<PAGE> 1
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): JULY 21, 1999
LPA HOLDING CORP.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
See Table of Additional Registrants
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S> <C> <C>
DELAWARE 333-56239-01 43-1144353
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification
incorporation or organization) Number)
</TABLE>
8717 WEST 110TH STREET, SUITE 300
OVERLAND PARK, KANSAS 66210
(913) 345-1250
(Address and Telephone Number of Registrant's Principal Executive Office)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS
JURISDICTION OF COMMISSION IRS EMPLOYER
NAME INCOPRORATION FILE NUMBER IDENTIFICATION NO.
- --------------------------- --------------- ---------------- ------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
La Petite Academy, Inc. Delaware 333-56239 43-1243221
LPA Services, Inc. Delaware 333-56239-02 74-2849053
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 2
ITEM 2. ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS
On July 21, 1999, La Petite Academy, Inc. (the "Company") consummated a
merger with Bright Start, Inc., a Minnesota corporation ("Bright Start"),
pursuant to which Bright Start became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company.
In consideration for the merger, the Company paid a total of $9.3 million for
all of the issued and outstanding shares of Bright Start common stock and all of
the issued and outstanding options to purchase shares of Bright Start common
stock, and assumed approximately $2.0 million in debt.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
(a) Financial Statements of Business Acquired
Included herewith are (1) the unaudited balance sheet of Bright Start,
Inc. as of June 30, 1999 and the unaudited statements of operations and cash
flows for the 44 weeks ended June 30, 1999 and (2) the audited balance sheet of
Bright Start, Inc. as of August 31, 1998 and 1997 and statements of operations,
shareholders' equity and cash flows for the years then ended, with the report of
Ernst & Young LLP.
<PAGE> 3
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
BRIGHT START, INC.
JUNE 30, 1999 (UNAUDITED), AUGUST 31, 1998 AND 1997
<PAGE> 4
Bright Start, Inc.
Financial Statements
June 30, 1999 (Unaudited), August 31, 1998 and 1997
CONTENTS
Report of Independent Auditors...........................................1
Audited Financial Statements
Balance Sheets...........................................................2
Statements of Operations.................................................4
Statement of Shareholders' Equity........................................5
Statements of Cash Flows.................................................7
Notes to Financial Statements............................................9
<PAGE> 5
Report of Independent Auditors
The Board of Directors
Bright Start, Inc.
We have audited the balance sheets of Bright Start, Inc. as of August 31, 1998
and 1997, and the related statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and
cash flows for the years then ended. These financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in
all material respects, the financial position of Bright Start, Inc. at August
31, 1998 and 1997, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the
years then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.
Ernst & Young LLP
October 9, 1998
F-1
<PAGE> 6
Bright Start, Inc.
Balance Sheets
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JUNE 30 AUGUST 31 AUGUST 31
1999 1998 1997
------------------------------------------------
ASSETS (UNAUDITED)
Current assets:
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash and cash equivalents $ 235,242 $ 627,972 $ 104,714
Accounts receivable, less allowance of $17,600
and $20,000 in 1998 and 1997, respectively 609,701 545,594 402,530
Prepaid expenses 301,753 320,742 278,144
------------------------------------------------
Total current assets 1,146,696 1,494,308 785,388
------------------------------------------------
Equipment and leasehold improvements, at cost:
Vehicles 856,474 815,474 767,336
Office furniture and equipment 456,011 395,644 370,725
Equipment and fixtures 510,474 461,030 428,208
Movable furnishings 1,323,370 1,273,302 1,225,605
Outdoor playground equipment 982,549 981,079 937,910
Learning equipment 508,995 488,550 488,989
Leasehold improvements 451,937 430,928 368,223
Playground improvements 47,777 23,577 10,239
------------------------------------------------
5,137,587 4,869,584 4,597,235
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization 3,083,890 2,588,069 1,953,083
------------------------------------------------
2,053,697 2,281,515 2,644,152
Intangibles and other assets:
Organization and acquisition costs, net of amortization of
$511,831 and $487,314 at 1998 and 1997, respectively 11,243 20,564 45,081
Goodwill, net of amortization of $2,183,793 and
$2,149,726 at 1998 and 1997, respectively 1,223,933 1,252,322 1,286,389
Deferred debt costs, net of amortization of $25,791 at 1997 - - 49,003
Other assets 106,292 91,160 84,366
------------------------------------------------
1,341,468 1,364,046 1,464,839
------------------------------------------------
================================================
Total assets $4,541,861 $5,139,869 $4,894,379
================================================
</TABLE>
F-2
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
JUNE 30 AUGUST 31 AUGUST 31
1999 1998 1997
-------------------------------------------
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Current liabilities:
Current maturities of long-term debt $ 172,339 $ 211,444 $ 225,148
Line of credit 150,000 - 295,000
Note payable, shareholders - - 200,000
Accounts payable 111,026 328,957 382,294
Accrued salaries and related expenses 657,773 760,699 525,074
Other accrued expenses 143,189 177,367 186,213
Advance tuition 308,080 353,902 122,862
-------------------------------------------
Total current liabilities 1,542,407 1,832,369 1,936,591
Deferred rent 11,577 16,402 22,193
Long-term debt, less current maturities 265,474 345,029 503,085
Subordinated debt 1,649,842 - 1,346,904
-------------------------------------------
Total liabilities 3,469,300 2,193,800 3,808,773
Commitments
Shareholders' equity:
Preferred Stock, Series A, par value $.01; authorized,
issued and outstanding shares - 0 in 1998 and 770,000 in - - 7,700
1997
Preferred Stock, Series B, par value $.01; authorized shares
- 1,000,000; issued and outstanding shares - 0 in
1998 and 833,333 in 1997 - - 8,333
Preferred Stock, Series C, par value $.01; authorized,
issued and outstanding shares - 519,063--1998 and 1997 - 5,191 5,191
Preferred Stock, Series D, par value $.01; authorized,
issued and outstanding shares - 0 in 1998 and 250,000 in 1997 - - 2,500
Common Stock, par value $.01 per share; authorized
shares - 12,460,937, issued and outstanding shares -
3,379,821 in 1998 and 326,000 in 1997 33,898 33,798 3,260
Additional paid-in capital 5,995,816 8,160,176 5,115,204
Retained earnings (deficit) (4,957,153) (5,253,096) (4,056,582)
------------------------------------------
1,072,561 2,946,069 1,085,606
---------------------------------------------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $4,541,861 $5,139,869 $4,894,379
=============================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-3
<PAGE> 8
Bright Start, Inc.
Statements of Operations
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
44 WEEKS ENDED YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31
JUNE 30, 1999 1998 1997
---------------------------------------------------
Revenues: (UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Tuition $18,308,469 $21,493,210 $18,843,413
U.S. Department of Agriculture subsidy 356,773 340,930 286,462
Registration 171,338 232,897 234,810
Other 91,958 148,366 140,284
---------------------------------------------------
18,928,538 22,215,403 19,504,969
---------------------------------------------------
Operating expenses:
Payroll and related expenses 10,336,254 11,350,629 10,150,638
Rent 3,189,530 3,728,105 3,460,908
Other center operating expenses 3,575,282 4,144,325 3,805,696
General and administrative 908,567 1,814,730 1,598,366
Depreciation and amortization 544,088 743,999 779,978
---------------------------------------------------
18,553,721 21,781,788 19,795,586
---------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) from operations 374,817 433,615 (290,617)
Other income (expense) 9,482 (1,051) 1,423
Interest expense (69,536) (174,370) (261,578)
---------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before debt conversion expense and
income taxes 314,763 258,194 (550,772)
Debt conversion expense - (983,947) -
---------------------------------------------------
Income (loss) before income taxes 314,763 (725,753) (550,772)
Income tax expense 981 1,075 978
---------------------------------------------------
Net income (loss) $ 313,782 $ (726,828) $ (551,750)
===================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-4
<PAGE> 9
Bright Start, Inc.
Statement of Shareholders' Equity
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PREFERRED STOCK
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SERIES A SERIES B SERIES C
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance August 31, 1995 770,000 $7,700 833,333 $8,333 519,063 $5,191
Exercise of stock options - - - - - -
Accretion of Series C stock to
redemption value - - - - - -
Net loss - - - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance August 31, 1996 770,000 7,700 833,333 8,333 519,063 5,191
Exercise of stock options - - - - - -
Accretion of Series C stock to
redemption value - - - - - -
Discount on subordinated debt - - - - - -
Net loss - - - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance August 31, 1997 770,000 7,700 833,333 8,333 519,063 5,191
Exercise of stock options - - - - - -
Accretion of Series C stock to
redemption value - - - - - -
Conversion of preferred stock
to common stock (770,000) (7,700) (833,333) (8,333) - -
Conversion of subordinated debt
to common stock - - - - - -
Conversion of shareholder notes
payable to common stock - - - - - -
Net loss - - - - - -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance August 31, 1998 - $ - - $ - 519,063 $5,191
================================================================================
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes.
F-5
<PAGE> 10
Bright Start, Inc.
Statement of Shareholders' Equity
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SERIES D COMMON STOCK ADDITIONAL RETAINED
------------------------------------------------ PAID-IN EARNINGS
SHARES AMOUNT SHARES AMOUNT CAPITAL (DEFICIT) TOTAL
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Balance August 31, 1995 250,000 $2,500 296,472 $ 2,965 $4,260,142 $ (898,466) $3,388,365
Exercise of stock options - - 26,528 265 22,412 - 22,677
Accretion of Series C stock to
redemption value - - - - 30,936 (30,936) -
Net loss - - - - - (2,544,494) (2,544,494)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance August 31, 1996 250,000 2,500 323,000 3,230 4,313,490 (3,473,896) 866,548
Exercise of stock options - - 3,000 30 2,970 - 3,000
Accretion of Series C stock to
redemption value - - - - 30,936 (30,936) -
Discount on subordinated debt - - - - 767,808 - 767,808
Net loss - - - - - (551,750) (551,750)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance August 31, 1997 250,000 2,500 326,000 3,260 5,115,204 (4,056,582) 1,085,606
Exercise of stock options - - 25,709 257 15,950 - 16,207
Accretion of Series C stock to
redemption value - - - - 30,936 (30,936) -
Conversion of preferred stock
to common stock (250,000) (2,500) 2,048,333 20,483 436,800 (438,750) -
Conversion of subordinated debt
to common stock - - 888,889 8,889 2,357,690 - 2,366,579
Conversion of shareholder notes
payable to common stock - - 90,890 909 203,596 - 204,505
Net loss - - - - - (726,828) (726,828)
==============================================================================================
Balance August 31, 1998 - $ - 3,379,821 $33,798 $8,160,176 $(5,253,096) $2,946,069
==============================================================================================
</TABLE>
F-6
<PAGE> 11
Bright Start, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
44 WEEKS ENDED YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31
JUNE 30, 1999 1998 1997
------------------------------------------------------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED)
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Net income (loss) $ 313,782 $ (726,828) $(551,750)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Depreciation 506,377 681,820 669,355
Amortization 37,710 62,184 109,697
Debt conversion expense - 983,947 -
Deferred rent (4,825) (5,791) (5,790)
Non-cash interest - 81,131 123,051
Loss on disposal of fixed assets 5,685 20,241 2,297
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (64,107) (143,064) (74,186)
Prepaid expenses and other assets 3,857 (49,392) 24,804
Accounts payable (217,931) (53,337) 32,004
Accrued expenses (137,104) 249,284 (28,506)
Advance tuition (45,822) 231,040 25,667
------------------------------------------------------
Net cash provided by operating activities 397,622 1,331,235 326,643
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
Purchase of equipment and leasehold improvements, net (284,244) (339,424) (577,495)
------------------------------------------------------
Net cash used in investing activities (284,244) (339,424) (577,495)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Principal payments on long-term debt (741,390) (240,738) (208,526)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 72,782 68,978 92,709
Proceeds from issuance of shareholder loans - - 200,000
Principal payments on shareholder loans - (18,000) -
Proceeds from exercise of stock options 12,500 16,207 -
Proceeds from line of credit 150,000 - 270,000
Principal payments on line of credit - (295,000) (250,000)
------------------------------------------------------
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (506,108) (468,553) 104,183
------------------------------------------------------
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (392,730) 523,258 (146,669)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 627,972 104,714 251,383
======================================================
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $ 235,242 $ 627,972 $ 104,714
======================================================
</TABLE>
F-7
<PAGE> 12
Bright Start, Inc.
Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
44 WEEKS ENDED YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31
JUNE 30, 1999 1998 1997
---------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NONCASH INVESTING AND (UNAUDITED)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Conversion of convertible subordinated debt, net of
discount, to common stock $ - $1,425,402 $ -
Conversion of shareholder loan plus related accrued
interest to common stock - 204,505 -
Conversion of Series A, B, and D Preferred Stock to
common stock - 18,533 -
Conversion of Series C Preferred Stock to Subordinated debt 2,199,789
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION
Cash paid for interest $ 46,106 $ 89,025 $ 163,179
Cash paid for income taxes 981 1,075 678
See accompanying notes.
</TABLE>
F-8
<PAGE> 13
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
1. DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS
Bright Start, Inc. (the Company) owns and operates forty-one child care centers
located in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nevada and New Mexico and three kindergarten
through fifth grade elementary schools in New Mexico. The Company is subject to
the regulatory requirements for child care centers in the various states in
which they operate and provides educationally-based early childhood programs for
infants through kindergarten. It also operates programs for care of school-age
children before and after their regular school day.
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accompanying unaudited financial statements have been prepared according to
generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and
include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring accruals, which, in the
opinion of management, are necessary for a fair presentation of financial
position, results of operations and cash flows. Accordingly, they do not include
all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting
principles for complete financial statements. Results of operations for interim
periods are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for a full
year.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
The Company considers all highly liquid investments purchased with a maturity of
three months or less to be cash equivalents.
EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS
Equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost and are depreciated
using accelerated and straight-line methods over the following estimated useful
lives:
YEARS
-------------------
Vehicles 5 - 8
Office furniture and equipment 5 - 7
Equipment and fixtures 7
Movable furnishings 5 - 7
Outdoor playground equipment 7 - 10
Learning equipment 3 - 5
Leasehold improvements 10 - 31 1/2
Playground improvements 3
F-9
<PAGE> 14
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Intangible assets consist of acquisition and organization costs and goodwill.
Acquisition and organization costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over
five years and goodwill is amortized on a straight-line basis over 40 years.
Deferred debt costs were amortized using the interest method at a rate of 9.75%
until March 31, 1998 at which time the unamortized balance was expensed due to
the conversion of the related subordinated debt to common stock (see Note 5).
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS
The Company will record impairment losses on long-lived assets used in
operations when indicators of impairment are present and the undiscounted cash
flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the assets'
carrying amount.
GROSS RECEIPTS TAX
The Company pays an average gross receipts tax of approximately 5.5% on gross
revenues in New Mexico. This tax is netted against tuition revenue in the
accompanying income statement.
INCOME TAXES
The Company accounts for income taxes using the liability method. Deferred
income taxes are provided for temporary differences between financial reporting
and tax bases of assets and liabilities.
F-10
<PAGE> 15
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
USE OF ESTIMATES
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that
affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes.
Actual results could differ from the estimates.
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
The Company has adopted the disclosure-only provisions of FASB Statement No.
