EXHIBIT 2.1
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
by and among
EQUIFAX INC.,
SPRINGBANK ACQUISITION CORPORATION,
IXI CORPORATION
and
CORE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.,
as Securityholders Representative
dated as of
October 20, 2009
KILPATRICK STOCKTON LLP
1100 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
ARTICLE
I.
|
CERTAIN
DEFINITIONS; INDEX OF DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION
|
2
|
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Section 1.1
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Certain
Definitions
|
2
|
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Section 1.2
|
Index
to Definitions
|
6
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Section 1.3
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Interpretation
|
11
|
|
|
|
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ARTICLE
II.
|
THE
MERGER CONSIDERATION; THE MERGER
|
11
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Section 2.1
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The
Merger Consideration
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11
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Section 2.2
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The
Merger
|
11
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Section 2.3
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The
Effective Time
|
11
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Section 2.4
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Effect
of the Merger
|
12
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|
|
|
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ARTICLE
III.
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THE
SURVIVING CORPORATION
|
12
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Section 3.1
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Certificate
|
12
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Section 3.2
|
Bylaws
|
12
|
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Section 3.3
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Board
of Directors
|
12
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Section 3.4
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Officers
|
12
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|
|
|
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ARTICLE
IV.
|
CONVERSION
OF COMPANY SHARES; COMPANY OPTIONS
|
12
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Section 4.1
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Conversion
of Company Shares
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12
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Section 4.2
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Conversion
of Merger Sub Shares
|
13
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|
Section 4.3
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Company
Options and Company Warrants
|
13
|
|
Section 4.4
|
Preliminary
Allocation of Consideration
|
15
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|
Section 4.5
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
15
|
|
Section 4.6
|
Exchange
of Certificates
|
15
|
|
Section 4.7
|
Securityholders
Representative
|
18
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|
Section 4.8
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Escrow
Arrangement
|
19
|
|
Section 4.9
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No
Further Rights
|
20
|
|
Section 4.10
|
Closing
of Transfer Books
|
20
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|
Section 4.11
|
Further
Action
|
20
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|
Section 4.12
|
Taxes
|
20
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|
|
|
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ARTICLE
V.
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CLOSING;
DELIVERIES
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20
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Section 5.1
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Closing
|
20
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Section 5.2
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Transactions
and Documents at Closing
|
21
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Section 5.3
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Additional
Action
|
22
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|
|
|
|
ARTICLE
VI.
|
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
|
22
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Section 6.1
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Organization;
Qualifications; Corporate Power
|
23
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Section 6.2
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Authorization
|
23
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Section 6.3
|
Subsidiaries
and Affiliates
|
23
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|
Section 6.4
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Ownership
of Capital Stock
|
24
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|
Section 6.5
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No
Conflicts
|
25
|
|
Section 6.6
|
No
Consent or Approval Required
|
25
|
|
Section 6.7
|
Financial
Statements; No SEC Filings
|
25
|
i
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Section 6.8
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Absence
of Changes
|
26
|
|
Section 6.9
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Absence
of Undisclosed Liabilities
|
27
|
|
Section 6.10
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Contracts
and Commitments
|
27
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|
Section 6.11
|
Protection
of Intellectual Property
|
28
|
|
Section 6.12
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Compliance;
Licenses and Permits
|
29
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|
Section 6.13
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Litigation
and Other Proceedings
|
30
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|
Section 6.14
|
Insurance
|
30
|
|
Section 6.15
|
Title
to Assets and Properties
|
31
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Section 6.16
|
Receivables
|
31
|
|
Section 6.17
|
Real
Property
|
31
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|
Section 6.18
|
Labor
Matters
|
31
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|
Section 6.19
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Tax
Matters
|
32
|
|
Section 6.20
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Environmental
Laws
|
34
|
|
Section 6.21
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Employee
Benefit Plans; ERISA
|
34
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Section 6.22
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Employment;
No Conflicting Agreements
|
36
|
|
Section 6.23
|
Transactions
with Related Parties
|
36
|
|
Section 6.24
|
Absence
of Certain Business Practices
|
36
|
|
Section 6.25
|
Customers
and Suppliers
|
37
|
|
Section 6.26
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Bank
Accounts
|
37
|
|
Section 6.27
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Books
and Records
|
37
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|
Section 6.28
|
Directors
and Executive Officers
|
37
|
|
Section 6.29
|
Takeover
Statutes and Charter Provisions
|
37
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|
Section 6.30
|
Brokers;
No Existing Discussions
|
37
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|
|
|
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ARTICLE
VII.
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INTENTIONALLY
OMITTED
|
37
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|
|
|
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ARTICLE
VIII.
|
REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF EFX AND MERGER SUB
|
37
|
|
Section 8.1
|
Organization
|
38
|
|
Section 8.2
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Authorization;
No Inconsistent Agreements
|
38
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Section 8.3
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Brokers
|
38
|
|
Section 8.4
|
Consents
|
38
|
|
Section 8.5
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No
Litigation
|
38
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|
|
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ARTICLE
IX.
|
COVENANTS
RELATING TO CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CLOSING
|
38
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Section 9.1
|
Conduct
of Business Pending Closing
|
38
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Section 9.2
|
No
Solicitation of Third Party Interest
|
41
|
|
|
|
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ARTICLE
X.
|
ADDITIONAL
COVENANTS
|
41
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Section 10.1
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Access
and Inspection
|
41
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Section 10.2
|
Cooperation
|
41
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|
Section 10.3
|
Expenses
|
42
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|
Section 10.4
|
Publicity
|
42
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|
Section 10.5
|
Stockholder
Approval
|
42
|
|
Section 10.6
|
Certain
Governmental Filings
|
43
|
|
Section 10.7
|
State
Takeover Laws
|
43
|
ii
|
Section 10.8
|
Employees
|
43
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|
Section 10.9
|
Directors
and Officers Insurance
|
45
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|
Section 10.10
|
Company
Updates
|
45
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|
Section 10.11
|
Additional
Covenants
|
45
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|
|
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ARTICLE
XI.
|
CONDITIONS
PRECEDENT TO CLOSING
|
45
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Section 11.1
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Conditions
to Obligations of EFX and Merger Sub to Close
|
45
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Section 11.2
|
Conditions
to Obligations of Company to Close
|
48
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|
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ARTICLE
XII.
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
49
|
|
Section 12.1
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Indemnification
Obligations
|
49
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Section 12.2
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Indemnification
Claims; Payment
|
50
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Section 12.3
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Defense
of Claims
|
51
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Section 12.4
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Limitation
on Liability
|
53
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|
Section 12.5
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Threshold
|
53
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Section 12.6
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No
Contribution by the Surviving Corporation
|
53
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|
Section 12.7
|
Exclusive
Remedy
|
53
|
|
Section 12.8
|
Adjustments
to Merger Consideration
|
53
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|
Section 12.9
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Certain
Claims Excluded
|
53
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|
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ARTICLE
XIII.
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SURVIVAL
|
54
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Section 13.1
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Survival
|
54
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|
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ARTICLE
XIV.
|
TERMINATION
|
54
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Section 14.1
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Termination
for Certain Causes
|
54
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Section 14.2
|
Procedure
on and Effect of Termination
|
55
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|
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ARTICLE
XV.
|
MISCELLANEOUS
|
55
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|
Section 15.1
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Notices
|
55
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Section 15.2
|
Counterparts
|
57
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|
Section 15.3
|
Entire
Agreement
|
57
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|
Section 15.4
|
Dispute
Resolution
|
57
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|
Section 15.5
|
Successors
and Assigns
|
58
|
|
Section 15.6
|
Partial
Invalidity and Severability
|
58
|
|
Section 15.7
|
Amendment;
Waiver
|
59
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|
Section 15.8
|
Consent
to Future Representation
|
59
|
|
Section 15.9
|
Governing
Law
|
59
|
|
Section 15.10
|
Time
of Performance
|
59
|
|
Section 15.11
|
No Third Party Beneficiaries
|
59
|
iii
LIST OF EXHIBITS, SCHEDULES AND APPENDICES
Exhibit
|
|
Document
|
A
|
|
Certificate
of Merger
|
B
|
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Preliminary
Allocation Schedule
|
C
|
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Exchange
Agreement
|
D
|
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Letter
of Transmittal
|
E
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
F
|
|
Securityholders
Escrow Agreement
|
G-1
|
|
Offer
Letter
|
G-2
|
|
Non-Compete
Agreement
|
H
|
|
Cooley
Godward Kronish LLP Legal Opinion
|
I
|
|
Additional
Covenants
|
|
|
|
Schedule
|
|
Description
|
Schedule 1.1-LC
|
|
Letter
of Credit
|
Schedule 4.3(a)
|
|
Options
and Warrants
|
Schedule 5.2(a)(i)(D)
|
|
Offer
Letter and Non-Compete Agreement
|
Schedule
9.1(b)(xiii)
|
|
Company
Employee Bonuses
|
Schedule 10.8(a)
|
|
Continuing
Employee Benefit Plans
|
Schedule 10.8(c)(ii)
|
|
Severance
Agreements
|
Schedule 11.1(f)
|
|
Government
Consents
|
Schedule 11.1(g)
|
|
Consents
|
Appendix A
|
|
Exercise
Price
|
|
|
|
Disclosure Schedules
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule
|
|
Description
|
Schedule 6.1
|
|
Qualified
Jurisdictions of Company Operation
|
Schedule 6.4
|
|
Stock
Classification and Ownership
|
Schedule 6.5
|
|
Conflicts
|
Schedule 6.6
|
|
Required
Consents
|
Schedule 6.7(a)
|
|
Audited
Financial Statements
|
Schedule 6.7(b)
|
|
Exceptions
to Audited Financial Statements
|
Disclosure Schedules
|
|
|
|
|
|
Schedule
|
|
Description
|
Schedule 6.7(c)
|
|
Unaudited
Financial Statements
|
Schedule 6.7(d)
|
|
Exceptions
to Unaudited Financial Statements
|
Schedule 6.8
|
|
Changes
in Business
|
Schedule 6.9
|
|
Disclosed
Liabilities
|
Schedule 6.10(a)
|
|
Company
Contracts
|
Schedule 6.10(b)
|
|
Default
of Company Contracts
|
Schedule 6.11
|
|
Company
Intellectual Property
|
Schedule 6.11(c)
|
|
Company
Infringing Contracts
|
Schedule 6.11(d)
|
|
Royalties
and Fees
|
Schedule 6.12(a)
|
|
Company
Licenses and Permits
|
Schedule 6.12 (b)
|
|
Customer
Privacy Policies
|
Schedule 6.14
|
|
Company
Insurance Policies and Claims
|
Schedule 6.15
|
|
Permitted
Liens
|
Schedule 6.17
|
|
Default
of Real Property Leases
|
Schedule 6.18(a)
|
|
Company
Employees
|
Schedule 6.18(a)(1)
|
|
Company
Employment Agreements
|
Schedule 6.18(b)
|
|
Company
Employee Compensation Matters
|
Schedule 6.18(c)
|
|
Company
Employment Policies and Procedures
|
Schedule 6.19(d)
|
|
Additional
Taxes
|
Schedule 6.21
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
Schedule 6.21(d)
|
|
Changes
in Compensation or Benefits
|
Schedule 6.21(e)
|
|
Changes
in Employee Benefit Plans
|
Schedule 6.23
|
|
Related
Party Transactions
|
Schedule 6.25
|
|
Changes
in Customers and Suppliers
|
Schedule 6.26
|
|
Bank
Accounts
|
Schedule 6.27
|
|
Sufficiency
of Internal Accounting Controls
|
Schedule 6.28
|
|
Directors
and Officers
|
Schedule 6.30
|
|
Brokers
|
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
THIS AGREEMENT is made and entered into as
of the 20th day of October, 2009, by and among:
(1) EQUIFAX INC.,
a Georgia corporation (EFX);
(2) SPRINGBANK ACQUISITION
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of
EFX (Merger Sub);
(3) IXI CORPORATION,
a Delaware corporation (Company);
and
(4) CORE CAPITAL PARTNERS,
L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (REP), as the Securityholders Representative.
W I T N E S S E T H:
WHEREAS, EFX, Merger Sub and Company intend to effect the
merger of Merger Sub with and into Company (the Merger; other capitalized terms used in this Agreement
being defined either in Section 1.1
or in those paragraphs of this Agreement identified in Section 1.2) in accordance with the
Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL)
and on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, and
upon consummation of the Merger, Merger Sub will cease to exist and Company
shall be the Surviving Corporation to the Merger and shall become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of EFX;
WHEREAS, the Board of Directors of Company has unanimously (i) determined
that the Merger is fair to, advisable, and in the best interests of Company and
its stockholders, (ii) approved this Agreement, the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated hereby, and (iii) resolved to recommend to the
stockholders of Company that they approve and adopt this Agreement, the Merger
and the other transactions contemplated hereby;
WHEREAS, certain Stockholders are expected to execute and
deliver a Support Agreement (such expected Support Agreements being referred to
herein collectively as the Stockholder Support
Agreements), pursuant to which each of them would agree to vote
his, her or its shares of Common Stock in favor of the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and to approve this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, REP has approved this Agreement, the Merger and
the other transactions contemplated hereby.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the premises and
the mutual covenants and agreements contained in this Agreement, and other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, and intending to be legally bound hereby, the parties agree as
follows:
ARTICLE
I. CERTAIN DEFINITIONS;
INDEX OF DEFINITIONS; INTERPRETATION
Section 1.1 Certain Definitions. For purposes of this Agreement, the following
capitalized terms have the meanings specified below (all terms used in this
Agreement which are not defined in this Section 1.1
but defined elsewhere in this Agreement, have for purposes of this Agreement
the meanings set forth elsewhere in this Agreement):
Action means any action, suit,
complaint, counter-claim, claim, petition, proceeding, investigation or
administrative proceeding, whether at law, in equity or otherwise, and whether
conducted by or before any Government or other Forum.
Advanced Exercise Price means, in
respect of any Company Option or Company Warrant, as applicable, the exercise
or strike price advanced or deemed advanced to or for the holder thereof by
Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
Additional Agreements shall mean,
collectively, the Exchange Agreement, the Escrow Agreement and the Employment
Documents.
Affiliate of any Person means any
other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct
or indirect common control with the former Person. A Person will be deemed to control another
Person if that Person possesses, directly or indirectly, the power to direct or
cause the direction of the management and policies of the other Person, whether
through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.
Business means all of the businesses
as presently conducted by Company as of the date of this Agreement.
Business Day means any day other than
a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which commercial banks in Atlanta, Georgia are
required or authorized to be closed.
Bylaws means the Bylaws of Company, as
in effect as of the date hereof.
Capital Lease means, with respect to
any Person, any lease of any property (whether real, personal or mixed) by such
Person as lessee that, in accordance with GAAP, would be required to be
classified and accounted for as a capital lease on a balance sheet of such
Person.
Capital Lease Obligation shall mean,
with respect to any Capital Lease of any Person, the amount of the obligation
of the lessee thereunder that, in accordance with GAAP, would appear on a
balance sheet of such lessee in respect of such Capital Lease.
Certificate of Incorporation means the
Fifth Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Company as filed
with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on January 19, 2005.
Code means the United States Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Common Stock means shares of Companys
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share.
2
Company Option means each unexpired
and unexercised option to acquire Common Stock issued or granted pursuant to
the Option Plan or the ISO Plan, whether vested or unvested at the date of this
Agreement, or issued or granted subsequently to the date hereof but prior to
the Effective Time.
Company Shares means the Common Stock.
Company
Warrant means each unexpired and unexercised warrant to acquire
Common Stock issued or granted to any Person, whether vested or unvested at the
date of this Agreement, or issued or granted subsequently to the date hereof
but prior to the Effective Time.
Data means the
dollar value of assets covered by all account records reported to the Companys
Retail Assets Database.
Excess
Cash means the sum of $10,700,000.
Exchange Fund Amount means an amount
equal to the sum of $124,000,000 plus Excess Cash, and plus the Exercise Price
Proceeds.
Executive Officers means the Companys
Chief Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary.
Exercise Price means the exercise or
strike price in respect of each Company Option or Company Warrant as set forth
on Appendix A.
Exercise Price Proceeds means the
exercise or aggregate strike price in respect of all Company Options (treating
all unvested Company Options as fully vested) and Company Warrants, in each
instance to the extent exercised by the Optionholder or Warrantholder, as
applicable, or as exercised by operation of the provisions of Section 4.3(a) of this Agreement in respect of
Company Options and Company Warrants that had not been exercised by the
Optionholder or Warrantholder, as applicable, immediately prior to the
Effective Time.
Forum means any national, provincial,
municipal, local or foreign court, governmental agency, administrative body or
agency, tribunal, private alternative dispute resolution system, or arbitration
panel.
Funded Indebtedness means, without
duplication, (a) any outstanding liability of Company created or assumed
by Company (i) for borrowed money or for the deferred purchase price of
property other than ordinary course trade credit on not more than thirty (30)
day payment terms, (ii) for reimbursement and other obligations with
respect to letters of credit, other than the letter of credit listed on Schedule 1.1-LC, bankers acceptances and surety bonds,
whether or not matured, (iii) evidenced by a note, bond, debenture or
similar instrument, and (iv) for any Capital Lease Obligation; (b) any
outstanding liability or indebtedness of any other Person described in the
preceding clause (a) guaranteed as to payment of principal or interest by
Company or in effect guaranteed by Company through an agreement, contingent or
otherwise, to purchase, repurchase or pay the related indebtedness or to
acquire the security therefor; and (c) all outstanding indebtedness or
obligations referred to above secured by (or for which the holder of such
indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise, to be secured by)
any Lien
3
upon
or in property or other assets (including accounts and contract rights) owned
by Company, even though such Person has not assumed or become liable for the
payment of such indebtedness.
GAAP means United States generally
accepted accounting principles, consistently applied, as in effect at the time
in question.
Government means any national,
provincial, state, municipal, local or foreign government or any ministry,
department, commission, board, bureau, agency, authority, instrumentality, unit,
or taxing authority thereof.
ISO Plan shall mean Companys
Incentive Stock Option Plan adopted on February 26, 1996.
Knowledge of Company or Companys Knowledge means any fact,
circumstance, event or other matter that (a) any of Thomas E. Dailey,
Stephen M. Bayne and Erik Channell actually knows, or (b) any of the
individuals referred to in the preceding clause (a) would reasonably be
expected to know in the normal discharge of his assigned duties and
responsibilities.
Law means all national, provincial,
state, municipal, local or foreign constitutions, statutes, rules, regulations,
ordinances, acts, codes, legislation, treaties, conventions, common law
principles, and similar laws and legal requirements, as in effect at the time
in question.
Liability means, as to any Person, all
debts, claims, liabilities, commitments, responsibilities, loss contingencies
and obligations of any kind or nature whatsoever, direct, indirect, absolute or
contingent, of or against such Person, whether accrued or unaccrued, joint or
several, vested or unvested, disputed or undisputed, liquidated or
unliquidated, secured or unsecured, due or to become due, known or unknown,
executory, determined, determinable or otherwise and whether or not actually
reflected, or required to be reflected, in such Persons balance sheets or
other books and records.
Lien means any claim, mortgage,
pledge, hypothecation, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any
kind, or any rights of others, however evidenced, created or arising (including
any agreement to give any of the foregoing, any conditional sale or other title
retention agreement, or any lease having a similar effect or result).
LOI means that certain Letter of
Intent, dated September 1, 2009 among EFX and the Company, as may be
amended from time to time.
Material Adverse Change means any
event, change, effect or occurrence that, individually or together with any
other event, change, effect or occurrence, (a) is, or could reasonably be
expected to be, materially adverse to the business, assets, properties,
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations
(contingent or otherwise) of the Business or Company or (b) could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Business
immediately after the Effective Time, in any case other than a change resulting
from (I) changes in general political or economic conditions (provided
that such changes do not affect the Business or Company in a materially
disproportionate manner), (II) changes affecting
4
the
industry generally in which the Company operates (provided that such changes do
not affect the Company in a materially disproportionate manner), (III) the
public announcement or pendency of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, (IV) the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or compliance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, (V) changes
in Law or GAAP after the date hereof (provided that any such changes in Law do
not affect the Business or Company in a materially disproportionate manner), or
(VI) any matter set forth in the Disclosure Schedules. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no anticipated
loss of revenue and/or anticipated loss of Data shall constitute or trigger a
Material Adverse Change (such matters instead being the subject of Section 11.1(o)).
