 Counterparts........................................................................54
9.4 Entire Agreement; Assignment........................................................54
9.5 Severability........................................................................54
9.6 Other Remedies......................................................................54
9.7 Governing Law.......................................................................55
9.8 Rules of Construction...............................................................55
9.9 Specific Performance................................................................55
9.10 Attorney's Fees.....................................................................55
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION (this "Agreement") is made and
entered into as of March 8, 2000 among GoTo.com, Inc., a Delaware corporation
("Parent"), Paw Acquisition Corp., a North Carolina corporation and a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent ("Merger Sub"), AuctionRover.com, Inc., a
North Carolina corporation (the "Company"), M. Scot Wingo and Aris A.
Buinevicius (collectively, the "Principal Shareholders"), U.S. Bank Trust,
National Association, the undersigned escrow agent (the "Escrow Agent") and M.
Scot Wingo (the "Securityholder Agent") (the Escrow Agent being party with
respect to Article VII hereof only).
RECITALS
A. The Boards of Directors of each of the Company, Parent and Merger Sub
believe it is in the best interests of each company and its respective
shareholders that Parent acquire the Company through the statutory merger of
Merger Sub with and into the Company (the "Merger") and, in furtherance thereof,
have approved the Merger.
B. Pursuant to the Merger, among other things, and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement (i) all of the issued and outstanding capital stock
of the Company will be converted into shares of common stock of Parent and (ii)
all issued and outstanding options, warrants or other rights to acquire or
receive shares of capital stock of the Company shall be assumed by Parent for
common stock of Parent.
C. A portion of the shares of Parent Common Stock otherwise issuable by
Parent in connection with the Merger shall be placed in escrow by Parent, the
release of which amount shall be contingent upon certain events and conditions,
all as set forth in Article VII hereof.
D. It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger shall constitute a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended (the "Code").
E. As a material inducement for Parent to consummate the Merger, certain
key employees of the Company will enter into non-competition agreements
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Non-Competition
Agreement") with Parent, each of which shall become effective as of the
Effective Time (as defined herein).
F. Concurrent with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, as a
material inducement to Parent to enter into this Agreement, certain affiliate
shareholders of the Company are executing and delivering shareholder support
agreements (the "Support Agreements"), substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit B, to Parent.
H. The Company, Parent and Merger Sub desire to make certain
representations and warranties and other agreements in connection with the
Merger.
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NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants, promises and
representations set forth herein, and for other good and valuable consideration,
intending to be legally bound hereby the parties agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
1.1 The Merger. At the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 hereof)
and subject to and upon the terms and conditions of this Agreement and the
applicable provisions of the North Carolina General Statutes ("North Carolina
Law"), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Company, the separate corporate
existence of Merger Sub shall cease and Company shall continue as the surviving
corporation. The surviving corporation after the Merger is sometimes referred to
hereinafter as the "Surviving Corporation."
1.2 Effective Time. Unless this Agreement is earlier terminated pursuant to
Section 8.1 hereof, the closing of the Merger (the "Closing") will take place as
promptly as practicable, but no later than two (2) business days following
satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VI hereof, at the
offices of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional Corporation, 650 Page
Mill Road, Palo Alto, California, unless another place or time is agreed to in
writing by Parent and the Company. The date upon which the Closing actually
occurs is herein referred to as the "Closing Date." On the Closing Date, the
parties hereto shall cause the Merger to be consummated by filing Articles of
Merger (or like instrument) (the "Articles of Merger") with the Secretary of
State of the State of North Carolina, in accordance with the relevant provisions
of applicable law (the time of acceptance by the Secretary of State of North
Carolina of such filing being referred to herein as the "Effective Time").
1.3 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the Merger
shall be as provided in the applicable provisions of North Carolina Law. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective
Time, except as provided herein, all the property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of the Company and Merger Sub shall vest in the Surviving
Corporation, and all debts, liabilities and duties of the Company and Merger Sub
shall become the debts, liabilities and duties of the Surviving Corporation.
1.4 Articles of Incorporation; Bylaws.
(a) Unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to the Effective Time,
at the Effective Time, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company shall be
amended and restated as of the Effective Time to conform to the Articles of
Incorporation of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
such amended and restated Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
shall remain in effect until thereafter amended in accordance with the North
Carolina Law and as provided in such Articles of Incorporation; provided,
however, that at the Effective Time, Article 1 of such amended and restated
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation shall be read as follows:
"The name of the corporation is AuctionRover.com, Inc."
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(b) Unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to the Effective Time,
the Bylaws of the Company shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time
to conform to the Bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect immediately prior to the
Effective Time and such amended and restated Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation
shall remain in effect, until thereafter amended in accordance with North
Carolina Law and as provided in the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving
Corporation and such Bylaws.
1.5 Directors and Officers. Unless otherwise determined by Parent prior to
the Effective Time, the directors of Merger Sub immediately prior to the
Effective Time shall become the directors of the Surviving Corporation at the
Effective Time, each to hold the office of a director of the Surviving
Corporation in accordance with the provisions of North Carolina Law and the
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation until their
successors are duly elected and qualified. The officers of Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall become the officers of the
Surviving Corporation at the Effective Time, each to hold office in accordance
with the provisions of the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
1.6 Merger Consideration.
(a) Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
terms shall have the following meanings:
"Aggregate Share Number" shall mean 3,470,588 shares of Parent Common
Stock.
"Company Capital Stock" shall mean shares of Company Common Stock,
Company Preferred Stock and any shares of other capital stock of Company.
"Company Common Stock" shall mean shares of common stock of Company.
"Company Convertible Securities" shall mean the Company Options and
other rights (other than Company Preferred Stock) to acquire or receive shares
of Company Capital Stock.
"Company Options" shall mean all issued and outstanding options to
purchase or otherwise acquire Company Capital Stock (whether or not vested) held
by employees or directors of or consultants to Company (other than Company
Preferred Stock).
"Company Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Company Series A
Preferred Stock.
"Company Series A Preferred Stock" shall mean shares of Series A
Preferred Stock of Company.
"Company Shareholders" shall mean holders of any shares of Company
Capital Stock immediately prior to the Effective Time.
"Escrow Amount" shall mean 520,588 shares of Parent Common Stock.
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"Exchange Ratio" shall mean (x) a number of shares of Parent Common
Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Aggregate Share Number
by (ii) the Total Outstanding Shares (with the result rounded to four decimal
places).
"Knowledge" shall mean, with respect to Company or Parent, what is
within the actual knowledge, after due inquiry, of any of the officers of
Company or Parent, as the case may be, and, in the case of the Company only, the
Principal Shareholders.
"Total Outstanding Shares" shall mean the aggregate number of shares
of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time,
including Company Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of Company Options
plus the aggregate number of shares of Company Common Stock issuable, with or
without the passage of time or satisfaction of other conditions, upon exercise
of or conversion of all Company Convertible Securities and Company Preferred
Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
(b) Shares to be Issued; Effect on Capital Stock. The maximum number
of shares of Parent Common Stock issued (including Parent Common Stock to be
reserved for issuance upon exercise of any of the Company Convertible Securities
to be assumed by Parent) in exchange for the acquisition by Parent of all
outstanding Company Capital Stock and all unexpired and unexercised Company
Convertible Securities shall be equal to the Aggregate Share Number. Subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement, as of the Effective Time, by virtue
of the Merger and without any action on the part of Merger Sub, the Company or
the holder of any shares of the Company Capital Stock or Company Convertible
Securities, the following shall occur:
(i) Effect on Company Capital Stock. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Company or the
Company Shareholders, each share of Company Capital Stock issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than any Dissenting Shares, as
defined in Section 1.7 hereof and any shares owned by Parent, Merger Sub or
Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary thereof) shall be
canceled and extinguished and shall be converted automatically into the right to
receive, upon surrender of the certificate representing such share of Company
Capital Stock and upon the terms and subject to conditions set forth below and
throughout this Agreement, a number of shares of Parent Common Stock equal to
the Exchange Ratio (the "Merger Consideration").
(ii) Assumption of Company Convertible Securities. As soon as
practicable following the Closing but effective as of the Effective Time, each
outstanding Company Option, collectively, issued pursuant to Company's 1999
Stock Award Plan and 1999 Executive Stock Award Plan (collectively, the "Option
Plans") or otherwise and each other Company Convertible Security, in each case
whether vested or unvested, will be assumed by Parent in connection with the
Merger. Each Company Convertible Security so assumed by Parent under this
Agreement shall continue to have, and be subject to, the same terms and
conditions set forth in the Option Plan and/or as provided in the respective
option or similar agreement immediately prior to the Effective Time (including,
without limitation, any vesting schedule or repurchase rights), except that (i)
each Company Convertible Security will be exercisable for that number of whole
shares of
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Parent Common Stock equal to the product of the number of shares of Company
Common Stock that were issuable upon exercise of such Company Convertible
Security immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by the Exchange
Ratio, rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock
and (ii) the per share exercise price for the shares of Parent Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of such assumed Company Convertible Security will be
equal to the quotient determined by dividing the exercise price per share of
Company Capital Stock at which such Company Convertible Security was exercisable
immediately prior to the Effective Time by the Exchange Ratio, rounded up to the
nearest whole cent.
(iii) Option Status. It is the intention of the parties hereto
that the Company Options assumed by Parent following the Closing pursuant to
this Section 1.6 will, to the extent permitted by applicable law, qualify as
incentive stock options as defined in Section 422 of the Code, to the extent any
such Company Options qualified as incentive stock options immediately prior to
the Effective Time.
(iv) Fractional Shares. No fractional share of Parent Common
Stock shall be issued in the Merger. In lieu thereof, any fractional share shall
be rounded to the nearest whole share of Parent Common Stock (with .5 being
rounded up).
