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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON DC 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) March 31, 2000
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EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS, INC.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
DELAWARE 0-24679 04-3338916
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(State or Other Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of Incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
89 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (ZIP Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (617) 737-2244
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ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.
On March 31, 2000, Exchange Applications, Inc., a Delaware
corporation ("Exchange") and a leading provider of customer optimization
software products and services, acquired via a triangular merger all of
the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of Knowledge Stream
Partners, Inc. ("KSP"), a software development company incorporated under
Delaware law, from all of the shareholders thereof.
The aggregate consideration paid by Exchange to the KSP shareholders
consisted of approximately $52 million of Exchange common stock, par value
$.001 per share. The March 31, 2000 closing price of Exchange common stock
used in calculating the consideration was $52.92. The terms of the
agreement were determined in arm's-length negotiations between Exchange
and KSP.
All other information required by Item 2 is set forth in the merger
agreement and press release filed, respectively, as Exhibit 2 and Exhibit
99.1 hereto, and is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS.
(C) EXHIBITS.
Exhibit 2 Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization, dated as of March
20, 2000, by and among Exchange,
KSP Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned
subsidiary of Exchange, KSP and
certain shareholders of KSP;
including Exhibit G, the form of
Escrow Agreement (does not include
other Exhibits or Schedules;
Exchange will furnish a copy of any
such omitted exhibit or schedule to
the Commission upon request).
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release of Exchange, dated
April 3, 2000, announcing the
acquisition of KSP.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS, INC.
By: /s/ Andrew J. Frawley
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Andrew J. Frawley
Chairman of the Board, President and CEO
Dated: April 17, 2000
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
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2 Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of March
20, 1999, by and among Exchange, KSP Acquisition Corp., a Delaware
corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Exchange, KSP and
certain shareholders of KSP; including Exhibit G, the form of Escrow
Agreement (does not include other Exhibits or Schedules; Exchange
will furnish a copy of any such omitted exhibit or schedule to the
Commission upon request).
99.1 Press Release of Exchange, dated April 3, 2000, announcing the
acquisition of KSP.
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EXHIBIT 2
EXECUTION COPY
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
among:
EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation;
KNOWLEDGE STREAM PARTNERS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation;
KSP ACQUISITION CORP.,
a Delaware corporation; AND
ROBERT VAN DER HOONING,
an individual currently
residing in Chicago, Illinois.
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Dated as of March 20, 2000
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION ("AGREEMENT") is made
and entered into as of March 20, 2000, among: EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("PARENT"); KSP ACQUISITION CORP., a Delaware corporation
and a wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("MERGER SUB"); KNOWLEDGE STREAM
PARTNERS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"); and ROBERT VAN DER
HOONING, an individual currently residing in Chicago, Illinois (the "PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDER"). Certain other capitalized terms used in this Agreement are
defined in Exhibit A.
RECITALS
1. Parent, Merger Sub and the Company intend to effect a merger of Merger
Sub into the Company in accordance with this Agreement and the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "MERGER"). Upon consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub
will cease to exist, and the Company will become a wholly owned subsidiary of
Parent.
2. It is intended that the Merger qualify as a tax-free reorganization
within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended (the "CODE").
3. This Agreement has been approved by the respective boards of directors
of Parent, Merger Sub and the Company.
4. Mr. van der Hooning owns a total of 865,862 shares of the common stock
and the other shareholders collectively own a total of 134,138 shares of the
common stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("COMPANY COMMON
STOCK"). The shares of Company Common Stock described in the foregoing sentence
represent all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
immediately prior to the Merger.
AGREEMENT
The parties to this Agreement agree as follows:
1. DESCRIPTION OF TRANSACTION
1.1. MERGER OF MERGER SUB INTO THE COMPANY. Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined
in Section 1.3), Merger Sub shall be merged with and into the Company, and the
separate existence of Merger Sub shall cease. The Company will continue as the
surviving corporation in the Merger (the "SURVIVING CORPORATION").
1.2. EFFECT OF THE MERGER. The Merger shall have the effects set forth in
this Agreement and in the applicable provisions of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (the "DGCL").
1.3. CLOSING; EFFECTIVE TIME. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "CLOSING") shall take place at the offices
of Bingham Dana LLP, 150 Federal
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Street, Boston, Massachusetts, on Friday, March 31, 2000, or on the first
practicable date thereafter following the satisfaction or waiver of the
conditions precedent set forth herein (the "CLOSING DATE"). Contemporaneously
with or as promptly as practicable after the Closing, a properly executed
certificate of merger conforming to the requirements of Section 251 of the DGCL
shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware. The Merger
shall become effective at the time such certificate of merger is filed with and
accepted by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware (the "EFFECTIVE
TIME").
1.4. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS; DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Unless otherwise determined by Parent and the Company prior to the Effective
Time:
(A) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation
shall be amended and restated as of the Effective Time in a manner satisfactory
to Parent and otherwise to conform substantially to the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company which is attached hereto as Exhibit B;
(B) the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation shall be amended and
restated as of the Effective Time to conform to the Bylaws of Merger Sub as in
effect immediately prior to the Effective Time; and
(C) the directors and officers of the Surviving Corporation
immediately after the Effective Time shall be the individuals identified on
Exhibit C.
1.5. CONVERSION OF SHARES.
(A) Subject to Section 1.8(c), at the Effective Time, by virtue of
the Merger and without any further action on the part of Parent, Merger Sub,
the Company or any shareholder of the Company:
(I) each share of Company Common Stock outstanding immediately
prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into the right to receive
.82177608 of a share ("APPLICABLE FRACTION") of the common stock, par value
$.001 per share, of Parent ("PARENT COMMON STOCK"); and
(II) each share of the common stock (with no par value) of
Merger Sub outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be
converted into one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
1.6. EMPLOYEE STOCK OPTIONS. At the Effective Time, each stock option that
is then outstanding under the Company's 1999 Stock Option Plan, whether vested
or unvested (a "COMPANY OPTION"), shall be assumed by Parent in accordance with
the terms (as in effect as of the date of this Agreement) of the Company's 1999
Stock Option Plan and the stock option agreement by which such Company Option
is evidenced. All rights with respect to Company Common Stock under outstanding
Company Options shall thereupon be converted into rights with respect to Parent
Common Stock as set forth below. Accordingly, from and after the Effective
Time, (a) each Company Option assumed by Parent may be exercised solely for
shares of Parent Common Stock, (b) the number of shares of Parent Common Stock
subject to each
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such assumed Company Option shall be equal to the number of shares of Company
Common Stock that were subject to such Company Option immediately prior to the
Effective Time multiplied by the Applicable Fraction, rounded down to the
nearest whole number of shares of Parent Common Stock, (c) the per share
exercise price for the Parent Common Stock issuable upon exercise of each such
assumed Company Option shall be determined by dividing the exercise price per
share of Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option, as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time, by the Applicable Fraction, and
rounding the resulting exercise price up to the nearest whole cent, and (d) all
restrictions on the exercise of each such assumed Company Option shall continue
in full force and effect, and the term, exercisability, vesting schedule and
other provisions of such Company Option shall otherwise remain unchanged;
provided, however, that each such assumed Company Option shall, in accordance
with its terms, be subject to further adjustment as appropriate to reflect any
stock split, reverse stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization or other
similar transaction effected by Parent after the Effective Time. The Company and
Parent shall take all action that may be necessary (under the Company's 1999
Stock Option Plan and otherwise) to effectuate the provisions of this Section
1.6. Following the Closing, Parent will send to each holder of an assumed
Company Option a written notice setting forth (i) the number of shares of Parent
Common Stock subject to such assumed Company Option, and (ii) the exercise price
per share of Parent Common Stock issuable upon exercise of such assumed Company
Option. To the extent necessary, Parent shall file with the SEC, as soon as
reasonably practical but in any event within thirty (30) days after the Closing
Date, a registration statement on Form S-8 registering the exercise of the
Company Options assumed by Parent pursuant to this Section 1.6.
1.7. CLOSING OF THE COMPANY'S TRANSFER BOOKS. At the Effective Time,
holders of certificates representing shares of the Company's capital stock that
were outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall cease to have
any rights as shareholders of the Company, and the stock transfer books of the
Company shall be closed with respect to all shares of such capital stock
outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time. No further transfer of any
such shares of the Company's capital stock shall be made on such stock transfer
books after the Effective Time. If, after the Effective Time, a valid
certificate previously representing any of such shares of the Company's capital
stock (a "COMPANY STOCK CERTIFICATE") is presented to the Surviving Corporation
or Parent, such Company Stock Certificate shall be canceled and shall be
exchanged as provided in Section 1.8.
1.8. EXCHANGE OF CERTIFICATES.
(A) At or as soon as practicable after the Effective Time, Parent will
send to the holders of Company Stock Certificates (i) a letter of transmittal
in customary form and containing such provisions as Parent may reasonably
specify, and (ii) instructions for use in effecting the surrender of Company
Stock Certificates in exchange for certificates representing Parent Common
Stock. Upon surrender of a Company Stock Certificate to Parent for exchange,
together with a duly executed letter of transmittal and such other documents as
may be reasonably required by Parent the holder of such Company Stock
Certificate shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (subject to
Section 8.3) a certificate representing the number of whole shares of Parent
Common Stock that such holder has the right to receive pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 1, and the Company Stock Certificate so surrendered
shall be canceled. Until surrendered as contemplated by this Section 1.8, each
Company Stock Certificate shall be
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deemed, from and after the Effective Time, to represent only the right to
receive upon such surrender a certificate representing shares of Parent Common
Stock (and cash in lieu of any fractional share of Parent Common Stock as
described in Section 1.8(c)) as contemplated by this Section 1. If any Company
Stock Certificate shall have been lost, stolen or destroyed, Parent may, in its
discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance of any certificate
representing Parent Common Stock, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed Company Stock Certificate to provide an appropriate affidavit and to
deliver a bond (in such sum as Parent may reasonably direct) as indemnity
against any claim that may be made against Parent or the Surviving Corporation
with respect to such Company Stock Certificate.
(B) No dividends or other distributions declared or made with respect
to Parent Common Stock with a record date after the Effective Time shall be
paid to the holder of any unsurrendered Company Stock Certificate with respect
to the shares of Parent Common Stock represented thereby, and no cash payment
in lieu of any fractional share shall be paid to any such holder, until such
holder surrenders such Company Stock Certificate in accordance with this
Section 1.8 (at which time such holder shall be entitled to receive all such
dividends and distributions and such cash payment).
(C) No fractional shares of Parent Common Stock shall be issued in
connection with the Merger, and no certificates for any such fractional shares
shall be issued. In lieu of such fractional shares, any holder of capital stock
or other securities of the Company who would otherwise be entitled to receive a
fraction of a share of Parent Common Stock (after aggregating all fractional
shares of Parent Common Stock issuable to such holder) shall, upon surrender of
such holder's Company Stock Certificate(s), be paid in cash the dollar amount
(rounded to the nearest whole cent), determined by multiplying such fraction by
the Parent Stock Price.
(D) Parent and the Surviving Corporation shall be entitled to deduct
and withhold from any consideration payable or otherwise deliverable to any
holder or former holder of capital stock of the Company pursuant to this
Agreement such amounts as Parent or the Surviving Corporation are required to
deduct or withhold therefrom under the Code or under any provision of state,
local or foreign tax law. To the extent such amounts are so deducted or
withheld, such amounts shall be treated for all purposes under this Agreement
as having been paid to the Person to whom such amounts would otherwise have
been paid.
(E) Neither Parent nor the Surviving Corporation shall be liable to
any holder or former holder of capital stock of the Company for any shares of
Parent Common Stock (or dividends or distributions with respect thereto), or
for any cash amounts, delivered to any public official pursuant to any
applicable abandoned property, escheat or similar law.
1.9. TAX CONSEQUENCES. For federal income tax purposes, the Merger is
intended to constitute a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368 of
the Code. The parties to this Agreement hereby adopt this Agreement as a "plan
of reorganization" within the meaning of Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3(a) of
the United States Treasury Regulations.
1.10. FURTHER ACTION. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any
further action is determined by Parent to be necessary or desirable to carry
out the purposes of this Agreement or to vest the Surviving Corporation or
Parent with full right, title and possession of and to all rights
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and property of Merger Sub and the Company, the officers and directors of the
Surviving Corporation and Parent shall be fully authorized (in the name of
Merger Sub, in the name of the Company and otherwise) to take such action.
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER
The Company and the Principal Shareholder jointly and severally represent
and warrant, to and for the benefit of the Indemnitees that, except as set
forth in the disclosure schedule that has been prepared by the Company in
accordance with the requirements of Section 10.4 and that has been delivered by
the Company to Parent on and as of the date of this Agreement and signed on
behalf of the Company by the President of the Company (the "COMPANY DISCLOSURE
SCHEDULE"):
2.1. DUE ORGANIZATION; SUBSIDIARIES; ETC.
(A) The Company has no Subsidiaries and the Company does not own any
capital stock of, or any equity interest of any nature in, any other Entity.
The Company has not agreed and is not obligated to make, nor is it bound by any
Contract under which it may become obligated to make, any future investment in
or capital contribution to any other Entity. The Company has not, at any time,
been a general partner of any general partnership, limited partnership or other
Entity.
(B) The Company is duly organized and validly existing under the laws
of the State of Delaware and has all necessary power and authority: (i) to
conduct its business in the manner in which its business is currently being
conducted; (ii) to own and use its assets in the manner in which its assets are
currently owned and used; and (iii) to perform its obligations under all
Contracts by which it is bound.
(C) The Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation,
and is in corporate and tax good standing, under the laws of all jurisdictions
where the nature of its business requires such qualification and where the
failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
2.2. CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS. The Company has delivered to
Parent accurate and complete copies of its certificate of incorporation, bylaws
and other charter and organizational documents, including all amendments
thereto. The Company is not in violation of any of the provisions of its
certificate of incorporation or bylaws or equivalent governing instruments.
2.3. CAPITALIZATION, ETC.
(A) The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of: (i) 1,200,000
shares of Company Common Stock, of which 1,000,000 shares have been issued and
are outstanding as of the date of this Agreement. All of the Company Common
Stock is owned, beneficially and of record, only as set forth on Schedule 2.3
hereof. All of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock have been and, as
of the Effective Time, will be duly authorized and validly
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issued, and fully paid and nonassessable. As of the date of this Agreement,
there are no shares of Company Common Stock held in treasury by the Company.
Except as set forth in Part 2.3(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule: (i) none
of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is entitled or subject to any
preemptive right, right of participation, right of maintenance or any similar
right; (ii) none of the outstanding shares of Company Common Stock is subject to
any right of first refusal in favor of the Company or any other Person; and
(iii) there is no Company Contract relating to the voting or registration of, or
restricting any Person from purchasing, selling, pledging or otherwise disposing
of (or granting any option or similar right with respect to), any shares of
Company Common Stock. Upon consummation of the Merger, (A) the shares of Parent
Common Stock issued in exchange for any shares of Company Common Stock that are
subject to a Contract pursuant to which the Company has the right to repurchase,
redeem or otherwise reacquire any shares of Company Common Stock will, without
any further act of Parent, the Company or any other Person, become subject to
the restrictions, conditions and other provisions contained in such Contract,
and (B) Parent will automatically succeed to and become entitled to exercise the
Company's rights and remedies under any such Contract. The Company is not under
any obligation to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any outstanding shares
of Company Common Stock. No shares of Company Common Stock outstanding on the
date of this Agreement are unvested or are subject to a repurchase option, risk
of forfeiture or other condition under any applicable restricted stock purchase
agreement or other agreement with the Company.
(B) As of the date of this Agreement: 164,127 shares of Company Common
Stock are subject to issuance pursuant to outstanding options to purchase
Company Common Stock (collectively, the "COMPANY OPTIONS"), 38,201 shares of
which are subject to issuance pursuant to Company Options that are vested
(assuming and after giving effect to the consummation of the Merger).
Part 2.3(b)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the following
information with respect to each Company Option outstanding as of the date of
this Agreement: (i) the particular plan pursuant to which such Company Option
was granted; (ii) the name of the optionee; (iii) the number of shares of
Company Common Stock subject to such Company Option; (iv) the exercise price of
such Company Option; (v) the date upon which such Company Option was granted;
and (vi) the applicable vesting schedule and extent to which such Company
Option is vested and exercisable as of the date of this Agreement. The Company
has delivered to Parent accurate and complete copies of all stock option plans
pursuant to which the Company has ever granted stock options and the form of
all stock option agreements evidencing such options. Except as set forth in
Part 2.3(b)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no commitments or
agreements of any character to which the Company is bound obligating the
Company to accelerate the vesting of any Company Option as a result of the
Merger or otherwise.
(C) Except as set forth in Part 2.3(c) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule there is no: (i) outstanding subscription, option, call, warrant or
right (whether or not currently exercisable) to acquire any shares of the
capital stock or other securities of the Company from the Company or from the
Principal Shareholder; (ii) outstanding security, instrument or obligation that
is or may become convertible into or exchangeable for any shares of the capital
stock or other securities of the Company; (iii) shareholder rights plan (or
similar plan commonly
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referred to as a "poison pill") or Contract under which the Company is or may
become obligated to sell or otherwise issue any shares of its capital stock or
any other securities; or (iv) condition or circumstance that may give rise to or
provide a basis for the assertion of a claim by any Person to the effect that
such Person is entitled to acquire or receive from the Company or the Principal
Shareholder any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company.
(D) All outstanding shares of Company Common Stock and all outstanding
Company Options have been issued and granted in compliance with (i) all
applicable securities laws and other applicable Legal Requirements, and (ii)
all requirements set forth in applicable Contracts.
2.4 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(A) The Company has delivered to Parent the following financial
statements and notes (collectively, the "COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS"):
(I) the unaudited balance sheets of the Company as of December
31, 1999 (the "BALANCE SHEET DATE") and December 31, 1998, and the related
unaudited income statements of the Company for the years then ended; and
(II) the unaudited balance sheet of the Company as of February
29, 2000 (the "MOST RECENT BALANCE SHEET") and the related unaudited
income statement of the Company for the two months then ended.
(B) The Company Financial Statements are accurate and complete in all
material respects and present fairly the financial position of the Company as
of the respective dates thereof and the results of operations of the Company
for the periods covered thereby and are consistent with the books and records
of the Company. The Company Financial Statements may not have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") however, such
Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the
Company's historical practices on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered.