Net Participation Amount means the
Merger Consideration less the (i) Funded Indebtedness, (ii) Transaction
Expenses, (iii) the Escrowed Amount, and (iv) Securityholders
Representative Fund Escrowed Amount.
Option Plan shall mean Companys 2004
Equity Incentive Plan, as amended and restated on July 14, 2004 and as
further amended and restated on June 11, 2008.
Orders means all orders, writs,
injunctions, judgments, decrees, rulings and awards of any Forum or Government.
Outstanding Company Shares means the
aggregate number of (i) Company Shares outstanding immediately prior to
the Effective Time, (ii) Common Stock subject to Company Options to the
extent not exercised by the Optionholder or on behalf of Optionholder in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the Effective
Time, and (iii) Common Stock subject to Company Warrants to the extent not
exercised by the Warrantholder or on behalf of Warrantholder in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement immediately prior to the Effective Time, but in
each case before cancellation thereof by operation of the provisions of the
Merger.
Permitted Liens means (i) statutory
Liens for Taxes not yet due; (ii) Liens of carriers, warehousemen,
mechanics and materialmen incurred in the ordinary course of business for sums
not yet due; (iii) Liens incurred or deposits made in the ordinary course
of business in connection with workers compensation, unemployment insurance
and other types of social security; (iv) deposits or pledges of cash to
secure bids, tenders, contracts, leases, statutory obligations, surety and
appeal bonds, utility deposits and other obligations of like nature arising in
the ordinary course of business; (v) mechanics, workers, landlords,
materialmens or other like Liens arising in the ordinary course of business
with respect to obligations which are not due or which are being contested in
good faith, none of which is material; and (vi) Liens set forth on Schedule
6.15.
Per Share Escrow Amount means the
quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Escrow Fund by (b) the
Outstanding Company Shares.
Per Share Excess Cash Amount means the
quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Excess Cash by (b) the
Outstanding Company Shares.
Per Share Exercise Price Proceeds Amount
means the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Exercise Price Proceeds by
(b) the Outstanding Company Shares.
5
Per Share Net Participation Amount
means the quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Net Participation Amount
by (b) the Outstanding Company Shares.
Per Share
Securityholders Representative Fund Escrow Amount means the
quotient obtained by dividing (a) the Securityholders Representative Fund
Escrowed Amount by (b) the Outstanding Company Shares.
Person means an individual, a
partnership, a joint venture, a corporation, a limited liability company, a
trust, an unincorporated organization, any legal or juridical entity, the
equivalent of any of the foregoing under any Law and any Government.
Representative of a party means that
partys directors, officers, employees, agents, accountants, lawyers,
investment bankers, and other financial or professional advisors or
consultants.
Securities Act means the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended.
Stockholders means the holders of
Company Shares immediately prior to the Closing.
Tax or Taxes means any past or present taxes, levies, imposts,
duties, fees, deficiencies, customs, assessments, deductions, withholdings or
other charges or similar assessments or liabilities in the nature of a tax,
including income, gross receipts, ad valorem, premium, value-added, excise,
severance, stamp, occupation, windfall profits, real property, personal
property, sales, use, transfer, transfer gains, withholding, employment,
unemployment, insurance, social security, business license, business
organization, environmental, workers compensation, payroll, profits, license,
lease, service, service use, and franchise taxes, now or hereafter imposed or
levied by any state, local or foreign Government or by any department, agency
or other political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and all
interests, fines, penalties, assessments, additions to tax, and other similar
liabilities resulting from, attributable to, or incurred in connection with any
items described in this paragraph or any contest or dispute thereof, and any
items described in this paragraph that are attributable to another person but
that Company is liable to pay by law, by contract, or otherwise.
Withholding Taxes means any income tax
or similar Taxes and the employees share of social security and Medicare Taxes
required to be withheld by EFX or Company with respect to any amounts payable
to current and former employees of Company hereunder. For the avoidance of doubt, Withholding Taxes
shall not include the employers share of social security, Medicare,
unemployment or similar employer payroll Taxes.
Section 1.2 Index
to Definitions. The
definitions for the following defined terms used in this Agreement can be found
as follows:
Defined Term
|
|
Section or Reference
|
|
|
|
Acquisition
Proposal
|
|
9.2
|
6
Affiliated
Persons
|
|
6.23
|
|
|
|
Agreed
Amount
|
|
12.2(a)(ii)
|
|
|
|
Arbitral
Body
|
|
15.4(c)
|
|
|
|
Audited
Financial Statements
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
Company
Auditor
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
Claim
Notice
|
|
12.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Claimed
Amount
|
|
12.2(a)
|
|
|
|
Closing
|
|
5.1
|
|
|
|
Closing
Date
|
|
5.1
|
|
|
|
Company
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Company
Intellectual Property Rights
|
|
6.11(a)
|
|
|
|
Company
Option Consideration
|
|
4.3(a)
|
|
|
|
Company
Warrant Consideration
|
|
4.3(a)
|
|
|
|
Consenting
Parties
|
|
15.8
|
|
|
|
Continued
Employee
|
|
10.8(b)
|
|
|
|
Continuing Employee Benefit Plans
|
|
10.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Contracts
|
|
6.10
|
|
|
|
Cooley
|
|
15.8
|
|
|
|
DGCL
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
Disclosure
Schedules
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
Dispute
Notice
|
|
4.7(c)
|
|
|
|
Disputed
Amount
|
|
12.2(a)(ii)
|
|
|
|
Disputed
Matter
|
|
15.4(a)
|
|
|
|
Disputes
|
|
15.8
|
|
|
|
Dissenting
Shares
|
|
4.5
|
7
Dissenting
Stockholders
|
|
4.5
|
|
|
|
Effective
Time
|
|
2.3
|
|
|
|
EFX
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
EFX
Indemnified Losses
|
|
12.1(a)
|
|
|
|
EFX
Indemnitee
|
|
12.1(a)
|
|
|
|
EFX
Indemnitor
|
|
12.1(b)
|
|
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plans
|
|
6.21(a)
|
|
|
|
Employment
Documents
|
|
5.2(a)(i)(D)
|
|
|
|
Environmental
Laws
|
|
6.20
|
|
|
|
Equifax 401(k) Plan
|
|
10.8(b)(i)
|
|
|
|
ERISA
|
|
6.21(a)
|
|
|
|
ERISA
Affiliate
|
|
6.21(c)
|
|
|
|
ERISA
Plans
|
|
6.21(a)
|
|
|
|
Escrow
Agent
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Escrow
Fund
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Escrowed
Amount
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Exchange
Agent
|
|
4.6(a)
|
|
|
|
Exchange
Agreement
|
|
4.6(a)
|
|
|
|
Exchange
Fund
|
|
4.6(a)
|
|
|
|
Final
Allocation Schedule
|
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
Financial
Statements
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
Funded
Indebtedness Certificate
|
|
11.1(l)
|
|
|
|
HSR
Filing
|
|
6.6
|
|
|
|
Indemnified
Losses
|
|
12.1(b)
|
8
Indemnitees
|
|
12.1(b)
|
|
|
|
Indemnitors
|
|
12.1(b)
|
|
|
|
Intellectual
Property Rights
|
|
6.11(a)
|
|
|
|
Interim
Financial Statements
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
Investment
|
|
6.3
|
|
|
|
June Edition
|
|
11.1(o)
|
|
|
|
Letter
of Transmittal
|
|
4.6(b)
|
|
|
|
Merger
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
Merger
Consideration
|
|
2.1
|
|
|
|
Merger
Sub
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Most
Recent Balance Sheet
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
Most
Recent Balance Sheet Date
|
|
6.7
|
|
|
|
Non-Compete
Agreement
|
|
5.2(a)(i)(D)
|
|
|
|
Offer
Letter
|
|
5.2(a)(i)(D)
|
|
|
|
Open
Source Software
|
|
6.11(f)
|
|
|
|
Optionholders
|
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
Options
|
|
6.4(b)
|
|
|
|
Pension
Benefit Plans
|
|
6.21(c)
|
|
|
|
Preliminary
Allocation Schedule
|
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
Proprietary
Technology
|
|
6.11(a)
|
|
|
|
Real
Property
|
|
6.17
|
|
|
|
Real
Property Lease
|
|
6.17
|
|
|
|
REP
|
|
Preamble
|
|
|
|
Requisite
Stockholder Approval
|
|
10.5
|
|
|
|
Response
|
|
12.2(a)(ii)
|
9
Returns
|
|
6.19(a)
|
|
|
|
Rules
|
|
15.4(c)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
|
|
4.6(a)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Agreed Amount
|
|
12.2(b)(ii)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Claim Notice
|
|
12.2(b)(i)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Claimed Amount
|
|
12.2(b)(i)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Escrow Agreement
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Disputed Amount
|
|
12.2(b)(ii)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Representative
|
|
4.7(a)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Representative Fund
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Securityholders
Representative Fund Escrowed Amount
|
|
4.8(a)
|
|
|
|
Seller
Indemnified Losses
|
|
12.1(b)
|
|
|
|
Seller
Indemnitee
|
|
12.1(b)
|
|
|
|
Seller
Indemnitor
|
|
12.1(a)
|
|
|
|
Stockholder
Certificates
|
|
4.6(a)
|
|
|
|
Stockholder
Support Agreements
|
|
Recitals
|
|
|
|
Survival
Period
|
|
13.1
|
|
|
|
Surviving
Corporation
|
|
2.2
|
|
|
|
Termination
Date
|
|
9.2
|
|
|
|
Transaction
Expenses
|
|
10.3
|
|
|
|
Transaction
Expenses Certificate
|
|
11.1(k)
|
|
|
|
Update
|
|
10.10(a)
|
|
|
|
Warrantholders
|
|
4.4
|
|
|
|
Warrants
|
|
6.4(b)
|
10
Section 1.3 Interpretation. In interpreting this Agreement, the following
rules of construction shall apply:
(a) The headings of particular
provisions of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and will not be
construed as a part of this Agreement or serve as a limitation or expansion on
the scope of any term or provision of this Agreement.
(b) Where the context requires,
the use of the singular form in this Agreement will include the plural, the use
of the plural will include the singular, and the use of any gender will include
any and all genders.
(c) The word including (and,
with correlative meaning, the word include) means that the generality of any
description preceding such word is not limited, and the words shall and will
are used interchangeably and have the same meaning.
(d) References in this Agreement
to Appendices, Articles, Sections, or Exhibits shall be to Appendices,
Articles, Sections or Exhibits of or to this Agreement unless otherwise
specifically provided.
(e) References to any agreement
or contract are to such agreement or contract as amended, modified or
supplemented from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and thereof.
(f) References to any statute
and related regulation shall include any amendments of the same and any
successor statutes and regulations.
(g) References to any Person
include the successors and permitted assigns of such Person.
(h) References from or through
any date mean, unless otherwise specified, from and including or through and
including, respectively.
(i) Unless otherwise specified
in this Agreement, all accounting terms used in this Agreement shall be
interpreted in accordance with GAAP.
ARTICLE
II. THE MERGER
CONSIDERATION; THE MERGER
Section 2.1 The Merger Consideration. Subject to adjustment and reduction as set
forth herein, the aggregate consideration to be delivered by EFX to or for the
benefit of the Stockholders, the Optionholders and the Warrantholders in
connection with the Merger shall be the sum of $124,000,000 (the Merger Consideration).
Section 2.2 The Merger. At the Effective Time, upon and subject to
the terms and conditions of this Agreement and in accordance with Section 251
of the DGCL, Merger Sub shall be merged with and into Company, the separate
corporate existence of Merger Sub shall cease, and Company shall continue as
the surviving corporation and the Surviving Corporation shall be a wholly-owned
subsidiary of EFX. Company as the
surviving corporation after the Merger is sometimes referred to in this
Agreement as the Surviving Corporation.
Section 2.3 The Effective Time. The Merger shall become effective at such
time as Company and Merger Sub file the Certificate of Merger in substantially
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A
in accordance with Section 251 of the DGCL with the Secretary of State of
the
11
State of Delaware, or such later time as
Company and Merger Sub shall specify in the Certificate of Merger (the Effective Time).
Section 2.4 Effect of the Merger. At the Effective Time, the effect of the
Merger shall be as provided in this Agreement, the Certificate of Merger and Section 251
of the DGCL. Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, at the Effective Time, all
rights, privileges, immunities, franchises and powers of Company and Merger Sub
shall vest in Surviving Corporation, and all duties, liabilities, debts and
obligations of Company and Merger Sub shall become the duties, liabilities,
debts and obligations of the Surviving Corporation.
ARTICLE
III. THE SURVIVING
CORPORATION
Section 3.1 Certificate. The Certificate of Incorporation of Merger
Sub as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation immediately following
the Effective Time, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law
and the certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Surviving Corporation.
Section 3.2 Bylaws. The bylaws of Merger Sub as in effect
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation, until thereafter amended in accordance with applicable Law, the
certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation, and such bylaws.
Section 3.3 Board of Directors. The directors of Merger Sub immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the initial board of directors of the Surviving
Corporation, each of such directors to serve until his or her successor is duly
elected and qualified.
Section 3.4 Officers. The officers of Merger Sub immediately prior
to the Effective Time shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation, in
their respective positions as with Merger Sub, each of such officers to serve
until the earlier of their resignation, removal or until their respective
successors are duly elected or appointed and qualified in accordance with
applicable Law.
ARTICLE
IV. CONVERSION OF COMPANY
SHARES; COMPANY OPTIONS
Section 4.1 Conversion of Company Shares.
(a) Common Stock. As of the Effective Time, each share of
Common Stock that is issued and outstanding at the Effective Time (but before
cancellation thereof by operation of the Merger) except for Dissenting Shares
will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of any holder
thereof, automatically be cancelled and extinguished and converted into the
right to receive:
(i) an amount in cash equal to
the Per Share Net Participation Amount, without interest; plus
(ii) an amount in cash equal to
the Per Share Excess Cash Amount, without interest; plus
(iii) an amount in cash equal to
the Per Share Exercise Price Proceeds Amount; plus
12
(iv) a conditional amount of cash
equal to the Per Share Escrow Amount (plus interest to the extent set forth in
the Escrow Agreement); plus
(v) a conditional amount of cash
equal to the Per Share Securityholders Representative Fund Escrow Amount (plus
interest to the extent set forth in the Securityholders Escrow Agreement).
(b) Company Treasury Shares. Each Company Share held in Companys treasury
immediately prior to the Effective Time will, by virtue of the Merger
automatically be cancelled and retired without payment therefor, and all rights
in respect thereto shall cease to exist.
Section 4.2 Conversion of Merger Sub Shares. Each share of common stock, $0.01 par value
per share, of Merger Sub issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
Effective Time will, by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part
of any holder thereof, automatically be converted into and thereafter evidence
one share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Surviving
Corporation.
Section 4.3 Company
Options and Company Warrants.
(a) Immediately prior to the
Effective Time, and by operation of the provisions of this Agreement, each
outstanding Company Option and Company Warrant set forth on Schedule 4.3(a) that
remains outstanding and for which the Company has not received a duly executed
notice of exercise and tender of the exercise or strike price therefor (whether
or not conditioned on the Closing) on or prior to the date that is two (2) Business
Days prior to the Closing, shall be exercised and deemed exercised, canceled,
extinguished and converted into the right to receive, on behalf of the named
holder of such Company Option or Company Warrant, as applicable, cancelled and
extinguished and converted into the right to receive (such amount in respect of
a Company Option being the Company Option
Consideration, and such amount in respect of a Company Warrant
being the Company Warrant Consideration):
(i) an amount in cash equal to
the Per Share Net Participation Amount, without interest; plus
(ii) an amount in cash equal to
the Per Share Excess Cash Amount, without interest; plus
(iii) an amount in cash equal to
the Per Share Exercise Price Proceeds Amount; plus
(iv) a conditional amount of cash
equal to the Per Share Escrow Amount (plus interest to the extent set forth in
the Escrow Agreement); plus
(v) a conditional amount of cash
equal to the Per Share Securityholders Representative Fund Escrow Amount (plus
interest to the extent set forth in the Securityholders Escrow Agreement); minus
(vi) the Advanced Exercise Price.
In
connection with such exercise and deemed exercise, the Company shall advance
and be deemed to have advanced the relevant Advanced Exercise Price in respect
of each such Company Option and Company Warrant on behalf of each such
Optionholder and Warrantholder, which Advanced Exercise Price shall in each
case be repaid and deemed repaid
13
by
such former Optionholder and Warrantholder by the subtraction in (vi) of
the Company Option Consideration and the Company Warrant Consideration, as
applicable. Thereafter, without
impairing the rights of the former Optionholders or former Warrantholders to
receive payments of the Company Option Consideration or Company Warrant
Consideration, as applicable, to the extent set forth herein, such former
Optionholders and former Warrantholders shall, as of the Effective Time, cease
to have any further right or entitlement to acquire any Common Stock or any
shares of capital stock of EFX or the Surviving Corporation under the cancelled
Company Options or Company Warrants, as the case may be.
(b) EFX and REP will jointly
direct the Exchange Agent to withhold from the cash payments made with respect
to Company Options held by current and former employees of Company, in lieu of
paying the withheld amounts to those holders of Company Options, all
Withholding Taxes related to the amount received by such former holder of
Company Options (but not including any Withholding Taxes relating to such
holders Per Share Escrow Amount or Per Share Securityholders Representative Fund
Escrow Amount, which shall be as set forth in Section 4.3(c) such
amounts to be disbursed to the Surviving Corporation by the Exchange
Agent. After the Closing, EFX will
timely file, or will cause the Surviving Corporation to timely file, any
related returns of such Withholding Taxes and will timely remit, or cause the
timely remission of, these withheld amounts to the taxing authorities entitled
to receive the same. EFX will be
responsible for paying the employers share of social security, Medicare,
unemployment insurance and other employer taxes with respect to the cash
payments made with respect to Company Options held by current and former
employees of Company pursuant to this Section 4.3(b) and
Section 4.3(c).
(c) EFX and REP will jointly
direct the Escrow Agent to withhold from the cash payments made from the Escrow
Fund or the Securityholders Representative Fund (as applicable) with respect
to Company Options held by current and former employees of Company, in lieu of
paying the withheld amounts to such holders, all Withholding Taxes related to
the amount received by such holders from the Escrow Fund and/or the
Securityholders Representative Fund, such amount to be disbursed to the
Surviving Corporation by the Escrow Agent.
Promptly thereafter, EFX will timely file, or will cause the Surviving
Corporation to timely file, any related returns of such Withholding Taxes and
will timely remit, or cause the timely remission of, these withheld amounts to
the taxing authorities entitled to receive the same.
(d) Company agrees to take all
other actions necessary or appropriate so that, immediately following the
Effective Time and as a result of the Merger, (i) no options, warrants or
other rights to acquire any Company Shares or any securities, debt or other
rights convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Companys
capital stock are outstanding (other than Company Options to be cancelled
pursuant to Section 4.3 or
Company Warrants to be cancelled pursuant to Section 4.3),
and (ii) no Person other than the Stockholders, the Optionholders and the
Warrantholders prior to the Closing shall have any right, title or interest in
or to the ownership of Company or the Surviving Corporation or any securities
issued by Company or the Surviving Corporation, and (iii) the Stockholders
on and after the Closing shall have no right, title or interest in or to
Company or the Surviving Corporation or any securities of Company or the
Surviving Corporation, other than the right to payments of cash in the manner
described herein, and (iv) no Person holding Company Shares, Company
Options or Company Warrants or rights to acquire Company Shares, Company
Options or Company Warrants shall by virtue of any such securities have any
right to acquire any securities of EFX.
