ANNEX
A: Sample Calculation of Net Working Capital
Exhibit
A: Terms of Glass Contract
Exhibit
B: Transition Services
STOCK
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
THIS
STOCK PURCHASE AGREEMENT is made and entered into as of this 9th day of
November, 2007, between Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“Seller”), and Constellation Brands, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (“Purchaser”). Capitalized terms used herein and
not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms
in
Section 1.1 hereof.
RECITALS
WHEREAS,
Seller owns all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Beam Wine Estates,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and the Company owns all of
the outstanding stock of Atlas Peak Vineyards, Inc., a California corporation,
Buena Vista Winery, Inc., a California corporation, Clos du Bois Wines, Inc.,
a
California corporation, Gary Farrell Wines, Inc., a California corporation,
and
Peak Wines International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (collectively, together with the Company, and
taken as a whole, the “Acquired Companies” and, individually, an
“Acquired Company”); and
WHEREAS,
Seller desires to sell, and Purchaser desires to purchase, all of the issued
and
outstanding shares of capital stock (the “Shares”) of the Company on the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein;
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and provisions set forth
in
this Agreement, Seller and Purchaser agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Definitions
1.1 Definitions.
As
used
in this Agreement, the following terms shall have the following
meanings:
“2007
Consolidated Return” has
the meaning set forth in Section 9.2(d) hereof.
“Acquired
Companies” has the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Acquired
Companies’ Brands and
Domain Names” means the business names, brand names, trade names,
trademarks, service marks, and domain names and logos set forth in Section
3.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, excluding any and all of the Beam
Names.
“Acquired
Company” has the
meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Acquired
Company Assets” has
the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a) hereof.
“Acquisition
Transaction” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.14
hereof.
“Actually
Realized” shall mean, for purposes of determining the timing of any Taxes
(or related Tax cost or benefit) relating to any payment, transaction,
occurrence or event, the time at which the amount of Taxes (including estimated
Taxes) payable by any person is increased above or reduced below, as the
case
may be, the amount of Taxes that such person would be required to pay but
for
the payment, transaction, occurrence or event.
“Affiliate”
means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person which, directly
or
indirectly, controls, is under common control with, or is controlled by,
such
specified Person. As used in this definition, “control” (including,
with its correlative meanings, “controlled by” and “under common control with”)
means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause
the direction of management or policies of a Person whether through ownership
of
securities or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise.
“Agreement”
means this Agreement and the Company Disclosure Schedules hereto, as this
Agreement may be amended from time to time.
“AGUB”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(c) hereof.
“Alcoholic
Beverage Authorities” means the United States Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and
Trade Bureau, as well as the applicable state, local, municipal, provincial,
foreign and other Governmental Entities regulating the alcoholic beverage
business.
“Allocation
Schedule” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(c)
hereof.
“Antitrust
Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(d)
hereof.
“Applicable
Environmental Date” means with respect to each parcel of real property
currently or formerly owned or leased by an Acquired Company, the later of
(i)
the date such Acquired Company acquired or entered into a lease with respect
to
such real property, as applicable, or (ii) the date Seller or its Affiliate
acquired the entity that owned or leased such real property.
“Arbiter”
has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(d) hereof.
“Assets”
has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(c) hereof.
“Base
Amount” means Two Hundred Thirty-Four Million Dollars
($234,000,000).
“Beam
Names” shall mean the business names, brand names, trade names, trademarks,
service marks, and domain names “Beam,” “Cockburn’s,” “Harveys” or “Roth,” any
business name, brand name, trade name, trademark, service mark and domain
name
that includes the word “Beam,” “Cockburn’s,” “Harveys” or “Roth” in any portion
thereof, any and all rights in respect of such names and other variations
and
derivatives thereof, including but not limited to, the Beam Wine Estates
logo as
well as any logos containing the words “Beam,” “Cockburn’s,” “Harveys” or
“Roth.”
“Benefit
Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a)
hereof.
“Business
Day” means a day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which the
principal commercial banks located in the State of California are authorized
or
obligated to close under the laws of such state.
“Cash
Balance” shall mean the amount of cash and cash equivalents held by the
Acquired Companies or any other Person for the account of the Acquired
Companies.
“Citi”
shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.26 hereof.
“Closing”
means the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein.
“Closing
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 7.1 hereof.
“Closing
Inventory” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)
hereof.
“Closing
Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section
7.2(j).
“COBRA”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(e) hereof.
“Code”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any reference to
a
particular Code section shall be interpreted to include any revision of or
successor to that section.
“Company”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Company
409A Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(h)
hereof.
“Company
Benefit Plans” means all Benefit Plans other than Seller-sponsored Benefit
Plans.
“Company
Disclosure Schedule” means the schedules provided by the Company pursuant to
Article III.
“Company
Employee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a)
hereof.
“Company
Intellectual Property” means all Intellectual Property that is owned by or
exclusively licensed to an Acquired Company, in connection with the business
of
the Acquired Company, including the Acquired Companies’ Brands and Domain
Names.
“Confidentiality
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a)
hereof.
“Copyrights”
means U.S. and foreign registered and unregistered copyrights (including
those in computer software and databases), rights of publicity and all
registrations and applications to register the same, and all rights to obtain
renewals and extensions of registrations, together with all other interests
accruing by reason of international copyright conventions and
treaties.
“Current
Assets” means Inventory, prepaid expenses, deposits, current Tax assets
(other than current Income Tax assets) and accounts receivable (excluding
receivables owing by Seller or any Affiliate of Seller to any Acquired Company),
and specifically excludes cash, cash equivalents, deferred Tax assets and
all
current Income Tax assets, of the Acquired Companies on a consolidated basis,
as
of the Closing Date, in each case calculated consistent with the calculation
of
such items on the Reference Balance Sheet except as illustrated in Annex
A.
“Current
Liabilities” means accounts payable (excluding payables owed by an Acquired
Company to Seller or any Affiliate of Seller), accrued expenses, current
Tax
liabilities (other than current Income Tax liabilities) and retention bonuses
or
plans or similar arrangements approved or adopted by an Acquired Company
prior
to the Closing payable to Company Employees as a result of the consummation
of
the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and specifically excludes
Indebtedness, deferred Tax liabilities, certain employee benefit liabilities
and
all current Income Tax liabilities, of the Acquired Companies on a consolidated
basis, as of the Closing Date, in each case calculated consistent with the
calculation of such items on the Reference Balance Sheet except as illustrated
in Annex A.
“Encumbrances”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.4 hereof.
“Environmental
Law” means all applicable federal, state, local or foreign laws, rules and
regulations in effect at the date of this Agreement relating to pollution,
the
protection of the environment or to the use, transport, treatment, storage,
disposal, or Release of a Hazardous Substance, including but not limited
to, as
amended, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601 et seq.; the Resource Conservation and Recovery
Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901 et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,
33 U.S.C. §§ 1251 et seq.; and the Emergency Planning, Community Right To
Know Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001 et seq. Without limiting the
foregoing, the term “Environmental Laws” also includes all permits, licenses,
registrations, consent orders, consent agreements, administrative settlements,
cease and desist orders and all other orders or directives issued by a
Governmental Entity under an applicable Environmental Law.
“ERISA”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a) hereof.
“ERISA
Affiliate” means, with respect to any entity, trade or business, any other
entity, trade or business that is a member of a group described in Section
414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001(b)(1) of ERISA that includes
the first entity, trade or business, or that is a member of the same “controlled
group” as the first entity, trade or business pursuant to Section 4001(a)(14) of
ERISA.
“Estimated
Cash Balance” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(a)
hereof.
“Estimated
Closing Net Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3(a) hereof.
“Exchange
Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Final
Purchase Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(f)
hereof.
“Final
Cash Balance Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(e)
“Final
Statement of Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in Section
2.3(e) hereof.
“Financial
Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8
hereof.
“GAAP”
means United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently
applied.
“Governmental
Entity” means any domestic, foreign or multi-national federal, state,
provincial, regional, municipal or local governmental or administrative
authority, including any court, tribunal, agency, bureau, committee, board,
regulatory body, administration, commission or instrumentality constituted
or
appointed by any such authority.
“Hazardous
Substance” means, without regard to concentration or quantity, petroleum,
petroleum products, petroleum distillates, asbestos containing materials,
polychlorinated biphenyls, or any solid or liquid waste, wastewater, or other
material, substance or waste that is listed, defined, designated or regulated
as
a “hazardous substance”, “extremely hazardous substance”, “hazardous material”,
“hazardous waste”, “special waste”, “industrial waste”, or “toxic substance”
under any applicable Environmental Law.
“HSR
Act” means the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as
amended.
“HSR
Submission” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(c)
hereof.
“Improvements” means
any and all structures, buildings, building systems (including without
limitation roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, sprinklers and fire safety
systems), irrigation systems, drainage systems, wells, septic systems, waste
water treatment systems, roads, fixtures and other improvements on, servicing,
or related to any of the Owned Real Property, together with the systems and
facilities servicing the same.
“Income
Tax” means any federal, state, local, or foreign income tax, franchise,
doing business or other similar Tax that is imposed on or measured by income,
including any interest, penalty, assessment or addition thereto.
“Income
Tax Benefit” shall mean for any Tax period the excess of (i) the
hypothetical Income Tax liability of the taxpayer for the Tax period calculated
as if the Timing Difference or Reverse Timing Difference, as the case may
be,
had not occurred but with all other facts unchanged, over (ii) the actual
Income
Tax liability of the taxpayer for the Tax period, calculated taking into
account
the Timing Difference or Reverse Timing Difference, as the case may be (treating
an Income Tax refund or credit as a negative Income Tax liability for purposes
of such calculation).
“Income
Tax Detriment” shall mean for any Tax period the excess of (i) the actual
Income Tax liability of the taxpayer for the Tax period, calculated taking
into
account the Timing Difference or Reverse Timing Difference, as the case may
be,
over (ii) the hypothetical Income Tax liability of the taxpayer for the Tax
period, calculated as if the Timing Difference or Reverse Timing Difference,
as
the case may be, had not occurred but with all other facts unchanged (treating
an Income Tax refund or credit as a negative Income Tax liability for purposes
of such calculation).
“Income
Tax Return” means any Tax Return relating to Income Taxes.
“Indebtedness”
means (a) all indebtedness for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase
price of property or services (other than current trade liabilities incurred
in
the ordinary course of business and payable in accordance with customary
practices or being disputed in good faith or intercompany loans), (b) any
other indebtedness (other than intercompany loans) that is evidenced by a
note,
bond, debenture or similar instrument, (c) all guarantee obligations with
respect to any of the foregoing, (d) capital leases and (e) accrued
interest.
“Indemnified
Person” means the Person or Persons entitled to, or claiming a right to,
indemnification under Article VIII.
“Indemnifying
Person” shall mean the Person or Persons claimed by the Indemnified Person
to be obligated to provide indemnification under
Article VIII.
“Indemnity
Threshold” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.4(a).
“Intellectual
Property” means Trademarks, Patents, Copyrights, Trade Secrets, and all
other ideas, inventions, designs, manufacturing, operating and other
specifications, technical data and information, and other intangible assets,
intellectual properties and rights (whether or not appropriate steps have
been
taken to protect, under applicable law, such other intangible assets, properties
or rights); or any right (whether at law, equity by contract or otherwise)
to
use, practice or otherwise exploit any of the foregoing.
“Inventory”
means, for each of the Acquired Companies, all (a) blended and unblended
bulk
wine and finished goods, (b) unlabeled case goods, (c) raw materials (whether
expensed or not), including work in process, (d) current vintage packaging
supplies, labels, corks and capsules, and (e) retail sales merchandise and
supplies and point of sale materials; provided, however, that
“Inventory” does not include any inventory that is Retained Product
Assets.
“IRS”
means the United States Internal Revenue Service.
“Knowledge”
of the Company means the actual knowledge of William A. Newlands, President
and
Chief Executive Officer of the Company, Chris Stenzel, Chief Financial Officer
of the Company, Jim DeBonis, Chief Operating Officer of the Company, Tony
Truzzolino, Senior Vice President National Sales of the Company, Ken Minami,
General Counsel of the Company, and Thalia Postel, Director of Human Resources
of the Company and, only with respect to the representations and warranties
set
forth in Section 3.23, Charles Ryan, Vice President of Tax of Fortune
Brands, Inc.
“Leased
Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(b)
hereof.
“Leasehold
Improvements” means any and all structures, buildings, building systems
(including without limitation roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, sprinklers
and
fire safety systems), irrigation systems, drainage systems, wells, septic
systems, waste water treatment systems, roads, fixtures and other improvements
on, servicing, or related to the real property subject to the Leases, together
with the systems and facilities servicing the same to the extent such Leasehold
Improvements were made by any of the Acquired Companies or granted to any
of the
Acquired Companies under any of the Leases.
“Leases”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(b) hereof.
“Licenses”
means all licenses and agreements pursuant to which an Acquired Company has
acquired rights in or to any Intellectual Property, or licenses and agreements
pursuant to which an Acquired Company has licensed or transferred the right
to
use any of the foregoing.
“Lien”
means any lien, mortgage, pledge, security interest, lease, restriction,
conditional sale or other title retention agreement, charge or encumbrance
of
any kind, whether voluntary or involuntary.
“Lion
Distribution Agreement” means that certain Distribution Alliance Agreement
between Lion Nathan Wine Group Australia Limited (“ LNWGAL”) and the
Company dated July 26, 2006.
“Losses”
has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2 hereof.
“Material
Adverse Effect” means any material adverse change in, or material adverse
effect on, the business, financial condition or operations of a party and
its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that to the extent any
adverse change or effect is caused by or results from any of the following,
it
shall not be deemed to constitute, or be taken into account in determining
whether or not there has been or would be, a “Material Adverse
Effect”: (a) factors or conditions affecting the industries in which
a party hereto participates, the U.S. economy as a whole, or foreign economies
as a whole in any countries where a party has material operations or the
capital
markets generally (which changes in each case do not materially and
disproportionately affect such party), (b) an outbreak or escalation of
hostilities involving the United States, the declaration by the United States
of
a national emergency or war, or the occurrence of any acts of terrorism,
(c) the
announcement, disclosure, or pendency of this Agreement or the performance
of
this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby by the parties,
(d) any matter disclosed in the Disclosure Schedules as such schedules may
be supplemented or amended in accordance with Section 5.3(f),
(e) changes in any applicable law, ordinance, administrative or
governmental rule or regulation, or (f) actions taken pursuant to this
Agreement.
“Mutual
Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section
10.1.
“Net
Working Capital” means, as of a given time, Current Assets minus Current
Liabilities, calculated in accordance with Annex A
hereto. With respect to any calculation of Net Working Capital, no
change in the accounting principles will be made from those utilized in
preparing the Reference Balance Sheet. For purpose of the preceding
sentence, “change in accounting principles” includes all changes in accounting
principles, policies, practices, procedures or methodologies with respect
to
financial statements, their classification or their display, as well as changes
in practices, methods, conventions or assumptions utilized in making accounting
estimates.
“Owned
Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(b)
hereof.
“Patents”
means issued U.S. and foreign patents and pending patent applications,
patent disclosures, and any and all divisions, continuations,
continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, and extensions thereof,
any
counterparts claiming priority therefrom, utility models, patents of
importation/confirmation and certificates of invention.
“Permits”
has the meaning set forth in Section 3.22 hereof.
“Permitted
Encumbrances” means (i) such Liens as are set forth in Section 3.11
of the Company Disclosure Schedule or reflected on the Reference Balance
Sheet
(except to the extent Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule
specifies that any such Lien shall be discharged prior to Closing), (ii)
mechanics’, carriers’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other like Liens arising or
incurred in the ordinary course of business or that are being contested in
good
faith by Seller or the Acquired Companies (but excluding any Liens that are
being contested by Seller or the Acquired Companies with respect to Real
Property unless such Liens are specified on Section 3.11 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule), Liens arising under original purchase price conditional
sales contracts entered into in the ordinary course of business (but excluding
any such Liens with respect to Owned Real Property), personal property leases
and equipment leases with third parties entered into in the ordinary course
of
business and liens for Taxes that are not delinquent or being contested in
good
faith by Seller or the Acquired Companies by appropriate proceedings (but
excluding Liens for Taxes that are being contested by Seller or the Acquired
Companies with respect to Real Property unless such Liens are specified on
Section 3.11 of the Company Disclosure Schedule), (iii) agreements set
forth in Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, (iv) easements,
covenants, rights-of-way, land use ordinances and other non-monetary
encumbrances of record, (v) unrecorded easements, covenants, rights-of-way,
land
use ordinances and other non-monetary encumbrances which do not materially
impair the current use and operation of the property affected by such easements,
covenants, rights of way and other encumbrances, (vi) any conditions that
may be
shown by a current accurate survey or physical inspection of any Owned Real
Property made prior to Closing which do not materially impair the current
use
and operation of Such Owned Real Property, (vi) leases or subleases to third
parties set forth in Section 3.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule,
(vii) (A) zoning, building and other similar ordinances and governmental
regulations, or (B) Liens that have been placed by any developer, landlord
or
other third party on property over which an Acquired Company has easement
rights
or on any Leased Real Property and subordination or similar agreements relating
thereto and (viii) Liens, if any, that individually or in the aggregate do
not
materially impair the use, value or operations of the property or the assets
subject thereto.
“Person”
means any individual, corporation, proprietorship, firm, partnership, limited
partnership, limited liability company, trust, association, Governmental
Entity
or other entity.
“Preliminary
Cash Balance Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(b)
hereof.
“Preliminary
Statement of Working Capital” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.3(b) hereof.
“Property
Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(e)
hereof.
“Purchase
Price” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2
hereof.
“Purchase
Price Adjustment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.3(f)
hereof.
“Purchaser”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Purchaser
Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.2
hereof.
“Purchaser
Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.8(a)
hereof.
“Purchaser
Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(d)
hereof.
“Real
Property” means the Leased Real Property and the Owned Real
Property.
“Reference
Balance Sheet” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8
hereof.
“Reference
Balance Sheet Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8
hereof.
“Representatives”
has the meaning set forth in Section 5.6(a) hereof.
“Release”
means any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging,
injecting, escaping, migration, leaching, dumping or disposing of a Hazardous
Substance into the environment including the abandonment, discarding, burying
or
disposal of barrels, containers and other receptacles containing any Hazardous
Substance.
“Retained
Product Assets” means any assets, inventory, books, records, marketing
materials, Intellectual Property, raw materials, work-in-process, dry goods,
or
finished goods, that relate to any Cockburn’s product line, Harveys product line
or Roth product line.
“Reverse
Timing Difference” shall mean an increase in income, gain or recapture, or a
decrease in deduction, loss or credit, as calculated for Income Tax purposes,
of
the taxpayer for any Tax period coupled with an increase in deduction, loss
or
credit, or a decrease in income, gain or recapture, of the taxpayer or a
related
taxpayer for the same or a subsequent Tax period.
“Schedule
Update” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(f)
hereof.
“Section
338(h)(10) Election” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.1(a)
hereof.
“Securities
Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securities
Laws” means the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated under the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act.
“Seller”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Seller
401(k) Plan” means the Fortune Brands Retirement Savings Plan.
“Seller
Guaranty” means those guarantees of Seller and its Affiliates of obligations
and liabilities of the Acquired Companies set forth on Section 5.12 of
the Company Disclosure Schedule.
“Seller
Indemnified Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 8.3
hereof.
“Seller-sponsored
Benefit Plans” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.20(a)
hereof.
“Seller
Termination Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(d)
hereof.
“Shares”
has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
“Straddle
Period” means a Tax period which begins before the Closing Date and ends
after the Closing Date.
“Subsidiary”
means, with respect to any Person, any corporation or other organization,
whether incorporated or unincorporated, of which (a) at least a majority of
the securities or other interests having by their terms ordinary voting power
to
elect a majority of the board of directors or others performing similar
functions with respect to such corporation or other organization is directly
or
indirectly owned or controlled by such Person or by any one or more of its
Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries or
(b) such Person or any other Subsidiary of such Person is a general partner
(excluding any such partnership where such Person or any Subsidiary of such
party does not have a majority of the voting interest in such
partnership).
“Tax”
or “Taxes” means (i) any income, gross receipts, gains (including capital
gains), license, occupancy, payroll, employment, excise, financial institutions,
severance, stamp, occupation, fringe benefits, group, goods and services,
alcoholic beverage, franking deficits, debits, premium, windfall or excess
profits, environmental (including Taxes under Section 59A of the Code), customs
duties, capital stock, franchise, unincorporated business, profits, withholding,
information, social security (or similar), unemployment, disability, workers’
compensation, land, real property, personal property, unclaimed property
or
escheat, ad valorem, production, sales, use, license, transfer, registration,
value added, alternative or add-on minimum, accumulated earnings, personal
holding company, estimated, or other tax, report or assessment of any kind
whatsoever imposed by any Governmental Entity, including any interest, penalty,
assessment, or addition thereto, whether disputed or not; and (ii) any
obligations under any agreements or arrangements with respect to any Taxes
described in clause (i) above.
