As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 18, 1997
Registration No. 333-____
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
---------------
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
---------------
CULP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
North Carolina 2221 56-1001967
(State or other jurisdiction of (Primary Standard Industrial (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Classification Code Number) Identification Number)
</TABLE>
101 South Main Street
High Point, North Carolina 27261-2686
Tel: (910) 889-5161
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of registrant's principal executive offices)
---------------
FRANKLIN N. SAXON
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
CULP, INC.
101 South Main Street
High Point, North Carolina 27261-2686
Tel: (910) 889-5161
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)
---------------
Copies To:
HENRY H. RALSTON
JOHN M. HERRING
ROBINSON, BRADSHAW & HINSON, P.A.
101 North Tryon Street, Suite 1900
Charlotte, North Carolina 28246
Tel: (704) 377-2536
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As
soon as practicable after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
<PAGE>
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be
offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the
Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with
dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and
list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering: [ ]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule
462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities
Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration
statement for the same offering: [ ]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule
434, please check the following box: [ ]
---------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
Proposed Maximum Amount of
Title of Each Class of Aggregate Registration
Securities to be Registered Offering Price (1) Fee
- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------- ---------------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Common Stock, $.05 par value................ $14,218,750 $4,308.71
=====================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to 457(c), based on the average of the high and low prices of
the Common Stock, as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, on
December 17, 1997.
---------------
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date
or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant
shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a),
may determine.
================================================================================
<PAGE>
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED DECEMBER 18, 1997
700,000 Shares
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
CULP
Common Stock
---------------
This Prospectus relates to shares (the "Shares") of common stock (the
"Common Stock"), $.05 par value per share, of Culp, Inc. ("Culp" or the
"Company") offered hereby. The Offering (this "Offering") of Shares under this
Prospectus is made by certain shareholders of the Company named herein (the
"Selling Shareholders"). See "Selling Shareholders" and "Plan of Distribution."
The Company will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of Shares offered
by the Selling Shareholders.
The Shares may be sold from time to time by the Selling Shareholders on
the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on terms to be determined at the time
of each sale. The Selling Shareholders also may make private sales from time to
time directly or through a broker or brokers. Alternatively, the Selling
Shareholders may offer Shares from time to time to or through underwriters,
dealers or agents, who may receive consideration in the form of discounts and
commissions. Such commissions, which may exceed ordinary broker commissions, may
be paid by the Selling Shareholders and/or the purchasers of the Shares for whom
such underwriters, dealers and agents may act. See "Selling Shareholders" and
"Plan of Distribution."
The Selling Shareholders and any dealers or agents that participate in
the distribution of the Shares may be considered "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
any profit on the sale of Shares offered by them and any discounts, commissions,
or concessions received by any such dealers or agents may be considered
underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.
Although the Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of
Shares by the Selling Shareholders hereunder, the Company will pay the expenses
that it incurs in connection with the registration of the Shares with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). See "Plan of
Distribution."
The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE")
under the symbol "CFI." On December 17, 1997, the last reported sales price of
the Common Stock on the NYSE was $20.375 per share.
See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 for certain considerations
relevant to an investment in the Common Stock.
---------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
---------------
The date of this Prospectus is ____________, 1997.
<PAGE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information filed by
the Company can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of
the Commission, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549
as well as at the Commission's regional offices located at Citicorp Center, 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and at Seven World
Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048. Copies can be obtained from
the Commission by mail at prescribed rates. Requests should be directed to the
Commission's Public Reference Branch, Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Such material may also be accessed electronically by
means of the Commission's home page on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov). Such
information may also be inspected and copied at the offices of the NYSE at 20
Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
This Prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form S-3
(herein, together with all exhibits thereto, referred to as the "Registration
Statement") filed by the Company with the Commission under the Securities Act,
with respect to the securities offered hereby. This Prospectus does not contain
all the information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of
which are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the
Commission. Reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the
exhibits thereto for further information with respect to the Company and the
securities offered hereby. Copies of the Registration Statement and the exhibits
thereto are on file at the offices of the Commission and may be obtained upon
payment of the prescribed fee or may be examined without charge at the public
reference facilities of the Commission described above. Statements contained
herein concerning the provisions of documents are necessarily summaries of such
documents, and each statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
copy of the applicable document filed with the Commission. The Registration
Statement has been filed with the Commission by EDGAR and is also publicly
available through the Commission's home page on the Internet, as described
above.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus: (i) Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the fiscal year ended April 27, 1997; (ii) Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
the fiscal quarters ended August 3, 1997 and November 2, 1997; (iii) Current
Report on Form 8-K filed November 12, 1997; Current Report on Form 8-K filed
October 15, 1997; and Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 13, 1997; and (iv)
the description of the Company's Common Stock contained in its Form 8-A filed
with the Commission on December 19, 1996.
All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of this Offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by
reference into this Prospectus.
Any statement contained in this Prospectus or in a document
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained in this Prospectus or in any other subsequently filed document which
also is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
This Prospectus incorporates documents by reference which are not
presented herein or delivered herewith. These documents (not including exhibits
to the documents incorporated by reference unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into the information that the Prospectus incorporates)
are available without charge to each person to whom a Prospectus is delivered
upon written or oral request. Requests should be directed to Culp, Inc., 101
South Main Street, High Point, North Carolina 27261, Attention: Corporate
Secretary (telephone number (910) 889-5161).
3
<PAGE>
THE COMPANY
Culp is a leading manufacturer and marketer of furniture upholstery
fabrics and mattress fabrics (known as mattress ticking). The Company's fabrics
are used principally in the production of residential and commercial furniture
and bedding products, including sofas, recliners, chairs, loveseats, sectionals,
sofa-beds, office seating, panel systems and mattress sets. Culp markets one of
the broadest product lines in its industry, with a wide range of fabric
construction, patterns, colors, textures and finishes. The breadth is made
possible by Culp's extensive manufacturing capabilities that include a variety
of weaving, printing and finishing operations and the ability to produce various
yarns and greige goods used in its products. Culp's staff of designers uses CAD
systems to develop the Company's own patterns and styles. Although Culp markets
fabrics at most price levels, the Company has emphasized fabrics that have a
broad appeal in the "good" and "better" price categories of furniture and
bedding.
Culp markets its products worldwide, with sales to customers in many
countries. Although shipments to United States-based customers continue to
account for most of the Company's sales, Culp's success in building a global
presence has led to an increasing proportion of its sales to international
accounts. The Company's network of international sales agents represents Culp's
products in major furniture and bedding markets outside the United States.
Additionally, over the past several fiscal years, the Company has made
significant capital expenditures to expand its manufacturing capacity, install
more efficient production equipment and vertically integrate its operations.
Culp has complemented such internal expansion by making strategic acquisitions.
The Company's executive offices are located at 101 South Main Street,
High Point, North Carolina 27261.
4
<PAGE>
RISK FACTORS
In addition to the other information contained in this Prospectus, the
following risk factors should be carefully considered in evaluating the Company
and its business before purchasing the Common Stock offered hereby. This
Prospectus, including information incorporated by reference herein, contains
certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A -of the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), which represent the
Company's expectations or beliefs, including, but not limited to, statements
concerning industry performance, the Company's operations, performance,
financial condition, growth and acquisition strategies and margins and growth in
sales of the Company's products. For this purpose, any statements contained in
this Prospectus, including information incorporated by reference herein, that
are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking
statements. These statements by their nature involve substantial risks and
uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the Company's control, and actual
results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors,
including those described in this "Risk Factors" section.
Economic Conditions. Demand for the Company's products generally is
dependent upon consumer demand for, and production levels of, upholstered
furniture and bedding products, which in turn fluctuate with U.S. and
international economic conditions and cycles. Demand generally is higher during
periods of economic strength and lower during periods of economic weakness or
uncertainty. Key economic conditions influencing demand for Culp's products are
housing starts, sales of existing homes, the level of consumer confidence,
population demographics, trends in disposable income, the level of consumer
spending, prevailing interest rates for home mortgages and the availability of
consumer credit. Adverse economic conditions could have a material adverse
effect on the Company.
Competition. The markets for the Company's products are highly
competitive. Competitive factors include price, quality, product design and
styling and customer service. The Company's market share could be significantly
affected by any one or more of these factors, which could have a material
adverse effect on the Company. In addition, although the Company is among the
largest suppliers of upholstery fabric to the furniture industry and mattress
ticking to the bedding industry, some of the Company's competitors are larger
overall and have greater financial resources than the Company. Additionally,
there can be no assurance that other competitors will not expand their capacity
to produce various fabrics, which could have a material adverse on the Company's
market opportunity.
Pricing and Availability of Raw Materials. Raw material costs make up
more than half of the Company's total production expenses. The Company is
dependent upon outside suppliers for most of its raw material needs and is
subject to price increases and delays in receiving supplies of these materials.
Although most of the Company's raw materials are available from more than one
source, a disruption in the availability or price increases of raw materials
could have an adverse effect on the Company. Raw material prices increased
during several recent fiscal years, and the Company was unable to fully pass
along to customers such increases through higher selling prices. In certain
cases, the Company has been able to offset, in whole or in part, raw-material
price increases by increased production efficiencies or a shift to different
fabric constructions. There can be no assurance that significant raw material
price increases will not occur in the future or that profit margins will not be
adversely affected by such price increases.
Acquisition Risk. The Company evaluates acquisition opportunities in
the ordinary course of business. Acquisitions involve numerous risks, including
difficulties in the assimilation of the operations and services of the acquired
companies, the expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition, the
diversion of management's attention from other business concerns and the
potential loss of key employees of the acquired company. There can be no
assurance that future acquisitions, if any, will be successfully integrated into
the Company's operations. In addition, there can be no assurance that the
Company will complete any future acquisitions or that acquisitions will
contribute favorably to the Company's operations and financial condition.
International Business Risks. International sales have increased
significantly in recent years. Such sales are subject to certain international
business risks, including possible unsettled political conditions,
expropriation, import and export restrictions, exchange controls, inflationary
economics and currency risks. The Company's business is generally conducted in
U.S. dollars. Accordingly, fluctuations in currency exchange rates may adversely
affect the ability of the Company to compete effectively with firms located
outside the United States. In particular, strengthening of the U.S. dollar
against foreign currencies could make the Company's products less competitive on
the basis of price in international markets.
5
<PAGE>
Environmental and Other Regulations. The Company is subject to federal,
state and local laws and regulations in the areas of safety, health and
environmental pollution controls. The Company treats dyeing waste in its
wastewater treatment system operated under governmental permits. Although the
Company believes it is in material compliance with these laws and regulations,
there can be no assurance that environmental requirements will not become more
stringent in the future or that the Company will not incur substantial costs to
comply with such requirements. A failure of the Company to comply with such laws
and regulations could subject it to liability ranging from monetary damages to
injunctive action, which could adversely affect the Company.
Dependence Upon Key Personnel. The Company is dependent upon the
continued services of certain members of senior management, in particular those
of Robert G. Culp, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, and Howard L.
Dunn, President and Chief Operating Officer, two of the founders of the Company.
The Company believes the loss of the services of key members of senior
management could have an adverse effect on the Company. In addition, the Company
believes that its future success will depend in large part upon its continued
ability to attract, retain and motivate additional employees. There can be no
assurance that the Company will be able to attract and retain sufficient
qualified personnel to meet its business needs.
Significant Shareholder. Robert G. Culp, III beneficially owns, as the
date hereof, directly and through voting and investment control of certain
shares held in trusts, a significant percentage of the outstanding shares of the
Common Stock. Accordingly, Mr. Culp will be in a position to influence the
election of the Company's directors and the outcome of corporate actions
requiring shareholder approval. This concentration of ownership may have the
effect of delaying or preventing a change in control of the Company.
Shares Eligible for Future Sale. Sales of a substantial number of
shares of the Company's Common Stock in the public market could adversely affect
the market price of the shares of Common Stock. All of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock registered hereunder will be freely tradeable upon effectiveness of
this Registration Statement without restriction unless held by affiliates of the
Company. All such shares held by affiliates of the Company are eligible for sale
in the public market subject to the volume and other limitations set forth in
Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The Company has granted outstanding options
to purchase shares of Common Stock, which are currently vested or are subject to
vesting based on performance criteria.
Anti-takeover Provisions. The Company's Articles of Incorporation and
Bylaws contain certain provisions that may have the effect of deterring a future
takeover of the Company, including the classification of the Board of Directors
into three classes. These provisions could limit the price that certain
investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of Common Stock. In
addition, 10,000,000 shares of the Company's preferred stock may be issued in
the future without further shareholder approval and upon such terms and
conditions, and having such rights, privileges and preferences, as the Board of
Directors of the Company may determine. The issuance of preferred stock, while
providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and
other corporate purposes, could adversely affect the market price of shares of
Common Stock and could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third
party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, a majority of
the outstanding voting stock of the Company.
6
<PAGE>
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Shares.
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The following table provides certain information with respect to shares
of Common Stock beneficially owned by each Selling Shareholder, offered hereby
and to be sold hereunder. Each Selling Shareholder possesses sole voting and
investment power with respect to the shares listed opposite his name, unless
noted otherwise. Except as set forth elsewhere in this Prospectus (including in
the documents incorporated herein by reference), within the past three years
none of the Selling Shareholders has had any position, office or other material
relationship with the Company or with any of the Company's predecessors of
affiliates, other than as a result of issuance of the Shares to the Selling
Shareholders as consideration in part for the Company's acquisition of Artee
Industries, Incorporated, a North Carolina corporation ("Artee").
Upon or after the acquisition of Artee by Culp, it is expected that
Robert T. Davis will become a director of Culp and Robert T. Davis, Robert L.
Davis, Louis W. Davis and J. Marshall Bradley will be employees of Culp,
continuing to work in the business operated by Artee prior to its acquisition.
Any or all of the Shares of Common Stock listed below may be offered
for sale pursuant to this Prospectus by the Selling Shareholders from time to
time. Accordingly, no estimate can be given as to the amount of the Shares that
will be held by the Selling Shareholders upon consummation of any such sales. In
addition, the Selling Shareholders identified below may have sold, transferred
or otherwise disposed of all or a portion of their Shares since the date on
which the information regarding their Shares was provided, in transactions
exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Shares of Common Stock
----------------------------------------------------------
Number of Number of Percentage of
Shares Shares Offered Outstanding
Name Owned (1) Hereby (2) Shares (2)
----- --------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Robert T. Davis 132,308 132,158 1.04
Robert L. Davis, Trustee of Robert T. Davis 35,526 35,526 *
Irrevocable Trust under agreement dated
8/25/94
Robert L. Davis 27,150 27,000 *
Louis W. Davis 27,000 27,000 *
Kelly D. England 27,000 27,000 *
J. Marshall Bradley 15,000 (3) 14,779 *
Frankie S. Bradley 15,000 (3) 14,779 *
Mickey R. Bradley 5,969 5,969 *
</TABLE>
- ---------------------
* Less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
(1) Represents the number of Shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by
each Selling Shareholder prior to the sale of any Shares under this
Prospectus.
(2) Represents the number of Shares of Common Stock offered hereby by each
Selling Shareholder and such shares as a percentage of the 12,689,603
shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding as of December 17, 1997.
None of the Shares offered by this Prospectus are included in the number
of issued and outstanding Shares.
(3) Includes joint ownership by J. Marshall Bradley and his wife, Frankie
S. Bradley of 221 shares of Common Stock.
7
<PAGE>
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Shares are being registered to permit public secondary trading of
such securities by the Selling Shareholders from time to time on the NYSE after
the date of this Prospectus. The Selling Shareholders also may make private
sales directly or through a broker or brokers. Alternatively, the Selling
Shareholders may offer Shares from time to time to or through underwriters,
dealers or agents, who may receive consideration in the form of discounts and
commissions. Such compensation, which may exceed ordinary brokerage commissions,
may be paid by the Selling Shareholders and/or the purchaser(s) of the Shares
offered hereby for whom such underwriters, dealers and agents may act.
The Selling Shareholders and any dealers or agents that participate in
the distribution of the Shares may be considered "underwriters" within the
meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of such Shares offered
by them and discounts, commissions or concessions received by any such dealer or
agents might be deemed underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. The aggregate proceeds to the Selling Shareholders from sales of
the Shares offered hereby will be the purchase price of such Shares less any
brokers' commissions required to be paid by the Selling Shareholders.