(v) Cancellation of Parent-Owned and Company-Owned Stock. At the
Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of
any of the parties hereto, each share of Company Capital Stock owned by Parent,
Merger Sub, Company or any direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary thereof
immediately prior to the Effective Time, shall be cancelled and extinguished
without any conversion thereof.
(vi) Capital Stock of Merger Sub. At the Effective Time, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any of the parties
hereto, each share of capital stock of Merger Sub issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and exchanged
for one validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable share of common stock of
the Surviving Corporation. Each stock certificate of Merger Sub evidencing
ownership of any such shares shall continue to evidence ownership of such shares
of capital stock of the Surviving Corporation.
1.7 Dissenting Shares for Holders of Company Capital Stock.
(a) Notwithstanding any provision of this Agreement to the contrary,
any shares of Company Capital Stock held by a holder (i) who has not voted in
favor of the Merger, (ii) from whom the Company shall have received, before the
vote is taken at the Company shareholders' meeting to adopt this Agreement,
written notice of such holder's intent to demand payment for such holder's
shares of Company Capital Stock, in accordance with Article 13 of Chapter 55 of
the North Carolina Law if the Merger is effectuated, and (iii) who has preserved
such holder's right to receive payment for such shares by taking those actions
required by such Article 13 within the time periods stipulated therein
(collectively, the "Dissenting Shares") shall not be converted into or represent
the
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right to receive the Merger Consideration. Such shareholders shall be entitled
to receive the amounts determined in accordance with the provisions of such
Article 13.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), if any holder of
shares of Company Capital Stock who demands appraisal of such shares under North
Carolina Law shall effectively withdraw or lose (through failure to perfect or
otherwise) the right to appraisal, then, as of the later of the Effective Time
and the occurrence of such event, such holder's shares shall automatically be
converted into and represent only the right to receive Parent Common Stock as
provided in Section 1.6 (and subject to the provisions of Section 7.4 hereof),
without interest thereon, upon surrender of the certificate representing such
shares.
(c) Company shall give Parent (i) prompt notice of any written demands
for appraisal of any shares of Company Capital Stock, withdrawals of such
demands, and any other instruments served pursuant to North Carolina Law and
received by Company and (ii) the opportunity to participate in all negotiations
and proceedings with respect to demands for appraisal under North Carolina Law.
Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of Parent, voluntarily
make any payment with respect to any demands for appraisal of capital stock of
Company or offer to settle or settle any such demands. Notwithstanding anything
to the contrary contained herein, Parent shall have full recourse to the Escrow
Fund (as defined in Section 7.4(a)) for the amount, if any, paid by Company or
Parent in respect of Dissenting Shares.
1.8 Surrender of Certificates.
(a) Exchange Agent. The transfer agent of Parent (or another entity
reasonably acceptable to Parent and the Company) shall serve as exchange agent
(the "Exchange Agent") in the Merger.
(b) Parent to Provide Parent Common Stock. Prior to the Closing,
Parent shall make available to the Exchange Agent for exchange in accordance
with this Article I the shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to Company
Shareholders pursuant to Section 1.6 hereof in exchange for outstanding shares
of Company Capital Stock, less the Escrow Amount which Parent shall deposit into
the Escrow Fund (as defined in Section 7.4(a) hereof) on behalf of the Company
Shareholders. The portion of the Escrow Amount contributed on behalf of each
Company Shareholder shall be in proportion to the aggregate number of shares of
Parent Common Stock each such Company Shareholder would otherwise be entitled to
receive in the Merger (excluding any shares of Parent Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of any assumed Company Convertible Securities) by virtue of ownership
of outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock immediately prior to the
Effective Time and, in the case of the shares of Parent Common Stock contributed
to the Escrow Amount by the Principal Shareholders, one-third (1/3) of the
shares of Parent Common Stock so contributed by the Principal Shareholders shall
be "Vested Shares" as defined in the repurchase agreement between such Principal
Shareholder and the Company (the "Repurchase Agreement") and the remainder of
the shares so contributed shall be "Unvested Shares" (as defined in such
Repurchase Agreement) which vest on May 31, 2001.
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(c) Exchange Procedures. Prior to the Closing, Parent shall cause to
be delivered to each Company Shareholder (i) a letter of transmittal (which
shall be in such form and contain such provisions as Parent may reasonably
specify and shall specify that delivery shall be effected, and risk of loss and
title to the certificates (the "Certificates") which immediately prior to the
Effective Time represent outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock whose
shares are converted into the right to receive such Company Shareholder's pro
rata portion of the Merger Consideration pursuant to Section 1.6 hereof, shall
pass, only upon delivery of the Certificates to the Exchange Agent) and (ii)
instructions for use in effecting the surrender following the Closing of the
Certificates in exchange for certificates representing such Company
Shareholder's pro rata portion of the Merger Consideration. Upon surrender of a
Certificate at the Closing for cancellation to the Exchange Agent or to such
other agent or agents as may be appointed by Parent, together with such letter
of transmittal, duly completed and validly executed in accordance with the
instructions thereto, the Company Shareholder shall be entitled to receive, and
the Exchange Agent shall promptly deliver in exchange therefor, a certificate
representing the number of whole shares of Parent Common Stock (less the number
of shares of Parent Common Stock to be deposited in the Escrow Fund on such
holder's behalf pursuant to Section 1.8(b) and Article VII hereof) to which such
holder is entitled pursuant to Section 1.6 hereof, and the Certificate so
surrendered shall forthwith be canceled. As soon as practicable after the
Effective Time, and subject to and in accordance with the provisions of Article
VII hereof, Parent shall cause to be distributed to the Escrow Agent (as defined
in Article VII hereof) a certificate or certificates representing that number of
shares of Parent Common Stock equal to the Escrow Amount which shall be
registered in the name of the Escrow Agent. Such shares shall be beneficially
owned by the holders on whose behalf such shares were deposited in the Escrow
Fund and shall be available to compensate Parent as provided in Article VII
hereof. Until so surrendered, each outstanding Certificate that, prior to the
Effective Time, represented shares of Company Capital Stock will be deemed from
and after the Effective Time, for all corporate purposes, other than the payment
of dividends, to evidence the ownership of the number of full shares of Parent
Common Stock into which such shares of Company Capital Stock shall have been so
converted.
(d) Distributions With Respect to Unexchanged Shares. No dividends or
other distributions declared or made after the Effective Time with respect to
Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time will be paid to
the holder of any unsurrendered Certificate with respect to the shares of Parent
Common Stock represented thereby until the holder of record of such Certificate
shall surrender such Certificate. Subject to applicable law, following surrender
of any such Certificate, there shall be paid to the record holder of the
certificates representing whole shares of Parent Common Stock in exchange
therefor, plus the amount of dividends or other distributions (without interest)
with a record date after the Effective Time theretofore paid with respect to
such whole shares of Parent Common Stock.
(e) Transfers of Ownership. If any certificate for shares of Parent
Common Stock is to be issued in a name other than that in which the Certificate
surrendered in exchange therefor is registered, it will be a condition of the
issuance thereof that the Certificate so surrendered will be properly endorsed
and otherwise in proper form for transfer and that the person requesting such
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exchange will have paid to Parent or any agent designated by it any transfer or
other taxes required by reason of the issuance of a certificate for shares of
Parent Common Stock in any name other than that of the registered holder of the
Certificate surrendered.
(f) Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event any
Certificates evidencing shares of Company Capital Stock shall have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, the Exchange Agent shall issue in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificates, upon the delivery by the holder thereof of an
affidavit of that fact by the holder thereof containing customary
indemnification provisions; provided, however, Parent may, in its discretion and
as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the Company
Shareholder who is the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate to
deliver a bond in such amount as Parent may reasonably direct against any claim
that may be made against Parent, the Surviving Corporation or the Exchange Agent
with respect to the certainties alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
(g) No Liability. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Section 1.8, neither Parent nor any party hereto shall be liable to a holder of
shares of Parent Common Stock or Company Capital Stock for any amount properly
paid to a public official pursuant to any applicable abandoned property, escheat
or similar law.
(h) No Further Ownership Rights in Company Capital Stock. The shares
of Parent Common Stock issued in accordance with the terms hereof shall be
deemed to be full satisfaction of all rights pertaining to shares of Company
Capital Stock outstanding prior to the Effective Time, and there shall be no
further registration of transfers on the records of the Surviving Corporation of
shares of Company Capital Stock that were outstanding prior to the Effective
Time. If, after the Effective Time, Certificates are presented to Parent or the
Surviving Corporation for any reason, they shall be canceled and exchanged as
provided in this Article I.
(i) Taking of Necessary Action; Further Action. If, at any time after
the Effective Time, any further action is necessary or desirable to carry out
the purposes of this Agreement and to vest Surviving Corporation with full
right, title and possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of Company, Parent and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of
Company, Parent and Merger Sub are fully authorized in the name of their
respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such lawful and
necessary action.
1.9 Tax Consequences. It is intended by the parties hereto that the Merger
shall constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Code.
ARTICLE II
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
AND THE PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDERS
As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, the Company and each of
the Principal Shareholders, jointly and severally, represents and warrants to
Parent and Merger Sub, subject to
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such exceptions as are specifically disclosed in the disclosure letter
(referencing the appropriate section number) supplied by the Company to Parent
(the "Company Disclosure Letter") and dated as of the date hereof, as follows:
2.1 Organization of the Company. The Company is a corporation duly
organized and validly existing under the laws of the State of North Carolina.