“Tax
Group” shall mean any consolidated, combined, unitary or other similar Tax
group.
“Tax
Proceeding” has the meaning set forth in Section 9.3(a)
hereof.
“Tax
Returns” means any return, declaration, report, claim for refund, or
information return or statement relating to Taxes, including all schedules
or
attachments thereto.
“Termination
Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 10.1(d)
hereof.
“Timing
Difference” shall mean a decrease in income, gain or recapture, or an
increase in deduction, loss or credit, as calculated for Income Tax purposes,
of
the taxpayer for any Tax period coupled with a decrease in deduction, loss
or
credit, or an increase in income, gain or recapture, of the taxpayer or a
related taxpayer for the same or a subsequent Tax period.
“Trade
Secrets” means all categories of trade secrets as defined in the Uniform
Trade Secrets Act or any applicable state statute or foreign equivalent,
including confidential research and development, know-how, formulas,
compositions, manufacturing and production processes and techniques, methods,
schematics, technology, technical data, designs, drawings, flowcharts, block
diagrams, specifications, customer and supplier lists, pricing and cost
information, and business and marketing plans and proposals.
“Trademarks”
means U.S. and foreign registered and unregistered trademarks, trade dress,
service marks, logos and designs, trade names, Internet domain names, corporate
names and all registrations and applications in connection therewith, including,
but not limited to, the Acquired Companies’ Brands and Domain Names, whether or
not currently being used.
“WARN
Act” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.11 hereof.
ARTICLE
II
Purchase
and Sale of Securities
2.1 Purchase
and Sale of Securities. Upon
the
terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement, at the Closing, Seller
shall
sell to Purchaser, and Purchaser shall purchase from Seller the
Shares.
2.2 Purchase
Price. The
purchase price for the Shares shall be Eight Hundred Eighty-Four Million
Five
Hundred Thousand Dollars ($884,500,000) (the “Purchase Price”), subject
to adjustment pursuant to Section 2.3 below. The amount to be paid by
Purchaser to Seller at the Closing shall be as set forth in Section
7.2(j) and shall be paid in immediately available funds by wire transfer to
Seller.
2.3 Adjustments.
(a) (i)
Company Financial Data Schedule
At
least
three (3) Business Days prior to the Closing Date, Seller shall deliver to
Purchaser a financial data schedule prepared on a basis consistent with the
Financial Statements presenting Seller’s good faith estimate of (A) the Net
Working Capital as of the Closing Date (“Estimated Closing Net Working
Capital”) and (B) the Cash Balance as of the Closing Date ("Estimated
Cash Balance"). The Estimated Closing Net Working Capital and the
Estimated Cash Balance shall be used to calculate the Closing Purchase Price
to
be paid by Purchaser to Seller pursuant to Section 7.2(j).
(ii) Closing
Inventory. Within five (5) days after Closing, Purchaser shall
take a physical count and make a physical inspection of the Inventory (the
“Closing Inventory”). Seller shall cooperate with Purchaser
and, if requested by Purchaser, Seller shall use its commercially reasonable
efforts to assist Purchaser in conducting the count and inspection of the
Closing Inventory.
(iii) For
purposes of determining the value of the Inventory for the Estimated Closing
Net
Working Capital and the Preliminary Closing Net Working Capital, Seller and
Purchaser shall value the Inventory in accordance with past
practice.
(b) Preliminary
Statement of Working Capital and Preliminary Cash Balance Statement.
On
or
prior to the date which is forty-five (45) days after the Closing Date, Seller
shall deliver to Purchaser (i) a preliminary statement of working capital
(the
“Preliminary Statement of Working Capital”) setting forth (x) the
Current Assets and the Current Liabilities and (y) the Net Working Capital,
in
each case as of the Closing Date and (ii) a preliminary statement of the
Cash
Balance (the "Preliminary Cash Balance Statement"). The
Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and the Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the practices used
in
preparing the Reference Balance Sheet and shall take into account the results
of
the Pre-closing Inventory.
(c) Review
of Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement. Upon
receipt of the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and the Preliminary
Cash
Balance Statement, Purchaser and its representatives may review the Preliminary
Statement of Working Capital and the Preliminary Cash Balance Statement and
may
make inquiry of Seller and its representatives, and Seller will make available
to Purchaser and its representatives all books and records relating to the
Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and the Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement as reasonably requested by Purchaser in connection with its review
thereof. The Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and the
Preliminary Cash Balance Statement shall be binding and conclusive upon,
and
deemed accepted by, Purchaser unless Purchaser shall have notified Seller
in
writing of any objections thereto within thirty (30) days after receipt
thereof. Any written notice delivered by Purchaser to Seller under
this Section 2.3(c) shall specify in reasonable detail each item on the
Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and the Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement that Purchaser disputes, a summary of the reasons for such dispute,
the portion of the Purchase Price Adjustment, if any, which Purchaser does
not
dispute and Purchaser’s calculation of the (i) Current Assets and Current
Liabilities, (ii) the Net Working Capital and (iii) the Cash Balance, in
each
case as of the Closing Date.
(d) Disputes.
Purchaser
and Seller shall attempt in good faith to resolve any disagreements as to
the
calculation of the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital or the Preliminary
Cash Balance Statement. Disputes between Purchaser and Seller
relating to the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital or the Preliminary
Cash
Balance Statement that cannot be resolved by Purchaser and Seller within
fifteen
(15) days after receipt by Seller of the notice referred to in Section
2.3(c) shall be referred thereafter for decision at the insistence of either
Purchaser or Seller to an independent nationally recognized accounting firm
not
engaged by Seller or Purchaser as agreed to by Purchaser and Seller (the
“Arbiter”). If within ten (10) days of referral of such
disagreements to the agreed upon accounting firm, the agreed upon accounting
firm declines to accept its appointment as Arbiter, or if Purchaser and Seller
are unable to agree on the selection of an independent nationally recognized
accounting firm that will agree to act as Arbiter within ten (10) days, then
either Purchaser or Seller may request the American Arbitration Association
to
appoint such a firm, and such appointment shall be conclusive and binding
on all
of the parties hereto. Promptly, but no later than thirty (30) days
after its acceptance of its appointment as Arbiter, the Arbiter shall determine,
based solely on presentations by Purchaser and Seller and on the definitions
herein, and not by independent review, those items in dispute on the Preliminary
Statement of Working Capital or the Preliminary Cash Balance Statement and
shall
render a written report as to the resolution of each dispute and the resulting
calculation of the Final Statement of Working Capital or the Preliminary
Cash
Balance Statement, as the case may be. The Arbiter may only consider
those items and amounts in the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital that
Purchaser and Seller are unable to resolve or are reasonably dependent upon
or
affected by the unresolved items. In resolving any such item, the
Arbiter may not assign a value to any item greater than the greatest value
claimed by either party for such item or less than the smallest value claimed
by
either party for such item. The Arbiter shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over, and resort to the Arbiter as provided in this Section
2.3(d) shall be the sole recourse and remedy of the parties against one
another or any other Person with respect to, any disputes arising out of
or
relating to the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital or the Preliminary
Cash
Balance Statement. The Arbiter’s determination shall be conclusive
and binding on all of the parties hereto and shall be enforceable in a court
of
law. The fees and expenses of the Arbiter shall be allocated between
Seller and Purchaser based on the percentage which the portion of the contested
amount not awarded to each party bears to the amount actually contested by
such
party. Seller will make available to Purchaser and, if applicable,
the Arbiter, the work papers used in preparing the Preliminary Statement
of
Working Capital or the Preliminary Cash Balance Statement in connection with
(i)
the review by Seller of the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and
the
Preliminary Cash Balance Statement and (ii) the resolution by the parties
hereto
of any disputes relating thereto.
(e) Final
Statement. Each
of
the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital and the Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement shall become final and binding upon the parties hereto upon the
earlier of (i) the failure by Purchaser to object thereto within the period
permitted under, and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of,
Section 2.3(c), (ii) the written agreement between Purchaser and Seller
with respect thereto and (iii) the decision by the Arbiter with respect to
disputes under Section 2.3(d). The Preliminary Statement
of Working Capital, as accepted pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or as adjusted
pursuant to any written agreement of the parties hereto or the decision of
the
Arbiter, when final and binding, is referred to herein as the “Final
Statement of Working Capital.” The Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement, as accepted pursuant to Section 2.3(c) or as adjusted pursuant
to any written agreement of the parties hereto or the decision of the Arbiter,
when final and binding, is referred to herein as the “Final Cash Balance
Statement.”
(f) Adjustments
to Closing Purchase Price; Payment of Purchase Price Adjustment.
Upon
the
determination of the Final Statement of Working Capital and the Final Cash
Balance Statement in accordance with this Section 2.3,
(i) first,
(x) the Closing Purchase Price shall be increased by the amount, if any,
by
which the Net Working Capital set forth on the Final Statement of Working
Capital exceeds the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital or (y) the Closing
Purchase Price shall be decreased by the amount, if any, by which the Net
Working Capital set forth on the Final Statement of Working Capital is less
than
the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital; and
(ii) second,
the Closing Purchase Price as adjusted pursuant to subclause (i) shall be
(x)
increased by the amount, if any, by which the Cash Balance set forth on the
Final Cash Balance Statement exceeds the Estimated Cash Balance or (y) decreased
by the amount, if any, by which the Cash Balance set forth on the Final Cash
Balance Statement is less than the Estimated Cash Balance.
The
adjustments to the Closing Purchase Price provided for in this section is
hereinafter referred to as the “Purchase Price Adjustments” and the
Closing Purchase Price following the Purchase Price Adjustments is hereinafter
referred to as the “Final Purchase Price.” If the
Purchase Price Adjustments call for an increase in the Closing Purchase Price,
Purchaser shall, and if the Purchase Price Adjustments call for a decrease
in
the Closing Purchase Price, Seller shall, within ten (10) Business Days after
the Final Statement of Working Capital and the Final Cash Balance Statement
is
determined, make payment by wire transfer to a bank account designated in
writing by the party to which such payment is to be made (such designation
to be
made at least three (3) Business Days prior to the date such payment is due)
in
immediately available funds of the net amount of such Purchase Price
Adjustments. Any amounts due and not paid within such ten (10)
Business Day period shall accrue interest at an annual rate equal to the
rate of
interest from time to time announced by the Bank of America as its prime
rate,
plus four percent (4%), calculated on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed from the end of such ten (10) Business Day period to the date of
payment.
(g) Undisputed
Amounts. In
the
event that, with respect to the Preliminary Statement of Working Capital
or the
Preliminary Cash Balance Statement, there are portions of the Purchase Price
Adjustments that are in dispute and portions that are not in dispute, the
portion of the Purchase Price Adjustments that is not in dispute, if any,
shall
be paid to Purchaser or Seller, as the case may be, within five (5) Business
Days after the delivery by Purchaser of the notice of objections to the
Preliminary Statement of Working Capital or the Preliminary Cash Balance
Statement, as the case may be, described in Section 2.3(c).
ARTICLE
III
Representations
and Warranties of Seller
Except
as
set forth in the Company Disclosure Schedule delivered to Purchaser
simultaneously with the execution hereof, Seller represents and warrants
to
Purchaser as follows:
3.1 Organization and Qualification. Each
Acquired Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in
good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization or
incorporation. Each Acquired Company is duly authorized to transact
business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which the
ownership of its assets or conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so authorized and in good standing would not
have
a Material Adverse Effect on the Acquired Company. Seller is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws
of the State of Delaware.
3.2 Authority. Each
Acquired Company has all requisite power and authority necessary to own and
operate its properties and to carry on its business as currently
conducted. Seller has all requisite power and authority to execute,
deliver and perform its respective obligations under this Agreement, and
the
other documents, instruments and certificates to be executed and delivered
by
Seller, pursuant to this Agreement. The execution, delivery and
performance by Seller of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on
the
part of Seller.
3.3 Enforceability. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Seller, and, assuming due
and
valid authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Purchaser, is a valid
and
binding obligation of Seller, enforceable against Seller in accordance with
its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other
similar laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and to general equity principles (regardless whether considered
in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
3.4 Title. The
Shares are free and clear of all restrictions, Liens, voting trusts, stockholder
agreements, proxies, agreements, arrangements and encumbrances of any kind
whatsoever (collectively, “Encumbrances”). Upon the Closing,
Seller shall transfer the Shares to Purchaser free and clear of all
Encumbrances.
3.5 Capitalization. All
of
the issued and outstanding Shares have been duly authorized, are validly
issued,
fully paid, and nonassessable, and are held of record and beneficially by
Seller. The Shares are all of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Company. There are no outstanding or authorized options,
warrants, purchase rights, subscription rights, conversion rights, exchange
rights, or other contracts or commitments that could require an Acquired
Company
to issue, sell, or otherwise cause to become outstanding any capital stock
or
other indicia of ownership of an Acquired Company. There are no
outstanding or authorized stock appreciation, phantom stock, profit
participation, or similar rights with respect to any Acquired
Company. There are no voting trusts, proxies, or other agreements or
understandings with respect to the voting of the capital stock or other indicia
of ownership of the Acquired Companies.
3.6 Subsidiaries. Set
forth
in Section 3.6 of the Company Disclosure Schedule are the names and
jurisdictions of incorporation of each of the Subsidiaries of the
Company.
3.7 Consents
and Approvals; No Violations. None
of
the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Seller, the
consummation by Seller of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance
by
Seller with any of the provisions hereof will (a) conflict with or result
in any breach of any provision of (i) the certificate of incorporation or
articles of incorporation, as applicable, or the bylaws of an Acquired Company
or (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of Seller,
(b) require any filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval
of, any Governmental Entity, (c) result in a violation or breach of, or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default
(or
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under,
any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture,
lease, license, contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to
which
any Acquired Company is a party or by which any Acquired Company or any of
their
properties or assets may be bound, (d) result in a violation or breach of,
or
constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default
(or
give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under,
any
of the terms, conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, or indenture
to which Seller is a party, or (e) violate any order, writ, injunction,
decree, statute, rule or regulation applicable to an Acquired Company or
Seller
any of their respective properties or assets, excluding from the foregoing
clauses (b) through (e), (1) such consents, approvals, orders,
authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings as may be required
under
applicable federal and state securities laws in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby, (2) filings required pursuant to the HSR Act, and
(3) filings, notices and consents required by Alcoholic Beverage
Authorities, and (4) such violations, breaches or defaults which
(A) would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, or (B) would not materially delay the ability of
Seller to perform its obligations hereunder or would not prevent the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.8 Financial
Statements. Seller
has made available to the Purchaser the following special purpose financial
statements of the Company (collectively, the “Financial Statements”),
copies of which are set forth in Section 3.8 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule: (a) unaudited consolidated statements of operations as of
and for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006; (b) an unaudited consolidated
balance sheet of the Acquired Companies as of December 31, 2006; and (c)
an
unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Acquired Companies as of September
30, 2007 (the “Reference Balance Sheet Date”), which balance sheet is
hereinafter referred to as the “Reference Balance Sheet,” and the related
unaudited consolidated statements of operations for the nine months then
ended. The Financial Statements have been prepared from, and are
consistent with, the books and records of the Acquired Companies, and have
been
prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Financial Statements fairly
present in all material respects the financial position, the results of
operations of the Company as of the times and for the periods referred to
therein.
3.9 Undisclosed
Liabilities. To
the
Knowledge of the Company, as of the date hereof, none of the Acquired Companies
has any material liabilities, obligations or commitment of any nature (absolute,
accrued, contingent or otherwise), except (a) liabilities, obligations or
commitments which are appropriately reflected in the Financial Statements;
(b)
liabilities, obligations or commitments which have been incurred in the ordinary
course of business and consistent with past practice since September 30,
2007;
(c) liabilities, obligations or commitments disclosed in the Company Disclosure
Schedule; (d) express performance obligations under the contracts and agreements
of the Acquired Companies set forth on Section 3.12 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule; and (e) express performance obligations under any other
contracts and agreements of the Acquired Companies which obligations, either
individually or in the aggregate, shall not have a Material Adverse Effect
on
the Acquired Companies.
3.10 Absence
of Certain Developments
(a) Except
as
expressly required by or permitted by this Agreement, or as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company,
since the Reference Balance Sheet Date:
(i) No
Acquired Company has: (i) amended its organizational documents,
(ii) issued, sold, transferred, pledged, disposed of or encumbered any
equity interests of an Acquired Company, or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for, or options, warrants, calls, commitments or rights of any
kind
to acquire, any equity interests of an Acquired Company, (iii) declared,
set aside or paid any dividend or other distribution payable in cash, equity
or
property with respect to any equity interests of an Acquired Company, other
than
dividends or distributions between Seller, the Company and its Subsidiaries,
cash sweeps to Seller and its Affiliates or distributions by the Acquired
Companies of Retained Product Assets, (iv) split, combined or reclassified
the equity interests of an Acquired Company, or (v) redeemed, purchased or
otherwise acquired directly or indirectly any equity interests of an Acquired
Company, or any instrument or security which consists of or includes a right
to
acquire such interests;
(ii) No
Acquired Company has adopted a plan of complete or partial liquidation,
dissolution, merger, consolidation, restructuring, recapitalization or other
reorganization of an Acquired Company;
(iii) No
Acquired Company has changed any of the tax or accounting policies, principles
or elections used by it;
(iv) No
Acquired Company has incurred loss of, or significant injury to, any of its
assets whether as a result of any natural disaster, labor trouble, accident,
other casualty or otherwise not covered by insurance;
(v) No
Acquired Company has made a loan to, guaranteed any indebtedness of or otherwise
incurred any indebtedness of behalf of any other Person or mortgaged, pledged
or
subjected any of its assets to any Encumbrance;
(vi) No
Acquired Company has sold, exchanged, transferred or otherwise disposed of
any
of its assets, except in the ordinary course of business consistent with
past
practice;
(vii)
No
Acquired Company has made any changes in practices and policies relating
to
production, purchasing, marketing, selling and pricing;
(viii)
No
Acquired Company has made any single capital expenditure in excess of
$200,000;
(ix) No
Acquired Company has entered into any agreement, arrangement or transaction
with
any of its shareholders, directors, officers, employees, consultants,
independent contractors nor granted any material increase, or announced any
material increase or made a material alteration to the wages, conditions,
salaries, compensation, bonuses, pension or other benefits and benefit plans
payable to such persons other than as required by law;
(x) No
Acquired Company shall have written down or written up the value of any
inventories or receivables or revalued any of its assets;
(xi) No
Acquired Company has amended, terminated, canceled, waived or compromised
any
claim of the Acquired Company;
(xii)
No
Acquired Company has made any express or deemed election or settled or
compromised any liability with respect to Taxes;
(xiii)
No
Acquired Company has allowed any license from a Governmental Entity to lapse
or
terminate; and
(xiv)
No
Acquired Company has made any agreement to do any of the foregoing, other
than
negotiations with Purchaser and its representatives regarding the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, since the Reference Balance Sheet Date no other
event
has occurred which would constitute, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.11 Properties;
Leases.
(a) The
Acquired Companies own, and have good and valid title to all assets purported
to
be owned by them (collectively, the “Acquired Company Assets”),
including: (i) all assets reflected on the Reference Balance Sheet
(except for assets sold or otherwise disposed of since the Reference Balance
Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice);
and (ii) all other assets reflected in the books and records of the Acquired
Companies as being owned by the Acquired Companies. All of the
Acquired Company Assets are owned by the Acquired Companies free and clear
of
all Encumbrances, except for Permitted Encumbrances. The Acquired
Company Assets, taken as a whole, are sufficient for the current operation
of
the business of each Acquired Company. All of the tangible personal
properties included in the Acquired Company Assets, taken as a whole and
together with any assets or services to be provided by Seller or its Affiliates
pursuant to the Transition Services Agreement and the Retained Product Assets,
are in good operating condition and repair and are suitable for the purpose
for
which they are currently used, ordinary wear and tear excepted.
(b) Section
3.11(b) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth (i) under the heading
“Leased Real Property” all material leases entered into by an Acquired
Company for any real property (the “Leases”), setting forth in the case
of any such Lease, the location of such real property and (ii) under the
heading
“Owned Real Property” (A) all real properties to which an Acquired Company owns
fee simple interest (“Owned Real Property”), and (B) each of the most
recent ALTA or CLTA Owner’s Policy of Title Insurance issued to any of the
Acquired Companies which insure such Acquired Company’s fee simple interest in
the Owned Real Property, to the extent in the Company’s possession (“Title
Policies”). Seller has made available to Purchaser a true and
correct copy of each Lease, together with all amendments and underlying leases,
if any, thereto, and a true and correct copy of each of the Title
Policies. Each Acquired Company has good and marketable title to all
of its Owned Real Property and valid leaseholds in and to all real property
that
is the subject of the Leases (the “Leased Real Property”), in each case
subject to no material Encumbrance except Permitted Encumbrances. To
the Knowledge of the Company, (1) no Acquired Company is in default in any
material respect under any of the Leases and, (2) no other party is in default
in any material respect under any of the Leases. The Acquired
Companies do not lease, sublease, license, occupy, or use any real property
or
interests therein in connection with, or necessary for, the operation of
the
business of the Acquired Companies as presently conducted, other than the
Real
Property, the Leased Real Property or leased real property not required to
be
set forth on Section 3.11(b) of the Company Disclosure
Schedule. The Acquired Companies have not granted to any third party
a right to use or occupy any portion of the Real Property or the Leased Real
Property nor are there any parties in possession of any portion of the Real
Property or the Leased Real Property, whether as tenants, subtenants,
trespassers or otherwise, except the Acquired Companies.