To the extent required, the specific Shares to be sold, the names of
the Selling Shareholders, the respective purchase prices and public offering
prices, the name of any such agents, dealers and underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts with respect to a particular offer will be set forth in
a supplement to this Prospectus.
Under applicable Exchange Act rules and regulations, any person engaged
in the distribution of the Shares may not simultaneously engage in market making
activities with respect to the Common Stock for a period of one business day
prior to the commencement of such distribution. In addition, and without
limiting the foregoing, the Selling Shareholders will be subject to applicable
provisions of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder,
including without limitation, Regulation M, which provisions may limit the
timing of purchases and sales of Common Stock by the Selling Shareholders.
The Company will pay the expenses that it incurs in connection with the
registration of the Shares with the Commission.
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
The registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock is Wachovia Bank,
National Association.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the Shares of Common Stock offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A., Charlotte,
North Carolina. At December 18, 1997, members of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson,
P.A. beneficially owned less than 1% of the outstanding shares of Common Stock.
Henry H. Ralston, an Assistant Secretary of the Company, is a member of
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
EXPERTS
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries as of April 28, 1996 and April 27, 1997, and for each of the fiscal
years in the three-year period ended April 27, 1997, have been incorporated by
reference herein and in the Registration Statement in reliance upon the report
of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP incorporated by reference herein and upon the authority
of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
8
<PAGE>
[Outside Back Cover]
No dealer, salesman or other person has been authorized to give any information
or to make any representation not contained in this Prospectus, and, if given or
made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been
authorized by the Company or any underwriter, agent or dealer. Neither the
delivery of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall under any
circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in the
affairs of the Company since the date hereof. This Prospectus does not
constitute an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such
offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer
or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to
make such offer or solicitation.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
Available Information...........................3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.3
The Company.....................................4
Risk Factors....................................5
Use of Proceeds.................................7
Selling Shareholders............................7
Plan of Distribution............................8
Registrar and Transfer Agent....................8
Legal Matters...................................8
Experts .......................................8
700,000 Shares
[GRAPHIC OMITTED]
CULP
Common Stock
----------
PROSPECTUS
----------
_______________ __, 1997
<PAGE>
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the Registrant's costs and expenses in
connection with the sale and distribution of the securities being registered,
other than the underwriting discounts and commissions. All amounts shown are
estimates except for the Commission registration fee, the NASD filing fee and
the New York Stock Exchange listing.
SEC registration fee.......................................... $ 5,000
New York Stock Exchange listing............................... 4,000
Accounting fees and expenses.................................. 5,000
Legal fees and expenses....................................... 10,000
Printing, engraving and mailing expenses...................... 5,000
Miscellaneous................................................. 1,000
------
Total............................................... $ 30,000
========
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 55-2-02 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the
"North Carolina Corporation Act") enables a North Carolina corporation in its
articles of incorporation to eliminate or limit, with certain exceptions, the
personal liability of a director for monetary damages for breach of duty as a
director. No such provision is effective to eliminate or limit a director's
liability for (i) acts or omissions that the director at the time of the breach
knew or believed to be clearly in conflict with the best interests of the
corporation, (ii) improper distributions described in Section 55-8-33 of the
North Carolina Corporation Act, (iii) any transaction from which the director
derived an improper personal benefit, or (iv) acts or omissions occurring prior
to the date the exculpatory provision became effective. The Company's Articles
of Incorporation limit the personal liability of its directors to the fullest
extent permitted by the North Carolina Corporation Act.
Sections 55-8-50 through 55-8-58 of the North Carolina Corporation Act
permit a corporation to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents
under either or both a statutory or nonstatutory scheme of indemnification.
Under the statutory scheme, a corporation may, with certain exceptions,
indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation who was, is
or is threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed
legal action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or
investigative, because of the fact that such person was a director, officer,
agent or employee of the corporation, or is or was serving at the bequest of
such corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation or enterprise. This indemnity may include the obligation to pay any
judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with
respect to an employee benefit plan) and reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with a proceeding (including counsel fees), but no such
indemnification may be granted unless such director, officer, agent or employee
(i) conducted himself in good faith, (ii) reasonably believed (1) that any
action taken in his official capacity with the corporation was in the best
interest of the corporation or (2) that in all other cases his conduct at least
was not opposed to the corporation's best interest, and (iii) in the case of any
criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful. Whether a director has met the requisite standard of conduct for the
type of indemnification set forth above is determined by the board of directors,
a committee of directors, special legal counsel or the shareholders in
accordance with Section 55-8-55. A corporation may not indemnify a director
under the statutory scheme in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of
the corporation in which the director was adjudged liable to the corporation or
in connection with a proceeding in which a director was adjudged liable on the
basis of having received an improper personal benefit.
II-1
<PAGE>
In addition to, and notwithstanding the conditions of and limitations
on indemnification described above under the statutory scheme, Section 55-8-57
of the North Carolina Corporation Act permits a corporation to indemnify or
agree to indemnify any of its directors, officers, employees or agents against
liability and expenses (including attorneys' fees) in any proceeding (including
proceedings brought by or on behalf of the corporation) arising out of their
status as such or their activities in such capacities, except for any
liabilities or expenses incurred on account of activities that were, at the time
taken, known or believed by the person seeking indemnification to be clearly in
conflict with the best interests of the corporation. Because the Company's
Bylaws provide for indemnification to the fullest extent permitted under the
North Carolina Corporation Act, the Company may indemnify its directors,
officers and employees in accordance with either the statuary or the
nonstatutory standard.
Sections 55-8-52 and 55-8-56 of the North Carolina Corporation Act
requires a corporation, unless its articles of incorporation provide otherwise,
to indemnify a director or officer who has been wholly successful on the merits
or otherwise in the defense of any proceeding to which such director or officer
was, or was threatened to be made, a party. Unless prohibited by the articles of
incorporation, a director or officer also may make application and obtain
court-ordered indemnification if the court determines that such director or
officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to such indemnification as provided in
Section 55-8-54 and 55-8-56.
Additionally, Section 55-8-57 of the North Carolina Corporation Act
authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an
individual who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
corporation against certain liabilities incurred by such persons, whether or not
the corporation is otherwise authorized by the North Carolina Corporation Act to
indemnify such party. The Company's directors and officers are currently covered
under directors' and officers' insurance policies maintained by the Company that
will indemnify such persons against certain liabilities arising from acts or
omissions in the discharge of their duties. Such insurance policies provide $15
million coverage for liabilities, including liabilities for alleged violation of
securities laws.
Item 16. Exhibits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
<S> <C>
4.1* Articles, 4, 5 and 6 of Articles of Incorporation of the
Company, filed as Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended January 29, 1995, are incorporated
herein by reference.
4.2* Article II of the Bylaws of the Company, filed as Exhibit
3(b) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April
28, 1991, is incorporated herein by reference.
5 Opinion of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. with respect
to the validity of the shares being offered.
10.1 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of October 14, 1997 among the Company,
Artee and the shareholders of Artee
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
23.2 Consent of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. (contained in Exhibit 5)
II-2
<PAGE>
24 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
Registration Statement).
- ---------------------
</TABLE>
* Previously filed
Item 18. Undertakings
The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's
annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where
applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to
Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Company pursuant to the provisions contained in the Company's Articles of
Incorporation and By-laws and the laws of the State of North Carolina, or
otherwise, the Company has been advised that in the opinion of the Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final
adjudication of such issue.
The undersigned Company hereby undertakes: (i) to file, during any
period in which offers or sale are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this Registration Statement: (i) to include any prospectus required by section
10(a) of the Securities Act; (ii) to reflect in the Prospectus any facts or
events arising after the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
aggregate, represents a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease
in the number of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities
offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the
low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the
form of Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the
aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change
in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of
Registration Fee" table in the effective Registration Statement; (iii) to
include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not
previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any material change to
such information in the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the
undertakings in subparts (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by such subparts is
contained in periodic reports filed or furnished to the Commission by the
undersigned Company pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement.
The undersigned Company hereby undertakes that for the purpose of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective
amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
II-3
<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
the Company has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of High Point,
State of North Carolina, on this 18th day of December, 1997.
By: /s/ Robert G. Culp, III
------------------------------------
Robert G. Culp, III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each person whose signature appears below hereby authorizes Robert G.
Culp, III, Howard L. Dunn, Jr., Franklin N. Saxon and Stephen T. Hancock and
each of them, with full power of substitution, to execute in the name and on
behalf of such person any amendment (including any post-effective amendment) to
this Registration Statement (or any other registration statement for the same
offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act) and to file the same, with exhibits thereto, and any other
documents in connection therewith, making such changes in this Registration
Statement as the person(s) so acting deems appropriate, and appoints each of
such persons, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution,
attorney-in-fact to sign any amendment (including any post-effective amendment)
to this Registration Statement (or any other registration statement for the same
offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act) and to file the same with exhibits thereto, and any other
documents in connection therewith.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration
Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and
on the dates indicated.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title Date
<S> <C> <C>
/s/ Robert G. Culp, III Chairman of the Board of Directors December 18, 1997
- --------------------------------------- and Chief Executive Officer
Robert G. Culp, III
/s/ Franklin N. Saxon Senior Vice President and Chief December 18, 1997
- --------------------------------------- Financial and Accounting Officer
Franklin N. Saxon
/s/ Howard L. Dunn, Jr. President, Chief Operating Officer December 18, 1997
- --------------------------------------- and Director
Howard L. Dunn, Jr.
/s/ Harry R. Culp Director December 18, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
Harry R. Culp
/s/ Baxter P. Freeze Director December 18, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
Baxter P. Freeze
/s/ Earl M. Honeycutt Director December 18, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
Earl M. Honeycutt
/s/ Patrick H. Norton Director December 18, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
Patrick H. Norton
/s/ Earl N. Phillips, Jr. Director December 18, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
Earl N. Phillips, Jr.
/s/ Bland N. Worley Director December 18, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
Bland N. Worley
</TABLE>
II-4
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No. Description of Exhibit
<S> <C>
4.1* Articles, 4, 5 and 6 of Articles of Incorporation of the
Company, filed as Exhibit 3(i) to the Company's Form 10-Q
for the quarter ended January 29, 1995, are incorporated
herein by reference.
4.2* Article II of the Bylaws of the Company, filed as Exhibit
3(b) to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended April
28, 1991, is incorporated herein by reference.
5 Opinion of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. with respect
to the validity of the shares being offered.
10.1 Asset Purchase Agreement dated as of October 14, 1997 among the Company,
Artee and the shareholders of Artee
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
23.2 Consent of Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. (contained in Exhibit 5)
24 Powers of Attorney (included on the signature page of this
Registration Statement).
- ---------------------
</TABLE>
* Previously filed
II-5
Exhibit 5
ROBINSON, BRADSHAW & HINSON, P.A.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
ONE INDEPENDENCE CENTER
101 NORTH TRYON STREET, SUITE 1900
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA 28246-1900
TELEPHONE (704) 377-2536
FAX (704) 378-4000
December 18, 1997
Culp, Inc.
101 South Main Street
High Point, North Carolina 27261
Attention: Mr. Franklin N. Saxon
Re: Culp, Inc. - Registration Statement on Form S-3
Gentlemen and Ladies:
We have served as counsel to Culp, Inc. (the "Company") in connection
with the preparation and filing by the Company of a registration statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
covering the resale of up to 700,000 shares (the "Shares") of the Company's
common stock, $.05 par value ("Common Stock"), by certain selling shareholders.
We understand that the Registration Statement may be amended from time to time
and this opinion covers each such amendment.
We have examined drafts of the Articles of Incorporation and the Bylaws
of the Company, all corporate proceedings relating to the authorization,
issuance and sale of the Shares and such other documents and records as we have
deemed necessary in order to enable us to render the opinions contained herein.
For our opinion as to the Company's valid existence, we have relied solely on a
telephonic conversation from the North Carolina Secretary of State as to such
existence as of the date hereof.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the conditions set forth
below, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing
under the laws of the State of North Carolina; and
2. Upon issuance, the Shares will be legally issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and will represent validly authorized and outstanding shares of
Common Stock of the Company.
The opinions expressed herein are limited to matters governed by the
laws of the State of North Carolina and the federal laws of the United States,
in each case as in effect as of the date hereof, and no
<PAGE>
Culp, Inc.
December 18, 1997
Page 2
______________________
opinion is expressed herein as to the laws of any other jurisdiction. The
opinions expressed herein are contingent upon the Registration Statement, as
amended, becoming effective under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The
opinions expressed herein are as of the date hereof, and we undertake no
obligation to advise you of any changes in applicable law or any other matters
that may come to our attention after the date hereof that may affect our
opinions expressed herein.
We hereby consent to be named in the Registration Statement and in the
prospectus that constitutes Part I thereof as attorneys who will pass upon
certain legal matters in connection with the validity of the Shares and to the
filing of a copy of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
Sincerely yours,
ROBINSON, BRADSHAW & HINSON, P.A.
/s/ Henry H. Ralston
Henry H. Ralston
ACQUISITION OF THE ASSETS
OF
ARTEE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
BY
CULP, INC.
October 14, 1997
<PAGE>
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT (the "Agreement"), dated as of the 14th
day of October, 1997, is among CULP, INC., a North Carolina corporation
("Buyer"), ARTEE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED, a North Carolina corporation (the
"Seller"), and ROBERT T. DAVIS, ROBERT L. DAVIS, Trustee of Robert T. Davis
Irrevocable Trust under agreement dated 8/25/94, ROBERT L. DAVIS, LOUIS W.
DAVIS, KELLY D. ENGLAND, J. MARSHALL BRADLEY, FRANKIE S. BRADLEY and MICKY R.
BRADLEY (collectively, the "Shareholders").
Background Statement
Seller desires to sell and Buyer desires to purchase Seller's assets
and assume certain of Seller's liabilities held or incurred in connection with
Seller's yarn manufacturing operations (the "Business"), as more specifically
provided herein. Based upon the representations and warranties made by each
party to the other in this Agreement, the parties have agreed to consummate the
sale of such assets and assumption of such liabilities on the terms contained
herein.
Statement of Agreement
In consideration of the premises and the mutual covenants herein
contained, the parties hereto, for themselves, their successors and assigns,
agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMS OF PAYMENT
1.1. The Sale. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this
Agreement, at Closing, Seller will sell and deliver to Buyer, and Buyer will
purchase and accept from Seller, all the assets of Seller held or used in
connection with the Business, whether personal, tangible or intangible, but
excluding those assets specifically listed on Schedule 3.14(b) hereto (all such
assets being referred to herein as the "Purchased Assets"), including without
limitation:
(a) Seller's real property identified on Schedule 1.1(a) (the
"Purchased Property");
(b) Seller's rights with respect to the leased real property identified
on Schedule 1.1(b) (the "Leased Property");
(c) Seller's tangible personal property, including machinery,
equipment, supplies and inventories, vehicles, furniture, furnishings, fixtures,
and spare parts, including without limitation the property listed on Schedule
1.1(c);
(d) Seller's accounts receivable and rights under the contracts,
purchase orders, options, leases and other agreements that are listed on
Schedule 1.1(d) (the "Contracts");
<PAGE>
(e) Seller's right, title and interest in and to all permits, licenses
and other governmental authorizations, copyrights, patents, trademarks, trade
names and any combination or shortened form thereof, processes, computer
programs and program rights, trade secrets, customer lists, and other intangible
rights and interests owned by Seller and used in connection with the Business;
(f) All prepaid expenses, surety bonds, surety deposits and security
deposits posted by or on behalf of Seller in connection with the operation of
the Business, a recent listing of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1.1(f)
hereto;
(g) All books, records, correspondence, customer lists, vendor lists,
product literature, designs, development records and files, computer files,
technical reports and all other business documents relating to the operation of
the Business;
(h) All of Seller's telephone numbers and telephone directory listings
and advertisements;
(i) All claims, causes of action and suits that Seller have or may have
against third parties in connection with the Business;
(j) All insurance policies, including life insurance policies,
currently issued in favor of Seller; and
(k) The Business as a going concern.
