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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 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 September 13, 1997
ARIS CORPORATION
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
WASHINGTON 0-22649 91-1497147
_______________________________ ________________________ ___________________
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (Commission File (IRS Employer
Incorporation) Number) Identification No.)
6720 FORT DENT WAY, SUITE 250, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 98188-2555
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
(206) 433-2081
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Registrant's telephone number, including area code
NONE
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(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
Agreement and Plan of Merger. On September 13, 1997, ARIS Corporation
("ARIS") executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement ") with
Enterprise Computing Inc., a New York corporation doing business as Buller,
Owens & Associates ("Buller Owens"), and all of the stockholders of Buller
Owens. The Agreement contemplates a state law merger under Section 368(a)(1)(A)
of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, pursuant to which Buller Owens
will merge with and into ARIS, with ARIS as the surviving corporation (the
"Merger"). The Agreement contemplates closing all of the transactions
contemplated by the Merger on October 1, 1997. The Merger contemplates the
exchange of all of the issued and outstanding shares of Buller Owens in exchange
for 62,531 shares of restricted ARIS common stock, no par value per share
("Restricted ARIS Stock"), $1,500,000 cash and warrants to purchase 20,844
shares of Restricted ARIS Stock (the "Warrants"). The warrants are exercisable
at $23.988 per share until October 1, 2004. The selling stockholders of Buller
Owens may receive up to $500,000 of additional consideration in the Merger in
the event they are able to achieve specified performance objectives agreed to in
the Agreement. Although the Warrants and Restricted ARIS Stock issued in
connection with the Merger will not be registered, the selling stockholders of
Buller Owens have been granted piggyback registration rights under the terms of
a registration rights agreement. The terms of the Agreement and registration
rights agreement were determined on the basis of arm's-length negotiations.
Prior to the execution the Agreement, neither ARIS nor any of its affiliates nor
any director or officer of ARIS or any associate of any such director or
officer, had any material relationship with Buller Owens.
The cash to be exchanged in the transaction is cash retained from
operations and the proceeds of ARIS' initial public offering, Registration No.
33-25409, which was declared effective with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 18, 1997.
All assets of Buller Owens acquired in the merger are utilized in its
information technology consulting and training business and will be utilized in
the same business of ARIS. The Merger will be accounted for using the purchase
method of accounting.
The foregoing descriptions are qualified in their entirety by reference to
the full text of the Merger Agreement which is filed as an Exhibit hereto.
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ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired. To be filed by amendment
within 60 days.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information. To be filed by amendment within 60
days.
(c) Exhibits.
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 13, 1997, among
ARIS Corporation, Enterprise Computing Inc., d/b/a Buller Owens
& Associates and each of the Stockholders of Enterprise
Computing Inc.
23.1 Consent of Dodd Wing & Co. To be filed by amendment within 60
days
27.1 Financial Data Schedule. To be filed by amendment within 60
days
99.1 Press release issued by ARIS Corporation on September 16, 1997
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SIGNATURE
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 hereunto duly authorized.
ARIS CORPORATION
By: /S/ THOMAS W. AVERILL
--------------------------------------
Thomas W. Averill
Vice President of Finance and Chief
Financial Officer
Dated: September 26, 1997
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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<CAPTION>
Exhibit Number Description
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<C> <S>
2.1 Agreement and Plan of Merger dated September 13,
1997, among ARIS Corporation, Enterprise
Computing Inc., d/b/a Buller Owens & Associates
and each of the Stockholders of Enterprise
Computing Inc.
23.1 Consent of Dodd Wing & Co. To be filed by
amendment within 60 days
27.1 Financial Data Schedule. To be filed by amendment
within 60 days
99.1 Press release issued by ARIS Corporation on
September 16, 1997
</TABLE>
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EXHIBIT 2.1 TO FORM 8-K
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
BY AND AMONG
ARIS CORPORATION,
ENTERPRISE COMPUTING INC.,
d/b/a BULLER OWENS & ASSOCIATES
AND
EACH OF THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ENTERPRISE COMPUTING INC.
DATED
SEPTEMBER 13, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exhibit A -- Target Stockholders
Exhibit B -- Certificate of Merger
Exhibit C -- Earn-Out Schedule
Exhibit D -- Financial Statements
Exhibit E -- Investor Questionnaire
Exhibit F -- Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Target
Exhibit G -- Registration Rights Agreement
Exhibit H -- Common Stock Purchase Warrant
Exhibit I -- Form of Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer
Exhibit J -- Form of Employment Agreement with Target Stockholders
Exhibit K -- Letter of Transmittal
Disclosure Schedule -- Exceptions to Representations and Warranties
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "AGREEMENT") entered into on
September 13, 1997 by and among ARIS Corporation, a Washington corporation (the
"BUYER"), and Enterprise Computing Inc. d/b/a Buller Owens & Associates, a New
York corporation (the "TARGET"), and each of the Target Stockholders set forth
on the attached EXHIBIT A. The Buyer, the Target and the Target Stockholders are
referred to collectively herein as the "PARTIES."
This Agreement contemplates a tax-free merger of the Target with and into
the Buyer (to the extent permitted) in a statutory merger pursuant to Code
Section 368(a)(1)(A). The Target Stockholders will receive the Merger
Consideration (as set forth below) in exchange for their capital stock in the
Target.
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.
"BUYER" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"BUYER SHARES" means the sixty two thousand five hundred and thirty one
(62,531) shares of the Common Stock, no par value per share, of the Buyer issued
pursuant to the Merger.
"CERTIFICATE OF MERGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(c) below.
"CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) below.
"CLOSING DATE" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(b) below.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE" has the meaning set forth in Section 3 below.
"EARN-OUT" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)(ii) below.
"EFFECTIVE TIME" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(d)(i) below.
"EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN" means any (a) nonqualified deferred compensation or
retirement plan or arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan, (b)
qualified defined contribution retirement plan or arrangement which is an
Employee Pension Benefit Plan, (c) qualified defined benefit retirement plan or
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arrangement which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan (including any
Multiemployer Plan), or (d) Employee Welfare Benefit Plan or material fringe
benefit plan or program.
"EMPLOYEE PENSION BENEFIT PLAN" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section
3(2).
"EMPLOYEE WELFARE BENEFIT PLAN" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section
3(1).
"ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND SAFETY REQUIREMENTS" means the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, and the Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970, each as amended, together with all other laws (including rules,
regulations, codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings and
charges thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and all
agencies thereof) concerning pollution or protection of the environment, public
health and safety, or employee health and safety, including laws relating to
emissions, discharges, releases, or threatened releases of pollutants,
contaminants, or chemical, industrial, hazardous, or toxic materials or wastes
into ambient air, surface water, ground water, or lands or otherwise relating to
the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport, or handling or pollutants, contaminants, or chemical, industrial,
hazardous, or toxic materials or wastes.
"ERISA" means the Employee retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended.
"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in
effect from time to time.
"INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" means (a) all inventions (whether patentable and
whether 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,
corporate names, Internet domain and world wide web names and addresses 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
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).
"IRS" means the Internal Revenue Service.
"KNOWLEDGE" means actual knowledge after reasonable investigation.
"LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL" means the Letter of Transmittal from each
Target Stockholder in the form attached as Exhibit K to this Agreement to be
delivered to Buyer for delivery to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services in Seattle,
Washington at the Effective Time.
"MERGER" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) below.
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"MERGER CONSIDERATION" means the Buyer Shares, cash and Warrants
deliverable by Buyer at Closing and any Earn-Out paid by Buyer to the Target
Stockholders subsequent to the Closing pursuant to Section 2(e) below.
"MOST RECENT FISCAL QUARTER END" has the meaning set forth in Section 3(g)
below.
"MULTIEMPLOYER PLAN" has the meaning set forth in ERISA Section 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).
"PARTY" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"PERSON" means an individual, a partnership, a corporation, an association,
a joint stock company, a trust, a joint venture, an unincorporated organization,
or a governmental entity (or any department, agency, or political subdivision
thereof).
"REQUISITE TARGET STOCKHOLDER APPROVAL" means the affirmative vote of all
of the holders of the Target Shares in favor of this Agreement and the Merger.
"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
"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 or for taxes that the
taxpayer is contesting in good faith through appropriate proceedings, (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.
"SPECIAL TARGET MEETING" has the meaning set forth in Section 5(c) below.
"SURVIVING CORPORATION" has the meaning set forth in Section 2(a) below.
"TARGET" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"TARGET SHARE" means any share of the Common Stock, no par value per share,
of the Target.
"TARGET STOCKHOLDER" has the meaning set forth in the preface above.
"TAXES" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross receipts,
license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, occupation, environmental,
custom duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social security
(or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal property, sales,
use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative minimum, estimated, or
other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest, penalty, or addition
thereto, whether disputed or not.
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"TAX RETURNS" 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.
"WARRANTS" means the warrants to purchase twenty thousand eight hundred and
forty four (20,844) Buyer Shares upon the terms and conditions of the form of
Warrant for the Purchase of Shares of Common Stock attached as Exhibit H.
2. BASIC TRANSACTION.
(a) THE MERGER. On and subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, the Target will merge with and into the Buyer (the "MERGER") at the
Effective Time. Following the Merger, the separate corporate existence of the
Target shall cease, the Buyer shall continue as the surviving corporation (the
"SURVIVING CORPORATION") and shall succeed to and assume all the rights and
obligations of the Target in accordance with the Business Corporation of Law of
the State of New York and the Washington Business Corporations Act.
(b) THE CLOSING. The closing of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the "CLOSING") shall take place at the offices of Van Valkenberg
Furber Law Group P.L.L.C. in Seattle, Washington, at 9:00 a.m. Pacific Standard
Time on October 1, 1997, following the satisfaction or waiver of all conditions
to the obligations of the Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby (other than conditions with respect to actions the respective Parties
will take at the Closing itself) or such other date or location as the Parties
may mutually determine (the "CLOSING DATE").
(c) ACTIONS AT THE CLOSING. At the Closing, (i) The Target and Target
Stockholders will deliver to the Buyer the various certificates, instruments,
and documents referred to in Section 6(a) below, (ii) the Buyer will deliver to
the Target the various certificates, instruments, and documents referred to in
Section 6(b) below, (iii) the Buyer and the Target will file with the Secretary
of State for the states of New York and Washington a Certificate of Merger in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "CERTIFICATE OF MERGER"), (iv) each
of the Target Stockholders will deliver to the Buyer stock certificates
representing all of his Target Shares, accompanied by duly executed Letters of
Transmittal, and (v) the Buyer will deliver or cause to be delivered to each
Target Stockholder his pro rate portion of the Merger Consideration specified in
Section 2(e) below.
(d) EFFECT OF MERGER.
(i) GENERAL. The Merger shall become effective at the time (the
"EFFECTIVE TIME") the Buyer and the Target file the Certificates of
Merger with the Secretary of State of the States of New York and
Washington. The Effective Time is contemplated by the Parties to occur
as of the Closing Date. The Surviving Corporation may, at any time
after the Effective Time, take any action (including executing and
delivering any document) in the name and on behalf of either the Buyer
or the Target in order to carry out and effectuate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(ii) ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION. The Articles of Incorporation of
the Buyer in effect at and as of the Effective Time will remain the
Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation without any
modification or amendment in the Merger.
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(iii) BYLAWS. The Bylaws of the Buyer in effect at and as of the
Effective Time will remain the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation without
any modification or amendment in the Merger.
(iv) DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. The directors and officers of the Buyer
in office at and as of the Effective Time will remain the directors and
officers of the Surviving Corporation (retaining their respective positions
and terms of office).