(c) None
of
the Owned Real Property is subject to any right of first offer, right of
first
refusal, option or other agreement for the sale or lease
thereof. None of the Acquired Companies have committed or obligated
itself in any manner whatsoever to place any Encumbrance on any Owned Real
Property or Leased Real Property or any portion thereof other than Encumbrances
which would not, individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse
Effect
on the Company.
(d) Each
Lease is in full force and effect, valid, binding upon and enforceable against
the Acquired Company party thereto, and, to the Knowledge of the Company,
each
other party thereto, except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally
or by general equitable principles. All rent and other sums and
charges payable by the Acquired Companies as lessee or sublessee thereunder
are
current. The Acquired Company party to each Lease has complied in all
material respects with the terms of such Lease and no termination event or
condition or uncured default exists under any Lease.
(e) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, none of the Acquired Companies lack any necessary
approvals, certificates, consents, permits and licenses, including but not
limited to all water, drainage and irrigation licenses and permits to use
and
operate the Owned Real Property and the Leased Real Property as currently
operated. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Acquired
Companies have not received, nor is there, any notice of any non-compliance
with
any federal, state and local directives, laws, ordinances, policies, rules,
regulations, requirements, and statutes applicable thereto (including, without
limitation, applicable building, health, fire, safety, subdivision, zoning
and
other similar regulatory laws, ordinances, codes and regulations and the
Americans with Disabilities Act) regarding the Owned Real Property or Leased
Real Property, which have not been resolved, except where such non-compliance
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(f) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, neither the whole nor any portion of the Owned
Real
Property is subject to any governmental decree or order to be sold nor is
being
condemned, expropriated or otherwise taken by any public authority with or
without payment of compensation therefore nor has any such condemnation,
expropriation or taking been proposed. To the Knowledge of the
Company, there are no pending zoning or other land-use regulation proceedings
which could materially adversely affect the current use, operation or value
of
the Owned Real Property and Leased Real Property, taken as a whole, and none
of
the Acquired Companies have received written notice of any special assessment
proceedings affecting the Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property which
have
not been resolved and which relate to assessments which could materially
adversely affect the current use, operation or value of the Owned Real Property
and Leased Real Property, taken as a whole.
(g) All
Improvements and Leasehold Improvements, taken as a whole, are (i) in good
working order and repair (ordinary wear and tear excepted).
(h) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, except as disclosed in the preliminary title reports
made available to Purchaser prior to the date of this Agreement, there is
no
condition that would be shown by a current accurate survey or physical
inspection of any Owned Real Property made prior to Closing which would
materially impair the current use and operation of such Owned Real
Property.
(i) None
of
the Liens set forth on Section 3.11(i) of the Company Disclosure Schedule
materially impairs the value, use or operation of the property subject
thereto.
3.12 Contracts.
(a) Section
3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth (without duplication),
as
of the date hereof, each of the following types of contracts and other
agreements, to which any Acquired Company is a party:
(i)
any
contract that provides for aggregate future payments by any Acquired Company,
or
to any Acquired Company, of more than $200,000 per annum;
(ii) any
contract that provides for the supply of grapes to an Acquired
Company;
(iii)
any
contract or agreement (other than Benefit Plans, confidentiality agreements
or
at-will employment offer letters) entered into by an Acquired Company with
an
Affiliate or with a shareholder, officer or director of an Acquired
Company;
(iv)
any
collective bargaining or similar agreement;
(v)
any
contract or agreement with any bank, finance company or similar organization
for
Indebtedness of an Acquired Company providing for payment or repayment in
excess
of $200,000;
(vi) any
contract or agreement that materially restricts the Acquired Companies from
engaging in any line of business anywhere in the world;
(vii)
any
consulting or employment agreement (other than any Benefit Plans,
confidentiality agreements or at-will employment offer letters);
(viii) any
joint
venture, partnership or similar contracts or agreements; and
(ix) any
agreement granting any Person a Lien on any of the assets material
to the Acquired Companies;
(x) any
written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral agreement with a distributor
or wholesaler; and
(xi)
any
written or, to the Knowledge of the Company, oral agreement that is currently
in
effect and under which an Acquired Company has granted or received any license
or other right to use any Trademarks (excluding the Beam Names), Patents
and/or
Copyrights, other than: any contracts or agreements relating to software
that is
generally available to be licensed by any Person; any standard contracts
or
agreements with employees or consultants that contain general provisions
through
which the employee or consultant licenses intellectual property rights to
the
Acquired Company; or any contracts or agreements in which an Acquired Company
receives or grants to a customer or any reseller the right to use any Trademarks
in connection with advertisements and/or bottling.
(b) As
of the
date hereof, (i) there has not been claimed in writing or, to the Knowledge
of the Company, alleged by any Person with respect to any contract listed
in
Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule any existing default or
event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default
or
event of default on the part of Acquired Company or, to the Knowledge of
the
Company, on the part of any other party thereto, except such defaults, events
of
default and other events that would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company, and (ii) no consent, approval, authorization or
waiver from, or notice to, any Governmental Entity or other Person is required
in order to maintain in full force and effect any of the contracts listed
in
Section 3.12 of the Company Disclosure Schedule, other than (A) such
consents and waivers that have been obtained and are in full force and effect
and such notices that have been duly given and (B) such consents, approvals,
authorizations, waivers or notices the failure of which to have or give would
not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.13 Suppliers.
Section
3.13(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth the ten
(10) largest suppliers (measured by expense) of the
Acquired Companies for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2006. Since January 1, 2007, through the date hereof, no Acquired
Company has received written notice of an intent to terminate such business
relationship.
3.14 Corporate
Records. The
books
of account, minute books, stock record books and other records of the Acquired
Companies, all of which have been made available to Purchaser, are, to the
Knowledge of the Company, complete and correct. To the Knowledge of
the Company, the minute books of the Acquired Companies contain accurate
and
complete records of all meetings held of, and corporate action taken by,
the
stockholders and the Boards of Directors of the Acquired
Companies. At the Closing, other than such books and records that
constitute Retained Product Assets, all those books and records will be in
the
possession of the Acquired Companies.
3.15 Accounts
Receivable; Accounts Payable
(a)
All
of the
accounts receivables reflected in the Reference Balance Sheet or arising
thereafter have arisen from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course
of
business. The Acquired Companies’ reserve for contractual allowances
and doubtful accounts has been calculated in a manner consistent with past
practice. As of the Closing Date, none of the Seller or any Affiliate
of Seller will owe any amounts to any Acquired Company.
(b) All
accounts payable reflected in the Reference Balance Sheet or arising thereafter,
have arisen from bona fide transactions in the ordinary course of
business. As of the Closing Date, no Acquired Company will owe any
amounts to Seller or any Affiliate of Seller.
3.16 Inventory.
To
the
Knowledge of the Company, (i) all of the Inventory has been produced, packaged
and, where required, labeled in all material respects in accordance with
applicable laws, regulations and orders, and consist of a quality usable
and
saleable in the ordinary course of the business of the Acquired Companies,
consistent with past practices, and (ii) it is not under any obligation or
liability to accept any returns of items of Inventory in the possession of
its
customers other than in the ordinary course of business.
3.17 Intellectual
Property. Section
3.17 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth all pending applications
and live registrations owned by each of the Acquired Companies for any Patent,
Trademark or Copyright other than the Beam Names, including any serial number,
application number, registration number, and date of filing or registration
for
such applications and registrations.
(a) Ownership. To
the Company’s Knowledge, one or more of the Acquired Companies are the sole
owners or exclusive licensees of all Company Intellectual Property purported
to
be owned or exclusively licensed by the Acquired Companies. Further,
to the Company’s Knowledge, (i) there are no claims or demands pending against
an Acquired Company by any other Person pertaining to any Company Intellectual
Property, and (ii) no proceedings have been instituted or are pending or
threatened which challenge the rights of the Acquired Companies in or to
any
Company Intellectual Property. To the Company’s Knowledge, each
Acquired Company has the right to use, without infringing, misappropriating,
diluting or otherwise violating the intellectual property rights of others,
all
Company Intellectual Property owned by or exclusively licensed to such Acquired
Company.
(b) Validity. To
the Company’s Knowledge, all Company Intellectual Property is valid and
enforceable, and no written notice has been received by an Acquired Company
alleging anything to the contrary other than any such allegations that have
been
resolved by the Acquiring Company prior to the date hereof.
(c) No
Third Party Infringers. To the Knowledge of the Company, no third
party is currently infringing or misappropriating any Company Intellectual
Property.
(d) No
Restrictions. There are no settlements, forbearances to sue,
consents, judgments or orders that do or may: (i) restrict the
rights of the Acquired Companies to use any Company Intellectual Property;
(ii) restrict the conduct of the business of the Acquired Companies in
order to accommodate a third party’s Intellectual Property; or (iii) permit
third parties to use any Company Intellectual Property, except for any
settlements, forbearance to sue, consents, judgments or orders that would
not
have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
3.18 Insurance. Section
3.18 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth a description of all
insurance policies in effect as of the date hereof, providing coverage with
respect to the business or assets of the Acquired Companies. To the
Company’s Knowledge, all premiums due thereunder have been paid when due, except
for any failures to pay any such premiums that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect on an Acquired
Company. Each policy listed in Section 3.18 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule will terminate or lapse by reason of the consummation
of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, without liability or penalty
to any
Acquired Company.
3.19 Employees;
Labor. The
Company has made available to Purchaser an accurate and complete list of
titles
or job descriptions and annual rate of compensation in effect as of September
15, 2007, of all salaried, full-time, non-seasonal employees of the Acquired
Companies. There is no labor strike, slowdown, stoppage or lockout
actually pending, or to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against
any
Acquired Company. No Acquired Company is a party to or bound by any
collective bargaining agreement with any labor organization applicable to
employees of the Acquired Companies. To the Knowledge of the Company,
there is not pending any demand for recognition or any other request or demand
from a labor organization for representative status with respect to Persons
employed by the Acquired Companies. To the Knowledge of the Company,
no labor union has been certified by the National Labor Relations Board as
bargaining agent for any of the employees of the Acquired
Companies. The Acquired Companies have not experienced any material
work stoppage or other material labor difficulty during the two-year period
ending on the date hereof. There is no unfair labor practice charge
or complaint against any Acquired Company or, to the Knowledge of the Company,
threatened before the National Labor Relations Board.
3.20 Employee
Benefit Plans
(a) Set
forth
in Section 3.20(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule is a list of (i)
any existing incentive, bonus, commission, deferred compensation, retention,
change in control, severance or termination pay plan, agreement or arrangement,
whether formal or informal; (ii) any existing pension, profit-sharing, stock
purchase, stock option, group life insurance, hospitalization insurance,
disability, retirement or any other employee benefit plan, agreement or
arrangement, whether formal or informal; (iii) any existing fringe or welfare
benefit plan, agreement or arrangement, whether formal or informal; and (iv)
any
other existing “employee benefit plan” as such term is defined in Section 3(3)
of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”), in each case that are in effect that cover current or former
employees or directors of the Acquired Companies and are maintained, sponsored,
contributed to or required to be contributed to by any Acquired Company or
any
of their Affiliates (those arrangements disclosed in said schedule are herein
collectively referred to as the “Benefit Plans”). Benefit
Plans sponsored and maintained by Seller or its Affiliates (other than the
Acquired Companies) that provide benefits to current or former employees
or
directors of an Acquired Company are referred to herein as “Seller-Sponsored
Benefit Plans.” Section 3.20 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule separately designates those Benefit Plans that are Seller-Sponsored
Benefit Plans and those that are Company Benefit Plans. Each Benefit
Plan is in writing and Seller has previously made available to Purchaser
a true
and complete copy of each Benefit Plan document, including all amendments
thereto, and a true and complete copy of each material document prepared
in
connection with each such Benefit Plan, including, without limitation and
if
applicable, (i) a copy of each trust or other funding arrangement, (ii) each
summary plan description and, if applicable, summary of material modifications,
(iii) the most recently filed Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Form 5500,
including all attachments thereto, (iv) the most recently received IRS
determination letter, and (v) the most recently prepared actuarial report
and
financial statement. To the Knowledge of the Company, the Acquired
Companies do not have any commitment, other than has been accrued on the
Financial Statements: (i) to create or incur liability with respect to or
cause
to exist any other employee benefit plan, program or arrangement, or (ii)
to
enter into any other contract or agreement to provide compensation or benefits
to any individual.
(b) No
Acquired Company has engaged in a transaction in connection with which it
could
be subject either to a material civil penalty assessed pursuant to Section
502
of ERISA or a material Tax imposed by Section 4975 of the Code. No
Acquired Company has incurred or would be reasonably expected to incur any
material Tax under Chapter 43 of Subtitle D of the Code.
(c) There
does not now exist, and there are no existing circumstances that could
reasonably be expected to result in, any liability under Title IV of ERISA
or
Sections 412 and 4971 of the Code that would be a liability of an Acquired
Company following the Closing. Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, to the Knowledge of the Company, neither the Company nor any of
its
ERISA Affiliates has engaged in any transaction described in Section 4069
of
ERISA or any transaction that constitutes a withdrawal under Section 4201
et
seq. of ERISA.
(d) Neither
the execution and delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby will (either alone or in conjunction with
any
other event, such as termination of employment or other service) (i) result
in
or cause any payment (whether of severance pay or otherwise), acceleration,
forgiveness of indebtedness, vesting, distribution or increase in benefits
with
respect to any Company Benefit Plan for any current or former director, officer,
employee or other service provider of an Acquired Company (other than any
partial termination resulting from the consummation of this Agreement), (ii)
give rise to any obligation to fund any payment or benefit by an Acquired
Company, (iii) give rise to any limitation on the ability of an Acquired
Company
to amend or terminate any Company Benefit Plan, or (iv) result in any payment
or
benefit that will be characterized as an “excess parachute payment,” within the
meaning of Section 280G of the Code.
(e) Each
Company Benefit Plan may be unilaterally amended or terminated by such Acquired
Company (with respect to the Company Employees), without material liability
or
penalty, subject to the rights of existing participants under the Company
Benefit Programs.
(f) No
Acquired Company has participated in, maintained or contributed to or been
required to contribute to a “multiemployer plan,” as such term is defined in
Section 3(37) of ERISA.
(g) There
are
no pending or, to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened claims (other
than
routine claims for benefits in the ordinary course), lawsuits or arbitrations
which have been asserted or instituted against the Company Benefit Plans,
any
fiduciaries of the Company Benefit Plans with respect to their duties to
the
Company Benefit Plans or the assets of any of the trusts under any of the
Company Benefit Plans which would reasonably be expected to result in any
material liability of the Acquired Companies.
(h) To
the
Knowledge of the Company, no Acquired Company has any Company Benefit Plan
or
any other agreement or arrangement under which an Acquired Company has any
material liability under a “nonqualified deferred compensation plan” within the
meaning of Section 409A of the Code and the applicable Treasury guidance
thereunder (the “Company 409A Plans”) which does not comply with the
requirements of Section 409A of the Code or which does not have a remaining
period of time to bring such Company Benefit Plan into compliance with Section
409A of the Code and the guidance issued thereunder. Section
3.20(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth each Company Employee
who is a “specified employee” within the meaning of Code Section
409A.
(i) The
Internal Revenue Service has issued a favorable determination letter or has
an
application pending or has remaining a period of time to seek a determination
letter with respect to each Benefit Plan that is intended to be a “qualified
plan” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code, copies of which have
been made available to Purchaser, and to the Knowledge of
the Company, there are no existing circumstances nor any events that have
occurred that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect
the
qualified status of any such plan or the tax-exempt status of any related
trust.
(j) All
contributions to, and any payments from, each Benefit Plan that have been
required to be made by an Acquired Company in accordance with the terms of
such
Benefit Plan and applicable law have been made or fully accrued for and
accounted for by reserves on the Reference Balance Sheet. No Acquired
Company has any unfunded benefit obligations under any Benefit Plan which
have
not been accounted for by reserves, or otherwise fully accrued on the Reference
Balance Sheet.
(k) Each
Benefit Plan has been maintained and operated, in all material respects,
in
accordance with its terms and all provisions of applicable laws and regulations,
including, without limitation, ERISA and the Code.
3.21 Litigation. As
of the
date of this Agreement, there is no action, suit, or, to the Knowledge of
the
Company, inquiry, proceeding or governmental investigation, pending or, to
the
Knowledge of the Company, threatened in writing against or involving an Acquired
Company. As of the date hereof, no Acquired Company is operating
under nor is it subject to any judgment, writ, order, injunction, award or
decree of any court, judge, justice, magistrate or arbitrator, including
any
bankruptcy court or judge, or any order of or by any Governmental
Entity.
3.22 Compliance
with Laws; Permits. To
the
Knowledge of the Company, each Acquired Company is in compliance with all
laws,
rules and regulations, ordinances, judgments, decrees, orders, writs and
injunctions of all United States federal, state, local, foreign governments
and
agencies thereof that apply to the business, properties or assets of the
Acquired Company, except for violations that would not have a Material Adverse
Effect on the Company. To the Knowledge of the Company, each Acquired
Company possesses or has applied for all permits, licenses, certificates,
approvals or other authorizations (“Permits”) of all Governmental
Entities which are required for the operation of their respective
businesses. This Section 3.22 does not relate to matters with
respect to Taxes, which are the subject of Section 3.23, environmental
matters, which are the subject of Section 3.24, and Property Laws, which
are the subject of Section 3.11.
3.23 Taxes.
(a) (i)
All
Tax Returns with respect to Tax periods ending on or prior to the Closing
Date
required to be filed on or prior to the Closing Date by or on behalf of the
Acquired Companies and each Tax Group of which any Acquired Company is a
member
(to the extent relevant to an Acquired Company) have been, or will be, timely
filed, (ii) all such Tax Returns were, or will be, correct and complete in
all
material respects, (iii) all Taxes shown on any such Tax Return have been,
or
will be, timely paid, (iv) there is no material deficiency concerning any
Tax
liability of an Acquired Company which has been assessed or claimed by any
Taxing authority in writing that has not been settled or paid in full, (v)
there
are no investigations, audits, examinations or proceedings currently pending
or,
to the Knowledge of the Company, threatened against any Acquired Company
or any
Tax Group of which any Acquired Company is a member (to the extent relevant
to
an Acquired Company) by any Tax authority for the assessment or collection
of
any Tax, and (vi) there are no agreements or waivers extending any statute
of
limitations applicable to any Tax Return of any Acquired Company.
(b) None
of
the Acquired Companies is a party to a Tax allocation or sharing agreement
that
will survive the Closing.
(c) All
Tax
withholding and deposit requirements relating to the Acquired Companies
(including any withholding with respect to wages or other amounts paid to
employees) have been satisfied in full.
(d) There
are
no Liens relating to Taxes upon the assets of the Acquired Companies, other
than
Liens relating to Taxes not yet due and payable.
(e) None
of
the Acquired Companies is or has been a party to any “listed transaction,” as
defined in Treasury Regulations Section 1.6011-4(b)(2) (or any corresponding
provision of state or local law), and each Acquired Company has properly
disclosed all reportable transactions as required under Treasury Regulations
Section 1.6011-4 (or any corresponding provision of state or local
law).
(f) The
representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.23 constitute
the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Seller concerning
or
relating to Tax matters.
3.24 Environmental
Matters. Except
as
would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company, since the Applicable
Environmental Date,
(a) to
the
Knowledge of the Company:
(i) each
Acquired Company is, and since the Applicable Environmental Date has been,
in
substantial compliance with all applicable Environmental Laws and has all
Permits required under applicable Environmental Laws for operations conducted
as
of the Closing Date;
(ii) with
regard to each Acquired Company, since the Applicable Environmental Date,
there
are no notices of violation or other findings of non-compliance by any
Governmental Entity pursuant to any Environmental Law which have not
been resolved to the satisfaction of the pertinent Governmental
Entity;
(iii) except
in
compliance with applicable Environmental Laws and Permits, since the Applicable
Environmental Date, no Hazardous Substances have been Released at, on, in,
under
or from any property currently owned or leased by an Acquired Company or
at, on,
under, or from any property owned or leased by an Acquired Company at
any time after the Applicable Environmental Date; and
(iv) no
Acquired Company has received any written notice of any complaint, order,
directive, citation, notice of potential responsibility, or information request
pursuant to an Environmental Law from any Governmental Entity or other third
party concerning: (i) the current or past presence at any part of the property
owned or leased by an Acquired Company of a Hazardous Substance; (ii) the
current or past Release or threatened Release of a Hazardous Substance at,
on,
in, under or from the property owned or leased by an Acquired Company; or
(iii)
the off-site disposal by an Acquired Company of a Hazardous Substance or
waste;
and
(b) the
Company has no Knowledge of any inaccuracies in the information contained
in the
following reports:
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Clos Du
Bois Winery;
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Clos Du
Bois Vineyard;
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Atlas
Peak Winery and Vineyards;
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Wild
Horse Winery and Vineyards;
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Buena
Vista Winery and Vineyard;
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Gary
Farrell Winery;
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Geyser
Peak Winery; and
|
-
|
“Limited
Phase I Environmental, Health and Safety Site Review”, dated October 11,
2007 and prepared by Environmental Resources Management, Inc. for
Beam
Wine Estates-Shiloh Warehouse.
|
(c) The
representations and warranties contained in this Section 3.24 constitute
the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of Seller concerning
or
relating to environmental matters.
