SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
[X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 1999
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 0-16730
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC.
------------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Nevada 88-0085608
------ ----------
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
333 Seventh Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, New York 10001
------------------ -----
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (917) 339-7100
-----------------------------------------------------
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last
report)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes X No ___
APPLICABLE ONLY TO CORPORATE ISSUERS
State number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer's classes of common
equity as of the latest practical date: As of November 11, 1999, there were
25,844,232 shares of the Issuer's Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
outstanding.
<PAGE>
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
TABLE OF CONTENTS
FORM 10-Q REPORT
SEPTEMBER 30, 1999
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION Page
----
Item 1 Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited)
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of
September 30, 1999 and June 30, 1999 (unaudited) 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for
the three months ended September 30, 1999 and
1998 (unaudited) 4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
for the three months ended September 30, 1999
and 1998 (unaudited) 5
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(unaudited) 6-9
Item 2 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations 10-12
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 2 Changes in Securities and Use of Proceeds
Item 6 Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits
(b) Reports on Form 8-K
Signatures
Exhibit 27 Financial Data Schedule
<PAGE>
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 - Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(unaudited)
September 30, 1999 June 30, 1999
ASSETS ------------------ -------------
<S> <C> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $14,692,784 $3,285,217
Accounts receivable billed, net of allowance
for doubtful accounts of $585,543 and $551,043 as of
September 30, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively 25,761,208 23,527,798
Accounts receivable unbilled 3,603,686 3,862,907
Note receivable-current portion 151,124 685,873
Other current assets 1,190,263 1,168,653
--------- ---------
Total current assets 45,399,065 32,530,448
Investment in affiliates 6,555,000 -
Property and equipment, net 1,966,725 1,504,826
Intangible assets, net 61,633,074 62,493,949
Note receivable 674,245 474,127
Other assets 579,463 623,599
------- -------
Total assets $116,807,572 $97,626,949
============ ===========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Lines of credit $1,763,460 $5,316,775
Accounts payable-trade 24,424,164 23,214,278
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 7,147,396 8,151,764
Current portion of note payable-related party 4,903,813 4,871,750
Current portion of capital lease obligations 46,534 52,099
Current portion of long-term obligations 337,320 584,954
------- -------
Total current liabilities 38,622,687 42,177,319
Capital lease obligations, net of current portion 118,827 67,407
Long-term obligations, net of current portion 917,944 997,890
Note payable-related party, net of current portion - 4,871,750
Other liabilities 26,815 570,653
------ -------
Total liabilities 39,686,273 48,699,320
---------- ----------
Stockholders' equity:
Common Stock - $.01 par value; 75,000,000 authorized;
25,712,433 and 22,513,772 shares issued as of
September 30, 1999 and June 30, 1999, respectively 257,124 225,138
Additional paid-in capital 101,719,672 70,812,973
Accumulated deficit (22,776,847) (19,928,677)
Deferred compensation (684,940) (788,095)
Less: 423,894 shares of common stock in treasury, at cost (1,393,710) (1,393,710)
---------- ----------
Total stockholders' equity 77,121,299 48,927,629
---------- ----------
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $116,807,572 $97,626,949
============ ===========
</TABLE>
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
<PAGE>
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND 1998
(unaudited)
1999 1998
---- ----
Revenues $27,173,623 $17,152,928
----------- -----------
Operating costs and expenses:
Direct costs 17,819,178 9,514,162
Salaries and benefits 8,470,870 6,286,822
General and administrative 2,124,260 1,335,625
Depreciation and amortization 1,115,138 455,298
--------- -------
Total operating costs and expenses 29,529,446 17,591,907
Loss from operations (2,355,823) (438,979)
Interest expense, net (524,226) (30,727)
Gain on sale of minority investment 45,163 -
Loss before income taxes (2,834,886) (469,706)
Provision for income taxes 13,284 27,305
------ ------
Net loss $(2,848,170) $(497,011)
============ ==========
Net loss attributable to common
stockholders $(2,848,170) $(783,737)*
============ ==========
Net loss per common share, basic
and fully diluted $(.12) $(.06)
====== ======
Weighted average common and common
equivalent shares outstanding 22,972,516 13,090,141
========== ==========
* The three months ended September 30, 1998 include the impact of dividends on
stock for (a) $232,067 in cumulative undeclared dividends; and (b) $54,659 of
periodic non-cash accretions on preferred stock.
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
<PAGE>
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 AND 1998
(unaudited)
1999 1998
---- ----
Operating activities:
Net loss $(2,848,170) $(497,011)
Adjustments to reconcile loss to net cash
provided by (used in)operating activities:
Depreciation 254,263 150,345
Amortization 860,875 304,953
Accrued interest on convertible securities - 11,974
Provision for bad debts 34,500 57,486
Gain on sale of minority interest (45,163) -
Compensation expense on stock option grants 103,155 -
Amortization of discount on note receivable 160,313 -
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (2,008,689) 96,689
Other current assets (21,610) (100,688)
Other assets (133,054) (320,662)
Trade accounts payable 1,209,887 1,156,205
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities (1,562,508) 294,892
----------- -------
Net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities (3,996,201) 564,399
---------- -------
Investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment (641,862) (155,214)
Proceeds from sale of Metro Fulfillment, Inc. 556,984 -
Investment in affiliates (6,555,000) -
----------- --------
Net cash used in investing activities (6,639,878) (155,214)
---------- --------
Financing activities:
Proceeds from exercises of stock options 205,426 12,690
Proceeds from private placement of
common stock, net 30,733,259 -
Repayments of credit facilities (3,553,315) (861,439)
Repayment of capital lease obligation (28,445) (31,918)
Repayment of short term note payable (5,000,000) -
Repayments of notes payable, other (79,946) (117,540)
Repayment of acquisition debt (233,333) (175,000)
Purchase of treasury stock - (48,150)
--------- ---------
Net cash provided by (used in)
financing activities 22,043,646 (1,221,357)
---------- -----------
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 11,407,567 (812,172)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 3,285,217 6,234,981
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $14,692,784 $5,422,809
=========== ==========
See Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
<PAGE>
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO INTERIM CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(unaudited)
1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements include
the accounts of Marketing Services Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company").
These condensed consolidated financial statements are unaudited and should be
read in conjunction with the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended June 30,
1999 and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes
included therein. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited
condensed financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of only
normal recurring accruals, necessary to present fairly the condensed
consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the
Company. Certain information and footnote disclosure normally included in
financial statements prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the Securities and
Exchange Commission's rules and regulations. Operating results for the
three-month period ended September 30, 1999 are not necessarily indicative of
the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000.
Certain reclassifications have been made in the fiscal 1999 financial statements
to conform with the fiscal 2000 presentation.
In May 1998, the Company formed Metro Fulfillment, Inc. ("MFI"), a subsidiary
providing online commerce, real-time database management, inbound/outbound
customer service, custom packaging, assembling, product warehousing, shipping,
payment processing and retail distribution. Effective March 1, 1999, the Company
sold 85% of the common stock of MFI. The investment in MFI is being accounted
for by the cost method of accounting. Accordingly, effective March 1, 1999 the
results of operations of MFI are no longer consolidated in the Company's
statement of operations.
Effective January 1, 1999, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common
shares of Stevens-Knox & Associates, Inc., Stevens-Knox List Brokerage, Inc. and
Stevens-Knox International, Inc. (collectively "SK&A"). The results of
operations of SK&A are reflected in the consolidated financial statements using
the purchase method of accounting from the date of acquisition. SK&A provides
list management, brokerage and database management services.
Effective May 13, 1999, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common
shares of CMG Direct Corporation ("CMG Direct"). The results of operations of
CMG Direct are reflected in the consolidated financial statements using the
purchase method of accounting from the date of acquisition. CMG Direct provides
database services to the direct marketing and internet industries.
2. EARNINGS PER SHARE
In October 1997, the Company adopted the provisions of Statement of Financial
Accounting Standards No. 128, "Earnings Per Share" ("EPS"). This statement
requires the presentation of basic and diluted earnings per share. Basic EPS
does not give effect to common stock equivalents whereas the presentation of
diluted EPS gives effect to all dilutive common shares that were outstanding
during the period. Stock options and warrants in the amount of 3,336,463 shares
for the three months ended September 30, 1999 were not included in the
computation of diluted EPS as they are antidilutive as a result of net losses
during the periods presented.
3. SHORT TERM BORROWINGS
At September 30, 1999, the Company was in violation of certain financial
covenants with regard to its lines of credit at certain subsidiaries. The
Company has obtained a waiver of such violations.
4. CONTINGENCIES AND LITIGATION
In June 1999, certain employees of SD&A voted against representation by the
International Longshore and Warehouse Union ("ILWU"). The ILWU has filed unfair
labor practices with the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") alleging that
the Company engaged in unlawful conduct prior to the vote. The NLRB has issued a
complaint seeking a bargaining order and injunctive relief compelling the
Company to recognize and bargain with the ILWU. The Company intends to
vigorously defend against these charges. An unfavorable finding will not have
any direct financial impact on the Company.
In September, 1999, an action was commenced against the Company in the Supreme
Court of New York, Kings County alleging damages of $4.3 million in connection
with the Company's alleged failure to deliver warrants due the plaintiff. The
Company denies all liability and intends to vigorously defend against this
action.
In addition to the above, certain other legal actions are pending to which the
Company is a party. The Company does not expect that the ultimate resolution of
pending legal matters in future periods will have a material effect on the
financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
5. SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON CASH INVESTING AND FINANCING ACTIVITITES
During the quarter ended September 30, 1999 and 1998, the Company entered into
capital lease obligations for approximately $74,300 and $9,400, respectively,
for certain computer equipment. During the quarter ended September 30, 1999, the
Company sold its investment in Metro Fulfillment, Inc. for a Note Receivable in
the amount of $222,353. During the quarter ended September 30, 1998, the Company
recorded non-cash preferred dividends in the amount of $286,726 of which
$232,067 was in connection with cumulative undeclared dividends and $54,659 was
for periodic, non-cash accretions on preferred stock.
6. TREASURY STOCK
On September 23, 1998, the Company announced its intention to acquire, in open
market transactions, up to 1,000,000 shares of its common stock, par value, $.01
per share subject to and in compliance with the provisions and limitations of
Rule 10b-18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Purchases were permitted to
be made from time to time at prevailing market prices during the one-year period
ended September 28, 1999. As of September 30, 1999, the Company bought back
412,094 shares valued at $1,258,241. All shares are held in treasury.
7. INTERNET INVESTMENTS
In July 1999, the Company invested $1,555,000 to acquire a 10% interest in
Screenzone Media Network, LLC ("Screenzone"). Screenzone is an interactive
broadcast gateway that was developed to advertise and promote movies, music,
live events and other entertainment at shopping malls and over the Internet. The
investment will be accounted for under the cost method of accounting.
In September 1999, the Company acquired a 14% interest in Greatergood.com for
$5,000,000. GreaterGood.com builds, co-markets and manages online shopping
villages for not-for-profit organization web sites. The investment will be
accounted for under the cost method of accounting.
8. PENDING ACQUISITION
In July 1999, MSGI entered into an agreement to acquire all of the outstanding
common stock of Atlanta-based Grizzard Communications Group. The purchase price
is $50 million cash and $50 million dollars in MSGI common stock. The
acquisition is targeted to close by the end of calendar year 1999 and is subject
to certain conditions, including approval by the stockholders of Grizzard. As of
September 30, 1999, the Company is actively seeking financing for the cash
portion of the purchase price. Grizzard's services include strategic planning,
creative, database management, print-production, mailing and Internet marketing.
Grizzard's client base includes retail, consumer and business-to-business
companies as well as many premier not-for-profit clients. The acquisition will
be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting. On November 10, 1999,
the shareholders of Grizzard approved the merger.
9. PRIVATE PLACEMENT OF COMMON STOCK
In September 1999, the Company completed a private placement of 3,130,586 shares
of common stock for proceeds of approximately $30.8 million, net of
approximately $2,000,000 of placement fees and expenses. The shares have certain
registration rights. The proceeds of the private placement will be used in
connection with certain Internet investments, to repay certain short-term debt
and for working capital purposes. The shares were registered on October 29,
1999.
10. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTION
During July and August 1999, the Company entered into a promissory note
agreement with a venture fund in the amount of $4,500,000. The principal and all
accrued interest was payable in full on December 10, 1999 and bore interest at
the greater of 10% or prime plus 2%. An officer of the Company is a partner in
the venture fund. The principal amount and all accrued interest was prepaid in
September 1999 with the proceeds of the private placement.
11. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In October 1999, the Company completed an acquisition of approximately 85% of
the outstanding common stock of Cambridge Intelligence Agency for $1.8 million
in common stock of the Company, subject to certain adjustments. The acquisition
will be accounted for under the purchase method of accounting.
<PAGE>
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results
- - --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
of Operations
- - -------------
Introduction
- - ------------
This discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting the consolidated
operating results, financial condition and liquidity/cash flows of the Company
for the three month periods ended September 30, 1999 and 1998. This should be
read in conjunction with the financial statements, and notes thereto, included
in this Report on Form 10-Q and the Company's financial statements and notes
thereto, included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
June 30, 1999.
In May 1998, the Company formed Metro Fulfillment, Inc. ("MFI"), a subsidiary
providing online commerce, real-time database management, inbound/outbound
customer service, custom packaging, assembling, product warehousing, shipping,
payment processing and retail distribution. Effective March 1, 1999, the Company
sold 85% of the common stock of MFI. The investment in MFI is being accounted
for by the cost method of accounting. Accordingly, effective March 1, 1999 the
results of operations of MFI are no longer consolidated in the Company's
statement of operations.
Effective January 1, 1999, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common
shares of Stevens-Knox & Associates, Inc., Stevens-Knox List Brokerage, Inc. and
Stevens-Knox International, Inc. (collectively "SK&A"). The results of
operations of SK&A are reflected in the consolidated financial statements using
the purchase method of accounting from the date of acquisition. SK&A provides
list management, brokerage and database management services.
Effective May 13, 1999, the Company acquired all of the outstanding common
shares of CMG Direct Corporation ("CMG Direct"). The results of operations of
CMG Direct are reflected in the consolidated financial statements using the
purchase method of accounting from the date of acquisition. CMG Direct provides
database services to the direct marketing and internet industries.
Results of Operations for the Three Months Ended September 30, 1999, Compared to
the Three Months Ended September 30, 1998.
Revenues of approximately $27.2 million for the three months ended September 30,
1999 (the "current period") increased by $10.1 million or 59.1% over revenues of
$17.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 1998 (the "prior
period"). Of the increase, approximately $12.1 million is attributable to an
increase in direct marketing resulting from the acquisitions of SK&A and CMG
Direct including a 75% organic increase in Internet revenues and a decrease in
telemarketing and telefundraising revenues of approximately 19.2%. Fulfillment
revenue decreased in the current period by approximately $0.5 million due to the
sale of MFI. The decrease in telemarketing and telefundraising primarily
resulted from a loss of revenue due to an unsuccessful attempt by third parties
to unionize the calling center. New management has been put in place at the
start of the new fiscal year and have refocused its priorities. The Company is
still in the process of opposing certain issues with the union but expects to be
successful in its efforts.
Direct costs of approximately $17.8 million in the current period increased by
$8.3 million or 88.4% over direct costs of $9.5 million in the prior period. Of
the increase, approximately $9.2 million is attributable to the acquisitions of
SK&A and CMG Direct. Direct costs for direct and internet marketing excluding
the effects of acquisitions decreased by $0.9 million or 9.1% which is due to
the decrease in revenue in addition to a decrease in direct costs from
fulfillment due to the sale of MFI. The Company's direct costs consist
principally of commissions paid to use marketing lists. Direct costs as a
percentage of revenue increased from 55.5% in the prior period to 65.6% in the
current period. The increase in the direct costs as a percentage of revenue
results from the mix in services sold. Most of the acquisitions made in the past
two years resulted in a substantial increase to the list management and list
brokerage services. These services have a high direct cost percentage. As MSGI
acquires new companies and internet revenues become a higher percentage of
overall revenue, management expects the direct cost percentage of revenue to
begin to decrease.
Salaries and benefits of approximately $8.5 million in the current period
increased by approximately $2.3 million or 37.1% over salaries and benefits of
approximately $6.2 million in the prior period. Of the increase, approximately
$2.7 million is attributable to the acquisitions of SK&A and CMG Direct.
Salaries and benefits relating to direct and internet marketing excluding
acquisitions increased by approximately $0.5 million or 13.8% due to an increase
in head count to manage current and anticipated future growth which was offset
by a decrease in telemarketing and telefundraising salaries of $0.3 million.
Fulfillment salaries and benefits decreased by approximately $0.7 million due to
sale of MFI.
General and administrative expenses of approximately $2.1 million in the current
period increased by approximately $0.8 million or 57.2% over comparable expenses
of $1.3 million in the prior period. Of the increase, approximately $0.7 million
is attributable to the acquisitions of SK&A and CMG Direct. The remaining
increase is primarily due to an increase in corporate expenses of approximately
$0.3 million due to an increase in fees associated with the increase in merger
and acquisition activity.
Depreciation and amortization expense of approximately $1.1 million in the
current period increased by approximately $0.6 million over expense of $0.5
million in the prior period. This is primarily attributable to an increase in
direct and internet marketing depreciation and amortization expense resulting
from the acquisitions of SK&A and CMG Direct.
Net interest expense of approximately $500,000 in the current period increased
by approximately $470,000 over net interest expense of approximately $30,000 in
the prior period principally due to accrued interest on outstanding borrowings
relating to the acquisitions of SK&A and CMG Direct.