(v) CAPITAL STOCK OF TARGET. As of the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any shares
of the Target Shares, (i) each of the Target Shares held immediately prior
to the Effective Time in the Target's treasury shall automatically be
canceled and retired and shall cease to exist and (ii) each of the Target
Shares issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall
be converted into, and the holder of each such Target Share shall be
entitled to receive, the following (including the "Earn-Out" referred to in
paragraph (vi) below, the "Merger Consideration"): (A) 2816.71 of the Buyer
Shares (for a total of 62,531 Buyer Shares for all of the outstanding
Target Shares); (B) $67,567.57 in cash, payable by wire transfer or
delivery of other immediately available funds (for a total of $1,500,000
for all of the outstanding Target Shares); and (C) 938.92 Warrants (for a
total of 20,844 Warrants for all of the outstanding Target Shares). At the
Effective Time, Buyer will deliver to ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
stock transfer agent to Buyer, in Seattle, Washington, the Target Shares
and the duly executed Letters of Transmittal to release the Buyer Shares to
the Target Stockholders.
(vi) As additional consideration for the Merger, each Target
Stockholder shall be entitled to receive such additional cash
consideration upon the attainment of certain profitability and other
performance criteria (the "EARN-OUT") set forth on the earn-out
schedule attached as Exhibit C to this Agreement.
(vii) The Merger Consideration, including the Earn-Out (if and when
earned), shall be deemed as Merger Consideration and shall be allocated
among the Target Stockholders in proportion to their respective holdings of
Target Shares as set forth on the attached Exhibit A.
3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE TARGET AND TARGET STOCKHOLDERS.
The Target and each Target Stockholder, jointly and severally, represents and
warrants to the Buyer that the statements contained in this Section 3 are true,
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section 3),
except as set forth in the disclosure schedule accompanying this Agreement and
initialed by the Parties (the "DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE"). The Disclosure Schedule
will be arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the lettered and numbered
paragraphs contained in this Section 3.
(a) ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER. The Target is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the State of New York. The Target is duly authorized to conduct business
and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such
qualification is required. The Target has full corporate power and authority to
carry on the businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties
owned and used by it.
(b) CAPITALIZATION. The entire authorized capital stock of the Target
consists of two hundred (200) Target Shares, of which twenty two and two-tenths
(22.2) Target Shares are issued and outstanding and one hundred seventy seven
and eight-tenths (177.8) Target Shares are held in treasury. All of the issued
and outstanding Target Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable.
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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.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. The Target and each Target Stockholder
has full power and authority (including full corporate power and authority) to
execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder,
which has been approved by the Requisite Target Stockholder Approval. This
Agreement constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Target and
each Target Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms and
conditions.
(d) NONCONTRAVENTION. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will
(i) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government,
governmental agency, or court to which the Target is subject or any provision of
the charter or bylaws of the Target 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 or instrument to which the
Target is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets is
subject except where the violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration,
termination, modification, cancellation, or failure to give notice would not
have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) BROKERS' FEES. Target does not have 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.
(f) TITLE TO ASSETS. The Target has good and marketable title to, or a
valid leasehold interest in, the properties and assets used by it, located on
its premises, or shown on the Most Recent Financial Statements 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 Financial Statements.
(g) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Attached hereto as Exhibit D are the following
financial statements (collectively the "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS"): (i) compiled
balance sheet, statement of income and retained earnings, and statement of cash
flows as of and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996 (the "MOST RECENT
FISCAL YEAR END"), (ii) compiled balance sheets, statements of income and
retained earnings, of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 1995 and
December 31, 1994 for the Target; and (iii) balance sheet and statement of
income (the "MOST RECENT FINANCIAL STATEMENTS") as of and for the eight months
ended August 31, 1997 (the "MOST RECENT FISCAL MONTH END") for the Target. The
Financial Statements (including the notes thereto, if any) present fairly in all
material respects the financial condition of the Target as of such dates and the
results of operations of the Target for such periods, are correct and complete
in all material respects, and are consistent with the books and records of the
Target; provided, however, that (a) the Most Recent Financial Statements are
subject to normal year-end adjustments (which will not be material individually
or in the aggregate) and (b) the Financial Statements lack footnotes and other
presentation items.
(h) EVENTS SUBSEQUENT TO MOST RECENT FISCAL YEAR END. Except as reflected
in the Most Recent Financial Statements, since the Most Recent Fiscal Year End,
there has not been any material change in the business, financial condition,
operations or results of operations of the Target taken as a whole. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, since that date:
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(i) the Target has not sold, leased, transferred, or assigned any material
assets, tangible or intangible, outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(ii) the Target has not entered into any material agreement, contract,
lease, or license outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(iii) no party (including the Target) has accelerated, terminated, made
material modifications to, or canceled any material agreement, contract, lease,
or license to which the Target is a party or by which the Target is bound;
(iv) the Target has not imposed any Security Interest upon any of its
assets, tangible or intangible;
(v) the Target has not made any material capital expenditures outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(vi) the Target has not made any material capital investment in, or any
material loan to, any other Person outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(vii) the Target has not created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any
indebtedness for borrowed money and capitalized lease obligations;
(viii) the Target has not granted any license or sublicense of any material
rights under or with respect to any Intellectual Property;
(ix) there has been no change made or authorized in the charter or bylaws
of the Target;
(x) the Target has not 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;
(xi) the Target has not 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;
(xii) the Target has not experienced any material damage, destruction, or
loss (whether or not covered by insurance) to its property;
(xiii) the Target has not made any loan to, or entered into any other
transaction with, any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(xiv) the Target has not entered into any employment contract outside the
Ordinary Course of Business, nor has the Target entered into any collective
bargaining agreement, written or oral, or modified the terms of any existing
such contract or agreement outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xv) the Target has not granted any increase in the base compensation of
any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of
Business;
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(xvi) the Target has not 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);
(xvii) the Target has not made any other material change in employment
terms for any of its directors, officers, and employees outside the
Ordinary Course of Business; and
(xviii) the Target has not committed to any of the foregoing.
(i) UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. The Target does not have any material
liability (whether known or unknown, whether asserted or unasserted, whether
absolute or contingent, whether accrued or unaccrued, whether liquidated or
unliquidated, and whether due or to become due, including any liability for
taxes), except for (i) liabilities set forth on the balance sheet of the Most
Recent Financial Statements (rather than in any notes thereto) (ii) liabilities
which have arisen after the Most Recent Fiscal Month End in the Ordinary Course
of Business, and (iii) any liabilities which result 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.
(j) LEGAL COMPLIANCE. To the Knowledge of Target and Target Stockholders,
the Target has complied with all applicable laws (including rules, regulations,
codes, plans, injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and charges
thereunder) of federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and all agencies
thereof), and no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge,
complaint, claim, demand, or notice has been filed or commenced against any of
them alleging any failure so to comply, except where the failure to comply would
not have a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition,
operations, results of operations, or future prospects of the Target.
(k) TAX MATTERS.
(i) The Target has filed all Tax Returns that it was required to file.
All such Tax Returns were correct and complete in all material respects.
All Taxes owed by the Target (whether or not shown on any Tax Return) have
been paid.
(ii) There is no material dispute or claim concerning any Tax
liability of the Target either (A) claimed or raised by any authority in
writing or (B) as to which any of the Target Stockholders, the directors or
officers of the Target has Knowledge.
(iii) The unpaid Taxes of the Target (A) did not, as of the Most
Recent Fiscal Month End, exceed by any material amount the reserve for such
Tax liability (rather than any reserve for deferred taxes established to
reflect timing differences between book and tax income) set forth on the
balance sheet of the Most Recent Financial Statements (rather than in any
notes thereto) and (B) will not exceed by any material amount that reserve
as adjusted for operations and transactions through the Closing Date in
accordance with GAAP in filing its Tax Returns.
(l) REAL PROPERTY. Section 3(l) of the Disclosure Schedule lists and
describes briefly all real property leased or subleased to the Target, or with
respect to any real property used by the Target in its Ordinary Course of
Business. The Target has delivered to the Buyer correct, current and complete
copies of the leases and subleases listed in Section 3(l) of the Disclosure
Schedule (as amended to date). To the Knowledge of Target, with respect to each
lease and sublease listed in Section 3(l) of the Disclosure Schedule:
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(i) the lease or sublease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in
full force and effect in all material respects;
(ii) no party to the lease or sublease is in material breach or
default, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time,
would constitute a material breach or default or permit termination,
modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(iii) no party to the lease or sublease has repudiated any material
provision thereof;
(iv) there are no material disputes, oral agreements, or forbearance
programs in effect as to the lease or sublease;
(v) the Target has not assigned, transferred, conveyed, mortgaged,
deeded in trust, or encumbered any interest in the leasehold or
subleasehold; and
(vi) all facilities leased or subleased thereunder have received all
approvals of governmental authorities (including material licenses and
permits) required in connection with the operation thereof, and have been
operated and maintained in accordance with applicable laws, rules, and
regulations in all material respects.
(m) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY.
(i) To the Knowledge of Target and Target Stockholders, the Target has
not interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or violated any
material Intellectual Property rights of third parties in any material
respect, and none of the Target Stockholders has not in the past two years
received any charge, complaint, claim, demand, or notice alleging any such
interference, infringement, misappropriation, or violation (including any
claim that the Target must license or refrain from using any Intellectual
Property rights of any third party). To the Knowledge of any of the Target
Stockholders, no third party has interfered with, infringed upon,
misappropriated, or violated any material Intellectual Property rights of
the Target in any material respect.
(ii) With respect to each item of Intellectual Property used by the
Target in the conduct of its business:
(A) the Target possesses 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, to the Knowledge of any of
the Target Stockholders, is threatened which challenges the legality,
validity, enforceability, use, or ownership of the item; and
(D) the Target has never agreed to indemnify any Person for or
against any interference, infringement, misappropriation, or other
conflict with respect to the item.
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(iii) To the Knowledge of Target and Target Stockholders, with respect
to each item of Intellectual Property owned by a third party and used by
the Target in the conduct of its business pursuant to any license, sub-
license, agreement or permission from such third party:
(A) the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission covering
the item is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and
effect in all material respects;
(B) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
is in material breach or default, and no event has occurred which with
notice or lapse of time would constitute a material breach or default
or permit termination, modification, or acceleration thereunder;
(C) no party to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission
has repudiated any material provision thereof; and
(D) the Target has not granted any sublicense or similar right
with respect to the license, sublicense, agreement, or permission.
(n) TANGIBLE ASSETS. To the Knowledge of the Target and the Target
Stockholders, the buildings, machinery, equipment, and other tangible assets
that the Target owns and leases are free from material defects, and have been
maintained in accordance with normal industry practice, and are in good
operating condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear).
(o) CONTRACTS. Section 3(o) of the Disclosure Schedule lists all contracts
and other agreements to which the Target is a party having a value greater than
$10,000.00 or which are otherwise material to the conduct of Target's Business.
The Target has delivered to the Buyer a correct, current and complete copy of
each agreement listed in Section 3(o) of the Disclosure Schedule. To the
Knowledge of Target and the Target Stockholders, with respect to each such
agreement: (A) the agreement is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full
force and effect in all material respects; (B) no party is in material breach or
default, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time would
constitute a material breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or
acceleration, under the agreement; and (C) no party has repudiated any material
provision of the agreement.
(p) NOTES AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. All notes and accounts receivable of the
Target are reflected properly on its books and records, are valid receivables
subject to no setoffs or counterclaims. Target and the Target Stockholders do
not have Knowledge of any material note or accounts receivable which are
uncollectible, subject only to the reserve for bad debts set forth on the
balance sheet of the Most Recent Financial Statements (rather than in any notes
thereto).
(q) INSURANCE. Section 3(q) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth the
following information with respect to each material insurance policy (including
policies providing property, casualty, liability, and workers' compensation
coverage and bond and surety arrangements) with respect to which the Target is a
party, a named insured, or otherwise the beneficiary of coverage:
(i) the name, address, and telephone number of the agent;
(ii) the name of the insurer, the name of the policyholder, and the
name of each covered insured; and
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(iii) the policy number and the period of coverage.