3.25 Bank
Accounts. Section
3.25 of the Company Disclosure Schedule sets forth (a) the names and
locations of all banks, trust companies, savings and loan associations and
other
financial institutions at which an Acquired Company maintains safe deposit
boxes, checking accounts or other accounts of any nature and (b) the names
of all Persons authorized to cause such Acquired Company to draw thereon,
make
withdrawals therefrom or have access thereto.
3.26 Brokers
or Finders. No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person other than
Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”), whose fees and expenses shall be
paid by Seller, is entitled to any broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or
other similar fee or commission in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of the Company
or
Seller or any of their Affiliates or representatives.
3.27 Transactions
with Related Parties. No
current officer or director of Seller or an Acquired Company or Person known
by
the Company to be an Affiliate of any of them, is currently a party to any
material transaction or agreement with the Acquired Companies.
3.28 Certain
Business Practices. To
the
Knowledge of the Company, no Acquired Company nor any of the directors,
managers, officers, employees, consultants or agents of the Acquired Companies
has, in connection with or furtherance of the business of the Acquired
Companies: (a) as to political activity, used any funds for unlawful
contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful payments, (b) made
any
unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee
or
to any foreign or domestic political party or campaign or violated any provision
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, (c) consummated any transaction,
made any payment, entered into any contract or agreement or taken any other
action in violation of Section 1128B(b) of the Social Security Act, or (d)
made
any other unlawful payment which would cause an Acquired Company or its
Affiliates to be disqualified or debarred from serving as a contractor, directly
or indirectly, for any Governmental Entity.
3.29 No
Other Representations. Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this
Article III, neither Seller nor any Person acting on behalf of
either of them makes any representation or warranty, express or
implied.
ARTICLE
IV
Representations
and Warranties of Purchaser
4.1 Organization and Qualification.
Purchaser
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the State of Delaware, and is duly authorized to transact business
and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the ownership of its assets
or
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure
to
be so authorized and in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect
on Purchaser.
4.2 Authority.
Purchaser has all requisite power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under this Agreement and the other documents, instruments
and
certificates to be executed and delivered by Purchaser pursuant to this
Agreement. The execution, delivery and performance by Purchaser of
this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby
have
been duly and validly authorized by all necessary action on the part of
Purchaser.
4.3 Enforceability. This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by Purchaser, and, assuming
due
and valid authorization, execution and delivery hereof by Seller, is a valid
and
binding obligation of Purchaser, enforceable against it in accordance with
its
terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and
other
similar laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally and to general equity principles (regardless whether considered
in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
4.4 Approvals.
None
of the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by Purchaser,
the
consummation by Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby or compliance
by Purchaser with any of the provisions hereof will (a) conflict with or
result in any breach of any provision of the certificate of incorporation
or
bylaws or other organizational documents of Purchaser, (b) require any
filing with, or permit, authorization, consent or approval of, any Governmental
Entity, (c) result in a violation or breach of, or constitute (with or
without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any
right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of any note, bond, mortgage, indenture, lease, license,
contract, agreement or other instrument or obligation to which Purchaser
is a
party or by which Purchaser or any of its properties or assets may be bound,
or
(d) violate any order, writ, injunction, decree, statute, rule or
regulation applicable to Purchaser or any of its properties or assets, excluding
from the foregoing clauses (b), (c) and (d) (1) such consents,
approvals, orders, authorizations, registrations, declarations and filings
as
may be required under applicable federal and state securities laws in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, (2) filings required pursuant to
the HSR Act, (3) filings, notices and consents required by Alcoholic Beverage
Authorities, and (4) such violations, breaches or defaults which would not,
individually or in the aggregate, impede or reasonably be expected to impede
the
ability of Purchaser to complete the Closing or to effect the transactions
contemplated hereby in all respects.
4.5 Availability
of Funds
(a) Purchaser
has sufficient availability of funds to pay the Purchase Price in cash and
to
effect the transactions contemplated hereby.
(b) Purchaser
acknowledges and agrees that neither the representation and warranty contained
above nor any investigation made or information obtained by or on behalf
of
Seller regarding Purchaser’s financing arrangements and ability to pay the
Purchase Price shall have any affect whatsoever on Purchaser’s covenant to pay
the Purchase Price pursuant to the provisions set forth in Section
5.18.
4.6 Litigation.
There
is
no claim, action, suit, litigation or proceeding or, to the Knowledge of
Purchaser, governmental investigation pending or, to the Knowledge of Purchaser,
threatened against Purchaser by or before any court, arbitrator or Governmental
Entity that, individually or in the aggregate, impedes or would reasonably
be
expected to impede the ability of Purchaser to complete the Closing or to
effect
the transactions contemplated hereby in all respects.
4.7 Investment
Representations. Purchaser
understands that the Shares have not been registered under the Securities
Act or
the securities laws of any state or other jurisdiction. Purchaser is
acquiring the Shares for its own account for purposes of investment and not
for
the account of any other Person, not for resale to any other Person, and
not
with a view to or in connection with a resale or distribution of the
Shares. Purchaser has no present or contemplated agreement,
undertaking, arrangement, obligation, indebtedness or commitment for the
disposition of the Shares by Purchaser. Purchaser will not sell or
otherwise dispose of any shares of capital stock of the Company without
registration under the Securities Act and under any applicable state or other
jurisdiction’s respective securities laws, or an exemption
therefrom.
4.8 Brokers
or Finders. No
broker, investment banker, financial advisor or other Person is entitled
to any
broker’s, finder’s, financial advisor’s or other similar fee or commission in
connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement based upon
arrangements made by or on behalf of Purchaser or any of its Affiliates or
Representatives.
4.9 No
Other Representations. Except
for the representations and warranties contained in this Article IV,
neither Purchaser nor any Person acting on behalf of Purchaser makes any
representation or warranty, express or implied.
ARTICLE
V
Covenants
5.1 Conduct
of the Acquired Companies. From
the
date of this Agreement until the Closing, Seller shall cause the Acquired
Companies to:
(a) conduct
and operate their businesses in the ordinary course consistent with past
practice; and
(b) use
commercially reasonable efforts to (i) preserve the business organizations
intact, (ii) maintain the services of present officers and key employees
through
the Closing, and (iii) maintain existing relationships and the goodwill of
its
suppliers, customers, lessors, creditors and others with whom it has business
relations.
5.2 Prohibited
Action. Except
with the prior written consent of Purchaser, which shall not be unreasonably
withheld, conditioned or delayed, or as set forth in Section 5.2 of the
Company Disclosure Schedule or except as specifically required by this Agreement
or applicable law, from the date hereof until the Closing, Seller shall cause
each Acquired Company not to:
(a) amend
or
otherwise change its organizational documents;
(b) issue,
sell, authorize for issuance or sale, transfer, grant any right, pledge,
dispose
of or encumber any equity interests of any of the Acquired Companies, or
securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or options, warrants, calls,
commitments or rights of any kind to acquire, any such interests;
(c) declare,
set aside, make or pay any dividend or other distribution payable in cash,
equity interests, property or otherwise with respect to any equity interests
of
any of Acquired Companies, other than cash sweeps to Seller and its
Affiliates;
(d) make
or
authorize any capital commitment or capital lease which is in excess of
$200,000;
(e) adopt
a
plan of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, merger, consolidation,
restructuring, recapitalization or other reorganization of any of the Acquired
Companies;
(f) change
in
any material respect any of the accounting policies used by it;
(g) enter
into any employment agreement or increase the compensation or benefits payable
or to become payable to its directors, officers or Company employees (other
than
in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past practice), grant
any
severance, retention or termination pay (unless required by applicable law)
to,
or enter into any severance agreement with, any director, officer or other
Company employee of an Acquired Company, or establish, adopt, enter into
or
amend any Benefit Plan or other plan, agreement, trust, fund, policy or
arrangement for the benefit of any such director, officer or employee, except
pursuant to any Benefit Plan existing on the date hereof and except that
each
Acquired Company or Affiliate may (i) make bonus payments consistent with
past
practices; (ii) enter into or make any amendments to Benefit Plans to comply
with applicable laws or in the ordinary course consistent with past practice;
and (iii) increase the compensation payable to, or to become payable to,
its
officers or employees in the ordinary course of business.
(h) acquire,
including by merger, consolidation, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise,
any equity interest in or any material portion of the assets of, or by any
other
manner acquire, any business or any Person or division thereof;
(i) sell,
lease, mortgage, pledge, encumber (including by the grant of any option thereon)
or otherwise dispose of any assets or property material to the Acquired
Companies except in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice or pursuant to existing contracts or commitments;
(j) pay,
discharge or satisfy any claims, suits, liabilities or obligations (absolute,
accrued, asserted or unasserted, contingent or otherwise), other than the
payment, discharge or satisfaction in the ordinary course of business of
liabilities reflected or reserved against in the Reference Balance Sheet,
or
incurred subsequent to such date in the ordinary course of
business;
(k) directly
or indirectly, engage in any transaction with, or enter into any contract
or
other agreement with, any director, officer, holder of five percent (5%)
or more
of the outstanding Shares of an Affiliate of the Company or any individual
known
to the Company to be a family member of any such Person other than cash sweeps
to Seller and its Affiliates or contributions of working capital from Seller
or
its Affiliates;
(l) enter
into any contract or other agreement that limits the ability of the Acquired
Companies to compete in or conduct any line of business or compete with any
Person in any geographic area or during any period;
(m) make,
rescind, or change any material Tax election, settle or compromise any material
Tax liability or audit, or file any material amended Tax Return;
(n) sell,
assign, transfer, license or sublicense, pledge or otherwise encumber any
of the
Company Intellectual Property other than in the ordinary course of
business;
(o) terminate
or amend or modify in any material respect any contract listed in Section
3.12(a) of the Company Disclosure Schedule, except in the ordinary course of
business;
(p) take
any
actions or omit to take any actions that would or would be reasonably likely
to
result in any of the conditions to the Closing set forth in Article VII
not being satisfied; or
(q) agree
or
commit to do any of the foregoing.
5.3 Filings;
Other Actions; Notification.
(a) Each
of
Seller and Purchaser shall cooperate with the other and use its commercially
reasonable efforts to take or cause to be taken all actions, and do or cause
to
be done all things, necessary, proper or advisable under this Agreement and
applicable laws to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby as soon
as
practicable, including preparing and filing as promptly as practicable all
documentation to effect all necessary applications, notices, petitions, filings
and other documents and to obtain as promptly as practicable all Permits,
consents, approvals, registrations and authorizations necessary or advisable
to
be obtained from any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in order
to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby (it being understood that
the
failure to obtain any such Permits, consents, approvals, registrations or
authorizations shall not, by itself, cause the condition set forth in Section
6.2(b) or Section 6.3(b), as applicable, to be deemed not to be
satisfied and it being further understood that neither party nor their
Affiliates shall be required to expend any money other than for filing fees
or
expenses or de minimis costs or expenses or agree to any restrictions
to obtain any such Permits, consents, approvals, registrations or
authorizations). Subject to applicable laws relating to the exchange
of information, the parties hereto shall have the right to review in advance,
and to the extent practicable each will consult the other on, all the
information relating to Seller, the Company or Purchaser, as the case may
be,
and any of their respective Affiliates, that appear in any filing made with,
or
written materials submitted to, any third party and/or any Governmental Entity
in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (other than, with
respect to filings under the HSR Act and filings with Alcoholic Beverage
Authorities, proprietary business information that is not customarily exchanged
between parties in a transaction such as the transactions contemplate
hereby). In exercising the foregoing right, each party shall act
reasonably and as promptly as practicable.
(b) Seller
shall cause the Company to, and Purchaser shall, upon request by the other,
furnish the other with all information concerning itself, its Subsidiaries,
directors, executive officers and stockholders and such other matters as
may be
reasonably necessary or advisable in connection with any statement, filing,
notice or application made by or on behalf of Purchaser or the Company or
Seller
to any third party and/or any Governmental Entity in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Within
three (3) Business Days of the date hereof, Purchaser and Seller together
with
the Persons that are required to join such filings, shall file any Premerger
Notification and Report Forms required to be filed with the Federal Trade
Commission and the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of
Justice
in order to comply with the HSR Act promptly after the date hereof (the “HSR
Submission”). All required filing fees shall be paid by the party
making the filing. Purchaser shall, and Seller shall cause each
Acquired Company to, furnish promptly all materials thereafter required by
any
of the Governmental Entities having jurisdiction over such
filings. Purchaser shall, and Seller shall cause each Acquired
Company to, take all reasonable actions and shall file and use its good faith
best efforts (i) to have declared complete all documents and notifications
with
any such Governmental Entity, as may be required under the HSR Act and (ii)
to
obtain an early termination of the applicable waiting period. Each
party shall promptly inform the other party of any communication with, and
any
proposed understanding, undertaking, or agreement with, any Governmental
Entity
regarding any such filings or any such transaction. Neither party
will withdraw the HSR Submission without the written consent of the other
party.
(d) Each
of
Purchaser and Seller, on behalf of the Company, shall use good faith best
efforts to resolve such objections, if any, as may be asserted by any
Governmental Entity with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement under the HSR Act, the Sherman Act, as amended, the Clayton Act,
as
amended, the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, and any other federal,
state or foreign statutes, rules, regulations, orders or decrees that are
designed to prohibit, restrict or regulate actions having the purpose or
effect
of monopolization or restraint of trade (collectively, “Antitrust
Laws”). In connection therewith, if any administrative or
judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted)
challenging any transaction contemplated by this Agreement as violative of
any
Antitrust Law, each of Purchaser and Seller shall cooperate and use its
reasonable best efforts to vigorously contest and resist any such action
or
proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any decree,
judgment, injunction or other order, whether temporary, preliminary or
permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents, or restricts
consummation of any such transaction. Each of Purchaser and Seller
shall use its good faith best efforts to take such action as may be required
or
advisable to cause the expiration of the waiting periods under the HSR Act
or
other Antitrust Laws with respect to such transactions as promptly as possible
after the execution of this Agreement.
(e) Seller
and Purchaser each shall keep each other apprised of the status of matters
relating to completion of the transactions contemplated hereby. Each
party may, in its reasonable discretion, furnish the other party with copies
of
all filings, correspondence, notices or other communications sent or received
(including file memoranda evidencing telephonic conferences) by Seller, the
Company or Purchaser, as the case may be, or by any of their respective
Affiliates, to or from representatives of either the Federal Trade Commission,
the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, or any
other
Governmental Entity, with respect to the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, except for documents filed pursuant to Item 4(c) of the
Notification and Report Form or communications regarding the
same. Seller and Purchaser each shall give prompt notice to the other
upon becoming aware of, including a reasonably detailed statement of the
relevant facts relating to: (i) the occurrence or nonoccurrence of
any event which would reasonably be likely to cause any representation or
warranty of such party contained in this Agreement or the Company Disclosure
Schedule to be untrue or inaccurate in any material respect, such that the
condition set forth in Section 6.2(a) or Section 6.3(a), as
applicable, would not be satisfied as of the date of such event or as of
the
Closing Date; (ii) any failure of the Company, Seller or Purchaser, as the
case
may be, to comply with or satisfy any covenant, condition or agreement to
be
complied with or satisfied by it hereunder; or (iii) the occurrence or
nonoccurrence of any event which would reasonably be likely to cause any
condition to the obligations of any party to effect the transactions
contemplated hereby not to be satisfied.
(f) Seller
may, from time to time prior to or at the Closing, by notice in accordance
with
the terms of this Agreement, supplement or amend any Company Disclosure Schedule
hereto (any such notice, a “Schedule Update”), including one or more
supplements or amendments to correct any matter which would constitute a
breach
of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation contained
herein. No such Schedule Update shall be deemed to cure any breach
for purposes of Section 6.2, and no such Schedule Update shall be deemed
to supplement or amend the Company Disclosure Schedule for the purpose of
determining the accuracy of the representations and warranties made by Seller
in
this Agreement for purposes of Section 8.2(a). Any such
Schedule Update will be effective to cure and correct for all other purposes
any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or obligation
which would have existed if Seller had not made provided such Schedule Update,
and, subject to the immediately preceding sentence, all references to the
Company Disclosure Schedule hereto which is supplemented or amended as provided
in this Section 5.3(f) shall for all purposes after the
Closing be deemed to be a reference to such Company Disclosure Schedule as
so
supplemented or amended.
(g) Notwithstanding
anything in this Section 5.3 to the contrary, neither Purchaser nor
Seller shall be required to divest, hold separate or license any of its or
its
Affiliates’ business, assets or product lines or to take any action or accept
any limitations on its or its Affiliates’ business, assets or operations or
agree to do any of the foregoing.
5.4 Confidentiality. Seller
shall use commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that all information
concerning the Acquired Companies with which Seller and its Affiliates, any
of
their respective employees, attorneys, agents, investment bankers, or
accountants may now possess or may hereafter create or obtain relating to
the
financial condition, results of operations, business, properties, assets,
liabilities or future prospects of the Acquired Companies or relating to
the
assets of the Acquired Companies or any customer or supplier of the Acquired
Companies shall not be published, disclosed, or made accessible by any of
them
to any other Person at any time or used by any of them without the prior
written
consent of Purchaser; provided, however, that the restrictions of this provision
shall not apply (i) as may otherwise be required by law, (ii) as may be
necessary or appropriate in connection with the enforcement of this Agreement,
or (iii) to the extent such information shall have otherwise become publicly
available other than as the result of a breach by Seller of its obligations
under this Agreement. The restrictions of this Section 5.4
shall survive for a period of two (2) years following the Closing.
5.5 Use
of
Name.
(a) Immediately
following the Closing, Purchaser shall take any and all actions necessary,
including amending the Company’s certificate of incorporation, to change the
Company’s name to a name that does not include “Beam” and shall record that name
change with all appropriate authorities, including but not limited to the
U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office.
(b) As
soon
as practicable, and in any event within thirty (30) days following the Closing,
Purchaser shall cease, and cause each Acquired Company to cease, in any manner
whatsoever to use or display any trade or service marks, trade or service
names
or logos used or held by Seller or any of its Affiliates or any confusingly
similar mark, name, or logo, including, without limitation, the Beam
Names. In particular, following the Closing, Purchaser shall not use,
and shall cause each Acquired Company not to use, the Beam Names and for
this
purpose Purchaser hereby undertakes to ensure that all publicly visible
references to the Beam Names and other trade or service names and assets
or
logos of Seller and its Affiliates are removed from all signage and from
any
material or asset of each Acquired Company or relating to the business of
any
Acquired Company. Likewise, as soon as practicable, and
in any event within thirty (30) days following the Closing, Seller shall
cease,
and shall cause each of Seller’s Affiliates to cease, in any manner whatsoever
to use or display the Acquired Companies’ Brands and Domain Names.
(c) Following
the Closing, Purchaser agrees that no brochures, leaflets, packaging,
stationery, purchase orders, invoices, receipts or other similar documents
containing any reference to the Beam Names shall be printed, ordered or produced
and shall cause the Company and its Subsidiaries not to print, order or produce
any such materials. As soon as practicable, and in any event within
sixty (60) days following the Closing, Purchaser shall, and shall cause the
Company and its Subsidiaries to, cease to use any brochure, leaflet, packaging,
stationery, purchase order, invoice, receipt or other similar document
containing any reference to the Beam Names or shall only use such materials
after having deleted, pasted over or placed a sticker over such
references.
(d) Following
the Closing, except as otherwise provided herein, none of Purchaser, the
Acquired Companies or any of their Affiliates shall have any rights to use
any
trademarks, trade names, logos, or any contraction, abbreviation, or simulation
thereof, of Seller or any of its Affiliates, and Purchaser shall not, and
shall
cause the Acquired Companies and Purchaser’s Affiliates not to, hold itself or
themselves out as having any affiliations with Seller or any of its
Affiliates. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing,
Purchaser expressly agrees that neither it nor any of its Affiliates nor
the
Acquired Companies is acquiring any rights to or interest in the name or
mark
“Beam,” “Cockburn’s,” “Harveys” or “Roth” or any variation thereof or any rights
associated therewith, all of which are retained by Seller and its
Affiliates.