123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation (Statement 123), but applies
Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees (APB 25), and related interpretations in accounting for its stock
plans. Under APB 25, when the exercise price of stock options equals the market
price of the underlying stock on the date of grant, no compensation expense is
recognized.
RECLASSIFICATIONS
Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current
year presentation.
3. LINE OF CREDIT
The Company has a Revolving Credit Agreement (the Credit Line) with U.S. Bank,
N.A. (formerly First Bank, N.A.) (the Bank) to make loans to the Company of up
to $300,000 through January 31, 1999. The Credit Line is secured by all
available assets of the Company and a full personal guaranty by the Company's
Chief Executive Officer. Interest on the outstanding balance is due monthly at a
rate of 1.5% over the Bank's reference rate (10.0% at August 31, 1998). There
was no outstanding balance under the credit line at August 31, 1998.
The Credit Line contains certain financial and non-financial covenants. The
Company was in compliance with all covenants at August 31, 1998.
F-11
<PAGE> 16
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
4. LONG-TERM DEBT
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Long-term debt consists of the following:
1998 1997
--------------------------
<S> <C> <C>
Note payable for purchase of child care centers in Wisconsin, payable in
quarterly installments of $10,417 to October 2000 plus interest at the
lesser of 1% above Firstar Bank base rate or 8%, collateralized
by assets purchased $ 52,083 $ 93,750
Note payable for purchase of child care centers in Nevada, payable in
quarterly installments of $10,592, to June 1999, including interest
at 9%, unsecured 19,162 68,768
Note payable for purchase of Wee Care Learning Center in Nevada, payable in
quarterly installments of $3,125 to April 1999 plus
interest at 8%, unsecured 9,375 21,875
Note payable for purchase of Wee Wonder Child Care Center in Nevada, payable
in quarterly installments of $4,375 to February 1999 plus
interest at 7.5%, collateralized by assets purchased 8,750 26,250
Note payable for purchase of Kurious Kids Academy in Wisconsin, payable in
quarterly installments of $9,286 to March 2003 plus interest at
8%, collateralized by assets purchased 176,429 213,572
Capitalized lease agreement for equipment related to newly developed centers
from FBS Business Financial Corporation, payable in monthly installments of
$4,183 to August 2001, including interest at 10.58%,
collateralized by leased assets 127,440 162,111
Capitalized lease agreement for computer equipment from GreatAmerica Leasing
Corporation, payable in monthly installments of $474 to February 2001,
including interest at 12.18%, collateralized by leased
assets 13,231 -
Loans payable for vehicles purchased, payable in monthly installments from
$355 to $536 including interest ranging from 9.75% to 14.99%, expiring
through February 16, 2002, collateralized by vehicles
purchased 150,003 141,907
--------------------------
556,473 728,233
Less current maturities 211,444 225,148
==========================
Total long-term debt $345,029 $ 503,085
==========================
</TABLE>
F-12
<PAGE> 17
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
4. LONG-TERM DEBT (CONTINUED)
Future maturities of long-term debt are as follows:
Year ending August 31:
1999 $211,444
2000 146,202
2001 126,904
2002 44,066
2003 27,857
===========
$556,473
===========
5. CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED DEBT
On March 31, 1995 the Company issued a $2,000,000 convertible subordinated note
(the Note). The proceeds from the Note issuance were used to complete the New
Mexico acquisition in 1995. Deferred debt costs of $74,794 were capitalized and
amortized using the interest method. The original Note was convertible into
300,000 shares of Common Stock at $6.667 per share. Effective October 1, 1996
the Company negotiated an amendment with the issuer that waived all future
interest payments in exchange for reducing the initial conversion price to $4.25
per share. As a result of the amended conversion price the Note became
convertible into 470,588 shares of Common Stock. A discount on the Note of
approximately $768,000 was recorded during 1997 to reflect the present value of
the principal payments. This discount was being amortized to interest expense
over the remaining life of the Note. During 1998, noncash interest on the
amortization of the discount of $78,498 was recorded.
On March 31, 1998, the Note was converted at the option of the issuer in
exchange for a new lower conversion price of $2.25 per share. As a result of the
conversion, 888,889 shares of voting common stock were issued and debt
conversion expense of $941,177 was recorded to reflect the 418,301 additional
shares issued over the contractual amount at the new conversion price of $2.25
per share. The remaining unamortized balance of the related deferred debt costs
in the amount of $42,770 was also written off to debt conversion expense.
F-13
<PAGE> 18
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
6. PREFERRED STOCK
SERIES A AND B PREFERRED STOCK
The Company had issued and outstanding 770,000 shares of Series A Preferred and
833,333 shares of Series B Preferred Stock. The shares were convertible into
voting common shares of the Company at any time at the option of the
shareholders on a one-for-one basis. On March 31, 1998, all Series A and Series
B Preferred Stock was converted into voting common stock at the option of the
shareholders at the stated conversion price. As a result of the conversion,
1,603,333 additional shares of common stock were issued.
SERIES C PREFERRED STOCK
In conjunction with the New Mexico acquisition in 1995, the Company issued
519,063 shares of Series C Preferred Stock. The shares are convertible into
voting common shares of the Company at any time at the option of the
shareholders on a one-for-one basis but are automatically converted into common
shares pursuant to the filing of a registration statement. The Series C shares
are redeemable at the option of the Company any time between April 1, 1999 and
March 31, 2002 and before the Series A and B Preferred shares. The stock was
valued at $4.00 per share and contains a put option which entitles the
shareholders to redeem their shares at a price of $4.238 per share no earlier
than April 1, 1999. If the shareholders elect this redemption, the amount shall
be paid in four equal annual installments of $550,000 plus interest beginning
April 1, 1999. Prior to the redemption date, the Company will reduce retained
earnings and increase additional paid-in capital to increase the value of the
Series C shares to their put value at the earliest redemption date. The amount
of this adjustment in 1998 was $30,936.
SERIES D PREFERRED STOCK
The Company had issued and outstanding 250,000 shares of Series D Preferred
Stock at $4.00 per share. The shares were convertible into voting common shares
of the Company at any time at the option of the shareholders on a one-for-one
basis. On March 31, 1998, the Series D Preferred Stock was converted into voting
common stock at the option of the shareholders in exchange for a new lower
conversion rate of 1.78 shares of common stock for each share of Series D
Preferred, or $2.25 per share. As a result of the conversion,
F-14
<PAGE> 19
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
6. PREFERRED STOCK (CONTINUED)
445,000 additional shares of common stock were issued and a preferred stock
dividend of $438,750 was recorded as a direct charge to retained earnings to
reflect the 195,000 additional shares issued over the contractual amount at the
new conversion price of $2.25 per share.
7. STOCK OPTIONS
The Company, in the years prior to 1994, issued incentive and non-qualified
stock options to directors and stockholders. In 1994, the Board of Directors
established a stock option plan under which 210,000 shares of Common Stock were
reserved for issuance to employees, officers and directors. In 1998, the Board
of Directors authorized an additional 75,000 shares of Common Stock to be
reserved for issuance under the Plan.
Non-qualified options are granted at a price approved by the Board of Directors.
Incentive stock options are granted at a price determined by the Board of
Directors which is required to be at least the fair market value of the Common
Stock of the Company on the date of grant. Stock options are exercisable in
increments defined by each agreement with the option holder and generally expire
ten years from the grant date.
The following table summarizes the options to purchase shares of the Company's
Common Stock under the Company's stock option plans:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SHARES AVAILABLE OPTIONS WEIGHTED
FOR GRANT OUTSTANDING AVERAGE PRICE PER
SHARE
--------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance at August 31, 1996 32,500 226,418 1.11
Granted (7,000) 7,000 1.25
Exercised - (3,000) 1.00
Canceled 6,500 (6,500) 1.25
---------------------------------------
Balance at August 31, 1997 32,000 223,918 1.11
Reserved 75,000 -
Granted (84,000) 84,000 1.29
Exercised - (25,709) .63
Canceled 12,000 (12,000) 1.25
=======================================
Balance at August 31, 1998 35,000 270,209 $1.20
=======================================
</TABLE>
F-15
<PAGE> 20
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
7. STOCK OPTIONS (CONTINUED)
The options are exercisable over a four-year vesting period and expire 10 years
after the grant date. At August 31, 1998 and 1997, options to purchase 170,834
and 169,168 shares of common stock are exercisable, respectively, at weighted
average exercise prices of $1.16 and $1.06, respectively. The weighted average
remaining contractual life of options outstanding at August 31, 1998 and 1997
was 6.96 and 6.78 years, respectively.
FASB Statement 123 requires that the pro forma impact on the Company's net loss
be disclosed as if the Company had accounted for its employee stock options
under the fair value method of Statement 123. The pro forma impact was not
material for 1998 and 1997.
8. OPERATING LEASES
The Company leases its facilities under operating leases. In addition to the
base rent, the majority of the leases provide for payment of various operating
costs. The leases expire on various dates to July 2017. Certain leases contain
options to renew. The Company also rents corporate office space in St. Paul,
Minnesota under terms of an operating lease agreement which expires in January
1999. The lease payments for the majority of the New Mexico Centers are secured
by the assets of those centers. Future minimum payments on the noncancelable
operating leases are as follows:
Year ending August 31:
1999 $ 3,618,971
2000 3,618,586
2001 3,565,102
2002 3,452,733
2003 3,313,597
Thereafter 19,481,169
Minimum lease payments for operating leases shown above do not include
contingent rentals which are based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.
Rent expensed for the years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997 was $3,779,290 and
$3,510,689, respectively. Of the 1998 amount, $940,300 was paid to New Vistas
Investment Corporation (NVIC), in which a current Board member has an ownership
interest. Also included in the 1998 rent expense is $365,080 paid to NVIBBR
Ltd., Co., which is a partner with NVIC.
F-16
<PAGE> 21
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
9. INCOME TAXES
At August 31, 1998, the Company has a cumulative net operating loss carryforward
of approximately $2,529,000 for income tax purposes that begins to expire in the
year 2004. These carryforwards are subject to the limitations of the Internal
Revenue Code Section 382 in the event of certain changes in the equity ownership
of the Company. The Company experienced ownership changes in 1992, 1994 and
1995. However, the Company does not believe that these ownership changes will
significantly limit its ability to use the existing net operating loss
carryforwards.
Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences
between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting
purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.
Significant components of the Company's deferred tax liabilities and assets are
as follows:
AUGUST 31
1998 1997
-------------------------------
Deferred tax liabilities:
Tax over book depreciation $ 244,000 $ 321,000
-------------------------------
Total deferred tax liabilities 244,000 321,000
Deferred tax assets:
Net operating loss carryforward 976,000 1,133,000
Goodwill 547,000 622,000
Other 46,000 37,000
-------------------------------
Total deferred tax assets 1,569,000 1,792,000
-------------------------------
Net deferred tax asset 1,325,000 1,471,000
Valuation allowance (1,325,000) (1,471,000)
===============================
$ - $ -
===============================
F-17
<PAGE> 22
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
10. COMMITMENTS
In connection with the purchase of the Wisconsin and certain Nevada centers, the
Company entered into non-competition and consulting agreements with the former
owners. The Wisconsin agreement requires quarterly payments of $12,500 through
May 1999, and the Nevada agreements require quarterly payments of $15,208
through July 1999. The amount expensed relating to these agreements for the
years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997 was $110,829.
The Company is also obligated under an agreement to pay a portion of profits to
the former owners from three school-age programs operated in Wisconsin public
schools. These payments will be made through May 1999 up to a maximum of
$350,000. The Company's obligation under this agreement for 1998 and 1997
totaled $47,035 and $43,870, respectively, which has been reflected as a
purchase price adjustment.
In connection with the 1995 New Mexico acquisition, the Company entered into
consulting agreements with three of the previous owners (Sellers) requiring
monthly payments of $10,581 including applicable gross receipts tax through
April 2000. The amount expensed relating to these agreements for the year ended
August 31, 1998 and 1997 was $126,975 and $122,547, respectively. The amounts
paid to a current board member as the result of these agreements were $63,488 in
1998 and $60,569 in 1997. The Sellers also have performance fee agreements
whereby the Company is obligated to pay 2% of gross revenue derived from new
centers placed in operation between December 31, 1994 and December 31, 1999,
with a maximum of $40,000 per center. The amount paid relating to these
agreements for the year ended August 31, 1998 and 1997 was $42,756 and $34,425,
respectively, and the amounts accrued relating to these agreements for the year
ended August 31, 1998 and 1997 was $7,040 and $14,876, respectively. The amounts
paid to a current board member as the result of these agreements were $25,296 in
1998 and $17,213 in 1997.
Also in connection with the 1995 New Mexico acquisition, the Company is
obligated, under a deferred consideration agreement, to pay a portion of
profits, as defined, from the existing centers to the Sellers. This agreement
expires in April 2002 and is limited to a maximum payout of $400,000. No amounts
were accrued under this agreement as of August 31, 1998.
F-18
<PAGE> 23
Bright Start, Inc.
Notes to Financial Statements
Years ended August 31, 1998 and 1997
10. COMMITMENTS (CONTINUED)
Minimum annual payment requirements under the non-competition and consulting
agreements for the five years subsequent to 1998 and in the aggregate are:
1999 $230,328
2000 74,069
==================
$304,397
==================
11. NOTES PAYABLE - SHAREHOLDERS
During 1997, the Company issued $200,000 of unsecured promissory notes to
certain shareholders in exchange for cash. On March 31, 1998, $182,000 of the
notes, plus accrued interest, were converted into voting common stock at $2.25
per share. As a result of the conversion, 90,890 additional shares of common
stock were issued. The remaining $18,000 of shareholder notes plus accrued
interest were paid in July 1998.
F-19
<PAGE> 24
(b) Pro Forma Financial Information
Set forth below are the unaudited pro forma combined balance sheet as of
July 3, 1999 and unaudited pro forma combined statement of operations of the
Company for the 44 weeks then ended.
LPA HOLDING CORP.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The following unaudited pro forma financial information combines the historical
financial information of LPA Holding Corp. and subsidiaries (the "Company") and
Bright Start, Inc. ("Bright Start").
On July 21, 1999 the Company acquired all the outstanding shares of Bright Start
for $9.3 million in cash and assumed approximately $2.0 million in debt. At the
time of the acquisition, Bright Start operated 43 preschools in the states of
Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nevada, and New Mexico with one new school under
construction, referred to herein as the "Acquisition." The Acquisition was
accounted for as a purchase, and accordingly, the purchase price has been
allocated to the fair value of net assets acquired, as well as normal closing
adjustments, and resulted in a preliminary allocation to goodwill of $10.1
million. Such allocations are preliminary in nature, pending the outcome of a
detailed analysis being performed by the Company of the assets and liabilities
acquired.
The unaudited Pro Forma Combined Balance Sheet combines the July 3, 1999
historical consolidated balance sheet of the Company and the historical balance
sheet of Bright Start. The balance sheets are combined on a pro forma basis as
if the Acquisition had been effective as of July 3, 1999, after giving effect to
various accounting adjustments for purchase accounting rules as well as the
financing of the transaction.
The unaudited Pro Forma Combined Statements of Operations present the combined
historical results of operations of the Company and Bright Start for the 44
weeks ended July 3, 1999 (44 weeks ended June 30, 1999 in the case of Bright
Start), as if the final closing of the Acquisition had been effective on the
first day of the period, after giving effect to various accounting adjustments.