1.2. Purchase Price. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions and
adjustments contained in this Agreement, and in consideration of the sale of the
Purchased Assets, Buyer will pay or issue and deliver on the Closing Date (a) to
Seller an amount equal to $2,000,000 in cash and a note (the "Note") made
payable to Seller in the aggregate amount of $1,600,000 and (b) to the
Shareholders the number of shares of the common stock of Buyer (the "Buyer's
Stock") valued in the aggregate at $5,400,000 based on a price per share of the
Buyer's Stock of $19.
The amount of the foregoing payments, collectively, are referred to in
this Agreement as the "Base Purchase Price," which price is subject to the
Purchase Price Adjustment to be made pursuant to Section 1.3. The amount upon
such adjustment is referred to herein as the "Final Purchase Price."
Not later than 30 days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver
to Buyer a schedule specifying the manner in which the foregoing payment of
shares of the Buyer's Stock will be allocated among the Shareholders. Such
schedule shall be binding upon Seller and the Shareholders upon delivery to
Buyer. No fractional shares of the Buyer's Stock shall be issued in connection
with this Agreement. If a person otherwise has the right to receive .5 or more
of a share of the Buyer's Stock, such person shall receive an additional share
of the Buyer's Stock; otherwise, such person shall receive no such shares or
other consideration for such a fractional interest in the Final Purchase Price.
The shares of the Buyer's Stock to be issued hereunder shall be registered and
fully transferrable without limitation under the federal securities laws, except
as may be imposed by Rule 145 of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereby under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and shall be
approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange.
-2-
<PAGE>
The Note shall bear interest at 6.5% per annum, and the interest and
principal thereunder shall become due and payable on the 10th day following
final determination of the Final Purchase Price.
1.3. Purchase Price Adjustment. (a) The Base Purchase Price shall be
adjusted as follows (such adjustment, the "Purchase Price Adjustment"): The Base
Purchase Price shall be increased by the dollar amount, if any, by which the
Stockholders' Equity Computation (as defined below) exceeds $6,300,000, and the
Base Purchase Price shall be decreased by the dollar amount, if any, by which
the Stockholders' Equity Computation is less than $6,000,000.
(b) "Stockholders' Equity Computation" means, as of 11:59 p.m. on the
date immediately preceding the Closing Date, the dollar amount of the total
assets of Seller less the dollar amount of the total liabilities of Seller, as
derived from the audited Closing Balance Sheet prepared pursuant to Section 1.4
below and subject to the procedure for its determination in Section 1.5 below.
Assets and liabilities shall have the meanings given to them under generally
accepted accounting principles (as recognized by the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants), as in effect from time to time and consistent
with Seller's past practices as reflected in the Financial Statements, as
defined in Section 3.4 ("Generally Accepted Accounting Principles").
(c) Based on the Closing Balance Sheet, Buyer shall compute the
Purchase Price Adjustment and Stockholders' Equity Computation and shall deliver
to Seller and the Shareholders within 90 days after the Closing Date, a
certificate attached to the Closing Balance Sheet setting forth its calculation
of the Stockholders' Equity Computation and the Purchase Price Adjustment.
1.4. Preparation of Closing Balance Sheet. (a) Within 90 days after the
Closing Date, Buyer shall cause to be prepared and audited by its independent
public accountants and shall deliver to Seller and the Shareholders an audited
balance sheet of Seller as of 11:59 p.m. on the date immediately prior to the
Closing Date (the "Closing Balance Sheet"). Seller and the Shareholders shall
give their full cooperation and shall provide such information required for
Buyer to prepare and its accountants to audit the Closing Balance Sheet. Seller
and the Shareholders shall have the right to audit the Closing Balance Sheet and
shall be permitted to have access to the records and information involved in the
preparation of the Closing Balance Sheet, Stockholders' Equity Computation and
Purchase Price Adjustment upon request by Seller or the Shareholders, and Buyer
shall give reasonable assistance as requested by Seller and the Shareholders in
reviewing such matters.
(b) The Closing Balance Sheet shall be prepared in accordance with
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and it shall reflect all expenses and
fees of Seller and the Shareholders incurred and not paid, or to be incurred or
paid by Seller, in connection with this Agreement, including without limitation
all attorneys' and accountants' fees and costs for fringe benefits of employees
(including those related to health care and vacation).
1.5. Procedure for Determination of Purchase Price Adjustment. If
Seller and the Shareholders do not accept the Closing Balance Sheet or the
Stockholders' Equity Computation prepared by Buyer, Seller or the Shareholders
shall give written notice to Buyer within 30 days after delivery thereof. The
notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the bases for any objections by
Seller or the Shareholders. Seller shall be deemed to have accepted the Closing
Balance Sheet and the Stockholders' Equity Computation prepared and proposed by
Buyer at 5:00 p.m. Charlotte, North Carolina time on the 30th day after delivery
thereof if Seller has not by then given written notice of disagreement. Within
30 days after delivery of Seller's written notice, the parties shall engage
Arthur Andersen LLP or another
-3-
<PAGE>
mutually agreeable independent public accounting firm to resolve the issues.
Such accounting firm shall apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles to the
issues at hand and shall not have the power to alter, modify, amend, add to or
subtract from any terms or provisions of this Agreement. The decision of the
accounting firm shall be rendered within 30 days of its engagement and shall be
binding on the parties hereto. Buyer and Seller each shall pay one-half of the
cost of the accounting firm.
1.6. Post-Closing Payment. If the Final Purchase Price exceeds the Base
Purchase Price, Buyer shall pay the difference to Seller in cash. If the Final
Purchase Price is less than the Base Purchase Price, the amount payable under
the Note (including any accrued but unpaid interest) shall be offset and
decreased by the difference. If the amount payable under the Note is less than
the amount to be offset, Seller and each of the Shareholders shall have a joint
and several obligation to pay such deficiency to Buyer in cash. Any payment to
be made pursuant to this Section 1.6 shall be made within 10 days after the
final determination of the Final Purchase Price.
1.7. Contingent Payment.
(i) After the fiscal year of Buyer beginning May 4, 1998 and ending May
2, 1999 (the "Measurement Period"), Buyer shall pay to Seller the following
amounts, as and if applicable (the "Contingent Payment"):
(A) if Artee Pre-tax Income (as defined below) for the
Measurement Period is $2,200,000, Buyer shall pay to Seller $2,200,000;
(B) if Artee Pre-tax Income for the Measurement Period is
greater than $2,200,000 but less than $5,200,000, Buyer shall pay to the Seller
an amount equal to the sum of (i) $2,200,000 plus (ii) the amount determined by
multiplying $5,000,000 by a fraction, the numerator of which is the amount by
which Pre-tax Income exceeds $2,200,000 and the denominator of which is
$3,000,000; or
(C) if Artee Pre-tax Income for the Measurement Period is
equal to or greater than $5,200,000, Buyer shall pay to Seller $7,200,000.
Forty percent (40%) of the amount of any payment required by this
Section 1.7 shall be paid in cash and sixty percent (60%) of any such amount
(the "Contingent Stock Payment") shall be paid by the delivery of shares of the
Buyer's Stock, the number of which will be based upon a price of $19 per share;
provided, however, that in the event the average closing price of the Buyer's
Stock, as reported in The Wall Street Journal, for the 20 trading days
immediately prior to the Contingent Payment Date (as defined below): (i) is
greater than $24, the number of shares of Buyer's Stock to be issued and
delivered under this Section 1.2 shall be computed by (A) multiplying $24 by the
fraction of which the amount of the Contingent Stock Payment is the numerator
and $19 is the denominator, the product of which is then (B) divided by such
20-day average price; or (ii) is less than $14, the number of shares of Buyer's
Stock to be issued and delivered under this Section 1.2 shall be computed by (A)
multiplying $14 by the fraction of which the amount of the Contingent Stock
Payment is the numerator and $19 is the denominator, the product of which is
then (B) divided by such 20-day average price; and provided, further, that in
the event that any such shares of the Buyer's Stock are to be issued at $15 per
share or less, Buyer shall have the option, at its sole discretion, to make a
payment of cash in lieu of all or any portion of its obligation to issue and
deliver shares of the Buyer's Stock under this Section 1.7.
-4-
<PAGE>
The issuance of such shares of the Buyer's Stock is subject to the same
fractional share adjustment set forth in Section 1.2. Buyer shall make such
payment and issue such shares of the Buyer's Stock by the latest to occur of (A)
45 days after the end of Buyer's fiscal year ended May 2, 1999, (B) ten days
after the certification of Artee Pre-tax Income for the Measurement Period by
Buyer's independent public accountants in connection with the fiscal year-end
audit of Buyer's financial condition and results of operations, or (C) 30 days
after Seller delivers the notice required below specifying the allocation of the
Buyer's Stock among the Shareholders (such date, the "Contingent Payment Date").
Not later than 30 days prior to such payment, Seller shall deliver to Buyer a
schedule specifying the manner in which the foregoing payment of the Buyer's
Stock will be allocated among the Shareholders. Such schedule shall be binding
upon Seller and the Shareholders upon delivery to Buyer.
"Artee Pre-tax Income" shall mean the income of Buyer's division
comprised of the Business before income taxes, all as computed in accordance
with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, applied to the Artee business
unit using the Seller's historical cost basis. For purposes of calculating Artee
Pre-tax Income during the Measurement Period, the depreciation schedules
currently used by the Seller will continue to be used, even though Buyer may
institute different depreciation schedules for financial accounting purposes. In
addition, for such purpose, LIFO inventory accounting policies will be applied
to the inventory of the Artee business unit as a separate inventory pool and
using Seller's historical LIFO cost basis.
(ii) Books and Records. Throughout the period commencing at Closing and
continuing thereafter through May 2, 1999, Buyer shall maintain books and
records of its operations to the extent necessary for ensuring the accurate
calculation of Artee Pre-tax Income.
(iii) Operation of the Business. The parties intend that the following
principles will govern the conduct of the Business and the calculation of Artee
Pre-tax Income during the Measurement Period: The Business will be operated as a
separate business unit of the Buyer, with Robert T. Davis ("Bob") serving as
chairman and Robert L. Davis ("Rob") serving as chief executive of the business
unit. Rob will succeed Bob as chairman of the business unit if Bob is unable to
serve as chairman throughout the Measurement Period. The volume of yarn that
will be available for the Buyer's internal consumption is set forth on Exhibit
1.7 hereto. The Business will make such volumes of yarn available to Buyer, as
Buyer shall request, and the transfer pricing for such yarn will be as set forth
on Exhibit 1.7. If the Buyer requires more yarn from the Artee business unit
than the volumes set forth on Exhibit 1.7, the transfer pricing for such
additional yarn will be established with reference to the outside business of
the business unit, if any, displaced by such additional requirements. If raw
material prices to the Artee business unit increase or decrease, then such
increased or decreased costs will be passed through to the transfer pricing
established hereunder, on a dollar-for-dollar basis. The Artee business unit
will be charged for the financing provided to it by the Buyer from and after the
closing (including the payoff of outside debt, financing of capital expenditures
and working capital needs, and financing of the chenille machines to be
installed at the Artee premises (whether purchased or "leased" from the Buyer)),
all at the Buyer's cost of funds under its bank loan documents. The Buyer will
not allocate overhead costs to the Artee business unit for purposes of
calculating Artee's Pre-tax Income during the Measurement Period. If the
adoption of Buyer's benefit plans causes an increase in Artee's costs of doing
business from the costs that would have been experienced by Seller using its
current benefit plans in an amount that is in excess of cost savings realized by
other changes instituted by Buyer (e.g. elimination of factoring), such amount
of net increased cost will be disregarded in calculating Artee Pre-tax Income.
The parties intend that, to the extent feasible, the Artee business unit will be
operated as an independent entity after the closing by its current management.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, it is understood and
-5-
<PAGE>
agreed that the ultimate control of the Business will transfer to the Buyer as
of the Closing Date. The parties hereto understand and acknowledge that (a)
Buyer is a public company and must be managed and operated in the best interests
of its shareholders by Buyer's management and board of directors, (b) the
Contingent Payment provided for in this Section 1.7 could create a conflict of
interest between Seller and Buyer during the Measurement Period and (c) in the
unlikely event of such a conflict, decisions may have to be made before and
during the Measurement Period that would be in the best interests of Buyer and
its shareholders but contrary to the best interests of Seller and its
shareholders as beneficiaries of the Contingent Payment provided for in this
Section 1.7.
(iv) Calculation of Contingent Payment. Buyer shall deliver to Seller a
schedule, prepared by Buyer and reviewed by Buyer's independent accountants,
setting forth the computation of Artee Pre- tax Income for each fiscal quarter
of Buyer during the Measurement Period, along with copies of such backup
documentation and such financial information as is reasonable to inform Seller
of the information and calculations used in making such computation. The
computation of such Artee Pre-tax Income shall be made on the basis of financial
statements prepared in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
applied as described above in this Section and a physical count of inventory.
Buyer's computation of any such payment shall be conclusive and binding upon the
parties hereto unless, within thirty (30) days following Seller's receipt of
such schedule or, with respect to Buyer's fiscal fourth quarter in the
Measurement Period, 10 days after Buyer's independent public accountants certify
Artee's Pre-tax Income for the Measurement Period, whichever is later, Seller
notifies Buyer in writing that it disagrees with Buyer's computation of Artee
Pre-tax Income or the amount of any Contingent Payment; provided, however, that
in the event any such computations are discovered to be in error as a result of
the fiscal year-end audit of Buyer's financial condition and results of
operations by its independent public accountants, equitable and appropriate
adjustments will be made thereto. If such disagreement is not resolved within 30
days after delivery of Seller's timely written notice, Buyer and Seller shall
request Arthur Andersen LLP or such other national firm of independent certified
public accountants mutually agreeable to such parties to compute the amount of
Artee Pre-tax Income for the Measurement Period and any Contingent Payment and
resolve any other objection as promptly as possible, which computation and
resolution shall be conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto. Buyer and
Seller shall each pay one-half of the expenses and fees of such accounting firm
relating to the resolution of such disagreement.
1.8. Assignment and Assumption of Obligations and Liabilities.
(a) As of the Closing, Buyer shall assume and pay, discharge and
perform, and Seller shall assign all the obligations and liabilities of Seller
listed on the Closing Date Balance Sheet, including the following, but only to
the extent that such obligations and liabilities arise or accrue with respect to
a time or period before the Closing Date: accounts payable; accrued wages and
bonuses; payroll taxes-accrued and withheld; commissions payable; accrued
interest payable; accrued profit sharing; property taxes payable; accrued
claims; and other accrued expenses.
(b) Buyer will not assume Seller's bank debt to NationsBank, N.A. and
the other note made to Robert T. Davis, both as described in detail on Schedule
1.8, but at Closing will make payment in immediately available funds of an
amount necessary to pay such liabilities and obligations of Seller as of the
Closing. Upon such payments, Seller will cause all liens on any of the Purchased
Assets securing such liabilities and obligations to be released at Seller's
expense and appropriate instruments and documents to be executed and filed
evidencing such release of liens.
-6-
<PAGE>
(c) Except as explicitly set forth in this Agreement, Buyer shall
neither assume nor become liable for the payment or performance of any
obligations, claims, liabilities, contracts, commitments or undertakings of
Seller or the Shareholders, whether known or unknown, fixed or contingent,
reported or unreported. Without limiting the foregoing, the Buyer shall not be
liable for workers' compensation claims that relate to any accident, injury or
other events occurring prior to the Closing Date.
1.9. Procedures for Purchased Assets Not Transferable. If any of the
Contracts or the Lease or any other property or rights included in the Purchased
Assets are not assignable or transferable either by virtue of the provisions
thereof or under applicable law without the consent of some other party or
parties, Seller and the Shareholders shall use each of their best efforts to
obtain such consents prior to Closing and shall notify Buyer on or prior to the
Closing Date of any consents not so obtained. If any such consent cannot be
obtained prior to Closing, Buyer may (a) in the exercise of its sole discretion
waive such requirement as a condition to Closing, and in such event, this
Agreement, and the related instruments of transfer shall not constitute an
assignment or transfer thereof and Buyer shall not assume any obligations with
respect thereto or (b) terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 8.1(d).
