Document:

Exhibit 10.1

 

Execution version

 

STOCK PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

 

dated as of

 

April 29, 2013

 

by and among

 

COURIER NEW MEDIA, INC.,

 

FASTPENCIL, INC.,

 

THE SELLERS

 

and

 

HOLDER REPRESENTATIVE

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
Page
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE I.   CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
    	
1
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE II.   PURCHASE AND SALE OF PURCHASED SHARES
    	
12
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
2.1
    	
Purchase and Sale
    	
12
    
	
2.2
    	
Delivery of Shares
    	
12
    
	
2.3
    	
Closing
    	
13
    
	
2.4
    	
Payment of Purchase Price;   Working Capital Adjustment
    	
13
    
	
2.5
    	
Earnout Consideration
    	
15
    
	
2.6
    	
Treatment of Earnout   Consideration
    	
18
    
	
2.7
    	
Holder Allocable Expenses
    	
18
    
	
2.8
    	
Repayment   of Closing Funded Debt
    	
18
    
	
2.9
    	
Withholding
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE III.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
    	
19
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
3.1
    	
Corporate Organization of   the Company
    	
19
    
	
3.2
    	
Subsidiaries
    	
19
    
	
3.3
    	
Due Authorization
    	
19
    
	
3.4
    	
No Conflict
    	
20
    
	
3.5
    	
Governmental Authorities;   Consents
    	
20
    
	
3.6
    	
Capitalization of the   Company
    	
20
    
	
3.7
    	
Financial Statements
    	
21
    
	
3.8
    	
Undisclosed Liabilities
    	
21
    
	
3.9
    	
Litigation and Proceedings
    	
21
    
	
3.10
    	
Legal Compliance
    	
22
    
	
3.11
    	
Contracts; No Defaults
    	
22
    
	
3.12
    	
Employee Benefit Plans
    	
24
    
	
3.13
    	
Labor Relations
    	
26
    
	
3.14
    	
Taxes
    	
26
    
	
3.15
    	
Brokers’ Fees
    	
28
    
	
3.16
    	
Insurance
    	
28
    
	
3.17
    	
Licenses, Permits and   Authorizations
    	
28
    
	
3.18
    	
Title to Assets
    	
29
    
	
3.19
    	
Real Property
    	
29
    
	
3.20
    	
Intellectual Property
    	
29
    
	
3.21
    	
Environmental Matters
    	
33
    
	
3.22
    	
Absence of Changes
    	
34
    
	
3.23
    	
Affiliate Transactions
    	
34
    
	
3.24
    	
Accounts Payable; Accounts   Receivable
    	
34
    
	
3.25
    	
Illegal Payments
    	
35
    
	
3.26
    	
Disclosure
    	
35
    

 

 

	
3.27
    	
Customers and Suppliers
    	
35
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IV.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS
    	
36
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
4.1
    	
Ownership of Purchased   Shares
    	
36
    
	
4.2
    	
Due Authorization
    	
36
    
	
4.3
    	
Non-Contravention
    	
36
    
	
4.4
    	
Litigation
    	
37
    
	
4.5
    	
Governmental Authorities and   Consents
    	
37
    
	
4.6
    	
Brokers’ Fees
    	
37
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE V.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR
    	
37
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
5.1
    	
Corporate Organization
    	
37
    
	
5.2
    	
Due Authorization
    	
37
    
	
5.3
    	
No Conflict
    	
38
    
	
5.4
    	
Litigation and Proceedings
    	
38
    
	
5.5
    	
Governmental Authorities;   Consents
    	
38
    
	
5.6
    	
Brokers’ Fees
    	
38
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VI.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLERS
    	
39
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
6.1
    	
Conduct of Business
    	
39
    
	
6.2
    	
Inspection
    	
40
    
	
6.3
    	
Notice of Certain Events
    	
41
    
	
6.4
    	
Code § 280G Vote
    	
41
    
	
6.5
    	
Stockholder   Approval
    	
41
    
	
6.6
    	
Exclusivity
    	
41
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VII.   COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR
    	
42
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
7.1
    	
Indemnification and   Insurance
    	
42
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE VIII.   JOINT COVENANTS
    	
43
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
8.1
    	
Support of Transaction;   Consents
    	
43
    
	
8.2
    	
Termination of Affiliate   Obligations
    	
43
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE IX.   CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS
    	
43
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
9.1
    	
Conditions to Obligations of   Acquiror, the Company and the Sellers
    	
43
    
	
9.2
    	
Conditions to Obligations of   Acquiror
    	
44
    
	
9.3
    	
Conditions to the   Obligations of the Company and the Sellers
    	
46
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE X.   TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS
    	
47
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
10.1
    	
Termination
    	
47
    
	
10.2
    	
Effect of Termination
    	
47
    

 

ii

 

	
ARTICLE XI.   HOLDER REPRESENTATIVE
    	
48
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
11.1
    	
Designation and Replacement   of Holder Representative
    	
48
    
	
11.2
    	
Authority and Rights of the   Holder Representative; Limitations on Liability
    	
48
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XII.   INDEMNIFICATION
    	
49
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
12.1
    	
Survival of Representations,   Warranties and Covenants
    	
49
    
	
12.2
    	
Indemnification
    	
49
    
	
12.3
    	
Indemnification Claim   Procedures
    	
51
    
	
12.4
    	
Limitations on   Indemnification Liability
    	
52
    
	
12.5
    	
Materiality
    	
53
    
	
12.6
    	
Limitation on Contribution   and Certain Other Rights
    	
53
    
	
12.7
    	
Escrow Account
    	
53
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
ARTICLE XIII.   MISCELLANEOUS
    	
54
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
13.1
    	
Waiver
    	
54
    
	
13.2
    	
Notices
    	
54
    
	
13.3
    	
Assignment
    	
55
    
	
13.4
    	
Rights of Third Parties
    	
56
    
	
13.5
    	
Expenses
    	
56
    
	
13.6
    	
Governing Law
    	
56
    
	
13.7
    	
Captions; Counterparts
    	
56
    
	
13.8
    	
Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits
    	
56
    
	
13.9
    	
Construction
    	
56
    
	
13.10
    	
Entire Agreement
    	
57
    
	
13.11
    	
Amendments
    	
57
    
	
13.12
    	
Publicity
    	
57
    
	
13.13
    	
Severability
    	
57
    
	
13.14
    	
Jurisdiction
    	
58
    
	
13.15
    	
Service of Process
    	
58
    
	
13.16
    	
Specific Performance and   Remedies
    	
58
    
	
13.17
    	
No Reliance
    	
59
    
	
13.18
    	
Legal   Advice
    	
59
    

 

Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits

 

Schedule 1.1 — Liens

 

Schedule 1.2 — Target Working Capital

 

Schedule of Exceptions

 

Schedule 9.2(e) — Agreements to be Terminated

 

iii

 

Schedule 9.2(h) — Third-Party Consents, Waivers and Approvals

 

Schedule 9.2(l) — Employees and Consultants

 

Schedule 9.2(m) — Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment

 

Schedule 9.2(n) — Noncompetition

 

Annex A — List of Stockholders

 

Annex B — Management Pool

 

Exhibit A — Form of Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement

 

Exhibit B — Form of Escrow Agreement

 

iv

 

STOCK PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT

 

This Stock Purchase and Sale Agreement (this “Agreement”), dated as of April 29, 2013, is entered into by and among Courier New Media, Inc., a Massachusetts corporation (“Acquiror”), FastPencil, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), all of the holders of capital stock of the Company (each a “Seller,” and collectively, the “Sellers”), and Steven K. Wilson, solely in his capacity as the initial Holder Representative hereunder.

 

RECITALS

 

WHEREAS, the Sellers own all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company and any right, title, interest or claim to such capital stock of the Company (the “Purchased Shares”);

 

WHEREAS, Acquiror desires to purchase from the Sellers, and the Sellers desire to sell to Acquiror, all of the Purchased Shares; and

 

WHEREAS, for certain limited purposes, and subject to the terms set forth herein, Steven K. Wilson shall serve as a representative of the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and the respective representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as follows:

 

ARTICLE I.
 CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

 

As used herein, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

“280G Stockholder Approval Procedures” has the meaning specified in Section 6.4.

 

“Acquiror” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Acquiror Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(c).

 

“Acquiror Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 12.2(a).

 

“Acquisition Transaction” has the meaning specified in Section 6.6.

 

“Action” means any claim, action, suit, audit, assessment, arbitration or inquiry, or any proceeding or investigation, by or before any Governmental Authority.

 

“Additional Earnout Amount” means $4,000,000.

 

“Additional Escrow Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share” means an amount equal to (X) the Remaining Additional Escrow Amount minus all payments made pursuant to the

 

 

Waterfall Schedule with respect to the Remaining Additional Escrow Amount, then divided by (Y) the Aggregate Fully-Diluted Common Shares.

 

“Adjusted Third Earnout Amount” means $2,500,000 minus any Second Earnout Amount previously paid to the members of the Management Pool.

 

“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any Person that, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person, through one or more intermediaries or otherwise.

 

“Aggregate Fully-Diluted Common Shares” means the sum of (i) the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon the conversion of all Preferred Shares held by all holders immediately prior to the Closing, plus (ii) the aggregate number of Common Shares held by all holders immediately prior to the Closing.

 

“Agreement” has the meaning specified in the Preamble hereto.

 

“Barnes & Noble Net Revenue” means the amount of revenue recognized pursuant to the Consulting Agreement dated September 30, 2011 by and between the Company and Barnesandnoble.com LLC and the License Agreement dated September 30, 2011 by and between the Company and Barnes & Noble, Inc. calculated in accordance with the definition of Net Revenue as set forth in this Agreement.

 

“Business” means the business of the Company as currently conducted, including but not limited to the business of managing and/or publishing content, distribution of such content to wholesale and retail sales channels including digital and print, and providing software products and services to authors, publishers and enterprise customers.

 

“Business Day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in the State of California are authorized or required by Law to close.

 

“Closing” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.

 

“Closing Balance Sheet” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(c)(i).

 

“Closing Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.3.

 

“Closing Date Cash Per Common Share” means the Closing Date Purchase Price minus $500,000 minus the Preferred Aggregate Liquidation Amount, then divided by the aggregate number of Common Shares held by all holders of Common Stock immediately prior to the Closing.

 

“Closing Date Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share” means the Closing Date Purchase Price minus $500,000 then divided by the Aggregate Fully-Diluted Common Shares.

 

“Closing Date Purchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(a).

 

“Closing Statement” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(c)(i).

 

2

 

“Closing Waterfall Schedule” means payments by Acquiror at Closing in the following order: (A) first, each holder of Preferred A Shares and Preferred B Shares shall be entitled to receive, on a pro rata basis, the Preferred Per A Share Amount, in the case of the Preferred A Shares, and the Preferred Per B Share Amount, in the case of the Preferred B Shares, respectively, until fully paid, and (B) next, each holder of Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Common Share held by such holder immediately prior to the Closing, the Closing Date Cash Per Common Share.

 

“Closing Working Capital” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(c)(i).

 

“Closing Working Capital Adjustment” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(a).

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

“Closing Date Purchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(a).

 

“Common Shares” means any shares of the Common Stock of the Company and any right, title, interest or claim thereto.

 

“Common Stock” means the class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

“Company” has the meaning specified in the preamble hereto.

 

“Company Benefit Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(a).

 

“Company Covenants” has the meaning specified in Section 12.2(a).

 

“Company Cure Period” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(b).

 

“Company Intellectual Property Assets” means all Intellectual Property Assets owned by the Company or used or held for use by the Company in the Business, as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted.  “Company Intellectual Property Assets” includes, without limitation, the Products, Company Patents, Company Marks, Company Copyrights and Company Trade Secrets.

 

“Confidentiality Agreement” has the meaning specified in Section 13.10.

 

“Contracts” means any written or binding oral contracts, agreements, subcontracts, leases, purchase orders or other instruments (including any amendments, addendums and other modifications thereto).

 

“Copyrights” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Intellectual Property.”

 

“DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended.

 

3

 

“Earnout Consideration” means each of the First Earnout Amount, the Second Earnout Amount, the Third Earnout Amount and the Additional Earnout Amount, to the extent earned.

 

“Earnout Period” means the period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the earlier of (A) the second (2nd) anniversary of the First Earnout Date, and (B) the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

“Employees” means the employees of the Company.

 

“Environmental Claims” has the meaning specified in Section 3.21.

 

“Environmental Laws” means any and all applicable foreign, United States federal, state or local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, or regulations relating to pollution, the protection of the environment, or the use, storage, treatment, handling, generation, release, disposal, or transportation of Hazardous Materials.

 

“Environmental Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 3.21.

 

“ERISA” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(a).

 

“ERISA Affiliate” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(e).

 

“Escrow Agent” means BNY Mellon, National Association.

 

“Escrow Agreement” means the Escrow Agreement to be executed by Acquiror, the Holder Representative and the Escrow Agent at the Closing, substantially in the form of Exhibit B.

 

“Escrow Amount” means $500,000 plus, if elected by Acquiror, the amount of potential liability relating to the engagement letter by and between the Company and BTI Group as determined by Acquiror (the “Initial Escrow Amount”), which amount is subject to increase by an additional $500,000 payable immediately prior to the First Earnout Payment Date to the extent the First Earnout Amount is earned (such additional increase, the “Additional Escrow Amount”).

 

“Escrow Fund” means the Escrow Amount deposited with the Escrow Agent, together with any interest or earnings thereon, as such sum may be decreased as provided in Section 2.4(c)(iii).

 

“Estimated Holder Allocable Expenses” has the meaning specified in Section 2.7.

 

“Financial Statements” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

“First Earnout Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(a)(i).

 

“First Earnout Payment Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(a)(i).

 

4

 

“First Earnout Period” means a trailing twelve (12) fiscal month period of the Company following the Closing Date, during the three-year period commencing on the Closing Date and ending on the third (3rd) anniversary of the Closing Date.

 

“First Earnout Amount” means $6,500,000.

 

“First Earnout Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share” means an amount equal to (X) the First Earnout Amount minus the Additional Escrow Amount minus all payments made pursuant to the Waterfall Schedule with respect to the First Earnout Amount, then divided by (Y) the Aggregate Fully-Diluted Common Shares.

 

“First Earnout Net Revenue” means Net Revenue of the Company during the First Earnout Period.

 

“First Release Date” has the meaning specified in Section 12.7.

 

“Free or Open Source Software” means any software (in source or object code form) licensed from a third party under (A) a license or other agreement commonly referred to as an open source, free software, copyleft or community source code license (including but not limited to any code or library licensed under the GNU General Public License, GNU Lesser General Public License, BSD License, Apache Software License, or any other public source code license arrangement) or (B) any other license or other agreement that requires, as a condition of the use, modification or distribution of software subject to such license or agreement, that such software or other software combined or distributed with such software be (1) disclosed, distributed, made available, offered, licensed or delivered in source code form, (2) licensed for the purpose of making derivative works, (3) licensed under terms that allow reverse engineering, reverse assembly, or disassembly of any kind, or (4) redistributable at no charge.

 

“Fundamental Representations” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

 

“Funded Debt” means any liability, whether or not contingent, of the Company (i) in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, monies, notes, debentures, or similar instruments, (ii) relating to any change of control payments, bonuses or other consideration that become payable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (excluding the employer’s portion of any employment taxes payable with respect thereto), (iii) relating to any deferred compensation or amounts owed to employees or consultants, including but not limited to, all accrued and untaken vacation owed to employees; provided that up to one (1) week of untaken vacation accrued for 2012 and any untaken vacation for calendar year 2013 accrued until the Closing Date based on three (3) weeks of annual vacation per employee shall be carried over upon Closing and excluded from the definition of “Funded Debt”, and (iv) relating to any accrued interest, fees, expenses, premiums or penalties in respect of any of the foregoing that may become payable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; provided that for purposes of this definition, any employer side taxes in connection with payments under this Agreement shall be included in Funded Debt.

 

“Funded Debt Payoff Amount” means the aggregate amount of outstanding principal and accrued but unpaid interest, fees and other amounts payable (including any

 

5

 

prepayment penalties) as of the Closing in order to repay and satisfy in full all of the obligations owing with respect to all Funded Debt.

 

“GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles.

 

“Governmental Authority” means any federal, state, provincial, municipal, local or foreign government, governmental authority, regulatory or administrative agency, governmental commission, department, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, court, tribunal, arbitrator or arbitral body.

 

“Governmental Order” means, with respect to any Person, any order, judgment, injunction, decree, writ, stipulation, determination or award, or other similar requirement enacted, adopted, promulgated or applied by a Governmental Authority or arbitrator that is binding upon or applicable to such Person or its property.

 

“Hazardous Material” means any pollutant, contaminant, chemical, waste, substance or mixture that is defined, listed or regulated under Environmental Law as “hazardous” or “toxic” (or words of similar meaning), including petroleum or any fraction or by-product thereof, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, radioactive materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and chlorofluorocarbons.

 

“Holder Allocable Expenses” has the meaning specified in Section 2.7.

 

“Holder Representative” has the meaning specified in Section 11.1.

 

“Indebtedness” means any liability, whether or not contingent, (i) in respect of borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, monies, notes, debentures, or similar instruments, (ii) representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property (including pursuant to capital leases) or services but excluding ordinary course current trade payables, (iii) in respect of guaranties, direct or indirect, in any manner, of all or any part of any Indebtedness of any Person, (iv) relating to any deferred purchase price obligations related to past asset or stock acquisitions by the Company, (v) relating to any change of control payments, bonuses or other consideration that become payable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (excluding the employer’s portion of any employment taxes payable with respect thereto), (vi) relating to any deferred compensation or amounts owed to employees or consultants, including but not limited to, all accrued and untaken vacation owed to employees; and (vii) relating to any accrued interest, fees, expenses, premiums or penalties in respect of any of the foregoing that may become payable as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, assuming the full repayment of all such Indebtedness; provided that the foregoing shall not include intercompany liabilities or obligations.

 

“Indemnification Claim” has the meaning specified in Section 12.3.

 

“Indemnified Party” has the meaning specified in Section 12.3.

 

“Indemnitor” means the party required to provide indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2; provided, however, that solely for the purposes of Sections 12.3 and 12.4, the

 

6

 

Holder Representative shall be considered the Indemnitor with respect to claims for indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(a) (it being understood that such status as an Indemnitor is solely for the purpose of providing the Holder Representative with the right to control the defense and settlement of any Action giving rise to an Indemnification Claim pursuant to Section 12.2(a) and such status shall not obligate the Holder Representative to provide any indemnification or otherwise impose any liability on the Holder Representative).

 

“Independent Accounting Firm” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(c)(ii).

 

“Initial Escrow Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share” means an amount equal to (X) the Remaining Initial Escrow Amount minus all payments made pursuant to the Waterfall Schedule with respect to the Remaining Initial Escrow Amount, then divided by (Y) the Aggregate Fully-Diluted Common Shares.

 

“Intellectual Property Assets” means any and all of the following, as they exist throughout the world: (i) patents, patent applications of any kind, patent rights, inventions, discoveries and invention disclosures (whether or not patented) (collectively, “Patents”);  (ii) rights in registered and unregistered trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade dress, logos, packaging design, slogans and Internet domain names, and registrations and applications for registration of any of the foregoing (collectively, “Marks”); (iii) copyrights in both published and unpublished works, including without limitation all compilations, databases and computer programs, manuals and other documentation and all copyright registrations and applications, and all derivatives, translations, adaptations and combinations of the above (collectively, “Copyrights”); (iv) rights in know-how, trade secrets, confidential or proprietary information, research in progress, algorithms, data, databases, data collections, designs, processes, formulae, drawings, schematics, blueprints, flow charts, models, strategies, prototypes, techniques, source code, source code documentation, Beta testing procedures and Beta testing results (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (v) any and all other intellectual property rights and/or proprietary rights relating to any of the foregoing; and (vi) goodwill, franchises, licenses, permits, consents, approvals, and claims of infringement and misappropriation against third parties.

 

“Item of Dispute” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(c)(i).

 

“Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, rule, regulation or Governmental Order, in each case, of any Governmental Authority.

 

“Leased Real Property” means the real property leased or subleased by the Company, together with, to the extent leased or subleased by the Company, all buildings and other structures, facilities or improvements currently located thereon, all fixtures thereto, and all easements, licenses, rights, privileges and other appurtenances relating to the foregoing.

 

“Licenses In” has the meaning specified in Section 3.20(a).

 

“Licenses Out” has the meaning specified in Section 3.20(a).

 

“Lien” means any mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance, security interest or other lien of any kind.

 

7

 

“Losses” means claims, damages, liabilities, losses, Taxes (including, without limitation, loss of any Tax benefits or deductions), fines, penalties, diminution of value (including losses calculated based on valuation multiples for losses of a recurring nature), costs, and expenses (including accumulated interest, reasonable attorneys’, accountants’, investigators’ and experts’ fees and expenses incurred in connection with the defense or investigation of any claim).

 

“Loss Payment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.6.

 

“Majority Holders” has the meaning specified in Section 11.1.

 

“Management Pool” has the meaning specified in Annex B.

 

“Marks” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Intellectual Property Assets.”

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means, with respect to any Person, any effect, change, fact, event or occurrence that has or would be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the business, results of operations or financial condition of such Person and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole.

 

“Multiemployer Plan” has the meaning specified in Section 3.12(e).

 

“Net Revenue” means for any financial period, the amount of revenue recognized as determined in accordance with GAAP, including but not limited to the revenue recognition provisions related to software, based upon the actual amount billed to third party customers with respect to the Business, reduced by returns, discounts, deductions, chargebacks and bad debt.  For the purposes of this definition, “Net Revenue” shall exclude the Barnes & Noble Net Revenue.

 

“Net Revenue Amount” means the First Earnout Net Revenue, the Second Earnout Net Revenue or the Third Earnout Net Revenue, as applicable.

 

“Owned Real Property” means all real property and any fixtures or appurtenances thereto owned by the Company.

 

“Patents” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Intellectual Property Assets.”

 

“Payment Amount” means the Closing Date Purchase Price, the First Earnout Amount, the Remaining Initial Escrow Amount or the Remaining Additional Escrow Amount, as applicable.

 

“Permits” has the meaning specified in Section 3.18.

 

“Permitted Liens” means (i) mechanics, materialmen’s and similar Liens with respect to any amounts not yet due and payable or which are being contested in good faith through (if then appropriate) appropriate proceedings, (ii) Liens for Taxes not yet due and

 

8

 

payable or which are being contested in good faith through appropriate proceedings, (iii) Liens securing rental payments under capital lease obligations, (iv) liens, encumbrances and restrictions on real property (including easements, covenants, rights of way and similar restrictions of record) that are matters of record, (v) Liens securing payment, or any other obligations, of the Company with respect to Indebtedness, (vi) Liens constituting a lease, sublease or occupancy agreement that gives any third party any right to occupy any Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property and (vii) Liens described on Schedule 1.1.

 

“Person” means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, joint stock company, governmental agency or instrumentality or other entity of any kind.

 

“Pre-Closing Tax Period” means any taxable year or period that ends on or before the Closing Date and, with respect to any taxable year or period beginning before and ending after the Closing Date, the portion of such taxable year or period ending on and including the Closing Date.

 

“Preferred Aggregate Liquidation Amount” means (i) the Preferred Liquidation Amount Per A Share multiplied by the number of Preferred A Shares held by a holder immediately prior to the Closing plus (ii) the Preferred Liquidation Amount Per B Share multiplied by the number of Preferred B Shares held by a holder immediately prior to the Closing.

 

“Preferred A Shares” means shares of the Preferred Stock, having an original purchase price of $0.50 per Preferred A Share and a conversion to Common Stock ratio of one-to-one.

 

“Preferred B Shares” means shares of the Preferred Stock, having an original purchase price of $0.75 per Preferred B Share and a conversion to Common Stock ratio of one-to-one.

 

“Preferred Liquidation Amount Per A Share” means the greater of (i) the original purchase price of the Preferred A Share and (ii) the Closing Date Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share.

 

“Preferred Liquidation Amount Per B Share” means the greater of (i) the original purchase price of the Preferred B Share and (ii) the Closing Date Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share.

 

“Preferred Per A Share Amount” means a portion of the Closing Date Purchase Price equal to the Preferred Liquidation Amount Per A Share multiplied by the number of Preferred A Shares held by a holder immediately prior to the Closing.

 

“Preferred Per B Share Amount” means a portion of the Closing Date Purchase Price equal to the Preferred Liquidation Amount Per B Share multiplied by the number of Preferred B Shares held by a holder immediately prior to the Closing.

 

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“Preferred Shares” means any shares of the Preferred Stock of the Company and any right, title, interest or claim thereto.

 

“Preferred Stock” means the preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company.

 

“Proceeding” means any suit, claim, action, litigation, arbitration, proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or appellate proceeding), hearing, audit, examination or investigation commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving, any court or other Governmental Authority or any arbitrator or arbitration panel.

 

“Purchase Price” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(a).

 

“Purchased Shares” has the meaning specified in the Recitals hereto.

 

“Release” or “Released” have the meaning specified in Section 3.21.

 

“Remaining Initial Escrow Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(b)(iii).

 

“Remaining Additional Escrow Amount” has the meaning specified in Section 2.4(b)(iv).

 

“Results” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(b)(i).

 

“Second Earnout Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(a)(ii).