On June 10, 1999, the Company changed its fiscal year to be the 52 or 53 week
period ending on the first Saturday in July. The historical statement of
operations for the Company were derived from the audited financial statements
for the 44 week transition period ended July 3, 1999. The historical statement
of operations for Bright Start were derived from the unaudited financial
statements for the 44 weeks ended June 30, 1999.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information has been prepared using
the assumptions set forth in the Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Financial
Information and should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated
Financial Statements and notes thereto, which have been previously filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the 44-weeks ended July 3, 1999 and with the financial statements of
Bright Start and notes thereto filed herewith.
The unaudited pro forma combined financial information is intended for
informational purposes and is not necessarily indicative of the future financial
position or future results of operations of the Company after the Acquisition or
of the financial position or the results of operations of the Company that would
have actually occurred had the Acquisition been consummated at the beginning of
the periods presented.
F-20
<PAGE> 25
LPA HOLDING CORP.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands of dollars)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
==============================================================================================================================
LA PETITE BRIGHT START
JULY 3, JUNE 30, PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
ASSETS 1999 1999 (a) ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4,572 $ 235 $ $ 4,807
Restricted cash investments 1,218 1,218
Accounts and notes receivable, net 8,077 610 (308) (a) 8,379
Prepaid food and supplies 7,884 389 (c) 8,273
Other prepaid expenses 5,850 302 6,152
Refundable income taxes 192 192
Current deferred income taxes
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Total current assets 27,793 1,147 81 29,021
Net Property and equipment 70,719 2,054 72,773
Goodwill 51,576 1,224 8,876 (e) 61,676
Other assets 10,204 117 (12) (f) 10,309
Deferred income taxes 8,883 8,883
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
$ 169,175 $ 4,542 $ 8,945 $ 182,662
=========== ============ ============ ============
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Overdrafts due banks $ 7,450 $ $ $ 7,450
Accounts payable 7,972 111 8,083
Current reserve for closed academies 1,366 1,366
Current maturities of long-term debt and capital 6,187 322 (208) (d) 6,301
lease obligations
Accrued salaries, wages and other payroll costs 11,903 658 23 (d) 12,584
Accrued insurance liabilities 2,389 2,389
Accrued property and sales taxes 3,749 43 3,792
Accrued interest payable 2,388 28 (28) (d) 2,388
Other current liabilities 11,199 380 (219) (d) 11,360
Current deferred income taxes 361 361
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Total current liabilities 54,964 1,542 (432) 56,074
Long-term debt and capital lease obligations 183,999 1,915 10,462 (b) 196,376
Other long-term liabilities 11,085 12 (12) (a) 11,085
Series A 12% redeemable preferred stock 29,310 29,310
Stockholders' deficit:
Class A common stock 6 34 (34) (g) 6
Class B common stock
Common stock warrants 5,645 5,645
Additional paid-in-capital 5,996 (5,996) (g) 0
Accumulated deficit (115,834) (4,957) 4,957 (g) (115,834)
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Total stockholders' deficit (110,183) 1,073 (1,073) (110,183)
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
$ 169,175 $ 4,542 $ 8,945 $ 182,662
=========== ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes
F-21
<PAGE> 26
LPA HOLDING CORP.
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands of dollars)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================================
LA PETITE BRIGHT START
44 WEEKS 44 WEEKS
ENDED ENDED PRO FORMA
JULY 3, JUNE 30, PRO FORMA COMBINED
1999 1999 (a) ADJUSTMENTS ADJUSTMENTS
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Operating revenue $ 281,072 $ 18,929 $ $ 300,001
Operating expenses:
Salaries, wages and benefits 150,052 10,336 160,388
Facility lease expense 34,717 3,190 37,907
Depreciation 10,911 506 11,417
Amortization of goodwill and other
intangibles 925 38 389 (h) 1,352
Other 68,277 4,484 (773) (i) 71,988
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
264,882 18,554 (384) 283,052
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Operating income 16,190 375 384 16,949
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Interest expense 16,145 69 835 (j) 17,049
Interest income (153) (9) (162)
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Net interest costs 15,992 60 835 16,887
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Income before income taxes 198 315 (451) 62
Provision (benefit) for income taxes 995 1 (183) (k) 813
----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income (loss) $ (797) $ 314 $ (268) $ (751)
=========== ============ ============ ============
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes
F-22
<PAGE> 27
LPA HOLDING CORP.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED PRO FORMA COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
(a) Certain amounts reported in the financial statements of Bright Start have
been reclassified to conform to the Company's financial statement
classifications and presentations.
(b) The pro forma adjustments to long-term debt include (in thousands):
Borrowings on revolving credit facility $ 12,214
Elimination of existing long-term debt of Bright Start (1,752)
--------
$ 10,462
========
(c) To record supply and food inventory not previously capitalized by Bright
Start.
(d) To record elimination of various Bright Start accruals, debt and accrued
interest, as well as to record various reclassifications and accruals
including transaction costs.
(e) To record goodwill associated with the Acquisition (in thousands):
Goodwill associated with purchase $ 10,100
Eliminate historical goodwill of Bright Start (1,224)
--------
$ 8,876
========
(f) To eliminate historical acquisition costs from pro forma balance sheet.
(g) To eliminate Bright Start equity from pro forma balance sheet.
(h) To reflect the Company's pro forma amortization related to the portion of
the Bright Start purchase price allocated to goodwill, as well as the
elimination of Bright Start's historical amortization. Goodwill is being
amortized for pro forma purposes using the straight-line method over a
20-year period.
(i) To eliminate home office overhead expenses, including salaries, as a result
of closing the corporate offices.
(j) To reflect interest expense related to the financing of the acquisition at
an average rate of interest and repayment of certain existing indebtedness
as discussed in note (b) above.
(k) To adjust income taxes for the effects of the above pro forma adjustments
at a statutory rate of 40.6%.
F-23
<PAGE> 28
(c) Exhibits
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibits
<S> <C>
2.1* Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 30, 1999 by and between La Petite
Academy, Inc., LPA Acquisition Co., Inc. and Bright Start, Inc.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
99.1 Press Release dated July 21, 1999.
</TABLE>
- -----------------
* The exhibits and schedules to this Agreement and Plan of Merger are not
included with this filing. The Company will provide these exhibits and schedules
upon the request of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
-3-
<PAGE> 29
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
LPA HOLDING CORP.
A Delaware corporation
Date: December 7, 1999 /s/ Joan K. Singleton
--------------------------------
By: Joan K. Singleton
Senior Vice-President, Chief Financial
Officer and duly authorized
representative of the registrant
-4-
<PAGE> 30
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
La Petite Academy, Inc.,
A Delaware corporation
Date: December 7, 1999 /s/ Joan K. Singleton
------------------------------
By: Joan K. Singleton
Senior Vice-President, Chief Financial
Officer and duly authorized
representative of the registrant
-5-
<PAGE> 31
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
LPA SERVICES, INC.
A Delaware corporation
Date: December 7, 1999 /s/ Joan K. Singleton
-----------------------------------------
By: Joan K. Singleton
Senior Vice-President, Chief Financial
Officer and duly authorized
representative of the registrant
-6-
<PAGE> 32
EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number Description of Exhibits
<S> <C>
2.1* Agreement and Plan of Merger dated June 30, 1999 by and between La Petite
Academy, Inc., LPA Acquisition Co., Inc. and Bright Start, Inc.
23.1 Consent of Ernst & Young LLP
99.1 Press Release dated July 21, 1999.
</TABLE>
- --------------------
* The exhibits and schedules to this Agreement and Plan of Merger are not
included with this filing. The Company will provide these exhibits and schedules
upon the request of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
By and Between
LA PETITE ACADEMY, INC.
LPA ACQUISITION CO., INC.
and
BRIGHT START, INC.
Dated June 30, 1999
<PAGE> 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS.............................................................................................1
ARTICLE 2 THE MERGER..............................................................................................5
2.1 THE MERGER......................................................................................5
2.2 EFFECTIVE TIME..................................................................................5
2.3 CLOSING.........................................................................................5
2.4 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION....................................................................6
2.5 THE BYLAWS......................................................................................6
2.6 DIRECTORS.......................................................................................6
2.7 OFFICERS........................................................................................6
2.8 CONSIDERATION FOR THE MERGER; CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION OF
SHARES AND OPTIONS IN THE MERGER................................................................6
2.9 PAYMENT.........................................................................................7
2.11 DISSENTING SHARES...............................................................................7
2.12 CLOSING STOCK TRANSFER BOOKS....................................................................8
ARTICLE 3 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY...........................................................8
3.1 ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER................................................8
3.2 CAPITALIZATION..................................................................................8
3.3 NO LIENS ON SHARES..............................................................................9
3.4 AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION....................................................................9
3.5 NONCONTRAVENTION................................................................................9
3.6 BROKERS' FEES..................................................................................10
3.7 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS...........................................................................10
3.8 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS......................................................11
3.9 UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES........................................................................12
3.10 LEGAL COMPLIANCE...............................................................................12
3.11 TAX MATTERS....................................................................................13
3.12 OTHER INTERESTS................................................................................14
3.13 PROPERTIES.....................................................................................15
3.14 LICENSES AND PERMITS...........................................................................16
3.15 PATENTS; TRADEMARKS............................................................................16
3.16 INSURANCE......................................................................................16
3.17 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS..............................................................................17
3.18 CONTRACTS......................................................................................19
3.19 CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS.........................................................................19
3.20 PERSONNEL......................................................................................20
3.21 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE............................................................................20
3.22 BANK ACCOUNTS..................................................................................20
3.23 INTEREST IN COMPETITORS, SUPPLIERS, CUSTOMERS, ETC.............................................20
3.24 INDEBTEDNESS TO AND FROM OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS,
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 3
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
AND EMPLOYEES..................................................................................20
3.25 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS..........................................................................21
3.26 AGENTS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY..................................................................22
3.27 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE...........................................................................22
3.29 ILLEGAL OR UNAUTHORIZED PAYMENTS; POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS......................................22
ARTICLE 4 REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER................................................................23
4.1 ORGANIZATION...................................................................................23
4.2 AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION...................................................................23
4.3 NONCONTRAVENTION...............................................................................24
ARTICLE 5 PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS..................................................................................24
5.1 GENERAL........................................................................................24
5.2 NOTICES AND CONSENTS...........................................................................25
5.3 REGULATORY MATTERS AND APPROVALS...............................................................25
5.4 OPERATION OF BUSINESS..........................................................................25
5.5 ACCESS TO INFORMATION..........................................................................26
5.6 NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS.........................................................................27
5.7 EXCLUSIVITY....................................................................................27
5.8 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER.......................................................................27
ARTICLE 6 POST-CLOSING COVENANTS.................................................................................28
6.1 GENERAL........................................................................................28
6.2 LITIGATION SUPPORT.............................................................................28
6.3 SEVERANCE......................................................................................28
ARTICLE 7 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE......................................................................28
7.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF BUYER..............................................................28
7.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY........................................................32
ARTICLE 8 TERMINATION............................................................................................33
8.1 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.......................................................................33
8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION..........................................................................34
ARTICLE 9 MISCELLANEOUS..........................................................................................34
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 4
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
<S> <C>
9.1 CONFIDENTIALITY................................................................................34
9.2 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES...................................................................34
9.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT...............................................................................34
9.4 SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT......................................................................34
9.5 COUNTERPARTS...................................................................................35
9.6 HEADINGS.......................................................................................35
9.7 NOTICES........................................................................................35
9.8 GOVERNING LAW..................................................................................36
9.9 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS.........................................................................36
9.10 SEVERABILITY...................................................................................36
9.11 CONSTRUCTION...................................................................................36
9.12 INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS, ANNEXES, AND SCHEDULES..............................................36
9.13 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE...........................................................................37
</TABLE>
<PAGE> 5
EXHIBITS AND DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
EXHIBITS
- --------
Exhibit A - List of Options and Holders
Exhibit B - Merger Consideration
Exhibit C - List of Shareholders and Shares Held
Exhibit D - Properties Under Construction
Exhibit E - Severance Payments
Exhibit F - Form of Non-Competition Agreements
Exhibit G - Consulting Agreements to be Canceled
Exhibit H - Canceled Contracts
Exhibit I - Waivers
DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES
- --------------------
Disclosure Schedule 3.1 -- Foreign Qualification
Disclosure Schedule 3.2 -- Options and Stock Appreciation Rights
Disclosure Schedule 3.5 -- Noncontravention
Disclosure Schedule 3.7 -- Financial Statements
Disclosure Schedule 3.8 -- Material Adverse Change
Disclosure Schedule 3.9 -- Undisclosed Liabilities
Disclosure Schedule 3.10 -- Legal Compliance
Disclosure Schedule 3.11 -- Tax Matters
Disclosure Schedule 3.12 -- Subsidiaries
Disclosure Schedule 3.13 -- Real Property
Disclosure Schedule 3.14 -- Licenses and Permits
Disclosure Schedule 3.15 -- Patents and Trademarks
Disclosure Schedule 3.16 -- Insurance
Disclosure Schedule 3.17 -- Employee Benefits
Disclosure Schedule 3.18 -- Contracts
Disclosure Schedule 3.19 -- Claims and Proceedings
Disclosure Schedule 3.20 -- Personnel
Disclosure Schedule 3.21 -- Accounts Receivable
Disclosure Schedule 3.22 -- Bank Accounts
Disclosure Schedule 3.23 -- Interest in Competitors, Suppliers, Customers,
etc.
Disclosure Schedule 3.24 -- Indebtedness to and from Officers, Directors,
Shareholders, and Employees
Disclosure Schedule 3.25 -- Environmental Matters
Disclosure Schedule 3.26 -- Agents and Powers of Attorney
Disclosure Schedule 3.27 -- Year 2000 Compliance
Disclosure Schedule 3.30 -- Employment Agreements
<PAGE> 6
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
This AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER (the "AGREEMENT") is entered into as
of June 30, 1999, by and between LA PETITE ACADEMY, INC., a Delaware corporation
(the "BUYER") LPA ACQUISITION CO., INC., a Minnesota Corporation ("ACQUISITION
CO.") and BRIGHT START, INC., a Minnesota corporation (the "COMPANY").
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Buyer has approved the acquisition
of the equity interests of the Company pursuant to a merger of Acquisition Co.,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Buyer formed for the purpose of this transaction,
with and into the Company upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement.
WHEREAS, Buyer, Acquisition Co. and the Company desire to make certain
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements in connection with the
Merger (as hereinafter defined in Section 2.1).
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements set forth herein, Buyer, Acquisition Co.
and the Company hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS
"AFFILIATE" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 of the regulations
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
"AFFILIATED GROUP" means any affiliated group within the meaning of
Code Section 1504(a) or any similar group defined under a similar provision of
state, local or foreign law.
"AGREEMENT" means this Agreement and Plan of Merger.
"CLOSING" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
"CLOSING DATE" has meaning set forth in Section 2.3.
"CLOSING BALANCE SHEET" means the balance sheet of the Company prepared
<PAGE> 7
by the Company in good faith and consistent with the Company's Financial
Statements (as defined below), and in accordance with GAAP consistently applied
as of May 31, 1999.
"CODE" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"COMMON STOCK" means the shares of the common stock, par value $.01, of
the Company.
"COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENT NUMBER" means the sum, as of the Closing Date,
of the Common Stock and Options, whether vested or unvested, exercisable or
unexercisable as of the Effective Date.
"CONTROLLED GROUP OF CORPORATIONS" has the meaning set forth in Code
Section 1563.
