Exhibit
10.1
Execution
Version
ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
by and among
RONSON CONSUMER PRODUCTS
CORPORATION,
RONSON CORPORATION OF CANADA,
LTD.,
RONSON CORPORATION
collectively as the Selling
Companies
and
ZIPPO MANUFACTURING
COMPANY,
NOSNOR, INC.
collectively as the
Purchasers
Dated as of October 5,
2009
ASSET PURCHASE
AGREEMENT
This ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT, dated as of
October 5, 2009 (this “ Agreement ”), by and among RONSON
CONSUMER PRODUCTS CORPORATION, a New Jersey corporation (
the “ Seller ”), RONSON
CORPORATION OF CANADA, LTD., an Ontario corporation (“
Ronson Canada ”), and RONSON CORPORATION, a New Jersey
corporation (“ Ronson ” and, along with the
Seller and Ronson Canada, collectively the “ Selling
Companies ”), ZIPPO MANUFACTURING COMPANY, a Pennsylvania
corporation (the “ Business Purchaser ”), and
NOSNOR, INC., a Delaware corporation, (the “ Real Property
Purchaser ” and, along with the Business Purchaser,
collectively the “ Purchasers ”), and, for
purposes of Section 7.12(c) only, LOUIS V. ARONSON II (“
Aronson ”).
WHEREAS, the Seller and Ronson Canada own,
operate and lease certain assets that are used or held for use in
connection with or otherwise related to the development, packaging
and sale of consumer flame products and flame accessories,
including lighters, fuel, wicks, and other related products and
services, and such other business activities conducted by Seller
and Ronson Canada on or prior to the date hereof (the “
Business ”);
WHEREAS, the Seller and Ronson own certain
Intellectual Property (as defined herein) used or held for use in
connection with or otherwise related to the Business;
WHEREAS, the Selling Companies are deriving
substantial benefits from the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement and, therefore, are willing to agree to the
non-competition covenants contained in this Agreement in order to
induce the Purchasers to consummate the transactions contemplated
herein, and the Selling Companies acknowledge that the Purchasers
would not consummate the transactions contemplated herein but for
such agreements and covenants; and
WHEREAS, the Selling Companies wish to sell,
convey, assign and otherwise transfer to the Purchasers, and the
Purchasers wish to purchase and obtain the assignment from the
Selling Companies of, all of the Transferred Assets (as defined
herein) and the Purchasers wish to assume the Assumed Liabilities
(as defined herein);
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the
representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in
this Agreement and intending to be legally bound, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
Section
1.1
Definitions; Construction .
(a)
Certain Defined Terms . As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings
specified in this Section 1.1(a),
unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“ Acquisition Proposal ”
means any proposal or offer with respect to, or a transaction to
effect, a merger, reorganization, share exchange, consolidation,
business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution,
or similar transaction involving any of the Seller or Ronson Canada
or any purchase or sale of all or any material portion of the
assets or business of any of the Seller or Ronson Canada (including
any stock of any of their Subsidiaries) or any purchase or sale of
all or any material portion of the assets of Ronson related to the
Business outside of the Ordinary Course of Business.
“ Adjusted Current Assets ”
means Current Assets reduced by Four Hundred Seventy-Five Thousand
Three Hundred and 00/100 Dollars
($475,300.00).
“ Affiliate
” means, with respect to any Person, any other Person
controlling, controlled by or under common control with, or the
parents, spouse, lineal descendants or beneficiaries of, such
Person. The term “control” (as used in the
terms “controlling,” “controlled by” or
“under common control with”) means holding the power to
direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
Person, whether by ownership of equity securities, reserved
corporate power, Contract or otherwise. Without limiting
the foregoing, a Person shall be deemed to control another Person
which is not an individual if the first Person directly or
indirectly holds 50% or more of the outstanding voting securities
of the second Person.
“ Aviation Agreement ” means
that certain Asset Purchase Agreement dated May 15, 2009, among
Ronson Corporation and Ronson Aviation, Inc., as Seller, and
Hawthorne TTN Holdings, LLC, as Buyer.
“ Aviation Mark ” means the
integrated name and mark “Ronson Aviation” for use in
conjunction with aviation related goods and/or services as provided
in the Aviation Agreement (the “ Permitted Goods and
Services ”). For the purpose of clarity, the
Aviation Mark shall not include any right to use the term
“Ronson” other than in conjunction with the term
“Aviation” and in conjunction with the Permitted Goods
and Services.
“ Board ” means the Board of
Directors of Ronson Corporation.
“ Business
Day ” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a
day on which banks in New York City are authorized or obligated by
law or executive order to close.
“ CERCLA ” means the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability
Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq. and all
regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
“ Code ”
means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including any
successor provisions and transition rules, whether or not
codified.
“ Consent ” means any
approval, consent, action, ratification, waiver or authorization of
any kind or nature.