To the Knowledge of Target and the Target Stockholders, with respect to each
such insurance policy: (A) the policy is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and
in full force and effect in all material respects; (B) neither the Target nor
any other party to the policy is in material 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
material breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or
acceleration, under the policy; and (C) no party to the policy has repudiated
any material provision thereof. Section 3(q) of the Disclosure Schedule
describes any material self-insurance arrangements affecting the Target.
(r) LITIGATION. Section 3(r) of the Disclosure Schedule sets forth each
instance in which the Target (i) is subject to any outstanding injunction,
judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge or (ii) is a party or, to the
Knowledge of any of the Target Stockholders, the directors or officers of the
Target, 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.
(s) WARRANTY. All of the services provided by the Target have conformed in
all material respects with all applicable contractual warranties.
(t) EMPLOYEES. To the actual knowledge of any of the Target Stockholders,
no executive, or employee plans to terminate employment with the Target during
the next 12 months. The Target is not a party to or bound by any collective
bargaining agreement, nor has it experienced any strike or material grievance,
claim of unfair labor practices, or other collective bargaining dispute within
the past three years. The Target has not committed any material unfair labor
practice. None of the Target Stockholders has any Knowledge of any
organizational effort presently being made or threatened by or on behalf of any
labor union with respect to employees of the Target.
(u) EMPLOYEE BENEFITS. Section 3(u) of the Disclosure Schedule lists each
Employee Benefit Plan that the Target maintains or to which the Target
contributes or has any obligation to contribute.
(i) Each such Employee Benefit Plan (and each related trust, insurance
contract, or fund) complies in form and in operation in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of ERISA, the Code, and other
applicable laws.
(ii) 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.
(iii) 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. 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.
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(iv) Each such Employee Benefit Plan which is an Employee Pension
Benefit Plan meets the requirements of a "qualified plan" under Code
Section 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.
(v) The market value of assets under each such Employee Benefit Plan
which is an Employee Pension Benefit 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.
(vi) The Target has 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.
(v) GUARANTIES. The Target is not a guarantor or otherwise is responsible
for any liability or obligation (including indebtedness) of any other Person.
(w) ENVIRONMENTAL, HEALTH, AND SAFETY MATTERS.
(i) The Target has complied and is in compliance, in each case in all
material respects, with all Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(ii) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Target has
obtained, has complied, and is in compliance with, in each case in all
material respects, all material 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.
(iii) The Target has not received any written or oral notice, report
or other information regarding any actual or alleged material violation of
Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements, or any material liabilities
or potential material liabilities (whether accrued, absolute, contingent,
unliquidated or otherwise), including any material investigatory, remedial
or corrective obligations, relating to the Target or its facilities arising
under Environmental, Health, and Safety Requirements.
(x) CERTAIN BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE TARGET. None of the Target
Stockholders has been involved in any business arrangement or relationship with
the Target within the past 12 months, and none of the Target Stockholders owns
any material asset, tangible or intangible, which is used in the business of the
Target.
(y) TARGET STOCK. Each Target Stockholder holds of record and owns
beneficially the number of Target Shares set forth next to his name on the
attached Exhibit A, 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. Each Target Stockholder is not a party to any
option, warrant, purchase right, or other contract or commitment that could
require such Target Stockholder to sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any
capital stock of the Target
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(other than this Agreement). No Target Stockholder is subject to any voting
trust, proxy, or other agreement or other understanding with respect to the
voting of any capital stock of the Target.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE BUYER. The Buyer represents and
warrants to the Target 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 (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Section 4),
except as set forth in the Disclosure Schedule. The Disclosure Schedule will be
arranged in paragraphs corresponding to the numbered and lettered paragraphs
contained in this Section 4.
(a) ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER. The Buyer is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Washington. The Buyer is duly authorized to conduct
business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such
qualification is required. The Buyer has full corporate power and authority to
carry on the businesses in which it is engaged and to own and use the properties
owned and used by it.
(b) CAPITALIZATION. The entire authorized capital stock of the Buyer
consists of one hundred and five million (105,000,000) shares, no par value per
share consisting of one hundred million (100,000,000) shares of common stock and
five million (5,000,000) shares of blank check preferred stock, of which nine
million seven hundred and fifty thousand one hundred and sixty six (9,750,166)
shares of common stock were issued and outstanding as of September 11, 1997, no
shares of preferred stock are issued and outstanding and no shares are held in
treasury. All of the issued and outstanding shares of the Buyer have been duly
authorized and are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable. Except as set
forth in the Buyer's Prospectus dated June 18, 1997 and as otherwise set forth
on 4(b) of the Disclosure Schedule, 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 Buyer
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 Buyer.
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. The Buyer has full power and authority
(including full corporate 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 the Buyer, enforceable in accordance
with its terms and conditions.
(d) NONCONTRAVENTION. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will
(i) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any government,
governmental agency, or court to which the Buyer is subject or any provision of
the charter or bylaws of the Buyer 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 or instrument to which the Buyer
is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its assets is subject
except where the violation, conflict, breach, default, acceleration,
termination, modification, cancellation, or failure to give notice would not
have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Other than in connection with the
provisions of the Washington Business Corporation Act, the Securities Exchange
Act, the Securities Act, and the state securities laws, the Buyer does not need
to give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any authorization,
consent, or approval of any government or governmental agency in order for the
Parties to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
where the
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failure to give notice, to file, or to obtain any authorization, consent, or
approval would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of the Parties
to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(e) BROKERS' FEES. The Buyer does not have 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 for which the Target Stockholders
could become liable or obligated.
5. COVENANTS. The Parties agree as follows with respect to the period from
and after the execution of this Agreement:
(a) GENERAL. Each of the Parties will use its reasonable efforts to take
all action and to do all things necessary proper, or advisable in order to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in
Section 6 below).
(b) NOTICES AND CONSENTS. The Target will give any notices to third
parties, and will use its reasonable efforts to obtain any third party consents,
that the Buyer may reasonably request in connection with the matters referred to
in Section 3(d) above.
(c) REGULATORY MATTERS AND APPROVALS. Each of the Parties will give any
notices to, make any filings with, and use its reasonable efforts to obtain any
authorizations, consents, and approvals of governments and governmental agencies
in connection with the matters referred to in Section 3(d) and Section 4(d)
above.
(d) OPERATION OF BUSINESS. The Target will not engage in any of the
following:
(i) the Target will not authorize or effect any change in its charter
or bylaws;
(ii) the Target will not grant any options, warrants, or other rights
to purchase or obtain any of its capital stock or issue, sell, or otherwise
dispose of any of its capital stock (except upon the conversion or exercise
of options, warrants, and other rights currently outstanding);
(iii) the Target will not declare, set aside, or pay any dividend or
distribution with respect to its capital stock (whether in cash or in
kind), or redeem, repurchase, or otherwise acquire any of its capital
stock;
(iv) the Target will not issue any note, bond, or other debt security
or create, incur, assume, or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money
or capitalized lease obligation outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(v) the Target will not impose any Security Interest upon any of its
assets outside the Ordinary Course of Business;
(vi) the Target will not make any capital investment in, make any loan
to, or acquire the securities or assets of any other Person outside the
Ordinary Course of Business;
(vii) the Target will not make any change in employment terms for any
of its directors, officers, and employees outside the Ordinary Course of
Business; and
(viii) the Target will not commit to any of the foregoing.
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(e) FULL ACCESS. The Target will permit representatives of the Buyer to
have full access to all premises, properties, personnel, books, records
(including tax records), contracts, and documents of or pertaining to the
Target.
(f) Notice of Developments. Each Party will give prompt written notice to
the other of any material adverse development causing a breach of any of its own
representations and warranties in Section 3 and Section 4 above. No disclosure
by any Party pursuant to this Section 5(f), however, shall be deemed to amend or
supplement the Disclosure Schedule or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation,
breach of warranty, or breach of covenant.
(g) EXCLUSIVITY. The Target will not solicit, initiate, or encourage the
submission of any proposal or offer from any Person relating to the acquisition
of all or substantially all of the capital stock or assets of any of the Target.
(h) COOPERATION WITH AUDIT. The Target and each Target Stockholder will use
its best efforts to assist the Buyer and its accountants to complete an audit of
the Financial Statements for the Most Recent Fiscal Year End, and to receive an
unqualified opinion with respect to such audit, and to provide such additional
unaudited financial statements as may be required for the Buyer to comply with
its reporting obligations under the Securities Exchange Act;
6. CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE.
(a) CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE BUYER. The obligation of the 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 Target shall have procured all of the third party consents
specified in Section 5(b) above;
(ii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 3 above
shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing
Date;
(iii) the Target shall have performed and complied with all of its
covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;
(iv) 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
the Surviving Corporation to own the former assets, or operate the former
business of Target;
(v) the Target shall have delivered to the Buyer a certificate to the
effect that each of the conditions specified above in Section 6(a)(i)-(iv)
is satisfied in all respects;
(vi) the Buyer shall have entered into employment agreements in a form
acceptable to Buyer with each of the Target Stockholders and Joseph Tosto,
Eric Brandenburg and Louis Goldenberg;
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(vii) the Buyer shall have received from counsel to the Target an
opinion in form and substance as set forth in Exhibit F attached hereto,
addressed to the Buyer, and dated the Closing Date;
(viii) the Buyer shall have received duly executed Letters of
Transmittal from each Target Stockholder;
(ix) the Buyer shall have received a written assignment of that
certain Standard Form of Loft Lease dated December 16, 1991, between 45
West 45 Street Associates, as Landlord, and Buller Owens Corporation, as
Tenant, for the premises known as a portion of the 14th Floor of 45 West
45th Street, Burrough of Manhattan, New York, New York, and all subsequent
amendments thereto in a form acceptable to the Buyer, and Target shall not
otherwise be subject to any other written or oral sublease, agreement or
understanding with respect to such Standard Form of Loft Lease;
(x) the Buller Owens & Associates Pension Plan shall have been fully
funded and terminated by the Target at or prior to Closing;
(xi) all loans by the Target to any Target Stockholder as shown on the
balance sheet of the Most Recent Financial Statements shall have been
repaid in full at or prior to Closing; and
(xii) all actions to be taken by the Target 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.
The Buyer may waive any condition specified in this Section 6(a) if it
executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
(b) CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE TARGET. The obligation of the
Target to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with
the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
(i) the Buyer and the Target Stockholders shall have entered into an
Agreement to be Bound to the Registration Rights Agreement in the form
attached as Exhibit G, granting the Target Stockholders piggyback
registration rights with respect to the Buyer Shares issued to such Target
Stockholders pursuant to the Merger;
(ii) the Buyer and the Target Stockholders shall have entered into the
Common Stock Purchase Warrant in the form attached as Exhibit H to be
delivered to the Target Stockholders as part of the Merger Consideration as
of the Effective Time;
(iii) the representations and warranties set forth in Section 4 above
shall be true and correct in all material respects at and as of the Closing
Date;
(iv) the Buyer shall have performed and complied with all of its
covenants hereunder in all material respects through the Closing;
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(v) 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
the Surviving Corporation to own the former assets, or operate the former
business of Target; and
(vi) the Buyer shall have delivered to the Target a certificate to the
effect that each of the conditions specified above in Section 6(b)(iii)-(v)
is satisfied in all respects;
(vii) the Buyer shall have delivered to Target an opinion of counsel
in the form and substance as set forth in Exhibit I attached hereto,
addressed to the Target, and dated the Closing Date;
(viii) each Target Stockholder shall have entered into an employment
agreement with Buyer in form and substance reasonably acceptable to such
Target Stockholder;
(ix) all amounts owing on the Target's term loan and line of credit
facilities with The Bank of New York dated July 11, 1997 shall have been
repaid by Buyer; and
(x) all actions to be taken by the Buyer 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 Target.
