SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): October 26, 1999
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Commission File Number 0-21923
Illinois 36-3873352
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(State or other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation
727 North Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(847) 615-4096
(Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
On October 26, 1999 (effective as of October 1, 1999), Wintrust Financial
Corporation ("Wintrust" or "Company") completed the previously announced
acquisition of Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee ("Tricom"), a financial and
administrative service bureau to the staffing industry. Hinsdale Bank and Trust
Company ("Hinsdale"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Wintrust, acquired 100% of
the common stock of Tricom for $8.0 million, consisting of $4.0 million in cash
and 227,635 shares of the Company's common stock. The transaction will be
recorded using the purchase method of accounting.
Tricom has been in business for ten years and provides short-term accounts
receivable financing and value-added out-sourced administrative services, such
as data processing of payrolls, billing and cash management services, to
temporary staffing service clients located throughout the United States. Tricom
revenue is derived primarily from interest income from financing activities and
fee revenue from administrative services provided to its clients. On an
annualized basis, Tricom currently finances and processes payrolls with
associated billings in excess of $200 million and generates revenues of nearly
$7 million.
This acquisition will, by virtue of the funding resources of both Hinsdale
and Wintrust, provide Tricom with additional capital necessary to expand its
financing services in a national market. This acquisition is consistent with the
Company's stated strategy of adding a variety of diversified earning asset and
fee-based business niches to augment its community-based banking revenues.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired.
The financial statements of Tricom required by this item are not available
at the time of filing this Current Report on Form 8-K. Any required financial
statements will be filed under cover of an amendment on Form 8-K/A as soon as
practicable, but not later than 60 days after the required filing date of this
Current Report on 8-K.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.
The pro forma financial information required by this item is not available
at the time of filing this Current Report on Form 8-K. Pro Forma financial
information will be filed under cover of an amendment on Form 8-K/A as soon as
practicable, but not later than 60 days after the required filing date of this
Current Report on Form 8-K.
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(c) Exhibits.
Exhibit 2.1 Stock Purchase Agreement Among Wintrust Financial Corporation
and John Leopold and Mark Kahn dated September 16, 1999.
Exhibit 2.2 Post-Closing Indemnification and Escrow Agreement.
Exhibit 99 Press Release dated October 26, 1999.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(Registrant)
Date: November 1, 1999 By: /s/ David A. Dykstra
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Executive Vice President
& Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT 2.1
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
AMONG
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
AND
JOHN LEOPOLD AND MARK KAHN
SEPTEMBER 16, 1999
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
1. Definitions...............................................................1
2. Purchase and Sale of Target Shares........................................4
(a) Basic Transaction....................................................4
(b) Purchase Price.......................................................4
(i) Wintrust Common Stock.........................................4
(ii) Cash..........................................................5
(iii) Post-Closing Escrow Account...................................5
(iv) Purchase Price Adjustments....................................5
(c) The Closing..........................................................5
(d) Deliveries at the Closing............................................5
(e) Registration of Purchase Shares......................................6
(f) Conditional Rights to Board Seat.....................................6
3. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Transaction.................7
(a) Representations and Warranties of the Sellers........................7
(i) Authorization of Transaction..................................7
(ii) Noncontravention..............................................7
(iii) Brokers' Fees.................................................7
(iv) Target Shares.................................................7
(v) Investment Representations....................................8
(b) Representations and Warranties of Buyer..............................9
(i) Organization of the Buyer.....................................9
(ii) Authorization of Transaction..................................9
(iii) Noncontravention.............................................10
(iv) Brokers' Fees................................................10
(v) SEC Documents................................................10
(vi) No Material Adverse Change...................................10
(vii) Legal Compliance.............................................10
(viii) Litigation...................................................11
4. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Target and Its
Subsidiaries.............................................................11
(a) Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power....................11
(b) Capitalization......................................................11
(c) Noncontravention....................................................11
(d) Brokers' Fees.......................................................12
(e) Title to Assets.....................................................12
(f) Subsidiaries........................................................12
(g) Financial Statements................................................13
(h) Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End....................13
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(i) Undisclosed Liabilities.............................................15
(j) Legal Compliance....................................................15
(k) Tax Matters.........................................................15
(l) Real Property.......................................................17
(m) Intellectual Property...............................................18
(n) Year 2000 Compatibility.............................................20
(o) Tangible Assets.....................................................21
(p) Contracts...........................................................21
(q) Notes and Accounts Receivable.......................................22
(r) Powers of Attorney..................................................22
(s) Insurance...........................................................22
(t) Litigation..........................................................23
(u) Employees...........................................................23
(v) Employee Benefits...................................................24
(w) Guaranties..........................................................26
(x) Environmental, Health, and Safety Matters...........................26
(y) Certain Business Relationships with the Target and Its
Subsidiaries........................................................27
(z) Disclosure..........................................................27
5. Pre-Closing Covenants....................................................28
(a) General.............................................................28
(b) Notices and Consents................................................28
(c) Operation of Business...............................................28
(d) Preservation of Business............................................28
(e) Full Access.........................................................28
(f) Notice of Developments..............................................28
(g) Exclusivity.........................................................29
(h) Year 2000 Compatibility.............................................29
6. Post-Closing Covenants...................................................29
(a) General.............................................................29
(b) Litigation Support..................................................29
(c) Transition..........................................................29
(d) Techstaff, Inc. Contract............................................30
(e) Confidentiality.....................................................30
(f) Insurance Matters...................................................30
7. Conditions to Obligation to Close; Performance at Closing................31
(a) Conditions to Obligation of Buyer...................................31
(b) Conditions to Obligation of the Sellers.............................32
(c) Buyer's Performance at Closing......................................33
(i) Purchase Price...............................................33
(ii) Officers' Certificate........................................33
(iii) Resolutions..................................................33
(iv) Employment Agreement.........................................33
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(v) Post-Closing Escrow Agreement................................33
(vi) Other Instruments............................................33
(d) Sellers' Performance at Closing.....................................33
(i) Target Shares................................................33
(ii) Sellers' Certificate.........................................33
(iii) Certificates.................................................34
(iv) Opinions of Seller's Counsel.................................34
(v) Non-Compete Agreement........................................34
(vi) Employment Agreement.........................................34
(vii) Estoppel Certificates........................................34
(viii) Post-Closing Escrow Agreement................................34
(ix) Techstaff Contract...........................................34
(x) Section 338(h)(10) Election..................................34
(xi) Other Instruments............................................34
8. Remedies for Breaches of This Agreement..................................34
(a) Survival of Representations and Warranties..........................34
(b) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of Buyer.....................35
(c) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Sellers...............35
(d) Limitations on Indemnification......................................36
(e) Matters Involving Third Parties.....................................36
(f) Determination of Adverse Consequences...............................37
(g) Other Indemnification Provisions....................................37
9. Tax Matters..............................................................37
(a) Tax Periods Ending on or Before the Effective Date..................37
(b) Tax Periods Beginning Before and Ending After the Effective Date....37
(c) Cooperation on Tax Matters..........................................38
(d) S Corporation Status................................................39
(e) Section 338(h)(10)..................................................39
(f) Purchase Allocation.................................................39
(g) Tax Sharing Agreements..............................................39
(h) Certain Taxes.......................................................39
10. Termination..............................................................40
(a) Termination of Agreement............................................40
(b) Effect of Termination...............................................40
11. Miscellaneous............................................................41
(a) Nature of Certain Obligations.......................................41
(b) Press Releases and Public Announcements.............................41
(c) No Third-Party Beneficiaries........................................41
(d) Entire Agreement....................................................41
(e) Succession and Assignment...........................................41
(f) Counterparts........................................................41
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(g) Headings............................................................42
(h) Notices.............................................................42
(i) Governing Law.......................................................43
(j) Amendments and Waivers..............................................43
(k) Severability........................................................43
(l) Expenses............................................................43
(m) Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.............................43
(n) Confidentiality.....................................................43
(o) Specific Performance................................................44
(p) Submission to Jurisdiction..........................................44
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LIST OF EXHIBITS
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Exhibit A Form of Post-Closing Indemnification and Escrow Agreement
Exhibit B-1 Leopold Employment Agreement
Exhibit B-2 Other Executives Employment Agreement
Exhibit C Form of Stock Power
Exhibit D Form of Non-Competition Agreement
Exhibit E Form of Estoppel Certificate
Exhibit F Form of Techstaff Service Contract
LIST OF SCHEDULES
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Schedule 2(b)(iv) Purchase Price Adjustments
Schedule 3(a)(i) Authorization of Transaction - Sellers
Schedule 3(b)(ii) Authorization of Transaction - Buyer
Schedule 4(a) Officers and Directors
Schedule 4(b) Capitalization
Schedule 4(c) Noncontravention
Schedule 4(f) Subsidiaries
Schedule 4(g) Financial Statements
Schedule 4(h) Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End
Schedule 4(k) Taxes
Schedule 4(l) Real Property
Schedule 4(m) Intellectual Property
Schedule 4(p) Contracts
Schedule 4(s) Insurance
Schedule 4(t) Litigation
Schedule 4(v) Employee Benefits
Schedule 4(w) Guaranties
Schedule 4(y)(i) Art Work
Schedule 6(j) Leopold Insurance Policies
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STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
This Stock Purchase Agreement is entered into on September 16, 1999, (the
"Execution Date") by and among Wintrust Financial Corporation, an Illinois
corporation ("Buyer"), and John Leopold and Mark Kahn (collectively, the
"Sellers"). Buyer and the Sellers are referred to collectively herein as the
"Parties."
RECITALS
A. The Sellers in the aggregate own all of the outstanding capital stock
of Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Target").
B. This Agreement contemplates a transaction in which Buyer will
purchase from the Sellers, and the Sellers will sell to Buyer, all of the
outstanding capital stock of the Target in return for cash and Buyer Stock.
AGREEMENT
Now, therefore, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises
herein made, and in consideration of the representations, warranties, and
covenants herein contained, the Parties agree as follows.
1. Definitions.
"Adverse Consequences" means all actions, suits, proceedings, hearings,
investigations, charges, complaints, claims, demands, injunctions, judgments,
orders, decrees, rulings, damages, dues, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid
in settlement, Liabilities, obligations, Taxes, liens, losses, expenses, and
fees, including court costs and reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses.
"Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act.
"Affiliated Group" means any affiliated group within the meaning of Code
ss.1504(a) or any similar group defined under a similar provision of state,
local or foreign law.
"Basis" means any past or present fact, situation, circumstance, status,
condition, activity, practice, plan, occurrence, event, incident, action,
failure to act, or transaction that forms or could form the basis for any
specified consequence.
"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"COBRA" means the requirements of Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA
and Code ss.4980B.
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"Confidential Information" means any information concerning the businesses
and affairs of the Target and its Subsidiaries that is not already generally
available to the public.
"Controlled Group" has the meaning set forth in Code ss.1563.
"Deferred Intercompany Transaction" has the meaning set forth in Reg.
ss.1.1502-13.
"Employee Benefit Plan" means any (a) nonqualified deferred compensation or
retirement plan or arrangement, (b) qualified defined contribution retirement
plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan, (c) qualified
defined benefit retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension
Benefit Plan (including any Multiemployer Plan), or (d) Employee Welfare Benefit
Plan or material fringe benefit or other retirement, bonus, or incentive plan or
program.
"Employee Pension Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.3(2).
"Employee Welfare Benefit Plan" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.3(1).
"Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements" shall mean all federal,
state, local and foreign statutes, regulations, ordinances and other provisions
having the force or effect of law, all judicial and administrative orders and
determinations, all contractual obligations and all common law concerning public
health and safety, worker health and safety, and pollution or protection of the
environment, including without limitation all those relating to the presence,
use, production, generation, handling, transportation, treatment, storage,
disposal, distribution, labeling, testing, processing, discharge, release,
threatened release, control, or cleanup of any hazardous materials, substances
or wastes, chemical substances or mixtures, pesticides, pollutants,
contaminants, toxic chemicals, petroleum products or byproducts, asbestos,
polychlorinated biphenyls, noise or radiation, each as amended and as now or
hereafter in effect.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"ERISA Affiliate" means each entity which is treated as a single employer
with Seller for purposes of Code ss.414.
"Excess Loss Account" has the meaning set forth in Reg. ss.1.1502-19.
"Fiduciary" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.3(21).
"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect from time to time.
"Indemnified Party" has the meaning set forth in ss.8(d) below.
"Indemnifying Party" has the meaning set forth in ss.8(d) below.
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"Intellectual Property" means (a) all inventions (whether patentable or
unpatentable and whether or not reduced to practice), all improvements thereto,
and all patents, patent applications, and patent disclosures, together with all
reissuances, continuations, continuations-in-part, revisions, extensions, and
reexaminations thereof, (b) all trademarks, service marks, trade dress, logos,
trade names, and corporate names, together with all translations, adaptations,
derivations, and combinations thereof and including all goodwill associated
therewith, and all applications, registrations, and renewals in connection
therewith, (c) all copyrightable works, all copyrights, and all applications,
registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (d) all mask works and all
applications, registrations, and renewals in connection therewith, (e) all trade
secrets and confidential business information (including ideas, research and
development, know-how, formulas, compositions, manufacturing and production
processes and techniques, technical data, designs, drawings, specifications,
customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost information, and business and
marketing plans and proposals), (f) all computer software (including data and
related documentation), (g) all other proprietary rights, and (h) all copies and
tangible embodiments thereof (in whatever form or medium).
"Knowledge" or "best knowledge" means actual knowledge after reasonable
investigation.
"Liability" means any liability, whether known or unknown, whether asserted
or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued,
whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become due, including
any liability for Taxes.
"Most Recent Balance Sheet" means the balance sheet contained within the
Most Recent Financial Statements.
"Most Recent Financial Statements" has the meaning set forth in ss.4(g)
below.
"Most Recent Fiscal Month End" has the meaning set forth in ss.4(g) below.
"Most Recent Fiscal Year End" has the meaning set forth in ss.4(g) below.
"Multiemployer Plan" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.3(37).
"Ordinary Course of Business" means the ordinary course of business
consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and
frequency).
"PBGC" means the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.
"Person" means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability
company, association, joint stock company, trust, joint venture, unincorporated
organization, or other entity.
"Prohibited Transaction" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.406 and Code
ss.4975.
"Purchase Shares" has the meaning set forth in ss.2(b)(i).
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"Reportable Event" has the meaning set forth in ERISA ss.4043.
"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
"Securities Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.
"Security Interest" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge,
or other security interest, other than (a) mechanic's, materialmen's, and
similar liens, (b) liens for Taxes not yet due and payable, (c) purchase money
liens and liens securing rental payments under capital lease arrangements, and
(d) other liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and not incurred in
connection with the borrowing of money.
"Subsidiary" means any corporation with respect to which a specified Person
(or a Subsidiary thereof) owns a majority of the common stock or has the power
to vote or direct the voting of sufficient securities to elect a majority of the
directors.
"Target Share" means any share of Tricom Common Stock, no par value.
"Tax" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts,
license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium,
windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code ss.59A), customs
duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security (or
similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales,
use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on minimum,
estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty,
or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
"Tax Return" means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or
information return or statement relating to Taxes, including any schedule or
attachment thereto, and including any amendment thereof.
