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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report: July 29, 1997
THE MNI GROUP INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)
New Jersey 0-18349 22-2380325
(State or other (Commission File No.) (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of Identification
incorporation) Number)
10 West Forest Avenue, Englewood, New Jersey 07631
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (201) 569-1188
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Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.
On July 22, 1997, Registrant consummated an acquisition transaction
(the "Merger") contemplated by an Agreement and Plan of Merger and
Reorganization dated as of July 7, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement") with K.O.S.
Industries, Inc. ("KOS"), a privately owned company located in Scottsdale,
Arizona, whereby KOS became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Registrant (the
"Merger"). KOS is a developer and distributor of pet care products.
The Merger Agreement provided that upon consummation of the Merger,
the then outstanding shares of KOS common stock would be converted into the
right to receive, and become exchangeable for an aggregate of 600,000 shares of
Registrant's common stock.
The Merger was structured as a tax-free reorganization and will be
accounted for by Registrant as a purchase.
Upon consummation of the Merger, Elliot Elrod, a principal shareholder
and President of KOS, entered into an Employment Agreement with Registrant (the
"Elrod Employment Agreement") which calls for Mr. Elrod to serve as President
and Chief Executive Officer of both KOS and NutraPet Labs, Inc., also a
subsidiary of Registrant, through July 7, 2000 at a base salary of $125,000 per
annum. To induce Mr. Elrod to enter into the Elrod Employment Agreement, Mr.
Elrod was granted options, exercisable at varying dates commencing on January 1,
1999 at $.50 per share and expiring on December 31, 2002, to acquire an
aggregate of 750,000 shares of Registrant's Common Stock.
Also upon consummation of the Merger, Arnold Gans, Myra Gans and LN
Investment Capital Limited Partnership, each a stockholder of Registrant
(collectively, the "Original Stockholders"), as well as Elliot Elrod and Phillip
Donenburg, each formerly a stockholder of KOS (collectively, the "New
Stockholders"), entered into a Voting and Share Disposition Agreement (the
"Voting Agreement") which, among other matters, provides that the Original
Stockholders and the New Stockholders shall each use their best efforts to cause
five (5) designees of the Original Stockholders and two (2) designees of the New
Stockholders, respectively, to be elected to Registrant's Board of Directors.
The Voting Agreement shall remain in effect through July 7, 2007, unless earlier
terminated as provided in the Voting Agreement.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(a) Financial Statements of KOS.*
(i) Report of independent auditors;
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(ii) Balance Sheet of KOS as of December 31, 1996 and
(unaudited) as of June 30, 1997;
(iii) Statements of Operations and Retained Earnings of KOS
for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1995 and
(unaudited) for the six months ended June 30, 1997;
(iv) Statements of Cash Flows of KOS for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 and (unaudited) for the six
months ended June 30, 1997; and
(v) Notes to Financial Statements of KOS.
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information.*
(i) Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheets as of April
30, 1997 and January 31, 1997;
(ii) Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations
for the three months ended April 30, 1997 and the years
ended January 31, 1997 and 1996; and
(iii) Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information.
(c) Exhibits.
(i) Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorga-nization dated
as of July 7, 1997 by and among The MNI Group Inc., MNI
ViaSub Inc. and K.O.S. Industries, Inc.
(ii) Employment Agreement dated as of July 7, 1997 between
The MNI Group Inc. and Elliot Elrod
(iii) Option Agreement dated as of July 7, 1997 between The
MNI Group Inc. and Elliot Elrod
(iv) Voting and Share Disposition Agreement dated as of July
7, 1997 among Arnold Gans, Myra Gans, LN Invesment
Capital Limited Partnership, Elliot Elrod, Phillip B.
Donenburg and The MNI Group Inc.
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* Registrant's provision of historical financial statements of KOS and pro
forma financial information relating to the Merger within 15 days after the
Merger, as prescribed by Regulation S-X, promulgated by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, is impracticable. Registrant will file such
historical financial statements and pro forma financial information no
later than 75 days after the Merger.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: July 29, 1997 THE MNI GROUP INC.
(Registrant)
By: /s/Arnold Gans
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Arnold Gans
President
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Exhibit (c)(i)
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN
OF
MERGER AND REORGANIZATION
between
THE MNI GROUP INC.
MNI VIASUB INC.
and
K.O.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
Dated as of July 7, 1997
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I THE MERGER.................................................... 1
SECTION 1.1 The Merger..................................... 1
SECTION 1.2 Effective Time of the Merger................... 2
SECTION 1.3 Disclosure Schedules........................... 2
ARTICLE II SURVIVING AND PARENT CORPORATIONS............................. 2
SECTION 2.1 Articles of Incorporation...................... 2
SECTION 2.2 By-Laws........................................ 2
SECTION 2.3 Directors...................................... 3
SECTION 2.4 Officers....................................... 3
SECTION 2.5 Further Action................................. 3
ARTICLE III CONVERSION OF SHARES.......................................... 3
SECTION 3.1 Shares of the Constituent and
the Surviving Corporations................... 3
SECTION 3.2 Exchange of Certificates....................... 4
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
AND OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS............................. 5
SECTION 4.1 Organization and Standing...................... 5
SECTION 4.2 Capitalization................................. 5
SECTION 4.3 Subsidiaries................................... 5
SECTION 4.4 Authority...................................... 6
SECTION 4.5 Properties..................................... 6
SECTION 4.6 Contracts; No Default.......................... 6
SECTION 4.7 Litigation..................................... 7
SECTION 4.8 Taxes.......................................... 7
SECTION 4.9 No Violation of Law............................ 9
SECTION 4.10 Environmental Matters.......................... 9
SECTION 4.11 List of Stockholders........................... 10
SECTION 4.12 Insurance...................................... 10
SECTION 4.13 Condition of Assets.............................10
SECTION 4.14 No Breaches.................................... 10
SECTION 4.15 Employees...................................... 11
SECTION 4.16 Financial Statements........................... 11
SECTION 4.17 Absence of Certain
Changes or Events............................ 11
SECTION 4.18 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.................. 12
SECTION 4.19 Business Locations............................. 13
SECTION 4.20 Customers and Suppliers........................ 13
SECTION 4.21 Intellectual Property.......................... 14
SECTION 4.22 Transactions with Affiliates................... 14
SECTION 4.23 Books, Records and Accounts.................... 14
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SECTION 4.24 No Omissions or Untrue Statements.............. 15
SECTION 4.25 Brokers and Finders............................ 15
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT................. 15
SECTION 5.1 Organization and Standing of Parent............ 15
SECTION 5.2 The Subsidiaries............................... 15
SECTION 5.3 Parent's Authority............................. 16
SECTION 5.4 The Subsidiary's Authority..................... 16
SECTION 5.5 Contracts; No Default.......................... 16
SECTION 5.6 Litigation..................................... 17
SECTION 5.7 Taxes.......................................... 17
SECTION 5.8 No Violation of Law............................ 17
SECTION 5.9 No Breaches.................................... 17
SECTION 5.10 Financial Statements........................... 18
SECTION 5.11 Absence of Certain
Changes or Events............................ 18
SECTION 5.12 Parent's SEC Reports........................... 19
SECTION 5.13 Environmental Matters.......................... 19
SECTION 5.14 Condition of Assets............................ 19
SECTION 5.15 Employee Benefit Plans......................... 19
SECTION 5.16 Customers and Suppliers........................ 20
SECTION 5.17 Transactions with Affiliates................... 20
SECTION 5.18 No Omissions or
Untrue Statements............................ 20
SECTION 5.19 Brokers and Finders............................ 20
ARTICLE VI DELIVERIES.................................................... 20
SECTION 6.1 The Company's Deliveries....................... 20
SECTION 6.2 Other Deliveries to Parent..................... 21
SECTION 6.3 Deliveries to the Company...................... 21
SECTION 6.4 Deliveries to the Selling
Stockholders................................. 22
ARTICLE VII INVESTMENT INTENTION.......................................... 22
SECTION 7.1 Investment Intention........................... 22
SECTION 7.2 Restrictive Legend............................. 22
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION............................................... 23
SECTION 8.1 By the Management
Stockholders................................. 23
SECTION 8.2 By Parent...................................... 23
SECTION 8.3 Claims Procedure............................... 23
SECTION 8.4 Losses Net of Tax Effect, Etc.................. 24
SECTION 8.5 Limitations on Liability....................... 24
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ARTICLE IX POST-MERGER DIRECTORSHIPS..................................... 25
SECTION 9.1 Parent's Board of Directors.................... 25
ARTICLE X POST-MERGER RESCISSION........................................ 25
SECTION 10.1 Selling Stockholders'
Rescission Right..............................25
SECTION 10.2 Reasonable Efforts to Restore
Status Quo Ante...............................25
SECTION 10.3 Exchange of Mutual Releases.....................25
ARTICLE XI MISCELLANEOUS................................................. 26
SECTION 11.1 Expenses....................................... 26
SECTION 11.2 Survival of Representations,
Warranties and Covenants..................... 26
SECTION 11.3 Succession and Assignments;
Third Party Beneficiaries.................... 26
SECTION 11.4 Notices........................................ 26
SECTION 11.5 Construction................................... 28
SECTION 11.6 Counterparts................................... 28
SECTION 11.7 No Implied Waiver; Remedies.................... 28
SECTION 11.8 Entire Agreement............................... 28
SECTION 11.9 Headings....................................... 28
SECTION 11.10 Severability................................... 28
SECTION 11.11 Publicity...................................... 28
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AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER AND REORGANIZATION,
dated as of July 7, 1997 (this "Agreement"), by
and among THE MNI GROUP INC., a New Jersey
corporation ("Parent"), MNI VIASUB INC., an
Illinois corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary
of Parent (the "Subsidiary"), and K.O.S.
INDUSTRIES, INC., an Illinois corporation (the
"Company").
-----------------------
The Boards of Directors of Parent, the Subsidiary and the Company, and the
stockholders of the Company have approved the merger of the Subsidiary with and
into the Company pursuant to this Agreement (the "Merger") and the transactions
contemplated hereby upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
herein.
It is intended that the Merger shall qualify for federal income tax
purposes as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"). Parent intends that the
Merger shall be recorded for accounting purposes as a purchase.
Parent, the Company and, respectively, Elliot Elrod ("Elrod") and Phillip
B. Donenburg ("Donenburg" and collectively with Elrod, the "Management
Stockholders"), desire to make certain representa-tions, warranties, covenants
and agreements in connection with the Merger to induce the other parties to
enter into this transaction.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements contained herein, the parties hereto,
intending to be legally bound hereby, agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
THE MERGER
SECTION 1.1 The Merger. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of
this Agreement, at the Effective Time (as defined in Section 1.2 below), the
Subsidiary shall be merged with and into the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Sections 11.05 - 11.25 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act
(the "IBCA"), with the effect provided in Section 11.50 of the IBCA, the
separate existence of the Subsidiary shall thereupon cease. The Company shall be
the surviving corporation in the Merger (hereinafter sometimes referred to as
the "Surviving Corporation") and shall continue to be governed by the laws of
the State of Illinois.
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Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the
Effective Time of the Merger, (a) the Surviving Corporation shall possess all
assets and property of every description, and every interest therein,
wherever located, and the rights, privileges, immunities, powers, franchises
and authority, of a public as well as of a private nature, of each of the
Subsidiary and the Company, (b) all obligations belonging to or due each of
the Subsidiary and the Company shall be vested in, and become the obligations
of, the Surviving Corporation without further act or deed, (c) title to any
real estate or any interest therein vested in either of the Subsidiary and
the Company shall not revert or in any way be impaired by reason of the
Merger, (d) all rights of creditors and all liens upon any property of any of
the Subsidiary and the Company shall be preserved unimpaired, and (e) the
Surviving Corporation shall be liable for all of the obligations of each of
the Subsidiary and the Company and any claim existing, or action or
proceeding pending, by or against either of the Subsidiary and the Company
may be prosecuted to judgment with right of appeal, as if the Merger had not
taken place.
SECTION 1.2 Effective Time of the Merger. The Merger shall become
effective at such time (the "Effective Time") as Articles of Merger, in the form
set forth as Exhibit I hereto, are filed with the Secretary of State of the
State of Illinois (the "Merger Filing"), such filing shall be made concurrently
with or as soon as practicable after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
SECTION 1.3 Disclosure Schedules. Simultaneously with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, (a) the Company is delivering to Parent a schedule
relating to the Company (the "Company Disclosure Schedule"), and (b) Parent is
delivering to the Company a schedule relating to Parent and the Subsidiary (the
"Parent Disclosure Schedule" and collectively with the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the "Disclosure Schedules") setting forth the matters required to be
set forth in the Disclosure Schedules as described elsewhere in this Agreement.
The Disclosure Schedules shall be deemed to be part of this Agreement.