The Target may waive any condition specified in this Section 6(b) if it
executes a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
7. REMEDIES FOR BREACHES OF THIS AGREEMENT.
(a) SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. All of the representations
and warranties of the Target, the Target Stockholders and the Buyer contained
Section 3 or Section 4 above shall survive for one year from the date of the
Closing hereunder; provided however, that the representations and warranties set
forth in Section 3(k), Tax Matters, shall survive for three years from the
Closing date.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT OF THE BUYER. In the event
either the Target or any of the Target Stockholders breaches (or in the event
any third party alleges facts that, if true, would mean either the Target or any
of the Target Stockholders has breached) any of their representations and
warranties in Section 3 herein, and, if there is an applicable survival period
pursuant to Section 7(a) above, provided that the Buyer makes a written claim
for indemnification against any of the Target Stockholders within such survival
period, then each of the Target Stockholders agrees to indemnify the Buyer from
and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the Buyer may suffer
through and after the date of the claim for indemnification (including any
Adverse Consequences the Buyer may suffer after the end of any applicable
survival period) resulting from the breach (or the alleged breach) provided,
however, that the Target Stockholders shall not have any obligation to indemnify
the Buyer from and against any Adverse Consequences resulting from, arising out
of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or alleged breach)
of any representation or warranty of the Target Stockholders contained in
Section 3 above until the Buyer has suffered Adverse Consequences by reason of
all such breaches (or alleged breaches) in excess of a $25,000.00 aggregate
threshold (at which
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point the Target Stockholders will be obligated to indemnify the Buyer from and
against all such Adverse Consequences relating back to the first dollar). The
Parties further agree that the obligations of Target and Target Stockholders to
indemnify Buyer under this Section 7(b) are limited to an aggregate of two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($250,000).
(c) INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS FOR BENEFIT OF THE TARGET STOCKHOLDERS. In
the event the Buyer breaches (or in the event any third party alleges facts
that, if true, would mean the Buyer has breached) any of its representations and
warranties in Section 4 herein, and, if there is an applicable survival period
pursuant to Section 7(a) above, provided that any of the Target Stockholders
makes a written claim for indemnification against the Buyer within such survival
period, then the Buyer agrees to indemnify each of the Target Stockholders from
and against the entirety of any Adverse Consequences the Target Stockholder may
suffer through and after the date of the claim for indemnification (including
any Adverse Consequences the Target Stockholder may suffer after the end of any
applicable survival period) resulting from the breach (or the alleged breach)
provided, however, that the Buyer shall not have any obligation to indemnify the
Target Stockholders from and against any Adverse Consequences resulting from,
arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the breach (or
alleged breach) of any representation or warranty of the Buyer contained in
Section 3 above until the Target Stockholders, as a group, have suffered Adverse
Consequences by reason of all such breaches (or alleged breaches) in excess of a
$25,000.00 aggregate threshold (at which point the Buyer will be obligated to
indemnify the Target Stockholders from and against all such Adverse Consequences
relating back to the first dollar). The Parties further agree that the
obligations of Buyer to indemnify the Target Stockholders under this Section
7(b) are limited to an aggregate of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($250,000).
(d) RIGHT OF OFF-SET. Buyer shall have the right to off-set any Adverse
Consequences suffered by Buyer for which indemnification is required under this
Section 7 from any Earn-Out due and owing to the Target Stockholders provided
under Section 2(e)(ii) hereof.
(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 7, 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) The Indemnifying Party will assume the defense of the Third Party
Claim and will employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified
Party and will pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding
the preceding sentence, the Indemnified Party will be entitled, at its own
expense, to employ counsel separate from counsel for the Indemnified Party
in such action if counsel for the Indemnified Party advises the Indemnified
Party in writing that a conflict of interest or other reasonable basis
exists which makes representation by counsel chosen by the Indemnifying
Party not advisable. 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, 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.
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(f) DETERMINATION OF ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES. The Parties shall take into
account the time cost of money (using the appropriate applicable federal rate
then in effect as the discount rate) in determining Adverse Consequences for
purposes of this Section 7. All indemnification payments under this Section 7
shall be deemed adjustments to the Merger Consideration.
8. TERMINATION.
(a) TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. Either the Target or the Buyer may terminate
this Agreement with the prior authorization of its board of directors (whether
before or after stockholder approval) as provided below:
(i) the Parties may terminate this Agreement by mutual written consent
at any time prior to the Effective Time;
(ii) the Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice
to the Target at any time prior to the Effective Time (A) in the event the
Target or any of the Target Stockholders has breached any material
representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement in any
material respect, and the Buyer has notified the Target of the breach and
the Target or the Target Stockholders have failed to cure such breach
within 5 days of notice, or (B) if the Closing shall not have occurred on
or before October 31, 1997 by reason of the failure of any condition
precedent under Section 6(a) hereof (unless the failure results primarily
from the Buyer breaching any representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement);
(iii) the Target may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice
to the Buyer at any time prior to the Effective Time (A) in the event the
Buyer has breached any material representation, warranty, or covenant
contained in this Agreement in any material respect, and the Target has
notified the Buyer of the breach and the Buyer has failed to cure such
breach within 5 days of notice, or (B) if the Closing shall not have
occurred on or before October 31, 1997, by reason of the failure of any
condition precedent under Section 6(b) hereof (unless the failure results
primarily from the Target breaching any representation, warranty, or
covenant contained in this Agreement);
(b) EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If any Party terminates this Agreement pursuant
to Section 8(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); provided, however, that the
confidentiality provisions contained in Section 5(e) above shall survive any
such termination.
9. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) 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 the other Party.
(b) 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.
(c) ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the documents referred to
herein and the exhibits and schedules attached hereto) and the Confidentiality
and Nondisclosure Agreement between Buyer and Target constitute the entire
agreement between the Parties and supersedes any prior understandings,
19
<PAGE>
agreements, or representations by or between the Parties, written or oral, to
the extent they related in any way to the subject matter hereof.
(d) 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 its
rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior written approval
of the other Party.
(e) 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.
(f) 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.
(g) NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder will be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim,
or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given if (and then two
business days after) it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth
below :
IF TO THE TARGET OR
TARGET STOCKHOLDERS: Enterprise Computing Inc.
c/o Buller Owens & Associates
Attn: Karl Owens, Norbert Buller
and Todd Brown
45 West 45th Street, 14th Floor
New York, New York 10036
Telephone: (212) 921-0774
Facsimile: (212) 921-1986
COPY TO: Bruce A. Rich, Esq.
Becker, Glynn, Melamed & Muffly LLP
299 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10171
Telephone: (212) 888-3033
Facsimile: (212) 888-0255
IF TO THE BUYER: ARIS Corporation
Attn: Norbert W. Sugayan, Jr.,
General Counsel
6720 Fort Dent Way, Suite 250
Seattle, Washington 98188-2555
Telephone: (206) 433-2081
Facsimile: (206) 433-1182
COPY TO: Brad Furber, Esq.
Van Valkenberg Furber Law Group, P.L.L.C.
1325 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1200
Seattle, Washington 98101-2509
Telephone: (206) 464-0489
Facsimile: (206) 464-2857
20
<PAGE>
Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any
other means (including personal delivery, expedited courier, messenger service,
telecopy, telex, ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice,
request, demand, claim, or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly
given unless and until it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any
Party may change the address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and
other communications hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Party
notice in the manner herein set forth.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the domestic laws of the State of Washington without giving
effect to any choice or conflict of law provision or rule (whether of the State
of Washington or any other jurisdiction) that would cause the application of the
laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Washington.
(i) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The Parties may mutually amend any provision of
this Agreement at any time prior to the Effective Time with the prior
authorization of their respective boards of directors and shareholders, if such
approval is required in such instance. No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by all
of the Parties. 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.
(j) 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.
(k) EXPENSES. Each of the Parties will bear its own costs and expenses
(including legal fees and expenses) incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated hereby, except as may be otherwise provided by
the Parties at Closing.
(l) CONSTRUCTION. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation
and drafting of this Agreement. In the event an ambiguity or question of intent
or interpretation arises, this Agreement shall be construed as if drafted
jointly by the Parties and no presumption or burden of proof shall arise
favoring or disfavoring any Party by virtue of the authorship of any of the
provisions of this Agreement. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or
foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context otherwise requires. The
word "including" shall mean including without limitation. The Parties intend
that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein shall have
independent significance. If any Party has breached any representation, warranty
or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there exists another
representation, warranty, or covenant relating to the same subject matter
(regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the Party has not
breached shall not detract or mitigate the fact that the Party is in breach of
the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
21
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have executed this Agreement on the
date first above written.
ARIS CORPORATION
Executed September 13, 1997
Seattle, Washington
By: /s/ JOHN SONG
-----------------------------
John Song, Vice President -
Western Operations
ENTERPRISE COMPUTING INC., d/b/a
BULLER OWENS & ASSOCIATES
Executed September 13, 1997
New York, New York
By: /s/ KARL OWENS
-----------------------------
Karl Owens, President
TARGET STOCKHOLDERS:
Executed September 13, 1997
New York, New York
/s/ KARL OWENS
- --------------------------------
Karl Owens
/s/ NORBERT BULLER
- --------------------------------
Norbert Buller
/s/ TODD BROWN
- --------------------------------
Todd Brown
22
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
TARGET STOCKHOLDERS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
COMMON WARRANT SHARES
NAME AND ADDRESS STOCK $23.988 PER SHARE
---------------- ------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Norbert Buller 28,139 9,380
14th Floor
45 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Karl Owens 28,139 9,380
14th Floor
45 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
Todd Brown 6,253 2,084
14th Floor
45 West 45th Street
New York, NY 10036
TOTALS 62,531 20,844
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
CERTIFICATE OF MERGER
Certificate of Merger to be filed with the New York Secretary of State and
Articles of Merger to be filed with the Washington Secretary of State omitted
pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will be furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
EARN-OUT SCHEDULE
The earn out component (EOC) of the selling price shall be determined
with reference to revenues and earnings before interest and taxes of BOA for the
calendar year ending December 31, 1998. The maximum amount of EOC shall be
$500,000 and shall be computed as follows:
1. $300,000 of EOC shall be paid if earned as follows:
6% of revenue exceeding $3,600,000 up to and including but not
exceeding $5,000,000. This component shall be known as Revenue
EOC.
2. $200,000 of EOC shall be paid if earned as follows:
23.53% of EBIT exceeding $500,000 up to and including but not
exceeding $850,000. This component shall be known as EBIT EOC.
Conditions:
No Revenue EOC shall be earned by BOA arising from ARIS' participation in
the Oracle corporation OEAC program. No Revenue EOC shall be earned by BOA from
the consulting practice that may or may not be started as a result of BOA's
integration with ARIS. All other revenue from all other sources shall be
credited to BOA's Revenue EOC.
EBIT earnings arising from ARIS' participation in the Oracle OEAC program
will be included in the determination of EBIT EOC.
EBIT shall be net income as determined by Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles as applied generally by ARIS but modified as follows: earnings shall
include a deduction of up to 7% of ARIS corporate overhead allocated to BOA and
3% of Education division overhead allocated to BOA. EBIT earning shall exclude
any federal income tax, New York State Income Tax and New York city Income Tax
and shall specifically include all other taxes.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Financial Statements of Target as specified in Section 3(g) of the Agreement and
Plan of Merger omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will
be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT E
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
INVESTOR QUESTIONNAIRE
The Investor Questionnaire to be completed by Target Stockholders is omitted
pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will be furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT F
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE TARGET
The form of Opinion of Counsel to the Target is omitted pursuant to Item
601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will be furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT G
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
ARIS CORPORATION
REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT
This Agreement is made as of February 28, 1997, by and among ARIS
Corporation, a Washington corporation (the "COMPANY"), and the persons listed on
the signature page(s) hereof (the "HOLDERS").
RECITAL
The Company desires to provide the Holders certain registration rights and
state in this Agreement the obligations with respect to registration rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and mutual agreements set
forth herein, the Company and the Holders agree as follows:
1. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
(a) "COMMISSION" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission, or
any other federal agency at the time administering the Securities Act.