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULES" has the meaning set forth in Article 3.
"EFFECTIVE TIME" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2.
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS" means all applicable past, present and future
statutes, regulations, rules, ordinances, codes, licenses, permits, plans,
guidelines, authorizations, and similar items, of all governmental agencies,
departments, commissions, boards, bureaus, or instrumentalities of the United
States, and the states and political subdivisions thereof, and all principles of
common law pertaining to Releases and threatened Releases or otherwise relating
to the operation, manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport, or handling of Hazardous Substance. Environmental
Laws include, but are not limited to, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended ("CERCLA"); the Federal
Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, as amended ("FIFRA"); the Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended ("RCRA"); the Toxic Substances Control
Act, as amended ("TSCA"); the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act ("FDA"), as amended;
the Clean Air Act, as amended ("CAA"); the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,
as amended ("FWPCA"); the Oil Pollution Act of 1990, as amended ("OPA"); the
Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended ("FWCA"); the Endangered Species
Act, as amended ("ESA"); the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, as amended ("WSRA");
the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, as amended ("1899 Rivers Act"); the Water
Resource Research Act of 1984, as amended ("WRAA"); the Occupational Safety and
Health Act, as amended ("OSHA"); and the Safe Drinking Water Act, as amended
("SDWA"); and their state and local counterparts or equivalents, as amended from
time to time.
"ERISA" means the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
<PAGE> 8
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
"ERISA AFFILIATE" means each trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) that together with the Party would be deemed to be a "single
employer" within the meaning of Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA or subsections (b),
(c), (m) or (o) of Section 414 of the Code.
"GAAP" means United States generally accepted accounting principles as
in effect from time to time.
"GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY" means the United States of America, any state
or other political subdivision thereof, any central bank (or similar monetary or
regulatory authority) thereof, any entity exercising executive, legislative,
judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government,
or any court, tribunal, arbitrator or arbitral body.
"HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE" means (a) any "hazardous substance," as defined
by CERCLA, (b) any "hazardous waste," as defined by RCRA, or (c) any pollutant
or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material or substance
including, but not limited to, asbestos, buried contaminants, regulated
chemicals, flammable explosives, radioactive materials, polychlorinated
biphenyls, petroleum and petroleum products, within the meaning of any other
applicable Law (as defined herein) of any applicable Governmental Authority
relating to or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any
hazardous, toxic, or dangerous waste, substance or material, all as amended or
hereafter amended.
"KNOWLEDGE" means actual knowledge without independent investigation,
including the knowledge of a particular fact or matter, of any executive officer
of the Company.
"LIABILITY" means any liability (whether known or unknown, whether
asserted or unasserted, whether absolute or contingent, whether accrued or
unaccrued, whether liquidated or unliquidated, and whether due or to become
due), including any liability for Taxes.
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT" means a material adverse effect on the
Party's business, financial condition, customer or employee relations,
operations or results of operations.
"NET BALANCE SHEET ADJUSTMENT" has the meaning set forth in EXHIBIT B.
"OPTION" means those options, pursuant to the Bright Start, Inc. 1992
Stock Option Plan and the Bright Start, Inc. 1994 Stock Option Plan of the
Company, to purchase Common Stock, the number and persons granted such options
as are listed on EXHIBIT A hereto.
<PAGE> 9
"ORDINARY COURSE OF BUSINESS" means the ordinary course of business
consistent with past custom and practice (including with respect to quantity and
frequency).
"PARTY" means either the Buyer or the Company, as appropriate.
"PARTIES" means, collectively, the Buyer and the Company.
"PENSION PLAN" means an "employee pension benefit plan" (as defined in
Section 3(2) of ERISA).
"PERSON" means an individual, a partnership, a limited liability
company, a corporation, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, a joint
venture, an unincorporated organization, or a governmental entity (or any
department, agency or political subdivision thereof).
"PROPERTY" means any interest in any kind of property or asset, whether
real, personal or mixed, and whether tangible or intangible.
"RELEASE" means any emission, spill, seepage, leak, escape, leaching,
discharge, injection, pumping, pouring, emptying, dumping, disposing or release
of Hazardous Substance.
"SECURITY INTEREST" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
charge, or other security interest, other than (a) mechanic's, materialman's,
and similar liens, securing payment of sums not yet due and payable (b) liens
for Taxes not yet due and payable or for Taxes that the taxpayer is contesting
in good faith through appropriate proceedings, (c) purchase money liens and
liens securing rental payments under capital lease arrangements, and (d) other
liens arising in the Ordinary Course of Business and not incurred in connection
with the borrowing of money.
"TAX" means any federal, state, local, or foreign income, gross
receipts, license, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation,
premium, windfall profits, environmental (including taxes under Code Section
59A), customs duties, capital stock, franchise, profits, withholding, social
security (or similar), unemployment, disability, real property, personal
property, sales, use, transfer, registration, value added, alternative or add-on
minimum, estimated, or other tax of any kind whatsoever, including any interest,
penalty, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not.
"TAX RETURN" means any federal, state, local, or foreign return,
declaration, report, claim for refund, or information return or statement
relating to Taxes, including any schedule or attachment thereto, and including
any amendment thereof.
"TREASURY REGULATION" or "TREAS. REG." means the proposed, temporary,
and
<PAGE> 10
final regulations promulgated under the Code.
"WELFARE PLAN" means an "employee welfare benefit plan" (as defined in
Section 3(1) of ERISA).
"YEAR 2000 COMPLIANT" means, with respect to any computer software,
that such software provides uninterrupted millennium functionality in that such
software will record, store, process and present calendar dates falling on or
after January 1, 2000, in the same manner and with the same functionality as
such software records, stores, processes, and presents calendar dates falling on
or before December 31, 1999.
ARTICLE 2
THE MERGER
2.1 THE MERGER. Acquisition Co. has been formed in accordance with the
relevant provisions of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act (the "MBCA") for
the purposes of this transaction. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
of this Agreement, at the Effective Time, the Company and Acquisition Co. shall
consummate a merger (the "Merger") in which (a) Acquisition Co. shall be merged
with and into the Company and the separate existence of Acquisition Co. shall
thereupon cease, (b) the Company shall be the successor or surviving corporation
in the Merger and shall continue to be governed by the laws of the State of
Minnesota, and (c) the separate corporate existence of the Company with all its
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected
by the Merger. The corporation surviving the Merger is sometimes hereinafter
referred to as the "Surviving Corporation." The Merger shall be consummated in
accordance with and shall have the effects set forth in the MBCA.
2.2 EFFECTIVE TIME. Buyer, Acquisition Co. and the Company will cause
Articles of Merger (the "Articles of Merger") to be executed and filed on the
date of the Closing with the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota in the
manner provided in the MBCA. The Merger shall become effective on the date on
which the Articles of Merger have been duly filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Minnesota which such time is hereinafter referred to as the
"Effective Time" and such date is hereinafter referred to as the "Effective
Date."
2.3 CLOSING. The closing of the Merger (the "Closing") shall take place
via facsimile and mail on the first business day following the date on which the
last of the conditions set forth in Article VII hereof shall be fulfilled or
waived in accordance with this Agreement or (b) at such other time and date as
Buyer and the Company may agree. It is anticipated that the Closing will occur
on June 30,1999. The date and time of such Closing are referred to herein as the
"Closing Date."
2.4 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION. At the Effective Time and in
accordance
<PAGE> 11
with the MBCA, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company shall become the
Certificate of Incorporation of the Surviving Corporation.
2.5 THE BYLAWS. At the Effective Time and without any further action on
the part of the Company, Buyer, Acquisition Co. or the Surviving Corporation,
the Bylaws of the Company shall become the Bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
2.6 DIRECTORS. The directors of Acquisition Co. at the Effective Time
shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation and shall hold office from the Effective Time until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier
death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, or as otherwise provided by law.
2.7 OFFICERS. The officers of Acquisition Co. at the Effective Time
shall, from and after the Effective Time, be the officers of the Surviving
Corporation and shall hold office from the Effective Time until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier
death, resignation or removal in accordance with the Surviving Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, or as otherwise provided by law.
2.8 CONSIDERATION FOR THE MERGER; CONVERSION OR CANCELLATION OF SHARES
AND OPTIONS IN THE MERGER. The manner of converting or canceling the shares and
Options of the Company and Acquisition Co. in the Merger shall be as set forth
below. At the Effective Time, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on
the part of the holders thereof:
a. Each share, if any, of the capital stock of the Company which is
owned by the Company as a treasury share shall be canceled and retired without
any payment therefor.
b. Each share of the Company's Common Stock (other than the
Dissenting Shares) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective
Time, shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
holder thereof, be converted into the right to receive from the Surviving
Corporation on the Closing Date, subject to Section 2.11 hereof, an amount in
cash (the "Per Share Merger Consideration") equal to the quotient obtained by
dividing (i) the Merger Consideration (as defined on EXHIBIT B hereto) by (ii)
the Common Stock Equivalent Number. The Per Share Merger Consideration shall be
paid as provided in Section 2.9 hereto.
c. Each Option issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
<PAGE> 12
Effective Time, whether vested or unvested, exercisable or unexercisable, shall
be converted into the right to receive from the Surviving Corporation on the
Closing Date, subject to Section 2.11 hereof, an amount in cash (the "Per Option
Merger Consideration") equal to the difference between (x) the product of (A)
the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the Merger Consideration by (2) the Common
Stock Equivalent Number, multiplied by (B) the number of shares of Common Stock
for which such Option was exercisable immediately prior to the Effective Time
and (y) the aggregate unpaid exercise price of such Option. The Per Option
Merger Consideration shall be paid as provided in Section 2.9 hereto.
d. At the Effective Time, each share of common stock of Acquisition
Co. issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time shall, by
virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of Acquisition Co., be
converted into one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.
e. At the Effective Time, all rights in respect of outstanding
shares of any of the Common Stock shall cease to exist, other than the right to
receive cash as described above.
2.9 PAYMENT. The Per Share Merger Consideration and Per Option Merger
Consideration cash payments to be made under this Agreement shall be made on the
Closing Date to all Company shareholders and Option holders by wire transfer or
by check in accordance with written instructions furnished to the Buyer by the
Person entitled thereto.
2.10 SURRENDER OF CERTIFICATES. At the Effective Time, each Person who
is a holder of Common Stock or Options shall be vested with the right to receive
from the Surviving Corporation the amounts set forth in Section 2.8 above, in
exchange for the surrender by such Person of all certificates held of record by
such Person, or such Person's legal successor, heir or administrator, prior to
the Effective Time representing outstanding shares of Common Stock or Options,
as applicable (the "OLD CERTIFICATES"), accompanied by such other documents of
transfer as the Surviving Corporation reasonably may require, or an executed
affidavit of lost certificate and indemnity agreement in form and substance
reasonably acceptable to Buyer. Following surrender, each Old Certificate shall
be retired.
2.11 DISSENTING SHARES. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, Common Stock which immediately prior to the Effective Time are
held by stockholders who have properly exercised and perfected appraisal rights
under Sections 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the MBCA (the "Dissenting Shares") shall
not be converted into the right to receive a portion of the Per Share Merger
Consideration as provided in Section 2.8 hereof, but the holders of Dissenting
Shares shall be entitled to receive such consideration as shall be determined
pursuant to Section 302A.471 and 302A.473 of the MBCA, provided, however, that
if any such holder shall have failed to
<PAGE> 13
perfect or shall withdraw or lose his right to appraisal and payment under the
MBCA, such holder's shares shall thereupon be deemed to have been converted as
of the Effective Time into the right to receive his portion of the Per Share
Merger Consideration, without any interest thereon, as provided in Section 2.8
and such shares shall no longer be Dissenting Shares.
2.12 CLOSING STOCK TRANSFER BOOKS. At the Effective Time, the stock
transfer books of the Company shall be closed and no transfer of Common Stock
shall thereafter be made.
ARTICLE 3
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY
The Company represents and warrants to Buyer and Acquisition Co. that
the statements contained in this Article 3 are correct and complete as of the
date of this Agreement and will be correct and complete as of the Closing Date
(as though made then and as though the Closing Date were substituted for the
date of this Agreement throughout this Article 3). The disclosure schedule (the
"DISCLOSURE SCHEDULE") contemplated by this Article 3 will be arranged to
correspond to the numbered and lettered sections contained in this Article 3 and
will be delivered concurrently with the execution of this Agreement. Except
where the context otherwise requires, all references to "the Company" in this
Article 3 are deemed to include the Company and its subsidiary entities, if any.
3.1 ORGANIZATION, QUALIFICATION, AND CORPORATE POWER. The Company is a
corporation duly incorporated, validly existing, and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Minnesota. The Company is duly authorized to conduct
business and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such
qualification is required except where the failure to so qualify would not have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Company or its operations. All such
jurisdictions are listed in Disclosure Schedule 3.1. The Company has the
requisite corporate power and authority necessary to carry on the business in
which it is engaged and to own and use the properties owned and used by it. The
Company has delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies of the articles of
incorporation and bylaws of the Company (as amended to date). The minute books
(containing the records of meetings of the shareholders, the board of directors,
and any committees of the board of directors), the stock certificate books, and
the stock record books of the Company are correct and complete. The Company is
not in default under or in violation of any provision of its articles of
incorporation or bylaws.
3.2 CAPITALIZATION. The authorized capital stock of the Company
consists of
<PAGE> 14
14,480,937 shares of Common Stock, of which 3,389,821 shares of Common Stock are
issued and outstanding in such amounts and to such persons as listed in EXHIBIT
C and no shares of Common Stock are held in treasury, and 519,063 shares of the
Company Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued and
outstanding (the "Preferred Shares"). The aggregate number of Options to
purchase Common Stock of the Company is 260,709, and no further Options will be
granted by the Company. All of the issued and outstanding Common Stock have been
duly authorized, are validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable, and are held
of record by the Shareholders free and clear of preemptive or similar rights.
Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule 3.2 hereto, there are no other
outstanding or authorized options, warrants, purchase rights, subscription
rights, conversion rights, exchange rights, or other contracts or commitments
that could require the Company to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become
outstanding any of its capital stock. Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule
3.2 hereto, there are no outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom
stock, profit participation, or similar rights with respect to the Company.
There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or understandings with
respect to the voting of the capital stock of the Company.
3.3 NO LIENS ON SHARES. To the Company's Knowledge, the shareholders
own the Common Stock free and clear of any liens, restrictions, security
interests, claims, rights of another, or encumbrances other than the rights and
obligations arising under this Agreement, and none of the Common Stock is
subject to any outstanding option, warrant, call, or similar right of any other
person to acquire the same, and none of the Common Stock is subject to any
restriction on transfer thereof except for restrictions imposed by the articles
of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, or by applicable federal and state
securities laws. To the Company's Knowledge, the shareholders have full power
and authority to convey good and marketable title to the Common Stock, free and
clear of any mortgages, liens, restrictions, security interests, claims, rights
of another or encumbrances.
3.4 AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. The Company has full corporate power
and authority to execute, deliver and perform this Agreement and to carry out
the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have
been duly and validly authorized by all requisite corporate action of the
Company, excluding approval of the shareholders of the Company, which the
Company will obtain prior to Closing, and do not require for such validity any
other authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action. This
Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and
constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms and conditions, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity
principles.