“ Contract
” means any written, oral or other agreement, contract,
subcontract, settlement agreement, lease, binding understanding,
instrument, power of attorney, note, option, warranty, purchase
order, license, sublicense, insurance policy, benefit plan or
legally binding commitment or undertaking of any
nature.
“ Copyrights ” means, as they exist
anywhere in the world, copyrights and mask works, including all
renewals and extensions thereof, copyright registrations and
applications for registration thereof, and non-registered
copyrights.
“ Current Assets ” means the
sum of Transferred Inventory (at book value excluding obsolete,
damaged, and unsalable goods or goods that cannot be sold in the
Ordinary Course of Business), Transferred Accounts Receivable after
allowance for uncollectible and doubtful accounts, Transferred
Pre-Paid Expenses at book value, and Insurance Proceeds, as of the
Closing Date.
“ Disclosure Memorandum ”
means the disclosure memorandum delivered by the Selling Companies
to Purchasers concurrently with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement.
“ Dollar General Agreement ”
means that certain Dollar General Front-End Fixture Program
Placement Agreement effective August 1, 2009, pursuant to which the
Business Purchaser will pay or has paid $338,080.00 in Placement
Fees to Dollar General which benefits Seller up to the time of
Closing.
“ Dollar General Amount ”
means the sum of forty percent (40%) of the first $500,000 actually
collected by Seller pursuant to the Dollar General Agreement plus
twenty percent (20%) of any and all amounts in excess of $500,000
actually collected by Seller pursuant to the Dollar General
Agreement.
“ Employee Benefit Plan ”
means any benefit plan, program, contract or arrangement (whether
for the benefit of current or former employees, consultants,
officers, directors or independent contractors of any of the
Selling Companies), whether or not reduced to writing, including
any employee benefit plan (as defined in Section 3(3)
of ERISA) and
any and all plans, programs, Contracts or arrangements with respect
to pension, retirement, profit sharing, deferred compensation,
thrift, savings, stock ownership, stock bonus, restricted stock,
phantom stock, health, dental, medical, life, hospitalization,
disability, relocation, child care, educational assistance, stock
purchase, stock option, incentive, bonus, sabbatical leave,
vacation, severance, cafeteria, pre-tax premium, flexible spending
or other contribution, benefit or payment of any kind, including
any fringe benefits, and plans, programs, Contracts or arrangements
providing for contributions, benefits or payments in the event of a
change of ownership or control, in whole or in part, of any of the
Selling Companies, which any of the Selling Companies has at any
time adopted or maintained, with respect to which any of the
Selling Companies has or may have any liability or is a fiduciary
or under which any of the Selling Companies has any present or
future obligation to contribute or make payment or under which any
current or former employee, consultant, independent contractor,
officer or director of such Selling Company (and/or any dependent
or beneficiary thereof) is covered or entitled to
benefits.
“ Environmental Laws ” means
applicable federal (including Canada), state, provincial, local and
foreign (as to the United States of America) laws, regulations, or
codes promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to
pollution or protection of the environment, including the Release
or threatened Release of Hazardous Substances or otherwise relating
to the presence, manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous
Substances.
“ ERISA ” means the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and all
regulations promulgated pursuant thereto.
“ Escrow
Agent ” means an escrow agent reasonably acceptable to
the Purchasers and the Selling Companies, and any Person who
becomes a successor thereto in accordance with the Escrow
Agreement.
“ Escrow
Agreement ” means the Escrow Agreement, to be entered
into at Closing by and among the Purchasers, the Selling Companies
and the Escrow Agent, substantially in the form attached as
Annex A hereto, with such modifications as to which the
parties hereto may agree.
“ Exchange Act ” means the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“ Excise Tax Act ” means the
Excise Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
as amended.
“ Fundamental Representations
” means the representations and warranties given by the
Selling Companies in Sections 5.1. 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.13, 5.14(a),
5.15, and 5.18.
“ Group ” means, for purposes
of ERISA and the Code as related to any Employee Benefit Plan, the
Selling Companies and any company or entity which, together with
the Selling Companies , is a “trade or business under common
control” or
constitutes a
member of the Selling Companies’ “controlled
group” or “affiliated service group” within the
meaning of Sections 4001(a)(14) and/or 4001(b) of ERISA and/or
Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code.
“ GST ” means the goods and
services tax as more fully described in Part IX of the Excise Tax
Act.
“ Hazardous Substance ” means
petroleum, petroleum hydrocarbons, petroleum products or
by-products, radioactive materials, asbestos or asbestos-containing
materials, gasoline, diesel fuel, pesticides, radon, urea
formaldehyde, chlorinated volatile organic compounds, lead or
lead-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls, and any other
chemicals, gases, materials, substances or wastes in any amount or
concentration which are now included in the definition of
“hazardous substances,” “hazardous
materials,” “hazardous wastes,” “extremely
hazardous wastes,” “restricted hazardous wastes,”
“toxic substances,” “toxic pollutants,”
“pollutants,” “regulated substances,”
“solid wastes,” or “contaminants” or words
of similar import, under any Environmental Law or which are
otherwise regulated pursuant to any Environmental
Law.