14
Section 4.4 Preliminary Allocation of
Consideration. Company has
prepared a preliminary summary of the allocation of consideration payable to
holders of Company Shares, Company Options and Company Warrants contemplated by
this Article 4, which is
attached to this Agreement as Exhibit B
(the Preliminary Allocation Schedule),
based on, among other things, certain assumptions concerning the exercise of
Company Options and Company Warrants, but excluding any assumptions concerning (i) estimated
Withholding Taxes or (ii) any claims against the Escrow Fund or (iii) any
claims against the Securityholders Representative Fund. The parties acknowledge and agree that
Company and EFX will jointly amend Exhibit B
as of the Effective Time to (i) reflect the allocation of proceeds then
required by this Agreement and the respective applicable rights of Company
Shares, Company Options and Company Warrants, (ii) reflect Withholding
Taxes and (iii) instruct the Exchange Agent as to the portion of the
Exchange Fund payable as of the Effective Time to specific holders of Company
Shares, Company Options and Company Warrants (the Final Allocation Schedule). The parties acknowledge that the aggregate
dollar amount allocated to the Stockholders and holders of Company Options
(each an Optionholder and
collectively the Optionholders)
and holders of Company Warrants (each a Warrantholder
and collectively the Warrantholders)
at the Closing may differ from the Preliminary Allocation Schedule based upon (i) Withholding
Taxes and (ii) the number of Company Shares issued or deemed issued as of
the Effective Time pursuant to Company Options, Company Warrants and other
outstanding securities of Company convertible into or exercisable for Company
Shares.
Section 4.5 Dissenting Shares. Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
the contrary, Company Shares held by holders thereof who have not voted such
Company Shares in favor of the adoption of this Agreement and the Merger and
with respect to which dissenters rights shall have been properly exercised and
perfected in accordance with Section 262 of the DGCL (the Dissenting Shares, with such holders
thereof referred to herein as, the Dissenting
Stockholders), shall not be converted into or represent the
right to receive the consideration which the holders of Outstanding Company
Shares are entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4.1,
and holders of such Dissenting Shares shall be entitled to receive only the
payment provided for by Section 262 of the DGCL, unless and until such
holders fail to perfect or effectively withdraw or otherwise lose their rights
to demand payment under the DGCL. If,
after the Effective Time, any such holder fails to perfect or effectively
withdraws or loses such right, such Dissenting Shares shall thereupon cease to
be Dissenting Shares and shall be deemed to have been converted into and have
become exchangeable for, as of the Effective Time, as described in Section 4.1, the right to receive the
consideration set forth in such provisions, without any interest thereon. Company shall give EFX prompt notice of any
demands for payment for Dissenting Shares pursuant to Section 262 of the
DGCL received by Company, withdrawals of such demands, and any other
instruments served pursuant to the DGCL and received by Company and EFX shall
direct all negotiations and proceedings with respect to demands for payment
pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL.
Company shall not, except with the prior written consent of EFX or as
otherwise required by applicable law, make any payment with respect to any such
demands for payment or offer to settle or settle any such demands.
Section 4.6 Exchange of Certificates.
(a) After approval of this
Agreement in accordance with Section 10.5,
and prior to the Effective Time, pursuant to an exchange agreement (the Exchange Agreement) in
15
the form attached hereto as Exhibit C, EFX will designate
Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Co., as exchange agent (the Exchange Agent):
(i) to receive the Exchange Fund
Amount in a segregated account (the Exchange
Fund);
(ii) to make a payment from the
Exchange Fund of the Escrowed Amount in accordance with Section 5.2(c) to the Escrow
Agent;
(iii) to make a payment from the
Exchange Fund of the Securityholders Representative Fund Escrowed Amount in
accordance with Section 5.2(c) to
the Escrow Agent,
(iv) to make payments from the
Exchange Fund in accordance with the Final Allocation Schedule to the
Stockholders upon surrender of certificates held by such Stockholders that,
immediately prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding Company Shares
that have been converted into the right to receive amounts pursuant to Section 4.1 (or affidavits of loss
therefor in accordance with Section 4.6(d) (Stockholder Certificates);
(v) to make the payments to the
Optionholders and Warrantholders from the Exchange Fund in accordance with the
Final Allocation Schedule upon delivery by the Optionholders or Warrantholders,
as the case may be, of the proper documentation for the Company Options or
Company Warrants held by such Optionholders or Warrantholders that, immediately
prior to the Effective Time, represented outstanding Company Options or Company
Warrants that have been exercised, deemed exercised and converted pursuant to Section 4.3;
(vi) to make the payments to the
Stockholders who became Stockholders upon the exercise of Company Options prior
to the Effective Time to the extent the exercise price portion thereof was
withheld pending the Companys receipt of the exercise price therefor;
(vii) to make the payments of
Transaction Expenses as set forth in the Transaction Expense Certificate;
(viii) to make the payments of
Funded Indebtedness as set forth in the Funded Indebtedness Certificate; and
(ix) to make required payments to
Dissenting Stockholders, if any, from the Exchange Fund in accordance with Section 4.5 upon delivery of the
proper documentation, limited to the amounts such Dissenting Stockholders would
have received from the Exchange Agent had such Stockholders not been Dissenting
Stockholders. On the Closing Date, EFX
shall deliver the Exchange Fund Amount to the Exchange Agent by wire transfer,
in trust for the benefit of the Stockholders, Optionholders and Warrantholders
(collectively, the Securityholders),
to be distributed as set forth in this Agreement and the Exchange Agreement.
(b) If any Stockholder
Certificates are not surrendered at Closing by the registered holders thereof,
as soon as practicable after the Effective Time (but in no event later than
five (5) Business Days thereafter), EFX shall cause the Exchange Agent to
send a notice and a transmittal form to each such Securityholder at the address
of record with the Company
16
advising such holder of the effectiveness of
the Merger and the procedure for surrendering to the Exchange Agent their
Stockholder Certificates, Company Options or Company Warrants in exchange for
the portion of the amounts payable pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.3, as applicable, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit D (the Letter of Transmittal). Each Securityholder, upon proper surrender of
the documentation to the Exchange Agent in accordance with this Section 4.6 or the instructions in
such notice, shall be entitled to receive in exchange therefor (without
interest) the portion of the amounts payable to such Securityholder pursuant to
Section 4.1 or Section 4.3, as applicable. Until properly surrendered, each Stockholder
Certificate, Company Option and Company Warrant shall be deemed for all
purposes to evidence only the right to receive the amounts payable for such
Stockholder Certificate, Company Option or Company Warrant pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.3, as applicable. Subject to Section 4.6(d),
Securityholders shall not be entitled to receive any amounts to which they
would otherwise be entitled hereunder until the applicable Stockholder
Certificate and, in the case of Company Option or Company Warrant, the
applicable Letter of Transmittal is properly surrendered in accordance with
this Section 4.6.
(c) If any portion of the
consideration described in Section 4.1
or the Company Option Consideration or Company Warrant Consideration described
in Section 4.3 is to be
delivered to a Person other than the Person in whose name the Stockholder
Certificate surrendered in exchange therefor is registered or otherwise
documented, it shall be a condition to the delivery of such portion of the
consideration otherwise payable that (i) the Stockholder Certificate so
surrendered shall be transferable, and shall be properly assigned, endorsed (or
accompanied by appropriate stock powers) with signatures guaranteed by a
commercial bank or by a member firm of the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) such
transfer shall otherwise be proper, and (iii) the Person requesting such
transfer shall pay to the Exchange Agent any transfer or other taxes payable by
reason of the foregoing or establish to the reasonable satisfaction of the
Exchange Agent that such taxes have been paid or are not required to be
paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
neither the Exchange Agent nor any party shall be liable to a Securityholder
for any portion of the consideration payable to such holder pursuant to Section 4.1 that are properly
delivered to a public official pursuant to applicable abandoned property,
escheat or similar laws.
(d) If any Stockholder
Certificate, Company Option or Company Warrant shall have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the receipt of (i) an affidavit of that fact by the Person
claiming such Stockholder Certificate, Company Option or Company Warrant to be
lost, stolen or destroyed, (ii) such indemnity as the Exchange Agent or
EFX may reasonably require, and (iii) any other documents necessary in the
reasonable opinion of the Exchange Agent, to evidence and effect the bona fide
exchange thereof, the Exchange Agent shall deliver in exchange for such lost,
stolen or destroyed Certificate, Company Option or Company Warrant the amounts
payable in exchange therefor pursuant to Section 4.1
or Section 4.3, as
applicable.
(e) Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any Stockholder Certificate shall not have been issued with
respect to any Company Option or Company Warrant exercised after the date of
this Agreement and prior to the Effective Time, the applicable Stockholder
shall not be required to deliver a stock certificate with respect thereto
pursuant to this Section 4.6, provided such Stockholder has submitted a Letter of
Transmittal to the Exchange Agent.
(f) Any portion of the Exchange
Fund that remains undistributed on the date that is six (6) months after
the Effective Time shall be delivered to EFX, upon demand, and any
Securityholder who has not previously complied with this Section 4.6 shall thereafter look only
17
to EFX, as a general unsecured creditor, for
payment of the amounts it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.3, as applicable, upon and
subject to compliance with the applicable provisions of this Article 4.
Section 4.7 Securityholders Representative.
(a) In order to efficiently
administer the transactions contemplated hereby, including the defense or
settlement of any claims for which Stockholders, Optionholders and
Warrantholders may be required to indemnify any Indemnitee pursuant to Article 12 hereof, REP is hereby
designated as the sole representative of the Securityholders (the Securityholders Representative).
(b) Securityholders
Representative is authorized and directed (i) to take all action after the
Effective Time necessary in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby in the case of all Securityholders, or the defense or settlement of any
claims for which Stockholders, Optionholders and Warrantholders may be required
to indemnify EFX or the Surviving Corporation pursuant to Article 12 hereof in the case of the
Stockholders, the Optionholders and the Warrantholders, (ii) to give and
receive all notices required to be given under this Agreement after the
Effective Time in the case of all Securityholders, and (iii) to take any
and all action after the Effective Time as is contemplated to be taken by or on
behalf of the Securityholders by the terms of this Agreement.
(c) In the event that the
Securityholders Representative becomes unable to perform its responsibilities
hereunder or resigns from such position, the Securityholders owning or having
the right to acquire, prior to the Closing, a majority of the Outstanding
Company Shares are authorized to and shall select another representative to
fill such vacancy and such substituted representative shall be deemed to be the
Securityholders Representative for all purposes of this Agreement and the
documents delivered pursuant hereto.
(d) All decisions and actions by
the Securityholders Representative, including any agreement between the
Securityholders Representative and EFX relating to the defense or settlement
of any claims for which Securityholders may be required to indemnify any of the
EFX Indemnitees pursuant to Article 12
hereof, shall be binding upon all of Securityholders, and no Securityholder
shall have the right to object, dissent, protest or otherwise contest the same.
(e) The Securityholders
Representative shall not have any liability to EFX or the Surviving Corporation
pursuant to any action taken or omitted by it in its capacity as the
Securityholders Representative while acting in good faith and without gross
negligence, and any act done or omitted pursuant to the advice of counsel shall
be conclusive evidence of such good faith.
(f) The
Securityholders Representative
Fund shall be available to indemnify and hold the Securityholders
Representative harmless
against any liability, loss, damage, penalty, fine, cost or expense incurred by
the Securityholders Representative
without gross negligence or bad faith on the part of the Securityholders
Representative and arising out
of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of his duties under
this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement.
The Securityholders Representative
shall be entitled to advancement of and/or to recover any out-of-pocket costs
and expenses reasonably incurred or to be incurred by the Securityholders
Representative in connection
with actions taken by the Securityholders
18
Representative
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement and the Escrow Agreement (including the
hiring of legal counsel and financial, tax or accounting advisors and the
incurring of any fees and costs related thereto) from the Securityholders
Representative Fund, without the
requirement of any consent or approval by EFX.
(g) In addition to the
foregoing:
(i) EFX shall be entitled to
rely conclusively on the instructions and decisions of the Securityholders
Representative as to the settlement of any claims for indemnification by any of
the Indemnitees pursuant to Article 12
hereof, or any other actions required or permitted to be taken by the
Securityholders Representative hereunder, and no party hereunder shall have
any cause of action against EFX for any action taken by EFX in reliance upon
the instructions or decisions of the Securityholders Representative;
(ii) all actions, decisions and
instructions of the Securityholders Representative shall be conclusive and
binding upon all Securityholders and no Securityholder shall have any cause of
action against the Securityholders Representative for any action taken,
decision made or instruction given by the Securityholders Representative under
this Agreement, except for gross negligence or bad faith by the Securityholders
Representative in connection with the matters described in this Section 4.7;
(iii) the provisions of this Section 4.7 are independent and
severable, are irrevocable and coupled with an interest and shall be
enforceable notwithstanding any rights or remedies that any Securityholder may
have in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(iv) remedies available at law
for any breach of the provisions of this Section 4.7
are inadequate; therefore, EFX shall be entitled to seek temporary and
permanent injunctive relief without the necessity of proving damages if EFX
brings an action to enforce the provisions of this Section 4.7; and
(v) the provisions of this Section 4.7 shall be binding upon the
executors, heirs, legal representatives, personal representatives, successor
trustees and successors of each Securityholder, and any references in this
Agreement to a Securityholder shall mean and include the successors to such
Securityholders rights hereunder, whether pursuant to testamentary
disposition, the laws of descent and distribution or otherwise.
Section 4.8 Escrow Arrangement.
(a) On the Closing Date, the
Exchange Agent will deliver to SunTrust Bank, a Georgia banking corporation (the Escrow
Agent) by wire transfer of immediately available funds, an
amount equal to $12,400,000 (the Escrowed
Amount) plus an amount equal to $500,000 (the Securityholders Representative Fund Escrowed Amount)
which amounts shall deposited with the Escrow Agent. The Indemnity Portion of the Escrow Fund
shall be held for the purpose of satisfying any indemnification or other claims
of any EFX Indemnitee (including, after the Closing, the Surviving Corporation)
under Article 12. The Escrowed Amount, together with all accrued
interest thereon, except as provided in the Escrow Agreement, is referred to in
this Agreement as the Escrow Fund,
and the Securityholders Representative
19
Fund Escrowed Amount, together with all
accrued interest thereon, is referred to in this Agreement as the Securityholders Representative Fund. The Escrow Fund shall be held by the Escrow
Agent pursuant to the terms of the agreement among the Escrow Agent, EFX and
the Securityholders Representative in the form attached to this Agreement as Exhibit E (the Escrow Agreement). The Securityholders Representative Fund
shall be held by the Escrow Agent pursuant to the terms of the agreement among
the Escrow Agent and the Securityholders Representative in the form attached
to this Agreement as Exhibit F
(the Securityholders Escrow Agreement).
(b) Each of the Escrow Fund and
the Securityholders Representative Fund shall be held as a trust fund and
shall not be subject to any Lien, attachment, trustee process or any other
judicial process of any creditor of any Person and shall be held and disbursed
solely for the purposes and in accordance with the respective terms thereof.
(c) Any interest, income or
earnings on each of the Escrowed Amount and the Securityholders Representative
Fund shall be paid as provided in the Escrow Agreement and the Securityholders
Escrow Agreement, respectively.
Section 4.9 No Further Rights. From and after the Effective Time, no Company
Shares shall be deemed to be outstanding, and holders of Certificates formerly
representing Company Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto
except as provided herein or by law.
Section 4.10 Closing of Transfer Books. At the Effective Time, the stock transfer
books of Company shall be closed and no transfer of Company Shares shall
thereafter be made. If, after the
Effective Time, Certificates or other instruments formerly representing Company
Shares or the right to acquire Company Shares effective at the Closing are presented
to EFX or the Surviving Corporation, they shall be cancelled and exchanged for
the right to receive the consideration described in Section 4.1, subject to Section 4.8
and the right receive amounts pursuant to applicable law in the case of
Dissenting Shares.
Section 4.11 Further Action. If, at any time after the Effective Time, any
such further action is necessary or desirable to carry out the purposes of this
Agreement and to vest the Surviving Corporation with full right, title and
possession to all assets, property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises
of Company and Merger Sub, the officers and directors of Company and Merger Sub
immediately prior to the Effective Time are fully authorized in the name of
their respective corporations or otherwise to take, and will take, all such
lawful and necessary action.
Section 4.12 Taxes. Notwithstanding any other provision in this
Agreement, EFX shall instruct the Exchange Agent to withhold Taxes from any
payments to be made hereunder (including any payments to be made under the
Escrow Agreement or Securityholders Escrow Agreement) if such withholding is
required by law and to collect Forms W-8 or W-9, as applicable, from any
Stockholders, Optionholders or Warrantholders.
ARTICLE
V. CLOSING; DELIVERIES
Section 5.1 Closing. Subject to earlier termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Article 14,
the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement (the Closing)
shall take place at the offices of Kilpatrick Stockton LLP, 1100
20
Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, at
10:00 a.m., Atlanta time, on the second
(2nd) Business Day after all the conditions set forth in Article 11 hereof (other than those
conditions which by their nature are to be satisfied as of the Closing, which
conditions shall have been satisfied or waived as of such time) have been
satisfied or waived in writing (Closing
Date).
Section 5.2 Transactions and Documents at
Closing.
(a) At the Closing:
(i) The Company and REP, as
applicable, shall deliver or cause to have been delivered the following
documents and take or cause to be taken the following actions:
(A) Company shall deliver and
file the Certificate of Merger with the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware to effect the Merger;
(B) from REP, the Escrow
Agreement duly executed by such parties;
(C) from REP, the Exchange
Agreement duly executed by such parties;
(D) from each of the Persons (A) identified
on Schedule 5.2(a)(i)(D) attached hereto an executed offer letter
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-1
(the Offer Letter) and (B) identified
on Schedule 5.2(a)(i)(D) attached hereto an executed non-compete
agreement in the form attached hereto as Exhibit G-2
(the Non-Compete Agreement,
together with the Offer Letter, the Employment
Documents);
(E) from Cooley Godward Kronish
LLP, legal counsel to Company, a legal opinion addressed to EFX dated the
Closing Date in the form attached hereto as Exhibit H;
(F) from each director and
officer of Company, his or her written resignation in respect of his or her
positions with Company; and
(G) from each Person identified
on Schedule 11.1(g), their written consent as required by Section 11.1(g).
(b) At the Closing:
(i) EFX shall deliver or cause
to have been delivered the following documents and take or cause to be taken
the following actions:
(A) from EFX and Merger Sub to
the Exchange Agent by wire transfer of immediately available funds, the
Exchange Fund Amount;
(B) from EFX, the Escrow
Agreement duly executed by EFX;
21
(C) from EFX, the Exchange
Agreement duly executed by EFX; and
(D) from EFX, the Offer Letters
duly executed by EFX.
(c) At the Closing:
(i) Company, EFX and Merger Sub
shall cause the Exchange Agent to take or cause to be taken the following
actions:
(A) distribute to EFX an
aggregate amount from the Exchange Fund equal to any applicable Withholding
Taxes related to the holders of Company Options (but not including any
Withholding Taxes relating to such holders Per Share Escrow Amounts);
(B) distribute to the applicable
Persons amounts from the Exchange Fund equal to the Funded Indebtedness owing
to such Persons, pursuant to Section 11.1(l);
(C) distribute to the applicable
Persons amounts from the Exchange Fund equal to the Transaction Expenses owing
to such Persons, pursuant to Section 11.1(k);
and
(D) distribute to the Escrow
Agent the Escrowed Amount and the Securityholders Representative Fund Escrowed
Amount.
(d) All deliveries, payments and
other transactions and documents relating to the Closing shall be
interdependent and none shall be effective unless and until all are effective
(except to the extent that the party entitled to the benefit thereof has waived
satisfaction or performance thereof as a condition precedent to the Closing).