 

“Second Earnout Period” means the twelve (12) fiscal month period of the Company following the First Earnout Period.

 

“Second Earnout Amount” means $1,250,000.

 

“Second Earnout Net Revenue” means Net Revenue of the Company during the Second Earnout Period.

 

“Second Release Date” has the meaning specified in Section 12.7.

 

“Section 280G Payments” has the meaning specified in Section 6.4.

 

“Seller Indemnified Parties” has the meaning specified in Section 12.2(b).

 

“Shrink Wrap Code” means generally commercially available software in executable code form that is available for a cost of not more than US$10,000 for a perpetual license for a single user or work station (or US$50,000 in the aggregate for all users and work stations).

 

“Straddle Period” means any taxable year or period that begins before and ends after the Closing Date.

 

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“Stockholder Written Consent” has the meaning specified in Section 6.5.

 

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to a Person, a corporation or other entity of which 50% or more of the voting power of the equity securities or 50% or more of the equity interests is owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person.

 

“Survival Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.

 

“Target Working Capital” means $3,689,097 as reflected on Schedule 1.2.

 

“Taxes” means all federal, state, local, foreign or other tax, including without limitation, all income, gross receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall profits, environmental, customs duties, capital stock, ad valorem, value added, inventory, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, unclaimed property, escheat, sales, use, transfer, registration, alternative or add-on minimum, or estimated tax, and including any interest, penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not, and including any obligations to indemnify or otherwise assume or succeed to the Tax liability of any other Person.

 

“Tax Returns” means any return, declaration, report, statement, information statement or other document filed or required to be filed with respect to Taxes, including any claims for refunds of Taxes, any information returns and any amendments or supplements of any of the foregoing.

 

“Terminating Acquiror Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(c).

 

“Terminating Company Breach” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(b).

 

“Termination Date” has the meaning specified in Section 10.1(b).

 

“Third Earnout Date” has the meaning specified in Section 2.5(a)(iii)(A).

 

“Third Earnout Period” means the twelve (12) fiscal month period of the Company following the Second Earnout Period.

 

“Third Earnout Amount” means $1,250,000.

 

“Third Earnout Net Revenue” means Net Revenue of the Company during the Third Earnout Period.

 

“Threshold Amount” means $0.75 per share of capital stock of the Company.

 

“Trade Secrets” has the meaning specified in the definition of “Intellectual Property Assets.”

 

“Treasury Regulations” means the Treasury regulations promulgated under the Code.

 

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“Waterfall Schedule” means payments by Acquiror in the following order: (A) first, only to the extent not fully paid pursuant to all prior Payment Amounts, payment to each holder of Preferred B Shares, in cash, of a portion of the Payment Amount per Preferred B Share equal to the difference between the Threshold Amount and the amount paid per share pursuant to all prior payments until fully paid; (B) next, only to the extent not fully paid pursuant to all prior Payment Amounts, payment to each holder of Preferred A Shares, in cash, of a portion of the Payment Amount per Preferred A Share equal to the difference between $0.50 and the amount paid per share pursuant to all prior payments until fully paid; (C) next, only to the extent not fully paid pursuant to all prior Payment Amounts, payment to each holder of Common Shares, in cash, of a portion of the Payment Amount per Common Share equal to the difference between $0.50 and the amount paid per share pursuant to all prior payments until fully paid; (D) next, only to the extent not fully paid pursuant to all prior Payment Amounts, payment to each holder of Common Shares and Preferred A Shares, together on a pro rata basis, in cash, of a portion of the Payment Amount equal to the difference between the Threshold Amount and the amount paid per share pursuant to all prior payments until fully paid; and (E) next, payment to each Seller, in cash, of a portion of the Payment Amount equal to (X) the First Earnout Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share, the Initial Escrow Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share or the Additional Escrow Cash Per Fully-Diluted Common Share, as applicable, multiplied by (Y) with respect to a holder of Common Shares, the number of Common Shares held by such holder immediately prior to the Closing, and with respect to a holder of Preferred Shares, the number of shares of Common Stock that would be issuable upon the conversion of all Preferred Shares held by such holder immediately prior to the Closing.

 

“Working Capital” means the excess (or deficiency) of the current assets over the current liabilities of the Company as determined in accordance with GAAP.  For purposes of this definition, “Working Capital” includes the $1,500,000 receivable due on January 1, 2014 and excludes any Indebtedness.

 

As used herein, the phrase “to the knowledge” of any Person shall mean the knowledge, after reasonable inquiry, of: (i) in the case of the Company, Steven K. Wilson, Michael P. Ashley, and Jeremy McNevin and each of the persons reporting directly to each of them as of the date hereof, and (ii) in the case of all other Persons, such Person’s executive officers.

 

ARTICLE II.
 PURCHASE AND SALE OF PURCHASED SHARES

 

2.1                               Purchase and Sale.  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, at the Closing, and in reliance on the representations and warranties and covenants and agreements made herein, Acquiror will purchase and acquire from the Sellers, and the Sellers will sell, assign, transfer and deliver to Acquiror free and clear of all Liens, all of the Purchased Shares, as shown on Annex A hereto, for a portion of the Purchase Price as determined in accordance with Section 2.4.

 

2.2                               Delivery of Shares.  At the Closing, each Seller will deliver to Acquiror the original certificate or certificates, as applicable, representing their Purchased Shares, duly endorsed in favor of Acquiror or, if such certificates have been lost, stolen or destroyed, executed

 

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affidavits of loss indemnifying Acquiror for any potential future Loss related to the non-delivery of the lost certificate(s) in a form acceptable to Acquiror.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, by executing this Agreement and subject to all other conditions to Closing being fulfilled, each Seller hereby sells, assigns and transfers all of its Purchased Shares as shown opposite such Seller’s name on Annex A hereto and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint the Company to transfer such shares on the books of the Company with full power and substitution in the premises. Acquiror may hold the Purchase Price in escrow after Closing until the original stock certificates or an executed certificate of loss are received for the Purchased Shares.

 

2.3                               Closing.  The closing of the purchase and sale of the Purchased Shares (the “Closing”) shall occur as promptly as practicable after all of the conditions set forth in Article IX shall have been satisfied or, if permissible, waived by the party entitled to the benefit of the same (other than those that by their terms are to be satisfied or waived at the Closing), and, subject to the foregoing, shall take place at such time and on a date to be specified by the parties (the “Closing Date”).  The Closing shall take place at the offices of Goodwin Procter LLP, Three Embarcadero Center, 24th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94111, or at such other place as agreed to by the parties hereto.

 

2.4                               Payment of Purchase Price; Working Capital Adjustment.

 

(a)                                 The aggregate consideration payable by Acquiror in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be cash in an amount equal to the sum of (i) $5,000,000, less the amount, if any, by which Target Working Capital exceeds Closing Working Capital (the “Closing Working Capital Adjustment”), less the Funded Debt Payoff Amount, less the Estimated Holder Allocable Expenses (the “Closing Date Purchase Price”), plus (ii) the amount of all Earnout Consideration to the extent payable pursuant to Section 2.5, subject to any adjustment pursuant to Section 12.2(e) (collectively, the “Purchase Price”).  As part of the Purchase Price, immediately prior to the Closing and the First Earnout Payment Date (to the extent the First Earnout Amount is earned), as applicable, Acquiror shall deliver or cause to be delivered to the Escrow Agent out of each of the Closing Date Purchase Price and the First Earnout Amount, the Initial Escrow Amount and the Additional Escrow Amount, respectively, payable by wire transfer in immediately available funds for deposit into the account designated therefor in the Escrow Agreement.

 

(b)                                 The Purchase Price shall be allocated among the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool as set forth below in this Section 2.4(b), to the extent available for distribution. Payment shall be made to each Seller via wire transfer or check, at such Seller’s election, as set forth on the signature page of each Seller.  Payment may be made through the Company’s payroll processor.

 

(i)                                          In connection with Closing, each holder of Preferred B Shares, Preferred A Shares and Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Preferred B Share, Preferred A Share and Common Share held respectively by such holders prior to the Closing, their respective portions of the Closing Date Purchase Price according to the Closing Waterfall Schedule.

 

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(ii)                                       In connection with the First Earnout Payment, each holder of Preferred B Shares, Preferred A Shares and Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Preferred B Share, Preferred A Share and Common Share held respectively by such holders prior to the Closing, their respective portions of the First Earnout Amount pursuant to Sections 2.5 and 2.6, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.2(e) according to the Waterfall Schedule.

 

(iii)                                    In connection with the First Release Date, each holder of Preferred B Shares, Preferred A Shares and Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Preferred B Share, Preferred A Share and Common Share held respectively by such holders prior to the Closing, the remaining unused amount of the Initial Escrow Amount pursuant to Section 12.7 (the “Remaining Initial Escrow Amount”) pursuant to the Waterfall Schedule.

 

(iv)                                   In connection with the Second Release Date, if any, each holder of Preferred B Shares, Preferred A Shares and Common Shares shall be entitled to receive, in respect of each Preferred B Share, Preferred A Share and Common Share held respectively by such holders prior to the Closing, the remaining unused amount of the Additional Escrow Amount pursuant to Section 12.7 (the “Remaining Additional Escrow Amount”) pursuant to the Waterfall Schedule.

 

(v)                                      Each member of the Management Pool shall be entitled to the right to receive a portion of the applicable Earnout Consideration pursuant to Sections 2.5 and 2.6, subject to adjustment pursuant to Section 12.2(e) and the terms and conditions set forth on Annex B hereto.

 

(c)                                  Working Capital Adjustment.

 

(i)                                          Within sixty (60) days following the Closing Date, Acquiror shall prepare and deliver to the Holder Representative Acquiror’s calculation of the Company’s Working Capital as of 11:59 p.m. on the date immediately preceding the Closing Date (the “Closing Working Capital”), and the Closing Working Capital Adjustment,  together with supporting documentation for such calculation (the “Closing Statement”).  The preparation of the Closing Statement shall be for the sole purpose of determining the Closing Working Capital Adjustment.  The Holder Representative shall have thirty (30) days following his receipt of the Closing Statement (the “Review Period”) to review the same.  On or before the expiration of the Review Period, the Holder Representative shall deliver to Acquiror a written statement accepting or objecting to the Closing Statement.  In the event that the Holder Representative shall object to the Closing Statement, such statement shall include a detailed itemization of the Holder Representative’s objections and the reasons therefor (each, an “Item of Dispute”); provided, that the only basis on which the Holder Representative shall be permitted to submit an Item of Dispute is that such Item of Dispute was not prepared in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or contains mathematical or clerical errors.  If the Holder Representative does not deliver such statement to Acquiror within the Review Period, the Holder Representative shall be deemed to have accepted the Closing Statement.

 

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(ii)                                       In the event that the Holder Representative shall object to the Closing Statement within the Review Period, Acquiror and the Holder Representative shall promptly meet and in good faith attempt to resolve such objections.  Any such objections which cannot be resolved between Acquiror and the Holder Representative within thirty (30) days following Acquiror’s receipt of the Holder Representative’s statement of objections shall be resolved in accordance with this Section 2.4(c).  If the Holder Representative and Acquiror are unable to resolve such objections as may be raised with respect to the Closing Statement within the thirty (30) day period described above, either party may submit the matter to Grant Thornton LLP, provided, that if Grant Thornton is Acquiror’s auditor, then another independent nationally recognized certified public accounting firm mutually acceptable to Acquiror and the Holder Representative (the “Independent Accounting Firm”).  Acquiror and the Holder Representative shall each provide their respective Closing Statement and the Items of Dispute in writing to the Independent Accounting Firm and shall request that the Independent Accounting Firm render a written determination, which determination (i) shall be based solely on whether the Closing Statement or each such Item of Dispute was prepared in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or whether the Closing Statement or each such Item of Dispute contains a mathematical or clerical error or errors and (ii) shall not be resolved so the final amount determined by the Independent Accounting Firm is more favorable to the Holder Representative than the calculation(s) presented in any Item of Dispute delivered by the Holder Representative or more favorable to Acquiror than the calculation(s) presented in the Closing Statement delivered by Acquiror, and, as to each unresolved Item of Dispute, shall be resolved as soon as reasonably practicable, but in no event later than thirty (30) days after its retention, and the parties shall cooperate fully with the Independent Accounting Firm so as to enable it to make such determination as quickly and as accurately as practicable.  The Independent Accounting Firm’s determination as to each Item of Dispute submitted to it shall be in writing and shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties, absent manifest error or willful misconduct, and the Closing Working Capital Adjustment shall be modified to the extent necessary to reflect such determination.  The fees and expenses of the Independent Accounting Firm shall be paid by the party whose calculation of the Closing Working Capital Adjustment is furthest from the determination rendered by the Independent Accounting Firm.

 

(iii)                                    In the event of a Closing Working Capital Adjustment, Acquiror may set off such Closing Working Capital Adjustment against the Earnout Consideration or make a claim against the Escrow Fund, at its sole discretion.  In the event of a claim against the Escrow Fund for the purpose of a Closing Working Capital Adjustment, upon the written request of Acquiror, the Holder Representative shall authorize any payment in respect of such claim.  Any such payment shall be made within five (5) Business Days after the Closing Statement becomes final and binding upon the parties.

 

2.5                               Earnout Consideration.

 

(a)                                 Earnout Events and Payments.

 

(i)                                          First Earnout Payment.  Subject to Section 12.2(d), if the First Earnout Net Revenue exceeds $3,000,000 during the First Earnout Period, which shall

 

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occur no later than the third (3rd) anniversary of the Closing Date (such date of achievement, the “First Earnout Date”), within ninety (90) days following the First Earnout Date (the “First Earnout Payment Date”), Acquiror shall pay the First Earnout Amount in accordance with Section 2.4.

 

(ii)                                       Second Earnout Payment.  Subject to Section 12.2(e), if the payment of First Earnout Amount is made pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) above and if the Second Earnout Net Revenue exceeds $5,840,000 during the Second Earnout Period (such date of achievement, the “Second Earnout Date”), which shall occur no later than the fourth (4th) anniversary of the Closing Date, within ninety (90) days following the Second Earnout Date, Acquiror shall pay the members of the Management Pool the Second Earnout Amount pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth on Annex B hereto.

 

(iii)                                    Third Earnout Payment.

 

A.                                    Subject to Sections 12.2(e) and 2.5(a)(iii)(B), if the payment of First Earnout Amount is made pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) above and if the Third Earnout Net Revenue exceeds $11,750,000 during the Third Earnout Period (such date of achievement, the “Third Earnout Date”), which shall occur no later than the fifth (5th) anniversary of the Closing Date, Acquiror shall pay the members of the Management Pool the Third Earnout Amount pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth on Annex B hereto.

 

B.                                    Subject to Sections 12.2(e), if the payment of First Earnout Amount is made pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(i) above and if the cumulative Net Revenue of the Earnout Period exceeds $20,590,000, within ninety (90) days following the Third Earnout Date, Acquiror shall pay the members of the Management Pool the Adjusted Third Earnout Amount pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth on Annex B hereto. For the avoidance of doubt, unless Section 2.5(a)(iv) applies, the aggregate Earnout Consideration paid by Acquiror over the Earnout Period shall not exceed $9,000,000.

 

(iv)                                   Additional Earnout Payment.  Subject to Section 12.2(d), if the payment of Third Earnout Amount or Adjusted Third Earnout Amount is made pursuant to Section 2.5(a)(iii) above and if the cumulative Net Revenue of the Earnout Period exceeds $30,885,000, within ninety (90) days following the Third Earnout Date, Acquiror shall pay the members of the Management Pool the Additional Earnout Amount pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth on Annex B hereto.  For the avoidance of doubt, the aggregate Earnout Consideration paid by Acquiror over the Earnout Period shall not exceed $13,000,000.

 

(b)                                 Dispute Resolution.

 

(i)                                          No later than sixty (60) days after the First Earnout Date, the Second Earnout Date and the Third Earnout Date, Acquiror shall prepare and deliver to the Holder Representative a calculation of the Net Revenue Amount and Earnout

 

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Consideration (the “Results”), related to the preceding fiscal year.  Acquiror shall prepare the calculation of Net Revenue Amount for such purposes reasonably and in good faith.  In the event that the Holder Representative objects to the Results, then within fifteen (15) days after the delivery to the Holder Representative of the Results (the “Response Period”), the Holder Representative shall deliver to Acquiror a written notice (an “Objection Notice”) describing in reasonable detail the Holder Representative’s objections to the Results and setting forth the Results determined by the Holder Representative to be correct.  If the Holder Representative does not deliver an Objection Notice to Acquiror during the Response Period, then Acquiror’s calculation of the Results shall be binding and conclusive on Acquiror, the Holder Representative, each Seller and each member of the Management Pool.

 

(ii)                                       If the Holder Representative delivers an Objection Notice objecting to the Results during the Response Period in accordance with Section 2.5(b)(i), and if the Holder Representative and Acquiror are unable to resolve such dispute within twenty (20) days after such Objection Notice is delivered to Acquiror, then the dispute shall be finally settled by the Independent Accounting Firm at the sole cost and expense of the Holder Representative.  If the Earnout Consideration for the applicable period as determined by the Independent Accounting Firm exceeds the Earnout Consideration as reported by Acquiror for such period, then Acquiror shall reimburse the Holder Representative for such cost and expense.

 

(c)                                  Access to Necessary Information.  At reasonable times during normal business hours and upon reasonable notice provided to Acquiror, Acquiror shall permit the Holder Representative (who shall have executed a confidentiality agreement in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Acquiror) to make such inspections and copies of such books and records as it may reasonably require, and to discuss such matters with the appropriate personnel of the Company and Acquiror, each to the extent incident to the exercise of the Holder Representative’s right to object to Acquiror’s calculation of the Results.  The Holder Representative agrees that he shall hold (and shall cause his advisors referred to in the preceding sentence to hold) all information acquired during such examination in strict confidence and shall use (and shall cause his advisors referred to in the preceding sentence to use) such information solely for determining the Results.

 

(d)                                 Permitted Transfers.  The interests of any Seller or any member of the Management Pool in any Earnout Consideration shall not be assignable or transferable, except: (a) by operation of law; (b) in connection with a Permitted Transfer (as defined below) (the assignee or transferee of any assignment or transfer permitted pursuant to this Section 2.5(d) being referred to as a “Transferee”); provided, however, that no assignment or transfer of any such interest may occur pursuant to this Section 2.5(d) unless the Transferee signs or delivers to Acquiror a counterpart to this Agreement agreeing to be bound by all of the terms hereof (it being understood that any attempted assignment or transfer in violation of this sentence shall be null and void).  For purposes of this Section 2.5(d), “Permitted Transfer” shall mean any transfer: (A) if a Seller is an individual or with respect to a member of the Management Pool, upon the death of such Seller or member pursuant to any will, trust or similar instrument or pursuant to the laws of descent and distribution; or (B) if a Seller is a

 

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corporation, trust, partnership or limited liability company, to one or more stockholders, beneficiaries, partners or members of such Seller.

 

2.6                               Treatment of Earnout Consideration.  For U.S. federal income Tax purposes, the parties hereto agree that the Earnout Consideration paid under Section 2.5 (other than any amounts which are compensatory) will be subject to the imputed interest rules under Section 483 and/or Section 1274 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

2.7                               Holder Allocable Expenses.  Not less than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver to Acquiror a written statement that shall: (x) include such reserves as the Holder Representative determines in good faith to be appropriate for any Holder Allocable Expenses that are not then known or determinable and (y) be determined as of the close of business on the Closing Date but without giving effect to the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement (the “Estimated Holder Allocable Expenses”), of the aggregate amount of the following fees and expenses incurred (to the extent such fees and expenses are not paid prior to the Closing) by the Holder Representative on behalf of the Company, the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool in connection with the preparation, negotiation and execution of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby: (a) the fees and disbursements of the financial advisor and special outside counsel to the Company, the Sellers, the members of the Management Pool and/or the Holder Representative incurred in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) the fees and expenses of any other agents, brokers, advisors, consultants and experts employed by the Company, the Sellers, the members of the Management Pool and/or the Holder Representative in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (c) any transaction fee payable to one or more Affiliates of the Holder Representative in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby and (d) the expenses of the Holder Representative incurred, or that may be incurred, in such capacity (the “Holder Allocable Expenses”).  The Estimated Holder Allocable Expenses shall be accompanied by invoices and payment instructions, including the identity of each recipient, dollar amounts, wire instructions and any other information necessary to effect payment thereof, for each of the foregoing Holder Allocable Expenses.  On the Closing Date, Acquiror shall pay to each party identified in the Estimated Holder Allocable Expenses the amount set forth in the applicable invoice in accordance with the terms of the payment instructions for each such Holder Allocable Expense.

 

2.8                               Repayment of Closing Funded Debt.  No later than two (2) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall provide Acquiror with a schedule of Funded Debt as of the Closing (the “Schedule of Funded Debt”) and customary pay-off letters from all holders of Funded Debt.  The Company shall also make arrangements reasonably satisfactory to Acquiror for such holders to provide to Acquiror recordable form mortgage and lien releases, canceled notes and other documents reasonably requested by Acquiror prior to the Closing such that all Liens on the assets or properties of the Company shall be satisfied, terminated and discharged on or prior to the Closing Date other than Permitted Liens.  On the Closing Date, Acquiror shall pay to each holder of Funded Debt (which may be paid through the Company via its payroll processor) the amount set forth in the applicable invoice or payoff letter in accordance with the terms of the payment instructions set forth therein.

 

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2.9                               Withholding.  Notwithstanding any other provision to this Agreement, Acquiror, shall be entitled to deduct and withhold from the cash otherwise deliverable under this Agreement, and from any other consideration otherwise paid or delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, to any person such amounts that Acquiror is required to deduct and withhold with respect to any such deliveries and payments under the Code or any provision of state, local, provincial or foreign Law.  To the extent that amounts are so withheld by Acquiror, such withheld amounts shall be treated for all purposes of this Agreement as having been paid to the person in respect of which such deduction and withholding was made, and Acquiror shall disburse such withheld amounts to the applicable Governmental Authority.

 

ARTICLE III.
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY

 

Except as set forth in the Schedules to this Agreement, the Company hereby represents and warrants to Acquiror as of the date of this Agreement as follows:

 

3.1                               Corporate Organization of the Company.  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the Laws of the State of Delaware and has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its Business as it is now being conducted.  The copies of the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Company previously made available by the Company to Acquiror are true, correct and complete.  The minute books (containing the records of meetings of the stockholders, the board of directors and any committees of the board of directors), the stock certificate books and the stock record books for the Company are correct in all material respects and contain copies of all organizational documents and actions taken by such entity’s board of directors and stockholders.  The Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the ownership of its property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

3.2                               Subsidiaries.  The Company does not directly or indirectly own any equity, partnership, membership or similar interest in, or any interest convertible into, exercisable for the purchase of or exchangeable for any such equity, partnership, membership or similar interest, nor is it under any current or prospective obligation to form or participate in, provide funds to, make any loan, capital contribution or other investment in, or assume any liability or obligation of, any Person.

 

3.3                               Due Authorization.  The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and (subject to the approvals discussed below) to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of the Company, and no other corporate proceeding or action on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize this Agreement (other than the adoption of this Agreement by the Company’s stockholders, which adoption will occur immediately following execution of this Agreement by the Company).  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a

 

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legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

3.4                               No Conflict.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.4, subject to the receipt of the consents, approvals, authorizations and other requirements set forth in Section 3.5 or on Schedule 3.5, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not violate any provision of, or result in the breach of, any applicable Law, the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company, or result in a material breach of any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such agreement, indenture or instrument, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company, or constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such material violation, material breach, termination or creation of a Lien or result in a material violation or revocation of any required license, permit or approval from any Governmental Authority or other Person.

 

3.5                               Governmental Authorities; Consents.  Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, (i) no consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority and (ii) other than board and stockholder consents, no material consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with or other Person is required on the part of the Company with respect to the Company’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

3.6                               Capitalization of the Company.

 

(a)                                 The authorized capital stock of the Company as set forth in the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 8, 2009, and which has not been amended as of the date of this Agreement, consists of (i) 4,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, of which 1,935,867 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement, and (ii) 16,000,000 shares of Common Stock, of which 7,269,250 shares are issued and outstanding as of the date of this Agreement.  As of the date hereof, all of the issued and outstanding shares of Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable.  Schedule 3.6(a) sets forth a true and correct list of the capitalization and stockholders of the Company as of the date hereof.

 

(b)                                 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.6(b), the Company has not granted any outstanding options, warrants, subscriptions, rights (including any preemptive rights) or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of the Preferred Stock or Common Stock, or any other commitments or agreements providing for the issuance of additional shares, the sale of treasury shares, or for the repurchase or redemption of shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, and there are no agreements of any kind which may obligate the Company to issue, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any of the capital stock

 

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of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company.  There are no outstanding nor authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit participation or similar rights with respect to the capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company to which the Company is a party or is bound.  The Company has no authorized or outstanding bonds, debentures, notes or other indebtedness the holders of which have the right to vote (or convertible into, exchangeable for, or evidencing the right to subscribe for or acquire securities having the right to vote) with the stockholders of the Company on any matter.  There are no contracts to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound to vote or dispose of any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company.  There are no irrevocable proxies and no voting agreements with respect to any shares of capital stock of, or other equity or voting interest in, the Company to which the Company is a party.