ARTICLE II
SURVIVING AND PARENT CORPORATIONS
SECTION 2.1 Articles of Incorporation. The Articles of Incorporation of
the Company as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger
shall be the Articles of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, until duly
amended in accordance with the terms thereof and of the IBCA.
SECTION 2.2 By-Laws. The By-Laws of the Company as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time of the Merger shall be the By-laws of
the Surviving Corporation until duly amended in accordance with their terms and
as provided by the Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws of the Surviving
Corporation and the IBCA.
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SECTION 2.3 Directors. The directors of the Subsidiary at the Effective
Time shall, from and after the Effective Time of the Merger, be the directors of
the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly elected or
appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal in
accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Articles of Incorporation and
By-laws.
SECTION 2.4 Officers. The officers of the Company at the Effective Time
of the Merger shall, from and after the Effective Time of the Merger, be the
officers of the Surviving Corporation until their successors have been duly
elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or
removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's Article of Incorporation
and By-laws, except that Elrod and Donenburg, subject to the execution of
employment agreements acceptable to the parties, shall assume the offices of
president of both the Surviving Corporation and the Parent's subsidiary,
NutraPet Labs, Inc. ("NPL"), and chief financial officer of the Parent,
respectively.
SECTION 2.5 Further Action. If at any time after the Effective Time of
the Merger, Parent shall consider that any further deeds, assignments,
conveyances, agreements, documents, instruments or assurances in law or any
other things are necessary or desirable to vest, perfect, confirm or record in
the Surviving Corporation the title to any property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises of the Subsidiary by reason of, or as a result of, the Merger, or
otherwise to carry out the provisions of this Agreement, the officers of the
Subsidiary shall execute and deliver, upon Parent's reasonable request, any
instruments or assurances, and do all other things necessary or proper to vest,
perfect, confirm or record title to such property, rights, privileges, powers
and franchises in the Surviving Corporation, and otherwise to carry out the
provisions of this Agreement at Parent's expense.
ARTICLE III
CONVERSION OF SHARES
SECTION 3.1 Shares of the Constituent and the Surviving Corporations.
The manner and basis of converting the shares of common stock of the Company
into shares of common stock of Parent shall be as follows:
(a) Conversion Ratio. (1) Each share of common stock, without par
value, issued and outstanding of the Company (collectively, the "Company Stock")
shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder
thereof, or any other action whatsoever, be converted into validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable Common Shares, without par value, of Parent
(collectively, the "Parent Merger Stock") as follows: the number of
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shares of Parent Merger Stock into which each outstanding share of Company
Stock shall be converted shall equal the product of one (1) multiplied by a
fraction (such fraction is herein called the "Conversion Ratio") whose
numerator shall be 600,000 and whose denominator shall be 1,200.
(2) Each share of common stock, without par value, of the Subsidiary
issued and outstanding shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of the holder thereof, or any other action whatsoever, be converted
into one share of validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable Common Stock,
without par value, of the Company.
(b) No Fractional Shares. No rights to receive fractional shares of
or interests in fractional Parent Merger Stock shall arise under this Agreement,
and no certificates or scrip representing fractional Parent Merger Stock shall
be issued hereunder. The Stockholders shall receive cash in lieu of fractional
shares.
SECTION 3.2 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) From and after the Effective Time of the Merger, each holder of an
outstanding certificate which immediately prior to the Effective Time of the
Merger represented shares of Company Common Stock (the "Company Certificates")
shall cease to have any right as a stockholder of the Company and such holder's
sole rights shall be to receive in exchange for such holder's Company
certificates, upon surrender thereof to Parent or its duly authorized agent, a
certificate or certificates representing the number of whole shares of Parent
Common Stock which such holder is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.1(a)
and certificates representing such Parent Common Stock shall be simultaneously
delivered upon surrender of the Company Certificates.
(b) From and after the Effective Time of the Merger, Parent shall be
entitled to treat outstanding certificates which immediately prior to the
Effective Time of the Merger represented shares of Subsidiary Common Stock as
evidencing the ownership of the number of full shares of Surviving Corporation
Common Stock, which the holder of the shares of Subsidiary Common Stock
represented by such certificates is entitled to receive pursuant to Section
3.1(a)(2), and the holder of such certificates shall not be required to
surrender such certificates for exchange. Shares of Surviving Corporation Common
Stock which the holder of shares of Subsidiary Common Stock is entitled to
receive in the Merger shall be deemed to have been issued at the Effective Time.
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ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
AND OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
The Company and, solely with respect to Sections 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.5, 4.6,
4.7, 4.8, 4.12, 4.16, 4.18, 4.20, 4.22, 4.24 and 4.25, each of the Management
Stockholders, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to Parent as follows,
with the knowledge and understanding that Parent is relying materially upon such
representations and warranties:
SECTION 4.1 Organization and Standing. The Company is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
State of Illinois. The Company has all requisite corporate power to carry on
its business as it is now being conducted and is duly qualified to do business
as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in all jurisdictions set forth
in Schedule 4.1 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, and to the knowledge of the
Company and the Management Stockholders, such jurisdictions are the only ones in
which the properties owned, leased or operated by the Company or the nature of
the business conducted by the Company makes such qualification necessary, except
where the failure to qualify (individually or in the aggregate) will not have
any material adverse effect on the business, operations, properties, condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects in the aggregate
("Material Adverse Effect") of the Company. The copies of the Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, as amended to date and delivered to
Parent, are true and complete copies of these documents as now in effect. The
minute books of the Company are accurate in all material respects.
SECTION 4.2 Capitalization. The authorized capital stock of the
Company, the number of shares of capital stock which are issued and outstanding,
the par value thereof and the record and beneficial holders thereof are as set
forth in Schedule 4.2 of the Company Disclosure Schedule. All of such shares of
capital stock that are issued and outstanding are duly authorized, validly
issued and outstanding, fully paid and non-assessable, and were not issued in
violation of the preemptive rights of any person. Except as contemplated by
this Agreement, there are no subscriptions, options, warrants, rights or calls
or other commitments or agreements to which the Company or any Selling
Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound, calling for any issuance,
transfer, sale or other disposition of any class of securities of the Company.
Other than as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, there are no
outstanding securities convertible or exchangeable, actually or contingently,
into common stock or any other securities of the Company.
SECTION 4.3 Subsidiaries. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.3 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company does not own any capital stock in any
other corporation or similar business
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entity nor is the Company a partner in any partnership or joint venture.
SECTION 4.4 Authority. (a) The Company's Board of Directors has
approved and adopted this Agreement and the Merger and has adopted a resolution
recommending approval and adoption of this Agreement and the Merger by the
Company's stockholders, and the Selling Stockholders (as hereinafter defined)
have approved and adopted this Agreement and the Merger. This Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii)
general equitable principles (the "Enforceability Exceptions").
(b) Except for the Merger Filing, no declaration, filing or
registration with, or notice to, or authorization, consent or approval of, any
governmental or regulatory body or authority is necessary for the execution and
delivery of this Agreement by the Company or the consummation by the Company of
the transactions contemplated hereby, other than such declarations, filings,
registrations, notices, authorizations, consents or approval which, if not made
or obtained, as the case may be, would not, in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on it.
SECTION 4.5 Properties. Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure
Schedule, the Company has good and marketable title to all of the assets and
properties which it purports to own as reflected on the most recent balance
sheet comprising a portion of the Financial Statements (as hereinafter defined),
or thereafter acquired (subject to acquisitions and dispositions in the ordinary
course of business). The Company has a valid leasehold interest in all material
properties of which it is the lessee and each such lease is valid, binding and
enforceable against the Company, and, to the knowledge of the Company, the other
parties thereto in accordance with its terms subject to the Enforceability
Exceptions. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, the other
parties thereto are in default in the performance of any material provision
thereunder. Neither the whole nor any material portion of the assets of the
Company is subject to any governmental decree or order to be sold or is being
condemned, expropriated or otherwise taken by any public authority with or
without payment of compensation therefor, nor, to the knowledge of the Company
and the Management Stockholders, has any such condemnation, expropriation or
taking been proposed. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.5 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule, none of the material assets of the Company is subject to
any restriction which would prevent continuation of the use currently made
thereof or materially adversely affect the value thereof.
SECTION 4.6 Contracts; No Default.
(a) Schedule 4.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
consists of a true and complete list of all contracts, agreements,
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commitments and other instruments (whether oral or written) to which the
Company is a party that (i) involve a receipt or an expenditure by the
Company or require the performance of services or delivery of goods to, by,
through, on behalf of or for the benefit of the Company, which in each case,
relates to a contract, agreement, commitment or instrument that either (A)
requires payments or receipts in excess of $10,000 per year or (B) is not
terminable by the Company on notice of ninety (90) days or less without
penalty or the Company being liable for damages, or (ii) involve an
obligation for the performance of services or delivery of goods by the
Company that cannot, or in reasonable probability will not, be performed
within thirty (30) days from the date as of which these representations are
made.
(b) All of the contracts, agreements, commitments and other
instruments described in Schedule 4.6(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
(individually, "Contract" and collectively, the "Contracts") are valid and
binding upon the Company subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and, to the
knowledge of the Company and the Management Stockholders, the other parties
thereto and are in full force and effect and enforceable in accordance with
their terms, and neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company and
the Management Stockholders, any other party to any Contract has breached any
provision of, and no event has occurred which, with the lapse of time or action
by a third party, could result in a material default under the terms thereof.
To the knowledge of the Company and the Management Stockholders, no stockholder
of the Company has received any payment from any contracting party in connection
with or as an inducement for causing the Company to enter into any Contract.
SECTION 4.7 Litigation. There is no claim, action, proceeding, or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Management
Stockholders, threatened against or affecting the Company before or by any
court, arbitrator or governmental agency or authority. There is no strike or
unresolved labor dispute relating to the Company's employees. There are no
decrees, injunctions or orders of any court, governmental department, agency or
arbitration outstanding against the Company.
SECTION 4.8 Taxes. For purposes of this Agreement, (A) "Tax" (and, with
correlative meaning, "Taxes") shall mean any federal, state, local or foreign
income, alternative or add-on minimum, business, employment, franchise,
occupancy, payroll, property, sales, transfer, use, value added, withholding or
other tax, levy, impost, fee, imposition, assessment or similar charge together
with any related addition to tax, interest, penalty or fine thereon; and (B)
"Returns" shall mean all returns (including, without limitation, information
returns and other material information), reports and forms relating to Taxes.
The Company has duly and timely (except for appropriate extensions) filed
with the appropriate governmental authorities all Tax Returns required to be
filed by it other than Tax Returns where the failure to file (individually and
in the aggregate) would not
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have a Material Adverse Effect. All such Tax Returns, to the knowledge of
the Company and the Management Stockholders, were, when filed and are,
accurate and complete in all material respects and were prepared in material
conformity with applicable laws and regulations, and the Company has duly
paid in full or made adequate provision for the payment of all Taxes shown to
be due on such Tax Returns. Except as set forth in Schedule 4.8 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule, its Tax Returns have not been examined by the
United States Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") or other relevant
governmental authority or the period of assessment of the Taxes in respect of
which such Tax Returns were required to be filed has expired, all
deficiencies asserted or assessments made as a result of such examinations
have been paid in full and no proceeding or examination by or in front of the
relevant governmental authority in connection with the examination of any of
the Tax Returns is currently pending. No claim has been made in writing to
the Company by any governmental authority in a jurisdiction where it does not
file a Tax Return that it is or may be subject to Tax in such jurisdiction.
No waiver of statutes of limitation have been given by or requested in
writing to the Company with respect to any Taxes. The Company has not agreed
to any extension of time with respect to any Tax deficiency. The liabilities
and reserves for Taxes reflected in the Company's balance sheet as of
December 31, 1996 contained in the Company Financial Statements (as
hereinafter defined) are adequate to cover all Taxes for all periods ending
on or prior to such date, except for the payment of such Taxes which, alone
or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and there are
no liens for Taxes upon any property or asset of the Company, except for
liens for Taxes not yet due. To the knowledge of the Company and the
Management Stockholders, there are no unresolved issues of law or fact
arising out of a notice of deficiency, proposed deficiency or assessment from
the IRS or any other governmental taxing authority with respect to its Taxes
which, if decided adversely, singly or in the aggregate, would have a
Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not a party to any agreement
providing for the allocation or sharing of Taxes with any entity. The
Company has not, with regard to any assets or property held, acquired or to
be acquired by it, filed a consent to the application of Section 341(f) of
the Code. To the knowledge of the Company and the Management Stockholders,
the Company has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been withheld
and paid in connection with amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, stockholder, or third party, except for the
payment of such Taxes which, alone or in the aggregate, would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. No Tax is required to be withheld by the Company
pursuant to Section 1445 of the Code as a result of the transfer contemplated
by this Agreement. As a result of the Merger, the Company will not be
obligated to make a payment to an individual that would be a "parachute
payment" to a "disqualified individual" as those terms are defined in Section
280G of the Code without regard to whether such payment is reasonable
compensation for personal services performed or to be performed in the future.