“ Income Tax Act ” means the
Income Tax Act (Canada) and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
as amended.
“ Indebtedness ” means, with
respect to any specified Person, any Liabilities (contingent or
otherwise) relating to (a) indebtedness, including interest and any
prepayment penalties, expenses or fees thereon or created, issued
or incurred by, such Person for borrowed money; (b) reimbursement
obligations and obligations of such Person with respect to letters
of credit, bankers’ acceptances, bank guarantees, surety
bonds and performance bonds, whether or not matured; (c)
obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase or
acquisition price of property or services, other than trade
accounts payable arising in the Ordinary Course of Business of such
Person and consistent with such Person’s customary trade
practices; (d) indebtedness secured by a lien on the property of
such Person, whether or not the respective indebtedness so secured
is a primary obligation of, or has been assumed by, such Person;
(e) capital lease obligations of such Person; and (f) indebtedness
or obligations of others guaranteed by such Person (including
guarantees in the form of an agreement to repurchase or reimburse,
letters of credit and guarantees of performance obligations of
another Person).
“ Insurance Proceeds ” means
cash in an amount equal to the sum of all cash insurance or
condemnation proceeds referred to in Section 2.1(a)(ix) and Section
2.1(b)(ii).
“ Intellectual Property ”
means all Copyrights, Internet Assets, Patents, Software, Trade
Secrets, Trademarks, Know-How and IP Licenses.
“ Internet
Assets ” means, as they exist anywhere in the world,
domain names, Internet addresses and other computer and/or network
identifiers, web sites, web pages and similar rights and
items.
“ Inventory Agreement ” means
that certain Inventory Agreement entered between Seller and the
Business Assets Purchaser of even date herewith.
“ IP
Licenses ” means all licenses, sublicenses, distributor
agreements or permissions, including, the right to receive
royalties or any other consideration relating to Copyrights,
Internet Assets, Patents, Software, Trade Secrets and
Trademarks.
“ IRS ” means the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service.
“ Know-How ” means both
confidential and nonconfidential information relating to the
operation of the Business, including manufacturing, packaging,
operational, technological, administrative, marketing,
distribution, collection, other management information, and all
tangible materials and/or documents associated
therewith.
“ Knowledge
” (whether or not capitalized) and words of similar import,
(i) when used with reference to the Selling Companies, means the
Knowledge (determined pursuant to subheadings (a) and (b) below) of
the officers and directors of the Selling Companies, including, for
the avoidance of doubt, the Chief Restructuring Officer and (ii)
when used with reference to the Purchasers, means the Knowledge
(determined pursuant to subheadings (a) and (b) below) of the
officers and representatives of the Purchasers having active
involvement in the negotiation of the transaction contemplated by
this Agreement. Knowledge of a particular fact or
matter, as to a specified individual, will be deemed to exist if
(a) the specified individual is actually aware of that fact or
matter; or (b) a prudent individual, similarly situated to the
specified individual, would be expected to be aware of the fact or
matter.
“ Liability ” and “
Liabilities ” means, with respect to any Person, any
and all liabilities and obligations of such Person of any kind or
nature, including Indebtedness and those arising under Legal
Requirements, Contract, warranty (expressed or implied) or
otherwise, whether known or unknown, accrued or unaccrued, absolute
or contingent, or liquidated or unliquidated, regardless of when
and by whom asserted, and whether or not disclosed on the Schedules
to this Agreement.
“ Lien ” means all liens,
pledges, mortgages, security interests, claims, leases, charges,
options, rights of first refusal, transfer restrictions,
encumbrances, other title defects (including encroachments and
survey defects) or any other restrictions or limitations
whatsoever.
“ Losses
” means all losses, Liabilities, damages (including
incidental damages), deficiencies, judgments, assessments,
interest, penalties, fines, interest costs, amounts paid in
settlement of claims, costs and expenses of remedial measures and
other costs and expenses (including reasonable legal expenses);
provided that Losses shall not include consequential,
punitive, special or exemplary damages.
“ Material Adverse Effect ”
means a material adverse effect on (i) the business, assets,
results of operations or condition (financial or otherwise) of the
Selling
Companies, the
Business and the Transferred Assets taken as a whole (excluding, in
the case of this clause (i), changes in general economic conditions
that do not have a disproportionate impact on the Selling
Companies) or (ii) on the ability of either of the Selling
Companies to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or by the Related Agreements.
“ Ordinary Course of Business
” means, with respect to a specified Person, business
conducted or an action taken by such Person which is consistent in
nature, scope and magnitude with the past practices of such Person,
is done in the ordinary course of the normal, day-to-day operations
of such Person, and does not require, under applicable Legal
Requirements, authorization by the board of directors or
shareholders of such Person (or by any Person or group of Persons
exercising similar authority if such Person is not a
corporation).