2.5 ABSENCE OF CHANGES. Since the Balance Sheet Date:
(A) there has not been any material adverse change in the business,
condition (financial or otherwise), assets, liabilities, operations, financial
performance or prospects of the Company, and no event has occurred that could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
(B) there has not been any material loss, damage or destruction to,
or any material interruption in the use of, any of the assets of the Company;
(C) except as set forth in Part 2.5(c) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not (i) declared, accrued, set aside or paid any
dividend or made any other distribution in respect of any shares of capital
stock, or (ii) repurchased, redeemed or otherwise reacquired any shares of
capital stock or other securities;
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(D) the Company has not sold, issued, granted or authorized the
issuance or grant of (i) any capital stock or other security (except for
Company Common Stock issued upon the exercise of outstanding Company Options),
(ii) any option, call, warrant or right to acquire any capital stock or any
other security (except for Company Options described in Part 2.3(b)(i) of the
Company Disclosure Schedule), or (iii) any instrument convertible into or
exchangeable for any capital stock or other security of the Company;
(E) except as set forth in Part 2.5(e) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not amended or waived any of its rights under, or
permitted the acceleration of vesting under, any provision of the Company's
stock option plan, or (ii) any provision of any agreement evidencing any
outstanding Company Option;
(F) except as set forth in Part 2.5(f) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, there has been no amendment to the certificate of incorporation,
bylaws or other charter or organizational documents of the Company, and the
Company has not effected or been a party to any merger, consolidation, share
exchange, business combination, recapitalization, reclassification of shares,
stock split, reverse stock split or similar transaction;
(G) the Company has not accepted any Acquisition Proposal;
(H) the Company has not formed any subsidiary or acquired any equity
interest or other interest in any other Entity;
(I) except as set forth in Part 2.5(i) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not made any capital expenditures that exceed $10,000
in the aggregate;
(J) except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with
past practices, the Company has not (i) entered into or permitted any of the
assets owned or used by it to become bound by any Material Contract (as defined
in Section 2.10), or (ii) amended or prematurely terminated, or waived any
material right or remedy under, any Material Contract;
(K) the Company has not (i) acquired, leased or licensed any material
right or other material asset from any other Person, (ii) sold or otherwise
disposed of, or leased or licensed, any material right or other material asset
to any other Person, or (iii) waived or relinquished any right, except in each
case for rights or other assets acquired, leased, licensed or disposed of in
the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practices;
(L) except as set forth in Part 2.5(l) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not written off as uncollectible, or established any
extraordinary reserve with respect to, any account receivable or other
indebtedness in excess of $10,000 with respect to any single matter, or in
excess of $25,000 in the aggregate;
(M) except as set forth in Part 2.5(m) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not made any pledge of any of its assets or otherwise
permitted any of its assets to become subject to any Encumbrance, except for
pledges of immaterial assets made in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices;
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(N) the Company has not (i) lent money to any Person, or (ii)
incurred or guaranteed any indebtedness for borrowed money;
(O) except as set forth on Part 2.5(o) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has not (i) established or adopted any Plan (as defined
in Section 2.16(a)), (ii) caused or permitted any Plan to be amended in any
material respect (except as required to maintain the qualified status of the
Plan under Code Section 401(a)), or (iii) paid any bonus or made any
profit-sharing or similar payment to, or materially increased the amount of the
wages, salary, commissions, fringe benefits or other compensation or
remuneration payable to, any of its directors, officers or employees;
(P) the Company has not changed any of its methods of accounting or
accounting practices in any respect;
(Q) the Company has not made any material election with respect to
Taxes;
(R) the Company has not commenced or settled any Legal Proceeding;
(S) the Company has not entered into an employment, severance or
other agreement with any of its officers, directors or key employees not
reflected on Part 2.5(s) of the Company Disclosure Schedule;
(T) the Company has not entered into any transaction that has had, or
could reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on the Company;
and
(U) the Company has not agreed or committed to take any of the
actions referred to in clauses "(c)" through "(t)" above.
2.6 LEASEHOLD; EQUIPMENT. The Company does not own any real property or
any interest in real property, except for the leaseholds created under the real
property leases identified in Part 2.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. All
such real property is being leased pursuant to lease agreements that are in
full force and effect, and are valid and effective in accordance with their
respective terms, and there is not, under any of such leases, any existing
default or event of default (or event which with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a default) that would result in a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. All material items of equipment and other tangible
assets owned by or leased to the Company are adequate for the uses to which
they are being put, are in good condition and repair (ordinary wear and tear
excepted) and are adequate for the conduct of the business of the Company in
the manner in which such business is currently being conducted.
2.7 TITLE TO ASSETS. The Company owns, and has good, valid and marketable
title to, or in the case of leased properties and assets, valid leasehold
interests in, all of its tangible properties and assets, real, personal and
mixed, used or held for use in its business except as reflected in the Company
Financial Statements and Most Recent Balance Sheet, including: (i) all assets
reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet; and (ii) all other assets reflected
in the books and records of the Company as being owned or leased by the
Company. All of such assets are owned or leased by the Company free and clear
of any Encumbrances, except for (x) any lien for
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current taxes not yet due and payable, and (y) minor liens that have arisen in
the ordinary course of business and that do not (in any case or in the
aggregate) materially detract from the value of the assets subject thereto or
materially impair the operations of the Company.
2.8 RECEIVABLES; SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS.
(A) Part 2.8(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule provides an
accurate and complete breakdown and aging of all accounts receivable of the
Company as of the Balance Sheet Date. All existing accounts receivable of the
Company (including those accounts receivable reflected on the Most Recent
Balance Sheet that have not yet been collected and those accounts receivable
that have arisen since the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet and have not
yet been collected) (i) represent valid obligations of customers of the Company
arising from bona fide transactions entered into in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) are current and collectible in full when due, without any
counterclaim or set off (net of an allowance for doubtful accounts recorded and
set forth in the Most Recent Balance Sheet), (iii) represent revenues that have
been recognized strictly in accordance with GAAP and (iv) are not subject to
any dispute or threat of nonpayment.
(B) Part 2.8(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains an
accurate and complete list as of the date of this Agreement of all loans and
advances made by the Company to any employee, director, consultant or
independent contractor of the Company, other than routine travel or relocation
advances made to employees in the ordinary course of business.
(C) For the purposes of this Agreement, "SIGNIFICANT CUSTOMERS" are
the ten (10) customers of the Company that have effected the most purchases, in
dollar terms, and accounted for the most revenues, in dollar terms, during each
of the past four (4) fiscal quarters. None of the Company's Significant
Customers has canceled, returned or substantially reduced or, to the knowledge
of the Company, is currently attempting or threatening to cancel, return or
substantially reduce, any purchases from, orders to or services provided by the
Company. The Company has not received any material customer complaints
concerning its products and/or services, nor has it had any of its products
returned by a customer or threatened to be returned by a customer nor is it
aware that any customer may return any products.
2.9 PROPRIETARY ASSETS.
(A) Part 2.9(a)(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth,
with respect to each Proprietary Asset owned by the Company and registered with
any Governmental Body or for which an application has been registered or filed
with any Governmental Body, (i) a brief description of such Proprietary Asset,
and (ii) the names of the jurisdictions covered by the applicable registration
or application. Part 2.9(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies
and provides a brief description of all other Proprietary Assets owned by the
Company that are material to the business of the Company. Part 2.9(a)(iii) of
the Company Disclosure Schedule (A) identifies and provides a brief description
of, and identifies any ongoing royalties or payment obligations with respect
to, each Proprietary Asset that is licensed or otherwise made available to the
Company by any Person, (B) identifies the Contract under which such Proprietary
Asset is being licensed or otherwise made available to the Company and (C)
provides a brief description of how the Company uses such Proprietary Asset.
The Company has good,
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valid and marketable title to all of the Company Proprietary Assets identified
in Parts 2.9(a)(i) and 2.9(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, free and
clear of all Encumbrances, except for those described in Parts 2.9(a)(i) and
2.9(a)(ii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has a valid right to
use, license and otherwise exploit all Proprietary Assets identified in Part
2.9(a)(iii) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. Except as set forth in Part
2.9(a)(iv) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not developed
jointly with any other Person any Company Proprietary Asset with respect to
which such other Person has any rights.
(B) Part 2.9(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each
Company Contract pursuant to which the Company has licensed or transferred any
right (whether or not currently exercisable) to use, license or otherwise
exploit any Company Proprietary Asset to any Person.
(C) The Company has taken reasonable measures and precautions to
protect and maintain the confidentiality, secrecy and value of all Company
Proprietary Assets (except Company Proprietary Assets whose value would be
unimpaired by disclosure). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
except as set forth in Part 2.9(c) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) all
current and former employees of the Company who are or were involved in, or who
have contributed to, the creation or development of any Company Proprietary
Asset have executed and delivered to the Company an agreement (containing no
exceptions to or exclusions from the scope of its coverage) that is
substantially identical to the form of nondisclosure agreement previously
delivered by the Company to Parent, and (ii) all current and former consultants
and independent contractors to the Company who are or were involved in, or who
have contributed to, the creation or development of any Company Proprietary
Asset have executed and delivered to the Company an agreement (containing no
exceptions to or exclusions from the scope of its coverage) that is identical
in all material respects to the form of consultant agreement previously
delivered to Parent. No current or former employee, officer, director,
shareholder, consultant or independent contractor has any right, claim or
interest, including, without limitation, any moral rights, in or with respect
to any Company Proprietary Asset.
(D) (i) All patents, trademarks, tradenames, service marks, maskwork
rights, copyrights and trade secrets held by the Company are valid, enforceable
and subsisting; (ii) none of the Company Proprietary Assets and no Proprietary
Asset that is currently being developed by the Company (either by itself or
with any other Person) infringes, misappropriates or conflicts with any
Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other Person; (iii) none of the products
that are or have been designed, created, developed, assembled, manufactured or
sold by the Company is infringing, misappropriating or making any unlawful or
unauthorized use of any Proprietary Asset owned or used by any other Person,
and none of such products has at any time infringed, misappropriated or made
any unlawful or unauthorized use of, and none of the Company or any of its
Representatives has received any notice or other communication (in writing or
otherwise) of any actual, alleged, possible or potential infringement,
misappropriation or unlawful or unauthorized use of, any Proprietary Asset
owned or used by any other Person; and (iv) to the best of the Company's
knowledge, no other Person is infringing, misappropriating or making any
unlawful or unauthorized use of, and no Proprietary Asset owned or used by any
other Person infringes or conflicts with, any Company Proprietary Asset.
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(E) The Company Proprietary Assets constitute all the Proprietary
Assets necessary to enable the Company to conduct its business in the manner in
which such business has been and is being conducted. Except as set forth in
Part 2.9(e) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company has not (i)
licensed any Company Proprietary Assets to any Person on an exclusive basis,
(ii) entered into any covenant not to compete or (iii) entered into any
Contract limiting its ability to exploit fully any Company Proprietary Assets
or to transact business in any market or geographical area or with any Person.
(F) Except as set forth in Part 2.9(f) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, each product, system, program, Proprietary Asset or other asset
designed, developed, manufactured, assembled, sold, installed, repaired,
licensed or otherwise made available by the Company to any Person conformed and
complied in all material respects with the terms and requirements of any
applicable warranty or other Contract and with all applicable Legal
Requirements. All installation services, programming services, repair services,
maintenance services, support services, training services, upgrade services and
other services that have been performed by the Company were performed properly
and in full conformity with the terms and requirements of all applicable
warranties and other Contracts and with all applicable Legal Requirements.
(G) Except as set forth in Part 2.9(g) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, since the Measurement Date (as defined in Section 2.12), no customer
or other Person has asserted or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened to
assert, any claim against the Company (i) under or based upon any warranty
provided by or on behalf of the Company, or (ii) under or based upon any other
warranty relating to any product, system, program, Proprietary Asset or other
asset designed, developed, manufactured, assembled, sold, installed, repaired,
licensed or otherwise made available by the Company or any services performed
by the Company.
(H) The technical documentation (the "TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION") of the
software products or programs currently being marketed by the Company and all
the software products or programs under development by the Company but not
currently marketed (collectively, the "SOFTWARE PROGRAMS") includes the source
code (with comments) for all Software Programs, as well as any pertinent
comments by or explanation that may be necessary to render such materials
understandable and usable to a reasonably skilled programmer trained in the
computer language in which the Software Program is written. The Technical
Documentation also includes any programs (including compilers), "workbenches,"
tools and higher level (or "proprietary") languages necessary for the
development, maintenance and implementation of the Software Programs.
2.10 CONTRACTS.
(A) Part 2.10 of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each
Company Contract that constitutes a "Material Contract." For purposes of this
Agreement, each of the following shall be deemed to constitute a "MATERIAL
CONTRACT":
(I) (A) any Contract or outstanding offer relating to the
employment of, or the performance of services by, any employee, (B) any
Contract pursuant to which the Company is required to make any severance,
termination or similar payment, bonus or relocation payment or any other
payment (other than payments in respect of salary) to any current or former
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employee or director of the Company and (C) any Contract or Plan (including,
without limitation, any stock option plan, stock appreciation plan or stock
purchase plan), any of the benefits of which may be increased, or the vesting
of benefits of which may be accelerated as a result of the Merger or otherwise;
(II) any Contract (A) relating to the acquisition, transfer,
development, sharing, license (to or by the Company), use or other exploitation
of any Proprietary Asset (except for any such Contract pursuant to which any
Proprietary Asset is licensed to the Company for internal use under any third
party software license generally available to the public); or (B) with respect
to the distribution or marketing of any products of the Company;
(III) any Contract that provides for indemnification of any
officer, director, employee or agent of the Company;
(IV) any Contract imposing any restriction on the right or
ability of the Company (A) to compete in any market or geographic area with any
other Person, (B) to acquire any product or other asset or any services from
any other Person, to sell any product or other asset to or perform any services
for any other Person or to transact business or deal in any other manner with
any other Person, or (C) to develop or distribute any technology;
(V) any Contract (A) relating to the acquisition, issuance,
voting, registration, sale or transfer of any securities (other than the
issuance of Company Common Stock upon the valid exercise of Company Options
outstanding as of the date of this Agreement), (B) providing any Person with
any preemptive right, right of participation, right of maintenance or any
similar right with respect to any securities, or (C) providing the Company with
any right of first refusal with respect to, or right to repurchase or redeem,
any securities;
(VI) any Contract requiring that the Company give any notice or
provide any information to any Person prior to accepting any Acquisition
Proposal;
(VII) any Contract that contemplates or involves payment or
delivery of cash or other consideration in an amount or having a value in
excess of $50,000 in the aggregate, or contemplates or involves the performance
of services having a value in excess of $50,000 in the aggregate;
(VIII) any Contract or Plan (including, without limitation, any
stock option plan, stock appreciation plan or stock purchase plan), any of the
benefits of which will be increased, or the vesting of benefits of which will
be accelerated, by the execution of this Agreement or the consummation of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the value of any of the
benefits of which will be calculated on the basis of any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement;
(IX) any joint marketing or development Contract currently in
force under which the Company has continuing obligations to jointly market any
product, technology or service, or any material Contract pursuant to which the
Company has continuing obligations to jointly develop any Proprietary Asset all
of the rights in respect which will not be owned by the Company;
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(X) any Contract currently in force to disclose or deliver to
any Person, or permit the disclosure or delivery to any escrow agent or other
Person, of the source code, or any portion or aspect of the source code, or any
proprietary information or algorithm contained in or relating to any source
code, of any Company Proprietary Asset; and
(XI) any Contract (not otherwise identified in clauses "(i)"
through "(x)" of this sentence) that is or would be material to the Company, to
the business, condition, capitalization or operations of the Company or to any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(B) Each Material Contract is valid and in full force and effect, and
is enforceable by the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) laws
of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of
debtors, and (ii) rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive
relief and other equitable remedies.
(C) Except as set forth in Part 2.10 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule: (i) the Company has not violated or breached, or committed any
default under, any Company Contract, and, to the best of the knowledge of the
Company, no other Person has violated or breached, or committed any default
under, any Company Contract; (ii) to the best of the knowledge of the Company,
no event has occurred, and no circumstance or condition exists, that (with or
without notice or lapse of time) will, or could reasonably be expected to, (A)
result in a violation or breach of any of the provisions of any Company
Contract, (B) give any Person the right to declare a default or exercise any
remedy under any Company Contract, (C) give any Person the right to a rebate,
chargeback, penalty or change in delivery schedule under any Company Contract,
(D) give any Person the right to accelerate the maturity or performance of any
Company Contract, or (E) give any Person the right to cancel, terminate or
modify any Company Contract; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of their
Representatives has received any notice or other communication regarding any
actual or possible violation or breach of, or default under, any Company
Contract.
(D) There is no Company Contract to which any Governmental Body is a
party or under which any Governmental Body has any rights or obligations, or
directly or indirectly benefiting any Governmental Body (including any
subcontract or other Contract between the Company and any contractor or
subcontractor to any Governmental Body).
(E) No Person is renegotiating, or has a right pursuant to the terms
of any Company Contract to renegotiate, any amount paid or payable to the
Company under any Material Contract or any other material term or provision of
any Material Contract.
2.11 LIABILITIES. The Company has no accrued, contingent or other
liabilities of any nature, either matured or unmatured, (whether or not
required to be reflected in financial statements in accordance with GAAP, and
whether due or to become due), except for: (a) liabilities identified as such
in the "liabilities" column of the Most Recent Balance Sheet; and (b) normal
and recurring liabilities that have been incurred by the Company since the date
of the Most Recent Balance Sheet in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practices.
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2.12 COMPLIANCE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENTS. The Company is, and has at all
times since May 31, 1996, the Company's inception (the "MEASUREMENT DATE"),
been in compliance with all applicable Legal Requirements, except where the
failure to comply with such Legal Requirements has not had and will not have a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Since the Measurement Date, the Company
has not received any notice or other communication from any Governmental Body
regarding any actual or possible violation of, or failure to comply with, any
Legal Requirement.
2.13 CERTAIN BUSINESS PRACTICES. Neither the Company nor any director,
officer, agent or employee of the Company has on behalf of or in the name of
KSP (i) used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or
other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any unlawful
payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign
or domestic political parties or campaigns or violated any provision of the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or (iii) made any other
unlawful payment.
2.14 GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATIONS. The Company holds all Governmental
Authorizations (including, without limitation, export licenses) necessary to
enable the Company to conduct its business in the manner in which such business
is currently being conducted. All such Governmental Authorizations are valid
and in full force and effect. The Company is, and at all times since the
Measurement Date has been, in substantial compliance with the terms and
requirements of such Governmental Authorizations. Since the Measurement Date,
the Company has not received any notice or other communication from any
Governmental Body regarding (a) any actual or possible violation of or failure
to comply with any term or requirement of any material Governmental
Authorization, or (b) any actual or possible revocation, withdrawal,
suspension, cancellation, termination or modification of any material
Governmental Authorization.
2.15 TAX MATTERS.
(A) All Tax Returns required to be filed by or on behalf of the
Company with any Governmental Body on or before the Closing Date, taking into
account any extensions that may have been granted with respect to such Tax
Returns before the Closing Date (the "COMPANY RETURNS") (i) have been or will
be filed on or before the applicable due date (including any extensions of such
due date if properly obtained), and (ii) have been, or will be when filed,
prepared in all material respects in compliance with all applicable Legal
Requirements. All amounts shown on the Company Returns to be due on or before
the Closing Date have been or will be paid on or before the Closing Date.
(B) The Company Financial Statements fully accrue all actual and
contingent liabilities for Taxes with respect to all periods through the dates
thereof in accordance with GAAP. The Company will establish, in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with its past practices, reserves adequate
for the payment of all Taxes for the period from the date of this Agreement
through the Closing Date.
(C) Since the Measurement Date, no Company Return has ever been
examined or audited by any Governmental Body. No extension or waiver of the
limitation period applicable
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to any of the Company Returns has been granted (by the Company or any other
Person), and no such extension or waiver has been requested from the Company.
(D) No claim or Legal Proceeding is pending or, to the best knowledge
of the Company, has been threatened against or with respect to the Company in
respect of any material Tax. There are no unsatisfied liabilities for material
Taxes with respect to any notice of deficiency or similar document received by
the Company with respect to any material Tax (other than liabilities for Taxes
asserted under any such notice of deficiency or similar document that are being
contested in good faith by the Company and with respect to which adequate
reserves for payment have been established). There are no liens for material
Taxes upon any of the assets of the Company except liens for current Taxes not
yet due and payable. The Company has not entered into or become bound by any
agreement or consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code. The Company has
not been, and will not be, required to include any adjustment in taxable income
for any tax period (or portion thereof) pursuant to Section 481 or 263A of the
Code or any comparable provision under state or foreign Tax laws as a result of
transactions or events occurring, or accounting methods employed, prior to the
Closing.
(E) There is no agreement, plan, arrangement or other Contract
covering any employee or independent contractor or former employee or
independent contractor of the Company that, considered individually or
considered collectively with any other such Contracts, will, or could
reasonably be expected to, give rise directly or indirectly to the payment of
any amount that would not be deductible pursuant to Section 280G or Section 162
of the Code. The Company is not, and never has been, a party to or bound by any
tax indemnity agreement, tax sharing agreement, tax allocation agreement or
similar Contract.
2.16 EMPLOYEE AND LABOR MATTERS; BENEFIT PLANS.
(A) Part 2.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each
salary, bonus, deferred compensation, incentive compensation, stock purchase,
stock option, severance pay, termination pay, hospitalization, medical, life or
other insurance, supplemental unemployment benefits, profit-sharing, pension or
retirement plan, program or agreement (collectively, the "PLANS") sponsored,
maintained, contributed to or required to be contributed to by the Company for
the benefit of any current or former employee of the Company.