Following the Closing, each Shareholder shall use his best efforts to obtain any
consents not previously obtained as soon as possible after Closing or otherwise
obtain for Buyer the practical benefit of such property or rights.
1.10. Allocations. The Purchase Price will be allocated in a manner
mutually determined by Buyer and Seller.
ARTICLE II
THE CLOSING
2.1. Time and Place of Closing. The closing (the "Closing") of the
transactions contemplated hereby shall take place at the offices of Robinson,
Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A. on the earlier to occur of (a) May 4, 1998 or (b) the
first day of Buyer's fiscal month immediately following the fiscal month during
which it shall be determined (as provided below) that Artee Pre-tax Income for
any consecutive three-month period shall be at least $200,000 (with no month
during any such period having negative Pre- tax Income), or on such other date
or at such other time or place as shall be mutually satisfactory to the parties
hereto (the "Closing Date"); provided, however, that if there shall be less than
10 days between such determination of Pre-tax Income and the first day of
Buyer's next fiscal month, Closing shall not occur until the first day of the
second fiscal month of Buyer following such determination of Pre-tax Income.
Such Artee Pre-tax Income shall be computed on the basis of financial
statements prepared by Seller in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles. It shall be Seller's obligation to notify Buyer of Seller reaching
such level of profitability, and Seller shall deliver to the Shareholders a
schedule prepared by Seller setting forth the computation of Artee Pre-tax
Income for any such three-month period, along with copies of such backup
documentation and such financial information as is reasonable to inform Buyer of
the information and calculations used in making such computation. Seller's
computation of such Artee Pre-tax Income shall be conclusive and binding upon
the parties hereto unless, within 15 days following Seller's delivery of such
schedule to Buyer, Buyer notifies Seller in writing that it disagrees with
Seller's computation of Artee Pre-tax Income for such three-month period. If
such disagreement is not resolved within ten days after Seller's receipt of any
such notice, Buyer and Seller
-7-
<PAGE>
shall request Arthur Andersen LLP or such other national firm of independent
certified public accountants mutually agreeable to them to compute the amount of
Artee Pre-tax Income for any such three-month period and resolve any other
objection as promptly as possible, which computation and resolution shall be
conclusive and binding upon the parties hereto. Buyer and Seller shall each pay
one-half of the expenses and fees of such accounting firm relating to the
resolution of such disagreement.
2.2. Deliveries by Seller. At the Closing, Seller will deliver to Buyer
the following:
(a) General warranty deeds to the Purchased Property;
(b) Assignment and Assumption Agreement (the "Assignment Agreement"),
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A;
(c) All bills of sale, certificates of title, assignments of leases and
other agreements, and other instruments of transfer necessary to transfer title
to the Purchased Assets, as may be reasonably required by Buyer;
(d) Evidence satisfactory to Buyer and its counsel that all liens on
the Purchased Assets will be released at or upon Closing;
(e) The opinions, certificates, consents and other documents
contemplated by Section 6.3 hereof; and
(f) All other documents, certificates, instruments and writings
required hereunder to be delivered by Seller, or as may reasonably be requested
by Buyer at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
2.3. Deliveries by Buyer. At the Closing, Buyer will deliver to Seller
or the Shareholders (as provided herein) the following:
(a) The payment of $2,000,000 in cash;
(b) The Note;
(c) The stock certificates representing the number of shares of Buyer's
Stock valued in the aggregate at $5,400,000 based on the price per share of
Buyer's Stock determined in accordance with Section 1.2, such certificates
bearing legends reflecting any restrictions on the resale of the underlying
shares imposed by Rule 145 of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
thereby under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended;
(d) The Assignment Agreement;
(e) The certificates and other documents contemplated by Section 6.2
hereof; and
(f) All other documents, certificates, instruments and writings
required hereunder to be delivered by Buyer, or as may reasonably be requested
by Seller at or prior to the Closing pursuant to this Agreement.
-8-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER AND THE SHAREHOLDERS
Each of Seller and the Shareholders jointly and severally represent and
warrant to Buyer as follows:
3.1. Existence; Capital Stock; and Ownership. Seller is a corporation
duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its
state of organization. Seller has the full power and authority to own, lease and
operate the Purchased Assets and carry on its Business as such operations are
now being conducted. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of Seller
has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable
and is entirely owned by the Shareholders. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.1,
there are no outstanding options, warrants, convertible rights, calls, puts or
other rights or commitments of any character to acquire the capital stock of
Seller, no contracts or commitments to issue any such options, warrants,
convertible rights, calls, puts or other rights or similar agreements affecting
the shares of stock of Seller. Seller is duly qualified to do business and in
good standing as a foreign corporation or limited liability company, as
applicable, in the states set forth on Schedule 3.1 attached hereto, which are
all the states in which either the ownership or use of its properties, or the
nature of the activities conducted by it, requires such qualification. Seller
does not presently own, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of
or other equity interest in any corporation, partnership or other entity nor is
Seller otherwise under any obligation to purchase or subscribe for any interest
in, make any loan or advance to, or otherwise in any manner make any investment
in, any corporation, partnership or other entity.
3.2. Authority Relative to this Agreement. Seller has the full
corporate power, authority and legal right to execute and deliver this Agreement
and to carry out the transactions and perform its obligations contemplated
hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and validly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of Seller (including approval by its
shareholders in accordance with applicable law), and no other proceedings on the
part of Seller are necessary to authorize this Agreement or consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by each of Seller and the Shareholders and constitutes a
legal, valid and binding obligation of each of them, enforceable against each of
them in accordance with its terms.
3.3. Consent and Approvals; No Violation. No permit, consent, approval
or authorization of, or declaration to or filing with, any governmental or
regulatory authority is required in connection with any aspect of the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, except for compliance with the
Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the "HSR Act"). The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by each of Seller and the
Shareholders will not (a) conflict with any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or bylaws of Seller, (b) result in a default (or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration or creation of liens) under
any of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage,
indenture, agreement, lease or other instrument or obligation relating to the
Business or to which any of Seller or the Shareholders is a party or to which
any of the Purchased Assets may be subject, except for such defaults (or rights
of termination, cancellation or acceleration or creation of liens) as to which
requisite waivers or consents have been obtained, or (c) violate any law,
statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any federal,
state or local governmental authority or agency.
-9-
<PAGE>
3.4. Financial Statements. Seller has furnished to Buyer audited
financial statements as of and for the twelve-month periods ending on or about
December 31, 1994, 1995 and 1996, and unaudited balance sheets and statements of
income for each completed month thereafter. The foregoing statements are
hereinafter referred to as the "Financial Statements." The Financial Statements
(a) fairly present the results of operations and financial position of Seller
for the periods and as of the dates set forth, in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles, except for normal adjustments in the case of
unaudited financial statements, and (b) are consistent with the books and
records of Seller (which books and records are correct and complete).
3.5. Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.5
hereto, Seller has no obligation or liability (whether absolute, contingent or
otherwise, including, without limitation, product liability and warranty
obligations) except liabilities, obligations or contingencies (i) that are fully
accrued or reserved against in the Financial Statements or (ii) that were
incurred in the ordinary course of business since the date of the Financial
Statements.
3.6. Absence of Certain Changes or Events. Except as set forth in
Schedule 3.6 and except as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, since
December 31, 1996 there has not been (a) any material adverse change in the
Business or the results of its operation, properties or prospects; (b) any
damage, destruction or casualty loss, whether covered by insurance or not,
adversely affecting the Purchased Assets or the Business; (c) (i) any increase
in the rate or terms of compensation payable to or to become payable to any of
Seller's employees (the "Employees"), except increases occurring in accordance
with such Seller's customary practices or as required by existing employment
agreements or (ii) any modifications in employee benefits to the Employees; (d)
entry into, termination of (except by reason of the occurrence of a
contractually specified termination date) or amendment to any contract or
commitment or license or permit applicable to the Business, except in the
ordinary course of business or as contemplated herein; (e) any creation of or
assumption of any mortgage, pledge, or other lien or encumbrance upon any of the
assets of Seller, including the Purchased Assets; (f) any sale, assignment,
lease, transfer or other disposition of any of its assets, except in the
ordinary course of business; (g) any imposition or incurring of any obligation
or liability, fixed or contingent, except in the ordinary course of business;
(h) entry into any agreement with respect to the operation of the Business
pursuant to which the aggregate annual financial obligation of Buyer may exceed
$10,000, or which is not terminable by Buyer without penalty upon thirty (30)
days' notice or less; (i) any commitment with respect to any inventories
relating to the operation of any Business, except in the ordinary course of
business; (j) any commitment in excess of $10,000 for any capital expenditure;
(k) any change in the accounting practices of Seller or the manner in which it
maintains its books of account and records; or (l) any transaction otherwise
relating to the Business not in the ordinary course of business.
3.7. Certain Contracts and Arrangements. All contracts existing as of
the date hereof to which Seller is a party and that relate to the Business are
either (a) listed in Schedule 3.7 or (b) listed on Schedule 1.1(d). All of the
Contracts (as defined in Section 1.1) may be assigned by Seller to Buyer without
the consent of any other party, or, if required, such consent will be obtained
by Seller prior to the Closing. Seller has complied in all respects with the
provisions of such Contracts and is not now and at the Closing will not be in
default under any of them. There is not any breach or anticipated breach by
Seller or any other party to, or any right of acceleration or termination with
respect to, such Contracts. Each of such Contracts will be in full force and
effect at the Closing with no modification of its respective terms, unless by
its terms it expires prior thereto. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.7, Seller
has no contracts, oral or written, with any sales representatives. Seller has no
written contract with
-10-
<PAGE>
any of its employees. Seller has delivered to Buyer a correct and complete copy
of each such Contract and all contracts listed on Schedule 3.7.
3.8. Litigation. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.8, there are no
legal, administrative, arbitration or other proceedings or governmental
investigations pending or, to the knowledge of each Seller and Shareholder,
threatened against Seller or the Shareholders in connection with the operation
of the Business. There is no court order, judgment or decree adversely affecting
the Business.
3.9. Labor Matters. Except as disclosed on Schedule 3.9 hereto, Seller
is not a party to any collective bargaining agreement or any other union labor
agreement covering or relating to any of the Employees, and has not recognized
and has not received a demand for recognition of any collective bargaining
representative with respect thereto. There are no strikes, labor disputes or
work stoppages in effect or, to the knowledge of Seller or any Shareholder,
threatened against Seller. Seller has not committed any unfair labor practice.
Neither Seller nor any of it officers, directors, members, managers or employees
with responsibility for employment matters nor any Shareholder has any knowledge
of any organizational effort presently being made or threatened by or on behalf
of any labor union with respect to employees of Seller.
3.10. Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA.
(a) Schedule 3.10 lists all employee pension and welfare plans or
arrangements, including, without limitation, pension or profit sharing or thrift
plans, company contributions to medical benefit, death benefit and disability
programs, and vacation, severance and sick leave policies applicable to the
Employees. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.10, with respect to all "employee
benefit plans" (as defined in Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act ("ERISA")) to which Seller contributes on behalf of Employees
(capitalized terms used in this Section 3.10 and not otherwise defined herein
shall have the meanings specified in ERISA):
(i) all such plans comply with ERISA and other applicable laws
and regulations;
(ii) all contributions which were due and payable by Seller on
or before the date hereof to such plans have been made;
(iii) none of the plans subject to Title IV of ERISA has been
terminated, no proceeding to terminate any of such plans has been instituted,
and there has been no complete or partial withdrawal, cessation of facility
operations or occurrence of any other event that would result in the imposition
of liability on Seller under Title IV of ERISA;
(iv) The market value of assets under each such employee
benefit plan which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) (as such terms are defined in ERISA) equals or exceeds the
present value of all vested and nonvested liabilities thereunder determined in
accordance with Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation ("PBGC") methods, factors,
and assumptions applicable to an Employee Pension Benefit Plan terminating on
the date for determination; and
(v) Seller has delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies
of the plan documents and summary plan descriptions, the most recent
determination letter received from the Internal Revenue Service, the most recent
Form 5500 Annual Report, and all related trust agreements, insurance contracts,
and other funding agreements which implement each such Employee Benefit Plan.
-11-
<PAGE>
(b) With respect to each employee benefit plan that Seller or any
entity under common control with Seller maintains or ever has maintained or to
which any of them contributes, ever has contributed, or ever has been required
to contribute:
(i) No such employee benefit plan which is an Employee Pension
Benefit Plan (other than any Multiemployer Plan) has been completely or
partially terminated or been the subject of a Reportable Event as to which
notices would be required to be filed with the PBGC. No proceeding by the PBGC
to terminate any such Employee Pension Benefit Plan (other than any
Multiemployer Plan) has been instituted or threatened.
(ii) There have been no prohibited transactions (as defined in
Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time
(the "Code") or Section 406 of ERISA) with respect to any such employee benefit
plan. No fiduciary has any liability for breach of fiduciary duty or any other
failure to act or comply in connection with the administration or investment of
the assets of any such employee benefit plan. No action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, or investigation with respect to the administration or the investment
of the assets of any such employee benefit plan (other than routine claims for
benefits) is pending or threatened.
(iii) Seller has not incurred, or has any reason to expect
that Seller will incur, any liability to the PBGC (other than PBGC premium
payments) or otherwise under Title IV of ERISA (including any withdrawal
liability) or under the Code with respect to any such employee benefit plan
which is an Employee Pension Benefit Plan.
(c) Neither Seller nor any entity under common control with Seller
contributes to, ever has contributed to, or ever has been required to contribute
to any Multiemployer Plan or has any liability (including withdrawal liability)
under any Multiemployer Plan.
(d) Neither Seller nor any entity under common control with Seller
maintains or ever has maintained or contributes, ever has contributed, or ever
has been required to contribute to any Employee Welfare Benefit Plan (as defined
in ERISA) providing medical, health, or life insurance or other welfare- type
benefits for current or future retired or terminated employees, their spouses,
or their dependents, other than in accordance with Code Sec. 4980B.
(e) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to and as
of the Closing Date, Seller sponsors the Artee Industries, Incorporated Employee
Benefit Plan ("Seller's Health Care Plan"). Seller's Health Care Plan is a
self-insured medical reimbursement plan established to assist Seller in
providing medical benefits ("Benefits") to Seller's employees and their
dependents, who meet the eligibility provisions of Seller's Health Care Plan
("Participants"). Except for the Incurred But Unpaid Health Care Claims referred
to in Section 5.6(b) hereof, as of the Closing Date, Seller has paid, or
provided for the payment of, all health care expenses incurred by Seller's
employees and their dependents that are covered under the Seller's Health Care
Plan in accordance with its terms.
(f) As of the date hereof, seven individuals, who were previously
employed by Seller, are participating in Seller's Health Care Plan under the
COBRA continuation coverage requirements of Section 4980B of the Code and
Section 601 et seq. of ERISA, ("COBRA Participants"). Except for COBRA
Participants, as of the Closing Date, the only individuals participating in
Seller's Health Care Plan are the individuals currently employed by Seller, and
their dependents, who meet the eligibility provisions of Seller's Health Care
Plan.
-12-
<PAGE>
(g) The Seller has complied in all respects with the provisions of
Section 601 et seq. of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code, or Proposed Treasury
Regulation Section 1.162-26 (collectively, "COBRA Laws") that govern or apply to
Seller's Health Care Plan or to any other employee benefit plan sponsored by the
Seller at any time.
(h) At all times, the Artee Industries, Incorporated 401(k) Plan (the
"401(k) Plan") has been in compliance with ERISA and the Code.