(b) "EXCHANGE ACT" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
(c) "HOLDER" shall mean any holder of outstanding Registrable
Securities or anyone who holds outstanding Registrable Securities to whom
the registration rights conferred by this Agreement have been transferred
in compliance with this Agreement.
(d) "REGISTER," "REGISTERED" and "REGISTRATION" shall refer to a
registration effected by preparing and filing a registration statement in
compliance with the Securities Act, and the declaration or ordering of the
effectiveness of such registration statement, and compliance with
applicable state securities laws of such states in which Holders notify the
Company of their intention to offer Registrable Securities.
(e) "REGISTRABLE SECURITIES" shall mean all of the following to the
extent the same have not been sold to the public (i) any and all shares of
Common Stock of the Company
<PAGE>
originally issued by the Company to the persons listed as a "Holder" on the
signature page(s) hereof; or (ii) stock issued in respect of stock referred
to in (i) above in any reorganization; or (iii) stock issued in respect of
the stock referred to in (i) or (ii) above as a result of a stock split,
stock dividend, recapitalization or combination. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Registrable Securities shall not include otherwise Registrable
Securities (i) sold by a person in a transaction in which his rights under
this Agreement are not properly assigned; or (ii) (A) sold to or through a
broker or dealer or underwriter in a public distribution or a public
securities transaction, or (B) sold in a transaction exempt from the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act
under Section 4(1) thereof so that all transfer restrictions, and
restrictive legends with respect thereto, if any, are removed upon the
consummation of such sale or (C) if the registration rights associated with
such securities have been terminated pursuant to Section 13 of this
Agreement.
(f) "RULE 144" shall mean Rule 144 under the Securities Act or any
successor or similar rule as may be enacted by the Commission from time to
time, but shall not include Rule 144A.
(g) "RULE 144A" shall mean Rule 144A under the Securities Act or any
successor or similar rule as may be enacted by the Commission from time to
time, but shall not include Rule 144.
(h) "SECURITIES ACT" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or any similar federal statute and the rules and regulations
thereunder, all as the same shall be in effect at the time.
2. RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFERABILITY.
The Registrable Securities shall not be sold, assigned, transferred or
pledged except upon the conditions specified in this Agreement, which conditions
are intended to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act.
Each Holder will cause any proposed purchaser, assignee, transferee, or pledgee
of the Registrable Securities held by a Holder to agree to take and hold such
securities subject to the provisions and upon the conditions specified in this
Agreement.
3. RESTRICTIVE LEGEND.
Each certificate representing Registrable Securities shall (unless other
permitted by the provisions of Section 4 below) be stamped or otherwise
imprinted with a legend substantially in the following form (in addition to any
legend required under applicable state securities laws or otherwise):
THE SHARES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE BEEN ACQUIRED FOR
INVESTMENT AND HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933. THESE
SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD OR TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN
EXEMPTION THEREFROM UNDER SAID ACT. COPIES OF THE AGREEMENTS COVERING THE
PURCHASE OF THESE SHARES AND RIGHTS TO REGISTER THESE SHARES AND RESTRICTING
THEIR TRANSFER MAY BE OBTAINED AT NO COST BY WRITTEN REQUEST MADE BY THE HOLDER
OF RECORD OF THIS CERTIFICATE TO THE SECRETARY OF THE CORPORATION AT THE
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES OF THE CORPORATION.
2
<PAGE>
Each Holder consents to the Company making a notation on its records and
giving instructions to any transfer agent of the Registrable Securities in order
to implement the restrictions on transfer established in this Agreement.
4. NOTICE OF PROPOSED TRANSFER.
The Holder of each certificate representing Registrable Securities, by
acceptance thereof, agrees to comply in all respects with the provisions of this
Section 4. Each such Holder agrees not to make any disposition of all or any
portion of any Registrable Securities unless and until:
(a) There is in effect a registration statement under the Securities
Act covering such proposed disposition and such disposition is made in
accordance with such registration statement; or
(b) (i) Such Holder shall have notified the Company of the proposed
disposition and shall have furnished the Company with a detailed statement
of the circumstances surrounding the proposed disposition, and
(ii) If reasonably requested by the Company, such Holder shall
furnish the Company with an opinion of counsel, reasonably
satisfactory to the Company that such disposition shall not require
registration of such shares under the Securities Act.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) above, no
such registration statement or opinion of counsel shall be necessary for a
transfer by a Holder which is a limited liability company or partnership to
a member or partner of such limited liability company or partnership or a
retired member or partner of such limited liability company or partnership
who retires after the date hereof, or to the estate of any such member or
partner or retired member or partner or the transfer by gift, will, or
intestate succession of any member or partner to his spouse or siblings,
lineal descendants or ancestors of such member or partner or spouse,
provided, that such transferee agrees in writing to be subject to all of
the terms hereof to the same extent as if he were an original Holder
hereunder.
5. PIGGYBACK REGISTRATION.
(a) If at any time or from time to time after the Company's initial
registration, the Company shall determine to register any of its
securities, for its own account or the account of any of its shareholders,
other than a registration relating solely to employee benefit plans, or a
registration relating solely to an SEC Rule 145 transaction, a transaction
relating solely to the sale of debt or convertible debt instruments or a
registration on any form (other than Form S-1, S-2 or S-3, or their
successor forms) which does not include substantially the same information
as would be required to be included in a registration statement covering
the sale of Registrable Securities, the Company will:
(i) give to each Holder written notice thereof as soon as
practicable prior to filing the registration statement; and
3
<PAGE>
(ii) include in such registration and in any underwriting
involved therein, all the Registrable Securities specified in a
written request or requests, made within ten (10) days after receipt
of such written notice from the Company, by any Holder or Holders,
except as set forth in subsection (b) below.
(b) If the registration is for a registered public offering involving
an underwriting, the Company shall so advise the Holders as a part of the
written notice given pursuant to subsection 5(a)(i). In such event, the
right of any Holder to registration pursuant to Section 5 shall be
conditioned upon such Holder's participation in such underwriting and the
inclusion of such Holder's Registrable Securities in the underwriting to
the extent provided herein. All Holders proposing to distribute their
securities through such underwriting shall (together with the Company and
the other holders distributing their securities through such underwriting)
enter into an underwriting agreement in customary form with the underwriter
or underwriters selected for such underwriting by the Company.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 5, if the managing
underwriter determines that marketing factors require a limitation of the
number of shares to be underwritten, the managing underwriter may limit the
number of Registrable Securities to be included in the registration and
underwriting to not less than thirty percent (30%) of the total number of
securities to be included in the registration and underwriting. The Company
shall so advise all Holders and the other Holders distributing their
securities through such underwriting pursuant to piggyback registration
rights similar to this Section 5, and the number of shares of Registrable
Securities and other securities that may be included in the registration
and underwriting shall be allocated among all Holders and other holders in
proportion, as nearly as practicable, to the respective amounts of
Registrable Securities held by such Holders and other securities held by
other holders at the time of filing the registration statement. If any
Holder disapproves of the terms of any such underwriting, he may elect to
withdraw therefrom by written notice to the Company and the managing
underwriter. If, by the withdrawal of such Registrable Securities, a
greater number of Registrable Securities held by other Holders may be
included in such registration (up to the limit imposed by the
underwriters), the Company shall offer to all Holders who have included
Registrable Securities in the registration the right to include additional
Registrable Securities. Any Registrable Securities excluded or withdrawn
from such underwriting shall be withdrawn from such registration.
6. EXPENSES OF REGISTRATION.
In addition to the fees and expenses contemplated by Section 7 hereof, all
expenses incurred in connection with registrations pursuant to Section 5 hereof,
including without limitation all registration, filing and qualification fees,
printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company and
expenses of any special audits of the Company's financial statements incidental
to or required by such registration, shall be borne by the Company, except that
the Company shall not be required to pay underwriters' fees, discounts or
commissions relating to Registrable Securities or fees of a separate legal
counsel of a Holder.
7. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES.
In the case of each registration effected by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement, the Company will keep each Holder participating therein advised in
writing as to the initiation of each registration and as to the completion
thereof. At its expense the Company will:
4
<PAGE>
(a) keep such registration effective for a reasonable period as
necessary to permit the Holder or Holders to complete the distribution
described in the registration statement relating thereto;
(b) promptly prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and
supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in
connection therewith as may be necessary to comply with the provisions of
the Securities Act, and to keep such registration statement effective for
that period of time specified in Section 7(a) above;
(c) furnish such number of prospectuses and other documents incident
thereto as a Holder from time to time may reasonably request;
(d) use reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of any order
suspending the effectiveness of a registration statement, or the lifting of
any suspension of the qualification of any of the Registrable Securities
for sale in any jurisdiction, at the earliest practical moment;
(e) register or qualify such Registrable Securities for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as any Holder
or underwriter reasonably requires, and keep such registration or
qualification effective during the period set forth in Section 7(a) above;
(f) cause all Registrable Securities covered by such registrations to
be listed on each securities exchange, including Nasdaq, on which similar
securities issued by the Company are then listed or, if no such listing
exists, use reasonable best efforts to list all Registrable Securities on
one of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange or Nasdaq;
and
(g) cause its accountants to issue to the underwriter, if any, or the
Holders, if there is no underwriter, comfort letters and updates thereof,
in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in
such letters with respect to underwritten offerings;
(h) enter into such customary agreements (including underwriting
agreements in customary form) and take all such other actions as the
holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities being sold or the
underwriters, if any, reasonably, request in order to expedite or
facilitate the disposition of such Registrable Securities (including,
without limitation, effecting a stock split or a combination of shares);
(i) make available for inspection by any seller of Registrable
Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to
such registration statement, and any attorney, accountant or other agent
retained by any such seller or underwriter, all financial and other
records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company, and
cause the Company's officers, directors, employees and independent
accountants to supply all information reasonably requested by any such
seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such
registration statement;
(j) notify each Holder, at any time a prospectus covered by such
registration statement is required to be delivered under the Securities
Act, of the happening of any event of which it has knowledge as a result of
which the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in
effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
material fact required to
5
<PAGE>
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing; and
(k) take such other actions as shall be reasonably requested by any
Holder.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) In the event of a registration of any of the Registrable
Securities under the Securities Act, the Company will indemnify and hold
harmless each Holder of such Registrable Securities thereunder, each
underwriter of such Registrable Securities thereunder and each other
person, if any, who controls such Holder or underwriter within the meaning
of the Securities Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, to which such Holder, underwriter or controlling person
may become subject under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in any registration statement
under which such Registrable Securities were registered under the
Securities Act, any final prospectus contained therein, or any amendment or
supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or any
violation by the Company of any rule or regulation promulgated under the
Securities Act or any state securities law applicable to the Company and
relating to action or inaction required of the Company in connection with
any such registration, and will reimburse each such Holder, each of its
officers, directors and partners, and each person controlling such Holder,
each such underwriter and each person who controls any such underwriter,
for any reasonable legal and any other expenses incurred in connection with
investigating, defending or settling any such claim, loss, damage,
liability or action, provided that the Company will not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such claim, loss, damage or liability
arises out of or is based on any untrue statement or omission based upon
information furnished to the Company by such Holder or underwriter
specifically for use therein.
(b) Each Holder will, if Registrable Securities held by or issuable to
such Holder are included in the securities as to which such registration is
being effected, indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its
directors and officers, each underwriter, if any, of the Company's
securities covered by such a registration statement, each person who
controls the Company and each underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act, and each other such Holder, each of its officers, directors
and partners and each person controlling such Holder, against all claims,
losses, expenses, damages and liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arising out of or based on any untrue statement (or alleged untrue
statement) of a material fact contained in any such registration statement,
prospectus, offering circular or other document, or any omission (or
alleged omission) to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
will reimburse the Company, such Holders, such directors, officers,
partners, persons or underwriters for any reasonable legal or any other
expenses incurred in connection with investigating, defending or settling
any such claim, loss, damage, liability or action, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement (or alleged
untrue statement) or omission (or alleged omission) is made in such
registration statement, prospectus, offering circular or other document in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company
by such Holder specifically for use therein.