(B) Except as set forth in Part 2.16(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company does not maintain, sponsor or contribute to, and the
Company has not at any time in the past maintained, sponsored or contributed
to, any employee pension benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(2) of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"), whether
or not excluded from coverage under specific Titles or Subtitles of ERISA) for
the benefit of employees or former employees of the Company (a "PENSION PLAN").
None of the Plans identified in Part 2.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
is subject to Title IV of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
(C) Except as set forth in Part 2.16(a) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company does not maintain, sponsor or contribute to any: (i)
employee welfare benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(1) of ERISA, whether or
not excluded from coverage under specific Titles or Subtitles of ERISA) for the
benefit of any employees or former employees of the Company (a
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"WELFARE PLAN"), or (ii) self-funded medical, dental or other similar Plan. None
of the Plans identified in Section 2.16(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is
a multi-employer plan (within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA).
(D) With respect to each Plan, the Company has delivered to Parent:
(i) an accurate and complete copy of such Plan (including all amendments
thereto); (ii) an accurate and complete copy of the annual report, if required
under ERISA, with respect to such Plan for the last two years; (iii) an
accurate and complete copy of the most recent summary plan description,
together with each Summary of Material Modifications, if required under ERISA,
with respect to such Plan, (iv) if such Plan is funded through a trust or any
third party funding vehicle, an accurate and complete copy of the trust or
other funding agreement (including all amendments thereto) and accurate and
complete copies the most recent financial statements thereof; (v) accurate and
complete copies of all Contracts relating to such Plan, including service
provider agreements, insurance contracts, minimum premium contracts, stop-loss
agreements, investment management agreements, subscription and participation
agreements and recordkeeping agreements; and (vi) an accurate and complete copy
of the most recent determination letter received from the Internal Revenue
Service with respect to such Plan (if such Plan is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code).
(E) The Company is not and never has been required to be treated as a
single employer with any other Person under Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or
Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code. The Company has never been a
member of an "affiliated service group" within the meaning of Section 414(m) of
the Code. The Company has never made a complete or partial withdrawal from a
multi-employer plan, as such term is defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA,
resulting in "withdrawal liability," as such term is defined in Section 4201 of
ERISA (without regard to subsequent reduction or waiver of such liability under
either Section 4207 or 4208 of ERISA).
(F) The Company has no plan or commitment to create any Welfare Plan
or any additional Pension Plan, or to modify or change any existing Pension
Plan (other than to comply with applicable law, including, without limitation,
amendments to the Code and ERISA made by the Uniformed Services Employment and
Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 ("USERRA"), the Uruguay Round Agreement Act
("GATT"), the Small Business Job Protection Act of 1996 ("SBJPA") and the
Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 ("TRA '97")) in a manner that would affect any
employee of the Company.
(G) No Plan provides death, medical or health benefits (whether or
not insured) with respect to any current or former employee of the Company
after any such employee's termination of service (other than (i) benefit
coverage mandated by applicable law, including coverage provided pursuant to
Section 4980B of the Code, (ii) deferred compensation benefits accrued as
liabilities on the Company Balance Sheet, and (iii) benefits the full cost of
which are borne by current or former employees of the Company (or the
employees' beneficiaries)).
(H) With respect to any Plan constituting a group health plan within
the meaning of Section 4980B(g)(2) of the Code, the provisions of Section 4980B
of the Code ("COBRA") have been complied with in all material respects. Part
2.16(h) of the Company Disclosure
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Schedule describes all obligations of the Company as of the date of this
Agreement under any of the provisions of COBRA.
(I) Each of the Plans has been operated and administered in all
material respects in accordance with applicable Legal Requirements, including
but not limited to ERISA and the Code.
(J) Each of the Plans intended to be qualified under Section 401(a)
of the Code has either received a favorable determination from the Internal
Revenue Service as to its qualified status under the Code (or relies on a
favorable opinion letter issued by the Internal Revenue Service with respect to
a standardized form of prototype plan adopted by the Company) or the requisite
period under applicable Treasury Regulations or Internal Revenue Service
pronouncements in which to apply for such determination letter and to make any
amendments necessary to obtain a favorable determination with respect to the
Plan has not expired, and the Company is not aware of any reason why any such
determination letter should be revoked.
(K) Neither the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement,
nor the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will result in any payment (including any
bonus, golden parachute or severance payment) to any current or former employee
or director of the Company (whether or not under any Plan), or materially
increase the benefits payable under any Plan, or result in any acceleration of
the time of payment or vesting of any such benefits (other than as required
under Section 411(d)(3) of the Code in connection with the termination or
partial termination of a Plan).
(L) Part 2.16(l) of the Company Disclosure Schedule contains a list
of all salaried employees of the Company as of the date of this Agreement, and
correctly reflects, in all material respects, their base salaries, their
targeted annual bonus amounts, their dates of employment and their positions.
The Company is not a party to any collective bargaining contract or other
Contract with a labor union involving any of its employees. All of the
employees of the Company are "at will" employees.
(M) Part 2.16(m) of the Company Disclosure Schedule identifies each
Employee who is not fully available to perform work because of disability or
other leave and sets forth the basis of such leave and the anticipated date of
return to full service.
(N) Each Plan complies in all material respects with all applicable
Legal Requirements. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with
all Contracts relating to employment, employment practices, wages, bonuses and
terms and conditions of employment, including employee compensation matters.
(O) The Company has good labor relations, and the Company does not
have any knowledge of any facts indicating that (i) the consummation of the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement will
have a material adverse effect on the labor relations of the Company, or (ii)
any of the employees of the Company intends to terminate his or her employment
with the Company.
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2.17 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS. The Company is in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable Environmental Laws, which compliance includes the
possession by the Company of all permits and other Governmental Authorizations
required under applicable Environmental Laws, and compliance with the terms and
conditions thereof. There is no pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Company and the Principal Shareholder, threatened civil or criminal litigation,
written notice of violation, formal administrative proceeding, or investigation
inquiry or information request by an Governmental Body, relating to any
Environmental Law involving the Company. The Company has not received any
notice or other communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a
Governmental Body, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the
Company is not in compliance with any Environmental Law, and, to the best of
the knowledge of the Company, there are no circumstances that may prevent or
interfere with the compliance by the Company with any Environmental Law in the
future. To the best knowledge of the Company, no current or prior owner of any
property leased or controlled by the Company has received any notice or other
communication (in writing or otherwise), whether from a Government Body,
citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that such current or prior
owner or the Company is not in compliance with any Environmental Law. To the
best knowledge of the Company, all property that is leased to, controlled by or
used by the Company, and all surface water, groundwater and soil associated
with or adjacent to such property is in clean and healthful condition and is
free of any material environmental contamination of any nature.
2.18 INSURANCE. The Company has delivered to Parent a copy of each
insurance policy and each self insurance program relating to the business,
assets or operations of the Company. Each such insurance policy is in full
force and effect. Since the Measurement Date, the Company has not received any
notice or other communication regarding any actual or possible (a) cancellation
or invalidation of any insurance policy, (b) refusal of any coverage or
rejection of any material claim under any insurance policy, or (c) material
adjustment in the amount of the premiums payable with respect to any insurance
policy. Except as set forth in Part 2.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
there is no pending claim (including any workers' compensation claim) under or
based upon any insurance policy of the Company; and no event has occurred, and
no condition or circumstance exists, that might (with or without notice or
lapse of time) directly or indirectly give rise to or serve as a basis for any
such claim.
2.19 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. Except as set forth in Part 2.19 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, (a) no Related Party has, and no Related Party has
at any time since the Measurement Date had, any direct or indirect interest in
any material asset used in or otherwise relating to the business of the
Company; (b) no Related Party is, or has at any time since the Measurement Date
been, indebted to the Company; (c) since the Measurement Date, no Related Party
has entered into, or has had any direct or indirect financial interest in, any
material Contract, transaction or business dealing involving the Company; (d)
no Related Party is competing, or has at any time since the Measurement Date
competed, directly or indirectly, with the Company; and (e) no Related Party
has any claim or right against the Company (other than rights under Company
Options and rights to receive compensation for services performed as an
employee of the Company).
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2.20 LEGAL PROCEEDINGS; ORDERS.
(A) Except as set forth in Part 2.20 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule, there is no pending Legal Proceeding, and no Person has threatened to
commence any Legal Proceeding: (i) that involves the Company or any of the
assets owned or used by the Company, including, without limitation, any Company
Proprietary Asset; or (ii) that challenges, or that may have the effect of
preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering with, the Merger
or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No event has
occurred, and no claim, dispute or other condition or circumstance exists, that
will, or that could reasonably be expected to, give rise to or serve as a basis
for the commencement of any such Legal Proceeding. No event has occurred, and
no claim, dispute or other condition or circumstance exists, that will, or that
could reasonably be expected to, cause or provide a basis for a director,
officer or other Representative of the Company to seek indemnification from, or
commence a Legal Proceeding against or involving, the Company.
(B) There is no order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree to which
the Company, or any of the assets owned or used by the Company, is subject. To
the best of the knowledge of the Company, no officer or other employee of the
Company is subject to any order, writ, injunction, judgment or decree that
prohibits such officer or other employee from engaging in or continuing any
conduct, activity or practice relating to the business of the Company or of the
Parent and its Subsidiaries.
2.21 AUTHORITY; INAPPLICABILITY OF ANTI-TAKEOVER STATUTES; BINDING NATURE
OF AGREEMENT. The Company has the absolute and unrestricted right, power and
authority to enter into and to perform its obligations under this Agreement.
The Board of Directors of the Company has (a) unanimously determined that the
Merger is advisable and fair and in the best interests of the Company and its
shareholders, (b) unanimously approved the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement by the Company and has unanimously approved the Merger, (c)
unanimously recommended the adoption and approval of this Agreement and the
Merger by the holders of Company Common Stock and directed that this Agreement
and the Merger be submitted for consideration by the Company's shareholders at
a shareholders' meeting duly called and held (the "COMPANY SHAREHOLDERS'
MEETING") or by action by written consent in lieu of the Company Shareholders'
Meeting, and (d) adopted a resolution having the effect of causing the Company
not to be subject to any state takeover law or similar Legal Requirement that
might otherwise apply to the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and
binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, subject to (i) laws of general application relating
to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors, and (ii) rules of law
governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
The Principal Shareholder and each other shareholder has delivered a valid
consent to the Merger and a valid waiver of dissenters' rights in connection
therewith.
2.22 NO EXISTING DISCUSSIONS. Neither the Company, the Principal
Shareholder nor any Representative of the Company, is engaged, directly or
indirectly, in any discussions or negotiations with any other Person relating
to any Acquisition Proposal other than the Merger.
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2.23 VOTE REQUIRED. The affirmative vote of the holders of a simple
majority of the shares of Company Common Stock outstanding on the record date
for the Company Shareholders' Meeting or, if applicable, a written consent of
all Company shareholders (the "REQUIRED COMPANY SHAREHOLDER VOTE") is the only
vote of the holders of any class or series of the Company's capital stock
necessary to adopt and approve this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.24 NON-CONTRAVENTION; CONSENTS. Except as set forth in Part 2.24 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, neither (i) the execution, delivery or performance
of this Agreement or any of the other agreements referred to in this Agreement,
nor (ii) the consummation of the Merger or any of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will directly or indirectly (with or without
notice or lapse of time):
(A) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of (i) any of
the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other charter or
organizational documents of the Company, or (ii) any resolution adopted by the
shareholders, the board of directors or any committee of the board of directors
of the Company;
(B) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of, or give
any Governmental Body or other Person the right to challenge the Merger or any
of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or to exercise any
remedy or obtain any relief under, any Legal Requirement or any order, writ,
injunction, judgment or decree to which the Company, or any of the assets owned
or used by the Company, is subject;
(C) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation of any of the
terms or requirements of, or give any Governmental Body the right to revoke,
withdraw, suspend, cancel, terminate or modify, any Governmental Authorization
that is held by the Company or that otherwise relates to the business of the
Company or to any of the assets owned or used by the Company;
(D) contravene, conflict with or result in a violation or breach of,
or result in a default under, any provision of any Company Contract, or give
any Person the right to (i) declare a default or exercise any remedy under any
such Company Contract, (ii) a rebate, chargeback, penalty or change in delivery
schedule under any such Company Contract, (iii) accelerate the maturity or
performance of any such Company Contract, or (iv) cancel, terminate or modify
any term of such Company Contract;
(E) result in the imposition or creation of any Encumbrance upon or
with respect to any asset owned or used by the Company (except for minor liens
that will not, in any case or in the aggregate, materially detract from the
value of the assets subject thereto or materially impair the operations of the
Company); or
(F) result in the disclosure or delivery to any Person (other than
Parent or Merger Sub) of the source code, or any portion or aspect of the
source code, or any proprietary information or algorithm contained in or
relating to any source code, of any material Company Proprietary Asset, or the
transfer of any material asset of the Company to any Person (other than Parent
or Merger Sub).
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Except as may be required by the DGCL, the Company was not, is not and
will not be required to make any filing with or give any notice to, or to
obtain any Consent from, any Person in connection with (x) the execution,
delivery or performance of this Agreement or any of the other agreements
referred to in this Agreement, or (y) the consummation of the Merger or any of
the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
2.25 BROKERS. No broker, finder or investment banker is entitled to any
brokerage, finder's or other fee or commission in connection with the Merger or
any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company.
2.26 FULL DISCLOSURE. This Agreement (including the Company Disclosure
Schedule) does not, and the certificate referred to in Section 6.5(g) will not,
(i) contain any representation, warranty or information that is false or
misleading with respect to any material fact, or (ii) omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the representations, warranties and
information contained and to be contained herein and therein (in the light of
the circumstances under which such representations, warranties and information
were or will be made or provided) not false or misleading. The Company and the
Principal Shareholder have disclosed to the Parent all material information
relating to the business of the Company and the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
2.27 CUSTOMS. The Company has acted with reasonable care to properly value
and classify, in accordance with applicable tariff laws, rules and regulations,
all goods that the Company imports into the United States or any other country
(the "IMPORTED GOODS"). There are currently no claims for material amounts
pending against the Company by the U.S. Customs Service (or other foreign
customs authorities) relating to the valuation, classification or marking of
the Imported Goods. There have not been any material penalties assessed or
claimed by the U.S. Customs Service or foreign customs authorities with respect
to the Imported Goods. The Company has paid to the U.S. Customs Service and
relevant foreign customs authorities, with such exceptions as are not material,
all duties, tariffs and excise taxes assessed, due and payable with such
exceptions as would not result, in any individual case or series of related
cases in a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
2.28 LEGENDS. All technical data, computer software and Company
Proprietary Assets delivered or otherwise provided or made available by or on
behalf of the Company to Governmental Bodies in connection with Government
Contracts have been marked with all markings and legends (including "restricted
rights" legends and "government purpose license rights" legends) appropriate
(under the Federal Acquisition Regulations, under other applicable Legal
Requirements or otherwise) to ensure that no Governmental Body or other Person
is able to acquire any unlimited rights with respect to any of such technical
data, computer software or Company Proprietary Assets and to ensure that the
Company has not lost or relinquished and will not lose or relinquish any
material rights with respect thereto.
2.29 BOOKS AND RECORDS. The minute books and other similar records of the
Company contain true and complete records of all actions taken at any meetings
of the Company's shareholders, Board of Directors or any committee thereof and
of all written consents executed in lieu of the holding of any such meeting.
The books and records of the Company accurately
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reflect the assets, liabilities, business, financial condition and results of
operations of the Company and have been maintained in accordance with good
business and bookkeeping practices.
2.30 BANKING FACILITIES. Part 2.30 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
identifies:
(A) Each bank, savings and loan or similar financial institution in
which the Company has an account or safety deposit box and the numbers of the
accounts or safety deposit boxes maintained by the Company at such bank,
savings and loan or similar financial institution; and
(B) The names of all persons authorized to draw on each such account
or to have access to any such safety deposit box facility, together with a
description of the authority (and conditions thereof, if any) or each such
person with respect thereto.
3. ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER
The Principal Shareholder represents and warrants to Parent and Merger Sub
as follows (such representations and warranties do not lessen or obviate the
representations and warranties of the Company and the Principal Shareholder set
forth in Section 2 of this Agreement):
3.1 REQUISITE POWER AND AUTHORITY. All action on the part of the Principal
Shareholder required for the lawful execution and delivery of this Agreement
has been or will be taken prior to the Closing. Upon execution and delivery,
this Agreement will be the valid and binding obligation of the Principal
Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) laws of
general application relating to the bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of
debtors, and (ii) rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive
relief and other equitable remedies.
3.2 TRANSFER RESTRICTIONS. The Principal Shareholder acknowledges and
agrees that the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued to him in the Merger
(the "SHARES") have not been registered under the Securities Act and are
subject to restrictions on transfer as follows:
(A) The Principal Shareholder agrees not to make any disposition of
all or any portion of the Shares received by it unless and until:
(I) There is then 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
(II) The proposed disposition is made pursuant to an exemption
from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws
and (A) if such disposition occurs prior to the first anniversary of the
Closing Date the transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the terms of
Section 3.2 of this Agreement, (B) the Principal Shareholder shall have
notified Parent of the proposed disposition and shall have furnished Parent
with a detailed statement of the circumstances surrounding the proposed
disposition, and (C) if reasonably requested by Parent, the Principal
Shareholder shall have furnished Parent with an opinion of counsel, reasonably
satisfactory to Parent, that such disposition will not require
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registration of such shares under the Securities Act. It is agreed that Parent
will not require opinions of counsel for transactions made pursuant to Rule 144
except in unusual circumstances.
(III) Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs (i) and (ii)
above, no such registration statement or opinion of counsel shall be necessary
for a transfer by any Principal Shareholder that is to a family member or trust
for the benefit of the Principal Shareholder; provided that, the transferee
will be subject to the terms of Section 3.2 of this Agreement to the same
extent as if such transferee were the original party hereunder.
(B) Each certificate representing Parent Common Stock issued in
accordance with this Agreement shall (unless otherwise permitted by the
provisions of the Agreement) be stamped or otherwise imprinted with a legend
substantially similar to the following (in addition to any legend required
under applicable state securities laws or as provided elsewhere in this
Agreement):
THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "ACT") AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR
OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS REGISTERED
OR AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION IS AVAILABLE.
(C) Parent shall be obligated to reissue promptly unlegended
certificates at the request of the Principal Shareholder if it shall have
obtained an opinion of counsel (which counsel may be counsel to Parent)
reasonably acceptable to Parent to the effect that the securities proposed to
be disposed of may lawfully be so disposed of without registration,
qualification or legend.
(D) The Principal Shareholder has received and reviewed the Parent
SEC Documents.
3.3 RELIANCE UPON REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS. The Principal
Shareholder understands that the representations, warranties and covenants of
the Principal Shareholder set forth herein will be relied upon by Parent, the
Company and their respective counsel and accounting firms.
3.4 ENTITIES CONTROLLED BY THE PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER. A true and complete
list of all Entities beneficially owned or Controlled by the Principal
Shareholder, together with a description of the business activities of such
Entity, the type of entity and jurisdiction of incorporation of such Entity, is
set forth on Part 3.4 of the Company Disclosure Schedule.
4. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
Parent and Merger Sub jointly and severally represent and warrant to the
Company and the Principal Shareholder as follows:
4.1 ORGANIZATION, STANDING AND POWER. Each of Parent and Merger Sub is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of
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Delaware. Each of Parent and Merger Sub has the corporate power to own its
properties and to carry on its business as now being conducted and is duly
qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the failure to be so qualified would have a material adverse effect on the
ability of Parent and Merger Sub to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby.