Capital Resources and Liquidity
- - -------------------------------
Historically, the Company has funded its operations, capital expenditures and
acquisitions primarily through cash flows from operations, private placements of
common and preferred stock, and its credit facilities. At September 30, 1999,
the Company had cash and cash equivalents of $14.7 million and accounts
receivable net of allowances of $29.3 million.
The Company generated losses from operations of $2.4 million in the current
period. Cash used in operating activities was $4.0 milllion. Cash used by
operating activities principally consists of the net loss and an increase in
trade accounts receivable.
In the current period, net cash of $6.6 million was used in investing activities
consisting primarily of investments in internet companies. In the prior period,
net cash used in investing activities of $155,214 consisted of purchases of
property and equipment. The Company intends to continue to invest in technology
and telecommunications hardware and software.
In the current period, net cash of $22.0 million was provided by financing
activities. Net cash provided by financing activities consists principally of
$30.8 million of net fees and expenses for the private placement of the
Company's common stock offset by repayments of lines of credit of $3.6 million
and repayments on acquisition debt and other notes payable of $5.3 million.
At September 30, 1999, the Company had amounts outstanding of $1,763,000 on its
lines of credit. The Company had approximately $4,656,000 available on its lines
of credit as of September 30, 1999.
The Company believes that funds on hand, funds available from its operations and
from its unused lines of credit, should be adequate to finance its operations
and capital expenditure requirements, and enable the Company to meet its
interest and debt obligations for the next twelve months.
The Year 2000
- - -------------
The Year 2000 issue could result in system failures or miscalculations causing
disruption of operations of the companies. To date, MSGI has experienced very
few problems related to the Year 2000 issue, and MSGI does not believe that it
has a material exposure problem.
MSGI has conducted a review of its computer systems and other systems for the
purpose of assessing its readiness for Year 2000, and is in the process of
modifying or replacing those systems which are not Year 2000 compliant. Based
upon this review, management believes such systems will be compliant by November
1999 for its existing business-critical systems. However, if modifications are
not made or completed timely, there could be a significant adverse impact on
MSGI's operations.
In addition, MSGI has communicated with its major vendors and suppliers to
determine their state of readiness relative to the Year 2000 compliance and
MSGI's possible exposure to Year 2000 issues of such third parties. However,
there can be no guarantee that the systems of other companies, which MSGI's
systems may rely upon, will be timely converted or representations made to MSGI
by these parties are accurate. As a result, the failure of a major vendor or
supplier to adequately address their Year 2000 compliance could have a
significant adverse impact on MSGI's operations.
As of the date hereof, MSGI has incurred insignificant costs (primarily for
internal labor) related to the identification and evaluation of MSGI's Year 2000
issues related to the system applications. Primarily as a result of the
acquisition of CMG Direct, the Company has spent approximately $217,000 and
anticipates spending an additional $310,000 to become Year 2000 compliant for
its business-critical systems prior to the end of November 1999. The estimated
completion date and remaining costs are based upon management's best estimates,
as well as third party modification plans and other factors. However, there can
be no guarantee that such estimates are accurate and actual results could differ
from these estimates.
Seasonality and Cyclicality: The businesses of telemarketing and marketing
services tend to be seasonal. Telemarketing has higher revenues and profits
occurring in the fourth fiscal quarter, followed by the first fiscal quarter.
This is due to subscription renewal campaigns for its performing arts clients,
which generally begin in the spring time and continue during the summer months.
Marketing services tend to have higher revenues and profits occurring in the
second fiscal quarter, based on the seasonality of its clients' mail dates.
Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
- - -----------------------------------------
a) Exhibits
Exhibit # Item Notes
--------- ---- -----
10 CIA Purchase Agreement A
20 Press Release A
27 Financial Data Schedule A
Notes relating to Exhibits:
A Filed herewith.
b) Reports on Form 8-K
None
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has
caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized.
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC.
(Registrant)
Date: November 15, 1999 By: /s/ J. Jeremy Barbera
---------------------------------------
J. Jeremy Barbera
Chairman of the Board and Chief
Executive Officer
Date: November 15, 1999 By: /s/ Cindy H. Hill
---------------------------------------
Cindy H. Hill
Chief Financial Officer
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC.,
and
CAMBRIDGE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, INC.
and
THE SECURITYHOLDERS LISTED ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HEREOF
October 1, 1999
<PAGE>
-iii-
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I. PURCHASE AND SALE......................................................2
ss.1.1 Terms of Purchase and Sale........................................2
ss.1.2 Purchase Price....................................................2
ss.1.3 Option Exchange...................................................5
ss.1.4 Seller Agreements.................................................7
II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES........................................ 11
ss.2.1 Certain Representations and Warranties of CIA and the Sellers....11
ss.2.2 Certain Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser..........35
III. CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS......................................38
ss.3.1 Conduct of Business of CIA.......................................38
ss.3.2 Corporate Examinations and Investigations........................39
ss.3.3 Additional Financial Statements..................................40
ss.3.4 Filings and Authorizations.......................................40
ss.3.5 Efforts to Consummate the Contemplated Transactions..............41
ss.3.6 Negotiation with Others..........................................41
ss.3.7 Notice of Certain Events.........................................42
ss.3.8 Public Announcements.............................................42
ss.3.9 Expenses.........................................................43
ss.3.10Confidentiality..................................................43
ss.3.11Certain Renewals.................................................44
ss.3.12MSGI Filings.....................................................44
ss.3.13The Roll-up......................................................45
ss.3.14Affiliate Loans..................................................45
IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.................................................47
ss.4.1 Conditions to the Obligations of the Parties.....................47
ss.4.2 Conditions to the Obligations of CIA and the Sellers.............48
ss.4.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Purchaser...................49
V. INDEMNIFICATION.......................................................53
ss.5.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties.......................53
ss.5.2 Obligation of the Sellers to Indemnify...........................54
ss.5.3 Obligation of the Purchaser to Indemnify.........................55
ss.5.4 Notice and Opportunity to Defend Third Party Claims..............55
ss.5.5 Limits on Indemnification........................................57
ss.5.6 Adjustment.......................................................58
ss.5.7 Exclusive Remedy.................................................59
VI. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE; TERMINATION.....................................59
ss.6.1 Specific Performance.............................................59
ss.6.2 Termination......................................................59
ss.6.3 Effect of Termination; Right to Proceed..........................61
VII. MISCELLANEOUS.........................................................62
ss.7.1 Notices..........................................................62
ss.7.2 Entire Agreement.................................................63
ss.7.3 Waivers and Amendments; Non-Contractual Remedies; Preservation
of Remedies ........................................................ 63
ss.7.4 Judicial Proceedings.............................................64
ss.7.5 Binding Effect; No Assignment....................................65
ss.7.6 Exhibits.........................................................65
ss.7.7 Severability.....................................................65
ss.7.8 Counterparts.....................................................66
ss.7.9 Third Parties....................................................66
ss.7.10Further Assurances...............................................66
ss.7.11Provisions Regarding the Agents..................................67
VIII. DEFINITIONS...........................................................68
ss.8.1 Definitions....................................................68
ss.8.2 Interpretations................................................75
SCHEDULE 1.2(d).............................................................78
<PAGE>
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT (this "Agreement"), is being made on
this 1st day of October 1999, by and among MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC., a
Nevada corporation (the "Purchaser" or "MSGI"), with offices at 333 Seventh
Avenue, New York, New York 10001, CAMBRIDGE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, INC., a
Massachusetts corporation with offices at 95 Water Street, Williamstown,
Massachusetts 01267 ("CIA") and the securityholders listed on the signature
pages of this Agreement (the "Sellers") .
W I T N E S S E T H :
WHEREAS, immediately prior to the Closing, the Sellers, in the
aggregate, will own, beneficially and of record, all of the issued number of
shares and outstanding capital stock of CIA, which shall consist of an aggregate
of seventy-three thousand nine hundred thirty-six (73,936) shares of common
stock, par value $.01 per share (the "CIA Pre-Conversion Common Stock"), forty
thousand eighty-four (40,084) shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock,
par value $.01 per share (the "CIA Preferred Stock"), and options and warrants
to purchase an aggregate of twenty-one thousand three hundred sixty-three
(21,363) shares of CIA Common Stock (the "CIA Options," and together with the
CIA Pre-Conversion Common Stock and the CIA Preferred Stock, the "CIA Common
Stock");
<PAGE>
-4-
WHEREAS, The Berkshires Capital Investors Limited Partnership, a Delaware
limited partnership ("BCI") and the sole holder of the CIA Preferred Stock, has
elected, pursuant to Section 7 of the Restated Articles of Organization of CIA,
dated September 4, 1998, to convert the CIA Preferred Stock into forty thousand
eighty-four (40,084) shares of CIA Common Stock, subject to and in connection
with the Closing (as defined below);
WHEREAS, the holders of the CIA Options ("Optionholders") acknowledge and
agree that the CIA Options shall be terminated and exchanged for options to
purchase an aggregate of [twenty-one thousand one hundred five (21,105)] shares
of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of MSGI (the "MSGI Stock") and
options to purchase an aggregate of two thousand nine hundred thirteen (2,913)
shares of CIA Common Stock, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below;
and
WHEREAS, the Purchaser desires to acquire ninety-eight thousand four
hundred seventy (98,470) shares of CIA Common Stock from the Sellers (the "CIA
Shares"), and the Sellers desire to sell the CIA Shares to the Purchaser,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth below.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual premises, representations,
warranties, and covenants contained herein, and intending to be legally bound
hereby, the parties hereto agree as follows:
I. PURCHASE AND SALE.
ss.I.1 Terms of Purchase and Sale.
Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, at the
Closing, the Sellers shall sell, assign, transfer, and convey to the Purchaser
the CIA Shares, and the Purchaser shall purchase and accept from each Seller,
the CIA Shares owned by such Seller, free and clear of any Liens whatsoever.
<PAGE>
ss.I.2 Purchase Price.
(a) The aggregate purchase price for the CIA Shares shall be the sum
of (i) One Million Five Hundred Five Thousand ($1,505,000) Dollars minus the
interest on the Loan Payment (as hereinafter defined), plus (ii) an amount equal
to the product of the Average Closing Price multiplied by the number of Escrow
Shares (as hereinafter defined), plus (iii) the amount of the Loan Payment
including interest thereon plus (iv) the amount of the Liability Payment (as
hereinafter defined) (collectively, the "Purchase Price").
(b) On or prior to the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the
Purchaser, the Agents (as hereinafter defined) and an escrow agent selected by
the Purchaser and the Agents ("Escrow Agent") will execute and deliver an escrow
agreement ("Escrow Agreement") substantially in the form of Exhibit 1.2(b)
hereto pursuant to which the Purchaser will deliver to the Escrow Agent the
number of shares of MSGI Stock with an aggregate value of One Hundred Thousand
($100,000) Dollars (valued at the Average Closing Price, free and clear of all
commissions, obligations, transaction fees or stamp taxes) rounded to the
nearest number of whole shares of MSGI Stock (the "Escrow Shares"), which will
provide a non-exclusive source for a period of 18 months following the Closing
for the payment of any Losses for which the Purchaser may be entitled to
indemnification as and to the extent provided in Article V.
(c) The Purchase Price is payable as follows:
(i) at the Closing, the Purchaser shall deliver the Escrow Shares to the Escrow
Agent;
<PAGE>
(ii) at the Closing, the Purchaser will deliver to the holders
of the Affiliate Loans (as hereinafter defined) a number of shares of MSGI Stock
equal to the Loan Payment (as hereinafter defined);
(iii) at the Closing, the Purchaser shall either pay,
discharge or assume up to Forty-Five Thousand ($45,000.00) Dollars of the
Liabilities of the Sellers listed on Exhibit 1.2(c) hereof at the amounts
specified therein (the "Liability Payment");
(iv) at the Closing, the Purchaser will deliver to the Sellers
a number of shares of MSGI Stock and MSGI Options (as hereinafter defined) (the
"Net Proceeds") equal to the Purchase Price minus the amounts paid by Buyer
pursuant to clauses (i) and (ii) above (valued at the Average Closing Price) and
(iii) above; and
(v) the Net Proceeds shall be allocated to the Sellers in
accordance with each Seller's Percentage Share (as hereinafter defined).
<PAGE>
(d) Schedule 1.2(d) hereto shall set forth (i) the name and amounts
of each securityholder of CIA prior to the transactions contemplated hereunder,
(ii) the number of CIA Shares to be sold to the Purchaser hereunder, (iii) the
percentage share (the "Percentage Share") of each Seller in the Net Proceeds of
each stockholder of CIA, (iv) the number of shares of MSGI Stock to be issued to
the Sellers hereunder, (v) the number of CIA Options to be exchanged hereunder,
(vi) the percentage share (the "MSGI Options Percentage Share") of each Seller
in the MSGI Options (as hereinafter defined), (vii) the number of New CIA
Options (as hereinafter defined) to be granted hereunder, (viii) the number of
MSGI Options to be granted hereunder, (ix) the vesting start date and rate of
vesting for each optionholder and (x) the name of each Seller who is not an
"accredited investor" (a "Nonaccredited Stockholder") as such term is defined in
Regulation D under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities
Act"). Shares of MSGI Stock delivered at the Closing in payment of Net Proceeds
(the "Transaction Shares") will be valued at the Average Closing Price, free and
clear of all commissions, obligations or transaction fees or stamps. No
fractional shares of MSGI Stock will be issued, and the number of Transaction
Shares issuable to any Seller shall be rounded down to the nearest number of
whole shares of MSGI Stock. The Transaction Shares shall be subject to
substantially the same terms and conditions as such Seller's CIA Shares,
including any restrictions thereunder as set forth in Schedule 1.2(d), as
evidenced by a Restricted Stock Agreement in substantially the form attached
hereto as Exhibit 1.2(d). The parties acknowledge and agree that the Transaction
Shares are being issued pursuant to the exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act provided in Section 4(2) thereof and
constitute restricted securities within the meaning of the Securities Act. The
Sellers may not transfer the Transaction Shares absent compliance with the
provisions of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws and all
stock certificates evidencing the Transaction Shares will bear a legend to such
effect. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the number of Nonaccredited
Stockholders shall exceed 35 or (ii) the Purchaser's counsel shall otherwise
determine that the issuance of Transaction Shares to all of the Sellers as
contemplated herein shall not be exempt from registration under the Securities
Act, at the Closing the Purchaser may deliver immediately available funds, in
lieu of Transaction Shares, in respect of the Percentage Share of the Net
Proceeds of that number of Nonaccredited Shareholders as shall be necessary in
order to permit the Purchaser's counsel to deliver at the Closing the opinion
provided for in Exhibit 4.2B with respect to compliance with the Securities Act
of the Contemplated Transactions. In that event, the Nonaccredited Stockholders
who will receive cash in lieu of Transaction Shares shall be selected on the
basis that the Nonaccredited Stockholders with the smallest Percentage Share
will be selected first.
ss.I.3 Option Exchange.
<PAGE>
(a) Terms of Option Exchange. At the Closing, each of the
Optionholders hereby agrees to surrender for termination and cancellation all
CIA Options held by him and, in exchange therefor, (1) the Purchaser shall issue
to such Optionholder new stock options ("MSGI Options") to provide for the right
to purchase, at a per share exercise price of $1.54 and with a vesting start
date and rate of vesting as provided with respect to such Optionholder on
Schedule 1.2(d), the number of shares of MSGI Stock set forth opposite the name
of such Optionholder on Schedule 1.2(d) attached hereto, which shall be subject
to the terms and conditions set forth in stock option agreements to be entered
into by such Optionholder and the Purchaser ("MSGI Option Agreements") in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.3A (the "MSGI Option
Exchange"), and (2) CIA shall issue to such Optionholder new stock options ("New
CIA Options") to provide for the right to purchase, at a per share exercise
price of $2.03 and with a vesting start date and rate of vesting as provided
with respect to such Optionholder on Schedule 1.2(d), the number of shares of
CIA Common Stock set forth opposite the name of such Optionholder on Schedule
1.2(d) attached hereto, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in stock
option agreements to be entered into by such Optionholder and CIA ("New CIA
Option Agreements"), in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.3B
(the "New CIA Option Exchange," together with the MSGI Option Exchange, the
"Option Exchange"). After the completion of the Option Exchange as provided
herein, all rights held by the Optionholders under their respective CIA Options
shall be deemed terminated and the CIA Options shall have no further force or
effect.
(i) MSGI Options. MSGI hereby agrees that the MSGI Options
shall be granted to the Optionholders under the Marketing Services Group, Inc.
1999 Incentive and Nonqualified Stock Option Plan (the "MSGI Stock Plan") and
that the shares of MSGI Stock issuable upon exercise of the MSGI Options (the
"MSGI Option Shares") shall be subject to MSGI's registration statement on Form
S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 9, 1999 covering
the MSGI Stock Plan. The MSGI Options shall be subject to substantially the same
terms and conditions set forth in the respective option agreements governing the
CIA Options.
(ii) New CIA Options. The New CIA Options shall be subject to
annual vesting in four equal installments commencing on the first anniversary of
the "Vesting Start Date" set forth opposite the name of each Optionholder on
Schedule 1.2(d) attached hereto, the terms and conditions of which shall be as
set forth in the applicable New CIA Option Agreements.
