3.1
Covenants Relating to Conduct of Business:
(a) Prior to the Closing or
earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with
ARTICLE VI, except
(i) as required by applicable Law, (ii) as otherwise contemplated by this Agreement, or (iii) with the prior written consent of
Purchaser (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned), Seller shall, and shall cause each member of the Company Group to, (A) operate and conduct the Company Group’s business in the Ordinary Course of Business and
in compliance with applicable Law, (B) preserve substantially intact and maintain in good operating condition and repair in a manner consistent with past practice the assets of the Company Group, and (C) preserve substantially intact the
Company Group’s current business relationships and goodwill with employees, customers, lenders, suppliers, Governmental Authorities and other Persons having material business relationships with the Company Group. To
the extent Seller is required by applicable Law to take any action that is outside the scope of the Ordinary Course of Business, Seller shall consult with Purchaser regarding the appropriate action.
(b) Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, prior to the Closing or
earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with
ARTICLE VI, except
(i) as required by applicable Law, (ii) with the prior written consent of Purchaser or (iii) as set forth in
Schedule 3.1(b),
Seller shall not, and shall cause each member of the Company Group not to:
(i) transfer, issue, sell or dispose of any Shares or Equity Securities of any member of the Company Group; grant options, warrants, calls or other rights to purchase
or otherwise acquire Shares or Equity Securities of any member of
the Company Group, or make any cash contributions;
(ii) effect any recapitalization, reclassification or like change in the capitalization of any member of the Company Group;
(iii) declare, set aside or pay any dividend or make any other distribution, in each case, to its members or equityholders with respect to the Shares or Equity
Securities (whether in cash or in kind);
(iv) modify or amend the
Organizational Documents of
any member of the Company
Group;
(v) acquire (whether by merger, acquisition of stock or assets or otherwise) any business, line of business or Equity Securities in any Person, or enter into any joint
venture or partnership with any Person or acquire, directly or indirectly, any assets, Equity Securities, properties or businesses of any Person;
(vi) enter into any Contract that limits or otherwise restricts in any respect any member of the Company Group or their business after the Closing from engaging or
competing in any line of business, in any location or with any Person;
(vii) subject any of the properties or assets (whether tangible or intangible) of the Company Group to any Claims;
(viii) incur, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness;
(ix) cancel or compromise any Indebtedness or claim owing to any member of the Company Group;
(x) prepay any outstanding Indebtedness of the Company Group;
(xi) adopt any plan of merger, consolidation, reorganization, liquidation or dissolution or file a petition in bankruptcy under any provisions of federal or
state bankruptcy Law or consent to the filing of any bankruptcy petition against it under any similar Law;
(xii) indemnify any third party;
(xiii) except as required by the express terms of this Agreement, or as required by the terms of any Employee Plan (a copy of which has been made available to Purchaser)
(A) issue or grant any awards under any Employee Plan, (B) grant or provide any change-in-control, retention, severance, termination or similar compensation or benefits to employee or other individual service provider, (C) increase the
compensation or benefits payable to any current or former director, officer, manager, employee, individual independent contractor, consultant, or other individual service provider
(other than changes in the Ordinary
Course of Business for such Persons with annual base compensation or fees not greater than $500,000); (D) establish, adopt, amend, renew, announce, waive any rights with respect to, modify or terminate (or commit to do any of the preceding in
respect of) any Employee Plan, other than changes in the Ordinary Course of Business in connection with an open enrollment period,
provided, that such changes do not materially increase the expense of maintaining the
Employee Plan, (E) accelerate the vesting or payment, or fund or in any other way secure the payment, of compensation or benefits under any
Employee Plan, (F)
hire, make an offer of employment to, promote, change the title of, or engage any employee or individual independent contractor with annual base compensation or fees in excess of $500,000 in a given calendar year, (G) terminate the employment or
service of any employee or individual independent contractor with annual base compensation or fees in excess of $500,000, other than for “cause,” or (H) adopt, enter into, negotiate, amend or terminate any CBA, or establish or recognize any labor
union, trade association, works council, labor organization or similar entity or other organized employees;
(xiv) take any action that would create an obligation or other Liability under the WARN Act;
(xv) sell, license, sublicense, abandon or permit to lapse, transfer or dispose of, create or incur any Claim (other than Permitted Claims) on, or otherwise fail to take
any action necessary to maintain or protect any Company Intellectual Property, in each case, other than in the Ordinary Course of Business (provided, that any licenses of Company Intellectual Property shall be non-exclusive);
(xvi) adopt or make any material change in its accounting or Tax reporting methods, principles or policies or practices (except to the extent
such action is required by a change in applicable
Tax Law after the date of this Agreement), file or cause to be filed any material amended Tax Return, make, change or
revoke any material Tax election, settle or comprise any material
Tax Proceeding, surrender any claim for a material refund of Taxes, enter into any voluntary disclosure
agreement relating to Taxes or any “closing agreement” pursuant to
Section 7121 of the Code (or any similar provision of Law), or agree to
extend the statute of limitations in respect of any material Taxes or Tax Returns;
(xvii) (A) make any change to accounting policies or principles, (B) make any change in the policies with respect to the payment of accounts payable or accrued expenses or
the collection of accounts receivable or other receivables, including any acceleration of the collection of amounts receivable or deferral of the payment of accounts payable, reserved for or make any write-down in the value of its assets or
inventory, or write off as uncollectable any accounts receivable or (C) make any change in the manner in which the Company Group extends discounts or credits to, or otherwise deals with, its customers and vendors;
(xviii) make any capital expenditures or commitments for capital expenditures in excess of $250,000 in the aggregate;
(xix) (A) enter into or assume, terminate, cancel or fail to renew, or amend, supplement or modify any
Material Contract, or otherwise waive, release or assign any material rights, claims or benefits under any
Material Contract or (B) enter into any Contract that would be a
Material Contract if in existence
as of the date hereof or take any actions described in clause (A) with respect to any such Contracts;
(xx) initiate or commence, waive, release, assign, compromise, settle or agree to initiate or commence, waive, release, assign, compromise or settle any Proceeding, or
enter into any consent decree with any Governmental Authority, arising out of, related to, in connection with, against or affecting the business of the Company Group that would result in a change to the Ordinary Course of Business or create a
material liability to the Company Group;
(xxi) make any payments or other distributions of cash to any Persons other than in the Ordinary Course of Business;
(xxii) enter any transaction with any Related Parties; or
(xxiii) authorize, agree, resolve or consent to any of the foregoing.
(c)
Affirmative Covenants. Until the Closing, Seller shall cause the
Company Group to:
(i) maintain its assets in the Ordinary Course of Business in good operating order and condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted;
(ii) upon any damage, destruction or loss to any material asset, apply any and all insurance proceeds received with respect thereto to the prompt repair, replacement
and restoration thereof to the condition of such asset before such event or, if required, to such better condition as may be required by Law; and
(iii) as soon as reasonably practicable after they become available, but in any event not later than 45 days after the last day of each
fiscal quarter after the date of the Interim Financial Statements, furnish to Purchaser an unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company Group as of the last day of such quarter and unaudited statements of operations, cash flows and
stockholders’ equity for such period, including the notes thereto and all related compilations, reviews and other reports issued by the Company Group’s accountants with respect thereto.
(d)
Advise of Changes. Seller shall promptly advise Purchaser in writing of
the occurrence of any matter or event that is material to the Business, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or prospects of the Company Group.
(e)
Consultation. In connection with the continuing operation of the
Business between the date hereof and the Closing, Seller shall consult in good faith on a regular and frequent basis with the Representatives for Purchaser to report material operational developments and the general status of ongoing operations
pursuant to procedures reasonably requested by Purchaser or such Representatives. Seller acknowledges that any such consultation shall not constitute a waiver by Purchaser of any rights it may have under this Agreement, and that Purchaser shall
not have any liability or responsibility for any actions of Seller, any Company Group member, or any of their Representatives with respect to matters that are the subject of such consultations.
3.2
No Solicitation. Seller shall, and shall cause the Company Group to, effective upon the execution hereof, immediately terminate any
discussions or negotiations regarding any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Other Bid. Seller shall not, nor shall Seller authorize or permit any member of the Company Group or any of their Representatives
to, (i) solicit, initiate or encourage any Other Bid, (ii) enter into any Contract with respect to any Other Bid or (iii) participate in any discussions, conversations, negotiations or other communications regarding, or furnish to any Person any
information or documentation with respect to, or take any other action to facilitate any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or may reasonably be expected to lead to, any Other Bid. Without limiting the foregoing, it is
understood that any violation of the restrictions set forth in the preceding sentence by any executive officer of any member of the Company Group or any investment banker, attorney or other advisor or Representative of Seller or any member of the
Company Group, whether or not such Person is purporting to act on behalf of Seller, Company Group member or otherwise, shall be deemed to be a breach of this
Section 3.2 by Seller. Seller shall, and shall cause the Company Group to,
promptly, but in any event within 24 hours, advise Purchaser orally and in writing of any Other Bid or any inquiry with respect to or which could lead to any Other Bid and the identity of the Person making any such Other Bid or inquiry and the
terms and conditions of such Other Bid or inquiry. Seller shall not, and shall cause the Company Group not to, release any Person from, or waive any provision of, any confidentiality or standstill agreement to which any member of the Company
Group is a party, without the prior written consent of Purchaser.
3.3
Access to Information. Seller shall cause the Company Group to afford to Purchaser and its lenders and their accountants, counsel and other Representatives reasonable
access, upon reasonable prior notice during normal business hours during the period before the Closing, to all the personnel, properties, books, Contracts, commitments, Tax Returns, records and financial, operating and other data of the Company
Group, and, during such period shall furnish promptly to Purchaser any information concerning the Company Group or its business, properties, Contracts, assets or liabilities as Purchaser may reasonably request.
(a) Upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement, each
of the Parties shall use all reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions, and to do, or cause to be done, and to assist and cooperate with the other Party in doing, all things necessary, proper or advisable to cause the
conditions set forth in
ARTICLE IV to be satisfied and to consummate and make effective, in the most expeditious manner practicable, the transactions contemplated hereby, including using all reasonable efforts to obtain all necessary
actions or nonactions, Consents and Orders from Governmental Authorities and to make all necessary declarations, filings, registrations, qualifications, recordings or other actions or filings with, or notices or submissions to, any Governmental
Authority and to take all reasonable steps as may be necessary to obtain such actions or nonactions, Consents, or Orders from, or to avoid a Proceeding by, any Governmental Authority, and thereafter promptly to make any other required
submissions. The Parties agree that they will consult and cooperate with each other with respect to the obtaining of all of the Consents listed on
Schedule 2.2(c). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, neither
Purchaser Parent nor Purchaser shall have any obligation (x) to commence, initiate or threaten to commence or initiate any Proceeding against any Governmental Authority, (y) to propose, negotiate, commit to or effect, by consent decree, hold
separate order or otherwise, the sale, divestiture or disposition of any assets or businesses of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, any of their subsidiaries (including the Company Group after the Closing) or their Affiliates or (z) otherwise to take
or commit to take any actions that would limit the freedom of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, their subsidiaries (including the Company Group after the Closing) or their Affiliates with respect to, or their ability to retain, one or more of their
businesses, product lines or assets.
(b) Before the Closing, each Party shall, and shall cause its Affiliates to, use all reasonable efforts to
obtain, and to cooperate in obtaining, all Consents from third parties necessary or appropriate to permit the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby;
provided,
however, (i) no Party shall agree to any conditions or
restrictions imposed by any third party that, individually or in the aggregate, would materially impair (or could reasonably be expected to materially impair) the ability of such Party to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the economic benefits to Purchaser Parent and Purchaser of the transactions contemplated hereby and (ii) in no event shall any member of the Company Group agree to make any payment to
any third party in connection with obtaining any such Consents without the prior written consent of Purchaser.