The Company has the corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted and as proposed to be conducted. The Company is
duly qualified to do business and in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business. The Company has delivered a
true and correct copy of its Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as
amended to date and in full force and effect on the date hereof, to Parent. Part
2.1 of the Company Disclosure Letter lists the directors and officers of the
Company. The operations now being conducted by the Company are not now and have
never been conducted by the Company under any other name.
2.2 Company Capital Structure.
(a) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 75,000,000
shares of authorized Common Stock, of which 14,200,000 shares are issued and
outstanding as of the date hereof, and 25,000,000 shares of authorized Preferred
Stock, 6,025,000 of which are designated Series A Preferred Stock, 5,900,000 of
which Series A Preferred Stock shares are issued and outstanding as of the date
hereof. Except for grants of stock options permitted under Section 4.1(h) hereof
and stock or options issued with the written consent of Parent between the date
hereof and the Effective Time, the total number of shares of Company Common
Stock outstanding as of immediately prior to the Effective Time (assuming the
conversion, exercise or exchange of all securities convertible into, or
exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Company Common Stock, and the
exercise of all Company Options) will be as set forth in Part 2.2(a) of the
Company Disclosure Letter. Except for exercises of warrants set forth on the
Company Disclosure Letter between the date hereof and the Effective Time, the
Company Capital Stock is held of record by the persons, with the addresses of
record and in the amounts set forth on Part 2.2(a) of the Company Disclosure
Letter. All outstanding shares of Company Capital Stock are duly authorized,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and not subject to preemptive
rights created by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company or any agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound, and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities
laws. There are no declared or accrued but unpaid dividends with respect to any
shares of Company Common Stock. As of the date hereof, the Company has no other
capital stock authorized, issued or outstanding. Each share of Company Series A
Preferred Stock converts into one share of Company Common Stock.
(b) Except for the Option Plans, the Company has never adopted or
maintained any stock option plan or other plan providing for equity compensation
of any person. The Company has reserved an aggregate of 4,385,000 shares of
Common Stock for issuance to employees, directors and consultants upon the
exercise of Company Options pursuant to the Option Plans, of which (i) 3,874,500
shares are issuable, as of the date hereof, upon the exercise of outstanding,
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unexercised Company Options granted under the Option Plans and (ii) 510,500
shares remain available for future grant as of the date hereof. The Company has
reserved a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock for issuance upon
exercise of outstanding Company Convertible Securities granted outside the
Option Plans. Part 2.2(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth for each
outstanding Company Convertible Security, the name of the holder of such Company
Convertible Security, the domicile address of such holder, the number of shares
of Common Stock subject to such Convertible Security, the exercise price of such
Convertible Security and the vesting schedule for such Convertible Security,
including the extent vested to date and whether the vesting exercisability of
such Convertible Security will be accelerated and become exercisable by reason
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and whether such Convertible
Security is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option as defined in
Section 422 of the Code, each as of the date hereof. Except for grants of stock
options permitted under Section 4.1(h) hereof and issuances with the written
consent of Parent between the date hereof and the Effective Time, there are no
options, warrants, calls, rights, commitments or agreements of any character,
written or oral, to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound
obligating the Company to issue, deliver, sell, repurchase or redeem, or cause
to be issued, delivered, sold, repurchased or redeemed, any shares of the
capital stock of the Company or obligating the Company to grant, extend,
accelerate the vesting of, change the price of, otherwise amend or enter into
any such option, warrant, call, right, commitment or agreement. There are no
outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, or other similar rights with respect to the Company. Except as
contemplated hereby, there are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting stock of the Company. The holders of
Company Convertible Securities have been or will be given, or shall have
properly waived, any required notice prior to the Merger. As a result of the
Merger, Parent will be the record and sole beneficial owner of all capital stock
of the Company and rights to acquire or receive such capital stock.
2.3 Subsidiaries. The Company does not have and has never had any
subsidiaries or affiliated companies and does not otherwise own and has never
otherwise owned any shares of capital stock or any interest in, or control,
directly or indirectly, any other corporation, partnership, association, joint
venture or other business entity.
2.4 Authority. Subject only to the requisite approval of the Merger and
this Agreement by the Company's shareholders, the Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The vote required of the Company's
shareholders to duly approve the Merger and this Agreement is a majority of
shares of Company Series A Preferred Stock and a majority of shares of Company
Common Stock (collectively, the "Required Shares"). Company Shareholders who in
the aggregate hold the Required Shares have executed Support Agreements. The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company, subject only to the approval of the
Merger by the Company Shareholders. The Company's Board of Directors has
unanimously approved the Merger and this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding
obligation of the Company, enforceable
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in accordance with its terms. Subject only to the approval of the Merger and
this Agreement by the Company Shareholders, the execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Company does not, and, as of the Effective Time, the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, conflict with, or
result in any violation of, or default under (with or without notice or lapse of
time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit under (any such event, a
"Conflict") (i) any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company or (ii) any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other agreement or
instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment, order, decree,
statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or its
properties or assets. No consent, waiver, approval, order or authorization of,
or registration, declaration or filing with, any court, administrative agency or
commission or other federal, state, county, local or foreign governmental
authority, instrumentality, agency or commission ("Governmental Entity") or any
third party (so as not to trigger any Conflict) is required by or with respect
to the Company in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the
filing of the Articles of Merger with the North Carolina Secretary of State,
(ii) termination of any applicable waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended ("HSR Act"), and (ii) such
consents, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as may be required under applicable federal and state
securities laws.
2.5 Company Financial Statements. Part 2.5 of the Company Disclosure Letter
sets forth the Company's audited balance sheet as of December 31, 1999 (the
"Balance Sheet") and the related audited statements of operations and cash flows
from inception (June 9, 1999) to December 31, 1999 (collectively, the "Company
Financials"). The Company Financials are correct in all material respects and
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
("GAAP") applied on a basis consistent throughout the periods indicated and
consistent with each other. The Company Financials present fairly the financial
condition and operating results of the Company as of the dates and during the
periods indicated therein. At no time has the Company factored its accounts
receivable or otherwise sold or transferred the right to collect any of its
accounts receivable. In addition, at no time has the Company, or any assets of
the Company, been placed in receivership or otherwise been subject to any
bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation proceeding.
2.6 No Undisclosed Liabilities. The Company does not have any liability,
indebtedness, obligation, expense, claim, deficiency, guaranty or endorsement of
any type, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, matured, unmatured or other
(whether or not required to be reflected in financial statements in accordance
with GAAP), which individually or in the aggregate, (i) has not been reflected
in the Balance Sheet, or (ii) has not arisen (x) in the ordinary course of the
Company's business since the date of the Balance Sheet, consistent with past
practices or (y) permitted in accordance with Section 4.1 hereof, which in each
case, is not material to the business, results of operations or financial
condition of the Company.
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2.7 No Changes. Except as set forth in Part 2.7 of the Company Disclosure
Letter, since the date of the Balance Sheet and until the date hereof, there has
not been, occurred or arisen any:
(a) transaction by the Company except in the ordinary course of
business as conducted on the date of the Balance Sheet and consistent with past
practices;
(b) amendments or changes to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws
of the Company;
(c) payment, discharge or satisfaction, in any amount in excess of
$25,000 in any one case, or $50,000 in the aggregate, of any claim, liability or
obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise),
other than payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business
of liabilities reflected or reserved against on the Balance Sheet;
(d) capital expenditure or commitment by the Company, either
individually or in the aggregate, exceeding $25,000;
(e)destruction of, damage to or loss of any material assets, business
or customer of the Company (whether or not covered by insurance);
(f) labor trouble or claim of wrongful discharge or other unlawful
labor practice or action;
(g) event or condition that has had or would be reasonably expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined in Section 9.2 hereof) on the
Company;
(h) change in accounting methods or practices (including any change in
depreciation or amortization policies or rates) by the Company;
(i) revaluation by the Company of any of its assets;
(j) declaration, setting aside or payment of a dividend or other
distribution with respect to the capital stock of the Company, or any direct or
indirect redemption, purchase or other acquisition by the Company of any of (i)
its capital stock or (ii) options, warrants or rights convertible into,
exercisable or exchangeable for its capital stock;
(k) increase in the salary or other compensation payable or to become
payable to any of its officers or directors, or the declaration, payment or
commitment or obligation of any kind for the payment of a bonus or other
additional salary or compensation to any such person except as otherwise
contemplated by this Agreement;
(l) sale, lease, license or other disposition of any of the assets or
properties of the Company, except in the ordinary course of business as
conducted on that date and consistent with past practices;
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<PAGE> 17
(m) loan by the Company to any person or entity, incurring by the
Company of any indebtedness, guaranteeing by the Company of any indebtedness,
issuance or sale of any debt securities of the Company or guaranteeing of any
debt securities of others, in each case for borrowed money (including leases and
capitalized leases), except for advances to employees for travel and business
expenses in the ordinary course of business, consistent with past practices;
(n) waiver or release of any right or claim of the Company, including
any write-off or other compromise of any account receivable of the Company;
(o) change in pricing or royalties set or charged by the Company to
its customers or licensees or in pricing or royalties set or charged by persons
who have licensed Intellectual Property (as defined in Section 2.11) to the
Company;
(p) issuance, sale, or contract to issue or sell, by the Company of
any shares of Company capital stock or securities convertible into, or
exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of Company capital stock, or any
securities, warrants, options or rights to purchase any of the foregoing; except
for issuances of Company Common Stock upon the exercise thereof;
(q) change in any election in respect of Taxes (as defined in Section
2.8 hereof), adoption or change in any accounting method in respect of Taxes,
agreement or settlement of any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, or
extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or
assessment in respect of Taxes; or
(r) negotiation or agreement by the Company or any officer or
employees thereof to do any of the things described in the preceding clauses (a)
through (q) (other than negotiations with Parent and its representatives
regarding the transactions contemplated by this Agreement).
