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UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE
14C INFORMATION
Information
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
(Amendment
No. 2)
Check the
appropriate box:
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x
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Preliminary
Information Statement
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¨
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Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
14c-5(d)(2))
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¨
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Definitive
Information Statement
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WES
Consulting, Inc.
(Name
of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
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x
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Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and
0-11.
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(1)
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Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
Common
stock, par value $0.01 per
share.
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(2)
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Aggregate
number of securities to which transaction applies:
70,633,830
shares Company Common Stock (which includes 60,932,981 shares of common
stock outstanding, 4,300,000 shares of common stock underlying Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock that are issuable in the merger, 438,456
shares of common stock underlying options, 2,462,393 shares of common
stock underlying warrants, and 2,500,000 shares of common stock issuable
upon conversion of the convertible notes
payable).
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was determined):
As
of November 19, 2010, one third of the par value of $0.01, as the Company
has no current bid and asked price and has an accumulated capital
deficit.
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(4)
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Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
$235,446
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(5)
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Total
fee paid:
$16.79
(computed in accordance with Exchange Act Rule 0-11(c)(1) and Section
14(g) of the Exchange Act by multiplying the proposed maximum aggregate
value of the transaction by
0.0000713).
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¨
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Fee
paid previously with preliminary
materials.
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¨
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Check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was
paid previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its
filing.
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(1)
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Amount
previously paid:
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(2)
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Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
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(3)
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Filing
Party:
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(4)
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Date
Filed:
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WES
Consulting, Inc.
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive
Atlanta,
GA 30360
NOTICE
OF SHAREHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT
Dear
Shareholder:
The
purpose of this letter is to inform you that the Board of Directors of WES
Consulting, Inc., a Florida corporation (“we”, “us” or “Company”), and the
holder of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of our common stock,
par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), took the following actions on
October 19 and 20, 2009 pursuant to written consents in lieu of a meeting in
accordance with the Florida Business Corporation Act (“FBCA”):
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(i)
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Approval
of the merger (the “Merger”) between the Company with Liberator, Inc., a
Nevada corporation, pursuant to the terms of the Merger and
Recapitalization Agreement dated October 19, 2009, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
“Merger Agreement”);
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(ii)
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Approval
of the Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation as attached hereto as Exhibit B to
authorize (a) the creation of a class of preferred stock consisting of
10,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share, (b) the designation of
4,300,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock having such rights and preferences as set forth in the Designation
of Rights and Preferences of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
attached hereto as Exhibit C, and
(c) the change of the name of the Company to “Liberator, Inc.” (“Name
Change”); and
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(iii)
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Approval
of the adoption of the Company’s 2009 Stock Option Plan, a copy of which
is attached hereto as Exhibit
D.
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WE
ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY, AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A
PROXY.
The
accompanying Information Statement, which describes the above corporate actions
in more detail, is being furnished to our shareholders for informational
purposes only pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations prescribed
thereunder.
Pursuant
to Rule 14c-2 under the Exchange Act, these corporate actions will not be
effective until 20 calendar days after the mailing of the Information Statement
to our shareholders, at which time we may file with the Florida Secretary of
State Articles of Amendment to effectuate the creation of preferred stock, the
designation of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, and the Name
Change. Although under federal securities laws, the Merger cannot be
completed until at least 20 calendar days after the mailing of this Information
Statement to our shareholders, the Merger is effective under the state laws
of Nevada, the state of incorporation of Liberator, Inc., and Florida, the state
of incorporation of the Company, as of October 22, 2009, with Liberator, Inc.
having merged out of the State of Nevada and the Company as the surviving
company from the Merger.
I
encourage you to read the enclosed Information Statement, which is being
provided to all of our shareholders. It describes the proposed corporate actions
in detail.
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Sincerely,
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/s/ Louis S. Friedman
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LOUIS
S. FRIEDMAN
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Chief
Executive Officer
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WES
Consulting, Inc.
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive,
Atlanta,
GA 30360
INFORMATION
STATEMENT
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 14(C)
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND
RULE 14C-2 THEREUNDER
NO
VOTE OR ACTION OF THE COMPANY'S SHAREHOLDERS
IS
REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INFORMATION STATEMENT
WE
ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY,
AND
YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY
We are
distributing this Information Statement to shareholders of WES Consulting, Inc.
(sometimes hereinafter referred to as “we,” “us,” or “Company”) pursuant to the
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), and the Florida Business Corporation Act (“FBCA”). No
additional action will be undertaken by us with respect to the receipt of
written consents. The record date for determining the shareholders entitled to
receive this Information Statement has been established as of the close of
business on October 19, 2009 (the “Record Date”).
OUTSTANDING
VOTING SECURITIES
As of the
Record Date, we had 1,205,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share
(the “Common Stock”), issued and outstanding.
The FBCA
permits the holders of a majority of the shares of the our outstanding Common
Stock to approve and authorize actions by written consent as if such actions
were undertaken at a duly constituted meeting of the shareholders of the
Company. On October 19 and 20, 2009, our Board of Directors consented in writing
without a meeting to the matters described herein, and recommended that the
matters described herein be presented to the shareholders for approval. On
October 19 and 20, 2009, the holder of an aggregate of 972,000 shares
of Common Stock (the “Consenting Shareholder”), representing approximately 80.6%
of the total shares of Common Stock entitled to vote on the matters set forth
herein, consented in writing without a meeting to the matters described
herein.
CORPORATE
ACTIONS
Our Board
of Directors and the Consenting Shareholder have consented to the following
actions:
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(i)
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Approval
of the merger (the “Merger”) between the Company with Liberator, Inc., a
Nevada corporation (“Liberator”), pursuant to the terms of the Merger and
Recapitalization Agreement dated October 19, 2009, a copy of which is
attached hereto as Exhibit A (the
“Merger Agreement”);
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(ii)
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Approval
of the Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Amended and Restated
Articles of Incorporation as attached hereto as Exhibit B to
authorize (a) the creation of a class of preferred stock consisting of
10,000,000 shares, par value $0.0001 per share, (b) the designation of
4,300,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock and having such rights and preferences as set forth on the
Designation of Rights and Preferences of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock attached hereto as Exhibit C, and
(c) the change of the name of the Company to “Liberator, Inc.”;
and
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(iii)
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Approval
of the adoption of the Company’s 2009 Stock Option
Plan.
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We will
pay the expenses of furnishing this Information Statement to our shareholders,
including the cost of preparing, assembling, and mailing this Information
Statement.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS MAY PROVE INACCURATE
This
Information Statement contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties. Such statements are based on current expectations, assumptions,
estimates and projections about the Company and its industry. Forward-looking
statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance,
achievements and prospects to be materially different from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Words such as “anticipates,”
“believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “hopes, “targets,” or similar expressions
are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the
date of this Information Statement, and in the case of documents incorporated by
reference, as of the date of those documents. The Company undertakes no
obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking
statements or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this
Information Statement or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events,
except as required by law.
ACTION 1 – THE
MERGER
SUMMARY TERM
SHEET
The
following summary highlights selected information from this Information
Statement relating to the merger between the Company and Liberator pursuant to
the terms of the Merger Agreement. Reference is made to, and this
summary is qualified in its entirety by, the more detailed information contained
elsewhere in this Information Statement, the annexes attached hereto, and the
documents referred to or incorporated by reference herein. Each item in this
summary includes a page reference directing you to a more complete description
of that item. We encourage you to read this Information Statement and the
annexes attached hereto in their entirety. WE ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY,
AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND US A PROXY.
The
Parties to the Merger (Page 2)
WES
Consulting, Inc.
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive,
Atlanta,
GA 30360
Tel.:
(770) 246-6400
Liberator,
Inc.
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive,
Atlanta,
GA 30360
Tel.:
(770) 246-6400
Louis S.
Friedman
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive,
Atlanta,
GA 30360
Tel.:
(770) 246-6400
The
Merger (Page 3)
PARTIES TO THE
MERGER
WES
Consulting, Inc.
The
Company is a Florida corporation with its principal executive offices at 2745
Bankers Industrial Drive, Atlanta, GA 30360. The Company’s
telephone number is (770) 246-6400. Prior to the Merger, its
principal business plan was to provide consulting services to companies
requiring expert guidance and assistance in successfully upgrading and improving
their high-volume commercial printing businesses with a primary emphasis on
global companies involved in printing telephone directories.
The
Company’s common stock is quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board under
the symbol “WSCU.” The last reported sale price of our common stock
on the OTC Bulletin Board, which occurred on July 16, 2010, was $0.15 per
share.
Liberator,
Inc.
Liberator
was incorporated in the State of Nevada on October 31, 2007 under the name
“Remark Enterprises Inc.” Since inception, Liberator was engaged in
organizational efforts and obtaining initial financing. Liberator was
formed as a vehicle to pursue a business combination. As of June 2009
and until October 22, 2009, it conducted business through its wholly owned
subsidiary, OneUp Innovations, Inc., a Georgia corporation. On October 22, 2009,
Liberator merged out of Nevada.
OneUp
Innovations, Inc.
OneUp was
founded in Atlanta, Georgia in 2000 and was incorporated in Georgia on June 24,
2004. It is a provider of sexual wellness goods and
information. Its products include sensual furniture, sophisticated
lingerie and latex apparel, pleasure objects, and bath and body, bedding, and
home décor. The information that OneUp provides consists primarily of product
demonstration videos that it shows on its websites and instructional DVD’s that
it sells. OneUp’s wholly owned subsidiary is Foam Labs, Inc., which
was incorporated in Georgia on May 16, 2006.
Louis
S. Friedman
Mr. Friedman was the holder of
28,394,376 shares of Liberator’s common stock on the date of execution of the
Merger Agreement, constituting 46.6% of Liberator’s voting
stock. Upon the designation and issuance by the Company of 4,300,000
shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, Mr. Friedman will have 72.7% of
the combined voting power of the Company’s common stock and
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, voting as a single class and will control
the outcome of any of the Company’s corporate
transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval,
including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all of
our assets, and also the power to prevent or cause a change in control. The
interests of Mr. Friedman may differ from the interests of the other
shareholders.
THE
MERGER
Structure
of the Merger
Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, each issued and outstanding share of the common stock
of Liberator were converted into one share of our common stock, $0.01 par value,
which, after giving effect to the Merger, equals, in the aggregate, 98.4% of our
total issued and outstanding common stock, and each issued and outstanding share
of preferred stock of Liberator are to be converted into one share of our Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock with the provisions, rights, and designations set
forth in the Merger Agreement. On the execution date of the Merger
Agreement, we were not authorized to issue any preferred stock, the parties
agreed that we will file an amendment to its Articles of Incorporation
authorizing the issuance of preferred stock, and at such time preferred stock
will be exchanged pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement. The
Merger was structured as Liberator merging with and into the Company, with the
Company surviving as the sole remaining entity.
We relied
on Section 4(2) of the Securities Act as the exemption from registration under
Section 5 of the Securities Act for the securities to be issued pursuant to the
Merger. Section 4 provides an exemption from Section 5 for certain transactions,
including the exemption under Section 4(2) for “transactions by an issuer not
involving any public offering.”
Background
of and Reasons for the Merger
On
September 2, 2009, we underwent a change of control. Liberator
acquired the majority of our issued and outstanding common stock from
Belmont Partners, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company (“Belmont” or the
“Seller”). Specifically, Liberator acquired 972,000 shares (80.6%) of
our common stock from the Seller for $240,500 in addition to the issuance of
250,000 warrants issued by the Company to Belmont exercisable for an equal
number of shares of our common stock at an exercise price of $0.25 per share,
the issuance of 1,500,000 shares of our common stock with seven hundred fifty
thousand (750,000) shares delivered on September 2, 2009 and the balance of
750,000 shares deliverable on September 2, 1010. 750,000 shares were
issued on September 2, 2009, and the remaining 750,000 shares were not issued
pursuant to the terms of a settlement agreement with Belmont we entered into
with Belmont on October 14, 2010. In connection with the change of
control, we changed the location of our executive offices to the location of
Liberator and OneUp, and the Company’s current location, at 2745 Bankers
Industrial Drive, Atlanta, GA, 30360. In addition, our sole officer
and director immediately prior to the sale resigned. Louis S.
Friedman, Liberator’s Chief Executive Officer, was appointed Chief Executive
Officer and President, Ronald P. Scott, Liberator’s Chief Financial Officer, was
appointed Chief Financial Officer and Secretary, Leslie Vogelman, Liberator’s
Treasurer, was appointed Treasurer, and David Wirth, Liberator’s Vice President
of Operations, was appointed Vice President of Operations. Mr.
Friedman and Mr. Scott, members of Liberator’s Board of Directors, were also
elected to our Board of Directors.
Immediately
prior to approval by the Board of Directors of the Merger Agreement, the Company
had limited business operations but sought to have greater business operations,
and it was under the control of Liberator, who had business operations, to whose
offices the Company had already relocated, and whose members of management and a
majority of whose members of the Board of Directors were also members of the
Company’s management and Board of Directors.
Approval
of the Merger
After
careful consideration, on October 19, 2009, our Board of Directors unanimously
approved the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby,
determined that the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby
were in the best interests of the Company and our shareholders, and recommended
that our shareholders vote to approve the Merger Agreement and the transactions
contemplated thereby.
Under
Section 607.0704 of the FBCA, unless otherwise provided in the articles of
organization, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of
shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without
a vote, if a written consent to that action is signed by the shareholders having
not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize
or take that action at a meeting at which all shares were present and
voted.
On
October 19, 2009, the shareholder of the Company holding over a majority of the
outstanding shares of our common stock, constituting the sole class of voting
securities of the Company, executed and delivered to the Company its consent
approving the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated
thereby. No further action of the shareholders is required to approve
the Merger. Under applicable federal securities laws, the Merger
cannot be completed until at least 20 calendar days after the date on which an
information statement in definitive form is mailed to shareholders in accordance
with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The table
below sets forth the actual shares of common stock over which the shareholder
executing the written consent has voting authority. As of October 19,
2009, the record date for approval of this transaction, there were 1,205,000
shares of our common stock outstanding.
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Shareholder Name
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Number of
Shares Owned
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Percentage
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Liberator,
Inc.
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972,000 |
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80.6
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% |
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TOTAL
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972,000 |
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80.6 |
% |
Our
Structure after the Merger
After
completion of the Merger, we will continue to operate as a public company, and
we will conduct operations through OneUp, our wholly owned
subsidiary. Foam Labs, Inc. will also be our indirect subsidiary as
it is the wholly owned subsidiary of OneUp. Our common stock will
continue to be quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board under the symbol
“WSCU.”
Accounting
Treatment
Upon
completion of the Merger, the assets and liabilities of the Company, OneUp, and
Foam Labs, Inc. will be presented on a consolidated basis. For
accounting purposes, the Merger is a reverse merger, and as such the historical
financial statements of Liberator will be presented in the Company’s financial
statements.
Certain
United States Federal Income Tax Considerations of the Merger
THE
FOLLOWING IS A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS THAT MAY
BE REFELVANT TO HOLDERS OF LIBERATOR’S COMMON STOCK WHO WILL RECEIVE SHARES OF
OUR SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AS A RESULT OF THE MERGER. THIS SUMMARY
DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT ADDRESS STATE, LOCAL, OR FOREIGN
TAX CONSEQUENCES. IN VEW OF THE VARYING NATURE OF SUCH TAX
CONSIDERATIONS, EACH SHAREHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX ADVISOR
AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE MERGER, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY
OF FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, OR FOREIGN TAX LAWS.
Subject
to the limitations, qualifications and exceptions described herein, and assuming
the Merger qualifies as a reorganization within the meaning of Section 368(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), the following
federal income tax consequences generally should result:
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No gain or loss should be
recognized by the shareholders of Liberator upon exchange of their
Liberator common stock into shares of our common
stock;
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The tax basis of our common stock
received in the Merger by a Liberator shareholder will be the same as the
tax basis of the Liberator common stock exchanged
therefor;
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The holding period of our common
stock shares received in the Merger by a Liberator shareholder will
include the holding period of Liberator common stock exchanged therefor;
and
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The Company should not recognize
gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of the
Merger.
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The
Company has not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an
opinion of counsel with respect to the federal income tax consequences of the
Merger under the Code. The Company believes the Merger will constitute a
tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code, inasmuch as Section
368(a)(1)(F) of the Code defines a reorganization as a mere change in identity,
form, or place of organization of the Company.
Regulatory
Approvals
The
Company is not required to obtain the approval of any state or federal
regulatory agency in order to consummate the Merger.
INTERESTS
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS IN THE MERGER
In
connection with the Merger, certain of the Company’s directors and officers may
have interests in the Merger that may be different from, or in addition to,
their interests as Company shareholders. These additional interests
were known by the members of our Board and were considered when they approved
the Merger Agreement and the Merger.
Specifically,
Louis Friedman, our Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, held
28,394,376 shares of common stock of Liberator, or 46.6% of the class of common
stock, and 4,300,000 shares of preferred stock of Liberator, or 100% of the
class of preferred stock, as of October 19, 2009. Ronald Scott, our
Chief Financial Officer and a director, held options to purchase 438,456 shares
of common stock of Liberator, or 0.7% of the class of common stock, as of
October 19, 2009. Liberator was our majority shareholder, who
approved the Merger by written consent on October 19, 2009. Thus, Mr.
Friedman and Mr. Scott had direct ownership in Liberator, our majority
shareholder, which approved the Merger, providing them with interests in the
Merger that are different from, or in addition to, their interest as a
shareholder of the Company.
THE
MERGER AGREEMENT
The
following summarizes material provisions of the Merger Agreement, a copy of
which is attached to this Information Statement as Exhibit
A and which we incorporate by reference into this
document. This summary does not purport to be complete, and the
rights and obligations of the parties are governed by the express terms of the
Merger Agreement and not by this summary or any other information contained in
this Information Statement. The discussion of the Merger Agreement is qualified
in its entirety by reference to the document. All shareholders of the
Company are urged to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its
entirety.
A
description of the Merger Agreement in this Information Statement has been
included to provide you with information regarding its terms. The Merger
Agreement contains representations and warranties made by and to the parties as
of specific dates. The statements embodied in those representations and
warranties were made for purposes of that contract between the parties and are
subject to qualifications and limitations agreed by the parties in connection
with negotiating the terms of that contract. In addition, certain
representations and warranties were made as of a specified date, may be subject
to contractual standards of materiality different from those generally
applicable to shareholders, or may have been used for the purpose of allocating
risk between the parties rather than establishing matters as facts.
Terms
of the Merger
Under the
terms of the Merger Agreement, Liberator merged into the Company with the
Company as the surviving company. Each share of common stock of
Liberator issued and outstanding at the time of the merger were converted into
one (1) share of our common stock, and, upon the Company filing an amendment to
our Articles of Incorporation authorizing the issuance of preferred stock, each
share of Series A Preferred Stock of Liberator issued and outstanding at the
time of the merger will be converted into one (1) share of our Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock. Also in connection with the Merger, the
current directors, Louis Friedman and Ronald Scott, were elected to our Board,
and the current officers, Mr. Friedman, Mr. Scott, Leslie Vogelman, and David
Wirth, were appointed as officers of the Company.
Procedure
for Exchange of Stock Certificates
Liberator delivered to the Company
stock certificates representing all issued and outstanding common stock and
Series A Preferred Stock of Liberator as of October 19, 2009, and we delivered
stock certificates representing shares of our common stock to the holders of
Liberator’s common stock as of October 19, 2009. On the date that we
file an amendment to our Articles of Incorporation authorizing us to issue
preferred stock, we will deliver a stock certificate representing shares of our
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to the holder of Liberator’s Series A
Preferred Stock as of October 19, 2009.
Representations
and Warranties
The
Company made various representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement. Our
representations and warranties relate to, among other things:
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our
corporate power and authority and due authorization to enter into the
Merger Agreement and to consummate the
Merger;
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absence
of undisclosed liabilities.
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The
Merger Agreement also contains various representations and warranties made by
Liberator. The representations and warranties relate to, among other
things:
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its
corporate power and authority and due authorization to enter into the
Merger Agreement and to consummate the
Merger;
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absence
of any violation of or conflict with or breach of its governing documents,
applicable law, certain agreements, or any order, judgment, or decree of
any court of governmental agency to which Liberator is a party as a result
of entering into the Merger Agreement and any ancillary agreements and
consummating the Merger;
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absence
of undisclosed liabilities;
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good
and valid title to all personal property and assets, free and clear of all
liens;
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effective,
valid, and enforceable patents and intellectual property
rights;
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absence
of claims and proceedings; and
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absence
of outstanding taxes owed.