4.2 SEC FILINGS; FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
(A) Parent has made available to the Company accurate and complete
copies (excluding copies of exhibits) of each report, registration statement
(on a form other than Form S-8) and definitive proxy statement filed by Parent
with the SEC between January 1, 1999 and the date of this Agreement (the
"PARENT SEC DOCUMENTS"). As of the time it was filed with the SEC (or, if
amended or superseded by a filing prior to the date of this Agreement, then on
the date of such filing): (i) each of the Parent SEC Documents complied in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act (as the case may be); and (ii) none of the Parent SEC Documents
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
(B) The consolidated financial statements contained in the Parent SEC
Documents: (i) complied as to form in all material respects with the published
rules and regulations of the SEC applicable thereto; (ii) were prepared in
accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
covered, except as may be indicated in the notes to such financial statements
and (in the case of unaudited statements) as permitted by Form 10-Q of the SEC,
and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain footnotes and
are subject to year-end audit adjustments; and (iii) fairly present in all
material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and its
subsidiaries as of the respective dates thereof and the consolidated results of
operations of Parent and its subsidiaries for the periods covered thereby.
4.3 ABSENCE OF CERTAIN CHANGES OR EVENTS. Between January 1, 2000 and the
date hereof, except as disclosed in the Parent SEC Documents, there has not
been any event that has had or could reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect on Parent.
4.4 AUTHORITY; BINDING NATURE OF AGREEMENT. Parent and Merger Sub have the
absolute and unrestricted right, power and authority to perform their
obligations under this Agreement, and the execution, delivery and performance
by Parent and Merger Sub of this Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary action on the part of Parent and Merger Sub and their respective
boards of directors. This Agreement constitutes the legal, valid and binding
obligation of Parent and Merger Sub, enforceable against them in accordance
with its terms, subject to (i) laws of general application relating to
bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors, and (ii) rules of law
governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
4.5 VALID ISSUANCE. The Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger
will, when issued in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement, be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
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4.6 NON-CONTRAVENTION; CONSENTS. Neither (i) Parent or Merger Sub's
execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or any of the other
agreements contemplated by this Agreement nor (ii) the consummation of the
Merger will (with or without the lapse of time) (a) conflict with or result in
any breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of
Parent or the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Merger Sub, or (b)
result in a default by Parent or Merger Sub under any Contract to which either
Parent or Merger Sub is a party, except for any default that has not had and
will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent, or (c) result in a violation
by Parent or Merger Sub of any laws, order, writ, injunction, judgment or
decree to which Parent or Merger Sub is subject, except for any violation that
has not had and will not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. To Parent's
Knowledge, except as may be required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act,
state securities or "blue sky" laws, the DGCL and the HSR Act, Parent is not
and will not be required to make any filing with or give any notice to, or to
obtain any Consent from, any Person in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, or the consummation of the Merger.
4.7 NO VOTE REQUIRED. No vote of Parent's stockholders is necessary to
adopt and approve this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, or to issue the Parent Common Stock to be
issued in the Merger.
4.8 OWNERSHIP OF MERGER SUB; NO PRIOR ACTIVITIES. Merger Sub is a newly
formed corporation that has conducted no business activity and was formed
solely for the purpose of engaging in the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement. As of the date hereof and the Effective Time, except for obligations
or liabilities incurred in connection with its incorporation or organization
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and except for this
Agreement, Merger Sub has not and will not have incurred, directly or
indirectly, through any subsidiary or affiliate, any obligations or liabilities
or engaged in any business activities of any type or kind whatsoever or entered
into any agreements or arrangements with any Person. Parent has no present plan
or intention to cause the Company to sell or otherwise dispose of any of its
assets or any assets of Merger Sub acquired in the Merger, except for
dispositions in the ordinary course of business or transfers described in
Section 368(a)(2)(C) of the Code. Prior to the Merger, Parent will be in
control of Merger Sub within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code. Merger
Sub has no plan or intention to issue additional shares of its stock that would
result in Parent losing control of Merger Sub within the meaning of Section
368(c) of the Code. Parent has no plan or intention to liquidate Merger Sub; to
merge Merger Sub with or into another corporation or other entity; or to sell
or otherwise dispose of stock of Merger Sub except for transfers of stock
permitted by Treas. Reg. ss.1.368-2(k). Following the Merger, Company will
continue its historic business or use a significant portion of its historic
business assets in a business. Parent is not an investment company as defined
in Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.
5. CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
During the period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the
earlier of the termination of this Agreement and the Effective Time (except as
otherwise provided herein), the parties hereto agree (except to the extent that
the other parties hereto shall otherwise consent in writing) that:
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5.1 PARENT IN CONTROL OF OPERATIONS. It is the intention of the parties
that, from and after the date of this Agreement and until this Agreement is
terminated, Parent shall be in control of the Company's operations in all
material respects. The Company shall carry on its business in the usual,
regular and ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore
conducted and, to the extent consistent with such business, use all
commercially reasonable efforts consistent with past practice and policies to
preserve intact its present business organization, keep available the services
of its present officers and key employees and preserve its relationships with
key customers, suppliers, distributors, licensors, licensees and others having
business dealings with it so that its goodwill and ongoing businesses shall be
unimpaired at the Effective Time. The Company shall promptly notify Parent of
any event or occurrence not in the ordinary course of business of the Company,
and any event of which the Company is aware which reasonably would be expected
to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company (even if the likelihood of
such event has previously been disclosed in the Company Disclosure Schedule).
Except as expressly contemplated by this Agreement or disclosed in the Company
Disclosure Schedule, and in furtherance of the foregoing, the Company shall
not, without the prior written consent of Parent:
(A) except pursuant to mandatory terms under options outstanding on
the date hereof, accelerate, amend or change the period of exercisability of
such options, or authorize cash payments in exchange for any such options or
warrants;
(B) enter into any commitment or transaction not in the ordinary
course of business to be performed over a period longer than six months in
duration, or to make any capital expenditure in excess of $1,000;
(C) grant any severance or termination pay to any director, officer,
employee or consultant;
(D) transfer to any person or entity any rights to any of the
Company's Proprietary Assets;
(E) enter into or amend any agreements pursuant to which any other
party is granted manufacturing, marketing, distribution or other similar rights
of any type or scope with respect to any products of the Company unless such
agreement is entered into in the ordinary course of business and at least two
(2) days prior written notice has been delivered to Parent;
(F) violate, amend or otherwise modify the terms of any of the
Company's Material Contracts or Governmental Authorizations;
(G) commence a lawsuit other than for the routine collection of bills
or for breach of this Agreement;
(H) declare or pay any dividends on or make any other distributions
(whether in cash, stock or property) in respect of any of its capital stock, or
split, combine or reclassify any of its capital stock or issue or authorize the
issuance of any other securities in respect of, in lieu of or in substitution
for any shares of its capital stock, or repurchase or otherwise acquire,
directly or indirectly, any shares of its capital stock;
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(I) issue, deliver or sell, authorize or propose the issuance,
delivery or sale of, or purchase or propose the purchase of, any shares of its
capital stock or securities convertible into, or subscriptions, rights,
warrants or options to acquire, or other agreements or commitments of any
character obligating the Company to issue any such shares or other convertible
securities, other than upon the exercise of employee stock options outstanding
on the date hereof;
(J) cause or permit any amendments to its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws;
(K) acquire or agree to acquire by merging or consolidating with, or
by purchasing a substantial portion of the assets of, or by any other manner,
any business or any corporation, partnership, association or other business
organization or division thereof;
(L) sell, lease, license or otherwise dispose of any of the Company's
properties or assets unless such sale, lease, license or disposition is in the
ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice, and at least two
(2) days prior written notice has been delivered to Parent;
(M) incur any indebtedness for borrowed money or guarantee any such
indebtedness or issue or sell any debt securities or guarantee any debt
securities of others;
(N) adopt or amend any employee benefit plans, programs, policies or
other arrangements, or enter into any employment contract, pay any special
bonus or special remuneration to any director, employee or consultant, or
increase the salaries or wage rates of its employees;
(O) revalue any of its assets, including without limitation, writing
down the value of inventory or writing off notes or accounts receivable other
than in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice;
(P) pay, discharge or satisfy in an amount in excess of $10,000 in
any one case any claim, liability or obligation (absolute, accrued, asserted or
unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than (i) the payment, discharge or
satisfaction of obligations in the ordinary course of business and (ii) a one
time payment in an amount of $111,000 to the Principal Shareholder and the
discharge of the obligations of the Principal Shareholder set forth in Part
2.8(b)(1) of the Company Disclosure Schedule as consideration for the waiver
and release granted by the Principal Shareholder pursuant to Section 6.12;
(Q) make or change any tax election, adopt or change any tax
accounting method, or enter into any closing agreement, settle any tax claim or
assessment, or consent to any extension or waiver of the limitation period
applicable to any tax claim or assessment, except that the Company may obtain
an extension of time to file its 1999 tax returns;
(R) engage in any activities or transactions that are outside the
ordinary course of its business;
(S) waive or commit to waive any rights with a value in excess of
$1,000;
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(T) cancel, materially amend or renew any insurance policy other than
in the ordinary course of business;
(U) alter, or enter into any commitment to alter, its interest in any
corporation, association, joint venture, partnership or business entity in
which the Company directly or indirectly holds any interest on the date hereof;
or
(V) take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any of the
actions described in Sections 5.1(a) through (u) above.
5.2 REGISTRATION STATEMENT.
(A) As soon as possible after the Closing Date, but no later than May
31, 2000, Parent shall file with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-3
(each, a "REGISTRATION Statement") registering the resale of 271,186 shares of
Parent Common Stock issued (or issuable) to the Company shareholders at the
Closing. Parent shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause such
Registration Statement to become effective as soon as practicable thereafter.
The Principal Shareholder agrees to provide to Parent all information
reasonably required by Parent, and otherwise to cooperate in good faith with
Parent, in the preparation of such Registration Statement. Parent will use
commercially reasonable efforts to amend the Registration Statement to cover
the resale thereunder of (i) an additional 271,186 shares on or prior to August
15, 2000, (ii) the balance of the shares of Parent Common Stock issued (or
issuable) to the Company Shareholders at the Closing less any Escrow Shares
then held in the Escrow Fund on or prior to December 31, 2000 and (iii) upon
the release of any Escrow Shares still held in the Escrow Fund as of December
31, 2000, as soon as practicable after such release. Promptly after the release
of shares of Parent Common Stock from the escrow, Parent shall use all
commercially reasonable efforts to amend the Registration Statement to cover
the resale of such shares.
(B) Parent shall use its reasonable efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to remain effective until the earliest of (i) the date upon which all
shares covered by such Registration Statement have been sold to the public
pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) one year after the effective date
of the final amendment to the Registration Statement described in paragraph (a)
above and (iii) the date on which all of the shares covered by such
Registration Statement may be sold in any 3-month period pursuant to Rule 144.
(C) Parent shall not be obligated to effect a registration pursuant
to Section 5.2(a) and may suspend the Company shareholders' rights to make
sales pursuant to an effective registration pursuant to Section 5.2(a), at any
time when Parent, in the good faith judgment of its Board of Directors,
reasonably believes that the filing thereof at the time requested, or the
offering of securities pursuant thereto, would (i) materially and adversely
affect a pending or proposed acquisition, merger, recapitalization,
consolidation, reorganization or similar transaction, or negotiations,
discussions or pending proposals related thereto, or (ii) be seriously
detrimental to Parent and its shareholders, in which event (under clause (i) or
(ii) above) Parent's sole relief from its registration obligations is the right
to defer filing of such Registration Statement (or to suspend the Company
shareholder's rights to make sales pursuant to such
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Registration Statement if it is already effective) for a period of not more than
60 days; provided, however, that Parent shall not utilize the right described in
this Section 5.2(c) more than twice.
(D) The Principal Shareholder and each other shareholder agrees that,
for so long as he or she is an employee of the Company and, with respect to the
Principal Shareholder, for a period of one year after he is no longer an
employee of the Company, if so requested by Parent and the underwriter's
representative (if any) and if so requested by Parent and the underwriter's
representative from all employees of Parent, the Principal Shareholder and such
other shareholders shall not sell or otherwise transfer any registrable
securities or other securities of Parent (other than those then eligible for
re-sale under a Registration Statement) during the one hundred eighty (180) day
period following the effective date of a registration statement of the Parent
filed under the Securities Act for an underwritten offering by the Parent of
Parent Common Stock.
5.3 EXCLUSIVITY; ACQUISITION PROPOSALS. Unless and until this Agreement
shall have been terminated by either party pursuant to Section 9.1 hereof, the
Company shall not, directly or indirectly, through any officer, director, agent
or otherwise, (a) solicit, initiate or encourage submission of proposals or
offers from any person relating to (i) any acquisition or purchase of all or
substantially all of the assets of, or any equity interest in, the Company or
any merger, consolidation, business combination or similar transaction with the
Company, or (ii) any other material transaction incompatible with the Merger
(including, without limitation, a joint venture or other similar transaction),
or (b) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding, furnish to any
other person any confidential information with respect to, or otherwise
cooperate in any way with, or participate in, facilitate or encourage, any
effort or attempt by any other person to do or seek any of the foregoing.
5.4 EMPLOYEE MATTERS. Parent shall offer to all employees of the Company
as of the Closing Date who are also employees of the Company immediately prior
to the Effective Time employment by the Parent after the Effective Time, and
each such offer shall (i) include a compensation package in accordance with
Parent's compensation policy, (ii) to the extent permitted by Parent's employee
benefit programs, enable such eligible employee to participate in Parent's
employee benefit programs and other individual benefits as outlined in each
employee's individual offer, such as life insurance, Parent's 401(k) plan and
Parent's Employee Stock Purchase Plan ("PARENT PLANS"), and (iii) be in the
form of an individual offer letter prepared in accordance with Parent's
customary form (such letter to confirm such employee's initial position,
compensation, location and reporting relationship). Parent agrees that for
purposes of all Parent Plans (including all policies and employee fringe
benefit programs) under which an employee's benefit depends in whole or in part
on length of service, credit will be given to such employee for service
previously credited with the Company prior to the Effective Time; provided,
that such crediting of services does not result in duplication of benefits.
Such persons, if they accept such employment, shall be "at will" employees and
may be terminated by Parent for any reason or for no reason. The Company
represents that it has taken all steps necessary to terminate its 401(k) plan
prior to the Effective Time.
5.5 CONSENTS. Each of Parent and the Company shall promptly apply for or
otherwise seek, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain (and the
Company will assist Parent and Merger Sub in obtaining), all consents and
approvals required to be obtained by it for the
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consummation of the Merger. The Company shall use its best efforts to obtain
approval of its shareholders of the Merger and to obtain all necessary consents,
waivers and approvals under any of the Company's Contracts and Permits in
connection with the Merger, except such consents and approvals as Parent and the
Company mutually agree the Company shall not seek to obtain.
5.6 LEGAL CONDITIONS TO THE MERGER. The Company shall take all reasonable
actions (a) to defend all lawsuits or other legal proceedings challenging this
Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, (b) to
lift or rescind any injunction or restraining order or other order adversely
affecting the ability of the parties to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby, (c) to effect all necessary registrations and filings and
submissions of information requested by any governmental entity, and (d) to
fulfill all conditions to this Agreement.
5.7 NASDAQ LISTING. Parent shall use its best efforts to have the shares
of Parent Common Stock issuable to the shareholders of the Company pursuant to
the Agreement and such other shares required to be reserved for issuance in
connection with the Merger authorized for listing on Nasdaq upon official
notice of issuance.
5.8 PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENTS. Each party will consult in advance with the
other concerning the timing and content of any announcements, press releases
and public statements concerning the Merger and will not make any such
announcement, release or statement without the other's prior written consent;
provided, however, that Parent may make any public statement concerning the
Merger without the Company's prior written consent if, in the opinion of
counsel for Parent, such statement or announcement is required to comply with
applicable law and Parent has provided to the Company a copy of any such
written statement or announcement that it proposes to make before making such
announcement and reasonably considers requests for changes made by the Company.
6. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF PARENT AND MERGER SUB
The obligations of Parent and Merger Sub to effect the Merger and
otherwise consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are
subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Parent), at or prior to the Closing,
of each of the following conditions:
6.1 ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS. Each of the representations and
warranties made by the Company and the Principal Shareholder in this Agreement,
the Escrow Agreement, the Investment Representation Letter and the Principal
Shareholder's Closing Certificate shall be accurate in all material respects as
of the Closing Date as if made at the Closing Date (without giving effect to
any "Material Adverse Effect" or other materiality qualifications, or any
similar qualifications, contained or incorporated directly or indirectly in
such representations and warranties).
6.2 PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS. All of the covenants and obligations that
the Company and the Principal Shareholder are required to comply with or to
perform at or prior to the Closing shall have been complied with and performed
in all material respects.
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6.3 SHAREHOLDER APPROVAL. The principal terms of the Merger shall have
been duly approved by the affirmative vote of 100% of the shares of Company
Common Stock outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time.
6.4 CONSENTS. All Consents required to be obtained in connection with the
Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including
those identified in Part 2.24 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, shall have
been obtained and shall be in full force and effect.
6.5 AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS. Parent (and, where applicable, the Company)
shall have received the following agreements and documents, each of which shall
be in full force and effect:
(A) letters setting forth offers of employment with the Company,
executed by Parent and Robert van der Hooning and each of the employees set
forth on Schedule 6.5(a);
(B) a Release, Consent and Appointment of Shareholder Representative
in the form of Exhibit D, executed by each of the Company's shareholders;
(C) Investment Representation Letters in the form of Exhibit E,
executed by each of the Company's shareholders;
(D) Nondisclosure and Noncompetition agreements, executed by all
current employees of the Company, and by all current consultants and
independent contractors to the Company, in the form of Exhibit F;
(E) a legal opinion of Hopkins & Sutter, dated as of the Closing
Date, in form and substance satisfactory to Parent;
(F) a certificate executed by the Principal Shareholder containing
the representation and warranty of the Principal Shareholder that each of the
conditions set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4, and to the best of his
Knowledge, Sections 6.8 and 6.9 have been duly satisfied (the "PRINCIPAL
SHAREHOLDER'S CLOSING CERTIFICATE");
(G) written resignations of all directors of the Company, effective
as of the Effective Time;
(H) written resignations of the employees set forth on Schedule
6.8(h) together with severance agreements in form and substance satisfactory to
Parent and duly executed by each such employee;
(I) a copy, duly and validly executed by the Company and all
applicable divisions of Chase Manhattan Bank ("CHASE"), of a services agreement
that supercedes all prior services agreements between the Company and Chase,
and that is otherwise in form and substance (including, without limitation, the
scope of required services, the payment schedule and the revenue recognition
therefore) satisfactory to Parent (the "CHASE CONTRACT");
(J) an Escrow Agreement in the form of Exhibit G, executed by the
parties thereto;
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(K) written consent of the shareholders of the Company approving the
principal terms of the Merger and other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and other agreements prepared in connection with the Merger,
certified by the Secretary of the Company;
(L) a letter from the Principal Shareholder, dated as of the Closing
Date and addressed to Parent and Merger Sub, in form and substance satisfactory
to Parent and Merger Sub, confirming that the Principal Shareholder does not
meet the "size of person" threshold required under Section 7a(a)(2)(B) of the
Clayton Act;
(M) a certificate of the Secretary of the State of Delaware as of the
Closing Date as to the legal existence and good standing of the Company in
Delaware as of the Closing Date; and
(N) a certificate of the treasurer of the Company certifying as to
the payment of Taxes in Delaware.
6.6 FIRPTA COMPLIANCE. The Company shall have delivered to Parent a
statement (in such form as may be reasonably requested by counsel to Parent)
conforming to the requirements of Section 1.897 - 2(h)(1)(i) of the United
States Treasury Regulations, and (b) the Company shall have delivered to the
Internal Revenue Service the notification required under Section 1.897 -
2(h)(2) of the United States Treasury Regulations.
6.7 LISTING. Arrangements satisfactory to Parent shall have been made for
the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be authorized
for listing on Nasdaq, subject to notice of issuance.