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SECTION 4.9 No Violation of Law. The Company is not in violation of and
has not been given notice or been charged with any violation of, any law,
statute, order, rule, regulation, ordinance or judgment (including, without
limitation, any Environmental Laws, as hereinafter defined) of any governmental
or regulatory body or authority, except for violations which, in the aggregate,
do not have, and would not reasonably be expected to have, a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. The Company has not received any written notice that any
investigation or review with respect to it by any governmental or regulatory
body or authority is pending or threatened, other than, in each case, those the
outcome of which, as far as reasonably can be foreseen, would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company has all
permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders and other
governmental authorizations, consents and approvals necessary to conduct its
business as presently conducted (collectively its "Permits"), except for
permits, licenses, franchises, variances, exemptions, orders, authorizations,
consents and approvals the absence of which, alone or in the aggregate, would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. The Company (a) has duly and
timely filled all reports and other information required to be filed with any
governmental or regulatory authority in connection with its Permits, and (b) is
not in violation of the terms of any of its Permits, except for omissions or
delays in filings, reports or violations which, alone or in the aggregate, would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. Schedule 4.9 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule contains a list of Permits.
SECTION 4.10 Environmental Matters. The Company is and at all times has
been in compliance in all material respects with all applicable requirements of
Environmental Laws (as defined below) in connection with the ownership,
operation and conditions of the business of the Company. To the knowledge of
the Company and the Management Stockholders, there are no PCBs, underground
storage tanks (as defined by Environmental Laws), asbestos materials or asbestos
containing materials in any property leased, owned or operated by the Company.
The Company has not released, transported or arranged for the disposal of any
hazardous substance at any facility, location or site except in material
compliance with all applicable laws. To the knowledge of the Company and the
Management Stockholders, no conditions exist or have occurred as a result of
which or in connection with which the Company would reasonably be expected to be
held liable for damages, response or remedial costs, fines, penalties, sanctions
or equitable relief under any Environmental Laws, except for such damages,
costs, fines, penalties, sanctions or relief which, alone or in the aggregate,
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company. As used in this
Section and in Section 5.13, "Environmental Laws" means any federal, state or
local statute, regulation, ordinance, permit, order, judgment, decree or
decision relating to health, safety or the environment. "Release" means any
spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting,
escaping, leaching, dumping, active disposal or passive disposal (including the
abandonment or discarding of barrels, containers or
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other closed receptacles containing any hazardous substances). "Hazardous
substance" means (a) any "hazardous substance" as defined in the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980,
as amended, ("CERCLA") and any implementing regulations, (b) any hazardous or
toxic substance, waste or material within the meaning of any other federal,
state or local statute, regulation, ordinance or decision, (c) any pollutant,
contaminant or special waste regulated by any Environmental Laws, or (d)
petroleum, crude oil or any fraction thereof.
SECTION 4.11 List of Stockholders. Set forth as Schedule 4.11 is a list
setting forth the name, address and number of shares of Company Stock owned by
each holder of shares of Company Stock (collectively, the "Selling
Stockholders"). Except as set forth on such Schedule, each Selling Stockholder
is an "accredited investor," as said term is defined in Rule 501 of Regulation D
of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), promulgated by the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "SEC"). Each Selling Stockholder agrees that the certificates
representing Parent Merger Stock shall bear the restrictive legends referred to
in Section 7.2.
SECTION 4.12 Insurance. The Company is covered by insurance policies, or
renewals thereof, as identified and described in Schedule 4.12 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule. The Company has not received notice from any insurer or
agent of such insurer that material improvements or expenditures will have to be
made in order to continue such insurance and, so far as known to the Company and
the Management Stockholders, no such improvements or expenditures are required
(other than premium payments). There is no material liability under any
insurance policy in the nature of a retroactive rate adjustment or loss sharing
or similar arrangement except as set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 4.13 Condition of Assets. The material equipment, fixtures and
other personal property of the Company is in normal operating condition and
repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted) for the conduct of its business as
presently being conducted.
SECTION 4.14 No Breaches. The making and performance of this Agreement
and the other agreements contemplated hereby by the Company will not (i)
conflict with or violate the Articles of Incorporation or the By-laws of the
Company, (ii) violate any laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations, or any order,
writ, injunction or decree to which the Company is a party or by which the
Company or any of its material assets, businesses, or operations may be bound or
affected or (iii) result in any breach or termination of, or constitute a
default under, or constitute an event which, with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would become a default under, or result in the creation of any encumbrance
upon any material asset of the Company under, or create any rights of
termination, cancellation or acceleration in any person under, any Contract.
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SECTION 4.15 Employees. Except as set forth on the Company Disclosure
Schedule, none of the employees of the Company is represented by any labor union
or collective bargaining unit and the Company is not aware of any organizational
efforts taking place with respect to such representation.
SECTION 4.16 Financial Statements. The Company Disclosure Schedule
contains an unaudited balance sheet as of December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994 and
related unaudited income statement and statement of cash flows of the Company
for the twelve month period ended December 31, 1996, 1995 and 1994
(collectively, the "Company Financial Statements"). The Company Financial
Statements presently fairly, in all material respects, the financial position
and results of operations of the Company as of the dates and periods indicated,
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP")
consistently applied except for the absence of footnotes. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, except as set forth in the Company Disclosure
Schedule, to the knowledge of the Company and the Management Stockholders, there
is no basis for any assertion against the Company as of the date of said balance
sheets of any material debt, liability or obligation of any nature not fully
reflected or reserved against in the Company Financial Statements and there are
no assets of the Company, the value of which (in the reasonable judgment of the
Company and the Management Stockholders) is materially overstated in said
balance sheets. Except as disclosed therein or in the Company Disclosure
Schedule or as incurred in the ordinary course of business since December 31,
1996 the Company has not incurred any material contingent liabilities (including
liabilities for taxes and environmental liabilities).
SECTION 4.17 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth
in the Company Disclosure Schedule, since December 31, 1996 there has not been:
(a) any material adverse change in the financial condition,
operations, properties, assets, liabilities (each of the foregoing
considered as a whole) or business of the Company taken as a whole;
(b) any material damage, destruction or loss of any material
properties of the Company, whether or not covered by insurance;
(c) any material change in the manner in which the business of the
Company has been conducted;
(d) any material change in the treatment and protection of trade
secrets or other confidential information of the Company; and
(e) any occurrence not included in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this
Section 4.17 which has resulted, or which the Company or either of the
Management Stockholders has reason to believe might be expected to result,
in a Material
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Adverse Effect on the Company.
SECTION 4.18 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.
(a) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, at the
date hereof the Company does not maintain or contribute to any employee benefit
plans, programs, arrangements and practices (such plans, programs, arrangement
and practices of the Company being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Company Plans"), including employee benefit plans within the meaning set forth
in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and all regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect from time to
time ("ERISA"), or any written employment contracts providing for an annual base
salary in excess of $100,000 and having a term in excess of one year, which
contracts are not immediately terminable without penalty or further liability,
or other similar arrangements for the provision of benefits (excluding any
"Multiemployer Plan" within the meaning of Section 3(37) of ERISA or a "Multiple
Employer Plan" within the meaning of Section 413(c) of the Code, and all
regulations promulgated thereunder, as in effect from time to time. Schedule
4.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule lists all Multiemployer Plans and
Multiple Employer Plans which the Company maintains or to which it makes
contributions. The Company has no obligation to create any additional such plan
or to amend any such plan so as to increase benefits thereunder, except as
required under the terms of the Company Plans, under existing collective
bargaining agreements or to comply with applicable law.
(b) Except as set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule, (i) there have
been no prohibited transactions within the meaning of Section 406 and 407 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code with respect to any of the Company Plans that
could result in penalties, taxes or liabilities which, singly or in the
aggregate, could have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, (ii) except for
premiums due, there is no outstanding liability in excess of $10,000, whether
measured alone or in the aggregate, under Title IV or ERISA with respect to any
of the Company Plans, (iii) neither the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation nor
any plan administrator has instituted proceedings to terminate any of the
Company Plans subject to Title IV of ERISA other than in a "standard
termination" described in Section 4041(b) of ERISA, (iv) none of the Company
Plans has incurred any "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in Section
302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the Code), whether or not waived, as of the last
day of the most recent fiscal year of each of the Company Plans ended prior to
the date of this Agreement, (v) the current present value of all projected
benefit obligations under each of the Company Plans which is subject to Title IV
of ERISA did not, as of its latest valuation date, exceed the then current value
of the assets of such plan allocable to such benefit liabilities by more than
the amount, if any, disclosed in the Financial Statements as of December 31,
1996 (based upon reasonable actuarial assumptions currently utilized for such
Company Plan), (vi) each of the Company Plans has been operated and
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administered in all material respects in accordance with applicable laws
during the period of time covered by the applicable statute of limitations,
(vii) each of the Company Plans which is intended to be "qualified" within
the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the IRS to
be so qualified and such determination has not been modified, revoked or
limited by failure to satisfy any condition thereof or by a subsequent
amendment thereto or a failure to amend, except that it may be necessary to
make additional amendments retroactively to maintain the "qualified" status
of such Company Plans, and the period for making any such necessary
retroactive amendments has not expired, (viii) with respect to Multiemployer
Plans, the Company has not made or suffered a "complete withdrawal" or a
"partial withdrawal," as such terms are respectively defined in Sections
4203, 4204 and 4205 of ERISA and, to the knowledge of the Company and the
Management Stockholders, no event has occurred or is expected to occur which
presents a material risk of a complete or partial withdrawal under said
Sections 4203, 4204 and 4205, (ix) there are no pending or, to the knowledge
of the Company and the Management Stockholders, threatened or anticipated
claims involving any of the Company Plans other than claims for benefits in
the ordinary course, and (x) the Company has no current liability in excess
of $10,000, whether measured alone or in the aggregate, for plan termination
or withdrawal (complete or partial) under Title IV of ERISA based on any plan
to which any entity that would be deemed one employer with the Company under
Section 4001 of ERISA or Section 414 of the Code contributed during the
period of time covered by the applicable statute of limitations (the "Company
Controlled Group Plans"), and the Company does not anticipate that any such
liability will be asserted against the Company, none of the Company
Controlled Group Plans has an "accumulated funding deficiency" (as defined in
Section 302 of ERISA and 412 of the Code), and no Company Controlled Group
Plan has an outstanding funding waiver which could result in the imposition
of liens, excise taxes or liability against the Company in excess of $10,000
whether measured alone or in the aggregate.
SECTION 4.19 Business Locations. The Company does not own or lease any
real or personal property in any state or country except as set forth on the
Company Disclosure Schedule. The Company has no executive offices or places of
business except as otherwise set forth on the Company Disclosure Schedule.
SECTION 4.20 Customers and Suppliers. Except as set forth in the Company
Disclosure Schedule, neither the Company nor either of the Management
Stockholders has any knowledge that, either as a result of the transactions
contemplated hereby or for any other reason (exclusive of expiration of a
contract upon the passage of time), any customer (which accounted for an
aggregate amount of 5% or more of the Company's consolidated gross revenues
within the preceding 12 months) or material supplier of the Company will not
continue to conduct business with the Company after the date hereof in
substantially the same manner as it has conducted business with the Company in
the past.
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SECTION 4.21 Intellectual Property. Schedule 4.21 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule sets forth a complete and correct list of all patents,
material unpatented inventions set forth in or described in writing, trademarks,
tradenames, service marks, service names, brand names and copyrights,
registrations thereof and applications therefore, applicable to or used in the
business of the Company, together with a complete list of all licenses granted
by or to the Company with respect to any of the above. All such patents,
material unpatented inventions, trademarks, tradenames, service marks, service
names, brand names and copyrights are owned by the Company, free and clear of
all liens, claims, security interests and encumbrances of any nature whatsoever.
Except as set forth in Schedule 4.21, the Company does not own or use any
computer software in its business other than "off the shelf" software. The
Company is not currently in receipt of any notice of any violation or
infringement of, and the Company is not knowingly violating or infringing, the
rights of others in any patent, unpatented invention, trademark, tradename,
service mark, copyright, trade secret, know-how, design, process or other
intangible asset.
SECTION 4.22 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in the
Company Disclosure Schedule, the Company is not indebted for money borrowed,
either directly or indirectly, from any of its officers, directors, or any
Affiliate (as defined below), in any amount whatsoever; nor are any of its
officers, directors, or Affiliates indebted for money borrowed from the Company;
nor are there any transactions of a continuing nature between the Company; and
any of its officers, directors, or Affiliates (other than by or through the
regular employment thereof by the Company) not subject to cancellation which
will continue beyond the Effective Time, including, without limitation, use of
the assets of the Company for personal benefit with or without adequate
compensation. For purposes of this Section and Section 5.17, the term
"Affiliate" shall mean any person that, directly or indirectly, through one or
more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the person specified. As used in the foregoing definition, the term (i)
"control" shall mean the power through the ownership of voting securities,
contract or otherwise to direct the affairs of another person and (ii) "person"
shall mean an individual, firm, trust, association, corporation, partnership,
government (whether federal, state, local or other political subdivision, or any
agency or bureau of any of them) or other entity.