5.6 Access;
Confidentiality
(a) Upon
reasonable notice to Seller and subject to the prior written consent of Allan
Snape or Anthony Trotta (which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed),
Seller shall cause each Acquired Company to afford the officers, employees,
counsel, accountants and other authorized representatives
(“Representatives”) of Purchaser reasonable access, during normal
business hours throughout the period prior to the Closing, to the executive
officers, properties, books, contracts and records of each Acquired Company
and,
during such period, shall furnish promptly to the Representatives all
information concerning the business, properties, results of operations and
personnel of the Acquired Companies as may reasonably be requested; provided,
however, that Seller may restrict the foregoing access to the extent that
(i) in the reasonable judgment of Seller, any law, treaty, rule or
regulation of any Governmental Entity applicable to an Acquired Company or
Seller requires Seller or an Acquired Company to restrict or prohibit access
to
any such properties or information, (ii) in the reasonable judgment of
Seller, the information is subject to confidentiality obligations to a third
party, (iii) such disclosure would result in disclosure of any Trade
Secrets of third parties, or (iv) disclosure of any such information or
document could result in the loss of attorney-client privilege; provided,
however, that with respect to this clause (iv), Seller and/or its counsel
shall use their reasonable efforts to enter into such joint defense agreements
or other arrangements, as appropriate, so as to avoid the loss of
attorney-client privilege; and provided further that as a condition to such
access, Purchaser hereby agrees (x) that Purchaser and its Representatives
shall
not interfere with the operations of the properties, (y) to pay for the cost
to
repair any damage caused by Purchaser or its Representatives and (z) to
indemnify, defend and hold Seller and the Acquired Companies harmless with
respect to any personal injury or property damage arising from or relating
to
entry on the Real Property by Purchaser or its Representatives. All
requests for information and access made pursuant to this Section 5.6
shall be made in writing directed to Allan Snape or Anthony
Trotta. Further, Purchaser shall not contact any supplier
or customer of an Acquired Company without obtaining prior written consent
of an
executive officer of Seller, provided, however, that Purchaser shall not
be
prohibited from contacting any supplier or customer of an Acquired Company
that
is also a supplier or customer of Purchaser or its Affiliates with regard
to
matters unrelated to this Agreement. The parties hereto will hold any
such information which is nonpublic in confidence pursuant to the terms of
the
confidentiality agreement, dated August 30, 2007, between an Affiliate of
Seller
and Purchaser (the “Confidentiality Agreement”) and the parties hereby
acknowledge that Seller is a third party beneficiary of such
agreement.
(b) From
and
after the Closing, Purchaser shall preserve and retain (and cause each Acquired
Company to preserve and retain) all information and books and records of
the
Acquired Companies, including accounting, legal, personnel, auditing and
other
books and records and any documents relating to any governmental or
non-governmental claims, actions, suits, proceedings or investigations with
respect to an Acquired Company or the business of an Acquired Company on
or
prior to the Closing Date in a manner consistent with Purchaser’s document
retention policies.
(c) In
the
event and for so long as Seller is contesting or defending against or
prosecuting any third-party charge, complaint, action, suit, proceeding,
hearing, investigation, claim or demand relating to the indemnification matters
provided for in Section 8.2, Purchaser will (and will cause each Acquired
Company to) (i) fully cooperate with Seller and its counsel in, and assist
Seller and its counsel with, the contest, defense or prosecution, (ii) make
available its personnel (including for purposes of fact finding, consultation,
interviews, depositions and, if required, as witnesses), and (iii) provide
such
information, testimony and access to its books and records, in each case
as
shall be reasonably requested in connection with the contest, defense or
prosecution.
(d) Seller
shall reimburse Purchaser for reasonable out-of-pocket administrative costs
and
expenses incurred at the request of Seller in assisting Seller pursuant to
subsection (c) of this Section 5.6. No party shall be required
by this Section 5.6 to take any action that would unreasonably interfere
with the conduct of its business or unreasonably disrupt its normal
operations. Any information received by any party pursuant to this
Section 5.6 shall be subject to the Confidentiality
Agreement.
5.7 Publicity
(a) .Seller
and Purchaser shall consult with each other prior to issuing any press releases
or otherwise making public announcements with respect to this Agreement and
the
transactions contemplated hereby and prior to making any filings with any
third
party and/or any Governmental Entity (including any national securities
exchange) with respect thereto, except as may be required by applicable law
or
by obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with or rules of any national
securities exchange. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall
prohibit the Company, Seller or Purchaser from publicly disclosing this
Agreement to the extent such disclosure is required under applicable law
or by
obligations pursuant to any listing agreement with, or any rules of, any
national securities exchange.
5.8 Employee
Benefits.
(a) Except
for those employees listed on Section 5.8 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule who become employees of the Seller or its Affiliates (other than
any
Acquired Company) at or prior to the Closing, Purchaser agrees to continue
the
employment of, and retain on the payroll of the Acquired Companies, all of
the
employees of each Acquired Company immediately prior to the Closing (each,
a
“Company Employee”) through December 31, 2007; provided, however,
Purchaser may terminate one or more Company Employees in the ordinary course
provided that the aggregate number of Company Employees terminated on or
prior
to December 31, 2007 shall not exceed two percent (2%) of the number of Company
Employees immediately prior to the Closing. For a period of at least
twelve (12) months following the Closing, Purchaser shall cause the Acquired
Companies to provide the Company Employees with (i) retirement and welfare
benefit plans and other fringe benefits that are no less favorable in the
aggregate than the benefits that the Acquired Companies and their Affiliates
provided to the Company Employees under the Benefits Plans prior to the Closing
Date (“Purchaser Plans”); and (ii) the severance benefits pursuant to the
severance program maintained by the Acquired Companies as of the Closing;
and
(iii) the compensation provided pursuant to the Beam Wine Estates, Inc.
Long-Term Incentive Plan as of the Closing for any cycle including the 2007
year
in accordance with the terms of such plan, except as otherwise provided in
Section 5.8(h). Purchaser shall cause the Acquired Companies
to continue to be obligated and liable for any accrued and unpaid vacation
and
sick leave of the Company Employees. To the extent Purchaser’s retirement and
welfare benefit plans and other fringe benefits are less favorable than required
by this Section 5.8(a), Purchaser may determine alternative or additional
compensation reasonably designed to compensate Company Employees such that
the
aggregate benefits provided to such Company Employees are no less favorable
than
those required by this Section 5.8(a).
(b) Following
the Closing, Purchaser shall cause service performed by Company Employees
for
the Acquired Companies (or any predecessor entities) to be taken into account
for purposes of determining eligibility, accruals, and vesting under Purchaser’s
employee benefit plans, programs and arrangement, including all benefit programs
defined under Section 3(3) of ERISA to the extent such service was credited
by
the Acquired Companies under similar Benefit Plans. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, nothing in this Section 5.8(b) shall be construed to
require crediting of service that would result in (i) duplication of
benefits, or (ii) service credit under a newly established plan for which
prior service is not taken into account, in each case unless otherwise required
by law.
(c) From
and
after the Closing, Purchaser shall (i) caused to be waived any pre-existing
condition limitations under welfare benefit plans, programs or policies of
Purchaser or its Subsidiaries in which Company Employees participate after
the
Closing, and (ii) cause to be credited under Purchaser’s welfare plans,
programs or policies that cover Company Employees any deductibles and
out-of-pocket expenses, co-pays and similar payments incurred by such employees
and their beneficiaries and dependents under a comparable Benefit Plan in
the
plan year which contains the Closing Date.
(d) Seller
will transfer the aggregate health care flexible spending account balances
and
the aggregate dependent care flexible spending account balances of Company
Employees under the Seller-Sponsored Benefit Plans to the health care flexible
spending plan and dependent care flexible spending plan, respectively,
maintained by Purchaser or the Company, as applicable, not later than thirty
(30) days following the Closing Date. The health care flexible
spending plan and dependent care flexible spending plan maintained by Purchaser
or the Company, as applicable, shall provide for the health care reimbursement
and dependent care reimbursement benefits for the Company Employees under
those
plans, respectively, for the remainder of the current plan years of those
plans;
provided, however, that each such affected Company Employee receives the
appropriate credit (or debt) for his or her transferred recordkeeping balances
under Purchaser’s applicable flexible spending plan for such
year. Seller shall not be responsible for the provision of the health
care reimbursement and dependent care reimbursement benefits to the Company
Employees following the transfer of the health care flexible spending account
balances and dependent care flexible spending account balances of the Company
Employees to the Purchaser’s plans.
(e) Seller
shall assume and be solely responsible for complying with the requirements
of
the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985, as amended
(“COBRA”) including, without limitation, the provisions of continuation
coverage with respect to all current and former employees of the Acquired
Companies, and their spouses and dependents, for whom a qualifying event
occurs
or has occurred prior to the Closing.
(f) Within
a
reasonable time, but not exceeding 120 days, following the Closing Date,
Purchaser shall designate or establish one or more defined contribution plans
to
receive a transfer of account balances of the Company Employees maintained
under
the Seller 401(k) Plan. As soon as reasonably possible after the
requirements set forth in the preceding sentence are satisfied, Seller shall
cause the portion of the Seller 401(k) Plan representing the vested and
unvested account balances of the Company Employees to be transferred or spun
off
to the plan(s) designated or established by Purchaser pursuant to the first
sentence of this paragraph. Seller and Purchaser shall take all steps
necessary or appropriate to carry out the plan-to-plan transfer or spin off
contemplated by this paragraph (which shall be made in cash or securities
as
mutually agreed to by Seller and Purchaser), including but not limited to,
providing any advance notice to participants and beneficiaries of the Seller
401(k) Plan and filing any advance notices required by any federal laws,
including the Code and the regulations issued thereunder. Purchaser
and Seller shall make such transfer in compliance with all applicable laws
and
shall take any and all steps necessary or appropriate to maintain the
tax-qualified status of any plan(s) (and the related tax-exempt status of
the
accompanying trust(s)) designated or maintained pursuant to this
paragraph. Seller shall not accelerate the vesting of any Company
Employee in his/her benefit under the Seller 401(k) Plan.
(g) Except
as
otherwise provided in this Section 5.8 and the Transition Services
Agreement, the active participation by Company Employees in the Seller-Sponsored
Benefit Plans shall terminate effective as of the Closing Date; provided,
however, that Seller shall be responsible to provide, or to arrange to provide,
all benefits and to pay, or to have paid, all amounts owed under such plans
to
Company Employees based on their participation in such plans through the
Closing
Date, in each case, pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Seller-Sponsored
Benefit Plans (and as specified in the Disclosure Schedule).
(h) Seller
shall be responsible for and assume all obligations relating to paying any
amounts owing under the Beam Wine Estates, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan
(i) to
Company Employees for the cycle 2005 through 2007 as if such Company Employees
continued in active employment through December 31, 2007, and
satisfied all other conditions for receiving such awards and (ii) as set
forth
in Section 5.8(h) of the Company Disclosure Schedule. As of
the Closing Date, Seller shall accrue all amounts payable under the Beam
Wine
Estates, Inc. Management Incentive Plan through the Closing Date, and Purchaser
shall pay amounts due under such plan to the extent so
accrued. Seller shall be responsible for any amounts owed under the
Beam Wine Estates, Inc. Management Incentive Plan in excess of those amounts
accrued. Prior to Closing, Seller shall amend the Beam Wine Estates,
Inc. Management Incentive Plan to eliminate the restriction that provides
that
such plan cannot be amended or terminated for certain individuals for twelve
(12) months following the Closing. For the twelve (12)-month period
following Closing, Purchaser shall provide Company Employees with annual
incentive compensation opportunities that are substantially similar to those
provided to employees of Purchaser.
(i) Notwithstanding
any provision in this Agreement or the Transition Services Agreement, nothing
herein is intended to or shall be construed to amend, modify or terminate
any
benefit plan, program or arrangement or to affect Purchaser’s or Seller’s
ability to amend, modify or terminate any benefit plan, program or
arrangement.
5.9 Expenses. Whether
or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby shall be paid by the party incurring such
expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Purchaser shall reimburse
Seller for the reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by Seller
in
connection with providing the information provided pursuant to Section
5.13 after receipt of reasonable documentation of such costs and
expenses.
5.10 Indebtedness. Prior
to the Closing, the Company or Seller shall satisfy, eliminate or cause to
be
paid all loans owing by the Acquired Companies to Seller or any of its
Affiliates or owning to the Acquired Companies by Seller or any of its
Affiliates.
5.11 WARN
Act Compliance. For
at least ninety-one (91) days following the Closing, Purchaser will cause
the
Acquired Companies to continue the employment of a legally sufficient number
of
employees at each “single site of employment” (and at each “facility” and “unit”
within each “single site” of employment) so that no Acquired Company shall be
deemed to have effected a “plant closing” or “mass layoff” under the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Act, 29 U.S.C. 2101-2109 (the “WARN
Act”). All quoted terms used in this Section 5.11 and not
otherwise defined herein shall have the meaning ascribed to such terms under
the
WARN Act.
5.12 Treatment
of Seller Guaranties. Purchaser
shall use its reasonable best efforts to have released and cancelled at the
Closing each Seller Guaranty. If Purchaser is not able to release and
cancel such Seller Guaranty, then Purchaser shall, at its election (a) obtain
and deliver to Seller at the Closing letters of credit in favor of Seller,
on
terms and conditions, and from financial institutions, which in each case
are
reasonably satisfactory to Seller, with respect to all the obligations covered
by each Seller Guaranty or (b) otherwise indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Seller and each such Affiliate of Seller with respect to all liabilities
or
expenses that might arise or be incurred by Seller or such Affiliate of Seller
with respect to any such Seller Guaranty. Seller will, and shall
cause its Affiliates to, cooperate and use its reasonable best efforts to
assist
Purchaser in performing its obligations under this Section
5.12.
5.13 Further
Assurances; Post-closing Cooperation
(a) From
time
to time after the Closing, each of the Seller and Purchaser will execute
and
deliver such further instruments of conveyance and transfer and take such
other
action as the other party may reasonably request in order to more effectively
convey and transfer the Shares, and to assist in completing the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Except
as
otherwise provided in Article IX, following the Closing, to the
extent permitted under applicable law or third party confidentiality agreements,
Seller shall afford the Purchaser and the Acquired Companies, its counsel
and
its accountants, during normal business hours, reasonable access to the books,
records and other data relating to the Acquired Companies in its or its
Affiliates’ possession with respect to periods prior to the Closing and the
right to make copies and extracts therefrom, to the extent that such access
may
be reasonably required by Purchaser and the Acquired Companies in connection
with (i) compliance with the requirements of any Governmental Entity, or
(ii) in connection with any actual or threatened action or Governmental
Entity proceeding. Further, Seller agrees for a period extending
seven (7) years after the Closing Date not to destroy or otherwise dispose
of
any such books, records and other data unless such party shall first offer
in
writing to surrender such books, records and other data to the Purchaser
and the
Purchaser shall not agree in writing to take possession thereof during the
ten
(10) day period after such offer is made.
(c) Except
as
otherwise provided in Article IX, if, in order to properly prepare
documents or reports required to be filed with Governmental Entity or its
financial statements or to fulfill its obligations hereunder, it is necessary
that Purchaser or Acquired Company be furnished with additional information,
documents or records relating to the Acquired Companies not referred to in
paragraph (b) above, and such information, documents or records are in the
possession or control of Seller or an Affiliate thereof, Seller agrees to
use
their commercially reasonable efforts to furnish or make available such
information, documents or records (or copies thereof).
(d) Following
the Closing and upon Purchaser’s request and in connection with its preparation
of any audited or unaudited financial statements of the Company and the other
Acquired Companies, Seller shall use its good faith best efforts to provide
to
Purchaser and its Affiliates any information relating to the Acquired Companies
determined by Purchaser or its Affiliates to be (a) required by applicable
provisions of the Securities Laws to be included in any filings to be made
by
Purchaser or its Affiliates with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
or (b)
required by GAAP or applicable Securities Laws to be included in the financial
statements of Purchaser or its Affiliates. Such information shall be
provided to Purchaser or its Affiliates as soon as practicable after Purchaser’s
request, but in no event later than ninety (90) days after such request for
information relevant to Purchaser’s preparation of audited financial statements
or forty-five (45) days after such request for information relevant to
Purchaser’s preparation of unaudited financial statements or other
information. With respect to any audited financial statements or
other information derived therefrom, Seller shall use commercially reasonable
efforts to cause its outside independent public accountants to (i) deliver
such
consents and comfort letters as are required by applicable Securities Laws
or
are customary as promptly as reasonably practicable, but in no event later
than
the date the corresponding audited financial statements or other information
is
required to be provided, and (ii) make available to Purchaser, any Affiliate
of
Purchaser, any lender, any underwriter and their respective advisors its
work
papers or other materials in its possession relating to such financial
statements or other information and to otherwise cooperate in any due diligence
investigation. Purchaser shall promptly reimburse Seller and its
Affiliates for any and all out-of-pocket costs (exclusive of internal costs)
incurred by Seller or any of the Affiliates in connection with the actions
contemplated under this Section 5.13.
5.14 Acquisition
Transactions. Seller
shall not authorize or permit any officer, director, employee, investment
banker, financial advisor, attorney, accountant or other agent or representative
retained by or acting for or on behalf of Seller to initiate or solicit an
Acquisition Transaction, or intentionally encourage any unsolicited Acquisition
Transaction, by any Person, or group. Seller will immediately cease
and cause to be terminated any existing activities, discussions or negotiations
with any parties conducted on or prior to the date of this Agreement heretofore
with respect to any Acquisition Transaction. As used in this
Agreement, “Acquisition Transaction” means any merger, consolidation or
other business combination or transaction involving the acquisition of the
Acquired Companies or acquisition of the equity securities or substantially
all
of the Acquired Company Assets (other than sales of Inventory in the ordinary
course of business), whether for cash, securities or any other consideration
or
combination thereof, other than pursuant to this Agreement.
5.15 Inventory. The
Acquired Companies shall not ship Inventory in excess of the shipments
contemplated in Seller’s 2007 shipment plan, which calls for shipment of an
aggregate of 2,735,000 9-litre cases during the fiscal year ended December
31,
2007.
5.16 Owens-Illinois
Glass Company
(a) . The
Company shall use its best efforts to enter into a contract for the supply
of
glass from Owens-Illinois Glass Company on substantially similar terms to
those
attached hereto as Exhibit A with such changes, insertions or omissions
as the Company, in its sole discretion determines to be in the best interests
of
the Company.
5.17 Insurance. The
Acquired Companies will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain coverage
under the insurance policies listed in Section 3.18 of the Company
Disclosure Schedule for occurrences on or prior to the Closing Date subject
to
availability of such coverage at reasonable cost as determined in Seller’s sole
discretion. Seller will use commercially reasonable efforts to assist
any Acquired Company making a claim for coverage under such policies after
the
Closing Date for an occurrence prior to the Closing Date.
5.18 Funding
(a) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, upon the satisfaction of the
conditions to Purchaser’s obligations to close set forth in Sections 6.1 and
6.2, Purchaser shall pay the Purchase Price in cash and consummate the
Closing in the manner set forth in Section 7.1. Purchaser’s
covenant under this Section 5.18(a) is absolute and
unconditional.
(b) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, upon the satisfaction of the
conditions to Seller’s obligations to close set forth in Sections 6.1 and
6.3, Seller shall deliver the Shares and consummate the Closing in the
manner set forth in Section 7.1. Seller’s covenant under
this Section 5.18(b) is absolute and unconditional.
(c) Prior
to
the earlier of (i) Closing Date and (ii) December 17, 2007, Purchaser shall,
and
shall cause its Affiliates, not to announce or close or enter into any agreement
or understanding to acquire the assets or equity of any other entity or Person
relating to wine that would require a filing in order to comply with the
HSR
Act, whether by means of merger, consolidation or other business combination
or
transaction, whether for cash, securities or any other consideration or
combination thereof.
5.19 Transition
Services Agreement. From
and after the date hereof until the Closing, the parties shall negotiate
in good
faith and use all reasonable efforts to agree upon and execute a transition
services agreement for the services set forth in Exhibit B attached
hereto on customary terms and conditions mutually acceptable to the
parties.
5.20 Intercompany
Agreements. On
or prior to the Closing, Seller shall terminate, or cause to be terminated,
any
contract between an Acquired Company and the Seller or any of its Affiliates
(other than an Acquired Company).
5.21 Membership
Interests. Prior
to the Closing, Seller shall use all commercially reasonable efforts to cause
the membership interests in Roth Vodka, LLC held by any Acquired Company
and the
Agency Brand Development and Marketing Agreement, dated March 13, 2006, to
be
transferred to Seller or one of its Affiliates (other than an Acquired
Company).
5.22 Lion
Distribution Agreement. Following
the Closing, to the extent LNWGAL pays the Company (or any of its Affiliates)
the Business Interest Realisation Amount or Product/Brand Value Amount (as
such
terms are defined in the Lion Distribution Agreement), the Company shall
promptly remit such amounts to Seller.