<PAGE> 15
3.5 NONCONTRAVENTION. Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule 3.5
hereto, neither the execution and the delivery of this Agreement, nor the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby by the Company, will (a)
violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any Governmental
Authority to which the Company is subject or any provision of the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company or (b) except for such matters as would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, conflict with,
result in a breach of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration
of, create in any party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel,
or require any notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument,
concession, joint venture agreement, partnership agreement, association,
contract or other arrangement to which the Company is a party or by which it is
bound or to which any of its assets is subject (or result in the imposition of
any Security Interest upon any of its assets). Except, as set forth in
Disclosure Schedule 3.5, the Company is not required to give any notice to, make
any filing with, or obtain any authorization, consent, qualification, order or
approval of any Governmental Authority in connection with the Company's
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.6 BROKERS' FEES. The Company does not have any Liability or
obligation to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder, or agent with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.7 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.7
are the following financial statements:
a. unaudited balance sheets of the Company, dated as of April 30,
1999 and May 31, 1999, and audited balance sheets of the Company dated as of
August 31, 1998 (together, the "BALANCE SHEETS");
b. unaudited statements of earnings and cash flow for the twelve
month periods ending April 30, 1999 and May 31, 1999 and audited statements of
earnings and cash flow for the twelve-month period ending August 31, 1998
(together, the "INCOME AND CASH FLOW STATEMENTS").
Together, the Balance Sheets and the Income and Cash Flow Statements
and the notes thereto shall be referred to herein as the "FINANCIAL STATEMENTS."
The Financial Statements have been prepared from the books and records of the
Company (which are themselves complete and accurate in all material respects) in
accordance with GAAP consistently applied, and maintained throughout the periods
indicated, and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as at their
respective dates and the results of operations for the periods covered thereby.
The audits of balance sheets and audits of income and cash flow statements have
been prepared by the certified public accounting firm of Ernst & Young. The
unaudited balance sheets and unaudited
<PAGE> 16
income and cash flow statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with
the audited balance sheets and audited income and cash flow statements,
respectively.
3.8 SUBSEQUENT EVENTS; CORPORATE TRANSACTIONS.
a. Except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule 3.8, since August 31,
1998, there has not been any change in the business, financial condition,
prospects, customer or employee relations, operations or results of operations
of the Company which would cause a Material Adverse Effect.
b. Without limitation of the foregoing, since August 31, 1998, and
except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule 3.8:
(i) The Company has not sold, leased, transferred, or assigned
any assets, tangible or intangible, other than for a fair consideration in the
Ordinary Course of Business.
(ii) Except for this Agreement, the Company has not entered
into any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related
agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses) outside the Ordinary Course of
Business or that is otherwise material to the Company.
(iii) The Company has not accelerated, terminated or canceled
any agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related agreements,
contracts, leases, and licenses) involving more than $5,000 to which the Company
is a party or by which it is bound or that is otherwise material to Company.
(iv) The Company has not imposed any Security Interest upon any
of its assets, tangible or intangible.
(v) The Company has not made any capital expenditure (or
series of related capital expenditures) outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
(vi) The Company has not made any capital investment in, any
loan to, or any acquisition of the securities or assets of, any other Person (or
series of related capital investments, loans, and acquisitions) outside the
Ordinary Course of Business.
(vii) The Company has not issued any note, bond, or other debt
security or created, incurred, assumed, or guaranteed any indebtedness for
borrowed money or capitalized lease obligation involving more than $5,000 in the
aggregate.
<PAGE> 17
(viii) The Company has not merged with any other company,
consolidated or sold or consented to the sale of any of the material assets of
the Company or acquired any material assets outside the Ordinary Course of
Business.
(ix) there has been no change made or authorized in the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company.
(x) The Company has not declared, set aside, or paid any
dividend or made any distribution with respect to its capital stock (whether in
cash or in kind) or redeemed, purchased, or otherwise acquired any of its
capital stock.
(xi) The Company has not increased the compensation or
benefits payable to employees other than increases in the Ordinary Course of
Business.
(xii) The Company has not made any change in its billing for
registration fees, accounting, collection or payment practices.
(xiii) The Company has not committed or agreed to do any of the
foregoing.
3.9 UNDISCLOSED LIABILITIES. The Company does not have any Liabilities
in the aggregate over $5,000 except for (a) Liabilities reflected in the Company
Financial Statements (including any notes thereto), (b) Liabilities which have
arisen after August 31, 1998 in the Ordinary Course of Business and (c)
Liabilities set forth in Disclosure Schedule 3.9.
3.10 LEGAL COMPLIANCE. (i) The Company is in compliance with the
provisions of all federal, state, county and local laws, rules, regulations,
ordinances, orders, judgments and decrees (taking into account "grandfather"
provisions) (collectively, "LAWS") applicable to it and to its business, Real
Property (as defined in Section 3.13) or operations, (ii) all Authorizations (as
defined in Section 3.14) of the Company are in full force and effect, and (iii)
except as set forth on Disclosure Schedule 3.14, since June 30, 1996, the
Company has not been issued or received any citations, notices or orders of
non-compliance under any Law or related to any Authorization within the
five-year period immediately preceding the Closing Date. Neither the ownership
nor use of the Company's properties nor the conduct of its business conflicts
with the rights of any other Person, violates or, with or without the giving of
notice or the passage of time, or both, will violate, conflict with or result in
a default, right to accelerate or loss of rights under, any terms or provisions
of its articles of incorporation or bylaws, as presently in effect, or any lien,
encumbrance, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, license, agreement, understanding,
law, ordinance, rule or regulation, or any order, judgment or decree to which
the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or affected. To the Company's
Knowledge, the Company is not aware of any proposed
<PAGE> 18
Law, Authorization, governmental taking, condemnation or other proceeding which
would be applicable to the Company's business, operations or properties either
before or after the Closing Date.
3.11 TAX MATTERS.
a. Except as disclosed on Disclosure Schedule 3.11, the Company
has filed all Tax Returns that it was required to file. To the Company's
Knowledge all such Tax Returns were correct and complete. All Taxes owed by the
Company shown on any Tax Return have been paid in a timely fashion. The Company
currently is not the beneficiary of any extension of time within which to file
any Tax Return. The Company has not received written notice from an authority in
a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax Returns that it is or may be
subject to taxation by that jurisdiction. There are no Security Interests on any
of the assets of the Company that arose in connection with any failure (or
alleged failure) to pay any Tax.
b. The Company has withheld and paid all Taxes required to have
been withheld and paid in connection with amounts paid or owed to any employee,
independent contractor, creditor, shareholder, or other third party.
c. To the Company's Knowledge the Company does not expect any
authority to assess any additional Taxes for any period for which Tax Returns
have been filed. There is no dispute or claim concerning any Tax Liability of
the Company either (i) claimed or raised by any authority in writing or (ii) as
to which Company has Knowledge. Disclosure Schedule 3.11 lists all Tax Returns
filed with respect to the Company for taxable periods ended on or after August
31, 1995 and indicates those Tax Returns that have been audited, and indicates
those Tax Returns that currently are the subject of audit. The Company has
delivered to Buyer correct and complete copies of all federal income Tax
Returns, examination reports, and statements of deficiencies assessed against or
agreed to by the Company since.
d. The Company has not waived any statute of limitations in
respect of Taxes or agreed to any extension of time with respect to a Tax
assessment or deficiency.
e. No consent under Code Section 341(f) concerning collapsible
corporations has been filed for the Company.
f. The Company has not been a United States real property holding
corporation within the meaning of Code Section 897(c)(2) during the applicable
period specified in Code Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii).
<PAGE> 19
g. The Company has disclosed on its federal income Tax Returns
all positions taken therein that could give rise to a substantial understatement
of federal income Tax within the meaning of Code Section 6662.
h. The Company is not a party to any Tax allocation or sharing
agreement.
i. The Company (i) has not been a member of an Affiliated Group
filing a consolidated federal income Tax Return (other than a group the common
parent of which was the Company) and (ii) does not have any Liability for the
Taxes of any Person (other than the Company) under Treas. Reg. Section 1.1502-6
(or any similar provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or
successor, by contract, or otherwise.
j. The unpaid Taxes of the Company (i) did not, as of May 31,
1999, exceed the reserve for Tax Liability (rather than any reserve for deferred
Taxes established to reflect timing differences between book and Tax income) set
forth on the face of the Financial Statements (rather than in any notes thereto)
and (ii) do not exceed that reserve as adjusted for the passage of time through
the Closing Date in accordance with the past custom and practice of the Company
in filing their Tax Returns.
k. No items of income attributable to transactions occurring on
or before the close of the last preceding taxable year of the Company will be
required to be included in taxable income by the Company in a subsequent taxable
year by reason of the Company reporting income on the installment sales method
of accounting, the cash method of accounting, the completed contract method of
accounting or the percentage of completion-capitalized cost method of
accounting.
l. The transactions contemplated herein are not subject to the
tax withholding provisions of subchapter A of Chapter 3 of the Code or of any
other provision of law.
m. None of the assets of the Company have been treated as "tax
exempt use property" within the meaning of Section 168(h) of the Code.
3.12 OTHER INTERESTS. Except as set forth on Disclosure Schedule 3.12,
the Company does not directly or indirectly have any subsidiaries or any direct
or indirect
<PAGE> 20
ownership interests in any Person.
3.13 PROPERTIES.
a. The Company owns no real property. Attached hereto as
Disclosure Schedule 3.13 is a list containing a description of all of the
Company's leasehold interests in real property used or occupied by it in the
conduct of the business (the "LEASES"). Except as expressly set forth on
Disclosure Schedule 3.13, such Leases are free and clear of liens, security
interests, claims, rights of another, and encumbrances and is not subject to any
rights of way, building use restrictions, exceptions, variances or limitations
which interfere with the use of such property in the conduct of the business.
All Leases are in full force and effect, the Company holds a valid and existing
leasehold interest under each of the Leases for the terms set forth in the
Lease. The Company has delivered to Buyer complete and accurate copies of all
materials the Company has concerning such Leases. The Company has not received
written notice of any default under any Lease and the Company is not in default
under any of the Leases. No person has the right to terminate or accelerate
performance under or otherwise modify (including upon the giving notice or the
passage of time) any of such Leases, except in accordance with the provisions
thereof. The real properties subject to the Leases are in good operating
condition and repair, normal wear and tear excepted, and are free from any
defects of a material nature. To the Company's Knowledge, there are no existing
structural defects in any of the properties subject to the Leases the presence
of which would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company's operations at
that site. The plumbing, mechanical, heating, ventilation, air conditioning,
electric wiring and water and sewage systems are in good working order. The
operation of the real property subject to the Leases in the manner in which it
is now and has been operated does not violate any zoning ordinances, municipal
regulations, or other rules, regulations, or laws (taking into account
"grandfather"provisions). Except as set forth on Disclosure Schedule 3.13, no
covenants, easements, rights-of-way, or regulations of record impair the uses of
the respective properties of the Company for the purposes for which they are now
operated in the operation of the business. Except as otherwise set forth on
Disclosure Schedule 3.13, the Company has not received any notices, demands, or
other directives from any governmental bodies with jurisdiction over the real
property subject to the Leases asserting that any current or past use of or
condition on or about the real property subject to the Leases, or any part
thereof, may violate any federal, state, or local laws, rules, or regulations
(including without limitation, Environmental Law, as defined in Article 1) or
any notice stating that any part of the real property subject to the Leases may
be subject to condemnation or similar proceedings. The Company is not a "foreign
person" as that term is defined in Section 1455 of the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, as amended, and applicable regulations.
b. Set forth in Disclosure Schedule Section 3.13 is a complete
list of
<PAGE> 21
(a) each vehicle owned or leased by the Company and (b) each asset of the
Company with a net book value or fair market value greater than $5,000. The
Company has good and marketable title to, or a valid leasehold interest in, all
of its assets, including without limitation, the assets listed in Disclosure
Schedule Section 3.13, the assets reflected on the Closing Balance Sheet and all
assets used by the Company in the conduct of its business (except for assets
held under leases or licenses disclosed pursuant to Section 3.18), subject to no
Security Interests, except for (a) Security Interests for current taxes not yet
due; (b) minor imperfections of title and encumbrances that do not materially
detract from or materially interfere with the present use or value of such
assets; and (c) Security Interests disclosed in Disclosure Schedule Section
3.18.
3.14 LICENSES AND PERMITS. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.14
is a list of all federal, state, county, and local governmental licenses,
certificates, registrations, authorizations and permits, including without
limitation all necessary state, county and municipal child care operating
licenses and permits (collectively, "AUTHORIZATIONS") held or applied for by the
Company. The Company has complied with the terms and conditions of all such
Authorizations, all of such Authorizations are in full force and effect and,
except as set forth in Disclosure Schedule 3.14, since June 30, 1996, no
violation of any such Authorization or the laws or rules governing the issuance
or continued validity thereof has occurred. To the Company's Knowledge, no
additional Authorization is required from any federal, state, county, or local
government agency or body thereof in connection with the conduct of the business
of the Company as currently conducted.
3.15 PATENTS; TRADEMARKS. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.15
is a list and brief description of all patents, patent rights, trademarks, trade
names, copyrights, service marks, trade secrets or applications therefor and
other proprietary intellectual property rights and computer programs, software
and data owned or used by or registered in the name of the Company or in which
Company has any rights, licenses, or immunities (collectively, the "INTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY"). The Company has furnished Buyer with copies of all license
agreements to which the Company is a party, either as licensor or licensee, with
respect to any Intellectual Property. Except as described on Disclosure Schedule
3.15 hereto, the Company has good and marketable title to or the right to use
all such Intellectual Property for the conduct of the business as presently
conducted or operated without the payment of any royalty or similar payment, the
Company is not infringing on any patent right, trade name, copyright or
trademark right of others, the Company is not aware of any infringement by
others of any such rights owned by the Company. The Company has not granted any
licenses, releases, security interests or other rights in or relating to the
Intellectual Property.
3.16 INSURANCE. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.16 is a list
of all
<PAGE> 22
policies of fire, casualty, liability, property or other forms of insurance and
all fidelity bonds held by or applicable to the Company, which Schedule sets
forth in respect of each such policy the policy name, policy number, carrier,
term, type of coverage, deductible amount of self-insured retention amount,
limits of coverage and annual premium. To the Company's Knowledge, no event
relating to the Company has occurred which will result in a retroactive upward
adjustment of premiums under any such insurance policies, or which is likely to
result in any prospective upward adjustment in such premiums. To the Company's
Knowledge, the Company does not have any Liability for which any claim may be
made against the Company's property, casualty or liability insurance and no
event or circumstance has occurred or arisen that is likely to result in such a
claim.