SECTION 4.23 Books, Records and Accounts. The Company's books, records
and accounts fairly and accurately in all material respects reflect its
transactions and all acquisitions and dispositions of assets by the Company, and
the system of internal accounting controls of the Company is believed to be
sufficient to assure that: (a) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (b) transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP,
and to maintain accountability for assets; (c) access to assets is permitted
only in accordance
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with management's general or specific authorization; and (d) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
SECTION 4.24 No Omissions or Untrue Statements. To its knowledge, no
representation or warranty made by the Company or by any Management Stockholder
to Parent in this Agreement, the Company Disclosure Schedule or in any
certificate of a Company officer delivered to Parent pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or
therein not materially misleading as of the date hereof.
SECTION 4.25 Brokers and Finders. Neither the Company nor either of the
Management Stockholders has employed any investment banker, broker, finder,
consultant or intermediary in connection with the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement which would be entitled to any investment banking, brokerage,
finder's or similar fee or commission in connection with this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE V
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT
Parent represents and warrants to the Company and the Selling Stockholders
as follows, with the knowledge and understanding that the Company and the
Selling Stockholders are relying materially on such representations and
warranties:
SECTION 5.1 Organization and Standing of Parent. Parent is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of New Jersey. Parent has all requisite corporate power to carry
on its business as now conducted and is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions in which the properties owned, leased or operated by it or the
nature of the business conducted by it makes such qualification necessary,
except where the failure to be so qualified and in good standing will not have a
Material Adverse Effect on it.
SECTION 5.2 The Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary of Parent is set forth in
Parent Disclosure Schedule (collectively, the "Parent Subsidiaries"). As used
herein, the term "Parent Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation or other entity
of which Parent, directly or indirectly, controls or which Parent owns, directly
or indirectly, 50% or more of the stock or other voting interests, the holders
of which are, ordinarily or generally, in the absence of contingencies (which
contingencies have not occurred) or understandings (which understandings have
not yet been required to be performed) entitled to vote for the election of a
majority of the board of directors or
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any similar governing body. Each of the Parent Subsidiaries has all
requisite corporate power to carry on its business as now conducted and is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good
standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which the
properties owned, leased or operated by it or the nature of the business
conducted by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure
to be so qualified and in good standing will not have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise. As of the date hereof, except for obligations or liabilities
incurred in connection with its incorporation or organization and the
transactions contemplated thereby and hereby, Subsidiary has not and will not
have incurred, directly or indirectly through any subsidiary or affiliate,
any obligations or liabilities or engaged in any business or activities of
any type or kind whatsoever.
SECTION 5.3 Parent's Authority. (a) Parent's Board of Directors has
approved and adopted this Agreement and the Merger. No approval of this
Agreement or the Merger is required of Parent's shareholders. This Agreement
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of Parent, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except that such enforcement may be subject to (i)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
affecting or relating to enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii)
general equitable principles.
(b) Except for the Merger Filing, no declaration, filing or registration
with, or notice to, or authorization, consent or approval of, any governmental
or regulatory body or authority is necessary for the execution and delivery of
this Agreement by the Parent or the consummation by the Parent of the
transactions contemplated hereby, other than such declarations, filings,
registrations, notices, authorizations, consents or approval which, if not made
or obtained, as the case may be, would not, in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect on it.
SECTION 5.4 The Subsidiary's Authority. The Subsidiary's Board of
Directors and sole stockholder has approved and adopted this Agreement and the
Merger. This Agreement constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the
Subsidiary, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that such
enforcement may be subject to (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws affecting or relating to enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and (ii) general equitable principles.
SECTION 5.5 Contracts; No Default. All material contracts, agreements,
licenses, leases, easements, permits, rights of way, commitments, and
understandings, written or oral, connected with or relating in any respect to
the present operations of Parent and Parent's Subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise (except employment or other agreements terminable at will) are, with
the exception of this Agreement, described in Parent's SEC Reports (as
hereinafter defined) and listed as exhibits thereto (collectively, the "Parent
Contracts"). To the knowledge of Parent, the Parent
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Contracts are valid, binding and enforceable by Parent or a Parent
Subsidiary, as applicable, against the other parties thereto in accordance
with their terms. Neither Parent nor a Parent Subsidiary, as applicable, nor,
to the knowledge of Parent, any of the other parties thereto is in material
default or breach of any provision of the Parent Contracts.
SECTION 5.6 Litigation. There is no claim, action, proceeding, or
investigation pending or, to the knowledge of Parent, threatened against or
affecting Parent or any Parent Subsidiary before or by any court, arbitrator or
governmental agency or authority. There is no strike or unresolved labor dispute
relating to the employees of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary. There are no
decrees, injunctions or orders of any court, governmental department, agency or
arbitration outstanding against Parent or any Parent Subsidiary.
SECTION 5.7 Taxes. Parent has duly filed all Returns required to be
filed by it other than Returns which the failure to file would have no Material
Adverse Effect on it. All such Returns were, when filed, and to Parent's
knowledge are, accurate and complete in all material respects and were prepared
in conformity with applicable laws and regulations. Parent has paid or will pay
in full or has adequately reserved against all Taxes otherwise assessed against
it through the date hereof. Parent is not a party to any pending action or
proceeding by any governmental authority for the assessment of any Tax, and, to
the knowledge of Parent, no claim for assessment or collection of any Tax has
been asserted against Parent that has not been paid. There are no Tax liens
upon the assets of Parent (other than the lien of property taxes not yet due and
payable). There is no valid basis, to Parent's knowledge, for any assessment,
deficiency, notice, 30-day letter or similar intention to assess any Tax to be
issued to Parent by any governmental authority.
SECTION 5.8 No Violation of Law. Parent and each Parent Subsidiary is
not in violation of and has not been given notice or been charged with any
violation of, any law, statute, order, rule, regulation, ordinance or judgment
(including, without limitation, any applicable environmental law, ordinance or
regulation) of any governmental or regulatory body or authority, except for
violations which, in the aggregate, do not have, and would not reasonably be
expected to have, a Material Adverse Effect on Parent. Neither the Parent nor
any Parent Subsidiary has received any written notice that any investigation or
review with respect to Parent or any Parent Subsidiary by any governmental or
regulatory body or authority is pending or threatened, other than, in each case,
those the outcome of which, as far as reasonably can be foreseen, would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
SECTION 5.9 No Breaches. The making and performance of this Agreement
will not (i) conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation or the By-laws of
Parent, (ii) violate any laws, ordinances, rules, or regulations, or any order,
writ, injunction
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or decree to which Parent or any Parent Subsidiary is a party or by which the
respective material assets, business, or operations of Parent or any Parent
Subsidiary may be bound or affected or (iii) result in any breach or
termination of, or constitute a default under, or constitute an event which,
with notice or lapse of time, or both, would become a default under, or
result in the creation of any encumbrance upon any material asset of Parent
or any Parent Subsidiary under, or create any rights of termination,
cancellation, or acceleration in any person under, any Parent Contract.
SECTION 5.10 Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements
of Parent (the "Parent Financial Statements") included in Parent's SEC Reports
present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of
Parent as of the respective dates and the results of its operations for the
fiscal years and periods covered in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
and in accordance with Regulation S-X of the SEC (subject, in the case of
unaudited interim period financial statements, to normal and recurring year-end
adjustments which, individually or collectively, are not material). Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, (i) except as set forth in Parent
Disclosure Schedule, there is no basis for any assertion against Parent or any
Parent Subsidiary as of the date of the most recent balance sheet comprising a
portion of the Parent Financial Statements of any material debt, liability or
obligation of any nature not fully reflected or reserved against in the Parent
Financial Statements or in the notes thereto; and (ii) there are no assets of
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, the value of which (in the reasonable judgment
of Parent) is materially overstated in the Parent Financial Statements. Except
as disclosed therein or in the Parent Disclosure Schedule or as incurred in the
ordinary course of business since April 30, 1997, Parent has no known material
contingent liabilities (including liabilities for taxes and environmental
liabilities). Parent is not a party to any contract or agreement for the
forward purchase or sale of any foreign currency.
SECTION 5.11 Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth
in Parent's SEC Reports or in Parent Disclosure Schedule, since April 30, 1997
there has not been:
(a) any material adverse change in the financial condition, operations,
properties, assets, liabilities (each of the foregoing considered as a whole) or
business of Parent and the Parent Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise;
(b) any material damage, destruction or loss of any material properties of
Parent or any Parent Subsidiary, whether or not covered by insurance;
(c) any material change in the manner in which the business of Parent and
the Parent Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise has been conducted;
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(d) any material change in the treatment and protection of trade secrets
or other confidential information of Parent or any Parent Subsidiary;
(e) any occurrence not included in paragraphs (a) through (d) of this
Section 5.11 which has resulted, or which Parent has reason to believe, might be
expected to result, in a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
SECTION 5.12 Parent's SEC Reports. Since January 1, 1994, Parent has
filed with the SEC all reports, registrations and other documents, together with
any amendments thereto, required to be filed under the Securities Act and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (all such reports, registrations and
documents filed with the SEC are collectively referred to as "Parent's SEC
Reports"). As of their respective dates, Parent's SEC Reports complied in all
material respects with all rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC and did
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Parent has provided to the Company a true and complete copy of all
of Parent's SEC Reports filed on or prior to the date hereof. Parent will
provide to the Company all Parent's SEC Reports dated between the date hereof
and the Effective Date.
SECTION 5.13 Environmental Matters. Parent is and at all times has been in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable requirements of
Environmental Laws in connection with the ownership, operation and conditions of
the business of Parent. To the knowledge of Parent, there are no PCBs,
underground storage tanks (as defined by Environmental Laws), asbestos materials
or asbestos containing materials in any property leased, owned or operated by
Parent. Parent has not released, transported or arranged for the disposal of
any hazardous substance at any facility, location or site except in material
compliance with all applicable laws. To the knowledge of Parent, no conditions
exist or have occurred as a result of which or in connection with which Parent
could be held liable for damages, response or remedial costs, fines, penalties,
sanctions or equitable relief under any Environmental Laws, except for such
damages, costs, fines, penalties, sanctions or relief which, alone or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on Parent.
SECTION 5.14 Condition of Assets. The material equipment, fixtures and
other personal property of Parent is in normal operating condition and repair
(ordinary wear and tear excepted) for the conduct of its business as presently
being conducted.
SECTION 5.15 Employee Benefit Plans. None of the Parent's employee benefit
plans, programs, arrangements and practices has incurred any "accumulated
funding deficiency" (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA and Section 412 of the
Code), whether or not waived, as of the last day of the most recent fiscal year
of each of the such plans ended prior to the date of this Agreement.
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SECTION 5.16 Customers and Suppliers. Except as set forth in Parent
Disclosure Schedule, Parent has no knowledge that, either as a result of the
transactions contemplated hereby or for any other reason (exclusive of
expiration of a contract upon the passage of time), any customer (which
accounted for an aggregate amount of 5% or more of Parent's consolidated gross
revenues within the preceding 12 months) or material supplier of Parent will not
continue to conduct business with Parent after the date hereof in substantially
the same manner as it has conducted business with Parent in the past.
SECTION 5.17 Transactions with Affiliates. Except as set forth in Parent
Disclosure Schedule, Parent is not indebted for money borrowed, either directly
or indirectly, from any of its officers, directors, or any Affiliate, in any
amount whatsoever; nor are any of its officers, directors, or Affiliates
indebted for money borrowed from Parent; nor are there any transactions of a
continuing nature between Parent; and any of its officers, directors, or
Affiliates (other than by or through the regular employment thereof by Parent)
not subject to cancellation which will continue beyond the Effective Time,
including, without limitation, use of the assets of Parent for personal benefit
with or without adequate compensation.
SECTION 5.18 No Omissions or Untrue Statements. To its knowledge, no
representation or warranty made by Parent to the Company in this Agreement, in
Parent Disclosure Schedule or in any certificate of a Parent officer required to
be delivered to the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement contains or
will contain any untrue statement of a material fact, or omits or will omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained herein or
therein not materially misleading as of the date hereof and as of the Closing
Date.