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The
Merger Agreement also contains various representations and warranties made by
Mr. Friedman. The representations and warranties relate to, among other things,
title to his shares of Liberator as of October 19, 2009.
Conditions
to Closing
The
respective obligations of the parties to consummate the Merger were subject to
the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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no
provision of any applicable law and no order shall prohibit the
consummation of the Merger; and
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no
claim instituted by any person other than the parties or their affiliates
shall have been commenced or pending against any of the parties, which
claim seeks to restrain, prevent, change, or delay in any respect the
Merger or seeks to challenge any of the terms or provisions of the Merger
Agreement or seeks damages in connection with the
Merger.
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The
obligations of Liberator and Mr. Friedman to consummate the Merger were subject
to the satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
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the
Company shall have performed and complied in all material respects with
all agreements, obligations, and covenants required by the Merger
Agreement;
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the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Merger
Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by the Company
pursuant to the Merger Agreement shall be true in all material respects at
and as of the closing, as if made at and as of such time (except for those
representations and warranties made as of a specific date which shall be
true in all material respects as of the date
made);
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there
shall not have occurred any event or condition that has had or could have
a material adverse effect on the
Company;
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delivery
to Liberator of a certificate, dated at closing, of the Chairman of the
Board and the President of the Company confirming the matters set forth in
the above three bullet points;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to Liberator of stock certificates representing the exchanged
shares of the Company;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to Liberator of the Company’s shareholder approval of the
Merger;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to Liberator of the Certificate of Merger filed in Nevada;
and
|
|
|
|
delivery
to Liberator of the Certificate of Merger filed in
Florida.
|
The
obligations of the Company to consummate the Merger were subject to the
satisfaction or waiver of the following conditions:
|
|
|
Liberator
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all
agreements, obligations, and
covenants
|
|
|
|
the
representations and warranties of Liberator contained in the Merger
Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by Liberator
pursuant hereto shall be true in all material respects at and as of the
closing, as if made at and as of such time (except for those
representations and warranties made as of a specific date which shall be
true in all material respects as of the date
made);
|
|
|
|
there
shall not have occurred any event or condition that has had or could have
a material adverse effect on
Liberator;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to the Company of a certificate, dated at closing, of the Chairman of the
Board, the President, or Chief Financial Officer of Liberator confirming
the matters set forth in the above three bullet
points;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to the Company of a certificate, dated at closing, of the Secretary of
Liberator certifying to true and correct copies of Liberator’s certificate
of incorporation and memorandum of
association;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to the Company of the Certificate of Merger filed in
Nevada;
|
|
|
|
delivery
to the Company of the Certificate of Merger filed in Florida;
and
|
|
|
|
delivery
to the Company of stock certificates representing the issued and
outstanding common stock and preferred stock of Liberator as of October
19, 2009 duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers duly
endorsed in blank and in suitable form for transfer to the
Company.
|
Indemnification
We are
obligated to indemnify Liberator in respect of all losses suffered or incurred
by Liberator arising out of any breach of a representation or warranty of the
Company for a period of twelve (12) months after closing of the Merger, except
that:
|
|
|
the
obligation to indemnify in respect of liability arising out of a claim of
fraud shall cover all resulting losses not limited to those losses
suffered during the twelve (12) month-period following the closing of the
Merger;
|
|
|
|
there
is no obligation to indemnify with respect to special, consequential, or
punitive damages; and
|
|
|
|
there
is no obligation to indemnify with respect to any individual loss of less
than $25,000.
|
Liberator
is obligated to indemnify the Company in respect of all claims, losses,
liabilities, regulatory actions, damages, deficiencies, judgments, settlements,
costs of investigation, or other expenses suffered or incurred by the Company
arising out of any breach of a representation or warranty of Liberator for a
period of twelve (12) months after closing of the Merger, except
that:
|
|
|
the
obligation to indemnify in respect of liability arising out of a claim of
fraud shall cover all resulting losses not limited to those losses
suffered during the twelve (12) month-period following the closing of the
Merger;
|
|
|
|
there
is no obligation to indemnify with respect to special, consequential, or
punitive damages; and
|
|
|
|
there
is no obligation to indemnify with respect to any individual loss of less
than $25,000.
|
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
To the
Company's knowledge, the following table sets forth information with respect to
beneficial ownership of outstanding common stock as of November 18, 2010,
by:
|
•
|
all persons who are beneficial
owners of five percent (5%) or more of our common
stock;
|
|
•
|
each of our executive officers;
and
|
|
•
|
all current directors and
executive officers as a
group.
|
Except as
otherwise indicated, and subject to applicable community property laws, the
persons named in the table below have sole voting and investment power with
respect to all shares of common stock held by them.
Applicable
percentage ownership in the following table is based on 63,532,647 shares of
common stock outstanding as of November 18, 2010. Beneficial
ownership is determined in accordance with the rules of the SEC. In computing
the number of shares beneficially owned by a person and the percentage ownership
of that person, shares of common stock subject to options held by that person
that are currently exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of November
18, 2010, are deemed outstanding. Such shares, however, are not deemed
outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other
person.
|
Title of
Class
|
|
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner
|
|
Amount and Nature of
Beneficial Ownership
|
|
|
Percent
of Class
|
|
|
Executive
Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
Louis
S. Friedman *
|
|
28,394,376
|
(1)
|
|
|
44.7
|
%
|
|
Common
|
|
Ronald
P. Scott *
|
|
438,456
|
(2)
|
|
|
0.7
|
%
|
|
Common
|
|
Leslie
Vogelman * (7)
|
|
17,500
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
Common
|
|
David
Wirth * (7)
|
|
17,500
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
5%
Shareholders
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
Hope
Capital, Inc. (4)
|
|
6,378,001
|
(5)
|
|
|
9.9
|
%
|
|
Common
|
|
Donald
Cohen (3)
|
|
13,022,127
|
|
|
|
20.5
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Common
|
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (4 persons)
|
|
28,867,833
|
|
|
|
45.1
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Executive
Officers and Directors
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
Louis
S. Friedman *
|
|
4,300,000
|
(6) |
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
Ronald
P. Scott *
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
Leslie
Vogelman *
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
David
Wirth *
|
|
0
|
|
|
|
0.0
|
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Series
A Convertible Preferred Stock
|
|
All
directors and executive officers as a group (4 persons)
|
|
4,300,000
|
|
|
|
100.0
|
%
|
|
*
|
The address for all directors and
executive officers of the Company is c/o WES Consulting, Inc., 2745
Bankers Industrial Drive, Atlanta, GA
30360
|
|
(1)
|
Does not include the votes that
Mr. Friedman controls by virtue of his anticipated ownership of 100% of
the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to be issued pursuant to the
merger agreement with Liberator, Inc. at such time as the Certificate of
Amendment is filed with the State of Florida. Each share of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock will be entitled to the number of
votes equal to the result of: (i) the number of shares of Common Stock of
the Company issued and outstanding at the time of such vote multiplied by
1.01; divided by (ii) the total number of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock issued and outstanding at the time of such
vote. Accordingly, Mr. Friedman will own 72.7 % of the combined
voting power of the Common Stock and Series A Convertible Preferred Stock,
voting as a single class and will control the outcome of any corporate
transaction or other matter submitted to the shareholders for approval,
including mergers, consolidations and the sale of all or substantially all
of our assets, and also the power to prevent or cause a change in control.
The interests of Mr. Friedman may differ from the interests of the other
shareholders.
|
|
(2)
|
Includes options to purchase
438,456 shares of Common
Stock.
|
|
(3)
|
This
person’s address is c/o Paul M. Spizzirri, Esq., 1170 Peachtree Street NE,
Suite 1200, Atlanta, GA 30309.
|
|
(4)
|
This
person’s address is 1 Linden Place, Suite 207, Great Neck, NY 11021. Curt
Kramer is the sole shareholder of Hope Capital, Inc. and the natural
control person over these
securities.
|
|
(5)
|
Includes
1,000,000 shares of the 1,500,000 shares that are issuable upon conversion
of the $375,000 convertible note payable held by Hope Capital, Inc.
Such note is convertible only to the extent that Hope Capital’s total
ownership does not exceed 9.9% of the total shares issued and
outstanding. The reported amount does not include a warrant to
purchase 1,000,000 shares of common stock to Hope Capital. Such warrant is
exercisable at the holder’s option until June 26, 2014 and allows the
holder to purchase shares of the Company at $.75 per share. The warrant is
only exercisable to the extent that Hope Capital’s total share ownership
does not exceed 9.9% of the total shares issued and outstanding. The
reported amount also does not include 1,000,000 shares that are issuable
upon conversion of the $250,000 convertible note payable held by Hope
Capital, Inc. Such note is convertible only to the extent that Hope
Capital’s total ownership does not exceed 9.9% of the total shares issued
and outstanding.
|
|
(6)
|
These
securities are obligated to be issued by the Company once the Certificate
of Designation of Rights is filed with the Secretary of State of Florida
for Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock.
|
|
(7)
|
Includes
options to purchase 17,500 shares of common
stock.
|
PROPOSAL 2 – AMENDMENT TO ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION
General
On
October 20, 2009, our board of directors acting by unanimous written consent,
without a meeting, approved and authorized (i) Articles of Amendment to the
Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation to (a) create a class
of preferred stock consisting of ten million (10,000,000) shares, par value
$0.0001 per share, (b) the designation of four million three hundred thousand
(4,300,000) shares of preferred stock as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
and having such rights and preferences as set forth on the Designation of Rights
and Preferences of the Series A Convertible Preferred Stock attached hereto as
Exhibit C, (c)
change the name of the Company to “Liberator, Inc.”; and (ii) adopt the 2009
Stock Option Plan and recommended the foregoing matters be submitted to the
Company's shareholders for their approval. On October 20, 2009, the Consenting
Shareholder, who held an aggregate of 972,000 shares of Common Stock,
representing approximately 80.6% of the total issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock, consented in writing without a meeting to the Amendment to the
Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and the adoption of the
2009 Stock Option Plan.
Reasons
for the establishment of the Preferred Stock and the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock and Name Change
Pursuant
to the Merger Agreement, we are required to amend our Articles of Incorporation
to authorize and designate Series A Convertible Preferred Stock. In addition, we
are amending our name to “Liberator, Inc.” to better reflect our new business
plan.
PROPOSAL 3 – 2009 WES CONSULTING, INC.
STOCK OPTION PLAN
General
On
October 20, 2009, the Consenting Shareholder approved the 2009 WES Consulting,
Inc. Stock Option Plan (the “2009 Plan”) and authorized the issuance of up to
5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for stock awards and stock options thereunder.
The following is a summary of principal features of the 2009 Plan. The summary,
however, does not purport to be a complete description of all the provisions of
the 2009 Plan. Any shareholder of the Company who wishes to obtain a copy of the
actual plan document may do so upon written request to our Secretary at our
principal offices. The 2009 Plan is attached hereto as Exhibit D.
The
2009 Plan
The 2009
Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors has initially
reserved 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock for issuance under the 2009 Plan.
Under the 2009 Plan, options may be granted, which are intended to qualify as
Incentive Stock Options (“ISOs”) under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986 (the “Code”) or which are not (“Non-ISOs”) intended to qualify as ISOs
thereunder.
The 2009
Plan and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder are intended to
qualify as an “employee stock purchase plan” under Section 423 of the Code. The
2009 Plan is not a qualified deferred compensation plan under Section 401(a) of
the Internal Revenue Code and is not subject to the provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
Purpose
The
primary purpose of the 2009 Plan is to attract and retain the best available
personnel for the Company by granting stock awards and stock options in order to
promote the success of our business and to facilitate the ownership of our stock
by employees. In the event that the 2009 Plan is not adopted, we may have
considerable difficulty in attracting and retaining qualified personnel,
officers, directors, and consultants.
Administration
The 2009
Plan will be administered by our Board of Directors. All questions of
interpretation of the 2009 Plan are determined by the Board, and its decisions
are final and binding upon all participants. Any determination by a majority of
the members of the Board of Directors at any meeting, or by written consent in
lieu of a meeting, shall be deemed to have been made by the entire
Board.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, the Board of Directors may at any time, or from time to time,
appoint a committee (the "Committee") of at least two members of the Board of
Directors, and delegate to the Committee the authority of the Board of Directors
to administer the 2009 Plan. Upon such appointment and delegation, the Committee
shall have all the powers, privileges, and duties of the Board of Directors, and
shall be substituted for the Board of Directors, in the administration of the
Plan, subject to certain limitations.
Members
of the Board of Directors who are eligible employees are permitted to
participate in the 2009 Plan, provided that any such eligible member may not
vote on any matter affecting the administration of the 2009 Plan or the grant of
any stock award or option pursuant to it, or serve on the Committee, if any. In
the event that any member of the Board of Directors is at any time not a
"disinterested person", as defined in Rule 16b-3(c)(3)(i) promulgated pursuant
to the Exchange Act, the 2009 Plan shall not be administered by the Board of
Directors, and may only by administered by a Committee, all the members of which
are disinterested persons as so defined.
Eligibility
Under the
2009 Plan, stock awards and options may be granted to key employees, officers,
directors, or consultants of the Company, as provided in the 2009
Plan.
Terms
of Options
The term
of each option granted under the 2009 Plan shall be contained in a stock option
agreement between the optionee and the Company and such terms shall be
determined by the Board of Directors consistent with the provisions of the 2009
Plan, including the following:
(a)
PURCHASE PRICE. The purchase price of the Common Stock subject to each ISO shall
not be less than the fair market value (as set forth in the 2009 Plan), or in
the case of the grant of an ISO to a 10% owner-employee, not less that 110% of
fair market value of such Common Stock at the time such Option is
granted.
(b)
VESTING. The dates on which each option (or portion thereof) shall be
exercisable and the conditions precedent to such exercise, if any, shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors, in its discretion, at the time such option is
granted.
(c)
EXPIRATION. The expiration of each option shall be fixed by the Board of
Directors, in its discretion, at the time such option is granted; however, each
option must terminate no later than the tenth (10th) anniversary of the date of
grant, and each incentive stock option granted to any 10% owner-employee must
terminate no later than the fifth (5th) anniversary of the date of
grant.
(d)
TRANSFERABILITY. Each award granted under the 2009 Plan is not transferable
other than by will or the laws of descent and distribution, except that a
participant may, to the extent the Committee allows and in a manner the
Committee specifies: (a) designate in writing a beneficiary to exercise the
award after the participant’s death; or (b) transfer any award.
(e)
OPTION ADJUSTMENTS. The aggregate number and class of shares as to which options
may be granted under the 2009 Plan, the number and class shares covered by each
outstanding option and the exercise price per share thereof (but not the total
price), and all such options, shall each be proportionately adjusted for any
increase or decrease in the number of issued Common Stock resulting from
split-up spin-off or consolidation of shares or any like capital adjustment or
the payment of any stock dividend.
Except as
otherwise provided in the 2009 Plan, any option granted hereunder shall
terminate in the event of a merger, consolidation, separation, reorganization or
liquidation of the Company. However, the optionee shall have the right
immediately prior to any such transaction to exercise his option in whole or in
part notwithstanding any otherwise applicable vesting requirements.
(f)
TERMINATION, MODIFICATION AND AMENDMENT. The 2009 Plan (but not options
previously granted under the 2009 Plan) shall terminate ten (10) years from the
earlier of the date of its adoption by the Board of Directors or the date on
which the 2009 Plan is approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled
to vote thereon, and no option shall be granted after termination of the 2009
Plan. Subject to certain restrictions, the 2009 Plan may at any time be
terminated and from time to time be modified or amended by the affirmative vote
of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of the capital stock of
the Company present, or represented, and entitled to vote at a meeting duly held
in accordance with the applicable laws of the State of Florida.
Certain
Federal Income Tax Considerations of the 2009 Stock Option Plan
THE
FOLLOWING IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EFFECT OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION UPON THE
PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE PURCHASE OF SHARES UNDER THE
2009 PLAN. THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THE
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO TAXPAYERS WITH SPECIAL TAX STATUS. IN
ADDITION, THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF
ANY MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE,
AND DOES NOT DISCUSS ESTATE, GIFT OR OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN INCOME
TAX CONSEQUENCES. EACH SHAREHOLDER IS URGED TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX
ADVISOR AS TO THE SPECIFIC TAX CONSEQUENCES OF PARTICIPATION IN THE 2009 PLAN
AND FOR REFERENCE TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE CODE.
The 2009
Plan and the right of participants to make purchases thereunder are intended to
qualify under the provisions of Sections 421, 422 and 423 of the Code. Under
these provisions, no income will be recognized by a participant prior to
disposition of shares acquired under the 2009 Plan.
If the
shares are sold or otherwise disposed of (including by way of gift) more than
two years after the first day of the offering period during which shares were
purchased (the "Offering Date"), a participant will recognize as ordinary income
at the time of such disposition the lesser of (a) the excess of the fair market
value of the shares at the time of such disposition over the purchase price of
the shares or (b) 15% of the fair market value of the shares on the first
day of the offering period. Any further gain or loss upon such disposition will
be treated as long-term capital gain or loss. If the shares are sold for a sale
price less than the purchase price, there is no ordinary income and the
participant has a capital loss for the difference.
If the shares are sold or otherwise
disposed of (including by way of gift) before the expiration of the two-year
holding period described above, the excess of the fair market value of the
shares on the purchase
date over the purchase price will be treated as ordinary income to the
participant. This excess will constitute ordinary income in the year of sale or
other disposition even if no gain is realized on the sale or a gift of the
shares is made. The balance of any gain or loss will
be treated as capital gain or loss and will be treated as long-term capital gain
or loss if the shares have been held more than one year.
In the
case of a participant who is subject to Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the
purchase date for purposes of calculating such participant's compensation income
and beginning of the capital gain holding period may be deferred for up to six
months under certain circumstances. Such individuals should consult with their
personal tax advisors prior to buying or selling shares under the 2009
Plan.
The
ordinary income reported under the rules described above, added to the actual
purchase price of the shares, determines the tax basis of the shares for the
purpose of determining capital gain or loss on a sale or exchange of the
shares.
The
Company is entitled to a deduction for amounts taxed as ordinary income to a
participant only to the extent that ordinary income must be reported upon
disposition of shares by the participant before the expiration of the two-year
holding period described above.
Restrictions
on Resale
Certain
officers and directors of the Company may be deemed "affiliates" of the Company
as that term is defined under the Securities Act. The Common Stock acquired
under the 2009 Plan by an affiliate may be reoffered or resold only pursuant to
an effective registration statement or pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities
Act or another exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities
Act.
EFFECTIVE
DATE OF SHAREHOLDER ACTIONS
The
actions set forth herein will become effective immediately upon the filing of
the Articles of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
with the Office of the Secretary of State of Florida. A copy of the Articles of
Amendment to the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation is attached
hereto as Exhibit
B. The filing will be made at least twenty (20) days after the date this
Information Statement is first mailed to our shareholders.
SHAREHOLDERS'
RIGHTS
The
elimination of the need for a special meeting of the shareholders to approve the
actions set forth herein is authorized by Section 607.040 of the FBCA, which
provides that action may be taken by the written consent of the holders of
outstanding shares of voting capital stock, having not less than the minimum
number of votes which would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a
meeting at which all shares entitled to vote on a matter were present and
voted.
DISSENTERS'
RIGHTS
The FBCA
does not provide for dissenter's rights in connection with any of the actions
proposed in this Information Statement except for the Merger. The
FBCA provides that shareholders of the Company who disagree with the Merger may
exercise dissenters’ rights and be entitled, if they comply with the
provisions of the FBCA regarding appraisal rights, to be paid the fair value of
their shares. The complete provisions of FBCA sections
607.1301-607.1333 are set forth in Exhibit E attached
hereto.
SHAREHOLDERS
SHARING AN ADDRESS
The
Company will deliver only one Information Statement to multiple shareholders
sharing an address unless the Company has received contrary instructions from
one or more of the shareholders. The Company undertakes to deliver promptly,
upon written or oral request, a separate copy of the Information Statement to a
shareholder at a shared address to which a single copy of the Information
Statement is delivered. A shareholder can notify the Company that the
shareholder wishes to receive a separate copy of the Information Statement by
contacting the Company at the telephone number or address set forth
above.
ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION
Pursuant
to Item 13(b) to Schedule 14A and Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act, we
incorporate by reference Form 10-K/A for the year ended June 30, 2009 that was
filed November 12, 2010; Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2009 that was
filed October 13, 2009; Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2008 that
was filed May 28, 2009; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2009 that was
filed May 14, 2009; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 that was filed
August 14, 2009; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2009 that was
filed November 18, 2009; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended December 31, 2009 that
was filed February 19, 2010; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2010 that
was filed on May 14, 2010; Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2010
that was filed November 15, 2010; and the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on
August 12, 2009, October 8, 2009, October 20, 2009, October 22, 2009,
February 19, 2010, March 11, 2010, March 24, 2010, May 14, 2010, June 30, 2010,
August 5, 2010, October 19, 2010, November 9, 2010, and November 12,
2010.
All of
these documents are available, upon written request, from the company without
cost and electronically on the SEC’s Electronic Data Gathering and Retrieval
System (EDGAR) at http:www.sec.gov. In addition, any or all of these documents
are available from the company by mail upon written request to us at the above
address without any cost to you.
Exhibit A
MERGER AND RECAPITALIZATION
AGREEMENT
This
Agreement made and entered into as of this 19th day of
October, 2009 (the “Agreement”), by and
among WES Consulting, Inc., a Florida corporation with its principal place of
business located at 2745 Bankers Industrial Drive, Doraville, Georgia 30360
(“WES”); the
undersigned shareholder of WES which represents a majority of the issued and
outstanding common stock of WES (the “WES Shareholder”);
Liberator, Inc., a Nevada Corporation, with its registered office at 2745
Bankers Industrial Drive, Doraville, Georgia 30360 (“Liberator”) and the
undersigned shareholders of Liberator which represents a majority vote of the
issued and outstanding equity of Liberator (the “Liberator
Shareholders”).
RECITALS
A.
The respective Boards of Directors and shareholders representing a
majority of the issued and outstanding common stock of each of Liberator and WES
have approved and declared advisable the merger of Liberator with and into WES
(the “Merger”)
and approved the Merger upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth
in this Agreement, whereby each issued and outstanding share of the common stock
of Liberator (a “Liberator Common
Share” or, collectively, the “Liberator Common
Shares”), will be converted into one share of common stock, $0.01 par
value, of WES (“WES
Common Stock”) which, after giving effect to the Merger, shall equal, in
the aggregate, 99.6% of the total issued and outstanding common stock of
WES. At the Approval Time (as defined herein), each Series A
Preferred Share of Liberator (a “Liberator Preferred
Share” or, collectively, the “Liberator Preferred
Shares”) will be converted into one share of preferred stock of WES (the
“WES Preferred
Stock”). Liberator Common Shares and Liberator Preferred
Shares are referred to herein, collectively, as the “Liberator
Shares.” The WES Common Stock owned by Liberator will be
cancelled upon the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement.
B.
The respective Boards of Directors and shareholders representing a
majority of the issued and outstanding common stock of each of Liberator and WES
have determined that the Merger is in furtherance of and consistent with their
respective long-term business strategies and is fair to and in the best
interests of their respective stockholders.
C.
It is intended that, for federal income tax purposes, the Merger
shall qualify as a reorganization under the provisions of Section 368(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (the “Code”);
D.
For financial accounting purposes, it is intended that the Merger will be
accounted for as a “purchase”;
NOW, THEREFORE, in
consideration of the premises, and of the representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements contained herein, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the parties hereto agree as follows:
ARTICLE
I
THE
MERGER; CLOSING; EFFECT OF MERGER
SECTION
1.1 The
Merger. Upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement and in accordance with
the laws of the state of Florida (“Florida Law”) and the
laws of the State of Nevada (“Nevada
Law”) at the Effective Time, Liberator shall be merged with
and into WES and the separate corporate existence of Liberator shall thereupon
cease. WES shall be the surviving corporation in the Merger
(sometimes hereinafter referred to as the “Surviving
Corporation”), and the separate corporate existence of WES with all its
rights, privileges, immunities, powers and franchises shall continue unaffected
by the merger, except as set forth herein. The Merger shall have the
effects specified in the Florida Law.
SECTION
1.2 Closing. Subject to the
terms and conditions of this Agreement, the closing of the Merger and the
consummation of the other transactions contemplated hereby (the “Closing”) shall take
place at the offices of Anslow & Jaclin LLP, 195 Route 9 South, Manalapan,
NJ 07726 not later than October 19, 2009 and at such other date, time and place
as the parties hereto shall agree.
SECTION
1.3 Effective
Time. On the date of
Closing, Liberator and WES will cause a Certificate of Merger (the “Florida Certificate of
Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Florida. On the date of Closing, Liberator and WES will
cause a Certificate of Merger (the "“Nevada Certificate of
Merger”) to be executed, acknowledged and filed with the Secretary of
State of the State of Nevada. The Merger shall become effective at the time when
the Florida Certificate of Merger has been filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Florida, or, as otherwise agreed by Liberator and WES (the “Effective
Time”).
SECTION
1.4 Certificate
of Incorporation. The certificate
of incorporation of WES as in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time
shall be the certificate of incorporation of the Surviving Corporation (the
“Certificate of
Incorporation”), until duly amended as provided therein or by applicable
law.
SECTION
1.5 By-Laws. The by-laws of
WES in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be the by-laws of
the Surviving Corporation (the “By-Laws”), until thereafter amended as provided
therein or by applicable law.
SECTION
1.6 Directors. As of the
Effective Time, the authorized number of directors comprising the Board of
Directors of WES shall consist of not less than two (2) and not more than five
(5) individuals. The following individuals shall be elected to the
Board Directors of WES at the Effective Time: (i) Louis S. Friedman (Chairman of
the Board); and (ii) Ronald P. Scott.
SECTION
1.7 Officers. As of the
Effective Time, the officers of WES shall be (i) Louis S. Friedman (Chief
Executive Officer, President), (ii) Ronald P. Scott (Chief Financial Officer and
Secretary) and (iii) Leslie Vogelman (Treasurer), until their successors have
been duly elected or appointed and qualified or until their earlier death,
resignation or removal in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and
the By-Laws.
SECTION
1.8 Effect on
Capital Stock. As a result of
the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder of any capital stock
of WES:
(a) Merger
Consideration.
(i)
At the Effective Time, each Liberator Common Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into, and become
exchangeable for one (1) validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable share of
WES Common Stock (the “WES Common
Shares”).
(ii)
At the Approval Time, each Liberator Preferred Share issued and outstanding
immediately prior to the Effective Time shall be converted into and become
exchangeable for one (1) share of WES Preferred Stock.
(iii)
WES Common Shares and WES Preferred Stock, collectively, are referred to
herein as the “WES
Merger Stock,” and the conversion of Liberator Shares into WES Merger
Stock is referred to as the “Merger Purchase
Price”);
(b) At
the Effective Time, all Liberator Shares shall be canceled and Liberator shall
cease to exist, and each certificate (a “Certificate”)
formerly representing:
(i)
any Liberator Common Shares shall thereafter represent only the right to receive
the shares of WES Common Stock into which such Liberator Common Shares have been
converted; and
(ii)
any Liberator Preferred Shares shall thereafter represent only the right to
receive, at the Approval Time, the shares of WES Preferred Stock into which such
Liberator Preferred Shares have been converted.
(c) At
the Effective Time, all WES Common Stock owned by Liberator shall be immediately
cancelled and returned to the treasury of WES.
SECTION
1.9 Exchange of Certificates for
Shares.
(a) Exchange.
(i) At
the Effective Time, WES shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each
respective owner of the Liberator Common Shares and in each of their respective
names certificates representing WES Common Stock into which Liberator Common
Shares that such shareholders owns are to be converted as set forth on Schedule 1 attached
hereto.
(ii) At
the Approval Time, WES shall deliver or cause to be delivered to each respective
owner of the Liberator Preferred Shares and in each of their respective names
certificates representing WES Preferred Stock into which Liberator Preferred
Shares that such shareholders owns are to be converted as set forth on Schedule
1 attached hereto.
(b) Fractional
Shares. No certificates or scrip representing fractional
shares of WES Common Stock or WES Preferred Stock shall be issued upon the
surrender for exchange of Certificates pursuant to this Article I; no dividend
or other distribution by WES and no stock split, combination or reclassification
shall relate to any such fractional share; and no such fractional share shall
entitle the record or beneficial owner thereof to vote or to any other rights of
a stockholder of WES. In lieu of any such factional share, each holder of
Liberator Shares who would otherwise have been entitled thereto upon the
surrender of Certificate(s) for exchange pursuant to this Article I will be paid
an additional share of WES Common Stock or WES Preferred Stock.
(c) Adjustments of Conversion
Number. In the event that WES changes the number of shares of
WES Common Stock or WES Preferred Stock , issued and outstanding prior to the
Effective Time as a result of a reclassification, stock split (including a
reverse split), dividend or distribution, recapitalization, merger (other than
the Merger, Stock Purchase or the cancellation of options previously granted by
Liberator), subdivision, or other similar transaction with a dilutive effect, or
if a record date with respect to any of the foregoing shall occur prior to the
Effective Time, the conversion number shall be equitably adjusted.
ARTICLE
II
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF LIBERATOR
Liberator
represents, warrants and covenants to WES as follows and acknowledges that WES
is relying upon such representations and warranties in connection with the
Contemplated Transactions (as hereinafter defined):
SECTION
2.1 Capitalization. The outstanding
and issued capital stock of Liberator consists of 60,932,981 shares of common
stock and 4,300,000 shares of Series A Preferred Shares. Schedule 1 sets
forth the name of each record and beneficial shareholder of Liberator (each a
“Shareholder”
and collectively the “Shareholders”) and
the number of Liberator Shares held by each such person. One Up Innovations,
Inc., a Georgia corporation is wholly owned by Liberator (“OneUp”); Foam Labs,
Inc., a Georgia corporation is wholly owned by OneUp (together with OneUp,
jointly and severally, the “Subsidiaries”), is
wholly owned by Liberator and are its only subsidiaries. Except as
set forth on Schedule
1, Liberator and Subsidiaries do not and, at the Closing, Liberator and
Subsidiaries will not, have outstanding any capital stock or other securities or
any rights, warrants or options to acquire securities of Liberator or the
Subsidiaries, or any convertible or exchangeable securities and, other than WES
pursuant to this Agreement, no person has or, at Closing will have, any right to
purchase or otherwise acquire any securities of Liberator or the
Subsidiaries. There are, and at Closing there will be, no outstanding
obligations of Liberator or the Subsidiaries to repurchase, redeem or otherwise
acquire any securities of Liberator or the Subsidiaries. All of
Liberator Shares are, and at Closing will be, duly authorized, duly and validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and none were issued in violation of any
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or any other contractual or legal
restrictions of any kind except as otherwise disclosed.
SECTION
2.2 Title to
the Shares. The Shareholders
are the beneficial owner and holds good and valid title to its Liberator Shares
free and clear of any Lien. At the Closing, each Shareholder of
Liberator will deliver Liberator Shares to WES free and clear of any Lien, other
than restrictions imposed by the Securities Act and applicable securities
Laws including the laws of the State of Florida.
SECTION
2.3 Authority
Relative to this Agreement. At the Closing,
Liberator will have full power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver
each Transaction Document to which it is or, at Closing, will be, a party and to
consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby (the “Contemplated
Transactions”). The execution, delivery and performance by
Liberator of each Transaction Document and the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions to which Liberator is, or at Closing, will be, a party will have
been duly and validly authorized by Liberator and no other acts by or on behalf
of Liberator will be necessary or required to authorize the execution, delivery
and performance by each of Liberator of each Transaction Document and the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions to which it is or, at Closing,
will be, a party. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents
to which Liberator is a party have been duly and validly executed and delivered
by Liberator and (assuming the valid execution and delivery thereof by the other
parties thereto) will constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of
Liberator enforceable against Liberator in accordance with their respective
terms, except as such obligations and their enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy and other similar Laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights generally and except that the availability of equitable
remedies is subject to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought (whether at law or in equity).
SECTION
2.4 No
Conflicts; Consents. The execution,
delivery and performance by Liberator of each Transaction Document to which it
is a party and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions to which
Liberator is a party, upon approval of the Shareholders will not:
(i) violate any provision of the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
Liberator; (ii) require Liberator to obtain any consent, approval or action
of or waiver from, or make any filing with, or give any notice to, any
Governmental Body or any other person, except as otherwise disclosed (the “Liberator Required
Consents”); (iii) violate, conflict with or result in a breach or default
under (with or without the giving of notice or the passage of time or both), or
permit the suspension or termination of, any material Contract (including any
Real Property Lease) to which Liberator is a party or by which it or any of its
assets is bound or subject, or to the best of Liberator’s knowledge and
information result in the creation of any Lien upon any of Liberator Shares or
upon any of the Assets of Liberator; (iv) violate any Order, any Law, of
any Governmental Body against, or binding upon, Liberator or upon any of their
respective assets or the Business; or (v) violate or result in the
revocation or suspension of any Permit.
SECTION
2.5 Corporate
Existence and Power. Liberator is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Nevada, and has all requisite powers, authority and all Permits
required to own and/or operate its Assets and to carry on the Business as now
conducted, including all qualifications under any statute in effect in any state
or foreign jurisdiction in which Liberator operates its
Business. Liberator is duly qualified to do business and is in good
standing in each state of the United States and in each other jurisdiction where
the character of the property owned or leased by it or the nature of its
activities makes such qualification necessary.
SECTION
2.6 Charter
Documents and Corporate Records. Liberator has
heretofore delivered to WES true and complete copies of the Articles of
Incorporation, By-Laws and minute books, or comparable instruments, of Liberator
as in effect on the date hereof. The stock transfer books of
Liberator have been made available to WES for its inspection and are true and
complete in all respects.
SECTION
2.7 Financial
Statements.
(a) Schedule 2.7A
sets forth true, complete and correct copies of: Liberator's audited financial
statements as of and for the fiscal years ended June 30, 2009 and June 30, 2008
(the “Annual
Statements”) and all management letters, management representation
letters and attorney response letters issued in connection with the Annual
Statements. The Annual Statements present fairly and accurately in all material
respects the financial position of Liberator and the Subsidiaries as of its
date, and the earnings, changes in stockholders' equity and cash flows thereof
for the periods then ended in accordance with GAAP, consistently
applied. Each balance sheet contained therein or delivered pursuant
hereto fully sets forth all consolidated Assets and Liabilities of Liberator
existing as of its date which, under GAAP, should be set forth therein, and each
statement of earnings contained therein or delivered pursuant hereto sets forth
the items of income and expense of Liberator which should be set forth therein
in accordance with GAAP.
(b) All
financial, business and accounting books, ledgers, accounts and official and
other records relating to Liberator have been properly and accurately kept and
completed, and Liberator has no knowledge, notice belief or information there
are any material inaccuracies or discrepancies contained or reflected
therein.
SECTION
2.8 Liabilities. Liberator has not incurred
any Liabilities since June 30, 2009 (the “Latest Balance Sheet
Date”) except (i) current Liabilities for trade or business
obligations incurred in connection with the purchase of goods or services in the
ordinary course of the Business and consistent with past practice, and
(ii) Liabilities reflected on any balance sheet referred to in
Section 2.7(a).
SECTION
2.9 Liberator
Receivables. Except to the
extent of the amount of the allowance for doubtful accounts reflected in the
Annual Statements and the Interim Statements, all the Receivables of Liberator
reflected therein, and all Receivables that have arisen since the Latest Balance
Sheet Date (except Receivables that have been collected since such date), are
valid and enforceable Claims subject to no known defenses, offsets, returns,
allowances or credits of any kind, and constitute bona fide Receivables
collectible in the ordinary course of the Business except as enforceability may
be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium,
fraudulent conveyance or similar laws or principles of equity affecting the
enforcement of creditors rights generally.
SECTION
2.10 Absence
of Certain Changes. (a) Since
June 30, 2009, Liberator has conducted the Business in the ordinary course
consistent with past practice, except as otherwise disclosed hereof, and there
has not been:
(i)
Any material adverse change in the Condition of the
Business;
(ii)
Any material damage, destruction or other casualty loss (whether or
not covered by insurance), condemnation or other taking affecting the Business
or the Assets of Liberator;
(iii)
Any change in any method of accounting or accounting practice by
Liberator;
(iv)
Except for normal increases granted in the ordinary course of business,
any increase in the compensation, commission, bonus or other direct or indirect
remuneration paid, payable or to become payable to any officer, stockholder,
director, consultant, agent or employee of Liberator, or any alteration in the
benefits payable or provided to any thereof;
(v) Any
material adverse change in the relationship of Liberator with its employees,
customers, suppliers or vendors;
(vi)
Except for any changes made in the ordinary course of Business, any
material change in any of Liberator's business policies, including advertising,
marketing, selling, pricing, purchasing, personnel, returns or budget
policies;
(vii)
Any agreement or arrangement whether written or oral to do any of the
foregoing.
SECTION 2.11
Leased
Real Property. (a) Liberator
has no fee interest, purchase options or rights of first refusal in any real
property and Liberator has no leasehold or other interest in any real property,
except for the real property lease between Bedford Realty Company, LLC and OneUp
Innovations, Inc. dated September 26, 2005 covering approximately 140,000 square
feet of floor space known as 2745 Bankers Industrial Drive, Doraville, GA 30360
(the “Leased Real
Property”), and all leases including all amendments, modifications,
extensions, renewals and/or supplements thereto (collectively, “Real Property
Leases”).
SECTION 2.12
Personal
Property; Assets. Liberator has
good and valid title to (or valid leasehold interest in) all of its personal
property and Assets, free and clear of all Liens, except the Liabilities
reflected on any balance sheet referred to in
Section 2.7(a). The machinery, equipment, computer software and
other tangible personal property constituting part of the Assets and all other
Assets (whether owned or leased) are in good condition and repair (subject to
normal wear and tear) and are reasonably sufficient and adequate in quantity and
quality for the operation of the Business as previously and presently conducted.
The Assets constitute all of the assets, which are necessary to operate the
Business of Liberator as currently conducted.
SECTION 2.13
Contracts. (a) Except
as disclosed in the financial statements referred to in Section 2.7(a),
Liberator is not a party or by which it or its Assets are bound or subject to
Contracts that: (i) cannot be canceled upon thirty (30) days' notice without the
payment or penalty of less than one thousand dollars ($1,000); or (ii) involve
aggregate annual future payments by or to any person of more than five thousand
dollars ($5,000). True and complete copies of all written Contracts (including
all amendments thereto and waivers in respect thereof) and summaries of the
material provisions of all oral Contracts so listed have been made available to
WES.
(b) All
Contracts to which Liberator is a party are valid, subsisting, in full force and
effect and binding upon Liberator and the other parties thereto, in accordance
with their terms, except that no representation or warranty is given as to the
enforceability of any oral Contracts. Liberator is not in default (or
alleged default) under any such Contract.
SECTION 2.14
Patents
and Intellectual Property Rights. (a) The disclosures in
the SEC Documents sets forth each patent, trademark, trade name, service mark,
brand mark, brand name, and registered copyright as well as all registrations
thereof and pending applications therefor, and each license or other contract
relating thereto (collectively, the “Intellectual
Property”) owned or used in connection with the Business by Liberator and
indicates, with respect to each item of Liberator's Intellectual Property that
is licensed by Liberator, the name of the licensor thereof and, with respect to
oral Contracts, the terms of such license relating thereto. The use
of the foregoing by Liberator does not conflict with, infringe upon, violate or
interfere with or constitute an appropriation of any right, title, interest or
goodwill, including, without limitation, any intellectual property right,
patent, trademark, trade name, service mark, brand name, computer program,
database, industrial design, trade secret, copyright or any pending application
thereto of any other person and there have been no claims made and Liberator has
not received any notice or otherwise know that any of the foregoing is invalid
or conflicts with the asserted rights of other Persons or have not been used or
enforced or have been failed to be used or enforced in a manner that would
result in the abandonment, cancellation or unenforceability of the Intellectual
Property, except as otherwise disclosed.
(b) Liberator
owns or has rights to use all Intellectual Property, know-how, formulae and
other proprietary and trade rights necessary to conduct the Business as it is
now conducted. Liberator has not forfeited or otherwise relinquished
any such Intellectual Property, know-how, formulae or other proprietary right
used in the conduct of the Business as now conducted.