2.8 Tax and Other Returns and Reports.
(a) Definition of Taxes. For the purposes of this Agreement, "Tax" or,
collectively, "Taxes," means (i) any and all federal, state, local and foreign
taxes, assessments and other governmental charges, duties, impositions and
liabilities, including taxes based upon or measured by gross receipts, income,
profits, sales, use and occupation, and value added, ad valorem, transfer,
franchise, withholding, payroll, recapture, employment, excise and property
taxes, together with all interest, penalties and additions imposed with respect
to such amounts, (ii) any liability for the payment of any amounts of the type
described in clause (i) of this Section 2.8(a) as a result of being a member of
an affiliated, consolidated, combined or unitary group for any period, and (iii)
any liability for the payment of any amounts of the type described in clauses
(i) or (ii) of this Section 2.8(a) as a result of any express or implied
obligation to indemnify any other person or as a result of any obligations under
any agreements or arrangements with any other person with respect to such
amounts and including any liability for taxes of a predecessor entity.
(b) Tax Returns and Audits.
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<PAGE> 18
(i) The Company as of the Effective Time will have prepared and
filed all required federal, state, local and foreign returns, estimates,
information statements and reports ("Returns") relating to any and all Taxes
concerning or attributable to the Company, its operations or the Merger that are
required to be filed by the Effective Time and such Returns are true and correct
and have been completed in accordance with applicable law.
(ii) The Company as of the Effective Time: (A) will have paid or
accrued all Taxes it is required to pay or accrue attributable to events
occurring prior to the Effective Time and (B) will have reported and withheld
with respect to its employees all federal and state income taxes, FICA, FUTA and
other Taxes required to be reported and withheld attributable to events
occurring prior to the Effective Time.
(iii) The Company has not been delinquent in the payment of any
Tax nor is there any Tax deficiency outstanding, proposed or assessed against
the Company attributable to events occurring prior to the Effective Time, nor
has the Company executed any waiver of any statute of limitations on or
extending the period for the assessment or collection of any Tax attributable to
events occurring prior to the Effective Time.
(iv) No audit or other examination of any Return of the Company
is currently in progress, nor has the Company been notified of any request for
such an audit or other examination.
(v) The accrual for Taxes on the Balance Sheet is an amount at
least equal to the sum of the Company's liability for Taxes (other than Taxes
previously paid over to the appropriate taxing authority) for all Tax periods
(and portions thereof) ending on or before the date of the Balance Sheet plus
its deferred Tax liability. Since the date of the Balance Sheet, the Company has
not incurred any liability for Taxes other than in the ordinary course of
business.
(vi) The Company has provided to Parent copies of all foreign,
federal, state and local income and all state and local sales and use Tax
Returns for all periods since the date of Company's incorporation.
(vii) There are (and as of immediately following the Effective
Date there will be) no liens, pledges, charges, claims, security interests or
other encumbrances of any sort ("Liens") on the assets of the Company relating
to or attributable to Taxes, except for (i) Liens for Taxes not yet at the time
delinquent, (ii) Liens thereafter payable without penalty, or (iii) liens being
contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and supported by appropriate
reserves on the Balance Sheet.
(viii) The Company has no Knowledge of any basis for the
assertion of any claim relating or attributable to Taxes which, if adversely
determined, would result in any Lien on the assets of the Company.
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<PAGE> 19
(ix) None of the Company's assets are treated as "tax-exempt use
property" within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code.
(x) As of the Effective Time, there will not be any contract,
agreement, plan or arrangement, including but not limited to the provisions of
this Agreement, covering any employee or former employee of the Company that,
individually or collectively, could give rise to the payment of any amount that
would not be deductible pursuant to Sections 280G, 404 or 162 of the Code.
(xi) The Company has not filed any consent agreement under
Section 341(f) of the Code or agreed to have Section 341(f)(2) of the Code apply
to any disposition of a subsection (f) asset (as defined in Section 341(f)(4) of
the Code) owned by the Company.
(xii) The Company is not a party to a tax sharing or allocation
agreement nor does the Company owe any amount under any such agreement.
(xiii) The Company is not, and has not been at any time, a
"United States real property holding corporation" within the meaning of Section
897(c)(2) of the Code.
(xiv) The Company's tax basis in its assets for purposes of
determining its future amortization, depreciation and other federal income tax
deductions is accurately reflected on the Company's tax books and records.
(xv) No adjustment relating to any Return filed by the Company
has been proposed formally or, to the Knowledge of the Company, informally by
any tax authority to the Company or any representative thereof.
(xvi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
constituted either a "distributing corporation" or a "controlled corporation" in
a distribution of stock qualifying for tax-free treatment under Section 355 of
the Code (i) in the two years prior to the date of this Agreement or (ii) in a
distribution which could otherwise constitute part of a "plan" or "series of
related transactions" (within the meaning of Section 355(e) of the Code) in
conjunction with the Merger.
2.9 Restrictions on Business Activities. There is no agreement (noncompete
or otherwise), commitment, judgment, injunction, order or decree to which the
Company is a party or otherwise binding upon the Company which has or reasonably
would be expected to have the effect of prohibiting or impairing any business
practice of the Company, any acquisition of property (tangible or intangible) by
the Company or the conduct of business by the Company. Without limiting the
foregoing, the Company has not entered into any agreement under which the
Company is restricted from selling, licensing or otherwise distributing any of
its technology or products to or providing services, to any class of customers
or potential customers, in any geographic area, during any period of time or in
any segment of the market.
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2.10 Title to Properties; Absence of Liens and Encumbrances.
(a) The Company owns no real property, nor has it ever owned any real
property. Part 2.10(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter sets forth a list of all
real property currently, or at any time in the past, leased by the Company, the
name of the lessor, the date of the lease and each amendment thereto and, with
respect to any current lease, the aggregate annual rental and/or other fees
payable under any such lease. All such current leases are in full force and
effect, are valid and effective in accordance with their respective terms, and
there is not, under any of such leases, any existing default or event of default
(or event which with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a
default).
(b) The Company has good and valid title to, or, in the case of leased
properties and assets, valid leasehold interests in, all of its tangible
properties and assets, real, personal and mixed, used or held for use in its
business, free and clear of any Liens (as defined in Section 2.8(b)(vii)),
except as reflected in the Company Financials and except for (i) Liens for taxes
not at the time delinquent or thereafter payable without penalty; (ii) Liens
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and supported by
adequate reserves on the Balance Sheet, and (iii) such imperfections of title
and encumbrances, if any, which are not material in character, amount or extent,
and which do not materially detract from the value, or materially interfere with
the present use, of the property subject thereto or affected thereby.
2.11 Intellectual Property.
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms have the following
definitions:
"Intellectual Property" shall mean any or all of the following and all
rights in, arising out of, or associated therewith: (i) all United
States, international and foreign patents and applications therefor
and all reissues, divisions, renewals, extensions, provisionals,
continuations and continuations-in-part thereof; (ii) all inventions
(whether patentable or not), invention disclosures, improvements,
trade secrets, proprietary information, know how, technology,
technical data and customer lists, and all documentation relating to
any of the foregoing; (iii) all copyrights, copyrights registrations
and applications therefor, and all other rights corresponding thereto
throughout the world; (iv) all industrial designs and any
registrations and applications therefor throughout the world; (v) all
trade names, logos, URLs, common law trademarks and service marks,
trademark and service mark registrations and applications therefor
throughout the world; (vi) all databases and data collections and all
rights therein throughout the world; (vii) all moral and economic
rights of authors and inventors, however denominated, throughout the
world and (viii) any similar or equivalent rights to any of the
foregoing anywhere in the world.
"Company Intellectual Property" shall mean any Intellectual Property
that is owned by, or exclusively licensed to, the Company.
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"Registered Intellectual Property" means all United States,
international and foreign: (i) patents and patent applications
(including provisional applications); (ii) registered trademarks,
applications to register trademarks, intent-to-use applications, or
other registrations or applications related to trademarks; (iii)
registered copyrights and applications for copyright registration; and
(iv) any other Intellectual Property that is the subject of an
application, certificate, filing, registration or other document
issued, filed with, or recorded by any state, government or other
public legal authority.
"Company Registered Intellectual Property" means all of the Registered
Intellectual Property owned by, or filed in the name of, the Company.
(a) No Company Intellectual Property or product or service of the
Company is subject to any proceeding or outstanding decree, order, judgment,
agreement or stipulation restricting in any manner the use, transfer, or
licensing thereof by the Company, or which may affect the validity, use or
enforceability of such Company Intellectual Property.
(b) Part 2.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter is a complete and
accurate list of all Company Registered Intellectual Property as of the date
hereof and specifies, where applicable, the jurisdictions in which each such
item of Company Registered Intellectual Property has been issued or registered
or in which an application for such issuance and registration has been filed,
including the respective registration or application numbers. Each item of
Company Registered Intellectual Property is valid and subsisting, all necessary
registration, maintenance and renewal fees currently due in connection with such
Registered Intellectual Property have been made and all necessary documents,
recordations and certificates in connection with such Registered Intellectual
Property have been filed with the relevant patent, copyright, trademark or other
authorities in the United States or foreign jurisdictions, as the case may be,
for the purposes of maintaining such Registered Intellectual Property.
(c) The Company owns and has good and exclusive title to, or has
license (sufficient for the conduct of its business as currently conducted and
as currently proposed to be conducted) to, each item of Company Intellectual
Property or other Intellectual Property used by the Company free and clear of
any lien or encumbrance (excluding licenses and related restrictions); and the
Company is the exclusive owner of all trademarks and trade names used in
connection with the operation or conduct of the business of the Company,
including the sale of any products or the provision of any services by the
Company.