SECTION 5.19 Brokers and Finders. Parent has not employed any investment
banker, broker, finder, consultant or intermediary in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement which would be entitled to any
investment banking, brokerage, finder's or similar fee or commission in
connection with this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
ARTICLE VI
DELIVERIES
SECTION 6.1 The Company's Deliveries. Concurrently with its execution
and delivery of this Agreement, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, to Parent:
(a) a certificate, duly executed by the Secretary of the Company,
certifying as to the Articles of Incorporation and By-laws of the Company, the
incumbency and signatures of the Company's
20
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officers and copies of directors' and stockholders' resolutions approving and
authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(b) an opinion of the Company's special counsel, Gould & Ratner, in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent;
(c) certificates, duly executed by the chief executive officer of the
Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, as to certain tax matters; and
(d) an employment agreement between the Parent and Elliot Elrod, and
option agreements between the Parent and each of the Management Stockholders in
form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent (collectively, the
"Management Stockholders' Agreements").
SECTION 6.2 Other Deliveries to Parent. Concurrently with its execution
and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall receive:
(a) an opinion of Cooperman Levitt Winikoff Lester & Newman, P.C. to
the effect that the Merger will be treated for Federal income tax purposes as a
reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code and that no gain
or loss will be recognized by the Parent or the Subsidiary as a result of the
Merger;
(b) non-competition agreements from each of the Management
Stockholders in form reasonably satisfactory to the Company; and
(c) a letter from Lipner, Gordon & Co., certified public accountants
for the Parent, to the effect that audited historical financial statements for
the Company meeting the applicable requirements of Regulation S-X, particularly
Rules 1-02 and 3-05 thereof, promulgated by the SEC, shall be capable of
preparation and delivery to Parent within 75 days of the Effective Time of the
Merger.
SECTION 6.3 Deliveries to the Company. Concurrently with its execution
and delivery of this Agreement, Parent shall deliver, or cause to be delivered,
to the Company:
(a) a certificate, duly executed by the Secretary of Parent,
certifying as the Certificate of Incorporation and By-laws of Parent, incumbency
and signatures of officers of Parent and copies of directors' resolutions
approving and authorizing the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
(b) a certificate, duly executed by the chief executive officer of
Parent, as to certain tax matters; and
21
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(c) an opinion of Parent's counsel, Cooperman Levitt Winikoff Lester
& Newman, P.C., in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company.
SECTION 6.4 Deliveries to the Selling Stockholders. Concurrently with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Management Stockholders
shall receive the respective Management Stockholders' Agreement to which he is a
party. At the Effective Time of the Merger, in exchange for the certificates
representing Company Stock, the Selling Stockholders shall receive certificates
representing Parent Merger Stock.
ARTICLE VII
INVESTMENT INTENTION
SECTION 7.1 Investment Intention. The Selling Stockholders each
represent and warrant that the Parent Merger Stock is being acquired for their
own accounts, with no intention of assigning any participation or interest
therein, and without a view to the distribution of any portion thereof. No
Selling Stockholder will sell, assign, transfer or encumber any Parent Merger
Stock unless (i) a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect
thereto is in effect and the prospectus included therein meets the requirements
of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or (ii) Parent has received a written
opinion of counsel reasonably satisfactory to Parent that, after an
investigation of the relevant facts, such counsel is of the opinion that such
proposed sale, assignment, transfer or encumbrance does not require registration
under the Securities Act.
The Selling Stockholders each understand that the Parent Merger Stock is
not being registered under the Securities Act and must be held indefinitely
unless the Parent Merger Stock is subsequently registered thereunder or an
exemption from registration is available. The Company and the Selling
Stock-holders understand further that the Parent Merger Stock is not being
registered under the Securities Act in part on the ground that the issuance
thereof is exempt under Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as a transaction by
an issuer not involving any public offering; that Parent's reliance on such
exemption is predicated in part on the foregoing representation and warranty of
each of the Selling Stockholders.
SECTION 7.2 Restrictive Legend. The Selling Stockholders each
understand that Parent will have an appropriate stop order placed on its stock
records indicating the existence of the terms of this Agreement, and that the
certificates representing the Parent Merger Stock shall bear the following
legend:
"THE SHARES EVIDENCED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
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AND MAY BE SOLD, TRANSFERRED OR ENCUMBERED ONLY PURSUANT TO (I) AN
EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933,
AS AMENDED, OR (II) AN OPINION OF COUNSEL REASONABLY SATISFACTORY TO
PARENT THAT SUCH REGISTRATION IS UNNECESSARY."
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.1 By the Management Stockholders. Subject to Sections 8.5 and
10.2 hereof, each Management Stockholder, jointly and severally, shall
indemnify, defend, and hold Parent harmless from and against any and all losses,
costs, liabilities, damages, and expenses (including reasonable legal and other
expenses incident thereto) of every kind, nature, and description, including any
undisclosed liabilities (collectively, "Losses") that result from or arise out
of (i) the breach of any representation or warranty of the Company and of the
Management Stockholders set forth in this Agreement or in any certificate or
other document delivered on behalf of the Company or the Management Stockholders
to Parent pursuant hereto; or (ii) the breach of any of the covenants of the
Company or the Management Stockholders contained in or arising out of this
Agreement or the transactions contempla-ted hereby (exclusive of the Management
Stockholders' Agreements).
SECTION 8.2 By Parent. Subject to Section 8.5 hereof, Parent shall
indemnify, defend, and hold the Company and the Selling Stockholders harmless
from and against any and all Losses that arise out of (i) the breach of any
representation or warranty of Parent set forth in this Agreement or in any
certificate or other document delivered on behalf of the Parent to the Company
or the Selling Stockholders pursuant hereto; or (ii) the breach of any of the
covenants of Parent contained in or arising out of this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby (exclusive of the Management Stockholders'
Agreements).
SECTION 8.3 Claims Procedure. Should any claim covered by Sections 8.1
or 8.2 be asserted against a party entitled to indemnification under this
Article (the "Indemnitee"), the Indemnitee shall promptly notify the party
obligated to make indemnification (the "Indemnitor"), provided, however, that
any delay or failure in notifying the Indemnitor shall not affect the
Indemnitor's liability under this Article except to the extent that such delay
or failure was prejudicial to the Indemnitor. The Indemnitor upon receipt of
such notice shall assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnitee and the Indemnitee shall extend reasonable
cooperation at its cost to the Indemnitor in connection with such defense. No
settlement of any such claim shall be made without the consent of the
Indemnitor, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed, nor shall
any such settlement be made by the Indemnitor which does not
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provide for the absolute, complete and unconditional release of the
Indemnitee from such claim. If a settlement is rejected by an Indemnitee,
Indemnitor's liability with respect to such claims shall be limited to the
amount of the proposed settlement. In the event that the Indemnitor shall
fail, within a reasonable time, to defend a claim, the Indemnitee shall have
the right to assume the defense thereof without prejudice to its rights to
indemnification hereunder.
SECTION 8.4 Losses Net of Tax Effect, Etc. The determination of the
amount of any Losses for which indemnification may be sought pursuant to
Sections 8.1 or 8.2 shall take into account and such amount shall be reduced by,
(i) any reduction in federal or state income taxes of the Indemnitee
attributable thereto, (ii) the amount of any insurance proceeds received by such
Indemnitee (directly or from an Indemnitor) in connection therewith, and (iii)
any third party payments by virtue of indemnification or subrogation.
SECTION 8.5 Limitations on Liability.
(a) Other than (x) in the case of proven fraud or (y) in the case of
Losses arising from a breach of a representation or warranty contained in
Sections 4.8 and 4.16, for which there shall be no limitation, the total amount
of Losses which may be recovered against the Management Stockholders shall be
limited to the value of the Parent Merger Stock on the Effective Date (such
value, for purposes of this Agreement, being equal to (i) the average of the per
share closing prices of Parent Common Stock on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board for the
ten trading days ending on (and including) the trading day immediately prior to
the Effective Time, times (ii) 600,000 shares).
(b) No Indemnitor shall be liable hereunder as a result of its
indemnification undertaking set forth in Section 8.1 or 8.2 of this Agreement
(as the case may be) unless and until the Losses incurred by Indemnitee shall
exceed, in the aggregate, $25,000 (in which case the Indemnitor shall be liable
for the entire amount of such claims, including the first $25,000). Each
Management Stockholder may satisfy any liability it has to Parent pursuant to
Article VIII of this Agreement by tendering, in lieu of payment in cash, to
Parent for cancellation shares of Parent Merger Stock still owned by such
Management Stockholder valued, for this purpose, at a price equal to the average
of the closing prices of Parent Common Stock on the NASDAQ Bulletin Board (or
such other NASDAQ inter-dealer quotation system upon which the Parent's Common
Stock shall then be listed) for the ten trading days ending on the trading day
immediately preceding the date of tender of such shares to the Parent. Tender
of shares shall be effected by physical delivery to Parent of the certificates
representing the shares together with a stock power signed by the Management
Stockholder including a medallion guaranty of signature.
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ARTICLE IX
POST-MERGER DIRECTORSHIPS
SECTION 9.1 Parent's Board of Directors. Promptly following
consummation of the Merger, Parent covenants to appoint each of the Management
Stockholders to the Board of Directors of Parent, and each Management
Stockholder covenants to accept such appointment.
ARTICLE X
POST-MERGER RESCISSION
Section 10.1 Selling Stockholders' Rescission Right. If Parent shall
not have successfully consummated a financing from which Parent shall have
derived gross proceeds of at least $1,000,000 prior to the expiration of six (6)
months from the Effective Time of the Merger (the "Financing Period"), then, in
such event, the Selling Stockholders, acting jointly and not severally, shall
have an irrevocable option, exercisable by written notice delivered to Parent no
later than twenty-five (25) days after the expiration of the Financing Period
(the "Rescission Notice"), to compel Parent to re-exchange their respective
shares of Parent Merger Stock (the "Rescission Option"). In such event, Parent,
not later than ten (10) days after its receipt of the Rescission Notice, shall
deliver shares of common stock of the Surviving Corporation to the Selling
Stockholders in like denomination to those shares of Company Stock acquired by
Parent from the Selling Stockholders at the Effective Time of the Merger
(collectively, the "Rescission Stock") against delivery to Parent by the Selling
Stockholders of their respective shares of Parent Merger Stock either endorsed
in blank or accompanied by appropriate stock powers, in each instance bearing a
medallion guarantee of each Selling Stockholder's signature thereon.
Section 10.2 Reasonable Efforts to Restore Status Quo Ante. Upon exercise
by the Selling Stockholders of the Rescission Option as contemplated by Section
10.1, Parent and the Selling Stockholders shall each thereafter exert its or
their reasonable best efforts to restore the Surviving Corporation to the
identical or substantially identical status as that of the Company immediately
prior to the Effective Time of the Merger, it being the intent of the parties
that the unwinding of the transaction would be on a tax-free basis and that all
of the assets and liabilities of the Company existing on the date hereof (except
for changes in the ordinary course of business of the Surviving Corporation
between the Effective Time of the Merger and said rescission and unwinding)
would remain in the Surviving Corporation and, by virtue of the rescission and
unwinding contemplated by this section, be returned to Selling Shareholders.
25
<PAGE>
Section 10.3 Exchange of Mutual Releases. Upon exchange of the Parent
Merger Stock for the Rescission Stock as contemplated by Section 10.1, (i)
Parent, for itself and its officers, directors and principal shareholders, shall
deliver a release in favor of each of the Selling Stockholders, and (ii) each
Selling Stockholder shall deliver a release in favor of Parent, its officers,
directors and principal shareholders, releasing the other, as applicable, from
any and all manner of claims and liabilities arising under this Agreement or
otherwise, except those claims or liabilities, if any, arising under this
Article X.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1 Expenses. The Company and Parent shall each pay their own
expenses (with the Company paying any expenses attributable to the Selling
Stockholders) incident to the negotiation, preparation, and carrying out of this
Agreement, including all fees and expenses of its counsel and accountants for
all activities of such counsel and accountants undertaken pursuant to this
Agreement.
SECTION 11.2 Survival of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. All
statements contained in this Agreement or in any certificate delivered by or on
behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or Parent pursuant hereto or in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby shall be deemed
representations, warranties and covenants by the Company, the Management
Stockholders or Parent, as the case may be, hereunder. All representations,
warranties, and covenants made by the Company and the Management Stockholders
and by Parent in this Agreement, or pursuant hereto, shall survive the Effective
Time of the Merger only until July 7, 1998 and no action based thereon may be
commenced after such date; provided, however, that all representations and
warranties related to any claim asserted with reasonable particularity in
writing prior to the expiration of the above period shall survive until such
claim shall be resolved and payment in respect thereof, if any is owing, shall
be made; and provided, further, that the representation and warranty contained
in Section 4.8 shall survive until expiration of any applicable statute of
limitations and that the representation and warranty contained in Section 4.10
shall survive for 10 years with respect to third party (including governmental)
claims.
SECTION 11.3 Succession and Assignments; Third Party Beneficiaries. This
Agreement may not be assigned (either voluntarily or involuntarily) by any party
hereto without the express written consent of the other party. Any attempted
assignment in violation of this Section shall be void and ineffective for all
purposes. In the event of an assignment permitted by this Section, this
Agreement shall be binding upon the heirs, successors and assigns of the parties
hereto. There shall
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<PAGE>
be no third party beneficiaries of this Agreement.