"Wintrust Common Stock" means the common stock of Wintrust Financial
Corporation, no par value.
2. Purchase and Sale of Target Shares.
(a) Basic Transaction. On and subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement, Buyer agrees to purchase from each of the Sellers,
and each of the Sellers agrees to sell to Buyer, all of his Target Shares for
the consideration set forth in Section 2(b).
(b) Purchase Price. The total purchase price for the Target
Shares shall be Eight Million Dollars ($8,000,000) (the "Purchase Price"). The
Purchase Price shall be paid by Buyer in the following manner:
(i) Wintrust Common Stock. At the Closing, Buyer shall deliver
to the Sellers Wintrust Common Stock with a market value of Four Million
Dollars ($4,000,000) (the "Purchase Shares"). The number of Purchase Shares
to be delivered to Sellers
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constituting a market value of Four Million Dollars ($4,000,000) will
be based on the average of the high and low prices for Wintrust Common
Stock as reported in the Wall Street Journal for the ten (10) trading
days preceding the Execution Date. No fractional shares shall be
issued. With respect to any fractional share, Buyer shall pay to the
Sellers an amount in cash equal to such fraction. Buyer shall cause the
Purchase Shares to be registered for resale by Sellers as provided in
Section 2(e) below.
(ii) Cash. Subject to Sections 2(b)(iv) below, at the Closing,
Buyer shall pay to the Sellers Three Million, Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($3,500,000) by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
(iii) Post-Closing Escrow Account. At the Closing, Buyer shall
deposit Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) (the "Post-Closing Escrow
Deposit") in an escrow account for the purpose of securing (i) Sellers'
indemnification obligations set forth in the Post-Closing Indemnification
and Escrow Agreement ("Post-Closing Escrow Agreement") substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Post-Closing Escrow Deposit shall
remain, subject to the terms and conditions of the Post-Closing Escrow
Agreement, in escrow for a period of six (6) months from the Closing Date.
Any amounts remaining in the Post-Closing Escrow Account upon passage of
the six-month anniversary date of the Closing Date shall be disbursed,
subject to the Post-Closing Escrow Agreement, to the Sellers.
(iv) Purchase Price Adjustments. The Purchase Price shall be
subject to adjustments for the items set forth on SCHEDULE 2(B)(IV)
attached hereto (the "Adjustment Items"). The value of the Adjustment Items
shall be determined as of the fifth (5th) business day preceding the
Closing Date and shall be offset against the cash portion of the Purchase
Price set forth in Section 2(b)(ii) above at Closing.
The Purchase Price shall be allocated among the Sellers in proportion to their
respective holdings of Target Shares as set forth in SCHEDULE 4(B) attached
hereto.
(c) The Closing. The closing of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement shall take place at the offices of Pedersen & Houpt, 161 North
Clark, Suite 3100, Chicago, Illinois 60601, commencing at 9:00 a.m. local time
on the second business day following the date on which Buyer has obtained all
approvals required under Section 3(b)(ii), or such other date as Buyer and the
Sellers may mutually determine. Throughout this Agreement, the events to occur
as of the closing of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
collectively referred to as the "Closing" and such date is referred to as the
"Closing Date". Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein,
however, the effective date of the sale of the Target Shares shall be October 1,
1999 (the "Effective Date").
(d) Deliveries at the Closing. At the Closing, (i) the Sellers
shall deliver to Buyer the various certificates, instruments, and documents
referred to in Section 7(d), and (ii) Buyer shall deliver to the Sellers the
various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 7(c).
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(e) Registration of Purchase Shares. On or before the date that is
ten (10) business days after the Closing Date or (ii) two (2) business days
after the date Buyer first publicly announces its 1999 third quarter financial
results, whichever is later, the Buyer agrees to use its best efforts to prepare
and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), at
Buyer's expense, a registration statement on Form S-3 (if then available (1) or
if not, such other available form) in accordance with Rule 415 promulgated under
the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by the Commission (a
"Registration Statement"), relating to the resale of up to all of the Purchase
Shares to be issued to Sellers pursuant to this Agreement. The Buyer will use
its best efforts to have the Registration Statement declared effective under the
Securities Act as promptly as practicable and to keep such Registration
Statement effective until the date one year from the Closing Date or such
earlier date on which all of the Purchase Shares are sold. The Buyer need not
file a separate Registration Statement relating solely to the Purchase Shares,
but may at its option file a Registration Statement covering additional shares
of Wintrust Common Stock that are registrable on the same form. The Buyer
further agrees to supplement the prospectus contained in the Registration
Statement or make amendments to the Registration Statement, in each case as
promptly as practicable, if developments relating to Buyer necessitate such a
filing as required by the rules, regulations or instructions applicable to the
registration form utilized by the Buyer or by the Securities Act, and if so
required, shall immediately so notify the Sellers who shall refrain from making
any further sales under such Registration Statement and prospectus until the
necessary supplement or amendment shall have been prepared and filed as
required. The Buyer shall cause the Purchase Shares to be listed on the Nasdaq
National Market at its expense so as to permit the sale by Sellers of the
Purchase Shares without further action under any state securities or blue sky
laws. The Buyer's obligation hereunder to so prepare and file a Registration
Statement relating to the Purchase Shares is subject to the full cooperation of
the Sellers in furnishing any and all information about themselves and any
contemplated method of resale of such shares as may be necessary to make such
statements not misleading, and any such information so furnished shall be
treated as representations and warranties made by Sellers under this Agreement,
covered by the indemnification provisions set forth in Section 8(b) hereof.
Buyer shall have no obligation or responsibility for payment of any expenses
relating to Sellers' furnishing of prospectuses as may be required under the
Securities Act and will not be obligated to pay any underwriting discounts,
selling commissions, brokers' fees or other offering expenses of any kind
attributable to any resale of the Purchase Shares, which fees and expenses will
be paid by the Sellers. Sellers' rights under this provision 2(e) are not
transferable without Buyer's consent.
(f) Conditional Rights to Board Seat. If (i) as of the close of
business on December 31, 1999, Leopold owns (directly or indirectly,
beneficially or otherwise) more than fifty percent (50%) of the number of shares
delivered to Leopold as of the Closing Date, and (ii) the average bid price for
Wintrust Common Stock as reported in the Wall Street Journal for the period from
the Closing Date until December 31, 1999 is less than the per share value of
Wintrust Common Stock as of the Closing Date as determined under Section
2(b)(i), Buyer shall promptly cause Leopold to be appointed to the Board of
Directors of Buyer, to fill the vacant Class I Board of Directors seat. If
Leopold is appointed to the Board of Directors of Buyer hereunder, and Leopold's
ownership interest (directly or indirectly, beneficially or otherwise) in
Wintrust Common Stock thereafter decreases to fifty percent (50%) or less of the
number of shares delivered to Sellers as of the Closing Date, Leopold shall
promptly resign from Buyer's Board of Directors.
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3. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Transaction.
(a) Representations and Warranties of the Sellers. Each of the
Sellers represents and warrants to Buyer that the statements contained in this
Section 3(a) are correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will
be correct and complete as of the Closing Date with respect to himself.
(i) Authorization of Transaction. The Seller has full power
and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform his
obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of the Seller, enforceable in accordance with its terms
and conditions. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 3(A)(i) attached hereto,
the Seller need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any
authorization, consent, or approval of any government or governmental
agency in order to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(ii) Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, will (A) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule,
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction
of any government, governmental agency, or court to which the Seller is
subject or (B) conflict with, result in a breach of, constitute a default
under, result in the acceleration of, create in any party the right to
accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any notice under any
agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, or other arrangement to
which the Seller is a party or by which he is bound or to which any of his
assets is subject, except as to (i) that certain Collateral Pledge
Agreement dated August 23, 1996 by and between Target and Scott Salick (the
"Pledge Agreement"), that certain Promissory Note in the original principal
amount of $4,125,000.00 dated August 23, 1999, by and between Target and
Scott Salick (the "Salick Note"), that certain General Business Security
Agreement dated as of August 23, 1996 between Target and Scott Salick
("Security Agreement"; the Pledge Agreement, the Salick Note and the
Security Agreement collectively referred to as the "Salick Agreements"),
and (ii) that certain Loan and Security Agreement dated April 24, 1998 by
and between Target and Fleet Capital Corporation (the "Fleet Credit
Facility").
(iii) Brokers' Fees. Except for fees payable to Everen
Securities, which fees shall be paid by the Sellers, the Sellers have no
Liability or obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker,
finder, or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
(iv) Target Shares. Each Seller holds of record and owns
beneficially the number of Target Shares set forth next to his name in
SCHEDULE 4(b) attached hereto, free and clear of any restrictions on
transfer (other than any restrictions under the Securities Act, state
securities laws the Salick Agreements, and the Fleet Credit Facility),
Taxes, Security Interests, options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts,
commitments, equities, claims, and demands. The Seller is not a party to
any option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract
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or commitment that could require the Seller to sell, transfer, or otherwise
dispose of any capital stock of the Target (other than this Agreement). The
Seller is not a party to any voting trust, proxy, or other agreement or
understanding with respect to the voting of any capital stock of the
Target.
(v) Investment Representations. Sellers understand that the
issuance and sale to them of Wintrust Common Stock under this Agreement is
intended to be a private offering exempt from registration under the
federal Securities Act of 1933, and in accordance therewith and in
furtherance thereof, Sellers each represent and warrant to Buyer and agree
as follows:
i. He acknowledges that he has received copies of
Wintrust Financial Corporation's publicly filed reports on Forms 10-K,
10-Q, and 8-K and has had an opportunity to ask questions of and
receive answers from officers of Buyer with respect to the business
and financial condition of Buyer and has been afforded an opportunity
to examine such documents and has been furnished such additional
information, to the extent available without unreasonable effort or
expense, which he has reasonably requested for the purpose of
verifying information set forth therein.
ii. He understands that no other person has been
authorized to give any information or to make any representations
which were not furnished pursuant to subparagraph (i.) above and
acknowledges that he has not relied on any other representations or
information. He understands that an investment in Wintrust Common
Stock involves certain risks, including, but not limited to, those
disclosed in Buyer's periodic reports, and acknowledges that he is
able financially to bear such risks.
iii. He is not relying on the Buyer or Buyer's
representatives with respect to the economic considerations relating
to the Purchase Shares; rather, he has relied solely on the advice of,
and has consulted with, Sellers' own advisors.
iv. He acknowledges and understands that the sale and
issuance of Wintrust Common Stock hereunder have not been registered
under the Act, and such shares may not be resold unless they are
subsequently registered under the Securities Act and applicable state
securities laws, if any, or unless an exemption from such registration
is available. It is further understood that except as provided in
Section 2(e) above, it is not contemplated that any registration will
be made under the Securities Act, and Buyer is under no obligation to
assist Sellers in complying with any requirements to permit resale
exempt from registration, or otherwise.
v. He agrees that he will not, directly or indirectly,
sell, pledge, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of any Purchase
Shares except in a transaction pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act and in compliance with the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder, or in satisfaction of an
available exemption from the registration requirements thereof and of
any
8
<PAGE>
applicable state securities laws; he acknowledges that stop transfer
instructions will be given to Buyer's transfer agent; and he
understands that the certificates representing the Purchase Shares
shall bear the following legend, or one substantially similar in
substance thereto, which he has read and understands:
The shares represented by this certificate have not
been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"Securities Act") and are "restricted securities" as
that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities
Act. Such Shares may not be offered for resale,
resold or otherwise transferred except pursuant to an
effective registration statement under the Securities
Act or pursuant to an exemption from registration
under the Securities Act, the availability of which
is to be established to the satisfaction of counsel
to Wintrust Financial Corporation.
vi. He acknowledges that he is an "accredited
investor," as such term is defined in rule 501(a) promulgated under
the Securities Act, and has such knowledge and experience in financial
and business matters to make an informed investment decision based
upon the information furnished to him and such additional information
he may have requested and received from the Buyer and the independent
inquiries and investigations undertaken by him or Sellers' advisors on
his behalf.
vii. He further represents that he is acquiring the
Purchase Shares for his own account and not, in whole or in part, for
the account of any other person, for investment and not with a view
toward the distribution thereof; and no other person has a direct or
beneficial interest in the Purchase Shares; and
viii. He recognizes that in issuing the Purchase Shares
under the terms of this Agreement, Buyer will rely upon the truth and
accuracy of the foregoing investment representations and agreement in
claiming an exemption from registration under the Securities Act.
(b) Representations and Warranties of Buyer. Buyer represents and
warrants to the Sellers that the statements contained in this Section 3(b) are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date.
(i) Organization of the Buyer. Buyer is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the laws of the
state of Illinois.
(ii) Authorization of Transaction. Buyer has full power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its
obligations hereunder. This Agreement constitutes the valid and legally
binding obligation of Buyer, enforceable in accordance with its terms and
conditions. Except as set forth in SCHEDULE 3(b)(ii) attached hereto, Buyer
need not give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any
authorization,
9
<PAGE>
consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order to
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(iii) Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the delivery
of this Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, will (A) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule,
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction
of any government, governmental agency, or court to which Buyer is subject
or any provision of its charter or bylaws or (B) conflict with, result in a
breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of,
create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel,
or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license,
instrument, or other arrangement to which Buyer is a party or by which it
is bound or to which any of its assets is subject.
(iv) Brokers' Fees. Buyer shall be responsible for any fees or
commissions to any broker, finder, or agent (other than Everen Securities),
if any, who procured or introduced Sellers and/or Target to Buyer in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(v) SEC Documents. Buyer has filed all required reports,
schedules, forms, statements and other documents with the SEC (the "SEC
Documents"). Buyer has made available to Sellers as requested true, correct
and complete copies of all Registration Statements on Form S-1, S-3 and
S-8, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current
Reports on Form 8-K and final Proxy Statements comprising the SEC
Documents, including without limitation, Buyer's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, and Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the period ended June 30, 1999. All of the SEC Documents (other
than preliminary material or material which was subsequently amended,
modified or superseded by later filed documents), as of their respective
filing dates, complied in all material respects with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. None of the SEC
Documents, as of their respective dates, contained any untrue statements of
a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except to the
extent such statements have been amended, modified or superseded by later
SEC Documents.
(vi) No Material Adverse Change. Since December 31, 1998,
except as disclosed in the SEC Documents, there has not been any change in
the condition (financial or otherwise) of the business of Buyer or the
liabilities, assets, operations, results of operations, prospects or
condition (financial or otherwise) of Buyer and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, including without limitation, any damage or destruction of
property by fire or other casualty, which change would have a material
adverse effect on the results of operations or condition (financial or
otherwise) of the business of Buyer.
(vii) Legal Compliance. To the Buyer's Knowledge, Buyer is in
compliance with all laws, regulations and orders applicable to it. To the
Buyer's Knowledge,
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Buyer has not received notification of any asserted past or present failure
to comply with any laws and no proceeding with respect to any such
violation is contemplated.