(b) Exchange Procedures. On the date hereof, each Optionholder shall
surrender the applicable written agreements, if any, pursuant to which his CIA
Options were granted by CIA, to CIA for termination and cancellation, whereupon
(i) the Purchaser shall grant an MSGI Option pursuant to a MSGI Option Agreement
to be executed and delivered by each of the Purchaser and such Optionholder and
(ii) CIA shall grant a New CIA Option pursuant to a New CIA Option Agreement to
be executed and delivered by each of CIA and such Optionholder.
<PAGE>
ss.I.4 Seller Agreements.
(a) CIA, J. Scott Hamilton, Eyal Rimmon and Jean Cazes each agrees
that the Agreement, dated as of September 8, 1998, by and among CIA, J. Scott
Hamilton, Eyal Rimmon, and Jean Cazes, is hereby amended effective as of the
Closing Date by deleting in its entirety paragraph 3 thereof (relating to
preemptive rights), such paragraph to have no further force or effect from and
after the Closing Date, and each of the parties thereto release each other and
each of its affiliates and successors from any and all obligations and claims
arising thereunder.
(b) CIA, BCI and J. Scott Hamilton each agrees that the Convertible
Preferred Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 8, 1998, by and among
CIA, BCI and J. Scott Hamilton, is hereby terminated in its entirety effective
as of the Closing Date and shall have no further force or effect from and after
the Closing Date and each of the parties thereto release each other and each of
its affiliates and successors from any and all obligations and claims arising
thereunder.
(c) CIA and BCI each agrees that the Registration Rights Agreement,
dated as of September 8, 1998, by and between CIA and BCI is hereby terminated
in its entirety and shall have no further force or effect from and after the
Closing Date and each of the parties thereto release each other and each of its
affiliates and successors from any and all obligations and claims arising
thereunder.
<PAGE>
(d) BCI hereby gives notice to CIA that it elects to convert 40,084
shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, of CIA
("CIA Preferred Stock") into the same number of shares of CIA Common Stock
effective as of the Closing Date. In connection therewith, BCI hereby (i)
consents to the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) waives any and all rights
conferred to it as a holder of CIA Preferred Stock, (iii) agrees to forfeit its
rights, if any, to any and all accrued but unpaid dividends on the CIA Preferred
Stock, (iv) agrees to release CIA and each of its affiliates and successors from
any and all obligations and claims arising under any agreements between CIA and
BCI existing prior to the date hereof.
(e) CIA, J. Scott Hamilton and BCI each agrees that the Stock
Restriction Agreement, dated as of May 18, 1999, by and between CIA and J. Scott
Hamilton (the "Hamilton SRA") is hereby amended, effective upon the Closing
Date, to (i) reduce the number of Shares (as defined therein) to the number of
shares set forth opposite the name of J. Scott Hamilton under the column
entitled "CIA Common Stock Owned Post Closing" on Schedule 1.2(d) attached
hereto and (ii) delete in its entirety Section 8 thereof entitled "Participation
in Sales," such Section to have no further force or effect from and after the
Closing Date. CIA and BCI hereby consent to the sale of the CIA Shares held by
J. Scott Hamilton to Purchaser hereunder and waives their rights under Section 8
of the Hamilton SRA.
(f) CIA, Eyal Rimmon and BCI each agrees that the Stock Restriction
Agreement, dated as of May 18, 1998, by and between CIA and Eyal Rimmon (the
"Rimmon SRA") is hereby amended, effective upon the Closing Date, to (i) reduce
the number of Shares (as defined therein) to the number of shares set forth
opposite the name of Eyal Rimmon under the column entitled "CIA Common Stock
Owned Post Closing" on Schedule 1.2(d) attached hereto and (ii) delete in its
entirety Section 8 thereof entitled "Participation in Sales," such Section to
have no further force or effect from and after the Closing Date. CIA and BCI
hereby consent to the sale of the CIA Shares held by Eyal Rimmon to Purchaser
hereunder and waives their rights under Section 8 of the Rimmon SRA.
<PAGE>
(g) CIA, Brian Shin and BCI each agrees that the Stock Restriction
Agreement, dated as of May 18, 1998, by and between CIA and Brian Shin, as
amended by that certain Mutual Release dated June 28, 1999 (the "Shin SRA," and
collectively with the Hamilton SRA and the Rimmon SRA, the "Stock Restriction
Agreements"), is hereby further amended, effective upon the Closing Date, to (i)
reduce the number of Shares (as defined therein) to the number of shares set
forth opposite the name of Brian Shin under the column entitled "CIA Common
Stock Owned Post Closing" on Schedule 1.2(d) attached hereto and (ii) delete in
its entirety Section 8 thereof entitled "Participation in Sales," such Section
to have no further force or effect from and after the Closing Date. CIA and BCI
hereby consent to the sale of the CIA Shares held by Brian Shin to Purchaser
hereunder and waives their rights under Section 8 of the Shin SRA.
(h) CIA and BCI each agrees to consent to and waive their respective
rights under Section 8 to the Stock Restriction Agreements.
(i) CIA and Peter Sealey each agrees that the Restricted Stock
Agreement, dated as of August 26, 1999, by and between CIA and Peter Sealey is
hereby amended, effective upon the Closing Date, to reduce the number of Shares
(as defined therein) to the number of shares set forth opposite the name of
Peter Sealey under the column entitled "CIA Common Stock Owned Post Closing" on
Schedule 1.2(d) attached hereto.
<PAGE>
(j) CIA and each of Komali Avadhani, Matthew R. Gray, Mohammad Abdul
Jabbar, Matthew E. Nelson, Paul Teasdale and Sam Levine agree that the Incentive
Stock Option Agreements, each dated as of August 16, 1999, by and between CIA
and each such Optionholder is hereby amended, effective upon the Closing Date,
to reduce the number of Shares (as defined therein) to the number of shares set
forth opposite their respective names under the column entitled "Shares Subject
to New CIA Options" on Schedule 1.2(d) attached hereto and to change the
per-share exercise price to $2.03.
ss.I.5 Closing Date.
The closing (the "Closing") of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall take place at the offices of Camhy Karlinsky & Stein LLP, 1740
Broadway, 16th Floor, New York, New York 10019, on October 1, 1999, or if on
such date the conditions specified in Article IV shall not have been satisfied
or waived (other than conditions requiring the delivery of the Purchase Price,
the CIA Shares or closing certificates and other instruments and documents
referred to in Section 4.2(a)(iv) or 4.3(a)(viii)), a date selected by the
Purchaser not later than the fifth business day following such satisfaction or
waiver (the "Closing Date"). II. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
ss.II.1 Certain Representations and Warranties of CIA and the Sellers. CIA
and each Seller (but only with respect to matters set forth below relating to
such Seller), severally, represent and warrant to the Purchaser as follows:
(a) Capitalization.
<PAGE>
(i) The authorized and outstanding shares of each class of
capital stock of CIA is as set forth on Schedule 2.1. At the Closing, CIA will
not have outstanding any rights, warrants or options to acquire securities of
CIA or any convertible or exchangeable securities and, other than pursuant to
this Agreement, no person will have any right to acquire any securities of CIA.
All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of CIA have been duly
authorized and duly and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable,
and none were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or other contractual or legal restrictions of any kind.
(b) Title to the CIA Shares. At the Closing, each Seller shall own
and hold good and marketable title to its CIA Shares free and clear of any Lien
of any kind. Upon consummation of the Contemplated Transactions (as hereinafter
defined) in accordance herewith, the Purchaser will own the CIA Shares, free and
clear of any Lien.
<PAGE>
(c) Authority Relative to this Agreement. CIA and each Seller has
full power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and
each other Transaction Document to which it is a party and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (the "Contemplated Transactions").
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions to which CIA and each Seller is a party have been duly
and validly authorized by CIA or such Seller and no other proceedings on the
part of CIA or such Seller (or any other person) are necessary to authorize the
execution and delivery by CIA or such Seller of this Agreement or the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions to which CIA or such Seller is a
party. This Agreement has been, and at the Closing, the other Transaction
Documents to which CIA and any Seller is a party will have been, duly and
validly executed and delivered by CIA or such Seller, and (assuming the valid
execution and delivery thereof by the other parties thereto) constitutes, or
will at the Closing constitute, the legal, valid and binding agreements of CIA
and such Seller enforceable against CIA and such Seller in accordance with their
respective terms except as such obligations and their enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy and other similar Laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that the availability of
equitable remedies is subject to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought (whether at law or in equity).
(d) No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance
by CIA and each Seller of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to
which they or it is a party, the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions
to which CIA and each Seller is a party or the contemplated change of control of
the stock ownership of CIA, will not (i) violate any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws (or comparable instruments) of CIA or
any Affiliate thereof; (ii) require the Sellers, CIA or any Affiliate thereof to
obtain any consent, approval or action of or waiver from, or make any filing
with, or give any notice to, any Governmental Body or any other person, except
as set forth on Schedule 2.1(d) (the "Sellers Required Consents"); (iii) if the
Sellers Required Consents are obtained prior to Closing, violate, conflict with
or result in a breach or default under (after the giving of notice or the
passage of time or both), or permit the termination of, any Contract of a type
required to be listed on Schedule 2.1(m) to which any Seller, CIA or any
Affiliate thereof is a party or by which any of them or any of their Assets may
be bound or subject, or result in the creation of any Lien upon the CIA Shares
or upon any of the Assets of CIA or any Affiliate thereof pursuant to the terms
of any such Contract; (iv) if the Sellers Required Consents are obtained prior
to Closing, violate any Law or Order of any Governmental Body against, or
binding upon, any Seller, CIA or any Affiliate thereof or upon their respective
Assets or the Business; or (v) if the Sellers Required Consents are obtained
prior to Closing, violate or result in the revocation or suspension of any
Permit.
<PAGE>
(e) Corporate Existence and Power. (i) CIA is a corporation duly
organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, and has all requisite powers and all material
Permits required to carry on the Business as now conducted. CIA is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction where the character of the property owned or leased by it or
the nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary. CIA does not,
directly or indirectly, own any interest or investment in any other person.
(f) Charter Documents and Corporate Records. (i) CIA and the Sellers
have heretofore delivered to the Purchaser true and complete copies of the
certificate of incorporation, by-laws and minute books, or comparable
instruments, of CIA as in effect on the date hereof. The stock and transfer
books (or comparable instruments) of CIA have been made available to the
Purchaser for its inspection and are true and complete.
(ii) All financial, business and accounting books, ledgers,
accounts and official and other records relating to CIA have been properly and
accurately kept and completed in all material respects, and there are no
material inaccuracies or discrepancies contained or reflected therein.
<PAGE>
(g) Financial Information. CIA and the Sellers have previously
furnished to the Purchaser true and complete copies of (i) the unaudited
financial statements at and for the twelve-month periods ended December 31, 1998
and December 31, 1997 of CIA (collectively, the "Annual Statements"), (ii) the
unaudited financial statements for the six-month period ended June 30, 1999 of
CIA (the "Interim Statements"), and (iii) all management letters, management
representation letters and attorney audit response letters issued in connection
with the Annual Statements. The Annual Statements have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, as set forth in the notes thereto, by
Umlauf & Dunn, P.C. (without qualification in the report thereof). Each
delivered financial statement presents fairly the financial position of CIA, as
of its date, and its earnings, changes in stockholders' (or partners') equity
and cash flow for the periods then ended. Each delivered balance sheet fully
sets forth all Assets and Liabilities of CIA existing as of its date which,
under GAAP, should be set forth therein, and each delivered statement of
earnings sets forth the items of income and expense of CIA which should appear
therein under GAAP.
(h) Liabilities. Except as and to the extent reflected in the
applicable balance sheet (the "Latest Balance Sheet") at June 30, 1999 (the
"Latest Balance Sheet Date") referred to in Section 2.1(g), CIA did not have, as
of the Latest Balance Sheet Date, any Liabilities or obligations (other than
obligations of continued performance under Contracts and other commitments and
arrangements entered into in the ordinary course of the Business); and except as
described in Schedule 2.1(h) hereto, CIA has not incurred any Liabilities since
the Latest Balance Sheet Date except (i) current Liabilities for trade or
business obligations incurred in connection with the purchase of goods or
services in the ordinary course of the Business and consistent with past
practice, (ii) Liabilities reflected on any balance sheet included in the
Interim Statements, (iii) Liabilities or obligations of continued performance
under Contracts and other commitments entered into in the ordinary course of the
Business, and (iv) Liabilities incurred since the date of the Interim Statements
in the ordinary course of the Business and consistent with past practices
<PAGE>
(i) Receivables. Except to the extent of the amount of the reserve
for doubtful accounts reflected in the Latest Balance Sheet or as set forth in
Schedule 2.1(i), all the Receivables of CIA reflected therein, and all
Receivables that have arisen since the Latest Balance Sheet Date (except
Receivables as have been collected since such date) are valid and enforceable
claims, and constitute bona fide Receivables resulting from the sale of goods
and services in the ordinary course of the Business. The Receivables are subject
to no valid defenses, offsets, returns, allowances or credits of any kind.
Except for Receivables or as set forth in Schedule 2.1(i), CIA has not made any
loan or advance to any person.
(j) Inventories. Schedule 2.1(j) sets forth a true and complete list
of Inventory by category as of the date hereof. All Inventory consists of items
which are good and merchantable and of a quantity and quality usable and
saleable in the ordinary course of the Business consistent with past practice.
(k) Absence of Certain Changes. (i) Since the Latest Balance Sheet
Date, except as set forth in this Agreement or disclosed in Schedule 2.1(k) or
reflected in the Interim Statements, CIA has conducted the Business in the
ordinary course consistent with past practices and there has not been:
(A) Any material adverse change in the condition of the Business or any
event, occurrence or circumstance that could reasonably be expected to cause
such a material adverse change;
(B) Any transaction or Contract with respect to the purchase, acquisition,
lease, disposition or transfer of any Assets or to any capital expenditure (in
each case, other than in the ordinary course of the Business in accordance with
past practice);
<PAGE>
(C) Any declaration, setting aside or payment of any dividend or other
distribution with respect to any shares of capital stock of CIA; (D) Any damage,
destruction or other casualty loss (whether or not covered by insurance),
condemnation or other taking affecting the Assets of CIA to the extent material
to CIA; (E) Any material change in any method of accounting or accounting
practice by CIA; (F) Any material increase in the compensation payable or to
become payable to any officer, stockholder, director, partner, consultant, agent
or full-time employee of CIA, or any alteration in the benefits payable to any
such person thereof; (G) Any material adverse change in the relationships of CIA
with its customers, suppliers and vendors; or (H) Except in the ordinary course
of the Business, consistent with past practice, any payment, directly or
indirectly, of any Liability before the same became due in accordance with its
terms. (ii) Except as set forth on Schedule 2.1(k), CIA has no Liability that is
past due.
<PAGE>
(l) Properties. (i) Schedule 2.1(l)A sets forth an accurate and
complete list and description (by owner) of all real property owned or leased by
CIA (the "Real Property"). CIA has good, marketable and insurable fee simple (or
leasehold) title to the Real Property, free and clear of all Liens and other
title defects of any nature whatsoever, except (A) real estate Taxes (general
and specific) not yet due and payable, or (B) easements, covenants, restrictions
and other similar encumbrances of record listed on Schedule 2.1(l)A which do not
interfere in any material respect with the use of the Real Property or impair in
any material respect the conduct of the Business (collectively, the "Permitted
Liens"). Schedule 2.1(l)A also sets forth with respect to such Real Property a
list of all title insurance policies, deeds, appraisal reports, surveys and
environmental reports held or controlled by CIA, copies of which have been
provided to the Purchaser. Except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(l)A, all
structures and buildings of the Business are in good operating condition
(subject to normal wear and tear) with no structural or other defects known to
CIA that could interfere in any material respect with the operation of the
Business, are located within applicable boundary lines and are suitable for the
purposes for which they are currently used. The Business is not in violation in
any material respect of any building, zoning, anti-pollution, health,
occupational safety or other Law or any Order or Permit in respect of such Real
Property, structures and buildings. Except as disclosed on Schedule 2.1(l)A, no
person, other than CIA, has any right to occupy or possess any of the Real
Property or any such structures or buildings.
<PAGE>
(ii) CIA has good and marketable title to (or valid leasehold
interest in) all personal property used in the Business, free and clear of all
Liens except as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(l)B. The machinery, equipment and
other tangible personal property constituting a part of the Assets (whether
owned or leased), have been well-maintained in accordance with industry
standards, are in good condition and repair (subject to normal wear and tear)
and are adequate in quantity and quality for the operation of the Business as
presently conducted. Schedule 2.1(l)B contains a list and description (by owner)
of all (A) equipment and (B) other tangible personal property of CIA with a book
value (before depreciation) of $20,000 or more. Prior to the Closing, CIA shall
acquire good and marketable title to all personal property used in the Business
that, on the date hereof, is leased by CIA from any Affiliate of CIA or any
Seller.
(m) Contracts. (i) Schedule 2.1(m) sets forth an accurate and
complete list of all Contracts to which CIA is a party or by which it or its
Assets are bound or subject, except only for Contracts with persons who are not
Affiliates of CIA or the Sellers relating solely to the purchase or sale of
property or services by CIA in the ordinary course of the Business which (1)
require CIA to make or receive payments not in excess of $50,000 and (2) have a
remaining term of less than twelve (12) months on the date of this Agreement or
are terminable by CIA without penalty during such period. True and correct
copies of all written Contracts listed on such Schedule and summaries of the
material provisions of all oral Contracts so listed have been delivered to the
Purchaser.