(c) To
the extent used in the conduct of the Business by Liberator, each of the
licenses or other contracts relating to Liberator's Intellectual Property
(collectively, the “Intellectual Property
Licenses”) is in full force and effect and is valid and enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and
remedies generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in
equity), and there is no notice or claim of default under any Intellectual
Property License either by Liberator or, to Liberator's knowledge, by any other
party thereto, and to Liberator’s knowledge, no event has occurred that with the
lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would constitute a default by
Liberator thereunder.
SECTION 2.15
Claims
and Proceedings.
There are no outstanding Orders of any Governmental Body against or involving
Liberator, its Assets, the Business, or Liberator Shares. There are no actions,
suits, claims or counterclaims, examinations, Liberator Required Consents or
legal, administrative, governmental or arbitral proceedings or investigations
(collectively, “Claims”) (whether or
not the defense thereof or Liabilities in respect thereof are covered by
insurance), pending or, to the best of Liberator's knowledge, threatened on the
date hereof, against or involving Liberator, its Assets, the Business or
Liberator Shares.
SECTION 2.16
Taxes. (a) Except
as otherwise disclosed in the SEC Documents:
(i)
Liberator has timely filed or, if not yet due but due before
Closing, will timely file all Tax Returns required to be filed by it for all
taxable periods ending on or before the date of Closing and all such Tax Returns
are or, if not yet filed, will be, upon filing, true, correct and complete in
all material respects;
(ii)
Liberator has paid, or if payment is not yet due but due before
Closing, will promptly pay when due to each appropriate Tax Authority, all Taxes
of Liberator shown as due on the Tax Returns required to be filed by it for all
taxable periods ending on or before the date of Closing;
(iii)
the accruals for Taxes currently payable as well as for deferred Taxes
shown on the financial statements of Liberator as of the date of the Annual
Statements, the Interim Statements or the date of any financial statements
delivered hereunder: (A) adequately provide for all contingent Tax
Liabilities of Liberator as of the date thereof; and (B) accurately
reflect, as of the date thereof, all unpaid Taxes of Liberator whether or not
disputed, in each case as required to be reflected thereon in order for such
statements to be in accordance with GAAP;
(iv)
no extension of time has been requested or granted for Liberator to file
any Tax Return that has not yet been filed or to pay any Tax that has not yet
been paid and Liberator has not granted a power of attorney that remains
outstanding with regard to any Tax matter;
(v)
Liberator has not received notice of a determination by a Tax Authority
that Taxes are currently owed by Liberator (such determination to be referred to
as a “Tax
Deficiency”) and, to Liberator's knowledge, no Tax Deficiency is proposed
or threatened;
(vi)
all Tax Deficiencies have been paid or finally settled and all
amounts determined by settlement to be owed have been paid;
(vii)
there are no Tax Liens on or pending against Liberator or any of the
Assets, other than those which constitute Permitted Liens;
(viii)
there are no presently outstanding waivers or extensions or requests
for a waiver or extension of the time within which a Tax Deficiency may be
asserted or assessed;
(ix)
no issue has been raised in any examination, investigation, Liberator
Required Consents, suit, action, claim or proceeding relating to Taxes (a “Tax Liberator Required
Consents”) which, by application of similar principles to any past,
present or future period, would result in a Tax Deficiency for such
period;
(x)
there are no pending or threatened Tax audits of Liberator;
(xi) Liberator
has no deferred inter-company gains or losses that have not been fully taken
into income for income Tax purposes;
(xii)
there are no transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) imposed by
any state on Liberator by virtue of the Contemplated Transactions;
and
(xiii)
no claim has been made by any Tax Authority that Liberator is subject to Tax in
a jurisdiction in which Liberator is not then paying Tax of the type
asserted.
Each
reference to a provision of the Code in this Section 2.16 shall be treated
for state and local Tax purposes as a reference to analogous or similar
provisions of state and local law.
(b) To
Liberator’s knowledge, Liberator has collected and remitted to the appropriate
Tax Authority all sales and use or similar Taxes required to be collected on or
prior to the date of Closing and has been furnished properly completed exemption
certificates for all exempt transactions and has no information otherwise or
notice of any claim by any government or jurisdiction with regards
thereto. Liberator has maintained and has in its possession all
records, supporting documents and exemption certificates required by applicable
sales and use Tax statutes and regulations to be retained in connection with the
collection and remittance of sales and use Taxes for all periods up to and
including the date of Closing. With respect to sales made by
Liberator prior to the date of Closing for which sales and use Taxes are not yet
due as of the date of Closing, all applicable sales and use Taxes payable with
respect to such sales will have been collected or billed by Liberator and will
be included in the Assets of Liberator as of the date of Closing.
SECTION 2.17
Compliance
with Laws. Liberator is not
in violation of any order, judgment, injunction, award, citation, decree,
consent decree or writ (collectively, “Orders”) and to the
best of Liberator’s knowledge, belief and information, any Laws of any
Governmental Bodies affecting Liberator, Liberator Shares or the
Business.
SECTION 2.18
Permits. Liberator has
obtained all licenses, permits, certificates, certificates of occupancy, orders,
authorizations and approvals (collectively, “Permits”), and has
made all required registrations and filings with all Governmental Bodies, that
are necessary to the ownership of the Assets, the use and occupancy of the
Leased Real Property, as presently used and operated, and the conduct of the
Business or otherwise required to be obtained by Liberator. All
Permits required to be obtained or maintained by Liberator have been provided
and disclosed and are in full force and effect; no violations are or have been
recorded, nor have any notices or violations thereof been received, in respect
of any Permit; and no proceeding is pending or threatened to revoke or limit any
Permit; and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions will not (or with
the giving of notice or the passage of time or both will not) cause any Permit
to be revoked or limited.
SECTION 2.19
Environmental
Matters. To the
best of Liberator’s knowledge, belief and information, Liberator is,
and at all times has been, in full compliance with, and has not been and is not
in violation of or liable under, any Environmental Law.
SECTION 2.20
SEC
Filings. As of their
respective dates, the SEC Documents were prepared in accordance with the
Exchange Act and the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in those
documents or necessary to make the statements in those documents not misleading,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made. As of
their respective dates, these reports and statements will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated in them or necessary to make the statements in them not misleading, in
light of the circumstances under which they are made and these reports and
statements will comply in all material respects with all applicable requirements
of the Exchange Act and the Securities Act.
SECTION 2.21
Finders’
Fees. There is no
investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained
by or is authorized to act on behalf of Liberator who might be entitled to any
fee or commission from Liberator in connection with the consummation of the
Contemplated Transactions.
SECTION 2.22
Disclosure. Neither this
Agreement, the Schedules hereto, nor any reviewed or unaudited financial
statements, documents or certificates furnished or to be furnished to WES or by
or on behalf of Liberator o pursuant to this Agreement contains or will contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements contained herein or
therein not misleading. Except for general current economic
conditions effecting the entire economy or Liberator’s entire industry and not
specific to the Business, there are no events, transactions or other facts known
by Liberator, which, either individually or in the aggregate, may give rise to
circumstances or conditions which would have a material adverse effect on the
general affairs or Condition of the Business.
ARTICLE
III
REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF WES
WES
represents, warrants and covenants to Liberator as follows and acknowledges that
Liberator is relying upon such representations and warranties in connection with
the Contemplated Transactions:
SECTION
3.1 Authority
Relative to this Agreement. WES has full
power and authority to execute and deliver each Transaction Document to which
they are or, at Closing, will be, a party and to consummate the Contemplated
Transactions. Following the approval of the boards of directors of
WES and the shareholders of WES with respect to the Contemplated Transactions,
the execution, delivery and performance by WES of each Transaction Document and
the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions to which it is or, at Closing,
will be, a party have been duly and validly authorized and approved by WES and
no other acts by or on behalf of WES are necessary or required to authorize the
execution, delivery and performance by WES of each Transaction Document and the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions to which it is or, at Closing,
will be a party. This Agreement and the other Transaction Documents
to which WES is a party have been, duly and validly executed and delivered by
WES and (assuming the valid execution and delivery thereof by the other parties
thereto) constitutes, or will, at the Closing, constitute, as the case may be,
the legal, valid and binding agreements of WES enforceable against it in
accordance with their respective terms, except as such obligations and their
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy and other similar Laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except that the
availability of equitable remedies is subject to the discretion of the court
before which any proceeding therefor may be brought (whether at law or in
equity).
SECTION
3.2 No
Conflicts; Consents. The execution,
delivery and performance by WES of each Transaction Document to which it is a
party and the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions to which WES is a
party does not and will not: (i) violate any provision of the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of WES; (ii) require WES to obtain any consent,
approval or action of or waiver from, or make any filing with, or give any
notice to, any Governmental Body or any other person, except as set forth on
Schedule 3.2
(the “WES Required
Consents”); (iii) except as set forth in Schedule 3.2,
violate, conflict with or result in the breach or default under (with or without
the giving of notice or the passage of time), or permit the suspension or
termination of, any material Contract to which WES is a party or any of its
assets is bound or subject or result in the creation or any Lien upon any of WES
Merger Stock or upon any assets of WES or WES; or (iv) violate any Order
or, to WES’s knowledge, any Law of any Governmental Body against, or binding
upon, WES or WES, or upon any of their respective assets or
businesses.
SECTION
3.3 Corporate
Existence and Power of WES. WES is a
corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the State of Florida, and has all requisite corporate powers and all material
governmental licenses, authorizations, consents and approvals required to carry
on its business as now conducted. Other than the execution of this
Agreement, WES has not conducted any business of any nature.
SECTION
3.4 WES
Merger Stock. At the closing,
WES Merger Stock will have been duly authorized by WES and, when issued to
Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable shares of WES Merger Stock. WES Merger Stock, when
issued pursuant hereto: (i) will not be issued in violation of or subject
to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or, other than as set forth in
this Agreement, contractual restrictions of any kind; and (ii) will vest in
Shareholders, respectively, good title to WES Merger Stock free and clear of all
Liens.
SECTION
3.5 Capitalization. At the closing,
the authorized capital stock of WES consists of 175,000,000 shares of common
stock, $0.01 par value. WES has 1,205,000 shares of common stock issued and
outstanding. Except as set forth on Schedule 3.5, to the
knowledge of WES, WES will not have outstanding any capital stock or other
securities or any rights, warrants or options to acquire securities of WES or
any convertible or exchangeable securities and, other than WES pursuant to this
Agreement, to the knowledge of WES, no person has or at Closing will have, any
right to purchase or otherwise acquire any securities of WES. There
are, and at Closing there will be, to the knowledge of WES, no outstanding
obligations of WES to repurchase, redeem or otherwise acquire any securities of
WES. All of WES Merger Stock is, and at Closing will be, duly
authorized, duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and to the
knowledge of WES, none were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights
of first refusal or any other contractual or legal restrictions of any
kind.
SECTION
3.6 Disclosure
of Information. WES has been
given the opportunity: (i) to ask questions of, and to receive answers from,
persons acting on behalf of Liberator concerning the terms and conditions of the
Contemplated Transactions and the business, properties, prospects and financial
conditions of Liberator; and (ii) to obtain any additional information (to the
extent Liberator or any of the Shareholders possesses such information or is
able to acquire it without unreasonable effort or expense and without breach of
confidentiality obligations) necessary to verify the accuracy of information
provided about Liberator.
SECTION
3.7 Charter
Documents and Corporate Records. WES has
heretofore delivered to Liberator true and complete copies of the certificate of
incorporation, by-laws and minute books, or comparable instruments, of WES as in
effect on the date hereof. The stock transfer books of WES have been
made available to Liberator for its inspection and are true and complete in all
respects.
SECTION
3.8 Financial
Statements.
(a) Schedule 3.8
sets forth true, complete and correct copies of: WES's audited financial
statements as of and for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2008 and December
31, 2007 (the “WES
Annual Statements”) and the unaudited financial statements as of and for
the fiscal period ended June 30, 2009 (the “WES Interim
Statements”) and all management letters, management representation
letters and attorney response letters issued in connection with the WES Annual
Statements and the WES Interim Statements. The WES Annual Statements and the WES
Interim Statements present fairly and accurately in all material respects the
financial position of WES as of its date, and the earnings, changes in
stockholders' equity and cash flows thereof for the periods then ended in
accordance with GAAP, consistently applied. Each balance sheet
contained therein or delivered pursuant hereto fully sets forth all consolidated
Assets and Liabilities of WES existing as of its date which, under GAAP, should
be set forth therein, and each statement of earnings contained therein or
delivered pursuant hereto sets forth the items of income and expense of WES
which should be set forth therein in accordance with GAAP.
(b) All
financial, business and accounting books, ledgers, accounts and official and
other records relating to WES have been properly and accurately kept and
completed, and WES has no knowledge, notice belief or information there are any
material inaccuracies or discrepancies contained or reflected
therein.
SECTION
3.9 Liabilities. WES has not incurred any
Liabilities since June 30, 2009 (the “Latest Balance Sheet
Date”) except (i) current Liabilities for trade or business
obligations incurred in connection with the purchase of goods or services in the
ordinary course of the business of WES and consistent with past practice, and
(ii) Liabilities reflected on any balance sheet referred to in
Section 3.8(a).
SECTION 3.10
Absence
of Certain Changes. Since December
31, 2008, WES has conducted its business in the ordinary course consistent with
past practice there has not been:
(a) Any
change in any method of accounting or accounting practice by WES;
(b) Any
increase in the compensation, commission, bonus or other direct or indirect
remuneration paid, payable or to become payable to any officer, stockholder,
director, consultant, agent or employee of WES, or any alteration in the
benefits payable or provided to any thereof;
(c) Any
material adverse change in the relationship of WES with its employees,
customers, suppliers or vendors;
(d) Except
for any changes made in the ordinary course of business, any material change in
any of WES's business policies, including advertising, marketing, selling,
pricing, purchasing, personnel, returns or budget policies;
(e) Any
agreement or arrangement whether written or oral to do any of the foregoing;
and
(f) WES
has no Liability that is past due.
SECTION 3.11
Contracts.
(a) To
the knowledge of WES, there are no Contracts to which WES is a party or by which
it or its assets are bound or subject that: (i) cannot be canceled upon 30 days'
notice without the payment or penalty of less than one thousand dollars
($1,000); or (ii) involve aggregate annual future payments by or to any person
of more than five thousand dollars ($5,000). True and complete copies of all
written Contracts (including all amendments thereto and waivers in respect
thereof) and summaries of the material provisions of all oral Contracts so
listed have been made available to Liberator.
(b) All
Contracts to which WES is a party, to the knowledge of WES, are valid,
subsisting, in full force and effect and binding upon WES and the other parties
thereto, in accordance with their terms, except that no representation or
warranty is given as to the enforceability of any oral Contracts. To
the best of WES’s knowledge and belief, WES is not in default (or alleged
default) under any such Contract.
SECTION 3.12
Claims
and Proceedings.
To the knowledge of WES, there are no outstanding Orders of any Governmental
Body against or involving WES, its assets or its business. To the knowledge of
WES, there are no Claims (whether or not the defense thereof or Liabilities in
respect thereof are covered by insurance), pending or, to the best of WES's
knowledge, threatened on the date hereof, against or involving WES, its assets
or its business.
SECTION 3.13
Compliance
with Laws. WES is not in
violation of any Orders or any Laws related to or promulgated under the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act (15 USC § 78a et seq.) and to the best of
WES’s knowledge, belief and information, any Laws of any Governmental Bodies
affecting WES or WES Merger Stock.
SECTION 3.14
Environmental
Matters. To the
best of WES’s knowledge, belief and information, WES is, and at all
times has been, in full compliance with, and has not been and is not in
violation of or liable under, any Environmental Law.
SECTION 3.15
SEC
Filings. WES has filed
with the SEC all forms, reports, schedules, and statements that were required to
be filed by it with the SEC within the period beginning on the date of inception
of WES and ending on the Effective Time, and previously has furnished or made
available to the Company accurate and complete copies of all the SEC
Documents. As of their respective dates, the SEC Documents were
prepared in accordance with the Exchange and the Securities Act and did not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated in those documents or necessary to make the statements in
those documents not misleading, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made. As of their respective dates, these reports and
statements will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated in them or necessary to make the
statements in them not misleading, in light of the circumstances under which
they are made and these reports and statements will comply in all material
respects with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the Securities
Act.
SECTION 3.16
Finders’
Fees. There is no
investment banker, broker, finder or other intermediary which has been retained
by or is authorized to act on behalf of WES who might be entitled to any fee or
commission from WES in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated
Transactions.
ARTICLE
IV
COVENANTS
AND AGREEMENTS
Liberator
covenants to WES and WES covenants to Liberator that:
SECTION
4.1 Filings
and Authorizations. The parties
hereto shall cooperate and use their respective best efforts to make, or cause
to be made, all registrations, filings, applications and submissions, to give
all notices and to obtain all governmental or other third party consents,
transfers, approvals, Orders and waivers necessary or desirable for the
consummation of the Contemplated Transactions in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement; and shall furnish copies thereof to each other party prior to
such filing and shall not make any such registration, filing, application or
submission to which WES or Liberator, as the case may be, reasonably objects in
writing. All such filings shall comply in form and content in all
material respects with applicable Law. The parties hereto also agree
to furnish each other with copies of such filings and any correspondence
received from any Governmental Body in connection therewith.
SECTION
4.2 Confidentiality. Each Party (the
“Receiving
Party”) shall, and shall cause its respective Affiliates and
Representatives to (each such Affiliate or Representative of either Liberator or
WES, as the case may be, a “Receiving Party
Representative”) to, maintain in confidence all information received from
the other Party or a Liberator (the “Disclosing Party”)
(other than disclosure to that Person’s Representatives in connection with the
evaluation and consummation of the Transactions), and such Disclosing Party’s
Affiliates or Representatives (as the case may be, a “Disclosing Party
Representative”) in connection with this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated by the Transaction Documents (including the existence and terms of
this Agreement and the such transactions) and use such information solely to
evaluate such transactions, unless i) such information can be shown to be
already known to the Receiving Party or a Receiving Party Representative before
the time of disclosure to such Person, ii) such information can be shown to be
subsequently disclosed to the Receiving Party or a Receiving Party
Representative by a third party that, to the knowledge of the Receiving Party or
such Receiving Party Representative, is not bound by a duty of confidentiality
to the Disclosing Party or any Disclosing Party Representative, iii) such
information is or becomes publicly available through no breach of this Agreement
by, or other fault of, the Receiving Party or any Receiving Party Representative
or iv) the Receiving Party or Receiving Party Representative in good faith
believes that the furnishing or use of such information is required by, or
necessary in connection with, any proceeding, Law or any listing or trading
agreement concerning its publicly traded securities (in which case the Receiving
Party or such Receiving Party Representative shall, as promptly as practicable,
advise the Disclosing Party in writing before making the disclosure and
cooperate with the Disclosing Party to limit the scope of such
disclosure).
SECTION
4.3 Expenses. Liberator and WES
shall bear their respective expenses, in each case, incurred in connection with
the preparation, execution and performance of the Transaction Documents and the
Contemplated Transactions, including, without limitation, all fees and expenses
of their respective Representatives.
SECTION
4.4 Tax
Matters.
Liberator and WES shall reasonably cooperate, and shall cause their respective
Representatives reasonably to cooperate, in preparing and filing all Tax
Returns, including maintaining and making available to each other all records
necessary in connection with the preparation and filing of Tax Returns, the
payment of Taxes and the resolution of Tax audits and Tax Deficiencies with
respect to all taxable periods. Refunds or credits of Taxes that were
paid by Liberator with respect to any periods shall be for the account of
Liberator.
SECTION
4.5 Further
Assurances. At any time and
from time to time after the date of Closing, upon the reasonable request of any
party hereto, the other party(ies), shall do, execute, acknowledge and deliver,
or cause to be done, executed, acknowledged or delivered, all such further
documents, instruments or assurances, as may be necessary, desirable or proper
to carry out the intent and accomplish the purposes of this
Agreement.
SECTION
4.6 Restricted
Securities. The parties
acknowledge and agree that Liberator Shares and WES Merger Stock being issued or
transferred pursuant to the Contemplated Transactions are being issued or
transferred pursuant to the exemption from the registration requirements of the
Securities Act and constitute “restricted securities” within the meaning of the
Securities Act. Such securities may not be transferred absent
compliance with the provisions of the Securities Act, other applicable Laws, and
all stock certificates evidencing such securities shall bear a legend to such
effect and to the effect that such shares are subject to the terms and
provisions of this Agreement; provided, however, that it is anticipated that for
purposes of Rule 144 of the Securities Act, that the holding period of WES
Merger Stock for each shareholder of Liberator shall be determined to commence
on the date of acquisition of Liberator Shares (as converted pursuant to this
Agreement) for each such respective holder.