“ Patents
” means, as they exist anywhere in the world, patents, patent
applications and inventions, designs and improvements described and
claimed therein, patentable and unpatentable inventions and
discoveries and/or other patent-related rights (including any
divisions, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues,
reexaminations, or interferences thereof, whether or not patents
are issued on any such applications and whether or not any such
applications are modified, withdrawn, or
resubmitted).
“ Permit ” means a permit,
certificate of occupancy, license, franchise, Consent,
authorization or approval required pursuant to a Legal
Requirement.
“ Permitted
Liens ” shall mean: (i) liens for leased
equipment in favor of lessors of such equipment; (ii) statutory
Liens for Taxes that are not due and payable or that may thereafter
be paid without penalty and with respect to which adequate reserves
or other appropriate provisions are being maintained; (iii) with
respect to the Owned Real Property, those items set forth as items
7, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 in Schedule B-Section II of Title
Commitment File Number 09-78130 issued by First American Title
Insurance Company, a copy of which is attached hereto as Annex
B ; and (iv) other imperfections of title, licenses or Liens,
if any, which do not materially detract from the value of the
assets to which they relate and which do not materially impair the
continued use and operation of the assets to which they relate in
the Ordinary Course of the Business.
“ Person
” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, business trust, firm, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated
organization, Governmental Authority or other
entity.
“ Related Agreements ” means the
Escrow Agreement, the Bill of Sale and Assignment of Contract
Rights, the Additional Transfer Documents, the Seller’s Deed
Documents, the Real Property Purchaser’s Additional Deed
Document, the Inventory Agreement, the Transition Services
Agreement, any remediation agreement or agreements entered into
pursuant to Section 7.6 hereof, and remediation
certification(s).
“ Release
” or “ Released
” means any release, spill, emission, leaking, pumping,
injection, deposit, disposal, or discharge of Hazardous Substances
into the soil or other subsurface substrate, groundwater or surface
water.
“ Remediation Trust Fund Trustee
” means the trustee pursuant to the remediation trust fund
agreement entered in connection with ISRA Closing
Compliance.
“ Retail Sales Tax Act ”
means the Retail Sales Tax Act (Ontario) and the regulations
promulgated thereunder, as amended.
“ SEC ” means the Securities
and Exchange Commission.
“ Securities Act ” means the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“ Site ” means the Owned Real
Property and any other real property now or previously used in the
Business by any of Selling Companies, any predecessors of any of
Selling Companies, any past, present or future Affiliates or
Representatives of any of Selling Companies or any current or
former Subsidiaries of any of Selling Companies, including all
land, soil, subsoil, surface waters and groundwater
thereat.
“ Software
” means, as they exist anywhere in the world, computer
software programs, including all source code, object code,
specifications, designs and documentation related to such
programs.
“ Subsidiary ” means, with respect to
any Person, any entity of which securities or other ownership
interests having ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or other body performing similar functions are
at any time directly or indirectly owned by such
Person.
“ Superior Proposal ” means a
bona fide written Acquisition Proposal that (i) the Board
concludes, in good faith, after consultation with legal counsel and
its financial advisors (including the Chief Restructuring Officer
of Ronson and Ronson’s investment bankers), taking into
account the legal, financial, regulatory, timing and other aspects
of the proposal and the person making the proposal (including any
termination / break-up fees, expense reimbursement provisions and
conditions to consummation), (a) is more favorable to Ronson from a
financial point of view than the transaction contemplated by this
Agreement (taking into account all the terms and conditions of such
proposal and after giving effect to any adjustments to the terms
and provisions of this Agreement committed to in writing by the
Purchasers in response to such Acquisition Proposal); (b) is fully
financed or reasonably capable of being fully financed and
reasonably likely to receive all required governmental Consents and
approvals on a timely basis; and (c) is reasonably capable of being
completed on the terms so proposed, taking into account all
financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal;
(ii) was not solicited or initiated by any of the Selling
Companies, or any of their Affiliates, officers, or directors after
the date of this Agreement; and (iii) was initially proposed after
the date of this Agreement.
“ Tangible Business Assets Property
” means machinery, equipment, rental equipment, furniture,
fixtures, vehicles, any related capitalized items and other
tangible property including those items set forth on Schedule
2.1(a)(ii) of the Disclosure Memorandum.
“ Tax ” and “ Taxes ” means (i) any and all federal
(including Canada), state, provincial, local, foreign (as to the
United States of America) and other taxes, levies, fees, imposts,
duties, and similar charges imposed, assessed, or collected by any
Governmental Authority (including any interest, fines, assessments,
penalties or additions to tax imposed in connection therewith or
with respect thereto) including (x) taxes imposed on, or measured
by, income, franchise, profits or gross receipts, and (y) ad
valorem, value added, capital gains, sales, goods and services,
use, real or personal property, capital stock, license, branch,
payroll, estimated withholding, employment, social security (or
similar), unemployment, health insurance and Canada, Quebec and
other government pension plan premiums, compensation, utility,
severance, production, excise, stamp, occupation, premium, windfall
profits, transfer and gains taxes, and customs duties, and (ii) any
successor, transferee, or joint and several liability, or any
liability of any Person pursuant to U.S. Treasury Regulations
Sections 1.1502-6 or 1.1502-78 or any similar Tax Legal
Requirements in respect of any items described in clause (i)
above.