<PAGE>
(ii) All Contracts listed on Schedule 2.1(m) are valid,
subsisting, in full force and effect and binding upon CIA, and, to the knowledge
of CIA, the other parties thereto in accordance with their terms. Except as set
forth in Schedule 2.1(m), CIA is not in default (or alleged default) under any
such Contract in any material respect, nor, to the knowledge of CIA, is any
other party thereto in default thereunder in any material respect, nor does any
condition exist that with notice or the lapse of time or both would constitute a
material default (or give rise to a termination right) thereunder. To the
knowledge of CIA, none of the other parties to any such Contract intends to
terminate or materially alter the provisions thereof by reason of the
Contemplated Transactions or otherwise. Since the Latest Balance Sheet Date, CIA
has not waived any material right under any such Contract, materially amended or
extended any such Contract or terminated or failed to renew (or received notice
of termination or failure to renew with respect to) any such Contract.
(n) Intangible Property. Schedule 2.1(n) sets forth all trademarks,
registered copyrights, service marks and trade names (by owner) owned or used by
CIA, all applications for any of the foregoing, and all permits, grants and
licenses or other rights running to or from any of such parties relating to any
of the foregoing, and there are no other trademarks, copyrights, service marks
and trade names (the "Intellectual Property Rights") that are material to the
Business. The Contemplated Transactions will not adversely affect the right,
title and interest of CIA in and to the Intellectual Property Rights. To CIA's
best knowledge, the Intellectual Property Rights do not infringe on or conflict
with the rights or intellectual property of third parties.
<PAGE>
(o) Claims and Proceedings. There are no outstanding Orders of any
Governmental Body against or involving CIA or the Business. Except as set forth
on Schedule 2.1(o) or as reflected in the most recent loss runs provided to
Buyer under Section 2.1(s), there are no actions, suits, claims or counterclaims
or legal, administrative or arbitral proceedings or investigations
(collectively, "Claims") (whether or not the defense thereof or Liabilities in
respect thereof are covered by insurance), pending or threatened on the date
hereof, against or involving CIA, any of its Assets or the Business. Schedule
2.1(o) also indicates those Claims for which the defense thereof or Liabilities
in respect thereof are covered by insurance. At the Closing there will be no
such Claims pending or, to the knowledge of CIA, threatened, other than Claims
that, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have
a material adverse effect on the Condition of the Business. Except as set forth
on Schedule 2.1(o), to the knowledge of CIA, on the date hereof, there is no
fact, event or circumstance that would give rise to any uninsured Claim. As of
the Closing, there will exist no such fact, event or circumstance known to CIA
that would give rise to any Claim that, if pending or threatened on the Closing
Date, could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Condition of the Business. All notices required to have been given to any
insurance company listed as insuring against any Claim set forth on Schedule
2.1(o) have been timely and duly given and, except as set forth on Schedule
2.1(o) or the most recent loss runs referred to above, no insurance company has
asserted that such Claim is not covered by the applicable policy relating to
such Claim. There are no Claims pending or, to the knowledge of CIA, threatened
that would give rise to any right of indemnification on the part of any partner,
director or officer of CIA, or the heirs, executors or administrators of such
any partner, director or officer, against CIA.
(p) Taxes. (i)Except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(p): (A) CIA and any
combined; consolidated, unitary or affiliated
group of which CIA has been a member prior to the Closing Date have timely filed
or, if not yet due, will timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed by it
for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing Date, and have supplied
all such Tax Returns to MSGI, and all such Tax Returns are true, correct and
complete;
<PAGE>
(B) CIA and any combined; consolidated, unitary or affiliated group of
which CIA has been a member prior to the Closing Date have paid or, if payment
is not yet due, will, on or before the Closing Date, pay to the appropriate Tax
Authority or have established, in accordance with GAAP and consistent with past
practice, accruals that are reflected on the Interim Statements for the payment
of, all Taxes of CIA for all taxable periods ending on or before the Closing
Date;
(C) no extension of time has been requested or granted for CIA to file any
Tax Return that has not yet been filed or to pay any Tax that has not yet been
paid and CIA has not granted a power of attorney that remains outstanding with
regard to any Tax matter;
(D) CIA has not received notice of a determination by a Tax Authority that
Taxes are owed by it (such determination to be referred to as a "Tax
Deficiency") and, to the knowledge of CIA or the Sellers, no Tax Deficiency is
proposed or threatened;
(E) all Tax Deficiencies have been paid or finally settled and all amounts
determined by settlement to be owed have been paid;
(F) there are no Tax Liens on or pending against CIA or any of its
properties;
(G) there are no presently outstanding waivers or extensions or requests
for waivers or extensions of the time within which a Tax Deficiency may be
asserted or assessed;
(H) no issue has been raised in any examination, investigation, audit,
suit, action, claim or proceeding relating to Taxes (a "Tax Audit") which, by
application of similar principles to any past, present or future period, would
result in a Tax Deficiency for such period;
(I) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of CIA, threatened Tax Audits
of CIA;
<PAGE>
(J) CIA has not ever been required to include in income any adjustment
pursuant to Section 481 of the Code or pursuant to a closing agreement as
defined in Section 7121 of the Code and no Tax Authority has ever made or
proposed any such adjustment;
(K) CIA does not own any property that is tax-exempt use property within
the meaning of Section 168(b) of the Code or that is described in Section
168(f)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code as in effect prior to its amendment by
the Tax Reform Act of 1986;
(L) CIA is not a party to any arrangement to which Section 280G of the Code
could under any circumstances apply;
(M) CIA has not filed a consent pursuant to Section 341(f) of the Code or
agreed for Section 341(f)(2) to apply to the disposition of any asset;
(N) CIA is not now and has never been (1) an includable member of an
"affiliated group" within the meaning of Section 1504(a) of the Code, (2) a
member of any consolidated, combined or unitary Tax Return filing group, (3) a
party to an agreement that obligates it to make any payment computed by
reference to the Taxes, taxable income or tax losses of any other person, (4) a
personal holding company as defined in Section 542 of the Code, (5) the owner of
an interest in an entity that is or is treated as a real estate investment trust
as defined in Section 856 of the Code or foreign personal holding company as
defined in Section 552(a) of the Code, (6) a United States shareholder as
defined in Section 951(b) of the Code or a controlled foreign corporation as
defined in Section 957 of the Code or (7) a United States real property holding
company within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code;
<PAGE>
(O) CIA does not have any deferred intercompany gains or losses that have
not been fully taken into income for income Tax purposes, including any such
gain resulting from the transactions contemplated by the Contemplated
Transactions;
(P) there are no transfer or other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction on CIA
or the Purchaser by virtue of the Contemplated Transactions;
(Q) no claim has been made by any Tax Authority that CIA is subject to Tax
in a jurisdiction in which it is not then paying Tax of the type asserted; and
(R) CIA will not have any liability for the Taxes of any other Person under
Treasury Regulation 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of state, local or
foreign law) as a transferee, by contract or otherwise.
Each reference to a provision of the Code in this Section 2.1(p) shall be
treated for state and local Tax purposes as a reference to analogous or similar
provisions of state and local law.
<PAGE>
(ii) Schedule 2.1(p) contains (A) a schedule of the filing
dates of all Tax Returns required to be filed by CIA, (B) a description of all
past Tax Audits involving CIA, (C) a list of all elections made by CIA relating
to Taxes, (D) a description of the accounting methods employed by CIA and any
changes in such accounting methods that occurred during a year for which the
statute of limitations remains open, (E) a schedule of the amortization period
and annual amortization deductions for each item subject to amortization and a
description of the asset or other item that is subject to amortization (e.g.,
loan issuance costs), and (F) a schedule of the Tax attributes of CIA (including
but not limited to net operating and capital losses and investment and
alternative minimum tax credits), together with a description of all limitations
to which such Tax attributes are subject (e.g., limitations or separate return
limitation year restrictions under ss. 382 of the Code) that can be carried
forward to a taxable year ending after 1998. Except as set forth in Schedule
2.1(p), CIA has retained all supporting and backup papers, receipts,
spreadsheets and other information necessary for (A) the preparation of all Tax
Returns that have not yet been filed and (B) the defense of all Tax Audits
involving taxable periods either ending on or during the six (6) years prior to
the Closing Date or from which there are unutilized net operating loss, capital
loss or investment tax credit carryovers.
(iii) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(p), CIA has
collected and has remitted, or prior to the Closing will remit, to the
appropriate Tax Authority all sales and use or similar Taxes required to have
been collected on or prior to the Closing Date and have been furnished properly
completed exemption certificates for all exempt transactions. CIA has maintained
and has in its possession all records, supporting documents and exemption
certificates required by applicable sales or use Tax statutes and regulations to
be retained in connection with the collection and remittance of sales and use
Taxes for all periods up to and including the Closing Date.
<PAGE>
(q) Employee Benefits Plans. (i) Except as set forth on Schedule
2.1(q), neither the Sellers, CIA nor any Affiliate thereof, nor the Business,
nor any portion of the Business (all of the above hereinafter individually and
collectively called the "Entity"), nor any other company or entity which
together with the Entity constitutes a member of the Entity's "controlled group"
or "affiliated service group" (within the meaning of Sections 4001(a)(14) and/or
(b) of ERISA and/or Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code (such group or
groups hereinafter referred to individually and collectively as the "Group")),
has at any time adopted or maintained, or has any present or future obligation
to contribute to or make payment under (A) any employee benefit plan (as defined
in Section 3(3) of ERISA), (B) any other benefit plan, program, contract or
arrangement of any kind whatsoever (whether for the benefit of present, former,
retired or future employees, officers, directors or consultants of the Entity or
the Group, or for the benefit of any other person or persons) including, without
limitation, arrangements providing for contributions, benefits or payments in
the event of a change of ownership or control in whole or in part of the Entity
or the Group, or with respect to disability, relocation, child care, educational
assistance, deferred compensation, pension, retirement, profit sharing, thrift,
savings, stock ownership, stock bonus, restricted stock, health, dental,
medical, life, hospitalization, stock purchase, stock option, incentive, bonus,
sabbatical leave, vacation, severance or other contribution, benefit or payment
of any kind, or (C) any employment, consulting, service or other contract of any
kind whatsoever (all such employee benefit plans and other benefit plans,
programs, contracts or arrangements and such employment, consulting, service or
other Contracts hereinafter individually and collectively called the "Employee
Benefit Plan(s)"). No Entity and no member of the Group is or has at any time
been obligated to contribute to any Employee Benefit Plan subject to Title IV of
ERISA. No Entity and no member of the Group has completely or partially
withdrawn from any "multiemployer plan" within the meaning of Section 3(37) of
ERISA.
<PAGE>
(ii) In addition, except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(q)
hereof, to the best knowledge of CIA and the Sellers, (A) there have been no
"prohibited transactions" within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code with respect to any of the Employee Benefit Plans; (B) no
Liability has been or is expected to be incurred by the Entity or any member of
the Group under Title IV of ERISA with respect to any Employee Benefit Plan
currently or formerly maintained by any of them; (C) any and all amounts which
the Entity or any member of the Group is required to pay as contributions or
otherwise to, or with respect to the Employee Benefit Plans have been timely
made; (D) no Employee Benefit Plan has incurred any "accumulated funding
deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code),
whether or not waived, and neither the Entity nor any member of the Group has
provided, or is required to provide, security to any Employee Benefit Plan which
is subject to Title IV of ERISA or otherwise; (E) the current value of all
"benefit liabilities" within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(16) of ERISA under
each Employee Benefit Plan which is subject to Title IV of ERISA or otherwise,
does not exceed the current value of the assets of such Employee Benefit Plan
allocable to such benefit liabilities; (F) each of the Employee Benefit Plans
has been operated and administered in accordance with all applicable Laws; (G)
each of the Employee Benefit Plans which is intended to be "qualified" within
the meaning of Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Code has been determined by the
IRS to be so qualified and continues to be so qualified; (H) there are no
pending, threatened or anticipated Claims involving any of the Employee Benefit
Plans; (I) the Entity and the Group have not incurred and do not expect to incur
any withdrawal liability with respect to a multiemployer plan under Subtitle E
of Title IV of ERISA; (J) no notice of a "reportable event" within the meaning
of Section 4043 of ERISA has been required to be filed with respect to any
Employee Benefit Plan; (K) neither the Entity nor any member of the Group is a
party to, or participates in, or has any Liability or contingent Liability with
respect to any multiemployer plan; (L) neither the execution and delivery of
this Agreement nor the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will
accelerate benefits or any payments under any Employee Benefit Plan; and (M)
neither the Entity nor any member of the Group has any commitment to create any
additional Employee Benefit Plan, or to amend any Employee Benefit Plan so as to
increase benefits thereunder.
(iii) Schedule 2.1(q) identifies all Employee Benefit Plans
covering current, former or retired employees, officers, directors and
consultants of the Entity and the Group (the "Entity Plans"). A true and correct
copy of each of the Entity Plans (and all amendments thereto, whether currently
effective or to become effective at a later date) listed on Schedule 2.1(q) and
all contracts relating thereto, or to the funding thereof (including, without
limitation, all trust agreements, insurance contracts, investment management
agreements, subscription and participation agreements, administration and record
keeping agreements) have been provided to the Purchaser. All Entity Plans have
at all times been established and maintained in accordance with their terms.
Each Entity Plan can be unilaterally terminated without penalty by CIA on no
more than sixty (60) days' notice. In the case of any Entity Plan which is not
in written form, an accurate description of such Entity Plan has been provided
to the Purchaser. A true and correct copy of the most recent annual report,
actuarial report, summary plan description, and IRS determination letter and/or
ruling with respect to each such Entity Plan, and a current schedule of assets
(and the fair market value thereof assuming liquidation of any asset which is
not readily tradeable) held with respect to any funded Entity Plan has been
provided to the Purchaser, and there have been no material changes in the
financial condition in the respective Entity Plans (or other information
provided hereunder) from that stated in such annual report, actuarial reports
and schedule of assets.
<PAGE>
(r) Employee-Related Matters. (i) Schedule 2.1(r) contains a true
and correct list of all directors, officers, partners, full-time employees and
consultants of CIA, including any agreement relating thereto, and a description
of the rate and nature of all compensation payable by CIA to each such person.
Schedule 2.1(r) also contains an accurate description of all existing severance,
accrued vacation policies or retiree benefits of any current or former director,
officer, partner, employee or consultant (to the extent not included in Schedule
2.1(q)). Except as set forth on such Schedule, the employment or consulting
arrangement of all such persons is, subject to applicable Laws involving the
wrongful termination of employees, terminable at will.
<PAGE>
(ii) Except as set forth in Schedule 2.1(r), (A) CIA is not a
party to any Contract with any labor organization or other representative of its
employees; (B) there is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint pending or,
to the knowledge of CIA, threatened against CIA; (C) CIA has not experienced any
labor strike, slowdown, work stoppage or similar material labor controversy
within the past three (3) years; (D) no representation question has been raised
respecting any of CIA's employees working within the past three (3) years, nor,
to the knowledge of CIA, are there any campaigns being conducted to solicit
authorization from any such employees to be represented by any labor
organization; (E) no Claim before any Governmental Body brought by or on behalf
of any such employee, prospective employee, former employee, retiree, labor
organization or other representative of any such person, is pending or, to the
knowledge of CIA, threatened against CIA; (F) CIA is not a party to, or
otherwise bound by, any Order relating to its employees or employment practices;
and (G) except with respect to ongoing disputes of a routine nature involving
immaterial amounts, CIA has paid in full to all of their employees all wages,
salaries, commissions, bonuses, benefits and other compensation due and payable
to such employees.
<PAGE>
(s) Insurance. Schedule 2.1(s) sets forth a true and complete list
of all insurance policies, fidelity and surety bonds and fiduciary liability
policies (the "Insurance Policies") covering the Assets, the Business,
operations, employees, officers and directors of CIA and true and complete
copies of all such Insurance Policies have been delivered to the Purchaser.
Schedule 2.1(s) also sets forth (i) with respect to each Insurance Policy the
applicable deductible amounts and any material limitations to coverage, (ii) any
letter of credit relating to any such Insurance Policy and all inspections and
reports delivered to CIA by any insurer with respect to such Insurance Policies,
copies of which have been delivered to the Purchaser and (iii) a true and
complete list of Claims made in respect of Insurance Policies during the three
years prior to the date hereof. True and correct copies of all loss runs with
respect to such period have been delivered to the Purchaser. Except as set forth
in Schedule 2.1(s), there is no Claim by CIA pending under any of such Insurance
Policies as to which coverage has been questioned, denied or disputed by the
underwriters of such Insurance Policies or requirement by any insurer to perform
work which has not been satisfied. No premiums payable under the Insurance
Policies are overdue and CIA is otherwise in compliance in all material respects
with the terms and conditions of all such Insurance Policies. All Insurance
Policies are in full force and effect. The insurance in effect with respect to
the Real Property is in an amount of the full replacement value of such Real
Property, including the buildings and improvements thereon. CIA does not know of
any threatened termination of, premium increase with respect to, or uncompleted
requirements under any Insurance Policy. No premiums are or will be payable
under Insurance Policies after the Closing in respect of insurance provided for
periods prior to the Closing Date.
(t) Compliance with Laws. CIA is not in violation in any material
respect of any material order, judgment, injunction, award, citation, decree,
consent decree or writ (collectively, "Orders"), or any material law, statute,
code, ordinance, rule, regulation or other requirement (collectively, "Laws"),
of any government or political subdivision thereof, whether federal, state,
local or foreign, or any agency or instrumentality of any such government or
political subdivision, or any court or arbitrator (collectively, "Governmental
Bodies") affecting or relating to its Assets or the Business.