(viii) Litigation. There are no actions, suits, proceedings,
hearings or investigations pending (or to the Knowledge of the Buyer,
threatened) that could result in any material adverse change in the
business, financial condition, or future prospects of the Buyer.
4. Representations and Warranties Concerning the Target and Its
Subsidiaries. The Sellers represent and warrant to Buyer that the statements
contained in this Section 4 are correct and complete as of the date of this
Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date.
(a) Organization, Qualification, and Corporate Power. Target is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the state of Wisconsin. Target owns 70% of the issued and outstanding
shares, and Sellers own 30% of the issued and outstanding shares, of Upgrad
Personnel Services, Inc., a corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in
good standing under the laws of the state of Tennessee. Data Checkmate, Inc., a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Target, is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the state of Wisconsin. Each of
the Target and its Subsidiaries is duly authorized to conduct business and is in
good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such qualification is
required. Each of the Target and its Subsidiaries has full corporate power and
authority and all licenses, permits, and authorizations necessary to carry on
the businesses in which it is engaged and in which it presently proposes to
engage and to own and use the properties owned and used by it. SCHEDULE 4(a)
attached hereto lists the directors and officers of each of the Target and its
Subsidiaries. The Sellers have delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies of
the articles of incorporation and bylaws of each of the Target and its
Subsidiaries (as amended to date). 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 of
each of the Target and its Subsidiaries are correct and complete. None of the
Target and its Subsidiaries is in default under or in violation of any provision
of its articles of incorporation or bylaws.
(b) Capitalization. The entire authorized capital stock of the
Target consists of 2800 authorized Target Shares, of which 43 Target Shares are
issued and outstanding and 52 Target Shares are held in treasury. All of the
issued and outstanding Target Shares have been duly authorized, are validly
issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and are held of record by the respective
Sellers as set forth in SCHEDULE 4(b) attached hereto. There are no outstanding
or authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights,
conversion rights, exchange rights, or other contracts or commitments that could
require the Target to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any
of its capital stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation,
phantom stock, profit participation, or similar rights with respect to the
Target. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4(b) attached hereto there are no voting
trusts, proxies, or other agreements or understandings with respect to the
voting of the capital stock of the Target.
(c) Noncontravention. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will
(i) violate any constitution,
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<PAGE>
statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, charge,
or other restriction of any government, governmental agency, or court to which
any of the Target and its Subsidiaries is subject or any provision of the
charter or bylaws of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries or (ii) conflict
with, result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the
acceleration of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify,
or cancel, or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license,
instrument, or other arrangement to which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries
is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets is subject (or
result in the imposition of any Security Interest upon any of its assets),
except as to the Salick Agreement and the Fleet Credit Facility. Except as set
forth on SCHEDULE 4(c) attached hereto, none of the Target and its Subsidiaries
needs to give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization,
consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order for the
Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Brokers' Fees. Except for fees payable to Everen Securities,
which fees shall be payable by Sellers or shall be offset against the Purchase
Price as a Purchase Price Adjustment as provided in Section 2(b)(iv), none of
the Target and its Subsidiaries has any Liability or obligation to pay any fees
or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with respect to the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) Title to Assets. The Target and its Subsidiaries have good and
marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, the properties and assets
used by them, located on their premises, or shown on the Most Recent Balance
Sheet or acquired after the date thereof, free and clear of all Security
Interests, except for properties and assets disposed of in the Ordinary Course
of Business since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet.
(f) Subsidiaries. SCHEDULE 4(f) attached hereto sets forth for each
Subsidiary of the Target (i) its name and jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii)
the number of shares of authorized capital stock of each class of its capital
stock, (iii) the number of issued and outstanding shares of each class of its
capital stock, the names of the holders thereof, and the number of shares held
by each such holder, and (iv) the number of shares of its capital stock held in
treasury. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary of the Target have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully
paid, and nonassessable. One of the Target and its Subsidiaries holds of record
and owns beneficially all of the outstanding shares of each Subsidiary of the
Target, free and clear of any restrictions on transfer (other than restrictions
under the Securities Act and state securities laws), Taxes, Security Interests,
options, warrants, purchase rights, contracts, commitments, equities, claims,
and demands. There are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, purchase
rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or other
contracts or commitments that could require any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any capital stock of any
of its Subsidiaries or that could require any Subsidiary of the Target to issue,
sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any of its own capital stock.
There are no outstanding stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, or similar rights with respect to any Subsidiary of the Target.
There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or understandings with
respect to the voting of any capital stock of any Subsidiary of the Target. None
of the Target and its Subsidiaries controls directly or indirectly or has any
direct or indirect
12
<PAGE>
equity participation in any corporation, partnership, trust, or other business
association which is not a Subsidiary of the Target.
(g) Financial Statements. Attached hereto as SCHEDULE 4(g) is a list
of financial statements (collectively the "Financial Statements") which have
been previously delivered to Buyer, which include (i) Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee
and Subsidiaries Audited Financial Statements for the year ended September 30,
1998 (the "Most Recent Fiscal Year End"); and (ii) Unaudited Consolidated
Balance Sheets and Statements of Income and Changes in Stockholders' Equity (the
"Most Recent Financial Statements") as of and for the nine (9) months ended June
30, 1999 (the "Most Recent Fiscal Month End"). The Financial Statements
(including the notes thereto) have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied
on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, present fairly the
financial condition of the Target and its Subsidiaries as of such dates and the
results of operations of the Target and its Subsidiaries for such periods, are
correct and complete, and are consistent with the books and records of the
Target and its Subsidiaries (which books and records are correct and complete);
provided, however, that the Most Recent Financial Statements are subject to
normal year-end adjustments (which will not be material individually or in the
aggregate, other than the annual profit sharing expense accrual) and lack
footnotes and other presentation items.
(h) Events Subsequent to Most Recent Fiscal Year End. Since the Most
Recent Fiscal Year End, there has not been any material adverse change in the
business, financial condition, operations, results of operations, or future
prospects of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4(h) attached
hereto, since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End:
(i) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has sold, leased,
transferred, or assigned any of its assets, tangible or intangible, other
than for a fair consideration in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has entered into
any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related
agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) either involving more than
$10,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iii) no party (including any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries) has accelerated, terminated, modified, or canceled any
agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related agreements,
contracts, leases, and licenses) which, in the aggregate, involve more than
$100,000 to which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of them is bound;
(iv) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has imposed any
Security Interest upon any of its assets, tangible or intangible;
(v) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has made any
capital expenditure (or series of related capital expenditures) either
involving more than $10,000 or outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
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(vi) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has made any
capital investment in, any loan to, or any acquisition of the securities or
assets of, any other Person (or series of related capital investments,
loans, and acquisitions) either involving more than $10,000 or outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(vii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has issued any
note, bond, or other debt security or created, incurred, assumed, or
guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money or capitalized lease
obligation either involving more than $10,000 singly or $20,000 in the
aggregate;
(viii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has delayed or
postponed the payment of accounts payable and other Liabilities outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(ix) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has canceled,
compromised, waived, or released any right or claim (or series of related
rights and claims) either involving more than $10,000 or outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(x) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has granted any
license or sublicense of any rights under or with respect to any
Intellectual Property;
(xi) there has been no change made or authorized in the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries;
(xii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has issued, sold,
or otherwise disposed of any of its capital stock, or granted any options,
warrants, or other rights to purchase or obtain (including upon conversion,
exchange, or exercise) any of its capital stock;
(xiii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has declared, set
aside, or paid any dividend or made any distribution with respect to its
capital stock (whether in cash or in kind) or redeemed, purchased, or
otherwise acquired any of its capital stock;
(xiv) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has experienced
any damage, destruction, or loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to
its property;
(xv) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has made any loan
to, or entered into any other transaction with, any of its directors,
officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xvi) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has entered into
any employment contract or collective bargaining agreement, written or
oral, or modified the terms of any existing such contract or agreement;
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<PAGE>
(xvii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has granted any
increase in the base compensation of any of its directors, officers, and
employees outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xviii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has adopted,
amended, modified, or terminated any bonus, profit-sharing, incentive,
severance, or other plan, contract, or commitment for the benefit of any of
its directors, officers, and employees (or taken any such action with
respect to any other Employee Benefit Plan);
(xix) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has made any other
change in employment terms for any of its directors, officers, and
employees outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xx) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has made or
pledged to make any charitable or other capital contribution outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(xxi) there has not been any other material occurrence, event,
incident, action, failure to act, or transaction outside the Ordinary
Course of Business involving any of the Target and its Subsidiaries; and
(xxii) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has committed to
any of the foregoing.
(i) Undisclosed Liabilities. None of the Target and its Subsidiaries
has any Liability (and there is no Basis for any present or future action, suit,
proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against
any of them giving rise to any Liability), except for (i) Liabilities set forth
on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto),
(ii) Liabilities which have arisen after the Most Recent Fiscal Month End in the
Ordinary Course of Business (none of which results from, arises out of, relates
to, is in the nature of, or was caused by any breach of contract, breach of
warranty, tort, infringement, or violation of law), and (iii) liabilities
associated with the annual profit sharing expense accrual, if any, for Target.
(j) Legal Compliance. To the Target's Knowledge, Target and its
Subsidiaries, are in compliance with all laws, regulations and orders applicable
to it. To the Target's Knowledge, neither Target nor its Subsidiaries has
received notification of any asserted past or present failure to comply with any
laws and no proceeding with respect to any violation is contemplated.
(k) Tax Matters.
(i) Each of the Target and its Subsidiaries has timely filed
all Tax Returns that it was required to file, including all Tax Returns
Target and its Subsidiaries have contracted or undertaken to file on behalf
of any customers or clients of Target and its Subsidiaries. All such Tax
Returns were true and correct and complete in all respects. All Taxes owed
by any of the Target and its Subsidiaries (whether or not shown on any Tax
Return) have been paid on a timely basis. None of the Target and its
Subsidiaries currently
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is the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file any Tax
Return. No claim has ever been made by an authority in a jurisdiction where
any of the Target and its Subsidiaries does not file Tax Returns that it is
or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction, which resulted in a
material assessment of Tax Liability against Target or its Subsidiaries.
There are no Security Interests on any of the assets of any of the Target
and its Subsidiaries that arose in connection with any failure (or alleged
failure) to pay any Tax.
(ii) Each of the Target and its Subsidiaries has withheld and
paid all Taxes required to have been withheld and paid in connection with
amounts paid or owing to any employee, independent contractor, creditor,
stockholder, customer, client (or employees of customers and/or clients) or
other third party.
(iii) No Seller or director or officer (or employee responsible
for Tax matters) of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries expects any tax
authority to assess any additional Taxes for any period for which Tax
Returns are required to have been filed. There is no dispute or claim
concerning any Tax Liability of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries
either (A) claimed or raised by any tax authority in writing or (B) as to
which any of the Sellers and the directors and officers (and employees
responsible for Tax matters) of the Target and its Subsidiaries has
Knowledge based upon personal contact with any agent of such authority.
SCHEDULE 4(k) attached hereto lists all federal, state, local, and foreign
income Tax Returns filed with respect to any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries for taxable periods ended on or after September 30, 1995,
indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates those Tax
Returns that currently are the subject of audit or for which notice has
been received of an audit. The Sellers have delivered to Buyer correct and
complete copies of all federal and state income Tax Returns, examination
reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by
any of the Sellers, the Target and its Subsidiaries since September 30,
1995. There is no basis for the assertion of any claim relating or
attributable to Taxes which, if adversely determined would result in any
Security Interest on the assets of the Target or its Subsidiaries or
otherwise have material Adverse Consequences with respect to their
business.
(iv) None of the Sellers, the Target and its Subsidiaries has
waived any statute of limitations in respect of Taxes or agreed to any
extension of time with respect to a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(v) None of the Target and its Subsidiaries has filed a
consent under Code ss.341(f) concerning collapsible corporations. None of
the Target and its Subsidiaries has made any payments, is obligated to make
any payments, or is a party to any agreement that under certain
circumstances could obligate it to make any payments that will not be
deductible under Code ss.280G, ss.404, or ss.162. None of the Target and
its Subsidiaries has been a United States real property holding corporation
within the meaning of Code ss.897(c)(2) during the applicable period
specified in Code ss.897(c)(1)(A)(ii). None of the Target and its
Subsidiaries is a party to any Tax allocation or sharing agreement. None of
the Target and its Subsidiaries (A) has been a member of an Affiliated
Group filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group
the common parent of which
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was the Target) or (B) has any Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other
than any of the Target and its Subsidiaries) under Reg. ss.1.1502-6 (or any
similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract, or otherwise.
(vi) [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED]
(vii) The unpaid Taxes of the Target and its Subsidiaries (A)
did not, as of the Most Recent Fiscal Month End, exceed the reserve for Tax
Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to
reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set forth on the
face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto)
and (B) do not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time
through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of
the Target and its Subsidiaries in filing their Tax Returns.
(viii) (a) The Target has been a valid and duly qualified S
Corporation within the meaning of Sections 1361 and 1362 of the Code at all
times since October 1, 1989, and the Target will be a valid and duly
qualified S Corporation up to and including the Closing Date; (b) The
Target and its subsidiaries do not have a net recognized built-in gain
within the meaning of Section 1372 of the Code; and (c) The Target will not
be liable for any Tax under Section 1374 of the Code in connection with the
deemed sale of the Target's assets (including the assets of any qualified
Subchapter S subsidiary) caused by the Section 338(h)(10) Election (as
hereinafter defined in Section 9(e)). Neither the Target nor any Subsidiary
of the Target has, in the past ten (10) years, (x) acquired assets from
another corporation in a transaction in which the Target's Tax basis for
the acquired assets was determined, in whole or in part, by reference to
the Tax basis of the acquired assets (or any other property) in the hands
of the transferor or (y) acquired the stock of any corporation which is a
qualified Subchapter S subsidiary.
(l) Real Property. Seller does not own any real property. SCHEDULE
4(l) attached hereto lists and describes briefly all real property leased or
subleased to any of the Target and its Subsidiaries. The Sellers have delivered
to the Buyer correct and complete copies of the leases and subleases listed in
SCHEDULE 4(l) attached hereto. With respect to each lease and sublease listed in
SCHEDULE 4(l):
(A) the lease or sublease is legal, valid, binding,
enforceable, and in full force and effect;
(B) the lease or sublease will continue to be legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical
terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby;
(C) no party to the lease or sublease is in breach or
default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of
time, would constitute a breach or default or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration thereunder;
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(D) no party to the lease or sublease has repudiated
any provision thereof;
(E) there are no disputes, oral agreements, or
forbearance programs in effect as to the lease or sublease;
(F) with respect to each sublease, the representations
and warranties set forth in subsections (A) through (E) above are true
and correct with respect to the underlying lease;
(G) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has
assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged, deeded in trust, or
encumbered any interest in the leasehold or subleasehold;
(H) all facilities leased or subleased thereunder have
received all approvals of governmental authorities (including licenses
and permits) required in connection with the operation thereof and
have been operated and maintained in accordance with applicable laws,
rules, and regulations;
(I) all facilities leased or subleased thereunder are
supplied with utilities and other services necessary for the operation
of said facilities; and
(J) the owner of the facility leased or subleased has
good and marketable title to the parcel of real property, free and
clear of any Security Interest, easement, covenant, or other
restriction, except for installments of special easements not yet
delinquent and recorded easements, covenants, and other restrictions
which do not impair the current use, occupancy, or value, or the
marketability of title, of the property subject thereto.