6.8 NO RESTRAINTS. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order preventing the consummation of the Merger
shall have been issued by any court of competent jurisdiction and remain in
effect, no action for any such order or injunction shall have been commenced
and not decided by the applicable court or dismissed, no action for damages
against Parent, the Company or the Surviving Corporation with respect to the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been commenced and not
dismissed, and there shall not be any Legal Requirement enacted or deemed
applicable to the Merger that makes consummation of the Merger illegal.
6.9 NO LEGAL PROCEEDINGS. No Person shall have commenced or threatened to
commence any Legal Proceeding challenging or seeking the recovery of a material
amount of damages in connection with the Merger or seeking to prohibit or limit
the exercise by Parent of any material right pertaining to its ownership of
stock of the Surviving Corporation.
6.10 EMPLOYEES. Each of Robert van der Hooning and the employees listed on
Schedule 6.5 shall have agreed to become employees of Parent on terms
acceptable to Parent.
6.11 REGULATORY APPROVALS. The Company and Parent shall have filed all
notices, reports and other documents required to be filed with any Governmental
Body with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and submitted promptly any additional information requested by any
such Governmental Body. Each of the Company and
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Parent shall (1) have given the other party prompt notice of the commencement of
any Legal Proceeding by or before any Governmental Body with respect to the
Merger or any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (2) kept
the other party informed as to the status of any such Legal Proceeding, and (3)
promptly informed the other party of any communication to or from the Federal
Trade Commission, the Department of Justice or any other Governmental Body
regarding the Merger.
6.12 WAIVER AND RELEASE BY PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER. The Principal
Shareholder shall have (i) waived all obligations of the Company in respect of
the indebtedness of the Company owed to the Principal Shareholder or such other
Related Party as set forth in Part 2.19 of the Company Disclosure Schedule and
(ii) transferred to the Company and released all of his rights, title to and
interest in the assets described in Part 2.7 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
pursuant to an agreement satisfactory to Parent.
7. REGULATORY APPROVALS. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO OBLIGATIONS OF THE COMPANY
The obligations of the Company to effect the Merger and otherwise
consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are subject to the
satisfaction (or waiver by the Company), at or prior to the Closing, of the
following conditions:
7.1 ACCURACY OF REPRESENTATIONS. Each of the representations and
warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub in this Agreement shall have been
accurate in all material respects as of the Closing Date as if made at the
Closing Date (without giving effect to any materiality or similar
qualifications contained in such representations and warranties).
7.2 PERFORMANCE OF COVENANTS. All of the covenants and obligations that
Parent and Merger Sub are required to comply with or to perform at or prior to
the Closing shall have been complied with and performed in all material
respects.
7.3 DOCUMENTS. The Company shall have received the following documents:
(A) a legal opinion of Bingham Dana LLP, dated as of the Closing
Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company; and
(B) certificates executed by Parent and Merger Sub containing the
representation and warranty of each such party that the conditions set forth in
Sections 7.1 and 7.2 and to the best of their Knowledge, Section 7.4 have been
duly satisfied (the "PARENT'S CLOSING CERTIFIcATE").
7.4 LISTING. Arrangements satisfactory to the Company shall have been made
for the shares of Parent Common Stock to be issued in the Merger to be
authorized for listing on Nasdaq, subject to notice of issuance.
7.5 NO RESTRAINTS. No temporary restraining order, preliminary or
permanent injunction or other order preventing the consummation of the Merger
shall have been issued by any court of competent jurisdiction and remain in
effect, and there shall not be any Legal Requirement enacted or deemed
applicable to the Merger that makes consummation of the Merger illegal.
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7.6 REGULATORY APPROVALS. The Company and Parent shall have filed all
notices, reports and other documents required to be filed with any Governmental
Body with respect to the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, and submitted promptly any additional information requested by any
such Governmental Body. Each of the Company and Parent shall (1) have given the
other party prompt notice of the commencement of any Legal Proceeding by or
before any Governmental Body with respect to the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (2) kept the other party informed
as to the status of any such Legal Proceeding, and (3) promptly informed the
other party of any communication to or from the Federal Trade Commission, the
Department of Justice or any other Governmental Body regarding the Merger.
8. INDEMNIFICATION, ETC.
8.1 SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS, ETC.
(A) The representations and warranties made by the Company and the
Principal Shareholder in Sections 2 and 3 shall survive the Closing and shall
expire at 5:00 p.m. Eastern time on the Release Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if, at any time prior to such Release Date any Indemnitee (acting in
good faith) delivers to the Shareholder Representative (as defined below) a
written notice alleging the existence of an inaccuracy in or a breach of any of
the representations and warranties made by the Company or the Principal
Shareholder (and setting forth in reasonable detail the basis for such
Indemnitee's belief that such an inaccuracy or breach may exist) and asserting
a claim for recovery under Section 8.2 based on such alleged inaccuracy or
breach, then the claim asserted in such notice shall survive such Release Date,
until such time as such claim is fully and finally resolved. All
representations and warranties made by Parent and Merger Sub shall terminate
and expire as of the Effective Time, and any liability of Parent or Merger Sub
with respect to such representations and warranties shall thereupon cease.
(B) The representations, warranties, covenants and obligations of the
Company and the Principal Shareholder, and the rights and remedies that may be
exercised by the Indemnitees, shall not be limited or otherwise affected by or
as a result of any information furnished to, or any investigation made by or
Knowledge of, any of the Indemnitees or any of their Representatives.
(C) For purposes of this Agreement, each statement or other item of
information set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule or in any update to
the Company Disclosure Schedule shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty, or a qualification of a representation and warranty, made by the
Company or the Principal Shareholder, as the case may be, in this Agreement.
8.2 INDEMNIFICATION BY PRINCIPAL SHAREHOLDER.
(A) From and after the Effective Time (but subject to Section
8.1(a)), the Principal Shareholder (on his own behalf and on behalf of his
heirs, successors and assigns, the "INDEMNITOR") shall hold harmless and
indemnify each of the Indemnitees from and against, and shall compensate and
reimburse each of the Indemnitees for, any Damages that are directly or
indirectly suffered or incurred by any of the Indemnitees or to which any of
the Indemnitees may
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otherwise become subject (regardless of whether or not such Damages relate to
any third-party claim) and that arise from or as a result of, or are directly or
indirectly connected with: (i) any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation
or warranty set forth in Section 2 or in the Principal Shareholder's Closing
Certificate (without giving effect, in any such case, to any "Material Adverse
Effect" or other materiality qualification or any similar qualification
contained or incorporated directly or indirectly in such representation or
warranty, but giving effect to any update to the Company Disclosure Schedule
delivered by the Company to Parent prior to the Closing); (ii) any breach of any
covenant or obligation of the Company or the Principal Shareholder (including
the covenants set forth in Section 5); (iii) any (A) claims by the Indemnitor's
spouse arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (B)
failure of the Principal Shareholder to have good, valid and marketable title to
the issued and outstanding Company Common Stock purported to be held by the
Principal Shareholder, free and clear of all liens, claims, pledges or charges
of any nature, (C) claim by any stockholder or former stockholder of the
Company, or any other person, seeking to assert or based upon (1) ownership or
rights to ownership of any shares of capital stock of the Company, (2) any
rights of a stockholder of the Company (other than the rights to receive the
Parent Common Stock issuable to such person in respect of such person's Company
Common Stock disclosed hereunder by the Company on or prior to the date hereof,
and rights to have Company Options disclosed hereunder by the Company on or
prior to the date hereof assumed by Parent as contemplated by Section 1.6),
including any voting rights, rights to notice or preemptive rights, or (3) any
rights under the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company, (D) any
claim by any Affiliate of the Principal Shareholder (other than those
liabilities set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedules) or (E) any claims by
Chase in respect of any services performed, products delivered or contractual
relationships existing prior to the Closing Date (other than the exercise by
Chase of its rights to refuse to accept the products and applications delivered
under the Chase Contract pursuant to the acceptance provisions of the Services
Schedule); or (iv) any Legal Proceeding relating to any inaccuracy or breach or
claim of the type referred to in clause "(i)," "(ii)" or "(iii)" above
(including any Legal Proceeding commenced by any Indemnitee for the purpose of
enforcing any of its rights under this Section 8).
(B) The Indemnitor acknowledges and agrees that, if the Surviving
Corporation suffers, incurs or otherwise becomes subject to any Damages as a
result of or in connection with any inaccuracy in or breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or obligation, then (without limiting any of
the rights of the Surviving Corporation as an Indemnitee) Parent shall also be
deemed, by virtue of its ownership of the stock of the Surviving Corporation,
to have incurred Damages as a result of and in connection with such inaccuracy
or breach.
8.3 NO CONTRIBUTION. The Indemnitor hereby waives, and acknowledges and
agrees that it shall not have and shall not exercise or assert (or attempt to
exercise or assert), any right of contribution, right of indemnity or other
right or remedy against the Surviving Corporation in connection with any
indemnification obligation or any other liability to which he may become
subject under or in connection with this Agreement or the Principal
Shareholder's Closing Certificate.
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8.4 MATTERS INVOLVING THIRD PARTIES.
(A) If any third party shall notify any Indemnitee about any matter
(a "THIRD PARTY Claim") that may give rise to a claim for indemnification
against the Indemnitor under this Section 8, then the Indemnitee shall promptly
notify the Shareholder Representative in writing, provided, however, that no
delay on the part of any Indemnitee in notifying the Shareholder Representative
shall relieve the Indemnitors from any obligation hereunder unless (and then
solely to the extent) the Indemnitor is prejudiced by the delay.
(B) The Shareholder Representative will have the right to defend the
Indemnitee against the Third Party Claim (other than a Third Party Claim in
respect of a breach of any representation or warranty under Section 2.9) with
counsel of its choice reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnitee so long as (i)
the Shareholder Representative notifies the Indemnitee in writing within 15
days after Indemnitee has given notice of the Third Party Claim that the
Indemnitor will indemnify the Indemnitee from and against the entirety of any
Damages the Indemnitee may suffer resulting from, arising out of, relating to,
in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party Claim, (ii) the Third Party
Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an injunction or other
equitable relief, and (iii) the Indemnitor conducts the defense of the Third
Party Claim actively and diligently.
(C) So long as Parent reasonably believes the Indemnitor is
conducting the defense of the Third Party Claim in accordance with Section
8.4(b) above, (i) the Indemnitee may retain separate co-counsel at its sole
cost and expense and participate in the defense of the Third Party Claim and
(ii) the Indemnitee 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 Shareholder Representative (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld).
(D) If the Indemnitor is not actively and diligently conducting the
defense of the Third Party Claim, or in the case of any Third Party Claim in
respect of a breach of any representation or warranty under Section 2.9, then
(i) the Indemnitee may defend against, and consent to the entry of any judgment
or enter into any settlement with respect to the Third Party Claim in any
manner it may deem reasonable (and the Indemnitee need not consult with, or
obtain any consent from, the Shareholder Representative or the Indemnitor in
connection therewith), (ii) the Indemnitor will reimburse the Indemnitee
promptly and periodically for the costs of defending against the Third Party
Claim (including attorney's fees and expenses) and (iii) the Indemnitor will
remain responsible for any Damages the Indemnitee may suffer resulting from,
arising out of, relating to, in the nature of, or caused by the Third Party
Claim to the fullest extent provided in this Section 8.
8.5 LIMITATIONS ON INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding anything herein to the
contrary:
(A) Except as set forth in this Section 8.5, the Indemnitees shall
not assert any claim for indemnification against the Indemnitor until such time
as, and only to the extent that, the aggregate of all claims that the
Indemnitees may have against the Indemnitor shall exceed $100,000.
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(B) The aggregate amount of all indemnification payments made
pursuant to this Section 8 arising out of claims described in Section 8.2(a)(i)
or (ii) (other than payments made pursuant to this Section 8 arising out of
claims for intentional misrepresentation, intentional misconduct or fraud)
shall not exceed an amount equal to 15% of the total consideration actually
received by the Indemnitor and the other shareholders pursuant to this
Agreement (valued at the time of receipt thereof).
(C) The aggregate amount of all indemnification payments made
pursuant to this Section 8 shall not exceed 100% of the total consideration
actually received by the Indemnitor pursuant to this Agreement (valued at the
time of receipt thereof).
(D) The limitations contained in Section 8.5(a) shall not apply to
any indemnification claims arising out of (i) any intentional
misrepresentation, intentional misconduct or fraud, (ii) any breach of the
covenants set forth herein prior to termination if this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 9 or (iii) any claims described in Section 8.2(a)(iii)
(other than Section 8.2(a)(iii)(F)).
8.6 EXERCISE OF REMEDIES BY INDEMNITEES OTHER THAN PARENT. No Indemnitee
(other than Parent or any successor thereto or assign thereof) shall be
permitted to assert any indemnification claim or exercise any other remedy
under this Agreement unless Parent (or any successor thereto or assign thereof)
shall have consented to the assertion of such indemnification claim or the
exercise of such other remedy.
8.7 ESCROW ARRANGEMENTS. On the Closing Date, Parent, the Company, the
Shareholder Representative and State Street Bank and Trust Company as escrow
agent will enter into an Escrow Agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit G (the "ESCROW AGREEMENT"). Upon the Effective Time, 328,710 shares of
Parent Common Stock (the "ESCROW SHARES") will be deposited in an escrow fund
(the "ESCROW FUND") to be established and maintained in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement to secure (i) the indemnification obligations set forth in
Section 8 hereof and (ii) certain post-Closing adjustments set forth in the
Escrow Agreement to the total consideration issuable by Parent in the Merger.
The Escrow Shares shall be held and disbursed solely for the purposes and in
accordance with the terms of the Escrow Agreement.
8.8 SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE.
(A) Robert van der Hooning shall be constituted and appointed as
agent ("SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE") for and on behalf of the Company
shareholders (pursuant to the Instrument of Release, Consent and Appointment of
Shareholder Representative) to be signed by each such shareholder as
contemplated by Section 6.5(b) hereof) to give and receive notices and
communications, to agree to, negotiate, and enter into, on behalf of all
shareholders, amendments, consents and waivers under this Agreement (including
Section 5.2 hereof) and the Escrow Agreement, to enter into and administer, on
behalf of the Company shareholders, the Escrow Agreement, to authorize delivery
to Parent of the Parent Common Stock or other property from the Escrow Fund in
accordance with the Escrow Agreement, and to take all actions necessary or
appropriate in the judgment of the Shareholder Representative for the
accomplishment of the foregoing. Such agency may be changed by the holders of a
majority in
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interest of the Company shareholders from time to time upon not less than 10
days' prior written notice to Parent. No bond shall be required of the
Shareholder Representative, and the Shareholder Representative shall receive no
compensation for his services. Notices or communications to or from the
Shareholder Representative shall constitute notice to or from each of the
Company shareholders.
(B) The Shareholder Representative shall not be liable for any act
done or omitted hereunder or under the Escrow Agreement as Shareholder
Representative while acting in good faith and in the exercise of reasonable
judgment, and any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel shall
be conclusive evidence of such good faith. The Company shareholders shall
severally indemnify the Shareholder Representative and hold him harmless
against any loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence or bad
faith on the part of the Shareholder Representative and arising out of or in
connection with the acceptance or administration of his duties hereunder.
(C) The Shareholder Representative shall have reasonable access to
information about the Company and the reasonable assistance of the Company's
and Parent's officers and employees for purposes of performing its duties and
exercising its rights hereunder, provided that the Shareholder Representative
shall treat confidentially and not disclose any nonpublic information from or
about the Company or Parent to anyone (except on a need to know basis to
individuals who agree to treat such information confidentially).
8.9 ACTIONS OF THE SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE. A decision, act, consent or
instruction of the Shareholder Representative in respect of any action under
this Agreement or the Escrow Agreement shall constitute a decision of all
Company shareholders and the Indemnitor and shall be final, binding and
conclusive upon each such Company shareholder and the Indemnitor and the Escrow
Agent and Parent may rely upon any decision, act, consent or instruction of the
Shareholder Representative hereunder or under the Escrow Agreement as being the
decision, act, consent or instruction of each and every such Company
shareholder and the Indemnitor. The Escrow Agent and Parent are hereby relieved
from any liability to any Person (including any Company shareholder or the
Indemnitor) for any acts done by them in accordance with such decision, act,
consent or instruction of the Shareholder Representative.
9. TERMINATION
9.1 TERMINATION.
(A) This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the
Effective Time:
(I) by mutual agreement of the Boards of Directors of Parent and
the Company;
(II) by Parent (provided Parent is not otherwise in breach), if
there has been a breach by the Company of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement on the part of the Company
which is material and which the Company fails to cure within five business days
after notice thereof is given by Parent (except that no cure period shall be
provided for a breach by the Company which by its nature cannot be cured);
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(III) by the Company (provided the Company is not otherwise in
breach), if there has been a breach by Parent or Sub of any representation,
warranty, covenant or agreement set forth in this Agreement on the part of
Parent or Sub which is material and which Parent or Sub, as the case may be,
fails to cure within five business days after notice thereof is given by the
Company (except that no cure period shall be provided for a breach by Parent or
Sub which by its nature cannot be cured); or
(IV) by Parent or the Company, if the Closing shall not have
occurred before 5:00 p.m. (New York time) on March 31, 2000, provided that no
party that is then in breach of this Agreement may terminate this Agreement
under this clause (iv).
(B) Where action is taken to terminate this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 9.1, it shall be sufficient for such action to be authorized by
the Board of Directors of the party taking such action.
9.2 If either Parent or the Company terminates this Agreement pursuant to
this Section 9.1, all obligations of the parties hereunder shall terminate
without any liability of any party to any other party (except for any liability
of any party for breach by such party of one of its covenants under this
Agreement prior to termination), provided that the agreements contained in
Section 10.2 and 10.6 hereof shall survive. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in
the event of the termination of this Agreement prior to the Closing, no party
may sue or assert any claim against any other party based upon a breach of such
other party's representations contained herein unless such breach involves one
or more intentional misrepresentations or fraud.
10. MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
10.1 FURTHER ASSURANCES. Each party hereto shall execute and cause to be
delivered to each other party hereto such instruments and other documents, and
shall take such other actions, as such other party may reasonably request
(prior to, at or after the Closing) for the purpose of carrying out or
evidencing any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
10.2 FEES AND EXPENSES. Each party to this Agreement shall bear and pay
all fees, costs and expenses (including legal fees and accounting fees) that
have been incurred or that are incurred by such party in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including all fees, costs and
expenses incurred by such party in connection with or by virtue of (a) the
investigation and review conducted by Parent and its Representatives with
respect to the Company's business (and the furnishing of information to Parent
and its Representatives in connection with such investigation and review), (b)
the negotiation, preparation and review of this Agreement (including the
Company Disclosure Schedule) and all agreements, certificates, opinions and
other instruments and documents delivered or to be delivered in connection with
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (c) the preparation and
submission of any filing or notice required to be made or given in connection
with any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and the obtaining
of any Consent required to be obtained in connection with any of such
transactions, (d) the consummation of the Merger, and (e) the filing of any
required premerger notification and report forms relating to the Merger under
the HSR Act; provided, however, that any fees, costs and expenses (including
legal fees and accounting fees) incurred by the Company in excess of $100,000
shall reduce the amount of Parent Common Stock issued in
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the Merger on a dollar-for-dollar basis valuing each share of Parent Common
Stock at the average of the closing bid prices for shares of Parent Common
Stock, as reported on the Nasdaq National Market, over the period of ten (10)
trading days ending three days prior to the Closing Date. The exact
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Company as described above shall be
determined and fixed on or prior to the Closing Date.
10.3 ATTORNEYS' FEES. If any action or proceeding relating to this
Agreement or the enforcement of any provision of this Agreement is brought
against any party hereto, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover
reasonable attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements (in addition to any other
relief to which the prevailing party may be entitled).
10.4 DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE. The Company Disclosure Schedule shall be
arranged in separate parts corresponding to the numbered and lettered sections
contained in the applicable section of this Agreement, and the information
disclosed in any numbered or lettered part shall be deemed to relate to and to
qualify only the particular representation or warranty set forth in the
corresponding numbered or lettered section of the Agreement, and shall not be
deemed to relate to or to qualify any other representation or warranty.