Section 5.3 Additional Action. The Surviving Corporation may, at any time
and from time to time from and after the Effective Time, take any action,
including executing and delivering any document, in the name and on behalf of
either Company or Merger Sub, reasonably required in order to consummate and
give effect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
ARTICLE
VI. REPRESENTATIONS AND
WARRANTIES OF COMPANY
Contemporaneously with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, Company has delivered to EFX and
Merger Sub a set of disclosure schedules dated as of the date of this Agreement
(collectively, the Disclosure Schedules)
setting forth certain information in connection with the representations and
warranties of the Company set forth in this Article 6. The disclosures set forth in a Disclosure
Schedule qualify only those representations and warranties specifically
referenced and referred to in such Disclosure Schedule as relating to such
disclosures and a disclosure related to any particular representation and
warranty shall not qualify any other representation and warranty unless so
expressly stated; provided,
however, that if it is readily apparent from the text of the
disclosure that an item disclosed in one section or subsection of a Disclosure
Schedule is omitted from another paragraph or subsection where such disclosure
would be appropriate, such item shall be deemed to have been disclosed with
respect
22
to
such paragraph or subsection of a relevant Disclosure Schedule from which such
item is omitted. Company represents and
warrants to EFX and Merger Sub that except as set forth in the Disclosure
Schedules (in the manner described herein), each of the representations,
warranties and statements in the following Sections of this Article 6 is true and correct as of
the date of this Agreement and again as at the Closing Date (except to the extent
such changes result from actions taken by the Company that are permitted or
required by the covenants set forth in this Agreement), except to the extent
such representation, warranty or statement speaks as of an earlier date, in
which case such representation, warranty or statement is true and correct as of
such earlier date:
Section 6.1 Organization; Qualifications;
Corporate Power. Company is
a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
Laws of the State of Delaware and has all requisite corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties, and to carry on its
business as presently conducted. Company
is qualified or licensed to do business as a foreign corporation in all
jurisdictions identified on Schedule 6.1. Company has provided EFX with complete and
accurate copies of (i) the minutes and other similar records of meetings
or consent actions of the Stockholders and the Board of Directors (and
committees of the Board of Directors), which contain all records of meetings
and consent actions taken in lieu thereof by the Stockholders and the Board of
Directors (and committees of the Board of Directors) pursuant to which any
formal action was taken, and show all corporate actions taken by such stockholders
and such directors, and any committees thereof, for Company, (ii) the
share transfer records, which reflect fully all issuances, transfers and
redemptions of the capital stock of Company since the date of its
incorporation; and (iii) the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws.
Section 6.2 Authorization. Company has all requisite power and authority
to execute and deliver this Agreement and, subject to Requisite Stockholder
Approval, to perform its obligations hereunder.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement and, subject to the
adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the Merger by Requisite
Stockholder Approval, the performance by Company of this Agreement and the
consummation by Company of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly
and validly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of
Company. Without limiting the generality
of the foregoing, the Board of Directors of Company, at a meeting duly called
and held, by the unanimous vote of all directors (i) determined that the
Merger is fair to, advisable and in the best interests of Company and its
stockholders, (ii) adopted this Agreement in accordance with the
provisions of the DGCL, and (iii) directed that this Agreement and the
Merger be submitted to the stockholders of Company for their approval and
adoption and resolved to recommend that the stockholders of Company vote in
favor of the approval and adoption of this Agreement and the approval of the
Merger. This Agreement has been duly and
validly executed and delivered by Company and constitutes the valid and binding
obligations of Company, enforceable against Company in accordance with its
terms, except as enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity and
by bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights and
remedies generally.
Section 6.3 Subsidiaries and Affiliates. Company does not own nor does it have any
interest, direct or indirect, or any commitment to purchase or otherwise
acquire, any Investment, direct or indirect, in any Person. For purposes of this Section 6.3, Investment
23
shall mean loans, capital stock, partnership
interests, other equity interests and other debt and equity instruments, other
than cash equivalents reflected on the Most Recent Balance Sheet.
Section 6.4 Ownership of Capital Stock.
(a) The authorized capital stock
of Company consists of: (i) 20,000,000
shares of Common Stock and (ii) 20,000 shares of Preferred Stock. As of the date of this Agreement, 12,117,159
shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding, 4,890,000 shares of Common
Stock are reserved for issuance pursuant to the Option Plan, which reserved
amount includes 522,000 shares of Common Stock previously reserved for issuance
pursuant to the ISO Plan, and no shares of Preferred Stock are issued and
outstanding. Of such 4,890,000 shares of
Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to the Option Plan and the ISO
Plan, as of the date of this Agreement, and Company Options to purchase
3,349,300 shares of Common Stock are outstanding. No shares of Company capital stock are held
in the treasury of Company.
(b) Schedule 6.4 sets forth a
complete and accurate list, as of the date of this Agreement, of (i) all
Stockholders of Company, indicating the number of Company Shares held by each,
the state of residence or jurisdiction of incorporation or organization of each
Stockholder, and (ii) all outstanding Company Options to purchase Company
Shares pursuant to the Option Plan, the ISO Plan or otherwise (Options) all warrants to purchase
Company Shares (Warrants),
indicating (A) the holder thereof, the state of residence or jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization of such holder and whether such holder is or
was an employee of Company and if the holder of such rights is no longer an
employee of Company, the date such holders rights to purchase shares expires
under the agreement evidencing or granting such rights, (B) the number of
Company Shares subject to each such Option and Warrant, (C) the exercise
price, date of grant, and expiration date for each Option or Warrant, (iii) any
stock or equity-related plans of Company, and (iv) any other agreements,
convertible securities or other commitments pursuant to which Company is or may
become obligated to issue any shares or other securities of Company. All of the Options and Warrants will
terminate and be of no further force or effect at the Effective Time, except in
the case of any Warrants which have not been exercised or terminated at the
Effective Time, which such unexercised Warrants will thereafter be exercisable
only for an amount in cash equal to the Company Warrant Consideration, in each
case times the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Company Warrant
was theretofore exercisable, and none of Company, EFX, Merger Sub or the
Surviving Corporation shall, thereafter, have any liability or obligation,
including any obligation to pay any consideration, with respect thereto.
(c) All of the issued and
outstanding Company Shares are, and all Company Shares that may be issued upon
exercise of Company Options or Warrants will be (upon issuance in accordance
with their terms), duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and
nonassessable. No Person has, and
immediately upon consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement no Person will have, any preemptive or similar
rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any capital stock or other security of
Company pursuant to the DGCL or any agreement to which Company is a party or to
which it may be subject or by which it may be bound. All of the issued and outstanding Company
Shares and all other capital or other securities previously issued and
outstanding of Company or any of its predecessors, were offered, issued and
sold in accordance with all applicable securities Laws. Company is not subject to any obligation to
repurchase or otherwise acquire or retire any of its capital stock, and Company
has no Liability for dividends declared or accrued, but unpaid, with respect to
its
24
capital stock. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.4,
Company has not purchased or redeemed any of its capital stock, and has not
paid any dividend or made any other payment to its stockholders in such
capacity within the past year. Other
than the Company Options and Warrants listed on Schedule 6.4, there are
no outstanding or authorized options, warrants, rights, agreements or
commitments to which Company is a party or which are binding upon Company
providing for the issuance or redemption of any of its capital stock. There are no outstanding or authorized stock
appreciation, phantom stock or similar rights with respect to Company. Other than as set forth on Schedule 6.4,
there are no agreements to which Company is a party or by which it is bound
with respect to the voting (including voting trusts or proxies), registration
under the Securities Act, or any foreign securities Law, or sale or transfer
(including agreements relating to preemptive rights, rights of first refusal,
co-sale rights, or drag-along rights) of any securities of Company, nor any
Actions relating thereto.
Section 6.5 No Conflicts. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.5,
the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and compliance with the provisions
hereof by Company will not (a) violate any Law applicable to Company or
any of its properties or assets or (b) with due notice or lapse of time,
or both, conflict with or result in any material breach of any of the terms,
conditions or provisions of, or constitute a default (or give rise to any right
of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under, any note, indenture,
mortgage, lease or other material written contract, agreement or instrument to
which Company is a party or by which it or any of its properties or assets is
bound or affected, or result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the
properties or assets of Company under the Certificate of Incorporation or
Bylaws.
Section 6.6 No Consent or Approval Required. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.6,
no consent of any Person and no consent, approval or authorization of, or
declaration to or filing with, any court or any Government is required of
Company for the valid authorization, execution and delivery of this Agreement,
or for the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than for
(i) the Government approval required by the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust
Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and the regulations and rules promulgated
pursuant thereto (the HSR Filing)
and (ii) the filing of the Certificate of Merger.
Section 6.7 Financial Statements; No SEC
Filings. Schedule 6.7(a)
contains the financial statements of Company, as audited by BDO Seidman (Company Auditor), consisting of a
balance sheet and the related statements of operations, changes in stockholders
equity, and of cash flows, together with any related notes and schedules for
the periods as at and ending September 30, 2008, with the unqualified
opinion of Company Auditor thereon (collectively, the Audited Financial Statements). Except as set forth on Schedule 6.7(b),
the Audited Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied, and present fairly in all material respects the financial
condition of Company as at the respective dates thereof and the results of its
operations and cash flows for the periods then ended and are consistent with
the books and records of Company. Schedule
6.7(c) contains the unaudited financial statements of Company for the
eleven-month period ending at August 31, 2009 and an unaudited balance
sheet as of August 31, 2009 (the Most
Recent Balance Sheet, with such date referred to as the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date) as of
such date (the Interim Financial
Statements; together with the Audited Financial Statements, the
Financial Statements). Except as set forth on Schedule 6.7(d),
the Interim Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP
consistently applied (except for the
25
absence of required footnotes and subject to
normal and recurring year-end audit adjustments not material in amount),
present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results
of operations of the Business as conducted by Company as at and for the periods
then ended, and are consistent with the books and records of the Company. The Company has never been required to file
any forms, notifications or reports with the SEC which it has not filed.
Section 6.8 Absence of Changes. From the date of the Most Recent Balance
Sheet and except as set forth on Schedule 6.8:
(a) Company has not entered into
any material transaction which was not in the ordinary course of business;
(b) Company has not changed or
amended in any material respect any contract set forth on Schedule 6.10(a) by
which Company or any of its assets or properties, are bound or subject, except
as contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) there has been no mortgage,
pledge, sale, assignment or transfer of any tangible or intangible assets of
Company, except, with respect to tangible assets, in the ordinary course of
business consistent with past practices;
(d) there has been no damage or
destruction (whether or not covered by insurance) affecting the Business,
assets, properties, operations or condition (financial or otherwise), or
results of operations of Company, in any material respect;
(e) there has been no issuance
of any bonds, notes or other securities of Company, or any agreement or
commitment therefor (including options, warrants or rights or agreements or
commitments to purchase such securities or grant such options, warrants or
rights);
(f) there has been no
declaration or payment of a dividend on, or other distribution with respect to,
or any direct or indirect redemption or acquisition of, any of the capital
stock or other securities of Company, or any agreement or commitment therefor;
(g) there has been no payment or
credit to, or by and between, Company on the one hand and any Affiliated Person
on the other, other than for employment compensation paid in the ordinary
course of business and reimbursement of expenses in the ordinary course of business,
nor has there been, or is there, any agreement or commitment therefor;
(h) Company has not increased
the amount of any compensation arrangement or agreement with any of its
employees, officers or independent contractor in each case resulting in additional
material liability for the Company or increased the rate of pay and provision
of employee benefits and perquisites of its employees and independent
contractors, in each case resulting in additional material liability for the
Company;
(i) there has been no
resignation or termination of employment of any key officer, employee or
independent contractor of Company and, to the Companys Knowledge, there is no
impending resignation or termination of employment of any such officer,
employee or independent contractor;
(j) there has been no hiring of
any Person, and Company does not know of any impending hiring of any Person,
reasonably projected to earn during any 12-month period in excess of $100,000;
26
(k) there has been no change,
except in the ordinary course of business, in the contingent obligations of
Company (nor in any contingent obligation of Company regarding any of its
respective officers, directors, employees, independent contractors or Stockholders)
by way of guaranty, endorsement, indemnity, or warranty;
(l) there have been no loans or
advances made by Company to any of its respective officers, employees,
independent contractors or stockholders, or to the Companys Knowledge any of
their immediate family members, or any agreement or commitment therefor (except
for advances to employees for expenses in the ordinary course of business and
consistent with past practice);
(m) there has been no waiver or
loss of any material right of Company, or the cancellation of any debt, claim
or material contract or other agreement held by Company;
(n) there has not been any
satisfaction or discharge of any Lien or any payment of any obligation by
Company, except in the ordinary course of business and consistent with past
practices;
(o) there has not been any
change in the accounting methods, practices or policies followed by Company or
any change in depreciation or amortization policies or rates theretofore
adopted; and
(p) there has been no occurrence
that would violate or breach any of the covenants set forth in Section 9.1(b) had such covenants
been applicable since the Most Recent Balance Sheet Date.
Section 6.9 Absence of Undisclosed Liabilities. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.9,
the Company does not have any Liabilities in the nature of off-balance sheet
financing or that would be required to be reflected on a balance sheet prepared
on a basis consistent with GAAP (excluding treatment of deferred revenues),
except for those (i) reflected in, reserved against or shown on the Most
Recent Balance Sheet or (ii) that were incurred after the Most Recent
Balance Sheet Date in the ordinary course of business consistent with past
practice.
Section 6.10 Contracts
and Commitments. Except as
disclosed on Schedule 6.10(a), Company is not a party to any written (a) contract
with any labor union; (b) contract for the future purchase of fixed assets
or for the future purchase of materials, supplies or equipment in excess of
budgeted amounts; (c) contract for the employment of any officer,
individual employee or other Person on a full-time basis or any contract with
any Person on a consulting basis other than at-will arrangements; (d) agreement
or indenture relating to the borrowing of money or to the placing of an Lien on
any asset or property of Company, other than Permitted Liens; (e) guaranty
of any obligation for borrowed money, the incurrence or maintenance of Funded
Indebtedness, Capital Lease Obligations or other debt; (f) lease or
agreement under which Company is lessee of or holds or operates any property,
real or personal, owned by any other Person; (g) lease or agreement under
which Company is lessor of or permits any Person to hold or operate any
property, real or personal, owned or controlled by Company; (h) agreement
or other commitment for capital expenditures in excess of $50,000 for any
single project or $200,000 for a series of related projects; (i) contract,
agreement or commitment under which Company is obligated to pay any brokers
fees, finders fees or any such similar fees, or any expense to any Person; (j) any
agreement relating to the holding, sale or other transfer, voting or
registration under the Securities Act of the capital stock or other securities
of Company; (k) any agreement restricting or seeking to limit the right or
ability of Company to engage in any business in any market or geographic
location; (k) any
27
agreement seeking to grant any contract
counterparty most favored nation or similar treatment; and (l) any
agreement that purports to be binding on any Affiliate of Company, as
determined from time to time
(collectively, the Contracts). Each Contract disclosed on Schedule 6.10(a) constitutes
the valid and binding obligation of Company and, to the Knowledge of Company,
the other parties thereto, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity and by bankruptcy,
insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors rights and remedies
generally. Except as set forth on Schedule
6.10(b), neither Company nor to the Companys Knowledge any other party
thereto is in default of any material obligation thereunder and there exists no
condition, event or act which constitutes, or which after notice, lapse of time
or both, would constitute, a default by Company or, to the Companys Knowledge,
any other party thereunder of any material obligation thereunder. The Company has delivered to EFX correct and
complete copies of all Contracts listed on Schedule 6.10(a).
Section 6.11 Protection
of Intellectual Property.
(a) Schedule 6.11 sets forth a
complete and accurate list of all Company Intellectual Property Rights,
including all Proprietary Technology (other than for processes, trade secrets,
know-how, common law trademarks and unregistered copyrights) that the Company
uses or that is otherwise necessary for the conduct of the Business as
presently conducted, together with a complete list of all material licenses
granted by or to Company with respect to any of the above, other than licenses
granted by Company pursuant to their standard form contracts or licenses to the
Company for commercially available software (correct and complete copies of
which have been delivered to EFX). As
used in this Agreement, Intellectual
Property Rights means patents, patent applications, trademarks,
trademark applications, trade names and service marks, service mark
applications, copyrights and copyright applications. Company
Intellectual Property Rights means the Intellectual Property
Rights that the Company owns, except to the extent set forth on Schedule
6.11 under the heading Excluded Company Intellectual Property Rights. As used in this Agreement, Proprietary Technology means all source
and object code, algorithms, architecture, structure, display screens, layouts,
processes, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, development tools and other
proprietary rights owned by Company and that pertain to any product or service
manufactured, marketed or sold, by Company and all documentation and media
constituting, the above, including manuals, memoranda, notebooks and records.
(b) Prior to the date of this
Agreement, Company has delivered to EFX true, correct and complete copies of
all trademarks registrations, a list of all trademark applications, issued
patents, patent applications, issued copyrights registrations with the
Copyright Office and copyright applications evidencing Intellectual Property
Rights. Except in respect of common law trademarks and unregistered copyrights,
Company has made all filings and recordations required to protect and maintain
its interest in the Company Intellectual Property Rights or has otherwise taken
commercially reasonable steps to protect its Company Intellectual Property
Rights.
(c) The operation of the
Business as now conducted by Company does not infringe any Intellectual
Property Rights of any Person. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6.11(c) and except for customer contracts
entered into in the ordinary course of business, there are no agreements
contracts, or Orders to which Company is a party which indemnifies another
Person with respect to infringements or other violations of any Intellectual
Property Rights.
28
(d) Except as set forth on Schedule
6.11(d), Company has not entered into any Agreement to pay a Person any
royalties or fees to use that Persons Intellectual Property Rights.
(e) The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby will not constitute a breach of any license to
the Company necessary for the operation of the Business as currently proposed
to be conducted involving any Intellectual Property Rights to which Company is
a party, nor will it cause or give a right of forfeiture or termination of, or
any material adverse change in Companys rights or usage of, any such
Intellectual Property Rights.
(f) No software that is open
source, public source or freeware, or any modification or derivative thereof,
including any version of software licensed pursuant to any GNU general public
license or lesser general public license (collectively, Open Source Software) was or is
incorporated into, integrated or bundled with any Proprietary Technology,
except in each case for any such Open Source Software whose terms: (i) do not grant any third party rights
to, or otherwise impair the exclusive ownership of Company of, the
modifications or improvements by Company to such software; (ii) do not
require the distribution by Company of any source code; (iii) do not
prohibit Company from charging a fee or otherwise restricts the ability of
Company to seek compensation for any such software; (iv) allow use and
distribution of such software in the manner used and distributed and proposed
to be used and distributed by Company; and (v) do not contain any other
material restrictions or obligations that Company has not complied with.
(g) To Companys Knowledge, no
third party Person is using the Company Intellectual Property Rights without a
license from Company or otherwise infringing the Company Intellectual Property
Rights, including any employee, former employee, independent contractor or
consultant of Company. Company has taken
reasonable and practicable steps designed to safeguard and maintain the secrecy
and confidentiality of, and the proprietary rights in, the Company Intellectual
Property Rights. Where and when required
by any of its customers, as set forth in their respective customer agreements
with Company, Company has taken any and all contractually obligated measures to
ensure the segregation of (A) data provided by such customer, (B) work
product developed by Company for such customer, or (C) other intellectual
property, which, for purposes of subclauses (A) and (B), the rights of
which are vested in such customer, whether by contract or otherwise. Where and when required by any of its
customers, Company has required its employees to execute certain
confidentiality and intellectual property related agreements. All officers, directors, employees and
consultants of Company having access to, or developing any Company Intellectual
Property Rights owned by Company have executed and delivered an agreement
regarding the protection of the proprietary information of Company, and a
license or assignment to Company of all Intellectual Property Rights arising
from the services performed by such Persons to the extent not already provided
for under applicable law. Company has
not received any notice that any current or prior officer, director, employee,
or consultant of Company claims or has a right to claim an ownership interest
in any Intellectual Property Rights as a result of having been involved in the
development or licensing of any such Intellectual Property Rights while
employed by or consulting to Company.