3.11. Tax Matters. (a) Seller and the Shareholders have timely filed
or will timely file all federal, state and local tax returns and reports
required to be filed for any period ending before the Closing Date, or if
applicable, any period that includes the Closing Date. All such tax returns are
or will be correct and complete in all respects. Seller or the Shareholders have
properly calculated and have timely paid or will timely pay or cause to be paid
all income taxes and other taxes of any kind of any taxing authority (whether or
not shown on any tax return) due to any taxing authority ("Taxes") with respect
to all such periods. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.8, none of Seller or the
Shareholders has received written notice that the Internal Revenue Service, or
any other taxing authority has asserted against any of them, any deficiency or
claim for additional Taxes in connection therewith. None of Seller or the
Shareholders have been granted or have given any waiver of any statute of
limitations with respect to, or any extension of a period for the assessment or
filing of, any Tax. All deposits required by law to be made by Seller or the
Shareholders with respect to employees' withholding taxes have been made. Seller
or the Shareholders have withheld and paid all Taxes required to have been
withheld and paid in connection with the amounts paid or owing to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, stockholder or other third party. There are no
tax liens on any assets of Seller, except liens for Taxes not yet due. There are
no claims pending against Seller or any Shareholder for past due Taxes, and
Seller has no knowledge of any such threatened claim or the basis for any such
claim. There are not now any matters under discussion with any federal, state,
local or other authority with respect to any additional Taxes relating to Seller
or any Shareholder. This Section 3.11(a) relates only to Taxes arising out of
the operation of the Business and the tax returns related thereto.
(b) Since June 1987, Seller has had in effect a valid election to be
taxed as a "small business corporation" under Section 1361(l) of the Code. In no
year has the Company incurred any tax liability under Section 1374 or 1375 of
the Code. None of Seller or the Shareholders is liable for the tax of any person
or entity under Section 1.1502-6 of the Treasury Regulations, promulgated
pursuant to the Code (or any similar provision of state, local or foreign law),
as a transferee or successor, by contract or otherwise.
3.12. Licenses and Authorizations. Schedule 3.12 lists all licenses,
permits and authorizations that are held by Seller as of the date hereof and are
required for the conduct of the Business, as presently conducted. All such
licenses, permits, and authorizations are in full force and effect, with no
violations of any of them having occurred or, to the knowledge of Seller and
each Shareholder, been alleged to have occurred, and with no proceedings pending
or, to the knowledge of Seller and each Shareholder, threatened, that would have
the effect of revoking, limiting or affecting the transfer or renewal of any
such licenses or permits. Except as set forth in Schedule 3.12 or otherwise
disclosed in this Agreement: (a) such licenses and authorizations are not
subject to any restrictions or conditions that would limit operation of the
Business as presently conducted; (b) there are no applications by Seller for any
license, permit or authorization in connection with the Business; or (c)
complaints by others pending or threatened in writing as of the date hereof
before any governmental agency relating to the Business other than proceedings
that affect the industry generally.
-13-
<PAGE>
3.13. Compliance with Laws. Seller, in the operation of its Business:
(i) possesses all of the business licenses, permits (including environmental
permits) and authorizations (collectively, "Authorizations") that are necessary
for legally conducting its Business as presently conducted, and has made such
filings as may be required by local, state or federal governments; (ii) is in
compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including those
relating to the employment of labor (including OSHA), wages, hours, collective
bargaining, immigration, discrimination and the payment of social security and
similar taxes, and (iii) is not liable for any arrears of wages or any penalties
for failure to comply with any of the foregoing.
3.14. Title to Purchased Assets. Seller is, and immediately prior to
Closing will be, the owner of all of the Purchased Assets and will have good and
marketable title to all of the Purchased Assets (including fee simple marketable
title with regard to the Purchased Property and a leasehold estate with regard
to the Leased Property) free and clear of all liens, pledges, security
interests, charges, claims, restrictions or other encumbrances and defects of
title of any nature whatsoever except as listed on Schedule 3.14(a). The
Purchased Assets constitute all of the assets used in connection with the
operation of the Business other than the assets listed on Schedule 3.14(b) (the
"Excluded Assets").
3.15. Tangible Purchased Assets. Seller owns or leases all buildings,
machinery, equipment, and other tangible assets necessary for the conduct of the
Business as presently conducted and as presently proposed to be conducted. Each
such tangible asset has been well maintained, is in good operating condition and
repair (subject to normal wear and tear), and is suitable for the purposes for
which it presently is used and presently is proposed to be used.
3.16. Leased Property. With respect to the Leased Property: (i) the
Lease is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect; (b)
neither Seller nor any other party is in default, violation or breach in any
respect under the Lease, and no event has occurred and is continuing that
constitutes or, with notice or the passage of time or both, would constitute a
default, violation or breach in any respect under the Lease; and (c) the Lease
grants the tenant under the Lease the exclusive right to use and occupy the
demised premises thereunder.
3.17. Bank Accounts. Schedule 3.17 lists all bank accounts and safe
deposit boxes of Seller used in connection with the Business, all powers of
attorney in connection with such accounts, and the names of all persons
authorized to draw thereon or to have access thereto.
3.18. Corporate and Personnel Data; Labor Relations. Except as noted
thereon, Schedule 3.18 lists the names and current salary rates of all the
salaried Employees as of the date hereof (complete list to be provided to Buyer
within 30 days of the date hereof). The Business has complied with all
applicable laws and regulations relating to the employment of labor, including
those related to wages, hours, collective bargaining, immigration,
discrimination, and the payment of Social Security or similar taxes. There are
no unfair labor practice claims or charges pending involving Seller relating to
the operation of the Business.
3.19. Insurance. Schedule 3.19 lists all of Seller's insurance
policies relating to the Purchased Assets or the Business in effect as of the
date hereof, and indicates the insurer's name, policy number, expiration date
and amount and type of coverage. With respect to each such insurance policy: (a)
the policy is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in full force and effect;
(b) neither Seller nor any other party to the policy is in breach or default
(including with respect to the payment of premiums or the giving of notices),
and no event has occurred which, with notice or the lapse of time, would
constitute
-14-
<PAGE>
such a breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration,
under the policy; and (c) no party to the policy has repudiated any provision
thereof. Seller has been covered during the past ten years by insurance in scope
and amount customary and reasonable for its Business. Schedule 3.19 describes
any self-insurance arrangements affecting any of Seller.
3.20. Customers. Schedule 3.20 attached hereto lists each customer
representing billings by Seller in excess of $100,000 for the 12-month period
ended December 31, 1996 and for the nine-month period ended September 30, 1997.
Seller has not received any notice and has no reason to believe that Seller's
agreement with any such customer is being terminated or is being considered for
termination or nonrenewal, whether as a result of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or otherwise.
3.21. Inventories. All inventories reflected in the Financial
Statements do not, and the inventories of the Business at Closing will not,
include any items that are below standard quality, damaged, obsolete or of a
quantity or quality not usable or saleable in the ordinary course of business,
subject only to applicable reserves reflected on the Financial Statements.
3.22. Accounts Receivable. Subject to any reserves on the Closing
Date Balance Sheet for doubtful accounts receivable, all accounts receivable of
Seller represent bona fide and valid claims by Seller and are and will be fully
collectible and are not and will not be subject to any counterclaim, setoff or
change of any kind whatsoever.
3.23. Intellectual Property. All trademarks, trade names, copyrights
or patents owned or used by Seller in connection with the Business, together
with any applicable registrations, are disclosed in Schedule 3.23. Except as
shown in such Schedule, all such trademarks, trade names, copyrights or patents,
and any applicable registrations are owned by Seller and are not the subject of
any proceeding challenging their use, or seeking to deny, modify or revoke any
registration or application therefor or renewal thereof. Seller is entitled to
use all trade names, trademarks, patents, designs, processes, copyrights and
licenses and all other industrial property or intellectual property rights used
by it in connection with its Business, and Seller has not granted any right,
title or interest in or to any such intellectual property. Seller has not
interfered with, infringed upon, misappropriated, or otherwise come into
conflict with any patents, trademarks, or intellectual property rights of third
parties, and Seller has not ever received any charge, complaint, claim, demand,
or notice alleging any such interference, infringement, misappropriation or
violation (including any claim that such Seller must license or refrain from
using any patent, copyright, trademark or intellectual property rights of any
third party).
3.24. Environmental Matters. Except as specified on Schedule 3.24:
(a) To the best of Seller's knowledge and belief, no Hazardous
Materials (as defined in this Section 3.24) are stored or otherwise located on
real property owned, leased or otherwise operated by Seller (the "Realty"), and
no part of the Realty, including the soil and groundwater located thereon and
thereunder, is presently contaminated by any such substance; no Hazardous
Materials have been released, stored, treated or disposed of on, in or bout the
Realty; and no improvement located on the Realty contains any asbestos or
substances containing asbestos;
(b) No portion of the Realty has ever been used as or for a mine, a
landfill, a dump or other disposal facility, a gasoline service station, or a
petroleum products storage facility;
-15-
<PAGE>
(c) There are no underground storage tanks situated on the Realty,
nor have any been removed from the Realty;
(d) To the best of Seller's knowledge and belief, all activities, and
operations of the Business meet, and have in the past met, the requirements of
all applicable Environmental Laws (as defined in this Section 3.24);
(e) To the best of Seller's knowledge and belief, in connection with
or arising out of the operation of its Business, Seller has never sent any
Hazardous Materials to a site which, pursuant to any Environmental Law, (i) has
been placed on the "National Priorities List," the CERCLIS list, or any other
similar federal or state list, or (ii) which is subject to a claim, an
administrative order or other request to take any type of response action or to
pay for the costs of response action at such a site;
(f) In connection with or arising out of the operation of its
Business, (i) Seller is not involved in any suit or proceeding, and no Seller
has received any notice or information request from any governmental agency or
other party, with respect to any Hazardous Material or any violation of any
Environmental Law, and (ii) Seller has not received any notice of any claim from
any person or entity relating to personal injury, death or property damage from
exposure to any Hazardous Material or violation of any Environmental Law; and
(g) In connection with or arising out of the operation of its
Business, Seller has timely filed all reports required to be filed, has acquired
all necessary certificates, approvals and permits (none of which shall be lost
or adversely affected as a result of the transaction contemplated herein), and
has generated and maintained all required data, documentation and records under
all applicable Environmental Laws.
As used herein, "Hazardous Materials" means any substances or
materials (i) which are defined as hazardous wastes, hazardous substances,
pollutants, contaminants or toxic substances under any Environmental Law; (ii)
which are toxic, explosive, corrosive, flammable, infectious, radioactive,
mutagenic, dangerous or otherwise hazardous; (iii) the presence of which require
investigation or remediation under any Environmental Law or common law; (iv)
which constitute a danger, a nuisance, a trespass or a health or safety hazard
to persons or property; (v) which include, without limiting the foregoing,
underground storage tanks, whether empty, filled or partially filled with any
substance; and/or (vi) which are or contain, without limiting the foregoing,
asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls, urea formaldehyde foam insulation,
petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum derived substances or waste, crude oil or any
fraction thereof, nuclear fuel, natural gas or synthetic gas (excluding
petroleum or natural gas products for on-site use properly stored in accordance
with all Environmental Laws in gas pipelines serving the Realty, vehicles,
machinery or above ground storage tanks).
As used herein, "Environmental Laws" shall mean any and all federal,
state and local laws, statutes, ordinances, rules, regulations, permits,
directives, licenses, approvals, guidances, interpretations, and orders, and all
other legal requirements relating to the protection of human health or the
environment, including, but not limited to, requirements pertaining to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transportation, handling, reporting, licensing, permitting, investigation or
remediation of materials that are or may constitute a threat to the environment.
Environmental Laws include, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. ss. 9601 et. seq.)
("CERCLA"), the Hazardous Material Transportation Act (49 U.S.C. ss. 1801 et.
seq.), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. ss. 6901 et. seq.)
("RCRA"),
-16-
<PAGE>
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. ss. 1251 et. seq.), the Clean
Air Act (42 U.S.C. ss. 7401 et. seq.), the Toxic Substances Control Act (15
U.S.C. ss. 2601 et. seq.), the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. ss. 300, et.
seq.), the Environmental Protection Agency's regulations relating to underground
storage tanks (40 C.F.R. Parts 280 and 281), and the Occupational Safety and
Health Act (29 U.S.C. ss. 651 et. seq.) ("OSHA"), as such laws and regulations
have been amended or supplemented, and applicable state and local statutes, and
the rules and regulations promulgated under such federal, state and local laws.
Seller has previously delivered to Buyer copies of all reports,
files, surveys, records, licenses, certificates, orders and all other documents
in its possession of any type relating to the matters described in this Section
3.24.
3.25. Product Warranty. Each product manufactured, sold, leased, or
delivered by Seller has been in conformity with all applicable contractual
commitments and all express and implied warranties, and Seller has no liability
(and there is no basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against any of them
giving rise to any liability) for replacement or repair thereof or other damages
in connection therewith, subject only to any reserve for product warranty claims
included in the Financial Statements. No product manufactured, sold, leased, or
delivered by Seller is subject to any guaranty, warranty, or other indemnity
beyond the applicable standard terms and conditions of sale or lease. Seller has
provided to Buyer copies of the standard terms and conditions of sale or lease
for Seller.
3.26. Product Liability. Seller has no liability (and there is no
basis for any present or future action, suit, proceeding, hearing,
investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand against any of them giving
rise to any liability) arising out of any injury to individuals or property as a
result of the ownership, possession, or use of any product manufactured, sold,
leased, or delivered by Seller.
3.27. Claims and Charges against Products. Seller has and will have
no liability arising out of sales of products occurring prior to the Closing
Date for any claims, charges or allowances against, to or in respect of such
products.
3.28. Disclosure. The representations and warranties contained in
this Article III and all other information or documents (including the Schedules
to this Agreement) delivered by Seller to Buyer in connection with the
transaction described herein do not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements and information contained therein not misleading. There is no fact
known to Seller that materially adversely affects, or that could in the future
materially adversely affect, the operations, business, assets, properties or
condition (financial or otherwise) of Seller that has not been set forth in this
Agreement or the Schedules hereto.
-17-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer represents and warrants to Seller as follows:
4.1. Organization. Buyer is a corporation duly organized, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of North Carolina and
has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to carry on its business as now being conducted.
4.2. Authority Relative to this Agreement. Buyer has the power and
authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the
transactions contemplated hereby. The execution and delivery of this Agreement
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly and
validly authorized by Buyer and no other proceedings on the part of Buyer are
necessary to authorize this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly
executed and delivered by Buyer and constitutes the legal, valid and binding
agreement of Buyer, enforceable against Buyer in accordance with its terms.
4.3. Consents and Approvals; No Violation. Neither the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement by Buyer will (a) conflict with or
result in any breach of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws
of Buyer, (b) result in a default (or give rise to any right of termination,
cancellation or acceleration or creation of liens) under any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, agreement,
lease or other instrument or obligation to which Buyer is a party or by which
any of its assets may be bound, except for such defaults (or rights of
termination, cancellation or acceleration or creation of liens) as to which
requisite waivers or consents have been obtained, or (c) violate any law,
statute, rule, regulation, order, writ, injunction or decree of any federal,
state or local governmental authority or agency applicable to Buyer, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective assets.
4.4. Litigation. There are no legal, administrative, arbitration or
other proceedings or governmental investigations pending or, to the knowledge of
Buyer, threatened against Buyer or any of its subsidiaries that would give any
third party the right to enjoin or rescind the transactions contemplated
hereunder.
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
5.1. Conduct of Business. Except as contemplated by this Agreement,
during the period from the date of this Agreement to the Closing Date, Seller
will conduct its Business in a manner consistent with prior practice and in the
ordinary and usual course. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
except as otherwise expressly provided in or contemplated by this Agreement,
prior to the
-18-
<PAGE>
Closing Date, without the prior written consent of Buyer, Seller will not and
the Shareholders will not cause or permit Seller to:
(a) make any distributions of any kind to shareholders of Seller;
(b) enter into any contract or commitment relating to the operation of
its Business except in the ordinary course of business;
(c) amend, modify or waive any provision of any Contract, except in the
ordinary course of business;
(d) fail to maintain and keep Seller's properties and equipment in good
repair, working order and condition, except for ordinary wear and tear;
(e) fail to keep in full force and effect Seller's insurance comparable
in amount and scope of coverage to that now maintained by Seller;
(f) fail to perform Seller's obligations under all Contracts to which
it is a party;
(g) fail to use Seller's best efforts to maintain and preserve its
business organizations, retain its present employees and maintain its
relationship with suppliers, customers and others having business dealings with
such Seller;
(h) fail to maintain Seller's books of account and records in the usual
and regular manner and not make any changes in its accounting practices;
(i) fail to comply with all laws and regulations applicable to Seller
and to the conduct of its Business;
(j) amend Seller's Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws;
(k) take, or agree in writing or otherwise to take, any action that
would make any of the representations of Seller or any Shareholder set forth in
this Agreement untrue or incorrect or would result in any of the conditions set
forth in this Agreement not being satisfied;
(l) create or assume any mortgage, pledge, lien, or other encumbrance
with respect to the Purchased Assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired;
or
(m) sell, assign, lease, transfer, or otherwise dispose of any of the
Purchased Assets, except for sales of finished goods inventory in the ordinary
course of business.