(d) The Company owns exclusively, and has good title to, all
copyrighted works that are included within the Company products or which the
Company otherwise expressly purports to own. The Company owns exclusively, and
has good title to, all source-code and object-code used in or incorporated in
the Company's products or services.
(e) To the extent that any Intellectual Property has been developed or
created by a third party for the Company, the Company has a written agreement
with such third party with respect thereto and the Company thereby either (i)
has obtained ownership of, and is the exclusive
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owner of or (ii) has obtained a license (sufficient for the conduct of its
business as currently conducted and as currently proposed to be conducted) to
all such third party's Intellectual Property in such work, material or invention
by operation of law or by valid assignment, to the fullest extent it is legally
possible to do so.
(f) The Company has not transferred ownership of, or granted any
exclusive license with respect to, any Intellectual Property that is or was
material to the Company Intellectual Property, to any third party.
(g) Part 2.11(g) of the Company Disclosure Letter list all material
contracts, licenses and agreements to which the Company is a party as of the
date hereof (i) with respect to the Company Intellectual Property licensed or
transferred to any third party (other than end-user licenses in the ordinary
course); or (ii) pursuant to which a third party has licensed or transferred any
material Intellectual Property to the Company.
(h) All contracts, licenses and agreements relating to Company
Intellectual Property are in full force and effect. The consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will neither violate nor result in
the breach, modification, cancellation, termination or suspension of such
contracts, licenses and agreements. The Company is in compliance with, and has
not breached any term any of such contracts, licenses and agreements and, to the
Knowledge of the Company, all other parties to such contracts, licenses and
agreements are in compliance with, and have not breached any term of, such
contracts, licenses and agreements. Following the Closing Date, the Surviving
Corporation will be permitted to exercise all of the Company's rights under such
contracts, licenses and agreements to the same extent the Company would have
been able to had the transactions contemplated by this Agreement not occurred.
(i) Neither this Agreement nor the transactions contemplated hereby,
including the assignment to Parent by operation of law or otherwise of any such
contracts, licenses and agreements of the Company will result in: (i) Parent,
Merger Sub, the Company or the Principal Shareholders granting to any third
party any right to or with respect to any Intellectual Property owned by, or
licensed to, any of them, (ii) Parent, Merger Sub, the Company or the Principal
Shareholders being bound by, or subject to, any non-compete or other material
restriction on the operation or scope of their respective businesses or conduct
in the case of the Principal Shareholders, or (iii) Parent, Merger Sub, the
Company or the Principal Shareholders being obligated to pay any royalties or
other material amounts to any third party in excess of those payable by any of
them, respectively, in the absence of this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
(j) The Company is not engaged in any of the businesses described in
Part 2.11(j) of the Company Disclosure Letter.
(k) The operation of the business of the Company as such business
currently is conducted, including the Company's design, development,
manufacture, marketing and sale of the products or services of the Company
(including with respect to products and services currently under
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development) has not, does not and will not infringe or misappropriate the
Intellectual Property of any third party or constitute unfair competition or
trade practices under the laws of any jurisdiction.
(l) The Company has not received notice from any third party that the
operation of the business of the Company or any act, product or service of the
Company, infringes or misappropriates the Intellectual Property of any third
party or constitutes unfair competition or trade practices under the laws of any
jurisdiction.
(m) To the Knowledge of the Company, no person has or is infringing or
misappropriating, in any respect materially adverse to the Company, any Company
Intellectual Property.
(n) The Company has taken reasonable steps to protect the Company's
rights in the Company's confidential information and trade secrets that it
wishes to protect or any trade secrets or confidential information of third
parties provided to the Company, and, without limiting the foregoing, the
Company has and enforces a policy requiring each employee and contractor to
execute a proprietary information/confidentiality and invention assignment
agreement and all current and former employees and contractors of the Company
have executed such an agreement, except where the failure to do so is not
reasonably expected to be material to the Company.
2.12 Agreements, Contracts and Commitments.
(a) As of the date hereof, the Company does not have, is not a party
to nor is it bound by:
(i) any collective bargaining agreements,
(ii) any agreements or arrangements that contain any severance
pay or post-employment liabilities or obligations,
(iii) any bonus, deferred compensation, pension, profit sharing
or retirement plans, or any other employee benefit plans or arrangements,
(iv) any employment or consulting agreement, contract or
commitment with an employee or individual consultant or salesperson or any
consulting or sales agreement, contract or commitment under which any firm or
other organization provides services to the Company,
(v) any agreement or plan, including, without limitation, any
stock option plan, stock appreciation rights plan or stock purchase plan, any of
the benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which
will be accelerated, by the occurrence of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or the value of any of the benefits of which will be
calculated on the basis of any of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement,
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(vi) any fidelity or surety bond or completion bond,
(vii) any lease of personal or real property having a value
individually in excess of $15,000,
(viii) any agreement of indemnification or guaranty,
(ix) any agreement, contract or commitment containing any
covenant limiting the freedom of the Company to engage in any line of business
or to compete with any person,
(x) any agreement, contract or commitment relating to capital
expenditures or involving future payments in excess of $25,000,
(xi) any agreement, contract or commitment relating to the
disposition or acquisition of assets or any interest in any business enterprise
outside the ordinary course of the Company's business,
(xii) any mortgages, indentures, loans or credit agreements,
security agreements or other agreements or instruments relating to the borrowing
of money or extension of credit, including guaranties referred to in clause
(viii) hereof,
(xiii) any purchase order or contract for the purchase of raw
materials involving $25,000 or more,
(xiv) any construction contracts,
(xv) any sales representative, original equipment manufacturer,
value added, remarketer, reseller or independent software vendor or other
agreement for use of distribution of the Company's products, technologies or
services;
(xvi) any distribution, joint marketing or development agreement,
(xvii) any agreement pursuant to which the Company has granted or
may grant in the future, to any party, a source-code license or option or other
right to use or acquire source-code,
(xviii) any agreement pursuant to which the Company has developed
and/or delivered or has received funds from any Governmental Entity to develop
and/or deliver any Intellectual Property, or
(xix) any other agreement, contract or commitment that involves
$25,000 or more or is not cancelable without penalty within thirty (30) days.
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<PAGE> 25
(b) The Company has not breached, violated or defaulted under, or
received notice that it has breached, violated or defaulted under, any of the
terms or conditions of any agreement, contract or commitment required to be set
forth on Part 2.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Letter or Part 2.11(g) of the
Company Disclosure Letter (any such agreement, contract or commitment, a
"Contract"). Each Contract is in full force and effect and is not subject to any
default thereunder of which the Company has Knowledge by any party obligated to
the Company pursuant thereto.
2.13 Interested Party Transactions. No officer, director or shareholder of
the Company (nor any ancestor, sibling, descendant or spouse of any of such
persons, or any trust, partnership or corporation in which any of such persons
has or has had an interest), has or has had, directly or indirectly, (i) an
economic interest in any entity which furnished or sold, or furnishes or sells,
services or products that the Company furnishes or sells, or proposes to furnish
or sell, (ii) an economic interest in any entity that purchases from or sells or
furnishes to, or licenses to or licenses from, the Company, any goods or
services or intellectual property or (iii) a beneficial interest in any
Contract; provided, that ownership of no more than one percent (1%) of the
outstanding voting stock of a publicly traded corporation shall not be deemed an
"economic interest in any entity" for purposes of this Section 2.13.
2.14 Litigation. There is no action, suit or proceeding of any nature
pending or to the Company's Knowledge threatened against the Company, its
properties or any of its officers or directors, in their respective capacities
as such. To the Company's Knowledge, there is no investigation pending or
threatened against the Company, its properties or any of its officers or
directors by or before any governmental entity. Part 2.14 of the Company
Disclosure Letter sets forth, with respect to any pending or threatened action,
suit, proceeding or investigation, the forum, the parties thereto, the subject
matter thereof and the amount of damages claimed or other remedy requested. No
governmental entity has at any time challenged or questioned the legal right of
the Company to manufacture, offer or sell any of its products.
2.15 Insurance. With respect to the insurance policies and fidelity bonds
covering the assets, business, equipment, properties, operations, employees,
officers and directors of the Company, there is no claim by the Company pending
under any of such policies or bonds as to which coverage has been questioned,
denied or disputed by the underwriters of such policies or bonds. All premiums
due and payable under all such policies and bonds have been paid and the Company
is otherwise in material compliance with the terms of such policies and bonds
(or other policies and bonds providing substantially similar insurance
coverage). The Company has no Knowledge of any threatened termination of, or
material premium increase with respect to, any of such policies.
2.16 Minute Books. The minute books of the Company made available to
counsel for Parent through the Effective Time are the only minute books of the
Company and contain a reasonably accurate summary of all meetings of directors
(or committees thereof) and shareholders or actions by written consent since the
time of incorporation of the Company.
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2.17 Environmental Matters.
(a) Hazardous Material. The Company has not operated any underground
storage tanks, and has no Knowledge of the existence, at any time, of any
underground storage tank (or related piping or pumps), at any property that the
Company has at any time owned, operated, occupied or leased. The Company has not
released any amount of any substance that has been designated by any
Governmental Entity or by applicable federal, state or local law to be
radioactive, toxic, hazardous or otherwise a danger to health or the
environment, including, without limitation, PCBs, asbestos, oil and petroleum
products, urea-formaldehyde and all substances listed as a "hazardous
substance," "hazardous waste," "hazardous material" or "toxic substance" or
words of similar import, under any law, including but not limited to, the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980,
as amended; the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, as amended; the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended; the Clean Air Act, as amended,
and the regulations promulgated pursuant to said laws (a "Hazardous Material").