Section 6.12 Compliance;
Licenses and Permits.
(a) Company has complied in all
material respects with all Laws applicable to Companys Business as presently
or previously conducted, including all federal, state and local
29
privacy Laws, and all other applicable Laws
of similar tenor and effect, including the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair
and Accurate Credit Transactions Act, the Consumer Credit Protection Act, the
Truth in Lending Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity
Act, the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act, the Graham-Leach-Bliley Act, and
the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant to such laws. Company has obtained all material federal,
state, local and foreign governmental licenses and permits which are required
for the conduct of the Business presently conducted by Company, which licenses
and permits are in full force and effect and no material violations are
outstanding or uncured with respect to any such licenses or permits and no
proceeding is pending or, to the Knowledge of Company, threatened in writing to
revoke or limit any thereof. Schedule
6.12(a) lists all material federal, state, local and foreign
governmental licenses and permits of Company which are used in or relate to the
Business. Company has furnished to EFX
correct and complete copies of all such licenses and permits.
(b) Schedule 6.12(b) sets
forth the consumer and customer privacy policies that have been adopted by
Company in connection with the Business and that are currently in effect for
Company. Company has complied in all
material respects with all such privacy policies and any applicable privacy
policies posted on its web sites.
Company has undertaken best efforts to protect and maintain the
confidential nature of the personal information provided to Company by Persons
who do not consent to the disclosure of such information or have expressly
requested that Company not disclose such information. All personally
identifiable information collected by Company from the individual Person has
been used in accordance with the applicable privacy policy at the time of such
collection. Company has protected on
secure servers at all times all data and other information provided by all of
its customers in the manner set forth in their respective agreements with
Company, except in cases, where such noncompliance would not be considered a
breach under the respective agreement with such customer.
Section 6.13 Litigation
and Other Proceedings.
There is no Action pending or, to Companys Knowledge, currently
threatened in writing, against Company or to its Knowledge any of its
directors, officers, agents or employees in such capacity, which could
reasonably be expected to result, either individually or in the aggregate, in (a) any
Liability to Company, or (b) any material impairment of the right or
ability of Company to carry on its Business as now conducted, including in each
case, Actions pending or threatened involving the prior employment (whether as
an employee, independent contractor or otherwise) of the Companys employees or
independent contractors, the use in connection with the Business of any
information or techniques allegedly proprietary to any of the former employers
of such employees or independent contractors or their obligations under any
agreements with prior employers. Company
is not a party to or subject to the provisions of any Order of any court or
Government. There is no Action by
Company currently pending or which Company currently intends to initiate.
Section 6.14 Insurance. Schedule 6.14 contains a complete list of all policies of
insurance maintained by Company, all of which are in full force and effect as
of the date of this Agreement. Company
has delivered or made available to EFX a correct and complete copy of each such
insurance policy (including any exhibits, schedules, riders, amendments or
modifications thereof). All premiums due
thereon have been paid and Company has not received any written notice of
default or cancellation with respect thereto.
Schedule 6.14 lists and
describes all occurrences which, to the Knowledge of Company, are expected to
form the basis
30
for a material claim by or on behalf of
Company under any such policy; and Company, as appropriate, has timely given
notice of all such occurrences to the appropriate insurer and has not waived
its right to make the related claim under any such policy. Except as set forth on Schedule 6.14,
there are no provisions in any of such policies which provide for retrospective
premium adjustments or other experience-based liability on the part of Company.
Section 6.15 Title to
Assets and Properties.
Except as set forth on Schedule 6.15, Company has good and
marketable title to (or in the case of assets or properties leased or licensed,
Company has an enforceable leasehold or license interest in) all its respective
properties and assets used, useful or necessary to conduct its Business as
currently being conducted and as conducted during the periods covered by the
Financial Statements, in each case free and clear of Liens, other than
Permitted Liens. All material machinery,
equipment, vehicles and other items of tangible personal property which are
owned or leased by Company are in good condition and repair, normal wear and
tear excepted, and are suited for the use intended and are and have been
operated in conformity with all applicable Laws. All leases of real or personal
property to which Company is a party, are, to Companys Knowledge, fully
effective in accordance with their respective terms and afford Company peaceful
and undisturbed possession of the subject matter of the lease. Company has not brought or threatened any
Action against any such lessor for failure to perform and satisfy its duties
and obligations thereunder.
Section 6.16 Receivables. All notes and accounts receivable shown on
the Most Recent Balance Sheet and all such receivables now held by the Company
are valid and were collectible obligations at the time they were booked and
were not and are not subject to any offset or counterclaim, except for amounts
reserved against such receivables which are reflected on the Most Recent
Balance Sheet and with respect to notes and accounts receivable arising after
the date of the Most Recent Balance Sheet, except for a percentage thereof
equal to the percentage which said reserved amounts on the Most Recent Balance
Sheet constituted of the aggregate of notes and accounts receivable on the Most
Recent Balance Sheet. All of such notes
and accounts receivable arose in the ordinary course of business from the sale
of goods or the rendition of services and represent bona fide obligations of
the account debtor thereof.
Section 6.17 Real
Property. Company
does not own nor has it at any time owned any real property. Each parcel or tract of real property which
is used by Company in the Business (the Real
Property) is subject to a written lease or sublease to which
Company is a party as lessee or sublessee (individually a Real Property Lease). All such Real Property Leases are valid and
in full force and effect in accordance with their terms. Company has previously
furnished EFX with correct and complete copies of all Real Property
Leases. There is not, with respect to
any Real Property Lease (i) except as set forth on Schedule 6.17,
any default by Company, or any event of default or event which with notice or
lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default by Company or (ii) to
Companys Knowledge, any existing default by any other party to any Real
Property Lease, or event of default or event which with notice or lapse of
time, or both, would constitute a default by any other party to any Real
Property Lease.
Section 6.18 Labor
Matters.
(a) Schedule 6.18(a) sets
forth a complete and correct list of each employee, independent contractor,
agent and consultant of Company who on the date of this Agreement performs
services in the business operations of or for Company, together with each such
persons job title, current base salary or rate of pay and any benefits or
other forms of compensation not
31
provided in the ordinary course of business
for the preceding twelve months. Except
as set forth on Schedule 6.18(a), all employees and independent
contractors may be terminated at will by Company. To the Knowledge of Company, as of the date
of this Agreement no such employee or independent contractor plans to terminate
employment after the Closing Date. Schedule
6.18(a)(1) sets forth a complete and correct list of all employment
agreements or other compensation or benefit arrangements to which Company is a
party other than arrangements with respect to regular salary and wages and any
other commitments (oral or written) made by Company to any employee, agent,
independent contractor or consultant with respect to employment for a specified
duration.
(b) No complaint against Company
has been filed or threatened in writing to be filed with or by any Forum that
regulates labor or employment practices, and there is no grievance filed or to
the Knowledge of Company threatened in writing to be filed against Company by
any employee. There are no controversies
pending or threatened in writing between Company and its employees. Company has complied in all material respects
with all Laws relating to employment, equal employment opportunity,
nondiscrimination, immigration, wages, hours, benefits, collective bargaining,
the payment of social security and similar Taxes, occupational safety and
health, and plant closing. Except as set
forth on Schedule 6.18(b), Company is not delinquent in payments to any
of its employees for any wages, salaries, commissions, bonuses or other direct
compensation for any services performed by them in any capacity to the date
hereof or amounts required to be reimbursed to such employees. Company is not
liable for the payment of any compensation, damages, Taxes, fines, penalties,
or other amounts, however designated, for failure to comply with any of such
Laws. None of the employees of Company
is represented by any union or association and there are no pending or
threatened representational questions or labor disputes concerning any
employees or former employees of Company.
(c) Schedule 6.18(c) sets
forth a complete and correct list of all employee manuals, policies,
procedures, and work related rules of Company, correct and complete copies
of which have been provided to EFX.
Section 6.19 Tax
Matters.
(a) Company has timely filed (or
has timely filed extensions for) all Federal, state, local and foreign tax or
information returns, declarations of estimated tax, tax reports, information
returns and statements (collectively, the Returns)
for all years and periods (and portions thereof) required to be filed by it
prior to the Closing (other than those for which extensions shall have been
granted prior to the Closing) relating to any Taxes with respect to any income,
properties or operations of Company prior to the Closing. All Tax Returns were correct and complete in
all material respects.
(b) Company has paid all Taxes
that have or may have become due pursuant to such Returns or otherwise, or
pursuant to any assessment received and is not delinquent in the payment of any
Taxes. The charges, accruals, and
reserves with respect to Taxes on the Financial Statements and the books of
Company are, and will on the Closing Date be, adequate (determined in
accordance with GAAP) and are, and will on the Closing Date be, at least equal
to the Liability of Company for Taxes.
Except for any Taxes required to be withheld from the Optionholders
pursuant to this Agreement, all Taxes that Company is or was required by any
32
Law to withhold or collect have been duly
withheld or collected and, to the extent required, have been paid to the proper
Government or other Person.
(c) Company has not requested
any extension of time within which to file any Return, which Return has not
since been filed. No claim has ever been
made by an authority in a jurisdiction where Company does not file Tax returns
that it is or may be subject to taxation by that jurisdiction.
(d) Except as set forth on Schedule
6.19(d), Company does not expect any authority to assess any additional
Taxes for any period for which Tax returns have been filed. There is no dispute or claim concerning any
Taxes of Company claimed or raised by any authority in writing. No Tax return of Company currently is the
subject of audit. Company has delivered
to EFX correct and complete copies of all examination reports, and statements
of deficiencies assessed against or agreed to by Company with respect to the
five (5) tax years preceding the date hereof.
(e) Company has not filed a
consent under Section 341(f) of the Code concerning collapsible
corporations. Company has not made any
payments, is not obligated to make any payments, and is not a party to any
agreement that could obligate it, EFX or any of its Affiliates to make any
payments that will not be deductible under Section 280G of the Code. Company has not made any adjustment to income
pursuant to Section 481 of the Code that will be taken into account in any
taxable year ending after the Closing Date.
Company has not been a United States real property holding corporation
within the meaning of Paragraph 897(c)(2) of the Code during the
applicable period specified in Section 897(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the
Code. Company has disclosed on its
federal income tax returns all positions taken therein that could give rise to
a substantial understatement of federal income tax within the meaning of Section 6662
of the Code. Company is not and has never been a party to any Tax
allocation or sharing agreement.
Company (i) has never been a
member of an affiliated group filing a consolidated federal income Tax return,
and (ii) has no Liability for the Taxes of any Person (other than any of
Company ) under Treasury Regulations sections 1.1502-6 (or any similar
provision of state, local, or foreign law), as a transferee or successor, by
contract, or otherwise. Company has not (i) recognized
any gain deferred pursuant to Treasury Regulations section 1.1502-13 or (ii) any
excess loss accounts as determined pursuant to Treasury Regulations sections
1.1502-14 and 1.1502-32. Company has
complied with Treasury Regulation 1.6011-4 and, to the Companys Knowledge, has
not participated in a Reportable Transaction or a Tax Shelter (as such
terms are defined in such Treasury Regulation).
(f) No Tax Lien has been filed
and no deficiency or addition to Taxes, interest or penalties for any Taxes
with respect to any income, properties or operations of Company has been proposed, asserted or assessed in
writing against Company.
(g) Company has not waived any
statutes of limitation in respect of Taxes or agreed to or granted any
extension of time with respect to any Return or other Tax claim with respect to
any income, properties or operations of Company
or a Tax assessment or deficiency.
(h) Company has not at any time
elected to be an S corporation.
(i) Company has not, during the
five-year period preceding the date hereof, been a personal holding company
within the meaning of Section 542 of the Code.
33
Section 6.20 Environmental
Laws. Company (i) is in
compliance in all material respects with all applicable Laws relating to the
protection of human health and safety or emissions, discharges, releases,
threatened releases, removal, remediation or abatement of pollutants,
contaminants, chemicals or industrial, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes
into or in the environment (including air, surface water, ground water or land)
or otherwise used in connection with the manufacture, processing, distribution,
use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of pollutants,
contaminants, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, as defined under such
applicable Laws (Environmental Laws),
(ii) has received all material permits, licenses or other approvals known
by Company to be required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
its Business and (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of
any such permit, license or approval.
Section 6.21 Employee
Benefit Plans; ERISA.
(a) Schedule 6.21 lists all employee benefit plans (the ERISA Plans) within the meaning of Section 3(3) of
the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA), sponsored or maintained by
Company or to which Company contributes or is required to contribute and all
other practices, commitments, arrangements and agreements pursuant to which
Company provides, directly or indirectly, any compensation (other than the
payment of regular salary and wages), bonus, deferred compensation, incentive
compensation, stock ownership, stock purchase, stock option, phantom stock,
vacation, severance, disability, death benefit, hospitalization, insurance, or
other benefits for employees or former employees, directors, consultants,
independent contractors, or leased employees of Company or their dependents
(collectively, with the ERISA Plans, the Employee
Benefit Plans). Company
is not required to contribute, and has never been required to contribute, to
any multi-employer plan within the meaning of Section 3(37)(A) of
ERISA or a multiple employer welfare plan within the meaning of Section 3(40)
of ERISA. Correct and complete copies of
all Employee Benefit Plans, together with related trusts, insurance contracts,
summary plan descriptions, annual reports, actuarial reports, nondiscrimination
documentation and Form 5500 filings for the past three years, have been
made available or] furnished to EFX. Nondiscrimination
documentation refers to any documentation of nondiscrimination testing that
has been prepared for or with respect to an ERISA Plan, including average
deferral percentage testing, average contribution percentage testing, top heavy
testing, and Code Section 410(b) coverage testing. Schedule 6.21 lists (i) each
employee or former employee of the Company, or other beneficiary, who has
elected or is currently eligible to elect continuation coverage under Code Section 4980B
and Part of 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA along with the date and
type of such individuals qualifying event, and (ii) each employee of the
Company who is on a leave of absence (whether or not pursuant to the Family and
Medical Leave Act of 1993, as amended).
(b) Each Employee Benefit Plan
has been operated and administered in all material respects in accordance with
its terms and all applicable Laws, including ERISA and the Code. None of Company or any of its respective
directors, officers, employees or agents, nor to the Knowledge of Company, any party
in interest or disqualified person (as such terms are defined in Section 3(14)
of ERISA and Section 4975 of the Code) has been engaged in or been a party
to any prohibited transaction (as such term is defined in Section 406 of
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code), nor has any such person been involved
in or caused an ERISA Plan to be involved in a breach of fiduciary duty under Section 404
of ERISA that could result in any Liability to the Company, EFX or any ERISA
Affiliate of EFX or of the Company. Each
ERISA
34
Plan that is a group health plan within the
meaning of Section 607(1) of ERISA and Section 4980B of the Code
has complied with and is in material compliance with the continuation coverage
requirements of Section 601 of ERISA
and Section 4980B of the Code.
There are no Actions or audits pending or, to the Knowledge of Company,
threatened, by or against any of the Employee Benefit Plans by any employee or
beneficiary covered under such Employee Benefit Plan, or by any Government or
otherwise involving such Employee Benefit or any of its fiduciaries (other than
for routine claims for benefits).
(c) Except as set forth on Schedule
6.21, there are no and have never been any employee pension benefit plans
as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA covering employees (or former
employees) employed in the United States, maintained or contributed to by
Company or any ERISA Affiliate (as hereinafter defined), or to which Company or
any ERISA Affiliate contributes or is obligated to make payments thereunder or
otherwise may have any liability (collectively, Pension Benefit Plans).
For purposes of this Agreement, ERISA
Affiliate shall mean any person (as defined in Section 3(9) of
ERISA) that is a member of any group of persons described in Sections 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Code, of which Company is a member.
Each Pension Benefit Plan that is intended to be a qualified plan within
the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, the trust
thereunder is exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(a) of
the Code, and each such plan either (i) has received a favorable
determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service and Company is not aware
of any circumstances that have occurred or that are reasonably likely to occur
that could reasonably be expected to result in the revocation of any such
favorable determination letter, or (ii) is within the applicable filing
deadline for submitting a request for such determination letter and is not
aware of any reason why such determination letter would not be issued by the
Internal Revenue Service. All Company
and employee contributions required to be made to each Pension Benefit Plan, if
any, have been made in a timely manner.
Company does not contribute to, nor in the past 5 years has Company or
any ERISA Affiliate contributed to, any Company Pension Plan that is subject to
Title IV of ERISA.
(d) Except for benefits payable
under a Pension Benefit Plan, Company is not bound to provide, and Company does
not provide, benefits, including death, health or medical benefits (whether or
not insured), with respect to current or former employees of Company beyond their retirement or other termination
of service with Company, other than as required by the continuation coverage
requirements of Part 6 of Title I of ERISA and Section 4980B of the
Code and except for continuation of benefits through the end of the month in
which such retirement or termination occurs or as a result of any severance
agreements or arrangements. Neither this
Agreement nor any transaction contemplated hereby will entitle any current or
former employee, officer or director of Company to severance pay, unemployment
compensation or any similar payment.
Except as separately identified on Schedule 6.21(d), the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall not result in an
increase in the amount of compensation or benefits payable to any current or
former employee nor accelerate the vesting or timing of payment of such
compensation or benefits except for the acceleration of Company Options (the
vesting of all of which will accelerate in full at the Effective Time).
(e) Except as set forth on Schedule
6.21(e), each Employee Benefit Plan may be amended, revised or terminated
by Company without penalty or termination fees, other than de minimis
administrative expenses.
35
(f) All contributions or
premiums required to be made on or before the Effective Time by Company under
the terms of each Employee Benefit Plan have been made in a timely fashion in
accordance with all applicable Laws and the terms of the Employee Benefit Plan,
or are shown as a Liability on the Financial Statement.
Section 6.22 Employment;
No Conflicting Agreements. To
the Companys Knowledge, none of the officers of Company is obligated under any
contract (including licenses, covenants, or commitments of any nature) or other
agreement, or subject to any Order of any court or Government, that would
conflict with his or her obligation to use his or her best efforts to promote
the interests of Company or that would conflict with the Business as presently
conducted.
Section 6.23 Transactions
with Related Parties. Except as
set forth on Schedule 6.23, in the past twelve (12) months, (a) Company
has not been a party to any material contract, agreement or lease with, or any
other commitment to, nor has it at any time purchased, leased or otherwise
acquired any material property or obtained any material services from, or sold,
leased or otherwise disposed of any material property or furnished any material
services to (i) any Person Known to the Company to be owning, or formerly
owning, beneficially or of record, directly or indirectly, any of the capital
stock of or other equity interest in Company (or any instrument or right
convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of Company), (ii) any
party Known to the Company to be an Affiliate of such Person, (iii) any
director or officer of Company, (iv) any Person in which the Company Knows
that any of the foregoing Persons has, directly or indirectly, at least a
twenty-five percent (25%) beneficial interest in the capital stock or other
type of equity interest of such Person, (v) any partnership in which the
Company Knows that any of the foregoing Persons is a general partner or has at
least a twenty-five percent (25%) beneficial interest, or (vi) any family
member of any stockholder or any other Person that, directly or indirectly,
alone or together with others, controls, is controlled by or is under common
control with Company or to the Companys Knowledge any Stockholder or any
family member of any stockholder (the Persons listed in this clause (a) being
referred to herein collectively as Affiliated
Persons and individually as an Affiliated Person); (b) Company does not owe any
amount to any Affiliated Person other than in the ordinary course of business;
and (c) no Affiliated Person owes any amount to Company and no part of the
property or assets of any Affiliated Person is used by Company in the conduct
or operation of its business other than in certain cases personal electronic
devices and desktop and laptop computers.
Section 6.24 Absence of
Certain Business Practices. Neither Company nor any of its Affiliates, or
any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, nor any other
Person acting on any of their behalf has, directly or indirectly, within the
past five years given or agreed to give any gift or similar benefit to any
Government employee or other Person who is or may be in a position to help or
hinder the business of Company (or to assist Company in connection with any
actual or proposed transaction) which (a) might subject Company, EFX,
Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their Affiliates, or any of
their respective directors, officers, employees or agents, to any damage or
penalty in any civil, criminal or Governmental action, (b) if not given in
the past, might have had an adverse effect on the business or operations of
Company, or (c) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the
business, operations, cash flows or prospects of Company, or which might
subject Company, EFX, Merger Sub, the Surviving Corporation, or any of their
Affiliates, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees or agent,
to suit or penalty in any private or Governmental action.