ARTICLE
VI
Conditions
6.1 Conditions
to Each Party’s Obligations. The
respective obligation of each party to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby is subject to the fulfillment, satisfaction or waiver at or prior
to the
Closing of each of the following conditions:
(a) HSR
Act. All applicable waiting periods (and any extensions thereof)
under the HSR Act shall have expired or otherwise been terminated without
action
by the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice or the
Federal Trade Commission to prevent consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(b) Alcoholic
Beverage Authorities. The parties shall have made all filings
with and provided all notices to, and shall have obtained all consents required
by, Alcoholic Beverage Authorities that are required to be made or obtained
prior to the Closing, except where the failure to have made any such filings
or
obtained any such consents would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the
Company.
(c) No
Order. No Governmental Entity of competent jurisdiction shall
have enacted, issued, promulgated, enforced or entered any statute, rule,
regulation, executive order, decree, injunction or other order (whether
temporary, preliminary or permanent) which (i) is in effect and
(ii) has the effect of making the transactions contemplated hereby illegal
or otherwise prohibiting or preventing the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
6.2 Conditions
to Purchaser’s Obligations. Purchaser’s
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject
to the fulfillment or satisfaction of the following conditions, any of which
may
be waived in writing by Purchaser in whole or in part:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of
Seller contained in this Agreement, when read without qualification as to
materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall have been true and correct
on the
date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing
Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations
and warranties made as of a specified date, which need be true and correct
only
as of the specified date), except where the failure of such representations
and
warranties to be true and correct has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a
Material Adverse Effect on the Company.
(b) Covenants. Seller
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all the material
agreements and covenants contained herein that are required to be performed
by
it prior to or at the Closing.
(c) Closing
Documents. The Company and Seller shall have executed and
delivered the closing documents set forth in Section 7.2 to be delivered
by the Company and Seller.
6.3 Conditions
to Seller’s Obligations. Seller’s
obligation to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby shall be subject
to the fulfillment or satisfaction of the following conditions, any of which
may
be waived in writing by Seller in whole or in part:
(a) Representations
and Warranties. Each of the representations and warranties of the
Purchaser contained in this Agreement, when read without qualification as
to
materiality or Material Adverse Effect, shall have been true and correct
on the
date of this Agreement and shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing
Date, as though made on and as of the Closing Date (except for representations
and warranties made as of a specified date, which need be true and correct
only
as of the specified date), except where the failure of such representations
and
warranties to be true and correct has not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect
on
Purchaser.
(b) Covenants. Purchaser
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all the material
agreements and covenants contained herein that are required to be performed
by
it prior to or at Closing.
(c) Closing
Documents/Payments. Purchaser shall have executed and delivered
the closing documents and other deliverables set forth in Section 7.2 to
be delivered by Purchaser.
ARTICLE
VII
Closing
7.1 Closing. The
Closing shall take place at 10:00 a.m. on a date to be specified by the
parties hereto, after satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth
in
Article VI (other than those conditions that by their nature are to
be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the fulfillment or waiver of
those
conditions at Closing), and on such date which is the earlier of (a) the
fifth
Business Day after satisfaction or waiver of the conditions set forth in
Section 6.1(a) if such conditions are satisfied or waived on or prior to
December 17, 2007, and (b) December 28, 2007, at the offices of Pillsbury
Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, 50 Fremont Street, San Francisco,
California, or at such other date, time and place as the parties may agree
(the
“Closing Date”); provided, however, that the Closing shall not occur
prior to December 3, 2007. In the event the conditions set forth in
Section 6.1(a) are satisfied after December 17, 2007, and subject to
Article X, the Closing shall occur as soon as possible thereafter,
and in
any event no later than the second Business Day after satisfaction or waiver
of
the conditions set forth in Article VI (other than those conditions
that by their nature are to be satisfied at the Closing, but subject to the
fulfillment or waiver of those conditions at Closing).
7.2 Deliveries. At
or prior to the Closing:
(a) Seller
Resolutions. Seller shall deliver to Purchaser copies of the
resolutions of the Board of Directors of Seller, authorizing the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the incumbency of the persons
executing this Agreement and other documents on behalf of Seller, all certified
by an executive officer of Seller.
(b) Purchaser
Resolutions. Purchaser shall deliver to Seller copies of the
resolutions of the Board of Directors of Purchaser, authorizing the execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the incumbency of the persons
executing this Agreement and other documents on behalf of Purchaser, all
certified by an executive officer of Purchaser.
(c) Certificate
of Seller. Seller shall deliver to Purchaser a certificate
executed by an executive officer of Seller attesting to Seller’s compliance with
the matters set forth in Section 6.2(a) and (b).
(d) Certificate
of Purchaser. Purchaser shall deliver to Seller a certificate
executed by an executive officer of Purchaser attesting to Purchaser’s
compliance with the matters set forth in Section 6.3(a) and
(b).
(e) Director
Resignations. Seller shall deliver to Purchaser resignations,
effective as of the Closing, of each of the members of the board of directors
of
each Acquired Company.
(f) Delivery
of Share Certificates. Seller shall deliver to Purchaser the
certificates representing the Shares, endorsed in blank or accompanied by
duly
executed assignment documents.
(g) Good
Standing Certificates. Seller
shall deliver to Purchaser for Seller and each Acquired Company that is a
Delaware corporation a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of
State
of the State of Delaware and for each Acquired Company that is a California
corporation a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State of
the
State of California in each case dated as of, or no more than five (5) Business
Days prior to, the Closing Notice Date. Purchaser shall deliver to
Seller a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State of the
State
of Delaware dated as of, or no more than five (5) Business Days prior to,
the
Closing Notice Date.
(h) Form
8023. Purchaser
shall have delivered to Seller within the time period specified in Section
9.1(b) an executed Form 8023 and Seller shall deliver to Purchaser such Form
8023 executed by Seller.
(i) FIRPTA
Documentation. Seller
shall deliver to Purchaser a certificate of non-foreign status described
in
Treasury Regulations Section 1.1445-2(b)(2).
(j) Payment
of Purchase Price. Purchaser
shall pay to Seller by wire transfer of immediately available funds an
amount equal to the Purchase Price (i) plus the amount, if any, by which
the
Estimated Closing Net Working Capital is greater than the Base Amount, or
less
the amount, if any, by which the Estimated Closing Net Working Capital is
less
than the Base Amount, as applicable and (ii) plus the amount, if any, by
which
the Estimated Cash Balance is greater than zero, or less the amount, if any,
by
which the Estimated Cash Balance is less than zero (the “Closing Purchase
Price”).
ARTICLE
VIII
Indemnification
8.1 Survival. The
representations and warranties of the parties hereto contained herein shall
survive the Closing for a period of eighteen (18) months after the Closing;
provided, however, that the representations and warranties contained in
Section 3.24 (Environmental) shall survive the Closing and continue until
two (2) years following the Closing, the representations and warranties
contained in Section 3.20 (Employee Benefit Plans) shall survive the
Closing and continue until two (2) years following the Closing, the
representations and warranties contained in Section 3.23 (Taxes) shall
survive the Closing and continue until the expiration of the applicable statutes
of limitations with respect to the Tax liabilities in question (giving effect
to
any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof and except for claims that have
been
asserted prior to that time), and the representations and warranties contained
in Sections3.1 (Organization and Qualification), 3.2
(Authority), 3.4 (Title to Shares), 3.5 (Capitalization),
4.1 (Organization and Qualification), and 4.2 (Authority) shall
survive indefinitely. Neither Seller nor Purchaser shall have any liability
with
respect to any claim for breach of any representation or warranty unless
notice
of such claims as provided herein is first given before the end of the survival
period specified therefor in this Section 8.1 and such notice specifies
in reasonably sufficient detail the matter giving rise to the claim, the
nature
of the claim and, so far as practicable, the amount claimed.
8.2 Indemnification
by Seller. Subject
to Section 8.1 and Section 8.4, from and after the Closing, Seller
agrees to indemnify Purchaser and its Affiliates (each, a “Purchaser
Indemnified Party”) against, and agrees to hold Purchaser and its Affiliates
harmless from, any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages, penalties,
fines, reasonable costs and reasonable expenses (including the reasonable
fees
and expenses of counsel) (“Losses”) incurred or suffered by Purchaser or
its Affiliates:
(a) to
the
extent arising out of any breach of or any inaccuracy in any representation
or
warranty made by Seller in this Agreement; provided that, for purposes of
Purchaser Indemnified Parties’ rights to indemnification pursuant to this
Section 8.2(a), the representations and warranties of Seller (other than
the representations and warranties contained in (i) the final sentence of
Section 3.8 (Financial Statements), (ii) Section 3.9
(Undisclosed Liabilities), (iii) Section 3.10(b) (Absence of Certain
Developments), (iv) the first sentence of Section 3.11(b)
(Properties; Leases); or (v) Section 3.12(a)(vi) or (ix)
(Contracts) and the use of the defined term “Permitted Encumbrances”), shall not
be qualified by any references therein to materiality (including references
to
“Material Adverse Effect”) as if such qualifications were deleted from such
representation or warranty; or
(b) to
the
extent arising out of any breach of or failure by Seller to perform any covenant
or obligation of Seller contained in this Agreement; or
(c) to
the
extent arising out of or relating to a Seller-Sponsored Benefit Plan, and
Seller’s responsibilities and obligations provided in Section 5.8(h)
hereof; or
(d) to
the
extent arising out of (i) any Tax liability of any Acquired Company relating
to
any Tax period that ends on or prior to the Closing Date or the portion of
a
Straddle Period that ends on or prior to the Closing Date (calculated pursuant
to Section 9.6) and (ii) all Taxes that are attributable to Seller or any
member of a Tax Group of which Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (other than
an
Acquired Company) is a member prior to the Closing Date that is imposed under
Treasury Regulation Section 1.1502-6 (or any similar provision of law) by
reason
of such Acquired Company being a member of the Tax Group; or
(e) to
the
extent arising out of or relating to any of the following which occurred
after
the Applicable Environmental Date and prior to or as of the Closing Date,
other
than matters disclosed on Section 3.24 of the Company Disclosure
Schedule: (i) any Release of a Hazardous Substance at, from, under or
in (x) any Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property, or (y) any real property
formerly owned by any Acquired Company, which release occurred after the
Applicable Environmental Date but prior to or as of the date the Acquired
Company disposed of or was no longer the lessee of such real property, and
including any Releases which began prior to the Closing Date and which continue
after the Bring Down Date; (ii) Seller’s or any Acquired Company’s noncompliance
with or violation of any applicable Environmental Law prior to or as of the
Closing Date; or (iii) the Release, treatment, storage, disposal,
transportation, or recycling of any Hazardous Substance at locations other
than
Owned Real Property or Leased Real Property prior to the Bring Down Date,
including but not limited to claims, orders, notices, proceedings and
complaints, whether administrative, judicial or otherwise, issued or brought
by
a Governmental Entity or third party seeking penalties, damages (including
natural resource damages) or injunctive relief under an Environmental
Law. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, Seller’s
indemnity obligation under this Section 8.2(e) shall not exceed an amount
equivalent to the liability Seller would have to a Governmental Entity or
a
third party under applicable Environmental Law for matters falling within
the
scope of this subsection; or
(f) relating
to any breach of the Lion Distribution Agreement resulting from the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and Purchaser becoming
an
“Affiliate” of the Company as defined under such agreement.
8.3 Indemnification
by Purchaser. From
and after the Closing, Purchaser agrees to indemnify Seller and its Affiliates
(each, a “Seller Indemnified Party”) against, and agrees to hold Seller
and its Affiliates harmless from, any and all Losses incurred or suffered
by
Seller or its Affiliates:
(a) to
the
extent arising out of any breach of or any inaccuracy in any representation
or
warranty made by Purchaser in this Agreement; provided that, for purposes
of
Seller Indemnified Parties’ rights to indemnification pursuant to this
Section 8.3(a), the representations and warranties of Purchaser shall not
be qualified by any references therein to materiality (including references
to
“material,” “Material Adverse Effect” or “material adverse effect”) as if such
qualifications were deleted from such representation or warranty
(b) to
the
extent arising out of any breach of or failure by Purchaser to perform any
covenant or obligation of Purchaser contained in this Agreement;
(c) to
the
extent arising out of any Tax liability of any Acquired Company for any Tax
period that commences after the Closing Date or the portion of a Straddle
Period
that commences after the Closing Date (calculated pursuant to Section
9.6);
(d) to
the
extent arising out of or related to any WARN Act liability related to the
consummation of the transactions hereunder and the subsequent actions of
Purchaser; and
(e) after
the
Closing relating to the operation of the business of an Acquired Company,
other
than Losses relating to facts or the occurrence or nonoccurrence of events
that
constitute a breach of the representations and warranties of Seller
hereunder.
8.4 Limitations
on Liability of Seller. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Agreement or any right or remedy available under
any
law, from and after the Closing:
(a) Subject
to Section 8.4(e), the Purchaser Indemnified Parties shall have the right
to payment by Seller under Section 8.2 only when the Purchaser
Indemnified Parties shall have incurred an aggregate indemnifiable Loss or
Losses in excess of $6,633,750 (the “Indemnity
Threshold”). Once the aggregate amount of indemnifiable Loss or
Losses under Section 8.2 exceeds the Indemnity Threshold, Seller, subject
to the other limitations of this Article VIII, shall be required to
provide indemnification for all indemnifiable Losses from the first
dollar. No claim for any individual Loss or related series of Losses
shall be asserted for any purpose hereunder unless the amount of such claim
equals or exceeds $100,000.
(b) Subject
to Section 8.4(e), Seller shall have no liability for Loss or Losses
under this Agreement in excess Eighty-Eight Million Four Hundred and Fifty
Thousand Dollars ($88,450,000) in the aggregate (the “Indemnity
Cap”).
(c) From
and
after the Closing, the sole and exclusive liability and responsibility of
the
parties under or in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby (including for any breach of or inaccuracy in any
representation or warranty or for any breach of any covenant or obligation
or
for any other reason), and the sole and exclusive remedy of the parties with
respect to any of the foregoing, shall be as set forth in this Article
VIII. To the extent that a party has any Losses for
which it may assert any other right to indemnification, contribution or recovery
from the other party or its Affiliates (whether under this Agreement or under
any common law theory or any statute or other law), that party hereby waives,
releases and agrees not to assert such right, and that party agrees to cause
each of its Affiliates to waive, release and agree not to assert such right,
regardless of the theory upon which any claim may be based, whether contract,
equity, tort, fraud, warranty, strict liability or any other theory of
liability.
(d) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, neither Seller nor any of its
Affiliates shall have any liability under or otherwise in connection with
this
Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby for any Loss (i) to the
extent arising as a result of any action taken or omitted to be taken by
Purchaser or any of its Affiliates, or (ii) to the extent of a specific
accrual or reserve on or in the Final Statement of Working Capital or to
the
extent of a specific liability on or in Final Statement of Working
Capital. In no event shall Seller or any of its Affiliates have any
liability under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with the transactions
contemplated hereby for special, speculative, incidental, exemplary, punitive,
indirect or consequential damages or for lost profits.
(e) The
limitations in Section 8.4(a) and (b) shall not apply to Losses
pursuant to Section 8.2(b) or Section 8.2(d) or resulting from,
arising out of, in the nature of, or caused by:
(i) any
fraudulent, willful or intentional breach by a party of any of its
representations or warranties set forth herein; or
(ii) any
breach of the representations and warranties set forth in
Sections3.1 (Organization and Qualification), 3.2
(Authority), 3.4 (Title to Shares), 3.5 (Capitalization) and
3.23 (Taxes).
(f) Subject
only to the provisions of Section 8.9, after the Closing, Seller shall
not have any rights against any Acquired Company for any payments Seller
is
obligated to make, under this Article VIII of this
Agreement.
8.5 Claims. As
promptly as is reasonably practicable after becoming aware of a claim for
indemnification under this Agreement not involving a claim, or the commencement
of any suit, action or proceeding, of the type described in Section 8.6,
but in any event no later than fifteen (15) days after first becoming aware
of such claim, the Indemnified Person shall give notice to the Indemnifying
Person of such claim, which notice shall specify the facts alleged to constitute
the basis for such claim, the representations, warranties, covenants and
obligations alleged to have been breached and the amount that the Indemnified
Person seeks hereunder from the Indemnifying Person, together with such
information as may be necessary for the Indemnifying Person to determine
that
the limitations in Section 8.4 have been satisfied or do not apply;
provided that, the failure of the Indemnified Person to give such notice
shall
not relieve the Indemnifying Person of its obligations under this Article
VIII, except to the extent (if any) that the Indemnifying Person shall have
been prejudiced thereby.
8.6 Notice
of Third Party Claims; Assumption of Defense. The
Indemnified Person shall give notice as promptly as is reasonably practicable,
but in any event no later than fifteen (15) days after receiving notice thereof,
to the Indemnifying Person of the assertion of any claim, or the commencement
of
any suit, action or proceeding, by any Person not a party hereto in respect
of
which indemnity may be sought under or pursuant to this Agreement (which
notice
shall specify in reasonable detail the nature and amount of such claim together
with such information as may be necessary for the Indemnifying Person to
determine that the limitations in Section 8.4 have been satisfied or do
not apply); provided, that the failure of the Indemnified Person to give
such
notice shall not relieve the Indemnifying Person of its obligations under
this
Article VIII except to the extent (if any) that the Indemnifying Person
shall have been prejudiced thereby. The Indemnifying Person may, at
its own expense, (a) participate in the defense of any such claim, suit,
action or proceeding and (b) upon notice to the Indemnified Person, at any
time during the course of any such claim, suit, action or proceeding,
acknowledge its indemnification obligations under this Agreement and assume
the
defense or investigation thereof with counsel of its own choice and in the
event
of such acknowledgment and assumption, shall have the exclusive right, subject
to clause (i) in the proviso in Section 8.7, to settle or compromise
such claim, suit, action or proceeding. If the Indemnifying Person
assumes such defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right (but not
the
duty) to participate in the defense thereof and to employ counsel, at its
own
expense, separate from the counsel employed by the Indemnifying
Person. Whether or not the Indemnifying Person chooses to defend or
prosecute any such claim, suit, action or proceeding, all of the parties
hereto
shall cooperate in the defense or prosecution thereof.
8.7 Settlement
or Compromise. Any
settlement or compromise made or caused to be made by the Indemnified Person
(unless the Indemnifying Person has the exclusive right to settle or compromise
under clause (b) of Section 8.6) or the Indemnifying Person, as the
case may be, of any such claim, suit, action or proceeding of the kind referred
to in Section 8.6 shall also be binding upon the Indemnifying Person or
the Indemnified Person, as the case may be, in the same manner as if a final
judgment or decree had been entered by a court of competent jurisdiction
in the
amount of such settlement or compromise; provided, that (i) no obligation,
course of remediation, restriction or Loss shall be imposed on the Indemnified
Person as a result of such settlement or compromise without its prior written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or
delayed, and (ii) the Indemnified Person will not compromise or settle any
claim, suit, action or proceeding without the prior written consent of the
Indemnifying Person, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
conditioned or delayed.
8.8 Time
Limits. Any
right to indemnification or other recovery for breach of representations
and
warranties under this Article VIII shall only apply to Losses with
respect to which the Indemnified Person shall have notified the Indemnifying
Person in writing within the applicable survival period for such representations
and warranties set forth in Section 8.1. If any claim for
indemnification or other recovery is timely asserted under this Article
VIII, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to bring an action, suit
or proceeding with respect to such claim within two (2) years after first
giving the Indemnifying Person notice thereof, but may not bring any such
action, suit or proceeding thereafter.
8.9 Net
Losses and Subrogation.
(a) Notwithstanding
anything contained herein to the contrary, the amount of any Losses incurred
or
suffered by any Indemnified Person shall be calculated after giving effect
to
(i) any insurance proceeds received by the Indemnified Person (or any of
its Affiliates) with respect to such Losses, and (ii) any recoveries
obtained by the Indemnified Person (or any of its Affiliates) from any other
third party. Each Indemnified Person shall exercise commercially
reasonable efforts to obtain such proceeds, benefits and
recoveries. If any such proceeds, benefits or recoveries are received
by an Indemnified Person (or any of its Affiliates) with respect to any Losses
after an Indemnifying Person has made a payment to the Indemnified Person
with
respect thereto, the Indemnified Person (or such Affiliate) shall promptly
pay
to the Indemnifying Person the amount of such proceeds, benefits or recoveries
(up to the amount of the Indemnifying Person’s payment).
(b) Upon
making any payment to an Indemnified Person in respect of any Losses, the
Indemnifying Person will, subject to the subrogation rights of any applicable
insurance policy maintained by the Indemnified Person, to the extent of such
payment, be subrogated to all rights of the Indemnified Person (and its
Affiliates) against any third party in respect of the Losses to which such
payment relates. Such Indemnified Person (and its Affiliates) and
Indemnifying Person will execute upon request all instruments reasonably
necessary to evidence or further perfect such subrogation rights.