(m) Intellectual Property.
(i) The Target and its Subsidiaries own or have the right to
use pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or permission all
Intellectual Property necessary for the operation of the businesses of the
Target and its Subsidiaries as presently conducted and as presently
proposed to be conducted. Each item of Intellectual Property owned or used
by any of the Target and its Subsidiaries immediately prior to the Closing
hereunder will be owned or available for use by the Target or the
Subsidiary on identical terms and conditions immediately subsequent to the
Closing hereunder. Each of the Target and its Subsidiaries has taken all
necessary action to maintain and protect each item of Intellectual Property
that it owns or uses.
(ii) None of the Target and its Subsidiaries has interfered
with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with
any Intellectual Property rights of third parties, and none of the Sellers
and the directors and officers of the Target and its Subsidiaries has ever
received any charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice alleging any
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such interference, infringement, misappropriation, or violation (including
any claim that any of the Target and its Subsidiaries must license or
refrain from using any Intellectual Property rights of any third party). To
the Knowledge of any of the Sellers and the directors and officers of the
Target and its Subsidiaries, no third party has interfered with, infringed
upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into conflict with any
Intellectual Property rights of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(iii) SCHEDULE 4(m) attached hereto identifies each patent,
trademark, copyright or registration which has been issued to any of the
Target and its Subsidiaries with respect to any of its Intellectual
Property, identifies each pending patent application or application for
registration which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries has made with
respect to any of its Intellectual Property, and identifies each license,
agreement, or other permission which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries
has granted to any third party with respect to any of its Intellectual
Property. The Sellers have delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies
of all such patents, registrations, applications, licenses, agreements, and
permissions. SCHEDULE 4(m) attached hereto also identifies each trade name
or unregistered trademark used by any of the Target and its Subsidiaries in
connection with any of its businesses. With respect to each item of
Intellectual Property owned by the Target or its Subsidiary required to be
identified in SCHEDULE 4(m):
(A) the Target and its Subsidiaries possess all right,
title, and interest in and to the item, free and clear of any Security
Interest, license, or other restriction;
(B) the item is not subject to any outstanding
injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge;
(C) no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending or is
threatened which challenges the legality, validity, enforceability,
use, or ownership of the item; and
(D) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has ever
agreed to indemnify any Person for or against any interference,
infringement, misappropriation, or other conflict with respect to the
item.
(iv) SCHEDULE 4(m) attached hereto identifies each item of
Intellectual Property that any third party owns and that any of the Target
and its Subsidiaries uses pursuant to license, sublicense, agreement, or
permission. The Sellers have delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies
of all such licenses, sublicenses, agreements, and permissions. With
respect to each item of Intellectual Property owned by third parties
required to be identified in SCHEDULE 4(m):
(A) the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
covering the item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full
force and effect;
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(B) the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full
force and effect on identical terms following the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby;
(C) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or
permission is in breach or default, and no event has occurred which
with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or default or
permit termination, modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(D) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or
permission has repudiated any provision thereof;
(E) with respect to each sublicense, the
representations and warranties set forth in subsections (A) through
(D) above are true and correct with respect to the underlying license;
(F) the underlying item of Intellectual Property is not
subject to any outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree,
ruling, or charge;
(G) no action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand is pending or is
threatened which challenges the legality, validity, or enforceability
of the underlying item of Intellectual Property; and
(H) none of the Target and its Subsidiaries has granted
any sublicense or similar right with respect to the license,
sublicense, agreement, or permission.
(v) To the Knowledge of any of the Sellers and the directors
and officers of the Target and its Subsidiaries, none of the Target and its
Subsidiaries will interfere with, infringe upon, misappropriate, or
otherwise come into conflict with, any Intellectual Property rights of
third parties as a result of the continued operation of its businesses as
presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted.
(vi) None of the Sellers and the directors and officers of the
Target and its Subsidiaries has any Knowledge of any new products,
inventions, procedures, or methods of manufacturing or processing that any
competitors or other third parties have developed which reasonably could be
expected to supersede or make obsolete any product or process of any of the
Target and its Subsidiaries.
(n) Year 2000 Compatibility. The Target and its Subsidiaries have
reviewed the areas within its/their businesses and operations which could be
adversely affected by, and have developed or are developing a program to address
on a timely basis, the risk that computer applications used by the Target or its
Subsidiaries may be unable to recognize and perform properly date-sensitive
functions involving certain dates prior to and any date on or after December 31,
1999
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(the "Year 2000 Problem"). The Target and its Subsidiaries are conducting tests
of its systems to validate that such systems are Year 2000 compliant, and have
made related appropriate inquiry of material suppliers and vendors to satisfy
itself as to such suppliers and vendors compliance efforts. At the request of
Buyer, the Target and its Subsidiaries shall provide information or
documentation, satisfactory to Buyer, regarding the status of the Target and its
Subsidiaries' efforts to address the Year 2000 Problem. However, the Buyer
expressly acknowledges that the Seller does not represent or warrant (i) that
the Year 2000 Problem will not have a material adverse affect on the Target or
its Subsidiaries, and (ii) that the customers of the Target or its Subsidiaries
have adequately addressed and prepared for the Year 2000 Problem.
(o) Tangible Assets. The Target and its Subsidiaries own or lease all
buildings, machinery, equipment, and other tangible assets necessary for the
conduct of their businesses as presently conducted and as presently proposed to
be conducted. Each such tangible asset is free from defects (patent and latent),
has been maintained in accordance with normal industry practice, is in good
operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear), and is
suitable for the purposes for which it presently is used and presently is
proposed to be used.
(p) Contracts. SCHEDULE 4(p) attached hereto lists the following
contracts and other agreements to which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries
is a party:
(i) any agreement (or group of related agreements) for the
lease of personal property to or from any Person providing for lease
payments in excess of $10,000 per annum;
(ii) any agreement (or group of related agreements) for the
purchase or sale of raw materials, commodities, supplies, products, or
other personal property, or for the furnishing or receipt of services, the
performance of which will extend over a period of more than one year,
result in a material loss to any of the Target and its Subsidiaries, or
involve consideration in excess of $10,000;
(iii) any agreement concerning a partnership or joint venture;
(iv) any agreement (or group of related agreements) under which
it has created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness for
borrowed money, or any capitalized lease obligation, in excess of $10,000
or under which it has imposed a Security Interest on any of its assets,
tangible or intangible;
(v) any agreement concerning confidentiality or
noncompetition;
(vi) any agreement with any of the Sellers and their Affiliates
(other than the Target and its Subsidiaries);
(vii) any profit sharing, stock option, stock purchase, stock
appreciation, deferred compensation, severance, or other material plan or
arrangement for the benefit of its current or former directors, officers,
and employees;
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(viii) any collective bargaining agreement;
(ix) any agreement for the employment of any individual on a
full-time, part-time, consulting, or other basis providing annual
compensation in excess of $10,000 or providing severance benefits;
(x) any agreement under which it has advanced or loaned any
amount to any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(xi) any agreement under which the consequences of a default or
termination could have a material adverse effect on the business, financial
condition, operations, results of operations, or future prospects of any of
the Target and its Subsidiaries; or
(xii) any other agreement (or group of related agreements) the
performance of which involves consideration in excess of $10,000.
The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer a correct and complete copy of each
written agreement listed in SCHEDULE 4(p) attached hereto and a written summary
setting forth the terms and conditions of each oral agreement referred to in
SCHEDULE 4(p). With respect to each such agreement: (A) the agreement is legal,
valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (B) the agreement
will continue to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and
effect on identical terms following the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby; (C) no party is in breach or default, and no event has
occurred which with notice or lapse of time would constitute a breach or
default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under the
agreement; and (D) no party has repudiated any provision of the agreement.
(q) Notes and Accounts Receivable. All notes and accounts receivable
of the Target and its Subsidiaries are reflected properly on their books and
records, are valid receivables subject to no setoffs or counterclaims, are
current and collectible, and will be collected in accordance with their terms at
their recorded amounts, subject only to the reserve for bad debts set forth on
the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather than in any notes thereto) as
adjusted for the passage of time through the Closing Date in accordance with the
past custom and practice of the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(r) Powers of Attorney. There are no outstanding powers of attorney
executed on behalf of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(s) Insurance. SCHEDULE 4(s) attached hereto sets forth the following
information with respect to each insurance policy (including policies providing
property, casualty, liability, and workers' compensation coverage and bond and
surety arrangements) to which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries is a party,
a named insured, or otherwise the beneficiary of coverage:
(i) the name, address, and telephone number of the agent;
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(ii) the name of the insurer, the name of the policyholder, and
the name of each covered insured;
(iii) the policy number and the period of coverage;
(iv) the scope (including an indication of whether the coverage
was on a claims made, occurrence, or other basis) and amount (including a
description of how deductibles and ceilings are calculated and operate) of
coverage; and
(v) a description of any retroactive premium adjustments or
other loss sharing arrangements.
With respect to each such insurance policy: (A) the policy is legal, valid,
binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (B) the policy will continue
to be legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect on
identical terms following the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby; (C) neither any of the Target and its Subsidiaries nor any other party
to the policy is in breach or default (including with respect to the payment of
premiums or the giving of notices), and no event has occurred which, with notice
or the lapse of time, would constitute such a breach or default, or permit
termination, modification, or acceleration, under the policy; and (D) no party
to the policy has repudiated any provision thereof. Each of the Target and its
Subsidiaries has been covered during the past ten (10) years by insurance in
scope and amount customary and reasonable for the businesses in which it has
engaged during the aforementioned period. SCHEDULE 4(s) describes any
self-insurance arrangements affecting any of the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(t) Litigation. SCHEDULE 4(t) attached hereto sets forth each
instance in which any of the Target and its Subsidiaries (i) is subject to any
outstanding injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or (ii) is a
party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, or investigation of, in, or before any court or quasi-judicial or
administrative agency of any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or
before any arbitrator. None of the actions, suits, proceedings, hearings, and
investigations set forth in SCHEDULE 4(t) could result in any material adverse
change in the business, financial condition, operations, results of operations,
or future prospects of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries. None of the
Sellers and the directors and officers of the Target and its Subsidiaries has
any reason to believe that any such action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or
investigation may be brought or threatened against any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries.
(u) Employees. To the Knowledge of any of the Sellers and the
directors and officers of the Target and its Subsidiaries, no executive, key
employee, or group of employees has any plans to terminate employment with any
of the Target and its Subsidiaries. None of the Target and its Subsidiaries is a
party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, nor has any of them
experienced any strikes, grievances, claims of unfair labor practices, or other
collective bargaining disputes. None of the Target and its Subsidiaries has
committed any unfair labor practice. None of the Sellers and the directors and
officers of the Target and its Subsidiaries has any
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Knowledge of any organizational effort presently being made or threatened by or
on behalf of any labor union with respect to employees of any of the Target and
its Subsidiaries.
(v) Employee Benefits.
(i) SCHEDULE 4(v) attached hereto lists each Employee Benefit
Plan that any of the Target and its Subsidiaries maintains or to which any
of the Target and its Subsidiaries contributes or has any obligation to
contribute.
(A) Each such Employee Benefit Plan (and each related
trust, insurance contract, or fund) complies in form and in operation
in all respects with the applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code,
and other applicable laws.
(B) All required reports and descriptions (including
Form 5500 Annual Reports, summary annual reports, PBGC-1's, and
summary plan descriptions) have been timely filed and distributed
appropriately with respect to each such Employee Benefit Plan. The
requirements of COBRA have been met with respect to each such Employee
Benefit Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.
(C) All contributions (including all employer
contributions and employee salary reduction contributions) which are
due have been paid to each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan and all contributions for any period
ending on or before the Closing Date which are not yet due have been
paid to each such Employee Pension Benefit Plan or accrued in
accordance with the past custom and practice of the Target and its
Subsidiaries. All premiums or other payments for all periods ending on
or before the Closing Date have been paid with respect to each such
Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee Welfare Benefit Plan.
(D) Each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan meets the requirements of a "qualified
plan" under Code ss.401(a), has received, within the last two years, a
favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service that
it is a "qualified plan," and Seller is not aware of any facts or
circumstances that could result in the revocation of such
determination letter.
(E) The market value of assets under each such Employee
Benefit Plan which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) equals or exceeds the present value of all vested
and nonvested Liabilities thereunder determined in accordance with
PBGC methods, factors, and assumptions applicable to an Employee
Pension Benefit Plan terminating on the date for determination.
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(F) The Sellers have delivered to the Buyer correct and
complete copies of the plan documents and summary plan descriptions,
the most recent determination letter received from the Internal
Revenue Service, the most recent Form 5500 Annual Report, and all
related trust agreements, insurance contracts, and other funding
agreements which implement each such Employee Benefit Plan.
(ii) With respect to each Employee Benefit Plan that any of the
Target, its Subsidiaries, and any ERISA Affiliate maintains or ever has
maintained or to which any of them contributes, ever has contributed, or
ever has been required to contribute:
(A) No such Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee
Pension Benefit Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) has been
completely or partially terminated or been the subject of a Reportable
Event as to which notices would be required to be filed with the PBGC.
No proceeding by the PBGC to terminate any such Employee Pension
Benefit Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) has been instituted
or, to the Knowledge of any of the Sellers and the directors and
officers (and employees with responsibility for employee benefits
matters) of the Target and its Subsidiaries, threatened.
(B) There have been no Prohibited Transactions with
respect to any such Employee Benefit Plan. No Fiduciary has any
Liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other failure to act or
comply in connection with the administration or investment of the
assets of any such Employee Benefit Plan. No action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, or investigation with respect to the administration or the
investment of the assets of any such Employee Benefit Plan (other than
routine claims for benefits) is pending or, to the Knowledge of any of
the Sellers and the directors and officers (and employees with
responsibility for employee benefits matters) of the Target and its
Subsidiaries, threatened. None of the Sellers and the directors and
officers (and employees with responsibility for employee benefits
matters) of the Target and its Subsidiaries has any Knowledge of any
Basis for any such action, suit, proceeding, hearing, or
investigation.
(C) None of the Target and its Subsidiaries has
incurred, and none of the Sellers and the directors and officers (and
employees with responsibility for employee benefits matters) of the
Target and its Subsidiaries has any reason to expect that any of the
Target and its Subsidiaries will incur, any Liability to the PBGC
(other than PBGC premium payments) or otherwise under Title IV of
ERISA (including any withdrawal liability as defined in ERISA ss.4201)
or under the Code with respect to any such Employee Benefit Plan which
is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan.
(iii) None of the Target, its Subsidiaries, and the other
members of the Controlled Group that includes the Target and its
Subsidiaries contributes to, ever has contributed to, or ever has been
required to contribute to any Multiemployer Plan or has any
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Liability (including withdrawal liability as defined in ERISA ss.4201)
under any Multiemployer Plan.