SECTION 11.4 Notices. All notices, requests, demands, or other
communications with respect to this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
(i) sent by facsimile transmission, (ii) sent by the United States Postal
Service, registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, or (iii)
personally delivered by a nationally recognized express overnight courier
service, charges prepaid, to the following addresses (or such other addresses as
the parties may specify from time to time in accordance with this Section):
(a) To Parent:
The MNI Group Inc.
10 West Forest Avenue
Englewood, New Jersey 07631
Attn: President
Fax No.: (201) 569-3224
With a copy to:
Cooperman Levitt Winikoff Lester & Newman, P.C.
800 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Ira I. Roxland, Esq.
Fax No.: (212) 755-2839
(b) To the Company:
K.O.S. Industries, Inc.
7335 E. Acona Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Attn: President
Fax No.: (602) 905-0080
With a copy to:
Gould & Ratner
222 North La Salle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attn: Fredric D. Tannenbaum, Esq.
Fax No.: (312) 236-3241
(c) To the Management Stockholders:
c/o Elliot Elrod
7335 E. Acona Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
Fax No.: (602) 905-0080
With a copy to:
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Gould & Ratner
222 North La Salle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attn: Fredric D. Tannenbaum, Esq.
Fax No.: (312) 236-3241
Any such notice shall, when sent in accordance with the preceding
sentence, be deemed to have been given and received on the earliest of (i) the
day delivered to such address or sent by facsimile transmission, (ii) the fifth
business day following the date deposited with the United States Postal Service,
or (iii) 24 hours after shipment by such courier service.
SECTION 11.5 Construction. This Agreement shall be construed and
enforced in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York without
giving effect to the principles of conflicts of law thereof.
SECTION 11.6 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall
together constitute one and the same Agreement.
SECTION 11.7 No Implied Waiver; Remedies. No failure or delay on the
part of the parties hereto to exercise any right, power, or privilege hereunder
or under any instrument executed pursuant hereto shall operate as a waiver nor
shall any single or partial exercise of any right, power, or privilege preclude
any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power,
or privilege. All rights, powers, and privileges granted herein shall be in
addition to other rights and remedies to which the parties may be entitled at
law or in equity.
SECTION 11.8 Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Exhibits
and Disclosure Schedules attached hereto, and the Employment Agreements sets
forth the entire understandings of the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof, and it incorporates and merges any and all previous
communications, understandings, oral or written, as to the subject matter
hereof, including, without limitation, a letter agreement dated March 20, 1997
among the parties, and cannot be amended or changed except in writing, signed by
the parties.
SECTION 11.9 Headings. The headings of the Sections of this Agreement,
where employed, are for the convenience of reference only and do not form a part
hereof and in no way modify, interpret or construe the meanings of the parties.
SECTION 11.10 Severability. To the extent that any provision of this
Agreement shall be invalid or unenforceable, it shall be considered deleted
hereof and the remainder of such provision and of this Agreement shall be
unaffected and shall continue in full force and effect.
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SECTION 11.11 Publicity. The parties agree that publicity concerning any
of the transactions contemplated hereby prior to the Closing Date (except for
any required government filings) shall be subject to the prior mutual consent of
the parties.
***Balance of Page is Intentionally Left Blank***
29
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement the day
and year first above written.
THE MNI GROUP INC.
By:/s/Arnold Gans
-----------------------------------
Name: Arnold Gans
Title: President
MNI VIASUB INC.
By:/s/Arnold Gans
-----------------------------------
Name: Arnold Gans
Title: President
K.O.S. INDUSTRIES, INC.
By:/s/Elliot Elrod
-----------------------------------
Name: Elliot Elrod
Title: President
The undersigned each agrees to be bound by the provisions of Article IV,
VII, VIII, and IX hereof as if he were a named party to the Agreement:
/s/Elliot Elrod
-----------------------------------
ELLIOT ELROD
/s/Phillip B. Donenburg
------------------------------------
PHILLIP B. DONENBURG
30
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Exhibit (c)(ii)
EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT, dated as of
July 7, 1997, by and between THE MNI
GROUP INC., a New Jersey corporation
("MNI"), and ELLIOT ELROD (the
"Employee").
------------------------
MNI desires to engage Employee to perform services for MNI, and any present
or future subsidiary or affiliate of MNI (collectively, with MNI, the "MNI
Companies"), and Employee desires to perform such services, on the terms and
conditions set forth below:
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. Employment, Term.
MNI will employ Employee in its business, and Employee will work for
MNI, for a term of three (3) years, commencing as of July 7, 1997 and ending on
July 7, 2000, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Section 9 hereof.
Such period, including any extensions or renewals thereof, is referred to herein
as the "Employment Period".
2. Duties.
2.1 During the Employment Period, Employee shall serve as the
President and Chief Executive Officer of K.O.S. Labs, Inc. and NutraPet Labs,
Inc., each a subsidiary of MNI, and shall perform such other duties on behalf of
MNI and exercise such authority as may from time to time reasonably be delegated
to Employee by the Chairman of MNI and, if so requested by MNI's Chairman, on
behalf of any one or more of the MNI Companies.
2.2 Employee shall discharge his duties primarily from MNI's facility
in Scottsdale, Arizona. Employee shall also engage in such travel in
furtherance of his duties set forth in Section 2.1, as shall be reasonably
requested by MNI.
3. Devotion of Time.
3.1 During the Employment Period, Employee shall: (a) expend all of
his working time for MNI; (b) devote his best efforts, energy and skill to the
services of MNI and the promotion of its interests; and (c) not take part in
activities known by
<PAGE>
Employee to be detrimental to the best interests of MNI or any of the
MNI Companies.
4. Compensation.
4.1 In consideration for the services to be performed by Employee
during the Employment Period hereunder, MNI shall compensate Employee at a base
salary of $125,000 per annum. Such salary shall be subject to annual review,
and possible increases (but not decreases), based on MNI's and the Employee's
performance.
4.2 Employee shall receive such additional bonuses, if any, during
the Employment Period as shall be determined from time to time by MNI's Board of
Directors (the "MNI Board") in its sole discretion.
4.3 Employee shall also receive, contemporaneously with his execution
hereof, an option to acquire up to an aggregate of 750,000 Common Shares of MNI,
exercisable at a per share exercise price equal to the closing price of MNI's
common shares on the first day of the Employment Period, as reported by NASDAQ,
which option shall be in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 4.3.
5. Reimbursement of Expenses; Additional Benefits.
5.1 MNI shall pay directly, or reimburse Employee for, all reasonable
and necessary expenses and disbursements incurred by him for and on behalf of
MNI and/or the MNI Companies in the performance of his duties under this
Agreement. For such purposes, Employee shall submit to MNI itemized written
reports of such expenses (including bills and receipts) in accordance with MNI's
policies, and shall obtain prior approval of an executive officer of MNI for
each expense in excess of $500.
5.2 Employee shall be entitled to paid vacations during the
Employment Period in accordance with the then prevalent practices of MNI for its
senior executives.
5.3 During the Employment Period, Employee shall be entitled to
participate in, and to receive benefits under, such employee benefit plans of
MNI (including, without limitation, group life insurance and group medical
insurance plans) as may exist from time to time for MNI's senior executives,
generally, provided he meets the eligibility requirements thereof.
2
<PAGE>
6. Representations and Warranties of Employee.
Employee represents and warrants to MNI that (a) Employee is under no
contractual or other restriction or obligation which is inconsistent with the
execution of this Agreement, the performance of his duties hereunder, or the
other rights of MNI hereunder and (b) Employee is under no known mental or
physical disability that would hinder his performance of duties under this
Agreement.
7. Non-Competition and Secrecy.
7.1 No Competing Employment. For so long as Employee is employed by
MNI and continuing for one (1) year after (i) the termination of such employment
by MNI (except if such termination shall be effectuated by MNI (or any
successor) prior to the expiration of the Employment Period for reasons other
than "cause" (as hereinafter defined)), or (ii) Employee's resignation therefrom
(such period being referred to hereinafter as the "Restricted Period"), Employee
shall not, directly or indirectly, own an interest in manage, operate, join,
control, lend money, or render financial or other assistance to or participate
in or be connected with, as an officer, employee, partner, stockholder,
consultant or otherwise, any individual, partnership, firm, corporation or other
business organization or entity that competes within the United States with MNI
and/or any of the MNI Companies; provided, however, that nothing in this Section
7.1 shall prohibit Employee from making a non-controlling and passive investment
in a corporation whose shares are publicly traded.
7.2 No Interference. During the Restricted Period, Employee shall
not, whether for his own account or for the account of any other individual,
partnership, firm, corporation or other business organization (other than MNI),
intentionally solicit, endeavor to entice away from MNI and/or any of the MNI
Companies, or otherwise interfere with the relationship of MNI and/or any of the
MNI Companies with, any person who is employed by or otherwise engaged to
perform services for MNI and/or any of the MNI Companies or any person or entity
who is, or was within the then most recent 12 month period, a customer or client
of MNI and/or any of the MNI Companies.
7.3 Secrecy. Employee recognizes that the services to be performed
by him hereunder are special, unique and extraordinary in that, by reason of his
employment hereunder, he may acquire confidential information and trade secrets
concerning the operation of MNI and/or any of the MNI Companies, the use or
disclosure of which could cause MNI and/or any of the MNI Companies substantial
loss and damages which could not be readily calculated and for which no remedy
at law would be adequate. Accordingly, Employee covenants and agrees with MNI
that he will not at any time, except in performance of Employee' s obligations
to MNI and/or any of the
3
<PAGE>
MNI Companies hereunder or with the prior written consent of MNI pursuant to
authority granted by a resolution of the MNI Board, directly or indirectly,
disclose any secret or confidential information that he may learn or has
learned by reason of his association with MNI and/or any of the MNI
Companies. The term "confidential information" includes, without limitation,
information not previously disclosed to the public or to the trade by
management of MNI and/or any of the MNI Companies, as applicable, with
respect to the products, facilities, applications and methods, trade secrets
and other intellectual property, systems, procedures, manuals, confidential
reports, product price lists, customer lists, technical information,
financial information (including the revenues, costs or profits associated
with any of its or their products), business plans, prospects or
opportunities but shall exclude any information already in the public domain.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, Employee's
obligation to maintain the secrecy and confidentiality of the confidential
information under this Section 7 shall not apply to any such confidential
information which is disclosed through any means other than as a result of
any act by Employee constituting a breach of this Agreement or which is
required to be disclosed under applicable law.
7.4 Exclusive Property. Employee confirms that all confidential
information is and shall remain the exclusive property of MNI. All business
records, papers and documents kept or made by Employee relating to the business
of MNI shall be and remain the property of MNI.
7.5 Injunctive Relief. Without intending to limit the remedies
available to MNI, Employee acknowledges that a breach of any of the covenants
contained in this Section 7 may result in material irreparable injury to MNI
and/or any of the MNI Companies for which there is no adequate remedy at law,
that it will not be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and
that, in the event of such a breach or threat thereof, MNI shall be entitled to
seek to obtain a temporary restraining order and/or a preliminary injunction
restraining Employee from engaging in activities prohibited by this Section 7 or
such other relief as may be requires to specifically enforce any of the
covenants in this Section 7.
7.6 Extension of Restricted Period. In addition to the remedies MNI
may seek and obtain pursuant to Section 7.5, the Restricted Period shall be
extended by any and all periods during which Employee shall be found by a court
possessing personal jurisdiction over him to have been in violation of the
covenants contained in this Section 7.
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8. Patents.
8.1 Employee agrees that any interest in patents, patent
applications, inventions, copyrights, developments and processes (collectively,
"Inventions") during the period he is employed by MNI, which Employee hereafter
may develop or own relating to the fields in which MNI or any of the MNI
Companies may then be engaged shall belong to MNI. Employee shall execute all
such assignments and other documents and take all such other action as MNI may
reasonably request in order to vest in MNI all his right, title and interest in
and to each such Invention, free and clear of all liens, charges and
encumbrances.
9. Early Termination.
9.1 Employee's employment hereunder shall automatically be terminated
upon the death of Employee or Employee's leaving the employ of MNI and, in
addition, may be terminated, at the sole discretion of MNI, as follows:
(a) upon five (5) days prior written notice by MNI to
Employee, in the event of Employee's disability as set forth in
Section 9.2 below; or
(b) upon five (5) days prior written notice by MNI to
Employee, in the event that MNI terminates Employee's employment
hereunder for cause as set forth in Section 9.3 below.
9.2 Employee shall be deemed disabled hereunder if, in the opinion of
both a physician selected by MNI and a physician selected by Employee, he shall
become physically or mentally unable or otherwise unable to perform his duties
for MNI hereunder and such incapacity shall have continued for any period of six
(6) months within any twelve (12) month period.