ARTICLE
IX
Tax
Matters
The
following provisions (which shall take precedence over any other provision
of
this Agreement in the event of a conflict) shall govern the allocation of
responsibility as between Purchaser and Seller for certain Tax matters following
the Closing Date:
9.1 Section
338(h)(10) Election
(a) Seller
and Purchaser shall, with respect to the purchase of the Shares, (i) join
in
making on a timely basis, with respect to all of the Acquired Companies,
(A) an
election under Section 338(h)(10) of the Code, (B) any election required
to be
made under state or local law by a taxpayer that has made an election under
Section 338(h)(10) of the Code, and (C) any election corresponding to Section
338(h)(10) of the Code under state or local law that is permissive under
state
or local law (the “Section 338(h)(10) Election”), (ii) provide to the
other party (A) the necessary information to permit the Section 338(h)(10)
Election to be made and (B) the opportunity to review and approve (such approval
not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed) any filings made pursuant to
or in
furtherance of the Section 338(h)(10) Election (including IRS Form 8883)
prior
to the making of such filing and (iii) take all actions necessary and
appropriate (including filing any necessary forms, returns, elections, schedules
and other documents) as may be required to timely effect and preserve (and
refrain from taking any actions that interfere with or prevent) the Section
338(h)(10) Election in accordance with the provisions of Section 338(h)(10)
of
the Code and Treasury Regulation Section 1.338(h)(10)-1 (or any comparable
provisions of state or local Tax law). Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Agreement, Seller and its Affiliates (other than the Acquired
Companies) shall include any income, gain, loss or deduction resulting from
any
Section 338(h)(10) Election on its or their Income Tax Returns as required
by
applicable law, and Purchaser shall have no responsibility for paying Taxes
attributable to such income or gain or reimbursing Income Taxes paid with
respect to such income or gain. For purposes of clarity, for purposes
of the prior sentence, Taxes resulting from any Section 338(h)(10) Election
made
in 2007 include, but are not limited to, state or local Taxes due in 2008
Tax
Returns to the extent that they are attributable to income and gain resulting
from a Section 338(h)(10) Election (e.g., the net income basis of the Ohio
corporation franchise tax on the 2008 Ohio corporate franchise tax return
and
the Texas margin tax or the tax due on net taxable earned surplus on the
2008
Texas corporation franchise tax report, as the case may be).
(b) Without
limitation on any other provision hereof, not fewer than five (5) Business
Days
prior to the Closing Date, Purchaser shall provide to Seller a fully completed
and executed IRS Form 8023, dated as of the Closing Date, in respect of the
Section 338(h)(10) Election. Seller, after reviewing such Form 8023
pursuant to Section 9.1(a)(ii)(B) above, shall execute and deliver to
Purchaser at Closing such Form 8023 and Purchaser shall promptly file such
form
with the appropriate IRS Center and provide Seller with proof of
mailing. No later than 90 days after the Closing Date, or earlier if
required under applicable state and local law, Seller and Purchaser shall
mutually prepare any forms or schedules similar to IRS Form 8023 that are
required for provisions of state or local law that are comparable to Treasury
Regulations Section 1.338(h)(10)-1, and Purchaser shall file such form on
a
timely basis and provide Seller with notice of such filing, in a manner similar
to the procedures described in the preceding sentence.
(c) The
“aggregate deemed sales price” (as defined in Treasury Regulation Section
1.338-4) and the “adjusted grossed-up basis” (as defined in Treasury Regulation
Section 1.338-5) (the “AGUB”) shall be allocated among the assets of the
Acquired Companies (the “Assets”) in accordance with Treasury Regulation
Sections 1.338-6 and 1.338-7. Purchaser shall provide Seller with the
amount of Purchaser’s acquisition costs that are to be set forth in box 5b of
IRS Form 8883 within 60 days after the Closing Date. Seller shall
provide to Purchaser, and Purchaser and Seller shall mutually determine the
AGUB
and agree upon, an allocation of the AGUB among the Assets within 120 days
after
the Closing Date (the “Allocation Schedule”). If within 30
days of receipt of the Allocation Schedule, the parties do not agree to one
or
more items to be reflected on the Allocation Schedule, Purchaser and Seller
shall negotiate in good faith to resolve such dispute. If Purchaser
and Seller fail to resolve any such dispute within 30 days, the parties shall
submit the dispute for resolution to the Arbiter, whose resolution of the
dispute shall be conclusive and binding on both parties. The fees and
disbursements of the Arbiter shall be paid 50% by Purchaser and 50% by
Seller. The Allocation Schedule shall be adjusted in accordance with
the Arbiter’s resolution of the dispute. Seller and Purchaser shall
file IRS Form 8883 and any other state or local Tax forms required for the
Section 338(h)(10) Election in accordance with the Allocation
Schedule. The parties agree not to take any position inconsistent
with the Allocation Schedule for Tax reporting purposes.
9.2 Tax
Return Filings; Tax Payments
(a) Seller
shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed (i) all Income Tax
Returns (including amendments thereto), including Tax Group Income Tax Returns
that include Seller or any Affiliate of Seller (other than an Acquired Company)
and stand-alone Income Tax Returns required to be filed in respect of any
Acquired Company for any Tax period ending on or prior to the Closing Date,
and
(ii) any stand alone Straddle Period Income Tax Returns required to be filed
in
respect of any Acquired Company. Seller shall timely pay or cause to
be paid all Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns. Purchaser
shall provide to Seller, at Purchaser’s expense and promptly upon request by
Seller, any information in Purchaser’s possession necessary for Seller to
prepare the Tax Returns described in Section 9.2(a)(ii).
(b) Purchaser
shall prepare and file or cause to be prepared and filed all Tax Returns
(including amendments thereto) which are required to be filed in respect
of (i)
any Acquired Company for any Tax period ending on or prior to the Closing
Date
(except for Income Tax Returns filed by Seller pursuant to Section
9.2(a)) or any Straddle Period (except for Straddle Period Income Tax
Returns to be filed by Seller pursuant to Section 9.2(a)), and (ii) any
Acquired Company for any Tax period (other than a Straddle Period) ending
after
the Closing Date. Purchaser shall timely pay or cause to be paid all
Taxes shown to be due on such Tax Returns.
(c) Unless
Seller and Purchaser otherwise agree in writing, all Tax Returns (including
amendments thereto) described in Section 9.2(a) and 9.2(b)(i)
filed after the Closing Date, in the absence of a controlling change in law
or
circumstances, shall be prepared on a basis consistent with the elections,
accounting methods, conventions and principles of taxation used for the most
recent Tax periods for which Tax Returns involving similar matters have been
filed.
(d) The
Acquired Companies will be included in the consolidated federal Income Tax
Return that include the Seller for the calendar year 2007 (the “2007
Consolidated Return”) for the Tax period that ends on the Closing
Date. If the Closing occurs, Purchaser shall provide complete
information packages (which shall be prepared in accordance with instructions
and procedures furnished by Seller), and such other information as Seller
may
reasonably request, to enable Seller to include the Acquired Companies in
the
2007 Consolidated Return (to the extent information was not previously provided
to Seller) with respect to such Tax period that ends on the Closing
Date. In the case of the 2007 Consolidated Return, a request for an
information package shall be furnished by Seller to Purchaser not later than
one
month after the Closing Date (unless otherwise agreed by the parties hereto)
and
the responses to such information package request shall be delivered by
Purchaser to Seller not later than three months after receipt of such
information package request by Purchaser (unless otherwise agreed by the
parties
hereto). Promptly after completion thereof, Seller shall furnish to
Purchaser a copy of the pro forma separate federal Income Tax Returns of
each
Acquired Company, or similar data, used in the preparation and filing of
the
2007 Consolidated Return.
(e) At
least
sixty (60) days prior to the due date (taking into account applicable
extensions) (or filing date in the case of an amended Tax Return) for filing
any
Tax Return for which Purchaser is responsible for filing under Section
9.2(b), Purchaser shall make available a substantially final draft of such
Tax Return (or relevant portions thereof) for review and comment by the
Seller. Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, all decisions
relating to the preparation of such Tax Returns shall be made in the sole
discretion of the Purchaser. Seller shall provide Purchaser with
comments, if any, to any Straddle Period Tax Return that Purchaser is
responsible for filing under Section 9.2(b) no later than 30 days
following Seller's receipt of the draft of such Straddle Period Tax Return,
which comments Purchaser shall consider in good faith in connection with
the
filing of such Straddle Period Tax Return. Purchaser and Seller shall
negotiate in good faith to resolve any disputed items with respect to such
Straddle Period Tax Return within 10 days of Purchaser’s receipt of Seller’s
comments. If Purchaser and Seller fail to resolve such dispute within
ten (10) days, the appropriate treatment of such items shall be determined
by
the Arbiter (with joint instruction by Seller and Purchaser to deliver its
determination no later than seven (7) Business Days prior to the due date
of any
Straddle Period Tax Return (taking into account applicable extensions)),
and
such Straddle Period Tax Return shall be filed in accordance with the Arbiter’s
determination. No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the due
date of any Straddle Period Tax Return (taking into account applicable
extensions) to be prepared by Purchaser, Seller shall reimburse Purchaser
for
the portion of Taxes related to such Straddle Period Tax Return that
are allocable to the portion of the Straddle Period ending on the Closing
Date
as determined under Section 9.6 to the extent Seller’s portion of such
Taxes exceeds the sum of (i) all estimates and credits paid or taken by or
on
behalf of the Acquired Companies on or prior to the Closing Date in respect
of
such Straddle Period Taxes and (ii) the amount included as a liability in
the
Final Statement of Working Capital. All such Straddle Period Tax
Returns will be filed by Purchaser when due in accordance with applicable
laws.
(f) At
least
sixty (60) days prior to the due date (taking into account applicable
extensions) (or filing date in the case of an amended Tax Return) for filing
any
stand-alone Straddle Period Income Tax Return for which Seller is responsible
for filing under Section 9.2(a), Seller shall make available a
substantially final draft of such Tax Return (or relevant portions thereof)
for
review and comment by the Purchaser. Subject to the provisions of
this Agreement, all decisions relating to the preparation of such Tax Returns
shall be made in the sole discretion of the Seller. Purchaser shall
provide Seller with comments, if any, to any Straddle Period Income Tax Return
that Seller is responsible for filing under Section 9.2(a) no later than
30 days following Purchaser’s receipt of the draft of such Straddle Period
Income Tax Return, which comments Seller shall consider in good faith in
connection with the filing of such Straddle Period Income Tax
Return. Purchaser and Seller shall negotiate in good faith to resolve
any disputed items with respect to such Straddle Period Income Tax Return
within
10 days of Seller’s receipt of Purchaser's comments. If Purchaser and
Seller fail to resolve such dispute within ten (10) days, the appropriate
treatment of such items shall be determined by the Arbiter (with joint
instruction by Seller and Purchaser to deliver its determination no later
than
seven (7) Business Days prior to the due date of any Straddle Period Income
Tax
Return (taking into account applicable extensions)) , and such Straddle Period
Income Tax Return shall be filed in accordance with the Arbiter’s
determination. No later than five (5) Business Days prior to the due
date of any Straddle Period Income Tax Return (taking into account applicable
extensions) to be prepared by Seller, Purchaser shall reimburse Seller for
the
portion of Taxes related to such Straddle Period Income Tax Return
that are allocable to the portion of the Straddle Period commencing after
the
Closing Date as determined under Section 9.6 to the extent Purchaser’s
portion of such Income Taxes exceeds the sum of all estimates and credits
paid
or taken by or on behalf of the Acquired Companies after the Closing Date
in
respect of such Straddle Period Income Taxes. All such Straddle
Period Income Tax Returns will be filed by Seller when due in accordance
with
applicable laws.
9.3 Tax
Contests.
(a) Seller
shall have the exclusive right to represent the interests of the Acquired
Companies in any and all Tax audits, assessments or administrative or court
proceedings (“Tax Proceedings”) relating to Tax Returns for Tax periods
that end on or prior to the Closing Date to the extent that such Tax Proceeding
(i) may affect the Tax liability of Seller or any Acquired Company for any
Tax
period ending on or prior to the Closing Date or any Straddle Period or (ii)
may
give rise to a Seller indemnification obligation under this Agreement; provided,
however, that Purchaser, at its own expense, shall have the right to participate
in any such Tax Proceeding and to employ counsel of its choice (which counsel
shall be reasonably acceptable to Seller) for purposes of such participation
to
the extent that any compromise, settlement, consent or agreement in such
Tax
Proceeding would have a material adverse affect on Purchaser and its Affiliates
after the Closing Date. Seller and Purchaser shall jointly agree on
the conduct of any Tax Proceedings relating to any Straddle Period Tax Return
to
the extent that Seller may have an indemnification obligation with respect
to
such Straddle Period Tax Return under this Agreement.
(b) In
the
event that Purchaser proposes to compromise or settle any Tax claim, or consent
or agree to any Tax liability relating to the Acquired Companies for any
Tax
period ending on or before the Closing Date or any Straddle Period, Seller
shall
have the right to review such proposed compromise, settlement, consent,
agreement or amendment. Without the prior written consent of Seller,
which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, Purchaser shall not
agree
or consent to compromise or settle any issue or claim arising in any such
Tax
Proceeding, or otherwise agree to or consent to any Tax liability, to the
extent
that any such compromise, settlement, consent, agreement or amendment may
affect
the Tax liability of the Seller or any Acquired Company (or any Tax Group
of
which Seller or any Acquired Company is a member) for any Tax period ending
on
or prior to the Closing Date or any Straddle Period.
(c) Purchaser
shall promptly notify Seller in writing upon receipt by the Purchaser or
any
Affiliate of Purchaser (including any Acquired Company) of any pending or
threatened Tax Proceedings relating to the income, properties or operations
of
any Acquired Company for any Tax period ending on or prior to the Closing
Date
or any Straddle Period.
9.4 Payments.
(a) Timing
Adjustments.
(i) Timing
Differences. If a Tax Proceeding or an amendment to a Tax Return
results in a Timing Difference, and such Timing Difference results in a decrease
in an indemnity obligation Seller has or would otherwise have under Section
8.2 and/or an increase in the amount of a Tax refund or credit to which
Seller is entitled under Section 9.5 for a Tax period, then in each
subsequent Tax period in which an Acquired Company (or any Tax Group of which
such Acquired Company is a member) Actually Realizes an Income Tax Detriment,
Seller shall pay to Purchaser an amount equal to such Income Tax Detriment;
provided, however, that the aggregate payments which Seller shall
be required to make under this Section 9.4(a)(i) with respect to any
Timing Difference shall not exceed the aggregate amount of the Income Tax
Benefits realized by the Seller (or any Tax Group of which the Seller or
any
Affiliate is a member) for such initial Tax period as a result of such Timing
Difference. Seller shall make all such payments within ten days after
Purchaser notifies Seller that the relevant Income Tax Detriment has been
Actually Realized.
(ii) Reverse
Timing Differences. If a Tax Proceeding or an amendment to a Tax
Return results in a Reverse Timing Difference, and such Reverse Timing
Difference results in an increase in an indemnity payment obligation of Seller
under Section 8.2 (or Seller otherwise bears or has borne such increase
in Taxes without reimbursement by Purchaser), and/or a decrease in the amount
of
a Tax refund or credit to which Seller is or would otherwise be entitled
under
Section 9.5 for a Tax period, then in each subsequent Tax period in which
an Acquired Company (or any Tax Group of which such Acquired Company is a
member) Actually Realizes an Income Tax Benefit, Purchaser shall pay to Seller
within ten days after Purchaser has Actually Realized such Income Tax Benefit
an
amount equal to such Income Tax Benefit; provided, however, that
the aggregate payments which Purchaser shall be required to make under this
Section 9.4(a)(ii) with respect to Reverse Timing Differences shall not
exceed the aggregate amount of the Income Tax Detriments realized by Seller
(or
any Tax Group of which the Seller or any Affiliate is a member) for such
initial
Tax period as a result of such Reverse Timing Difference.
(iii) Offsetting
Liabilities. If a Tax Proceeding or an amendment to a Tax Return
relating to an Acquired Company results in an increase in foreign, state
or
local Income Tax liability that results in an increase in an indemnity payment
obligation of Seller under Section 8.2(a) (or Seller otherwise bears or
has borne such increase in Taxes without reimbursement by Purchaser), coupled
with a reduction in U.S. federal, state or local Income Tax liability
attributable to such Tax Proceeding or amendment to a Tax Return for the
same
Tax year, then to the extent the Acquired Company (or a Tax Group of which
an
Acquired Company is a member) Actually Realizes an Income Tax Benefit, Purchaser
shall pay to Seller within ten days after Purchaser has Actually Realized
such
Income Tax Benefit an amount equal to such Income Tax Benefit; provided,
however, that the aggregate payments which Purchaser shall be required
to
make under this Section 9.4(a)(iii) shall not exceed the aggregate amount
of the Income Tax Benefit arising in respect of such increase in state, local
or
foreign Income Tax liability for which Seller is liable under Section
8.2(a) (or for which Seller otherwise bears or has borne without
reimbursement by Purchaser).
(b) Time
for Payment. Except as otherwise provided in this Section 9.4(b), any
indemnity payment for Taxes required to be made pursuant to this Agreement
shall
be paid within thirty days after the indemnified party makes written demand
(which written demand shall set forth such computations and descriptions
as may
be necessary to identify and support the basis for the determination of the
indemnity payment amount) upon the indemnifying party, provided that in no
event
shall such payment be required to be made earlier than five Business Days
prior
to the date on which the relevant Taxes (including estimated Taxes) are required
to be paid (or would be required to be paid if no such Taxes are due) to
the
relevant Tax authority.
(c) Payments
Net of Taxes and Tax Benefits. All amounts paid pursuant to the
indemnification provisions of Article VIII shall, to the extent permitted
by applicable law, be treated as adjustments to the Purchase Price for all
Tax
purposes. The amount of any indemnity payment under Article VIII
shall be (i) reduced to take into account any net Tax benefit realized by
the
recipient’s Tax Group arising from the incurrence or payment by such recipient’s
Tax Group of any amount in respect of which such payment is made and (ii)
increased to take into account any net Tax cost incurred by the recipient’s Tax
Group as a result of the receipt or accrual of payments hereunder (grossed-up
for such increase), in each case determined by treating the recipient as
recognizing all other items of income, gain, loss, deduction or credit before
recognizing any item arising from the receipt of accrual of any payment
hereunder; provided, that the parties hereto acknowledge that the Tax items
giving rise to payments hereunder, and the payments hereunder, may affect
computations of earnings and profits and stock basis and that no such effects
on
earnings and profits or stock basis shall be taken into account in computing
the
amount of any payment due under this Agreement. In determining the amount
of any
such Tax benefit or Tax cost, (I) if the recipient’s Tax Group’s taxable income
for the year, after taking into account tax loss carryovers, is negative
or
zero, the recipient’s Tax Group shall be deemed not subject to Tax for such
purpose, and (II) in all other cases, the recipient’s Tax Group shall be deemed
to be subject to Tax as follows: (A) U.S. federal Income Taxes at the maximum
statutory rate then in effect and (B) U.S. state and local Income Taxes at
an
assumed rate of five percent (which rate is assumed to have been reduced
to take
into account the deductibility of state and local Income Taxes for U.S. federal
Income Tax purposes). Except as otherwise provided in this Agreement
or unless the parties otherwise agree to an alternative method for determining
the present value of any such anticipated Tax benefit or Tax cost, any payment
hereunder shall initially be made without regard to this Section 9.4(c)
and shall be increased or reduced to reflect any such net Tax cost (including
gross-up) or net Tax benefit only after the recipient’s Tax Group has Actually
Realized such Tax cost or Tax benefit.
9.5 Tax
Refunds and Carrybacks.
(a) Retention
and Payment of Tax Refunds. Except as otherwise provided in this
Agreement, Seller shall be entitled to retain, and to receive within ten
days
after Actually Realized by an Acquired Company (or a Tax Group of which an
Acquired Company is a member), the portion of all refunds or credits of Taxes
that relate to Tax Periods or portions thereof ending on or before the Closing
Date.
(b) Carrybacks. Unless
the parties otherwise agree in writing, Purchaser shall elect and shall cause
each Acquired Company to elect, where permitted by law, to carry forward
any net
operating loss, net capital loss, charitable contribution or other item arising
after the Closing Date that could, in the absence of such election, be carried
back to any period ending on or prior to the Closing Date.
(c) Refund
Claims. Seller shall be permitted to file at Seller’s sole
expense, and each Acquired Company (and any Tax Group of which an Acquired
Company is a member) shall reasonably cooperate with Seller in connection
with,
any claims for refund of Taxes to which Seller is entitled pursuant to this
Section 9.5 or any other provision of this Agreement. Seller
shall reimburse the relevant Acquired Company (or Tax Group of which it is
a
member) for any reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred by such
Acquired Company (or such Tax Group) in connection with such
cooperation. Each Acquired Company shall be permitted to file at such
Acquired Company’s sole expense, and Seller shall reasonably cooperate with such
Acquired Company in connection with, any claims for refunds of Taxes to which
such Acquired Company is entitled pursuant to this Section 9.5 or any
other provision of this Agreement.