 

3.7                               Financial Statements.  Attached as Schedule 3.7 hereto are the unaudited consolidated balance sheets and statements of income, cash flow and stockholders’ equity of the Company as of and for the twelve-month periods ended August 31, 2012, August 31, 2011 and August 31, 2010 and the unaudited consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2012 (the “Financial Statements”).  The Financial Statements present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated in such Financial Statements.  Each of the Financial Statements (i) is consistent with the books and records of the Company (which, in turn, are accurate and complete in all material respects) and (ii) has been prepared in accordance with GAAP, subject to changes resulting from normal year-end adjustments (none of which shall be material individually or in the aggregate) and the absence of footnote disclosure.  The projections previously provided to Acquiror represent good faith estimates of the performance of the Company for the periods stated therein based upon assumptions which were believed in good faith to be reasonable when made and continue to be reasonable as of the date hereof, and to the knowledge of the Company there exists no basis to reasonably believe that such projections will not be achieved.

 

3.8                               Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8, as of the date of this Agreement, there is no liability, debt or obligation of or claim of any nature, whether accrued, absolute, contingent, asserted, unasserted or otherwise, against the Company, except for liabilities and obligations (a) reflected or reserved for on the Financial Statements or disclosed in the notes thereto, (b) that have arisen since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements in the ordinary course of the operation of Business of the Company (none of which is a liability for breach of contract, breach of warranty, tort or infringement or a claim or lawsuit or an environmental liability) or (c) incurred as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

3.9                               Litigation and Proceedings.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9, as of the date of this Agreement, no claims, actions or other Proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing (i) against the Company, or (ii) to the knowledge of the Company, against any officer, director or key employee of the Company in their respective capacities in such positions.  As of the date hereof, the Company is not subject to any unsatisfied order, judgment, injunction, ruling, decision, award or decree of any Governmental Authority which would reasonably be expected to (i) prevent or delay the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or (ii) would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse

 

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Effect on the Company.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.9, neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or key employees, in their capacity as such, has received any opinion or legal advice in writing to the effect that the Company is exposed from a legal standpoint to any liability that may be material to the Company’s Business as previously, currently or proposed to be conducted.

 

3.10                        Legal Compliance.  Except with respect to matters set forth on Schedule 3.10, the Company is, as of the date of this Agreement, in compliance with all applicable Laws in all material respects.  Since its inception, the Company has not received any written notice of any violation of, or failure to comply with any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties.  The Company has not entered into or been subject to any judgment, consent decree, compliance order or administrative order with respect to any aspect of the Business, affairs, properties or assets of the Company or received any request for information, notice, demand letter, administrative inquiry or formal or informal complaint or claim from any regulatory agency with respect to any aspect of the Business, affairs, properties or assets of the Company.

 

3.11                        Contracts; No Defaults.

 

(a)                                 Schedule 3.11 contains a listing of all Contracts described in clauses (i) through (xv) below to which, as of the date of this Agreement, the Company is a party.  True, correct and complete copies of the Contracts listed on Schedule 3.11 have been delivered to or made available to Acquiror or its agents or representatives.

 

(i)                                          Each Contract that the Company reasonably anticipates will involve aggregate payments or consideration furnished by or to the Company of more than $25,000 in any year;

 

(ii)                                       Each note, debenture, other evidence of indebtedness, guarantee, loan, credit or financing agreement or instrument or other contract for money borrowed, including any agreement or commitment for future loans, credit or financing;

 

(iii)                                    Each Contract for the acquisition of any Person or any business unit thereof or the disposition of any material assets of the Company (other than in the ordinary course of business), in each case, involving payments in excess of $10,000 other than Contracts in which the applicable acquisition or disposition has been consummated and there are no obligations (contingent or otherwise) remaining;

 

(iv)                                   Each Contract concerning Owned Real Property, Leased Property, license, installment and conditional sale agreement, and other Contract that (A) provides for the ownership of, leasing of, title to, use of, or any leasehold or other interest in any real or personal property, and (B) involves aggregate payments in excess of $10,000 in any calendar year;

 

(v)                                      Each joint venture Contract and each partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement to which the Company, on the one hand, and any third party, on the other hand, are parties;

 

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(vi)                                   Each Contract requiring capital expenditures after the date of this Agreement in an amount in excess of $10,000 in any calendar year;

 

(vii)                                Each License In or License Out that involves aggregate payments to or by the Company in excess of $10,000 in any calendar year;

 

(viii)                             Each Contract that contains a covenant not to compete, or other covenant restricting the development, manufacture, marketing or distribution of Products;

 

(ix)                                   Each Contract that imposes any confidentiality, standstill or similar obligation on the Company, except for those entered into in the ordinary course of business or in connection with the sale process of the Company;

 

(x)                                      Each Contract that contains a right of first refusal, first offer or first negotiation in favor of any party other than the Company;

 

(xi)                                   Each Contract pursuant to which the Company has granted any exclusive marketing, sales, use or distribution rights to any third party;

 

(xii)                                Each Contract relating to stock redemption or purchase agreements or other agreements affecting or relating to the capital stock of the Company, including, without limitation, any agreement with any stockholder of the Company which includes anti-dilution rights, registration rights, voting arrangements, operating covenants or similar provisions;

 

(xiii)                             Each collective bargaining Contract or other agreement with any labor union or other employee representative of a group of Employees;

 

(xiv)                            Each Contract that provides any transaction bonus, discretionary bonus, “stay-put” or other compensatory payments to be made (whether required or discretionary) to Employees of the Company at Closing as a result of the execution of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby; and

 

(xv)                               Each Contract with an officer or key employee of the Company regarding the terms and conditions of such officer’s or key employee’s employment.

 

(b)                                 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(b), as of the date of this Agreement, each of the Contracts listed pursuant to Section 3.11(a) is in full force and effect, (ii) represents a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, (iii) to the knowledge of the Company, represents the legal, valid and binding obligations of the other parties thereto and (iv) is enforceable in accordance with its respective terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.  The Company has not received any written notice or threat to terminate any Contract listed on Schedule 3.11(a).  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(b), (A) neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any other party thereto is in material breach of or material default under any such Contract, (B) as of the date of this Agreement, the Company has not received any written claim or notice of material breach of or material default under

 

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any such Contract, and (C) to the knowledge of the Company, no event has occurred which individually or together with other events, would reasonably be expected to result in a material breach of or a material default under any such Contract (in each case, with or without notice or lapse of time or both).  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.11(b), none of the Contracts require that any consent be obtained or notice be provided as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

3.12                        Employee Benefit Plans.

 

(a)                                 Schedule 3.12(a) sets forth a complete list of each material “employee benefit plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, (“ERISA”) and any other material plan, policy or program providing compensation or other benefits to any current or former director, officer, independent contractor or employee, which are maintained, sponsored or contributed to by the Company, or under which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate has any material obligation or liability (each a “Company Benefit Plan”).

 

(b)                                 With respect to each Company Benefit Plan, the Company has delivered to Acquiror correct and complete copies of (i) each Company Benefit Plan and any trust agreement relating to such plan, (ii) the most recent summary plan description for each Company Benefit Plan for which such summary plan description is required, (iii) the most recent annual report on Form 5500 and all attachments thereto filed with the Internal Revenue Service with respect to such Company Benefit Plan (if applicable), (iv) the most recent actuarial valuation (if applicable) relating to such Company Benefit Plan, (v) the most recent determination or opinion letter, if any, issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any Company Benefit Plan and (vi) any insurance policy (including any fiduciary liability insurance policy or fidelity bond) related to such Company Benefit Plan; and (vii) all non-routine correspondence to and from any state or federal agency with respect to such Company Benefit Plan.

 

(c)                                  (i) Each Company Benefit Plan is and has been operated and administered in accordance with its terms and in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code, and (ii) all payments and/or contributions required to be made with respect to any Company Benefit Plan on or before the date hereof have been made and all obligations in respect of each Company Benefit Plan as of the date hereof have been accrued and reflected in the Company’s financial statements to the extent required by GAAP in accordance with the terms of the applicable Company Benefit Plan and applicable Law.

 

(d)                                 Each Company Benefit Plan which is intended to be qualified within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and has received a favorable determination letter from the IRS regarding its qualification under such section or may rely on an opinion letter issued by the IRS with respect to a prototype plan adopted in accordance with the requirements for such reliance, or has time remaining for application to the IRS for a determination of the qualified status of such Company Benefit Plan for any period for which such Company Benefit Plan would not otherwise be covered by an IRS determination and, to the knowledge of the Company, no event or omission has occurred that would cause any

 

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Company Benefit Plan to lose such qualification.  Each Company Benefit Plan may be amended, terminated, or otherwise modified by the Company to the greatest extent permitted by applicable law.  Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA Affiliates has announced its intention to modify or terminate any Company Benefit Plan or adopt any arrangement or program which, once established, would come within the definition of a Company Benefit Plan.  Each asset held under any such Company Benefit Plan may be liquidated or terminated without the imposition of any redemption fee, surrender charge or comparable liability.

 

(e)                                  No Company Benefit Plan is a single employer pension plan (within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(15) of ERISA) for which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate could incur liability under Section 4063 or 4064 of ERISA or a plan maintained by more than one employer as described in Section 413(c) of the Code.  No Company Benefit Plan is a multiemployer pension plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA) (“Multiemployer Plan”) or other pension plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has ever sponsored or contributed to or been required to contribute to a Multiemployer Plan or other pension plan subject to Title IV of ERISA, Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA.  No event has occurred and no condition exists that would subject the Company, either directly or by reason of its affiliation with any ERISA Affiliate, to liability under Title IV of ERISA.  For purposes of this Section 3.12, “ERISA Affiliate” shall mean any entity (whether or not incorporated) other than the Company that, together with the Company, is considered under common control and treated as one employer under Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.  No Company Benefit Plan has ever provided health care or any other non-pension benefits to any current or former Employees after their employment is terminated (other than as required by part 6 of subtitle B of Title I of ERISA) or has ever promised to provide such post-termination benefits.

 

(f)                                   No actions, suits, governmental administrative proceedings, audits, other proceedings, or claims (other than routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course) are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Company Benefit Plan or any fiduciary or service provider thereof, and to the knowledge of the Company, no facts or circumstances exist that would reasonably be expected to give rise to any such actions, suits, proceedings, audits or claims.  No Company Benefit Plan is subject to the laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States.

 

(g)                                  Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the stockholder approval of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby could (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) (i) result in, or cause the accelerated vesting payment, funding or delivery of, or increase the amount or value of, any payment or benefit to any employee, officer, director or other service provider of the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates; (ii) result in any “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code (whether or not such payment is considered to be reasonable compensation for services rendered); or (iii) result in a requirement to pay any tax “gross-up” or similar “make-whole” payments to any employee, director or consultant of the Company or an ERISA Affiliate.

 

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3.13                        Labor Relations.

 

(a)                                 No Employees are represented by any labor organization or works council with respect to their employment with the Company.  The Company is not, nor has it ever been, a party to, or bound by, any collective bargaining agreement or union contract with respect to the Employees and no collective bargaining agreement is being negotiated by the Company.  To the knowledge of the Company, there are no activities or proceedings of any labor union to organize any of the Employees.  To the knowledge of the Company, there is no material labor dispute, strike, slowdown, concerted refusal to work overtime, or work stoppage against the Company or threatened.  The Contracts listed on Schedule 3.13 include all individual, written employment, retention, change in control bonus or severance agreements to which, as of the date of this Agreement, the Company is a party and which may not be terminated at will, or by giving notice of 30 days or less, without cost or penalty.  The Company has delivered or made available to Acquiror true, correct and complete copies of each such Contract, as amended to date.

 

(b)                                 The Company is not delinquent in any material payments to any Employee or consultant for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses, fees or other direct compensation due with respect to any services performed for it to the date hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such Employees or consultants.

 

(c)                                  The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, the Fair Labor Standards Act and each other federal, state, local or foreign law relating to hours worked by and payment made to Employees, employment and employment practices and terms and conditions of employment, including without limitation any such laws respecting employment discrimination, employee classification, workers’ compensation, family and medical leave, occupational safety and health requirements and employment agreements.

 

3.14                        Taxes.

 

(a)                                 All Tax Returns required to be filed by or with respect to the Company have been properly prepared and timely filed, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and complete.

 

(b)                                 The Company has fully and timely paid all Taxes (whether or not shown to be due on the Tax Returns referred to in Section 3.14(a)).  The Company is not the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax Return.  There are no Liens for Taxes (other than not yet due or payable) upon any of the assets of the Company.

 

(c)                                  All amounts of Tax required to be withheld by the Company in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third party have been timely withheld and paid over to the appropriate Tax authority and all Forms W-2 and 1099 required with respect thereto have been properly completed and timely filed.

 

(d)                                 No deficiency for any amount of Tax has been asserted, assessed, proposed or threatened by any Governmental Authority against the Company, except for deficiencies which have been satisfied by payment, settled or been withdrawn.  No audit or

 

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other proceeding by any Governmental Authority is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened with respect to any Taxes due from or with respect to the Company.

 

(e)                                  Schedule 3.14(e) lists all federal, state, local, and foreign Tax Returns filed with respect to the Company for taxable periods ended on or after December 31, 2009, indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of audit.  The Company has delivered to Acquiror correct and complete copies of all federal income Tax Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against, or agreed to by Company since December 31, 2009.  The Company has not waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.

 

(f)                                   As of the taxable year ended on December 31, 2012, the Company’s net operating loss carryforwards for U.S. federal income tax purposes are no less than $3 million.  Other than with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, no such net operating loss carryforwards are subject to any limitations under Sections 382 or 384 of the Code.  None of the net operating losses of the Company will expire before August 2029.

 

(g)                                  The Company (i) is not a party to or bound by any Tax indemnification, allocation or sharing agreements (or similar agreements) under which the Company could be liable for the Tax liability of an entity that is not the Company (ii) has not been a member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common parent of which was the Company), and (iii) does not have any liability for the Taxes of any Person under Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by contract, or otherwise.

 

(h)                                 The Company has not distributed stock of another Person, or had its stock distributed by another Person, in a transaction that was purported or intended to be governed in whole or in part by Sections 355 or 361 of the Code.

 

(i)                                     The Company has not entered into a “listed transaction” that has given rise to a disclosure obligation under Section 6011 of the Code and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(j)                                    The Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code during the applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Code.

 

(k)                                 The Company will not be required to include any item of income in, or exclude any item of deduction from, taxable income for any taxable period (or portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as a result of any: (i) change in method of accounting for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date; (ii) ‘‘closing agreement’’ as described in Section 7121 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or foreign income Tax law) executed on or prior to the Closing Date; (iii) intercompany transactions or any excess loss account described in Treasury Regulations under Section 1502 of the Code (or any corresponding or similar provision of state, local, or foreign income Tax law); (iv) installment

 

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sale or open transaction disposition made on or prior to the Closing Date; (v) prepaid amount received on or prior to the Closing Date; or (vi) election under Section 108(i) of the Code.

 

(l)                                     Company is and always has been a domestic corporation taxable under subchapter C of the Code for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

(m)                             No Tax authority in any jurisdiction in which the Company does not file Tax Returns has asserted that the Company is or may be subject to Tax in that jurisdiction.

 

(n)                                 Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or in conjunction with any other event) result in any “parachute payment” as defined in Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code.

 

(o)                                 Each Company Benefit Plan is either exempt from Section 409A of the Code (or any state law equivalent) and the regulations and guidance thereunder (“Section 409A”) or is in material compliance with Section 409A. No amounts paid or payable under any Company Benefit Plan will result in an additional tax under Section 409A.  The Company is not liable for any tax gross-up, reimbursement or indemnification payments for any payments taxable under, or in connection with, Section 409A.

 

3.15                        Brokers’ Fees.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.15, no broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by the Company or any of its Affiliates.

 

3.16                        Insurance.  Schedule 3.16 contains a summary description of all policies of property, fire and casualty, product liability, workers’ compensation and other forms of insurance held by, or for the benefit of, the Company as of the date of this Agreement (the “Insurance Policies”) including any self-insurance or co-insurance programs.  True, correct and complete copies of the Insurance Policies have been made available to Acquiror.  Each Insurance Policy is in full force and effect and there are currently no claims pending against the Company under any Insurance Policy currently in effect and covering the property, Business or Employees of the Company, and all premiums due and payable with respect to the policies maintained by the Company have been paid to date.  As of the date hereof, the Company has not received a written notice that could reasonably be expected to be followed by a written notice of cancellation or non-renewal of any Insurance Policy.  Schedule 3.16 sets forth a true and correct claims history under each Insurance Policy since the Company’s inception.

 

3.17                        Licenses, Permits and Authorizations.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.17, the Company has obtained all of the material licenses, approvals, consents, registrations, privileges and permits (collectively “Permits”)  necessary under applicable Laws to permit the Company to own, operate, use and maintain their assets in the manner in which they are now operated and maintained and to conduct the Business of the Company as currently conducted or proposed to be conducted and all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect.  No Permit is subject to termination as a result of the execution of this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

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3.18                        Title to Assets.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.18, the Company has good and valid title to all assets and other tangible property reflected on the books of the Company as owned by the Company, free and clear of all Liens other than Permitted Liens.  Such assets and tangible property are in reasonable working condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted.

 

3.19                        Real Property.

 

(a)                                 The Company does not have any Owned Real Property.  Schedule 3.19 lists, as of the date of this Agreement, all Leased Real Property

 

(b)                                 The Leased Real Property constitutes all of the real property used or occupied by the Company in connection with the conduct of the Business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted.  The Company has delivered to Acquiror full, complete and accurate copies of each of the Leases, including all memoranda of lease, estoppel certificates, consents, commencement date letters, letters of extensions, subordination, non-disturbance and attornment agreements, documents or correspondence that materially adversely affect or may materially adversely affect the tenancy at any Leased Real Property (including, without limitation, any exercise of any lease options which the Company has knowledge of).

 

(c)                                  The Company holds a valid and existing leasehold interest under such Leases free and clear of any Liens except Permitted Liens.  The Leases constitute all of and the only agreements under which the Company holds leasehold or subleasehold interests in any real property and the Leases shall continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable and in full force and effect immediately following the Closing.

 

(d)                                 The Company has not assigned, transferred, subleased, licensed, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust or encumbered any of its rights and interest in the leasehold or subleasehold under any of the Leases or granted occupancy rights in any parcel or portion of any parcel of Leased Real Property to any other Person.

 

3.20                        Intellectual Property.

 

(a)                                 Schedule 3.20(a) contains a complete and accurate list of all (i) Patents owned by the Company or used or held for use by the Company in the Business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted (“Company Patents”), registered and unregistered Marks owned by the Company or used or held for use by the Company in the Business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted (“Company Marks”) and registered and unregistered Copyrights owned by the Company or used or held for use by the Company in the Business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted (“Company Copyrights”), (ii) product and service offerings currently or previously researched, designed, developed, offered, performed and/or otherwise made commercially available by the Company, or which the Company intends to offer, perform and/or otherwise make commercially available within twenty four (24) months after the date hereof (the “Products”), (iii) licenses, sublicenses or other agreements under which the Company is granted rights by others in Company Intellectual Property Assets (“Licenses In”) (other than for Shrink Wrap Code), and (iv) licenses, sublicenses or other agreements under which the Company has granted rights to

 

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others in Company Intellectual Property Assets (“Licenses Out”).  In the case of any licenses, sublicenses or other agreements disclosed pursuant to the foregoing clauses (iii) or (iv), Schedule 3.20(a) also sets forth whether each such license, sublicense or other agreement is exclusive or non-exclusive.

 

(b)                                 Except as set forth on Schedule 3.20(b):

 

(i)                                          with respect to the Company Intellectual Property Assets (A) purported to be owned by the Company, the Company exclusively owns such Company Intellectual Property Assets and, without payment to a third party, possesses adequate and enforceable rights to such Intellectual Property Assets as necessary for the operation of the Business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted, and (B) licensed to the Company by a third party (other than for Shrink Wrap Code), such Company Intellectual Property Assets are the subject of a written license or other agreement; in the case of the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) above, free and clear of all Liens;

 

(ii)                                       all Company Intellectual Property Assets owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company that have been issued by, or registered with, or the subject of an application filed with, as applicable, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Copyright Office or any similar office or agency anywhere in the world (“Company Registered IP”) are currently in compliance with formal legal requirements (including without limitation, as applicable, payment of filing, examination and maintenance fees, inventor declarations, proofs of working or use, timely post-registration filing of affidavits of use and incontestability, and renewal applications), and all Company Intellectual Property Assets owned by or exclusively licensed to the Company, to the knowledge of the Company, are valid and enforceable;

 

(iii)                                    none of the Company Registered IP is subject to any maintenance fees or taxes or actions falling due within 90 days after the Closing Date;

 

(iv)                                   none of the Company Registered IP is subject to any proceedings or actions before any court or tribunal (including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Copyright Office or equivalent authority anywhere in the world) to which the Company is a party or in which claims are raised relating to the validity, enforceability, scope, ownership or infringement of any of the Company Registered IP (including any interference, reissue, re-examination or opposition proceeding); there is no patent or patent application of any third party that potentially interferes with a Company Patent;

 

(v)                                      there are no pending or threatened claims against the Company or any of its employees alleging that any of the operation of the Business, as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted, or any activity by the Company, or use, offering, provision, research, development, commercialization and/or other exploitation of any Product or the subject matter of any Company Intellectual Property Assets infringes, violates or misappropriates (or in the past infringed, violated or misappropriated) the rights of others in or to any Intellectual Property Assets or the subject matter thereof (collectively, “Third Party IP Assets”) or that any of the Company Intellectual Property Assets is invalid or unenforceable;

 

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(vi)                                   neither the operation of the Business, as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted, nor any activity by the Company, nor use, offering, provision, research, development, commercialization and/or other exploitation of any Product infringes, violates or misappropriates, or in the past infringed, violated or misappropriated, or will infringe or misappropriate when conducted in a similar manner by Acquiror or the Company, any Third Party IP Asset;

 

(vii)                                the Company does not have any obligation to compensate any person for the use of any Intellectual Property Assets; the Company has not entered into any agreement to indemnify any other person against any claim of infringement or misappropriation of any Intellectual Property Assets; there are no settlements, covenants not to sue, consents, judgments, or orders or similar obligations that: (A) restrict the Company’s rights to use any Intellectual Property Asset(s), (B) restrict the Company’s Business, as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted, in order to accommodate a third party’s Intellectual Property Assets, or (C) permit third parties to use any Company Intellectual Property Asset(s);

 

(viii)                             all former and current employees, consultants and contractors of the Company have executed valid and enforceable written instruments with the Company that assign to the Company all rights, title and interest in and to any and all (A) inventions, improvements, ideas, discoveries, writings, other works of authorship and other technology, intellectual property and information relating to the Business of the Company or any of the Products (including any of the same that may be used with any Products) and (B) Intellectual Property Assets relating thereto; in each case where any Company Registered IP is held by Company by assignment, the assignment has been duly recorded with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, U.S. Copyright Office and all similar offices and agencies anywhere in the world in which foreign counterparts are registered or issued;

 

(ix)                                   to the knowledge of the Company, there is no, nor has there been any, infringement, violation or misappropriation by any person or entity of any of the Company Intellectual Property Assets or the Company’s rights therein or thereto or the subject matter thereof;

 

(x)                                      the Company has taken all necessary security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all Trade Secrets owned by the Company or used or held for use by the Company in the Business as currently conducted and proposed to be conducted (the “Company Trade Secrets”), including, without limitation, requiring each Company employee and consultant and any other person with access to Company Trade Secrets to execute a binding confidentiality agreement, copies or forms of which have been provided to Acquiror, and there has not been any breach by any party to such confidentiality agreements;

 

(xi)                                   (A) the Company has not granted, directly or indirectly, any current or contingent rights, licenses or interests in or to any source code relating to any of the Products, and (B) the Company has not provided or disclosed any source code

 

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relating to any Product or any algorithms used or held for use by the Company to any person or entity;

 

(xii)                                each Product performs in accordance with any applicable documented specifications or descriptions;

 

(xiii)                             the Products (and software used to provide the Products) do not contain any “viruses”, “worms”, “time-bombs”, “key-locks”, or any other devices created that could disrupt or interfere with the operation of the Products or equipment upon which the Products are provided, or the integrity of the data, information or other content the Product produce;

 

(xiv)                            (A) none of the software incorporated in or used to provide or distribute the Products contain, incorporate, link or call to or otherwise use Free or Open Source Software, and (B) such software and any other software used by the Company do not incorporate, link, call or otherwise use (and in the past have not incorporated, linked, called or otherwise used) any Free or Open Source Software in a manner that (1) obligates (or obligated) the Company to disclose, make available, license, offer or deliver any portion of the source code related to the Products or the subject matter of any other Company Intellectual Property Assets to any third party other than the applicable Free or Open Source Software, or (2) imposes (or imposed) any restriction on the consideration to be charged for the distribution of any software related to the Products or the subject matter of any other Company Intellectual Property Assets;

 

(xv)                               the Company has not collected or used any personally identifiable information (“Personal Data”) from any third parties, other than as described on Schedule 3.20(b)(xv); in connection with the collection and/or use of  Personal Data, the Company has complied with (A) all applicable statutes and regulations in all relevant jurisdictions, its publicly available privacy policy, and any third party privacy policies which the Company has been contractually obligated to comply with, in each case relating to the collection, storage, use and onward transfer of all Personal Data collected by the Company or by third parties having authorized access to the Company’s databases or other records (the “Privacy Requirements”) and (B) all applicable statutes and regulations concerning marketing, including, without limitation, those statutes and regulations concerning the transmission of commercial emails, text messages and other marketing materials and offers; there is no restriction under any of the Privacy Requirements that would limit the use of Personal Data by Acquiror or the Company and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement complies with all Privacy Requirements; the Company (1) has security measures in place to protect all Personal Data under its control and/or in its possession and to protect such Personal Data from unauthorized access by any parties and (2) the Company’s hardware, software, encryption, systems, policies and procedures are sufficient to protect the privacy, security and confidentiality of all Personal Data in accordance with the Privacy Requirements; the Company has not suffered any breach in security that has permitted any unauthorized access to the Personal Data under the Company’s control or possession; the Company has required and does require all third parties to which it provides Personal Data and/or access thereto to maintain the privacy and security of such Personal Data, including by contractually

 

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obliging such third parties to protect such Personal Data from unauthorized access by and/or disclosure to any unauthorized third parties;

 

(xvi)                            the computer, information technology and data processing systems, facilities and services used by the Company, including all software, hardware, networks, communications facilities, platforms and related systems and services in the custody or control of the Company (collectively, “Systems”), are reasonably sufficient for the existing and currently anticipated future needs of the Company, including as to capacity, scalability and ability to process current and anticipated peak volumes in a timely manner; the Systems are in good working condition to effectively perform all computing, information technology and data processing operations necessary for the operation of the Company; all Systems (to the extent dedicated to the Company), other than software that is duly and validly licensed to the Company pursuant to a valid and enforceable Contract, are owned and operated by, and or are under the control of, the Company;

 

(xvii)                         the Company is not currently participating in and has not participated in the past in any standards-setting organizations, industry bodies or consortia, or other multi-party special interest groups or activities (each, a “Standards Body”); no Standards Body has imposed or purported to impose, or will impose or purport to impose, any obligations on the Company or any of its affiliates (or, following the Closing, on Acquiror, the Company, or any other affiliate) with respect to licensing or granting of rights in any Company Intellectual Property Assets;

 

(xviii)                      the Company maintains a bug tracking database that contains records of known bugs maintained by its development or quality control groups with respect to the software related to the Products, and such database is current and complete with respect to known bugs;

 

(xix)                            no government funding, facilities or resources of a university, college, other educational institution, multi-national, bi-national or international organization or research center was used in the development of any of the subject matter of the Company Intellectual Property Assets; and

 

(xx)                               to the knowledge of the Company, following the Closing, the Company will have the same rights and privileges in the Company Intellectual Property Assets and Personal Data as the Company had in the Company Intellectual Property Assets and Personal Data immediately prior to the Closing.