(iv) None of the Target and its Subsidiaries maintains or ever
has maintained or contributes, ever has contributed, or ever has been
required to contribute to any Employee Welfare Benefit Plan providing
medical, health, or life insurance or other welfare-type benefits for
current or future retired or terminated employees, their spouses, or their
dependents (other than in accordance with COBRA).
(w) Guaranties. Except as set forth on SCHEDULE 4(w) attached hereto,
none of the Target and its Subsidiaries is a guarantor or otherwise is liable
for any Liability or obligation (including indebtedness) of any other Person.
(x) Environmental, Health, and Safety Matters.
(i) Each of the Target, its Subsidiaries, and their respective
predecessors and Affiliates has complied and is in compliance with all
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, each of
the Target, its Subsidiaries and their respective Affiliates has obtained
and complied with, and is in compliance with, all permits, licenses and
other authorizations that are required pursuant to Environmental, Health,
and Safety Requirements for the occupation of its facilities and the
operation of its business; a list of all such permits, licenses and other
authorizations is set forth on SCHEDULE 4(w) attached hereto.
(iii) Neither the Target, its Subsidiaries, nor their respective
predecessors or Affiliates has received any written or oral notice, report
or other information regarding any actual or alleged violation of
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, or any liabilities or
potential liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent, unliquidated
or otherwise), including any investigatory, remedial or corrective
obligations, relating to any of them or its facilities arising under
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(iv) None of the following exists at any property or facility
owned or operated by the Target or its Subsidiaries: (1) underground
storage tanks, (2) asbestos containing material in any form or condition,
(3) materials or equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls, or (4)
landfills, surface impoundments, or disposal areas.
(v) None of the Target, its Subsidiaries, or their respective
predecessors or Affiliates has treated, stored, disposed of, arranged for
or permitted the disposal of, transported, handled, or released any
substance, including without limitation any hazardous substance, or owned
or operated any property or facility (and no such property or facility is
contaminated by any such substance) in a manner that has given or would
give rise to liabilities, including any liability for response costs,
corrective action costs, personal injury, property damage, natural
resources damages or attorney fees, pursuant to the Comprehensive
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Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended
("CERCLA"), the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended ("SWDA") or any other
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(vi) Neither this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transaction that is the subject of this Agreement will result in any
obligations for site investigation or cleanup, or notification to or
consent of government agencies or third parties, pursuant to any of the
so-called "transaction-triggered" or "responsible property transfer"
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(vii) Neither the Target, its Subsidiaries, nor any of their
respective predecessors or Affiliates has, either expressly or by operation
of law, assumed or undertaken any liability, including without limitation
any obligation for corrective or remedial action, of any other Person
relating to Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(viii) No facts, events or conditions relating to the past or
present facilities, properties or operations of the Target, its
Subsidiaries, or any of their respective predecessors or Affiliates will
prevent, hinder or limit continued compliance with Environmental, Health,
and Safety Requirements, give rise to any investigatory, remedial or
corrective obligations pursuant to Environmental, Health, and Safety
Requirements, or give rise to any other liabilities (whether accrued,
absolute, contingent, unliquidated or otherwise) pursuant to Environmental,
Health, and Safety Requirements, including without limitation any relating
to onsite or offsite releases or threatened releases of hazardous
materials, substances or wastes, personal injury, property damage or
natural resources damage.
(y) Certain Business Relationships with the Target and Its
Subsidiaries. Except as Employees, directors or officers of the Target, none of
the Sellers and their Affiliates has been involved in any business arrangement
or relationship with any of the Target and its Subsidiaries within the past
twelve (12) months, and none of the Sellers and their Affiliates owns any asset,
tangible or intangible, which is used in the business of any of the Target and
its Subsidiaries, except as hereafter provided:
(i) John Leopold has assisted the Target from time to time in
the selection and acquisition of certain art work purchased by the Target
and maintained at Target's office and identified on SCHEDULE 4(y)(i)
attached hereto (the "Target Art Work"). At or concurrent with the Closing,
Leopold shall have the right to purchase the Target Art Work at a price
equal to the book value of such Target Art Work, as reflected on the
Target's Most Recent Financial Statements.
(ii) Target provides payroll and accounting services to
Techstaff, Inc., Carlson Specialty Temps, Inc., and Downs Collectible,
Inc., each of which is a corporation wholly-owned by John Leopold and Mark
Kahn.
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(z) Disclosure. The representations and warranties contained in this
Section 4 do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements and
information contained in this Section 4 not misleading.
5. Pre-Closing Covenants. The Parties agree as follows with respect to
the period between the execution of this Agreement and the Closing.
(a) General. Each of the Parties will use his or its best efforts to
take all action and to do all things necessary in order to consummate and make
effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Notices and Consents. Each of the Parties will, and the Sellers
will cause each of the Target and its Subsidiaries to, give any notices to, make
any filings with, and use its best efforts to obtain any authorizations,
consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies in connection
with the matters referred to in Section 3(a)(ii), Section 3(b)(ii), and Section
4(c) above.
(c) Operation of Business. The Sellers will not cause or permit any
of the Target and its Subsidiaries to engage in any practice, take any action,
or enter into any transaction outside the Ordinary Course of Business. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Sellers have not subsequent to May
31, 1999, and will not thereafter cause or permit any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries to (i) engage in any practice, take any action, or enter into any
transaction of the sort described in Section 4(h) above, or (ii) declare, set
aside, or pay any dividend or make any distribution with respect to its capital
stock, if such dividends or distribution would reduce the Stockholders' Equity
as reflected on Target's consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 1999, below negative $1.2 million, determined in accordance with
GAAP. From and after the Execution Date, Sellers shall notify Buyer if Sellers
intend to take distributions from Target.
(d) Preservation of Business. The Sellers will cause each of the
Target and its Subsidiaries to keep its business and properties substantially
intact, including its present operations, physical facilities, working
conditions, and relationships with lessors, licensors, suppliers, customers, and
employees.
(e) Full Access. Each of the Sellers will permit, and the Sellers
will cause each of the Target and its Subsidiaries to permit, representatives of
Buyer to have full access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to
interfere with the normal business operations of the Target and its
Subsidiaries, to all premises, properties, personnel, books, records (including
Tax records), contracts, and documents of or pertaining to each of the Target
and its Subsidiaries.
(f) Notice of Developments. The Sellers will give prompt written
notice to Buyer of any material adverse development causing a breach of any of
the representations and warranties in Section 4 above. Each Party will give
prompt written notice to the others of any material adverse development causing
a breach of any of his or its own representations and warranties in Section 3
above. No disclosure by any Party pursuant to this Section 5(f), however, shall
be deemed to amend
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or supplement the Schedules or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach
of warranty, or breach of covenant.
(g) Exclusivity. None of the Sellers will, and the Sellers will not
cause or permit any of the Target and its Subsidiaries to, (i) solicit,
initiate, or encourage the submission of any proposal or offer from any Person
relating to the acquisition of any capital stock or other voting securities, or
any substantial portion of the assets, of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries
(including any acquisition structured as a merger, consolidation, or share
exchange) or (ii) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding,
furnish any information with respect to, assist or participate in, or facilitate
in any other manner any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek any of the
foregoing. None of the Sellers will vote their Target Shares in favor of any
such acquisition structured as a merger, consolidation, or share exchange. The
Sellers will notify Buyer immediately if any Person makes any proposal, offer,
inquiry, or contact with respect to any of the foregoing.
(h) Year 2000 Compatibility. The Sellers shall cause Target and each
of its Subsidiaries to take all actions reasonably necessary to address the Year
2000 Problem, including testing of such systems to validate that such systems
are Year 2000 compliant, and inquiries to its outside suppliers and vendors
regarding such suppliers and vendors Year 2000 compliance efforts.
6. Post-Closing Covenants. The Parties agree as follows with respect to
the period following the Closing.
(a) General. In case at any time after the Closing any further action
is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of the Parties
will take such further action (including the execution and delivery of such
further instruments and documents) as any other Party may request, all at the
sole cost and expense of the requesting Party (unless the requesting Party is
entitled to indemnification therefor under Section 8 below). The Sellers
acknowledge and agree that from and after the Closing Buyer will be entitled to
possession of all documents, books, records (including Tax records), agreements,
and financial data of any sort relating to the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(b) Litigation Support. In the event and for so long as any Party
actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand in connection with
(i) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (ii) any fact,
situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan,
occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction on or prior
to the Closing Date involving any of the Target and its Subsidiaries, each of
the other Parties will cooperate with him or it and his or its counsel in the
contest or defense, make available their personnel, and provide such testimony
and access to their books and records as shall be necessary in connection with
the contest or defense, all at the sole cost and expense of the contesting or
defending Party (unless the contesting or defending Party is entitled to
indemnification therefor under Section 8 below).
(c) Transition. None of the Sellers will take any action that is
designed or intended to have the effect of discouraging any lessor, licensor,
customer, supplier, or other business associate of any of the Target and its
Subsidiaries from maintaining the same business relationships
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with the Target and its Subsidiaries after the Closing as it maintained with the
Target and its Subsidiaries prior to the Closing. Each of the Sellers will refer
all customer inquiries relating to the businesses of the Target and its
Subsidiaries to Buyer from and after the Closing.
(d) Techstaff, Inc. Contract. Sellers covenant and agree to cause
Techstaff, Inc., (or any affiliate, successor or assignee thereto), to enter
into a contract with Target for Target to provide payroll processing and
accounting services for Techstaff, Inc. for a term of three (3) years commencing
with the Closing Date, at the rate of one percent (1%) of the gross billing
amount for payroll processing and accounting services, and at eighty percent
(80%) of the prevailing rates charged from time to time by Target, for such
other services, if any, provided to Techstaff. Sellers further covenant and
agree to cause any new business enterprise owned or controlled by Sellers
engaged in the temporary staffing business which requires the type of services
provided by Target and which commences operations during any period in which
Sellers are either employed by Buyer (or Target) or during which Sellers are
subject to the terms of a Non-Compete Agreement with Buyer (or Target) to enter
into a contract with Target for the provision of such services on terms and
conditions comparable to the service contract with Techstaff. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties agree that the Techstaff
service contract shall be terminable by either party if Techstaff is sold to a
third party unrelated to Sellers. Sellers represent and warrant that Sellers
have not engaged in any discussions or negotiations to sell Techstaff and have
no present intent to sell Techstaff.
(e) Confidentiality. Each of the Sellers will treat and hold as such
all of the Confidential Information, refrain from using any of the Confidential
Information except in connection with this Agreement, and deliver promptly to
Buyer or destroy, at the request and option of the Buyer, all tangible
embodiments (and all copies) of the Confidential Information which are in his
possession. In the event that any of the Sellers is requested or required (by
oral question or request for information or documents in any legal proceeding,
interrogatory, subpoena, civil investigative demand, or similar process) to
disclose any Confidential Information, Seller will notify Buyer promptly of the
request or requirement so that Buyer may seek an appropriate protective order or
waive compliance with the provisions of this Section 6(e). If, in the absence of
a protective order or the receipt of a waiver hereunder, any of the Sellers is,
on the advice of counsel, compelled to disclose any Confidential Information to
any tribunal or else stand liable for contempt, that Seller may disclose the
Confidential Information to the tribunal; provided, however, that the disclosing
Seller shall use his best efforts to obtain, at the request of Buyer, an order
or other assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded to such portion
of the Confidential Information required to be disclosed as Buyer shall
designate. The foregoing provisions shall not apply to any Confidential
Information which is generally available to the public immediately prior to the
time of disclosure.
(f) Insurance Matters. Within sixty (60) days following the Closing,
the parties agree to cause the ownership of each of the life insurance policies
insuring John Leopold owned by Target and identified on SCHEDULE 6(f) to be
transferred to Leopold. Leopold shall be responsible for payment of all premiums
due on such policies from and after the Execution Date of this Agreement.
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7. Conditions to Obligation to Close; Performance at Closing.
(a) Conditions to Obligation of Buyer. The obligation of Buyer to
consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with the Closing
is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Section
3(a) and Section 4 above shall be true and correct in all material respects
at and as of the Closing Date;
(ii) the Sellers shall have performed and complied with all of
their covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;
(iii) no action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or
threatened before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of
any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator
wherein an unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge would (A) prevent consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (B) cause any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation, (C)
affect adversely the right of Buyer to own the Target Shares and to control
the Target and its Subsidiaries, or (D) affect adversely the right of any
of the Target and its Subsidiaries to own its assets and to operate its
businesses (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge shall be in effect);
(iv) the Parties, the Target, and its Subsidiaries shall have
received all other authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments
and governmental agencies referred to in Section 3(a)(i), Section 3(b)(ii),
and Section 4(c) above, and all necessary consents, releases, or approvals,
if any, required under the Salick Agreements and the Fleet Credit Facility.
(v) all regulatory agencies shall have taken such action as
may be required to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby.
(vi) there shall have been no material adverse change in the
business or financial condition of either the Target or its Subsidiaries
from May 31, 1999, to the Closing Date;
(vii) at or prior to the Closing, Sellers shall have
extinguished all of its indebtedness and shall have obtained all releases,
termination of liens, and other claims, and encumbrances necessary to
transfer the Target Shares to Buyer free and clear of all liens, claims and
encumbrances, or shall have delivered to Buyer pay-off letters in form
reasonably acceptable to Buyer;
(viii) the Buyer shall have received the resignations, effective
as of the Closing, of each director other than John Leopold and such
officers of the Target and its
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Subsidiaries whom the Buyer shall have specified in writing at least five
(5) business days prior to the Closing;
(ix) all actions to be taken by the Sellers in connection with
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and all certificates,
opinions, instruments, and other documents required to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby will be reasonably satisfactory in form
and substance to the Buyer;
(x) Buyer shall have satisfied itself, in its sole discretion,
that not less than forty percent (40%) of Targets customer base in
existence as of the date of this Agreement have been successfully converted
to the Lawson Software payroll module and Visual Basic Billing
Applications;
(xi) The Sellers shall have delivered to Buyer the various
certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 7(d); and
(xii) at or prior to the Closing, Sellers' shall have
transferred and conveyed to Target all shares in Upgrad Personnel Services,
Inc. standing in the name of Sellers.
(b) Conditions to Obligation of the Sellers. The obligation of the
Sellers to consummate the transactions to be performed by them in connection
with the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the representations and warranties set forth in Section
3(b) above shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of
the Closing Date;
(ii) Buyer shall have performed and complied with all of its
covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;
(iii) no action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or
threatened before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of
any federal, state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator
wherein an unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or
charge would (A) prevent consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement or (B) cause any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded following consummation (and
no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge shall be in
effect);
(iv) the Parties, the Target, and its Subsidiaries shall have
received all other authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments
and governmental agencies referred to in ss.3(a)(i), ss.3(b)(ii), and
ss.4(c) above, and all necessary consents, releases or approvals, if any,
required under the Salick Agreements and the Fleet Credit Facility;
(v) the Salick Note shall be paid in full at Closing and all
necessary consents, releases or approvals, if any, required under the
Salick Agreements and the Fleet Credit Facility shall be obtained; and
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(vi) Buyer shall have delivered to the Sellers the various
certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in Section 7(c).