(n) take any action, or fail to take action, that would cause revenues
of Seller to be recorded for accounting purposes in the Measurement Period or
pre-Closing period rather than in any period prior to the Measurement Period or
pre-Closing period for the purpose of increasing the likelihood of receiving or
the amount of any Contingent Payment pursuant to Section 1.7 of this Agreement.
-19-
<PAGE>
5.2. Financial Statements. During the period from the date hereof
until the Closing, Seller shall furnish to Buyer monthly unaudited financial
statements relating to the Business prepared in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles. Seller shall deliver to Buyer no later than
March 31, 1998 financial statements (including a balance sheet and income
statement) for the year ending and as of December 28, 1997 reviewed by its
independent public accountants.
5.3. Access to Information; Confidentiality.
(a) Prior to Closing, Seller will (i) give Buyer and its authorized
representatives full access to the Purchased Assets and to all books, records,
offices and other facilities and properties relating to the Business, (ii)
permit Buyer to make such inspections thereof as Buyer may reasonably request
(including, without limitation, examinations incident to environmental audits),
and (iii) cause its officers or other appropriate officials to furnish Buyer
with such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the
Business as Buyer may from time to time reasonably request. In connection with
its due diligence relating to the transactions contemplated hereby, Seller
acknowledges that Buyer's independent public accountants will be reviewing and
evaluating Seller's Financial Statements and records and information relating
thereto and, accordingly, Seller will provide full cooperation to such
accountants in such review and evaluation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this
Section 5.3(a) shall not apply with respect to the matters covered by the
Confidentiality Agreement dated as of August 31, 1994 between Seller and Lantor,
Inc.
(b) Without the prior consent of Buyer, no other party hereto shall
issue any news release or other public announcement or disclosure, or any
general public announcement to its employees, suppliers or customers, regarding
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, except as may be
required by law, but in which case the disclosing party shall provide Buyer with
reasonable advance notice of the timing and substance of any such disclosure.
After consultation with Seller, Buyer will issue a public press release
announcing the planned transaction and containing certain other related
information.
(c) After the Closing, Seller and each Shareholder will hold, and
Seller will use its best efforts to cause its officers, directors, employees,
lenders, counsel, accountants, representatives, agents, consultants and advisors
to hold, in strict confidence all confidential information of the Business,
including without limitation customer lists, details of client or consultant
contracts, pricing policies, operational methods, marketing plans or strategies,
product development techniques or plans, business acquisition plans, new
personnel acquisition plans, methods of manufacture, technical processes,
designs and design projects, inventions and research projects of any Business
learned by any employee of Seller heretofore or hereafter, unless the same
information: (i) is currently publicly available or becomes publicly available
through no fault of Seller or any Shareholder, or their agents, advisors or
other representatives, or another person that Seller or the Shareholders know or
have reason to know is subject to confidentiality obligations with respect to
such information; or (ii) such information is required by applicable law to be
disclosed, but then only to the extent (A) disclosure is required and after
giving Buyer such notice of such obligation so that it may seek a protective
order or other similar or appropriate relief and (B) Seller and the Shareholders
have undertaken in good faith to have such confidential information treated
confidentially consistent with the terms of this Agreement.
5.4. Change of Corporate Name. On the Closing Date or as soon as
practicable thereafter, Seller shall change its corporate name to a new name,
which does not include the words making up its existing name (or any existing
trade names) or the acronym or abbreviation or any variations, translations or
combinations thereof or similar names and otherwise is not likely to be
-20-
<PAGE>
confused with its present names so as to make Seller's present name available to
Buyer. From and after the Closing, neither Seller nor any Shareholder shall use
the words making up Seller's existing name (or any existing trade names) or the
acronym or abbreviation or any variations, translations or combinations thereof
or similar names in connection with the Business.
5.5. Filings. Buyer and Seller will make or cause to be made all such
filings and submissions under applicable laws and regulations as may be required
for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereunder, including
without limitation any filings required under the HSR Act. Buyer and Seller will
cooperate and coordinate with one another in connection with any such filings or
submissions. Buyer and Seller will each pay one-half of the HSR Act filing fee.
5.6. Employees and Employee Benefits.
(a) For purposes of employee benefits under Seller's employee benefit
plans, all of the Employees who accept employment with Buyer shall be considered
terminated employees and shall have no further rights to accrue to them under
any of Seller's employee benefit plans after the Closing Date, except as
provided in Section 5.6(b), (c), (d), (e) and (f). While Buyer intends to hire
the employees of Seller as of the Closing Date, it is agreed by the parties that
Buyer is not obligated to hire any of the employees of Seller. The employees
hired by Buyer will be given credit for prior service with Seller for purposes
of eligibility to participate in Buyer's health benefit plan and 401(k)
profit-sharing plan, but will not receive credit for service with Seller for any
other purpose (including but not limited to vacation or severance policies).
(b) Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, Seller will pay,
or Seller will maintain an insurance policy that will pay, the following unpaid
claims for medical expenses incurred by Participants under Seller's Health Care
Plan that exist at the Closing Date ("Incurred But Unpaid Claims"): (i) any
unpaid claim for the payment of Benefits for health care expenses incurred by a
participant which was submitted for payment prior to the Closing Date; (ii) any
unpaid claim for the payment of Benefits for health care expenses incurred by a
Participant on or before the Closing Date; and (iii) any claim for payment of
Benefits for an accident or illness suffered or incurred prior to Closing for
which no health care expenses have been incurred; provided, however, that Seller
and the Shareholders shall be responsible or liable only for such claims
resulting in liabilities in excess of any reserves that may appear on the
Closing Balance Sheet.
All Incurred But Unpaid Claims will be paid in accordance with
the provisions of Seller's Health Care Plan. Subject to the next sentence, all
Incurred But Unpaid Claims will be paid within 60 days following Seller's
receipt thereof. If the amount of Benefits payable under any Incurred But Unpaid
Claim cannot be determined within 60 days of Seller's receipt of the Incurred
But Unpaid Claim, Seller will not be required to pay such Claim until the amount
payable is determined, as long as prior to the expiration of such 60-day period,
Seller notifies the Participant who submitted such Incurred But Unpaid Claim
that Benefits will not be paid until the amount of the Benefit payable is
determined. It is agreed that the Culp, Inc. Health Care Plan ("Buyer's Health
Care Plan") and Buyer are not obligated to pay any Incurred But Unpaid Claims.
It is further agreed, however, that if Seller does not comply with the
provisions of this Section 5.6, either Buyer or Buyer's Health Care Plan, at
Buyer's sole and absolute discretion, may pay the entire amount of any Incurred
But Unpaid Claim; and, in such event, Buyer shall be indemnified, pursuant to
Section 7.2, for the entire amount paid by Buyer or Buyer's Health Care Plan for
Incurred But Unpaid Claims. Any Incurred But Unpaid Claim existing under
Seller's Health Care Plan at the Closing Date that are submitted by Participants
to Buyer or to the
-21-
<PAGE>
third party administrator of Buyer's Health Care Plan shall be forwarded to the
following person at the following address:
Robert L. Davis
P.O. Box 1509
Shelby, North Carolina 28151
(c) If a covered employee or qualified beneficiary under Seller's
Health Care Plan incurred a qualifying event prior to the Closing Date, Seller
shall timely notify those individuals of their rights to COBRA continuation
coverage under Seller's Health Care Plan in accordance with the COBRA laws.
Neither Buyer nor Buyer's Health Care Plan, as a successor to Seller's Health
Care Plan, is responsible for providing any notice about COBRA to any covered
employee or qualified beneficiary under Seller's Health Care Plan who incurred a
qualifying event prior to the Closing Date.
(d) Seller and Seller's Health Care Plan shall be responsible for
providing COBRA continuation coverage to the COBRA Participants for the period
prescribed under the COBRA Laws. Furthermore, Seller and Seller's Health Care
Plan shall be responsible for providing COBRA continuation coverage, if any, to
any covered employee or qualified beneficiary under Seller's Health Care Plan
who incurred a qualifying event prior to the Closing Date. Neither Buyer, nor
Buyer's Health Care Plan, as a successor plan to Seller's Health Care Plan,
shall be responsible for providing any COBRA continuation coverage to the COBRA
Participants or to any covered employee or qualified beneficiary under Seller's
Health Care Plan who incurred a qualifying event prior to the Closing Date.
(e) Buyer shall offer health insurance coverage under Buyer's Health
Care Plan to Seller's employees hired by Buyer on the Closing Date as long as
those employees are eligible to participate in Seller's Health Care Plan as of
the Closing Date. Buyer's Health Care Plan shall not exclude from coverage, as a
preexisting condition, any existing health care condition of any of the
aforementioned employees for which Benefits were paid under Seller's Health Care
Plan.
(f) Seller shall terminate its 401(k) Plan prior to Closing. Upon
termination of the 401(k) Plan, Seller shall apply for and use its best efforts
to obtain a favorable determination letter with the Internal Revenue Service
stating that the termination of the 401(k) Plan will not affect its qualified
status under Section 401(a) of the Code.
5.7. Noncompetition. For a period of three years following the Closing
Date, each of Robert T. Davis, Robert L. Davis, Louis W. Davis and J. Marshall
Bradley shall not, directly or indirectly:
(a) (i) engage or invest in, (ii) own, manage, operate, finance,
control or participate in the ownership, management, operation, financing or
control of, (iii) be employed by, associated with, or in any manner connected
with, (iv) lend his name or credit to, or render services or advice to, any
business or venture involved in the manufacturing or marketing of wrapped spun
yarns for uses related to upholstery fabrics anywhere in the State of Georgia,
the State of Pennsylvania, the State of North Carolina, the State of South
Carolina, the State of Tennessee, the State of Mississippi, the State of
California, the State of Illinois, the State of Michigan, the State of New
Jersey, or any other State in the United States, Mexico and Canada, or directly
or indirectly acquire any ownership interest in an entity that engages in such
business in any such location; provided, however, that the ownership of less
than two percent (2%) of the outstanding securities of a class of securities
that is registered by the issuer
-22-
<PAGE>
thereof under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 shall not constitute a
violation of the provisions of this Section 5.7;
(b) In any way, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any customer to
cease or diminish its dealings or relationship with Buyer; and
(c) In any way, solicit, induce or attempt to induce any employee or
exclusive independent contractor of the Business upon the Closing or any future
time to leave his or her employ or contract with Buyer or any affiliate thereof
to become associated in any way with a business or venture that competes in any
way with Buyer or any affiliate thereof;
provided, however, that upon the termination of any of such person's employment
other than for Cause (as defined below), the foregoing covenants shall no longer
apply.
"Cause" means (i) the conviction of (or its procedural equivalent) or
the entering of a guilty plea or no contest with respect to a crime involving an
act of moral turpitude; (ii) chronic or terminal illness, disability or failing
health which prevents any such person from performing the essential duties of
his position; (iii) any material act of willful dishonesty or malicious action
against Buyer or any affiliate thereof by any of such persons; or (iv) a failure
to satisfy any of such person's payment obligations under or in connection with
this Agreement.
Seller and each Shareholder will also refrain from using any of the
Trade Names at any time after the Closing Date.
Seller and the Shareholders acknowledge and agree that the provisions
contained in this Section 5.7 are reasonable and valid in geographic scope and
duration and in all other respects. If Seller or any Shareholder shall breach,
or threaten to breach, this Section 5.7, Buyer shall have (i) the right to have
the provisions of this Section 5.7 specifically enforced by a court of competent
jurisdiction, it being agreed that a breach or threatened breach of this Section
5.7 would cause irreparable injury to Buyer and that money damages would not
provide an adequate remedy to Buyer; or (ii) the right to require Seller and the
Shareholders to account for and pay over to Buyer all compensation, profits,
monies, accruals, increments or other benefits derived or received by any of
them as the result of any actions or transactions constituting a breach of this
Section 5.7; and each such right and remedy shall be independent of the others
and severally enforceable, and each of which is in addition to, and not in lieu
of, any other rights and remedies available to Buyer under law or in equity. If
any court determines that this Section 5.7, or any part thereof, is
unenforceable because of the duration or geographic scope of such provision,
such court shall have the power to reduce the duration or scope of such
provision, as the case may be, and, in its reduced form, such provision shall
then be enforceable. Seller and the Shareholders agree that the Final Purchase
Price paid to Seller as provided hereby shall serve as consideration, the
adequacy and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, to support the
obligations of Seller and the Shareholders under this Section 5.7.
5.8. Lien Search. Prior to Closing, Seller at its expense shall obtain
and deliver Uniform Commercial Code and tax lien search results covering the
Purchased Assets from each jurisdiction in which Purchased Assets are located.
The searches shall be accurate as of a date not earlier than 20 days prior to
the Closing Date.
-23-
<PAGE>
5.9. Other Actions. Buyer, on the one hand, and Seller and the
Shareholders, on the other hand, hereby agree that (subject to the provisions of
Section 9.2 hereof), shall at its own expense use its best efforts and shall
cooperate fully with the other in preparing, filing, prosecuting, and taking any
other actions with respect to any applications, requests, or actions that are or
may be reasonable and necessary to obtain the consent of any governmental
instrumentality or any third party or to accomplish the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
5.10. Corporate Action. Seller shall, and the Shareholders shall cause
Seller to, take all corporate action necessary to consummate this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby. Buyer shall take all corporate action
necessary to consummate this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.
5.11. No Solicitation. In recognition of the time that will be expended
and the expense that will be incurred by Buyer in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, Seller and the Shareholders will not, and
Seller will use its best efforts so that its officers, employees and agents will
not, directly or indirectly or through agents, brokers or otherwise, until this
Agreement is closed or is terminated as provided in this Agreement, encourage,
solicit, engage in negotiations or discussions or provide information with
respect to any inquiries or proposals relating to (a) the possible direct or
indirect acquisition of all or a portion of Seller's capital stock or its assets
or (b) any business combination involving Seller. Additionally, Seller and the
Shareholders agree to promptly notify Buyer upon any inquiries by a third person
or entity relating to the foregoing subclauses (a) and (b).
5.12. Robert T. Davis. After Closing, Buyer will use its best efforts,
consistent with its fiduciary duties, to cause Robert T. Davis to be elected as
a member of the Board of Directors of Buyer.
5.13. Resale of Buyer's Stock. Seller and each Shareholder agree not to
transfer, assign or sell any shares of Buyer's Stock received in connection with
this Agreement in violation of the federal and any applicable state securities
laws, including without limitation the limitations imposed by Rule 145
promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended. Seller and each Shareholder further agree to effect any
transfer or sale of shares of Buyer's Stock through Wheat First Securities, Inc.
(or its successor).
5.14. Equipment Lease. Seller and Buyer agree to execute and deliver to
each other a secured equipment lease, substantially in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit C, pursuant to which Seller will lease four (4) chenille machines,
which Buyer has previously ordered for purchase, the terms and conditions of
which Buyer and Seller shall negotiate in good faith. Seller and Buyer agree to
execute and deliver such lease by the time of the delivery from the manufacturer
of such machines.
-24-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VI
CLOSING CONDITIONS
6.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligations to Effect the Transactions
Contemplated Hereby. The respective obligations of each party to effect the
transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject to the fulfillment at or prior
to Closing (subject to Article VIII hereof) of the following conditions:
(a) Neither Seller nor Buyer shall be subject at Closing to any order,
decree or injunction of a court of competent jurisdiction that enjoins or
prohibits the consummation of this Agreement, nor shall there be pending a suit
or proceeding by any governmental authority that seeks injunctive or other
relief in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) The waiting period under the HSR Act, and all extensions thereof,
shall have expired or been terminated by the appropriate regulatory authorities.