 

3.21                        Environmental Matters.  To the knowledge of the Company, as of the date of this Agreement, the Company is in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Laws.  The Company holds all licenses, approvals, consents, registrations and permits required under applicable Environmental Laws (“Environmental Permits”) to authorize the Company to operate its assets in a manner in which they are now operated and maintained and to conduct the Business of the Company as currently conducted and are in compliance in all material respects with all Environmental Permits required for the conduct of their respective operations.  There are no material lawsuits, actions, suits, written claims, notices of violation or other proceedings at law or in equity or, to the knowledge of the Company, investigations

 

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before or by any Governmental Authority pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, issued to or threatened, against the Company alleging violations of or liability under any Environmental Law (“Environmental Claims”).  The Company has not Released (as defined below) any Hazardous Material on, in, from, under or at any property currently or formerly operated or leased by the Company in an amount, manner or concentration that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company.  To the knowledge of the Company, no Hazardous Material is present or has come to be located at any property currently operated or leased by the Company in an amount, manner or concentration that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company.  The Company has provided or made available to Acquiror all material documents, records and information in the possession or control of the Company concerning any environmental or health and safety matter relevant to the Company or to any property currently or formerly operated or leased by the Company, including without limitation, environmental audits, environmental risk assessments, site assessments, documentation regarding waste disposal, and reports, correspondence, and Environmental Permits issued by any Governmental Authority.  For purposes of this Section 3.21, “Release” or “Released” means any releasing, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing to, into or through the environment.

 

3.22                        Absence of Changes.

 

(a)                           Except as set forth on Schedule 3.22, from the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements to the date of this Agreement, there has not been any Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

(b)                           Except as set forth on Schedule 3.22, from the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial Statements through the date of this Agreement, the Company (i) has, in all material respects, conducted their Business and operated its properties in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (ii) has not engaged in any of the activities prohibited by Section 5.1 of this Agreement

 

3.23                        Affiliate Transactions.  Except for employment relationships and compensation, benefits and travel advances or as disclosed on Schedule 3.23, the Company is not a party to any agreement with, or involving the making of any payment or transfer of assets to, any officer, director, employee or consultant of the Company, the Holder Representative, or any officer or director of any Holder Representative or any Affiliate of any of the foregoing.

 

3.24                        Accounts Payable; Accounts Receivable.

 

(a)                           All accounts payable of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.24(a) arose in bona fide arm’s length transactions in the ordinary course of business and no account payable in excess of $5,000 is delinquent in its payment.  Since its inception, the Company has paid its accounts payable in the ordinary course of business and in a manner which is consistent with its past practices.

 

(b)                           All of the accounts receivable of the Company as set forth on Schedule 3.24(b) are valid and enforceable claims, are not subject to any set-off or counterclaim.  Since

 

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its inception, the Company has collected its accounts receivable in the ordinary course of business and in a manner which is consistent with past practices and has not accelerated any such collections.

 

3.25                        Illegal Payments.  Except as set forth on Schedule 3.25, neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any Person affiliated with the Company, has ever offered, made or received on behalf of the Company any  payment or contribution of any kind, directly or indirectly, to any person, entity, or United States or foreign national, state or local government officials, Employees or agents or candidates therefor or other persons including, without limitation, any (i) payments, gifts or gratuities, (ii) bribes, kickbacks or other similar payments, whether lawful or unlawful, (iii) unlawful contributions to a domestic or foreign political party or candidate or (iv) unlawful foreign payment (as defined in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 78dd-1 et seq.).  The internal accounting controls of the Company are adequate to provide reasonable assurance that instances of any of the foregoing are detected in a timely manner.

 

3.26                        Disclosure.  This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they were made.  No representation or warranty by the Company contained in this Agreement, and no statement contained in any Schedule (including any supplement or amendment thereto) relating to such representations or warranties, and the other documents to be delivered at the Closing by or on behalf of the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, contains or will contain any untrue statement of material fact or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements and information contained therein true.  The Company has made available to Acquiror true, correct and complete copies of all documents described on any Schedule hereto.

 

3.27                        Customers and Suppliers.

 

(a)                                 Schedule 3.27(a) sets forth the name of each customer and distributor of the Company who accounted for more than five percent (5%) of the revenues of the Company for each of the two most recent fiscal years (the “Customers” and “Distributors”, respectively) together with the names of any persons or entities with which the Company has a material strategic partnership or similar relationship (“Partners”).  No Customer, Distributor or Partner of the Company has canceled or otherwise terminated its relationship with the Company or has materially decreased its usage or purchase of the services or products of the Company.  No Customer, Distributor or Partner has, to the knowledge of the Company, any plan or intention to terminate, cancel or otherwise materially and adversely modify its relationship with the Company or to decrease materially or limit its usage, purchase or distribution of the services or products of the Company.

 

(b)                                 Schedule 3.27(b) lists the name and address of each vendor, supplier, service provider and other similar business relation of the Company (collectively, “Suppliers”) from whom the Company purchased greater than $25,000 in goods and/or services over the course of the 12 months ending December 31, 2012, the amounts owing to each such Person, and whether such amounts are past due.  The Company has not received any indication from any such Person to the effect that, and the Company has no reason to believe that, any Supplier will

 

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stop, materially decrease the rate of, or materially change the terms (whether related to payment, price or otherwise) with respect to, supplying materials, products or services to the Company (whether as a result of the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or otherwise).

 

ARTICLE IV.
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLERS

 

Each Seller hereby represents and warrants to Acquiror as of the date of this Agreement as follows:

 

4.1                               Ownership of Purchased Shares.

 

Such Seller is the owner, beneficially and of record of, and have good and valid title to and unrestricted power to vote and sell, free and clear of any Lien all of the Purchased Shares set forth opposite its, his or her name on Annex A.  At Closing, such Seller will transfer good and valid title and interest to the Purchased Shares to Acquiror free and clear of any Lien.  Such Purchased Shares represent the only ownership or other interests such Sellers have in the Company.

 

4.2                               Due Authorization.

 

Such Seller has full power, authority and legal capacity to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform its obligations hereunder.  This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by such Seller and constitute the valid and binding agreements of such Seller, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity.

 

4.3                               Non-Contravention.

 

The execution, delivery and performance by the Seller of this Agreement and all agreements, documents and instruments executed and delivered by it pursuant hereto and the performance of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and such other agreements, documents and instruments do not and will not:  (i) violate or result in a violation of, conflict with or constitute or result in a default (whether after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under, accelerate any obligation under, or give rise to a right of termination of, any contract, agreement, obligation, permit, license or authorization to which the Seller is a party or by which any of its assets are bound, (ii) if the Seller is an entity, violate or result in a violation of, conflict with or constitute or result in a default (whether after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under, or accelerate any obligation under, any provision of the Seller’s organizational documents; (iii) violate or result in a violation of, or constitute a default (whether after the giving of notice, lapse of time or both) under, any provision of any law, regulation or rule, or any order of, or any restriction imposed by, any court or governmental agency applicable to the Seller; or (iv) require from the Seller any notice to, declaration or filing with, or consent or approval of, any governmental authority or other third party.

 

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4.4                               Litigation.

 

There are no actions, suits, proceedings or orders pending or, to such Seller’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting such Seller, at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, municipal or other governmental department, commission, board, bureau, agency or instrumentality, domestic or foreign, which would adversely affect such Seller’s performance under this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and to such Seller’s knowledge, there is no basis known for any of the foregoing.

 

4.5                               Governmental Authorities and Consents.

 

Such Seller is not required to submit any notice, report or other filing with any Governmental Authority in connection with the execution or delivery by it of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.  No consent, approval or authorization of any governmental or regulatory authority is required to be obtained by such Seller in connection with its execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

4.6                               Brokers’ Fees.

 

No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by such Seller or any of their Affiliates.

 

ARTICLE V.
 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF ACQUIROR

 

Acquiror hereby represents and warrants to the Company and the Sellers as of the date of this Agreement as follows:

 

5.1                               Corporate Organization.  Acquiror has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted.  Acquiror is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, except where failure to be so licensed or qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Acquiror to enter into this Agreement or consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5.2                               Due Authorization.  Acquiror has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform all obligations to be performed by it hereunder.  The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized and approved by the Board of Directors of Acquiror, and no other corporate proceeding on the part of Acquiror is necessary to authorize this Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Acquiror and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of Acquiror, enforceable against Acquiror in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable

 

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bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity.

 

5.3                               No Conflict.  Except as set forth on Schedule 5.3, the execution and delivery of this Agreement by Acquiror and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not violate any provision of, or result in the breach of any applicable Law, the Articles of Organization, Bylaws or other organizational documents of Acquiror, or result in a material breach of any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which Acquiror is a party or by which Acquiror may be bound, or terminate or result in the termination of any such agreement, indenture or instrument, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of Acquiror or constitute an event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result in any such violation, breach, termination or creation of a Lien, except to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Acquiror to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

5.4                               Litigation and Proceedings.  There are no lawsuits, actions, suits, claims or other proceedings at law or in equity, or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, investigations, pending before or by any Governmental Authority or, to the knowledge of Acquiror, threatened, against Acquiror which, if determined adversely, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Acquiror to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.  There is no unsatisfied judgment or any open injunction binding upon Acquiror which could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of Acquiror to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement.

 

5.5                               Governmental Authorities; Consents.  Assuming the truth and completeness of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers contained in this Agreement, no consent, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, any Governmental Authority or other Person is required on the part of Acquiror with respect to Acquiror’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

5.6                               Brokers’ Fees.  No broker, finder, investment banker or other Person is entitled to any brokerage fee, finders’ fee or other commission in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by Acquiror or any of its Affiliates.

 

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ARTICLE VI.
 COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLERS

 

6.1                               Conduct of Business.  From the date of this Agreement through the Closing, the Company shall, except as contemplated by this Agreement or as consented to by Acquiror in writing, operate its business in the ordinary course and substantially in accordance with past practice.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on Schedule 6.1 or as consented to by Acquiror in writing, the Company shall not, except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement:

 

(a)                                 change or amend the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents of the Company, except as otherwise required by Law;

 

(b)                                 make or declare any dividend or distribution to the stockholders of the Company;

 

(c)                                  materially and adversely modify or terminate any Contract of a type required to be listed on Schedule 3.11(a), except in the ordinary course of business substantially in accordance with past practice, or enter into any other material transaction or materially change any business practice of the Company;

 

(d)                                 except in the ordinary course of business and in a manner substantially consistent with its past practices, (i) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of any material assets or properties, or (ii)  create any Lien (other than a Permitted Lien) on any material asset or property or any Intellectual Property Assets;

 

(e)                                  (i) take any action with respect to the grant of any material severance or material termination pay (other than pursuant to policies or agreements of the Company in effect on the date of this Agreement) which will become due and payable after the Closing Date; (ii) make any material change in the key management structure of the Company, including the hiring of additional officers or other key employees or the termination of existing officers or other key employees, other than in the ordinary course of business; (iii) adopt, enter into or materially amend any Company Benefit Plan or any individual employment, consulting, retention, change in control bonus or severance agreement or (iv) except pursuant to any written agreement in existence on the date hereof between the Company and such Person, increase in any material manner the rate or terms of compensation or benefits of any of its directors or senior officers, pay or agree to pay any pension, retirement allowance or other employee benefit not contemplated by any Company Benefit Plan to any director, officer or employee, whether past or present;

 

(f)                                   acquire by merger or consolidation with, or merge or consolidate with, or purchase substantially all of the assets of, any corporation, partnership, association, joint venture or other business organization or division thereof, in a single transaction or a series of related transactions;

 

(g)                                  make any loans, advances or capital contributions to any Person, except for advances to Employees or officers of the Company for expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business in accordance with past practice;

 

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(h)                                 make or change any election, change an annual accounting period, adopt or change any accounting method, file any amended Tax Return, enter into any closing agreement, settle any Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company, surrender any right to claim a refund of Taxes, consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period applicable to any Tax claim or assessment relating to the Company, or take any other similar action relating to the filing of any Tax Return or the payment of any Tax, if such election, adoption, change, amendment, agreement, settlement, surrender, consent or other action could have the effect of increasing the Tax liability of the Company for any period ending after the Closing Date or decreasing any Tax attribute of the Company existing on the Closing Date;

 

(i)                                     fail to timely pay any estimated Taxes;

 

(j)                                    issue, sell or pledge, or authorize or propose the issuance, sale or pledge of (i) additional shares of capital stock of any class of the Company, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares, or any rights, warrants or options to acquire any such shares or other convertible securities of the Company other than shares of capital stock issued pursuant to outstanding stock options exercised in the ordinary course of business substantially in accordance with past practice or (ii) any other securities in respect of, in lieu of, or in substitution for shares of capital stock of the Company outstanding on the date hereof;

 

(k)                                 redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company;

 

(l)                                     incur any Indebtedness (other than ordinary course borrowings in the ordinary course of business substantially in accordance with past practice under credit facilities existing on the date hereof and other than performance bonds or letters of credit entered into in the ordinary course of business substantially in accordance with past practice);

 

(m)                             waive, cancel, compromise or release any rights or claims of material value, whether or not in the ordinary course of business;

 

(n)                                 (i) make any capital expenditures that aggregate in excess of $10,000 or (ii) fail to repair any of the tangible assets of the Company that is necessary or advisable to maintain such assets in good working order;

 

(o)                                 institute or settle any claim or lawsuit for an amount;

 

(p)                                 except in the ordinary course of business and in a manner substantially consistent with its past practices, accelerate, postpone or otherwise alter the timing of payment of any account receivable to or any account payable from the Company; or

 

(q)                                 enter into any agreement, or otherwise become obligated, to do any action prohibited under this Section 6.1.

 

6.2                               Inspection.  Subject to confidentiality obligations and similar restrictions that may be applicable to information furnished to the Company by third parties that may be in the Company’s possession from time to time, and except for any information that is subject to

 

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attorney-client privilege or other privilege from disclosure, the Company shall afford to Acquiror and its accountants, counsel and other representatives reasonable access, during normal business hours, in such manner as to not interfere with normal operation of the Company, to all of its properties, books, contracts, commitments, tax returns, records and appropriate officers and Employees of the Company, and shall furnish such representatives with all financial and operating data and other information concerning the affairs of the Company as such representatives may reasonably request.

 

6.3                               Notice of Certain Events.  Until the Closing, the Holder Representative and the Company shall promptly notify Acquiror in writing of any matter hereafter arising or discovered that, if existing or known at the date of this Agreement, (i) would have been required to be set forth or described in any Schedule to this Agreement in order to make the representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers true and correct, (ii) that constitutes a breach or prospective breach of this Agreement by the Company or the Sellers or (iii) had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.  No notice pursuant to this Section 6.3 shall affect any representation or warranty given by the Company or the Sellers hereunder or any of Acquiror’s rights hereunder, including under Articles IX and XII.

 

6.4                               Code § 280G Vote.  On or prior to the date hereof, the Company has delivered to Acquiror effective waivers from each recipient of Section 280G Payments, which waivers shall cause such Section 280G Payment to not be paid unless stockholder approval is obtained pursuant to the 280G Stockholder Approval Procedures. The Company has submitted to its stockholders for approval, in a manner intended to comply with the stockholder approval procedures set forth in Code § 280G(b)(5)(3) and the regulations thereunder (the “280G Stockholder Approval Procedures”) any payments and/or benefits that may separately or in the aggregate, constitute “excess parachute payments,” within the meaning of § 280G(b)(1) of the Code (“Section 280G Payments”) and has delivered to Acquiror certification that such stockholder vote was solicited in conformance with Section 280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder (subject to the proviso in the immediately preceding sentence) and indicated whether the requisite stockholder approval was obtained with respect to any Section 280G Payments that were subject to the stockholder vote.

 

6.5                               Stockholder Approval.  The Company has obtained the written consent of the holders of all of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote on this Agreement (the “Stockholder Written Consent”).

 

6.6                               Exclusivity.  Until the earlier of the Closing and such time as this Agreement is terminated in accordance with Article X, except for the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Company, the Sellers and the Holder Representative will not, and will cause each of their respective Affiliates and representatives not to, directly or indirectly, solicit, encourage, enter into or continue any negotiation, discussion, contract, agreement, instrument, arrangement or understanding with any party, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the sale or transfer of voting control of the Company, the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company, or any merger, recapitalization or similar transaction with respect to the Company or its Businesses (and “Acquisition Transaction”).  The Company shall, the Sellers shall, and the Holder Representative shall, and each of the foregoing shall cause

 

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their respective Affiliates, directors, officers, counsel, advisors, agents or other representatives to, immediately cease and cause to be terminated any existing discussions or negotiations with any Persons (other than Acquiror) conducted heretofore with respect to any Acquisition Transaction.  The Company , the Sellers and the Holder Representative, and each of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, counsel, advisors, agents or other representatives, do not have any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to any Acquisition Transaction (except for this Agreement).  The parties hereto recognize and agree that immediate irreparable damages for which there is not adequate remedy at law would occur in the event that the provisions of this Section 6.6 are not performed in accordance with the specific terms hereof or are otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that in the event of a failure by a party to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the non-breaching party shall be entitled to specific performance through injunctive relief, without the necessity of posting a bond, to prevent breaches of the provisions and to enforce specifically the provisions of this Section 6.6 in addition to any other remedy to which such party may be entitled, at law or in equity.

 

ARTICLE VII.
 COVENANTS OF ACQUIROR

 

7.1                               Indemnification and Insurance.

 

(a)                                 From and after the Closing, Acquiror agrees that it shall cause the Company to continue to indemnify and hold harmless each person who was a director or officer of the Company immediately prior to the Closing against any costs or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, losses, claims, damages or liabilities incurred in connection with any claim, action, suit, proceeding or investigation, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, arising out of or pertaining to matters existing or occurring at or prior to the Closing, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Closing, to the fullest extent that the Company would have been permitted under applicable Law and its respective Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws or other organizational documents in effect on the date of this Agreement to indemnify such person (including the advancing of expenses as incurred to the fullest extent permitted under applicable Law); provided, that the person to whom such expenses are advanced provides an undertaking to the Company to repay such advances if it is ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to indemnification.

 

(b)                                 For a period of six (6) years from the Closing Date, Acquiror shall cause the Company to maintain in effect directors’ and officers’ liability insurance covering those Persons who are currently covered by the Company’s directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies (true, correct and complete copies of which have been heretofore delivered to Acquiror) on terms not materially less favorable than the terms of such current insurance.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall require Acquiror or any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates to make expenditures in excess of $50,000in the aggregate for premiums for the maintenance of any directors’ and officers’ liability insurance coverage with respect to pre-Closing periods.

 

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ARTICLE VIII.
 JOINT COVENANTS

 

8.1                               Support of Transaction; Consents.  Acquiror, the Company and the Sellers shall each: (a) use reasonable best efforts to assemble, prepare and file any information (and, as needed, to supplement such information) as may be reasonably necessary to obtain as promptly as practicable all governmental and regulatory consents and notices required to be obtained or delivered in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) use reasonable best efforts to obtain all consents or approvals of, and to provide all notices to, all third parties that any of Acquiror, the Company, the Sellers or their respective Affiliates are required to obtain or provide in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and (c) take such other action as may be necessary or as another party may reasonably request to satisfy the conditions of Article IX or otherwise to comply with this Agreement and to consummate the transaction contemplated hereby as soon as practicable (and in any event on or before the date specified for the Closing pursuant to Section 2.3); provided, however, that this Section 8.1 shall not require any party to waive any condition set forth in Article IX.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall any party to this Agreement be obligated to bear any material expense or pay any material fee or grant any material concession in connection with providing any notice or obtaining any consents, authorizations or approvals required in order to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby pursuant to the terms of any Contract to which such Person is a party.

 

8.2                               Termination of Affiliate Obligations.  On or before the Closing Date, except for liabilities relating to employment relationships and the payment of compensation and benefits in the ordinary course of business, all liabilities and obligations between the Company, on the one hand, and one or more of the Sellers, the Holder Representative or any Affiliate thereof, on the other hand, including any and all contracts, agreements and instruments (other than this Agreement and any ancillary agreement contemplated herein) between the Company, on the one hand, and one or more of the Sellers, the Holder Representative or any Affiliate thereof, on the other hand, shall be terminated in full, without any liability for the Company following the Closing.

 

ARTICLE IX.
 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATIONS

 

9.1                               Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror, the Company and the Sellers.  The obligations of Acquiror, the Company and the Sellers to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction of the following conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by all of such parties:

 

(a)                                 Any affirmative approval of a Governmental Authority required under any similar foreign law shall have been obtained.

 

(b)                                 No Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over any party hereto shall have issued any Governmental Order or other action that is in effect (whether temporary,

 

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preliminary or permanent) restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and no Law shall have been adopted that makes consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise prohibited.

 

(c)                                  This Agreement shall have been adopted and approved by the respective boards of directors of Acquiror and Company and the Stockholder Written Consent has been obtained in accordance with the DGCL and the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.

 

9.2                               Conditions to Obligations of Acquiror.  The obligations of Acquiror to consummate, or cause to be consummated, the transactions contemplated hereby are subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by Acquiror:

 

(a)                                 Representations and Warranties.  Other than changes after the date of this Agreement which are contemplated or expressly permitted by this Agreement, each of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Sellers contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as if made anew at and as of that time, except that (i) any representations and warranties which speak as to another date shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date, and (ii) any representations and warranties that are qualified with respect to materiality or a Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects.

 

(b)                                 Performance of Obligations of the Company.  The covenants of the Company and the Sellers to be performed or complied with as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

 

(c)                                  Officer’s Certificate.  The Company shall have delivered to Acquiror a certificate signed by an officer of the Company, in his or her capacity as an officer of the Company and not as an individual, dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 9.2(a) and Section 9.2(b) have been fulfilled.

 

(d)                                 Secretary’s Certificate.  The Company shall have delivered a certificate of the Secretary of the Company, in his or her capacity as such, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying as to (i) the incumbency of officers of the Company executing documents executed and delivered in connection herewith, (ii) the copies of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as in effect from the date of this Agreement until the Closing Date, (iii) a copy of the votes of the Company’s board of directors authorizing and approving the applicable matters contemplated hereunder, (iv) a copy of Stockholder Written Consent, (v) certification that a stockholder vote was solicited with regard to the Section 280G Payments in conformance with Section 280G of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (vi) a copy of the resignation of the board of directors and officers of the Company as of Closing.

 

(e)                                  Termination of Certain Agreements.  The Company shall have received and delivered to Acquiror written evidence of the termination of the agreements set forth on Schedule 9.2(e).