(c) Buyer's Performance at Closing. On the Closing Date, Buyer shall
execute and deliver or cause to be delivered to the Sellers:
(i) Purchase Price. The Purchase Price in the amount and
manner as set forth in Section 2(b) hereof.
(ii) Officers' Certificate. A certificate of Buyer signed by an
officer of Buyer certifying that the representations and warranties of such
Buyer made herein were true and correct in all material respects as of the
date of this Agreement and are true and correct in all material respects as
of the Closing Date, and that Buyer has performed and complied with all
covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by Buyer
on or prior to the Closing Date.
(iii) Resolutions. Copies of the resolutions of the board of
directors of Buyer, certified by an officer of Buyer as being correct and
complete and then in full force and effect, authorizing the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and the agreements and
instruments called for hereunder, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by such agreements and instruments.
(iv) Employment Agreement. Buyer shall have entered into an
employment agreement with Leopold, substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit B-1, and employment agreements with Julie Ann Blazei,
Mary Jo Heim, and Linda Walsch substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit B-2.
(v) Post-Closing Escrow Agreement. Buyer shall have entered
into the Post-Closing Escrow Agreement.
(vi) Other Instruments. Such other instruments as may be
reasonably necessary to effectuate the consummation of the transactions as
provided in this Agreement.
(d) Sellers' Performance at Closing. On the Closing Date, Sellers
shall execute and deliver or cause to be delivered to Buyer:
(i) Target Shares. Each Seller shall deliver to Buyer stock
certificates representing all of such Seller's Target Shares accompanied by
the stock power substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.
(ii) Sellers' Certificate. An executed certificate of each of
the Sellers certifying that the representations and warranties of such
Seller made herein were true and correct in all material respects as of the
date of this Agreement and are true and correct in all material respects as
of the Closing Date, and that Seller has performed and complied with
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all covenants and agreements required to be performed or complied with by
Seller on or prior to the Closing Date.
(iii) Certificates. Copies of (A) the Target's and its
Subsidiaries' certificate of formation, certified by the Secretary of State
of the Target and its Subsidiaries' state of formation; and (B) good
standing certificates for the Target and its Subsidiaries from the
Secretary of State of the Target and its Subsidiaries' state of formation
and from the appropriate authorities in each jurisdiction in which the
Target and its Subsidiaries are qualified to do business as foreign
corporations, dated not more than ten (10) days prior to Closing.
(iv) Opinions of Seller's Counsel. An opinion of counsel to
Sellers reasonably satisfactory to the Buyer's counsel.
(v) Non-Compete Agreement. A non-competition agreement from
Mark Kahn, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D.
(vi) Employment Agreement. Leopold shall have entered into an
employment agreement with Buyer, substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit B-1, and Julie Ann Blazei, Mary Jo Heim, and Linda Walsch shall
have entered into Employment Agreements with Buyer substantially in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit B-2.
(vii) Estoppel Certificates. An estoppel certificate from each
of the Target and Subsidiaries' landlords listed on SCHEDULE 4(l) in the
form attached hereto as Exhibit E.
(viii) Post-Closing Escrow Agreement. The Sellers shall have
entered into the Post-Closing Escrow Agreement.
(ix) Techstaff Contract. Target shall have entered into a three
(3) year Service Contract with Techstaff, Inc., substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit F.
(x) Section 338(h)(10) Election. Target shall have executed
and delivered the Section 338(h)(10) Election with Buyer on Internal
Revenue Service Form 8023.
(xi) Other Instruments. Such other instruments as may be
reasonably necessary to effectuate the consummation of the transactions as
provided in this Agreement.
8. Remedies for Breaches of This Agreement.
(a) Survival of Representations and Warranties. All of the
representations and warranties of the Parties contained in this Agreement shall
survive the Closing hereunder (even if the damaged Party knew or had reason to
know of any misrepresentation or breach of warranty or covenant at the time of
Closing) and continue in full force and effect for a period of eighteen (18)
months following the Closing Date; provided, however, that any representation or
warranty contained in Sections (a)(i), 3(a)(iv), 3(b)(i), 3(b)(ii), 4(a) and
4(b) hereof shall survive indefinitely;
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and, provided, further, that any representation or warranty contained in
Sections 4(k) and 4(v) hereof shall survive until the expiration of any
applicable statute of limitations of any Law referred to therein (taking into
account any applicable tolling provisions with respect thereto).
(b) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of Buyer.
(i) In the event any of the Sellers breaches (or in the event
any third party alleges facts that, if true, would mean any of the Sellers
has breached) any of his covenants contained herein or any of his or its
representations and warranties contained herein, and, provided that Buyer
makes a written claim for indemnification against the Seller pursuant to
Section 11(h) below within such survival period, then the Seller agrees to
indemnify Buyer from and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences
Buyer may suffer through and after the date of the claim for
indemnification (including any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer after
the end of any applicable survival period) resulting from, arising out of,
relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged
breach).
(ii) Each of the Sellers agrees to indemnify Buyer from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer resulting
from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by any
Liability of any of the Target and its Subsidiaries for any Taxes of the
Target and its Subsidiaries with respect to any Tax year or portion thereof
ending on or before the Closing Date (or for any Tax year beginning before
and ending after the Closing Date to the extent allocable (determined in a
manner consistent with Section 9(c)) to the portion of such period
beginning before and ending on the Closing Date), to the extent such Taxes
are not reflected in the reserve for Tax Liability (rather than any reserve
for deferred Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book
and Tax income) shown on the face of the Most Recent Balance Sheet (rather
than in any notes thereto), as such reserve is adjusted for the passage of
time through the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and
practice of the Target and its Subsidiaries in filing their Tax Returns.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Section 8(b) or elsewhere in this Agreement, Sellers' indemnification
obligations set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be limited to the amount
of the Purchase Price hereunder.
(c) Indemnification Provisions for Benefit of the Sellers. In the
event Buyer breaches (or in the event any third party alleges facts that, if
true, would mean Buyer has breached) any of its representations, warranties, and
covenants contained herein, and, provided that any of the Sellers makes a
written claim for indemnification against Buyer pursuant to Section 11(h) below,
then Buyer agrees to indemnify each of the Sellers from and against the entirety
of any Adverse Consequences the Seller may suffer through and after the date of
the claim for indemnification (including any Adverse Consequences the Seller may
suffer after the end of any applicable survival period) resulting from, arising
out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or the alleged
breach). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 8(c)
or elsewhere in this Agreement, Buyer's indemnification obligations set forth in
this Section 8(c) shall be limited to the amount of the Purchase Price
hereunder.
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(d) Limitations on Indemnification. Neither Buyer nor the Sellers
shall be entitled to indemnification under Section 8(b) or (c) unless the
aggregate of the indemnification obligations of Buyer or the Seller, as
applicable, exceeds Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), whereupon Buyer or the
Sellers, as applicable, shall be entitled to indemnification hereunder from the
other party for the aggregate amount of all indemnification obligations suffered
by the other party, without regard to the aforementioned Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000.00).
(e) Matters Involving Third Parties.
(i) If any third party shall notify any Party (the
"Indemnified Party") with respect to any matter (a "Third Party Claim")
which may give rise to a claim for indemnification against any other Party
(the "Indemnifying Party") under this Section 8, then the Indemnified Party
shall promptly notify each Indemnifying Party thereof in writing; provided,
however, that no delay on the part of the Indemnified Party in notifying
any Indemnifying Party shall relieve the Indemnifying Party from any
obligation hereunder unless (and then solely to the extent) the
Indemnifying Party thereby is prejudiced.
(ii) Any Indemnifying Party will have the right to defend the
Indemnified Party against the Third Party Claim with counsel of its choice
reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Party so long as (A) the
Indemnifying Party notifies the Indemnified Party in writing within fifteen
(15) days after the Indemnified Party has given notice of the Third Party
Claim that the Indemnifying Party will indemnify the Indemnified Party from
and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the Indemnified Party
may suffer resulting from, arising out of, relating to, in the nature of,
or caused by the Third Party Claim, (B) the Indemnifying Party provides the
Indemnified Party with evidence acceptable to the Indemnified Party that
the Indemnifying Party will have the financial resources to defend against
the Third Party Claim and fulfill its indemnification obligations
hereunder, (C) the Third Party Claim involves only money damages and does
not seek an injunction or other equitable relief, (D) settlement of, or an
adverse judgment with respect to, the Third Party Claim is not, in the good
faith judgment of the Indemnified Party, likely to establish a precedential
custom or practice adverse to the continuing business interests of the
Indemnified Party, and (E) the Indemnifying Party conducts the defense of
the Third Party Claim actively and diligently.
(iii) So long as the Indemnifying Party is conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section 8(d)(ii) above,
(A) the Indemnified Party may retain separate co-counsel at its sole cost
and expense and participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim, (B)
the Indemnified Party will not consent to the entry of any judgment or
enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim without the
prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party (not to be withheld
unreasonably), and (C) the Indemnifying Party will not consent to the entry
of any judgment or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third
Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party (not
to be withheld unreasonably).
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(iv) In the event any of the conditions in Section 8(d)(ii)
above is or becomes unsatisfied, however, (A) the Indemnified Party may
defend against, and consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any
settlement with respect to, the Third Party Claim in any manner it
reasonably may deem appropriate (and the Indemnified Party need not consult
with, or obtain any consent from, any Indemnifying Party in connection
therewith), (B) the Indemnifying Parties will reimburse the Indemnified
Party promptly and periodically for the costs of defending against the
Third Party Claim (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses), and
(C) the Indemnifying Parties will remain responsible for any Adverse
Consequences the Indemnified Party may suffer resulting from, arising out
of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim to
the fullest extent provided in this Section 8.
(f) Determination of Adverse Consequences. All indemnification
payments under this Section 8 shall be deemed adjustments to the Purchase Price.
(g) Other Indemnification Provisions. The foregoing indemnification
provisions are in addition to, and not in derogation of, any statutory,
equitable, or common law remedy (including without limitation any such remedy
arising under Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements) any Party may have
with respect to the Target, its Subsidiaries, or the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement. Each of the Sellers hereby agrees that he will not make any
claim for indemnification against any of the Target and its Subsidiaries by
reason of the fact that he was a director, officer, employee, or agent of any
such entity or was serving at the request of any such entity as a partner,
trustee, director, officer, employee, or agent of another entity (whether such
claim is for judgments, damages, penalties, fines, costs, amounts paid in
settlement, losses, expenses, or otherwise and whether such claim is pursuant to
any statute, charter document, bylaw, agreement, or otherwise) with respect to
any action, suit, proceeding, complaint, claim, or demand brought by Buyer
against such Seller (whether such action, suit, proceeding, complaint, claim, or
demand is pursuant to this Agreement, applicable law, or otherwise).
9. Tax Matters. The following provisions shall govern the allocation of
responsibility as between Buyer and Sellers for certain tax matters following
the Closing Date:
(a) Tax Periods Ending on or Before the Effective Date. Buyer shall
prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed all Tax Returns
for the Target and its Subsidiaries for all periods ending on or prior to the
Effective Date which are filed after the Closing Date. Buyer shall permit Target
and its Subsidiaries to review and comment on each such Tax Return described in
the preceding sentence prior to filing. Sellers shall reimburse Buyer for Taxes
of the Target and its Subsidiaries with respect to such periods within fifteen
(15) days after payment by Buyer or the Target and its Subsidiaries of such
Taxes to the extent such Taxes are not reflected in the reserve for Tax
Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect
timing differences between book and Tax income) shown on the face of the Closing
balance sheet.
(b) Tax Periods Beginning Before and Ending After the Effective Date.
Buyer shall prepare or cause to be prepared and file or cause to be filed any
Tax Returns of the Target and its Subsidiaries for Tax periods which begin
before the Effective Date and end after the Effective
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Date. Sellers shall pay to Buyer within fifteen (15) days after the date on
which Taxes are paid with respect to such periods an amount equal to the portion
of such Taxes which relates to the portion of such Taxable period ending on the
Effective Date to the extent such Taxes are not reflected in the reserve for Tax
Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred Taxes established to reflect
timing differences between book and Tax income) shown on the face of the Closing
Balance Sheet. For purposes of this Section, in the case of any Taxes that are
imposed on a periodic basis and are payable for a Taxable period that includes
(but does not end on) the Effective Date, the portion of such Tax which relates
to the portion of such Taxable period ending on the Effective Date shall (x) in
the case of any Taxes other than Taxes based upon or related to income or
receipts, 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 Effective Date and the denominator of which is the
number of days in the entire Taxable period, and (y) in the case of any Tax
based upon or related to income or receipts be deemed equal to the amount which
would be payable if the relevant Taxable period ended on the Effective Date. Any
credits relating to a Taxable period that begins before and ends after the
Effective Date shall be taken into account as though the relevant Taxable period
ended on the Effective Date. All determinations necessary to give effect to the
foregoing allocations shall be made in a manner consistent with prior practice
of the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(c) Cooperation on Tax Matters.
(i) Buyer, the Target and its Subsidiaries and Sellers shall
cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other
party, in connection with the filing of Tax Returns pursuant to this
Section and any audit, litigation or other proceeding with respect to
Taxes. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the other
party's request) the provision of records and information which are
reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and
making employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide
additional information and explanation of any material provided hereunder.
The Target and its Subsidiaries and Sellers agree (A) to retain all books
and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Target and its
Subsidiaries relating to any taxable period beginning before the Effective
Date until the expiration of the statute of limitations (and, to the extent
notified by Buyer or Sellers, any extensions thereof) of the respective
taxable periods, and to abide by all record retention agreements entered
into with any taxing authority, and (B) to give the other party reasonable
written notice prior to transferring, destroying or discarding any such
books and records and, if the other party so requests, the Target and its
Subsidiaries or Sellers, as the case may be, shall allow the other party to
take possession of such books and records.
(ii) Buyer and Sellers further agree, upon request, to use
their best efforts to obtain any certificate or other document from any
governmental authority or any other Person as may be necessary to mitigate,
reduce or eliminate any Tax that could be imposed (including, but not
limited to, with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby).
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(iii) Buyer and Sellers further agree, upon request, to provide
the other party with all information that either party may be required to
report pursuant to Section 6043 of the Code and all Treasury Department
Regulations promulgated thereunder.
(d) S Corporation Status. The Target shall, prior to the Closing,
maintain its status as an S Corporation for federal and state income tax
purposes.