SECTION
4.7 Due
Diligence. Prior to Closing,
WES agrees that Liberator shall be entitled, through its Representatives, to
make such investigation of the properties, businesses and operations of WES, and
such examination of the books, records and financial condition of WES, as
Liberator reasonably deems necessary. Any such investigation and
examination shall be conducted at reasonable times, under reasonable
circumstances and upon reasonable notice.
SECTION 4.8 Amendments
to the Articles of Incorporation. No later than the
tenth business day after Closing, WES will file an amendment to its Articles of
Incorporation authorizing the issuance of the WES Preferred Stock, and upon
approval from the WES Shareholder, the WES Preferred Stock will be exchanged
pursuant to the terms of this Agreement (the “Approval Time”).
ARTICLE
V
CONDITIONS
TO CLOSING
SECTION
5.1 Conditions
to the Obligations of the Parties. The obligations
of the Parties to consummate the Contemplated Transactions are subject to the
satisfaction of the following conditions:
(a) No
Injunction. No provision of any applicable Law and no Order
shall prohibit the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions.
(b) No Proceedings or
Litigation. No Claim instituted by any person (other than WES,
Liberator or their respective Affiliates) shall have been commenced or pending
against any Liberator, WES or any of their respective Affiliates, officers or
directors, which Claim seeks to restrain, prevent, change or delay in any
respect the Contemplated Transactions or seeks to challenge any of the terms or
provisions of this Agreement or seeks damages in connection with any of such
transactions.
SECTION
5.2 Conditions
to the Obligations of Liberator and WES Shareholder. The obligations
of Liberator and WES hereunder to consummate the Contemplated Transactions are
subject, at the option of Liberator, to the fulfillment prior to or at the
Closing of each of the following further conditions:
(a) Performance. WES
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements,
obligations and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by it at or prior to the the Closing.
(b) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of WES
contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by
WES pursuant hereto shall be true in all material respects at and as of the
Closing, as if made at and as of such time (except for those representations and
warranties made as of a specific date which shall be true in all material
respects as of the date made).
(c) No Material Adverse
Change. From the date hereof through the Closing, there shall
not have occurred any event or condition that has had or could have a material
adverse effect on WES.
(d) Documentation. There
shall have been delivered to Liberator the following:
(i)
A certificate, dated at Closing, of the Chairman of the Board and
the President of WES and WES confirming the matters set forth in
Section 5.2(a) (b) and (c) hereof;
(ii)
WES Merger Stock certificates, registered in the name of each Shareholder
as set forth on Schedule 1 attached
hereto, (with the appropriate restrictive legends as applicable), evidencing
satisfaction of the Merger Purchase Price in accordance with
Section 1.8;
(iii)
WES shareholder approval of the contemplated transactions including but not
limited to the proper delivery and notice period of an information statement
pursuant to Florida laws and the Exchange Act;
(iv)
Nevada Certificate of Merger; and
(v)
Florida Certificate of Merger.
SECTION
5.3 Conditions
to the Obligations of WES. All obligations
of WES to consummate the Contemplated Transactions hereunder are subject, at the
option of WES, to the fulfillment prior to or at the Closing of each of the
following further conditions:
(a) Performance. Liberator
shall have performed and complied in all material respects with all agreements,
obligations and covenants required by this Agreement to be performed or complied
with by them at or prior to the Closing.
(b) Representations and
Warranties. The representations and warranties of Liberator,
contained in this Agreement and in any certificate or other writing delivered by
Liberator pursuant hereto shall be true in all material respects at and as of
the Closing, as if made at and as of such time (except for those representations
and warranties made as of a specific date which shall be true in all material
respects as of the date made).
(c) No Material Adverse
Change. From the date hereof through the Closing, there shall
not have occurred any event or condition that has had or could have a material
adverse effect on Liberator.
(d) Documentation. There
shall have been delivered to WES the following:
(i)
A certificate, dated at Closing, of the Chairman of the Board, the
President or Chief Financial Officer of Liberator confirming the matters set
forth in Section 5.3(a) (b) and (c) hereof;
(ii)
A certificate, dated at Closing, of the Secretary of Liberator certifying,
among other things, that attached or appended to such certificate: (i) is a
true and correct copy of Liberator's certificate of incorporation and all
amendments thereto, if any, as of the date thereof certified by the Secretary of
State of the State of Nevada; and (ii) is a true and correct copy of
Liberator's memorandum of association as of the date thereof;
(iii)
Nevada Certificate of Merger;
(iv)
Florida Certificate of Merger; and
(v)
Liberator Share certificates representing the number of Liberator Shares
duly endorsed in blank or accompanied by stock powers duly endorsed in blank and
in suitable form for transfer to WES by delivery.
ARTICLE
VI
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION
6.1 Survival
of Representations, Warranties and Covenants. Notwithstanding
any right of WES fully to investigate the affairs of Liberator and the rights of
Liberator to fully investigate the affairs of WES, and notwithstanding any
knowledge of facts determined or determinable by WES or Liberator, pursuant to
such investigation or right of investigation, WES and Liberator, have the right
to rely fully upon the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements of
Liberator and WES respectively, contained in this Agreement, or listed or
disclosed on any Schedule hereto or in any instrument delivered in connection
with or pursuant to any of the foregoing. All such representations,
warranties, covenants and agreements shall survive the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and the Closing hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, all representations and warranties of Liberator and WES respectively,
contained in this Agreement, on any Schedule hereto or in any instrument
delivered in connection with or pursuant to this Agreement shall terminate and
expire twelve (12) months after the date of Closing; provided, however, that
liability any party shall not terminate as to any specific claim or claims which
arise or result from or are related to a Claim for fraud.
SECTION
6.2 Obligation
of Liberator to Indemnify. Liberator agrees
to indemnify, defend and hold harmless WES (and its respective directors,
officers, employees, Affiliates, successors and assigns) from and against
all Claims, losses, Liabilities, Regulatory Actions, damages, deficiencies,
judgments, settlements, costs of investigation or other expenses (including
Taxes, interest, penalties and reasonable attorneys' fees and fees of other
experts and disbursements and expenses incurred in enforcing this
indemnification) (collectively, the “Losses”) suffered
or incurred by WES, or any of the foregoing persons arising out of any breach of
the representations and warranties of Liberator contained in this Agreement, or
of the covenants and agreements of Liberator contained in this Agreement or in
the Schedules or any other Transaction Document.
SECTION
6.3 Obligation
of WES to Indemnify. WES agrees to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless Liberator (and its respective directors,
officers, employees, Affiliates, successors, heirs and assigns) from and
against any Losses suffered or incurred by Liberator or any of the foregoing
persons arising out of any breach of the representations and warranties of WES,
or of the covenants and agreements of WES contained in this Agreement or in the
Schedules or any other Transaction Document.
SECTION
6.4 Notice and Opportunity to
Defend Third Party Claims.
(a) Within
ten (10) days following receipt by any party hereto (the “Indemnitee”) of
notice of any demand, claim, circumstance or Tax audit which would or might give
rise to a claim, or the commencement (or threatened commencement) of any action,
proceeding or investigation that may result in a Loss (an “Asserted Liability”),
the Indemnitee shall give notice thereof (the “Claims Notice”) to
the party or parties obligated to provide indemnification pursuant to Sections
6.2, or 6.3 (collectively, the “Indemnifying
Party”). The Claims Notice shall describe the Asserted
Liability in reasonable detail and shall indicate the amount (estimated, if
necessary, and to the extent feasible) of the Loss that has been or may be
suffered by the Indemnitee.
(b) The
Indemnifying Party may elect to defend, at its own expense and with its own
counsel, any Asserted Liability unless: (i) the Asserted Liability includes
a Claim seeking an Order for injunction or other equitable or declaratory relief
against the Indemnitee, in which case the Indemnitee may at its own cost and
expense and at its option defend the portion of the Asserted Liability seeking
equitable or declaratory relief against the Indemnitee, or (ii) the
Indemnitee shall have reasonably, and in good faith, after consultation with the
Indemnifying Party, concluded that: (x) there is a conflict of interest
between the Indemnitee and the Indemnifying Party which could prevent or
negatively influence the Indemnifying Party from impartially or adequately
conducting such defense; or (y) the Indemnitee shall have one or more
defenses not available to the Indemnifying Party but only to the extent such
defense cannot legally be asserted by the Indemnifying Party on behalf of the
Indemnitee. If the Indemnifying Party elects to defend such Asserted
Liability, it shall within ten (10) days (or sooner, if the nature of the
Asserted Liability so requires) notify the Indemnitee of its intent to do
so, and the Indemnitee shall cooperate, at the expense of the Indemnifying
Party, in the defense of such Asserted Liability. If the Indemnifying
Party elects not to defend the Asserted Liability, is not permitted to defend
the Asserted Liability by reason of the first sentence of this
Section 6.4(b), fails to notify the Indemnitee of its election as herein
provided or contests its obligation to indemnify under this Agreement with
respect to such Asserted Liability, the Indemnitee may pay, compromise or defend
such Asserted Liability at the sole cost and expense of the Indemnifying
Party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the Indemnifying Party
nor the Indemnitee may settle or compromise any claim over the reasonable
written objection of the other, provided that the Indemnitee may settle or
compromise any claim as to which the Indemnifying Party has failed to notify the
Indemnitee of its election under this Section 6.4(b) or as to which
the Indemnifying Party is contesting its indemnification obligations
hereunder. If the Indemnifying Party desires to accept a reasonable,
final and complete settlement of an Asserted Liability so that such Indemnitee’s
Loss is paid in full and the Indemnitee refuses to consent to such settlement,
then the Indemnifying Party’s liability to the Indemnitee shall be limited to
the amount offered in the settlement. The Indemnifying Party will
exercise good faith in accepting any reasonable, final and complete settlement
of an Asserted Liability. In the event the Indemnifying Party elects
to defend any Asserted Liability, the Indemnitee may participate, at its own
expense, in the defense of such Asserted Liability. In the event the
Indemnifying Party is not permitted by the Indemnitee to defend the Asserted
Liability, it may nevertheless participate at its own expense in the defense of
such Asserted Liability. If the Indemnifying Party chooses to defend
any Asserted Liability, the Indemnitee shall make available to the Indemnifying
Party any books, records or other documents within its control that are
necessary or appropriate for such defense. Any Losses of any
Indemnitee for which an Indemnifying Party is liable for indemnification
hereunder shall be paid upon written demand therefor.
SECTION
6.5 Limits on
Indemnification.
(a) Notwithstanding
the foregoing or the limitations set forth in Section 6.5(b) below, in the event
such Losses arise out of any fraud related matter on the part of any
Indemnifying Party, then such Indemnifying Party shall be obligated to indemnify
the Indemnitee in respect of all such Losses.
(b) Liberator
shall not be liable to indemnify WES pursuant to Section 6.2 above and WES
shall not be liable to indemnify Liberator pursuant to Section 6.3 above:
(i) unless a Claims Notice describing the loss is delivered to the Indemnifying
Party within 12 months after the Closing (except for Losses arising out of an
Indemnifying Party’s fraud); (ii) with respect to special, consequential or
punitive damages; and (iii) in respect of any individual Loss of less than
twenty five thousand dollars ($25,000).
SECTION
6.6 Exclusive
Remedy. The parties agree
that the indemnification provisions of this Article VI shall constitute the sole
or exclusive remedy of any party in seeking damages or other monetary relief
with respect to this Agreement and the Contemplated Transactions, provided that,
nothing herein shall be construed to limit the right of any party to seek:
(i) injunctive relief for a breach of this Agreement; or (ii) legal or
equitable relief for a Claim for fraud.
ARTICLE
VII
SPECIFIC
PERFORMANCE; TERMINATION
SECTION
7.1 Specific
Performance. Liberator and WES
acknowledges and agrees that, if any of Liberator or WES fails to proceed with
the Closing in any circumstance other than those described in clauses (a),
(b), (c) or (d) of Section 7.2 below, the others will not have
adequate remedies at law with respect to such breach. In such event,
and in addition to each party's right to terminate this Agreement, each party
shall be entitled, without the necessity or obligation of posting a bond or
other security, to seek injunctive relief, by commencing a suit in equity to
obtain specific performance of the obligations under this Agreement or to sue
for damages, in each case, without first terminating this Agreement. Liberator
or WES specifically affirms the appropriateness of such injunctive, other
equitable relief or damages in any such action.
SECTION
7.2 Termination. This Agreement
may be terminated and the Contemplated Transactions may be abandoned at any time
prior to the Closing:
(a) By
mutual written consent of Liberator and WES;
(b) By
Liberator if: (i) there has been a misrepresentation or breach of warranty
on the part of WES in the representations and warranties contained herein and
such misrepresentation or breach of warranty, if curable, is not cured within
thirty days after written notice thereof from Liberator, respectively;
(ii) WES has committed a breach of any covenant imposed upon it hereunder
and fails to cure such breach within thirty days after written notice thereof
from Liberator; or (iii) any condition to Liberator's obligations under
Section 5.2 becomes incapable of fulfillment through no fault of Liberator,
and is not waived by WES;
(c) By
WES if: (i) there has been a misrepresentation or breach of warranty on the
part of Liberator in the representations and warranties contained herein and
such misrepresentation or breach of warranty, if curable, is not cured within
thirty days after written notice thereof from WES; (ii) Liberator has committed
a breach of any covenant imposed upon it hereunder and fails to cure such breach
within thirty days after written notice thereof from WES; or (iii) any
condition to WES’s obligations under Section 5.3 becomes incapable of
fulfillment through no fault of WES and is not waived by Liberator;
and
(d) By
Liberator or WES, if any condition under Section 5.1 becomes incapable of
fulfillment through no fault of the party seeking termination and is not waived
by the party seeking termination.
SECTION
7.3 Effect of
Termination; Right to Proceed. Subject to the provisions of
Section 7.1 hereof, in the event that this Agreement shall be terminated
pursuant to Section 7.2, all further obligations of the parties under this
Agreement shall terminate without further liability of any party hereunder
except that: (i) the agreements contained in Section 4.2 shall survive the
termination hereof; and (ii) termination shall not preclude any party from
seeking relief against any other party for breach of Section 4.2. In
the event that a condition precedent to its obligation is not met, nothing
contained herein shall be deemed to require any party to terminate this
Agreement, rather than to waive such condition precedent and proceed with the
Contemplated Transactions.
ARTICLE
VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION
8.1 Representations
and Warranties for Purposes of this Agreement Only. The
representations and warranties in this Agreement were made for the purposes of
allocated contractual risk between the parties and not as a means of
establishing facts. This Agreement may have different standards of
materiality than standards of materiality under applicable securities
laws. Only parties to this Agreement and specified third-party
beneficiaries (if any) have a right to enforce this Agreement
SECTION
8.2 Notices. (a) Any
notice or other communication required or permitted hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be delivered personally by hand or by recognized overnight
courier, or mailed (by registered or certified mail, postage prepaid return
receipt requested) as follows:
If to
WES, one copy to:
WES
CONSULTING, INC.
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive
Doraville,
GA 30360
If to
Liberator, one copy to:
LIBERATOR,
INC.
Attn:
Ronald P. Scott
2745
Bankers Industrial Drive
Doraville,
GA 30360
Facsimile:
(770) 246-6440
With a
copy to (which shall not constitute notice):
Anslow
and Jaclin, LLP
Attn:
Joseph M. Lucosky
195 Route
9 South, Suite 204
Manalapan,
NJ 07726
Facsimile:
(732) 577-1188
(b) Each
such notice or other communication shall be effective when delivered at the
address specified in Section 8.1(a). Any party by notice given
in accordance with this Section 8.1 to the other parties may designate
another address or person for receipt of notices hereunder. Notices
by a party may be given by counsel to such party.
SECTION
8.3 Entire
Agreement. This Agreement
(including the Schedules and Exhibits hereto) and the collateral agreements
executed in connection with the consummation of the Contemplated Transactions
contain the entire agreement among the parties with respect to the subject
matter hereof and related transactions and supersede all prior agreements,
written or oral, with respect thereto.
SECTION
8.4 Waivers
and Amendments; Non-Contractual Remedies; Preservation of Remedies. This Agreement
may be amended, superseded, cancelled, renewed or extended only by a written
instrument signed by Liberator and WES. The provisions hereof may be
waived in writing by Liberator or WES, as the case may be. Any such
waiver shall be effective only to the extent specifically set forth in such
writing. No failure or delay on the part of any party in exercising
any right, power or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver
thereof. Nor shall any waiver on the part of any party of any such
right, power or privilege, nor any single or partial exercise of any such right,
power or privilege, preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the
exercise of any other such right, power or privilege. Except as
otherwise provided herein, the rights and remedies herein provided are
cumulative and are not exclusive of any rights or remedies that any party may
otherwise have at law or in equity.
SECTION
8.5 Governing
Law. This Agreement
shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
Georgia applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely within such
State without regard to the conflict of laws rules thereof.
SECTION
8.6 Binding
Effect; No Assignment. This Agreement
and all of its provisions, rights and obligations shall be binding upon and
shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors, heirs and legal representatives. This Agreement may not
be assigned (including by operation of Law) by any party hereto without the
express written consent of WES (in the case of assignment by Liberator) or
Liberator (in the case of assignment by WES) and any purported assignment,
unless so consented to, shall be void and without effect.
SECTION
8.7 Exhibits. All Exhibits and
Schedules attached hereto are hereby incorporated by reference into, and made a
part of, this Agreement.
SECTION
8.8 Severability. If any provision
of this Agreement for any reason shall be held to be illegal, invalid or
unenforceable, such illegality shall not affect any other provision of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall be amended so as to enforce the illegal, invalid
or unenforceable provision to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law,
and the parties shall cooperate in good faith to further modify this Agreement
so as to preserve to the maximum extent possible the intended benefits to be
received by the parties.
SECTION
8.9 Counterparts. The Agreement may
be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be
an original as against any party whose signature appears thereon, and all of
which shall together constitute one and the same instrument. This
Agreement shall become binding when one or more counterparts hereof,
individually or taken together, shall bear the signatures of all of the parties
reflected hereon as the signatories.
SECTION
8.10 Third
Parties. Except as
specifically set forth or referred to herein, nothing herein express or implied
is intended or shall be construed to confer upon or give to any person other
than the parties hereto and their permitted heirs, successors, assigns and legal
representatives, any rights or remedies under or by reason of this Agreement or
the Contemplated Transactions.
ARTICLE
IX
DEFINITIONS
SECTION
9.1 Definitions. The following
terms, as used herein, have the following meanings:
“Affiliate” of any
person means any other person directly or indirectly through one or more
intermediary persons, controlling, controlled by or under common control with
such person.
“Agreement” or “this Agreement” shall
mean, and the words “herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder” and words
of similar import shall refer to, this agreement as it from time to time may be
amended.
“Assets” shall mean
all cash, instruments, properties, rights, interests and assets of every kind,
real, personal or mixed, tangible and intangible, used or usable in the
Business.
The term
“audit” or
“audited” when
used in regard to financial statements shall mean an examination of the
financial statements by a firm of independent certified public accountants in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards for the purpose of
expressing an opinion thereon.
“Business” shall mean
the ownership and operation of the business of Liberator.
“Condition of the
Business” shall mean the financial condition, prospects or the results of
operations of the Business, the Assets or Liberator.
“Contract” shall mean
any contract, agreement, indenture, note, bond, lease, conditional sale
contract, mortgage, license, franchise, instrument, commitment or other binding
arrangement, whether written or oral.
The term
“control,” with
respect to any person, shall mean the power to direct the management and
policies of such person, directly or indirectly, by or through stock ownership,
agency or otherwise, or pursuant to or in connection with an agreement,
arrangement or understanding (written or oral) with one or more other
persons by or through stock ownership, agency or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and
“controlled”
shall have meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“GAAP” shall mean
generally accepted accounting principles in effect on the date
hereof (or, in the case of any opinion rendered in connection with an
audit, as of the date of the opinion) as set forth in the opinions and
pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of
Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial
Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as
may be approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession of the
United States.