9.3 For purposes hereof, "cause" shall mean termination of Employee's
employment with MNI by the MNI Board in its sole discretion because of: (a) any
act or omission which constitutes a material breach by Employee of his
obligations or agreements under this Agreement, or the failure or refusal of
Employee to satisfactorily perform in any material respect any duties reasonably
required by MNI hereunder, or refusal to follow lawful instructions of the MNI
Board consistent with Section 2.1, (b) Employee being convicted of the
commission of a felony or a misdemeanor involving fraud, dishonesty or deceit,
or the perpetration by Employee of a serious dishonest or fraudulent act, which
act would have a material adverse effect on MNI or any of the MNI Companies or
(c) any other act or omission by Employee which, in the good faith opinion of
the MNI Board, is injurious in any significant respect to the financial
condition or business
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reputation of MNI or any of the MNI Companies which resulted from Employee's
willful misconduct or gross negligence. The MNI Board shall give Employee
advance notice of its intention to terminate Employee's employment pursuant
to this Section and, when an act is capable of being cured or its occurrence
subject to question, afford Employee a period of thirty days in which to cure
such act or persuade the MNI Board that such act did not occur.
9.4 (a) In the event that Employee's employment under this Agreement
shall be terminated due to Employee's disability, then MNI shall pay to Employee
or his designees, as the case may be, continuing base salary for a period of
twelve (12) months at the rate set forth in Section 4.1 hereof.
(b) In the event that Employee's employment under this Agreement
shall be terminated by Employee, or by MNI for cause, then MNI shall not be
obligated to make any severance payments whatsoever to Employee hereunder.
9.5 In the event that either (a) both Arnold Gans and Myra Gans are
no longer employed by and are no longer serving as directors of the Company or
(b) all or substantially all of the assets of MNI or both K.O.S. Labs,Inc. and
NutraPet Labs, Inc. are sold or MNI merges or consolidates with another entity
and does not retain control over the merged or consolidated entity, upon five
(5) days prior written notice to the Company, Employee may elect to terminate
his employment under this Agreement.
9.6 Regardless of the reason for termination of Employee's employment
under this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to the compensation set forth
in Section 4.1 hereof which shall have accrued but be unpaid at the effective
time of termination.
9.7 The covenants, agreements, representations, and warranties
contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement (including, specifically, the
covenants set forth in Sections 7 and 8) shall survive Employee's termination of
employment, irrespective of any investigation made by or on behalf of any party,
for a period of one (1) year measured from the date of such termination.
10. Assignment.
This Agreement, as it relates to the employment of the Employee, is a
personal contract and the rights, interests and obligations of the Employee
hereunder may not be sold, transferred, assigned, pledged or hypothecated.
Except as otherwise herein expressly provided, this Agreement shall be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of Employee and his personal representatives and
shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon MNI and its successors and
assigns, including without limitation, any
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corporation or other entity into which MNI is merged or which acquires all of
the outstanding shares of MNI's capital stock, or all or substantially all of
the assets of MNI.
11. Notices.
Any notice required or permitted to be given pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed given three (3) business days after such notice is
mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, or delivered against receipt
to the party to whom it is to be given, addressed as follows:
(a) if to Employee:
Elliot Elrod
7335 E. Acona Drive
Scottsdale, Arizona 85260
With a copy to:
Gould & Ratner
222 North La Salle Street
Chicago, Illinois 60601
Attn: Fredric D. Tannenbaum, Esq.
(b) if to MNI:
The MNI Group Inc.
10 West Forest Avenue
Englewood, New Jersey 07631
Attn: Chairman
With a copy to:
Cooperman Levitt Winikoff
Lester & Newman, P.C.
800 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Attn: Ira I. Roxland, Esq.
or to such other address as any such party shall designate by written notice to
the other party.
12. Governing Law.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to
conflict of laws.
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13. Waiver.
The waiver by either party of a breach of any provision of this
Agreement shall not operate or be construed as a waiver of any subsequent
breach. The failure of a party to insist upon strict adherence to any provision
of this Agreement on one or more occasions shall not be considered a waiver or
deprive that party of the right thereafter to insist upon strict adherence to
that provision or any other provision of this Agreement. Any waiver must be in
writing.
14. Severability.
If any provision of this Agreement, or the application of such
provision to any person or circumstance, is declared by any arbitration panel or
court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or unenforceable:
14.1 Such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the
remaining provisions of this Agreement or the application of such provisions to
persons or circumstances other than those to which it is held invalid or
unenforceable;
14.2 If such invalidity or unenforceability is due to the court's
determination that the provision's scope is excessively broad or restrictive
under applicable law then in effect, the parties hereby jointly request that
such provision be construed by modifying its scope so as to be enforceable to
the fullest extent compatible with applicable law then in effect; and
14.3 If any provision is held to be invalid or unenforceable with
respect to a particular circumstance, such provision shall nevertheless remain
in full force and effect in all other circumstances, subject to the other
provisions of this Section 14.
15. Entire Agreement.
15.1 This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement and understanding
between the parties with respect to the employment of the Employee and there are
no representations, warranties or commitments except as set forth herein. This
Agreement supersedes all prior and contemporaneous agreements, understandings,
negotiations and discussions, whether written or oral, of the parties hereto
relating to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
15.2 This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as
creating, any rights enforceable by any person not a party to this Agreement,
except as provided in Section 10 hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have duly executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
THE MNI GROUP INC.
By:/s/Arnold Gans
--------------------------------------
Name: Arnold Gans
Title: President
/s/Elliot Elrod
--------------------------------------
Elliot Elrod
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Exhibit (c)(iii)
OPTION AGREEMENT, dated as of July 7, 1997,
between THE MNI GROUP INC., a New Jersey
corporation (the "Company"), and ELLIOT ELROD (the
"Optionee").
----------------------------
The Company desires, by affording the Optionee an opportunity to purchase
seven hundred fifty thousand (750,000) Common Shares of the Company (the "Common
Shares"), to induce the Optionee to accept the Company's offer of employment as
President and Chief Executive Officer of K.O.S. Industries, Inc. ("KOS") and
NutraPet Labs, Inc. ("NPL") (KOS and NPL are sometimes collectively referred to
as the "Subs"), each a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and to intensify
his interest in the future success of the Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants hereinafter set
forth and for other good and valuable consideration, the parties hereto agree as
follows:
1. Grant of Option. The Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally
grants to the Optionee, as a matter of separate agreement and not in lieu of
salary or any other compensation for services, the right and option (hereinafter
called the "Option") to purchase all or any part of an aggregate of seven
hundred fifty thousand (750,000) Common Shares on the terms and conditions
herein set forth.
2. Exercise Price. The purchase price of the Common Shares subject to
the Option shall be zero dollars and fifty cents ($0.50) per share, the fair
market value determined as a mean of the high and low bid prices of such Common
Shares on the date hereof, as reported by NASDAQ.
3. Limitation of Exercisability of Option. Subject to the provisions of
Section 7 hereof, the Option shall be divided into two components: the
Time-Based Options and the Performance-Based Options (both as defined below).
The Option shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, as follows:
(a) Time-Based Options. The portion of the Option with respect to
Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) Common Shares (the "Time-Based Options") shall
be exercisable, in whole or in part, as follows:
. To the extent of 300,000 Common Shares on or after December
31, 1998 and on or before December 31, 2002;
. To the extent of an additional 100,000 Common Shares on
or after December 31, 1999 and on or before December
31, 2002; and
<PAGE>
. To the extent of an additional 100,000 Common Shares on
or after December 31, 2000 and on or before December
31, 2002.
The Time-Based Options shall be exercisable as noted immediately above
purely based on the passage of time, and without consideration of the financial
performance of the Company or the Subs.
(b) Performance-Based Options. The portion of the Option with
respect to Two Hundred Fifty Thousand (250,000) Common Shares (the
"Performance-Based Options") shall be exercisable, in whole or in part, as
follows:
. To the extent of 83,333 Common Shares on or after the Annual
Determination Date (as defined in section 3(c)) and on or
before December 31, 2002 only in the event that the
Company's Revenues (as defined in section 3(c)) equalled or
exceeded $1,425,000 for the fiscal year 1998;
. To the extent of an additional 83,333 Common Shares on or
after the Annual Determination Date and on or before
December 31, 2002 only in the event that the Company's
Revenues equalled or exceeded $1,995,000 for the fiscal year
1999; and
. To the extent of an additional 83,334 Common Shares on
or after the Annual Determination Date and on or before
December 31, 2002 only in the event that the Company's
Revenues equalled or exceeded $2,493,750 for the fiscal
year 2000.
(c) Determination of Performance-Based Options. The following
additional provisions shall apply to the Performance-Based Options:
(i) Determination of Revenues. The Company's independent
certified public accountants (the "Accountants") shall determine
the Revenues on an annual basis as promptly as practicable at the
end of each fiscal year of the Company (such date of
determination is the "Annual Determination Date") in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently
applied. The Company shall pay all costs, fees and expenses of
the Accountants and the determination of Revenues shall be final
and binding on the parties absent manifest error or gross
negligence. The Accountants shall provide Optionee with (A) a
certified schedule setting forth the total Revenues and Revenues
and units by each product line and each of
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the Subs and (B) access to work papers underlying the
Revenues.
(ii) Calculation of Revenues. As used herein,
"Revenues" shall mean gross revenues of the Company,
including the Subs, determined in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied, from
the sale of pet products and related pet products (the "Pet
Products"). The Revenues targets set forth in section 3(b)
shall be adjusted in the event that the Company or any of
its subsidiaries purchase Pet Products product lines or
businesses ("New Revenues") from third parties or sell Pet
Products product lines or businesses ("Lost Revenues") to
third parties outside of the ordinary course of business. In
such event, the adjustment will, in the event of an
acquisition, add New Revenues to Revenues, and in the event
of a divestiture, subtract Lost Revenues from Revenues, for
the year or years, as applicable, during and after the
closing of the acquisition or divestiture as set forth in
the balance of this subparagraph (ii). The addition of New
Revenues to Revenues or subtraction of Lost Revenues from
Revenues shall be equal to (a) for the year of the closing
of the acquisition or divestiture, Revenues shall be
adjusted by the prorated portion of the New Revenues or Lost
Revenues which accrued in the entire fiscal year prior to
the closing and (b) for the full year or years, as
applicable, following closing, Revenues targets shall be
adjusted (i) in the case of an acquisition, upward by an
amount of New Revenues initially budgeted for such
applicable year for such added product line or business and
(ii) in the case of a divestiture, downward by an amount
equal to the Lost Revenue from such divested product line or
business in the last full fiscal year prior to divestiture.
For Example. On July 1, 1999, the Company or a subsidiary
closed on the purchase of a division from XYZ, an unrelated
entity, which sells Products, and which had gross revenues
during 1998 of $500,000. The Company budgets gross revenues
for such new business to be $600,000 in 2000. Therefore,
Revenues shall be increased by $250,000 for the Revenues
target for the fiscal year 2000 shall be adjusted upwards by
the budgeted amount of $600,000 in 2000.
(iii) Ultimate Exercisability of Performance-Based
Options. In the event that any portion or all of the
Performance-Based Options are not exercisable due to the
fact that the Revenues for a fiscal year or years were less
than the
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<PAGE>
minimum level set forth in section 3(b) (the "Unvested
Options"), the Unvested Options shall nonetheless be
exercisable by Optionee at any time between December 31,
2001 and December 31, 2002 in the event that Optionee is
still employed by the Company or any affiliate thereof on
December 31, 2001. In the event that Optionee is not
employed by the Company or any subsidiary thereof on
December 31, 2001 due to a Non-Renewal (as defined herein),
then the Unvested Options shall be immediately exercisable
from the time that the Optionee is no longer employed by the
Company or any subsidiary through December 31, 2002.
"Non-Renewal" shall mean (A) the Company's decision not to
offer in writing to Optionee to extend the term of
Optionee's Employment Agreement (as defined in section 7(a)
hereof) from its current expiration date of July 7, 2000 to
a new expiration date not earlier than December 31, 2001 nor
later than (without Optionee's approval) July 7, 2003 on the
same or better (from Optionee's perspective) terms as
contained in the Employment Agreement (the "Renewal
Agreement"), (B) any of the reasons set forth in section
3(d) or 7, and (C) if the Renewal Agreement is terminated by
the Company prior to December 31, 2001 for any reason other
than "cause" (as such term is defined in the Employment
Agreement).
(d) Immediate Exercisability of Option. Notwithstanding anything
contained in section 3(a) or (b) to the contrary, in the event that both Arnold
Gans and Myra Gans are no longer employed by and are no longer serving as
directors of the Company, the entire Option shall become immediately exercisable
as to all of the Common Shares covered hereby.