(e) Section 338(h)(10). Buyer intends to make an election under
Section 338 of the Code (and any corresponding election under state, local and
foreign tax law) and the Target and Sellers will cooperate in making such
elections. At Buyer's option, at Closing the Target and the Sellers shall join
with Buyer in making an election under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code (and any
corresponding election under state, local and foreign tax law) with respect to
the purchase and sale of the stock of the Target hereunder (a "Section
338(h)(10) Election"). The Sellers shall include any income, gain, loss,
deduction or other tax item resulting from the Section 338(h)(10) Election on
their Tax Returns to the extent permitted by applicable law. The Sellers shall
also pay any Tax imposed on the Target or its subsidiaries attributable to the
making of the Section 338(h)(10) Election, including but not limited to, (a) any
Tax imposed under Section 1374 of the Code, (b) any Tax imposed under Section
1.338(h)(10)-l(e)(5) of the Treasury Reductions, or (c) any state, local or
foreign Tax imposed on the Target or its Subsidiaries' gain, and the Sellers
shall indemnify Buyer, the Target and its Subsidiaries against any Tax or other
liability arising out of any failure to pay any such Taxes. In the event Buyer
exercises its option under this subsection (ii), Buyer shall pay to the Sellers
the difference between (A) the Tax paid by the Sellers as a result of the
Section 338(h)(10) election and (B) the Tax which would have been paid by the
Sellers if no Section 338(h)(10) election had been made and consented to by the
Sellers plus any additional Tax incurred by the Sellers with respect to the
receipt of such difference; provided however, that Buyer's total liability to
Sellers for such difference as a result of the Section 338(h)(10) election shall
be limited to $100,000. Any payment by Buyer hereunder shall be made ten (10)
day prior to the due date of the Seller's Tax Return in which the income, gain,
loss deduction or other tax item resulting from Section 338(h)(10) election is
reported.
(f) Purchase Allocation. The Target and the Sellers agree that the
Consideration and the liabilities of the Target and its qualified Subchapter S
subsidiaries (plus other relevant items) will be allocated to the assets of the
Target and its qualified Subchapter S subsidiaries for all purposes (including
Tax and financial accounting) as determined by Buyer. Buyer, the Target, the
Target subsidiaries and the Sellers shall file all Tax Returns (including
amended returns and claims for refund) and information reports in a manner
consistent with such values.
(g) Tax Sharing Agreements. All tax sharing agreements or similar
agreements with respect to or involving the Target and its Subsidiaries shall be
terminated as of the Effective Date and, after the Effective Date, the Target
and its Subsidiaries shall not be bound thereby or have any liability
thereunder.
(h) Certain Taxes. All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
registration and other such Taxes and fees (including any penalties and
interest) incurred in connection with this Agreement, shall be paid by Sellers
when due, and Sellers will, at their own expense, file all
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necessary Tax Returns and other documentation with respect to all such transfer,
documentary, sales, use, stamp, registration and other Taxes and fees, and, if
required by applicable law, Buyer will, and will cause its Affiliates to, join
in the execution of any such Tax Returns and other documentation.
10. Termination.
(a) Termination of Agreement. Certain of the Parties may terminate
this Agreement as provided below:
(i) Buyer and the Sellers may terminate this Agreement by
mutual written consent at any time prior to the Closing;
(ii) Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to the Sellers at any time prior to the Closing Date if (A) Buyer is
not satisfied with Seller's efforts to address the Year 2000 Problem,
including testing and verification that any computer based systems or
applications of Target and any customers, suppliers or vendors, are Year
2000 compatible, or (B) Buyer determines, in its reasonable discretion,
based upon the results of Buyer's continuing business, legal,
environmental, and accounting due diligence regarding the Target and its
Subsidiaries, that there has been a material adverse change in the
financial condition or business of the Target and its Subsidiaries.
(iii) Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to the Sellers at any time prior to the Closing (A) in the event any
of the Sellers has breached any material representation, warranty, or
covenant contained in this Agreement in any material respect, Buyer has
notified the Sellers of the breach, and the breach has continued without
cure for a period of thirty (30) days after the notice of breach, or (B) if
the Closing shall not have occurred on or before November 15, 1999, by
reason of the failure of any condition precedent under Section 7(a) hereof
(unless the failure results primarily from Buyer itself breaching any
representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement); and
(iv) the Sellers may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to Buyer at any time prior to the Closing (A) in the event Buyer has
breached any material representation, warranty, or covenant contained in
this Agreement in any material respect, any of the Sellers has notified
Buyer of the breach, and the breach has continued without cure for a period
of thirty (30) days after the notice of breach, (B) if the Closing shall
not have occurred on or before November 15, 1999, by reason of the failure
of any condition precedent under Section 7(b) hereof (unless the failure
results primarily from any of the Sellers themselves breaching any
representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement), or (C)
if the daily average of the high and low prices for Wintrust Common Stock
as reported in the Wall Street Journal for any day after the Execution Date
and prior to the Closing Date is less than $15.50 per share.
(b) Effect of Termination. If any Party terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 10(a) above, all rights and obligations of the Parties
hereunder shall terminate without any Liability of any Party to any other Party
(except for any Liability of any Party then in breach).
40
<PAGE>
11. Miscellaneous.
(a) Nature of Certain Obligations.
(i) The covenants of each of the Sellers in Section 2(a) above
concerning the sale of his or its Target Shares to the Buyer and the
representations and warranties of each of the Sellers in Section 3(a) above
concerning the transaction are several obligations. This means that the
particular Seller making the representation, warranty, or covenant will be
solely responsible to the extent provided in Section 8 above for any
Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer as a result of any breach thereof.
(ii) The remainder of the representations, warranties, and
covenants in this Agreement are joint and several obligations. This means
that each Seller will be responsible to the extent provided in Section 8
above for the entirety of any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer as a
result of any breach thereof.
(b) Press Releases and Public Announcements. No Party shall issue any
press release or make any public announcement relating to the subject matter of
this Agreement without the prior written approval of Buyer and the Sellers;
provided, however, that any Party may make any public disclosure it believes in
good faith is required by applicable law or any listing or trading agreement
concerning its publicly-traded securities (in which case the disclosing Party
will use its best efforts to advise the other Parties prior to making the
disclosure).
(c) No Third-Party Beneficiaries. This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
(d) Entire Agreement. This Agreement (including the documents
referred to herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties and
supersedes any prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among
the Parties, written or oral, to the extent they related in any way to the
subject matter hereof.
(e) Succession and Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or
any of his or its rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior
written approval of Buyer and the Sellers; provided, however, that Buyer may (i)
assign any or all of its rights and interests hereunder to one or more of its
Affiliates and (ii) designate one or more of its Affiliates to perform its
obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases Buyer nonetheless shall
remain responsible for the performance of all of its obligations hereunder).
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
41
<PAGE>
(g) Headings. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
(h) Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be (i) delivered in person, (ii) sent by telecopy, or (iii) mailed,
postage prepaid, either by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, or overnight express carrier, addressed in each case as follows:
If to the Sellers, to: John Leopold
Tricom Funding
11270 W. Park Place, Suite 100
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224
Facsimile: (414) 410-2299
and
Mark Kahn
Tricom Funding
11270 W. Park Place, Suite 100
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224
Facsimile: (414) 410-2299
with a copy to: Lichtsinn & Haensel, S.C.
111 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1800
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Attn: Michael J. Bennett
Facsimile: (414) 276-9278
If to Buyer, to: Wintrust Financial Corporation
Attn: David Dykstra
727 N. Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
Facsimile: (847) 615-4091
with copy to: Pedersen & Houpt
Attn: Thomas F. Brett, II
161 North Clark, Suite 3100
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Facsimile: (312) 641-6895
or to any other address or telecopy number as such party shall designate in a
written notice to the other. All notices sent pursuant to the terms of this
Section 11(h) shall be deemed received (i) if personally delivered, then on the
date of delivery; (ii) if sent by telecopy before 2:00 p.m. local time of the
recipient, on the day sent if a business day or if such day is not a business
day or if sent after 2:00 p.m. local time of the recipient, then on the next
business day; (iii) if sent by overnight, express
42
<PAGE>
carrier, on the next business day immediately following the day sent; or (iv) if
sent by registered or certified mail, on the earlier of the third (3rd) business
day following the day sent or when actually received. Any notice by telecopy
shall be followed by delivery of a copy of such notice on the next business day
by overnight express carrier or by hand.
(i) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
(j) Amendments and Waivers. No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Buyer
and the Sellers. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall be
deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising
by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.
(k) Severability. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or
the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other
situation or in any other jurisdiction.
(l) Expenses. Each of the Parties will bear his or its own costs and
expenses (including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with this
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. Except as provided in
Section 2(b)(iv) and Schedule 2(b)(iv) hereof, the Sellers agree that none of
the Target and its Subsidiaries has borne or will bear any of the Sellers' costs
and expenses (including any of their legal fees and expenses) in connection with
this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby.
(m) Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules. The Exhibits and
Schedules identified in this Agreement are incorporated herein by reference and
made a part hereof. Nothing in the Schedules shall be deemed adequate to
disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein unless such
Schedule identifies the exception with particularity and describes the relevant
facts in detail. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the mere
listing (or inclusion of a copy) of a document or other item shall not be deemed
adequate to disclose an exception to a representation or warranty made herein
(unless the representation or warranty has to do with the existence of the
document or other item itself).
(n) Confidentiality. The Sellers and Buyer agree that any information
disclosed during the course of negotiations of this Agreement and Buyer's due
diligence review shall be held in strict confidence and shall not be disclosed
to any third person (except their respective directors, officers, employees,
accountants, attorneys, financial advisors, and other advisors on a "need to
know" basis; provided that such persons agree not to disclose or use such
information for any purpose other than to evaluate the transactions provided for
herein or contemplated hereby) and shall not be used for any other purpose other
than to evaluate the transactions provided for herein or contemplated hereby. In
the event the transactions contemplated hereby do not close, Buyer will,
43
<PAGE>
upon request by the Sellers, return to the Sellers all written information
disclosed to Buyer by the Sellers.
(o) Specific Performance. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees
that the other Parties would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached. Accordingly, each of the Parties agrees that
the other Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof in any action instituted in any
court of the United States or any state thereof having jurisdiction over the
Parties and the matter (subject to the provisions set forth in Section 10(p)
below), in addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or
in equity.
(p) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Parties submits to the
jurisdiction of any state or federal court sitting in Lake County, Illinois, in
any action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement and agrees
that all claims in respect of the action or proceeding may be heard and
determined in any such court. Each Party also agrees not to bring any action or
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement in any other court. Each
of the Parties waives any defense of inconvenient forum to the maintenance of
any action or proceeding so brought and waives any bond, surety, or other
security that might be required of any other Party with respect thereto. Any
Party may make service on any other Party by sending or delivering a copy of the
process to the Party to be served at the address and in the manner provided for
the giving of notices in ss.10(h) above. Nothing in this Section 10(p), however,
shall affect the right of any Party to serve legal process in any other manner
permitted by law or at equity. Each Party agrees that a final judgment in any
action or proceeding so brought shall be conclusive and may be enforced by suit
on the judgment or in any other manner provided by law or at equity.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]
44
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ David A. Dykstra
------------------------------------
Its Executive Vice President
/s/ John Leopold
----------------------------------------
John Leopold
/s/ Mark Kahn
----------------------------------------
Mark Kahn
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
45
EXHIBIT 2.2
POST-CLOSING INDEMNIFICATION AND
ESCROW AGREEMENT
THIS POST-CLOSING INDEMNIFICATION AND ESCROW AGREEMENT (this "Agreement")
is made as of October 26, 1999, by and among John Leopold and Mark Kahn
(collectively, the "Sellers"), Wintrust Financial Corporation, an Illinois
corporation (the "Buyer"), and LaSalle Bank, N.A., as Escrow Agent ("Escrow
Agent").
R E C I T A L S:
A. Pursuant to that certain Stock Purchase Agreement dated as of
September 16, 1999 (the "Stock Purchase Agreement"), by and among the Sellers,
and Buyer, Buyer has purchased all of the shares of common stock of Tricom Inc.
of Milwaukee ("Tricom") held by the Sellers.
B. Pursuant to Section 2(b)(ii) of the Stock Purchase Agreement, Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) (the "Escrow Deposit") of the Purchase
Price that Buyer is obligated to pay to the Sellers is to be deposited into
escrow and such payment is subject to set off as set forth herein.
A G R E E M E N T
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements
hereinafter set forth, and upon the terms and subject to the conditions
contained herein, the Sellers, Buyer and the Escrow Agent hereby agree as
follows:
1. Certain Definitions. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term
"Escrow Funds" shall mean the Escrow Deposit together with all interest,
accretions and income thereon. All capitalized terms used herein and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning as set forth in the Stock
Purchase Agreement.
2. Deposit in Escrow. Buyer hereby deposits in escrow with Escrow Agent
the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00), and Escrow Agent hereby
acknowledges receipt thereof. The Escrow Funds shall be held by Escrow Agent in
a separate account for the benefit of Buyer and the Sellers for the purpose of
securing the Sellers' Indemnification Obligations (as hereinafter defined) set
forth in Section 5(a) of this Agreement. Escrow Agent shall invest the Escrow
Funds as directed in writing by the Buyer. In the absence of written
instructions, Escrow Agent shall invest as soon as reasonably practicable all
balances for which it has not received specific written investment direction,
including income earned on said investments, in the ABN AMRO Government Money
Market Fund.
3. No Liens or Encumbrances on Escrow Funds. Neither the Sellers nor
Buyer shall encumber their claims to the Escrow Funds in any manner whatsoever.
<PAGE>
4. Final Distribution of Escrow Funds. Subject to Sections 5 and 6 of
this Agreement, on the later of (i) the six (6) month anniversary date of this
Agreement (the "Claim Expiration Date"), or (ii) the date that all Claims (as
hereinafter defined) shall have been resolved in accordance with Section 6(c)
hereof, Escrow Agent shall distribute to the Sellers all Escrow Funds, if any,
then held in escrow.
5. Claims Against the Escrow.
(a) Seller's Indemnification Obligation. The Escrow Funds shall be
held for the purpose of securing the Sellers' Indemnification Obligations (as
hereinafter defined). For the purposes of this Agreement, Sellers'
"Indemnification Obligations" shall mean the following:
(i) Sellers shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer through
and after the date of the Claim for indemnification (including any Adverse
Consequences Buyer may suffer after the end of any applicable survival
period) resulting from, arising out of, or relating to, in the nature of,
or caused by the breach (or alleged breach) of Sellers representations and
warranties contained in Section 4(n) of the Stock Purchase Agreement; and
(ii) Sellers shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer through
and after the date of the Claim for indemnification (including any Adverse
Consequences Buyer may suffer after the end of any applicable survival
period) resulting from, arising out of, or relating to, in the nature of,
or caused by, the Year 2000 Problem (as defined in Section 4(n) of the
Stock Purchase Agreement); and
(iii) Sellers shall indemnify and hold Buyer harmless from and
against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences Buyer may suffer through
and after the date of the Claim for indemnification (including any Adverse
Consequences Buyer may suffer after the end of any applicable survival
period) resulting from, arising out of, or relating to, in the nature of,
or caused by, amounts owed by Executive Edge, Inc. (and guaranteed by Joel
E. Walker) to Tricom at the time of Closing; provided, however, that Seller
shall receive credit against any amounts required to be paid under this
Section 5(a)(iii) for the difference between (x) $60,000 and (y) the amount
of bad debts written off by Tricom, Inc. of Milwaukee subsequent to the
Closing Date under the Stock Purchase Agreement and through the date any
Claim for indemnification is made hereunder. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary, the Claims Threshold provided in Section 5(c) shall not apply
to any Claim for indemnification under this Section 5(a)(iii).