“Governmental Bodies”
shall mean any government, municipality or political subdivision thereof,
whether federal, state, local or foreign, or any governmental or
quasi-governmental agency, authority, board, bureau, commission, department,
instrumentality or public body, or any court, arbitrator, administrative
tribunal or public utility.
“knowledge” with
respect to: (a) any individual shall mean actual knowledge of such
individual; and (b) any corporation shall mean the actual knowledge of the
directors and executive officers of such corporation; and “knows” and “known” has a
correlative meaning. The terms “any Shareholder's knowledge,” and
“Shareholder's knowledge,” including any correlative meanings, shall mean the
knowledge of any Shareholder.
“Laws” shall mean any
law, statute, code, ordinance, rule, regulation or other requirement of any
Governmental Bodies.
“Liability” shall mean
any direct or indirect indebtedness, liability, assessment, claim, loss, damage,
deficiency, obligation or responsibility, fixed or unfixed, choate or inchoate,
liquidated or unliquidated, secured or unsecured, accrued, absolute, actual or
potential, contingent or otherwise (including any liability under any
guaranties, letters of credit, performance credits or with respect to insurance
loss accruals).
“Lien” shall mean any
mortgage, lien (including mechanics, warehousemen, laborers and landlords
liens), claim, pledge, charge, security interest, preemptive right, right of
first refusal, option, judgment, title defect, covenant, restriction, easement
or encumbrance of any kind.
“person” shall mean an
individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability
Liberator, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity,
including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality
thereof.
“Receivables” shall
mean as of any date any trade accounts receivable, notes receivable, sales
representative advances and other miscellaneous receivables of
Liberator.
“Representative”
means, with respect to a particular Person, any director, officer, employee,
agent, consultant, advisor or other representative of such Person, including
legal counsel, accountants and financial advisors.
“SEC” means the United
States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“SEC Documents” means
all forms, notices, reports, schedules, statements, and other documents filed by
Parent with the SEC, whether or not constituting a “filed” document, and
includes all proxy statements, registration statements, amendments to
registration statements, periodic reports on Forms 10-KSB, 10-QSB, and 8-K, and
annual and quarterly reports to shareholders.
“Tax” (including, with
correlative meaning, the terms “Taxes” and “Taxable”) shall
mean: (i)(A) any net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad
valorem, transfer, transfer gains, franchise, profits, license, withholding,
payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, rent, recording, occupation,
premium, real or personal property, intangibles, environmental or windfall
profits tax, alternative or add-on minimum tax, customs duty or other tax, fee,
duty, levy, impost, assessment or charge of any kind whatsoever (including but
not limited to taxes assessed to real property and water and sewer rents
relating thereto), together with; (B) any interest and any penalty,
addition to tax or additional amount imposed by any Governmental Body (domestic
or foreign) (a “Tax
Authority”) responsible for the imposition of any such tax and
interest on such penalties, additions to tax, fines or additional amounts, in
each case, with respect to any party hereto, the Business or the Assets (or the
transfer thereof); (ii) any liability for the payment of any amount of the
type described in the immediately preceding clause (i) as a result of a
party hereto being a member of an affiliated or combined group with any other
person at any time on or prior to the date of Closing; and (iii) any
liability of a party hereto for the payment of any amounts of the type described
in the immediately preceding clause (i) as a result of a contractual
obligation to indemnify any other person.
“Tax Return” shall
mean any return or report (including elections, declarations, disclosures,
schedules, estimates and information returns) required to be supplied to
any Tax Authority.
“Transaction
Documents” shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, and each of the
other agreements and instruments to be executed and delivered by all or some of
the parties hereto in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
SECTION
9.2 Interpretation. Unless the
context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Agreement shall be
applicable to both the singular and plural forms of any of the terms defined
herein. All accounting terms defined in this Agreement, and those
accounting terms used in this Agreement except as otherwise expressly provided
herein, shall have the meanings customarily given thereto in accordance with
GAAP as of the date of the item in question. When a reference is made
in this Agreement to Sections, such reference shall be to a Section of this
Agreement unless otherwise indicated. The headings contained in this
Agreement are for reference purposes only and shall not affect in any way the
meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. The use of the neuter
gender herein shall be deemed to include the masculine and feminine genders
wherever necessary or appropriate, the use of the masculine gender shall be
deemed to include the neuter and feminine genders and the use of the feminine
gender shall be deemed to include the neuter and masculine genders wherever
necessary or appropriate. Whenever the words “include,” “includes” or
“including” are used in this Agreement, they shall be deemed to be followed by
the words “without limitation.”
[THE
REMAINDER OF THIS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
undersigned have executed this MERGER and Recapitalization Agreement as of the
date set forth above.
|
WES:
|
|
WES
CONSULTING, INC.
|
|
|
|
/s/ Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Name:
Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
LIBERATOR:
|
|
LIBERATOR,
INC.
|
|
|
|
/s/ Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Name:
Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
WES
SHAREHOLDERS:
|
|
LIBERATOR,
INC.
|
|
|
|
/s/ Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Name:
Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Title:
Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
LIBERATOR
SHAREHOLDER:
|
|
|
|
/s/ Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Louis
S. Friedman
|
|
Liberator,
Inc.
|
|
Schedule
1
|
|
Shareholder List
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louis
S. Friedman
|
|
|
28,394,376 |
|
|
Don
Cohen, Inc.
|
|
|
13,022,127 |
|
|
Hope
Capital, Inc.
|
|
|
4,750,001 |
|
|
New
Castle Financial Services, Inc.
|
|
|
2,044,980 |
|
|
David
Stauffacher
|
|
|
2,000,000 |
|
|
Steven
Gallant
|
|
|
1,315,366 |
|
|
Thomas
McQueeney IRA
|
|
|
1,000,000 |
|
|
Lee
Silverstein
|
|
|
876,911 |
|
|
Canterbury
Securities Holdings, Inc.
|
|
|
600,000 |
|
|
AES
International, Inc.
|
|
|
548,069 |
|
|
Jay
Scheinberg
|
|
|
526,147 |
|
|
George
Eason
|
|
|
452,000 |
|
|
Hope
Capital, Inc.
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
Jabro
Funding Corp.
|
|
|
400,000 |
|
|
Harold
& Connie Estes
|
|
|
300,000 |
|
|
Lawrence
Rothberg
|
|
|
250,000 |
|
|
Jay
& Norine Hackney
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Rolf
Nelson
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Ron
DelGaudio
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Bruce
Federman
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Joseph
Wallace
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Downshire
Capital
|
|
|
200,000 |
|
|
Charles
Fitch
|
|
|
192,000 |
|
|
Kevin
Murphy
|
|
|
140,000 |
|
|
James
D. Yau
|
|
|
105,229 |
|
|
Mark
W. Testerman IRA
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Alan
Gibstein
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Mark
Timm
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Tekplan
Solutions Georgia LLC
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Thomas
Powers
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Artice
Allen
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Vincent
Yacono
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Todd
& Kimilee Morgan
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Anthony
Westreich
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Brian
Miller
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Wolfe
Family Trust
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Joseph
Wallace
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Nadir
Eltahir
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Mitchel
& Sherri Adler
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Gregory
Newell
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Scott
Silverman
|
|
|
100,000 |
|
|
Gordon
Downie
|
|
|
92,000 |
|
|
Perry
Weitz
|
|
|
88,000 |
|
|
Russell
Lewandowski
|
|
|
87,691 |
|
|
Joseph
Tedesco
|
|
|
80,000 |
|
|
Martin
& Joyce Scher
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
Edward
Custer
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
Cary
& Andrea Crane
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
Jeffrey
Lubalin
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
Monte
& Janet Anglin
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
Jonathan
Glassman
|
|
|
50,000 |
|
|
Brad
Unsicker
|
|
|
44,000 |
|
|
Frank
DeMarco
|
|
|
43,846 |
|
|
Alan
Lewandowski
|
|
|
43,846 |
|
|
Michael
Ra Bouchard
|
|
|
36,392 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
shares outstanding
|
|
|
60,932,981 |
|
|
Warrants outstanding:
|
|
Shares
|
|
|
Price
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hope
Capital Warrant
|
|
|
1,000,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
New
Castle Financial Warrant
|
|
|
292,479
|
|
|
$
|
0.50
|
|
|
New
Castle Financial Warrant
|
|
|
292,479
|
|
|
$
|
0.75
|
|
|
New
Castle Financial Warrant
|
|
|
877,435
|
|
|
$
|
1.00
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Total
Warrants
|
|
|
2,462,393
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stock options outstanding:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ronald
P. Scott
|
|
|
438,456
|
|
|
$
|
0.228
|
|
NQ
Stock Option
|
|
Options
granted on Oct. 16, 2009 to 80 employees
|
|
|
1,411,000
|
|
|
$
|
0.250
|
|
|
|
Total
Options
|
|
|
1,849,456
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Convertible Notes:
|
|
Principal
|
|
|
|
|
|
3%
Convertible Note 1.01 payable to Hope Capital
|
|
$
375,000 at $0.30 converts into 1,250,000 shares
|
|
|
|
|
|
3%
Convertible Note 1.02 payable to Hope Capital
|
|
$
250,000 at $0.25, converts into 1,000,000
shares
|
|
Convertible Preferred Series A
Shares:
|
|
|
|
|
|
Louis
S. Friedman
|
|
|
4,300,000 |
|
100%
of the
class
|
Schedule
2.7
See
Public Filings.
Schedule
3.2
None.
Schedule
3.5
The
rights of Belmont Partners in connection with the Stock Purchase Agreement by
and between Belmont Partners and the Company with respect to the purchase by the
Company of a majority of the issued and outstanding common stock of
WES.
Schedule
3.8
See
Public Filings.
Exhibit
B
ARTICLES
OF AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED
AND
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
OF
WES CONSULTING, INC.
Pursuant
to Section 607.1006 of the Business Corporation Act of the State of Florida, the
undersigned, being a Director and the CEO of WES Consulting, Inc. (hereinafter
the “Corporation”), a Florida corporation, does hereby certify as
follows:
FIRST: The Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation were filed with the Secretary of State of
Florida on February 25, 1999 (Document No. P99000018914), and Amended and
Restated as filed with the Secretary of State on September 6, 2006 (collectively
the “Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation”).
SECOND: This amendment to the
Articles of Incorporation was approved and adopted by all of the Directors of
the Corporation on October 20, 2009 and by a majority of its shareholders on
October 20, 2009. To effect the foregoing, the text of Article I and Article III
of the Articles of Incorporation are hereby deleted and replaced in their
entirety as follows:
“ARTICLE
I
NAME
The name
of the corporation shall be Liberator, Inc. and shall be governed by Title XXXVI
Chapter 607 of the Florida Statutes.”
“ARTICLE
III
CAPITAL
STOCK
A. The
maximum number of shares that the Corporation shall be authorized to issue and
have outstanding at any one time shall be one hundred and eighty five million
(185,000,000) shares, of which:
(i) Ten
Million (10,000,000) shares shall be designated Preferred Stock, $0.0001 par
value. The Board of Directors of the Corporation, by resolution or resolutions,
at any time and from time to time, shall be authorized to divide and establish
any or all of the unissued shares of Preferred Stock into one or more series
and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, to fix and determine the
designation of each such share, the number of shares which shall constitute such
series and certain preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of
each series so established.
(ii) One
Hundred Seventy Five Million (175,000,000) shares shall be designated Common
Stock, $0.01 par value. Each issued and outstanding share of Common Stock shall
be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the
shareholders and shall be eligible for dividends when, and if, declared by the
Board of Directors;
B. The
Board of Directors has by resolution designated four million three hundred
thousand (4,300,000) shares of Preferred stock Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock and having such rights and preferences as set forth in the Designation of
Rights and Preferences of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock of WES
Consulting, Inc. attached hereto as Exhibit B and made a part
hereof.”
THIRD: The foregoing
amendments were adopted by all of the Directors on October 20, 2009 and by the
majority holders of the Common stock of the Corporation pursuant to the Florida
Business Corporation Act on October 20, 2009. Therefore, the number of votes
cast for the amendment to the Corporation's Articles of Incorporation was
sufficient for approval.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the
undersigned has executed these Articles of Incorporation this ____ day of
_______, 2010.
|
WES
Consulting, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Louis S. Friedman
|
|
Name:
|
Louis
S. Friedman
|
|
Title:
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
Exhibit C
Designation
of Rights and Preferences
of
Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock
of
WES
Consulting, Inc.
WES
Consulting, Inc. (the “Corporation”) is authorized to issue ten million
(10,000,000) shares of $0.0001 par value preferred stock, none of which has been
issued or is currently outstanding. The preferred stock may be issued by the
Board of Directors at such times and with such rights, designations, preferences
and other terms, as may be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole
discretion, at the time of issuance. The Board of Directors of the Corporation
has determined to issue a class of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value and to
designate such class as “Series A Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock”) initially consisting of four million three hundred thousand
(4,300,000) shares which shall have the rights, preferences, privileges, and the
qualifications, limitations and restrictions as follows:
(A). Liquidation
Rights.
|
|
(i)
|
Upon
the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the
Company, the holders of the shares of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock then outstanding shall be entitled to receive out of the assets of
the Company (whether representing capital or surplus), before any payment
or distribution shall be made on the Common Stock, or upon any other class
or series of stock ranking junior to the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock as to liquidation rights or dividends, $0.232 for each share of
Series A Preferred Stock, subject to appropriate adjustment in the event
of any stock dividend, stock split, combination or other similar
recapitalization with respect to the Series A Preferred Stock, plus any
dividends declared but unpaid
thereon.
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(ii)
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Upon
the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the
Company, after the payment of all preferential amounts required to be paid
to the holders of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock in
accordance with Section (A)(i) above, the remaining assets of the Company
available for distribution to its shareholders shall be distributed among
the holders of the shares of Common Stock, pro rata based on the number of
shares held by each such
holder.
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(iii)
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If
the assets distributable on any dissolution, liquidation or winding up of
the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be insufficient to
permit the payment to the holders of the Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock of the full preferential amounts attributable thereto, then the
entire assets of the Company shall be distributed among the holders of the
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ratably, in proportion to the
respective amounts the holders of such shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock would be entitled to receive if they were paid in full all
preferential amounts.
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(iv)
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Written
notice of such liquidation, dissolution or winding up, stating a payment
date or dates, the aggregate amount of all payments to be made, and the
place where said sums shall be payable shall be given by first class mail,
postage prepaid, not less than 30 days prior to the payment date stated
therein, to the holders of record of all shareholders of the Company, such
notice to be addressed to each holder at his post office address as shown
by the records of the Company. A consolidation or merger of the
Company with or into any other Company or Companies not owned or
controlled by the Company and in which the Company is not the surviving
entity, or the sale or transfer by the Company of all or substantially all
of its assets, shall be deemed to be a liquidation, dissolution or winding
up of the business of the Company for purposes
hereof.
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(v)
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In
the event of a partial liquidation, distribution of assets shall be made
so as to give effect to the foregoing provisions. In the event some or all
of the proceeds from a liquidation, dissolution or winding up consist of
property other than cash, then for purposes of making distributions, the
fair value of such non-cash property shall be determined in good faith by
the Company’s Board of Directors.
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(B). Voting
Rights. Each issued and outstanding Series A Convertible Preferred
Share shall be entitled to the number of votes equal to the result of: (i) the
number of shares of common stock of the Company (the “Common Shares”) issued and
outstanding at the time of such vote multiplied by 1.01; divided by (ii) the
total number of Series A Convertible Preferred Shares issued and outstanding at
the time of such vote. At each meeting of shareholders of the Company with
respect to any and all matters presented to the shareholders of the Company for
their action or consideration, including the election of directors, holders
of Series A Convertible Preferred Shares shall vote together with the holders of
Common Shares as a single class.
(C). Conversion.
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(i)
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The
holder of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock shall have the
right, subject to the terms and conditions set forth below, to convert
each such stock into one share of fully paid and non-assessable Common
Stock of the Corporation as hereinafter provided. Such
conversion right shall vest and shall first be available on July 1,
2011.
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(ii)
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Any
holder of one or more shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock
electing to convert any or all of such shares into Common Stock shall
surrender the certificate or certificates evidencing such shares at the
principal office of the Corporation, at any time during its usual business
hours, and shall simultaneously with such surrender give written notice of
his or its intention to convert, stating therein the number of shares of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock to be converted and the name or names
(with addresses) of the registered holders of the Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock in which the certificate or certificates for Common Stock
shall be issued. Each certificate evidencing shares so
surrendered shall be duly endorsed to the Corporation by means of
signatures which shall be guaranteed by either a national bank or a member
of a national securities
exchange.
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(iii)
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Such
conversion shall be deemed to have been made as of the date of receipt by
the Corporation of the certificate or certificates (endorsed as herein
above provided) representing the shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock to be converted and receipt by the Corporation of written notice, as
above prescribed; and after such receipt, the person entitled to receive
the shares of Common Stock issuable upon such conversion shall be treated
for all purposes as the record holder of such shares of Common
Stock.
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(iv)
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Upon
receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Corporation of the
loss, theft, destruction or mutilation of any certificate evidencing
shares in the Corporation and, in the case of such loss, theft or
destruction, upon delivery of an indemnity agreement reasonably
satisfactory to the Corporation, or in the case of any such mutilation,
upon the surrender of such certificate for cancellation, the Corporation,
will execute and deliver, in lieu of such lost, stolen, destroyed or
mutilated certificate, a new certificate for such
shares.
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(v)
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As
promptly as practicable after surrender and notice as herein above
provided, the Corporation shall issue and deliver, or cause to be issued
and delivered, to the holder of the shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock surrendered for conversion: (a) a certificate or
certificates for the number of shares of Common Stock into which such
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has been converted; and (b) if
necessary in the case of a conversion of less than all of the shares of
Series A Convertible Preferred Stock held by such holder, a new
certificate or certificates representing the unconverted shares of Series
A Convertible Preferred
Stock.
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(vi)
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Cash
dividends declared but theretofore unpaid on the shares of Series A
Convertible Preferred Stock so converted after the record date for such
dividend shall instead be paid on the shares of Common Stock into which
such Series A Convertible Preferred Stock has been converted, pro rata, at
such time as cash dividends shall be paid to record holders of the Common
Stock generally.
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(vii)
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All
shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock at any time converted as
herein provided shall be forthwith permanently retired and cancelled and
shall under no circumstances be
reissued.
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(E). Protective
Provisions. At any time when shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock are outstanding, the Corporation shall not, either directly or indirectly
by amendment, merger, consolidation or otherwise, do any of the following
without (in addition to any other vote required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation) the written consent or affirmative vote of the holders of at
least a majority of the then outstanding shares of Series A Convertible
Preferred Stock, given in writing or by vote at a meeting, consenting or voting
(as the case may be) separately as a class:
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(i)
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liquidate,
dissolve or wind-up the business and affairs of the Corporation, effect
any deemed liquidation event, or consent to any of the
foregoing;
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(ii)
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create,
or authorize the creation of, or issue or obligate itself to issue shares
of, any additional class or series of capital stock or increase
the authorized number of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred
Stock.
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(F). Status of Reacquired Shares.
Shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock which have been issued and
reacquired in any manner shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions
of the laws of the State of Florida) have the status of authorized and unissued
shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock issuable in series
undesignated as to series and may be re-designated and
re-issued.
Exhibit
D
WES
CONSULTING, INC.
2009
Stock Option Plan
I. PURPOSE
OF THE PLAN; DEFINITIONS
A. This
2009 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") is intended to promote the interests of Wes
Consulting, Inc., a Florida corporation (the "Corporation"), by providing
(i) key employees (including officers) of the Corporation (or its
subsidiary corporations) and (ii) consultants and other independent
contractors who provide valuable services to the Corporation (or its subsidiary
corporations) with the opportunity to acquire, or increase their proprietary
interest in the Corporation as an incentive for them to join or remain in the
service of the Corporation (or its subsidiary corporations).
B. The
Plan becomes effective immediately upon approval of the Plan by the
Corporation's stockholders. Such date is hereby designated as the Effective Date
of the Plan.
C. For
purposes of the Plan, the following definitions apply:
Board: the Corporation's
Board of Directors.
Committee: The Committee
of the Corporation's Board of Directors appointed by the Board to administer the
plan.
Common Stock: shares of
the Corporation's common stock, par value $0.01 per share.