(c) Without limiting the generality of
Section 3.4(a), each of Purchaser and Seller shall (i) give the
other Party prompt notice of the making or commencement of any request or Proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, (ii) keep the other Party informed as to the status of any such
request or Proceeding, (iii) give the other Party notice and an opportunity to participate in any substantive communication made to any Governmental Authority regarding the transactions contemplated hereby and (iv) promptly notify the other Party
of any communication from any Governmental Authority regarding the transactions contemplated hereby. Subject to applicable Laws relating to the exchange of information, Purchaser and the Company shall have the right to review in advance, and each
shall consult with the other on and consider in good faith the views of the other in connection with, any filing made with, or substantive written materials submitted or substantive communication made to, any Governmental Authority in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby. In addition, except as may be prohibited by any Governmental Authority or by any applicable Law, each Party shall permit authorized representatives of the other Party to be present at each
non-ministerial meeting, conference, videoconference or telephone call and to have access to and be consulted in connection with any presentation, letter, white paper or proposal made or submitted to any Governmental Authority in connection with
any such request or
Proceeding. In exercising the foregoing rights, each Party shall act reasonably and as promptly as practicable. Purchaser and the Company may, as each deems advisable and necessary,
reasonably designate any competitively sensitive material provided to the other under this
Section 3.4 as “outside counsel only.” Such materials and the information contained therein shall be given only to the outside legal counsel of the
recipient and will not be disclosed by such outside counsel to employees, officers or directors of the recipient unless express permission is obtained in advance from the source of the materials (Purchaser or the Company, as the case may be).
Materials provided pursuant to this
Section 3.4 may be redacted or withheld (i) to remove references concerning the valuation of the Company, (ii) as necessary to comply with contractual obligations and (iii) as necessary to address
reasonable privilege concerns.
3.5
Post-Closing Agreements. From and after the Closing:
(a)
Inspection. Seller, on the one hand, and Purchaser, on the other hand, shall each retain and make any books and records (including work papers with respect to the Company Group in the possession of
their respective accountants) available for inspection by the other Party, or by their respective duly accredited Representatives, upon reasonable prior written notice for reasonable business purposes at all reasonable times during normal
business hours, for a six-year period following the Closing Date, with respect to all transactions occurring prior to and those relating to the Closing, and the historical financial condition, assets, liabilities, results of operations and cash
flows of the Company Group. As used in this
Section 3.5(a), the right of inspection includes the right to make extracts or copies. The Representatives of a Party inspecting the records of the other Party hereto shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the other Party.
(b)
Trademarks and
other Company Intellectual Property. Seller shall not use and shall not license or otherwise grant any rights to any third party to use (i) any name, slogan, logo or other Trademark which is similar or confusingly similar to any of the
Company Intellectual Property or any other name used in connection with the Business or (ii) any Intellectual Property Right that infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any of the Company Intellectual Property.
(c)
Further Assurances.
The Parties shall execute such additional instrument or other documents, and perform such additional acts, as may be necessary to transfer and convey the Shares to Purchaser, on the terms herein contained, and to otherwise comply with the terms
of this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby.
3.6
Covenant Not to Compete.
(a) As an inducement for
each of Purchaser Parent and Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, each of Sullivan and Seller agrees that Sullivan and Seller shall not, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to not, do any one or more of the following, directly or
indirectly (except in each case, on behalf of the Company Group as a consultant, employee or service provider of the Company Group):
(i) during the Restriction Period, engage or participate or prepare to engage or participate, anywhere in
North America (the “
Territory”), as an owner, partner, member, shareholder, independent contractor, director, manager, employee, consultant, agent, advisor or (without limitation by the specific enumeration of the foregoing) otherwise in
the Business;
(ii) during the Restriction Period, solicit or attempt to solicit any Person who is, or has been within the past three calendar years immediately preceding the Closing
Date, a supplier, customer, contractor, subcontractor, licensor, licensee or any other business relation of the Company Group or the Business to cease doing business with, or to alter or limit its business relationship with Purchaser Parent,
Purchaser, the Company Group or the Business;
(iii) during the Restriction Period, (A) take any actions which are calculated to persuade any Representatives of the Company Group to terminate their association with the
Company Group or hire or otherwise retain (other than on the Company Group’s behalf) the services of any Representatives of the Company Group (whether on a full-time basis, part-time basis or otherwise and whether as an employee, independent
contractor, consultant, advisor or in another capacity) who is acting in such capacity or has acted in such capacity as of the Closing Date or at any time within the 12 month period immediately preceding such proposed date of hire or retention or
(B) hire any person who is an employee of any member of the Company Group as of the Closing Date or at any time within the 12 month period immediately preceding such proposed date of hire or retention; or
(iv) make (or cause to be made) to any Person any disparaging or derogatory or otherwise negative or false
comments or statements in any public forum or medium concerning the Company Group, Purchaser Parent, Purchaser or any of their respective Affiliates, officers, directors, employees, partners, shareholders or agents (or any of their products or
services).
(b) The period of time in which a Person is required to act, or refrain from acting,
pursuant to this
Section 3.6 shall be tolled (shall not run) for so long as such Person is in breach of any of such Person’s obligations hereunder.
(c) To “
engage” in a business means (i) to render services in (or with respect to) the Territory for that business, or (ii) to own, manage, operate or control (or participate in the ownership, management,
operation or control of) an enterprise engaged in that business in the Territory. Seller hereby acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing covenants are commercially reasonable and reasonably necessary to protect Purchaser Parent, Purchaser and
their Subsidiaries.
3.7
Disclosure of Confidential Information. As an inducement for each of Purchaser
Parent and Purchaser to enter into this Agreement, each of Sullivan and Seller agrees that for the longest period permitted by Law following the Closing Date, Sullivan and Seller shall, and shall cause their respective Affiliates to, maintain all
Confidential Information in confidence and shall not, directly or indirectly, disclose any Confidential Information to any Person other than the Company Group, Purchaser Parent or Purchaser, and Sullivan and Seller shall, and shall cause their
respective Affiliates to, not, directly or indirectly, use any Confidential Information for its own benefit, the benefit of any Person or to the detriment of the Company Group or its Affiliates. Nothing in this Agreement, however, shall prohibit
such party from using or disclosing Confidential Information to the extent required by Law. If such party is required by applicable Law to disclose any Confidential Information, such party shall, to the extent permitted by applicable Law, (a)
provide Purchaser Parent and Purchaser with prompt notice before such disclosure in order that Purchaser Parent and Purchaser may attempt to obtain a protective Order or other assurance that confidential treatment will be accorded such
information and (b) cooperate with Purchaser Parent and Purchaser in attempting to obtain such Order or assurance. “
Confidential Information” means information regarding the Company Group or the Business to the extent it is not generally
available to the public, including the following: (i) information regarding the Company Group’s business, operations, assets, liabilities or financial condition; (ii) information regarding the Company Group’s pricing, sales, merchandising,
marketing, capital expenditures, costs, joint ventures, business alliances or purchasing; (iii) information regarding the Company Group’s other Representatives, including their identities, responsibilities, competence and compensation; (iv)
customer lists or other information regarding the Company Group’s current or prospective customers, including information regarding their identities, contact persons and purchasing patterns; (v) information regarding the Company Group’s current
or prospective vendors, suppliers, distributors or other business partners; (vi) forecasts, projections, budgets and business plans regarding the Company Group; (vii) information regarding the Company Group’s planned or pending acquisitions,
divestitures or other business combinations; (viii) the Company Intellectual Property, including the Company Group’s Trade Secrets and proprietary information; (ix) technical information, patent disclosures and applications, copyright
applications, sketches, drawings, blueprints, models, know-how, discoveries, inventions, improvements, techniques, processes, business methods, equipment, algorithms, software programs, software source documents and formulae, in each case
regarding the Company Group’s current, future or proposed products or services (including information concerning the Company Group’s research, experimental work, development, design details and specifications, and engineering); and (x) the
Company Group’s website designs, website content, proposed domain names and databases. Information shall not be considered to be generally available to the public if it is made public by Sullivan or Seller in violation of this Agreement or by a
third party who has no lawful right to disclose the information or who does so in violation of any contractual, legal or fiduciary obligation to Purchaser Parent and Purchaser.
3.8
Injunctive
Relief. Each of Sullivan and Seller specifically recognizes that any
breach of
Sections 3.6 and
3.7 will cause irreparable injury to Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger
Sub 2, and that actual damages may be difficult to ascertain, and in any event, may be inadequate. Accordingly, each of Sullivan and Seller agrees that in the event of any such breach, each of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger
Sub 2 shall be entitled to injunctive relief in addition to such other legal and equitable remedies that may be available. Sullivan, Seller, Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 recognize and agree that the territorial, time
and scope limitations in
Sections 3.6 and
3.7 hereof are reasonable and properly required for the protection of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 and in the event that such limitations (or lack thereof)
are deemed to be unreasonable by a court of competent jurisdiction, each of Sullivan, Seller, Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 agrees and submits to the imposition of such limitations as said court shall deem reasonable.
(a)
Assistance and Cooperation. After the Closing, Seller and Purchaser shall (and shall cause their respective Affiliates to):
(i) timely sign and deliver such certificates or forms as may be necessary or appropriate to establish an exemption from (or otherwise reduce), or file Tax Returns of
the Company Group or other reports with respect to sales, transfer and similar Taxes of the Company Group;
(ii) assist the other Party in preparing any Tax Returns of the Company Group which such other Party is responsible for preparing and filing, and in connection
therewith, provide the other Party with any necessary powers of attorney;
(iii) cooperate fully in preparing for and defending any audits of, or disputes with taxing authorities regarding, any Tax Returns of the Company Group;
(iv) make available to the other and to any taxing authority as reasonably requested all information, records and documents relating to Taxes of the Company Group; provided,
that Purchaser shall only be obligated to make available such information, records and documents to Seller to the extent such information, records and documents relate to Taxes for which Seller may be liable; and
(v) furnish the other with copies of all correspondence received from any taxing authority in connection with any Tax audit or information request with respect to any
Taxes or Tax Returns of the Company Group; provided, that Purchaser shall only be obligated to furnish copies of such correspondence to Seller to the extent such audit or information request relates to Taxes for which Seller may be
liable.
(b)
Filing of Tax Returns; Payment of Taxes.
(i) Seller shall timely file or cause to be timely filed when due (taking into account all extensions properly obtained) all Tax Returns that are required to be filed
by or with respect to any member of the Company Group for taxable years or periods ending on or before the Closing Date. Purchaser shall timely file or cause to be timely filed when due (taking into account all extensions properly obtained) all
other Tax Returns that are required to be filed by or with respect to any member of the Company Group after the Closing Date, and Purchaser shall remit or cause to be remitted any Taxes due in respect of such Tax Returns.
(ii) With respect to Tax Returns that Seller is required to file or cause to be filed in accordance with this Section 3.9(b), such Tax Returns shall be
prepared and filed in a manner consistent with past practice and, on such Tax Returns, no position shall be taken, election made or method adopted that is inconsistent with positions taken, elections made or methods used in preparing and filing
similar Tax Returns in prior periods (including positions, elections or methods that would have the effect of deferring income to periods ending after the Closing Date or accelerating deductions to periods ending on or before the Closing Date).