(u) Permits. CIA has obtained all licenses, permits, certificates,
certificates of occupancy, orders, authorizations and approvals of
(collectively, "Permits"), and have made all required registrations and filings
with, any Governmental Body that are material to the conduct of the Business.
All Permits material to the Business are listed on Schedule 2.1(u) and are in
full force and effect; no material violations are or have been recorded in
respect of any Permit; and no proceeding is pending or, to the knowledge of CIA,
threatened to revoke or limit any Permit. Except as listed on Schedule 2.1(u),
no Permit will terminate by reason of the Contemplated Transactions.
<PAGE>
(v) Environmental Matters. (i) Except as disclosed in Schedule
2.1(v), there has been, directly or indirectly, no use, manufacture, generation,
refining, storage, transport, disposal or treatment of Hazardous Substances by
or on behalf of CIA (or, to the knowledge of CIA, any predecessor in interest),
or any Release at, on or under any Real Property by or on behalf of CIA , or, to
the knowledge of CIA, by any other person, in violation of any Environmental Law
or which would require remedial action under any Environmental Law; to the best
of CIA's knowledge, neither CIA nor the Sellers has contaminated the soil,
ground water or surface water of such Real Property, and to the knowledge of
CIA, none of the soil, ground water or surface water of such Real Property is or
has been contaminated by any Release.
(ii) Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(v), no portion of the
Real Property has ever been used as a petroleum storage, refining or
distribution facility or terminal, or a gasoline station by CIA, or any tenant
or licensee of CIA or the Sellers.
(iii) To CIA's best knowledge, as to the ownership or
operation of the Assets or the Business, neither CIA nor the Sellers has
created, suffered or permitted, and has not received any written notice of (A)
any alleged violation with respect to any Environmental Law; or (B) any prior,
pending or threatened Regulatory Action or other Claim involving any such party
or any present or former owner, lessee or operator of the Real Property.
<PAGE>
(iv) (A) Except as disclosed in Schedule 2.1(v), to CIA's best
knowledge, there are no incinerators, septic tanks, underground or aboveground
tanks or cesspools, pipes or pipelines for the storage or transportation of
Hazardous Materials, including without limitation, heating oil, fuel oil,
gasoline and/or other petroleum products, whether such tanks, pipelines or pipes
are in operation, closed or abandoned (the "Tanks") located, or to the knowledge
of CIA, which have been located, on, at or under the Real Property, (B) all
sewage from the Real Property is discharged into a public sanitary sewer system,
and (C) there has been no Release by or on behalf of CIA, or to CIA's knowledge,
by any other party, into the atmosphere, any adjoining or adjacent body of
water, or adjoining or adjacent property in violation of Environmental Law. CIA
has delivered to the Purchaser copies of all environmental reports and all other
written materials held or controlled by or on behalf of them regarding the
environmental matters set forth in this Section 2.1(v). Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if the Real Property contains or contained any such Tanks, CIA
represents that, to the best of its knowledge, CIA is in compliance in all
material respects with all registration and other requirements of Environmental
Law (including U.S.C. Section 6991, "Regulation of Underground Storage Tanks")
regulating the existence, usage and removal thereof.
(w) Finders; Fees. There is no investment banker, broker, finder or
other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf
of any Seller or CIA who might be entitled to any fee or commission from any
such person upon consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
(x) Depositories; Powers of Attorney, etc. Schedule 2.1(x) sets
forth (i) the name of each bank or similar entity in which CIA has an account,
lock box or safe deposit box and the names of all persons authorized to draw
thereon or to have access thereto; and (ii) the name of each person holding a
general or special power of attorney from CIA and a description of the terms
thereof.
<PAGE>
(y) Transaction Shares; Loan Payment. Each Seller represents and
warrants to the Purchaser that the Transaction Shares and the Loan Payment, if
applicable, are being acquired by such Seller for its own account and not with a
view to the distribution, resale or other transfer thereof, except in compliance
with the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. Except as
indicated on Schedule 1.2(d), each Seller is an "accredited investor" as such
term is defined in Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. Each
Seller has (i) reviewed carefully the MSGI Reports, (ii) such knowledge and
experience in financial, tax and business matters so as to enable it to make an
informed investment decision with respect to the Transaction Shares and (iii)
overall commitments to investments which are not readily marketable as are
reasonable in relation to such Seller's net worth.
(z) Ability to Conduct Business. Except as set forth on Schedule
1.2(z), as of the Closing, the Assets will be sufficient and adequate to permit
the continued conduct of the Business substantially as it has been conducted
since January 1, 1999 and, assuming all Sellers Required Consents are obtained,
the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will enable the Purchaser to
conduct the Business substantially as it has been conducted since that date.
(aa) Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth on Schedule
2.1(aa), CIA is not a party to any material Contract with any Affiliate of CIA,
or any director or officer of CIA, for the purchase, sale, lease or other
disposition of property or services.
<PAGE>
(bb) Questionable Payments. Neither CIA nor any director, officer,
agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of CIA has,
directly, or indirectly: (i) used any corporate 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 from corporate funds; (iii) established or maintained any unlawful or
unrecorded fund of corporate monies or other assets; (iv) made any false or
fictitious entry on the books or records of CIA; or (v) made any bribe,
kickback, or other payment of a similar or comparable nature, whether lawful or
not, to any person or entity, private or public, regardless of form, whether in
money, property, or services, to obtain favorable treatment in securing business
or to obtain special concessions, or to pay for favorable treatment for business
secured or for special concessions already obtained.
(cc) Year 2000. The Information Technology (as defined below) owned,
licensed, utilized, distributed and relied upon by CIA is Year 2000 Compliant
(as defined below). For purposes hereof, "Year 2000 Compliant" means that, with
respect to any Information Technology (as defined below), including without
limitation, any function, process, system or other device or item, regardless of
the particular date, year, century or other chronological variable: (i) will
accurately process date information (e.g., accept date input, provide date
output and perform calculations and comparisons on dates and portions of dates);
(ii) will function without interruption or impairment due to a change in date,
ensuring that any results, data or information processed, generated or
transmitted in connection therewith, shall be correct, valid and not adversely
affected; and, if applicable, (iii) will include date data century recognition,
calculations which accommodate same century and multi-century date values and
formulae, as well as date data interfaces (to application and operating system
software, as applicable) reflecting the correct date, year and century. For
purposes hereof, "Information Technology" means any computer hardware, computer
software, computer firmware or databases (whether for a specific or general
purpose), and other similar or related items of automated, computerized or
software system(s).
ss.II.2 Certain Representations and Warranties of the Purchaser.
The Purchaser represents and warrants to the Sellers as follows:
<PAGE>
(a) Authority Relative to this Agreement. The Purchaser has full
power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and each other
agreement contemplated hereby to which it is a party, and to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby to which
the Purchaser is a party have been duly and validly authorized and approved by
the board of directors thereof, and no other corporate proceedings on the part
of the Purchaser is necessary to authorize the execution and delivery by the
Purchaser of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby to which it is a party. This Agreement and the other agreements
contemplated hereby to which the Purchaser is a party have been duly and validly
executed and delivered by the Purchaser and (assuming the valid execution and
delivery thereof by the other parties thereto) constitutes the legal, valid and
binding agreement of the Purchaser, enforceable against the Purchaser in
accordance with their respective terms, except as such obligations and their
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy and other similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally, and except that the
availability of equitable remedies is subject to the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (whether at law or in
equity).
<PAGE>
(b) No Conflicts; Consents. The execution, delivery and performance
of the Purchaser of this Agreement and each other agreement contemplated hereby
to which it is party and the consummation of the other transactions contemplated
hereby or thereby to which it is a party do not and will not (i) violate any
provision of the Organizational Documents of the Purchaser; (ii) require the
Purchaser to obtain any consent, approval or action of or waiver from, or make
any filing with, or give any notice to, any Governmental Authority or any other
Person, violate, conflict with or result in the breach or default under (after
the giving of notice or the passage of time), or permit the termination of, any
material Contract to which the Purchaser is a party or by which the Purchaser or
its assets may be bound or subject; or (iii) violate any Law or Order of any
Governmental Authority against, or binding upon, the Purchaser or upon its
assets or business.
(c) Corporate Existence and Power. The Purchaser and each of its
subsidiaries is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of its state of incorporation and has all requisite
corporate powers and all material governmental licenses, authorizations,
consents and approvals required to carry on its business as now conducted.
(d) Finders; Fees. There is no investment banker, broker, finder or
other intermediary which has been retained by or is authorized to act on behalf
of the Purchaser who might be entitled to any fee or commission from the
Purchaser upon consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder.
(e) MSGI Reports. The Purchaser has delivered to the Sellers true
and correct copies of (i) MSGI's Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended, for
the year ended June 30, 1998, (ii) MSGI's Proxy Statement relating to its 1998
Annual Meeting of Stockholders, (iii) MSGI's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended September 30, 1998, (iv) MSGI's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended December 31, 1998, and (v) MSGI's Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1999 (collectively, together with the MSGI
Filings and disclosure statement, if any, provided to the Sellers pursuant to
Section 3.12, the "MSGI Reports"). At the Closing Date, the MSGI Reports, taken
as a whole, will not contain an untrue statement of material fact, nor omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements made therein not
misleading.
<PAGE>
(f) Transaction Shares. The Transaction Shares have been duly
authorized by the Purchaser and, when issued to the Sellers at the Closing, the
Purchaser covenants that they will be duly issued and will be fully paid and
non-assessable shares of MSGI Stock.
(g) Loan Payment. The shares of MSGI Stock issuable pursuant to the
Loan Payment have been duly authorized by the Purchaser and, when issued to the
holders of the Affiliate Loans at the Closing, the Purchaser covenants that they
will be duly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable shares of MSGI
Stock.
(h) CMG Direct Corporation ("CMGD") is a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Purchaser.
III0 CERTAIN COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS ss.III.1 Conduct of Business of CIA.
(a) From the date hereof through the Closing Date, CIA agrees
(i) To conduct its operations according to the ordinary and usual
course of the Business consistent with past practice, to preserve intact its
present business organization and structure, to use reasonable efforts to keep
available the services of its present officers, agents and full-time employees,
to use reasonable efforts to preserve and maintain its Assets and the good will
of the Business and to use reasonable efforts to preserve its relationships with
customers and suppliers, and others having business dealings with it.
(ii) To maintain in the ordinary course of the Business,
consistent with past practice and in accordance with all Contracts, the Real
Property and all its material Assets in their present repair, order and
condition, subject to ordinary wear and tear.
<PAGE>
(iii) Not to incur any Liability (other than Liabilities
incurred in the ordinary course of the Business, consistent with past practice,
which are not in the aggregate material thereto), nor enter into any Contract of
a type required to be included in any Schedule hereto.
(iv) Not to incur any Company Debt (as hereinafter defined).
(v) Not to undertake (nor permit to be undertaken) any of the
actions
specified in Section 2.1(k).
(vi) Not to pay, discharge or satisfy any material Claim or
Liability, other than the payment, discharge or satisfaction when due and in the
ordinary course of the Business of Claims or Liabilities incurred in the
ordinary course of Business, consistent with past practice.
(vii) Not to increase the compensation payable or to become
payable to any officer, stockholder, director, partner, consultant, agent or
full-time employee of CIA, or make any alteration in the benefits payable to any
thereof.
(b) From the date hereof through the Closing Date, CIA and the
Sellers agree that the affairs of CIA will be conducted in such a manner so that
the representations and warranties of CIA and the Sellers contained herein shall
continue to be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date as if made on and
as of the Closing Date.
(c) From the date hereof through the Closing Date, CIA and the
Sellers agree that CIA will consult with the Purchaser prior to any renewal,
amendment, extension or termination of, waiver of any material right under, or
any failure to renew, any Contract and will not take any such action if the
Purchaser objects thereto in writing.
<PAGE>
ss.III.2 Corporate Examinations and Investigations.
(a) Prior to the Closing Date, CIA and the Sellers agree that the
Purchaser shall be entitled, through its directors, officers, Affiliates,
employees, attorneys, accountants, representatives, lenders, consultants and
other agents (collectively, "Representatives") to make such investigation of the
Assets, the Business and operations of CIA, and such examination of the books,
records and financial condition of CIA, as the Purchaser reasonably deems
necessary. Any such investigation and examination shall be conducted at
reasonable times, under reasonable circumstances and upon reasonable notice, and
CIA and the Sellers shall cooperate fully therein. In that connection, CIA and
the Sellers shall make available to the Representatives of the Purchaser during
such period, without however causing any unreasonable interruption in the
operations of CIA, all such information and copies of such documents and records
concerning the affairs of CIA as such Representatives may reasonably request,
shall permit the Representatives of the Purchaser access to the Assets of CIA
and all parts thereof and to their respective employees, customers, suppliers,
contractors and others, and shall cause CIA's Representatives to cooperate fully
in connection with such review and examination. No investigation by the
Purchaser shall diminish or obviate any of the representations, warranties,
covenants or agreements of CIA or the Sellers contained in this Agreement.
ss.III.3 Additional Financial Statements.
<PAGE>
Prior to the Closing Date, as soon as available and in any event
within fifteen (15) calendar days after the end of each quarterly accounting
period of CIA ending after the date of the most recent Interim Statement, CIA
and the Sellers shall furnish the Purchaser with an unaudited consolidated (if
applicable) financial statement of CIA for such period in form and substance
comparable to the Interim Statements and with such other financial or other
information routinely prepared by CIA.
ss.III.4 Filings and Authorizations.
CIA and the Sellers, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the
other, before or promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
shall file or supply, or cause to be filed or supplied, all notifications,
reports and other information required to be filed or supplied in connection
with the Contemplated Transactions and which are required by Law to effectuate
the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions. CIA and the Sellers, on the
one hand, and the Purchaser, on the other, shall cooperate with each other in
connection with such filings and furnish each other with copies of such filings
and any correspondence received from any Governmental Body in connection
therewith. CIA and the Sellers, on the one hand, and the Purchaser, on the
other, as promptly as practicable, shall make, or cause to be made, all filings
and submissions under such Laws as are applicable to them, to their respective
subsidiaries and Affiliates, as may be required for them to consummate the
Contemplated Transactions in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
shall furnish copies thereof to each other party prior to such filing and shall
not make any such filing or submission to which the Purchaser or the Agents, as
the case may be, reasonably objects in writing. All such filings shall comply in
form and content in all material respects with applicable Law.
ss.III.5 Efforts to Consummate the Contemplated Transactions.
<PAGE>
Subject to the terms and conditions herein, each party hereto,
without payment or further consideration, shall use its good faith efforts to
take or cause to be taken all action and to do or cause to be done all things
necessary, proper or advisable to consummate and make effective, as soon as
reasonably practicable, the Contemplated Transactions, including, but not
limited to, the obtaining of all Sellers Required Consents and Permits or
consents of any third party, whether private or governmental, required in
connection with such party's performance of such transactions and each party
hereto shall cooperate with the other in all of the foregoing.
ss.III.6 Negotiation with Others.
From and after the date hereof unless and until this Agreement shall
have terminated in accordance with its terms, CIA and the Sellers agree that
none of them will directly or indirectly (a) solicit, engage in discussions or
engage in negotiations with any person (other than the Purchaser or any of its
Affiliates) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal (as hereinafter defined);
(b) provide information to any person (other than the Purchaser or any of its
Representatives) in connection with an Acquisition Proposal; or (c) enter into
any transaction with any person (other than the Purchaser or any of its
Affiliates) with respect to an Acquisition Proposal. If any Seller, CIA or any
Representative thereof receives any offer or proposal to enter into discussions
or negotiations relating to any of the above, CIA and the Sellers will
immediately notify the Purchaser in writing as to the identity of the offeror or
the party making any such proposal and the specific terms of such offer or
proposal.
ss.III.7 Notice of Certain Events.
Prior to the Closing Date, each of CIA and the Sellers, on the one
hand, and the Purchaser, on the other, shall promptly notify the other of:
(a) any notice or other communication from any person alleging that
the consent of such person is or may be required in connection with the
Contemplated Transactions;
<PAGE>
(b) any notice or other communication from any Governmental Body in
connection with the Contemplated Transactions; and
(c) any event, condition or circumstance occurring from the date
hereof through the Closing Date that would constitute a material violation or
breach of any representation or warranty herein, whether made as of the date
hereof or as of the Closing Date, or that would constitute a material violation
or breach of any covenant of any party contained in this Agreement.
ss.III.8 Public Announcements.
Prior to the Closing Date, CIA and the Sellers, on the one hand, and
the Purchaser, on the other, will consult with each other before issuing any
press release or otherwise making any public statement with respect to the
Contemplated Transactions, and will not issue any such press release or make any
such public statement without the prior approval of the Purchaser or the Agents,
as the case may be, except as may be required by applicable Law, in which event
the other party shall have the right to review and comment upon (but not
approve) any such press release or public statement prior to its issuance.
ss.III.9 Expenses.
<PAGE>
The Purchaser and the Sellers shall each pay any and all transfer,
sales or other comparable Taxes to which they are respectively subject arising
out of the Contemplated Transactions. Except as otherwise specifically provided
in this Agreement, the Purchaser and the Sellers shall bear their respective
expenses, and the Sellers will bear the expenses of CIA, in each case, incurred
in connection with the preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement
and the Contemplated Transaction, including, without limitation, all fees and
expenses of their respective Representatives.
ss.III.10 Confidentiality.