36
Section 6.25 Customers
and Suppliers. As of the
date of this Agreement, except as set forth on Schedule 6.25, Company
has not received any notice, and Company does not have any Knowledge, that any
material customer or supplier of Company has taken or contemplates taking, any
steps that could disrupt the business relationship of Company with such
customer or supplier.
Section 6.26 Bank
Accounts. Schedule
6.26 identifies each account that Company maintains or has control with any
financial institution and the identity of the Persons entitled to act on their
behalf in respect thereto.
Section 6.27 Books and
Records.
(a) The books, records and
accounts of Company (i) are accurate and complete in all material respects
and have been maintained in accordance with good business practices on a basis
consistent with prior years, (ii) are stated in reasonable detail and
accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the
respective assets of Company and (iii) accurately and fairly reflect the
basis for the Financial Statements.
(b) Except as set forth on Schedule
6.27, Company has implemented and maintained a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with managements general or specific authorization;
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary (A) to permit preparation
of financial statements in conformity with GAAP consistently applied and (B) to
maintain accountability for assets; and (iii) the amount recorded for
assets on the respective books and records of Company is compared with the
existing assets at reasonable intervals in connection with the preparation of
annual audits of Companys financial statements and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences.
Section 6.28 Directors
and Executive Officers. Schedule
6.28 identifies by name, business address and title, each director and
Executive Officer of Company as of the date of this Agreement.
Section 6.29 Takeover
Statutes and Charter Provisions. No state takeover statutes or charter or
bylaw anti-takeover provisions are applicable to the Merger, this Agreement,
and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby.
Section 6.30 Brokers; No
Existing Discussions. Except as
set forth on and to the extent described in Schedule 6.30, no broker,
finder, financial advisor or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage,
finders or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
Company or its affiliates. Neither
Company nor any of its Representatives is engaged, directly or indirectly, in
any negotiations or discussions with any Person with respect to an Acquisition
Proposal.
ARTICLE
VII. INTENTIONALLY OMITTED
ARTICLE
VIII. REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND COVENANTS OF EFX AND MERGER SUB
As an inducement to Company
to enter into and perform this Agreement, and to consummate the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, EFX and Merger Sub jointly and
37
severally represent and warrant to Company,
and covenant and agree as of the date hereof and again as of the Closing Date,
as follows:
Section 8.1 Organization. EFX is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the
laws of the State of Georgia. Merger Sub is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
Section 8.2 Authorization; No Inconsistent Agreements. Each of EFX and Merger Sub has full corporate
power and authority to make, execute and perform this Agreement and the
Additional Agreements and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the Additional Agreements. This
Agreement and any Additional Agreement and all transactions required hereunder
and thereunder to be performed by EFX and Merger Sub have been duly and validly
authorized and approved by all necessary corporate action on their part prior
to the Closing Date. This Agreement and
each of the Additional Agreements to which EFX or Merger Sub is a party has
been duly and validly executed and delivered on behalf of EFX, and/or Merger
Sub, as the case may be, by its duly authorized officers, and this Agreement
and each of the Additional Agreements to which EFX or Merger Sub is a party
constitutes the valid and binding obligation of EFX and/or Merger Sub, as the
case may be, enforceable, subject to general equity principles, in accordance
with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization or similar Laws affecting the rights of creditors
generally. Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement nor the consummation of the Merger and the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, will constitute a violation or breach of the
articles of incorporation or bylaws of EFX.
Section 8.3 Brokers. No broker,
finder, financial advisor or investment banker is entitled to any brokerage,
finders or other fee or commission in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement based upon arrangements made by or on behalf of
EFX.
Section 8.4 Consents. Except for
HSR Filing and the filing of the Certificate of Merger, the execution and
delivery by EFX and Merger Sub of this Agreement, the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and its performance under or
pursuant to this Agreement, do not require the consent, approval or action of,
or any filing with or notice to, any Government or other Person.
Section 8.5 No Litigation. There is no
Action pending or, threatened, against EFX or Merger Sub, any of its directors,
officers, agents, employees or stockholders which questions the validity of
this Agreement or any action taken or to be taken in connection herewith.
ARTICLE
IX. COVENANTS RELATING TO
CONDUCT OF BUSINESS PENDING CLOSING
Section 9.1 Conduct of Business Pending Closing.
(a) Affirmative
Covenants. Company
covenants and agrees that, except as may otherwise be expressly required or
permitted in this Agreement, without the prior written consent of EFX, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, between the
date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Closing Date or the termination
of this Agreement, the Business will be conducted only in the ordinary and
usual course and consistent with prior practices, without the creation of any
Funded Indebtedness or the creation or sufferance of any Lien on the assets of
Company or on the Business, other than Permitted Liens.
38
Without limiting the generality of the
foregoing, Company covenants, agrees and undertakes as follows:
(i) that the Business shall be
carried out in the ordinary course of business, in a manner consistent with
past practices and the terms and conditions of this Agreement;
(ii) that Company will reasonably
promptly notify of any Material Adverse Change of which it acquires Knowledge;
and;
(iii) that no significant action
or decision affecting or reasonably expected to affect the Business in a
material manner or the capital structure of Company shall be taken without EFXs
prior approval.
(b) Negative
Covenants. Except as
expressly required or permitted by this Agreement, Company will not, during the
period from the date of this Agreement and continuing until the earlier of the
termination of this Agreement or the Effective Time, directly or indirectly do,
or propose to do, any of the following without the prior written consent of
EFX, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned:
(i) cause or permit any
amendments to the Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws;
(ii) create or permit to be
created any Lien on any assets of Company, other than Permitted Liens, or
acknowledge or consent to any Lien on any assets of Company other than
Permitted Liens;
(iii) directly or indirectly,
incur any Funded Indebtedness or assume, guarantee, endorse or otherwise as an
accommodation become responsible for the obligations of any other Person, other
than in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;
(iv) authorize, declare, become
obligated to make or make any dividends or other distributions with respect to
its capital stock, or commit or become obligated to do so;
(v) issue, sell or deliver or
agree or commit to issue, sell or deliver (whether through the issuance or
granting of options, warrants, commitments, subscriptions, rights to purchase
or otherwise) or authorize the issuance, sale or delivery of, or redeem or repurchase,
any stock or other securities of Company, or any rights, warrants or options to
acquire any such stock or other securities (except pursuant to the conversion
or exercise of Company Options or Company Warrants outstanding on the date
hereof), or, except to the extent necessary to give effect to the arrangements
contemplated by Section 4.3,
amend any of the terms of (including the vesting of) any such Company Options;
(vi) change its historical
accounting methods or practices, or prepare its financial statements other than
in accordance with GAAP;
(vii) exercise puts and calls with
respect to any futures contract, derivative or similar financial product and
more generally modify its current portfolio thereof;
39
(viii) take any action which
constitutes a material default under an agreement to which Company is a party
or omit to take such action as may be reasonably required to prevent such a
default;
(ix) acquire, enter into any
binding obligation to acquire, or enter into a letter of intent seeking to
acquire (by merger, consolidation, or acquisition of stock or assets) any
Person or other business organization or division thereof;
(x) sell, pledge, dispose of or
encumber any assets of Company other than granting or suffering a Permitted
Lien, or sell, assign, transfer, license or grant to any Person any rights to
the Intellectual Property Rights of Company, in any case other than in the
ordinary course of business;
(xi) fail to maintain its books,
accounts and records in accordance with its current business practices;
(xii) fail to take all
commercially reasonable actions to maintain in full force and effect all its
insurance currently in effect;
(xiii) increase the compensation
payable or to become payable to any director, officer or employee of, or
consultant to, Company, or make any bonus, profit sharing payment or other
arrangement (whether current or deferred), or loans or advances (other than
advances for travel and business expenses incurred in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with Companys written policies related thereto)
and with any director, officer or
employee of, or consultant to, Company that will be effective following the
Effective Date other than the bonuses set forth on Schedule 9.1(b)(xiii);
(xiv) hire or agree to hire any
officer, director or employee, or retain or agree to retain any consultant or
agent, in each case, at a salary or fee in excess of US $100,000, or terminate
any existing employment, severance, consulting or other compensation agreement
or arrangement, or enter into any employment, change of control or severance
agreement or adopt a plan or policy effecting any of the same;
(xv) enter into, terminate or
amend any material contract or agreement to which Company is a party, other
than in the ordinary course of business;
(xvi) authorize any capital
expenditures or purchase of fixed assets in excess of $50,000 per transaction
and outside of the ordinary course of business;
(xvii) pay, discharge, settle or
satisfy any claims, litigation or any Lien, in each case, involving amounts in
excess of $25,000 or in the ordinary course of business;
(xviii) establish, adopt, enter into
or amend any collective bargaining, bonus, profit sharing, thrift, compensation,
stock option, restricted stock, pension, retirement, deferred compensation,
welfare, employee benefit, employment, termination, severance or other plan,
agreement, trust, fund, policy or arrangement for the benefit of any current or
former directors, officers or employees, except, in each case, as may be
required by Law and except as set forth on Schedule 9.1(b)(xiii); or
(xix) enter into or amend any
contract, agreement, commitment or arrangement to effect any of the matters
prohibited by this Section 9.1(b) or
take any
40
other action which could
reasonably be expected to materially alter the organization, capitalization, or
financial structure, practices or operations of Company or the Business.
Section 9.2 No Solicitation of Third Party Interest. From and after the date hereof until the
earlier of (i) the Closing Date or (ii) the date of termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Article 14
(the Termination Date),
Company agrees that it shall not, and shall use commercially reasonable efforts
to cause its stockholders, officers, directors, employees and agents not to,
directly or indirectly, (a) negotiate or discuss with any other Person
(other than the Companys stockholders, officers, directors, employees, agents
and advisors) the terms contained in this Agreement, or any of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, (b) negotiate with any other Person any
other transaction involving a merger of Company, or the sale of all or any of
the capital stock of Company, any issuance of capital stock of Company, or the
issuance of any securities or rights, or the entry into any contract,
convertible into or exchangeable for, capital stock of Company, or the sale of
all or a material portion of the assets of Company, or any other business
combination involving Company, (c) reveal the terms of this Agreement to
any Person except to the extent necessary for the express purpose of carrying
out the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or any Additional
Agreement, or (d) solicit, encourage, consider, entertain, negotiate,
discuss or accept any offer, bid or proposal from any other Person respecting
any transaction involving a merger of Company, the sale of any of the shares in
Company, the sale of any assets of Company, or any other business combination
involving Company (an Acquisition
Proposal). If any
Acquisition Proposal is received prior to the Termination Date, then Company
will immediately notify EFX of the receipt of such proposal.
ARTICLE
X. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
Section 10.1 Access and
Inspection. Company
will provide EFX, Merger Sub and their respective Representatives reasonable
access (at reasonable times, and in a manner so as not to interfere with the
normal business operations of Company) during normal business hours from and
after the date of this Agreement until the Closing, to Company, its employees
and agents, and its books and records (including the right to make copies and
extracts), and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts, as may be
reasonably agreed by Company, to provide access to the customers and suppliers
of Company (provided that the subject matter and purpose of any contact with
customers and suppliers will be fully disclosed in advance and one
representative of the Company will be permitted to be present for and
participate in any such contact), and will furnish any and all information
concerning Company as EFX may reasonably request, in each case, for purposes
consistent with the terms of this Agreement.
Company shall not provide any other Person with similar access or
information between the date of this Agreement and the earlier of the Closing
Date or the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Article 14. No investigation made before or after the
date of this Agreement by or on behalf of EFX will limit or affect in any way
the representations, warranties, covenants, conditions, agreements and
indemnities of Company and any Stockholders or any holders of Company Options
under or pursuant to this Agreement or any other written agreement by or among
some or all of the parties to this Agreement and any or all of Stockholders,
each of which will survive any investigation.
All information obtained pursuant to this Section 10.1 shall be subject to the confidentiality
provisions of the LOI.
Section 10.2 Cooperation. The parties will cooperate fully with each
other and with their respective Representatives in connection with any steps
required to be taken as part of their
41
respective obligations under this Agreement
or reasonably related thereto, and all parties will use their commercially
reasonable efforts to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and to fulfill their obligations under this Agreement, including
causing to be fulfilled at the earliest practical date the conditions precedent
to the obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger and the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
Without the prior written consent of the other parties, no party to this
Agreement may take any intentional actions, or intentionally omit to take any
actions, that could reasonably be expected to cause the conditions precedent to
the obligations of the parties to this Agreement not to be fulfilled.
Section 10.3 Expenses. All expenses incurred by EFX and Merger Sub
in connection with the negotiations among the parties, and the authorization,
preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement, the Additional
Agreements and the documents, agreements and instruments and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including all fees and expenses of their
Representatives, will be paid by EFX. To
the extent any expenses incurred by Company (on or prior to the Closing Date)
in connection with the negotiations among the parties, and the authorization,
preparation, execution and performance of this Agreement, the Additional
Agreements and the documents, agreements and instruments and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including all fees and expenses of their
Representatives for which the Company may have Liability are not paid by the
Stockholders, the Optionholders and the Warrantholders on or prior to the
Closing Date (such unpaid expenses the Transaction
Expenses) will be paid as set forth in Section 5.2(c).
Section 10.4 Publicity. Except to the extent required by applicable
Law, the listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ or any
other stock exchange, or the requirements of any other regulatory authority,
prior to the Effective Time all press releases and other public announcements
respecting the subject matter of this Agreement or any Additional Agreement
will be made only with the mutual agreement of Company and EFX, which agreement
will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, each party hereto will ensure that neither it nor any of its
Representatives issues any press release or other public announcement or
otherwise discloses the existence or terms of this Agreement or the pendency of
any transaction between the Company and EFX to any third party prior to the
lapse or irrevocable waiver by EFX of the termination right set forth in Section 14.1(a).
Section 10.5 Stockholder
Approval. Company
shall obtain, as promptly as practicable, stockholder approval of this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby (the Requisite Stockholder Approval) either
at a special meeting of stockholders or pursuant to a written stockholder
consent, all in accordance with the applicable requirements of the DGCL, the
Certificate of Incorporation, and the Bylaws.
In connection with such special meeting of stockholders or written
stockholder consent, Company shall provide to its stockholders a written proxy
or consent statement which includes (i) a copy of this Agreement and (ii) a
statement that Stockholders are or may be entitled to assert dissenters rights
under Section 262 of the DGCL and a copy of Section 262 of the
DGCL. If the Requisite Stockholder
Approval is obtained by means of a written consent, Company shall comply with
the Bylaws, its Certificate of Incorporation and Section 228 of and other
applicable provisions of the DGCL, including DGCL Sections 222 or 229, as
applicable, and shall promptly inform EFX of the date on which such notice was
sent or waived. Company shall include in
the proxy or written consent the unanimous recommendation of its Board of
Directors that the Stockholders vote in favor of
42
the adoption of this Agreement and the
approval of the Merger. Company shall
also use its commercially reasonable efforts to have any contract, agreement or
other arrangement, including any entered into in connection with this
Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, that may
result in a parachute payment under the federal Tax Laws, approved by such
percentage of Companys outstanding voting securities as is required by the
terms of Section 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code, and to cause such
stockholder approval to have been obtained in a manner which satisfies all
applicable requirements of Section 280G(b)(5)(B) of the Code and the
proposed Treasury Regulations thereunder, including Q/A-7 of Section 1.280G-1
of such proposed regulations.
Section 10.6 Certain
Governmental Filings. The parties
will make, or cause to be made, all filings and submissions required to be made
to any Government in connection with the transactions contemplated by or
resulting from this Agreement. Each of
the parties will furnish to the other parties any and all necessary information
and reasonable assistance as another party may reasonably request in connection
with its preparation of necessary filings or submissions to any Government.
Section 10.7 State
Takeover Laws. If any fair
price, business combination, or control share acquisition statute or other
similar statute or regulation shall become applicable to the transactions
contemplated hereby, EFX and Company and their respective boards of directors
shall use their commercially reasonable efforts to grant such approvals and
take such actions as are necessary so that the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby may be consummated as promptly as practicable on the terms
contemplated hereby and thereby and otherwise act to minimize the effects of
any such statute or regulation on the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby.
Section 10.8 Employees.
(a) Company
Employee Benefit Plans. EFX
intends to continue, or cause the Surviving Corporation to continue, each of
the employee benefit plans that the Company has in effect at the Effective Time
and that are specified on Schedule 10.8(a) (the Continuing Employee Benefit Plans)
through December 31, 2009; provided,
however, EFX, in its sole discretion, may continue, amend or
terminate each such plan at such time as it determines.
(b) EFX
Employee Benefit Plans. Each
person employed by the Company prior to the Effective Time who remains an
employee of the Surviving Corporation immediately following the Effective Time
(each a Continued Employee)
will generally be entitled to participate in:
(i) the Equifax Inc. 401(k) Plan
(the Equifax 401(k) Plan),
effective January 1, 2010;
(ii) the EFX vacation policy
beginning January 1, 2010; provided, however, if Continued Employees have
an accrued vacation balance under the Company vacation policy as of December 31,
2009, fifty percent (50%) of such balance shall be paid out in a cash, lump sum
payment during January, 2010, and the remaining fifty percent (50%) of the
accrued vacation balance shall be rolled over to be used under the EFX vacation
policy during 2010. As of January 1,
2010, Continued Employees will accrue, use, and carry over vacation only in
accordance with the EFX vacation policy; and
43
(iii) the other employee benefit
plans of EFX and its Affiliates that are generally available to similarly
situated employees of EFX and its Affiliates, effective after the Continued
Employee ceases to be covered by the Continuing Employee Benefit Plans.
All such participation will be subject to and
contingent on compliance with the terms of such plans as may be in effect from
time to time.
(c) Service
Crediting. EFX agrees
that to the extent that Continued Employees become participants in:
(i) the Equifax 401(k) Plan,
such employees will receive credit under such plan for service prior to the
Effective Time with the Company (and any predecessor entity) for purposes of
vesting of any EFX employer contributions, but for purposes of determining the
employees eligibility for, and amount of, the EFX employer contributions, such
employees service will be measured from the Effective Time and will not
include any service with the Company prior to the Effective Time;
(ii) any severance plan
maintained by EFX, the Continued Employees will not receive credit under such
plan for service prior to the Effective Time with the Company (and any
predecessor entity) unless and until such Continued Employees have completed
three years of service with EFX and its Affiliates commencing as of the
Effective Time. As of the third
anniversary of the Effective Time, or such later date when a Continued Employee
completes three years of service with EFX, such employee shall receive credit
for prior service with the Company for purpose of calculation of severance
benefits under the EFX severance plan.
Notwithstanding the above, EFX will assume the severance agreements for
those Continued Employees listed on Schedule 10.8(c)(ii), and such
employees shall not be eligible for any benefits under any EFX severance pay
plan, policy or other arrangement unless and until an EFX severance arrangement
provides greater total benefits, at which time, such employee will be entitled
to participate in the EFX severance arrangement if (A) such employee
agrees to the termination of the pre-existing agreement that was assumed by EFX
as of the Effective Time, and (b) the substitution of benefits under the
EFX severance arrangement is permitted under Code Section 409A without
adverse tax consequences;
(iii) the EFX vacation policy,
such Continued Employees shall receive credit for prior service with the
Company for purposes of calculation of vacation benefits; and
(iv) any medical, dental or health
plan sponsored or maintained by EFX and its Affiliates, such Continued
Employees (A) will not have to satisfy any applicable waiting periods or
pre-existing condition exclusions (except to the extent such exclusions were
applicable under a corresponding Company Employee Benefit Plan at the Effective
Time and assuming the applicable Continued Employee was enrolled prior to the
Effective Time in a Company-sponsored medical, dental or health plan), and (B) will
receive credit for any deductibles and co-payments applied or made with respect
to each Continued Employee or his or her spouse or dependents in the plan year
in which the Continued Employee becomes a participant of such EFX plan, unless
the Continued Employee becomes a participant in the EFX plan at the beginning
of the plan year for such EFX plan.