(c)
No Code §336(e), §338(g), or §338(h)(10) Election. The Parties shall not make any election under Code §336(e), §338(g), or §338(h)(10) with respect to the transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
(d) Tax-Free Reorganization.
(i) Each of Purchaser and the Company shall, and shall cause its Subsidiaries to, use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Mergers to qualify, and use
commercially reasonable efforts not to take or fail to take any action which action (or failure to act) would reasonably be expected to prevent or impede the Mergers from qualifying, as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code
and the Treasury Regulations promulgated thereunder, that this Agreement will constitute a “plan of reorganization” for purposes of Sections 354 and 361 of the Code. Each of Purchaser and the Company shall notify the other Party promptly after
becoming aware of any reason to believe that the Mergers may not qualify as a “reorganization” within the meaning of Section 368(a) of the Code.
(ii) This Agreement is intended to constitute, and the Parties hereto adopt this Agreement as, a “plan of reorganization” within the meaning of Treasury Regulations
Sections 1.368-2(g) and 1.368-3. The relevant Parties shall treat the Mergers, taken together, as a “reorganization” under Section 368(a)(1)(A) of the Code for U.S. federal, state and other relevant income Tax purposes, shall file all their Tax
Returns consistent with such tax treatment and, except to the extent otherwise required by a final “determination” within the meaning of Section 1313(a) of the Code, take no Tax position inconsistent with such Tax treatment.
3.10
Seller Release. Effective as of the Closing, Seller, on behalf of Seller and
Seller’s Affiliates, Representatives, heirs, successors and assigns (as applicable), (a) irrevocably and unconditionally waives, releases and forever discharges each member of the Company Group, and each of their respective current, former and
future Representatives, directors, managers, members, stockholders, trustees, principals, parents, subsidiaries, joint ventures, predecessors, successors, assigns, beneficiaries, heirs or executors (collectively, the “
Released Parties”)
from any and all rights, commitments, actions, debts, claims, counterclaims, suits, causes of action, damages, demands, liabilities, losses, obligations, costs, expenses and compensation of every kind and nature whatsoever, whether known or
unknown, matured or contingent and whether arising in law, in equity or otherwise, in each case based upon facts, circumstances or occurrences existing at or prior to the Closing and (b) irrevocably covenants to refrain from, directly or
indirectly, asserting any claims or commencing, instituting or causing to be commenced, any Proceeding of any kind against any Released Party. Seller represents to Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 that such Person has
not assigned or transferred or purported to assign or transfer to any Person all or any part of, or any interest in, any claim against any Released Party or any of its Representatives and notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this
Agreement, no such assignment or transfer shall be permitted and any purported assignment or transfer shall be legally ineffective. Notwithstanding the generality of the foregoing, nothing herein constitutes a waiver or release by such Person of:
(i) claims or rights arising under this Agreement or Seller’s Ancillary Documents and (ii) any claim or right such Person may have in the Ordinary Course of Business for compensation, vacation pay and benefits arising under such Person’s
employment arrangements, to the extent, with respect to benefits, pursuant to an Employee Plan listed on
Schedule 2.2(n)(i). Seller also hereby waives the benefits of, and any rights that such Person may have under, any statute or common
law principle of similar effect in any jurisdiction.
3.11
Company Group Financial Statements. Seller shall cause the Company Group to take the following actions after the
date hereof until the Closing or earlier termination of this Agreement in accordance with
ARTICLE VI:
(a) The Company Group shall, from the date hereof until the Closing Date, deliver to Purchaser Parent and Purchaser promptly following the
end of each fiscal quarter, but in no event later than 45 days after the end of any fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending June 30, 2026 (other than any fourth fiscal quarter), a copy of the unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements, together with the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations, statements of comprehensive loss, statement of shareholders equity and cash flows and notes thereto, for each of the Company Group, OpCo, Gracious Home, Talon
and each of the Operating Subsidiaries and their respective Subsidiaries as of and for such quarterly or interim year-to-date period (as applicable) prepared in accordance with GAAP, together with comparable financial statements for the
corresponding quarterly or interim year-to-date period (as applicable) of the prior fiscal year (collectively, the “
Subsequent Unaudited Financial Statements”). Such Subsequent Unaudited Financial Statements
shall be reviewed by the Company Group’s independent auditors to the extent such review is expressly required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, including the requirements of Regulation S-X.
(b) The Company Group shall provide Purchaser Parent and Purchaser with such reasonable assistance and cooperation as Purchaser Parent and Purchaser may reasonably
request to comply with its obligations under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, including the preparation of financial statements that comply with the rules and regulations of the SEC, including the requirements of Rule 3-05
and Article 11 of Regulation S-X.
(c) The Company Group shall also use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the consents of its independent auditors for use of their reports in any SEC filings
by Purchaser Parent and Purchaser to the extent required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, including the requirements of Regulation S-X.
3.12
Employee Plans. If requested by Purchaser in writing delivered to the Company not less
than three Business Days prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall (or shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to) terminate each Employee Plan that contains a cash or deferred arrangement intended to qualify under Section 401(a) of the Code
(a “
401(k) Plan”), in each case with such termination to be effective as of the day immediately prior to the Closing Date and reflected in resolutions of the appropriate governing body. To the extent applicable, such resolutions will be
subject to the prior review and approval of Purchaser, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed. To the extent applicable, the Company and OpCo also shall (or shall cause its applicable Subsidiaries to) take such other
actions in furtherance of terminating any such 401(k) Plan as Purchaser may reasonably require. Prior to the Closing, Seller shall (or shall cause its applicable Affiliate to) take all action as may be necessary or appropriate such that, as of
immediately following the Closing, no Non-Acquired Employee will remain eligible to actively participate in any of the Employee Plans.
3.13
Legends. Purchaser Parent shall be entitled, and Seller shall cooperate with Purchaser Parent and Purchaser Parent’s
transfer agent, (a) to place appropriate legends on the book entries and/or certificates evidencing any shares of BBBY Common Stock to be received in the Acquisition, including the legend noted in
Section 3.14, the legend contemplated by
the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement, and any additional legend reflecting the restrictions set forth in Rules 144 and 145 under the Securities Act on any shares of BBBY Common Stock to be received in the Acquisition by securityholders
who may be considered “affiliates” of Purchaser Parent for purposes of Rules 144 and 145 under the Securities Act, including any permitted transferees of shares of BBBY Common Stock after the Closing, and (b) to issue appropriate stop transfer
instructions to the transfer agent for BBBY Common Stock.
3.14
Private Placement. Each of the Company, Purchaser and
Purchaser Parent shall take all reasonably necessary action on its part such that the issuance of shares of BBBY Common Stock pursuant to this Agreement constitutes a transaction exempt from registration under the
Securities
Act. Each certificate representing shares of BBBY Common Stock issued pursuant to this Agreement shall, until such time that such shares are not so restricted under the Securities Act, bear a legend identical or similar in effect to the following
legend (together with any other legend or legends required by applicable state securities Law or otherwise, if any):
“THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE “ACT”) AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE
TRANSFERRED, ASSIGNED, PLEDGED OR HYPOTHECATED UNLESS REGISTERED UNDER THE ACT OR UNLESS AN EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACT IS AVAILABLE.”
3.15
Data Room. Within three Business Days following the date of this Agreement, the Company
shall deliver to Purchaser a true, correct and complete copy of the contents of the electronic data room maintained on behalf of Seller hosted by
Box for Project F9 in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, which will be delivered to Purchaser or its designee on a USB drive or by other means reasonably acceptable to Purchaser.
3.16
Title to Transferred Real Estate. As soon as practicable following the Closing, Purchaser Parent and Purchaser shall
effectuate the transfer of title to the Transferred Real Estate to Seller in accordance with applicable local Law (the “
Title Transfer”). Prior to the Title Transfer, Purchaser and Seller shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
negotiate and finalize leases in a form reasonably acceptable to Seller and Purchaser with respect to the use of the Transferred Real Estate, provided during the interim period between the Closing Date and the date the Title Transfer occurs,
Purchaser shall, on the last Business Day of each month in such interim period, pay to Seller a fee equal (i) to $148,000 for each full month in such interim period and (ii) the proportional amount of $148,000 assuming a 31 day month based on (x)
during the month the Closing occurs, the number of days remaining in the calendar month following the Closing Date and (y) during the month the Title Transfer occurs, the number of days in the calendar month prior to the date the Title Transfer
occurs.
4.1
Mutual Conditions to Closing. The obligation of Seller and Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated
hereby is subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by the mutual agreement of Purchaser and Seller, in whole or in part, to the extent permitted by applicable
Law):
(a) No Injunctions or Restraints. No Governmental Authority shall have issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, enforced, implemented or
otherwise put into effect any Law or Order (whether temporary, preliminary or permanent), including any Law that is then in effect, and that enjoins, materially restrains, conditions, makes illegal or otherwise prohibits the consummation of the
Acquisition and the other transactions contemplated hereby.
4.2
Seller’s Conditions to Closing. The obligation of Seller to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is
subject to the satisfaction on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by Seller in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a)
Representations and Warranties. Each
representation and warranty of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 made herein and in Purchaser’s Ancillary Documents shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though
made on the Closing (disregarding for this purpose any “materiality,” “material adverse effect” or similar qualifications or limitations contained in such representations and warranties), except to the extent such representation and warranty
expressly relates to another date or time (in which case as of such other date or time), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on Purchaser Parent’s, Purchaser’s, Merger Sub 1’s or Merger Sub 2’s ability to consummate the Acquisition.
(b)
Performance of Obligations of Purchaser.
Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall have performed or complied with in all material respects each obligation and covenant required by this Agreement and Purchaser’s Ancillary Documents to be performed or complied with
by Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 on or before the Closing.
(c)
Closing Deliveries. Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall have provided all of the documents and
made all of the deliveries required of them pursuant to
Section 1.11(b).
4.3
Purchaser’s Conditions to Closing. The obligation of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser,
Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby is subject to the satisfaction (or waiver by Purchaser in writing) on or before the Closing of each of the following conditions (any or all of which may be waived by
Purchaser in whole or in part to the extent permitted by applicable Law):
(a)
Representations and Warranties.
(i) each representation and warranty of Seller made herein and in Seller’s Ancillary Documents (
other than the
Seller Excluded Representations) shall be true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though made on the Closing (disregarding for this purpose
any “materiality,” “material adverse effect” or similar qualifications or limitations contained in such representations and warranties), except to the extent such representation and warranty expressly relates to another date or time (in which
case as of such other date or time) and (ii) each of the
Seller Excluded Representations contained in this Agreement shall be true
and correct in all respects as of the date hereof and as of the Closing as though made on the Closing.
(b)
Performance of Obligations of Seller and the
Company Group. Seller shall have, and shall have caused the Company Group to have, performed or complied with in all material respects each obligation and covenant required by this Agreement and Seller’s Ancillary Documents to be performed
or complied with by Seller or the Company Group, as applicable, on or before the Closing.
(c)
Absence of Proceedings. At the Closing
Date, there shall not be pending or threatened in writing any Proceeding (i) seeking, or the effect of which is, to restrain, delay, restructure, enjoin or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or seeking to obtain from
Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, any of their Affiliates or any member of the Company Group in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby any material damages, (ii) seeking to prohibit or limit the ownership, control or operation by
Purchaser Parent, Purchaser or any of their Affiliates of the Shares, or any material portion of the business or assets of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, any of their Affiliates or any member of the Company Group, (iii) seeking to compel Purchaser
Parent, Purchaser, any of its Affiliates or any member of the Company Group to dispose of or hold separate any material portion of the business or assets of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, any of their Affiliates or any member of the Company Group,
in each case as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, or (iv) seeking to impose any conditions or restrictions that, individually or in the aggregate, in the reasonable judgment of Purchaser, would materially impair (or could
reasonably be expected to materially impair) the ability of Purchaser Parent or Purchaser to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby or could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the economic benefits to Purchaser
Parent or Purchaser arising therefrom, in each case other than any Proceeding by or on behalf of a stockholder of Purchaser Parent or Purchaser.