 

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(f)                                   Payoff Letters.  Acquiror shall have received payoff letters in the customary form of the issuing financial institution or other Person with respect to the payment of the Funded Debt and the release of any Lien related thereto.

 

(g)                                  Company Material Adverse Effect.  Since the date of the Agreement, there shall not have occurred a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.

 

(h)                                 Consents.  All consents, waivers and approvals from any third parties set forth on Schedule 9.2(h) shall have been made or obtained and evidence thereof shall have been delivered by the Company to Acquiror.

 

(i)                                     Stockholder Written Consent.  The Company shall have obtained the Stockholder Written Consent.

 

(j)                                    Releases.  As of immediately before the Closing, each Seller will have executed a release agreement in the form provided by Acquiror.  In the interest of clarity, such Sellers’ receipt of their portion of the Purchase Price shall be contingent on their execution of such release agreement.

 

(k)                                 Management Pool Waiver and Release.  As of immediately before the Closing, each member of the Management Pool will have executed a waiver and release in the form provided by Acquiror.  In the interest of clarity, such members’ receipt of their portion of the Purchase Price shall be contingent on their execution of such waiver and release.

 

(l)                                     Employment and Consulting Agreements.  As of immediately before the Closing, Steven K. Wilson shall have executed an employment agreement with the Company.  Each individual listed on Schedule 9.2(l) who is offered continued employment with the Company with Acquiror approval will not have taken any action or expressed any intent to terminate or modify such employment relationship, and will have in place all certifications, clearances and authorizations required to perform the duties of the specified position. Each individual listed on Schedule 9.2(l) who is offered consulting services with Acquiror or continued consulting services with the Company with Acquiror’s approval will have executed a consulting agreement in the form provided by Acquiror, will not have taken any action or expressed any intent to terminate or modify such acceptance, and will have in place all certifications, clearances and authorizations required to perform the duties of the specified position.

 

(m)                             Proprietary Information and Inventions Assignment.  As of immediately before the Closing, Steven K. Wilson and each individual listed on Schedule 9.2(m) will have executed a proprietary  information and inventions assignment in the form provided by Acquiror.  In addition, as of immediately before the Closing, Michael P. Ashley will have executed a confirmatory proprietary information and inventions assignment in the form provided by Acquiror.

 

(n)                                 Noncompetition Agreement.  As of immediately before the Closing, each individual listed on Schedule 9.2(n), which shall list each holder of 3% or more in interest of the capital stock of the Company and each holder who is an employee or consultant

 

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of the Company, will have executed a Noncompetition and Nonsolicitation Agreement substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A.

 

(o)                                 FIRPTA Certificate.  The Company will have delivered to Acquiror, in a form reasonably satisfactory to Acquiror, a duly authorized and executed certificate stating that no interest in the Company is a United States real property interest within the meaning of Section 897 of the Code which certificate (and delivery thereof) will comply in all respects with the requirements set forth in Treasury Regulations Sections 1.1445-2(c)(3) and 1.897-2(h).

 

(p)                                 No Litigation.  No Proceeding shall be pending or threatened before (or that could come before) any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before (or that could come before) any arbitrator wherein an unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (i) prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or  (ii) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation.

 

(q)                                 Completion of Due Diligence.  Acquiror shall have completed, to its satisfaction, its due diligence investigation of the Company.

 

(r)                                    Schedule of Payment.  The Company will have delivered to Acquiror a schedule of payments setting forth the details of the payments to be made at the Closing, including but not limited to, the amount of the payments to be made to each Seller and other Persons and the payment method.  Such schedule of payments shall include the details of the payments to be made through any payroll processer, if applicable, including the amounts of employee withholding taxes and employer paid payroll taxes.

 

9.3                               Conditions to the Obligations of the Company and the Sellers.  The obligation of the Company and the Sellers to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction of the following additional conditions, any one or more of which may be waived in writing by the Company:

 

(a)                                 Representations and Warranties.  Other than changes after the date of this Agreement which are contemplated or expressly permitted by this Agreement, each of the representations and warranties of Acquiror contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing Date, as if made anew at and as of that time, except that (i) any representations and warranties which speak as to another date shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of such date, and (ii) any representations and warranties that are qualified with respect to materiality or a Material Adverse Effect shall be true and correct in all respects.

 

(b)                                 Performance of Obligations of Acquiror.  The covenants of Acquiror to be performed or complied with as of or prior to the Closing shall have been performed or complied with in all material respects.

 

(c)                                  Officer’s Certificate.  Acquiror shall have delivered to the Company a certificate signed by an officer of Acquiror, in his or her capacity as an officer of Acquiror and

 

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not as an individual, dated the Closing Date, certifying that the conditions specified in Section 9.3(a) and Section 9.3(b) have been fulfilled.

 

ARTICLE X.
 TERMINATION/EFFECTIVENESS

 

10.1                        Termination.  This Agreement may be terminated and the transactions contemplated hereby abandoned:

 

(a)                                 by written consent of the Company, the Sellers representing a majority in interest of the Purchased Shares and Acquiror;

 

(b)                                 prior to the Closing, by written notice to the Company and the Sellers from Acquiror if (i) there is any material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of the Company or the Sellers set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 9.2(a) or Section 9.2(b) would not be satisfied (a “Terminating Company Breach”), except that, if such Terminating Company Breach is curable by the Company or the Sellers through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to ten (10) days after receipt by the Company or the Sellers of notice from Acquiror of such breach, but only as long as the Company or the Sellers continues to use their reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Company Breach (the “Company Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Company Breach is not cured within the Company Cure Period or (ii) the Closing has not occurred on or before May 30, 2013 (the “Termination Date”);

 

(c)                                  prior to the Closing, by written notice to Acquiror from the Company and the Sellers if there is any material breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Acquiror set forth in this Agreement, such that the conditions specified in Section 9.3(a) or Section 9.3(b) would not be satisfied (a “Terminating Acquiror Breach”), except that, if any such Terminating Acquiror Breach is curable by Acquiror through the exercise of its reasonable best efforts, then, for a period of up to ten (10) days after receipt by Acquiror of notice from the Company and the Sellers of such breach, but only as long as Acquiror continues to exercise such reasonable best efforts to cure such Terminating Acquiror Breach (the “Acquiror Cure Period”), such termination shall not be effective, and such termination shall become effective only if the Terminating Acquiror Breach is not cured within the Acquiror Cure Period; or

 

(d)                                 by written notice of Acquiror or the Company and the Sellers to the other party if any Governmental Authority of competent jurisdiction shall have issued a Governmental Order or taken any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby and such Governmental Order or other action shall have become final and nonappealable, or if there shall be adopted any applicable Law that makes consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby illegal or otherwise prohibited.

 

10.2                        Effect of Termination.  In the event of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 10.1, this Agreement shall forthwith become void and have no effect, without any

 

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liability on the part of any party hereto or its respective Affiliates, officers, directors or stockholders; provided, however, that, in the event this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, the parties hereto acknowledge that it is the intention of the parties hereto that no party shall have any remedy or right to recover for any Losses resulting from any breach of any representation, warranty or covenant contained herein unless such breach was intentional and willful on the part of the breaching party.  The provisions of Sections 10.2, 13.4, 13.5, 13.6, 13.10, 13.12, 13.14, 13.15, 13.16 and 13.17, and the Confidentiality Agreement, shall survive any termination of this Agreement.

 

ARTICLE XI.
 HOLDER REPRESENTATIVE

 

11.1                        Designation and Replacement of Holder Representative.  The parties have agreed that it is desirable to designate a representative to act on behalf of the Sellers and members of the Management Pool for certain limited purposes, as specified herein (the “Holder Representative”).  The parties have designated Steven K. Wilson as the initial Holder Representative.  The Holder Representative may resign at any time, and the Holder Representative may be removed by the vote of Persons which collectively owned more than fifty percent (50%) of the Aggregate Fully-Diluted Common Shares immediately prior to the Closing (the “Majority Holders”).  In the event that a Holder Representative has resigned or been removed, a new Holder Representative shall be appointed by a vote of the Majority Holders, such appointment to become effective upon the written acceptance thereof by the new Holder Representative.

 

11.2                        Authority and Rights of the Holder Representative; Limitations on Liability.  The Holder Representative shall have such powers and authority as are necessary to carry out the functions assigned to it under this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement; provided, however, that the Holder Representative shall have no obligation to act on behalf of the Sellers or the members of the Management Pool except as expressly provided herein.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Holder Representative shall have full power, authority and discretion to, after the Closing, (i) negotiate and enter into amendments to this Agreement for and on behalf of the Sellers or the members of the Management Pool, (ii) give and receive notices and other communications relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, (iii) take or refrain from taking any actions (whether by negotiation, settlement, litigation or otherwise) to resolve or settle all matters and disputes arising out of or related to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, including any disputes related to the achievement of Earnout Consideration triggering events and the payout of Earnout Consideration in accordance with Sections 2.5 and/or 2.6, and (iv) take all actions necessary or appropriate in the judgment of the Holder Representative for the accomplishment of the foregoing.  The Holder Representative shall have no liability to Acquiror, the Company, any Seller or any member of the Management Pool with respect to actions taken or omitted to be taken in its capacity as the Holder Representative.  The Holder Representative shall at all times be entitled to rely on any directions received from the Majority Holders.  The Holder Representative shall be entitled to engage such counsel, experts and other agents and consultants as it shall deem necessary in connection with exercising its powers and performing its function hereunder and (in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Holder Representative) shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the opinions and advice of such Persons.  The Holder Representative shall be entitled to

 

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reimbursement from funds released from the Sellers and members of the Management Pool for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances (including fees and disbursements of its counsel, experts and other agents and consultants) incurred by the Holder Representative in such capacity, and shall be entitled to indemnification against any loss, liability or expenses arising out of actions taken or omitted to be taken in its capacity as the Holder Representative (except for those arising out of the Holder Representative’s gross negligence or willful misconduct), including the costs and expenses of investigation and defense of claims.

 

ARTICLE XII.
 INDEMNIFICATION

 

12.1                        Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants.  Each representation warranty, covenant and obligation contained herein and any certificate related to any such representation, warranty, covenant or obligation will survive the Closing and continue in full force and effect until twenty-four (24) months after the Closing Date provided, however, that (A) the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 3.1 (Corporate Organization of the Company), 3.3 (Due Authorization), 3.6 (Capitalization of the Company), 3.14 (Taxes), 3.15 (Brokers’ Fees), 3.20 (Intellectual Property), 4.1 (Ownership of Purchased Shares), 4.2 (Due Authorization) and 4.6 (Brokers’ Fees) (collectively, the “Fundamental Representations”), (B) the representations and warranties in Sections 3.12 (Employee Benefit Plans) and 3.21 (Environmental Matters), (C) the indemnification obligations of the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool pursuant to Section 12.2(c) of this Agreement and (D) the indemnification obligations of the holders of Preferred Shares, the members of the Management Pool and Steven K. Wilson and Michael P. Ashley pursuant to Section 12.2(j) of this Agreement each shall survive the Closing Date until the date that is sixty (60) days after the expiration of the statute of limitations applicable to the underlying claim.  The date on which (i) any representation or warranty shall expire pursuant to the terms of this Section 12.1 or (ii) the indemnification obligations of the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool pursuant to Section 12.2(c) of this Agreement shall be deemed to be the “Survival Expiration Date” of each such representation, warranty, covenant or other agreement, as applicable.  Each of the covenants and agreements of the parties set forth in this Agreement shall survive indefinitely.

 

12.2                        Indemnification.

 

(a)                                 From and after the Closing, subject to Section 12.4, the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool shall, severally but not jointly, hold harmless and indemnify Acquiror and its Subsidiaries, and each of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, equityholders, partners and members (collectively, the “Acquiror Indemnified Parties”) from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse each of the Acquiror Indemnified Parties for, any and all Losses to the extent attributable to:

 

(i)                                          any breach of any representation or warranty the Company or the Sellers have made in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to Section 9.2 hereof;

 

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(ii)                                       any breach, violation or default by the Company or the Sellers of any covenant, agreement or obligation of the Company or the Sellers in this Agreement (each, a “Company Covenant,” and collectively, the “Company Covenants”);

 

(iii)                                    any Holder Allocable Expenses in excess of the Estimated Holder Allocable Expenses;

 

(iv)                                   any Funded Debt not reflected on the Schedule of Funded Debt or not paid off at Closing;

 

(v)                                      any liability relating to the engagement letter by and between the Company and BTI Group which is not paid off at Closing; and

 

(vi)                                   a claim by any holder of equity interests or capital stock of the Company that it is entitled to any portion of the Purchase Price.

 

(b)                                 Subject to Section 12.4, Acquiror shall indemnify and hold the Holder Representative and the Sellers and the members of the Management Pool (collectively, the “Seller Indemnified Parties”) harmless for any and all Losses to the extent attributable to (i) any breach of any representation or warranty Acquiror has made in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered pursuant to Section 9.3 hereof or (ii) any breach, violation or default by Acquiror of any covenant, agreement or obligation of Acquiror in this Agreement.

 

(c)                                  The Sellers and the members of the Management Pool shall, severally but not jointly, indemnify the Acquiror Indemnified Parties and hold them harmless from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse each of the Acquiror Indemnified Parties for, any and all Losses attributable to (i) all Taxes (or the non-payment thereof) of the Company for all Pre-Closing Tax Periods, (ii) any and all Taxes of any member of an affiliated, consolidated, combined, or unitary group of which the Company (or any predecessor of any of the foregoing) is or was a member on or prior to the Closing Date, including pursuant to Treasury Regulations Section 1.1502-6 or any analogous or similar state, local, or foreign law or regulation, (iii) any and all Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) imposed on the Company as a transferee or successor, by contract or pursuant to any law, rule or regulation, which Taxes relate to an event or transaction occurring before the Closing, (iv) any breach of the representations in Section 3.14, (v) any breach of the covenants with respect to Taxes contained in Article VI, and (vi) any withholding taxes, employer side taxes, payroll taxes, or similar taxes incurred by reason of, or imposed on or with respect to, any payments made to, or for the benefit of, the Sellers or the Management Pool.  In the case of any Straddle Period, the amount of any Taxes based on or measured by income, receipts, sales or payroll of the Company for the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be determined based on an interim closing of the books as of the close of business  on the Closing Date (and for such purpose, the taxable period of any partnership or other pass-through entity in which the Company holds a beneficial interest shall be deemed to terminate at such time) and the amount of other Taxes of the Company for a Straddle Period that relates to the Pre-Closing Tax Period shall be deemed to be the amount of such Tax for the entire taxable period multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of days in the taxable period ending on the Closing Date and the denominator of which is the number of days in such Straddle Period.

 

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(d)                                 The holders of Preferred Shares, the members of the Management Pool, Steven K. Wilson and Michael P. Ashley shall, severally but not jointly, indemnify the Acquiror Indemnified Parties and hold them harmless from and against, and shall compensate and reimburse each of the Acquiror Indemnified Parties for, any and all Losses attributable to any claim by any Seller related to the Purchased Shares, including, but not limited to claims that a Seller is entitled to a greater portion of the Purchase Price than paid under the Agreement and claims in connection with the tax treatment of the Purchased Shares and tax and federal and state securities laws compliance.

 

(e)                                  The Acquiror Indemnified Parties shall have recourse against the Escrow Fund and all unpaid Earnout Consideration with respect to any Losses resulting from the matters referred to in this Section 12.2.

 

(f)                                   The Sellers and the members of the Management Pool shall, severally but not jointly, indemnify the Acquiror Indemnified Parties in accordance with their portion of the Purchase Price allocated, which indemnification obligation shall not exceed the portion of the Purchase Price he, she or it has actually received; provided that this Section 12.2(f) does not apply to Section 12.2(d) and with respect to Section 12.2(d), the holders of Preferred Shares, the members of the Management Pool, Steven K. Wilson and Michael P. Ashley hereby agree to indemnify the Acquiror Indemnified Parties for any additional amount of Losses, if any, on a pro rata basis, equal to the difference between the Purchase Price received by all Sellers and the members of the Management Pool and the Purchase Price he, she or it has actually received.

 

12.3                        Indemnification Claim Procedures.  If any Action is commenced or threatened that may give rise to a claim for indemnification (an “Indemnification Claim”) by any Person entitled to indemnification under this Agreement (each, an “Indemnified Party”), then such Indemnified Party will promptly give notice to the Indemnitor.  Failure to notify the Indemnitor will not relieve the Indemnitor of any liability that it may have to the Indemnified Party, except to the extent the defense of such Action is materially prejudiced by the Indemnified Party’s failure to give such notice.  An Indemnitor may elect at any time to assume and thereafter conduct the defense of any Action subject to any such Indemnification Claim with counsel of the Indemnitor’s choice and to settle or compromise any such Action, and each Indemnified Party shall reasonably cooperate with the conduct of such defense by the Indemnitor and/or the settlement of such Action by the Indemnitor; provided, however, that the Indemnitor (i) may not assume the defense of any Action unless such Indemnitor first provides written notice to the Indemnified Party that the Indemnitor would be liable under the provisions hereof for indemnity in the amount of such Indemnification Claim if such Indemnification Claim were valid and that the Indemnitor disputes and intends to defend against such Indemnification Claim at the Indemnitor’s own cost and expense and (ii) will not approve of the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or compromise with respect to the Indemnification Claim without the Indemnified Party’s prior written approval (which must not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), unless the terms of such settlement provide for a complete release of the claims that are the subject of such Action in favor of the Indemnified Party.  Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, the Indemnitor shall not have the right to assume control of the defense, and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party, if the third party claim which such Indemnitor seeks to assume control of: (i) seeks non-monetary relief; (ii) involves criminal or quasi-criminal allegations; (iii) is one in which an Indemnitor and the

 

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Indemnified Party are both named in the complaint, and joint representation by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of ethical conduct; (iv) could reasonably be expected to adversely affect the Taxes of the Business acquired by Acquiror hereunder for a taxable period (or portion thereof) beginning after the Closing Date; or (v) involves a claim for which an adverse determination would have a material and adverse effect on the Indemnified Party’s reputation or future business prospects.  If the Indemnified Party gives an Indemnitor notice of an Indemnification Claim and the Indemnitor does not, within ten (10) days after such notice is given, give notice to the Indemnified Party of its election to assume the defense of the Action or Actions subject to such Indemnification Claim and thereafter promptly assumes such defense, then the Indemnified Party may conduct the defense of such Action; provided, however, that the Indemnified Party will not agree to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement or compromise with respect to the Action or Actions subject to any such Indemnification Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnitor (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld).  A claim for any matter not involving a third party may be asserted by written notice to the party from whom indemnification is sought; provided, however, that any Indemnification Claim in respect of any actual or alleged breach of representation, warranty, covenant or agreement contained herein must be asserted prior to the expiration of the survival period provided for in Section 12.1.

 

12.4                        Limitations on Indemnification Liability.  Any claims an Indemnified Party makes under this Article XII will be limited as follows:

 

(a)                                 Indemnification Cap.  Notwithstanding any other provision hereof to the contrary but subject to the provisions of Section 12.2(f) and this Section 12.4, the aggregate amount of Losses for which the Acquiror Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article XII will not exceed the aggregate amount of Purchase Price actually paid by Acquiror (the “Cap”), provided, however, that the Cap shall not apply (i) to breaches of Fundamental Representations, (ii) Section 12.2(a)(ii), (iii) in the case of fraud, intentional misrepresentation or willful breach, and (iv) Section 12.2(d).

 

(b)                                 Basket.  Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the Acquiror Indemnified Parties shall only be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i) to the extent the aggregate amount of all Losses incurred by the Acquiror Indemnified Parties for which the Acquiror Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(a)(i) exceeds $100,000 (the “Basket Amount”); provided, however, (i) if the aggregate amount of Losses incurred by the Acquiror Indemnified Parties for which the Acquiror Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article XII exceeds the Basket Amount, the Acquiror Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover from the first dollar of such Losses and (ii) the Basket Amount shall not apply to (i) breaches of Fundamental Representations and Section 12.2(a)(ii)-(vi), (ii) in respect of indemnification claims made pursuant to Sections 12.2(c) and (d) of this Agreement, or (iii) the case of fraud, intentional misrepresentation or willful breach.  Notwithstanding any provision hereof to the contrary, the Seller Indemnified Parties shall only be entitled to indemnification pursuant to Section 12.2(b)(i) to the extent the aggregate amount of all Losses incurred by the Seller Indemnified Parties for which the Seller Indemnified Parties are entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article XII exceeds the Basket Amount, and the Seller Indemnified Parties shall be entitled to recover from the first dollar of such Losses.

 

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(c)                                  Consequential; Punitive and Other Special Damages.  Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, no Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification for consequential, punitive, indirect or special damages unless such damages are awarded to a third party and such Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification under this Article XII with respect to such award; provided, however, any Losses in the nature of diminution in value or lost profits are expressly excluded from the limitations set forth in this Section 12.4(c) and an Indemnified Party shall be entitled to indemnification for such Losses.

 

12.5                        Materiality.  For purposes of determining the amount of Losses arising from a breach of or inaccuracy in any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation of the parties in this Agreement but not for purposes of determining whether any such representation, warranty, covenant or obligation has been breached or is inaccurate, limitations or qualifications as to dollar amount, materiality or Material Adverse Effect (or similar concept) set forth in such representation, warranty, covenant or obligation shall be disregarded.

 

12.6                        Limitation on Contribution and Certain Other Rights.  The Holder Representative hereby agrees that if, following the Closing, any claim is made by any Seller Indemnified Party or any amount otherwise becomes due from any Seller Indemnified Party pursuant to this Article XII in respect of any Losses (a “Loss Payment”), then, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, such Seller Indemnified Party shall have no rights against the Company or any director, officer or employee thereof (in their capacity as such), whether by reason of contribution, indemnification, subrogation or otherwise, in respect of any such Loss Payment, and shall not take any action against the Company or any such person with respect thereto.

 

12.7                        Escrow Account.

 

(a)                                 On October 31, 2014 (the “First Release Date”), the Escrow Agent shall release to the Holder Representative any remaining amount of the Initial Escrow Amount, less the aggregate amount of all Losses specified in any then unresolved indemnification claims made by the Acquiror Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Article XII, less the amount of Closing Working Capital Adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(iii) (if elected by Acquiror).  To the extent that any amount has been reserved and withheld from distribution from the Initial Escrow Amount on the First Release Date on account of an unresolved claim for indemnification and, subsequent to the First Release Date, such claim is resolved, the parties shall immediately direct the Escrow Agent to release (i) to Acquiror the amount of Losses, if any, due in respect of such claim as finally determined and (ii) to the Holder Representative an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the amount theretofore reserved and withheld from distribution in respect of such claim over the payment, if any, made pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) of this sentence.  On the date that is 18 months following the First Earnout Payment Date (to the extent the First Earnout Amount is earned) (the “Second Release Date”), the Escrow Agent shall release to the Holder Representative any remaining amount of the Additional Escrow Amount, less the aggregate amount of all Losses specified in any then unresolved indemnification claims made by the Acquiror Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Article XII, less the amount of Closing Working Capital Adjustment pursuant to Section 2.4(c)(iii) (if elected by Acquiror and not otherwise satisfied from the Initial Escrow Amount).  To the extent that any amount has been reserved and withheld from distribution from the Additional Escrow Amount on the Second Release Date on account of an unresolved claim for

 

53

 

indemnification and, subsequent to the Second Release Date, such claim is resolved, the parties shall immediately direct the Escrow Agent to release (i) to Acquiror the amount of Losses, if any, due in respect of such claim as finally determined and (ii) to the Holder Representative an amount equal to the excess, if any, of the amount theretofore reserved and withheld from distribution in respect of such claim over the payment, if any, made pursuant to the foregoing clause (i) of this sentence.  The parties hereto agree that the accrued interest earned on the Escrow Amount shall be added to the corpus of the Escrow Amount and shall be available to fund indemnity claims made by the Indemnified Parties pursuant to this Article XII.

 

(b)                All parties hereto agree for all tax purposes: (i) the right of the Sellers to receive any portion of the Escrow Amount shall be eligible to be treated as deferred contingent purchase price eligible for installment sale treatment under Section 453 of the Code and any corresponding provision of foreign, state or local law, as appropriate (except to the extent such amounts are compensatory); (ii) Acquiror shall be treated as the owner of the amount in the Escrow Amount solely for tax purposes, and all interest and earnings earned from the investment and reinvestment of the Escrow Amount, or any portion thereof, shall be allocable to Acquiror pursuant to Section 468B(g) of the Code and Proposed Treasury Regulation Section 1.468B-8; and (iii) if and to the extent any amount of Escrow Amount paid to the Stockholders is actually distributed thereto, interest may be imputed on such amount, as required by Section 483 or 1274 of the Code (except to the extent such amounts are compensatory).  All parties hereto shall file all Tax Returns consistently with the foregoing.

 

ARTICLE XIII.
 MISCELLANEOUS

 

13.1                        Waiver.  Any party to this Agreement may, at any time prior to the Closing, by action taken by its Board of Directors, or officers thereunto duly authorized, if applicable, waive any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement or agree to an amendment or modification to this Agreement by an agreement in writing executed in the same manner (but not necessarily by the same Persons) as this Agreement.