44
Section 10.9 Directors
and Officers Insurance.
Subject to the payment of any required premium as a Transaction Expense,
after the Effective Time EFX shall cause the Surviving Corporation to maintain
in effect in accordance with its terms the primary directors and officers
liability insurance tail policy purchased in connection with the Merger.
Section 10.10 Company
Updates.
(a) Obligation. At any time prior to the Closing, Company may
provide EFX with written updates to the Disclosure Schedules, including in
connection with the certificate referred to in Section 11.1(e) (each, an Update). The Company shall provide to EFX such
information as EFX may reasonably request in order to review any matter
disclosed in any Update. The delivery of
an Update with respect to any breach of representation and warranty existing
but not yet Known by Seller as of the date of this Agreement shall not cure or
otherwise be deemed a waiver of such breach of a representation or warranty to
the extent such representation or warranty is not qualified by Companys
Knowledge. To the extent any
representation or warranty affected by any matter disclosed in an Update is
qualified by Companys Knowledge, then such Update shall not cure or otherwise
be deemed a waiver of any prior breach of such representation or warranty as of
the date of this Agreement if the Company had Knowledge of the relevant matter
as of the date of this Agreement. The
delivery of an Update may, at EFXs election, delay the Closing by three (3) Business
Days.
(b) Consequences. If an Update discloses a matter that
constitutes a breach of representation or warranty first occurring after the
date of this Agreement, the Update may be accompanied by a grant by Company to
EFX of the right to treat such matter as a failure of the closing condition set
forth in Section 11.1(m) at
EFXs written election to Company to do so within two (2) Business Days
thereof. If EFX does not elect to
exercise such right within such two (2) Business Day period, the EFX
Indemnitees shall forfeit any right to make a claim for Indemnified Losses
arising as a result thereof. If EFX
elects to exercise such right, then EFX shall have no obligation to consummate
the Merger for so long as such breach remains uncured. If the Update does not contain a grant by
Company to EFX of the right to treat such matter as a failure of such
condition, the EFX Indemnitees shall be entitled to assert a claim for
Indemnified Losses related thereto and the Securityholders Representative
shall have no right to challenge or object to the right to indemnity and the
liability of the Securityholders therefor pursuant to Article 12 but shall have the right to
dispute the amount of any Indemnified Losses related thereto in accordance with
Article 12 (but need not do
so).
Section 10.11 Additional
Covenants. The parties
shall take such additional actions as may be set forth on Exhibit I.
ARTICLE
XI. CONDITIONS PRECEDENT
TO CLOSING
Section 11.1 Conditions
to Obligations of EFX and Merger Sub to Close. The obligations of EFX and Merger Sub under
this Agreement to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment and satisfaction of each and
every one of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing, any or all of
which may be waived in writing in whole or in part by EFX:
(a) Delivery of
Documents and Completion of Actions. All documents required to be delivered or
actions required to be taken by the Company and Securityholders Representative
pursuant to Section 5.2(a) shall
have been delivered or taken.
45
(b) Representations
and Warranties. Subject to Article 14, each of the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in any
certificate delivered by or on behalf of, or in respect of the Company that is
not qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change shall have been true
and correct in all respects as of the date when made and on the Closing Date as
though made again at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date, in which case such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date),
except for inaccuracies of representations or warranties that first arise after
the date of this Agreement and the circumstances giving rise thereto,
individually or in the aggregate, do not constitute and could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, and each of the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in any
certificate delivered by or on behalf of, or in respect of, the Company that is
qualified by materiality or Material Adverse Change shall have been true and
correct in all respects as of the date when made and on the Closing Date as
though made again at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date, in which case such
representations and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date),
except for inaccuracies of representations or warranties that first arise after
the date of this Agreement and the circumstances giving rise thereto,
individually or in the aggregate, do not constitute and could not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(c) Compliance
with Covenants and Conditions. Company shall have performed and complied in
all material respects with all covenants and agreements required by this
Agreement to be performed or complied with prior to or on the Closing Date,
except that the covenants set forth in Section 9.1(b) and
9.2 shall have been performed and complied with in all respects.
(d) Requisite
Stockholder Approval; Record Date. This Agreement, the Merger and the
transactions contemplated herein shall have been approved and adopted by the
affirmative vote (in person, by proxy or by consent) of the holders of at least
seventy-five percent (75%) of the Common Stock measured as of the date of this
Agreement. Company shall take all steps
as are necessary to establish as the record date for Stockholders entitled to
vote upon the Merger a date no later than the first Business Day after the date
of this Agreement.
(e) Closing
Certificates. Company
will have delivered to EFX certificates, executed by their appropriate officers
or other Representative, dated as of the Closing Date, certifying on behalf of
the Company as to the fulfillment and satisfaction of the conditions specified
in Sections 11.1(b) and 11.1(c).
(f) Government
Consents. EFX, Merger
Sub and Company shall have received all material authorizations, consents and
approvals of any Government listed on Schedule 11.1(f), all such
authorizations, consents and approvals shall be in full force and effect, and
all notices required to be given to any Government shall have been given and
all applicable waiting periods shall have expired.
(g) Consents. Company shall have delivered to EFX on or
before the Closing Date all registrations, permits, filings, applications,
notices, consents, approvals, orders, qualifications, and authorizations of all
Persons identified on Schedule 11.1(g), and none of such authorizations,
consents or approvals shall be subject to any restrictions or conditions that
require any payment to the consenting or approving party by EFX or Company
(except for immaterial
46
administrative charges) that materially
adversely affect the Business, the assets, properties, liabilities, results of
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Business.
(h) Resolutions. EFX and Merger Sub shall have received duly
adopted resolutions of the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Company,
certified by the Secretary of Company, authorizing and approving the execution
of and adopting this Agreement and all other documents executed by them, and
the taking of any and all other actions necessary for Company to comply with
the terms hereof and to consummate the Merger and the transactions contemplated
in this Agreement.
(i) No
Inconsistent Requirements. No
Action will have been commenced by any Government or Person seeking to enjoin
or prohibit the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Additional
Agreement.
(j) No
Injunction. No Order by
any Forum of competent jurisdiction or Government which prohibits the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement will have been
issued and remain in effect on the Closing Date.
(k) Transaction
Expenses Certificate. One
Business Day prior to Closing, EFX shall have received a certificate in form
and substance satisfactory to EFX and executed by Companys Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer on behalf of the Company, setting forth and
certifying Companys aggregate unpaid Liability for Transaction Expenses
through the Closing Date, which shall be accompanied by such supporting
information and calculations as are reasonably necessary for EFX to verify and
determine such amount as of the Closing Date (the Transaction Expenses Certificate).
(l) Funded
Indebtedness Certificate. One
Business Day prior to Closing, EFX shall have received a certificate in form
and substance satisfactory to EFX and executed by Companys Chief Executive
Officer or Chief Financial Officer, setting forth and certifying Companys
aggregate Funded Indebtedness as of the Closing Date, which shall be
accompanied by such supporting information and calculations as are necessary
for EFX to verify and determine such amount as of the Closing Date (the Funded Indebtedness Certificate).
(m) Granted
Right.
There shall have been no Updates
delivered by the Company pursuant to which the Company has granted to EFX the
right to treat such matter as a failure of the closing condition set forth in
this Section 11.1(m) at
EFXs written election to Company to do so within two (2) Business Days
thereof; or the Company shall have granted such a right and EFX shall have not
so elected within two (2) Business Days thereof.
(n) Material
Adverse Change. No Material Adverse Change shall have occurred.
(o) Customers
and Data. The Company shall not have received after the date of this
Agreement written communications (including electronic transmissions) from
customers clearly indicating that such customers are taking steps that would
result in a reduction of revenue for the Company from such customers in the
twelve month period ended September 30, 2010, where such reduction is
equal to or in excess of ten percent (10%) of the Companys revenue for the
trailing twelve month period ended September 30, 2009. The Company shall not have received after the
date of this Agreement written communications (including electronic
transmissions) from contributors of Data that such contributors are taking
steps that would result in a reduction of such contributors contribution of
Data to the Company such that if the Data
47
that
would be lost by such reduction had not been contributed to the June 2009
edition of the Companys Retail Assets Database (the June Edition),
the resulting June Edition would have contained less than eighty-five
percent (85%) of the Data actually contained in the June Edition. Any rescission of the relevant substance of
any written communications described in this Section 11.1(o) shall
restore the parties hereto to the status quo ante
and such communications shall be deemed not to have occurred for purposes of
this Section 11.1(o).
Section 11.2 Conditions
to Obligations of Company to Close. The obligations of Company under this
Agreement to consummate the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement are subject to the fulfillment and satisfaction of each and
every one of the following conditions on or prior to the Closing, any or all of
which may be waived in writing in whole or in part by Company:
(a) Delivery of
Documents and Completion of Actions. All documents required to be delivered or
actions required to be taken by EFX and Merger Sub pursuant to Section 5.2(b) shall have been
delivered or taken.
(b) Representations
and Warranties. Each of the
representations and warranties contained in this Agreement and in any
certificate delivered by or on behalf of, or in respect of, EFX and Merger Sub
in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have
been true and correct as of the date when made and on the Closing Date as
though made again at and as of the Closing Date (except to the extent such
representations and warranties speak as of an earlier date, in which case such representations
and warranties shall be true and correct as of such date).
(c) Compliance
with Covenants and Conditions. EFX and Merger Sub shall have performed and
complied in all material respects with all covenants, agreements and conditions
required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by them prior to or
on the Closing Date.
(d) Closing
Certificates. EFX and
Merger Sub will have delivered to Company certificates, executed by their
appropriate officers or other Representatives, dated as of the Closing,
certifying in such detail as Company may request as to the fulfillment and
satisfaction of the conditions specified in Sections
11.2(b) and 11.2(c).
(e) Government
Consents. Company
shall have received all authorizations, consents and approvals of any
Government necessary for the execution, delivery and performance by Company of
this Agreement, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated hereby, all
such authorizations, consents and approvals shall be in full force and effect,
and all notices required to be given to any Government shall have been given
and all applicable waiting periods shall have expired.
(f) No
Injunction. No Order or
other order by any Forum of competent jurisdiction or Government which
prohibits the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
will have been issued and remain in effect on the Closing Date.
48
ARTICLE
XII. INDEMNIFICATION
Section 12.1 Indemnification Obligations.
(a) On and after the Effective
Time and in accordance with and subject to the further provisions of this Article 12, the Securityholders, in
consideration of their receipt of any consideration and as a material and
essential inducement to EFX and Merger Sub (each, a Seller Indemnitor, and collectively,
the Seller Indemnitors)
to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the Merger, will indemnify and
hold harmless EFX and its Affiliates (which shall include with effect from the
Closing, Company) and their respective officers, directors, agents and
employees (collectively, EFX Indemnitees),
from and against and in respect of any and all loss, damage, liability, cost
and expense, including reasonable attorneys fees and amounts paid in
settlement in accordance herewith (collectively, the EFX Indemnified Losses), suffered or
incurred by any one or more of the Indemnitees by reason of, or arising out of,
without duplication:
(i) any breach of
representation, breach of warranty or breach or nonfulfillment of any agreement
of Company (without regard to any materiality or Material Adverse Change
qualifications contained therein for the purposes of establishing the magnitude
of a breach) in any case contained in this Agreement or in any other
certificate delivered to EFX by or on behalf of Company at the Closing pursuant
to the provisions of this Agreement;
(ii) the matters set forth in Section A of Exhibit I ; and
(iii) any exercise of dissenters
rights pursuant to Section 262 of the DGCL (in which case EFX shall be entitled
to recover the amount by which the fair value of any Dissenting Share as
finally determined pursuant to the DGCL together with all expenses arising out
of the determination, adjudication or settlement of such claims exceeds the consideration
otherwise payable with respect thereto pursuant to Section 4.1.
(b) In accordance with and
subject to the further provisions of this Article 12,
EFX and Merger Sub, as a material and essential inducement to Company and the
Securityholders (each, an EFX Indemnitor,
and collectively, the EFX Indemnitors
and together with the Seller Indemnitors, the Indemnitors) to enter into this Agreement and to
consummate the Merger, will, jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless
the Securityholders and their respective Affiliates and their respective
officers, directors, managers, members, agents and employees (collectively, Seller Indemnitees and together with
the EFX Indemnitees, the Indemnitees),
from and against and in respect of any and all loss, damage, liability, cost
and expense, including reasonable attorneys fees and amounts paid in
settlement as set forth herein (collectively, the Seller Indemnified Losses and together
with the EFX Indemnified Losses, the Indemnified
Losses), suffered or incurred by any one or more of the Seller
Indemnitees by reason of, or arising out of, any breach of representation,
breach of warranty in Article 8
or breach or nonfulfillment of any agreement of EFX or Merger Sub (without
regard to any materiality or Material Adverse Change qualifications contained
therein) in any case contained in this Agreement or in any other certificate
delivered to Company, the Stockholders, the Optionholders or the Warrantholders
by or on behalf of EFX or Merger Sub at the Closing pursuant to the provisions
of this Agreement.
49
Section 12.2 Indemnification
Claims; Payment.
(a) EFX
Indemnification Claims; Payments.
(i) In order to seek
indemnification under this Article 12,
an EFX Indemnitee shall give written notification (a Claim Notice) to the Securityholders
Representative on behalf of the Seller Indemnitors which contains (i) a
description and the amount (the Claimed
Amount) of any EFX Indemnified Loss incurred or reasonably expected
to be incurred by the EFX Indemnitee, (ii) a statement that the EFX
Indemnitee believes it is entitled to indemnification under this Article 12 for such EFX Indemnified
Loss and an explanation in reasonable detail of the basis therefor, and (iii) a
demand for payment (in the manner provided in paragraph (b) below) in the
amount of such EFX Indemnified Loss. The
EFX Indemnitee shall also deliver a copy of the Claim Notice to the Escrow
Agent. Such Claim Notice shall be given
reasonably promptly after becoming aware that the fact or circumstance known
may reasonably be expected to give rise to a claim for indemnification
hereunder.
(ii) Within 30 days after
delivery of a Claim Notice (as determined pursuant to Section 15.1), the Securityholders
Representative shall deliver to the EFX Indemnitee a written response (a Response) in which the Securityholders
Representative shall either: (A) agree
that the EFX Indemnitee is entitled to receive all of the Claimed Amount, in
which case EFX, the EFX Indemnitee and the Securityholders Representative
shall deliver to the Escrow Agent, within 2 Business Days following the receipt
of such Response, a written notice executed by such parties instructing the
Escrow Agent to disburse the Claimed Amount to EFX, (B) agree that the EFX
Indemnified Party is entitled to receive part, but not all, of the Claimed
Amount (the Agreed Amount
and the balance not agreed to being referred to as the Disputed Amount), in which case EFX,
the EFX Indemnitee and the Securityholders Representative shall deliver to the
Escrow Agent, within two (2) Business Days following the receipt of such
Response, a written notice executed by such parties instructing the Escrow
Agent to disburse the Agreed Amount to EFX, or (C) dispute that the EFX
Indemnitee is entitled to receive any of the Claimed Amount (also referred to
herein as a Disputed Amount). In the event that any Disputed Amount exists
pursuant to (B) or (C) of the preceding sentence, the EFX Indemnitees
shall be entitled to proceed against the Escrow Fund in accordance with the
Escrow Agreement for any Disputed Amount only after it has been finally
determined that the EFX Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant to
this Article 12 with respect
to such Disputed Amount. No Disputed
Amount shall be released by the Escrow Agent to EFX or the Securityholders
until such final determination.
(b) Seller
Indemnification Claims; Payments.
(i) In order to seek
indemnification under this Article 12,
the Securityholders Representative shall deliver written notification (the Securityholders Claim Notice) to the
EFX Indemnitor which contains (i) a description and the amount (the Securityholders Claimed Amount) of
any Seller Indemnified Loss incurred or reasonably expected to be incurred by
the Seller Indemnitee, (ii) a statement that the Seller Indemnitee
believes it is entitled to indemnification under this Article 12 for such Seller Indemnified
Loss and a reasonable explanation of the basis therefor, and (iii) a
demand for payment (in the manner provided in paragraph (b) below) in the
amount of such Seller Indemnified Loss.
Such Claim Notice shall be given promptly after becoming aware of the
fact or circumstance giving rise to such claim for indemnification.
50
(ii) Within 30 days after
delivery of a Securityholders Claim Notice (as determined pursuant to Section 15.1), the EFX Indemnitor
shall deliver to the Securityholders Representative a Response in which the
EFX Indemnitor shall: (A) agree that the Seller Indemnitee is entitled to
receive all of the Securityholders Claimed Amount, in which case the EFX
Indemnitor shall pay the Securityholders Claimed Amount to the Securityholders
Representative, on behalf of the Securityholders, within two (2) Business
Days following the receipt of the Response, (B) agree that the Seller
Indemnified Party is entitled to receive part, but not all, of the
Securityholders Claimed Amount (the Securityholders
Agreed Amount, and the balance not agreed to being referred to
as the Securityholders
Disputed Amount) in which
case the EFX Indemnitor shall pay the Securityholders Agreed Amount to the
Securityholders Representative, on behalf of the Securityholders, within two (2) Business
Days following the receipt of the Response, or (C) dispute that the Seller
Indemnitee is entitled to receive any of the Securityholders Claimed Amount
(also referred to herein as a Securityholders
Disputed Amount). In the
event that any Securityholders Disputed Amount exists pursuant to (B) or (C) of
the preceding sentence, the Seller Indemnitees shall be entitled to receive
payment for any Securityholders Disputed Amount only after it has been finally
determined that the Seller Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification pursuant
to this Article 12 with respect to such Securityholders Disputed Amount.
Section 12.3 Defense of Claims.
(a) If any Action by a third
party arises after the Closing for which Indemnitors may be liable pursuant to
this Article 12, then the
Indemnitees will notify Indemnitors in accordance with the provisions of this Article 12 and this Agreement, and
will permit Indemnitors:
(i) to conduct and control any
proceedings or negotiations in connection with the Action and necessary or
appropriate to defend the Indemnitees;
(ii) to take all other required
steps or proceedings to settle or defend any Action; and
(iii) to employ counsel reasonably
acceptable to Indemnitees to contest any Action in the name of the Indemnitees
or otherwise.
Subject
to Section 12.1(a) and Section 12.1(b), the expenses of all proceedings,
contests or lawsuits with respect to the Actions conducted by Indemnitors
pursuant to Section 12.3(a) will be
borne by Indemnitors.
(b) Notwithstanding Section 12.3(a), if (A) the
Action for which the Indemnitees are entitled to indemnification pursuant to
this Article 12 could
reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect Indemnitees and their
respective Affiliates other than as a result of monetary damages for which it
would be entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (B) the Action
seeks monetary damages of at least ten percent (10%) more than the amount then
held in the Escrow Fund that is not the subject of a Disputed Claim or subject
to an Agreed Amount not yet disbursed, (C) the Action seeks and there is a
meaningful likelihood of equitable relief, or (D) it is an Action (other
than an Action related to the matters described in Section 12.1(a)(ii)) brought or initiated by a
Government, an Indemnitee may, by notice to the Indemnitors, assume the right
to defend such Action in a reasonably appropriate manner. The
51
Indemnitors shall be obligated to bear the
reasonable legal fees, costs and expenses of that defense, judgment or
settlement, but shall not be required to bear the cost of more than one counsel
for Indemnitees.