6
<PAGE>
(c) Each party entitled to indemnification under this Section 8 (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall give notice to the party required to provide
indemnification (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") promptly after such Indemnified
Party has actual knowledge of any claims as to which indemnity may be
sought, and shall permit the Indemnifying Party to assume the defense of
any such claim or any litigation resulting therefrom, provided that counsel
for the Indemnifying Party, who shall conduct the defense of such claim or
litigation, shall be approved by the Indemnified Party (whose approval
shall not be unreasonably withheld), and the Indemnified Party may
participate in such defense at such party's expense, and provided further
that the failure of any Indemnified Party to give notice as provided herein
shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its obligations hereunder,
unless such failure resulted in actual detriment to the Indemnifying Party.
No Indemnifying Party, in the defense of any such claim or litigation,
shall, except with the consent of each Indemnified Party, consent to entry
of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an
unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such
Indemnified Party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim
or litigation.
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that the provisions
on indemnification contained in the underwriting agreements entered into
among the selling Holders, the Company and the underwriters in connection
with the underwritten public offering are in conflict with the foregoing
provisions, the provisions in the underwriting agreement shall be
controlling as to the Registrable Securities included in the public
offering.
(e) The indemnification provided by this Section 8 shall be a
continuing right to indemnification and shall survive the registration and
sale of any securities by any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder
and the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
9. INFORMATION BY HOLDER.
The Holder or Holders of Registrable Securities included in any
registration shall promptly furnish to the Company such information regarding
such Holder or Holders and the distribution proposed by such Holder or Holders
as the Company may request in writing and as shall be required in connection
with any registration referred to herein.
10. RULE 144 AND 144A REPORTING.
With a view to making available to Holders of Registrable Securities the
benefits of certain rules and regulations of the SEC which may permit the sale
of the Registrable Securities to the public without registration, the Company
agrees at all times after ninety (90) days after the effective date of the first
registration filed by the Company for an offering of its securities to the
general public to:
(a) make and keep public information available, as those terms are
understood and defined in Rule 144 and Rule 144A; and
(b) use its best efforts to file with the Commission in a timely
manner all reports and other documents required of the Company under the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
For purposes of facilitating sales pursuant to Rule 144A, so long as the
Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, each Holder
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<PAGE>
and any prospective purchaser of such Holder's securities shall have the right
to obtain from the Company, upon request of the Holder prior to the time of
sale, a brief statement of the nature of the business of the Company and the
products and services it offers; and the Company's most recent balance sheet and
profit and loss and retained earnings statements, and similar financial
statements for the two preceding fiscal years (the financial statements should
be audited to the extent reasonably available).
11. TRANSFER OF REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The rights to cause the Company to
register Registrable Securities of a Holder and keep information available
granted to a Holder by the Company under Sections 5, 6 and 7 may be assigned by
a Holder to any partner or shareholder of such Holder, to any other Holder, or
to a transferee or assignee who receives the lesser of 50,000 shares of
Registrable Securities (as adjusted for stock splits and the like) or all of the
shares of Registrable Securities originally issued by the Company to the persons
listed as a "Holder" on the signature page(s) hereof; provided, that the Company
is given written notice by the Holder at the time of or within a reasonable time
after said transfer, stating the name and address of said transferee or assignee
and identifying the securities with respect to which such registration rights
are being assigned.
12. TERMINATION OF RIGHTS.
(a) The rights of any particular Holder to cause the Company to
register securities under Sections 5 shall terminate with respect to such
Holder at such time as such Holder is able to dispose of all of his
Registrable Securities in one three-month period pursuant to the provisions
of Rule 144.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section
12, all rights of any particular Holder under this Agreement shall
terminate at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on the date five (5) years
after the closing date of the Company's initial registration.
13. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company represents
and warrants to the Holders as follows:
(a) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company have been duly authorized by all requisite corporate action and
will not violate any provision of law, any order of any court or other
agency of government, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the
Company or any provision of any indenture, agreement or other instrument to
which it or any or its properties or assets is bound, conflict with, result
in a breach of or constitute (with due notice or lapse of time or both) a
default under any such indenture, agreement or other instrument or result
in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance of any
nature whatsoever upon any of the properties or assets of the Company.
(b) This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company
and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to:
(i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
conveyance and moratorium laws and other laws of general application
affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and
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(ii) the availability of equitable remedies as such remedies may
be limited by equitable principles of general applicability
(regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity
or at law).
17. MISCELLANEOUS.
(a) AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing signed
by the Holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the Registrable
Securities, as constituted from time to time. The Holders hereby consent to
future amendments to this Agreement that permit future investors, including
without limitation employees, officers or directors of the Company, to be
made parties hereto and to become Holders of Registrable Securities;
provided, however, that no such future amendment may materially impair the
rights of the Holders hereunder without obtaining the requisite consent of
the Holders, as set forth above.
(b) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, all of which shall constitute a single instrument.
(c) NOTICES, ETC. All notices, requests, consents and other
communications required or provided for herein to any party shall be deemed
to be sufficient if contained in a written instrument, and shall be deemed
to be given when: (a) delivered in person; (b) delivered by overnight
receipted courier service; or (c) sent by facsimile transmission with
delivery confirmed and followed by delivery pursuant to Subsection (b)
hereof, which notice is addressed to the party at the address set forth
below, or such other address as may hereafter be designated in writing by
the party.
If to the Company: ARIS Corporation
Suite 150
6720 Fort Dent Way
Seattle, Washington 98188-2555
Attention: General Counsel or
President
Telephone: (206) 433-2081
Facsimile: (206) 433-1182
If to Holders: To the address set forth on the
signature page(s) hereof.
(d) NONPUBLIC INFORMATION. Any other provisions of this Agreement to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Company's obligation to file a
registration statement, or cause such registration statement to become and
remain effective, shall be suspended for a period not to exceed ninety (90)
days (and for periods not exceeding, in the aggregate, one hundred eighty
(180) days in any twenty-four (24) month period) if there exists at the
time material non-public information relating to the Company which, in the
reasonable opinion of the Company, should not be disclosed.
(e) DELAY OF REGISTRATION. No Holder shall have the right to take any
action to restrain, enjoin, or otherwise delay any registration as the
result of any controversy that might arise with respect to the
interpretation or implementation of this Agreement.
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<PAGE>
(f) SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held to
be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such illegality, invalidity or
unenforceability shall attach only to such provision and shall not in any
manner affect or render illegal, invalid or unenforceable any other
provision of this Agreement, and this Agreement shall be carried out as if
any such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision were not contained
herein.
(g) DILUTION. If, and as often as, there is any change in the Common
Stock or the Preferred Stock by way of a stock split, stock dividend,
combination or reclassification, or through a merger, consolidation,
reorganization or recapitalization, or by any other means, appropriate
adjustment shall be made in the provisions hereof so that the rights and
privileges granted hereby shall continue with respect to the Common Stock
or the Preferred Stock as so changed.
(h) GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
under the laws of the State of Washington without regard to principles of
conflict of law.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the date first above written.
COMPANY: ARIS CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
By: /s/ PAUL Y. SONG
-------------------------
Paul Y. Song, President
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<PAGE>
EXHIBIT H
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE WARRANT
[FORM OF WARRANT]
THIS WARRANT AND THE SECURITIES ISSUABLE UPON THE EXERCISE HEREOF HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR ANY
STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED,
HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT
IN EFFECT WITH RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY THAT SUCH
REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED, OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION TO SUCH
ACT.
October 1, 1997
WARRANT FOR THE
PURCHASE OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
OF
ARIS CORPORATION
INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
------------------------------------------------------
THIS CERTIFIES THAT, for value received, ______________, together with its
successors and assigns (the "INVESTOR") is entitled to purchase, up to
__________ (________) duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable shares of Common Stock (the "COMMON STOCK") of ARIS Corporation, a
Washington corporation having its principal offices at Suite 250, 6720 Fort Dent
Way, Seattle, Washington 98188-2555 (the "COMPANY"), at the per share purchase
price described in Section 1.3 below, subject to the provisions and upon the
terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.
1. EXERCISE OF WARRANT. The terms and conditions upon which this Warrant
may be exercised, and the Common Stock covered hereby (the "WARRANT STOCK") may
be purchased, are as follows:
1.1 TERM. Subject to the terms hereof, the purchase right represented
by this Warrant may be exercised in whole or in part at any time and from
time to time until the close of business on October 1, 2004.
1.2 NUMBER OF SHARES. The number of shares of Common Stock for which
this Warrant is initially exercisable is __________ (_________) shares,
which number is subject to
<PAGE>
adjustment pursuant to Section 2 of this Warrant.
1.3 PURCHASE PRICE. The per share purchase price for the shares of
Common Stock to be issued upon exercise of this Warrant shall be
______ Dollars ________ Cents ($______), subject to adjustment as provided
herein (the "Warrant Price").
1.4 METHOD OF EXERCISE. The exercise of the purchase rights evidenced
by this Warrant shall be effected by (a) the surrender of the Warrant,
together with a duly executed copy of the form of a subscription attached
hereto, to the Company at its principal offices at Suite 250, 6720 Fort
Dent Way, Seattle, Washington 98188-2555 (or such other office or agency of
the Company as it may designate by notice in writing to the Investor at the
address of the Investor appearing on the books of the Company) and (b) the
delivery of the purchase price by certified check or bank draft payable to
the Company's order or by wire transfer to the Company's account for the
number of shares multiplied by the Warrant Price for which the purchase
rights hereunder are being exercised or any other form of consideration
approved by the Company's Board of Directors. Each exercise of this Warrant
shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of
business on the day on which this Warrant shall have been surrendered to
the Company as provided herein or at such later date as may be specified in
the executed form of subscription, and at such time the person or persons
in whose name or names any certificate or certificates for shares of Common
Stock shall be issuable upon such exercise as provided herein shall be
deemed to have become the holder or holders of record thereof.
1.5 EXERCISE BY EXCHANGE. In addition to and without limiting the
rights of the holder under the terms hereof, at the holder's option this
Warrant may be exercised during the term specified under Section 1.1 by
being exchanged in whole or in part prior to its expiration for a number of
shares of Common Stock having an aggregate fair market value on the date of
such exercise equal to the difference between (x) the fair market value of
the number of shares of Common Stock subject to this Warrant designated by
the holder hereof on the date of the exercise and (y) the aggregate Warrant
Price for such shares in effect at such times. The following diagram
illustrates how many shares would then be issued upon exercise pursuant to
this Section 1.5:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
Let: FMV = Fair market value per share at date of exercise.
PSP = Per share Warrant Price at date of exercise.
N = Number of shares desired to be exercised.
X = Number of shares issued after exercise.
Therefore: X = (FMV)(N)-(PSP)(N)
-----------------
FMW
</TABLE>
Upon any such exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock
purchasable upon exercise of this Warrant shall be reduced by such
designated number of shares of Common Stock and, if a balance of
purchasable shares Common Stock remains after such exercise, the
Company shall execute and deliver to the holder hereof a new warrant
for such balance of shares of Common Stock.
No payment of any cash or other consideration to the Company
shall be required from the holder of this Warrant in connection with
any exercise of this Warrant by exchange
2
<PAGE>
pursuant to this Section 1.5 or otherwise. Such exchange shall be
effective upon the date of receipt by the Company of the original
Warrant surrendered for cancellation and a written request from the
holder hereof that the exchange pursuant to this section be made, or
at such later date as may be specified in such request. No fractional
shares arising out of the above formula for determining the number of
shares issuable in such exchange shall be issued, and the Company
shall in lieu thereof make payment to the holder hereof of cash in the
amount of such fraction multiplied by the fair market value of a share
of Common Stock on the date of the exchange.
For the purposes of this Warrant, the "fair market value" of any
number of shares of Common Stock shall mean the average of the high
and low trading prices of one share of Common Stock (multiplied by the
number of shares being surrendered for exchange) as reported by Nasdaq
or the Nasdaq National Market (or equivalent recognized source of
quotations) for the three trading days prior to the surrender of this
Warrant for exchange in accordance with the terms hereof.