(a Prior to the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall hold in strict
confidence, and shall use its best efforts to cause all its Representatives to
hold in strict confidence, unless compelled to disclose by judicial or
administrative process, or by other requirements of Law, all information
concerning the Sellers and CIA which it has obtained from CIA, the Sellers or
their Representatives prior to, on or after the date hereof in connection with
the Contemplated Transactions, and, prior thereto, the Purchaser shall not use
or disclose to others, or permit the use or disclosure of, any such information
so obtained, and will not release or disclose such information to any other
person, except its Representatives who need to know such information in
connection with this Agreement and who shall be advised of the provisions of
this Section 3.10. The foregoing provision shall not apply to any such
information to the extent (i) known by the Purchaser prior to the date such
information was provided to such party in connection with the Contemplated
Transactions, (ii) made known to the Purchaser from a third party not known by
the Purchaser to be in breach of any confidentiality requirement or (iii) made
public through no fault of the Purchaser or any of its Representatives.
(b If the Contemplated Transactions are not consummated and if
requested by the Agents, the Purchaser shall return to the Sellers all tangible
evidence of such information regarding the Sellers and CIA.
<PAGE>
ss.III.11 Certain Renewals.
With respect to each Permit which may expire prior to the Closing
Date or within sixty (60) days thereafter, CIA shall (a) timely file with the
appropriate Governmental Bodies applications for renewal of each such Permit
(the "Applications"), (b) deliver to the Purchaser true and complete copies of
such Applications, (c) diligently prosecute such Applications to conclusion, and
(d) cooperate fully with all Governmental Bodies in the processing of such
Applications.
ss.III.12 MSGI Filings.
During the period prior to the Closing Date, the Purchaser shall
deliver to each Seller, promptly after the filing thereof, a true and correct
copy of each report, information statement or other document ("MSGI Filings")
filed by the Purchaser with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the
1934 Act. Prior to the Closing Date, the Purchaser (a) will provide the Sellers
with a reasonable opportunity to ask questions and receive answers from
Representatives of the Purchaser concerning their purchase of the Transaction
Shares, and (b) may, in its discretion, provide to each Seller a disclosure
statement containing such information as the Purchaser shall deem necessary to
comply with the representation and warranty contained in the last sentence of
Section 2.2(e).
ss.III.13 The Roll-up.
<PAGE>
At the Closing, the Purchaser shall proceed with a "roll-up" of
certain of the assets of CMGD into CIA (the "CMGD Roll-Up"). Pursuant to the
CMGD Roll-Up, CMGD shall transfer, convey, grant and contribute to CIA all of
the right, title and interest in the PermissionPlus(TM) technology, assets and
business, including all employees of such business (the "CMGD Roll-Up
Employees"). In consideration thereof, CIA shall issue and deliver to CMGD six
thousand one hundred fifty-four (6,154) shares of CIA Common Stock.
ss.III.14 Affiliate Loans.
As of the Closing Date, certain Affiliates of CIA have extended
loans (the "Affiliate Loans") to CIA pursuant to (a) an Agreement among CIA, J.
Scott Hamilton, Eyal Rimmon and Jean Cazes, dated as of September 8, 1998 (the
"Cazes Agreement"), (b) pursuant to a Promissory Note (the "BCI August 10 Note")
of CIA to BCI in the principal amount of $50,000, dated August 10, 1999, (c)
pursuant to a Promissory Note (the "BCI August 27 Note") of CIA to BCI in the
principal amount of $10,000, dated August 27, 1999, and (d) pursuant to a
Promissory Note (the "BCI September 8 Note", together with the BCI August 10
Note and the BCI August 27 Note, the "BCI Promissory Notes") of CIA to BCI in
the principal amount of $40,000, dated September 8, 1999. At the Closing, the
Purchaser is hereby authorized and directed to deliver to Jean Cazes and BCI
(the "Affiliate Lenders") such number of shares of MSGI Stock equal in the
aggregate to One Hundred Fifty Thousand ($150,000) Dollars [plus the accrued
interest on the Affiliate Loans] (valued at the Average Closing Price) as
payment in full for all principal and interest due pursuant to the Cazes
Agreement and the BCI Promissory Notes (the "Loan Payment").
ss.III.15 New Options.
<PAGE>
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that at the Closing, and in
connection with the transaction contemplated in Section 3.13 hereof, CIA shall
grant options to purchase shares of CIA Common Stock to the CMGD Roll-Up
Employees (the "Roll-Up Options"). The Roll-Up Options shall constitute options
initially granted such Employees named on Schedule 3.15 hereto, and shall be
subject to the terms and conditions set forth in New CIA Option Agreements, in
substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 1.2.B, to be entered into
between CIA and each such Employee. The parties hereto further acknowledge and
agree that the grant of the Roll-Up Options shall not, upon the exercise of such
Options by the holder(s) of such Options, dilute the Sellers' post-Closing
equity holdings of CIA Common Stock (the "Roll-Up Options Adjustment"), it being
understood that, upon notice of such exercise by such holder, the Purchaser
shall reduce its holdings in CIA and return to treasury a like number of CIA
Shares subject to exercised Roll-Up Options. The parties hereto further
acknowledge and agree that the Roll-Up Options Adjustment provision shall only
apply with regard to the Roll-Up Options granted at the Closing, and shall not
apply to any subsequent grant of options to purchase CIA Common Stock to any
CMGD Roll-Up Employee or any other person.
ss.III.16 Tax-Free Reorganization.
The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that the Contemplated
Transactions are intended to be and shall constitute a "reorganization" within
the meaning of Section 368(a)(1)(B) of the Code, and that they will file Tax
Returns and reports and all other documents necessary to effectuate, and
consistent with, the foregoing.
IV. CONDITIONS TO CLOSING.
ss.IV.1 Conditions to the Obligations of the Parties.
The obligations of CIA and the Sellers, on the one hand, and the
Purchaser, on the other, to consummate the Contemplated Transactions are subject
to the satisfaction of the following conditions:
<PAGE>
(a No Injunction. No provision of any applicable Law and no Order shall
prohibit the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
(b No Proceeding or Litigation. No Claim instituted by any person
(other than a party hereto or its Affiliates), shall have been commenced or be
pending against a party hereto or any of their Affiliates, partners, officers or
directors, which Claim seeks to restrain, prevent, change or delay in any
material respect the Contemplated Transactions or seeks to challenge any of the
material terms or provisions of this Agreement or seeks material damages in
connection with any of the Contemplated Transactions.
ss.IV.2 Conditions to the Obligations of CIA and the Sellers.
(a The obligations of CIA and the Sellers hereunder to consummate the
Contemplated Transactions are subject, at the option of the Agents, to the
fulfillment prior to or at the Closing of each of the following further
conditions:
(i Performance. The Purchaser shall have performed and
complied with, in all material respects, all agreements, obligations and
covenants required by this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to be
performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing Date.
(ii Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of the Purchaser contained in this Agreement and each other
Transaction Document and in any certificate or other writing delivered by the
Purchaser pursuant hereto shall be true, in all material respects, at and as of
the Closing Date as if made at and as of such time.
(iii Purchase Price. (A) The Purchaser shall have delivered the Escrow
Shares to the Escrow Agent; and
<PAGE>
(B The Purchaser shall have delivered to the Sellers
certificates representing the Transaction Shares and the MSGI Options which each
Seller is entitled to receive, registered in the name of such Seller or its
nominee.
(iv Documentation. There shall have been delivered to the Agents the
following:
(A A certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Chairman of the
Board, the President or Chief Financial Officer of the Purchaser confirming the
matters set forth in Section 4.2(a)(i) and (ii) hereof.
(B A certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary or
Assistant Secretary of the Purchaser certifying, among other things, that
attached or appended to such certificate (1) is a true and correct copy of its
certificate of incorporation and all amendments if any thereto as of the date
thereof; (2) is a true and correct copy of its by-laws as of the date thereof;
(3) is a true copy of all corporate actions taken by it, including resolutions
of its board of directors authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement, and each other Transaction Document to be delivered by the
Purchaser pursuant hereto; and (4) are the names and signatures of its duly
elected or appointed officers who are authorized to execute and deliver this
Agreement and any certificate, document or other instrument in connection
herewith.
(C Evidence of the good standing and corporate existence of the
Purchaser reasonably requested by the Agents.
<PAGE>
(D A signed opinion of the Purchaser's counsel, dated the
Closing Date and addressed to the Sellers, substantially in the form annexed
hereto as Exhibit 4.2.
(E An executed copy of the Escrow Agreement.
ss.IV.3 Conditions to the Obligations of the Purchaser.
(a All obligations of the Purchaser to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions hereunder are subject, at the option of the Purchaser, to the
fulfillment prior to or at the Closing of each of the following further
conditions:
(i Performance. Each of CIA and the Sellers shall have
performed and complied with, in all material respects, all agreements,
obligations and covenants required by this Agreement and each other Transaction
Document to be performed or complied with by it at or prior to the Closing Date.
(ii Representations and Warranties. The representations and
warranties of each of CIA and each Seller contained in this Agreement and each
other Transaction Document and in any certificate or other writing delivered by
CIA or such Seller pursuant hereto shall be true, in all material respects, at
and as of the Closing Date as if made at and as of such time.
(iii Sellers Required Consents. All Sellers Required Consents shall
have been obtained.
(iv Liens. All Liens on the Assets or Real Property (other
than Permitted Liens) shall have been released and discharged in form and
substance acceptable to the Purchaser.
<PAGE>
(v Satisfaction of Indebtedness. The Affiliate Lenders shall
each have delivered to the Purchaser evidence of the satisfaction of
indebtedness in favor of CIA with regard to the Affiliate Loans, and the
Affiliate Loans shall have been paid in full and terminated.
(vi Securities. The Purchaser shall have received certificates
representing the CIA Shares, duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock or
bond transfer powers duly executed in blank and in suitable form for transfer by
delivery.
(vii No Proceeding or Litigation. No Claim instituted by any
person (other than a party hereto or its Affiliates), shall have been commenced
or be pending against a party hereto or any of their Affiliates, partners,
officers or directors, which Claim could, in the reasonable opinion of the
Purchaser, (A) result in a material adverse effect in the Condition of the
Business or (B) delay or otherwise affect, in a manner adverse to a party
hereto, the Contemplated Transactions.
(viii Documentation. There shall have been delivered to the Purchaser
the following:
(A A certificate, dated the Closing Date, of CIA and the Agents (as
hereinafter defined), confirming the matters set forth in Sections 4.3(b)(i) and
(ii).
<PAGE>
(B A certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of each Seller which is not a natural person certifying, among other
things, that attached or appended to such certificate (1) is a true and correct
copy of its certificate of incorporation and by-laws (or comparable instruments)
and all amendments if any thereto as of the date thereof; (2) is a true copy of
all actions taken by it, including resolutions of its board of directors (or
comparable governing body) authorizing the execution, delivery and performance
of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document to be delivered by such
Seller pursuant hereto; and (3) are the names and signatures of its duly elected
or appointed officers who are authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement
and any certificate, document or other instrument in connection herewith.
(C A certificate, dated the Closing Date, of the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary of CIA certifying, among other things, that attached or appended to
such certificate (1) is a true and correct copy of the certificate of
incorporation and by-laws (or comparable instruments) of CIA and all amendments,
if any, thereto as of the date thereof; (2) is a true copy of all corporate
actions taken by the board of directors of CIA authorizing the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and each other Transaction Document
to be delivered by CIA pursuant hereto; and (3) are the names and signatures of
its duly elected or appointed officers who are authorized to execute and deliver
this Agreement and any certificate, document or other instrument in connection
herewith.
(D Evidence of the good standing and corporate (or other) existence of CIA
and each corporate Seller reasonably requested by the Purchaser.
(E A signed opinion of CIA's and the Sellers' counsel, dated the Closing
Date, addressed to the Purchaser, substantially in the form annexed as Exhibit
4.3B.
(F Copies of all Sellers Required Consents and material Permits.
(G An executed copy of the Escrow Agreement.
(H The resignations, dated on or before the Closing Date, of such directors
of CIA as requested by the Purchaser.
<PAGE>
(I The Purchaser shall have received Executed Employment Letters by and
between CIA and each of J. Scott Hamilton, Eyal Rimmon, Sam Levine, Komali
Avadhani, Mohammed Abdul Jabbar, Matthew R. Gray, Matthew E. Nelson, Paul
Teasdale, Joseph Sorci and Alex Albu, substantially in the form annexed as
Exhibit 4.3C.
(J The Sellers shall have delivered to the Purchaser such other documents
as the Purchaser may reasonably request in order to enable the Purchaser to
determine whether the conditions to its obligations under this Agreement have
been met, and otherwise to carry out the provisions of this Agreement.
(K All actions, proceedings, instruments, and documents required by the
Sellers to carry out this Agreement or incidental thereto and all other related
legal matters shall have been reasonably approved by counsel to the Purchaser,
and the Sellers shall have furnished such counsel such documents as such counsel
may have reasonably requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such
matters.
V. INDEMNIFICATION.
ss.V.1 Survival of Representations and Warranties.
<PAGE>
(a Notwithstanding any right of the Purchaser fully to investigate
the affairs of CIA and notwithstanding any knowledge of facts determined or
determinable by the Purchaser pursuant to such investigation or right of
investigation, the Purchaser has the right to rely fully upon the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of CIA and the Sellers
contained in this Agreement, or listed or disclosed on any Schedule hereto, any
Transaction Document or in any instrument delivered in connection with or
pursuant to any of the foregoing. All such representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements shall survive the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Closing hereunder. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all
representations and warranties of CIA and the Sellers contained in this
Agreement, on any Schedule hereto, in any Transaction Document or in any
instrument delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall
terminate and expire eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date; provided,
however, that the liability of the Sellers as to any specific claim or claims
relating to the representations and warranties set forth in Section 2.1(p) shall
terminate and expire ninety (90) days after the expiration of the statute of
limitations period applicable to such claim or claims; and provided, however,
that the liability of the Sellers shall not terminate as to any specific claim
or claims of the type referred to in Section 5.2 hereof, whether or not fixed as
to liability or liquidated as to amount, with respect to which the Sellers have
been given specific notice on or prior to the date on which such liabilities
would otherwise terminate pursuant to the terms of this Section 5.1(a).
(b All representations and warranties of the Purchaser shall
terminate and expire eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date; provided,
however, that the liability of the Purchaser shall not terminate as to any
specific claim or claims of the type referred to in Section 5.3 hereof, whether
or not fixed as to liability or liquidated as to amount, with respect to which
the Purchaser has been given specific notice on or prior to the date on which
such liability would otherwise terminate pursuant to the terms of this Section
5.1(b).
ss.V.2 Obligation of the Sellers to Indemnify.
<PAGE>
Each Seller severally agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
the Purchaser (and its respective directors, officers, employees, Affiliates,
successors and assigns) from and against all Claims, losses, Liabilities,
damages, deficiencies, judgments, settlements, costs of investigation or other
expenses (including interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys' fees and
disbursements and expenses incurred in enforcing this indemnification)
(collectively, the "Losses") suffered or incurred by the Purchaser, CIA, or any
of the foregoing persons arising out of (a) any breach of the representations
and warranties of CIA or the Sellers contained in this Agreement or in the
Schedules or any Transaction Document; or (b) any breach of the covenants and
agreements of CIA or the Sellers contained in this Agreement or in the Schedules
or any Transaction Document.
ss.V.3 Obligation of the Purchaser to Indemnify.
The Purchaser agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each
Seller (and any director, officer, employee, Affiliate or successors and assigns
of any thereof) from and against any Losses suffered or incurred by such Seller
or any of the foregoing persons arising out of any breach of the representations
and warranties of the Purchaser or of the covenants and agreements of the
Purchaser contained in this Agreement or in the Schedules or any Transaction
Document.
ss.V.4 Notice and Opportunity to Defend Third Party Claims.
<PAGE>
(a Promptly after receipt by any party hereto (the "Indemnitee") of
notice of any demand, claim or circumstance which would or might give rise to a
claim or the commencement (or threatened commencement) of any action, proceeding
or investigation (an "Asserted Liability") that may result in a Loss, the
Indemnitee shall give prompt notice thereof (the "Claims Notice") to the party
or parties obligated to provide indemnification pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3
(collectively, the "Indemnifying Party"). The Claims Notice shall describe the
Asserted Liability in reasonable detail and shall indicate the amount
(estimated, if necessary, and to the extent feasible) of the Loss that has been
or may be suffered by the Indemnitee.
<PAGE>
(b The Indemnifying Party may elect to defend, at its own expense
and with counsel reasonably acceptable to the Indemnitee, any Asserted Liability
unless (i) the Asserted Liability seeks an Order, injunction or other equitable
or declaratory relief against the Indemnitee or (ii) the Indemnitee shall have
reasonably concluded that (A) there is a conflict of interest between the
Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party in the conduct of such defense, (B) the
Indemnitee shall have one or more defenses not available to the Indemnifying
Party, or (C) the Asserted Liability arises from a breach of a representation or
warranty contained in Section 2.1(p). If the Indemnifying Party elects to defend
such Asserted Liability, it shall within thirty (30) days (or sooner, if the
nature of the Asserted Liability so requires) notify the Indemnitee of its
intent to do so, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate, at the expense of the
Indemnifying Party, in the defense of such Asserted Liability. If the
Indemnifying Party elects not to defend the Asserted Liability, is not permitted
to defend the Asserted Liability by reason of the first sentence of this Section
5.4(b), fails to notify the Indemnitee of its election as herein provided or
contests its obligation to indemnify under this Agreement with respect to such
Asserted Liability, the Indemnitee may pay, compromise or defend such Asserted
Liability at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying Party.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Indemnifying Party nor the Indemnitee
may settle or compromise any claim over the reasonable written objection of the
other; provided that the Indemnitee may settle or compromise any claim as to
which the Indemnifying Party has failed to notify the Indemnitee of its election
under this Section 5.4(b) or as to which the Indemnifying Party is contesting
its indemnification obligations hereunder. In any event, the Indemnitee and the
Indemnifying Party may participate, at their own expense, in the defense of any
Asserted Liability. Each party shall make available to the other party any
books, records or other documents within its control that are necessary or
appropriate for such defense. Any Losses of any Indemnitee for which
indemnification is available hereunder shall be paid upon written demand
therefor. The Sellers acknowledge and agree that, subject to the provisions of
Section 7.11 hereof, the Agents shall have full power and authority to take, in
the name and on behalf of the Sellers, any and all actions required or permitted
to be taken by the Sellers under this Section 5.4.
ss.V.5 Limits on Indemnification.