“ Tax
Returns ” means any and all reports, returns,
declarations, claims for refund, elections, disclosures, estimates,
information reports or returns or statements required to be
supplied to a Governmental Authority in connection with Taxes,
including any schedule or attachment thereto, amendment thereof, or
information provided therewith with respect thereto.
“ Trade
Secrets ” means, as they exist anywhere in the world,
trade secrets, formulae, Know-how, inventions, processes,
procedures, databases, confidential business information and other
proprietary information and rights (whether or not patentable or
subject to copyright, mask work, or trade secret
protection).
“ Trademarks ” means, as they exist
anywhere in the world, trademarks, service marks, trade dress,
trade names, brand names, product and graphic designs, logos, or
corporate names, whether registered or unregistered, and all
registrations and applications for registration thereof, and all
goodwill related thereto.
“ Transferred Assets ” means
the Business Assets, the Owned Real Property, and the assets and
rights transferred pursuant to Sections 2.1(b)(ii), (iii) and (iv),
collectively.
“ Transferred Books and
Records ” means all of each Selling Company’s
operational books and records related to the Transferred Assets or
the Business, including, to the extent existing, (a) executed
copies of all of the Transferred Contracts, (b) all equipment,
product and other warranties, (c) all technical information and
data, maps, computer files, diagrams, designs, packaging,
blueprints and schematics, (d) all
filings made
with or records required to be kept by any Governmental Authority
(including all backup information on which such filings are based),
(e) all research and development reports, (f) all equipment and
operating logs, (g) all creative, promotional or advertising
materials, and (h) all customer lists and sales records.
“ Transferred Business Assets
Contracts ” means those Contracts listed on Schedule
2.1(a)(i) of the Disclosure Memorandum.
“ Transferred Contracts ”
means the Transferred Business Assets Contracts and the Transferred
Real Estate Contracts.
“ Transferred Permits ” means
those Permits held by the Selling Companies that the Purchasers
require the Selling Companies to transfer, a list of which shall be
provided to the Selling Companies prior to the Closing and attached
hereto as Schedule 2.1(a)(vii) of the Disclosure
Memorandum.
“ Transferred Real Estate Contracts
” means those Contracts listed on Schedule 2.1(b)(iv)
of the Disclosure Memorandum.
“ WARN Act ” means the Worker
Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act and all regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto.
“ Warranty Claims ” means
typical consumer warranty claims and does not include, in any case,
products liability claims, personal injury or wrongful death
claims, incidental, consequential, punitive, special or exemplary
damages.
(b)
Index of Defined Terms . As used in this
Agreement, the following terms have the meanings specified in the
indicated Section, unless the context clearly requires
otherwise:
|
Term
|
Section
|
|
Accounting
Firm
|
Section
2.5(b)(ii)
|
|
Acquisition
Proposal
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Additional
Remediation Funding Source
|
Section
7.6(b)
|
|
Additional
Transfer Documents
|
Section
3.2(a)
|
|
Adjusted
Current Assets
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Affiliate
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Agreement
|
Preamble
|
|
Aronson
|
Preamble
|
|
Assumed
Liabilities
|
Section
2.3(a)
|
|
Aviation
Agreement
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Aviation
Mark
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Benchmark
Amount
|
Section
2.5
|
|
Bill of Sale
and Assignment of Contract Rights
|
Section
3.2(a)
|
|
Board
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Term
|
Section
|
|
Bulk Sales
Escrow Amount
|
Section
11.1
|
|
Business
|
Recitals
|
|
Business
Assets
|
Section
2.1(a)
|
|
Business
Day
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Business
Purchaser
|
Preamble
|
|
Cap
Amount
|
Section
10.3(a)
|
|
CERCLA
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Closing
|
Section
2.1(a)
|
|
Closing
Date
|
Section
3.1
|
|
Closing
Payment
|
Section
2.4(c)
|
|
Closing
Statement
|
Section
2.5(b)(i)
|
|
Code
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Confidentiality
Agreement
|
Section
7.3
|
|
Consent
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Contract
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Copyright
Office
|
Section
7.5(a)
|
|
Copyrights
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Current
Assets
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Direct
Claim
|
Section
10.7
|
|
Disclosure
Memorandum
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Dollar General
Agreement
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Dollar General
Amount
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Employee
Benefit Plan
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Environmental
Laws
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
ERISA
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Escrow
Account
|
Section
2.4(b)
|
|
Escrow
Agent
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Escrow
Agreement
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Escrow
Amount
|
Section
2.4(b)
|
|
Estimated
Adjusted Current Asset Amount
|
Section
2.5(a)
|
|
Estimated
Closing Statement
|
Section
2.5(a)
|
|
Excise Tax
Act
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Exchange
Act
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Excluded
Assets
|
Section
2.2
|
|
Excluded
Liabilities
|
Section
2.3(b)
|
|
Financial
Statements
|
Section
5.6(b)
|
|
Fundamental
Representations
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
GAAP
|
Section
5.6(a)
|
|
Governmental
Authority
|
Section
5.3(b)
|
|
Group
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
GST
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Hazardous
Substance
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Term
|
Section
|
|
Income Tax
Act
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Indebtedness