(d)
Absence of Material Adverse Effect. There
shall not have occurred any Effect since the date of this Agreement, and no Effect shall exist that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to result in, a Material Adverse Effect.
(e)
Closing Deliveries. Seller shall have provided all of the documents and
made all of the deliveries required of it pursuant to
Section 1.11(a).
(f)
Continuing Validity. The documents listed in
the Recitals shall have been executed and delivered as of the date of this Agreement and shall remain in full force and effect as of the Closing Date without any amendments or modifications thereto.
(g)
Required Financial Statements. Purchaser shall have received a copy of (i) the 2025 Audited Financial Statements, (ii) the Q1
2026 Unaudited Financial Statements, and (iii) if the Closing shall not have occurred on or prior to August 12, 2026, the Subsequent Unaudited Financial Statements as of and for the three- and sixth-month periods ended June 30, 2026.
5.1
Indemnification Obligations
of Seller. Seller shall defend, indemnify, save and keep harmless Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2 and their respective Affiliates (including, for the avoidance of doubt, the Company Group upon the Closing) and their
officers, directors, stockholders, agents, lenders, successors and permitted assigns (each, a “
Purchaser Indemnitee” and, collectively, the “
Purchaser Indemnitees”) against and from all Damages sustained or incurred by any of them
resulting from, arising out of, in connection with or by virtue of:
(a) any inaccuracy in or breach of any representation and warranty made by Seller in this Agreement or any Seller Ancillary Document;
(b)
any breach by Seller of, or failure by Seller to comply with, any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement or Seller’s Ancillary Documents;
(c) any fraud or
intentional misrepresentations or omissions by the Company Group or Seller; and
(d) the matters set forth on
Schedule 5.1(d).
5.2
Indemnification
Obligations of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2. Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall defend, indemnify, save and keep harmless Seller from all Damages sustained or incurred by Seller
resulting from or arising out of or by virtue of:
(a) any
inaccuracy in or breach of any representation and warranty made by Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 in this Agreement or any Purchaser Ancillary Document; and
(b) any breach by Purchaser
Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 of, or failure by Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 to comply with, any of its covenants or obligations under this Agreement or any Purchaser Ancillary Document.
5.3
Limitations on Indemnification Obligations. The obligations of the Parties
pursuant to the provisions of this
ARTICLE V are subject to the following limitations.
(i) Purchaser Indemnitees shall not be entitled to recover under
Section 5.1(a) until the aggregate amount of Damages which
Purchaser Indemnitees would recover under
Section 5.1(a), but for this
Section 5.3(a)(i), exceeds $1,250,000 (the “
Deductible”), and then only to the extent such Damages exceed the Deductible;
provided,
however,
that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to recovery for any inaccuracy in a representation or breach of a warranty contained in
Sections 2.2(a) (Organization and Standing),
2.2(b) (Power and Authority; Execution and
Delivery),
2.2(d) (Capitalization; Subsidiaries),
2.2(h) (Title to Assets)
,
2.2(j) (Related-Party Transactions),
2.2(p) (Tax Matters) and
2.2(z) (Brokers and Finders)
(collectively, the “
Seller Excluded Representations”).
(ii) Seller shall not be entitled to recover under
Section 5.2(a) until the aggregate amount of Damages which Seller would recover
under
Section 5.2(a), but for this
Section 5.3(a)(ii), exceeds the Deductible, and then only to the extent such Damages exceeds the Deductible;
provided,
however, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to
recovery for any inaccuracy in a representation or breach of a warranty contained in
Sections 2.1(a) (Organization and Standing),
2.1(b) (Power and Authority), and
2.1(f) (Execution and Delivery) (collectively, the “
Purchaser
Excluded Representations”).
(b) An Indemnified Party shall not be entitled to recover from the Indemnifying Party under
Section 5.1(a) or
Section 5.2(a), as applicable, with respect to a
particular loss unless a claim has been asserted by written notice, setting forth the basis for such claim (a “
Notice of Loss”), delivered to the Indemnifying Party, on or prior to the
18-month anniversary of
the Closing;
provided,
however, that the foregoing time limitation shall not apply to recovery for any inaccuracy in a representation or breach of a warranty contained in the
Sections 2.2(c),
2.2(n) and
2.2(p),
the Seller Excluded Representations or the Purchaser Excluded Representations, which shall survive until the later of (i) the sixth anniversary of the Closing and (ii) 30 days after the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. For the
avoidance of doubt, with respect to any matter that is the subject of a claim for which a Notice of Loss is submitted within the periods specified in the prior sentence, the representation or warranty which is the subject of such claim shall
survive, to the extent of such claim, until such claim is resolved, whether or not the amount of the Damages resulting from such breach has been finally determined at the time the notice is given.
(c) An Indemnified Party shall not be entitled to recover under
Section 5.1(a) or
Section 5.2(a), as applicable, to the extent that the aggregate Damages actually paid by the Indemnifying Party
pursuant to this
ARTICLE V would thereby exceed $5,000,000 (the “
Cap”);
provided,
however, that the foregoing limitation shall not apply to recovery for any inaccuracy in a representation or breach of a warranty
contained in the Seller Excluded Representations or the Purchaser Excluded Representations;
provided,
further that no Indemnified Party shall be entitled to recover under
Section 5.1(a) or
Section 5.2(a), as
applicable, with respect to any inaccuracy in a representation or breach of a warranty contained in the Seller Excluded Representations or the Purchaser Excluded Representations, to the extent that the aggregate Damages actually paid by the
Indemnifying Party pursuant to this
ARTICLE V would thereby exceed the fair market value as of the Closing Date of the Merger Consideration.
(d)
Seller hereby waives and releases any and all rights that it may now or hereafter have under this Agreement or otherwise to assert (x) claims of contribution against any member of the Company Group in respect of any indemnity claim under this
ARTICLE
V or (y) claims, or to support any other Person in claiming that, under any Law the Closing of the Acquisition, or any other transaction to be consummated under or as part of this Agreement, is or could be void or voidable.
(e) Except in the event of fraud, the rights set forth in this ARTICLE V shall be the sole and exclusive remedy of an Indemnified Party for monetary Damages
resulting from claims arising under Section 5.1(a) or Section 5.2(a).
(f) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary herein contained, the limitations on indemnification set forth in this
Section 5.3 shall not apply to, and the indemnification obligations under
Section 5.1 or
Section 5.2 shall not limit, any
Party’s right to recover Damages which result from or arise out of fraud, intentional misrepresentation or intentional torts of any other Party.
(a) Promptly following
the receipt of notice of a Third Party Claim, the party receiving the notice of the Third Party Claim shall (i) notify the other party of its existence setting forth with reasonable specificity the facts and circumstances of which such party has
received notice and (ii) if the party giving such notice is an Indemnified Party, specifying the basis hereunder upon which the Indemnified Party’s claim for indemnification is asserted;
provided,
however, that the failure to
timely give such notice shall not affect the obligations of the Indemnifying Party under this
ARTICLE V except to the extent that the Indemnifying Party is materially prejudiced thereby.
(b) Except
as herein provided, the Indemnified Party shall not, and the Indemnifying Party shall, have the right to contest, defend, litigate or settle such Third Party Claim, if the defense of a Third Party Claim is so tendered and the Indemnifying Party
accepts such tender and acknowledges in writing without qualification its indemnification obligation. The Indemnified Party shall have the right to be represented by counsel at its own expense in any such contest, defense, litigation or
settlement conducted by the Indemnifying Party. The Indemnifying Party shall lose its right to contest, defend, litigate and settle the Third Party Claim if it shall fail to diligently contest the Third Party Claim. So long as the Indemnifying
Party has not lost its right to contest, defend, litigate and settle as herein provided, the Indemnifying Party shall have the right to contest, defend and litigate the Third Party Claim and shall have the right to enter into any settlement of
any Third Party Claim;
provided,
however, the Indemnifying Party may not enter into any settlement of any Third Party Claim without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Party if pursuant to or as a result of such
settlement, (i) injunctive or other equitable relief would be imposed against the Indemnified Party, or (ii) such settlement would create any financial or other obligation on the part of the Indemnified Party in excess of the Cap. The
Indemnifying Party shall not be entitled to assume control of a Third Party Claim and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel retained by the Indemnified Party if (A) the Third Party Claim relates to or arises in connection with any criminal
Proceeding, indictment or allegation, (B) the Third Party Claim seeks injunctive or other equitable relief, or, if adversely determined, would impair in any material respect the financial condition, business, operations, reputation or prospects
of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser or their subsidiaries (including the Company Group), (C) the amount pledged by the Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party to secure all of such Indemnifying Party’s obligations in connection with such Third
Party Claim is equal to at least 100% of the reasonably determined maximum amount of Damages for which such Indemnifying Party may be liable under this Agreement in connection with or arising from such Third Party Claim, or (D) the Third Party
Claim involves any customer or supplier of the Company Group or a Governmental Authority. All expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by the Indemnified Party in connection with the foregoing shall be paid by the Indemnifying Party. If an
Indemnified Party is entitled to indemnification against a Third Party Claim, and the Indemnifying Party fails to accept a tender of the defense of a Third Party Claim pursuant to this
Section 5.4, the Indemnified Party shall have the
right, without prejudice to its right of indemnification hereunder, in its discretion exercised in reasonable good faith and upon the advice of counsel, to contest, defend and litigate such Third Party Claim, and may settle such Third Party
Claim, either before or after the initiation of litigation, at such time and upon such terms as the Indemnified Party deems fair and reasonable,
provided, that at least five days prior to any such settlement, written notice of its
intention to settle is given to the Indemnifying Party, together with the proposed terms of settlement. If, pursuant to the preceding sentence, the Indemnified Party so contests, defends, litigates or settles a Third Party Claim for which it is
entitled to indemnification hereunder, the Indemnified Party shall be reimbursed by the Indemnifying Party for the reasonable attorneys’ fees and other expenses of contesting, defending, litigating and settling the Third Party Claim which are
incurred from time to time, promptly following the presentation to the Indemnifying Party of itemized bills for such attorneys’ fees and other expenses.
5.5
Determination of Damages.
The Parties hereby acknowledge and agree that qualifications as to materiality or “material adverse
effect” (or any similar qualification) in any representation, warranty (other than with respect to the use of the word material (and the like) in
Sections 2.2(l) and
2.2(bb) hereof) or covenant set forth herein or in any other
document contemplated by this Agreement shall be ignored both for the purpose of determining whether a breach of a representation, warranty or covenant has occurred and for determining the amount of applicable Damages, which shall be calculated
without regard to any such qualifiers contained in any such breached representation, warranty or covenant.