Change in Control: a
change in ownership or control of the Corporation effected through either of the
following transactions:
(i) any
person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Corporation) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, "1934 Act") of stock possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the
total combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding stock pursuant to a
tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which
the Board does not recommend such stockholders accept; or
(ii) there
is a change in the composition of the Board over a period of thirty-six
(36) consecutive months or less such that a majority of the Board members
(rounded up to the next whole number) ceases, by reason of one or more proxy
contests for the election of Board members, to be comprised of persons who
either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such
period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members
during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in
clause (A) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination
was approved by the Board.
Corporate
Transaction: any of the following stockholder-approved transactions
to which the Corporation is a party:
(i) a
merger or consolidation in which the Corporation is not the surviving entity,
except for a transaction the principal purpose of which is to change the State
in which the Corporation is incorporated,
(ii) the
sale, transfer or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Corporation in complete liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation,
or
(iii) any
reverse merger in which the Corporation is the surviving entity but in which
stock possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total combined voting
power of the Corporation's outstanding stock are transferred to person or
persons different from those who held such stock immediately prior to such
merger.
Employee: a person who
performs services while in the employ of the Corporation or one or more
subsidiary corporations, subject to the control and direction of the employer
entity not only as to the work to be performed but also as to the manner and
method of performance.
Hostile Take-Over: a
change in ownership of the Corporation through the following
transaction:
(i) any
person or related group of persons (other than the Corporation or a person that
directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control
with, the Corporation) directly or indirectly acquires beneficial ownership
(within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended) of stock possessing more than fifty percent (50%) of the total
combined voting power of the Corporation's outstanding stock pursuant to a
tender or exchange offer made directly to the Corporation's stockholders which
the Board does not recommend such stockholders to accept, and
(ii) more
than fifty percent (50%) of the stock so acquired in such tender or exchange
offer are accepted from holders other than the officers and directors of the
Corporation who are subject to the short-swing profit restrictions of
Section 16 of the 1934 Act.
Market Value: the last
reported price per share of the Common Stock on the day in question on the
NASDAQ Small-Cap Market, or if the Common Stock is regularly traded in some
other market or on an exchange the closing selling price per share of the Common
Stock on the date in question, as such price is officially quoted by a national
reporting service. If there is no such reported price on the date in question,
then the market value is the price on the last preceding date for which such
quotation exists or the last price at which the shares were sold in a private
transaction.
Service: the performance
of services on a periodic basis to the Corporation (or any subsidiary
corporation) in the capacity of an Employee or from time to time as an
independent consultant, except to the extent otherwise specifically provided in
the applicable stock option agreement.
Take-Over
Price: the greater of (a) the
Market Value per share of Common Stock on the date the option is surrendered to
the Corporation in connection with a Hostile Take-Over or (b) the highest
reported price per share of Common Stock paid by the tender offerer in effecting
such Hostile Take-Over. However, if the surrendered option is an Incentive
Option, as defined in Section IV (C) of this Article One, the
Take-Over Price shall not exceed the clause (a) price per
share.
D. The
following provisions shall be applicable in determining the subsidiary
corporations of the Corporation:
Each
corporation (other than the Corporation) in an unbroken chain of corporations
beginning with the Corporation shall be considered to be a subsidiary of the
Corporation, provided each such corporation (other than the last corporation) in
the unbroken chain owns, at the time of the determination, stock possessing
fifty percent (50%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock in any other corporation in such chain.
II. ADMINISTRATION
OF THE PLAN
A. Except
as otherwise determined by the Board, the Plan shall be administered by the
Board of Directors or by the Stock Option and Compensation Committee of the
Board ("Committee") or other named Committee of the Board designated
by the Board of Directors subject to the requirements of 1934 Act
Rule 16b-3:
(i) The
Committee of three (3) or more non-employee Board members shall be
appointed by the Board to administer the Plan. No Board member is eligible to
serve on the Committee unless such person qualifies as a "Non-Employee Director"
as permitted by 1934 Act Rule 16b-3.
(ii) Members
of the Committee serve for such term as the Board may determine and are subject
to removal by the Board at any time.
B. The
Committee by majority action thereof has the power and authority (subject to the
express provisions of the Plan) to establish such rules and regulations as it
may deem appropriate for the proper administration of the Plan and to make such
determinations under, and issue such interpretations of, the provisions of the
Plan and any outstanding option grants thereunder as it may deem necessary or
advisable. All decisions of the Committee within the scope of its administrative
functions under the Plan are final and binding on all parties.
C.
Service on the Committee is service as a Board member, and members of the
Committee are entitled to full indemnification and reimbursement as Board
members for their service on the Committee. No member of the Committee is liable
for any act or omission made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any
option grant under the Plan.
III. ELIGIBILITY
A. The
persons eligible to participate in the Plan ("Optionees") are as
follows:
(i) officers
and other employees of the Corporation (or its subsidiary corporations) who
render services which contribute to the management, growth and financial success
of the Corporation (or its subsidiary corporations); and
(ii) those
consultants or other independent contractors who provide valuable services to
the Corporation (or its subsidiary corporations).
B.
Non-employee Board members are not eligible to participate in the
Plan.
C. The
Committee by majority action thereof has the power and authority to determine
which eligible persons are to receive option grants, the number of shares to be
covered by each such grant, the status of the granted option as either an
incentive stock option ("Incentive Option") which satisfies the requirements of
Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code or a non-qualified option not
intended to meet such requirements, the time or times at which each granted
option is to become exercisable, the maximum term for which the Option may
remain outstanding and the terms and provisions of the Stock Option Agreement
evidencing the Option.
IV. STOCK
SUBJECT TO THE PLAN
A. Shares
of the Corporation's Common Stock available for issuance under the Plan shall be
drawn from either the Corporation's authorized but unissued shares of Common
Stock or from reacquired shares of Common Stock, including shares repurchased by
the Corporation on the open market. The maximum number of shares of Common Stock
which may be issued over the term of the Plan shall not exceed five million
( 5,000,000) shares,
subject to adjustment from time to time in accordance with the provisions of
this Section IV.
B. If one
or more outstanding options under this Plan expire or terminate for any reason
prior to exercise in full then the shares subject to the portion of each option
not so exercised shall be available for subsequent option grant under the Plan.
All share issuances under the Plan reduce on a share-for-share basis the number
of shares of Common Stock available for subsequent option grants under the Plan.
In addition, if the exercise price of an outstanding option under the Plan is
paid with shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable
under the Plan are withheld by the Corporation in satisfaction of the
withholding taxes incurred in connection with the exercise of an outstanding
option under the Plan, then the number of shares of Common Stock available for
issuance under the Plan is reduced by the gross number of shares for which the
option is exercised, and not by the net number of shares of Common Stock
actually issued to the option holder.
C. If any
change is made to the Common Stock issuable under the Plan by reason of any
stock split, stock dividend, recapitalization, combination of shares, exchange
of shares or other change affecting the outstanding Common Stock as a class
without the Corporation's receipt of consideration, then appropriate adjustments
shall be made to (i) the maximum number and/or class of stock issuable
under the Plan and (ii) the number and/or class of stock and price per
share in effect under each option outstanding under the Plan. Such adjustments
to the outstanding options are to be effected in a manner which precludes the
enlargement or dilution of rights and benefits under such options. Such
adjustments made by the Committee are final, binding and
conclusive.
V. TERMS
AND CONDITIONS OF OPTIONS
Options
under the Plan are granted by action of the Committee and may, at the
Committee's discretion, be either Incentive Options or non-qualified options.
Persons who are not Employees of the Corporation may only be granted
non-qualified options. Each granted option shall be evidenced by a Stock Option
Agreement in the form approved by the Committee; provided , however, that
each such agreement complies with the terms and conditions specified herein.
Each Stock Option Agreement evidencing an Incentive Option shall, in addition,
be subject to the applicable provisions of Section VI hereof.
A. Option Price.
1. The
option price per share is determined by the Committee in accordance with the
following provisions:
(i) The
option price per share of the Common Stock subject to an Incentive Option must
in no event be less than one hundred percent (100%) of the Market Value of such
Common Stock on the grant date.
(ii) The
option price per share of the Common Stock subject to a non-qualified stock
option is the amount determined by the Committee at the time of grant and may be
less than, equal to or more than the Market Value of such Common Stock on the
grant date.
2. The
option price is immediately due upon exercise of the option and payable in one
of the alternative forms specified below;
(i) full
payment in cash or check made payable to the Corporation's order:
(ii) full
payment in shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period necessary to
avoid a charge to the Corporation's earnings for financial reporting purposes
and valued at Market Value on the Exercise Date;
(iii) full
payment in a combination of shares of Common Stock held for the requisite period
necessary to avoid a charge to the Corporation's reported earnings and valued at
Market Value on the Exercise Date and cash or check payable to the Corporation's
order; or
(iv) full
payment through a broker-dealer sale and remittance procedure pursuant to which
the Optionee (a) provides irrevocable written instructions to a designated
brokerage firm to effect the immediate sale of the purchased shares and remit to
the Corporation, out of the sale proceeds available on the settlement date,
sufficient funds to cover the aggregate option price payable for the
purchased shares plus all applicable Federal and State income and employment
taxes required to be withheld by the Corporation in connection with such
purchase and (b) provides written directives to the Corporation to deliver
the certificates for the purchased shares directly to such brokerage firm in
order to complete the sale transaction.
For
purposes of this subparagraph 2, the Exercise Date is the date on which written
notice of the option exercise is delivered to the Corporation. Except to the
extent the sale and remittance procedure is utilized in connection with the
exercise of the option, payment of the option price for the purchased shares
must accompany such notice.
B. Term and Exercise of
Options.
Each
option granted hereunder is exercisable at such time or times, and excluding all
specified vesting periods during the specified term period, and for such number
of shares as is determined by the Committee and set forth in the Stock Option
Agreement evidencing such option. No granted option shall, however, have a term
in excess of ten (10) years. Subject to Paragraph E of this
Section V, during the lifetime of the Optionee, the option is exercisable
only by the Optionee and shall not be assignable or transferable other than by
transfer of the option effected by will or by the laws of descent and
distribution following the Optionee's death, or pursuant to a qualified domestic
relations order as defined by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or
Title I of the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, or the rules
thereunder.
C. Termination of
Service.
1. If the
Optionee ceases Service while holding one or more options hereunder, each such
option will not remain exercisable beyond the limited post-Service exercise
period specified by the Committee in the Stock Option Agreement evidencing the
grant, unless the Committee otherwise extends such period in accordance with
subparagraph C.5 below.
2. During
the post-Service exercise period, the option may not be exercised for more than
the number of option shares (if any) in which the Optionee is vested at the time
of cessation of Service. Upon the expiration of such post-Service exercise
period or (if earlier) upon the expiration of the option term, the option shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding. In any case, each option terminates and
ceases to be outstanding, at the time of the Optionee's cessation of Service
with respect to any option shares for which such option is not otherwise at the
time exercisable.
3. If the
Optionee dies while holding one or more outstanding options hereunder, each such
option may be exercised, subject to the limitations of subparagraph 2 above, by
the personal representative of the Optionee's estate or by the person or persons
to whom the option is transferred pursuant to the Optionee's will or the laws of
descent and distribution or as otherwise permitted herein.
4. If
(i) the Optionee's Service is terminated for misconduct (including, but not
limited to, any act of dishonesty, willful misconduct, fraud or embezzlement) or
(ii) the Optionee makes any unauthorized use or disclosure of confidential
information or trade secrets of the Corporation or its subsidiaries, then in any
such event all outstanding options held by the Optionee hereunder terminate
immediately and cease to be outstanding.
5. Except
as otherwise determined by the Board the Committee has full power and authority
to extend the period of time for which the option is to remain exercisable
following the Optionee's cessation of Service or death from the limited period
specified in the instrument evidencing such grant to such greater period of time
as the Committee deems appropriate under the circumstances. In no event,
however, shall such option be exercisable after the specified expiration date of
the option term.
6. The
Committee has complete discretion, exercisable either at the time the option is
granted or at any time the option remains outstanding, to permit one or more
options granted hereunder to be exercised not only for the number of shares for
which each such option is exercisable at the time of the Optionee's cessation of
Service but also for one or more subsequent installments of purchasable shares
for which the option would otherwise have become exercisable had such cessation
of Service not occurred.
D. Stockholder
Rights.
An
Optionee has none of the rights of a stockholder with respect to any option
shares until such person or its nominee, guardian or legal representative has
exercised the option and paid the option price for the purchased
shares.
E. Assignment; Limited Transferability
of Stock Options
No
option granted under the Plan may be sold, transferred, pledged, assigned, or
otherwise alienated or hypothecated, otherwise than by will, by the laws of
decent and distribution or by a qualified domestic relations order as provided
in Section V, Paragraph B. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the
Committee may, in its discretion, authorize all or a portion of the options
granted to be on terms that permit transfer to:
i) the
spouse, children or grandchildren of the Optionee ("Immediate Family
Members");
ii) a
trust or trusts for the exclusive benefit of such Immediate Family Members,
or;
iii) a
partnership in which such Immediate Family Members are the only partners,
provided that:
(A) there
may be no consideration for any such transfer;
(B) the
Stock Option Agreement pursuant to which such Options are granted expressly
provides for transferability in a manner consistent with this Section V,
Paragraph E; and
(C) subsequent
transfers of transferred Options shall be prohibited except those in accordance
with this Section V, Paragraph E.
Following
transfer, any such options continue to be subject to the same terms and
conditions as were applicable immediately prior to transfer, provided that for
purposes of this Section V, Paragraph E the term Optionee shall be
deemed to refer to the transferee. The provisions of the option relating to
the period of exercisability and expiration of the Option continue to apply with
respect to the original Optionee, and the Options exercisable or received by the
transferee only to the extent, and for the periods, set forth in said
option.
VI. INCENTIVE
OPTIONS
The
terms and conditions specified in this Section VI are applicable to all
Incentive Options granted hereunder. The Stock Option Agreement relating to
Incentive Options must be in accordance with Section 422(b) of the Internal
Revenue Code or a succession Section thereof. Incentive Options may only be
granted to persons who are Employees of the Corporation. Options which are
specifically designated as "non-qualified" options when issued under the Plan
are not subject to this
Section VI.
A. Dollar Limitation. The
aggregate Market Value (determined as of the respective date of dates of grant
of the Common Stock for which one or more options granted to any Employee under
this Plan (or any other option Plan of the Corporation or its subsidiary
corporations) may for the first time become exercisable as incentive stock
options under the Federal tax laws during any one calendar year shall not exceed
the sum of One Hundred Thousand dollars ($100,000). To the extent the Employee
holds two (2) or more such options which become exercisable for the first
time in the same calendar year, the foregoing limitation on the exercisability
of such options as incentive stock options under the federal tax laws shall be
applied on the basis of the order in which such options are granted. If the
shares of Common Stock for which any Incentive Option first becomes exercisable
in any calendar year exceed the applicable one hundred thousand dollar
($100,000) limitation, then the option may nevertheless be exercised in
that calendar year for the excess number of shares as a non-qualified option
under the Federal tax laws.
B. 10% Stockholder. If any
person to whom an Incentive Option is granted is the owner of stock (as
determined under Section 424(d) of the Internal Revenue Code) possessing
ten percent (10%) or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of
stock of the corporation, the option price per share must not be less than one
hundred and ten percent (110%) of the market value per share of Common Stock on
the grant date, and the option term must not exceed five (5) years,
measured from the grant date.
Except
as modified by the preceding provisions of this Section VI, the provisions
of the Plan apply to all Incentive Options granted hereunder.
VII. CORPORATE
TRANSACTIONS/CHANGES IN CONTROL
A. Each
option outstanding at the time of a Corporate Transaction automatically
accelerates so that each such option shall, immediately prior to the specified
effective date for such Corporate Transaction, become fully exercisable with
respect to the total number of shares of Common Stock at the time subject to
such option and may be exercised for all or any portion of such shares. However,
an outstanding option does not so accelerate if and to the extent: (i) such
option is, in connection with the Corporate Transaction, either to be assumed by
the successor corporation or parent thereof or to be replaced with a comparable
option to purchase shares of the capital stock of the successor corporation or
parent thereof, (ii) such option is to be replaced with a cash incentive
program of the successor corporation which preserves the option spread existing
at the time of the Corporate Transaction and provides for subsequent payout in
accordance with the same exercise schedule applicable to such option, or
(iii) the acceleration of such option is subject to other limitations
imposed by the Committee, at the time of the option grant. The determination of
option comparability by the Committee under clause (i) above is final,
binding and conclusive. The Committee also has full power and authority to grant
options under the Plan which are to automatically accelerate in whole or in part
immediately prior to the Corporate Transaction or upon the subsequent
termination of the Optionee's Service, whether or not those options are
otherwise to be assumed or replaced in connection with the consummation of such
Corporate Transaction.
B. Upon
the consummation of the Corporate Transaction, all outstanding options shall
terminate and cease to be outstanding, except to the extent assumed by the
successor corporation or its parent company.
C. Each
outstanding option which is assumed in connection with the Corporate Transaction
or is otherwise to continue in effect shall be appropriately adjusted,
immediately after such Corporate Transaction, to apply and pertain to the number
and class of stock which would have been issued to the option holder, in
consummation of such Corporate Transaction, had such person exercised the option
immediately prior to such Corporate Transaction. Appropriate adjustments shall
also be made to the Option price payable per share, provided the
aggregate option price payable for such stock shall remain the same. In
addition, the class and number of stock available for issuance under the Plan
following the consummation of the Corporate Transaction shall be appropriately
adjusted.
D. The
grant of options shall in no way affects the right of the Corporation to adjust,
reclassify, reorganize or otherwise change its capital or business structure or
to merge, consolidate, dissolve, liquidate or sell or transfer all or any part
of its business or assets.
E. Except
as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee has the discretionary
authority, exercisable either in advance of any actually-anticipated Change in
Control or at the time of an actual Change in Control, to provide for the
automatic acceleration of one or more outstanding options upon the occurrence of
the Change in Control and to condition any such option acceleration upon the
subsequent termination of the Optionee's Service within a specified period
following the Change in Control.
F. Any
options accelerated in connection with the Change in Control remain fully
exercisable until the expiration of the option term.
G. The
exercisability as incentive stock options under the Federal tax laws of any
options accelerated under this Section VII in connection with a Corporate
Transaction or Change in Control remain subject to the dollar limitation of
Section VI, Paragraph A.
VIII. CANCELLATION
AND REGRANT OF OPTIONS
Except
as otherwise determined by the Board, the Committee has the authority to effect,
at any time and from time to time, with the consent of the affected Optionees,
the cancellation of any or all outstanding options hereunder and to grant in
substitution new options under the Plan covering the same or different numbers
of shares of Common Stock but with an option price per share based upon the
Market Value of the Common Stock on the new grant date.
IX. AMENDMENT
OF THE PLAN AND AWARDS
The
Board has complete and exclusive power and authority to amend or modify the Plan
in any or all respects, provided that no such amendment or modification shall
adversely affect rights and obligations with respect to options at the time
outstanding under the Plan, unless the Optionee consents to such amendment. In
addition, the Board may not, without the approval of the Corporation's
stockholders, amend the Plan to (i) materially increase the maximum number
of shares issuable under the Plan, except for permissible adjustments under
Section IV Paragraph C, (ii) materially modify the eligibility
requirements for the Plan participation or (iii) materially increase
the benefits accruing to Optionees.
X. TAX
WITHHOLDING
A. The
Corporation's obligation to deliver shares of Common Stock upon exercise of
stock options or the vesting of shares acquired upon exercise of such options
under the Plan is subject to the satisfaction of all applicable Federal, State
and local income tax and employment tax withholding requirements.
B. The
Committee may, in its discretion and in accordance with the provisions of this
Section X and such supplemental rules as the Committee may from time to
time adopt (including the applicable safe-harbor provisions of 1934 Act
Rule 16b-3), provide any or all holders of non-qualified options under the
Plan with the right to use shares of Common Stock in satisfaction of all or part
of the Federal, State and local income tax and employment tax liabilities
incurred by such holders in connection with the exercise of their options. Such
right may be provided to any such holder in either or both of the following
formats:
(i) Stock Withholding: The
holder of a non-qualified option may be provided with the election to have the
Corporation withhold, from the shares of Common Stock otherwise issuable upon
the exercise of such non-qualified option, a portion of those shares with an
aggregate Market Value equal to the percentage of the applicable Taxes (up to
one hundred (100%)) as specified by such holder.