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Indemnified
Party
|
Section
10.6(a)
|
|
Indemnifying
Party
|
Section
10.6(a)
|
|
Insurance
Proceeds
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Intellectual
Property
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Internet
Assets
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Inventory
Agreement
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
IP
Licenses
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
IRS
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
ISRA
|
Section
7.6(a)
|
|
ISRA Closing
Compliance
|
Section
7.6(a)
|
|
ISRA
Compliance
|
Section
7.6(a)
|
|
ISRA
Remediation Funding Source
|
Section
7.6(a)
|
|
Know-How
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Knowledge
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Liability /
Liabilities
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Legal
Actions
|
Section
5.5
|
|
Legal
Requirements
|
Section
5.3(b)
|
|
Lien
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Losses
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Material
Adverse Effect
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
NJDEP
|
Section
3.2(l)
|
|
Nonassignable
Asset
|
Section
2.8(a)
|
|
Orders
|
Section
5.3(b)
|
|
Ordinary Course
of Business
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Owned Real
Property
|
Section
2.1(b)(i)
|
|
Patents
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Permit
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Permitted Goods
and Services
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Permitted
Liens
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Person
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Post-Closing
Collection Amounts
|
Section
7.8
|
|
Proxy
Statement
|
Section
7.12(a)
|
|
PTO
|
Section
7.5(a)
|
|
Purchase
Price
|
Section
2.4
|
|
Purchasers
|
Preamble
|
|
Purchaser
Indemnified Parties
|
Section
10.1
|
|
Real Property
Leases
|
Section
2.2(d)
|
|
Real Property
Purchaser
|
Preamble
|
|
Real Property
Purchaser’s Additional Deed Document
|
Section
3.3(c)
|
|
Related
Agreements
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Term
|
Section
|
|
Release /
Released
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Remediation
Trust Fund Trustee
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Required
Consents
|
Section
4.1(d)
|
|
Restricted
Period
|
Section
8.1(a)
|
|
Restrictive
Covenants
|
Section
8.2
|
|
Retail Sales
Act
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Ronson
|
Preamble
|
|
Ronson
Canada
|
Preamble
|
|
SEC
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
SEC
Filings
|
Section
5.6(a)
|
|
Securities
Act
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Seller
|
Preamble
|
|
Seller
Indemnified Parties
|
Section
10.2
|
|
Seller’s
Deed Documents
|
Section
3.2(b)
|
|
Selling
Companies
|
Preamble
|
|
Site
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Software
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Stay Bonus
Amount
|
Section
7.14
|
|
Stay
Bonuses
|
Section
7.14
|
|
Subsidiary
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Superior
Proposal
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Tangible
Business Assets Property
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Tax /
Taxes
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Tax
Returns
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Termination
Date
|
Section
9.1(b)
|
|
Termination
Expenses
|
Section
9.3
|
|
Termination
Fee
|
Section
9.3
|
|
Territory
|
Section
8.1
|
|
Third Party
Claim
|
Section
10.6(a)
|
|
Threshold
Amount
|
Section
10.3(a)
|
|
Trade
Secrets
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Trademarks
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Transferred
Accounts Receivable
|
Section
2.1(a)(iii)
|
|
Transferred
Assets
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Transferred
Books and Records
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Transferred
Business Assets Contracts
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Transferred
Contracts
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Transferred
Intellectual Property
|
Section
2.1(a)(viii)
|
|
Transferred
Inventory
|
Section
2.1(a)(iv)
|
|
Transferred
Permits
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Transferred
Pre-Paid Expenses
|
Section
2.1(a)(v)
|
|
Transferred
Real Estate Contracts
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Term
|
Section
|
|
Transferred
Tangible Business Assets Property
|
Section
2.1(a)(ii)
|
|
Transition
Services Agreement
|
Section
3.2(m)
|
|
Warn
Act
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
|
Warranty
Claims
|
Section
1.1(a)
|
(c)
Construction and Usage . For purposes of this
Agreement, except as otherwise expressly provided herein or unless
the context otherwise requires: (i) words using the
singular or plural number also include the plural or singular
number, respectively, and the use of any gender herein shall be
deemed to include the other genders; (ii) references herein to
“Articles,” “Sections,”
“subsections” and other subdivisions, and to Exhibits,
Schedules of the Disclosure Memorandum, Annexes and other
attachments, without reference to a document are to the specified
Articles, Sections, subsections and other subdivisions of, and
Exhibits, Schedules of the Disclosure Memorandum, Annexes and other
attachments to, this Agreement; (iii) a reference to a subsection
without further reference to a Section is a reference to such
subsection as contained in the same Section in which the reference
appears, and this rule shall also apply to other subdivisions
within a Section or subsection; (iv) the words
“herein,” “hereof,”
“hereunder,” “hereby” and other words of
similar import refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any
particular provision and (v) the words “include,”
“includes” and “including” are deemed to be
followed by the phrase “without
limitation.” Any covenant, representation,
warranty or other obligation of Purchasers, collectively, or the
Selling Companies, collectively, in this Agreement shall be deemed
to be joint and several.