3.17 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS.
a. Disclosure Schedule 3.17 contains a list and brief description
of each Pension Plan, Welfare Plan and each other written plan, arrangement or
policy relating to stock options, stock purchases, compensation, deferred
compensation, severance, fringe benefits or other employee benefits (other than
the employment agreements listed on Disclosure Schedule 3.18), in each case
maintained or contributed to, or required to be maintained or contributed to, by
the Company or any Company ERISA Affiliate (each, together with the Company, a
"COMMONLY CONTROLLED ENTITY") for the benefit of any present or former officers,
employees, agents, directors or independent contractors of the Company (all the
foregoing being herein called "BENEFIT PLANS"). The Company has delivered to
Buyer true, complete and correct copies of (1) each Benefit Plan, (2) the most
recent annual report on Form 5500 filed with the Internal Revenue Service with
respect to each Benefit Plan (if any such report was required by applicable
law), (3) the most recent summary plan description (or similar document) for
each Benefit Plan for which such a summary plan description is required by
applicable law or was otherwise provided to plan participants or beneficiaries
and (4) each trust agreement and insurance or annuity contract relating to any
Benefit Plan. Each such Form 5500 and each such summary plan description (or
similar document) was and is as of the date hereof true, complete and correct in
all material respects.
b. Each Benefit Plan has been administered in all material
respects in accordance with its terms and in compliance in all material respects
with the applicable provisions of ERISA and the Code. There are no
investigations by any governmental agency, termination proceedings or other
claims (except claims for benefits payable in the normal operation of the
Benefit Plans), suits or proceedings against or involving any Benefit Plan or
asserting any rights to or claims for benefits under any Benefit Plan.
c. None of the Benefit Plans (i) constitutes a "multiemployer
plan," as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA or (ii) has been or is subject to
Title IV of ERISA, Section 302 of ERISA or Section 412 of the Code.
<PAGE> 23
d. All contributions to, and benefit payments from, the Benefit
Plans required to be made in accordance with the terms of the Benefit Plans have
been timely made. All such contributions to, and payments from, the Benefit
Plans, except those payments to be made from any trust qualified under Section
501(c) of the Code, for any period ending before the Closing Date that are not
yet, but will be, required to be made, will be properly accrued and reflected in
the Financial Statements.
e. The Company has no Benefit Plan that is a Pension Plan that is
intended to be a tax-qualified plan nor has been the subject of a determination
letter from the Internal Revenue Service to the effect that such Company Pension
Plan is qualified and exempt from federal income taxes under Sections 401(a) and
501(a), respectively, of the Code.
f. No "prohibited transaction" (as defined in Section 4975 of the
Code or Section 406 of ERISA) has occurred that involves the assets of any
Benefit Plan; (2) no "prohibited transaction" has occurred that could subject
the Company, any of its employees or a trustee, administrator or other fiduciary
of any trust created under any Benefit Plan to the tax or sanctions on
prohibited transactions imposed by Section 4975 of the Code or Title I of ERISA;
and (3) neither the Company nor any trustee, administrator or other fiduciary of
any Benefit Plan nor any agent of any of the foregoing has engaged in any
transaction or acted in a manner that could, or has failed to act so as to,
subject the Company or any trustee, administrator or other fiduciary to
liability for breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA.
g. The list of Welfare Plans in Disclosure Schedule 3.17
discloses whether each Welfare Plan is (i) unfunded, (ii) funded through a
"welfare benefit fund," as such term is defined in Section 419(e) of the Code,
or other funding mechanism or (iii) insured. Each such Welfare Plan may be
amended or terminated as of the Closing Date. The Company complies in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of Section 4980B(f) of the
Code with respect to each Benefit Plan that is a group health plan, as such term
is defined in Section 5000(b)(1) of the Code.
h. No compensation payable by the Company to any of its
employees, officers or directors under any existing contract, Benefit Plan or
other employment arrangement or understanding (including by reason of the
transactions contemplated hereby) will be subject to disallowance under Section
162(m) of the Code.
i. Any amount that could be received (whether in cash or property
or the vesting of property) as a result of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement by any employee, officer or director of the Company or any of
its affiliates who is a "disqualified individual" (as such term is defined in
proposed Treas. Reg. Section 1.280G-1) under any employment, severance or
termination agreement, other
<PAGE> 24
compensation arrangement or Benefit Plan currently in effect would not be
characterized as an "excess parachute payment" (as such term is defined in
Section 280G(b)(l) of the Code).
j. Except as disclosed on Disclosure Schedule 3.17, with respect
to any Employee, the Company has no obligation to contribute to (or any other
liability with respect to) any funded or unfunded Welfare Plan, whether or not
terminated, which provides medical, health, life insurance or other welfare-type
benefits for current or future retirees or current, future or former Employees
(including their dependents and spouses) except for limited continued medical
benefit coverage for former Employees, their spouses and their other dependents
as required to be provided under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation
Act of 1985, as amended ("COBRA"), the Company is in compliance in all material
respects with the continued medical and other welfare benefit coverage
requirements of COBRA and all other applicable laws. The Closing Balance Sheet
reflects all accrued vacation and other benefits for the Company's employees as
of the date thereof.
3.18 CONTRACTS. Disclosure Schedule 3.18 contains a list of all
written or oral contracts, commitments, leases, and other agreements (including,
without limitation, promissory notes, loan agreements, and other evidences of
indebtedness, guarantees, agreements with distributors, suppliers, dealers,
franchisors and customers, and service agreements) to which the Company is a
party or by which the Company or its properties are bound pursuant to which the
obligations thereunder of either party thereto are, or are contemplated as
being, $5,000 or more per year (collectively, the "CONTRACTS"). The Company has
delivered to Buyer a correct and complete copy of each written agreement listed
in Disclosure Schedule 3.18 (as amended to date) and a written summary setting
forth the terms and conditions of each oral agreement referred to in Disclosure
Schedule 3.18. With respect to each such agreement:
a. the agreement is legal, valid, binding, enforceable, and in
full force and effect;
b. the agreement will continue to be legal, valid, binding,
enforceable, and in full force and effect on identical terms following the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
c. to the Company's Knowledge, no party is in breach or default,
and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time would constitute a
breach or default, or permit termination, modification, or acceleration, under
the agreement; and
d. no party has repudiated any provision of the agreement.
<PAGE> 25
3.19 CLAIMS AND PROCEEDINGS. Except as set forth in Disclosure
Schedule 3.19, there are no actions, suits, legal or administrative proceedings
or investigations pending or, to the Company's Knowledge threatened, against or
relating (i) to the Company, or (ii) related to the business of the Company or
the ownership of the Company, its shareholders, officers, directors or
employees, or its properties, assets or business or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, the Company does not know of, nor has any reason
to be aware of, any basis for the same.
3.20 PERSONNEL. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.20 is a list
of the names and annual rates of compensation of the directors and executive
officers of the Company, and of the employees of the Company whose annual rates
of compensation during fiscal year 1999 (including base salary, bonus,
commission and incentive pay) exceed or by December 31, 1999 are reasonably
expected to exceed $25,000. To the Company's Knowledge, the employee relations
of the Company are good and there is no pending or threatened labor dispute or
union organization campaign. None of the employees of the Company are
represented by any labor union or organization. The Company is in compliance
with all federal and state laws respecting employment and employment practices,
terms and conditions of employment, and wages and hours, and has not engaged in
any unfair labor practices.
3.21 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE. All of the accounts receivable and prepaid
expenses that have been recorded on the books of Company are bona fide and
represent amounts validly due for services rendered or expenses pre-paid. Except
as disclosed on Disclosure Schedule 3.21 hereto (a) all of such accounts
receivable are owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest,
lien, encumbrance, or other charge; (b) none of such accounts receivable is
subject to any offsets or to the Company's Knowledge claims of offset; and (c)
none of the obligors of such accounts receivable has given notice that it will
or may refuse to pay the full amount or any portion thereof. Except for the
Company's allowance for bad debts set forth in its Closing Balance Sheet, which
will be established in accordance with GAAP consistent with past practice, all
of such accounts receivable will be collectible within a reasonable time after
the Closing Date.
3.22 BANK ACCOUNTS. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.22 is a
list of all banks or other financial institutions with which the Company has an
account or maintains a safe deposit box, showing the type and account number of
each such account and safe deposit box and the names of the persons authorized
as signatories thereon or to act or deal in connection therewith.
3.23 INTEREST IN COMPETITORS, SUPPLIERS, CUSTOMERS, ETC. Except as
disclosed in Disclosure Schedule 3.23 hereto, no officer or director of the
Company or any affiliate of any such officer or director has any ownership
interest in any competitor, supplier, or customer of the Company (other than
ownership of securities of a
<PAGE> 26
publicly-held corporation of which such person owns, or has real or contingent
rights to own, less than one percent of any class of outstanding securities) or
any property used in the operation of the business of the Company.
3.24 INDEBTEDNESS TO AND FROM OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, SHAREHOLDERS, AND
EMPLOYEES. Attached hereto as Disclosure Schedule 3.24 is a list and brief
description of the payment terms of all indebtedness of the Company to officers,
directors, shareholders, and employees of the Company (including draws against
commissions) and all indebtedness of officers, directors, shareholders, and
employees of the Company to the Company, excluding indebtedness for travel
advances or similar advances for expenses incurred on behalf of and in the
Ordinary Course of the Business of the Company and consistent with its past
practices. All of such indebtedness is collectible in the Ordinary Course of
Business. Any indebtedness of the Company to officers, directors, shareholders,
former shareholders and employees of the Company shall be paid in full prior to
the Closing Date.
3.25 ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS.
a. Except as set forth as Disclosure Schedule 3.25, to the
Company's Knowledge no real property subject to the Leases nor the operations
conducted thereon violate any Environmental Laws, nor are there any conditions
existing on any such real property or resulting from operations conducted
thereon that may give rise to any on-site or off-site remedial obligations under
any Environmental Law.
b. To the Company's Knowledge, no real property subject to the
Leases nor the operations currently conducted thereon or by any prior owner of
real property or operation, are subject to any existing, pending or threatened,
action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding relating to human health or
environmental quality or any Environmental Laws by or before any court or other
Governmental Authority.
c. All notices and Authorizations, if any, required to be
obtained or filed in connection with the operations of the Company, including
without limitation past or present treatment, storage, disposal or release of a
Hazardous Substance or solid waste into the environment, have been duly obtained
or filed, and the Company is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all
such notices and Authorizations.
d. Since the inception of RCRA or any other Environmental Laws
having similar requirements, all Hazardous Substances or solid waste generated
by the Company have been transported only by carriers maintaining valid permits
under RCRA and any other Environmental Laws and treated and disposed of only at
treatment, storage and disposal facilities maintaining valid permits under RCRA
and any other Environmental Laws, which carriers and facilities have been and
are operating in compliance with such permits and are not the subject of any
existing, pending, or threatened action, investigation or inquiry by any
Governmental Authority in connection
<PAGE> 27
with any Environmental Laws.
e. Except as set forth as Disclosure Schedule 3.25, to the
Company's Knowledge, the Company has not nor has any other Person filed any
notice under any Environmental Laws indicating that the Company is responsible
for the release into the environment, or the improper storage, of any hazardous
or toxic waste, substance or constituent or that any such waste, substance or
constituent has been released, or is improperly stored, upon any real property
leased by the Company.
f. The Company has taken all reasonable steps necessary to
determine and has determined that no Hazardous Substances or solid waste have
been disposed of or otherwise released and there has been no threatened release
of any Hazardous Substances as a result of the Company's operation within any
real property subject to the Leases.
g. The Company does not otherwise have any known contingent
liability in connection with any release of any Hazardous Substance or solid
waste into the environment, or the improper storage of any such Hazardous
Substance or waste.
3.26 AGENTS AND POWERS OF ATTORNEY. Except as set forth on Disclosure
Schedule 3.26 hereto, the Company has not designated or appointed any person or
other entity to act for it or on its behalf pursuant to any power of attorney or
agency which is presently in effect.
3.27 YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE. The Company has delivered to Buyer all
compliance certificates, notifications and other communications from vendors of
each system, comprising of software, hardware, databases, or embedded control
systems (microprocessor controlled, robotic or other device) (collectively, a
"SYSTEM"), that constitutes any part of, or is used in connection with the use,
operation or enjoyment of any material tangible or intangible asset of the
Company at its academy locations or regional offices regarding its status as
Year 2000 Compliant. Except as set forth on Disclosure Schedule 3.27, the
Company has no reason to believe that the Company may incur material disruption
to its operations or incur material expenses arising from or relating to the
failure of any of its Systems as a result of not being Year 2000 Compliant.
3.28 INFORMATION FURNISHED. No representation or warranty made by the
Company in this Agreement, and no exhibit, certificate, schedule, document, list
or instrument prepared, made or delivered, or to be prepared, made or delivered,
by or on behalf of the Company pursuant hereto contains or will contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the
<PAGE> 28
statements contained herein and therein not misleading.
3.29 ILLEGAL OR UNAUTHORIZED PAYMENTS; POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS.
Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors, employees, agents or
other representatives on behalf of and which as been authorized by the Company
or, to the Knowledge of the Company, any other business entity or enterprise
with which the Company is or has been affiliated or associated, has, directly or
indirectly, made or authorized any payment, contribution or gift of money,
property or services, whether or not in contravention of applicable law, (a) as
a kickback or bribe to any Person or (b) to any political organization, or the
holder of or any aspirant to any elective or appointive public office, except
for personal political contributions not involving the direct or indirect use of
funds of Company. Company has not violated any federal or state antitrust
statutes, rules or regulations, including without limitation those relating to
unfair competition, price fixing or collusion.
3.30 EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENTS. Except as set forth on Disclosure Schedule
3.30, there exist no employment, consulting, non-competition, severance, bonus
or indemnification agreements or understandings between the Company and any
current or former director or officer of the Company or other employee or agent.
Disclosure Schedule 3.30 sets forth a true, correct and complete list of all
amounts payable or that will become payable to each present or former director,
officer, consultant or employee of the Company pursuant to any agreement or
understanding set forth on Disclosure Schedule 3.30 as a result of the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and/or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby, which schedule shall separately identify the person to whom
such amount is or will become payable.
ARTICLE 4
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BUYER
Buyer, for itself and on behalf of Acquisition Co., represents and
warrants to the Company that the statements contained in this Article 4 are
correct and complete as of the date of this Agreement and will be correct and
complete as of the Closing Date (as though made then and as though the Closing
Date were substituted for the date of this Agreement throughout this Article 4).
4.1 ORGANIZATION. Buyer corporation duly organized, validly existing
and in good standing under the laws of Delaware. Acquisition Co. is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of Minnesota. Buyer and Acquisition Co. are duly authorized to conduct business
and is in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction where such
qualification is required except where the failure to so qualify would not have
a Material Adverse Effect on either Buyer or Acquisition Co. or their respective
operations.
<PAGE> 29
4.2 AUTHORIZATION OF TRANSACTION. Each of Buyer and Acquisition Co.
has full corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform this
Agreement and to carry out the transactions contemplated hereby. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby, by each of Buyer and Acquisition Co. has been
duly and validly authorized by all requisite corporate action, including
approval of the shareholder of Acquisition Co., and do not require for their
validity any other authorization, consent, approval, exemption or other action.
This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by Buyer and
Acquisition Co. and constitutes the valid and legally binding obligation of
Buyer and Acquisition Co. enforceable against them in accordance with its terms
and conditions, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles.
4.3 NONCONTRAVENTION. Neither the execution and the delivery of this
Agreement, nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, will
(a) violate any constitution, statute, regulation, rule, injunction, judgment,
order, decree, ruling, charge, or other restriction of any Governmental
Authority to which Buyer or Acquisition Co. are subject or any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or articles of incorporation or bylaws of Buyer or
Acquisition Co. or (b) except for such matters as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, conflict with, result in a breach
of, constitute a default under, result in the acceleration of, create in any
party the right to accelerate, terminate, modify, or cancel, or require any
notice under any agreement, contract, lease, license, instrument, concession,
joint venture agreement, partnership agreement, association, contract or other
arrangement to which Buyer or Acquisition Co. is a party or by which it is bound
or to which any of its assets is subject (or result in the imposition of any
Security Interest upon any of its assets). Neither Buyer nor Acquisition Co. are
required to give any notice to, make any filing with, or obtain any
authorization, consent, or approval of any Governmental Authority in connection
with Buyer's and Acquisition Co.'s execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
4.4 BROKERS' FEES. Neither Buyer nor Acquisition Co. has any
liability or obligations to pay any fees or commissions to any broker, finder,
or agent with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE 5
PRE-CLOSING COVENANTS
The Parties agree as follows with respect to the period between the
date hereof and the Closing Date:
5.1 GENERAL. Each of the Parties will use its reasonable best efforts
to take all
<PAGE> 30
action and to do all things necessary, proper, or advisable in order to
consummate and make effective the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
(including satisfaction, but not waiver, of the closing conditions set forth in
Article 7).