10.5 NOTICES. Any notice or other communication required or permitted to
be delivered to any party under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
deemed properly delivered, given and received when delivered (by hand, by
registered mail, by courier or express delivery service or by facsimile) to the
address or facsimile telephone number set forth beneath the name of such party
below (or to such other address or facsimile telephone number as such party
shall have specified in a written notice given to the other parties hereto):
if to Parent: Exchange Applications, Inc.
89 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
Attention: Andrew Frawley
Facsimile: (617) 443-9143
with a copy to: Bingham Dana LLP
150 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: Neil W. Townsend, Esq.
Facsimile: (617) 951-8866
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if to Merger Sub: KSP Acquisition Corp.
c/o Exchange Applications, Inc.
89 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
Attention: Andrew Frawley
Facsimile: (617) 443-9143
with a copy to: Bingham Dana LLP
150 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: Neil W. Townsend, Esq.
Facsimile: (617) 951-8866
if to the Company or, the Knowledge Stream Partners, Inc.
Principal Shareholder: 403 Green Bay Road
Second Floor
Winnetka, Illinois 60093
Attention: Robert van der Hooning
Facsimile: (847) 441-9345
with a copy to: Hopkins & Sutter
Three First National Plaza
Suite 4100
Chicago Illinois 60602
Attention: Bennett Epstein, Esq.
Facsimile: (312) 558-5193
10.6 CONFIDENTIALITY. Without limiting the generality of anything
contained in this Agreement, on and at all times after the Closing Date, the
Principal Shareholder shall keep confidential, and shall not use or disclose to
any other Person, any non-public document or other non-public information in
such Person's possession that relates to the business of the Company or Parent.
10.7 TIME OF THE ESSENCE. Time is of the essence of this Agreement.
10.8 HEADINGS. The headings contained in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only, shall not be deemed to be a part of this
Agreement and shall not be referred to in connection with the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
10.9 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several counterparts,
each of which shall constitute an original and all of which, when taken
together, shall constitute one agreement.
10.10 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be construed in accordance with,
and governed in all respects by, the internal laws of the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts (without giving effect to principles of conflicts of laws).
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10.11 COOPERATION. The Company agrees to cooperate fully with Parent and
to execute and deliver such further documents, certificates, agreements and
instruments and to take such other actions as may be reasonably requested by
Parent to evidence or reflect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
and to carry out the intent and purposes of this Agreement.
10.12 LIABILITY. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement or any of the agreements attached hereto as exhibits (collectively,
the "MERGER AGREEMENTS"), the parties hereto agree that no officer, director,
stockholder or shareholder of any of the parties hereto shall be personally
liable with respect to any of the Merger Agreements or any of the transactions
contemplated thereby, other than with respect to their personal obligations
under the Merger Agreements.
10.13 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon: the
Company and its successors and assigns (if any); the Principal Shareholder and
its respective personal representatives, executors, administrators, estates,
heirs, successors and assigns (if any); Parent and its successors and assigns
(if any); and Merger Sub and its successors and assigns (if any). This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of: the Company; the Company's
shareholders (to the extent set forth in Section 1.5, 5.2 and 8); the holders
of assumed Company Options (to the extent set forth in Section 1.6); Parent;
Merger Sub; the other Indemnitees (subject to Section 8); and the respective
successors and assigns (if any) of the foregoing. Parent may freely assign any
or all of its rights under this Agreement (including its indemnification rights
under Section 8), in whole or in part, to any subsidiary or successor without
obtaining the consent or approval of any other party hereto or of any other
Person.
10.14 REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. The rights and remedies
of the parties hereto shall be cumulative (and not alternative). The parties to
this Agreement agree that, in the event of any breach or threatened breach by
any party to this Agreement of any covenant, obligation or other provision set
forth in this Agreement for the benefit of any other party to this Agreement,
such other party shall be entitled (in addition to any other remedy that may be
available to it) to (a) a decree or order of specific performance or mandamus
to enforce the observance and performance of such covenant, obligation or other
provision, and (b) an injunction restraining such breach or threatened breach.
10.15 WAIVER.
(A) No failure on the part of any Person to exercise any power,
right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement, and no delay on the part of
any Person in exercising any power, right, privilege or remedy under this
Agreement, shall operate as a waiver of such power, right, privilege or remedy;
and no single or partial exercise of any such power, right, privilege or remedy
shall preclude any other or further exercise thereof or of any other power,
right, privilege or remedy.
(B) No Person shall be deemed to have waived any claim arising out of
this Agreement, or any power, right, privilege or remedy under this Agreement,
unless the waiver of such claim, power, right, privilege or remedy is expressly
set forth in a written instrument duly executed and delivered on behalf of such
Person; and any such waiver shall not be applicable or have any effect except
in the specific instance in which it is given.
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10.16 AMENDMENTS. This Agreement may not be amended, modified, altered or
supplemented other than by means of a written instrument duly executed and
delivered on behalf of the Company, Parent, Merger Sub and the Shareholder
Representative.
10.17 SEVERABILITY. In the event that any provision of this Agreement, or
the application of any such provision to any Person or set of circumstances,
shall be determined to be invalid, unlawful, void or unenforceable to any
extent, the remainder of this Agreement, and the application of such provision
to Persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is determined to be
invalid, unlawful, void or unenforceable, shall not be impaired or otherwise
affected and shall continue to be valid and enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
10.18 PARTIES IN INTEREST. Except for the provisions of Sections 1.5, 1.6,
5.2 and 8, none of the provisions of this Agreement is intended to provide any
rights or remedies to any Person other than the parties hereto and their
respective successors and assigns (if any).
10.19 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the other agreements referred
to herein set forth the entire understanding of the parties hereto relating to
the subject matter hereof and thereof and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings among or between any of the parties relating to the subject
matter hereof and thereof; provided, however, that the Non-Disclosure Agreement
between Parent and the Company dated as of December 22, 1999 shall not be
superseded by this Agreement and shall remain in effect in accordance with its
terms until the earlier of (a) the Effective Time, or (b) the date on which
such Non-Disclosure Agreement is terminated in accordance with its terms.
10.20 CONSTRUCTION.
(A) For purposes of this Agreement, whenever the context requires:
the singular number shall include the plural, and vice versa; the masculine
gender shall include the feminine and neuter genders; the feminine gender shall
include the masculine and neuter genders; and the neuter gender shall include
the masculine and feminine genders.
(B) The parties hereto agree that any rule of construction to the
effect that ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not
be applied in the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
(C) As used in this Agreement, the words "include" and "including,"
and variations thereof, shall not be deemed to be terms of limitation, but
rather shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without limitation."
(D) Except as otherwise indicated, all references in this Agreement
to "Sections" and "Exhibits" are intended to refer to Sections of this
Agreement and Exhibits to this Agreement.
[THE REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE HAS BEEN INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
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The parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed and delivered
as of the date first above written.
EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS, INC.,
a Delaware corporation
By:________________________________
Printed Name:______________________
Title:_____________________________
KSP ACQUISITION CORP.,
a Delaware corporation
By:________________________________
Printed Name:______________________
Title:_____________________________
KNOWLEDGE STREAM PARTNERS, INC.
a Delaware corporation
By:________________________________
Printed Name:______________________
Title:_____________________________
ROBERT VAN DER HOONING
------------------------------------
Shares of Company Common
Stock Held: 865,862
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
For purposes of the Agreement (including this Exhibit A):
"ACQUISITION PROPOSAL" means any offer or proposal (other than an offer or
proposal by Parent) contemplating or otherwise relating to any Acquisition
Transaction.
"ACQUISITION TRANSACTION" means any transaction involving:
(A) the sale, license, disposition or acquisition of all or a
material portion of the Company's business or assets;
(B) the issuance, disposition or acquisition of (i) any capital stock
or other equity security of the Company (other than common stock issued to
employees of the Company, upon exercise of Company Options or otherwise, in
routine transactions in accordance with the Company's past practices), (ii) any
option, call, warrant or right (whether or not immediately exercisable) to
acquire any capital stock or other equity security of the Company (other than
stock options granted to employees of the Company in routine transactions in
accordance with the Company's past practices), or (iii) any security,
instrument or obligation that is or may become convertible into or exchangeable
for any capital stock or other equity security of the Company; or
(C) any merger, consolidation, business combination, reorganization
or similar transaction involving the Company.
"AGREEMENT" means the Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization to
which this Exhibit A is attached (including the Company Disclosure Schedule),
as it may be amended from time to time.
"COMPANY CONTRACT" means any Contract: (a) to which the Company is a
party; (b) by which the Company or any asset of the Company is or may become
bound or under which the Company has, or may become subject to, any obligation;
or (c) under which the Company has or may acquire any right or interest.
"COMPANY PROPRIETARY ASSET" means any Proprietary Asset owned by, licensed
to, or otherwise used by, the Company.
"CONSENT" means any approval, consent, ratification, permission, waiver or
authorization (including any Governmental Authorization).
"CONTRACT" means any written, oral or other agreement, contract,
subcontract, lease, understanding, instrument, note, option, warranty, purchase
order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan or legally binding
commitment or undertaking of any nature.
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"CONTROL" (including the term "controlled by") means the possession,
directly or indirectly or as trustee or executor, of the power to direct or
change the direction of the management policies of a person or Entity, whether
through the ownership of stock, a trustee or execution, by contract or credit
arrangement or otherwise.
"DAMAGES" means any loss, damage, injury, decline in value, liability,
claim, demand, settlement, judgment, award, fine, penalty, Tax, fee (including
reasonable attorneys' fees), charge, cost (including costs of investigation) or
expense of any nature.
"ENCUMBRANCE" means any lien, pledge, hypothecation, charge, mortgage,
security interest, encumbrance, claim, infringement, interference, option,
right of first refusal, preemptive right, community property interest or
restriction of any nature (including any restriction on the voting of any
security, any restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset, any
restriction on the receipt of any income derived from any asset, any
restriction on the use of any asset and any restriction on the possession,
exercise or transfer of any other attribute of ownership of any asset).
"ENTITY" means any corporation (including any non-profit corporation),
general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint
venture, estate, trust, company (including any limited liability company or
joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association, organization or
entity.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAW" means any federal, state, local or foreign Legal
Requirement relating to pollution or protection of human health or the
environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface
or subsurface strata), including any law or regulation relating to emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of Materials of Environmental
Concern, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Materials of
Environmental Concern.
"EXCHANGE ACT" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORIZATION" means any: (a) permit, license, certificate,
franchise, permission, clearance, registration, qualification or authorization
issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of
any Governmental Body or pursuant to any Legal Requirement; or (b) right under
any Contract with any Governmental Body.
"GOVERNMENTAL BODY" means any: (a) nation, state, commonwealth, province,
territory, county, municipality, district or other jurisdiction of any nature;
(b) federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or other government; or (c)
governmental or quasi-governmental authority of any nature (including any
governmental division, department, agency, commission, instrumentality,
official, organization, unit, body or Entity and any court or other tribunal).
"GOVERNMENT CONTRACT" means any prime contract, subcontract, letter
contract, purchase order or delivery order executed or submitted to or on
behalf of any Governmental Body or any prime contractor or higher-tier
subcontractor, or under which any Governmental Body or any such prime
contractor or subcontractor otherwise has or may acquire any right or interest.
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"HSR ACT" means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
as amended.
"INDEMNITEES" means the following Persons: (a) Parent; (b) Parent's
current and future affiliates (including the Surviving Corporation); (c) the
respective Representatives of the Persons referred to in clauses "(a)" and
"(b)" above; and (d) the respective successors and assigns of the Persons
referred to in clauses "(a)", "(b)" and "(c)" above; provided, however, that
the shareholders of the Company shall not be deemed to be "Indemnitees."
KNOWLEDGE. An individual will be deemed to have "KNOWLEDGE" of a
particular fact or other matter if:
(A) Such individual is actually aware of such fact or other matter;
or
(B) A prudent individual could be expected to discover or otherwise
become aware of such fact or other matter in the course of conducting a
reasonably comprehensive investigation concerning the existence of such fact or
other matter.
A person (other than an individual) will be deemed to have "Knowledge" of
a particular fact or other matter if any individual who is serving, or who has
at any time served, as a director, officer, partner, executor, or trustee of
such Person (or in any similar capacity) has, or at any time had, Knowledge of
such fact or other matter.
"LEGAL PROCEEDING" means any action, suit, litigation, arbitration,
proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or
appellate proceeding), hearing, inquiry, audit, examination or investigation
commenced, brought, conducted or heard by or before, or otherwise involving,
any court or other Governmental Body or any arbitrator or arbitration panel.
"LEGAL REQUIREMENT" means any federal, state, local, municipal, foreign or
other law, statute, constitution, principle of common law, resolution,
ordinance, code, edict, decree, rule, regulation, ruling or requirement issued,
enacted, adopted, promulgated, implemented or otherwise put into effect by or
under the authority of any Governmental Body.
MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT. An event, violation, inaccuracy, circumstance or
other matter will be deemed to have a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" on the Company
if such event, violation, inaccuracy, circumstance or other matter (considered
together with all other matters that would constitute exceptions to the
representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement but for the presence
of "Material Adverse Effect" or other materiality qualifications, or any
similar qualifications, in such representations and warranties) would have a
material adverse effect on (i) the business, condition, capitalization, assets,
liabilities, operations, prospects or financial performance of the Company,
(ii) the ability of the Company to consummate the Merger or any of the other
transactions contemplated by the Agreement or to perform any of its obligations
under the Agreement, or (iii) Parent's ability to vote, receive dividends with
respect to or otherwise exercise ownership rights with respect to the stock of
the Surviving Corporation. An event, violation, inaccuracy, circumstance or
other matter will be deemed to have a "MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" on Parent if
such event, violation, inaccuracy, circumstance or other matter
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(considered together with all other matters that would constitute exceptions to
the representations and warranties set forth in the Agreement but for the
presence of "Material Adverse Effect" or other materiality qualifications, or
any similar qualifications, in such representations and warranties) would have a
material adverse effect on the business, condition, assets, liabilities,
operations or financial performance of Parent and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole.
"MATERIALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN" means chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, petroleum and petroleum products and
any other substance that is now or hereafter regulated by any Environmental Law
or that is otherwise a danger to health, reproduction or the environment.
"NASDAQ" means the Nasdaq National Market.
"PERSON" means any individual, Entity or Governmental Body.
"PROPRIETARY ASSET" means any: (a) patent, patent application, trademark
(whether registered or unregistered), trademark application, trade name,
fictitious business name, service mark (whether registered or unregistered),
service mark application, copyright (whether registered or unregistered),
copyright application, maskwork, maskwork application, trade secret, know-how,
customer list, franchise, system, computer software, computer program (in
source and executable form), algorithm, invention, design, blueprint,
engineering drawing, proprietary product, technology, proprietary right or
other intellectual property right or intangible asset in any jurisdiction in
the world; or (b) right to use or exploit any of the foregoing in any
jurisdiction in the world.
"RELATED PARTY" means each of the following (i) the Principal Shareholder;
(ii) each individual who is, or who has at any time since the Measurement Date
has been, an officer of the Company; (iii) each member of the immediate family
of each of the individuals referred to in clauses "(i)" and "(ii)" above; and
(iv) any trust or other Entity (other than the Company) in which any one of the
individuals referred to in clauses "(i)", "(ii)" and "(iii)" above holds (or in
which more than one of such individuals collectively hold), beneficially or
otherwise, a material voting, proprietary or equity interest.)
"RELEASE DATE" means the date which is six (6) months from the Effective
Time.
"REPRESENTATIVES" means officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys,
accountants, advisors and representatives.
"SEC" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
"SECURITIES ACT" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
SUBSIDIARY. An entity shall be deemed to be a "SUBSIDIARY" of another
Person if such Person directly or indirectly owns, beneficially or of record,
an amount of voting securities of other interests in such Entity that is
sufficient to enable such Person to elect at leased a majority of the members
of such Entity's board of directors or other governing body.
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"TAX" means any tax (including any income tax, franchise tax, capital
gains tax, gross receipts tax, value-added tax, surtax, excise tax, ad valorem
tax, transfer tax, stamp tax, sales tax, use tax, property tax, business tax,
withholding tax or payroll tax), levy, assessment, tariff, duty (including any
customs duty), deficiency or fee, and any related charge or amount (including
any fine, penalty or interest), imposed, assessed or collected by or under the
authority of any Governmental Body.
"TAX RETURN" means any return (including any information return), report,
statement, declaration, estimate, schedule, notice, notification, form,
election, certificate or other document or information filed with or submitted
to, or required to be filed with or submitted to, any Governmental Body in
connection with the determination, assessment, collection or payment of any Tax
or in connection with the administration, implementation or enforcement of or
compliance with any Legal Requirement relating to any Tax.
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<PAGE>
LIST OF EXHIBITS
Exhibit A Certain Definitions
Exhibit B Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
Exhibit C Directors and Officers of the Surviving Corporation
Exhibit D Form of Release, Consent and Appointment of Shareholder
Representative
Exhibit E Form of Investment Representation Letter
Exhibit F Form of Nondisclosure and Noncompetition Agreement
Exhibit G Escrow Agreement
SCHEDULES
Company Disclosure Schedule
Schedule 6.5(a)-Employees Signing Employee Offer Letters
Schedule 6.5(h)-Employees Signing Resignation Letters and Severance Agreement.
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Exhibit G
ESCROW AGREEMENT
This Escrow Agreement is made as of March 31, 2000, by and among State
Street Bank and Trust Company ("ESCROW AGENT"), Exchange Applications, Inc.
("PARENT") and Mr. Robert van der Hooning as agent (the "SHAREHOLDER
REPRESENTATIVE") for the former shareholders (the "SHAREHOLDERS") of Knowledge
Stream Partners, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("COMPANY"). Terms not otherwise
defined herein shall have the meaning set forth in the Merger Agreement (as
defined below). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the use of such defined terms
incorporated by reference to the Merger Agreement is solely for the convenience
of the Parent and the Shareholder Representative and the Escrow Agent may rely
on the use of such defined terms in any communication received by it.
WITNESSETH
WHEREAS, Parent, Company, the Principal Shareholder, and KSP Acquisition
Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Parent ("MERGER
SUB"), have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization
(the "MERGER AGREEMENT"), dated as of March 20, 2000, providing for the merger
of Merger Sub with and into Company (the "MERGER");
WHEREAS, the parties intend to establish an Escrow Fund (as defined below)
(i) to compensate Parent for certain Damages it may incur by reason of a breach
of the representations, warranties or covenants of Shareholder Representative
and Company contained in the Merger Agreement and (ii) to secure certain
post-Closing adjustment obligations on the terms and conditions set forth
herein; and
WHEREAS, the parties hereto desire to set forth further terms and
conditions in addition to those set forth in the Merger Agreement relating to
the operation of the Escrow Fund.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties hereto, in consideration of the mutual
covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as
follows:
1. Escrow Shares and Escrow Fund. As soon as practicable after the
Effective Time, 328,710 shares of Parent Common Stock (the "ESCROW SHARES")
shall be registered in the name of Embassy & Co., the Escrow Agent's nominee,
and shall be deposited with the Escrow Agent, such deposit to constitute the
"ESCROW FUND" and to be governed by the terms set forth herein. The Escrow
Agent shall have no responsibility for the genuineness, validity, market value,
title or sufficiency for any intended purpose of the Escrow Shares.
The Shareholder Representative represents and warrants to the Escrow Agent
that he has the irrevocable right, power and authority (i) to enter into and
perform this Escrow
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Agreement and bind all of the Shareholders to its terms, (ii) to give and
receive directions and notices hereunder, and (iii) to make all determinations
that may be required or that he deems appropriate under this Escrow Agreement.