No Hazardous Materials are present as a result of the actions or omissions of
the Company, or, to the Company's Knowledge, as a result of any actions of any
third party or otherwise, in, on or under any property, including the land and
the improvements, ground water and surface water thereof, that the Company has
at any time owned, operated, occupied or leased.
(b) Hazardous Materials Activities. The Company has not transported,
stored, used, manufactured, disposed of, released or exposed its employees or
others to Hazardous Materials in violation of any law in effect on or before the
Effective Time, nor has the Company disposed of, transported, sold, or
manufactured any product containing a Hazardous Material (any or all of the
foregoing being collectively referred to as "Hazardous Materials Activities") in
violation of any rule, regulation, treaty or statute promulgated by any
Governmental Entity in effect prior to or as of the date hereof to prohibit,
regulate or control Hazardous Materials or any Hazardous Material Activity.
(c) Permits. The Company currently holds all environmental approvals,
permits, licenses, clearances and consents (the "Environmental Permits")
necessary for the conduct of the Company's Hazardous Material Activities and
other businesses of the Company as such activities and businesses are currently
being conducted.
(d) Environmental Liabilities. No action, proceeding, revocation
proceeding, amendment procedure, writ, injunction or claim is pending, or to the
Company's Knowledge, threatened concerning any Environmental Permit, Hazardous
Material or any Hazardous Materials Activity of the Company. The Company is not
aware of any fact or circumstance which could involve the Company in any
environmental litigation or impose upon the Company any environmental liability.
2.18 Brokers' and Finders' Fees; Third Party Expenses. The Company has not
incurred, nor will it incur, directly or indirectly, any liability for brokerage
or finders' fees or agents' commissions or any similar charges in connection
with this Agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby. Part 2.18 of the
Company
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Disclosure Letter sets forth the principal terms and conditions of any
agreement, written or oral, with respect to such fees. Part 2.18 of the Company
Disclosure Letter also sets forth the Company's current reasonable estimate of
all Third Party Expenses (as defined in Section 5.6) expected to be incurred by
the Company in connection with the negotiation and effectuation of the terms and
conditions of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Third
Party Expenses will not exceed $250,000.
2.19 Employee Matters and Benefit Plans.
(a) Definitions. With the exception of the definition of "Affiliate"
set forth in Section 2.19(a)(i) below (which definition shall apply only to this
Section 2.19), for purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall have
the meanings set forth below:
(i) "Affiliate" shall mean any other person or entity under
common control with the Company within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m)
or (o) of the Code and the regulations thereunder;
(ii) "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended;
(iii) "Company Employee Plan" shall refer to any plan, program,
policy, practice, contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for
compensation, severance, termination pay, performance awards, stock or
stock-related awards, fringe benefits or other employee benefits or remuneration
of any kind, whether formal or informal, funded or unfunded and whether or not
legally binding, including without limitation, each "employee benefit plan",
within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA which is or has been maintained,
contributed to, or required to be contributed to, by the Company or any
Affiliate for the benefit of any "Employee" (as defined below), and pursuant to
which the Company or any Affiliate has or may have any material liability
contingent or otherwise;
(iv) "Employee" shall mean any current, former, or retired
employee, officer, or director of the Company or any Affiliate;
(v) "Employee Agreement" shall refer to each management,
employment, severance, consulting, relocation, repatriation, expatriation,
visas, work permit or similar agreement or contract between the Company or any
Affiliate and any Employee or consultant;
(vi) "IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service;
(vii) "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean any "Pension Plan" (as
defined below) which is a "multiemployer plan", as defined in Section 3(37) of
ERISA; and
(viii) "Pension Plan" shall refer to each Company Employee Plan
which is an "employee pension benefit plan", within the meaning of Section 3(2)
of ERISA.
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(b) Schedule. Part 2.19(b) of the Company Disclosure Letter contains
an accurate and complete list of each Company Employee Plan and, as of the date
hereof, each Employee Agreement, together with a schedule of all liabilities,
whether or not accrued, under each such Company Employee Plan or Employee
Agreement. The Company does not have any plan or commitment, whether legally
binding or not, to establish any new Company Employee Plan or Employee
Agreement, to modify any Company Employee Plan or Employee Agreement (except to
the extent required by law or to conform any such Company Employee Plan or
Employee Agreement to the requirements of any applicable law), or to enter into
any Company Employee Plan or Employee Agreement, nor does it have any intention
or commitment to do any of the foregoing (in each case, except to the extent
previously disclosed to Parent in writing, or as required by this Agreement, or
as consented to in writing by Parent between the date hereof and the Effective
Time).
(c) Documents. The Company has provided to Parent through the
Effective Time (i) correct and complete copies of all documents embodying or
relating to each Company Employee Plan and each Employee Agreement including all
amendments thereto and written interpretations thereof; (ii) the most recent
annual actuarial valuations, if any, prepared for each Company Employee Plan;
(iii) the three most recent annual reports (Series 5500 and all schedules
thereto), if any, required under ERISA or the Code in connection with each
Company Employee Plan or related trust; (iv) if the Company Employee Plan is
funded, the most recent annual and periodic accounting of Company Employee Plan
assets; (v) the most recent summary plan description together with the most
recent summary of material modifications, if any, required under ERISA with
respect to each Company Employee Plan; (vi) all IRS determination letters and
rulings relating to Company Employee Plans and copies of all applications and
correspondence to or from the IRS or the Department of Labor ("DOL") with
respect to any Company Employee Plan; (vii) all communications material to any
Employee or Employees relating to any Company Employee Plan and any proposed
Company Employee Plans, in each case, relating to any amendments, terminations,
establishments, increases or decreases in benefits, acceleration of payments or
vesting schedules or other events which would result in any material liability
to the Company; (viii) all registration statements, annual reports (Form 11-K
and all attachments thereto) and prospectuses prepared in connection with each
Company Employee Plan; (ix) all material written agreements contacts relating
Company Employee Plan, including without limitation, administrative service
agreements and group insurance contracts; (x) all correspondence to or from any
governmental agency relating to any Company Employee Plan; (xi) all COBRA forms
and related notices; and (xii) all policies pertaining to fiduciary liability
insurance covering the fiduciaries for each Company Employee Plan.
(d) Employee Plan Compliance. (i) the Company has performed all
obligations required to be performed by it under each Company Employee Plan, is
not in default or violation of, and has no Knowledge of any default of violation
by any party to each Company Employee Plan, and each Company Employee Plan has
been established and maintained in all material respects in accordance with its
terms and in compliance with all applicable laws, statutes, orders, rules and
regulations, including but not limited to ERISA or the Code; (ii) no "prohibited
transaction," within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code or Section 406 and
407 of ERISA, and not otherwise
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exempt under Section 408 of ERISA, has occurred with respect to any Company
Employee Plan; (iii) there are no actions, suits or claims pending, or, to the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened or anticipated (other than routine claims
for benefits) against any Company Employee Plan or against the assets of any
Company Employee Plan; and (iv) each Company Employee Plan can be amended,
terminated or otherwise discontinued after the Effective Time in accordance with
its terms, without liability to the Company, Parent or any of its Affiliates
(other than ordinary administration expenses typically incurred in a termination
event); (v) there are no audits, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the
Knowledge of the Company or any affiliates, threatened by the IRS or DOL with
respect to any Company Employee Plan; and (vi) neither the Company nor any
Affiliate is subject to any penalty or tax with respect to any Company Employee
Plan under Section 502(i) of ERISA or Section 4975 through 4980 of the Code.
(e) Pension Plans. The Company does not now, nor has it ever,
maintained, established, sponsored, participated in, or contributed to, any
Pension Plan which is subject to Part 3 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Title
IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
(f) Multiemployer Plans. At no time has the Company contributed to or
been requested to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan.
(g) No Post-Employment Obligations. No Company Employee Plan provides,
or has any liability to provide, life insurance, medical or other employee
benefits to any Employee upon his or her retirement or termination of employment
for any reason, except as may be required by statute, and the Company has never
represented, promised or contracted (whether in oral or written form) to any
Employee (either individually or to Employees as a group) that such Employee(s)
would be provided with life insurance, medical or other employee welfare
benefits upon their retirement or termination of employment, except to the
extent required by statute.
(h) COBRA. The Company and each Affiliate has, prior to the Effective
Time, complied with the health care continuation requirements of COBRA, the
requirement of FMLA or any similar provisions of state law applicable to its
Employees.
(i) Effect of Transaction.
(i) The execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will not (either alone or upon the occurrence
of any additional or subsequent events) constitute an event under any Company
Employee Plan, Employee Agreement, trust or loan that will or may result in any
payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration, forgiveness of
indebtedness, vesting, distribution, increase in benefits or obligation to fund
benefits with respect to any Employee.
(ii) No payment or benefit which will or may be made by the
Company or Parent or any of their respective affiliates with respect to any
Employee will be characterized as an "excess parachute payment", within the
meaning of Section 280G(b)(1) of the Code.
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(j) Employment Matters. The Company (i) is in compliance with all
applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations
respecting employment, employment practices, terms and conditions of employment
and wages and hours, in each case, with respect to Employees; (ii) has withheld
and reported all amounts required by law or by agreement to be withheld and
reported with respect to the wages, salaries and other payments to Employees by
virtue of employment, the Merger or otherwise; (iii) is not liable for any
arrears of wages or any taxes or any penalty for failure to comply with any of
the foregoing; and (iv) is not liable for any payment to any trust or other fund
or to any governmental or administrative authority, with respect to unemployment
compensation benefits, social security or other benefits or obligations for
Employees (other than routine payments to be made in the normal course of
business and consistent with past practice). There are no pending or to the
Knowledge of the Company threatened, or reasonably anticipated claims or actions
against the Company under any worker's compensation policy or long-term
disability policy.