5.2 NOTICES AND CONSENTS. Each of the Parties will give any notices to
third parties, and will obtain any third party consents, that the other party
may request in connection with the matters referred to in Sections 3.5 and 4.3.
5.3 REGULATORY MATTERS AND APPROVALS. The Parties shall prepare and
submit for filing any and all applications, filings, and registrations with, and
notifications to, all federal and state Governmental Authorities required on the
part of Company or any shareholder or affiliate of Company for the Merger to be
consummated as contemplated by this Agreement. Thereafter, all Parties shall
pursue all such applications, filings, registrations, and notifications
diligently and in good faith, and shall file such supplements, amendments, and
additional information in connection therewith as may be reasonably necessary
for the Merger to be consummated at the Closing Date.
5.4 OPERATION OF BUSINESS. Company shall use its best efforts to
preserve substantially intact its business organization and present
relationships with its customers, suppliers and employees and to maintain all of
its insurance currently in effect. Company will not take any action that could
reasonably be expected to have an adverse affect on Company or the Merger or the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Without the prior written consent
of Buyer, the Company will not engage in any practice, take any action, or enter
into any transaction outside the Ordinary Course of Business, except as
contemplated by this Agreement. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing:
a. The Company will not sell, lease, transfer, or assign any
assets, tangible or intangible, other than for a fair consideration and in the
Ordinary Course of Business.
b. The Company will not enter into any agreement, contract, lease,
or license (or series of related agreements, contracts, leases, and licenses)
outside the Ordinary Course of Business.
c. The Company will not accelerate, terminate or cancel any
agreement, contract, lease, or license (or series of related agreements,
contracts, leases, and licenses) involving more than $5,000 to which the Company
is a party or by which it is bound.
<PAGE> 31
d. The Company will not impose any Security Interest upon any of
its assets, tangible or intangible.
e. The Company will not make any capital expenditure outside the
Ordinary Course of Business.
f. The Company will not make any capital investment in, any loan
to, or any acquisition of the securities or assets of, any other Person (or
series of related capital investments, loans, and acquisitions) outside the
Ordinary Course of Business.
g. Excluding matters relating to the properties under construction
listed in EXHIBIT D, the Company, will not issue any note, bond, or other debt
security or create, incur, assume, or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed
money or capitalized lease obligation involving more than $5,000 in the
aggregate.
h. The Company will not merge with any other company, consolidate
or sell or consent to the sale of any of the material assets of the Company or
acquire any material assets.
i. The Company will not authorize or effect any change in its
articles of incorporation or bylaws.
j. The Company will not declare, set aside, or pay any dividend or
make any distribution with respect to its capital stock (whether in cash or in
kind) or redeem, purchase, or otherwise acquire any of its capital stock.
k. The Company will not increase the compensation or benefits
payable to its employees other than scheduled increases in the Ordinary Course
of Business.
l. The Company will not make any change in its accounting,
collection or payment practices.
m. The Company will not commit or agree to do any of the
foregoing.
5.5 ACCESS TO INFORMATION. Upon reasonable notice and subject to
applicable laws relating to the exchange of information, the Company shall
afford to the officers, employees, accountants, counsel and other
representatives of Buyer, access during normal business hours during the period
prior to the Closing Date, to all of the Company's properties, books, contracts,
commitments and records for the purpose of updating any review of such items
performed prior to the date of this Agreement and, during such period, the
Company shall make available all other information concerning its business,
properties and personnel as Buyer may reasonably request. It is the intention of
the parties that Buyer shall conduct an examination of the Company prior to
<PAGE> 32
the Closing Date in order to confirm compliance with the representations,
warranties and covenants set forth in this Agreement. All information provided
by the Company to Buyer prior to Closing shall be complete and accurate in all
material respects. No investigation by Buyer shall affect the representations
and warranties set forth herein. The Company will permit representatives of
Buyer to have full access at all reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to
interfere with the normal business operations of the Company, to all premises,
properties, personnel, books, records (including Tax records), contracts, and
documents of or pertaining to the Company.
5.6 NOTICE OF DEVELOPMENTS. The Company will give prompt written notice
to Buyer of any material adverse development in its business, operations,
financial condition or results of operations. The Company shall give prompt
written notice to Buyer of any adverse development causing a breach of any of
such Company's representations and warranties set forth herein. No disclosure by
any Party pursuant to this Section 5.6 shall be deemed to amend or supplement
the Disclosure Schedules or to prevent or cure any misrepresentation, breach of
warranty, or breach of covenant, nor shall a decision to close the transactions
contemplated hereby be considered a waiver in respect of any such matter.
5.7 EXCLUSIVITY. In light of the consideration given by its Board of
Directors and the Company's shareholders prior to the execution of this
Agreement, the Company will not (a) solicit, initiate, or actively encourage the
submission of any proposal or offer from any Person relating to the acquisition
of any material equity interest in, or any substantial portion of the assets, of
the Company (including any acquisition structured as a merger, consolidation, or
share exchange) or (b) participate in any discussions or negotiations regarding,
furnish any information with respect to, assist or participate in, or facilitate
in any other manner any effort or attempt by any Person to do or seek any of the
foregoing. The Company will notify Buyer immediately if any Person makes any
proposal or offer with respect to any of the foregoing.
5.8 RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Prior to Closing, the shareholders of the
Company shall not sell, transfer, pledge or grant a security interest in, or
otherwise dispose of or encumber, any of the Common Stock or any ownership
interest in the Company without the prior written consent of Buyer.
5.9 REVIEW OF MERGER CONSIDERATION CALCULATION. Not less than three (3)
business days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall prepare and deliver
to Buyer a schedule setting forth the calculation of the Merger Consideration as
set forth on EXHIBIT B, and the Company shall make available to Buyer all
supporting documentation. Buyer shall review and approve such schedule and
documentation and Buyer may perform any investigation of the Company's books or
employees regarding
<PAGE> 33
such calculation and documentation, including but not limited to investigations
for unlisted disbursements. The Company shall, and shall cause its employees to,
fully cooperate in any such investigations.
ARTICLE 6
POST-CLOSING COVENANTS
The Parties agree as follows with respect to the period following the
Closing:
6.1 GENERAL. In case at any time after the Closing any further action
is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this Agreement, each of
the Parties will take such further action (including the execution and delivery
of such further instruments and documents including instruments of sale,
transfer, conveyance, assignment and delivery and such consents, assurances,
powers of attorney and other instruments) as any other Party reasonably may
request, all at the sole cost and expense of the requesting Party. The Company
acknowledges and agrees that from and after the Closing, Buyer will be entitled
to possession of all documents, books, records (including Tax records),
agreements, and financial data of any sort relating to the Company; provided,
that the Company shareholders and their representatives shall have access to
such information in a reasonable manner for purposes of tax return preparation.
6.2 LITIGATION SUPPORT. In the event and for so long as any Party
actively is contesting or defending against any action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, claim, or demand in connection with
(a) any transaction contemplated under this Agreement or (b) any fact,
situation, circumstance, status, condition, activity, practice, plan,
occurrence, event, incident, action, failure to act, or transaction on or prior
to the Closing Date involving the Company, each of the other Parties will
cooperate with such Party and such Party's counsel in the contest or defense,
make available their personnel, and provide such testimony and access to their
books and records as shall be reasonably necessary in connection with the
contest or defense, at the sole cost and expense of the contesting or defending
Party.
6.3 SEVERANCE. As soon as practicable following the Closing Date, Buyer
shall cause the Surviving Corporation to pay severance or establish reserves for
the terminated employees listed in EXHIBIT E in an amount not to exceed
$260,000.00.
ARTICLE 7
CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION TO CLOSE
7.1 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF BUYER. The obligation of Buyer to
consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with the Closing
is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
<PAGE> 34
a. The Company shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all
covenants contained in this Agreement to be performed and complied with by each
of them prior to or at the Closing Date. The representations and warranties of
the Company set forth in this Agreement shall be accurate at and as of the
Closing Date with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the
Closing Date except for any changes resulting from activities or transactions
which may have taken place after the date hereof and which are permitted or
contemplated by the Agreement or to the extent that any such representation and
warranty is expressly made as of another specified date and, as to such
representation or warranty, the same shall be true as of such specified date.
b. All statutory requirements for the valid consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Acquisition
shall have been fulfilled and all authorizations, consents and approvals
including all of the third-party consents specified in Section 3.5, and those of
all federal, state and local governmental agencies and regulatory authorities
required to be obtained in order to permit the consummation of the Merger and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to Buyer. All approvals of the Board of
Directors of the Company and the Company shareholders necessary for the
consummation of this Agreement, the Acquisition and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall have been obtained.
c. No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened
before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal,
state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an
unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A)
prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded
following consummation, (C) affect adversely the right of Buyer to own the
capital stock of the Company and to control the Company, or (D) affect adversely
the right of the Company to own its assets and to operate its businesses (and no
such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge shall be in effect).
d. Each of the following shall be true and complete as of the
Closing Date (the "FINANCIAL ASSUMPTIONS"):
(i) The Company shall have no past due taxes and no liability
for any taxes other than current taxes not yet due or payable which shall be
properly accrued on the Closing Balance Sheet.
(ii) The Company shall have accrued and recorded all employee
benefit costs including, but not limited to, retirement benefits and vacation
accruals in the Ordinary Course of Business.
<PAGE> 35
(iii) The Company shall not have any obligation accruing after
the Closing Date to make any employee benefit plan contributions unless such
obligation is reflected as a liability on the Closing Balance Sheet.
(iv) No material adverse changes in financial condition or
operations of the Company or any site at which the Company operates will have
occurred between the date the last Financial Statements are delivered to Buyer
and the Closing Date.
e. The Company shall have delivered to Buyer a certificate to the
effect that each of the conditions specified in Sections 7.1(a)-(d) is satisfied
in all respects.
f. The Company shall have delivered to Buyer (i) a copy of the
articles of incorporation of the Company certified by an appropriate authority
of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, (ii) a copy of the bylaws of the
Company certified by the Secretary thereof, (iii) a copy of the resolutions of
the Board of Directors of the Company and the shareholders approving the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement certified by the Secretary thereof,
and (iv) certificates of good standing/existence of the Company certified by the
appropriate authority of the jurisdiction issuing such certificate.
g. Buyer shall be satisfied in all material respects with the
results of its due diligence in respect of the Company.
h. Effective as of the Closing Date, Buyer shall have received the
resignations of each director and officer of the Company.
i. All indebtedness owed to the Company by officers, directors,
stockholders or former stockholders of the Company, including that related to
former holders of the Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, shall be repaid at
or prior to Closing.
j. The following additional documents shall be delivered at the
Closing by the Company:
(i) Certain Company shareholders, as determined by the Buyer,
shall have duly executed and delivered a Non-Competition Agreement in
substantially the form attached as EXHIBIT F hereto.
<PAGE> 36
(ii) The stock certificates representing the Common Stock,
accompanied by duly executed stock powers, together with any stock transfer
stamps for any transfer taxes required to be paid thereon shall be delivered to
Buyer.
k. The Company shall have canceled, terminated, rescinded or
otherwise nullified the consulting agreements set forth on EXHIBIT G.
l. The Company shall have canceled, terminated, rescinded or
otherwise nullified all contracts or other agreements providing for the payment
of any additional purchase price in the event of an acquisition or other
transaction involving the Company, all of such contracts and parties thereto are
listed on EXHIBIT H.
m. The Company shall have canceled, terminated, rescinded or
otherwise nullified all contracts, leases, agreements or other commitments
regarding the operations of the Company at the former St. Michael Center in
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
n. The State of Minnesota shall have approved the relicensing
of all of the Company operations in Minnesota, in substantially their current
condition without material change, to Buyer or Surviving Corporation, and Buyer,
or Surviving Corporation shall have received such licenses. In the event such
licenses have not been received by Buyer, Acquisition Co. or Surviving
Corporation prior to Closing, verbal assurances shall have been received from
the State of Minnesota that such licenses are forth coming in a manner
reasonably acceptable to the Company and Buyer.
o. Buyer shall have received a written waiver of rent deposit,
or mutually agreed upon security agreement, from each Person listed on EXHIBIT
I, regarding where a unit lease requires a deposit that has not been made as of
the date of this Agreement except to the extent accrued on the Closing Balance
Sheet.
p. Buyer shall have received a letter of acceptance, reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer, from each Person currently leasing or renting property to
the Company, waiving any change of control provisions in any current contract
with the Company where such acceptance is required by such contract.
q. Buyer shall have received and approved the fall marketing and
pricing plan for the Company, which shall be consistent with prior years' plans.
r. Buyer shall be satisfied that construction and pre-opening
activities, including, but not limited to, marketing, proper permitting,
equipment purchasing, supplying and staffing, for the Company operations for the
McCarran facility in Las Vegas, Nevada, is progressing on a schedule reasonably
satisfactory to Buyer and Acquisition Co.
<PAGE> 37
Buyer may waive any condition specified in this Section 7.1 if it executes a
writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
7.2 CONDITIONS TO OBLIGATION OF THE COMPANY. The obligation of the
Company to consummate the transactions to be performed by it in connection with
the Closing is subject to satisfaction of the following conditions:
a. Buyer shall have performed in all material respects all
obligations and agreements and complied in all material respects with all
covenants contained in this Agreement to be performed and complied with by it
prior to or at the Closing Date. The representations and warranties of Buyer set
forth in this Agreement shall be accurate in all material respects at and as of
the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though made on and as of the
Closing Date except for any changes resulting from activities or transactions
which may have taken place after the date hereof and which are permitted or
contemplated by the Agreement or to the extent that any such representation and
warranty is expressly made as of another specified date and, as to such
representation or warranty, the same shall be true as of such specified date.
b. All statutory requirements for the valid consummation by Buyer
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Merger shall have
been fulfilled and all authorizations, consents and approvals including all of
the third-party consents specified in Section 4.3, and those of all federal,
state, local and foreign governmental agencies and regulatory authorities
required to be obtained in order to permit the consummation of the Merger and
the transactions contemplated hereby shall have been obtained in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Company unless such failure shall not
have a Material Adverse Effect on the business of Buyer or Acquisition Co. All
approvals of the Boards of Directors of Buyer necessary for the consummation of
the Merger, this Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereby shall have
been obtained.
c. No action, suit, or proceeding shall be pending or threatened
before any court or quasi-judicial or administrative agency of any federal,
state, local, or foreign jurisdiction or before any arbitrator wherein an
unfavorable injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge would (A)
prevent consummation of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
(B) cause any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement to be rescinded
following consummation, (C) affect adversely the right of Buyer or Acquisition
Co. to own the capital stock of the Company and to control Company, or (D)
affect adversely the right of Company to own its assets and to operate its
businesses (and no such injunction, judgment, order, decree, ruling, or charge
shall be in effect).