(a The Purchaser's remedies with respect to Losses specified in
Section 5.2 shall be satisfied first by the assertion of its rights under the
Escrow Agreement in respect of the Escrow Shares; provided, however, that if (i)
the aggregate amount of such Losses shall be in excess of the amount of the
Escrow Shares or (ii) any Losses shall arise after termination or expiration of
the Escrow Agreement with respect to which the Purchaser is entitled to
indemnification pursuant to Section 5.2(b) or (c), then the Sellers shall be
obligated to indemnify the Purchaser in respect of all such Losses not satisfied
by delivery to the Purchaser of Escrow Shares to the extent provided in this
Article V. The Purchaser shall be entitled to assert its rights hereunder and
under the Escrow Agreement in respect of the Escrow Shares with respect to the
full amount of any and all of its Losses under Section 5.2, irrespective of the
several nature of the Sellers' obligations under this Agreement.
<PAGE>
(b The Sellers shall not have any obligation to indemnify the
Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.2(a) hereof with respect to any Losses specified
therein unless and until the Purchaser shall have incurred Losses under Section
5.2 in an aggregate amount in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000) Dollars in
which event the Purchaser shall be entitled to be indemnified for all of its
Losses subject to the provisions of Section 5.5(a) above. As used in this
Agreement, "Losses" shall be determined after giving effect to the receipt by
the Indemnitee of any insurance proceeds relating to such Loss.
(c The Purchaser shall not have any obligation to indemnify the
Sellers pursuant to Section 5.3(a) hereof with respect to any Losses specified
therein unless and until the Purchaser shall have incurred Losses under Section
5.3 in an aggregate amount in excess of Fifty Thousand ($50,000) Dollars in
which event the Sellers shall be entitled to be indemnified for all of their
Losses.
(d Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary,
each Seller's obligation to indemnify the Purchaser pursuant to Section 5.2(a)
hereof with respect to Losses specified therein shall not exceed the value of
such Seller's MSGI Stock and CIA Common Stock as determined on the date for
which indemnification shall be demanded hereunder, provided, however, that (i)
if such Seller has sold any of his MSGI Stock and/or CIA Stock prior to such
date, then, in the case of such shares that were sold, such value shall be
deemed to equal the proceeds received upon the sale or sales thereof; and (ii)
any such obligation of a Seller to indemnify the Purchaser may be satisfied by
delivery of such Seller's shares of MSGI Stock and/or CIA Stock having a value,
determined on the date for which indemnification shall be demanded hereunder,
equal to the amount of such indemnification demand.
ss.V.6 Adjustment.
<PAGE>
It is the intent of the parties that any amounts paid under Sections
5.2 or 5.3 shall represent an adjustment of the Purchase Price and the parties
will report such payments consistent with such intent. Nevertheless, if any
payment pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3 hereof would be treated by any Tax
Authority as other than a Purchase Price adjustment and would, on that basis, be
includable in the gross income of the Indemnitee that is reported to such Tax
Authority, then such payment shall be increased by the amount necessary so that
the Indemnitee is fully and completely indemnified on an after-Tax basis.
ss.V.7 Exclusive Remedy.
Except as otherwise explicitly provided in this Agreement, the
parties agree that the indemnification provisions of this Article V shall
constitute the parties' sole and exclusive remedies in respect of this Agreement
and the Contemplated Transactions (other than Claims in the nature of fraud).
ss.V.8 Release of Escrow Shares.
On the date eighteen (18) months after the Closing Date, the Escrow
Agent shall release to the Sellers entitled thereto all Escrow Shares then held
under the Escrow Agreement, other than shares which remain subject to a claim
under Section 5.2 which has not been satisfied or dismissed. If any such claim
remains unsatisfied and not dismissed at such date, then the Escrow Agent shall
hold a corresponding amount of Escrow Shares until such claim is satisfied or
dismissed, at which time the Escrow Agent shall deliver or release such Escrow
Shares in accordance with the respective rights and interests of the parties.
VI. SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE; TERMINATION.
ss.VI.1 Specific Performance.
<PAGE>
(a The Sellers acknowledge and agree that, if the Sellers fail to
proceed with the Closing in any circumstance other than those described in
clauses (a), (b), (d) or (e) of Section 6.2 below, the Purchaser will not have
adequate remedies at law with respect to such breach and that, in such event,
the Purchaser shall be entitled, without the necessity or obligation of posting
a bond or other security, to commence a suit in equity to obtain specific
performance of the Sellers' and CIA's obligations under this Agreement. The
Sellers specifically affirm the appropriateness of such injunctive or other
equitable relief in any such action.
ss.VI.2 Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated and the Contemplated Transactions
may be abandoned at any time prior to the Closing:
(a By mutual written consent of the Agents and the Purchaser;
(b By the Agents if (i) there has been a material misrepresentation or
breach of warranty on the part of the Purchaser in the representations and
warranties contained herein and such material misrepresentation or breach of
warranty, if curable, is not cured within thirty (30) days after written notice
thereof from the Agents; (ii) the Purchaser has committed a material breach of
any covenant imposed upon it hereunder and fails to cure such breach within
thirty (30) days after written notice thereof from the Agents; or (iii) any
condition to the Sellers' obligations hereunder becomes incapable of fulfillment
through no fault of the Sellers and is not waived by the Agents; provided that,
on the date of termination, all conditions to the Purchaser's obligations
specified in Section 4.3 shall have been satisfied and the Sellers shall then be
otherwise ready, willing and able to proceed with the Closing hereunder;
<PAGE>
(c By the Purchaser, if (i) there has been a material
misrepresentation or breach of warranty on the part of CIA or the Sellers in the
representations and warranties contained herein and such material
misrepresentation or breach of warranty, if curable, is not cured within thirty
(30) days after written notice thereof from the Purchaser; (ii) CIA or any
Seller has committed a material breach of any covenant imposed upon it hereunder
and fails to cure such breach within thirty (30) days after written notice
thereof from the Purchaser; or (iii) any condition to the Purchaser's
obligations hereunder becomes incapable of fulfillment through no fault of the
Purchaser and is not waived by the Purchaser; provided that, on the date of
termination, all conditions to the Sellers' obligations hereunder specified in
Sections 4.2(a) and (b) shall have been satisfied and the Purchaser shall then
be otherwise ready, willing and able to proceed with the Closing hereunder;
(d By the Agents or by the Purchaser, if there shall be any Law that
makes consummation of the Contemplated Transactions illegal or otherwise
prohibited, or if any Order enjoining CIA, any Seller or the Purchaser from
consummating the Contemplated Transactions is entered and such Order shall have
become final and nonappealable; and
(e By either the Agents or the Purchaser if the Closing shall not
have occurred on or prior to October 31, 1999; provided that (i) if so
terminated by the Agents, the conditions specified in the proviso of Section
6.2(b) shall have been satisfied on the date of termination and the Sellers
shall be then otherwise ready, willing and able to proceed with the Closing, or
(ii) if so terminated by the Purchaser, the conditions specified in the proviso
of Section 6.2(c) shall have been satisfied on the date of termination and the
Purchaser shall be then otherwise ready, willing and able to proceed with the
Closing.
<PAGE>
ss.VI.3 Effect of Termination; Right to Proceed.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1 hereof, in the event that
this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 6.2, all further
obligations of the parties under the Agreement shall terminate without further
liability of any party hereunder except (a) to the extent that a party has made
a material misrepresentation hereunder or committed a breach of any material
covenant and agreement imposed upon it hereunder; (b) to the extent that any
condition to a party's obligations hereunder became incapable of fulfillment
because of the breach by a party of its obligations hereunder; and (c) that the
agreements contained in Sections 3.8 and 3.9 shall survive the termination
hereof. In the event that a condition precedent to its obligation is not met,
nothing contained herein shall be deemed to require any party to terminate this
Agreement, rather than to waive such condition precedent and proceed with the
Contemplated Transactions.
VII. MISCELLANEOUS.
ss.VII.1 Notices.
(a Any notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be delivered personally by hand or by recognized
overnight courier, telecopied or mailed (by registered or certified mail,
postage prepaid) as follows:
(i If to the Purchaser, one copy to:
Marketing Services Group, Inc.
333 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10001
Attention: J. Jeremy Barbera, Chairman and
Chief Executive
Officer
Facsimile: (212) 629-6040
<PAGE>
and a copy of such notice (which copy shall not constitute notice) shall also be
sent to:
Camhy Karlinsky & Stein LLP
1740 Broadway, 16th Floor
New York, New York 10019-4315
Attention: Alan I. Annex, Esq.
Facsimile: (212) 977-8389
(ii If to CIA, one copy to:
Cambridge Intelligence Agency, Inc.
95 Water Street
Williamstown, Massachusetts 01267
Attention: J. Scott Hamilton, President
Facsimile: (413) 458-2831
and a copy of any notice (which copy shall not constitute notice) shall also be
sent to:
Goodwin, Procter & Hoar LLP
53 State Street at Exchange Place
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
Attention: Thomas P. Storer, P.C.
Facsimile: (617) 523-1231
(iii If to the Sellers, one copy to:
addresses listed on Schedule 7.1.
(b Each such notice or other communication shall be effective (i) if
given by telecopier, when such telecopy is transmitted to the telecopier number
specified in Section 7.1(a) (with confirmation of transmission); or (ii) if
given by any other means, when delivered at the address specified in Section
7.1(a). Any party by notice given in accordance with this Section 7.1 to the
other party may designate another address (or telecopier number) or person for
receipt of notices hereunder. Notices by a party may be given by counsel to such
party.
ss.VII.2 Entire Agreement.
<PAGE>
This Agreement (including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and the
other Transaction Documents executed in connection with the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions contain the entire agreement among the parties with
respect to the subject matter hereof and the Contemplated Transactions and
supersede all prior agreements, written or oral, with respect thereto.
ss.VII.3 Waivers and Amendments; Non-Contractual Remedies;
Preservation of Remedies.
This Agreement may be amended, superseded, canceled, renewed or
extended only by a written instrument signed by the Agents and the Purchaser.
The provisions hereof may be waived in writing by the Agents and the Purchaser.
No delay on the part of any party in exercising any right, power or privilege
hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any waiver on the part of
any party of any such right, power or privilege, nor any single or partial
exercise of any such right, power or privilege, preclude any further exercise
thereof or the exercise of any other such right, power or privilege. Except as
otherwise provided herein, the rights and remedies herein provided are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that any party may
otherwise have at law or in equity.
ss.VII.4 Judicial Proceedings.
<PAGE>
(a EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO AGREES THAT ANY ACTION, SUIT OR
PROCEEDING AGAINST ANY OF THE PARTIES HERETO ARISING UNDER OR RELATING IN ANY
WAY TO THIS AGREEMENT OR A TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY MAY ONLY BE BROUGHT
OR ENFORCED IN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK OR OF THE UNITED STATES FOR
THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, AND EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO IRREVOCABLY
CONSENTS TO THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF EACH SUCH COURT IN RESPECT OF ANY SUCH
ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING. EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO FURTHER IRREVOCABLY
CONSENTS TO THE SERVICE OF PROCESS IN ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING BY THE
MAILING OF COPIES THEREOF BY REGISTERED OR CERTIFIED MAIL, POSTAGE PRE-PAID,
RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED, TO SUCH PARTY AT ITS ADDRESSES PROVIDED FOR NOTICES
HEREUNDER.
(b EACH OF THE PARTIES HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY
OBJECTION THAT IT MAY NOW OR HEREAFTER HAVE REGARDING THE LAYING OF VENUE OF ANY
ACTION, SUIT OR PROCEEDING ARISING UNDER OR RELATING IN ANY WAY TO DISAGREEMENT
OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY IN ANY COURT LOCATED IN THE STATE OF NEW
YORK AND HEREBY FURTHER IRREVOCABLY WAIVES ANY CLAIM THAT A COURT LOCATED IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK IS NOT A CONVENIENT FORUM FOR ANY SUCH ACTION, SUIT OR
PROCEEDING.
ss.VII.5 Binding Effect; No Assignment.
<PAGE>
This Agreement and all of its provisions, rights and obligations
shall be binding upon and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and
their respective successors, heirs and legal representatives. This Agreement may
not be assigned (including by operation of Law) by any party hereto without the
express written consent of the Purchaser (in the case of assignment by CIA or
the Sellers) or the Agents (in the case of assignment by the Purchaser) and any
purported assignment, unless so consented to, shall be void and without effect;
provided, however, without obtaining such consent, the Purchaser may assign its
rights hereunder to any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates. Nothing herein
express or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or to give
anyone other than the parties hereto and their respective heirs, legal
representatives and successors any rights or benefits under or by reason of this
Agreement and no other party shall have any right to enforce any of the
provisions of this Agreement.
ss.VII.6 Exhibits.
All Exhibits and Schedules attached hereto are hereby incorporated
by reference into, and made a part of, this Agreement.
ss.VII.7 Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement for any reason shall be held to
be illegal, invalid or unenforceable, such illegality shall not affect any other
provision of this Agreement, but this Agreement shall be construed as if such
illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision had never been included herein.
ss.VII.8 Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed to be an original as against any party whose signature
appears thereon, and all of which shall together constitute one and the same
instrument. This Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts
hereof, individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the
parties reflected hereon as the signatories.
ss.VII.9 Third Parties.
<PAGE>
Except as specifically set forth or referred to herein, nothing
herein express or implied is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or
give to any person other than the parties hereto and their permitted successors
or assigns, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or the
Contemplated Transactions.
ss.VII.10 Further Assurances.
At any time and from time to time after the Closing Date, upon the
request of the Purchaser, the Sellers will do, execute, acknowledge and deliver,
or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged or delivered, all such further
documents, instruments or assurances, as may be necessary, desirable or proper
to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this Agreement. The
Sellers and the Purchaser will each, respectively, bear their or its own costs
and expenses incurred in compliance with the first sentence of this Section
7.10.
ss.VII.11 Provisions Regarding the Agents.
(a By its execution of this Agreement, each Seller duly and, subject
to the provisions of paragraph (b) below, irrevocably appoints J. Scott Hamilton
and Matthew E. Nelson, acting individually as its attorney-in-fact (the
"Agents"), with full power and authority, in the name of and for and on behalf
of such Seller, to exercise all rights, powers and privileges of such Seller
hereunder, including without limitation to execute and deliver all documents
required to be delivered by such Seller hereunder (including but not limited to
the Escrow Agreement) and to take all actions required to be taken by such
Seller hereunder. Each Seller agrees that the foregoing appointment and powers
are coupled with an interest and are irrevocable (subject to substitution set
forth in Section 7.11 (b)).
<PAGE>
(b The Sellers holding the majority of the Percentage Share on the
Closing Date may revoke the authority of the Agents named above by written
notice to the Purchaser, provided such Sellers designate a successor agent or
agents therein, and no such revocation that does not include such a designation
shall be effective. From and after the receipt of such notice, such successor
agent or agents shall have all of the rights and obligations of the Agents
hereunder, and the power of attorney set forth in paragraph (a) above shall
thereupon be deemed to be in favor and for the benefit of such successor agent
or agents. Unless the Purchaser has received such written notice revoking or
terminating the authority of the Agents hereunder, the Purchaser shall be
entitled, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in this Agreement
or any Transaction Document, to rely on notices to, directions from the Agents
and other actions taken by the Agents with respect to all matters under this
Agreement, without independent inquiry or verification of any kind, and the
Purchaser shall not be liable to any Seller with respect to any actions of the
Agents.
<PAGE>
VIII. DEFINITIONS.
ss.VIII.1 Definitions.
(a The following terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:
"Acquisition Proposal" shall mean any proposal involving, directly or
indirectly, (i) the acquisition of, or merger or other business combination
involving CIA, (ii) the sale or other transfer of any capital stock (or other
equity interests) of CIA, (iii) the sale, lease, transfer or management of the
Business, (iv) the sale or other transfer of any Assets (except in the ordinary
course) and (v) any other transaction inconsistent with the Contemplated
Transaction or which would render any of them impossible or impracticable to
consummate.
"Affiliate" of any person means any other person directly or
indirectly through one or more intermediary persons, controlling, controlled by
or under common control with such person.
"Agreement" or "this Agreement" shall mean, and the words "herein",
"hereof" and "hereunder" and words of similar import shall refer to, this
agreement as it from time to time may be amended.
"Assets" shall mean properties, rights, interests and assets of
every kind, real, personal or mixed, tangible and intangible, used or usable in
the Business.
The term "audit" or "audited" when used in regard to financial
statements shall mean an examination of the financial statements by a firm of
independent certified public accountants in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards for the purpose of expressing an opinion thereon.