(k) Labor. No work stoppage or labor strike against the Company is
pending or, to the best Knowledge of the Company, threatened. The Company is not
involved in or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened with, any labor
dispute, grievance, or litigation relating to labor, safety or discrimination
matters involving any Employee, including, without limitation, charges of unfair
labor practices or discrimination complaints, which, if adversely determined,
would, individually or in the aggregate, result in liability to the Company.
Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor
practices within the meaning of the National Labor Relations Act which would,
individually or in the aggregate, directly or indirectly result in a liability
to the Company. The Company is not presently, nor has it been in the past, a
party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or union contract
with respect to Employees and no collective bargaining agreement is being
negotiated by the Company.
2.20 Compliance with Laws. The Company has complied with, is not in
violation of, and has not received any notices of violation with respect to, any
foreign, federal, state or local statute, law or regulation.
2.21 Officer Matters. To the Company's Knowledge, no officer of the Company
has ever been convicted of a felony or been the subject of a governmental
investigation. To the Company's Knowledge, no company of which any officer of
the Company is or was an officer has ever been subject to any bankruptcy or
insolvency proceeding.
2.22 Year 2000 Compliance. As of the date hereof, to the Company's
Knowledge the Company's products, services and internal systems have been
designed to ensure date and time entry recognition, calculations that
accommodate same century and multi-century formulas and date values, leap year
recognition and calculations, and date data interface values that reflect the
century. As of the date hereof, to the Company's Knowledge the Company's
products, services and internal systems manage and manipulate data involving
dates and times, including single century formulas and multi-century formulas,
and do not cause an abnormal ending scenario within the application or generate
incorrect values or invalid results involving such dates.
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2.23 Warranties; Indemnities. Except for the warranties and indemnities
contained in those contracts and agreements set forth in Part 2.12(a)(viii) of
the Company Disclosure Letter and warranties implied by law, as of the date
hereof the Company has not given any warranties or indemnities relating to
products or technology sold or services rendered by the Company.
2.24 Complete Copies of Materials. The Company has delivered or made
available true and complete copies of each document (or summaries of same) that
has been requested by Parent or its counsel.
2.25 Representations Complete. None of the representations or warranties
made by the Company (as modified by the Company Disclosure Letter), nor any
statement made in any schedule or certificate furnished by the Company pursuant
to this Agreement, or furnished in or in connection with documents mailed or
delivered to the shareholders of the Company in connection with soliciting their
consent to this Agreement and the Merger, contains or will contain at the
Effective Time, any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit
at the Effective Time to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements contained herein or therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which made, not misleading.
2.26 HSR Representation. Each of the Principle Shareholders, taken together
with their spouse and minor children (in each case, if applicable), have less
than $10,000,000 in total assets as of the date hereof and as of immediately
prior to the Effective Time and did not control any entity or entities which in
the aggregate had greater than $10,000,000 in total revenues for the most
recently completed fiscal year.
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
As of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, Parent and Merger Sub
represent and warrant to the Company as follows:
3.1 Organization, Standing and Power. Parent is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware. Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of North Carolina. Each of Parent and
Merger Sub has the corporate power to own its properties and to carry on its
business as now being conducted and is duly qualified to do business and is in
good standing in each jurisdiction in which the failure to be so qualified would
be material to Parent and Merger Sub as a whole.
3.2 Authority. Parent and Merger Sub have all requisite corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized
by all necessary corporate and stockholder action on the part of Parent and
Merger Sub. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Parent and
Merger Sub and
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constitutes the valid and binding obligations of Parent and Merger Sub,
enforceable in accordance with its terms. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement by the Parent and Merger Sub does not, and, as of the Effective Time,
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not, conflict
with, or result in any violation of, or default under (with or without notice or
lapse of time, or both), or give rise to a right of termination, cancellation or
acceleration of any obligation or loss of any benefit under (such event, a
"Conflict") (i) any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of
Parent or Merger Sub, or (ii) any mortgage, indenture, lease, contract or other
agreement or instrument, permit, concession, franchise, license, judgment,
order, decree, statute, law, ordinance, rule or regulation applicable to Parent
or Merger Sub or its properties or assets except as would not have a Parent
Material Adverse effect. For purposes of this Agreement, "Parent Material
Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on the business, assets
(including intangible assets), financial condition, capitalization or results of
operations of the Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, but other than
those adverse effects occurring as a result of general or market or industry
conditions (including, without limitation, any change in trading prices, in and
of itself and without the occurrence of any other Parent Material Adverse
Effect, of Parent's public traded equity securities). No consent, waiver,
approval, order or authorization of, or registration, declaration or filing
with, any court, administrative agency or commission or other federal, state,
county, local or foreign governmental authority, instrumentality, agency or
commission ("Governmental Entity") or any third party (so as not to trigger any
Conflict) is required by or with respect to Parent or Merger Sub in connection
with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing by Merger Sub of the
Articles of Merger with the North Carolina Secretary of State, (ii) termination
of any applicable waiting period under the HSR Act, (iii) such consents,
waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and
filings as may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws,
except such consents, waivers, approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations,
declarations and filings as would not have a Parent Material Adverse Effect.
3.3 Capital Structure.
(a) The authorized stock of Parent consists of 200,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, of which not more than 50,000,000 shares were issued and
outstanding as of as of the date hereof, and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred
Stock as of the date hereof, none of which is issued or outstanding. The
authorized capital stock of Merger Sub consists of 1,000 shares of Common Stock,
1,000 shares of which, as of the date hereof, are issued and outstanding and are
held by Parent. All such shares have been duly authorized, and all such issued
and outstanding shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable and are free of any liens or encumbrances other than any liens or
encumbrances created by or imposed upon the holders thereof.
(b) The shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued pursuant to the
Merger, when issued, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid,
non-assessable and issued in compliance with applicable federal and state
securities laws.
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3.4 SEC Documents; Parent Financial Statements. Parent has furnished or
made available to the Company true and complete copies of all reports or
registration statements filed by it with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "SEC") since June 18, 1999, all in the form so filed (all of the foregoing
being collectively referred to as the "SEC Documents"). As of their respective
filing dates, the SEC Documents complied in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act") or the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") as the case may be, and
none of the SEC Documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements made therein, in light of the circumstances in which they
were made, not misleading, except to the extent corrected by a document
subsequently filed with the SEC on or prior to the date hereof. The financial
statements of Parent, including the notes thereto, included in the SEC Documents
(the "Parent Financial Statements") comply as to form in all material respects
with applicable accounting requirements and with the published rules and
regulations of the SEC with respect thereto, have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied (except as
may be indicated in the notes thereto or, in the case of unaudited statements,
as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC) and present fairly the consolidated
financial position of Parent at the dates thereof and the consolidated results
of its operations and cash flows for the periods then ended (subject, in the
case of unaudited statements, to normal audit adjustments). There has been no
change in Parent accounting policies except as described in the notes to the
Parent Financial Statements; provided, however, the Parent may have restated or
may restate one or more of the Parent Financial Statements to reflect
acquisitions entered into subsequent to the respective dates thereof.
3.5 No Material Adverse Effect. Since December 31, 1999 and until the date
hereof, Parent has conducted its business in the ordinary course and there has
not occurred any Parent Material Adverse Effect.