(c) If Indemnitors do not assume
the defense of, or if after so assuming the Indemnitors fail to defend, any
Action related to an Indemnified Loss, then the Indemnitees may defend against
any such Action in a reasonably appropriate manner and the Indemnitees may
settle any such Action on the terms they deem appropriate, subject to the prior
written consent of the Indemnitors if the Indemnitees have assumed the defense
thereof in accordance with Section 12.3(b),
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, and
Indemnitors will promptly reimburse the Indemnitees for the amount of all
expenses, legal and otherwise, reasonably and necessarily incurred by the
Indemnitees in connection with the defense against and settlement of any such
Action, but shall not be required to bear the cost of more than one counsel for
Indemnitees. If no settlement of any
such Action is made, Indemnitors will satisfy any judgment rendered with
respect to any claim or in any such Action for which the Indemnitees are
entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article 12
before any deadline for the Indemnitees to do so, and pay all expenses, legal
or otherwise, reasonably and necessarily incurred by the Indemnitees in the
defense of any such Action, but shall not be required to bear the cost of more
than one counsel for Indemnitees.
(d) If a judgment is rendered
against any of the Indemnitees or any Lien in respect of any judgment attaches
to any of the assets of any of the Indemnitees, in either case in any Action
for which the Indemnitees are entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article 12, Indemnitors will
immediately upon any entry or attachment pay the relevant judgment in full or
discharge the relevant Lien unless, at the expense and direction of
Indemnitors, an appeal is taken under which the execution of the judgment or
satisfaction of the Lien is stayed. If
and when a final judgment is rendered in any such Action, Indemnitors will
forthwith satisfy any judgment or discharge any Lien before the Indemnitees is
compelled to do so.
(e) Any notice required to be
given to Indemnitors pursuant to Section 12.3(a)(i) shall
be given as soon as is reasonably practicable but in no event later than five
Business Days before the answer or other response to the Action is required to
be made. Indemnitors shall assume the
defense of any Action, if at all, by notice to Indemnitees given as promptly as
is practicable, but in no event later than two Business Days prior to the date
by which an answer or other response to the Action is required to be made. Indemnitors failure to notify Indemnitees as
contemplated by this Article 12
shall be conclusively deemed an election by Indemnitors not to assume such
defense. Any failure by Indemnitees to
give the requisite notice as contemplated by this Article 12 will not relieve Indemnitors of the obligation
to indemnify Indemnitees pursuant to this Article 12
except if the defense of any Action is materially prejudiced by the delay.
(f) The Indemnitors or the
Indemnitees, as appropriate, to the extent that the defense of such Action was
not undertaken or assumed pursuant to Section 12.3
by such Indemnitor or Indemnitee, as appropriate, shall have the right to
participate in the defense of any Action related to an Indemnified Loss at its
sole cost and expense and the cost and expense of that participation shall not
be an Indemnified Loss.
(g) The Securityholders
Representative shall have full power and authority on behalf of each
Securityholder to take any and all actions on behalf of, execute any and all
52
instruments on behalf of, and execute or
waive any and all rights of, Securityholders under this Article 12. The Securityholders Representative shall
have no liability to any Securityholder for any action taken or omitted on
behalf of Securityholders pursuant to this Article 12.
Section 12.4 Limitation
on Liability. Any and all
claims for EFX Indemnified Losses made pursuant to Article 12 of this Agreement shall be satisfied solely
out of the Indemnity Portion of the Escrow Fund (which includes interest and
earnings thereon).
Section 12.5 Threshold. Other than in respect of claims subject to Section 12.9 or those pursuant to Section 12.1(a) relating to a
breach of the representations and warranties set forth in Sections 6.1, 6.2, 6.4, 6.15 (solely as to the Companys title and
absence of Liens), 6.19, 6.21 and
9.1(b), or any claim relating to the matters set forth in Section (a)(4) on Exhibit I (as to which the deductible set forth in
this Section 12.5 shall be
inapplicable), the Seller Indemnitors shall have no obligation to indemnify the
EFX Indemnitees, under this Article 12
or otherwise pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, unless and until
the aggregate amount of all Indemnified Losses arising therefrom (other than
from items not subject to this deductible as a result of the preceding clause)
equals or exceeds $250,000. At such time
as the aggregate amount of such Indemnified Losses equals or exceeds $250,000,
the Indemnitees may assert such excess Indemnified Losses against the Indemnitors.
Section 12.6 No
Contribution by the Surviving Corporation. The Surviving Corporation will not have any
Liability to any Indemnitor as a result of any misrepresentation or breach of
representation or warranty contained in this Agreement or any certificate,
schedule, instrument, agreement or other writing delivered by or on behalf of,
or in respect of, Company pursuant to this Agreement, any Additional Agreement
or in connection with the transactions contemplated this Agreement, or the
breach of any covenant or agreement of Company contained in this Agreement, any
Additional Agreement or any certificate, schedule, instrument, agreement or
other writing by or on behalf of, or in respect of, Company pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement, any Additional Agreement or in connection with the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. After
the Closing, no Indemnitor will have any right of indemnification or
contribution against the Surviving Corporation on account of any event or
condition occurring or existing (x) prior to or on the date hereof or (y) on
or before the Closing Date.
Section 12.7 Exclusive
Remedy. After the Closing,
indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Article 12 shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of the
parties, and their Affiliates, and their respective officers, directors,
employees and agents, for any misrepresentation or breach of any warranty or
covenant contained in this Agreement or in any closing document executed and
delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof or thereof. After Closing, the only legal action which
may be asserted by any party with respect to any matter which is the subject of
this Article 12 shall be a
contract action to enforce, or to recover damages for the breach of, this Article 12.
Section 12.8 Adjustments
to Merger Consideration. The
parties agree to treat any payments made after the Effective Time pursuant to Section 12.1 as an adjustment to the
Merger Consideration for Tax purposes, unless otherwise required pursuant to a determination
within the meaning of Code Section 1313(a) (or analogous provisions
of other Tax law).
Section 12.9 Certain
Claims Excluded.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article 12, nothing herein will
prevent any Indemnitee from bringing an Action against the Securityholders for
the Companys fraud in connection with the representations and
53
warranties set forth in Article 6
of this Agreement and the accompanying Disclosure Schedules and/or Updates to
the extent of any Indemnified Losses resulting therefrom, provided that any
Persons liability therefor shall be limited to such Persons pro rata share of
such Indemnified Losses (based on the portion of the Merger Consideration
received by such Person) and shall be limited to the aggregate portion of the
Merger Consideration actually received by such Person.
ARTICLE
XIII. SURVIVAL
Section 13.1 Survival. The representations, warranties, covenants,
agreements and indemnities of Company contained in this Agreement (as qualified
by the Disclosure Schedules) or in any certificate, instrument, schedule,
agreement or other writing delivered pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement and any representations, warranties and certifications by
Stockholders with respect to the representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement will survive the Merger and the consummation of the other
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, or in any writing delivered
pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and will continue in full force
and effect up to and through March 31, 2011 (the Survival Period). Notwithstanding the immediately preceding
sentence, the Survival Period in respect of any claim for an Indemnified Loss
shall be extended until final resolution of such claim provided that notice of
such claim shall have been received by the Securityholders Representative
prior to the expiration of the Survival Period.
The right to indemnification under Article 12
will not be affected by any (x) investigation of the affairs of the Business
or Company prior to, on or subsequent to the date of this Agreement made by EFX
or Merger Sub or their respective Representatives, (y) knowledge acquired
(or capable of being acquired) as to the accuracy of any such representation,
warranty or certification, or compliance with any such covenants or obligation,
or (z) waiver by EFX of any condition based on the accuracy of any
representation or warranty, or on the performance of or compliance with any
covenant or obligation in this Agreement.
ARTICLE
XIV. TERMINATION
Section 14.1 Termination
for Certain Causes. This Agreement
may be terminated at any time prior to or on the Closing Date by EFX, or by
Company, upon written notice to the other parties as follows:
(a) By EFX, if at or prior to
the earlier of (i) 11:00 a.m. Eastern time on October 21, 2009
or (ii) the issuance by EFX or any of its Representatives of any press
release or other public announcement respecting the subject matter of this
Agreement, if executed Stockholder Support Agreements executed by the holders
of at least sixty percent (60%) of the Company Outstanding Shares as of such
time have not been delivered to it at or before 8:30 a.m. Eastern time
on October 21, 2009, provided that this right may be exercised by EFX, if
ever, only at or prior to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time on October 21, 2009.
(b) By EFX, if the terms,
covenants or conditions of this Agreement to be complied with or performed by
Company at or before the Closing Date have not been complied with or performed
in all material respects, or any other condition to the obligations of EFX to
consummate the Merger, or the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement
required to be satisfied at or before the Closing Date has not been complied
with or satisfied in all material respects on or before November 3, 2009,
and any noncompliance or nonperformance has not been waived in writing by EFX.
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(c) By Company, if the terms,
covenants or conditions of this Agreement to be complied with or performed by
EFX or Merger Sub at or before the Closing Date have not been complied with or
performed in all material respects, or any other condition to the obligations
of Company to consummate the Merger, or the other transactions contemplated by
this Agreement required to be satisfied at or before the Closing Date has not
been complied with or satisfied in all material respects on or before November 3,
2009, and any noncompliance or nonperformance has not been waived in writing by
Company.
(d) By EFX or Company, if any
Action will have been instituted or threatened against any party to this
Agreement (other than by any Affiliate of such party) to restrain or prohibit
the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement.
(e) By mutual written consent of
EFX and Company.
(f) By EFX or Company if the
Closing has not occurred on or before November 3, 2009; provided,
however, that the right to terminate this Agreement under this Section 14.1(e) shall not be
available to any party that is in material breach of this Agreement and such
breach of this Agreement has resulted in the failure of the Closing to occur on
or before the termination date of this Agreement
Section 14.2 Procedure on and Effect of
Termination.
(a) Written notice of
termination will be given to the other parties by the party electing to
terminate, and this Agreement will terminate upon the giving of notice, without
further action by any of the parties to this Agreement.
(b) If this Agreement is
terminated pursuant to this Section 14
by any party for any reason other than pursuant to Sections 14.1(d) or 14.1(e),
or if for any reason on the Closing Date there has been nonfulfillment of an
undertaking by or condition precedent for EFX on the one hand and Company on
the other not waived in writing by or on behalf of the party in whose favor the
undertaking or condition runs, the non-breaching party or the party in whose
favor the undertaking or condition runs, if applicable, in addition to any
other right or remedy available to it for breach or non-performance of this
Agreement or any Additional Agreement, may refuse to consummate the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and shall have the right to pursue
any legal remedies available to such non-breaching party.
ARTICLE
XV. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 15.1 Notices.
(a) All notices, demands or
other communications required or permitted to be given or made under this
Agreement will be in writing and (i) delivered personally, sent by
confirmed facsimile, or (iii) sent by a nationally recognized express
courier service to the intended recipient of the notice, demand or other
communication at its address set forth below.
Any notice, demand or communication will be deemed to have been duly
given (x) immediately if personally delivered, (y) immediately if
sent by facsimile (which is confirmed) during business hours on a Business Day
(or if not on a Business Day, then on the next succeeding business day), or (z) on
the third Business Day after delivery to a nationally recognized express
courier service, if sent next day delivery, and in proving the giving of any
notice, demand or
55
other communication, it will be sufficient to
show that the envelope containing the notice, demand or other communication was
duly addressed (as evidenced by the courier receipt). The addresses of the parties for purposes of
this Agreement are:
(i) If to EFX:
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Equifax
Inc.
1550
Peachtree Street, N.W.
Atlanta,
Georgia 30309
Fax: 404-885-8988
Attn: Kent E. Mast,
Corporate Vice President and Chief Legal Officer
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with
a copy, which shall not constitute notice:
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Kilpatrick
Stockton LLP
1100
Peachtree Street
Suite 2800
Atlanta,
Georgia 30309
Fax: 404-815-6555
Attn: Gregory K.
Cinnamon
W. Stanley Blackburn
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(ii) If to Company or the Stockholder Representative:
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(A) to the Company, prior to the Closing:
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IXI
Corporation
7927
Jones Branch Drive
Suite 400
McLean,
VA 22102
Attn: Thomas
Dailey
Steve Bayne
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with
a copy, which shall not constitute notice:
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Cooley
Godward Kronish LLP
11951
Freedom Drive
Reston, Virginia 20190
Fax: 703-456-8100
Attn: Michael R. Lincoln
Ryan E. Naftulin
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(B) to the Securityholders Representative, after the
Closing:
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Core
Capital Partners, L.P.
1401
I Street, NW
Suite 1000
Washington,
DC 20005
Fax: 202-589-0091
Attn: Randolph S.
Klueger
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with
a copy, which shall not constitute notice:
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Cooley
Godward Kronish LLP
11951
Freedom Drive
Reston,
Virginia 20190
Fax: 703-456-8100
Attn: Michael R.
Lincoln
Ryan E. Naftulin
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(b) Any party may change the
address to which notices, requests, demands or other communications to the
relevant party will be delivered or mailed by giving notice of the address
change to the other parties to this Agreement in the manner provided in this
Agreement.
Section 15.2 Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number
of counterparts, each of which will be deemed an original, and all of which
together will constitute one and the same instrument.
Section 15.3 Entire
Agreement. This
Agreement supersedes all prior discussions and agreements between the parties
with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement, including the LOI, and
this Agreement contains the sole and entire agreement among the parties with
respect to the matters covered by this Agreement. This Agreement will not be altered or amended
except by an instrument in writing signed by or on behalf of the party entitled
to the benefit of the provision against whom enforcement is sought.
Section 15.4 Dispute
Resolution.
(a) Any and all disputes arising
out of or in connection with the execution, interpretation, performance or
nonperformance of this Agreement (each, a Disputed
Matter) will be arbitrated and settled by the procedures
established in this Section 15.4.
(b) Disputed Matters will be
solely and finally settled by arbitration, which will be conducted in New York,
New York by a panel of three arbitrators.
The initiating parties acting jointly, on the one hand, and the
responding parties acting jointly, on the other hand, shall each appoint one
arbitrator within 14 days after written notice has been given by the initiating
parties. The two arbitrators so
appointed shall designate the third arbitrator by mutual agreement within 30
days after the arbitration notice is given.
If the two arbitrators so appointed fail to designate the third
arbitrator within such period, then any party may request the Arbitral Body to
appoint the third arbitrator within 14 days after such request. The arbitration procedure may be initiated by
any of the parties to this Agreement by written notice to the other party to
the Disputed Matter. Any notice will
specify in reasonable detail the dispute being submitted to arbitration. The parties renounce all recourse to litigation
and agree that the award of the arbitrators will be final and subject to no
judicial review.
(c) The arbitrators will conduct
the arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules (the Rules) of the American Arbitration
Association (Arbitral Body);
provided that the provisions of this Agreement will prevail in the event of any
conflict between the Rules and the provisions of this Agreement. The arbitrators will decide the issues
submitted in accordance with the provisions and commercial purposes of this
Agreement, provided that all substantive questions of law will be determined
under the laws of the State of Delaware, United States of America (without
regard to its principles of conflicts of laws or, to the extent permissible, to
any provisions of any relevant Law that would nullify or refuse to give
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effect to any provision of this
Agreement). All decisions of the
arbitrators will be in writing and submitted to the parties, and will set forth
findings of fact and conclusions of law.
(d) The parties will facilitate
the arbitration by: (i) making available to one another and to the
arbitrators for examination, inspection and extraction all documents, books,
records and personnel under their control if determined by the arbitrators to
be relevant to the Disputed Matter; (ii) conducting arbitration hearings
to the greatest extent possible on successive days; and (iii) observing
strictly the time periods established by the Rules or by the arbitrators
for submission of evidence or briefs.
(e) In the final award, the
arbitrators will (i) divide all costs, other than fees of counsel,
incurred in conducting the arbitration, based upon the percentage that the
portion of the contested amount not awarded to each party bears to the amount
actually contested by such party and (ii) award fees of counsel to the
prevailing party in such manner as they may deem equitable. Judgment on the award of the arbitrators may
be entered into by any court having jurisdiction over the party against whom
enforcement of the award is being sought.
(f) Each party agrees that any
award of the arbitrators against it and on which judgment is entered may be
executed against the assets of that party in any jurisdiction. By execution of this Agreement, each party
irrevocably consents to the jurisdiction of any court having jurisdiction over
that party for the purpose of enforcing any award.
(g) Each party irrevocably
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection it may now or
hereafter have to any Action arising out of or relating to this Agreement that
is brought in any jurisdiction designated in the preceding subparagraph, and
further irrevocably waives any claim that any Action so brought has been
brought in an inconvenient forum.
(h) Notwithstanding any
provision of this Section 15.4
to the contrary, any party will be entitled to seek injunctive and other
equitable relief in any court of competent jurisdiction to enforce the
provisions of this Agreement.
Section 15.5 Successors
and Assigns. This
Agreement will be binding upon and will inure to the benefit of the parties to
this Agreement and their respective heirs, executors, legal representatives,
successors and assigns, but may not be assigned by any party without the
written consent of all other parties, except to an Affiliate.
Section 15.6 Partial
Invalidity and Severability. All rights and restrictions contained in this
Agreement may be exercised and will be applicable and binding only to the
extent that they do not violate any applicable laws and are intended to be
limited to the extent necessary to render this Agreement legal, valid and
enforceable. If any term of this
Agreement, or part of this Agreement, not essential to the commercial purpose
of this Agreement will be held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable by a
court of competent jurisdiction, it is the intention of the parties that the
remaining terms of this Agreement, or part of this Agreement, will constitute
their agreement with respect to the subject matter of this Agreement and all
remaining terms, or parts of this Agreement, will remain in full force and
effect. To the extent legally
permissible, any illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision of this Agreement
will be replaced by a valid provision which will implement the commercial
purpose of the illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision.
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Section 15.7 Amendment;
Waiver. Prior
to the Closing, this Agreement may not be amended, or any term or condition
hereof waived, except by an instrument in writing signed by EFX, the Company
and REP. Following the Effective Time,
this Agreement may not be amended, or any term or condition hereof waived,
except by an instrument in writing signed by EFX and REP. Except as expressly set forth in this
Agreement, no failure on the part of any party to this Agreement
to exercise, and no delay in exercising any right, power or remedy created
under this Agreement, will operate as a waiver thereof, nor will any single or
partial exercise of any right, power or remedy by any party preclude any other
or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any other right, power or
remedy. No waiver by any party to this
Agreement or any breach of or default in any term or condition of this Agreement
will constitute a waiver of or assent to any succeeding breach of or default in
the same or any other term or condition of this Agreement.
Section 15.8 Consent to
Future Representation. EFX,
Merger Sub, REP, the Company and the Surviving Corporation (collectively, the Consenting Parties) acknowledge that
at all times relevant hereto up to the Closing, Cooley Godward Kronish LLP (Cooley) has represented only the
Company. If subsequent to the Closing
any dispute were to arise relating in any manner to this Agreement or any other
agreement between REP or any Securityholder, on the one hand, and EFX, on the
other hand (Disputes),
EFX hereby consents to Cooleys representation of REP and/or such
Securityholder(s) in the Disputes.
Section 15.9 Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed
by, and construed, interpreted and enforced, in accordance with the internal
Laws of the State of Delaware, without regard to its conflicts of law
principles.
Section 15.10 Time of
Performance. Time is of
the essence.
Section 15.11 No Third
Party Beneficiaries. Except as
expressly provided in this Agreement, this Agreement is made solely and
specifically between and for the benefit of the parties hereto and their
respective successors and no other Person shall have any rights, interests, or
claims hereunder as a third party beneficiary or otherwise.
[Signatures Appear on Following Page]
59
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have
executed this Agreement as of the date first written above.
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EFX:
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EQUIFAX INC.
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By:
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Kent
E. Mast, Corporate Vice President
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and
Chief Legal Officer
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MERGER SUB:
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SPRINGBANK ACQUISITION CORPORATION
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By:
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Kent
E. Mast, President
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COMPANY:
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IXI CORPORATION
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By:
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Thomas
E. Dailey, CEO and President
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SECURITYHOLDERS REPRESENTATIVE:
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CORE CAPITAL PARTNERS, L.P.
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By:
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Randolph
S. Klueger, Chief Financial Officer
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