Further, in the event that all or substantially all of the assets of the
Company or both of the Subs are sold or the Company merges or consolidates with
another entity and does not retain control over the merged or consolidated
entity, the entire Option shall become immediately exercisable as to all of the
Common Shares covered hereby.
4. Expiration of Option. Subject to the provisions of Section 7 hereof,
the Time-Based Option shall not be exercisable after December 31, 2002.
5. No Rights as Shareholder. The Optionee shall have none of the rights
of a shareholder with respect to any of the Common Shares subject to the Option
until such Common Shares shall be issued to him upon the exercise of the Option.
6. Non-Assignability of Option. The Option shall not be transferable
otherwise than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and the Option
shall be exercisable, during the
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<PAGE>
lifetime of the Optionee, only by him. More particularly (but without limiting
the generality of the foregoing), the Option may not be assigned, transferred
(except as aforesaid), pledged or hypothecated in any way (whether by operation
of law or otherwise), and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or
similar process. Any attempted assignment, transfer, pledge, hypothecation or
other disposition of the Option contrary to the provisions hereof, and the levy
of any execution, attachment or similar process upon the Option, shall be null
and void and without effect.
7. Death or Termination of Employment of Services.
(a) If the employment of the Optionee shall be terminated voluntarily
by the Optionee, or for "cause" (as such term is defined in that certain
Employment Agreement of even date herewith between the Optionee and the
Company), then the unexercised portion of this Option shall expire forthwith.
Except as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this Section 7, if such
employment shall terminate for any other reason, then this Option may be
exercised at any time within three months after such termination, subject to the
provisions of subparagraph (d) of this Section 7. For purposes hereof, (i)
retirement pursuant to any retirement plan adopted by the Company or at the
normal retirement date prescribed from time to time by the Company shall be
deemed to be termination of such individual's employment other than voluntarily
or for cause, and (ii) if the Optionee leaves the employ of the Company to
become an employee of a subsidiary corporation of the Company or a corporation
(or subsidiary or parent corporation of the corporation or a successor of the
Company or subsidiary corporation) which has assumed the Option of the Company
as a result of a corporate reorganization, etc., the Optionee shall not be
considered to have terminated his employment.
(b) If the Optionee dies (i) while employed by the Company or a
subsidiary corporation of the Company, or (ii) within three months after the
termination of his employment other than voluntarily or for cause, then this
Option may, subject to the provisions of subparagraph (d) of this Section 7, be
exercised by the estate of the Optionee or by a person who acquired the right to
exercise such Option by bequest or inheritance at any time within one year after
such death.
(c) If the Optionee ceases employment because of permanent and total
disability (within the meaning of Section 22(e)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended) while employed by the Company or a subsidiary corporation
of the Company, then such Option may, subject to the provisions of subparagraph
(d) of this Section 7, be exercised at any time within one year after the
Optionee's termination of employment due to such disability.
(d) An Option may not be exercised pursuant to this Section 7 except
to the extent that the holder was entitled to exercise the Option at the time of
termination of employment or
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<PAGE>
death, and in any event may not be exercised after the expiration of the Option.
(e) For purposes of this Section 7, the employment relationship of
the Optionee with the Company or of a subsidiary corporation of the Company will
be treated as continuing intact while he is on military or sick leave or other
bona fide leave or absence (such as temporary employment by the Government) if
such leave does not exceed ninety days, if longer, so long as the Optionee's
right to re-employment is guaranteed either by statute or by contract.
8. Adjustments Upon Changes in Capitalization.
(a) If at any time prior to the exercise of the Option in full, the
outstanding Common Shares of the Company are changed by reason or
reorganization, merger, consolidation, recapitalization, reclassification, stock
split-up, combination of shares, stock dividends or the like, an appropriate
adjustment shall be made by the Company's Board of Directors in the number of
Common Shares subject to this Option and in the exercise price therefor. If the
Company shall be reorganized, consolidated or merged with another corporation,
or if all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall be sold or
exchanged, the holder of this Option shall be entitled to receive upon the
exercise of this Option the same number and kind of shares of capital stock or
the same amount of property, cash, securities or other consideration as he would
have been entitled to receive if, immediately prior to such event, such holder
would have been the record owner of the Common Shares subject to this Option.
(b) Any adjustment in the number of Common Shares shall apply
proportionately to only the unexercised portion of the Option granted
hereunder. If fractions of a share would result from any such adjustment, the
adjustment shall be revised to the next lower whole number of shares.
9. Method of Exercise of Option. Subject to the terms and conditions of
this Agreement, this Option may be exercised by written notice to the Company at
its principal office, presently located at 10 West Forest Avenue, Englewood, New
Jersey 07631; attention of the Secretary. Such notice shall state the election
to exercise the Option and the number of Common Shares in respect of which it is
being exercised, shall be signed by the person or persons so exercising the
Option and shall either (i) be accompanied by payment in full, by check payable
to the order of the Company, of the purchase price of said shares in which event
the Company shall, subject to the provisions of subparagraphs (b) and (c) of
this Paragraph 9, deliver a certificate or certificates representing said shares
as soon as practicable after the notice shall be received by the Company, or
(ii) fix a date (not less than five (5) no more than ten (10) business days from
the date such notice shall be received by the Company) for the payment of the
full purchase price of said shares against delivery, subject to the
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<PAGE>
provisions of subparagraphs (b) and (c) of this Paragraph 9, of a certificate or
certificates representing such shares. The certificate or certificates for the
Common Shares as to which the Option shall have been so exercised shall be
registered in the name of the person or persons so exercising the Option and
shall be delivered as aforesaid to or upon the written order of the person or
persons exercising the Option. In the event the Option shall be exercised
pursuant to Paragraph 7(b) hereof, by any person or persons other than the
Optionee, such notice shall be accompanied by appropriate proof of the right of
such person or persons to exercise the Option. All Common Shares that shall be
purchased upon the exercise of the Option as provided herein shall be fully paid
and nonassessable.
10. Restrictions on Issuance.
(a) Unless prior to the exercise of the Option the Common Shares
issuable upon such exercise have been registered with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
notice of exercise shall be accompanied by a representation or agreement of the
individual exercising the Option to the Company to the effect that such shares
are being acquired for investment and not with a view to the resale or
distribution thereof or such other documentation as may be required by the
Company, unless in the opinion of counsel to the Company, such representation,
agreement or documentation is not necessary to comply with said Act.
(b) The Company shall not be obligated to issue and deliver any
Common Shares until they have been listed on each securities exchange on which
Common Shares may then be listed nor until there has been qualification under or
compliance with such state or federal laws, rules or regulations as the Company
may deem applicable. The Company shall use reasonable efforts to obtain such
listing, qualification and compliance.
11. Company Obligations. The Company shall at all times during the term
of the Option reserve and keep available such number of Common Shares as will be
sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this Agreement, shall pay all original
issue and/or transfer taxes with respect to the issue and/or transfer of shares
by the Company pursuant hereto and all other fees and expenses necessarily
incurred by the Company in connection therewith and will from time to time use
its best efforts to comply with all laws and regulations which in the opinion of
counsel for the Company shall be applicable thereto.
12. No Contract of Employment. The execution of this Agreement shall not
be deemed to be a contract of employment or a grant of any right to any employee
optionee to remain in the employ of the Company or any subsidiary.
13. Definition of Certain Terms. As used herein, the terms "subsidiary"
and "subsidiary corporation" shall mean any present or future subsidiary
corporation of the Company coming within the
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definition of "subsidiary corporation" contained in Section 425(f) of the Code.
The term "Common Shares" shall, except as otherwise indicated by the context,
mean the shares of Common Shares of the Company as authorized at the date
hereof.
14. Governing Law. This Option Agreement shall be construed in accordance
with and governed by the laws of the State of New York.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
THE MNI GROUP INC.
By:/s/Arnold Gans
----------------------------
Name: Arnold Gans
Title: President
/s/Elliot Elrod
----------------------------
Elliot Elrod
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Exhibit (c)(iv)
VOTING AND SHARE DISPOSITION AGREEMENT dated as of
July 7, 1997 among the persons listed on the
signature pages hereof.
---------------
Certain of the parties hereto currently serve as directors of The MNI
Group Inc., a New Jersey corporation (the "Company"), and/or are also
stockholders of the Company ("Original Stockholders"). The other parties are
Elliot Elrod and Phillip B. Donenburg ("New Stockholders").
As a consequence of the merger of the Company's wholly owned
subsidiary, MNI Viasub Inc., with and into K.O.S. Industries, Inc. on the date
hereof, the New Stockholders have acquired shares of common stock of the
Company.
The Original Stockholders and the New Stockholder (collectively, the
"Stockholders") are entering into this Agreement to evidence their
understandings with respect to the voting of all shares of common stock of the
Company owned by each (collectively, "Company Shares") as to the election of
directors, and certain related matters. Contemporaneously with the delivery of
this Agreement, each New Stockholder has been appointed a director of the
Company.
NOW, THEREFORE, the parties agree as follows:
1. VOTING
Each Stockholder agrees to vote all Company Shares over which he
possesses voting power in favor of the election of a slate of directors of the
Company comprised of five or more designees of the Original Stockholders and two
designees of the New Stockholders.
2. NOMINATION OF SLATE
Each Stockholder agrees to use all reasonable efforts to cause
the management of the Company to propose as candidates for the management slate
of directors, nominees comprised of (i) five or more designees of the Original
Stockholders and (ii) two designees of the New Stockholders.
3. PRESENCE FOR QUORUM PURPOSES
Each Stockholder agrees that at any duly called meeting of
Stockholders of the Company called for the purpose, among others, of electing
directors, to use his or its reasonable best efforts to be present in person or
by proxy for purposes of establishing a quorum.
<PAGE>
4. LIMITED RESTRAINT ON ALIENATION
The above provisions as to the voting of Company Shares apply to
all Company Shares owned by each Stockholder at the time of voting or other
taking of action but are not intended to, and shall not, except as set forth in
paragraphs 5 and below, limit the freedom of each Stockholder to sell, transfer
or otherwise dispose of any Company Shares owned by him in accordance with
applicable law, but subject to any other contractual limitation agreed to by
such Stockholder.
5. RESTRICTIONS ON DISPOSITION OF ALL SHARES IN ONE OR SERIES OF
RELATED TRANSACTIONS
The Original Stockholders agree with the New Stockholders that
should the Original Stockholders (in one or a series of related non-open market
transactions) contract or agree to sell at any time or from time to time during
the term of this Agreement fifty percent (50%) or more of the Company Shares
they beneficially own as of the date of this Agreement to non-affiliated
persons, they shall afford to the New Stockholders the opportunity to
participate in any such sale on the same terms as the Original Stockholders.
The Original Stockholders, in consideration of the agreement set forth in the
preceding sentence, agree, upon written request by the New Stockholders, to
include the Company Shares owned by the New Stockholders in any sale
contemplated by the preceding sentence on the same terms as the Old
Stockholders. Each of the parties shall endeavor to provide at least ten (10)
business days advance written notice of any proposed sale subject to the
provisions of this paragraph. Any such notice given to the New Stockholders
pursuant to this Paragraph 5 shall set forth the proposed sale price and any
other material terms and conditions of the proposed sale.
6. BINDING ON AFFILIATES
Each Stockholder agrees with the other Stockholders and the
Company that prior to any transfer of Company Shares to any of its Affiliates
(as hereinafter defined), it shall cause such Affiliate to agree in writing to
be bound by the provisions of this Agreement. "Affiliate," as to any
Stockholder, means any member of the family of such Stockholder including
spouse, children and any other person whose primary residence is that of such
Stockholder, any trust for the exclusive benefit of such persons and any
corporation or other entity controlled by such persons.
7. COOPERATION
The parties will cooperate in good faith with each other in
carrying out the provisions of this Agreement.
8. TERM
This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
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<PAGE>
through July 7, 2007; subject to earlier termination in the event (i) the
parties in the aggregate, no longer own more than five percent (5%) of the
outstanding shares of common stock of the Company and (ii) as to any New
Stockholder, if he is no longer employed by the Company, in which event the
remaining New Stockholder shall be entitled to designate one nominee for
election as a Director in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 hereof.
9. COUNTERPARTS
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each of which
shall constitute an original, and all of which originals, when taken together,
shall constitute one and the same Agreement.
10. GOVERNING LAW
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
***Balance of Page is Intentionally Left Blank***
3
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Agreement as of
the day and year first above written.
/s/Arnold Gans /s/Myra Gans
- -------------------------- ------------------------------
Arnold Gans Myra Gans
/s/Elliot Elrod
------------------------------
Elliot Elrod
LN INVESTMENT CAPITAL
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
/s/Phillip B. Donenburg By:/s/Michael J. Connelly
- ------------------------- ------------------------------
Phillip B. Donenburg Name: Michael J. Connelly
Title: Managing General Partner
ACCEPTED:
THE MNI GROUP INC.
By:/s/Arnold Gans
------------------------
Name: Arnold Gans
Title: President
4