 

13.2                        Notices.  All notices and other communications among the parties shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (a) when delivered in person or sent by facsimile, (b) five (5) days after posting in the United States mail having been sent registered or certified mail return receipt requested, or (c) when delivered by FedEx or other nationally recognized overnight delivery service:

 

(a)                If to Acquiror (or, after the Closing, the Company), to:

 

Courier New Media, Inc.
  15 Wellman Avenue
 N. Chelmsford, MA 08163
 Facsimile: (978) 251-0976

Attention:  Rajeev Balakrishna
 Senior Vice President and General Counsel

 

54

 

with copies to:

 

Goodwin Procter LLP
  Exchange Place
 Boston, MA 02109
 Facsimile: (617) 570-1981
 Attention: Robert P. Whalen, Jr., Esq.

 

If to the Company or the Sellers prior to the Closing, to:

 

FastPencil, Inc.

307 Orchard City Drive, Suite 210
 Campbell, CA 95008
  Facsimile: (408) 540-7572
 Attention: Steven K. Wilson

 

with copies to:

 

Law Offices of Michael J. Kimball, Esq.
 548 Market Street; #26269
 San Francisco, California 94104
  Facsimile: (415) 276-2343
 Attention: Michael J. Kimball, Esq.

 

and to the Holder Representative:

 

307 Orchard City Drive, Suite 210
 Campbell, CA 95008
 Facsimile: (408) 540-7572
 Attention: Steven K. Wilson

 

or to such other address or addresses as the parties may from time to time designate in writing.

 

13.3                        Assignment.  No party hereto shall assign this Agreement or any part hereof without the prior written consent of the other parties; provided, however, that Acquiror may assign this Agreement and any or all rights or obligations hereunder (including, without limitation, Acquiror’s rights to seek indemnification hereunder) to (i) any Affiliate of Acquiror (ii) as collateral to any lender of Acquiror, the Company or any of their respective Affiliates, or (iii) to the successor in interest upon a change of control of Acquiror; provided that no such assignment shall relieve Acquiror of any obligation hereunder.  Upon any such assignment by Acquiror, the references in this Agreement to Acquiror shall also apply to any such assignee unless the context otherwise requires.  Any purported assignment without such prior written consent or as otherwise permitted by the terms of this Section 13.3 shall be void.  Subject to the foregoing, this Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective permitted successors and assigns.

 

55

 

13.4                        Rights of Third Parties.  Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give any Person, other than the parties hereto, any right or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement; provided, however, that, notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the event the Closing occurs, the past, present and future officers and directors of the Company shall be intended third-party beneficiaries of, and shall be entitled to the protections of, Section 7.1, as applicable, and (ii) the officers, directors, employees, incorporators, stockholders, partners, members, Affiliates, agents, advisors and representatives of the parties, and any Affiliate of any of the foregoing, are intended third-party beneficiaries of, and may enforce, Section 13.17.

 

13.5                        Expenses.  Each party hereto shall bear its own expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions herein contemplated whether or not such transactions shall be consummated, including all fees of its legal counsel, financial advisers and accountants.

 

13.6                        Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, regardless of the laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of law.

 

13.7                        Captions; Counterparts.  The captions in this Agreement are for convenience only and shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation of any provision of this Agreement.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.  The exchange of copies of this Agreement and of signature pages by facsimile transmission, pdf or other electronic means shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Agreement as to the parties and may be used in lieu of the original Agreement for all purposes (and such signatures of the parties transmitted by facsimile, pdf or other electronic means shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes).

 

13.8                        Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits.  The Schedules, Annexes and Exhibit referenced herein are a part of this Agreement as if fully set forth herein.  All references herein to articles, sections, paragraphs, Schedules, Annexes and Exhibits shall be deemed references to such parts of this Agreement, unless the context shall otherwise require.  Any disclosure made by a party in the Schedules with reference to any section or schedule of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a disclosure with respect to all other sections or schedules in respect of which such disclosure is reasonably apparent on its face.  Certain information set forth in the Schedules is included solely for informational purposes and may not be required to be disclosed pursuant to this Agreement.  The disclosure of any information shall not be deemed to constitute an acknowledgment that such information is required to be disclosed in connection with the representations and warranties made in this Agreement, nor shall such information be deemed to establish a standard of materiality.

 

13.9                        Construction.

 

(a)                                 Unless the context of this Agreement otherwise requires, (i) words of any gender include each other gender; (ii) words using the singular or plural number also include the plural or singular number, respectively; (iii) the terms “hereof,” “herein,” “hereby,” “hereto” and derivative or similar words refer to this entire Agreement; (iv) the

 

56

 

terms “Article” or “Section” refer to the specified Article or Section of this Agreement; (v) the word “including” shall mean “including, without limitation” and (vi) the word “or” shall be disjunctive but not exclusive.

 

(b)                                 References to agreements and other documents shall be deemed to include all subsequent amendments and other modifications thereto.

 

(c)                                  References to statutes shall include all regulations promulgated thereunder and references to statutes or regulations shall be construed as including all statutory and regulatory provisions consolidating, amending or replacing the statute or regulation.

 

(d)                                 The language used in this Agreement shall be deemed to be the language chosen by the parties to express their mutual intent and no rule of strict construction shall be applied against any party.

 

(e)                                  Whenever this Agreement refers to a number of days, such number shall refer to calendar days unless Business Days are specified.

 

(f)                                   All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined herein shall have the meanings given to them under GAAP.

 

13.10                 Entire Agreement.  This Agreement (together with the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and that certain Mutual Confidentiality and Non-Disclosure Agreement, dated as of January 14, 2013, between Acquiror and the Company (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) constitute the entire agreement among the parties relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and supersede any other agreements, whether written or oral, that may have been made or entered into by or among any of the parties hereto or any of their respective Subsidiaries relating to the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that this provision shall in no way limit a party’s rights against any other party in connection with fraud.

 

13.11                 Amendments.  This Agreement may be amended or modified in whole or in part, only by a duly authorized agreement in writing executed by Acquiror, the Company and the Holder Representative and which makes reference to this Agreement.  The approval of this Agreement by the stockholders of the Company shall not restrict the ability of the Board of Directors of the Company to terminate this Agreement in accordance with Section 10.1 or to cause the Company to enter into an amendment to this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13.11.

 

13.12                 Publicity.  Acquiror may issue press releases, and make such other disclosures regarding the Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby, as it determines are required under applicable securities laws or regulatory rules or as it deems otherwise appropriate, provided that it may provide the Holder Representative with press releases in advance for his review.  The Company, the Sellers or the members of the Management Pool shall not make any public announcement relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

13.13                 Severability.  If any provision of this Agreement is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, the other provisions of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.  The parties further agree that if any provision contained herein is, to any

 

57

 

extent, held invalid or unenforceable in any respect under the Laws governing this Agreement, they shall take any actions necessary to render the remaining provisions of this Agreement valid and enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by Law and, to the extent necessary, shall amend or otherwise modify this Agreement to replace any provision contained herein that is held invalid or unenforceable with a valid and enforceable provision giving effect to the intent of the parties.

 

13.14                 Jurisdiction.  Any proceeding or action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be brought in the Delaware Chancery Court (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, any other court of the State of Delaware or any Federal court sitting in the State of Delaware), and each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of each such court in any such proceeding or action, waives any objection it may now or hereafter have to personal jurisdiction, venue or to convenience of forum, agrees that all claims in respect of the proceeding or action shall be heard and determined only in any such court, and agrees not to bring any proceeding or action arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in any other court.  Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to affect the right of any party to serve process in any manner permitted by Law or to commence legal proceedings or otherwise proceed against any other party in any other jurisdiction, in each case, to enforce judgments obtained in any action, suit or proceeding brought pursuant to this Section 13.14.

 

13.15                 Service of Process.  For purposes of this Agreement, each of the parties hereto hereby (i) consents to service of process in any legal action, suit or proceeding among the parties to this Agreement arising in whole or in part under or in connection with the negotiation, execution and performance of this Agreement in any manner permitted by Delaware law, (ii) agrees that service of process made in accordance with this Section 13.15 or made by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, at its address specified pursuant to Section 13.2, will constitute good and valid service of process in any such legal action, suit or proceeding and (iii) waives and agrees not to assert (by way of motion, as a defense, or otherwise) in any such legal action, suit or proceeding any claim that service of process made in accordance with clause (i) or (ii) does not constitute good and valid service of process.

 

13.16                 Specific Performance and Remedies.  The parties hereto agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any of the provisions of this Agreement were not performed in accordance with their specific terms or were otherwise breached.  It is accordingly agreed that the parties shall be entitled to seek an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement (without any requirement to post any bond or other security in connection with seeking such relief), in addition to any other remedy to which any party is entitled at law or in equity, exclusively in the Delaware Chancery Court and any state appellate court therefrom within the State of Delaware (or, if the Delaware Chancery Court shall be unavailable, any other court of the State of Delaware or any Federal court sitting in the State of Delaware).  The parties hereto agree not to raise any objections to the availability of the equitable remedy of specific performance to prevent or restrain breaches of this Agreement by the Company and the Sellers, on the one hand, and to prevent or restrain breaches of this Agreement by Acquiror, on the other hand, and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement to prevent breaches or threatened breaches of, or to enforce compliance with, the covenants and obligations of the parties under this Agreement.  Each of the parties agrees that it will not oppose the granting of an injunction,

 

58

 

specific performance and other equitable relief on the basis that the other parties have an adequate remedy at law or an award of specific performance is not an appropriate remedy for any reason at law or equity.  Any party seeking an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement and to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement shall not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with any such order or injunction.

 

13.17                 No Reliance.  There are no promises, representations, agreements, arrangements, or understandings, oral or written, among the parties or any subset thereof relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not fully expressed in this Agreement.  No party has relied upon, and no party shall be entitled to rely upon, any promises, representations, agreements, arrangements, or understandings, oral or written, among the parties or any subset thereof relating to the subject matter of this Agreement which are not fully expressed in this Agreement.

 

13.18                 Legal Advice. Each party confirms that it has carefully read and reviewed this Agreement.  Each party acknowledges that it has been advised in connection with this Agreement by its legal counsel and that it fully understands all of the Agreement’s terms and conditions.  Each party executes and delivers this Agreement freely and voluntarily.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

59

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
ACQUIROR:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
COURIER NEW MEDIA, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Peter M. Folger
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Peter M. Folger
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Senior VP and Chief Financial Officer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
COMPANY:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
FASTPENCIL, INC.
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Steven K. Wilson
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Steven K. Wilson
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
CEO
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
HOLDER REPRESENTATIVE:
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Steven K. Wilson
    
	
 
    	
STEVEN K. WILSON
    

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto caused this Agreement to be duly executed as of the date first above written.

 

 

	
 
    	
/s/ Benjamin William   Strack
    
	
 
    	
Benjamin William   Strack
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ William Alberry   Kercheville, 3rd
    
	
 
    	
William Alberry   Kercheville, 3rd
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ William Ihrie
    
	
 
    	
William Ihrie
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Brent Berry   Kercheville
    
	
 
    	
Brent Berry   Kercheville
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Brian Gilliam
    
	
 
    	
Brian Gilliam
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Bruce Scott   Butterfield
    
	
 
    	
Bruce Scott   Butterfield
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Carole Sanders
    
	
 
    	
Carole Sanders
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Catherine Ashley
    
	
 
    	
Catherine Ashley
    

 

Mr. Christopher G. Marr, Trustee(s) of his Succesor Trustee(s) of the Marr Separate Property Trust dated October 29, 2008

 

	
 
    	
/s/ Christopher G. Marr
    
	
 
    	
Christopher G.   Marr
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Charles Durham
    
	
 
    	
Charles Durham
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Dale Jacques
    
	
 
    	
Dale Jacques
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ David James Claytor
    
	
 
    	
David James   Claytor
    

 

 

	
 
    	
/s/ William D. Davenport
    
	
 
    	
William D.   Davenport
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Donald C. Truex
    
	
 
    	
Donald C. Truex
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Erica Olin Giannini
    
	
 
    	
Erica Olin   Giannini
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Frank Mara
    
	
 
    	
Frank Mara
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Howard Louis McMillan
    
	
 
    	
Howard Louis   McMillan
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Equity Trust   Company for the benefit of Jack Dent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Jack Dent
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Jack Dent
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Jack Lynn Dent
    
	
 
    	
Jack Lynn Dent
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Jamie Sue Gill
    
	
 
    	
Jamie Sue Gill
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Jeffrey Earl Horst
    
	
 
    	
Jeffrey Earl Horst
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Jeff Roper
    
	
 
    	
Jeff Roper
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Jeremy Scott McNevin
    
	
 
    	
Jeremy Scott   McNevin
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ James Latimer
    
	
 
    	
James Latimer
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ John Joseph Kilcullen
    
	
 
    	
John Joseph   Kilcullen
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ John E. Skirtich
    
	
 
    	
John E. Skirtich
    

 

 

	
 
    	
/s/ Kevin Geoffrey Crane
    
	
 
    	
Kevin Geoffrey   Crane
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Kurt Hoffman
    
	
 
    	
Kurt Hoffman
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Lisa Diane Hilseth
    
	
 
    	
Lisa Diane Hilseth
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Mariena Tyeson Foley
    
	
 
    	
Mariena Tyeson   Foley
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Martin Anthony Logies
    
	
 
    	
Martin Anthony   Logies
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Martin Anthony   Logies as
    
	
 
    	
Nominee for   Sunnyvale Partners
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Martin Logies
    
	
 
    	
 
    	
Martin Logies
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
IRA Trust Services   FBO Mary Helen Harris
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Mary Harris
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Mary Harris
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Matthew James O’Leary
    
	
 
    	
Matthew James   O’Leary
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Michael Peter Ashley
    
	
 
    	
Michael Peter   Ashley
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Michael   Peter Bertoldo III
    
	
 
    	
Michael Peter   Bertoldo III
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Michael C. Wilson
    
	
 
    	
Michael Clyde   Wilson
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Michael Gary Eubank
    
	
 
    	
Michael Gary   Eubank
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/   Michael   E. McCarthy, Jr.
    
	
 
    	
Michael E.   McCarthy, Jr.
    

 

 

	
 
    	
/s/ Mitchell Maurice   Millwee
    
	
 
    	
Mitchell Maurice   Millwee
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Paul Anthony Fincher
    
	
 
    	
Paul Anthony   Fincher
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Peter Louis Pomeroy
    
	
 
    	
Peter Louis   Pomeroy
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Philip A. Scatena
    
	
 
    	
Philip A. Scatena
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
Pensco Trust, fbo   Philip A. Scatena IRA
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
By:
    	
/s/ Philip A. Scatena
    
	
 
    	
Name:
    	
Philip A. Scatena
    
	
 
    	
Title:
    	
Administrator of   Trust
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Rajeev Bennet Cyrus
    
	
 
    	
Rajeev Bennet   Cyrus
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Randy M. Haykin
    
	
 
    	
Randy M. Haykin
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Rani Mahapatra
    
	
 
    	
Rani Mahapatra
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Richard Mina
    
	
 
    	
Richard Mina
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Richard Paul   Scheibley
    
	
 
    	
Richard Paul   Scheibley
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Robert Kinsey Holmes
    
	
 
    	
Robert Kinsey   Holmes
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Rodney Ed Graham
    
	
 
    	
Rodney Ed Graham
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Stephen John O’Deegan
    
	
 
    	
Stephen John   O’Deegan
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Steven Keith Wilson
    
	
 
    	
Steven Keith   Wilson
    

 

	
 
    	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Tracy Wickham
    
	
 
    	
Tracy Wickham
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Robert Tyler Peak
    
	
 
    	
Robert Tyler Peak
    
	
 
    	
 
    
	
 
    	
/s/ Zachary Allen Echols
    
	
 
    	
Zachary Allen   EcholsExhibit 4.1

 

 

EXTERRAN HOLDINGS, INC.

2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

	
I.
    	
 
    	
Purpose
    	
1
    
	
II.
    	
 
    	
Definitions
    	
1
    
	
III.
    	
 
    	
Effective   Date and Duration of the Plan
    	
5
    
	
IV.
    	
 
    	
Administration
    	
5
    
	
V.
    	
 
    	
Shares   Subject to the Plan; Award Limitations
    	
6
    
	
VI.
    	
 
    	
Eligibility   and Grant of Awards
    	
7
    
	
VII.
    	
 
    	
Stock   Options
    	
8
    
	
VIII.
    	
 
    	
Restricted   Stock
    	
9
    
	
IX.
    	
 
    	
Restricted   Stock Units
    	
10
    
	
X.
    	
 
    	
Stock   Appreciation Rights
    	
11
    
	
XI.
    	
 
    	
Performance   Awards
    	
12
    
	
XII.
    	
 
    	
Other   Awards
    	
13
    
	
XIII.
    	
 
    	
Recapitalization   or Reorganization
    	
13
    
	
XIV.
    	
 
    	
Amendment   and Termination of the Plan
    	
15
    
	
XV.
    	
 
    	
Miscellaneous
    	
15
    

 

 

EXTERRAN HOLDINGS, INC.

2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN

 

I. PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the EXTERRAN HOLDINGS, INC. 2013 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN is to provide a means through which Exterran Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its Affiliates may attract highly-qualified persons to serve as Employees, Directors and Consultants of the Company and its Affiliates and to provide a means whereby those individuals, whose present and potential contributions to the Company and its Affiliates are of importance, can acquire and maintain stock ownership, thereby strengthening their concern for the welfare of the Company and its Affiliates. A further purpose of the Plan is to provide such individuals with additional incentive and reward opportunities designed to enhance the profitable growth of the Company and its Affiliates. Accordingly, the Plan provides for the grant of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards and Dividend Equivalents, or any combination of the foregoing, as is best suited to the circumstances of the particular Employee, Consultant or Director as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion.

 

II. DEFINITIONS

 

The following definitions shall be applicable throughout the Plan unless specifically modified by any paragraph:

 

(a)                                 “Affiliate” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or partnership, association, trust or other organization which, directly or indirectly, controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the Company. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any entity or organization, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power (i) to vote more than fifty percent (50%) of the securities having ordinary voting power for the election of directors of the controlled entity or organization, or (ii) to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of the controlled entity or organization, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by contract or otherwise.

 

(b)                                 “Award” means, individually or collectively, any Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards or Dividend Equivalents granted under the terms of the Plan.

 

(c)                                  “Award Notice” means a written notice setting forth the terms of an Award.

 

(d)                                 “Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

(e)                                  “Cause,” with respect to a Participant, means “Cause” as defined in any applicable employment or other service agreement between the Participant and the Company or an Affiliate or, if such an agreement does not exist or does not contain a definition of “Cause,” “Cause” means (i) the commission by the Participant of an act of fraud, embezzlement or willful breach of a fiduciary duty to the Company or an Affiliate (including the unauthorized disclosure of confidential or proprietary material information of the Company or an Affiliate), (ii) a conviction of the Participant (or a plea of nolo contendere in lieu thereof) for a felony or a crime involving fraud, dishonesty or moral turpitude, (iii) willful failure of the Participant to follow the written directions of the chief executive officer of the Company or the Board, in the case of executive officers of the Company; (iv) willful misconduct as an Employee, Director or Consultant, as applicable, of the Company or an Affiliate; (v) willful failure of the Participant to render services to the Company or an Affiliate in accordance with his employment or other service arrangement, which failure amounts to a material neglect of his or her duties to the Company or an Affiliate or (vi) substantial dependence, as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion, on any drug, immediate precursor or other substance listed on Schedule IV of the Federal Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, as amended. With respect to any Participant residing outside of the United States, the Committee may revise the definition of “Cause” as appropriate to conform to the laws of the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

(f)                                   “Code” means the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. References in the Plan to any section of the Code shall be deemed to include any amendments or successor provisions to such section and any regulations under such section.

 

(g)                                 “Committee” means the Committee defined in Paragraph IV(a) of the Plan.

 

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(h)                                 “Common Stock” means the common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, or any security into which such common stock may be changed by reason of any transaction or event of the type described in Paragraph XIII.

 

(i)                                    “Company” means Exterran Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, or any successors thereto.

 

(j)                                    “Consultant” means any consultant or adviser engaged to provide services to the Company or any Affiliate that qualifies as a consultant under the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for registration of shares on a Form S-8 Registration Statement. If an entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company, a Participant then providing consulting services to such entity shall be deemed to have terminated his or her consultancy with the Company and its Affiliates and shall cease to be a Consultant under the Plan. For purposes of any Award granted to a person residing outside of the United States, the Committee may revise the definition of “Consultant” as appropriate to conform to the laws of the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

(k)                                 “Corporate Change” means:

 

(i)                     The acquisition by any individual, entity or group (within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) or 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) (a “Person”) of beneficial ownership (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 promulgated under the Exchange Act) of forty percent (40%) or more of either (A) the then outstanding shares of common stock of the Company (the “Outstanding Company Common Stock”) or (B) the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (the “Outstanding Company Voting Securities”); provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), any acquisition by any Person pursuant to a transaction which complies with clause (A) of subsection (iii) of this definition shall not constitute a Corporate Change; or

 

(ii)                  Individuals, who, as of the date hereof, constitute the Board (the “Incumbent Board”) cease for any reason to constitute at least a majority of the Board; provided, however, that any individual becoming a director subsequent to the date hereof whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then comprising the Incumbent Board shall be considered for purposes of this definition as though such individual was a member of the Incumbent Board, but excluding, for these purposes, any such individual whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of an actual or threatened election contest with respect to the election or removal of directors or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of a Person other than the Board; or

 

(iii)               The consummation of a reorganization, merger or consolidation involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or the sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (other than to an entity wholly owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company) (each, a “Corporate Transaction”), in each case, unless, following such Corporate Transaction, (A) all or substantially all of the individuals and entities who were the beneficial owners of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and Outstanding Company Voting Securities immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction beneficially own, directly or indirectly, more than sixty percent (60%) of, respectively, the then outstanding shares of common stock and the combined voting power of the then outstanding voting securities entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, as the case may be, of the Resulting Corporation in substantially the same proportions as their ownership, immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction, of the Outstanding Company Common Stock and the Outstanding Company Voting Securities, as the case may be, and (B) at least a majority of the members of the board of directors of the Resulting Corporation were members of the Incumbent Board at the time of the execution of the initial agreement, or of the action of the Board, providing for such Corporate Transaction. The term “Resulting Corporation” means (1) the Company or its successor, or (2) if as a result of a Corporate Transaction the Company or its successor becomes a subsidiary of another entity, then such entity or the parent of such entity, as applicable, or (3) in the event of a Corporate Transaction involving the sale, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, then the transferee of such assets in such Corporate Transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the sale, lease or other disposition of assets by the Company or its subsidiaries to Exterran Partners, L.P. or its subsidiaries or their successor nor the sale, lease or other disposition of any interest in Exterran Partners, L.P., its general partner or its subsidiaries or their successors shall, in and of itself, constitute a Corporate Change for purposes of this Plan.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a Corporate Transaction constitutes a payment event with respect to any portion of an Award that provides for the deferral of compensation and is subject to Section 409A of the Code, the transaction or event described in subsection (i), (ii) or (iii) above with respect to such Award (or portion thereof) must also constitute a “change in control event,” as defined in Treasury Regulation Section 1.409A-3(i)(5) to the extent required by Section 409A of the Code.

 

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(l)                                    “Director” means an individual elected to the Board by the stockholders of the Company or by the Board under applicable corporate law and who is serving on the Board on the Effective Date of the Plan, or is subsequently elected or appointed to the Board, and is not an Employee.

 

(m)                             “Disability” means any physical or mental condition for which the Participant would be eligible to receive long-term disability benefits under the Company’s long-term disability plan. With respect to any Participant residing outside of the United States, the Committee may revise the definition of “Disability” as appropriate to conform to the laws of the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

(n)                                 “Dividend Equivalent” means a right to receive the equivalent value (in cash or in shares of Common Stock) of dividends paid on shares of Common Stock, awarded under Paragraph XII(b) of the Plan.

 

(o)                                 “Employee” means any person who is an employee of the Company or any Affiliate. If an entity ceases to be an Affiliate of the Company, a Participant employed by such entity shall be deemed to have terminated his employment with the Company and its Affiliates and shall cease to be an Employee under the Plan. For any and all purposes under the Plan, the term “Employee” shall exclude an individual hired as an independent contractor, leased employee, Consultant, or a person designated by the Committee, the Company or an Affiliate at the time of hire as not eligible to participate in or receive benefits under the Plan, even if such ineligible individual is subsequently determined to be an employee by any governmental or judicial authority. For purposes of any Award granted to a person residing outside of the United States, the Committee may revise the definition of “Employee” as appropriate to conform to the laws of the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

(p)                                 “Equity Restructuring” means a nonreciprocal transaction between the Company and its stockholders, such as a stock dividend, stock split, spin-off, rights offering or recapitalization through a large, nonrecurring cash dividend, that affects the number or kind of shares of Common Stock (or other securities of the Company) or the share price of Common Stock (or other securities) and causes a change in the per-share value of the Common Stock underlying outstanding Awards.

 

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

 

(r)                                  “Fair Market Value” of a share of Common Stock means, as of any specified date: (i) if the Common Stock is listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (“NASDAQ”), the closing sales price of a share of Common Stock on that date, or if no prices are reported on that date, on the last preceding day on which the Common Stock was traded, as reported by such exchange or NASDAQ, as the case may be; and (ii) if the Common Stock is not listed on a national securities exchange or quoted on NASDAQ, but is traded in the over-the-counter market, the average of the bid and asked prices for a share of Common Stock on the most recent date on which the Common Stock was publicly traded. In the event the Common Stock is not publicly traded at the time a determination of its value is required to be made hereunder, the determination of its Fair Market Value shall be made by the Committee in good faith in such manner as it deems appropriate.