<PAGE> 38
d. Buyer shall have delivered to the Company a certificate to
the effect that each of the conditions specified in Sections 7.2(a)-(c) is
satisfied in all respects.
e. Buyer shall have delivered to the Company (i) a copy of its
and Acquisition Co.'s certificate of incorporation and articles of
incorporation, respectively, certified by an appropriate authority of their
respective jurisdiction of incorporation, (ii) a copy of the bylaws of Buyer and
Acquisition Co., respectively, certified by the Secretary of the respective
corporation, (iii) certificates of good standing/existence for both Buyer and
Acquisition Co. certified by the appropriate authority of the jurisdiction
issuing such certificate and (iv) certified copies of resolutions of both Buyer
and Acquisition Co.'s respective Board of Directors, and certified copies of
resolution of Acquisition Co.'s shareholder, approving the transaction
contemplated by this Agreement, certified by the respective Secretary thereof.
The Company may waive any condition specified in this Section 7.2 if they
execute a writing so stating at or prior to the Closing.
ARTICLE 8
TERMINATION
8.1 TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. The Parties may terminate this Agreement
as provided below:
a. Buyer, on one hand, and the Company, on the other hand, may
terminate this Agreement by mutual written consent at any time prior to the
Closing;
b. Buyer may terminate this Agreement by giving written notice
to Company at any time prior to the Closing (i) in the event Company has
breached when made any representation or warranty, or has breached any covenant
contained in this Agreement, Buyer has notified the Company of the breach, and
the breach has continued without cure for a period of 30 days after the notice
of breach or (ii) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before July 31,
1999, by reason of the failure of any condition precedent under Section 7.1
(unless the failure results primarily from Buyer breaching any representation,
warranty, or covenant contained in this Agreement); and
c. The Company may terminate this Agreement by giving written
notice to Buyer at any time prior to the Closing (i) in the event Buyer has
breached any material representation, warranty, or covenant contained in this
Agreement in any material respect, the Company has notified Buyer of the breach,
and the breach has
<PAGE> 39
continued without cure for a period of 30 days after the notice of breach or
(ii) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or before July 31, 1999, by
reason of the failure of any condition precedent under Section 7.2 (unless the
failure results primarily from Company breaching any representation, warranty,
or covenant contained in this Agreement).
8.2 EFFECT OF TERMINATION. If any Party terminates this Agreement
pursuant to Section 8.1(a), all rights and obligations of the Parties hereunder
shall terminate without any Liability of any Party to any other Party.
ARTICLE 9
MISCELLANEOUS
9.1 CONFIDENTIALITY. Each Party agrees that it shall, and it shall
direct and use its best efforts to cause its officers, directors, shareholders,
employees, agents and representatives to, keep the existence of this Agreement,
the information obtained by it and its shareholders in the course of due
diligence in connection herewith and the terms of the transactions contemplated
hereby strictly confidential and to not disclose such matters to any third party
without the other Party's prior written consent.
9.2 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES. This Agreement shall not confer any
rights or remedies upon any Person other than the Parties and their respective
successors and permitted assigns.
9.3 ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement (including the documents referred
to herein) constitutes the entire agreement among the Parties and supersedes any
prior understandings, agreements, or representations by or among the Parties,
written or oral, to the extent they relate in any way to the subject matter
hereof.
9.4 SUCCESSION AND ASSIGNMENT. This Agreement shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the Parties named herein and their respective
successors and permitted assigns. No Party may assign either this Agreement or
any of their rights, interests, or obligations hereunder without the prior
written approval of Buyer; provided, however, that Buyer may (a) assign any or
all of its rights and interests hereunder to one or more of its Affiliates and
lenders and (b) designate one or more of its Affiliates to perform its
obligations hereunder (in any or all of which cases Buyer or Acquisition Co.
nonetheless shall remain responsible for the performance of all of its
obligations hereunder).
9.5 COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in one or more
<PAGE> 40
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
9.6 HEADINGS. The section headings contained in this Agreement are
inserted for convenience only and shall not affect in any way the meaning or
interpretation of this Agreement.
9.7 NOTICES. All notices, requests, demands, claims, and other
communications hereunder will be in writing. Any notice, request, demand, claim,
or other communication hereunder shall be deemed duly given if (and then two
business days after) it is sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt
requested, postage prepaid, or by expedited courier, next day delivery, and
addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
If to Buyer to: Copy to:
LaPetite Academy, Inc. Davis, Graham & Stubbs LLP
8717 West 110th Street, Suite 300 370 Seventeenth Street, Suite 4700
Overland Park, Kansas 66210 Denver, Colorado 80202
Attention: James Kahl Attention: Jennings J. Newcom
Telephone: (913) 345-1250 Telephone: (303) 892-9400
Telecopy: (913) 345-9601 Telecopy: (303) 893-1379
If to the Company: Copy to:
James Leidich James R. Greupner or Sherri L. Rohlf
5259 Elk Ridge Road Siegel, Brill, Greupner, Duffy & Foster
Evergreen, Colorado 80439 100 Washington Avenue South
1300 Washington Square
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
</TABLE>
Any Party may send any notice, request, demand, claim, or other communication
hereunder to the intended recipient at the address set forth above using any
other means (including personal delivery, messenger service, telecopy, telex,
ordinary mail, or electronic mail), but no such notice, request, demand, claim,
or other communication shall be deemed to have been duly given unless and until
it actually is received by the intended recipient. Any Party may change the
address to which notices, requests, demands, claims, and other communications
hereunder are to be delivered by giving the other Parties notice in the manner
herein set forth.
9.8 GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of Minnesota without regard to its
rules of conflict
<PAGE> 41
of laws. Buyer and the Company hereby absolutely and irrevocably consent and
submit to the jurisdiction of the courts of the State of Kansas and of any
federal court located in the State of Kansas in connection with any actions or
proceedings brought against the Company, Buyer or Surviving Corporation, arising
out of or relating to this Agreement. In any such action or proceeding, Buyer
and the Company hereby absolutely and irrevocably waive personal service of any
summons, complaint, declaration or other process and hereby absolutely and
irrevocably agree that service thereof may be made by certified or registered
first class mail directed to Buyer and the Company, or the Representative, as
the case may be, at their respective addresses in accordance with Section 9.7
hereof.
9.9 AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. No amendment of any provision of this
Agreement shall be valid unless the same shall be in writing and signed by Buyer
and the Company. No waiver by any Party of any default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder, whether intentional or not, shall be
deemed to extend to any prior or subsequent default, misrepresentation, or
breach of warranty or covenant hereunder or affect in any way any rights arising
by virtue of any prior or subsequent such occurrence.
9.10 SEVERABILITY. Any term or provision of this Agreement that is
invalid or unenforceable in any situation in any jurisdiction shall not affect
the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions hereof or
the validity or enforceability of the offending term or provision in any other
situation or in any other jurisdiction.
9.11 CONSTRUCTION. Any reference to any federal, state, local, or
foreign statute or law shall be deemed also to refer to all rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, unless the context requires otherwise. The
word "including" shall mean including without limitation. The Parties intend
that each representation, warranty, and covenant contained herein shall have
independent significance. If any Party has breached any representation,
warranty, or covenant contained herein in any respect, the fact that there
exists another representation, warranty or covenant relating to the same subject
matter (regardless of the relative levels of specificity) which the Party has
not breached shall not detract from or mitigate the fact that the Party is in
breach of the first representation, warranty, or covenant.
9.12 INCORPORATION OF EXHIBITS, ANNEXES, AND SCHEDULES. The Exhibits,
Annexes, and the Disclosure Schedule identified in this Agreement are
incorporated herein by reference and made a part hereof.
9.13 SPECIFIC PERFORMANCE. Each of the Parties acknowledges and agrees
<PAGE> 42
that the other Parties would be damaged irreparably in the event any of the
provisions of this Agreement are not performed in accordance with their specific
terms or otherwise are breached. Accordingly, each of the Parties agrees that
the other Parties shall be entitled to an injunction or injunctions to prevent
breaches of the provisions of this Agreement and to enforce specifically this
Agreement and the terms and provisions hereof in any action instituted in any
court of the United States or any state thereof having jurisdiction over the
Parties and the matter (subject to the provisions set forth in Section 9.8), in
addition to any other remedy to which they may be entitled, at law or in equity.
REMAINDER OF PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
<PAGE> 43
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the parties hereto has caused this
Agreement to be duly executed as of the date and year first above written.
BUYER:
By: /s/ James Kahl
---------------------------
Name: James Kahl
---------------------------
Its: Chairman, CEO & President
---------------------------
ACQUISITION CO.
By: /s/ James Kahl
---------------------------
Name: James Kahl
---------------------------
Its: Chairman, CEO & President
---------------------------
COMPANY:
By: /s/ James A. Leidich
---------------------------
Name: James A. Leidich
---------------------------
Its: Chairman and CEO
---------------------------
<PAGE> 44
EXHIBIT B - MERGER CONSIDERATION
For purposes of Section 2.8(b), "Merger Consideration" shall be defined as the
sum of:
(A) $12,070,000
plus (B) Net Balance Sheet Adjustment (as defined below)
plus (C) June EBITDA (as defined below)
plus (D) May EBITDA Variance (as defined below)
plus (E) all cash receipts of the Company between May 31, 1999,
and the Closing Date for any item not effecting the calculation
set forth on Exhibit B(i) or current assets or any liability as
of May 31, 1999, including, but not limited to, receipts for
sale of assets or return of deposits
minus (F) all cash disbursements by the Company between May 31,
1999, and the Closing Date for any item not affecting the
calculation set forth on Exhibit B(i) or current assets or any
liability as of May 31, 1999, including but not limited to,
disbursements for the purchase of fixed assets, payments of
deposits, and payments for cancellation of contracts not
recorded as liability on the Closing Balance Sheet
minus (G) the amount of interest to be accrued on all
interest-bearing debt obligations of the Company between May
31, 1999, and the Closing Date which has not been paid at the
Effective Time, and the accrual of other costs that have not
been paid which if accrued would not effect EBITDA, including
but not limited to any costs or expenses of the Company related
to this transaction not yet paid by the Company
minus (H) all Transfer Taxes (as defined below), if any.
The "Net Balance Sheet Adjustment" shall be equal to the difference of:
(a) the sum of the (i) cash and cash equivalents, (ii) accounts
receivable, net, and (iii) prepaid expenses, each as reflected
on the Closing Balance Sheet, and
<PAGE> 45
(b) the sum of the (i) current liabilities, (ii) deferred rent,
(iii) long-term debt, and (iv) other non-current liabilities,
if any, (v) subordinated debt, each as reflected on the
Closing Balance Sheet.
The "June EBITDA" shall be equal to the product of (a) $145,933 (as calculated
on Exhibit B(i)) and (b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the number of
business days between May 31, 1999, and the Closing Date, by (ii) twenty-two
(22).
The "May EBITDA Variance" shall be equal to the product of:
(a) the difference between (i) the amount reported on the Closing
Income Statement as "earnings before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization and consulting" and (ii) the
amount of "earnings before interest, income taxes,
depreciation and amortization and consulting" which was
budgeted for the month of May 1999, as set forth on Exhibit
B(ii) and
(b) the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the number of business
days between May 31, 1999, and the Closing Date, by (ii)
twenty-two (22).
"Transfer Taxes" shall mean (a) any and all stock transfer or stamp taxes or
similar charges required (or which may, in the future be required) by federal,
state or local authorities upon, or by virtue of, the cancellation or conversion
of Common Stock or Options pursuant to this Agreement, and (b) any and all real
or personal property transfer or sales taxes, gains taxes or similar charges
(other than taxes or charges based on, or measured by, income) required (or
which may, the future, be required) by federal, state or local authorities
solely upon, or by virtue of, the cancellation or conversion of Common Stock or
Options pursuant to this Agreement. The Company or Buyer shall timely prepare
and file all returns and reports with respect to such taxes or charges and shall
cause all such taxes or charges due and owing to be paid to the appropriate
taxing authorities.
<PAGE> 46
EXHIBIT B(i) - June EBITDA
June Budget for Net Income 72,223
Center Interest 1,543
Center Depreciation 47,880
Regional Interest 1,075
Regional Depreciation 1,315
Regional Amortization 3,771
Regional Consulting Fees 15,685
Corporate Interest 1,351
Corporate Depreciation 1,085
June Budget for EBITDA 145,933
<PAGE> 47
EXHIBIT B(ii) - May EBITDA - Budgeted
May Budget for Net Income 82,339
Center Interest 1,599
Center Depreciation 47,880
Regional Interest 1,137
Regional Depreciation 1,315
Regional Amortization 3,771
Regional Consulting Fees 20,003
Corporate Interest 1,009
Corporate Depreciation 1,085
Budget for EBITDA 160,138
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Auditors
We consent to the inclusion of our report dated October 9, 1998, with respect to
the financial statements of Bright Start, Inc. in this Current Report on Form
8-K of LPA Holding Corp. dated as of December 7, 1999.
Ernst & Young LLP
Minneapolis, Minnesota
December 7, 1999
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 99.1
For Immediate Release CONTACT: Sean Wheeler
July 21, 1999 816-960-3116
816-270-7326
LA PETITE ACADEMY, INC. ACQUIRES BRIGHT START, INC.
Overland Park, Kan. - La Petite Academy, Inc., the nation's
second-largest provider of early childhood education, announced today it
acquired Bright Start, Inc., which operates 44 child care/preschool facilities
in four states.
La Petite acquired all the outstanding Bright Start stock for $9.3
million, and assumed approximately $2 million in debt. The transaction, which
closed July 21, allows La Petite Academy to increase its presence in Nevada and
New Mexico and create new markets in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
"La Petite Academy has developed a strong reputation of preparing young
children for a lifetime of learning," says Jim Kahl, chairman, chief executive
officer and president of La Petite. "Today, we build on that foundation with the
addition of Bright Start preschool facilities. We believe that Bright Start's
core purpose of integrating education into child care fits perfectly with our
company objectives and will enhance our ability to provide value-added programs
to more families across America."
Bright Start has flourished during the past four years with revenues
increasing from $10.7 million in 1995 to $22.2 million in 1998, an increase of
107 percent.
"Bright Start obviously has a great track record of success and that is
why it was such an attraction to us," Kahl said. "The company has not only shown
outstanding growth, but also strong profitability. This acquisition creates the
ability to extend our mission of providing early
<PAGE> 2
childhood education to many more children."
With the acquisition of Bright Start, La Petite owns 20 schools in
Minnesota and Wisconsin, and will add nine in Nevada and 17 in New Mexico to La
Petite's existing operations. La Petite anticipates a smooth transition for
staff, parents and children as both companies rely on utilizing strong field
management support combined with the strength of La Petite's existing corporate
office in Overland Park, Kan. One of Bright Start's strengths is the expertise
and service capabilities of its staff.
"We will operate with as little change as possible this coming school
year to assure the historic success Bright Start has experienced in serving
parents remains intact," says Kahl. "Our time will be spent understanding Bright
Start's systems and processes to see what can be learned from each educational
program to provide parents and children even better service."
The first La Petite Academy opened in Illinois in 1970. La Petite
Academy, with headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., is the nation's
second-largest provider of early childhood education. With the acquisition of
Bright Start, La Petite Academy, Inc. operates more than 800 school in 36 states
and the District of Columbia.
# # #