1.6 ISSUANCE OF SHARES. As soon as reasonably practicable after each
exercise of this Warrant, in whole or in part, the Company at its expense
will cause to be issued in the name of and delivered to the holder hereof
or as such holder (upon payment by such holder of any applicable transfer
taxes) may direct,
(a) a certificate or certificates for the number of duly
authorized validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable shares of
Common Stock to which such holder shall be entitled upon such
exercise, and
(b) in case such exercise is in part only, a new warrant or
warrants of like tenor, calling in the aggregate on the face or faces
thereof for the number of shares of Common Stock equal (without giving
effect to any adjustment thereof) to the number of such shares called
for on the face of this Warrant minus the number of such shares
designed by the holder upon such exercise as provided herein.
2. CERTAIN ADJUSTMENTS.
2.1 MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR SALE OF ASSETS. If at any time after
the date hereof there shall be a capital reorganization (other than a
combination or subdivision of Warrant Stock otherwise provided for herein),
or a merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another
corporation, or the sale of the Company's properties and assets as, or
substantially as, an entirety to any other person, then, as a part of such
reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale, lawful provision shall be
made so that the Investor shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon
exercise of this Warrant, during the period specified in this Warrant and
upon payment of the purchase price, the number of shares of stock or other
securities, cash or property of the Company or the successor corporation
resulting from such reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale, to which
a holder of the Common Stock deliverable upon exercise of this Warrant
would have been entitled under the provisions of the agreement in such
reorganization, merger, consolidation or sale if this Warrant had been
exercised immediately before that reorganization, merger, consolidation or
sale. In any such case, appropriate adjustment (as determined reasonably
and in good faith by the Company's Board of Directors) shall be made in the
application of the provisions of this Warrant with respect to the rights
and interests of the Investor after the reorganization, merger,
consolidation or sale to the end that the provisions of this Warrant
(including adjustment the purchase price then in effect and the number of
shares of Warrant Stock) shall be applicable after that event, as near as
reasonably may be, in relation to any shares or other property
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<PAGE>
deliverable after that event upon exercise of this Warrant.
2.2 SPLITS AND SUBDIVISIONS; DIVIDENDS. In the event the Company
should at any time or from time to time effect or fix a record date for the
effectuation of a split or subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock or the determination of the holders of Common Stock entitled to
receive a dividend or other distribution payable in additional shares of
Common Stock or other securities or warrants, options or other rights
convertible into, or entitling the holder thereof to receive directly or
indirectly, additional shares of Common Stock (hereinafter referred to as
the "Common Stock Equivalents") without payment of any consideration by
such holder for the additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock
Equivalents (including the additional shares of Common Stock issuable upon
conversion or exercise thereof), then, as of such record date (or the date
of distribution, split or subdivision if no record date is fixed), the per
share purchase price shall be appropriately decreased and the number of
shares of Warrant Stock shall be appropriately increased in proportion to
such increase (or potential increase) of outstanding shares.
2.3 COMBINATION OF SHARES. If the number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding at any time after the date hereof is decreased by a combination
of the outstanding shares of Common Stock, the per share purchase price
shall be appropriately increased and the number of shares of Warrant Stock
shall be appropriately decreased in proportion to such decrease in
outstanding shares.
2.4 ADJUSTMENTS FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS. In the event the Company
shall declare a distribution payable in securities of the Company (other
than Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents) or other persons, evidences
of indebtedness issued by the Company or other persons, assets (including
cash dividends) or options or rights not referred to in subsection 2.2,
then, in each such case for the purpose of this subsection 2.4, upon
exercise of this Warrant the holder hereof shall be entitled to a
proportionate share of any such distribution as though such holder was the
holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which
this Warrant may be exercised as of the record date fixed for the
determination of the holders of Common Stock of the Company entitled to
receive such distribution.
2.5 CERTIFICATE AS TO ADJUSTMENTS. In the case of each adjustment or
readjustment of the purchase Warrant Price pursuant to this Section 2, the
Company at its expense will promptly compute such adjustment or
readjustment in accordance with the terms hereof and cause a certificate,
signed by the Company's primary financial officer, setting forth such
adjustment or readjustment and showing in detail the facts upon which such
adjustment or readjustment is based to be delivered to the holder of this
Warrant. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to such holder a
certificate setting forth:
(a) Such adjustments and readjustments;
(b) The purchase price at the time in effect and how it was
calculated; and
(c) The number of shares of Warrant Stock and the amount, if any,
of other property at the time receivable upon the exercise of the
Warrant
2.6 NO DILUTION OR IMPAIRMENT. The Company will not, by amendment of
its certificate of incorporation or through any consolidation, merger,
reorganization, transfer of assets, dissolution, issue or sale of
securities or any other voluntary action, avoid or seek to avoid the
4
<PAGE>
observance or performance of any of the terms of this Warrant, but will at
all times in good faith assist in the carrying out of all such terms and in
the taking of all such action as may be necessary or appropriate in order
to protect the rights of the holder of this Warrant against
disproportionate dilution or other impairment.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Company (a) will
not permit the par value of any shares of stock receivable upon the
exercise of this Warrant to exceed the amount payable therefor upon such
exercise, (b) will take all such action as may be necessary or appropriate
in order that the Company may validly and legally issue fully paid and
nonassessable shares of stock on the exercise of the Warrants from time to
time outstanding and (c) will not take any action which results in any
adjustments of the Warrant Price if the total number of shares of Common
Stock issuable after the action upon the exercise of all of the Warrants
would exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock then authorized by
the Company's articles of incorporation and available for the purpose of
issue upon such exercise.
2.7 NOTICES OF RECORD DATE, ETC. In the event of:
(a) Any taking by the Company of a record of the holders of any
class of securities of the Company for the purpose of determining the
holders thereof who are entitled to receive any dividend (other than a
cash dividend payable out of earned surplus at the same rate as that
of the last such cash dividend theretofore paid) or other
distribution, or any right to subscribe for, purchase or otherwise
acquire any shares of stock of any class or any other securities or
property, or to receive any other right; or
(b) Any capital reorganization of the Company, any
reclassification or recapitalization of the capital stock of the
Company or any transfer of all or substantially all of assets of the
Company to any other person or any consolidation or merger involving
the Company; or
(c) Any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation
winding-up of the Company;
the Company will mail to the holder of this Warrant at least ten (10)
business days prior to the earliest date specified therein, a notice
specifying:
(i) The date on which any such record is to be taken for the
purpose of such dividend, distribution or right, and the amount
and character of such dividend, distribution or right; and
(ii) The date on which any such reorganization,
reclassification, transfer, consolidation, merger, dissolution,
liquidation or winding-up is expected to become effective and the
record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote thereon
and the time, if any such time is to be fixed, as of which the
holders of record of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange
their shares of Common Stock for the securities or other property
deliverable upon such reorganization, consolidation, merger,
transfer, dissolution liquidation or winding-up.
3. FRACTIONAL SHARES.
No fractional shares shall be issued in connection with any exercise of
this Warrant. In lieu of the issuance of such fractional share, the Company
shall make a cash payment equal to the then fair market value of such fraction
share as determined in good faith by
5
<PAGE>
the Company's Board of Directors.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
4.1 AUTHORIZATION. The Company has full power and authority to enter
into this Warrant. This Warrant has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes its valid and legally binding
obligation, enforceable in accordance with its terms.
4.2 RESERVATION OF COMMON STOCK. The Company shall at all times
reserve and keep available out of its authorized but unissued shares of
Common Stock, solely for the purpose of effecting the exercise of this
Warrant, such number of its shares of Common Stock, free from preemptive
right, as shall from time to time be sufficient to effect the exercise of
this Warrant, and if at any time the number of authorized but unissued
shares of Common Stock shall not be sufficient to effect the exercise of
the entire Warrant, the Company will use its best efforts to take such
action as may, in the opinion of its counsel, be necessary to increase its
authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock to such number of shares as
shall be sufficient for such purposes. If any shares of its Common Stock to
be reserved for the purpose of issuance upon exercise of the Warrants
require registration with or approval of any governmental authority under
any applicable law before such shares Common Stock may be validly issued or
delivered, then the Company shall secure such registration or approval, as
the case may be, and maintain such registration or approval in effect so
long as so required.
4.3 VALID ISSUANCE. This Warrant, when issued and delivered in
accordance with the terms hereof, and the Warrant Stock, when issued
pursuant to the terms hereof and upon payment. of the Warrant Price, shall,
upon such issuance, be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
5. PRIVILEGE OF STOCK OWNERSHIP. Prior to the exercise of this Warrant, the
Investor shall not be entitled, by virtue of holding this Warrant, to any rights
of a shareholder of the Company, including (without limitation) the right to
vote, receive dividends or other distributions, exercise preemptive rights or be
notified of shareholder meetings, and such holder shall not be entitled to any
notice or other communication concerning the business or affairs of the Company.
Nothing in this Section 5, however, shall limit the right of the Investor to be
provided the notices described in Section 2 hereof, or to participate in
distributions described in Section 2 hereof if the Investor exercises this
Warrant.
6. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. Except as otherwise provided herein, in the
absence of affirmative action by the holder hereof to purchase the Warrant
Stock, no mere enumeration herein of the rights or privileges of the holder
hereof shall give rise to obligation or such holder to purchase any securities
or any liability of such holder for the purchase price or as a shareholder of
the Company, whether such obligation or liability is asserted by the Company or
by creditors of the Company.
7. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE INVESTOR. The Investor represents
and warrants to the Company as follows:
7.1 PURCHASE ENTIRELY FOR OWN ACCOUNT. This Warrant is made with the
Investor in reliance upon such Investor's representation to the Company,
which by such Investor's execution of this Warrant such Investor hereby
confirms, that the Warrant and Warrant Stock is being acquired for
6
<PAGE>
investment for such Investor's own account, not as a nominee or agent, and
not with a view to the resale or distribution of any part thereof in
violation of the federal or state securities laws.
7.2 INVESTMENT EXPERIENCE. The Investor represents that it can bear
the economic risk of its investment and has such knowledge and experience
in financial or business matters that it is capable of evaluating the
merits and risks of the investment in the Warrant and the Warrant Stock. If
an entity, the Investor also represents it has not been organized solely
for the purpose of acquiring the Warrant or the Warrant Stock.
7.3 RESTRICTED SECURITIES. The Investor understands that the Warrant
being issued hereunder and the Warrant Stock to be purchased hereunder are
characterized as "restricted securities" under the federal securities laws
inasmuch as they are being acquired from the Company in a transaction not
involving a public offering and that under such laws and applicable
regulations such securities may be resold without registration under the
Act, only in certain limited circumstances. In this connection, the
Investor represents that it is familiar with Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 144, as presently in effect, and understands the resale
limitations imposed thereby and by the Act.
7.4 LEGENDS. It is understood that the certificates evidencing the
Warrant Stock may bear the following legend:
"THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF
1933, AS AMENDED (THE "ACT"), OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS. THEY MAY
NOT BE SOLD, OFFERED FOR SALE, PLEDGED, HYPOTHECATED OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED N THE ABSENCE OF A REGISTRATION STATEMENT IN EFFECT WITH
RESPECT TO THE SECURITIES UNDER SUCH ACT OR, AT THE OPTION OF THE
COMPANY, AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO THE COMPANY
THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS NOT REQUIRED, OR UNLESS SOLD PURSUANT TO AN
EXEMPTION TO SUCH ACT."
In addition, the certificates evidencing the Warrant Stock may bear
any legend required by the Company's charter documents or the laws of the
State of Washington and any other state in which the securities will be
issued.