 

(s)                                   “Full Value Award” means any Award that is settled in shares of Common Stock other than: (i) an Option, (ii) a Stock Appreciation Right or (iii) any other Award for which the Participant pays the intrinsic value existing as of the date of grant (whether directly or by forgoing a right to receive a payment from the Company or any Affiliate).

 

(t)                                    “Incentive Stock Option” means an Option granted under Paragraph VII of the Plan that is intended to qualify as an incentive stock option and conforms to the requirements of Section 422 of the Code.

 

(u)                                 “Non-Qualified Option” means an Option granted under Paragraph VII of the Plan that is not an Incentive Stock Option.

 

(v)                                 “Option” means an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted under Paragraph VII of the Plan that may be either an Incentive Stock Option or a Non-Qualified Option.

 

(w)                               “Other Stock-Based Award” means a payment in the form of shares of Common Stock, an Award that is valued in whole or in part by reference to, or otherwise based on, shares of Common Stock, or another right to purchase shares of Common Stock, as part of a bonus, deferred compensation or other arrangement, awarded under Paragraph XII(a) of the Plan.

 

(x)                                 “Participant” means an Employee, Consultant or Director who has been granted an Award under the Plan.

 

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(y)                                 “Performance Award” means an opportunity for a Participant to earn compensation if certain Performance Measures or other criteria are met, as described in Paragraph XI of the Plan.

 

(z)                                  “Performance Measure” means any performance objective established by the Committee in its sole discretion relating to any one or more of the following criteria:

 

(1)                                 the price of a share of Common Stock;

(2)                                 the Company’s earnings per share;

(3)                                 the Company’s market share;

(4)                                 the market share of a business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(5)                                 the Company’s sales;

(6)                                 the sales of a business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(7)                                 the net income (before or after taxes) of the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(8)                                 the cash flow return on investment, cash value added, and/or working cash flow of the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(9)                                 the earnings before or excluding interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization or any other items designated by the Committee;

(10)                          the economic value added;

(11)                          the return on stockholders’ equity achieved by the Company;

(12)                          the return on capital (including return on total capital or return on invested capital) of the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(13)                          the total stockholders’ return achieved by the Company;

(14)                          the working capital of the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(15)                          selling, general and administrative expense of the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(16)                          gross margin and/or gross margin percent of the Company or any business unit of the Company designated by the Committee;

(17)                          operating margin and/or operating margin percent of the Company or any business unit of the Company that is designated by the Committee,

(18)                          revenue;

(19)                          revenue or product revenue growth;

(20)                          pre-tax or after-tax income or loss (before or after allocation of corporate overhead and bonus) of us or any business unit of the Company that is designated by the Committee;

(21)                          net earnings or loss of the Company or any business unit of the Company that is designated by the Committee;

(22)                          return on assets or net assets;

(23)                          attainment of strategic and operational initiatives;

(24)                          gross profits;

(25)                          comparisons with various stock market indices;

(26)                          reductions in cost;

(27)                          improvement in or attainment of expense levels or working capital levels;

(28)                          year-end cash;

(29)                          debt reduction;

(30)                          implementation or completion of projects and processes;

(31)                          customer satisfaction;

(32)                          budget management;

(33)                          debt covenant leverage ratios; or

(34)                          financing.

 

A performance target based on any one or more Performance Measures may be absolute or relative to (i) one or more other companies, (ii) one or more indexes or (iii) to one or more prior year’s performance. Further, a performance target based on any one or more Performance Measures may be subject to objectively determinable adjustments, including one or more of the following items or events: (i) items related to changes in accounting standards (including changes required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board); (ii) items relating to financing activities; (iii) expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; (iv) other non-operating items; (v) items related to acquisitions; (vi) items attributable to the business operations of any entity acquired by the Company during the performance period; (vii) items related to the disposal of a business or segment of a business; (viii) items related to discontinued operations that do not qualify as a segment of a business under applicable accounting standards; (ix) items attributable to any stock dividend, stock split, combination or exchange of stock

 

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occurring during the performance period; (x) any other items of significant income or expense which are determined to be appropriate adjustments; (xi) items relating to unusual or extraordinary corporate transactions, events or developments, (xii) items related to amortization of acquired intangible assets; (xiii) items that are outside the scope of the Company’s core, on-going business activities; (xiv) items related to acquired in-process research and development; (xv) items relating to changes in tax laws; (xvi) items relating to major licensing or partnership arrangements; (xvii) items relating to asset impairment charges; (xviii) items relating to gains or losses for litigation, arbitration and contractual settlements; or (xix) items relating to any other unusual or nonrecurring events or changes in applicable law, accounting principles or business conditions.

 

(aa)                          “Plan” means this Exterran Holdings, Inc. 2013 Stock Incentive Plan, as may be amended or restated from time to time.

 

(bb)                          “Prior Plans” means the Exterran Holdings, Inc. Amended and Restated 2007 Plan, as amended, and the Exterran Holdings, Inc. 2011 Employment Inducement Long-Term Equity Plan.

 

(cc)                            “Restricted Stock” means Common Stock subject to certain restrictions, as described in Paragraph VIII of the Plan.

 

(dd)                          “Restricted Stock Unit” means a promise to deliver a share of Common Stock, or the Fair Market Value of such share in cash, in the future if certain criteria are met, as described in Paragraph IX of the Plan.

 

(ee)                            “Retirement” means a Termination of Service, other than due to Cause or death, on or after the Participant attains (i) age sixty-five (65) or (ii) age fifty-five (55) and with the written consent of the Committee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a Participant residing outside of the United States, the Committee may revise the definition of “Retirement” as appropriate to conform to the laws of the applicable non-U.S. jurisdiction.

 

(ff)                              “Stock Appreciation Right” means a right entitling the Participant to the difference between the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of exercise and the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date of grant, as described in Paragraph X of the Plan.

 

(gg)                          “Termination of Service” means a Participant’s termination of employment, if an Employee, a termination of consultancy, if a Consultant, or a termination of service, if a Director, as the case may be. A Participant who is both an Employee or Consultant and a Director shall not incur a Termination of Service until the Participant terminates both positions.

 

III. EFFECTIVE DATE AND DURATION OF THE PLAN

 

The Plan shall become effective upon the date of its approval by the Company’s stockholders (the “Effective Date”), provided that the Plan is adopted by the Board prior to such stockholder approval. The Plan shall be submitted for the approval of the Company’s stockholders within twelve (12) months after the date of the Board’s initial adoption of the Plan. Awards may not be granted or awarded under the Plan prior to such stockholder approval. No Awards may be granted under the Plan after the completion of ten (10) years from the Effective Date of the Plan. The Plan shall remain in effect until all Awards granted under the Plan have been exercised or expired or vested or forfeited.

 

No further awards shall be made under the Prior Plans after the Effective Date of this Plan. The Company may continue to grant awards under the Prior Plans until the Effective Date occurs, and the Prior Plans and related award notices shall continue to govern the awards granted under the Prior Plans.

 

IV. ADMINISTRATION

 

(a)  Composition of Committee.  The Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board or such other committee, if any, that may be designated by the Board to administer the Plan (the “Committee”); provided, however, that any and all members of the Committee shall satisfy any independence requirements prescribed by any stock exchange on which the Company lists its Common Stock; provided, further, that Awards may be granted to individuals who are subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act only if the Committee is comprised solely of two (2) or more “Non-Employee Directors” as defined in Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 16b-3 (as amended from time to time, and any successor rule, regulation or statute fulfilling the same or similar function); provided, further, that any Award which the Committee intends to qualify as “performance-based compensation” exception under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be granted only if the Committee is comprised solely of two (2) or more “outside directors” within the meaning of Section l62(m) of the Code and regulations pursuant thereto.

 

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(b)  Powers.  Subject to Paragraph IV(d), and the other express provisions of the Plan, the Committee shall have authority, in its discretion, to determine which Employees, Consultants or Directors shall receive an Award, the time or times when such Award shall be made, the terms and conditions of an Award (including, but not limited to, the exercise price, any applicable Performance Measures or performance targets established with respect to any Performance Measures, the vesting schedule, any restrictions on the Award, and accelerations or waivers of any vesting or other restrictions on the Award), the type of Award that shall be made, the number of shares subject to an Award and the value of an Award. In making such determinations, the Committee shall take into account the nature of the services rendered by the respective Employees, Consultants or Directors, their present and potential contribution to the Company’s success and such other factors as the Committee, in its sole discretion, shall deem relevant. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Committee shall have the authority to accelerate wholly or partially the vesting or lapse of restrictions of any Award or portion thereof at any time after the grant of the Award, subject to (i) such terms and conditions as it selects, (ii) the limitations on the acceleration of Awards which the Committee intends to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code herein and (iii) Paragraph XIII below.

 

(c)  Additional Powers.  The Committee shall have such additional powers as are delegated to it by the other provisions of the Plan. Subject to the express provisions of the Plan, this shall include the power to construe the Plan and the Award Notices hereunder, to prescribe, interpret, revise and rescind rules and regulations relating to the Plan, and to determine the terms, restrictions and provisions of the notice relating to each Award, including such terms, restrictions and provisions as shall be required in the judgment of the Committee to cause designated Options to qualify as Incentive Stock Options, and to make all other determinations necessary or advisable for administering the Plan. The Committee may correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan or in any notice relating to an Award in the manner and to the extent it shall deem expedient to carry it into effect. Any determination or decision made by the Committee or its delegate (pursuant to Paragraph IV(d)) under the terms of the Plan shall be made in the sole discretion of the Committee or such delegate and shall be final and binding on all persons, including the Company and Participants, but subject to ratification by the Board if the Board so provides.

 

(d)  Delegation of Powers.  Subject to Paragraph IV(a) above, the Committee may delegate to the Board or to one or more other committees of the Board comprised of one or more independent Directors the authority to grant Awards to Employees who are not subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act. Further, the Committee may delegate to the Governance Committee of the Board the authority to make non-discretionary (routine) Awards to Directors, including to determine which Director shall receive an Award, the time or times when such an Award shall be made, the terms and conditions of such an Award, the type of Award that shall be made to a Director, the number of shares subject to such an Award, and the value of such an Award; provided, however, that the Committee may not delegate its authority to grant discretionary (non-routine) Awards to Directors. The Committee may delegate to the Chief Executive Officer or one or more other senior officers of the Company its administrative functions under this Plan with respect to the Awards. Any delegation described in this paragraph shall contain such limitations and restrictions as the Committee may provide and shall comply in all respects with the requirements of applicable law, including the Delaware General Corporation Law. The Committee may engage or authorize the engagement of a third party administrator or administrators to carry out administrative functions under the Plan.

 

No member of the Committee or officer of the Company or an Affiliate to whom the Committee has delegated authority in accordance with the provisions of Paragraph IV of this Plan shall be liable for anything done or omitted to be done by him or her, by any member of the Committee or by any officer of the Company or Affiliate in connection with the performance of any duties under this Plan, except for his or her own willful misconduct or as expressly provided by statute.

 

(e)  Awards Outside of the United States.  With respect to any Participant or eligible Employee or Consultant who is resident outside of the United States, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend or vary the terms of the Plan in order to conform such terms with the requirements of local law, to meet the goals and objectives of the Plan, and may, in its sole discretion, establish administrative rules and procedures to facilitate the operation of the Plan in such non-U.S. jurisdictions. The Committee may, where it deems appropriate in its sole discretion, establish one or more sub-plans of the Plan for these purposes.

 

V. SHARES SUBJECT TO THE PLAN; AWARD LIMITATIONS

 

(a)  Shares Subject to the Plan.  Subject to adjustment as provided in Paragraph XIII, the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan shall not exceed 6,500,000; provided, however, that such limitation may be increased subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders. The issuance of Common Stock under the Plan shall be counted against the overall number of shares available for delivery under a fungible reserve approach. Any shares of Common Stock issued or reserved for issuance pursuant to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights shall be counted

 

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against the aggregate share limitation of the Plan as one (1) share for every share subject thereto. Each share of Common Stock issued pursuant to a Full Value Award shall be counted against the aggregate share limitation of the Plan as 1.75 shares for every share subject thereto. However, (a) if any shares of Common Stock subject to an Award that is not a Full Value Award are cancelled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated, such shares shall, to the extent of such forfeiture, expiration, cancellation or cash settlement, again be available for future grants under the Plan, and (b) if any shares of Common Stock subject to a Full Value Award are cancelled, expired, forfeited, settled in cash, or otherwise terminated, the shares available under the Plan shall be increased by 1.75 shares of Common Stock for each share that is forfeited, expired, cancelled or settled in cash. Shares of Common Stock that are otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to an Award that are withheld to satisfy tax withholding obligations or to pay the exercise price of an Option shall be counted against the aggregate limitation of the Plan as provided herein and shall not become available for future grant under the Plan.

 

(b)  Share and Value Limitation on Awards.

 

(i)                     The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issued pursuant to Incentive Stock Options may not exceed 3,000,000 shares.

 

(ii)                  The maximum Fair Market Value, as determined on the date of grant, of Awards granted for services as a Director during any twelve (12)-month period shall not exceed $500,000.

 

(iii)               The maximum number of shares of Common Stock that may be issuable under Awards granted to any one individual during any twelve (12)-month period shall not exceed 500,000 shares of Common Stock (subject to adjustment in the manner as provided in Paragraph XIII).

 

(iv)              The maximum amount of cash compensation that may be paid under Awards which the Committee intends to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code granted to any one individual during any twelve (12)-month period may not exceed $5,000,000.

 

The limitations set forth in clauses (iii) and (iv) above are intended to permit certain Awards under the Plan to constitute “performance-based” compensation for purposes of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

(c)  Stock Offered.  Subject to the limitations set forth in Paragraph V(a), the stock to be offered pursuant to the grant of an Award may be authorized but unissued Common Stock or Common Stock previously issued and outstanding and reacquired by the Company. Any of such shares which remain unissued and which are not subject to outstanding Awards at the termination of the Plan shall cease to be subject to the Plan but, until termination of the Plan, the Company shall at all times make available a sufficient number of shares to meet the requirements of the Plan.

 

VI. ELIGIBILITY AND GRANT OF AWARDS

 

(a)  Eligibility.  Subject to the delegation of power in Paragraph IV(d), the Committee, in its sole discretion, may from time to time grant Awards under the Plan as provided herein to any individual who, at the time of grant, is an Employee, Consultant or a Director. An Award may be granted on more than one occasion to the same person, subject to the limitations set forth in the Plan. The Plan is discretionary in nature, and the grant of Awards by the Committee is voluntary. The Committee’s selection of an eligible Employee, Consultant or Director to receive an Award in any year or at any time shall not require the Committee to select such Employee, Consultant or Director to receive an Award in any other year or at any other time. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in selecting Participants.

 

(b)  Form of Awards Available.  Awards may include Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards, Dividend Equivalents or any combination thereof. The selection of an Employee, Consultant or Director to receive one type of Award under the Plan does not require the Committee to select such Employee, Consultant or Director to receive any other type of Award under the Plan. The Committee shall consider such factors as it deems pertinent in determining the type and amount of Awards granted.

 

(c)  Award Notice.  Each Award shall be evidenced by an Award Notice in such form and containing such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan and under such terms as the Committee from time to time shall establish. The terms and provisions of the respective Award Notices need not be identical. Subject to the consent of the Participant and any restrictions pursuant to Section 162(m) of the Code (with respect to Awards the Committee intends to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code), the Committee may, in its sole discretion, amend an outstanding Award Notice from time to time in any manner that is not inconsistent with the provisions of the Plan.

 

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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan, and except as otherwise determined by the Committee, any Award which is granted to a Participant and that the Committee intends to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be subject to any additional limitations, conditions or terms set forth in Section 162(m) of the Code as may be necessary or required for the Award to qualify as performance-based compensation and comply with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code, and the applicable Award Notice shall be deemed amended to the extent necessary to conform thereto.

 

VII. STOCK OPTIONS

 

(a)  Option Types and Option Period.  Options may be in the form of Incentive Stock Options and/or Non-Qualified Options for eligible Employees (as described below), as determined by the Committee, in its sole discretion. Any Options granted to Directors or Consultants shall be Non-Qualified Options. Except as otherwise provided in Subparagraph (c) below or in an Award Notice providing for a shorter term, each Option shall expire seven (7) years from its date of grant (subject to earlier termination as described in Subparagraph (i) below or an applicable Award Notice).

 

(b)  Vesting.  Subject to the further provisions of the Plan, Options shall vest and become exercisable in accordance with such vesting schedule as the Committee may establish in its sole discretion, including, without limitation, vesting upon the satisfaction of one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures. A Participant may not exercise an Option except to the extent it has become vested.

 

(c)  Special Limitations on Incentive Stock Options.  An Incentive Stock Option may be granted only to an Employee of the Company or any parent or subsidiary corporation (as defined in Section 424 of the Code) at the time the Option is granted. To the extent that the aggregate Fair Market Value (determined at the time the respective Incentive Stock Option is granted) of Common Stock with respect to which Incentive Stock Options are exercisable for the first time by an individual during any calendar year under all incentive stock option plans of the Company and its parent and subsidiary corporations exceeds $100,000, such Incentive Stock Options shall be treated as Non-Qualified Options. The Committee shall determine, in accordance with applicable provisions of the Code, any applicable treasury regulations and other administrative pronouncements, which of a Participant’s Incentive Stock Options will not constitute Incentive Stock Options because of such limitation and shall notify the Participant of such determination as soon as practicable after such determination is made. No Incentive Stock Option shall be granted to an individual if, at the time the Option is granted, such individual owns stock possessing more than ten percent (10%) of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Company or of any parent or subsidiary corporation, within the meaning of Section 422(b)(6) of the Code, unless (i) at the time such Option is granted the Option price is at least 110% of the Fair Market Value of the Common Stock subject to the Option and (ii) such Option by its terms is not exercisable after the expiration of five (5) years from the date of grant. An Incentive Stock Option shall not be transferable otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and shall be exercisable during the Participant’s lifetime only by such Participant or the Participant’s guardian or legal representative. A Participant shall give the Company prompt written or electronic notice of any disposition of shares of Common Stock acquired by exercise of an Incentive Stock Option which occurs within (a) two (2) years from the date of granting (including the date the Option is modified, extended or renewed for purposes of Section 424(h) of the Code) such Option to such Participant, or (b) one (1) year after the transfer of such shares of Common Stock to such Participant.

 

(d)  Option Price and Payment.  The price at which a share of Common Stock may be purchased upon exercise of an Option shall be determined by the Committee but such per share purchase price shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the date such Option is granted. The Option or portion thereof shall be exercised, and any applicable taxes shall be withheld, in accordance with such procedures as are established or approved by the Committee. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Plan to the contrary, no Participant who is a Director or an “executive officer” of the Company within the meaning of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act shall be permitted to make payment with respect to any Option granted under the Plan, or continue any extension of credit with respect to such payment, with a loan from the Company or an Affiliate or a loan arranged by the Company or an Affiliate in violation of Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act. The acceptable method of payment by the Participant of the Option price, in whole or in part, shall be provided for in the Award Notice and may include: (i) cash, (ii) a check acceptable to the Company, (iii) the delivery of shares of Common Stock (including shares of Common Stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of the Option or shares of Common Stock that have been held by the Participant for such period of time as may be required by the Committee in its discretion) (plus cash if necessary), in each case, having a Fair Market Value equal to such Option price, (iv) a “cashless broker exercise” of the Option through any other procedures established or approved by the Committee with respect thereto, (v) any other form of legal consideration acceptable to the Committee in its sole discretion, or (vi) any combination of the foregoing.

 

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(e)  Manner of Exercise.  All or a portion of an exercisable Option shall be deemed exercised upon delivery to the Company, the stock administrator of the Company or such other person or entity designated by the Committee (i) full payment of the Option price and applicable withholding taxes with respect to the Option exercise and (ii) the required notice of exercise as set forth in the applicable Award Notice and all documents required pursuant to procedures established by the Committee.

 

(f)  Restrictions on Repricing of Options.  Except as provided in Paragraph XIII, the Committee may not amend any outstanding Award Notice to lower the exercise price (or cancel and replace any outstanding Option with Options having a lower exercise price).

 

(g)  Stockholder Rights and Privileges.  The Participant shall be entitled to all the privileges and rights of a stockholder only with respect to such shares of Common Stock as have been purchased upon exercise of the Option and registered in the Participant’s name.

 

(h)  Options in Substitution for Options Granted by Other Employers.  Options may be granted under the Plan from time to time or approved by the Committee or the Board in substitution of options held by individuals providing services to corporations or other entities who become Employees, Consultants or Directors as result of a merger or consolidation or other business transaction with the Company or any Affiliate.

 

(i)  Committee’s Discretion to Accelerate Vesting of Options.  Subject to Sections 162(m) and 409A of the Code and any other applicable law, the Committee may, in its discretion and as of a date determined by the Committee, fully vest any portion or all of a Participant’s Options. Any action by the Committee pursuant to this Subparagraph (i) may vary among Participants and may vary among the Options held by any Participant.

 

(j)  Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise stated in the Award Notice or in any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate thereof, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service:

 

(i)                     vested Options may be exercised only within three (3) months of such Termination of Service unless such Termination of Service results from Cause, in which event all outstanding vested Options held by such Participant shall be automatically forfeited unexercised on such termination; and

 

(ii)                  unvested Options shall automatically terminate and be cancelled unexercised on such date, unless such Termination of Service is due to the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, in which case all unvested Options shall become vested upon such termination and all vested Options held by such Participant may be exercised by the Participant, the Participant’s legal representative, heir or devisee, as the case may be, within two (2) years from the date of the Participant’s Termination of Service;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall the term of an Option extend beyond the seventh (7th) anniversary of its date of grant or, such shorter period, if any, as may be provided in the Award Notice.

 

VIII. RESTRICTED STOCK

 

(a)  Restrictions to be Established by the Committee.  Restricted Stock shall be subject to restrictions on disposition by the Participant and an obligation of the Participant to forfeit and surrender the shares to the Company under certain circumstances, and any other restrictions determined by the Committee in its sole discretion on the date of grant, including, without limitation, restrictions relating to:

 

(i)                     the attainment of one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures;

 

(ii)                  the Participant’s continued service as an Employee, Consultant or Director for a specified period of time;

 

(iii)               the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole discretion; or

 

(iv)              a combination of any of the foregoing.

 

Each grant of Restricted Stock may have different restrictions as established in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

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(b)  Other Terms and Conditions.  Restricted Stock shall be registered in the name of the Participant. Unless provided otherwise in an Award Notice, the Participant shall have the right to receive dividends with respect to Restricted Stock, to vote Restricted Stock, and to enjoy all other stockholder rights, except that: (i) the Company shall retain custody of the Restricted Stock until the Restrictions have expired; (ii) the Participant may not sell, transfer, pledge, exchange, hypothecate or otherwise dispose of the Restricted Stock until the restrictions have expired; and (iii) a breach of the terms and conditions established by the Committee pursuant to the Restricted Stock Notice shall cause a forfeiture of the Restricted Stock. At the time of grant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish additional terms, conditions or restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall be set forth in an Award Notice delivered in conjunction with the Award.

 

(c)  Payment for Restricted Stock.  The Committee shall determine the amount and form of payment required from the Participant in exchange for a grant of Restricted Stock, if any, provided that in the absence of such a determination, a Participant shall not be required to make any payment for Restricted Stock, except to the extent otherwise required by law.

 

(d)  Committee’s Discretion to Accelerate Vesting of Restricted Stock.  The Committee may, in its discretion and as of a date determined by the Committee, fully vest any or all of a Participant’s Restricted Stock and, upon such vesting, all restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock shall terminate as of such date. Any action by the Committee pursuant to this Subparagraph (d) may vary among individual Participants and may vary among the Restricted Stock held by any individual Participant. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, the Committee may not take any action described in this Subparagraph (d) with respect to Restricted Stock that has been granted to a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(c)(2)) if the Committee intends such Award to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, however, this prohibition shall not apply to an acceleration pursuant to Paragraph XIII or due to death or Disability of the Participant.

 

(e)  Section 83(b) Election.  If a Participant makes an election under Section 83(b) of the Code to be taxed with respect to the Restricted Stock as of the date of transfer of the Restricted Stock rather than as of the date or dates upon which the Participant would otherwise be taxable under Section 83(a) of the Code, the Participant shall be required to deliver a copy of such election to the Company promptly after filing such election with the Internal Revenue Service along with proof of the timely filing thereof with the Internal Revenue Service.

 

(f)  Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise stated in the Award Notice or in any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate thereof, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service, unvested Restricted Stock shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited on such termination unless such Termination of Service is due to the Participant’s death or Disability, in which case all restrictions applicable to such Award shall lapse upon the date of such termination with all performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures, if any, applicable to such Award deemed achieved at 100% of target performance.

 

IX. RESTRICTED STOCK UNITS

 

(a)  Restrictions to be Established by the Committee.  Restricted Stock Units shall be subject to a restriction on disposition by the Participant and an obligation of the Participant to forfeit the Restricted Stock Units under certain circumstances, and any other restrictions determined by the Committee in its sole discretion on the date of grant, including, without limitation, restrictions relating to:

 

(i)                     the attainment of one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures;

 

(ii)                  the Participant’s continued service as an Employee, Consultant or Director for a specified period of time;

 

(iii)               the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole discretion; or

 

(iv)              a combination of any of the foregoing.