5.6
Mitigation. In the event
a Purchaser Knowledge Party has actual knowledge of an event and actual knowledge such event could reasonably be expected to give rise to indemnifiable Damages, Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 shall take, and shall
cause the Company Group to take, commercially reasonable actions to mitigate any Damages to the extent required by applicable Law;
provided, that (a) such mitigation is not detrimental in any material respect to Purchaser Parent,
Purchaser, Merger Sub 1, Merger Sub 2 or the Company Group, (b) such mitigation does not require any Purchaser Indemnitee to (i) initiate any litigation or other adversarial Proceedings or (ii) seek recovery against any then current customer or
then current supplier and (c) any costs of such mitigation shall be considered additional Damages hereunder;
provided,
further, that the failure of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 to mitigate pursuant to
the terms hereof shall only reduce the rights of Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 to recover for Damages under this Agreement to the extent of the Damages that would have been avoided by such required mitigation and the
burden of proving such amount shall be on Seller.
5.7
Indemnification Payments as an Adjustment to Merger Consideration. Purchaser and Seller agree to report each indemnification payment made by
Seller in respect of any Damages as an adjustment to the Merger Consideration for federal income Tax purposes unless the Indemnified Party determines in good faith that such reporting position is incorrect (it being understood that if any
reporting position is later disallowed in any Proceedings, the Indemnifying Party shall indemnify the Indemnified Party for the effects of such disallowance, and it being further understood that the obligations under this parenthetical clause
shall remain in effect until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations). For the avoidance of doubt, to the extent Damages are taken into account in the adjustment of the Merger Consideration as finally determined pursuant to
Section
1.10, the Indemnified Party shall not also recover for such Damages under this
ARTICLE V.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated and the Acquisition abandoned at any time
before the Closing as follows:
(i) by mutual written consent of Seller and Purchaser;
(ii) at the written election of Seller or Purchaser on or after October 31,2026 (the “
Outside Date”), if the Closing shall not have
occurred by such date;
provided,
however, that the right to terminate this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 6.1(a)(ii) shall not be available to a Party if the failure of such Party to perform or comply with any of its
obligations under this Agreement was the principal cause of a failure of the closing condition that was the primary cause of the Closing not being consummated prior to the Outside Date;
(iii) by Seller if (A) there have been one or more breaches by Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2 of any of their
respective representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein that have not been waived by Seller in writing and would result in the failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in
Section 4.1 or
Section 4.2
and such breaches shall be incapable of being cured or, if capable of being cured, shall not have been cured prior to the earlier of (x) ten Business Days after providing written notice of such breach to Purchaser and (y) the Outside Date;
provided,
that Seller is not then in breach of this Agreement as would prevent the conditions to the Closing set forth in
Section 4.1 or
Section 4.3 from being satisfied, or (B) any of the conditions set forth in
Section 4.1 or
Section
4.2 has become incapable of being satisfied on or before the Outside Date and have not been waived in writing by Seller; or
(iv) by Purchaser if (A) there have been one or more breaches by Seller of any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements contained herein that have not
been waived by Purchaser in writing and would result in the failure to satisfy any of the conditions set forth in
Section 4.1 or
Section 4.3 and such breaches shall be incapable of being cured or, if capable of being cured, shall
not have been cured prior to the earlier of
(x) ten Business Days after providing written notice of such breach to Seller and (y) the Outside Date;
provided, that Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or
Merger Sub 2 are not then in breach of this Agreement as would prevent the conditions to the Closing set forth in
Section 4.1 or
Section 4.2 from being satisfied, or (B) any of the conditions set forth in
Section 4.1 or
Section
4.3 has become incapable of being satisfied on or before the Outside Date and have not been waived in writing by Purchaser.
(b) In the event of termination by Seller or Purchaser pursuant to this
Section
6.1, written notice thereof shall forthwith be given to the other Party and the transactions contemplated hereby shall be terminated, without further action by any Party. Such notice shall set forth in reasonable detail the grounds for
termination. If the transactions contemplated hereby are terminated as provided herein Purchaser shall return, or confirm in writing destruction of, all documents and other material received from Seller or the Company Group relating to the
transactions contemplated hereby, whether so obtained before or after the execution hereof, to Seller or the Company Group;
provided,
however, that solely for purposes of asserting or protecting its rights under this Agreement or
any Purchaser’s Ancillary Document, Purchaser may retain one copy of all documents made available to Purchaser in any physical or electronic “data rooms,” management presentations or in any other form in expectation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
6.2
Effect of Termination. If this Agreement is terminated and the transactions
contemplated hereby are abandoned as described in
Section 6.1, this Agreement shall immediately become null and void and the Parties shall be relieved of their duties and obligations arising under this
Agreement after the date of such termination and such termination shall be without Liability to Purchaser Parent, Purchaser or Seller;
provided,
however, that
(a) no such termination shall relieve any
Party from Liability for a breach of
Section 3.2 or for fraud and (b) the provisions of this
Section 6.2, and
ARTICLE VII shall survive any such termination and shall remain in full force and effect.
7.1
Publicity. Purchaser and Seller shall consult with each other before issuing any press
release or otherwise making any public statements with respect to the
transactions contemplated hereby and shall not issue any such press
release or make any such public statement without the prior consent of the other Party (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld,
delayed or conditioned);
provided, that the restrictions set forth in this
Section 7.1 shall not apply to any press
release, public statement or other announcement issued or made, or
proposed to be issued or made, by Purchaser Parent or Purchaser (a) as may be required by applicable Law, Order or by obligations pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange or any regulatory reporting obligations or (b) that is
consistent in all material respects with previous press
releases, public disclosures or public statements made by a party hereto in accordance with this
Section 7.1, including investor conference
calls, filings with the SEC,
Q&As and other publicly disclosed documents, in each case under this
clause (b) to the extent such disclosure is still accurate. Nothing in this
Section 7.1 shall
limit the ability of the Purchaser Parent, Purchaser or Seller to make any internal announcements to its employees that are consistent in all material respects with the prior public disclosures regarding the transactions contemplated hereby or
not inconsistent with the terms of this Agreement. For the avoidance of doubt, any public filings providing notice to or seeking approval from any
Governmental
Authority made pursuant to
Section 3.4 shall be governed by
Section 3.4 and not this
Section 7.1.
7.2
Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and received hereunder (a) one Business Day
after being sent for next Business Day delivery, fees prepaid, via a reputable international overnight courier service, (b) upon delivery in the case of delivery by hand or (c) on the date sent if sent by email (
provided, that no “bounce
back” or similar message of non-delivery is received with respect thereto) prior to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, otherwise on the next succeeding Business Day, in each case to the intended recipient as set forth below (or at such other address or
addresses for a Party as may be designated by notice given in accordance with the provisions of this
Section 7.2):
if to Purchaser Parent,
Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2
(or, following the Closing, the Company):
c/o Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc.
433 W. Ascension Way, 3rd Floor
Murray, Utah 84123
Attention: Melissa Smith, General Counsel
Email: legal@beyond.com
with a copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Sidley Austin LLP
One South Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60603
Attention: Timothy P. FitzSimons; Jeff Wysong; Thomas Guzman
Email: tfitzsimons@sidley.com; jwysong@sidley.com; tguzman@sidley.com
if to Seller (or, prior to the Closing, the Company):
F9 Investments, LLC
4257 Old Hillsboro Road
Franklin, Tennessee 37064
Attention: Thomas Sullivan
Email: ts@f9in.com
with copies to (which shall not constitute notice):
Damian | Valori | Culmo
1000 Brickell Avenue, Suite 1020
Miami, Florida 33131
Attention: Melanie Damian
Email: mdamian@dvllp.com
7.3
Fees and Expenses. Except as provided in this Agreement, each Party shall bear all fees and expenses incurred by such Party in connection with, relating to or arising out
of the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, including attorneys’, accountants’, brokers’ and other professional fees and expenses.
7.4
Entire Agreement. This
Agreement, Purchaser’s Ancillary Documents, Seller’s Ancillary Documents and the instruments to be delivered by the Parties pursuant to the provisions hereof and thereof (a) constitute the entire agreement between the Parties, and (b) supersede
any prior agreements, representations or warranties between the Parties regarding the subject matter hereof and thereof, including without limitation that certain letter of intent relating to the transactions herein dated April 1, 2026. Each
exhibit, and the Disclosure Schedule, shall be considered incorporated into this Agreement.
7.5
Survival; Non-Waiver. Except as otherwise expressly set forth to the contrary herein, all representations, warranties and covenants contained in the Agreement or any Contract delivered in connection
with this Agreement shall survive the Closing regardless of any investigation or lack of investigation by any of the Parties (and none shall merge into any instrument of conveyance), and no action taken pursuant to this Agreement, including any
investigation by or on behalf of any Party, shall be deemed to constitute a waiver by the Party taking such action of compliance with any representation, warranty or covenant contained herein. The failure in any one or more instances of a party
to insist upon performance of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of this Agreement, to exercise any right or privilege in this Agreement conferred, or the waiver by said party of any breach of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of
this Agreement, shall not be construed as a subsequent waiver of any such terms, covenants, conditions, right or privileges, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect as if no such forbearance or waiver had occurred. Any
provision of this Agreement can be waived, only by written instrument making specific reference to this Agreement signed by the Party against whom enforcement of any such waiver is sought.
7.6
Applicable
Law; Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
Laws of the State of Delaware,
regardless of any other Laws that might otherwise govern under applicable principles of conflicts of laws. In any Proceeding between any of the Parties arising out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby,
each of the Parties: (i) irrevocably and unconditionally consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or, to the extent such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the
United States District Court for the District of Delaware or, to the extent that neither of the foregoing courts has jurisdiction, the Superior Court of the State of Delaware; (ii) agrees that all claims in respect of such Proceeding shall be
heard and determined exclusively in accordance with
clause (i) of this
Section 7.6; (iii) waives any objection to laying venue in any such Proceeding in such courts; (iv) waives any objection that
such courts are an inconvenient forum or do not have jurisdiction over any Party; and (v) agrees that service of process upon such Party in any such Proceeding shall be effective if notice is given in accordance with
Section 7.2 of this
Agreement.
7.7
WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY.
EACH PARTY HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, ANY RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY OF ANY CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION (a) ARISING UNDER THIS AGREEMENT OR (b) IN ANY WAY CONNECTED WITH OR RELATED OR INCIDENTAL TO THE
DEALINGS OF THE PARTIES IN RESPECT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, IN EACH CASE WHETHER NOW EXISTING OR HEREAFTER ARISING, AND WHETHER IN CONTRACT, TORT, EQUITY, OR OTHERWISE. EACH PARTY HEREBY AGREES AND
CONSENTS THAT ANY SUCH CLAIM, DEMAND, ACTION, OR CAUSE OF ACTION SHALL BE DECIDED BY COURT TRIAL WITHOUT A JURY AND THAT THE PARTIES MAY FILE AN
ORIGINAL COUNTERPART OF A COPY OF THIS AGREEMENT
WITH ANY COURT AS WRITTEN EVIDENCE OF THE CONSENT OF THE PARTIES TO THE WAIVER OF THEIR RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY.
7.8
Binding Effect. This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Parties, and their successors and permitted assigns. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer on any Person other than the Parties, and their respective
successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except that the Released Parties are third-party beneficiaries of
Section 3.10.
7.9
Assignment. This Agreement shall not be assignable by any Party without the prior written consent of the other Parties, and any attempted assignment or delegation of this Agreement or any of such
rights or obligations by such Party without the other Party’s prior written consent shall be void and of no effect;
provided, that Purchaser Parent and Purchaser may, in their sole discretion, assign in whole or in part their rights and
obligations pursuant to this Agreement (a) to one or more of their Affiliates, (b) to any of their lenders (or any agents therefor) as collateral security (including any pledge of such rights and obligations and any further assignment or transfer
that may occur due to a foreclosure or other remedy under the applicable loan documents) and (c) in connection with a sale of all or a portion of their business;
provided, that in each event, each of Purchaser Parent and Purchaser shall
not be released from their obligations hereunder.