The holder of any Warrant Stock by acceptance hereof agrees, so long
as any legend described in this Section shall remain on the certificates
evidencing the Warrant Stock, prior to any transfer of the same (except for
a transfer effected pursuant to an effective registration statement under
the Securities Act or in compliance with Rule 144 or 144A thereunder), to
give written notice to the Company of such holder's intention to effect
such transfer and agrees to comply in all material respects with the
provisions of this Section. Such notice, if required, shall describe the
proposed method of transfer of the Warrant Stock in question. Upon receipt
by the Company of such notice, if required, and if in the opinion of
counsel to such holder in form and substance satisfactory to the Company,
the proposed transfer may be effected without registration under the
Securities Act in compliance with Section 4(2) or Rules 144 or 144A
thereunder and under applicable state securities laws, then the proposed
transfer may be effected if the transferee agrees in writing to be subject
to the terms of this Section to the same extent as if such transferee were
the Investor. Upon receipt by the Company of such opinion and of such
agreement by the transferee to be bound by this Section, the holder of such
Warrant Stock shall thereupon be entitled to transfer the same in
accordance with the terms of the
7
<PAGE>
notice (if any) delivered by such holder to the Company. Each certificate
evidencing the Warrant Stock issued upon any such transfer shall bear the
legend set forth in this Section. Upon the written request of a holder of
the Warrant Stock, the Company shall remove the foregoing legend from the
certificates evidencing such Warrant Stock and issue to such holder new
certificates therefor, free of any transfer legend if, with such request,
the Company shall have received an opinion of counsel of the holder in form
and substance satisfactory to the Company, to the effect that any transfers
by said holder of such Warrant Stock may be made to the public without
compliance with either Section 5 of the Securities Act or Rule 144
thereunder and applicable state securities laws. In no event will such
legend be removed if such opinion is based upon the "private offering"
exemption of Section 4(2) of the Securities Act.
7.5 REGISTRATION RIGHTS. The Investor understands that the Warrant
Stock issuable hereunder is not entitled to registration rights except as
set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement dated February 28, 1997 and
the Agreement to be Bound to such Registration Rights Agreement between the
Company and Investor of even date herewith.
8. TRANSFERS AND EXCHANGES.
8.1 The Investor agrees not to sell, hypothecate, pledge or otherwise
dispose of any interest in the Warrant of the Warrant Stock in the United
States, its territories, possessions or any area subject to its
jurisdiction, or to any person who is a national thereof or resident
therein (including any estate of such person), or any corporation,
partnership or other entity created or organized therein, unless such
transfer would not violate any provision of this Section 8.
8.2 Upon representation to the Company's transfer agent of the form of
Assignment attached hereto, a new warrant shall be issued to the new holder
hereof. All new warrants issued in connection with transfers or exchanges
shall not require the signature of the new holder hereof and shall be
identical in form and provision to this Warrant except as to the number of
shares.
8.3 It shall be a condition to any transfer of this Warrant that the
Company shall have received, at the time of such transfer or exercise (i) a
representation letter, or at the option of the Company, a legal opinion, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company and its counsel,
reciting the pertinent circumstances surrounding the proposed transfer and
stating that such transfer is exempt from the prospectus and registration
requirements of the Act and (ii) a statement in writing from, and signed
by, any proposed transferees containing the same representations and
warranties as set forth in Section 7 hereof and agreeing to be bound by the
provisions of this Section 9, such statement to be in the form of
Assignment attached hereto. The requirement of a representation letter or
legal opinion shall not apply to (a) the transfer of this Warrant or any
part thereof to a partnership of which the Investor is a partner or to the
beneficial owners or affiliates of such partnership, (b) the transfer of
this Warrant or any part thereof to beneficial owners, employees or
affiliates of the Investor, (c) bona fide gifts to a member of a holder's
immediate family or trustee for a member of a holder's immediate family,
(d) transfers by will upon the death of a holder, or (e) transfers pursuant
to a divorce or dissolution of the marriage of a holder; provided that such
transfer is in compliance with applicable securities laws.
It shall be a further condition to each such transfer that the
transferee shall receive and accept a Warrant, of like tenor and date,
executed by the Company.
8
<PAGE>
8.4 OWNERSHIP OF WARRANTS. The Company may treat the person in whose
name any Warrant is registered on the register kept by the Company or its
transfer agent as the owner and holder thereof for all purposes,
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary, except that, if and when any
Warrant is properly assigned in blank, the Company may (but shall not be
obligated to) treat the bearer thereof as the owner of such Warrant for all
purposes, notwithstanding any notice to the contrary. A Warrant, if
properly assigned, may be exercised by a new holder without a new Warrant
first having been issued. Nothing in this Section 8.4 shall relieve the
Investor of his obligations under Section 8.3 hereof.
8.5 TRANSFER AGENT.
(a) The Company will serve as its transfer agent for purposes of
this Warrant, where notices, presentations and demands in respect of
this Warrant may be made upon it, until such time as the Company will
notify the holder of the Warrants of any change in such transfer
agent; and
(b) Subject to compliance with Section 8.3, upon the surrender of
any Warrant, properly endorsed, for registration of transfer or for
exchange, the Company at its expense will execute and deliver to or
upon the order of the holder thereof a new warrant or warrants of like
tenor, in the name of such holder or as such holder (upon payment by
such holder of any applicable transfer taxes) may direct, calling in
the aggregate on the face or faces thereof for the number of shares of
Common Stock called for on the face or faces of the Warrant or
Warrants so surrendered.
9. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. The terms and provisions of this Warrant shall
be binding upon the Company and the Investor and their respective successors and
assigns, subject at all times to the restrictions set forth herein.
10. LOSS, THEFT, DESTRUCTION OR MUTILATION OF WARRANT. Upon receipt by the
Company of evidence reasonably satisfactory to it and its counsel of the loss,
theft, destruction or mutilation of this Warrant, and in case of loss, theft or
destruction, of indemnity or security reasonably satisfactory to the Company,
and upon reimbursement to the Company of all reasonable expenses incidental
thereto, and upon surrender and cancellation of this Warrant, if mutilated, the
Company will make and deliver a new warrant of like tenor and dated as of such
cancellation, in lieu of this Warrant.
11. SATURDAYS, SUNDAYS, HOLIDAY, ETC. If the last or appointed day for the
taking of any action or the expiration of any right required or granted herein
shall be a Saturday or Sunday or shall be a legal holiday in the State of
Washington, then such action may be taken or such right may be exercised on the
next succeeding day not a legal holiday.
12. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. Any term of this Warrant may be amended and the
observance of any term of this Warrant may be waived (either generally or in a
particular instance and either retroactively or prospectively) only with the
written consent of the Company and the Investor. Any such amendment or waiver
shall be binding on the parties.
13. GOVERNING LAW. The terms and conditions of this Warrant shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with Washington law, without regard to
conflict of law provisions.
14. NOTICES. All notices and other communications under this Warrant shall
be in writing
9
<PAGE>
and shall be mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, addressed (a) if to any holder of any Warrant, at the registered
address of such holder as set forth in the register kept at the principal office
of the Company, or (b) if to the Company, to the attention of its President or
General Counsel at its principal offices, provided that the exercise of any
Warrant shall be effective in the manner provided in Section 1.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Warrant effective as of
the date first written above.
ARIS CORPORATION,
a Washington corporation
----------------------------------
Paul Y. Song, President and
Chief Executive Officer
ACCEPTED AND AGREED:
_________________________________
[Name]
10
<PAGE>
SUBSCRIPTION
------------
ARIS CORPORATION
- ----------------------------
- ----------------------------
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, ___________________hereby elects to purchase, pursuant to
the provisions of the Warrant dated October 1, 1997 held by the undersigned,
_____________shares of the Common Stock of ARIS Corporation, a Washington
corporation, and tenders herewith payment of the purchase price of such shares
in full.
The undersigned hereby confirms and acknowledges the investment
representations and warranties made in Section 7 of the Warrant and accepts such
shares subject to the restrictions of the Warrant, copies of which are available
from the Secretary of the Company.
Date_______________________ By:________________________________________
Address:
11
<PAGE>
[FORM OF ASSIGNMENT]
The undersigned hereby assigns this Warrant to
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________
(Print or type name, address and zip code of assignee)
Please insert Social Security or other
identifying number of assignee
_____________________________
and irrevocably appoints ___________________ as agent to transfer this Warrant
on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him or
it.
Date: ______________ Signed:_______________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
(Sign exactly as name appears on the front of this Warrant)
The undersigned assignee hereby confirms and acknowledges the investment
representations and warranties made in Section 7 of the Warrant and agrees to be
bound by the obligations set forth in the Warrant, copies of which are available
from the Secretary of the Company.
Date:___________________ By:_________________________________________
Name:_______________________________________
Title:______________________________________
12
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT I
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL TO THE BUYER
The form of Opinion of Counsel to the Buyer is omitted pursuant to Item
601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will be furnished to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT J
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
FORM OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WITH TARGET STOCKHOLDERS
The form of Employment Agreement to be signed by the Target Stockholders is
omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will be furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT K
TO
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
The Letter of Transmittal to be signed by each of the Target Stockholders is
omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. A copy will be furnished
to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Tom Averill Kristine Szarkowitz
Chief Financial Officer Public Relations
Aris Corporation Aris Corporation
(206) 433-2081 (206) 4312425
ARIS CORPORATION EXPANDS INTO NEW YORK BY ACQUIRING TRAINING COMPANY
SEATTLE, WA - September 15, 1997 - Aris Corporation (Nasdaq: ARSC)
announced today that it has signed an agreement to acquire Enterprise Computing
Inc. (d/b/a Buller, Owens & Associates), an information technology (IT) training
company in New York, NY.
Buller, Owens & Associates is a Microsoft Authorized Technical Education
Center Partner, as well as a Lotus Notes Premium Business Partner and an
Authorized Education Center, having had revenues of approximately $2.7 million
for the previous 12 months. The acquisition, structured as a merger with Aris as
the surviving company, is expected to close October 1, 1997.
"Aris continues to expand into strategic markets by acquiring companies
that share our vision of providing high quality IT training and consulting for
leading-edge technologies," said Paul Song, President and CEO of Aris. "Buller,
Owens & Associates complements our strategy with its outstanding reputation and
customers in a major market region."
"Buller, Owens & Associates has developed a significant customer base in
the financial sector. Aris serves many of the same customers from our London
office, who will now benefit from our ability to provide the same high-quality
consulting and training services across their global operations."
Karl Owens, President of Buller, Owens & Associates, said, "We believe
joining Aris will enable us to continue serving clients with the same level of
customer focus while becoming better equipped in providing an even more
comprehensive line of technology services within the continually changing IT
market."
Buller, Owens & Associates is the second acquisition this year for Aris,
which acquired UK-based Oxford Computer Group March 1, 1997. Aris completed its
initial public offering in June 1997, making this acquisition its first as a
public company.
Aris Corporation is an international provider of integrated information
technology consulting and training solutions focused on Microsoft and Oracle
leading-edge technologies. With more than 400 employees and 14 sites in the U.S.
and UK, Aris enables organizations to strategically use client/server and
Internet technology to improve their business operations. Aris corporate offices
are at 6720 Fort Dent Way, Suite 250, Seattle, WA. 98188. Tel: (206) 433-2081,
http://www.aris.com
<PAGE>
In accordance with the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the Company notes that the statements in this
press release, and elsewhere, that look forward in time, which include
everything other than historical information involve risks and uncertainties
that may affect the Company's actual results of operations. The following
important factors, set forth in more detail in the Company's final prospectus
from its recent public offering that it filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on June 18, 1997, among other risk factors set forth in the
prospectus, could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth
in the forward-looking statements: the Company's ability to recruit and retain
IT professionals, its ability to manage growth and integrate acquisitions, the
fact that the Company derives a significant portion of its revenue from a
limited number of larger clients, that it depends on its relationships with
certain key vendors of software technology, that its quarterly operating results
may vary as a result of seasonality, that most of its consulting agreements are
terminable upon 14 days' notice, that it expects to continue to expand its
international operations and that it is in a competitive and rapidly changing
industry.