6.2. Conditions to the Obligations of Seller to Effect the Transactions
Contemplated Hereby. The obligations of Seller to effect the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be further subject to the fulfillment at or prior to
the Closing Date (subject to Article VIII hereof) of the following conditions,
any one or more of which may be waived by Seller and the Shareholders:
(a) All representations and warranties of Buyer contained in this
Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the Closing
as though made as of such time (except as otherwise expressly contemplated by
this Agreement). Buyer shall have performed and complied in all material
respects with all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement required
to be performed and complied with by it at or prior to Closing. Seller shall
have received a certificate to the matters set forth in this subparagraph (a)
signed on behalf of Buyer by its duly authorized officer.
(b) All documents required hereunder to have been delivered by Buyer to
Seller, and all actions required hereunder to have been taken by Buyer, at or
prior to the Closing Date, shall have been delivered or taken.
(c) Seller shall have received from Buyer certificates executed by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Buyer certifying and attaching copies of
the following: (i) resolutions of the Board of Directors of Buyer authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all instruments
and documents to be delivered in connection herewith and the transactions
contemplated hereby by Buyer; (ii) Articles of Incorporation of Buyer recently
certified by the North Carolina Secretary of State and Bylaws of Buyer; (iii)
the incumbency and signatures of any of Buyer's officers who will execute or
have executed documents in connection with this Agreement; (iv) a Certificate of
Existence of Buyer issued as of a recent date by the North Carolina Secretary of
State. Such certificate shall further certify that Buyer's Articles of
Incorporation have not been amended since their certification by such Secretary
of State and that nothing has occurred since the date of issuance of the
Certificate of Existence that would adversely affect Buyer's corporate
existence.
-25-
<PAGE>
6.3. Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer to Effect the Transactions
Contemplated Hereby. The obligations of Buyer to effect any transaction
contemplated hereby shall be further subject to the fulfillment at or prior to
the Closing Date (subject to Article VIII hereof) of the following conditions,
any one or more of which may be waived by Buyer:
(a) All representations and warranties of Seller or the Shareholders
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects
as of the Closing as though made as of such time (except as otherwise expressly
contemplated by this Agreement). Seller shall have performed and complied in all
material respects with all covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement
required to be performed and complied with by it at or prior to Closing. Buyer
shall have received a certificate to the matters set forth in this subparagraph
(a) signed on behalf of each Seller and each Shareholder by its duly authorized
officer.
(b) All required consents from third parties and governmental
authorities to permit the transfer of the Purchased Assets, the assumption of
the Contracts and the Lease, and the operation of the Business by Buyer shall
have been obtained.
(c) All documents required hereunder to have been delivered by Seller
or the Shareholders to Buyer, and all actions required hereunder to have been
taken by Seller or the Shareholders, at or prior to the Closing Date, shall have
been delivered or taken.
(d) Buyer shall have received an opinion from Seller's legal counsel
reasonably satisfactory to Buyer, dated as of the Closing Date and opining to
the matters listed on Exhibit C attached hereto.
(e) Buyer shall have received from Seller certificates executed by the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of Seller certifying and attaching copies of
the following: (i) resolutions of the Board of Directors of Seller authorizing
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and all instruments
and documents to be delivered in connection herewith and the transactions
contemplated hereby by Seller; (ii) Articles of Incorporation of Seller recently
certified by the North Carolina Secretary of State and Bylaws of Seller; (iii)
the incumbency and signatures of any of Seller's officers who will execute or
have executed documents in connection with this Agreement; (iv) a Certificate of
Existence of Seller issued as of a recent date by the North Carolina Secretary
of State. Such certificate shall further certify that Seller's Articles of
Incorporation have not been amended since their certification by such Secretary
of State and that nothing has occurred since the date of issuance of the
Certificate of Existence that would adversely affect Seller's corporate
existence.
(f) Seller shall have delivered to Buyer all financial statements
required by Section 5.2 hereof.
(g) The amount of the debt to be paid by Buyer upon Closing as
described on Schedule 1.8 shall not exceed $9,000,000.
(h) The amount of Stockholders' Equity of Seller, as determined from
the most recent balance sheet of Seller provided under Section 5.2 as of
Closing, shall not be less than $5,500,000.
-26-
<PAGE>
(i) Buyer shall have completed its due diligence review of Seller and
the Business (which Buyer agrees to complete by March 20, 1998), and the results
of such review shall have been satisfactory to Buyer in its discretion.
ARTICLE VII
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION
7.1. Survival of Representations. All representations, warranties and
agreements made by the parties to this Agreement or pursuant hereto shall
survive the Closing, but all claims made by virtue of such representations,
warranties and agreements shall be made under, and subject to the limitations
set forth in, this Article VII.
7.2. Seller's Agreement to Indemnify.
(a) Subject to the conditions and provisions set forth herein, each of
Seller and the Shareholders will jointly and severally defend, indemnify and
hold harmless Buyer, its directors, officers, employees, agents, subsidiaries
and shareholders (collectively, the "Buyer Affiliates") against and in respect
of:
(i) Any and all loss, damage or deficiency resulting from any
misrepresentation, breach of warranty, or other violation of any of the
covenants, warranties or representations contained in this Agreement or any
documents executed herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby, or
nonfulfillment of any agreement, on the part of Seller under this Agreement or
any documents executed herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby, or from
any misrepresentation in or omission from any certificate or other instrument
furnished to Buyer in connection herewith;
(ii) Any and all liabilities or obligations of Buyer or
obligations with respect to or arising out of the ownership or operation of the
Purchased Assets or the Business on or prior to the Closing Date, whether
accrued, unaccrued, known, unknown, fixed, contingent, absolute or otherwise,
and that are not expressly assumed by Buyer hereunder, including the matters
disclosed on Schedule 3.5;
(iii) all claims (including without limitation claims for
personal injury or death, claims for property damages and all other private
party claims and claims by governmental authorities or entities of any type),
damages, pending or threatened actions, administrative proceedings (whether
formal or informal proceedings), investigation costs, monitoring costs,
assessment costs, response costs, remedial costs, removal costs, restoration
costs, governmental requirements, judgments, losses of or damages to natural
resources, penalties, liens, fines, settlements, punitive damages, interest and
other losses, costs and liabilities of any kind (including without limitation
attorneys' fees and court costs, and consultant and expert witness fees) arising
in any manner out of or by reason of (1) breach of the warranties and
representations in Section 3.24, (2) any violation or alleged violation of any
Environmental Law, as interpreted and in effect on the Closing Date, by Seller
or with respect to the Realty (as defined in Section 3.24) that first occurs or
commences prior to Closing or results from Seller's acts or omissions prior to
Closing, (3) any contamination or threatened or suspected contamination of the
Realty (or any part thereof including without limitation the soil and
groundwater thereunder) by Hazardous Materials that first occurs or commences
prior to Closing or results from Seller's acts or omissions prior to Closing, or
(4) any presence, generation, treatment, storage, disposal,
-27-
<PAGE>
transport release, suspected release or threatened releasee of Hazardous
Materials on or from the Realty (or any part thereof including without
limitation the soil and groundwater thereunder) that first occurs or commences
prior to Closing or results from Seller's acts or omissions prior to Closing.
Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, Seller and the Shareholders shall be
required to indemnify a Buyer Affiliate under this Section 7.2(a)(iii) (and to
the extent related thereto, Section 7.2(a)(v)) only for claims of which notice
has been given to Seller or the Shareholders within 5 years after the Closing
Date and only for damages under such claims that do not exceed in the aggregate
$2,500,000 less any amounts paid to a Buyer Affiliate for or in connection with
a breach of the representations and warranties contained in Section 3.24.
Further notwithstanding any of the foregoing, Seller and the Shareholders shall
not be required to indemnify a Buyer Affiliate under this Section 7.2(a)(iii)
(and to the extent related thereto, Section 7.2(a)(v)):
(A) for any costs incurred by a Buyer Affiliate in undertaking work to
remediate Hazardous Materials in, on, under or about any of the Realty, unless
(w) a governmental authority of any kind has issued an order or other directive
requiring that such remediation work be undertaken, (x) such work is necessary
to allow the full and safe use of the Realty for manufacturing and related
purposes, (y) a third party has asserted or threatened a claim against a Buyer
Affiliate that relates to or arises out of the presence of Hazardous Materials
or (z) Buyer reasonably believes that it is in imminent danger of incurring a
liability if such work in not performed; or
(B) for any claims if Seller has caused, prior to Closing, such
environmental testing to be conducted and reports to be prepared to satisfy
Buyer in its reasonable discretion that no further conditions or circumstances
exist that (a) could give rise to any claim or liability in connection with the
presence of Hazardous Materials or a violation or alleged violation of any
Environmental Law, or (b) could be required to be set forth on Schedule 3.24 as
if the representations and warranties in Section 3.24 were being made after the
completion of such tests and reports.
(iv) Any and all claims, losses, liabilities or expenses
resulting from noncompliance with any bulk sale laws resulting from the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and
(v) Any and all claims, costs, damages, liabilities,
deficiencies, losses or expenses suffered or incurred by any such party (whether
as a result of third party claims (whether valid or not), demands, suits, causes
of action, proceedings, investigations, judgments, assessments, liabilities or
otherwise), including costs of investigation and defense and attorneys' fees
assessed, incurred or sustained by or against any of them, arising out of or in
connection with any of the foregoing in respect of which indemnification rights
exist.
(b) No indemnification shall be required to be made under this Section
7.2 for breaches of representations and warranties until the aggregate amount of
damages incurred by the Buyer Affiliates under this Section 7.2 for such
breaches exceeds $50,000, and if such damages arising from such breaches exceed
such amount then Seller and the Shareholders shall indemnify the Buyer
Affiliates for the full amount of such damages up to and in excess of the
initial $50,000. It is further agreed that the liability of Seller and the
Shareholders pursuant to this Section 7.2 for such breaches of representations
and warranties shall be limited to Claims (as defined below) asserted by the
Buyer Affiliates within two years after the Closing Date. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Section 7.2(b) and the limitations contained herein shall not
apply to Claims arising under or in connection with:
-28-
<PAGE>
(i) Section 7.2(a)(iii) (or Section 7.2(a)(v) to the extent related to
a claim under Section 7.2(a)(iii));
(ii) Section 7.2(d) (relating to product-related claims);
(iii) Section 3.11 (relating to Taxes) or otherwise relating to taxes;
(iv) Section 3.10 (relating to Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA);
(v) Section 3.14 (relating to Title to Purchased Assets);
(vi) Section 3.15 (relating to Tangible Purchased Assets);
(vii) Section 3.16 (relating to Leased Property); and
(viii) Section 3.24 (relating to Environmental Matters);
provided, however, that with respect to:
(A) Claims covered by the foregoing clauses (iii) and (iv), the
liability of Seller and the Shareholders pursuant to this Section 7.2 shall be
limited to Claims of which a Buyer Affiliate has given notice to Seller or the
Shareholders within the applicable statute of limitation; and
(B) Claims covered by the foregoing clause (viii), the liability of
Seller and the Shareholders pursuant to this Section 7.2 (x) shall be limited to
Claims of which a Buyer Affiliate has given notice to Seller or the Shareholders
within 5 years after the Closing Date and (y) shall not exceed in the aggregate
$2,500,000 less any amounts paid to a Buyer Affiliate under Section 7.2(a)(iii)
(and Section 7.2(a)(v) to the extent related to a claim under Section
7.2(a)(iii)).
(c) Claims.
(i) Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.2(d), within 30
days after receiving written notice thereof, Buyer will give Seller and the
Shareholders notice of any claims, demands, assessments, suits, judgments,
proceedings or other actions (for purposes of this Section and Section 7.3, any
"Claims") asserted against (by third parties, governmental entities, or
otherwise) or incurred by any of the Buyer Affiliates with respect to which
Buyer intends to claim indemnification from Seller and the Shareholders pursuant
to Section 7.2(a), and Seller and the Shareholders may undertake the response or
defense thereof by counsel of their own choosing, provided that such counsel
shall be reasonably acceptable to Buyer, but only if the following conditions
are met: (A) Seller and the Shareholders provide written notice to Buyer that
Seller intends to undertake such defense and agree that (x) any damages or
liabilities resulting from any Claims are or will be damages incurred by the
Buyer Affiliates and (y) Seller and the Shareholders will be jointly and
severally liable for and indemnify the Buyer Affiliates against such damages and
liabilities in accordance with this Section 7.2, (B) Seller and the Shareholders
provide Buyer with evidence acceptable to Buyer that Seller and the Shareholders
have the financial resources to defend against the Claim and fulfill their
indemnification obligations hereunder, (C) the Claim involves only money damages
and does not seek an injunction or other equitable relief, (D) settlement of, or
an adverse judgment with respect to, the Claim is not, in the good faith
judgment of Buyer, likely to
-29-
<PAGE>
establish a precedent adverse to the continuing business interests of Buyer and
(E) Seller and the Shareholders conduct the defense of the third-party claim
actively and diligently. Any Buyer Affiliate may, by counsel, participate in
such proceedings, negotiations or defense at its own expense (notwithstanding
Section 7.2(a)(v)), but Seller and the Shareholders shall retain control over
such proceedings, negotiation or litigation except as set forth in this
Agreement. In all such cases, the Buyer Affiliates shall give reasonable
assistance to Seller and the Shareholders, including making their employees
available without charge as reasonably requested.
(ii) In the event that within 20 days after written notice of
any such Claim, Seller or the Shareholders fail to notify Buyer of their
intention to respond or defend, the Buyer Affiliates will have the right to
undertake the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim for the accounts
of Seller and the Shareholders, subject to the right of Seller or the
Shareholders, so long as the conditions above in Section 7.2(c)(i) are met, to
assume the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim at any time prior to
final settlement, compromise or determination thereof.
(d) Product-Related Claims. Any claims, demands, assessments, suits,
judgment proceedings or other actions relating to or brought in connection with
defective, substandard or nonconforming products, other than product-liability
claims involving injury to individuals or damage to property, ("Product-Related
Claims") shall not be subject to the provisions and limitations of Section
7.2(b) or Section 7.2(c) but instead shall be subject to the provisions of this
Section 7.2(d). Any Buyer Affiliate may settle any Product-Related Claims on
terms as it may determine in its reasonable discretion ("Product Settlements"),
and upon request by such Buyer Affiliate, Seller agrees to make prompt payment
to that Buyer Affiliate in immediately available funds of an amount equal to any
Product Settlements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, indemnification shall be
required to be made under this Section 7.2(d) only for (i) Product-Related
Claims of which any Buyer Affiliate has given notice to Seller or the
Shareholders by or on the Contingent Payment Date (as defined in Section 1.7)
and (ii) damages under Product-Related Claims that are in excess of $50,000 in
the aggregate.
7.3. Buyer's Agreement to Indemnify.
(a) Subject to the conditions and provisions set forth herein, Buyer
will defend, indemnify and hold harmless Seller, and its directors, officers,
employees and agents, and each of the Shareholders (collectively, the "Seller
Affiliates") against and in respect of:
(i) Any and all loss, damage or deficiency resulting from any
misrepresentation, breach of warranty, or other violation of any of the
covenants, warranties or representations contained in this Agreement or any
documents executed herewith or the transactions contemplated hereby, or
nonfulfillment of any agreement or any documents executed herewith or the
transactions contemplated hereby, on the part of Buyer under this Agreement or
from any misrepresentation in or omission from any certificate furnished to
Seller or the Shareholders required in connection herewith.
(ii) Any and all liabilities and obligations assumed by Buyer
as provided herein as well as those liabilities and obligations of Buyer that
arise after the Closing with respect to the operation of the Business after that
date; and
(iii) Any and all claims, costs, damages, liabilities,
deficiencies, losses or expenses suffered or incurred by any such party (whether
as a result of third party claims (whether valid or not), demands, suits, causes
of action, proceedings, investigations, judgments, assessments, liabilities or
-30-
<PAGE>
otherwise), including costs of investigation and defense and attorneys' fees
assessed, incurred or sustained by or against any of them, with respect to or
arising out of any of the foregoing.