<PAGE>
"Average Closing Price" shall mean the numerical average of the
closing sales price (regular way) per share of MSGI Stock (or, in case no such
reported sales takes place on such day the average of the closing bid and asked
prices) on the principle national securities exchange on which the MSGI Stock is
then listed, for each of the fifteen (15) trading days ending two (2) trading
days prior to the Closing Date.
"Business" shall mean the ownership and operation of the Assets
comprising the business operations of CIA.
"Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
"Company Debt" shall mean (i) money borrowed by CIA from any person; (ii) any
indebtedness of CIA arising under leases required to be capitalized under GAAP
or evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or similar instrument; (iii) any
indebtedness of CIA arising under purchase money obligations or representing the
deferred purchase price of property and services (other than current trade
payables incurred in the ordinary course of the Business); and (iv) any
Liability of CIA under any guaranty, letter of credit, performance credit or
other agreement having the effect of assuring a creditor against loss.
"Condition of Business" shall mean the condition (financial or
otherwise), prospects or the results of operations of the Business.
"Contract" shall mean any contract, agreement, indenture, note,
bond, lease, conditional sale contract, mortgage, license, franchise,
instrument, commitment or other binding arrangement, whether written or oral.
<PAGE>
The term "control," with respect to any person, shall mean the power
to direct the management and policies of such person, directly or indirectly, by
or through stock ownership, agency or otherwise, or pursuant to or in connection
with an agreement, arrangement or understanding (written or oral) with one or
more other persons by or through stock ownership, agency or otherwise; and the
terms "controlling" and "controlled" shall have meanings correlative to the
foregoing.
"Environmental Laws" shall mean any and all Laws (including common
law), Orders, Permits, Contracts or any other requirement or restriction
promulgated, imposed, enacted or issued by any federal, state, local and foreign
Governmental Bodies relating to human health or the environment, including the
emission, discharge or Release of pollutants, contaminants, Hazardous Substances
or wastes into the environment (which includes, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, ground water, or land), or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
handling of pollutants, contaminants, Hazardous Substances or wastes or the
clean-up or other remediation thereof.
<PAGE>
"Environmental Liabilities" shall mean any Liabilities, obligations,
responsibilities, obligations to conduct remedial actions, losses, damages,
punitive damages, consequential damages, costs and expenses (including, without
limitation, all reasonable fees, disbursements and expenses of counsel, expert
and consulting fees and costs of investigations and feasibility studies), fines,
penalties, and monetary sanctions, interest, direct or indirect, known or
unknown, absolute or contingent, past, present, or future, resulting from any
claim or demand by any person, whether based in contract, tort, implied or
express warranty, strict liability, common law, criminal or civil statute,
including any Environmental Law, arising from environmental, health or safety
conditions at the Parks or the manufacture, refining, storage, disposal or
treatment of Hazardous Substances by or on behalf of the Sellers, CIA or any
predecessor in interest, in each case, on or prior to the Closing Date.
"ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended.
"Excluded Tax Liabilities" shall mean any and all Liabilities for
Taxes (other than Tax Liabilities arising out of the Contemplated Transactions
that are payable by the Purchaser) that are payable by the Sellers or CIA
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or pursuant to Law arising out of
events, transactions, facts or circumstances occurring or existing on or prior
to the Closing Date.
"GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect
on the date hereof as set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the
Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting
Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as may be
approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the United
States.
"Hazardous Substances" shall mean any dangerous, toxic, radioactive,
caustic or otherwise hazardous material, pollutant, contaminant, chemical, waste
or substance defined, listed or described as any of such in or governed by any
Environmental Law, including but not limited to urea-formaldehyde,
polychlorinated biphenyls, asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, radon,
explosives, known carcinogens, petroleum and its derivatives, petroleum
products, or any substance which might cause any injury to human health or
safety or to the environment or might subject the owner or operator of the Real
Property to any Regulatory Actions or Claims.
<PAGE>
"Inventory" shall mean, as of any date, collectively, all
inventories of CIA, merchandise, and other products owned by CIA and held for
resale or for distribution, together with packaging and samples thereof,
operating supplies and spare or maintenance parts owned by CIA as of such date.
"IRS" shall mean the Internal Revenue Service.
The term "knowledge" with respect to (a) any individual shall mean
actual knowledge and (b) any corporation shall mean the actual knowledge of the
directors and the executive officers of such corporation; and "knows" has a
correlative meaning.
"Liability" shall mean any direct or indirect indebtedness,
liability, assessment, claim, loss, damage, deficiency, obligation or
responsibility, fixed or unfixed, choate or inchoate, liquidated or
unliquidated, secured or unsecured, accrued, absolute, actual or potential,
contingent or otherwise (including any liability under any guaranties, letters
of credit, performance credits or with respect to insurance loss accruals).
"Lien" shall mean, with respect to any Asset, any mortgage, lien
(including mechanics, warehousemen, laborers and landlords liens), claim,
pledge, charge, security interest, preemptive right, right of first refusal,
option, judgment, title defect, or encumbrance of any kind in respect of or
affecting such Asset.
"MSGI Stock" shall mean the shares of Common Stock, par value $.01
per share, of the Purchaser as the same exist on the date hereof.
"1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
<PAGE>
The term "person" shall mean an individual, corporation,
partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or
other entity, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or
instrumentality thereof.
"Receivables" shall mean as of any date any trade accounts
receivable, notes receivable, sales representative advances and other
miscellaneous receivables of CIA arising in the ordinary course of the Business.
"Regulatory Actions" shall mean any Claim, demand, action, suit,
summons, citation, directive, investigation, litigation, inquiry, enforcement
action, Lien, encumbrance, restriction, settlement, remediation, response,
clean-up or closure arrangement or other remedial obligation or proceeding
brought or instigated by any Governmental Body in connection with any
Environmental Law, including, without limitation, the listing of the Real
Property on any list of contaminated or potentially contaminated sites or
potential or verified hazardous waste sites under any Environmental Law, or any
civil, criminal and/or administrative proceedings, whether or not seeking costs,
damages, penalties or expenses.
"Release" shall mean the intentional or unintentional, spilling,
leaking, disposing, discharging or disturbance of, or emitting, depositing,
injecting, leaching, escaping, or any other release or threatened release to or
from, however defined, any Hazardous Substance in violation of any Environmental
Law.
"Reportable Event" shall mean any of the events described in
Sections 4043(b)(1), (2), (3), (5), (6), (8) or (9) of ERISA.
<PAGE>
"Tax" (including, with correlative meaning, the terms "Taxes" and
"Taxable") shall mean (i)(A) any net income, gross income, gross receipts,
sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, transfer gains, franchise, profits, license,
withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, rent, recording,
occupation, premium, real or personal property, intangibles, environmental or
windfall profits tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax, customs duty or other
tax, fee, duty, levy, impost, assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever
(including but not limited to taxes assessed to real property and water and
sewer rents relating thereto), together with (B) any interest and any penalty,
addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Body (domestic
or foreign) (a "Tax Authority") responsible for the imposition of any such tax,
in either case, with respect to CIA, the Business or the Assets (or the transfer
thereof), (ii) any liability for the payment of any amount of the type described
in the immediately preceding clause as a result of CIA being a member of an
affiliated or combined group with any other corporation at any time on or prior
to the Closing Date and (iii) any liability of CIA for the payment of any
amounts of the type described in the immediately preceding clause (i) as a
result of a contractual obligation to indemnify any other person.
"Tax Return" shall mean any return or report (including elections,
declarations, disclosures, schedules, estimates and information returns)
required to be supplied to any Tax Authority.
"Transaction Documents" shall mean, collectively, this Agreement,
and each of the other agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered by
all or some of the parties hereto in connection with the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby.
<PAGE>
The term "voting power" when used with reference to the capital
stock of, or units of equity interests in, any person shall mean the power under
ordinary circumstances (and not merely upon the happening of a contingency) to
vote in the election of directors of such person (if such person is a
corporation) or to participate in the management and control of such person (if
such person is not a corporation).
ss.VIII.2 Interpretations.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in Section
8.1 shall have the meanings herein specified for all purposes of this Agreement,
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of any of the terms defined
herein. All accounting terms defined in Section 8.1, and those accounting terms
used in this Agreement not defined in Section 8.1, except as otherwise expressly
provided herein, shall have the meanings customarily given thereto in accordance
with GAAP. When a reference is made in this Agreement to Sections, such
reference shall be to a Section of this Agreement unless otherwise indicated.
The headings contained in this Agreement are for reference purposes only and
shall not affect in any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement.
Whenever the words "include," "includes" or "including" are used in this
Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by the words "without
limitation."
[REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK.]
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have duly executed this Agreement on
the date set forth above.
MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC.
By:___________________________________
Name: Edward E. Mullen
Title: President
CAMBRIDGE INTELLIGENCE AGENCY, INC.
By:___________________________________
Name: J. Scott Hamilton
Title: President
THE BERKSHIRES CAPITAL INVESTORS LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: The Berkshires Management Company LLC, its
General Partner
By:___________________________________
Name: Matthew C. Harris
Title: Managing Director
--------------------------------------
J. Scott Hamilton
<PAGE>
-[PG NUMBER]-
--------------------------------------
Jean Cazes
--------------------------------------
Eyal Rimmon
--------------------------------------
Brian Shin
--------------------------------------
Peter Sealey
--------------------------------------
Komali Avadhani
--------------------------------------
Mathew R. Gray
--------------------------------------
Mohammed Abdul Jabbar
--------------------------------------
Matthew E. Nelson
--------------------------------------
Paul Teasdale
--------------------------------------
Sam Levine
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE 1.2(d)
STOCKHOLDERS:
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CIA MSGI
CIA Common Common
CIA Shares to PercentageStock Stock
Name Common be Sold Share Owned Owned
Stock Owned to MSGI Post Post
Closing Closing
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
J. Scott Hamilton (1) 45,067 38,921 39.5% 6,146
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eyal Rimmon (1) 13,433 11,601 11.8% 1,832
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brian Shin (2) 1,330 1,149 1.2% 181
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jean Cazes 13,000 11,227 11.4% 1,773
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Berkshires Capital
Investors Limited 41,084 35,481 36.0% 5,603
Partnership
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Peter Sealey (3) 106 92 0.1% 14
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 114,020 98,470 100% 15,550
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Subject to annual vesting over 4 years commencing May 18, 1998, pursuant
to a Stock Restriction Agreement dated May 18, 1998.
(2) Represents full vested shares; subject to a Stock Restriction Agreement
dated May 18, 1998, as amended by a Mutual Release.
(3) Subject to a Restricted Stock Agreement dated August 26, 1999.
<PAGE>
OPTIONHOLDERS:
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Percentage Shares
Shares Shares Subject Shares Vesting
Name Subject to Subject to New Subject Start
CIA to MSGI CIA to MSGI Date
Options Options Options Options
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Komali Avadhani 10,640 49.8% 1,451 6/12/98
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matt Gray 998 4.7% 136 2/15/99
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mohammed Abdul Jabbar 998 4.7% 136 5/1/99
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Matthew E. Nelson 2,660 12.5% 363 6/1/99
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Paul Teasdale 665 3.1% 91 7/19/99
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sam Levine 5,402 25.3% 737 7/1/99
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 21,363 100% 2,913
- - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Non-Accredited Investors
Exhibit 20
MSGI'S Wholly-owned Subsidiary WiredEmpire to Acquire Cambridge Intelligence
Agency
Acquisition will add complementary automated e-mail response solution to
company's suite of e-mail marketing tools
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--August 27, 1999--WiredEmpire, a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Marketing Services Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: MSGI - news), an Internet
and integrated marketing services industry leader, today announced its intention
to acquire Cambridge Intelligence Agency (CIA), a leading provider of Web-based
e-mail response management solutions. Terms of the deal have not been released,
and are subject to certain approvals. CIA, based in Williamstown, MA, has
developed software technology tools, which automate the response to inbound e-
mail messages. CIA's products reduce the volume of e-mail requiring personal
attention. Its tools route messages to the right place quickly, reply
automatically to the sender's queries, and respond intelligently to frequently
asked questions. Companies using its products include the Boston Globe,
Lycos/Tripod, SmartAge and StreetMail, among others.
This is an exploding area of communications. Forrester Research recently
estimated the number of commercial e-mail broadcasts will reach 250 billion
messages by the year 2002. Companies will spend almost $1 billion on products
and services to address this growth by that year.
"We believe that CIA has outstanding core technology, and provides powerful
e-mail response solutions to its clients," said Ed Mullen, president of MSGI.
"There is a great synergy between WiredEmpire's current e-mail Marketing Agents
and CIA's e-mail response solutions. Combining the companies positions
WiredEmpire as the industry leader in providing total solutions in the Internet
automation field."
"This agreement will enable us to link up with one of the leading companies in
the field," said J. Scott Hamilton, president of CIA. "The combination of CIA's
response management solution with the targeted outbound e-mail marketing
capability of WiredEmpire yields a tool that will provide immediate bottom-line
results."
Officials of both companies say the planned acquisition is a natural fit. The
melding of WiredEmpire and CIA technology will provide marketers with a complete
suite of tools, which will assure effective direct marketing over the Web.
WiredEmpire's Marketing Agent technology provides comprehensive automated
Internet marketing products. Its tools profile visitors to Websites, direct
users to relevant Web content and create campaigns to turn anonymous traffic
into potential customers. WiredEmpire's technology is capable of scaling up to
the needs of the largest corporate user.
These Marketing Agents enable a company to create one-to-one relationships with
visitors to the Website. WiredEmpire's ProfileAgent helps turn anonymous traffic
into potential customers. It gathers customer preferences, and builds a
knowledge base of customers and prospects, while utilizing an "opt-in" process
to ensure privacy. WiredEmpire's CampaignAgent facilitates targeted e-mail
marketing campaigns, and can integrate with ProfileAgent to help segment target
audiences. It improves response rates with e-mail personalization and HTML
content, and calls for minimal IT involvement to deploy and maintain.
CampaignAgent allows offers to be developed and validated quickly, and improves
response rates with its fully integrated e-mail marketing capabilities. About
WiredEmpire
WiredEmpire, based in Wilmington, MA, is a wholly owned subsidiary of MSGI. It
provides automated Internet marketing technology for companies that want to
excel at customer acquisition and retention, market research, and one-to-one
relationships with its website visitors. The company's e-mail technology was
developed by CMG Direct, Inc., and stresses opt-in participation to ensure
privacy. WiredEmpire offers an Internet-marketing solution that requires no
additional hardware or software installation.
About Cambridge Intelligence Agency
Cambridge Intelligence Agency (CIA) has developed Focus, a powerful e-mail
response management solution for high-traffic Web sites. Combining efficiency
benefits of auto-replies with the editorial control of custom responses, Focus
dramatically improves e-mail-based customer service levels. The product is
offered as enterprise software or as a CIA-hosted service.
About MSGI
Marketing Services Group, Inc. is a leader in the Internet and marketing
services industries. MSGI's revenues have grown from $16 million in fiscal 1996
to in excess of $100 million on an annualized basis. GE Equity is the owner of a
22 percent stockholder position in MSGI and CMGI is the owner of a 10 percent
stockholder position in MSGI. MSGI is organized into two business divisions: the
Internet Group and the Marketing Services Group. The Internet Group's mission is
to acquire, invest in and incubate Internet companies. Its preliminary focus is
on WiredEmpire, and its Marketing Agent technology. MSGI plans to expand into
other strategic areas. The MSGI Internet Group provides Internet marketing,
e-commerce applications, Web development and hosting, online ad sales and
consulting. Its Marketing Services Group provides strategic planning, direct
marketing and database marketing, telemarketing and telefundraising, media
planning and buying and fulfillment. Through this business segment, MSGI will
continue to grow by leveraging the synergies it has across all its companies in
marketing, technology, and capabilities.
Thousands of clients worldwide are provided services by MSGI, which has offices
throughout the United States and in London. Corporate headquarters are located
at 333 Seventh Ave., New York, NY 10001. Telephone: 212-594-7688. Additional
information is available on the company's Website: http://www.msginet.com.
Matters discussed in this release include forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may be materially different.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ are stated in the company's
reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 10-Q for the
period ended March 31, 1999 and the annual report on Form 10-KSB for the year
ended June 30, 1998.
Contact:
MSGI
Jamie Shaber
Director, Corporate Services
917-339-7137
or
Morgen-Walke Associates
Andrea Kaimowitz/Cheryl Olson
Press: Eileen King/Stacey Reed
212-850-5600
or
WiredEmpire
Stephen Gentile
Vice President, Marketing
978-661-8048
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS OF MARKETING SERVICES GROUP, INC. AS OF AND
FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 INCLUDED IN THIS REPORT ON FORM
10-Q AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1
<CURRENCY> U.S. Dollars
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Jun-30-1999
<PERIOD-END> Sep-30-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE> 1
<CASH> 14,692,784
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 29,950,437
<ALLOWANCES> (585,543)
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 45,399,065
<PP&E> 9,054,402
<DEPRECIATION> (7,087,677)
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 116,807,572
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 38,622,687
<BONDS> 1,063,586
<COMMON> 257,124
0
0
<OTHER-SE> 76,864,175
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 77,121,299
<SALES> 27,173,623
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 27,173,623
<CGS> 17,819,178
<TOTAL-COSTS> 17,819,178
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 11,710,268
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 524,226
<INCOME-PRETAX> (2,834,886)
<INCOME-TAX> 13,284
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,848,170)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (2,848,170)
<EPS-BASIC> (0.12)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.12)
</TABLE>