3.6 Litigation. To Parent's knowledge, there is no action, suit,
proceeding, claim, arbitration or investigation pending, or threatened, against
Parent or Merger Sub which in any manner challenges or seeks to prevent, enjoin,
alter or materially delay any of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
ARTICLE IV
CONDUCT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE TIME
4.1 Conduct of Business of the Company. During the period from the date of
this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the termination of this
Agreement and the Effective Time, the Company agrees (except to the extent that
Parent shall otherwise consent in writing) to carry on its business in the
usual, regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as
heretofore conducted, to pay its debts and Taxes when due, to pay or perform
other obligations when due, and, to the extent consistent with such business, to
use all reasonable efforts consistent with past practice and policies to
preserve intact its present business organization, keep available the services
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of its present officers and key employees and preserve their relationships with
customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees, and others having
business dealings with it, all with the goal of preserving unimpaired its
goodwill and ongoing businesses at the Effective Time. The Company shall
promptly notify Parent of any event or occurrence or emergency not in the
ordinary course of its business, and any material event involving or adversely
affecting the Company or its business. Except as expressly contemplated by this
Agreement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Parent:
(a) Enter into any commitment, activity or transaction not in the
ordinary course of business or involving in excess of $25,000 individually or
$200,000 in the aggregate;
(b) Transfer to any person or entity any rights to any Company
Intellectual Property (other than pursuant to end-user licenses in the ordinary
course of business) or enter into any agreement with respect to Company
Intellectual Property with any person or entity other than in the ordinary
course of business consistent with past practice;
(c) Terminate any employees other than for cause or encourage any
employees to resign from the Company;
(d) Enter into or amend any Contract pursuant to which any other party
is granted marketing, distribution, development or similar rights of any type or
scope with respect to any products or technology of the Company;
(e) Amend or otherwise modify (or agree to do so), except in the
ordinary course of business, or violate the terms of, any Contract;
(f) Commence or settle any litigation;
(g) Declare, set aside or pay any dividends on or make any other
distributions (whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its
capital stock, or split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue
or authorize the issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or
in substitution for shares of capital stock of the Company, or repurchase,
redeem or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital
stock (or options, warrants or other rights exercisable therefor) except for (i)
repurchases of Company Capital Stock upon the termination of service of any
service providers of Company in accordance with the standard terms set forth in
the agreements governing such repurchases, all of which agreements have been
provided or made available to Parent, (ii) conversion of Company Preferred Stock
and (iii) exercises or conversion of Company Convertible Securities (including
options);
(h) Except for the issuance of shares of Company Capital Stock upon
exercise or conversion of presently outstanding Company Options or Convertible
Securities, issue, sell, grant, contract to issue, grant or sell, or authorize
the issuance, delivery, sale or purchase of any shares of Company Capital Stock
or securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, shares of
Company Capital Stock, or any securities, warrants, options or rights to
purchase any of the
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foregoing, except for (i) issuances of Company Capital Stock upon the exercise
thereof or upon exercise or conversion of Company Convertible Securities or
Company Preferred Stock outstanding as of the date of this Agreement and (ii)
issuances of Company Options from the Company's 1999 Stock Award Plan in the
ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and in no event
Company Options to purchase more than 5,000 shares (in any one case) or 290,000
shares (in the aggregate; provided that (i) the vesting schedule for each of
such Company Options is the same as Parent's standard vesting schedule for
employees; (ii) the exercise price for each of such Company Options is not less
than 90% of the market price of Parent common stock as quoted on the Nasdaq
Stock Market on the date of grant, as adjusted for the Exchange Ratio (assuming
that the Merger were completed on such date); and (iii) such Company Options are
granted in accordance with Part 4.1(h) of the Company Disclosure Letter;
(i) Cause or permit any amendments to its Articles of Incorporation or
Bylaws;
(j) Acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or
by purchasing any assets or equity securities of, or by any other manner, any
business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization or division thereof, or otherwise acquire or agree to acquire any
assets which are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the business of
the Company;
(k) Sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of the assets or
properties of Company which are not Company Intellectual Property other than in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices, including
but not limited to the performance of obligations under contractual arrangements
listed on the Company Disclosure Letter existing as of the date hereof, or
create any security interest in such assets or properties;
(l) Grant any loan to any person or entity, incur any indebtedness or
guarantee any indebtedness, issue or sell any debt securities, guarantee any
debt securities of others, purchase any debt securities of others or amend the
terms of any outstanding agreements related to borrowed money, other than (i)
indebtedness incurred for purchase money financing not to exceed $50,000 in the
aggregate, and (ii) advances to employees for travel and business expenses in
the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices.
(m) Grant any severance or termination pay (i) to any director or
officer or (ii) to any employee or consultant, except payments made pursuant to
standard written agreements outstanding as of the date hereof and disclosed on
Part 4.1(m) of the Company Disclosure Letter, or increase in the salary or other
compensation payable or to become payable by Company to any of its officers,
directors, employees or advisors, or declare, pay or make any commitment or
obligation of any kind for the payment by Company of a bonus or other additional
salary or compensation to any such person, or adopt or amend any employee
benefit plan or enter into any employment contract, other than entering into
standard terms and conditions of employment with employees not at the executive
level consistent with past practices and consistent with Parent's employment
practices, provided that (i) such employment contracts are at-will and do not
provide for any severance arrangements or post-employment compensation, and (ii)
the compensation payable (including
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bonus obligations) to any such employee is consistent with the Company's past
practices and does not exceed $100,000 annually individually;
(n) Revalue any of its assets, including without limitation writing
down the value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other
than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(o) Take any action to accelerate the vesting schedule of any of the
outstanding Company Options or Company Capital Stock;
(p) Pay, discharge or satisfy, in an amount in excess of $25,000 (in
any one case) or $50,000 (in the aggregate) any claim, liability or obligation
(absolute, accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than
the payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business of
liabilities reflected or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements or
payment of trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business since the
December 31, 1999;
(q) Make or change any election in respect of Taxes, adopt or change
any accounting method in respect of Taxes, enter into any closing agreement,
settle any claim or assessment in respect of Taxes, or consent to any extension
or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any claim or assessment in
respect of Taxes;
(r) Enter into any strategic alliance, joint development or joint
marketing arrangement or agreement;
(s) Fail to pay or otherwise satisfy its monetary obligations as they
become due, except such as are being contested in good faith;
(t) Waive or commit to waive any rights with a value in excess of
$25,000 (in any one case) or $50,000 (in the aggregate);
(u) Cancel, materially amend or renew any insurance policy other than
in the ordinary course of business;
(v) Take any action to accelerate the vesting of any outstanding
Company Convertible Security or Company Capital Stock;
(w) Hire any executive level employees;
(x) Terminate any employees, or encourage any employees to resign from
the Company except for cause;
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(y) Alter, or enter into any commitment to alter, its interest in any
corporation, association, joint venture, partnership or business entity in which
the Company directly or indirectly holds any interest on the date hereof;
(z) Give or make any warranties or indemnities relating to products or
technology sold or services rendered by the Company, other than warranties
implied by law and warranties and indemnities given in the ordinary course of
business; or
(aa) Take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in Sections 4.1(a) through (z) above, or any other action that
would prevent the Company from performing or cause the Company not to perform
its covenants hereunder.
4.2 No Solicitation by the Company. Until the earlier of the Effective Time
and the date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to the provisions of
Section 8.1 hereof, the Company will not (nor will the Company permit any of the
Company's officers, directors, employees, shareholders, agents, representatives
or affiliates to) directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions with
any party other than Parent and its designees: (a) solicit, initiate, entertain,
or encourage any proposals or offers from, or conduct discussions with or engage
in negotiations with, any person relating to any possible acquisition of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries (whether by way of merger, purchase of
capital stock, purchase of assets or otherwise), any material portion of its
capital stock or assets or any equity interest in the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, (b) provide information with respect to it to any person, other
than Parent, relating to, or otherwise cooperate with, facilitate or encourage
any effort or attempt by any such person with regard to, any possible
acquisition of the Company (whether by way of merger, purchase of capital stock,
purchase of assets or otherwise), any material portion of its capital stock or
assets or any equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (c)
enter into an agreement with any person, other than Parent, providing for the
acquisition of the Company (whether by way of merger, purchase of capital stock,
purchase of assets or otherwise), any material portion of its capital stock or
assets or any equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (d)
make or authorize any statement, recommendation or solicitation in support of
any possible acquisition of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (whether by
way of merger, purchase of capital stock, purchase of assets or otherwise), any
material portion of its capital stock or assets or any equity interest in the
Company or any of its subsidiaries by any person, other than by Parent. The
Company shall immediately cease and cause to be terminated any such contacts or
negotiations with third parties relating to any such transaction or proposed
transaction. In addition to the foregoing, if the Company receives prior to the
Effective Time or the termination of this Agreement any offer or proposal
relating to any of the above, the Company shall immediately notify Parent
thereof, including information as to the identity of the offeror or the party
making any such offer or proposal and the specific terms of such offer or
proposal, as the case may be, and such other information related thereto as
Parent may reasonably request. Except as contemplated by this Agreement,
disclosure by the Company of the terms hereof (other than the prohibition of
this Section 4.2) shall be deemed to be a violation of this Section 4.2. The
parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that the
provisions of this Section 4.2 were not performed in accordance with their
specific terms or were otherwise breached. It is
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accordingly agreed by the parties hereto that Parent shall be entitled to seek
an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of the provisions of this
Section 4.2 and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions hereof in any
court of the United States or any state having jurisdiction, this being in
addition to any other remedy to which Parent may be entitled at law or in
equity.
4.3 No Solicitation by Parent of Competing Transactions. Until the earlier
of the Effective Time and the date of termination of this Agreement pursuant to
the provisions of Section 8.1 hereof, Parent will not (nor will Parent permit
any of Parent's officers; directors, employee, stockholder, agents,
representatives or affiliates to), directly or indirectly, negotiate to acquire
any company primarily engaged in creating both auction software tools and
auction meta-search products other than the Company and its designees.
ARTICLE V
ADDITIONAL AGREEMENTS
5.1 Fairness Hearing; Shareholder Approval.
(a) As soon as reasonably practicable following the execution of this
Agreement, Parent and Company shall prepare, and the Principal Shareholders
shall cause the Company to prepare, the necessary documents and Parent shall
apply to obtain a permit (a "California Permit") from the Commissioner of
Corporations of the State of California (after a hearing before such
Commissioner) pursuant to Section 25121 of the California Corporate Securities
Law of 1968, so that the issuance of Parent Common Stock in the Merger shall be
exempt from registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act. Company
and Parent will respond to, and the Principal Shareholders will cause the
Company to respond to, any comments from the California Department of
Corporations and use their commercially reasonable efforts to have the
California Permit granted as soon as practicable after such filing. As promptly
as practical after the date of this Agreement, Parent and Company shall prepare
and make, and the Principal Shareholder shall cause the Company to prepare and
make, such filings as are required under applicable Blue Sky laws relating to
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) At the election of Parent, in lieu of the application for the
California Permit, Parent and Company shall prepare, and the Principal
Shareholder shall cause the Company to prepare, the necessary documents and
Parent shall apply to obtain a permit (a "North Carolina Permit") from the
Secretary of State of the State of North Carolina (after a hearing before such
Secretary) pursuant to Section 78A-30 of the North Carolina Securities Act, so
that the issuance of Parent Common Stock in the Merger shall be exempt from
registration under Section 3(a)(10) of the Securities Act. Company and Parent
will respond to, and the Principal Shareholders will cause the Company to
respond to, any comments from the Secretary of State of North Carolina and use
their commercially reasonable efforts to have the North Carolina Permit granted
as soon as practicable after such filing.
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(c) As promptly as practicable after the receipt of a California
Permit or North Carolina Permit, as the case may be, the Company shall submit,
and the Principal Shareho