7.10
Amendments.
This Agreement shall not be modified or amended except pursuant to an instrument in writing executed and delivered on behalf of each of the Parties.
7.11
Governmental Reporting. Anything to the contrary in this Agreement notwithstanding, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to mean that a Party or other Person must make or file, or cooperate
in the making or filing of, any return or report to any Governmental Authority in any manner that such Person or such Party reasonably believes or reasonably is advised is not in accordance with Law.
7.12
Enforcement; Remedies.
Except as otherwise provided herein, any and all remedies herein expressly conferred upon a Party will be deemed cumulative with and not exclusive of any other remedy conferred hereby, or by Law or equity upon such Party, and the exercise by a
Party of any one remedy will not preclude the exercise of any other remedy. The Parties agree that irreparable damage would occur in the event that any provisions of this Agreement (including failing to take such actions as are required of it
hereunder to consummate this Agreement) is not performed in accordance with its specific terms or is otherwise breached. Prior to the termination of this Agreement pursuant to
ARTICLE VI, the non-breaching Party shall be entitled to an
injunction or injunctions if monetary damages, if available, would not be an adequate remedy to prevent breaches of this Agreement by any other Party and to specifically enforce the terms and provisions of this Agreement, in addition to any other
remedy to which they are entitled at law or in equity. In the event that any Party seeks an injunction or injunctions to prevent breaches of this Agreement, or to enforce specifically the terms and provisions of this Agreement, such Party shall
not be required to provide any bond or other security in connection with such order or injunction.
7.13
Severability. Whenever
possible, each provision of this Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid under applicable Law, but if any provision of this Agreement is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect under any
applicable Law or rule in any applicable jurisdiction, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provision or any other jurisdiction, and this Agreement shall be reformed, construed and enforced in such
jurisdiction so as to best give effect to the intent of the Parties under this Agreement.
7.14
Counterparts; Electronic
Signatures. This Agreement may be executed by counterpart signature, each of which signature shall be deemed an original, all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. The words “
execution,” “
signed,” “
signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or
document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including “
pdf”) and other electronic signatures
(including,
DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, any contract or other record created,
generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act and any other applicable Law.
(a) The headings contained in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not affect the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. Unless the context
indicates otherwise, each pronoun herein shall be deemed to include the masculine, feminine, neuter, singular and plural forms thereof. The terms “including,” “includes,” “include” and words of like import shall be construed broadly as if
followed by the words “without limitation” or “but not limited to.” The terms “herein,” “hereunder,” “herewith” and “hereof” and words of like import, unless otherwise stated, refer to this entire Agreement as a whole (including any schedules
and exhibits hereto) and not to any particular provision of this Agreement, and Article, Section, Schedules and Exhibit references are to the Articles, Sections, Schedules and Exhibits of this Agreement unless otherwise specified. Any capitalized
terms used in any Schedule or Exhibit attached hereto and not otherwise defined therein shall have the meanings set forth in this Agreement. All references to “dollars” or “$” will be deemed references to the lawful money of the United States of
America. The word “or” shall not be exclusive. Unless the context otherwise requires, references herein to a Law means such Law as amended from time to time and includes any successor legislation thereto and any rule or regulations promulgated
thereunder. The Parties have participated jointly in the negotiation and drafting of this Agreement. In the event of an ambiguity or question of intent or interpretation arises, this Agreement will be construed as if drafted jointly by the
Parties and no presumption or burden of proof will arise favoring or disfavoring any party by virtue of the authorship of any provisions of this Agreement. Any document or item will be deemed “delivered,” “provided” or “made available” (a) to
Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 within the meaning of this Agreement if such document or item was included at least three days prior to and through the date of execution of this Agreement in the electronic data room
maintained on behalf of Seller as evidenced by a storage device imprinted with all such documents or information and, promptly following the date hereof, delivered to Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 and Merger Sub 2 and (b) to Seller
within the meaning of this Agreement if such document or item was disclosed in documents filed by Purchaser Parent with the SEC and publicly made available on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system.
(a) “
2025 Audited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2(e)(iii).
(b) “401(k) Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.12.
(c) “Accountant” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(d).
(d) “Accounting Principles” means GAAP, applied in a manner consistent with the accounting principles and practices applied in the preparation of
the Financial Statements (to the extent such methodology is in accordance with GAAP).
(e) “Acquired Employee” means each individual who is employed by a member of the Company Group as of immediately prior to the Closing.
(f) “Acquisition” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(g) “
Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person which Controls such Person, which such
Person Controls, or which is under common Control with such Person.
(h) “Aggregate Subscription Amount” means the aggregate amount of funds received by Purchaser Parent from Reinvesting Employees pursuant to the
Subscription Agreements.
(i) “
Agreement” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(j) “Assumed Indebtedness” means the Loan Agreement, dated as of August 31, 2022, by and between the Company, the Guarantors and Bank of America,
N.A., as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time.
(k) “BBBY Common Stock” means the common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of Purchaser Parent.
(l) “Business” means the business of the Company Group as of the Closing Date.
(m) “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a national or New York State holiday or a day on which commercial banks in New York
City are authorized to close.
(n) “
Cap” has the meaning set forth in
Section 5.3(c).
(o) “Cash Purchase Price” means $7,000,000.
(p) “CBA” means any collective bargaining agreement or similar Contract with any labor union, trade association, works council, labor organization
or similar organization representing any employee of the Company Group.
(q) “Certifications” means certifications and statements required by (i) Rule 13a-14 under the Exchange Act and (ii) 18 U.S.C. §1350 (Section 906
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act) relating to the Purchaser Parent’s SEC Documents.
(r) “
Claims” means any encumbrances, liens (statutory or other), security interests, claims, easements, mortgages,
deeds of trust, options, pledges, deposits, hypothecations, charges, rights of first refusal, preemptive rights, rights-of-way, easements, title defects, or restrictions of any kind (including any restriction on the voting of any security, any
restriction on the transfer of any security or other asset) and any agreement or arrangement to create any of the foregoing or having similar effect.
(s) “Closing” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
(t) “Closing Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(a).
(u) “Closing Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(a).
(v) “
COBRA” means Part 6 of Subtitle B of Title I of ERISA, Section 4980B of the Code, or similar state or local
Law.
(w) “Code” means the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
(x) “Company” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(y) “Company Data” means all data, information and data compilations contained in the Company IT Systems or any databases of the Company Group,
including Personal Data and confidential information, that are used by the Company Group.
(z) “Company Group” means collectively, the Company and its Subsidiaries.
(aa) “Company Group EBITDA” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(a)(iii)(A).
(bb) “Company In-bound License” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(u)(iv).
(cc) “Company Intellectual Property” shall mean (i) all Company Registered Intellectual Property and (ii) any other Intellectual Property Rights owned by
or licensed to any member of the Company Group.
(dd) “
Company IT Systems” means the hardware, software, firmware, middleware, equipment, electronics, platforms, servers, workstations, routers, hubs,
switches, interfaces, data, databases, data communication lines, network and telecommunications equipment,
operational technology, ICS/SCADA controls,
IoT
devices, websites and internet-related information technology infrastructure, wide area network and other data communications or information technology equipment, owned or leased by, licensed to, or used to
Process Company Data in the conduct of the Company Group.
(ee) “Company Out-bound License” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(u)(iv).
(ff) “Company Registered Intellectual Property” means all Registered Intellectual Property Rights at any time owned by, filed in the name of or
applied for by any member of the Company Group.
(gg) “Company Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(hh) “Confidential Information” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.7.
(ii) “Consent” means any consent, approval, waiver, license, ratification, permission, exemption, permit, franchise, qualifications, authorization or
Order of any Governmental Authority or any other Person; the expiration, lapse or termination of any waiting period (including any extension thereof) required by applicable Law; or declaration, filing, registration, qualification, recording or
other action or filing with or notice or submission to, any Governmental Authority or any other Person.
(jj) “Contract” means any written, oral, implied or other agreement (including “click-through” agreement), contract, license, lease, understanding,
arrangement, obligation, promise, instrument, note, guaranty, indemnity, representation, warranty, deed, assignment, power of attorney, certificate, purchase order, sale order, work order, insurance policy, benefit plan, commitment, covenant,
assurance or undertaking of any nature.
(kk) “Control” means the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, directly or indirectly, through voting
securities, Contract or otherwise.
(ll) “Copyrights” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.
(mm) “D&O Tail Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.11(a)(vii).
(nn) “Damages” means all liabilities, losses, demands, claims, actions or causes of action, obligations, judgments, awards, settlements, regulatory,
legislative or judicial Proceedings or investigations, assessments, levies, losses, Taxes, fines, penalties, damages, costs, fees and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’, accountants’, investigators’, experts’ and third party advisors’
fees, interest and expenses, sustained or incurred in connection with the defense, investigation, adjudication, settlement or other resolution of any indemnification claim. “Damages” does not include, and no Party shall be entitled to recover,
any special or any punitive damages, except to the extent awarded to a third party.
(oo) “
Data Processor” means
any Person that
Processes
Company Data on behalf of or at the direction of the Company
Group, including,
but not limited to
, a “service provider,” “contractor” or “processor,” as those terms are defined by Data Protection Requirements.
(pp) “
Data Protection Requirements” means all
applicable Laws
, industry requirements
(including, to the extent applicable to the Company Group, the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard),
public statements or privacy policies, and Contracts
relating to the
(a) privacy, confidentiality, integrity, availability, collection, use, access, Processing, protection, Security Incident notification, deletion or disclosure of Company Data or
Company IT
Systems, (b) information security and cybersecurity (including secure software development), (c) artificial intelligence, automated decision making or machine learning technologies, or (d) cross-border data transfers.
(qq) “DGCL” means the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(rr) “Disclosure Schedules” mean Purchaser’s Disclosure Schedules and Seller’s Disclosure Schedules.
(ss) “Dispute” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(c).
(tt) “Dispute Notice” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(c).
(uu) “Dispute Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.10(c).
(vv) “
DLLCA” means the
Delaware
Limited Liability Company Act.
(ww) “Earnout Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(a)(iii)(B).
(xx) “Earnout Period” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(a)(i).
(yy) “Earnout Threshold” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(a)(i).
(zz) “EBITDA Earnout Statement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.12(b)(i).
(aaa) “Effect” means any effect, change, event, circumstance, occurrence, result, state of facts or development.
(bbb) “Employee Plan” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(n)(i).
(ccc) “Enforceability Exceptions” means the (a) Laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and the relief of debtors; and (b) rules
of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies.
(ddd) “engage” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(c).
(eee) “
Environmental Laws” means any Law relating to pollution or protection of the environment (including ambient air, surface water, ground water,
land surface or subsurface strata) or natural resources, health and safety
(to the extent relating to exposure to Hazardous Materials or relating to the generation, manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, management, labeling, treatment, storage, disposal, transportation, remediation, cleanup, handling, Release or threatened Release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials).
(fff) “Environmental Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(t).
(ggg) “Equipment” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(g).
(hhh) “Equity Purchase Price” means a number of BBBY Common Stock equal to 18,100,000 minus (i) the Aggregate
Subscription Amount divided by (ii) 6.95.
(iii) “Equity Securities” means any of the following: (i) corporate shares, limited liability company membership interests, participation units or
similar interests, and general and limited partnership interests, (ii) rights to receive a share of profits and losses or a distribution of assets (including phantom stock, stock appreciation, profit participation and other similar rights), (iii)
other securities commonly regarded as equity securities, (iv) any right to acquire any of the foregoing, including subscriptions, warrants, options, preemptive rights, calls or commitments of any kind, and (v) any right to convert into, exercise
or exchange for any of the foregoing.