(b) Notice of Claims. If, at any time prior to the Claim
Expiration Date, Buyer shall have asserted any claim pursuant to Section 5(a)
above (a "Claim"), Buyer shall notify Escrow Agent in writing of such Claim, and
the amount of such Claim or Buyer's good faith estimate of the amount of such
Claim (a "Claim Notice"). Buyer shall send a copy of each Claim Notice to each
of the Sellers in accordance with Section 8(c) hereof.
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<PAGE>
(c) Claims Threshold. Buyer shall not be entitled to indemnification
hereunder with respect to any Claims whatsoever until the amount of all Claims
suffered by the Buyer exceeds $50,000 in the aggregate, whereupon the Buyer
shall be entitled to indemnification hereunder from the Sellers for the
aggregate amount of all Claims suffered by the Buyer, without regard to the
aforementioned $50,000 threshold.
6. Reimbursement Claims Procedure.
(a) Segregation of Funds. If, prior to the Claim Expiration Date, a
Claim Notice is received by Escrow Agent, Escrow Agent shall set aside and
segregate such amount of the Escrow Funds which would be sufficient to
completely discharge the aggregate amount of the Claim described in such Claim
Notice. Such segregated Escrow Funds shall not be available for distribution to
the Sellers pursuant to Section 4 until such Claim shall have been resolved in
accordance with Section 6(b) and 6(c) hereof.
(b) Satisfaction of Claims. If each of the Sellers shall consent in
a written agreement agreed to by Buyer and delivered to Escrow Agent, to the
delivery of all or any part of the Escrow Funds, whether segregated or not, to
Buyer in satisfaction and discharge of a Claim, Escrow Agent shall deliver to
Buyer all or a portion of the Escrow Funds covered by such consent, which
delivery shall satisfy such Claim to the extent of the total amount of the
Escrow Funds delivered.
(c) Resolution of Claims. If a Claim Notice is received by Escrow
Agent prior to the Claim Expiration Date and each of the Sellers and Buyer shall
not have consented to the delivery of all or any part of the Escrow Funds to
Buyer, then Escrow Agent shall continue to hold the segregated Escrow Funds
until each of the Sellers and Buyer shall have agreed as to the rights of the
Sellers and Buyer to the segregated Escrow Funds, or until the rights of the
Sellers and Buyer to the segregated Escrow Funds are finally determined pursuant
to judicial determination, at which time the Escrow Funds shall be disbursed to
Buyer or to the Sellers or retained in escrow, as and to the extent contemplated
by this Agreement and in accordance with the final determination of arbitrators
or order of a court.
7. Concerning the Escrow Agent.
(a) Agreements to Govern. The duties and obligations of Escrow Agent
hereunder shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
Agreement.
(b) Liability. Escrow Agent shall not be liable to anyone
whatsoever by reason of any error of judgment or for any act done or step taken
or omitted by it in good faith or any mistake of fact or law or for anything
that it may do or refrain from doing in connection herewith, unless caused by or
arising out of its own gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Sellers and
Buyer shall jointly and severally indemnify and hold Escrow Agent harmless from
any and all liability and expense that may arise out of any action taken or
omitted by it as Escrow Agent in accordance with this Agreement, as the same may
be amended, modified or supplemented, except
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<PAGE>
such liability and expense as may result from the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of Escrow Agent. The obligation of Buyer and the Sellers set forth in
the prior sentence shall survive the termination of this Agreement and the
resignation or removal of the Escrow Agent.
(c) Reliance on Instructions. Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely
and shall be protected in acting in reliance upon any instructions or directions
furnished to it in writing by the Sellers or Buyer or pursuant to any provision
of this Agreement and shall be entitled to treat as genuine, and as the document
it purports to be, any letter, paper or other document furnished to it by the
Sellers or Buyer and believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed and
presented by the proper party or parties.
(d) Resignation of Escrow Agent. Escrow Agent may at any time
resign by giving written notice of such resignation to Buyer and the Sellers.
Escrow Agent shall not be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder
until a successor Escrow Agent shall have been designated by Buyer and the
Sellers, and shall have executed and delivered an Escrow Agreement in
substantially the form of this Agreement, and all funds then held by Escrow
Agent hereunder shall have been delivered to such successor Escrow Agent. Escrow
Agent shall be paid outstanding fees and expenses prior to transferring funds to
a successor Escrow Agent. If a successor Escrow Agent has not been appointed and
has not accepted such appointment by the end of the 30-day period, the Escrow
Agent may appoint a successor or may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction
for the appointment of a successor Escrow agent, and the costs, expenses and
reasonable attorneys' fees which are incurred in connection with such a
proceeding shall be paid by the parties to the Agreement.
(e) Compensation and Expenses. Escrow Agent shall receive
compensation for its services as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto,
together with reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred by Escrow Agent
in connection with this Agreement. Such compensation and expenses shall be paid
by Buyer.
(f) Writs, Orders, or Decrees. In the event the Escrowed Funds
shall be attached, garnished, or levied upon by any court order, or the delivery
thereof shall be stayed or enjoined by an order of court, or any order, judgment
or decree shall be made or entered by any court order affecting the Escrowed
Funds, or any part thereof, said Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized in
its sole direction, to obey and comply with all writs, orders or decrees so
entered or issued, which it is advised by legal counsel of its own choosing is
binding upon it, whether with or without jurisdiction, and in case said Escrow
Agent obeys or complies with any such writ, order or decree it shall not be
liable to any of the parties hereto or to any other person, firm or corporation,
by reason of such compliance notwithstanding that such writ, order or decree may
be subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside or vacated.
(g) Litigation. In the event said Escrow Agent becomes involved in
litigation on account of the Escrowed Funds or of this Agreement, it shall have
the right to retain counsel and shall have a lien on the property deposited
hereunder for any and all costs, attorneys' and solicitors' fees, charges,
disbursements, and expenses in connection with such litigation; and shall be
entitled to reimburse itself therefore out of the Escrowed Funds, and if it
shall be unable to reimburse itself
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<PAGE>
from the Escrowed Funds, the parties hereto jointly and severally agree to pay
to said Escrow Agent on demand, its reasonable charges, counsel and attorneys'
fees, disbursements, and expenses in connection with such litigation.
(h) Assignment by Escrow Agent. Any corporation or association
into which the Escrow Agent may be converted or merged, or with which it may be
consolidated, or to which it may sell or transfer its corporate trust business
and assets as a whole or substantially as a whole or in part, or any corporation
or association resulting from any such conversion, sale, merger, consolidation
or transfer to which it is a party, shall be and become the successor Escrow
Agent hereunder and vested with all of the title to the whole property or trust
estate and all of the trusts, powers, immunities, privileges, protections and
all other matters as was its predecessor, without the execution or filing of any
instrument or any further act, deed or conveyance on the part of any of the
parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.
(i) Conflicting Demands. In the event that conflicting demands
are made upon the Escrow Agent for any situation not addressed in this
Agreement, Escrow Agent may withhold performance of this Escrow until such times
as said conflicting demands shall have been withdrawn or the rights of the
respective parties shall have been settled by court adjudication, arbitration,
joint order or otherwise.
8. Miscellaneous.
(a) Amendment. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing
executed by Buyer, the Sellers and Escrow Agent.
(b) Entire Agreement. This Agreement and the other agreements
expressly referred to herein set forth the entire understanding of the parties
hereto regarding the subject matter hereof and supersede all prior contracts,
agreements, arrangements, communications, discussions, representations and
warranties, whether oral or written, between the parties regarding the subject
matter hereof.
(c) Notices. All notices under this Agreement shall be in writing and
shall be (i) delivered in person, (ii) sent by telecopy, or (iii) mailed,
postage prepaid, either by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, or overnight express carrier, addressed in each case as follows:
If to the Sellers, to: John Leopold
Tricom Funding
11270 W. Park Place, Suite 100
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224
Facsimile:(414) 410-2299
and
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<PAGE>
Mark Kahn
Tricom Funding
11270 W. Park Place, Suite 100
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53224
Facsimile: (414) 410-2299
with a copy to: Lichtsinn & Haensel, S.C.
111 E. Wisconsin Ave., Suite 1800
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Attn: Michael J. Bennett
Facsimile: (414) 276-9278
If to Buyer, to: Wintrust Financial Corporation
Attn: David A. Dykstra
727 N. Bank Lane
Lake Forest, Illinois 60045
Facsimile: (847) 615-4091
with a copy to: Pedersen & Houpt
Attn: Thomas F. Brett, II
161 North Clark Street
Suite 3100
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Facsimile: (312) 641-6895
If to Escrow Agent, to: LaSalle Bank, N.A.
35 S. LaSalle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attn: Pamela Ristau
Facsimile: (312) 904-2236
or to any other address or telecopy number as such party shall designate in a
written notice to the other. All notices sent pursuant to the terms of this
Section 9(c) shall be deemed received (i) if personally delivered, then on the
date of delivery; (ii) if sent by telecopy before 2:00 p.m. local time of the
recipient, on the day sent if a business day or if such day is not a business
day or if sent after 2:00 p.m. local time of the recipient, then on the next
business day; (iii) if sent by overnight, express carrier, on the next business
day immediately following the day sent; or (iv) if sent by registered or
certified mail, on the earlier of the third (3rd) business day following the day
sent or when actually received. Any notice by telecopy shall be followed by
delivery of a copy of such notice on the next business day by overnight express
carrier or by hand.
(d) Assignment. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the
benefit of the successors, heirs, representatives and assigns of each party
hereto, but no rights, obligations or liabilities of the Sellers shall be
assignable without the prior written consent of Buyer, and no rights,
obligations, or liabilities of Escrow Agent hereunder shall be assignable
without the prior
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<PAGE>
written consent of Buyer and the Sellers. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no
assignment shall be binding upon the Escrow Agent until notice thereof has been
delivered and acknowledged by the Escrow Agent.
(e) Governing Law. This Agreement shall in all respects be governed
by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Illinois.
(f) Severability. Each section and subsection of this Agreement
constitutes a separate and distinct provision hereof. It is the intent of the
parties hereto that the provisions of this Agreement be enforced to the fullest
extent permissible under the laws and public policies applicable in each
jurisdiction in which enforcement is sought. Accordingly, if any provision of
this Agreement shall be adjudicated to be invalid, ineffective or unenforceable,
the remaining provisions shall not be affected thereby. The invalid, ineffective
or unenforceable provision shall, without further action by the parties, be
automatically amended to effect the original purpose and intent of the invalid,
ineffective or unenforceable provision; provided, however, that such amendment
shall apply only with respect to the operation of such provision in the
particular jurisdiction with respect to which such adjudication is made.
(g) Waivers. Any waiver by any party of any violation of, breach of
or default under any provision of this Agreement, by the other party shall not
be construed as, or constitute, a continuing waiver of such provision, or waiver
of any other violation of, breach of or default under any other provision of
this Agreement or any other agreements provided for herein.
(h) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are solely for
convenience of reference and shall not be given any effect in the construction
or interpretation of this Agreement.
(i) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of
which together will constitute one and the same instrument.
(j) Third Parties. Nothing expressed or implied in this Agreement is
intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon or give any person or entity
other than Buyer, the Sellers and Escrow Agent any rights or remedies under, or
by reason of, this Agreement.
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<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Sellers, Buyer and Escrow Agent have caused
their respective duly authorized representatives to execute this Agreement, all
as of the date first above written.
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION
By /s/ David A. Dykstra
----------------------------
Its Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
/s/ John Leopold
--------------------------------
John Leopold
/s/ Mark Kahn
--------------------------------
Mark Kahn
LASALLE BANK, N.A., AS ESCROW
AGENT
By /s/ Illegible
----------------------------
Its Vice President
SIGNATURE PAGE TO
POST-CLOSING ESCROW AGREEMENT
EXHIBIT 99
[Wintrust Letterhead]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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October 26, 1999
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Edward J. Wehmer, President/CEO--Wintrust Financial Corporation, (847) 615-4096
David A. Dykstra, CFO -- Wintrust Financial Corporation, (847) 615-4096
John Leopold, President/CEO -- Tricom, Inc., (414) 410-2200
WINTRUST FINANCIAL CORPORATION ANNOUNCES
CLOSING OF TRICOM, INC. ACQUISITION
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LAKE FOREST, ILLINOIS -- Wintrust Financial Corporation (Wintrust) (Nasdaq:
WTFC) announced today the completion of its previously announced pending
acquisition of Milwaukee-based Tricom, Inc. (Tricom), a financial and
administrative service bureau to the staffing industry. Wintrust's wholly-owned
subsidiary, Hinsdale Bank and Trust Company (Hinsdale), acquired 100% of the
common stock of Tricom as of the effective date of October 1, 1999.
Tricom provides short-term accounts receivable financing and value-added
out-sourced administrative services, such as data processing of payrolls,
billing and cash management services, to clients in the temporary staffing
industry. Tricom currently has clients located nationally that provide temporary
staffing services to a diversified client base. On an annualized basis, it
currently finances and processes payrolls with associated billings in excess of
$200 million and generates revenues of nearly $7 million. Historically, Tricom
has had minimal credit losses associated with its business.
This acquisition will, by virtue of the funding resources of Hinsdale and
Wintrust, provide Tricom with additional capital needed to expand its lending
services in a national market. Tricom revenue is derived primarily from interest
income from lending activities and fee revenue from administrative services
provided to its clients. The acquisition is consistent with Wintrust's stated
strategy of adding a variety of diversified earning asset and fee-based business
niches to augment its community-based banking revenues.
The purchase price was comprised of part cash and part stock, including the
issuance of 227,635 shares of Wintrust Financial Corporation Common Stock. The
transaction was recorded using the purchase method of accounting.
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Tricom will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hinsdale, which is a
state chartered, Federal Reserve member commercial bank that provides
depository, lending, safe deposit and other general banking services.
Wintrust is a financial services holding company whose common stock is
traded on the Nasdaq Stock Market[SM] under the ticker symbol "WTFC". Its six
suburban Chicago community bank subsidiaries, each of which was founded as a de
novo bank since December 1991, are located in high income retail markets -- Lake
Forest Bank and Trust Company, Hinsdale Bank and Trust Company, North Shore
Community Bank and Trust Company in Wilmette, Libertyville Bank and Trust
Company, Barrington Bank and Trust Company, N.A., and Crystal Lake Bank and
Trust Company, N.A.. The banks also operate facilities in Lake Bluff, Glencoe,
Winnetka, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs and Skokie, Illinois. The Company's
finance subsidiary, First Insurance Funding Corporation, one of the largest
commercial insurance premium finance companies operating in the United States,
serves commercial loan customers throughout the country. Wintrust Asset
Management Company, N.A., a trust and investment subsidiary, allows Wintrust to
service customers' trust and investment needs at each banking location.
Currently, Wintrust operates a total of 24 banking offices and is in the process
of constructing one additional branch facility. All of the Company's banking
subsidiaries are locally managed with large local boards of directors. Wintrust
Financial Corporation has been one of the fastest growing de novo bank groups in
Illinois.
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