Until notified in writing by the Shareholder Representative that he has
resigned or by a majority in interest of the Shareholders that he has been
removed, the Escrow Agent may act upon the directions, instructions and notices
of the Shareholder Representative named above and, thereafter, upon the
directions, instructions and notices of any successor named in a writing
executed by a majority-in-interest of the Shareholders filed with the Escrow
Agent.
2. Indemnification. 123,266 Escrow Shares, initially, and all dividends or
other distributions thereon thereafter, (as from time to time reduced by the
use of any such Escrow Shares or other property to satisfy claims for Damages
pursuant to Section 6, the "Indemnification Portion") shall be available to
Parent to satisfy a portion or all claims for indemnification pursuant to
Section 8.2 of the Merger Agreement, as provided in Section 6 hereof. Parent
and Company each acknowledge that such Damages, if any, would relate to
unresolved contingencies existing at the Effective Time, which if resolved at
the Effective Time would have led to a reduction in the total number of shares
Parent would have agreed to issue in connection with the Merger. Nothing herein
shall limit the liability (i) of Company for any breach of any representation,
warranty or covenant if the Merger does not close, (ii) of the Principal
Shareholder in connection with any indemnification claim, or (iii) of any
rights of Parent to seek indemnification under Section 8 of the Merger
Agreement.
3. Post-Closing Adjustments. 205,444 Escrow Shares and all dividends or
other distributions thereon shall be disbursed to Parent or the Shareholder
Representative or both, as the case may be, upon the determination of whether
certain performance tests are satisfied. These disbursements are intended to
constitute a purchase price adjustment in respect of the Merger. The nature of
the performance tests and the procedure for making such determination for each
such test are set forth in Section 7 and Schedule I hereto.
4. Rights and Obligations of the Parties. The Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to such rights and shall perform such duties of the escrow agent as
set forth herein, in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Escrow
Agreement. The Escrow Agent will have no duty to invest any escrowed property.
Parent and Shareholder Representative shall be entitled to their respective
rights and shall perform their respective duties and obligations as set forth
herein, in accordance with the terms hereof. In the event that the terms of
this Escrow Agreement conflict in any way with the provisions of the Merger
Agreement, solely as between the Shareholder Representative and Parent, the
Merger Agreement shall control.
5. Escrow Period. The Escrow Period shall terminate on the day Parent
shall release publicly its audited financial statements for the year ending
December 31, 2000 (i.e., the day Parent files with the SEC its annual report on
Form 10-K for such fiscal
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year) such day to occur no later than April 15, 2001. Parent will inform Escrow
Agent in writing of the termination of the Escrow Period pursuant to this
Section 5. As long as the Escrow Agent has not received such written notice, it
shall be entitled to assume that the Escrow Period has not terminated.
6. Indemnification Claims upon Escrow Fund.
(a) Subject to Section 10, upon receipt by the Escrow Agent on or before
September 30, 2000 of a certificate(s) signed by an officer of Parent (an
"OFFICER'S CERTIFICATE"):
(i) stating that aggregate Damages since the date of this Agreement
exist in an aggregate amount greater than $100,000, and
(ii) specifying in reasonable detail the individual items of such
Damages included in the amount so stated, the date each such item was paid, or
property accrued or arose, the nature of the misrepresentation, breach of
warranty or claim to which such item is related, the Escrow Agent shall,
subject to the provisions of Sections 10 and 11, deliver to Parent out of
the Indemnification Portion, as promptly as practicable, Parent Common Stock or
other assets held in the Indemnification Portion having a value equal to such
Damages, based upon the per share value of Parent Common Stock set forth in
Section 6(b) below.
(b) For the purpose of compensating Parent for its Damages pursuant to
this Agreement, the Parent Common Stock in the Escrow Fund shall be valued at
$41.8125 per share. If any such Damages are to be paid out of the other assets
(other than Parent Common Stock) then held in the Escrow Fund, and the Escrow
Agent shall be uncertain as to the value thereof, the Escrow Agent shall be
entitled to request (and to refrain from making any distribution until it
receives) written certification from the Parent specifying the value thereof,
and the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to rely conclusively thereon.
(c) On October 16, 2000, the Escrow Agent will deliver to the Shareholder
Representative, for the benefit of the Principal Shareholder, the then
remaining Indemnification Portion of the Escrow Shares, if any, held as part of
the Escrow Fund, less any Escrow Shares or other property used on or prior to
such date to satisfy claims for Damages pursuant to Section 6 and the amount of
Escrow Shares (and/or dividends and distributions) sufficient to satisfy any
unsatisfied claims for Damages specified in an Officer's Certificate delivered
to the Escrow Agent on or prior to September 30, 2000.
7. Disbursements from Escrow Fund for Post Closing Adjustments. Subject to
Section 10, upon receipt by the Escrow Agent of an Adjustment Notice (as
hereinafter defined), the Escrow Agent shall promptly make disbursements from
the Escrow Fund in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) if the Adjustment Notice states that the Revenue Test is
satisfied, (A) the Escrow Agent will (subject to Sections 8(c), 10 and 11)
deliver to the Shareholder Representative for the benefit of the Shareholders
(in accordance with their Percentage
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Interests as set forth on Exhibit A attached hereto) on the date set forth in
such Adjustment Notice as determined by Parent pursuant to Section 9 and
Schedule I for the Revenue Test, the number of Escrow Shares equal to the RT
Amount as set forth in the Adjustment Notice and as calculated in accordance
with Schedule I, plus all dividends and other distributions received on or in
respect of such shares and held as part of the Escrow Fund, (the "REVENUE
RELEASE AMOUNT") and (B) simultaneously therewith, the Escrow Agent will
(subject to Sections 8(c), 10 and 11) deliver to Parent the number of Escrow
Shares, if any, equal to the Maximum RT Amount less the Revenue Release Amount
plus all dividends and other distributions received on or in respect of such
shares and held as part of the Escrow Fund; and
(ii) if the Adjustment Notice states that the Revenue Test is not
satisfied, the Escrow Agent will (subject to Sections 8(c), 10 and 11) deliver
to the Parent on the date set forth in such Adjustment Notice as determined
pursuant to Section 9 for the Revenue Test, 205,444 Escrow Shares, plus all
dividends and other distributions received on or in respect of such shares and
held as part of the Escrow Fund.
8. Duties of Escrow Agent. The duties of the Escrow Agent shall be limited
to the following:
(a) The Escrow Agent shall hold and safeguard the Escrow Shares during the
Escrow Period, and shall hold and dispose of the Escrow Shares only in
accordance with the terms hereof.
(b) The Escrow Agent shall be under no obligation to preserve, protect or
exercise rights in the Escrow Shares, and shall be responsible only for
reasonable measures to maintain the physical safekeeping thereof, and otherwise
to perform and observe such duties on its part as are expressly set forth in
this Escrow Agreement (including the Schedule attached hereto); except that it
shall, at the written request of the Shareholder Representative given to the
Escrow Agent at least three business days prior to the date on which the Escrow
Agent is requested therein to take any action, deliver to the Shareholder
Representative a proxy or other instrument in the form supplied to it by the
Shareholder Representative for voting or otherwise exercising any right of
consent with respect to any of the Escrow Shares held by it hereunder, to
authorize therein the Shareholder Representative to exercise such voting or
consent authority in respect of the Escrow Shares. The Escrow Agent shall not
be responsible for forwarding to any party, notifying any part with respect to,
or taking any action with respect to, any notice, solicitation or other
document or information, written or otherwise, received from an issuer or other
person with respect to the Escrow Shares, including but not limited to, proxy
material, tenders, options, the pendency of calls and maturities and expiration
of rights.
(c) (i) To the extent directed to do so in writing by the Shareholder
Representative, the Escrow Agent shall sell a sufficient number of the shares
of Parent Common Stock held in the Escrow Fund, and shall apply the proceeds of
such sale, to pay expenses reasonably incurred by the Shareholder
Representative on behalf of
4
<PAGE>
the Shareholders as provided in Section 18(b) hereof, as certified by the
Shareholder Representative. The Escrow Agent may rely conclusively upon any such
written instruction and/or certification, and shall have no obligation to
determine the reasonableness of any such expenses. Any such instruction from the
Shareholder Representative (A) shall be subject to any Escrow Shares previously
released by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, (B) must
be received by the Escrow Agent (1) prior to September 30, 2000, in the case of
the Indemnification Portion of the Escrow Fund, and (2) prior to expiration of
the Escrow Period, with respect to the Escrow Shares thereafter remaining in the
Escrow Fund, (C) shall specifically direct the Escrow Agent whether (and to what
extent) such shares to be liquidated are to be taken from the Indemnification
Portion of the Escrow Fund, and (D) shall comply with the requirements of
Section 8(c)(ii) below.
(ii) (A) In connection with any sale of the Escrow Shares pursuant to this
Section 8(c), the Escrow Agent shall be entitled to receive and rely upon,
prior to taking action in that regard, written direction from the Shareholder
Representative as to the manner and method to be undertaken in carrying out
such sale, including without limitation written direction (1) identifying the
number of shares to be sold, (2) identifying the brokerage firm the Shareholder
Representative requests to be used or instructing the Escrow Agent to use its
affiliated brokerage service, and (3) setting forth any necessary or special
instructions with respect to the sale (including any stop loss or minimum price
per share instruction); and the Shareholder Representative shall execute and
deliver any instruments reasonably required by the Escrow Agent in order to
carry out such sale or liquidation.
(B) The Escrow Agent shall have no responsibility in connection with such
sale other than to make delivery of the Escrow Shares to the selected brokerage
firm, with instruction (including any special instruction provided by the
Shareholder Representative), and to receive and deposit into the Escrow Account
(to be administered and distributed in accordance with this Agreement) any net
sale proceeds received therefrom. The Escrow Agent shall have no duty or
obligation to determine or accomplish compliance with any applicable transfer
restrictions; and it shall be the sole obligation of the party directing such
sale to take any remaining actions, and to provide or deliver any necessary
instruments or opinions (at its expense) necessary to comply with applicable
transfer restrictions or applicable securities laws. The Escrow Agent shall
have no liability for any actions or omissions of any such brokerage firm, and
shall have no liability for the price or execution achieved. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, the Shareholder Representative expressly
acknowledges that (1) the Escrow Shares may need to be sent to a transfer agent
to be reissued in saleable form, (2) the Escrow Shares may contain or be
subject to transfer restrictions that may limit their marketability and impose
restrictions upon the number or types of purchasers to whom they can be offered
or sold, and (3) the Escrow Agent shall have no liability for any failure or
delay (or any price change during any such delay) on the part of the
Shareholder Representative or any transfer agent, or caused by any necessary
registration or delivery procedures, or compliance with any applicable transfer
restrictions involved in the transfer of such Escrow Shares.
5
<PAGE>
(C) The Escrow Agent shall be entitled to contract with any brokerage firm
(which may be selected by the Escrow Agent without liability on its part,
taking into consideration any brokerage firm requested by the Shareholder
Representative, as provided above), which may be affiliated with the Escrow
Agent, and may enter into any such contract on a basis which provides that such
brokerage firm shall use its best efforts to effect such sale. The Escrow Agent
shall be indemnified hereunder for any costs, expenses and risks associated
therewith or arising thereunder (other than resulting from its own gross
negligence or willful misconduct), and the proceeds of sale to which the
Shareholder Representative shall be entitled shall be net of all brokerage
commissions and charges.
(D) The net sales proceeds of any such sale of Escrow Shares received by
the Escrow Agent shall be subject to a sales administration fee in the amount of
$5.00 per day, per shareholder, with a minimum fee of $500.00 per sale (the
"Sales Administration Fee"), which shall be taken from the proceeds of such
sale. The Sales Administration fee shall be assessed each day a sale is affected
until the total number of shares specified in such written direction from the
Shareholder Representative are sold.
(d) In no event shall the Escrow Agent be liable for indirect,
punitive, special or consequential damage or loss (including but not limited to
lost profits) whatsoever, even if the Escrow Agent has been informed of the
likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.
(e) The Escrow Agent shall have no more or less responsibility or
liability on account of any action or omission of any book-entry depository,
securities intermediary or other sub-escrow agent employed by the Escrow Agent
than any such book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other
sub-escrow agent has to the Escrow Agent, except to the extent that such action
or omission of any book-entry depository, securities intermediary or other
sub-escrow agent was caused by the Escrow Agent's own gross negligence, bad
faith or wilful misconduct in breach of this Escrow Agreement.
9. Method of Determining Revenue Tests.
(a) As promptly as reasonably possible following the completion of the
audit of Parent's financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2000
(but in any event within 30 days of the completion of such audit), the Parent
shall deliver to the Shareholder Representative and the Escrow Agent a notice
(the "ADJUSTMENT NOTICE") signed by an officer of Parent (a) attaching a
certified copy of its calculation of the Qualifying Revenues for such fiscal
year, (b) based upon such calculations, certifying that Parent has determined
whether the Revenue Test has been satisfied and (c) setting forth the RT
Amount, if any (as calculated by the Parent in accordance with Schedule I).
Unless the Shareholder Representative shall in accordance with the provisions
of Section 10 challenge the Parent's calculation and determination in the
Adjustment Notice, within
6
<PAGE>
30 days after the delivery of the Parent's calculation thereof, the Parent's
determination set forth in the Adjustment Notice shall be binding upon the
Shareholders.
(b) The Shareholder Representative shall have the right to review the work
papers of the Parent and any accountants or auditors utilized by the Parent in
preparing its calculation of the Revenue Test for the purpose of confirming the
Parent's calculation thereof. The Shareholder Representative shall work in good
faith and cooperate with the Parent and its accountants or auditors in the
resolution of any dispute in connection with such calculation.
(c) In no instance shall the Escrow Agent be obligated to evaluate, verify
or recalculate any Adjustment Notice, and in no instance shall the Escrow Agent
be under any Obligation to determine independently the Qualifying Revenue of
the Parent, whether the Revenue Test has been satisfied or the RT Amount, if
any.
10. Objections to Claim. At the time of delivery of any Officer's
Certificate or Adjustment Notice to the Escrow Agent, a duplicate copy of such
Officer's Certificate or Adjustment Notice shall be delivered to the
Shareholder Representative by Parent and for a period of thirty (30) days after
such delivery to the Escrow Agent, the Escrow Agent shall make no delivery of
Parent Common Stock or other property pursuant to Section 6 or 7 hereof unless
the Escrow Agent shall have received written authorization from the Shareholder
Representative to make such delivery. After the expiration of such thirty (30)
day period, the Escrow Agent shall make delivery of the Parent Common Stock or
other property in the Escrow Fund in accordance with Section 6 or 7 hereof,
provided that no such payment or delivery may be made if the Shareholder
Representative shall object in a written statement to the claim or
determination made in the Officer's Certificate or Adjustment Notice, and such
statement shall have been delivered to the Escrow Agent and to Parent prior to
the expiration of such thirty (30) day period.
11. Resolution of Conflicts; Arbitration.
(a) In case the Shareholder Representative shall so object in writing to
any claim or determination by Parent made in any Officer's Certificate or
Adjustment Notice, Parent shall have thirty (30) days to respond in a written
statement to the objection of the Shareholder Representative. If after such
thirty (30) day period there remains a dispute as to any such claim or
determination, the Shareholder Representative and Parent shall attempt in good
faith for thirty (30) days to agree upon the rights of the respective parties
with respect thereto. If the Shareholder Representative and Parent should so
agree, a memorandum setting forth such agreement shall be prepared and signed
by both parties and shall be furnished to the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent
shall be entitled to rely on any such memorandum and shall act in accordance
with the terms thereof with respect to the distribution of the Escrow Fund.
(b) If no such agreement can be reached after good faith negotiation,
either Parent or the Shareholder Representative may, by written notice to the
other, demand arbitration of the matter unless the amount of the damage or loss
is at issue in pending
7
<PAGE>
litigation with a third party, in which event arbitration shall not be commenced
until such amount is ascertained or both parties agree to arbitration; and in
either such event the matter shall be settled by arbitration conducted by three
arbitrators. Within fifteen (15) days after such written notice is sent, Parent
and the Shareholder Representative shall each select one arbitrator, and the two
arbitrators so selected shall select a third arbitrator. The decision of the
arbitrators as to the validity and amount of any claim in such Officer's
Certificate or Adjustment Notice shall be binding and conclusive upon the
parties to this Agreement, and notwithstanding anything in Section 4 hereof, the
Escrow Agent shall be entitled to act in accordance with such decision and make
or withhold payments out of the Escrow Fund in accordance therewith.
(c) Judgment upon any award rendered by the arbitrators may be entered in
any court having jurisdiction. Any such arbitration shall be held in Suffolk
County, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, under the commercial rules then in
effect of the American Arbitration Association.
12. Distributions. All dividends or other distributions of any kind
received by Escrow Agent shall be added to the Escrow Fund and become a part
hereof. Any provision hereof shall be equitably adjusted to appropriately
reflect such dividends or other distributions.
13. Exculpatory Provisions.
(a) The Escrow Agent shall be obligated only for the performance of such
duties as are specifically set forth herein (which duties are ministerial and
not fiduciary) and may rely and shall be protected in relying or refraining
from acting on any instrument reasonably believed to be genuine and to have
been signed or presented by the proper party or parties. The Escrow Agent shall
not be liable for forgeries or false presentations. The Escrow Agent shall not
be liable for any act done or omitted hereunder as escrow agent except for
gross negligence or willful misconduct. The Escrow Agent shall in no case or
event be liable for any representations or warranties of Company, Parent, the
Shareholder Representative, the Shareholders or Merger Sub. Any act done or
omitted pursuant to the advice or opinion of counsel, including in-house
counsel, shall be conclusive evidence of the good faith of the Escrow Agent;
and the Escrow Agent will be entitled to rely on the advice of such counsel.
(b) The Escrow Agent is hereby expressly authorized to disregard any and
all warnings given by any of the parties hereto or by any other person,
excepting only orders or process of courts of law or arbitration as provided
herein, and is hereby expressly authorized to comply with and obey orders,
judgments or decrees of any court or rulings of any arbitrators. In case the
Escrow Agent obeys or complies with any such order, judgment or decree of any
court or such ruling of any arbitrator, the Escrow Agent shall not be liable to
any of the parties hereto or to any other person by reason of such compliance,
notwithstanding any such order, judgment, decree or arbitrators' ruling being
subsequently reversed, modified, annulled, set aside, vacated or found to have
been entered without jurisdiction.
8
<PAGE>
(c) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable in any respect on account of the
identity, authority or rights of the parties executing or delivering or
purporting to execute or deliver the Escrow Agreement or any documents or
papers deposited or called for thereunder.
(d) The Escrow Agent shall not be liable for the outlawing of any rights
under any statute of limitation with respect to the Escrow Agreement or any
documents deposited with the Escrow Agent.
(e) Any transfer or disbursement of Escrow Shares by the Escrow Agent
hereunder shall be made by delivery by the Escrow Agent of the Escrow Share
Certificate held by it hereunder to the Parent or its transfer agent with
appropriate instructions to accomplish the related transfer or distribution.
The Escrow Agent shall have no liability or responsibility for any actions,
omissions or delay on the part of the Parent or any transfer agent in respect
thereof.
(f) The Escrow Agent shall have no liability or responsibility for any
actions or omissions of the Shareholder Representative, including with respect
to the distribution of any released Escrow Shares to or among shareholders,
distributions among Shareholders in accordance with their Percentage Interests,
or otherwise. Upon transfer or release of any Escrow Shares to the Shareholder
Representative pursuant to the terms hereof, any obligations or responsibility
on the part of the Escrow Agent with respect to such shares shall terminate.
(g) The Escrow Agent is hereby authorized, in making any investment or in
transferring, liquidating or disposing of any Escrow Shares or other property
pursuant to or under this Agreement, to deal with itself (in its individual
capacity) or with any one or more of its affiliates, whether it or such
affiliate is acting as a subagent of the Escrow Agent or for any third person
or dealing as principal for its own account.
14. Alteration of Duties. This Escrow Agreement may be altered, amended,
modified or revoked only by a writing signed by all of the parties hereto.