(jjj) “ERISA” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(n)(i).
(kkk) “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to any Person, each trade or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control with, or otherwise
treated as a single employer with, such Person within the meaning of Section 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code or Section 4001 of ERISA.
(lll) “Estimated Transaction Expenses” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.8(a).
(mmm) “Estimated Transaction Expenses Certificate” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.11(a)(xvii).
(nnn) “
Exchange Act” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
(ooo) “Export Controls” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(r)(ii).
(ppp) “F9 Master Lease” means that certain Master Lease, dated as of April 1, 2020, by and between Juniper Lane Properties, LP and Cabinets To Go, LLC,
as amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.
(qqq) “Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e)(iii).
(rrr) “First Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(b).
(sss) “First Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(ttt) “First Merger Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(b).
(uuu) “First Step Surviving Corporation” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
(vvv) “
FLSA” has the meaning set
forth in
Section 2.2(o)(i).
(www) “GAAP” means United States generally accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date hereof.
(xxx) “Gracious Home” means NEWGH, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
(yyy) “Governmental Authority” means any domestic or foreign national, state, multi-state or municipal or other local government, any subdivision, agency,
commission or authority thereof exercising any executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to government, or any quasi-governmental or private body established to perform such functions.
(zzz) “
Governmental Authorization” means any: (a) permit, license, certificate, franchise, permission, variance, exception, approval, exemption,
Order, clearance, registration, qualification or authorization issued, granted, given or otherwise made available by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority or pursuant to any Law; or (b) right under any
Contract with any Governmental Authority.
(aaaa) “Hazardous Material” means (a) any substance, material or waste that is listed, defined, classified or identified as a “pollutant” or
“contaminant” or as “hazardous” or “toxic” or words of similar meaning or regulatory effect under Environmental Law; (b) petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos or asbestos-containing material, polychlorinated biphenyls, per- and
polyfluoroalkyl substances, radon, toxic mold or radioactive materials; and (c) any other substance, material or waste that is regulated by or for which liability or standards of care may be imposed under Environmental Law.
(bbbb) “Improvements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(s)(ii).
(cccc) “Income Tax” means any federal, state, local or foreign Tax measured by or imposed on net income, profits, branch profits or other measures
similar to net income or profits.
(dddd) “Indebtedness” means (without duplication) the sum of the following items, calculated in accordance with the Accounting Principles as of immediately
prior to the Closing: (i) the principal amount of any indebtedness of the Company Group, whether evidenced by notes, debentures or similar instrument or otherwise, for borrowed money outstanding together with all prepayment premiums or penalties
and other amounts with respect to such indebtedness becoming due or being repaid as a result of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) any unpaid interest owing on the indebtedness described in clause (i) above, (iii) obligations
of the Company Group in respect of capitalized leases and any obligations under conditional sale, deferred consideration or other title retention agreements relating to the purchase of any property, assets or services, including any “earn-out” or
other similar performance-based contingent payment obligations, (iv) obligations in respect of banker’s acceptances or letters of credit issued or created for the account or benefit of the Company Group (including any letters of credit supporting
any bonds), (v) line of credit borrowings, bank fees and accrued distributions or dividends, (vi) all indebtedness or obligations of the types referred to in the preceding clauses (i) through (v) of any other Person secured by any Claim on any
assets of the Company Group, even though the Company Group has not assumed or otherwise become liable for the payment thereof, but excluding customer deposits and interest payable thereon in the Ordinary Course of Business, (vii) guarantees of
obligations of the type described in clauses (i) through (vi) above of any other Person, (viii) any payment obligation in respect of interest under any existing interest rate swap or hedge Contract entered into by the Company Group with respect
to any Indebtedness described in clause (i) or (ii) above, and any costs associated with termination of any such arrangement, (ix) any amounts payable to current or former members of the Company Group or Related Parties, including accrued but
unpaid distributions or dividends, (x) credit card balances of the Company Group for any personal expenses or other expenses not related to the Business, and (xi) all accrued and unpaid interest, penalties, prepayment penalties or premiums,
breakage, make-whole payments, fees and other charges and amounts related to any of the foregoing.
(eeee) “
Indemnified Party” means, with respect to a particular matter, a Person who is entitled to indemnification from a
Party pursuant to
ARTICLE V.
(ffff) “
Indemnifying Party” means, with respect to a particular matter, a Party who is required to provide
indemnification under
ARTICLE V to another Person.
(gggg) “Information Security Program” means a written information security program that complies with Data Protection Requirements, that when
appropriately implemented and maintained would constitute reasonable security procedures and practices appropriate to the nature of Company Data and Company IT Systems, and that is at least as stringent as one or more relevant industry standards
and that includes: (a) written policies and procedures regarding Company Data, and the Processing thereof; (b) administrative, technical and physical safeguards to protect the security, confidentiality, availability and integrity of any Company
Data; (c) disaster recovery, business continuity, incident response and security plans, procedures and facilities; (d) vendor and Data Processor cybersecurity and privacy risk management program; and (e) protections against Security Incidents,
Malicious Code, and against loss, misuse, unauthorized access to, and disruption of, the Processing of Company Data, and Company IT Systems.
(hhhh) “Insurance Policy” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(i).
(iiii) “Intellectual Property Rights” means, on a worldwide basis, any and all tangible and intangible intellectual property, industrial or
proprietary rights (by whatever name or term known or designated) arising under law or equity, whether or not filed, perfected, registered or recorded and whether now or later existing, filed, issued or acquired, including: (a) any and all United
States and foreign patents and utility models and equivalent or similar rights anywhere in the world (collectively, “Patents”); (b) any and all United States and foreign copyrights, works of authorship, mask works, moral rights and other
copyrightable subject matter throughout the world (collectively, “Copyrights”); (c) any and all United States and foreign trademarks, service marks, trade names, logos, mottos, slogans, taglines, corporate names, product names, service
names, character names and all other indicia of commercial source or origin, and all goodwill associated therewith throughout the world (collectively, “Trademarks”); (d) any and all internet domain names and addresses; (e) any and all
trade secrets under applicable law and other rights in know-how and confidential or proprietary information, including any and all (i) processing, manufacturing, marketing, business or customer information, (ii) inventions, processes, ideas,
formulae, algorithms, specifications, designs and methods, and (iii) all documentation relating thereto (including papers, blueprints, drawings, reports, diaries, annotations and notebooks) (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (f) any and all
other intellectual and industrial property and proprietary rights (of every kind and nature throughout the world and however designated) whether or not analogous to any of the foregoing rights (including character rights, “rental” rights,
remuneration rights, packaging rates, merchandising rights, advertising rights, rights of publicity and all other commercial rights), whether arising by operation of law, contract, license or otherwise; (g) any and all tangible embodiments of any
of the foregoing, in any form and in any media; (h) any and all registrations, applications, renewals, extensions, continuations, continuations-in-part, provisionals, divisionals, reissues and re-examinations thereof now or hereafter in force
throughout the universe (including rights in any of the foregoing) (collectively, “Registrations”); and (i) any and all Claims (whether past, present or future) arising from or related to any of the foregoing, including the sole, exclusive
and independent right to enforce any and all such Claims.
(jjjj) “Interim Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e)(iii).
(kkkk) “IRS” means the Internal Revenue Service.
(llll) “Knowledge” (i) of Seller and words of similar import shall be deemed to include the knowledge as of the Closing Date of Seller, Tom Sullivan,
Jason Delves, Avi Cohen and V. Brandon McGrath, following reasonable due inquiry and (ii) of Purchaser and words of similar import shall be deemed to include the knowledge as of the Closing Date of Marcus Lemonis.
(mmmm) “
Law” means any foreign, federal, state, local, municipal or other law, statute, legislation, constitution, principle of
common law, resolution, ordinance, code, edict, Order, decree, proclamation, treaty, rule, regulation, official standard norm, arbitral award, ruling or requirement issued, enacted, adopted, passed, approved, promulgated, made, enforced,
implemented or otherwise put into effect by or under the authority of any Governmental Authority.
(nnnn) “Leased Real Property” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(s)(i).
(oooo) “Liability” means any obligation or liability of any nature whatsoever (direct or indirect, matured or unmatured, absolute, accrued, contingent or
otherwise) whether or not required by GAAP to be provided or reserved against on a balance sheet.
(pppp) “
Malicious Code” means any “back door,” “drop dead device,”
“time bomb,” “
Trojan horse,” “virus,” “ransomware,” or “worm” (as such terms are commonly understood in the software industry) or any other code designed or intended to have,
or capable of performing, any of the following functions: (a) disrupting, disabling, harming, interfering with or otherwise impeding in any manner the operation of, or providing unauthorized access to, a computer system or network or other device
on which such code is stored or installed; or (b) damaging or destroying any data or file without the user’s consent.
(qqqq) “
Material Adverse Effect” means any Effect that, individually or in the aggregate, has had a material adverse effect on (a) the results of
operations or the condition (financial or otherwise) of the business, assets, properties, or liabilities of the Company Group, taken as a whole or (b) the Company Group’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by, or to perform its
obligations under, this Agreement and the Seller’s Ancillary Documents, taken as a whole;
provided,
however, that, solely for the purposes of clause (a), any Effect attributable to any of the following (either alone or in
combination) shall not be taken into account in determining whether there has been a
Material Adverse Effect: (i) general business or economic conditions affecting the industry in which the
Company Group operates, (ii) acts of war, armed hostilities or terrorism, acts of God or comparable events, epidemic, pandemic or disease outbreak or any worsening of the foregoing, or any declaration of martial law, quarantine or similar
directive, policy or guidance or Law or other action by any Governmental Authority in response thereto, (iii) changes in financial, banking or securities markets, (iv) any change in any Law or GAAP (or interpretations of any Law or GAAP), (v) any
failure of the Company Group to meet any projections or forecasts;
provided, however, that any Effect not otherwise excluded under this definition
underlying such failure may be taken into account in determining whether a Material Adverse Effect is occurring, has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur, (vi) resulting from the announcement of this Agreement or the pendency of the
transactions contemplated hereby, or (vii) resulting from the taking of any action required to be taken by this Agreement; except in each case with respect to
clauses (i) through
(iv), if such Effects disproportionately adversely
affect the Company Group, taken as a whole, relative to other similarly situated companies in the industries and geographic areas in which the Company Group operates.
(rrrr) “Material Contracts” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(l)(i).
(ssss) “Merger Consideration” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.7.
(tttt) “Merger Sub 1” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(uuuu) “Merger Sub 2” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(vvvv) “Mergers” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(wwww) “Non-Acquired Employee” means each individual who is employed by Seller or an Affiliate thereof but who is not an Acquired Employee.
(xxxx) “Notice of Loss” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(b).
(yyyy) “OFAC” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(r)(ii).
(zzzz) “OpCo” means F9 Operations, Inc., a Florida corporation.
(aaaaa) “OpCo Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(bbbbb) “Operating Subsidiaries” means each of Cabinets To Go, LLC, LumLiq2, LLC, and Southwind Building Products, LLC.
(ccccc) “Order” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.1(b).
(ddddd) “Ordinary Course of Business” means the ordinary course of business operations of the Company Group, consistent with its past practices.
(eeeee) “Organizational Documents” means with respect to any Person, the articles of incorporation, certificate of incorporation, certificate of formation,
certificate of limited partnership, bylaws, limited liability company agreement, operating agreement, partnership agreement, stockholders’ agreement and all other similar documents, instruments or certificates executed, adopted or filed in
connection with the creation, formation or organization of such Person, including any amendments and other modifications thereto.