(b) No indemnification shall be required to be made under this Section
7.3 for breaches of representations and warranties until the aggregate amount of
damages incurred by the Seller Affiliates under this Section 7.3 for such
breaches exceeds $35,000, and if such damages arising from such breaches exceed
such amount then Buyer shall indemnify the Seller Affiliates for the full amount
of such damages up to and in excess of the initial $35,000. It is further agreed
that the liability of Buyer pursuant to this Section 7.3 for such breaches of
representations and warranties shall be limited to Claims (as defined below)
asserted by the Seller Affiliates within two years after the Closing Date.
(c) Claims.
(i) Within 30 days after receiving written notice thereof,
Seller or the Shareholders will give Buyer notice of any Claims asserted against
(by third parties, governmental entities, or otherwise) or incurred by the
Seller Affiliates with respect to which any Seller Affiliate intends to claim
indemnification from Buyer, and Buyer may undertake the response or defense
thereof by counsel of its own choosing, provided that such counsel shall be
reasonably acceptable to Seller and the Shareholders, but only if the following
conditions are met: (A) Buyer provides written notice to Seller or the
Shareholders that Buyer intends to undertake such defense and agrees that (x)
any damages or liabilities resulting from any Claims are or will be damages
incurred by the Seller Affiliates and (y) Buyer will be liable for and indemnify
the Seller Affiliates against such damages and liabilities in accordance with
this Section 7.3, (b) the Claim involves only money damages and does not seek an
injunction or other equitable relief, and (C) Buyer conducts the defense of the
Claim actively and diligently. Any Seller Affiliate may, by counsel, participate
in such proceedings, negotiations or defense at its own expense (notwithstanding
Section 7.3(a)(iii)), but Buyer shall retain control over such proceedings,
negotiation or litigation except as set forth in this Agreement. In all such
cases, the Seller Affiliates shall give reasonable assistance to Buyer,
including making their employees available without charge as reasonably
requested.
(ii) In the event that within 20 days after written notice of
any such Claim, Buyer fails to notify Seller or the Shareholders of its
intention to respond or defend, the Seller Affiliates will have the right to
undertake the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim for the account of
Buyer, subject to the right of Buyer, so long as the conditions above in Section
7.3(c)(i) are met, to assume the defense, compromise or settlement of such Claim
at any time prior to final settlement, compromise or determination thereof.
-31-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
8.1. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated:
(a) at any time by mutual consent of Seller and Buyer;
(b) by either party, if Closing hereunder has not taken place on or
before May 4, 1998.
(c) by Seller if all the conditions in Section 6.1 and 6.2 have not
been satisfied or waived by the Closing Date; and
(d) by Buyer if all the conditions set forth in Section 6.1 and 6.3
have not been satisfied or waived by the Closing Date.
8.2. Procedure and Effect of Termination or Failure to Close.
(a) In the event of termination of this Agreement and abandonment of
the transactions contemplated hereby by any or all of the parties pursuant to
Section 8.1, prompt written notice thereof shall be given to the other parties
and this Agreement shall terminate and the transactions contemplated hereby
shall be abandoned, without further action by any of the parties hereto. If this
Agreement is terminated as provided herein:
(i) None of the parties hereto nor any of their partners,
directors, officers, members, managers, shareholders, employees, agents, or
affiliates shall have any liability or further obligation to the other party or
any of its partners, directors, officers, members, managers, shareholders,
employees, agents, or affiliates pursuant to this Agreement with respect to
which termination has occurred, except as stated in Article VII or in Section
8.2(b) and in Sections 9.1 and 9.2 hereof; and
(ii) All filings, applications and other submissions relating
to the transfer of the Purchased Assets shall, to the extent practicable, be
withdrawn from the agency or other person to which made.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this
Agreement, including without limitation Article VII, in the event of termination
of this Agreement, or if pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (i) Seller
shall be obligated to sell the Purchased Assets and Buyer shall be obligated to
purchase the Purchased Assets, (ii) Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, shall
have duly satisfied each of the conditions set forth in Article VI hereof to be
satisfied by it or them (or in the case of any condition that is to be satisfied
at the Closing, shall have demonstrated a willingness and ability to satisfy
such condition if the Closing were to take place), and the conditions set forth
in Section 6.1 have been satisfied, and (iii) Seller or Buyer, as the case may
be, shall nevertheless fail to sell or purchase the Purchased Assets, then and
in that event, Buyer and Seller, as the case may be, shall be entitled to seek
any remedy to which they may be entitled at law or in equity in the event of a
violation or breach of any agreement, representation or warranty contained in
this Agreement (which remedies shall include without limitation with respect to
both Buyer and Seller, an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of, or
-32-
<PAGE>
to obtain specific performance of any obligation hereunder, without limiting any
monetary damages to which Buyer or Seller, as the case may be, shall be
entitled).
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9.1. Commissions. Each of Seller and the Shareholders, on the one
hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, represent and warrant to the other that no
broker, finder or other person is entitled to any brokerage fees, commissions or
finder's fees in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby by reason
of any action taken by the party making such representation. Each of Seller and
the Shareholders, on the one hand, and Buyer, on the other hand, will pay or
otherwise discharge, and will indemnify and hold the other harmless from and
against, any and all claims or liabilities for all brokerage fees, commissions
and finder's fees incurred by reason of any action taken by such party.
9.2. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby
are consummated, except as otherwise provided herein, all costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby will be paid by the party incurring such costs and expenses; provided,
however, that Buyer and Seller will each bear one-half of the filing fee
incurred in complying with the HSR Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder by the Federal Trade Commission. With regard to costs associated with
transferring the Purchased Assets to Buyer pursuant to this Agreement, Seller
will pay any sales or use taxes and transfer taxes or fees, and Buyer will pay
any recording fees.
9.3. Further Assurances. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, each of the parties hereto will use all reasonable efforts to take,
or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, all things
necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws and regulations to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
From time to time after the Closing Date, without further consideration, Seller
will, at its expense, execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and
delivered, such documents to Buyer as Buyer may reasonably request in order to
more effectively vest in Buyer good title to the Purchased Assets. From time to
time after the Closing Date, without further consideration, Buyer will, at
Buyer's expense, execute and deliver such documents to Seller as Seller may
reasonably request in order more effectively to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
9.4. Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended,
modified or supplemented only by written agreement executed by all of the
parties hereto.
9.5. Waiver of Compliance; Consents. Except as otherwise provided in
this Agreement, any failure of any of the parties to comply with any obligation,
representation, warranty, covenant, agreement or condition herein may be waived
by the party entitled to the benefits thereof only by a written instrument
signed by the party granting such waiver, but such waiver or failure to insist
upon strict compliance with such obligation, representation, warranty, covenant,
agreement or condition shall not operate as a waiver of, or estoppel with
respect to, any subsequent or other failure. Whenever this Agreement requires or
permits consent by or on behalf of any party hereto, such consent shall be given
in writing in a manner consistent with the requirements for a waiver of
compliance as set forth in this Section 9.5.
-33-
<PAGE>
9.6. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be
in writing and shall be deemed given when delivered by hand or by facsimile
transmission or mailed by registered or certified mail (return receipt
requested), postage prepaid, to the parties at the following addresses (or at
such other address for a party as shall be specified by like notice; provided
that notices of a change of address shall be effective only upon receipt
thereof):
(a) If to Buyer, to:
Culp, Inc.
P.O. Box 2686
101 South Main Street
High Point, North Carolina 27261-2686
Attention: Franklin N. Saxon
Facsimile: (910) 887-7089
Copies to:
Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A.
1900 Independence Center
101 North Tryon Street
Charlotte, North Carolina 28246
Attention: Henry H. Ralston
Facsimile: (704) 378-4000
(b) If to Seller, to:
Artee Industries, Incorporated
P.O. Box 1509
Shelby, North Carolina 28151
Attention: Robert L. Davis
Facsimile: (704) 482-0735
Copies to:
Alala Mullen Holland & Cooper P.A.
P.O. Box 488
301 South York Street
Gastonia, North Carolina 28053
Attention: J. Mark Heavner
Facsimile: (704) 861-8394
(c) If to Shareholders, to:
Robert T. Davis
3721 Eaglebrook Drive
Gastonia, North Carolina 28056
-34-
<PAGE>
9.7. Action by Shareholders. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Agreement, any act or decision by the Shareholders hereunder (including
without limitation any decision relating to termination, waiver of conditions
and indemnification that could be applicable) shall require the consent or
approval of the Shareholders who then hold a majority of voting shares of Seller
(if prior to Closing) or who held a majority of such voting shares (if at or
subsequent to Closing), and any act or decision approved or consented to by the
Shareholders shall be binding upon all of the Shareholders.
9.8. Right of Set-Off. The parties agree that Buyer may, at its
election, satisfy and set-off any payments due Buyer from Seller or the
Shareholders under this Agreement or in connection herewith against any payments
due from Buyer to Seller or to the Shareholders under this Agreement or in
connection therewith.
9.9. Assignment. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall
be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and permitted assigns.
9.10. Governing Law. The execution, interpretation and performance of
this Agreement shall be governed by the internal laws and judicial decisions of
the State of North Carolina.
9.11. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
9.12. Interpretation. The article and section headings contained in
this Agreement are solely for the purpose of reference, are not part of the
agreement of the parties and shall not in any way affect the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
9.13. Entire Agreement. This Agreement, including the Exhibits and
Schedules hereto and the documents delivered pursuant to this Agreement, embody
the entire agreement and understanding of the parties hereto in respect of the
subject matter hereof. The Exhibits and Schedules hereto are an integral part of
this Agreement and are incorporated by reference herein. This Agreement
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, whether written, oral, or
otherwise, between the parties with respect to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement.
[Signatures on Following Page]
-35-
<PAGE>
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller and Buyer have caused this Agreement to be
signed by their respective duly authorized officers, and each Shareholder has
signed this Agreement, as of the date first above written.
SELLER:
ARTEE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Robert T. Davis
--------------------------------------
Robert T. Davis, Chairman
SHAREHOLDERS:
/s/ Robert T. Davis
-----------------------------------------------
Robert T. Davis
/s/ Robert L. Davis
-----------------------------------------------
Robert L Davis, Trustee of Robert T. Davis
Irrevocable Trust under agreement dated
8/25/94
/s/ Robert L. Davis
-----------------------------------------------
Robert L. Davis
/s/ Louis W. Davis
-----------------------------------------------
Louis W. Davis
/s/ Kelly D. England
-----------------------------------------------
Kelly D. England
/s/ J. Marshall Bradley
-----------------------------------------------
J. Marshall Bradley
-36-
<PAGE>
/s/ Frankie S. Bradley
-----------------------------------------------
Frankie S. Bradley
/s/ Micky R. Bradley
-----------------------------------------------
Micky R. Bradley
BUYER:
CULP, INC.
By: /s/ Franklin N. Saxon
----------------------------------------
Franklin N. Saxon, Senior Vice President
-37-
<PAGE>
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE I
SALE OF ASSETS AND TERMS OF PAYMENT
1.1. The Sale..........................................................-1-
1.2. Purchase Price....................................................-2-
1.3. Purchase Price Adjustment.........................................-3-
1.4. Preparation of Closing Balance Sheet..............................-3-
1.5. Procedure for Determination of Purchase Price Adjustment..........-3-
1.6. Post-Closing Payment..............................................-4-
1.7. Contingent Payment................................................-4-
1.8. Assignment and Assumption of Obligations and Liabilities..........-6-
1.9. Procedures for Purchased Assets Not Transferable..................-7-
1.10. Allocations.......................................................-7-
ARTICLE II
THE CLOSING
2.1. Time and Place of Closing.........................................-7-
2.2. Deliveries by Seller..............................................-8-
2.3. Deliveries by Buyer...............................................-8-
ARTICLE III
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF SELLER
3.1. Existence; Capital Stock; and Ownership...........................-9-
3.2. Authority Relative to this Agreement..............................-9-
3.3. Consent and Approvals; No Violation...............................-9-
3.4. Financial Statements.............................................-10-
3.5. Undisclosed Liabilities..........................................-10-
3.6. Absence of Certain Changes or Events.............................-10-
3.7. Certain Contracts and Arrangements...............................-10-
3.8. Litigation.......................................................-11-
3.9. Labor Matters....................................................-11-
3.10. Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA....................................-11-
3.11. Tax Matters......................................................-13-
3.12. Licenses and Authorizations......................................-13-
3.13. Compliance with Laws.............................................-14-
3.14. Title to Purchased Assets........................................-14-
3.15. Tangible Purchased Assets........................................-14-
3.16. Leased Property..................................................-14-
3.17. Bank Accounts....................................................-14-
3.18. Corporate and Personnel Data; Labor Relations....................-14-
3.19. Insurance........................................................-14-
3.20. Customers........................................................-15-
3.21. Inventories......................................................-15-
<PAGE>
3.22. Accounts Receivable..............................................-15-
3.23. Intellectual Property............................................-15-
3.24. Environmental Matters............................................-15-
3.25. Product Warranty.................................................-17-
3.26. Product Liability................................................-17-
3.27. Claims and Charges against Products..............................-17-
3.28. Disclosure.......................................................-17-
ARTICLE IV
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
4.1. Organization.....................................................-18-
4.2. Authority Relative to this Agreement.............................-18-
4.3. Consents and Approvals; No Violation.............................-18-
ARTICLE V
COVENANTS OF THE PARTIES
5.1. Conduct of Business..............................................-18-
5.2. Financial Statements.............................................-20-
5.3. Access to Information; Confidentiality...........................-20-
5.4. Change of Corporate Name.........................................-20-
5.5. Filings..........................................................-21-
5.6. Employees and Employee Benefits..................................-21-
5.7. Noncompetition...................................................-22-
5.8. Lien Search......................................................-23-
5.9. Other Actions....................................................-24-
5.10. Corporate Action.................................................-24-
5.11. No Solicitation..................................................-24-
5.12. Robert T. Davis..................................................-24-
5.14. Equipment Lease..................................................-24-
ARTICLE VI
CLOSING CONDITIONS
6.1. Conditions to Each Party's Obligations to Effect the Transactions
Contemplated Hereby..............................................-25-
6.2. Conditions to the Obligations of Seller to Effect the Transactions
Contemplated Hereby..............................................-25-
6.3. Conditions to the Obligations of Buyer to Effect the Transactions
Contemplated Hereby..............................................-26-
ARTICLE VII
SURVIVAL OF REPRESENTATIONS; INDEMNIFICATION
7.1. Survival of Representations......................................-27-
7.2. Seller's Agreement to Indemnify..................................-27-
7.3. Buyer's Agreement to Indemnify...................................-30-
-ii-
<PAGE>
ARTICLE VIII
TERMINATION
8.1. Termination......................................................-32-
8.2. Procedure and Effect of Termination or Failure to Close..........-32-
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
9.1. Commissions......................................................-33-
9.2. Expenses.........................................................-33-
9.3. Further Assurances...............................................-33-
9.4. Amendment and Modification.......................................-33-
9.5. Waiver of Compliance; Consents...................................-33-
9.6. Notices..........................................................-34-
9.7. Action by Shareholders...........................................-35-
9.8. Right of Set-Off.................................................-35-
9.9. Assignment.......................................................-35-
9.10. Governing Law....................................................-35-
9.11. Counterparts.....................................................-35-
9.12. Interpretation...................................................-35-
9.13. Entire Agreement.................................................-35-
-iii-
<PAGE>
EXHIBITS
A Form of Assignment Agreement
B Form of Seller's Opinion
C Form of Equipment Lease Agreement
1.7 Calculation of Contingent Payment
SCHEDULES
1.1(a) Purchased Property
1.1(b) Leased Property
1.1(c) Tangible Personal Property
1.1(d) Contracts
1.1(f) Prepaid Expenses
1.8 Debt to Be Paid at Closing
3.1 Qualification
3.5 Undisclosed Liabilities
3.6 Absence of Certain Changes or Events
3.7 Contracts and Arrangements
3.8 Litigation
3.9 Labor Matters
3.10 Employee Benefit Plans; ERISA
3.12 Licenses and Authorizations
3.14(a) Exceptions to Title
3.14(b) Excluded Assets
3.17 Bank Accounts
3.18 Corporate and Personnel Data
3.19 Insurance
3.20 Customers
3.23 Intellectual Property
3.24 Environmental Matters
-iv-
The Board of Directors
Culp, Inc.:
We consent to the use of our report incorporated herein by reference and to the
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Greensboro, North Carolina
December 18, 1997