(d) Duty
Drawback Claims. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, the Acquired Companies and Purchaser shall be entitled to apply
for and receive, solely for their own account, any credits under 19 U.S.C.
§
1313(j)(2) to which the Acquired Companies and Purchaser may be
entitled.
9.6 Straddle
Period Taxes.
It
is
anticipated that, in the case of each Acquired Company that files an Income
Tax
Return with a member of the Tax Group that includes Seller or any Affiliate
of
Seller (other than an Acquired Company) during all or a portion of calendar
year
2007, (i) the relevant Tax year of such Acquired Company beginning on January
1,
2007 will end on the Closing Date, and items of income, gain, loss, deduction
and credit with respect to such short Tax year shall be included in such
Income
Tax Return and (ii) items of income, gain, loss, deduction and credit with
respect to the short Tax year of such Acquired Company beginning on the day
after the Closing Date will not be included in such Income Tax
Return. Accordingly, it is not anticipated that any Straddle Period
will exist with respect to any such Income Tax Return. If a Straddle
Period Income Tax Return exists, for all purposes of this Agreement, the
Taxes
of any Acquired Company or its business, assets or activities for that portion
of any Straddle Period ending on the Closing Date shall be computed on a
“closing-of-the-books” basis as if such Tax period ended as of the close of
business on the Closing Date, and the Taxes of such Acquired Company or its
business, assets or activities for that portion of any Straddle Period beginning
after the Closing Date shall be computed on a “closing-of-the-books” basis as if
such Tax period began on the day after the Closing Date. For all
Taxes (other than Income Taxes), the Taxes of any Acquired Company or its
business, assets or activities for any Straddle Period shall be computed
on a
per diem basis and allocated between the period ended as of the close of
business on the Closing Date the period beginning after the Closing Date
based
on the number of days in such periods divided by the total number of days
in the
relevant Straddle Period.
9.7 Cooperation
on Tax Matters
(a) Purchaser
and Seller shall, and Seller shall cause the Acquired Companies to, cooperate
fully and promptly, as and to the extent reasonably requested by the other
party, in connection with (i) filing any Tax Return, amended Tax Return or
other Tax filing or claim for refund of Taxes, (ii) determining any Tax
liability or right to refund of Taxes, (iii) conducting or defending any
Tax Proceeding, or (iv) effectuating the terms of this
Agreement. Such cooperation shall include the retention and (upon the
other party’s request) the provision of records and information which are
reasonably relevant to any such audit, litigation or other proceeding and
making
employees available on a mutually convenient basis to provide additional
information and explanation of any material provided
hereunder. Purchaser and Seller agree (i) to retain all books and
records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Acquired Companies relating
to any taxable period beginning before the Closing Date until the expiration
of
the statute of limitations (and, to the extent notified by Purchaser or Seller,
any extensions thereof) of the respective taxable periods, and to abide by
all
record retention agreements entered into with any Tax authority, and (ii)
to
give the other party reasonable written notice prior to transferring, destroying
or discarding any such books and records and, if the other party so requests,
Purchaser or Seller, as the case may be, shall allow the other party to take
possession of copies of such books and records. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, no party shall be unreasonably required to prepare any document,
or
determine any information, not then in its possession in response to a request
under this Section 9.7(a).
(b) Purchaser
and Seller further agree, upon request, to use their best efforts to obtain
any
certificate or other document from any Governmental Entity or any other Person
as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate any Tax that could be
imposed (including, but not limited to, with respect to the transactions
contemplated hereby).
(c) Purchaser
and Seller further agree, upon request, to provide the other party with all
information that either party may be required to report pursuant to Section
6043
of the Code and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
9.8 Stock
Option Tax Deductions. Purchaser
agrees and acknowledges that any post-Closing Date Tax deductions in respect
of
Fortune Brands, Inc. common stock options exercised by Acquired Company
employees and former employees shall be for the benefit of Seller or its
Affiliates. In the event the IRS disallows or prohibits Seller or its
Affiliate from claiming any such post-Closing Date Tax deductions, then
Purchaser shall cause the appropriate Acquired Company (or Tax Group of which
it
is a member) to cooperate and use all reasonable good faith efforts to claim
such post-Closing Date Tax deductions and remit the amount of any Tax benefit
in
respect of such Tax deductions within ten (10) business days after such amount
is Actually Realized by such Acquired Company (or Tax Group of which it is
a
member). In the event the IRS disallows or prohibits Purchaser or its
Affiliates from claiming any such Tax deduction, then Seller shall reimburse
Purchaser any amounts Purchaser paid to Seller under this Section
9.8.
9.9 Transfer
and Similar Taxes.
(a) Purchaser
shall be responsible for the payment of all transfer, documentary, sales,
use,
stamp, excise, registration, documentary transfer, real estate transfer or
gain,
and other such similar Taxes and fees incurred in connection with this Agreement
and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Purchaser shall
prepare all necessary Tax Returns and other documentation that it is required
to
prepare under applicable law with respect to all Taxes referenced in the
previous sentence. If required by applicable law, Seller will, and
will cause its Affiliates to, join in the execution of any such Tax Returns
and
other documentation.
(b) Seller
shall terminate or cause to be terminated any and all Tax allocation or sharing
agreements in effect on the Closing Date as between the Seller and its
Affiliates (other than the Acquired Companies), on the one hand, and the
Acquired Companies, on the other hand.
ARTICLE
X
Termination
10.1 Termination. This
Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing:
(a) by
mutual
written consent of Seller and Purchaser;
(b) by
either
Seller or Purchaser, upon written notice to the other party, if any Governmental
Entity of competent jurisdiction shall have issued an order, decree or ruling
or
taken any other action permanently enjoining, restraining or otherwise
prohibiting the transactions contemplated hereby and such order, decree or
ruling or other action shall have become final and nonappealable; provided,
however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this Section
10.1(b) shall not be available to any party that has not used its
commercially reasonable efforts to cause such order, decree or ruling to
be
lifted;
(c) by
Seller, upon written notice to Purchaser, at any time, if Purchaser fails
to
complete and file the HSR Submission within three (3) Business Days of the
date
hereof;
(d) (i)
by
Seller, upon written notice to Purchaser, at any time after December 17,
2007
and through December 31, 2007, if the transactions contemplated hereby shall
not
have been consummated on or before December 17, 2007 (the “Seller Termination
Date”); provided, however, if, during such period and prior to delivery of
such written notice of termination, all of the conditions to Seller’s
obligations to consummate the transaction have been satisfied such that the
Closing shall occur on or prior to December 31, 2007, Seller shall not have
a
right to terminate pursuant to Section 10.1(d)(i); or (ii) by Purchaser
or Seller, upon written notice to the other party, at any time after February
29, 2008, if the transactions contemplated hereby shall not have been
consummated on or before February 29, 2008 (the “Mutual Termination Date”
and, collectively with the Seller Termination Date, each a “Termination
Date”); provided that, that the terminating party shall not have breached
in
any material respect its obligations under this Agreement in any manner that
shall have proximately contributed to the failure to consummate the transactions
contemplated hereby by such date; and, provided further that the failure
of
either party to terminate this Agreement on the Termination Date shall in
no way
constitute a waiver of the termination right set forth in this Section
10.1(d);
(e) by
Purchaser if (i) the representations and warranties of Seller contained in
this Agreement shall not be true and correct, or (ii) Seller shall have
failed to perform in any obligation or to comply with any agreement or covenant
of Seller to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement, in
each
case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.2(a) or 6.2(b)
would not be satisfied, and, in the case of clause (i), such untruth or
incorrectness cannot be or has not been cured within thirty (30) days after
the
giving of written notice to Seller, and, in the case of clause (ii), such
failure cannot be or has not been cured within thirty (30) days after the
giving
of written notice to Seller; or
(f) by
Seller
if (i) the representations and warranties of Purchaser contained in this
Agreement shall not be true and correct, or (ii) Purchaser shall have
failed to perform any obligation or to comply with any agreement or covenant
of
Purchaser to be performed or complied with by it under this Agreement, in
each
case such that the conditions set forth in Sections 6.3(a) or 6.3(b)
would not be satisfied, and, in the case of clause (i), such untruth or
incorrectness cannot be or has not been cured within thirty (30) days after
the
giving of written notice to Purchaser, and, in the case of clause
(ii), such failure cannot be or has not been cured within thirty (30) days
after the giving of written notice to Purchaser.
10.2 Effect
of Termination. If
this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10.1, all
obligations of the Parties hereunder shall terminate, except for the obligations
set forth in Section 5.6 (Access; Confidentiality), 5.7
(Publicity) and 5.9 (Expenses), which shall survive the termination of
this Agreement, and except that no such termination shall relieve any party
from
liability for any prior material breach of this Agreement.
ARTICLE
XI
Miscellaneous
11.1 Notices. Any
notice or demand desired or required to be given hereunder shall be in writing
and deemed given when personally delivered, sent by telecopier (with confirmed
evidence of delivery), overnight courier or deposited in the mail, postage
prepaid, sent certified or registered, return receipt requested, and addressed
as set forth below or to such other address as any party shall have previously
designated by such a notice. Any notice so delivered personally or by telecopy
shall be deemed to be received on the date of delivery or transmission by
telecopier; any notice so sent by overnight courier shall be deemed to be
received one (1) Business Day after the date sent; and any notice so mailed
shall be deemed to be received on the date shown on the
receipt. Rejection or other refusal to accept or inability to deliver
because of a change of address of which no notice was given shall be deemed
to
be receipt of the notice.
If
to
Seller or, prior to the Closing, the Company:
Beam
Global Spirits & Wine,
Inc.
510
Lake Cook Road
Deerfield,
IL 60015
Attention: President
& CEO
Fax:
(847) 948-8610
Email:
thomas.flocco@beamglobal.com
Copy
to:
Pillsbury
Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
50
Fremont Street
San
Francisco, CA 94105
Attention: Ronald
E. Bornstein, Esq.
Fax: (415) 983-1200
Email:
ronald.bornstein@pillsburylaw.com
If
to
Purchaser, or following the Closing, the Company:
Constellation
Brands, Inc.
370
Woodcliff Drive, Suite
300
Fairport,
New York 14450
Attention:
General Counsel
Fax: (585)
218-3904
Copy
to:
Nixon
Peabody LLP
1300
Clinton Square
Rochester,
New
York 14604
Attention:
James A. Locke III,
Esq.
Fax: (585)
263-1600
11.2 Company
Disclosure Schedules. Neither
the specification of any dollar amount or any item or matter in any provision
of
this Agreement nor the inclusion of any specific item or matter in any Company
Disclosure Schedule hereto is intended to imply that such amount, or higher
or
lower amounts, or the item or matter so specified or included, or other items
or
matters, are or are not material, and no party shall use the fact of the
specification of any such amount or the specification or inclusion of any
such
item or matter in any dispute or controversy between the parties as to whether
any item or matter is or is not material for purposes of this
Agreement. Neither the specification of any item or matter in any
provision of this Agreement nor the inclusion of any specific item or matter
in
any Company Disclosure Schedule hereto is intended to imply that such item
or
matter, or other items or matters, are or are not in the ordinary course
of
business, and no party shall use the fact of the specification or the inclusion
of any such item or matter in any dispute or controversy between the parties
as
to whether any item or matter is or is not in the ordinary course of business
for purposes of this Agreement.
11.3 Disclaimer
of Warranties. Neither
Seller nor any of its Affiliates make any representations or warranties with
respect to any projections, forecasts or forward-looking statements made
available to Purchaser or its Representatives. There is no assurance
that any projected or forecasted results will be achieved. Purchaser
acknowledges and agrees that it is not relying on any representations or
warranties, except for the representations and warranties contained in
Article III hereof. The Purchaser acknowledges and agrees that
neither Seller, the Company, their Affiliates, any of their respective
representatives nor any other Person has made any representation or warranty,
express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of any memoranda,
presentations, charts, summaries, schedules or other information heretofore
made
available by Seller, the Company, their Affiliates or their respective
Representatives to Purchaser, any of its Affiliates or their Representatives
(including the discussion materials dated September, 2007 and October, 2007)
or
any information that is not included in this Agreement or the Company Disclosure
Schedules hereto, and neither Seller, the Company, their Affiliates, any
of
their respective Representatives nor any other Person will have or be subject
to
any liability to Purchaser, any of its Affiliates or their Representatives
resulting from the distribution of any such information to, or the use of
any
such information by, Purchaser, any of its Affiliates or any of their
Representatives.
11.4 Assignment. No
party hereto may assign its rights or obligations hereunder without the other
party’s prior written consent; provided, however, that Purchaser
may (a) assign any or all of its rights, title, privileges, benefits, interests
and remedies hereunder to any one or more of its Affiliates; (b) designate
any
one or more of its Affiliates to perform its obligations hereunder (in any
or
all of which cases Purchaser nonetheless shall remain responsible for the
performance of all of its obligations hereunder); and (c) assign any or all
of
its rights, title, privileges, benefits, interests and remedies hereunder
to and
for the benefit of any lender to Purchaser, or the Acquired Companies for
the
purpose of providing collateral security. Subject to the foregoing,
this Agreement benefits and binds Seller and Purchaser and their respective
heirs, personal representatives, successors and assigns.
11.5 Entire
Agreement. This
Agreement, the Company Disclosure Schedules and Exhibits attached hereto,
and
the Confidentiality Agreement constitute the entire agreement between Seller
and
Purchaser and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings,
representations and warranties both written and oral, among the parties,
with
respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement shall not confer
any rights or remedies upon any Person other than the parties hereto and
their
respective successors and permitted assigns and, to the extent specified
herein,
their respective Affiliates, and no person shall be deemed a third party
beneficiary hereunder.
11.6 Specific
Performance. The
parties hereto agree and acknowledge that, in the event of a breach of any
provision of this Agreement, the aggrieved party may be without an adequate
remedy at law. The parties therefore agree that in the event of a
breach of any provision of this Agreement the aggrieved party may elect to
institute and prosecute proceedings in any court of competent jurisdiction
to
obtain specific performance or to enjoin the continuing breach of such
provision, as well as to obtain damages for breach of this Agreement and
to
obtain reasonable attorneys’ fees. By seeking or obtaining any such
relief, the aggrieved party will not be precluded from seeking or obtaining
any
other relief to which it may be entitled.
11.7 Governing
Law and Venue. This
Agreement shall be construed under and governed by the internal substantive
laws
of the State of New York without reference to choice of law
principles. Each of the parties irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction of the United States District Court for the Southern District
of
New York located in the borough of Manhattan in the City of New York, or
if such
court does not have jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York,
New York County, for the purposes of any suit, action or other proceeding
arising out of this Agreement or any transaction contemplated
hereby. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably and fully waives the
defense of an inconvenient forum to the maintenance of such suit, action
or
proceeding. Each of the parties further agrees that service of any
process, summons, notice or document to such party’s respective address listed
above in one of the manners set forth in Section 11.1 hereof shall be
deemed in every respect effective service of process in any such suit, action
or
proceeding. Nothing herein shall affect the right of any Person to
serve process in any other manner permitted by law. Each of the
parties hereto irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the
laying of venue of any action, suit or proceeding arising out of this Agreement
or the transactions contemplated hereby in the United States District Court
for
the Southern District of New York, or if such court does not have
jurisdiction, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, New York County,
and
hereby further irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead
or
claim in any such court that any such action, suit or proceeding brought
in any
such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
11.8 Waivers;
Amendment. No
waiver by any party of any provision hereof shall be deemed a waiver of any
other provision hereof or of any subsequent breach by any party of the same
or
any other provision. This Agreement may be amended only by a writing
executed by each of the Parties hereto.
11.9 Captions. The
captions and Article and Section numbers appearing in this Agreement are
inserted only as a matter of convenience and in no way define, limit, construe
or describe the scope or intent of such Articles or Sections of this Agreement
nor in any way affect this Agreement.
11.10 Severability. The
provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed severable and the invalidity
or
unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or
enforceability or the other provisions hereof. If any provision of
this Agreement, or the application thereof to any Person or any circumstance,
is
invalid or unenforceable, (a) a suitable and equitable provision shall be
substituted therefor in order to carry out, so far as may be valid and
enforceable, the intent and purpose of such invalid or unenforceable provision
and (b) the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such
provision to other Persons or circumstances shall not be affected by such
invalidity or unenforceability, nor shall such invalidity or unenforceability
affect the validity or enforceability of such provision, or the application
thereof, in any other jurisdiction.
11.11 Interpretation. The
table of contents and headings herein are for convenience of reference only,
do
not constitute part of this Agreement and shall not be deemed to limit or
otherwise affect any of the provisions hereof. Where a reference in
this Agreement is made to a Section, Company Disclosure Schedule or Exhibit,
such reference shall be to a Section of or Company Disclosure Schedule or
Exhibit to this Agreement unless otherwise indicated. Whenever the
words “include,” “includes” or “including” are used in this Agreement, they
shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
11.12 Time
of Essence. With
regard to all dates and time periods set forth or referred to in this Agreement,
time is of the essence.
11.13 Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in any number of counterparts, each
of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute
one and the same instrument.
[Signature
Page Follows]
IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the
day
and year first above written.
CONSTELLATION
BRANDS, INC.
By:
/s/ F. Paul Hetterich
Name:
F. Paul Hetterich
Title:
Executive Vice President, Business Development
|
BEAM
GLOBAL SPIRITS & WINE, INC.
By:
/s/ Christopher J. Klein
Name:
Christopher J. Klein
Title: Authorized
Signatory
|
The
Registrant has omitted from this filing the Annex, Exhibits and Schedule
listed
below. The Registrant will furnish supplementally to the Commission,
upon request, a copy of such Annex, Exhibit or Schedule.
Annex
A
|
Sample
Calculation of Net Working Capital
|
Exhibit
A
|
Terms
of Glass Contract
|
Exhibit
B
|
Transition
Services
|
The
Company Disclosure Schedule containing the following
Sections:
|
Section
3.5
|
Capitalization
|
Section
3.6
|
Subsidiaries
|
Section
3.7
|
Consents
& Approvals; No Violations
|
Section
3.8
|
Financial
Statements
|
Section
3.9
|
Undisclosed
Liabilities
|
Section
3.10
|
Absence
of Certain Developments
|
Section
3.11(a)
|
Liens
|
Section
3.11(b)(i)
|
Leased
Real Property
|
Section
3.11(b)(ii)
|
Owned
Real Property
|
Section
3.11(c)
|
Real
Property Rights, Options and Encumbrances
|
Section
3.11(e)
|
Real
Property Notices and Approvals
|
Section
3.11(i)
|
Affect
of Liens
|
Section
3.12
|
Contracts
|
Section
3.12(a)(i)
|
Aggregate
Payments in excess of $200,000 per annum
|
Section
3.12(a)(ii)
|
Grape
supply contracts
|
Section
3.12(a)(iii)
|
Contract
with Affiliate or shareholder, officer or director
|
Section
3.12(a)(iv)
|
Collective
bargaining agreement
|
Section
3.12(a)(v)
|
Contract
with bank or finance company for payment in excess of
$200,000
|
Section
3.12(a)(vi)
|
Contract
materially restricting engagement in business
|
Section
3.12(a)(vii)
|
Consultant
or employment agreements
|
Section
3.12(a)(viii)
|
Joint
venture or partnership agreements
|
Section
3.12(a)(ix)
|
Agreement
granting Lien
|
Section
3.12(a)(x)
|
Any
agreements with a distributor or wholesaler
|
Section
3.12(a)(xi)
|
Intellectual
Property Agreements
|
Section
3.13
|
Ten
Largest Suppliers
|
Section
3.16
|
Inventory
|
Section
3.17
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Section
3.17(a)
|
Ownership
|
Section
3.17(b)
|
Validity
|
Section
3.17(c)
|
No
Third Party Infringers
|
Section
3.17(d)
|
No
Restrictions
|
Section
3.18
|
Insurance
|
Section
3.19
|
Employees;
Labor
|
Section
3.20
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
Section
3.20(a)
|
Existing
Employee Benefit Plans
|
Section
3.20(c)
|
Employee
Benefit Plan Liabilities
|
Section
3.20(d)
|
Affect
on Employee Arrangements and Benefit Plans
|
Section
3.20(h)
|
Specified
Employees under Section 409A
|
Section
3.21
|
Litigation
|
Section
3.22
|
Compliance
with Laws, Permits
|
Section
3.23
|
Taxes
|
Section
3.24
|
Environmental
Matters
|
Section
3.25
|
Bank
Accounts
|
Section
3.27
|
Transactions
with Related Parties
|
Section
5.2
|
Prohibited
Actions
|
Section
5.8(a)
|
Company
Employees
|
Section
5.8(g)
|
Participation
in Seller-Sponsored Benefit Plans
|
Section
5.8(h)
|
Obligations
Related to Long-Term Incentive
Plans
|