ARTICLE II
PURCHASE AND SALE OF
ASSETS
Section
2.1 Asset
Purchas e .
(a)
Purchase of Business Assets . At the Closing
provided for in ARTICLE III (the “ Closing ”),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and in reliance on the representations and warranties
made to the respective parties in this Agreement, each Selling
Company shall sell, convey, assign and otherwise transfer to the
Business Purchaser, and the Business Purchaser shall purchase from
each Selling Company, free and clear of all Liens (other than
Permitted Liens), in exchange for payment of the allocated share of
the Purchase Price in accordance with Section 2.4 and the
assumption of the Assumed Liabilities in accordance with Section
2.3, each Selling Company’s right, title and interest in and
to all property and assets of the Selling Companies of every kind
or nature, whether real or personal, tangible or
intangible,
that are not Excluded Assets or Owned Real Property (collectively,
the “ Business Assets
”) including the following:
(i) the
Transferred Business Assets Contracts;
(ii) all
Tangible Business Assets Property (the “ Transferred
Tangible Business Assets Property ”);
(iii) all
accounts receivable (the “ Transferred Accounts
Receivable ”);
(iv) all
inventory (the “ Transferred Inventory
”);
(v) all
pre-paid expenses (the “ Transferred Pre-Paid Expenses
”);
(vi)
the Transferred Books and Records;
(vii) the
Transferred Permits;
(viii) (i)
all Intellectual Property owned by the Selling Companies other than
the Aviation Mark, and (ii) any and all rights the Selling
Companies have to use any Intellectual Property that is not owned
by the Selling Companies but that is used in connection with the
Business (the “ Transferred Intellectual Property
”);
(ix)
all rights of the Selling Companies
with respect to insurance or awards in condemnation relating to the
Business Assets or the Business, including all insurance and
condemnation proceeds (i) received or receivable after Closing in
respect of Assumed Liabilities, or (ii) received or receivable (to
the extent not already expended by the Selling Companies to restore
or replace a lost, damaged or condemned Business Asset) in respect
of any asset damaged, lost or condemned after the date of this
Agreement and which, if not so damaged, lost or condemned, would
have been a Business Asset;
(x)
all of such Selling Company’s goodwill
associated with the Business Assets or the Business;
(xi) archive
of past lighters and other historical items, except for those items
described in Section 2.2(j); and
(xii) all
rights under warranties, representations and guaranties made by
suppliers, manufacturers and contractors relating to the Business
Assets or the Business.
(b)
Purchase of Owned Real Property . At the Closing,
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this
Agreement, and in reliance on the representations and warranties
made to the respective parties in this Agreement, the Seller shall
sell, convey, assign and otherwise transfer to the Real Property
Purchaser, and the Real Property Purchaser shall purchase from the
Seller, free and clear of all Liens (other than Permitted Liens),
in exchange for payment of the allocated share of the Purchase
Price in accordance with Section 2.4, the following:
(i)
all right, title and interest in and to the real property
listed on Schedule 2.1(b)(i) of the Disclosure Memorandum,
together with all of the buildings, structures and other
improvements located thereon (including the roofs and structural
elements thereof and the heating, ventilation, air conditioning,
plumbing, electrical, mechanical, sewer, waste water, storm water,
paving and parking equipment, systems and facilities included
therein) (the “ Owned Real Property
”);
(ii)
all rights of Seller with respect to
insurance or awards in condemnation relating to the Owned Real
Property in respect of any damage, loss or condemnation after the
date of this Agreement;
(iii) all
rights under warranties, representations and guaranties made by
suppliers, manufacturers and contractors relating to the Owned Real
Property; and
(iv) the
Transferred Real Estate Contracts.