15. Resignation and Removal of the Escrow Agent. The Escrow Agent may
resign as Escrow Agent at any time with or without cause by giving at least
thirty (30) days' prior written notice to each of Parent and the Shareholder
Representative, such resignation to be effective thirty (30) days following the
date such notice is given. In addition, Parent and the Shareholder
Representative may jointly remove the Escrow Agent as escrow agent at any time
with or without cause, by an instrument (which may be executed in counterparts)
given to the Escrow Agent, which instrument shall designate the effective date
of such removal. In the event of any such resignation or removal, a successor
escrow agent, which shall be a bank or trust company organized under the laws
of the United States of America or of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts having
a combined capital and surplus of not less than $100,000,000, shall be
appointed by the Shareholder Representative with the approval of Parent, which
approval shall not be
9
<PAGE>
unreasonably withheld. Any such successor escrow agent shall deliver to Parent
and the Shareholder Representative a written instrument accepting such
appointment, and thereupon it shall succeed to all the rights and duties of the
Escrow Agent hereunder and shall be entitled to receive the Escrow Fund.
16. Further Instruments. If the Escrow Agent reasonably requires other or
further instruments in connection with performance of its duties hereunder, the
necessary parties hereto shall join in furnishing such instruments.
17. Disputes. It is understood and agreed that should any dispute arise
with respect to the delivery and/or ownership or right of possession of the
securities held by the Escrow Agent hereunder, the Escrow Agent is authorized
and shall be entitled (at its sole option and election) to retain in its
possession without liability to anyone, all or any of said Escrow Fund until
such dispute shall have been settled either by the mutual written agreement of
the parties involved or by a final order, decree or judgment of a court in the
United States of America, the time for perfection of an appeal of such order,
decree or judgment having expired. The Escrow Agent may, but shall be under no
duty whatsoever to, institute or defend any legal proceedings that relate to
the Escrow Fund.
18. Escrow Fees and Expenses.
(a) Parent shall pay the Escrow Agent such fees as are established by the
Fee Schedule attached hereto as Exhibit B, including any fees incurred in the
preparation of this Escrow Agreement.
(b) Any out-of-pocket fees and expenses incurred by the Shareholder
Representative shall be paid out of the Escrow Fund other than the
Indemnification Portion pursuant to and as provided in Section 8(c) hereof in
preference to other distributions from such Escrow Fund (other than the
Indemnification Portion and only to the extent such other distributions are made
or to be made contemporaneously with or subsequent to any such payment to the
Shareholder Representative); provided, however, that the aggregate of such
payments shall not exceed the proceeds of sales of shares made pursuant to
Section 8(c) hereof, and provided further that under no circumstances will the
Escrow Agent or the Parent have personal liability for any such fees and
expenses.
19. Indemnification. In consideration of the Escrow Agent's acceptance of
this appointment, Parent agrees to indemnify and hold the Escrow Agent (and its
officers, directors, employees and agents) harmless as to any liability
incurred by it to any person, firm or corporation by reason of its having
accepted such appointment or in carrying out the terms hereof, and to reimburse
the Escrow Agent for all its costs and expenses, including, among other things,
counsel fees and expenses, reasonably incurred by reason of its duties
hereunder; provided, however, that no indemnity need be paid in case of the
Escrow Agent's gross negligence, willful misconduct or breach of this Escrow
Agreement. This indemnification provision will survive termination of this
Escrow Agreement.
10
<PAGE>
20. Tax Indemnification. Parent agrees to indemnify and hold the Escrow
Agent harmless from any liability or obligations on account of taxes,
assessments, additions for late payment, interest, penalties, expenses and
other governmental charges that may be assessed or asserted against the Escrow
Agent in connection with or relating to any payment made or other activities
performed under the terms of this Agreement, including without limitation any
liability for the withholding or deduction of (or the failure to withhold or
deduct) the same, and any liability for failure to obtain proper certifications
or to report properly to governmental authorities in connection with this
Agreement, including costs and expenses (including reasonable legal fees and
expenses), interest and penalties. The foregoing indemnification and agreement
to hold harmless shall survive the termination of this Agreement; provided,
however, that no indemnity need be paid in case of the Escrow Agent's gross
negligence, willful misconduct or breach of this Escrow Agreement.
21. General.
(a) Any notice given hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed
effective upon the earlier of personal delivery or the third day after mailing
by certified or registered mail, postage prepaid as follows (provided, however,
that in no instance shall any notice be deemed to have been received by the
Escrow Agent when and until actually received by it):
To Parent:
Exchange Applications, Inc.
89 South Street
Boston, MA 02111
Attention: Andrew J. Frawley
Telephone: (617) 737-2244
Fax: (617) 443-9143
With a copy to:
Bingham Dana LLP
150 Federal Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02110
Attention: Neil Townsend, Esq.
Telephone: (617) 951-8866
To Shareholder Representative:
c/o Knowledge Stream Partners, Inc. or Exchange Applications, Inc.
Attention: Robert van der Hooning
1092 Ash Street
Winnetka, IL 60093
11
<PAGE>
Telephone: (847) 441-9330
Fax: (847) 441-9345
With a copy to:
Hopkins & Sutter
Three First National Plaza
Suite 4100
Chicago, Illinois 60602
Attention: Bennett Espstein, Esq.
Telephone: (312) 558-5193
To the Escrow Agent:
BY HAND BY FIRST CLASS MAIL
State Street Bank and Trust State Street Bank and Trust
Company Company
Two Avenue de Lafayette P.O. Box 778
Boston, MA 02111 Boston, MA 02102-0778
Attention: Corporate Trust Dept. Attention: Corporate Trust Dept.
Attn: Exchange Knowledge Attn: Exchange Knowledge Stream
Stream Escrow Agreement Escrow Agreement
Fax: (617) 662-1463 Fax: (617) 662-1463
or to such other address as any party may have furnished in writing to the
other parties in the manner provided above.
(b) The captions in this Escrow Agreement are for convenience only and
shall not be considered a part of or affect the construction or interpretation
of any provision of this Escrow Agreement.
(c) This Escrow Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts,
each of which when so executed shall constitute an original copy hereof, but
all of which together shall constitute one agreement.
(d) No party may, without the prior express written consent of each other
party, assign this Escrow Agreement in whole or in part. This Escrow Agreement
shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the respective successors and
assigns of the parties hereto.
(e) This Escrow Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as applied to contracts made
and to be performed entirely within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The
parties to this Escrow Agreement hereby agree to submit to personal
jurisdiction in the Commonwealth
12
<PAGE>
of Massachusetts. In any such action or
proceeding, the parties each hereby absolutely and irrevocably (i) waive any
objection to jurisdiction or venue, (ii) waive personal service of any summons,
complaint, declaration or other process, and (iii) agree that the service
thereof may be made by certified or registered first-class mail directed to
such party, as the case may be, at their respective addresses in accordance
with Section 21 hereof.
(f) Reproduction of Documents. This Escrow Agreement and all documents
relating thereto, including without limitation, (a) consents, waivers and
modifications which may hereafter be executed, and (b) certificates and other
information previously or hereafter furnished, may be reproduced by any
photographic, photostatic, microfilm, optical disk, micro-card, miniature
photographic or other similar process. The parties agree that any such
reproduction shall be admissible in evidence as the original itself in any
judicial or administrative proceeding, whether or not the original is in
existence and whether or not such reproduction was made by a party in the
regular course of business, and that any enlargement, facsimile or further
reproduction shall likewise be admissible in evidence.
13
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties has executed this Escrow Agreement
as of the date first above written.
STATE STREET BANK AND
TRUST COMPANY, as Escrow
Agent
By: __________________________
Name:
Title:
EXCHANGE APPLICATIONS, INC.
By: __________________________
Name:
Title:
SHAREHOLDER REPRESENTATIVE
______________________________
Robert van der Hooning
14
<PAGE>
Schedule I
Release and Adjustment Schedule
1. Definitions. For purposes of this Schedule I:
(a) "QUALIFYING REVENUES" for any period shall mean the total revenues of
Parent and its subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis
in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied in
accordance with Parent's historical practices from the following: (i) licenses
of Parent's Nextricity product and services associated with integration of
Nextricity, (ii) architecture, knowledge discovery/data mining and systems
integration services associated with analytic solutions, which services are
provided by Parent's analytic services group (which will consist of former
employees of the Company and others hired to work within this group, as needed)
and (iii) development and analytic services provided to Chase Manhattan Bank
under the Services Agreement, dated as of March 2000, or under services
agreements with Chase entered into after the Closing Date with one or more of
the business groups to whom KSP has historically provided services. If revenues
in respect of services described in clause (ii) above from executed definitive
agreements is recognizable during the 2000 fiscal year in accordance with
Parent's revenue recognition policies, and Parent is unable to recognize such
revenue because Parent's employees fail to perform its obligations under such
agreements, then such revenues shall nevertheless constitute Qualifying
Revenues for purposes of this Schedule (except in circumstances where the
Principal Shareholder has agreed to have execution responsibility for the
applicable projects).
(b) "REVENUE TEST" shall mean whether the Qualifying Revenues for the
period commencing on January 1, 2000 and ending on December 31, 2000 are
greater than $6,400,000.
(c) "RT AMOUNT" shall be the amount of Escrow Shares set forth opposite
the percentage of Qualifying Revenues determined in connection with the Revenue
Test:
QUALIFYING REVENUES*
(expressed as a percentage and in Dollars) RT AMOUNT
- -------------------------------------------- ----------------------------
80% [$6,400,000] 164,355 Escrow Shares
100% [$8,000,000] 205,444 Escrow Shares
such number of shares being
referred to as the "MAXIMUM
RT AMOUNT"
* If the Qualifying Revenues are between 80% ($6,400,000) and 100%
($8,000,000), the RT Amount shall be calculated in accordance with the
following formula:
RT Amount = Qualifying Revenues X (Maximum RT Amount/8,000,000)
<PAGE>
Exhibit A
Ownership of Escrow Shares
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder Name & Address Shareholder Address Number of Escrow Percentage Interest
(with phone number) Shares (of Escrow Shares)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Robert G. van der Hooning 1092 Ash Street 171,422 83.44
Winnetka, IL 60093
Robert Vecchione 12 Whippletree 2,377 1.16
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-250-6971
Gregory Piatetsky 22 Atherton Road #1 4,174 2.03
Brookline, MA 02146
617-232-7512
Mike Lurye 57 Stonegate Road 2,300 1.12
Chelmsford, MA 01824
978-256-4575
Stephen Gallant 49 Fenno Street 4,266 2.08
Cambridge, MA 02138
617-876-1607
Sully McConnell 1829 Pine Street Apt 2 3,070 1.49
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215-545-6707
Dorian Pyle 110 Carriage Run, 841 0.41
Lincoln University
Pennsylvania, PA 19352
610-255-0837
Peter Ossadnik Budiger Weg 17 2,934 1.43
50767 Koln Germany
49 (221) 979-3475
Stephen Marini 95 Carriageway Drive 1,738 0.85
Leominster, MA 01453
978-840-2080
Natasha Markuzon 101 Monmouth Street, 943 0.46
Apt. 105
Brookline, MA 02446
617-731-8004
Sam Schteingold 29 Mount Hood Road #4 682 0.33
Brighton, MA 02135
617-734-3094
Dmitry Manilov 236 Willis Avenue, #2 268 0.13
Medford, MA 02155
781-391-6266
Gareth Gunn 11 Hazelwood St. 332 0.16
Malden, MA 02145-5712
617-834-7431
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shareholder Name & Address Shareholder Address Number of Escrow Percentage Interest
(with phone number) Shares (of Escrow Shares)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Peter Nyberg 788 Grant Hill Road 1,485 0.72
Coventry, CT 06238
860-742-8295
Sophia Margolin 198 Lake Shore Road #3 507 0.25
Brighton, MA 02135
781-391-6266
Jodie Imriglio 236 Willis Avenue #2 939 0.46
Medford, MA 02155
781-391-6266
Rick Wherry 100 Fulton Street, Apt. 700 0.34
2W
Boston, MA 02109
617-227-9055
Anna Margulis 202 Brown Street 121 0.06
Waltham, MA 02453
781-883-6171
Hannah C. van der Hooning c/o Suzanne Luchs 2,115 1.03
Investment Trust 119 South Summit
Street, Wheaton, IL
60187
630-660-6022
Alexandra R. van der Hooning c/o Suzanne Luchs
Investment Trust 119 South Summit 2,115 1.03
Street, Wheaton, IL
60187
630-660-6022
Adriana M. van der Hooning c/o Suzanne Luchs
Investment Trust 119 South Summit 2,115 1.03
Street, Wheaton IL
60187
630-660-6022
------- ----
TOTAL 205,444 100%
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
Exhibit 99.1
PRESS RELEASE
XCHANGE, INC. ACQUIRES ECRM FIRM KNOWLEDGE STREAM PARTNERS
FOR $52 MILLION
DEAL WILL SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE XCHANGE'S UNIQUE rEAL-TIME CHANNEL
SYNCHRONIZATION AND DECISIONING SOFTWARE, AS WELL AS ITS ECRM ANALYTICS
SERVICES TEAM
BOSTON, MASS. - APRIL 3, 2000 - Exchange Applications, Inc. (Nasdaq:EXAP), now
doing business as Xchange, Inc., announced today that it has acquired privately
held Knowledge Stream Partners, an eCRM software and services company based in
Boston. Through the acquisition, Xchange gains a team of eCRM experts who have
already begun working on two high-impact projects: accelerating the development
of decisioning logic software for Xchange's real-time synchronization software,
Xchange Real Time(TM) (formerly neXtricity); and expanding Xchange's eCRM
analytics services offerings.
Knowledge Stream specializes in consulting and software development for
advanced data mining and online/offline analytics. Its solutions enable
businesses to better leverage customer information in order to drive
intelligent decisions across all customer channels in real time. Knowledge
Stream also provides the ability to identify, in real time, the underlying
drivers of customer economic behavior and then use them to fuel sales, service
and marketing applications. Its clients have included Chase Manhattan Bank,
Citigroup, Equitable, Banamex, First USA, First Union and Credit Suisse.
"Because eCRM is an emerging industry, finding experienced, qualified
talent is our number one challenge," remarked Dan Haley, chief deal
officer for Xchange, Inc.
"The acquisition of Knowledge Stream provides us with world-class
people who know eCRM analytics inside and out, and have experience in
delivering production-strength solutions. By adding these experts to
our team, Xchange vaults even further ahead of the competition."
Finding professionals with expert capabilities in cross-channel
synchronization and decisioning logic software is particularly tough,
said Haley, since the technology was just introduced to the market by
Xchange in late 1999.
The Knowledge Stream acquisition strengthens Xchange's eCRM leadership position
by:
- ACCELERATING THE INTRODUCTION OF ITS UNIQUE XCHANGE REAL TIME
SOFTWARE, widely anticipated by analysts and users as a giant leap
forward
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for the eCRM industry. Knowledge Stream's developers have been
developing the patent-pending decisioning logic for Xchange Real Time,
scheduled for availability in Q4 2000 and already in beta testing at a
major financial institution.
- SIGNIFICANTLY EXPANDING XCHANGE'S INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL IN THE ECRM
ANALYTIC SERVICES ARENA, which presents a tremendous growth opportunity.
- ADDING MORE ANALYTICAL CAPABILITIES TO THE COMPANY'S FAST-GROWING
SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT team. Technology research organization IDC has
singled out eCRM analytics as the fastest-growing sector of the
analytical applications market. Xchange has identified it as a key area
of growth for the company, and in January 2000 formed a significant
partnership with MicroStrategy (Nasdaq:MSTR) to target this area.
Robert van der Hooning, Knowledge Stream Partners' founder and CEO, will join
Xchange's Solutions Group. Van der Hooning is an eCRM domain expert, and has
taught courses on the subject at the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at
Northwestern University, the University of Chicago and the prestigious
International Bankers School.
"We think this is a perfect match," said van der Hooning. "Xchange is
regarded as a de facto leader in eCRM solutions, and Knowledge Stream
has built a strong consulting practice around the hottest areas within
eCRM: cross-channel customer analytics, real-time decisioning and
customer profitability. Knowledge Stream's consulting know-how and
Xchange's implementation skills are a very powerful combination, and a
compelling offering for businesses looking to implement Web-based
eCRM."
Under the terms of the agreement, Xchange, Inc. will issue shares of its common
stock and stock options to existing holders of Knowledge Stream Partners common
stock and options. The value of the Xchange common stock to be issued in the
transaction, including shares issuable under assumed options, is approximately
$52 million, $17 million of which will be held in escrow to cover certain
indemnification obligations and purchase-price adjustments. The transaction
will be accounted for as a purchase. All of Knowledge Stream's developers and
consultants have joined Xchange, Inc. and moved to Xchange's Boston
headquarters. Among them is Gregory Piatetsky, Knowledge Stream's chief
scientist, author and well-known eCRM consultant who publishes the data-mining
Web site www.kdnuggets.com.
The acquisition announcement follows on the heels of Xchange's launch of
Xchange 4.0, the industry's first integrated eCRM solution that:
- Can be provided in an ASP environment or as standalone applications;
- Can synchronize customer data across channels in real-time, in order
to provide the most relevant and personalized offers to customers and
prospects;
- Incorporates leading-edge customer analytics based on MicroStrategy's
award-winning Intelligent E-Business Platform; and
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- Is designed with an open architecture to run on all major database
platforms.
Xchange combines these unique capabilities with the industry's most experienced
in-house professional services team - a group that's further enhanced by the
Knowledge Stream acquisition.
Note to investors: Xchange, Inc. will hold a live teleconference for investors
at 11:00am Eastern today. To participate from within the U.S., dial
1(888)423-3281. To participate from outside the U.S., dial 1(612)332-0636. Ask
for the Exchange Applications/Xchange, Inc. teleconference. An optional
presentation will be available at Xchange's IR Web site
(http://www.xchangeinc.com/ir) shortly before the teleconference. Audio replay
will be available through Friday, April 7 at 8pm Eastern and can be accessed
from the U.S. by dialing 1(800)475-6701 and the access code 511640.
About Xchange, Inc. Xchange, Inc. helps companies earn a greater share of their
customers' business through relevant, personalized customer communications.
Xchange provides the only eCRM software and services solution that enables
clients to customize offers based on profile information, synchronize offers
across all customer channels in real-time, and track the responses. As a
result, companies can improve their ability to acquire and retain customers,
and make customer relationships more profitable. More than 120 of the world's
most innovative companies, including Bell Atlantic, Citigroup, DaimlerChrysler,
drugstore.com and Vodafone are using Xchange's solutions to drive personalized
communications to more than one billion consumers and businesses around the
globe. Xchange is based in Boston with offices in Denver, Seattle, London,
Sydney and Tokyo. For information, visit www.xchangeinc.com.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: In addition to historical information contained herein, this news release
contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties,
including the statements relating to current expectations for current and
future periods. The company's actual results could differ materially from those
discussed in such forward-looking statements, based on a variety of factors,
including whether all orders included in estimated revenues meet the company's
revenue recognition requirements, the adequacy of estimated expense accruals
and reserves, as well as factors affecting future performance, including the
fact that the Company's markets are characterized by rapidly changing
technology, evolving industry standards and frequent introductions of new
products and enhancements; the fact that the market for customer optimization
software is new and emerging; the fact that the company relies heavily on
indirect distribution channels for sales of its software; unpredictability of
the timing of customer orders; the highly competitive market for the company's
products; the fact that the company relies heavily on growth from international
operations; and the company's ability to attract and retain skilled personnel.
Additional information concerning factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements is contained
from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission,
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including but not limited to the company's Annual Report on Form
10-K filed Mar. 30, 2000. The company disclaims any obligation to update these
statements for subsequent developments.
# # #
Xchange, Xchange Dialogue, Xchange Optimizer, Xchange Real Time and Xchange
Solution Services are trademarks of Exchange Applications, Inc. All other
trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
CONTACT:
Leah Gabriel
Xchange, Inc.
617-737-2244
[email protected]
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