(fffff) “Other Bid” means any proposal or offer for a merger, sale of securities, sale of substantial assets or similar transaction involving any member
of the Company Group, other than the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(ggggg) “Outside Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 6.1(a)(ii).
(hhhhh) “Party” and “Parties” have the meanings set forth in the Preamble.
(iiiii) “Patents” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.
(jjjjj) “Payoff Letters” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.11(a)(vi).
(kkkkk) “Permits” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(m).
(lllll) “
Permitted Claims” means, collectively, (i) Claims for Taxes and other governmental charges and assessments (including special assessments) that
are not yet due and payable and (ii) easements, rights of way, restrictions, covenants or other similar matters of public record that do not materially detract from the value of or materially impair the existing use of the
Leased Real Property affected by such easement, right of way, restriction, covenant or other matter.
(mmmmm) “Person” means any individual, sole proprietorship, company, firm, business, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership,
limited partnership, limited liability partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, estate, cooperative, foundation, society, political party, union, Governmental Authority or any other enterprise, association, organization or
entity of any kind.
(nnnnn) “Personal Data” means (a) any information relating to or reasonably capable of being associated with an identified or identifiable person, device
or household; or (b) any information that constitutes “personal data,” “personal information,” “protected health information,” “nonpublic personal information” or other similar terms as defined by Data Protection Requirements.
(ooooo) “Proceeding” means any action, claim, suit, complaint, charge, litigation, arbitration, proceeding (including any civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or appellate proceeding and any informal proceeding), prosecution, hearing, inquiry, audit, review, citation, examination or investigation, government charge or subpoena of any kind or nature whatsoever by or before any Governmental
Authority, whether at law or in equity.
(ppppp) “
Processing”, “
Process”, “
Processed”, with respect to data or Company IT Systems, means any collection, access, acquisition, storage, protection, use, re-use, disposal, disclosure, re-disclosure, destruction, transfer,
modification or any other processing (as defined by Data Protection Requirements) of such data (including any Company Data) or Company IT Systems.
(qqqqq) “Promissory Note” means that certain promissory note in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit B in the aggregate principal
amount of $4,600,000.
(rrrrr) “Purchaser” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(sssss) “Purchaser Deductible” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(i).
(ttttt) “Purchaser Excluded Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(ii).
(uuuuu) “Purchaser Indemnitee” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.
(vvvvv) “Purchaser Knowledge Party” means Marcus Lemonis.
(wwwww) “
Purchaser’s Ancillary Documents” means
the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement, the Promissory Note, the Post-Closing Cooperation Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and all other documents and instruments executed by Purchaser Parent, Purchaser, Merger Sub 1 or Merger Sub 2
in connection with this Agreement.
(xxxxx) “
Purchaser’s Disclosure Schedules” mean the schedules
delivered by Purchaser to Seller concurrently herewith.
(yyyyy) “Purchaser Parent” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(zzzzz) “Purchaser Parent’s SEC Documents” means registration statements, proxy statements, Certifications and other statements, reports, schedules, forms and
other documents filed by Purchaser with the SEC.
(aaaaaa) “Q1 2026 Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e)(iii).
(bbbbbb) “Real Estate Lease” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(s)(i).
(cccccc) “Registered Intellectual Property Rights” means all United States, international and foreign: (i) Patents and Registrations therefor; (ii) registered
Trademarks and Registrations therefor; (iii) registered Copyrights and Registrations therefor; (iv) registered domain names; and (v) any other registered Intellectual Property Right that is the subject of an application, certificate, filing, or
registration for such rights that is issued by or filed with any Governmental Authority at any time.
(dddddd) “Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.11(a)(xi).
(eeeeee) “Registrations” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.
(ffffff) “
Reinvesting Employees” means the individuals set forth on
Schedule 7.16(ffffff).
(gggggg) “Related Party” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(j).
(hhhhhh) “Release” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping, pouring, emptying, escape, injection, deposit, disposal, discharge, dispersal,
dumping, leaching or migration of Hazardous Materials into or through the indoor or outdoor environment or into or out of any property, including the movement of Hazardous Materials through or in the air, soil, sediment, surface water or
groundwater.
(iiiiii) “Released Parties” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.10.
(jjjjjj) “Representatives” of a Person means the officers, directors, employees, agents, attorneys, accountants, advisors and other representatives of
such Person.
(kkkkkk) “Restriction Period” means from and after the Closing and continuing until the later of (i) the payment of the Earnout Consideration and (ii) five
years from the Closing Date.
(llllll) “Sanctions” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(r)(ii).
(mmmmmm) “SEC” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
(nnnnnn) “Second Certificate of Merger” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(c).
(oooooo) “Second Merger” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(pppppp) “Second Merger Effective Time” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.3(c).
(qqqqqq) “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933.
(rrrrrr) “
Security Incident” means either (i) any unauthorized Processing of Company Data, (ii) any unauthorized access
or
disruption to the Company’s IT Systems, or (iii) any incident that may require notification to any Person or any other Entity under
Data Protection Requirements.
(ssssss) “
Seller” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(tttttt) “Seller Excluded Representations” has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a)(i).
(uuuuuu) “
Seller’s Ancillary Documents” means
the Registration Rights and Lock-Up Agreement, the Promissory Note, the Post-Closing Cooperation Agreement, the Subscription Agreements and all other documents and instruments executed by Seller or any member of the Company Group in connection
with this Agreement.
(vvvvvv) “Seller’s Disclosure Schedules” mean the schedules delivered by Seller to Purchaser concurrently herewith.
(wwwwww) “Shares” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(xxxxxx) “Significant Vendor” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(w)(i).
(yyyyyy) “Small Business Status” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(r)(iv).
(zzzzzz) “Stockholder Written Consent” has the meaning set forth in the Recitals.
(aaaaaaa) “software” means all (i) computer programs, including all software implementations of algorithms, models and methodologies, whether in source code,
executable code or object code, (ii) databases and compilations, including all data and collections of data, whether machine readable or otherwise, (iii) descriptions, flow charts and other work product used to design, plan, organize and develop
any of the foregoing, screens, user interfaces, report formats, firmware, development tools, templates, menus, buttons and icons, (iv) websites, social media networks and apps, and (v) documentation, including user manuals and other training
documentation, related to any of the foregoing.
(bbbbbbb) “Subsequent Unaudited Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.11(a).
(ccccccc) “
Subsidiary” of any Person means another Person, in which such first Person (i) owns, directly or indirectly, more than
50% of the outstanding voting securities, equity securities, profits interest, capital interest or any other interests, in each case having the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such other Person, (ii) is
entitled to elect at least a majority of the board of directors, board of managers or similar governing body, or (iii) is or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner or managing member of such other Person.
(ddddddd) “Sullivan” has the meaning set forth in the Preamble.
(eeeeeee) “Surviving Entity” has the meaning set forth in Section 1.2.
(fffffff) “Talon” means Talon Hardwood Floors, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
(ggggggg) “Tax Return” means any report, return, election, document, estimated tax filing, declaration or other filing provided to any Governmental Authority
with respect to Taxes (including any attached schedules), including any information return, claim for refund, amended return or declaration of estimated Taxes, including any amendments thereto.
(hhhhhhh) “Taxes” means (i) any federal, state, local or foreign net income, gross income, gross receipts, windfall profit, severance, property, production,
sales, use, license, excise, franchise, employment, social security, payroll, withholding on amounts paid to or by any Person, alternative or add-on minimum, ad valorem, value-added, transfer, stamp, or environmental tax, escheat payments or any
other tax, custom, duty, governmental fee or other like assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever, together with any interest or penalty, addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Authority and (ii) any liability for the
payment of amounts determined by reference to amounts described in clause (i) as a result of being or having been a member of any group of corporations that files, will file, or has filed Tax Returns on a combined, consolidated or unitary or
similar basis, as a result of any obligation under any agreement or arrangement, as a result of being a transferee or successor, or by contract or otherwise.
(iiiiiii) “
Territory” has the meaning set forth in
Section 3.6(a)(i).
(jjjjjjj) “Title Transfer” has the meaning set forth in Section 3.16.
(kkkkkkk) “Third Party Claim” means any Proceeding which is asserted or threatened by a party other than the Parties, their successors and permitted assigns
against any Indemnified Party or to which any Indemnified Party is subject.
(lllllll) “Trade Laws” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(r)(ii).
(mmmmmmm) “Trade Secrets” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.
(nnnnnnn) “Trademarks” has the meaning set forth in the definition of Intellectual Property Rights.
(ooooooo) “
Transaction Expenses” means (without duplication): (i) the sum of all costs and expenses of the Company Group, or for which the Company Group is
liable, regarding the negotiation, preparation and consummation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including all investment banking fees, commissions, advisory fees, legal fees and accounting fees), (ii) all costs and
expenses to procure the D&O Tail Policy (if and to the extent not paid by Seller), (iii) any transaction, retention or stay bonuses, sale and change of control bonuses and similar bonuses, payments or obligations due in connection with the
consummation of, or granted in contemplation or, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement pursuant to arrangements entered into by the Company Group prior to the Closing,
(iv) any appreciation rights, phantom,
profit-sharing, or similar plan and any deferred compensation, retention, severance obligations attributable to pre-Closing periods,
provided, that any of the foregoing in this
clause (iv) that are not accrued as of the Closing
and relate to revenue of the Company Group post-Closing will be allocated to Purchaser and not be treated as Transaction Expenses, and (v) any cost imposed on the Company Group, including the employer’s share of any payroll Taxes (together with
social security and other required contributions and third-party costs associated with making such payroll payment) and any required employer contributions to retirement plans relating thereto, in each case to the extent related to pre-Closing
time periods, due in connection with any such payments in
clauses (i) through
(iv);
provided, that for the avoidance of doubt, any and all costs and expenses incurred by Purchaser in connection with, related to or arising
from the negotiation, preparation and consummation of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (including all investment banking fees, commissions, advisory fees, legal fees and accounting fees, to the extent engaged by Purchaser)
shall not be Transaction Expenses, regardless of whether or not the Company Group becomes responsible for such expenses at or following the Closing.
(ppppppp) “
Transferred Real Estate” means (i) the manufacturing facility located in Koszalin, Poland, with the following address
Strefowa 7, 75-202, Koszalin, Poland; (ii) the manufacturing facility located in Västervik, Sweden, with the following address: Elfagatan 5, 593 32 Västervik, Sweden; and (iii) the manufacturing facility located in Mullsjö, Sweden, with the
following address Garverigatan 10, 565 23 Mullsjö, Sweden.
(qqqqqqq) “Unaudited OpCo Financial Statements” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.2(e)(iii).
(rrrrrrr) “USPTO” means the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
(sssssss) “
WARN Act” has the meaning set forth in
Section 2.2(o)(x).
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank; signature pages follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties have executed this Agreement and Plan of Merger on the date first above written.
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PURCHASER PARENT:
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BED BATH & BEYOND, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Marcus Lemonis |
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Name: Marcus Lemonis
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Title: Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
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PURCHASER:
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BEYOND HOME SERVICES, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Marcus Lemonis |
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Name: Marcus Lemonis
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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MERGER SUB 1:
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MERGER SUB 1, INC.
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By:
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/s/ Marcus Lemonis |
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Name: Marcus Lemonis
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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MERGER SUB 2:
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MERGER SUB 2, LLC
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By:
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/s/ Marcus Lemonis |
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Name: Marcus Lemonis
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Title: Chief Executive Officer
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[Signature Page to Agreement and Plan of Merger]