Section
2.2
Excluded Asset s
. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
Section 2.1, the Transferred Assets shall exclude the following
property and assets of the Selling Companies (the “ Excluded Assets ”):
(a) all
cash and cash equivalents of the Selling Companies, other than
Insurance Proceeds;
(b) all
rights of any of the Selling Companies under this Agreement or any
Related Agreements or the Aviation Agreement;
(c) all
rights to any refunds of Taxes;
(d) all
leases, subleases, licenses and other agreements under which any of
the Selling Companies uses or occupies, or has the right to use or
occupy, now or in the future, any real property (the “
Real Property Leases ”);
(e) all
Contracts to which any of the Selling Companies is a party that are
not Transferred Contracts, including those Contracts listed on
Schedule 2.2(e) of the Disclosure Memorandum;
(f) the
Aviation Mark;
(g) the
shares of Ronson Canada, Seller, and any Subsidiaries of any of the
Selling Companies;
(h) all
Permits of the Selling Companies that are not Transferred
Permits;
(i) the
assets set forth on Schedule 2.2(i) of the Disclosure
Memorandum; and
(j) one
(1) of each of the items listed on Schedule 2.2(j) of the
Disclosure Memorandum of which there is a quantity greater than one
(1) plus ten (10) additional items selected from those
listed on Schedule 2.2(j) of the Disclosure Memorandum of
which there is a quantity equal to one (1), which ten (10) items
shall be identified by Ronson to the Business Assets Purchaser on
Schedule 2.2(j)(i) of the Disclosure Memorandum to be
delivered by Ronson at least three (3) days prior to the Closing
Date.
Section 2.3
Assumption of Liabilities and Obligation
s .
(a)
Assumed Liabilities . At the Closing, the
Purchasers shall assume and be responsible for the following
Liabilities of each Selling Company: (i) Liabilities
first arising, and relating to acts or omissions of the Purchasers
first occurring, under the Transferred Contracts after the Closing
Date; (ii) Warranty Claims first arising, and relating to acts or
omissions of the Business Purchaser first occurring, after the
Closing Date; and (iii) the Stay Bonus Amount in accordance with
Section 7.14 (collectively, the “ Assumed Liabilities
”). Other than Assumed Liabilities, no Purchaser
shall assume or be responsible for any Liability of any Selling
Company.
(b)
Excluded Liabilities . The Selling Companies
shall retain, and the Purchasers shall not assume or be responsible
for, any Liabilities of the Selling Companies that are not Assumed
Liabilities (collectively, the “ Excluded Liabilities ”)
including the following:
(i)
all Liabilities of each Selling Company to
the extent relating to Transferred Assets arising or accruing on or
prior to the Closing Date or arising or accruing from the operation
of the Business on or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii)
all accounts payable of each Selling
Company;
(iii) all
Liabilities of each Selling Company to the extent relating to any
Excluded Assets, including any Liability in connection with the
Contracts listed on Schedule 2.2(e) of the Disclosure
Memorandum;
(iv) all
Liabilities of each Selling Company pursuant to this Agreement or
any Related Agreement (including Liabilities with respect to
payment of expenses or indemnification);
(v) any
Legal Actions against any of the Selling Companies, whether or not
disclosed to Purchasers on any Schedule of the Disclosure
Memorandum or otherwise;
(vi) any
Liability under any Environmental Law or otherwise relating to
Hazardous Substances (including any Liability associated with,
resulting from or arising out of the facts and circumstances
disclosed on any Schedule of the Disclosure Memorandum or
otherwise), including compliance with ISRA;
(vii) any
Liability under any Transferred Contract whenever arising to the
extent that it arises out of or relates to any breach of such
Transferred Contract by any of the Selling Companies;
(viii)
any Liability for Taxes, including any Taxes that will
arise as a result of the sale of the Transferred Assets pursuant to
this Agreement, any deferred Taxes of any nature and any sales Tax
related to, resulting from or arising out of the conduct of the
Business by the Selling Companies;
(ix) any
Liability under the Employee Benefit Plans or relating to payroll,
severance, bonuses, vacation, or sick leave of any kind offered or
maintained by any of the Selling Companies for employees or any
other Liability of any of the Selling Companies to or in respect of
any employee or employment practices or matters, whether based on
breach of contract, wrongful discharge, retaliatory discharge, bad
faith, impairment of economic opportunity, intentional infliction
of emotional harm or any other tort, violations of any
constitutional right, age discrimination or any other form of
hiring or employment discrimination, under every applicable Legal
Requirements;
(x)
any Liability to any shareholder or
Affiliate of any of the Selling Companies (including liability with
respect to Indebtedness owed to any shareholders);
(xi) any
Liability of any of the Selling Companies with respect to
Indebtedness, including any prepayment penalties associated
therewith;
(xii) any
Liability arising from or claimed to have been incurred by reason
of an alleged defect or defects in any products or services
manufactured, distributed, rendered or sold by any of the Selling
Companies;
(xiii) any
suits, actions or claims relating to workers’ compensation or
otherwise to injury, disability or death occurring in the course of
employment to any employee of any of the Selling Companies;
and
(xiv) any
suits, actions or claims arising from any violation or alleged
violation of any collective bargaining agreement or similar
agreement with employees of any of the Selling Companies, or from
any violation or alleged violation by any of the Selling Companies
of the National Labor Relations Act, as amended, rul