 

Each Award of Restricted Stock Units may have different restrictions as established in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

(b)  Other Terms and Conditions.  The Participant shall not be entitled to vote the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units or enjoy any other stockholder rights unless and until the restrictions have lapsed and such shares have been registered in the Participant’s name. At the time of grant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish additional terms, conditions or restrictions relating to the Restricted Stock Units. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall be set forth in an Award Notice delivered in conjunction with the Award.

 

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(c)  Payment.  Upon the lapse of the restrictions described in the Award Notice or at such time(s) as determined by the Committee at the time of grant and specified in the Award Notice (which time(s) shall be no earlier than the date upon which the applicable restrictions lapse and may be determined at the election of the Participant, if permitted by the applicable Award Notice), the Participant shall receive payment equal to the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Restricted Stock Units scheduled to be paid on such date, less applicable withholding. Payment shall be in the form of shares of Common Stock, cash, other equity compensation, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, payment with respect to each Restricted Stock Unit shall be made no later than two and a half (21/2) months following the end of the calendar year or fiscal year, as applicable, in which the Restricted Stock Unit vests.

 

(d)  Committee’s Discretion to Accelerate Vesting of Restricted Stock Units.  The Committee may, in its discretion and as of a date determined by the Committee, fully vest any portion or all of a Participant’s Restricted Stock Units and, upon such vesting, all restrictions applicable to such Restricted Stock Units shall terminate as of such date. Any action by the Committee pursuant to this Subparagraph (d) may vary among Participants and may vary among the Restricted Stock Units held by any Participant. Notwithstanding the preceding provisions of this paragraph, the Committee may not take any action described in this Subparagraph (d) with respect to Restricted Stock Units that have been granted to a “covered employee” (within the meaning of Treasury Regulation Section 1.162-27(c)(2)) if the Committee intends such Award to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code; provided, however, this prohibition shall not apply to an acceleration pursuant to Paragraph XIII.

 

(e)  Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise stated in the Award Notice or in any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate thereof, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service, unvested Restricted Stock Units shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited on such termination unless such Termination of Service is due to the Participant’s death or Disability, in which case all unvested Restricted Stock Units shall become vested upon such termination with all performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures, if any, applicable to such Award deemed achieved at 100% of target performance.

 

X. STOCK APPRECIATION RIGHTS

 

(a)  Restrictions to be Established by the Committee.  Stock Appreciation Rights shall be subject to a restriction on disposition by the Participant and an obligation of the Participant to forfeit the Stock Appreciation Rights under certain circumstances, and any other restrictions determined by the Committee in its sole discretion on the date of grant, including, without limitation, restrictions relating to:

 

(i)                     the attainment of one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures;

 

(ii)                  the Participant’s continued service as an Employee, Consultant or Director for a specified period of time;

 

(iii)               the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole discretion; or

 

(iv)              a combination of any of the foregoing.

 

Each Award of Stock Appreciation Rights may have different restrictions as established in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

(b)  Other Terms and Conditions.  At the time of grant, the Committee may, in its sole discretion, establish additional terms, conditions or restrictions relating to the Stock Appreciation Rights. Such additional terms, conditions or restrictions shall be set forth in the Award Notice delivered in conjunction with the Award. Except as otherwise provided in an Award Notice providing for a shorter term, Stock Appreciation Rights shall expire seven (7) years from the date of grant (subject to earlier termination as described in Subparagraph (f) below or an applicable Award Notice).

 

(c)  Exercise Price and Payment.  The exercise price of the Stock Appreciation Rights shall not be less than the Fair Market Value of the shares of Common Stock underlying the Stock Appreciation Rights on the date of grant. Upon the lapse of the restrictions described in the Award Notice, the Participant shall be entitled to exercise his or her Stock Appreciation Rights at any time up until the end of the period specified in the Award Notice. The Stock Appreciation Rights, or portion thereof, shall be exercised and any applicable taxes withheld, in accordance with such procedures as are established or approved by the Committee. Upon exercise of the Stock Appreciation Rights, the Participant shall be entitled to receive payment in an amount equal to: (i) the difference between the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of

 

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Common Stock subject to the Stock Appreciation Rights on the date of exercise and the exercise price; times (ii) the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Rights are exercised; less (iii) any applicable withholding taxes. Payment shall be made in the form of shares of Common Stock or cash, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. Cash shall be paid in a lump sum payment and shall be based on the Fair Market Value of the underlying Common Stock on the exercise date.

 

(d)  Manner of Exercise.  All or a portion of an exercisable Stock Appreciation Right shall be deemed exercised upon delivery to the Company, the stock administrator of the Company, or such other person or entity designated by the Committee (i) full payment of the exercise price and applicable withholding taxes for the Shares with respect to which the Stock Appreciation Right, or portion thereof, is exercised and (ii) the required notice of exercise as set forth in the applicable Award Notice and all documents required pursuant to procedures established by the Committee.

 

(e)  Committee’s Discretion to Accelerate Vesting of Stock Appreciation Rights.  Subject to Section 162(m) of the Code, the Committee may, in its discretion and as of a date determined by the Committee, fully vest any portion or all of a Participant’s Stock Appreciation Rights and, upon such vesting, all restrictions applicable to such Stock Appreciation Rights shall terminate as of such date. Any action by the Committee pursuant to this Subparagraph (e) may vary among Participants and may vary among the Stock Appreciation Rights held by any Participant.

 

(f)  Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise stated in the Award Notice or in any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate thereof, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service, unvested Stock Appreciation Rights shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited on such termination unless such Termination of Service is due to the Participant’s death, Disability or Retirement, in which case all unvested Stock Appreciation Rights shall become vested upon such termination with all performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures, if any, applicable to such Award deemed achieved at 100% of target performance.

 

XI. PERFORMANCE AWARDS

 

(a)  Performance Period.  The Committee shall establish, with respect to and at the time of each Performance Award, the maximum value of the Performance Award and the performance period over which the performance applicable to the Performance Award shall be measured.

 

(b)  Performance Measures and Other Criteria.  A Performance Award shall be awarded to a Participant contingent upon future performance of the Company or any Affiliate, or a division or department of the Company or any Affiliate, during the performance period. With respect to Performance Awards which the Committee intends to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code, either (i) prior to the beginning of the performance period or (ii) within ninety (90) days after the beginning of the performance period if the outcome of the performance targets is substantially uncertain at the time such targets are established, but not later than the date that twenty-five percent (25%) of the performance period has elapsed, the Committee shall, in writing, (a) select the Performance Measures applicable to the performance period and (b) establish the performance targets and amounts of such Performance Awards, as applicable, which may be earned for such performance period based on the Performance Measures. The vesting of Performance Awards shall be based on such conditions as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion on the date of grant, including, without limitation, vesting conditions relating to:

 

(i)                     the Participant’s continued service as an Employee, Consultant or Director for a specified period of time;

 

(ii)                  the attainment of one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures;

 

(iii)               the occurrence of any event or the satisfaction of any other condition specified by the Committee in its sole discretion; or

 

(iv)              a combination of any of the foregoing;

 

provided, however, that notwithstanding the foregoing, the vesting of any Performance Award which the Committee intends to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be based solely on (x) to the extent required by Section 162(m)(4)(C) of the Code, the Participant’s continued service as an Employee, Consultant or Director throughout the applicable performance period, and (y) the attainment of one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may also provide for an adjustable Performance Award value based upon the level of achievement of Performance Measures.

 

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(c)  Award Criteria.  In determining the value of a Performance Award, the Committee shall take into account a Participant’s responsibility level, performance, potential, other Awards, total annual compensation and such other considerations as it deems appropriate. The Committee, in its sole discretion, may provide for a reduction in the value of a Participant’s Performance Award during the performance period.

 

(d)  Types of Performance Awards.  Notwithstanding anything to contrary in this Paragraph XI, the Committee may grant Performance Awards payable based on the attainment of performance targets based on Performance Measures or other criteria, whether or not objective, which are established by the Committee in its sole discretion in each case on a specified date or dates or over any period or periods determined by the Committee; provided, however, that any Performance Awards which the Committee intends to qualify as “performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code shall be based upon objectively determinable criteria established in accordance with Subparagraph (b) above and shall be subject to any other requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code (and any regulations or rules promulgated thereunder).

 

(e)  Payment.  Following the end of the performance period and subject to the applicable vesting requirements, the holder of a Performance Award shall be entitled to receive payment of an amount not exceeding the maximum value of the Performance Award, based on the achievement of the performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures for such performance period, as determined and certified in writing, prior to such payment, by the Committee. Payment of a Performance Award may be made in cash, Common Stock, Options or other equity compensation, or a combination thereof, as determined by the Committee. If a Performance Award covering shares of Common Stock is to be paid in cash, such payment shall be based on the Fair Market Value of a share of Common Stock on the payment date. Subject to compliance with Section 409A of the Code, payment of the portion of the Award vesting shall be made no later than two and a half (21/2) months following the end of the calendar year or fiscal year, as applicable, in which the Performance Award vests.

 

(f)  Effect of Termination of Service.  Unless otherwise stated in the Award Notice or in any other written agreement between a Participant and the Company or an Affiliate thereof, upon a Participant’s Termination of Service, unvested Performance Awards shall be automatically cancelled and forfeited on such termination unless such Termination of Service is due to the Participant’s death or Disability, in which case all unvested Performance Awards shall become vested upon such termination based on the level of performance determined by the Committee as of the date of such termination or, if such performance level has not yet been determined, at 100% of target performance.

 

XII. OTHER AWARDS

 

(a)  Other Stock-Based Awards.  The Committee is authorized to grant Other Stock-Based Awards to any Employee, Consultant or Director. The number or value of shares of Common Stock of any Other Stock-Based Award shall be determined by the Committee and may be based upon one or more performance targets based on one or more Performance Measures or any other specific criteria, including service to the Company or any Affiliate, as determined by the Committee. Shares underlying an Other Stock-Based Award which is subject to a vesting schedule or other conditions or criteria set by the Committee shall not be issued until those conditions have been satisfied. Unless otherwise provided by the Committee, the holder of an Other Stock-Based Award shall have no rights as a Company stockholder with respect to such Other Stock-Based Award until such time as the Other Stock-Based Award has vested and the shares underlying the Other Stock-Based Award have been issued to the holder. Other Stock-Based Awards may, but are not required to, be granted in lieu of base salary, bonus, fees or other cash compensation otherwise payable to such Employee, Consultant or Director.

 

(b)  Dividend Equivalents.  Dividend Equivalents may be granted by the Committee based on dividends declared on shares of Common Stock, to be credited as of dividend payment dates with respect to dividends with record dates that occur during the period between the date an Award is granted to a Participant and the date such Award vests, is exercised, is distributed or expires, as determined by the Committee. Such Dividend Equivalents shall be converted to cash or additional shares of Common Stock by such formula and at such time and subject to such restrictions and limitations as may be determined by the Committee. In addition, Dividend Equivalents with respect to an Award with performance-based vesting that are based on dividends paid prior to the vesting of such Award shall only be paid out to the Participant to the extent that the performance-based vesting conditions are subsequently satisfied and the Award vests. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Dividend Equivalents shall be payable with respect to Options or Stock Appreciation Rights.

 

XIII. RECAPITALIZATION OR REORGANIZATION

 

(a)  No Effect on Right or Power.  The existence of the Plan and the Awards granted hereunder shall not affect in any way the right or power of the Board or the stockholders of the Company to make or authorize any adjustment, recapitalization, reorganization or other change in the Company’s or any Affiliate’s capital structure or its business, any merger or consolidation of the Company or any Affiliate, any issue of debt or equity securities ahead of or affecting Common Stock or the rights thereof, the dissolution or liquidation of the Company or any Affiliate or any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or any part of its assets or business or any other corporate act or proceeding.

 

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(b)  Subdivision or Consolidation of Shares; Stock Dividends.  In the event that the Company effects a subdivision or consolidation of shares of Common Stock or the payment of a dividend on Common Stock which is paid in the form of Company stock without receipt of consideration by the Company, other than an Equity Restructuring, the number of shares of Common Stock with respect to which any outstanding Award may thereafter be exercised or satisfied, shall be adjusted as follows: (i) in the event of an increase in the number of outstanding shares, the number shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be proportionately increased, and the purchase price per share shall be proportionately reduced; and (ii) in the event of a reduction in the number of outstanding shares, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to the Award shall be proportionately reduced, and the purchase price per share shall be proportionately increased, other than in the event of a Company-directed share repurchase program. Any fractional share resulting from such adjustment shall be rounded up to the next whole share. Such proportionate adjustments will be made for purposes of making sure that to the extent possible, the fair value of the Awards after the subdivision, consolidation or dividend is equal to the fair value before the change.

 

(c)  Corporate Changes.  Except as otherwise determined by the Committee, in the event of a Corporate Change, effective upon such Corporate Change (or at such earlier time as the Committee may provide), the Committee, acting in its sole discretion without the consent or approval of any Participant and on such terms and conditions as it may determine, may take any one or more of the following actions with respect to Awards under the Plan whenever it determines that such action is appropriate in order to prevent dilution or enlargement of the benefits or potential benefits intended to be made available under the Plan or with respect to any Awards under the Plan or to facilitate such Corporate Change, which actions may vary among individual Participants and which may vary among Awards held by any individual Participant:

 

(i)                     provide that all outstanding Awards shall immediately become exercisable or payable or fully vested, and all restrictions thereupon shall lapse, with respect to all shares of Common Stock covered thereby, and all Awards, the payout of which is subject to performance targets and/or Performance Measures, shall vest in full and become payable at such levels as the Committee in its sole discretion shall determine notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan or applicable Award Notice;

 

(ii)                  provide for either (A) the termination of each outstanding Award in exchange for an amount in cash, if any, equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights (and, for the avoidance of doubt, if as of the date of the occurrence of the Corporate Change, the Committee determines in good faith that no amount would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights, then such Award may be terminated by the Company without payment) or (B) the replacement of such Award with other rights or property (including, without limitation, cash) selected by the Committee, in its sole discretion, having an aggregate value equal to the amount that would have been attained upon the exercise of such Award or realization of the Participant’s rights had such Award currently been exercisable or payable or fully vested;

 

(iii)               provide that the number and type of shares of Common Stock (or other securities or property) covered by such Awards, and/or the terms and conditions (including the grant or exercise price) of, and the criteria included in, outstanding Awards, shall be equitably and proportionately adjusted as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion; and

 

(iv)              provide that such Awards be assumed by the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, or shall be substituted for by similar options, rights or awards covering the stock of the successor or survivor corporation, or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number and kind of shares and prices.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Award Notice provides for more favorable treatment of an Award in connection with a Corporate Change than the treatment that would otherwise apply to such Award under this Subparagraph (c), as determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, then the terms of the Award Notice (and not the terms of this Subparagraph (c)) shall govern the treatment of such Awards in connection with a Corporate Change.

 

(d)  Other Changes in the Common Stock.  In the event of changes in the outstanding Common Stock by reason of recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, combination, stock split, stock dividend, spin-off, exchange or other relevant changes in capitalization or distributions to the holders of Common Stock that is not subject to Subparagraphs (b), (c) or (e) of this Paragraph XIII and that would have the effect of diluting or enlarging the rights of Participants (excluding, for the avoidance of doubt, any Equity Restructuring), each Award and any notice evidencing such Award shall be subject to equitable or proportionate adjustment by the Committee at its sole discretion as to the number, kind and price of shares of Common Stock or other securities or property subject to such Award. In the event of any such change in the outstanding Common Stock or distribution to the holders of Common Stock, or upon the occurrence of any other event described in this Paragraph XIII, other than an Equity Restructuring, the aggregate number of and kind shares available under

 

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the Plan, the maximum number of shares that may be subject to Awards granted to any one individual, and the manner in which shares of Common Stock subject to Full Value Awards will be counted may be appropriately adjusted to the extent, if any, determined by the Committee, whose determination shall be conclusive. Such proportionate adjustments will be made for purposes of making sure that to the extent possible, the fair value of the Awards after the subdivision, consolidation or dividend is equal to the fair value before the change.

 

(e)  Equity Restructurings.  In connection with the occurrence of any Equity Restructuring, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in Subparagraphs (a)-(d) of this Paragraph XIII:

 

(i)                     the number and type of securities subject to each outstanding Award and the exercise price or grant price thereof, if applicable, shall be equitably adjusted; and/or

 

(ii)                  the Committee shall make such equitable adjustments, if any, as the Committee, in its sole discretion, may deem appropriate to reflect such Equity Restructuring with respect to the aggregate number and kind of shares of Common Stock that may be issued under the Plan (including, but not limited to, adjustments of the limitations in Paragraph V on the maximum number and kind of shares which may be issued under the Plan and of the Award limits, and adjustments of the manner in which shares of Common Stock subject to Full Value Awards will be counted). The adjustments provided under this Subparagraph (e) shall be nondiscretionary and shall be final and binding on the affected Participant and the Company.

 

(f)  No Adjustments Unless Otherwise Provided.  Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issuance by the Company of shares of stock of any class or securities convertible into shares of stock of any class, for cash, property, labor or services, upon direct sale, upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares or other securities, and in any case whether or not for fair value, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall be made with respect to, the number of shares of Common Stock subject to Awards theretofore granted or the purchase price per share, if applicable.

 

XIV. AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE PLAN

 

Except as otherwise provided in this Paragraph XIV or Paragraph XV(l) below, the Board or Committee in its discretion may terminate the Plan or alter, modify or amend the Plan or any part thereof at any time or from time to time; provided that no action of the Board or Committee may impair the rights of a Participant with respect to any outstanding Award without the consent of the Participant, and provided, further, that neither the Board nor the Committee may, without approval of the stockholders of the Company, or except as provided under Paragraph XIII, (a) increase the maximum aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the Plan under Paragraph V(a), (b) reduce the price per share of any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right granted under the Plan or take any action prohibited under Paragraph VII(g), or (c) cancel any outstanding Option or Stock Appreciation Right in exchange for cash or another Award when the per share price of the Option or Stock Appreciation Right exceeds the Fair Market Value of the underlying shares of Common Stock. In addition, the Company shall obtain stockholder approval of any amendment to the Plan to the extent necessary to comply with any applicable law or the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then-listed.

 

XV. MISCELLANEOUS

 

(a)  Term of Awards.  The term of each Award shall be for such period as determined by the Committee; provided, that in no event shall the term of any such Award exceed a period of ten (10) years (or such shorter term as may be required in respect of Incentive Stock Options, Non-Qualified Options or Stock Appreciation Rights, as applicable).

 

(b)  No Right to an Award.  Neither the adoption of the Plan nor any action of the Board or of the Committee shall be deemed to give any individual any right to be granted Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units, Stock Appreciation Rights, Performance Awards, Other Stock-Based Awards, Dividend Equivalents or any other rights hereunder except as may be evidenced by an Award Notice, and then only to the extent and on the terms and conditions expressly set forth therein.

 

(c)  Unfunded Status of Plan.  The Plan is intended to constitute an “unfunded” plan for incentive and deferred compensation purposes, including Section 409A of the Code. The Committee may authorize the creation of trusts or other arrangements to meet the obligations created under the Plan to deliver shares of Common Stock or make payments; provided the Committee first determines in its sole discretion that the structure of such trusts or other arrangements shall not cause any change in the “unfunded” status of the Plan.

 

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(d)  No Service/Membership Rights Conferred.  Nothing contained in the Plan or any Award shall (i) confer upon any Employee, Consultant or Director any right to continued employment, consultancy or other service with the Company or any Affiliate or (ii) interfere in any way with the right of the Company or any Affiliate to terminate his or her employment, consultancy or other service relationship at any time.

 

(e)  Compliance with Securities Laws.  The Company shall not be obligated to issue any shares of Common Stock pursuant to an Award granted under the Plan at any time when the shares covered by such Award have not been registered pursuant to applicable U.S. federal, state or non-U.S. securities laws, or, in the opinion of legal counsel for the Company, the issuance and sale of such shares is not covered under an applicable exemption from such registration requirements.

 

(f)  No Fractional Shares.  No fractional shares of Common Stock nor cash in lieu of fractional shares of Common Stock shall be distributed or paid pursuant to an Award. For purposes of the foregoing, any fractional shares of Common Stock shall be rounded up to the nearest whole share.

 

(g)  Tax Obligations; Withholding of Shares.  The Company and its Affiliates shall have the authority to deduct or withhold, or require a Participant to remit or pay to the Company or its Affiliates, an amount sufficient to satisfy U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income and social insurance taxes (including, without limitation, the Participant’s FICA, employment tax or other social security contribution obligation) required by law to be withheld with respect to any taxable event concerning a Participant and arising as a result of the Plan. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and its Affiliates may, in its sole discretion and in satisfaction of the foregoing requirement, withhold or permit the Participant to elect to have the Company withhold a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock that are otherwise issuable to the Participant pursuant to an Award (or allow the surrender of shares of Common Stock). The number of shares of Common Stock which may be so withheld or surrendered shall be limited to the number of shares of Common Stock that have a Fair Market Value on the date of withholding or repurchase equal to the aggregate amount of such liabilities based on the applicable minimum statutory withholding rates for U.S. federal, state, local or non-U.S. income and social insurance taxes and payroll taxes, as determined by the Committee. For purposes of the foregoing, the Committee may establish such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate.

 

(h)  No Restriction on Corporate Action.  Nothing contained in the Plan shall be construed to prevent the Company or an Affiliate from taking any action that is deemed by the Company or such Affiliate to be appropriate or in its best interest, regardless of whether such action would have an adverse effect on the Plan or any Award made under the Plan. No Participant, representative of a Participant, or other person shall have any claim against the Company or any Affiliate as a result of any such action.

 

(i)  No Stockholder Rights; Restrictions on Transfer.  Except as otherwise provided herein, a Participant shall have none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to shares of Common Stock covered by an Award unless and until the Participant becomes the record owner of such shares. An Award (other than an Incentive Stock Option, which shall be subject to the transfer restrictions set as forth in Paragraph VII(c)) shall not be transferable otherwise than (i) by will or the laws of descent and distribution, (ii) pursuant to a qualified domestic relations order as defined by the Code or Title I of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or the rules thereunder, or (iii) if vested, with the consent of the Committee, in its sole discretion provided that any such transfer is permitted under the applicable securities laws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Restricted Stock, once vested and free of any restrictions, may be transferred at will.

 

(j)  Clawback.  The Committee shall have the right to provide, in an Award Notice or otherwise, or to require a Participant to agree by separate written or electronic instrument, that all Awards (including any proceeds, gains or other economic benefit actually or constructively received by the Participant upon any receipt or exercise of any Award or upon the receipt or resale of any shares of Common Stock underlying the Award) shall be subject to the provisions of any claw-back policy implemented by the Company, including, without limitation, any claw-back policy adopted to comply with the requirements of applicable law, including without limitation the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and any rules or regulations promulgated thereunder, to the extent set forth in such claw-back policy and/or in the applicable Award Notice.

 

(k)  Limitations Period.  Any Participant who believes he or she is being denied any benefit or right under the Plan may file a written claim with the Committee. Any claim must be delivered to the Committee within forty-five (45) days of the specific event giving rise to the claim. Untimely claims will not be processed and shall be deemed denied. The Committee, or its designee, will notify the Participant of its decision in writing as soon as administratively practicable. Claims not responded to by the Committee in writing within one hundred and twenty (120) days of the date the written claim is delivered to the Committee shall be deemed denied. The Committee’s decision is final and conclusive and binding on all persons. No lawsuit relating to the Plan may be filed before a written claim is filed with the Committee and is denied or deemed denied and any lawsuit must be filed within one (1) year of such denial or deemed denial or be forever barred.

 

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(l)  Section 409A of the Code.  It is intended that all Awards under the Plan be structured in compliance with, or to satisfy an exemption from, Section 409A of the Code in order to avoid imposition of taxes, interest or penalties thereunder. Notwithstanding anything in this Plan to the contrary, to the extent that the Committee determines that any Award under the Plan may be subject to Section 409A of the Code, the Committee may, without a Participant’s consent, adopt such amendments to the Plan and the applicable Award agreement or take any other actions (including amendments and actions with retroactive effect), that the Committee, in its sole discretion, determines are necessary or appropriate to preserve the intended tax treatment of the Award, including without limitation, actions intended to (a) exempt the Award from Section 409A of the Code, or (b) comply with the requirements of Section 409A of the Code; provided, however, that nothing in this Subparagraph (l) shall create any obligation on the part of the Company or any of its Affiliates to adopt any such amendment or take any other such action or any liability for any failure to do so. Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, in no event shall the Company or its Affiliates have any obligation to indemnify or otherwise compensate any Participant for any taxes or interest imposed under Section 409A of the Code or similar provisions of state law.

 

(m)  Notice.  Unless otherwise provided in an Award Notice, any notice required herein of a Participant shall be delivered to the Company, c/o the Secretary, 16666 Northchase Drive, Houston, Texas 77060; provided, however, that any Award transaction initiated through the Company’s approved broker shall constitute appropriate notice.

 

(n)  Governing Law.  The Plan shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflicts of laws principles.

 

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