(ii) Stock Delivery: The
Committee may, in its discretion, provide the holder of a non-qualified option
with the election to deliver to the Corporation, at the time the non-qualified
option is exercised, one or more shares of Common Stock already held by such
person with an aggregate Market Value (100%) as specified by such person) of the
Taxes incurred in connection with such option
exercise.
XI. TERM
OF THE PLAN
The
Plan terminates upon the earlier of (i) ten
years from the date of approval by stockholders or (ii) the date on which
all shares available for issuance under the Plan have been issued or canceled
pursuant to the exercise of options granted under the Plan. If the date of
termination is determined under clause (i) above, then all option grants
and unvested stock issuances outstanding on such date continue to have force and
effect in accordance with the provisions of the Stock Option Agreements
evidencing such grants or issuances.
XII. USE
OF PROCEEDS
Any
cash proceeds received by the Corporation from the sale of shares pursuant to
option grants under the Plan may be used for general corporate
purposes.
XIII. REGULATORY
APPROVALS
A. The
implementation of the Plan, the granting of any option under the Plan, and the
issuance of Common Stock upon the exercise or surrender of the option grants
made hereunder is subject to the Corporation's procurement of all approvals and
permits required by regulatory authorities having jurisdiction over the Plan,
the options granted under it, and the Common Stock issued pursuant to
it.
B. No
shares of Common Stock or other assets are to be issued or delivered under the
Plan unless and until there is compliance with all applicable requirements of
Federal and State securities laws, including the filing and effectiveness of the
Form S-8 registration statement for the shares of Common Stock
issuable under the Plan, and all applicable listing requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed.
XIV. NO
EMPLOYMENT/SERVICE RIGHTS
Neither
the action of the Corporation in establishing the Plan, nor any action taken by
the Committee hereunder, nor any provision of the Plan is to be construed so as
to grant any person the right to remain in the employ or service of the
Corporation (or any subsidiary corporation) for any period of specific
duration, and the Corporation (or any subsidiary corporation retaining the
services of such person) may terminate such person's employment or service at
any time and for any reason, with or without cause.
XV. MISCELLANEOUS
PROVISIONS
A. The
right to acquire Common Stock under the Plan may not be assigned, encumbered or
otherwise transferred by any Optionee, except as specifically provided in the
Plan.
B. The
provisions of the Plan relating to the exercise of options and the vesting of
shares shall be governed by the laws of the State of Georgia, as such laws are
applied to contracts entered into.
C. The
provisions of the Plan shall inure to the benefit of, and be binding upon, the
Corporation and its successors or assigns, whether by Corporate Transaction or
otherwise, and the Optionees, the legal representatives of their respective
estates, their respective heirs or legatees and their permitted
assignees.
D. Except
to the extent that federal laws control, the Plan and all Stock Option
Agreements hereunder are to be construed in accordance with and governed by the
law of the State of Georgia.
Exhibit
E
THE
FLORIDA BUSINESS CORPORATION ACT
Sections
607.1301-607.1333
607.1301 Appraisal
rights; definitions.
The
following definitions apply to ss. 607.1302-607.1333:
(1) “Affiliate”
means a person that directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries
controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with another person or is
a senior executive thereof. For purposes of s. 607.1302(2)(d), a
person is deemed to be an affiliate of its senior executives.
(2) “Beneficial
shareholder” means a person who is the beneficial owner of shares held in a
voting trust or by a nominee on the beneficial owner’s behalf.
(3) “Corporation”
means the issuer of the shares held by a shareholder demanding appraisal and,
for matters covered in ss. 607.1322-607.1333,
includes the surviving entity in a merger.
(4) “Fair
value” means the value of the corporation’s shares determined:
(a) Immediately
before the effectuation of the corporate action to which the shareholder
objects.
(b) Using
customary and current valuation concepts and techniques generally employed for
similar businesses in the context of the transaction requiring appraisal,
excluding any appreciation or depreciation in anticipation of the corporate
action unless exclusion would be inequitable to the corporation and its
remaining shareholders.
(c) For
a corporation with 10 or fewer shareholders, without discounting for lack of
marketability or minority status.
(5) “Interest”
means interest from the effective date of the corporate action until the date of
payment, at the rate of interest on judgments in this state on the effective
date of the corporate action.
(6) “Preferred
shares” means a class or series of shares the holders of which have preference
over any other class or series with respect to distributions.
(7) “Record
shareholder” means the person in whose name shares are registered in the records
of the corporation or the beneficial owner of shares to the extent of the rights
granted by a nominee certificate on file with the corporation.
(8) “Senior
executive” means the chief executive officer, chief operating officer, chief
financial officer, or anyone in charge of a principal business unit or
function.
(9) “Shareholder”
means both a record shareholder and a beneficial shareholder.
607.1302 Right
of shareholders to appraisal.
(1) A
shareholder of a domestic corporation is entitled to appraisal rights, and to
obtain payment of the fair value of that shareholder’s shares, in the event of
any of the following corporate actions:
(a) Consummation
of a conversion of such corporation pursuant to s. 607.1112 if
shareholder approval is required for the conversion and the shareholder is
entitled to vote on the conversion under ss. 607.1103 and 607.1112(6), or the
consummation of a merger to which such corporation is a party if shareholder
approval is required for the merger under s. 607.1103 and the
shareholder is entitled to vote on the merger or if such corporation is a
subsidiary and the merger is governed by s. 607.1104;
(b) Consummation
of a share exchange to which the corporation is a party as the corporation whose
shares will be acquired if the shareholder is entitled to vote on the exchange,
except that appraisal rights shall not be available to any shareholder of the
corporation with respect to any class or series of shares of the corporation
that is not exchanged;
(c) Consummation
of a disposition of assets pursuant to s. 607.1202 if the
shareholder is entitled to vote on the disposition, including a sale in
dissolution but not including a sale pursuant to court order or a sale for cash
pursuant to a plan by which all or substantially all of the net proceeds of the
sale will be distributed to the shareholders within 1 year after the date of
sale;
(d) An
amendment of the articles of incorporation with respect to the class or series
of shares which reduces the number of shares of a class or series owned by the
shareholder to a fraction of a share if the corporation has the obligation or
right to repurchase the fractional share so created;
(e) Any
other amendment to the articles of incorporation, merger, share exchange, or
disposition of assets to the extent provided by the articles of incorporation,
bylaws, or a resolution of the board of directors, except that no bylaw or board
resolution providing for appraisal rights may be amended or otherwise altered
except by shareholder approval; or
(f) With
regard to a class of shares prescribed in the articles of incorporation prior to
October 1, 2003, including any shares within that class subsequently authorized
by amendment, any amendment of the articles of incorporation if the shareholder
is entitled to vote on the amendment and if such amendment would adversely
affect such shareholder by:
1. Altering
or abolishing any preemptive rights attached to any of his or her
shares;
2. Altering
or abolishing the voting rights pertaining to any of his or her shares, except
as such rights may be affected by the voting rights of new shares then being
authorized of any existing or new class or series of shares;
3. Effecting
an exchange, cancellation, or reclassification of any of his or her shares, when
such exchange, cancellation, or reclassification would alter or abolish the
shareholder’s voting rights or alter his or her percentage of equity in the
corporation, or effecting a reduction or cancellation of accrued dividends or
other arrearages in respect to such shares;
4. Reducing
the stated redemption price of any of the shareholder’s redeemable shares,
altering or abolishing any provision relating to any sinking fund for the
redemption or purchase of any of his or her shares, or making any of his or her
shares subject to redemption when they are not otherwise
redeemable;
5. Making
noncumulative, in whole or in part, dividends of any of the shareholder’s
preferred shares which had theretofore been cumulative;
6. Reducing
the stated dividend preference of any of the shareholder’s preferred shares;
or
7. Reducing
any stated preferential amount payable on any of the shareholder’s preferred
shares upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation.
(2) Notwithstanding
subsection (1), the availability of appraisal rights under paragraphs (1)(a),
(b), (c), and (d) shall be limited in accordance with the following
provisions:
(a) Appraisal
rights shall not be available for the holders of shares of any class or series
of shares which is:
1. Listed
on the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or designated as a
national market system security on an interdealer quotation system by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; or
2. Not
so listed or designated, but has at least 2,000 shareholders and the outstanding
shares of such class or series have a market value of at least $10 million,
exclusive of the value of such shares held by its subsidiaries, senior
executives, directors, and beneficial shareholders owning more than 10 percent
of such shares.
(b) The
applicability of paragraph (a) shall be determined as of:
1. The
record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of,
and to vote at, the meeting of shareholders to act upon the corporate action
requiring appraisal rights; or
2. If
there will be no meeting of shareholders, the close of business on the day on
which the board of directors adopts the resolution recommending such corporate
action.
(c) Paragraph
(a) shall not be applicable and appraisal rights shall be available pursuant to
subsection (1) for the holders of any class or series of shares who are required
by the terms of the corporate action requiring appraisal rights to accept for
such shares anything other than cash or shares of any class or any series of
shares of any corporation, or any other proprietary interest of any other
entity, that satisfies the standards set forth in paragraph (a) at the time the
corporate action becomes effective.
(d) Paragraph
(a) shall not be applicable and appraisal rights shall be available pursuant to
subsection (1) for the holders of any class or series of shares
if:
1. Any
of the shares or assets of the corporation are being acquired or converted,
whether by merger, share exchange, or otherwise, pursuant to the corporate
action by a person, or by an affiliate of a person, who:
a. Is,
or at any time in the 1-year period immediately preceding approval by the board
of directors of the corporate action requiring appraisal rights was, the
beneficial owner of 20 percent or more of the voting power of the corporation,
excluding any shares acquired pursuant to an offer for all shares having voting
power if such offer was made within 1 year prior to the corporate action
requiring appraisal rights for consideration of the same kind and of a value
equal to or less than that paid in connection with the corporate action;
or
b. Directly
or indirectly has, or at any time in the 1-year period immediately preceding
approval by the board of directors of the corporation of the corporate action
requiring appraisal rights had, the power, contractually or otherwise, to cause
the appointment or election of 25 percent or more of the directors to the board
of directors of the corporation; or
2. Any
of the shares or assets of the corporation are being acquired or converted,
whether by merger, share exchange, or otherwise, pursuant to such corporate
action by a person, or by an affiliate of a person, who is, or at any time in
the 1-year period immediately preceding approval by the board of directors of
the corporate action requiring appraisal rights was, a senior executive or
director of the corporation or a senior executive of any affiliate thereof, and
that senior executive or director will receive, as a result of the corporate
action, a financial benefit not generally available to other shareholders as
such, other than:
a. Employment,
consulting, retirement, or similar benefits established separately and not as
part of or in contemplation of the corporate action;
b. Employment,
consulting, retirement, or similar benefits established in contemplation of, or
as part of, the corporate action that are not more favorable than those existing
before the corporate action or, if more favorable, that have been approved on
behalf of the corporation in the same manner as is provided in s. 607.0832;
or
c. In
the case of a director of the corporation who will, in the corporate action,
become a director of the acquiring entity in the corporate action or one of its
affiliates, rights and benefits as a director that are provided on the same
basis as those afforded by the acquiring entity generally to other directors of
such entity or such affiliate.
(e) For
the purposes of paragraph (d) only, the term “beneficial owner” means any person
who, directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, or
understanding, other than a revocable proxy, has or shares the power to vote, or
to direct the voting of, shares, provided that a member of a national securities
exchange shall not be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities held
directly or indirectly by it on behalf of another person solely because such
member is the recordholder of such securities if the member is precluded by the
rules of such exchange from voting without instruction on contested matters or
matters that may affect substantially the rights or privileges of the holders of
the securities to be voted. When two or more persons agree to act together for
the purpose of voting their shares of the corporation, each member of the group
formed thereby shall be deemed to have acquired beneficial ownership, as of the
date of such agreement, of all voting shares of the corporation beneficially
owned by any member of the group.
(3) Notwithstanding
any other provision of this section, the articles of incorporation as originally
filed or any amendment thereto may limit or eliminate appraisal rights for any
class or series of preferred shares, but any such limitation or elimination
contained in an amendment to the articles of incorporation that limits or
eliminates appraisal rights for any of such shares that are outstanding
immediately prior to the effective date of such amendment or that the
corporation is or may be required to issue or sell thereafter pursuant to any
conversion, exchange, or other right existing immediately before the effective
date of such amendment shall not apply to any corporate action that becomes
effective within 1 year of that date if such action would otherwise afford
appraisal rights.
(4) A
shareholder entitled to appraisal rights under this chapter may not challenge a
completed corporate action for which appraisal rights are available unless such
corporate action:
(a) Was
not effectuated in accordance with the applicable provisions of this section or
the corporation’s articles of incorporation, bylaws, or board of directors’
resolution authorizing the corporate action; or
(b) Was
procured as a result of fraud or material misrepresentation.
607.1303 Assertion
of rights by nominees and beneficial owners.
(1) A
record shareholder may assert appraisal rights as to fewer than all the shares
registered in the record shareholder’s name but owned by a beneficial
shareholder only if the record shareholder objects with respect to all shares of
the class or series owned by the beneficial shareholder and notifies the
corporation in writing of the name and address of each beneficial shareholder on
whose behalf appraisal rights are being asserted. The rights of a record
shareholder who asserts appraisal rights for only part of the shares held of
record in the record shareholder’s name under this subsection shall be
determined as if the shares as to which the record shareholder objects and the
record shareholder’s other shares were registered in the names of different
record shareholders.
(2) A
beneficial shareholder may assert appraisal rights as to shares of any class or
series held on behalf of the shareholder only if such shareholder:
(a) Submits
to the corporation the record shareholder’s written consent to the assertion of
such rights no later than the date referred to in s. 607.1322(2)(b)2.
(b) Does
so with respect to all shares of the class or series that are beneficially owned
by the beneficial shareholder.
607.1320 Notice
of appraisal rights.
(1) If
proposed corporate action described in s. 607.1302(1) is to be
submitted to a vote at a shareholders’ meeting, the meeting notice must state
that the corporation has concluded that shareholders are, are not, or may be
entitled to assert appraisal rights under this chapter. If the corporation
concludes that appraisal rights are or may be available, a copy of ss. 607.1301-607.1333
must accompany the meeting notice sent to those record shareholders entitled to
exercise appraisal rights.
(2) In
a merger pursuant to s. 607.1104, the parent
corporation must notify in writing all record shareholders of the subsidiary who
are entitled to assert appraisal rights that the corporate action became
effective. Such notice must be sent within 10 days after the corporate action
became effective and include the materials described in s. 607.1322.
(3) If
the proposed corporate action described in s. 607.1302(1) is to be
approved other than by a shareholders’ meeting, the notice referred to in
subsection (1) must be sent to all shareholders at the time that consents are
first solicited pursuant to s. 607.0704, whether or
not consents are solicited from all shareholders, and include the materials
described in s. 607.1322.
607.1321 Notice
of intent to demand payment.
(1) If
proposed corporate action requiring appraisal rights under s. 607.1302 is submitted
to a vote at a shareholders’ meeting, or is submitted to a shareholder pursuant
to a consent vote under s. 607.0704, a
shareholder who wishes to assert appraisal rights with respect to any class or
series of shares:
(a) Must
deliver to the corporation before the vote is taken, or within 20 days after
receiving the notice pursuant to s. 607.1320(3) if action
is to be taken without a shareholder meeting, written notice of the
shareholder’s intent to demand payment if the proposed action is
effectuated.
(b) Must
not vote, or cause or permit to be voted, any shares of such class or series in
favor of the proposed action.
(2) A
shareholder who does not satisfy the requirements of subsection (1) is not
entitled to payment under this chapter.
607.1322 Appraisal
notice and form.
(1) If
proposed corporate action requiring appraisal rights under s. 607.1302(1) becomes
effective, the corporation must deliver a written appraisal notice and form
required by paragraph (2)(a) to all shareholders who satisfied the requirements
of s. 607.1321.
In the case of a merger under s. 607.1104, the parent
must deliver a written appraisal notice and form to all record shareholders who
may be entitled to assert appraisal rights.
(2) The
appraisal notice must be sent no earlier than the date the corporate action
became effective and no later than 10 days after such date and
must:
(a) Supply
a form that specifies the date that the corporate action became effective and
that provides for the shareholder to state:
1. The
shareholder’s name and address.
2. The
number, classes, and series of shares as to which the shareholder asserts
appraisal rights.
3. That
the shareholder did not vote for the transaction.
4. Whether
the shareholder accepts the corporation’s offer as stated in subparagraph
(b)4.
5. If
the offer is not accepted, the shareholder’s estimated fair value of the shares
and a demand for payment of the shareholder’s estimated value plus
interest.
(b) State:
1. Where
the form must be sent and where certificates for certificated shares must be
deposited and the date by which those certificates must be deposited, which date
may not be earlier than the date for receiving the required form under
subparagraph 2.
2. A
date by which the corporation must receive the form, which date may not be fewer
than 40 nor more than 60 days after the date the subsection (1) appraisal notice
and form are sent, and state that the shareholder shall have waived the right to
demand appraisal with respect to the shares unless the form is received by the
corporation by such specified date.
3. The
corporation’s estimate of the fair value of the shares.
4. An
offer to each shareholder who is entitled to appraisal rights to pay the
corporation’s estimate of fair value set forth in subparagraph 3.
5. That,
if requested in writing, the corporation will provide to the shareholder so
requesting, within 10 days after the date specified in subparagraph 2., the
number of shareholders who return the forms by the specified date and the total
number of shares owned by them.
6. The
date by which the notice to withdraw under s. 607.1323 must be
received, which date must be within 20 days after the date specified in
subparagraph 2.
(c) Be
accompanied by:
1. Financial
statements of the corporation that issued the shares to be appraised, consisting
of a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year ending not more than 15
months prior to the date of the corporation’s appraisal notice, an income
statement for that year, a cash flow statement for that year, and the latest
available interim financial statements, if any.
2. A
copy of ss. 607.1301-607.1333.
607.1323 Perfection
of rights; right to withdraw.
(1) A
shareholder who wishes to exercise appraisal rights must execute and return the
form received pursuant to s. 607.1322(1) and, in
the case of certificated shares, deposit the shareholder’s certificates in
accordance with the terms of the notice by the date referred to in the notice
pursuant to s. 607.1322(2)(b)2. Once
a shareholder deposits that shareholder’s certificates or, in the case of
uncertificated shares, returns the executed forms, that shareholder loses all
rights as a shareholder, unless the shareholder withdraws pursuant to subsection
(2).
(2) A
shareholder who has complied with subsection (1) may nevertheless decline to
exercise appraisal rights and withdraw from the appraisal process by so
notifying the corporation in writing by the date set forth in the appraisal
notice pursuant to s. 607.1322(2)(b)6. A
shareholder who fails to so withdraw from the appraisal process may not
thereafter withdraw without the corporation’s written consent.
(3) A
shareholder who does not execute and return the form and, in the case of
certificated shares, deposit that shareholder’s share certificates if required,
each by the date set forth in the notice described in subsection (2), shall not
be entitled to payment under this chapter.
607.1324 Shareholder’s
acceptance of corporation’s offer.
(1) If
the shareholder states on the form provided in s. 607.1322(1) that the
shareholder accepts the offer of the corporation to pay the corporation’s
estimated fair value for the shares, the corporation shall make such payment to
the shareholder within 90 days after the corporation’s receipt of the form from
the shareholder.
(2) Upon
payment of the agreed value, the shareholder shall cease to have any interest in
the shares.
607.1326 Procedure
if shareholder is dissatisfied with offer.
(1) A
shareholder who is dissatisfied with the corporation’s offer as set forth
pursuant to s. 607.1322(2)(b)4. must
notify the corporation on the form provided pursuant to s. 607.1322(1) of that
shareholder’s estimate of the fair value of the shares and demand payment of
that estimate plus interest.
(2) A
shareholder who fails to notify the corporation in writing of that shareholder’s
demand to be paid the shareholder’s stated estimate of the fair value plus
interest under subsection (1) within the timeframe set forth in s. 607.1322(2)(b)2.
waives the right to demand payment under this section and shall be entitled only
to the payment offered by the corporation pursuant to s. 607.1322(2)(b)4.
607.1330 Court
action.
(1) If
a shareholder makes demand for payment under s. 607.1326 which
remains unsettled, the corporation shall commence a proceeding within 60 days
after receiving the payment demand and petition the court to determine the fair
value of the shares and accrued interest. If the corporation does not commence
the proceeding within the 60-day period, any shareholder who has made a demand
pursuant to s. 607.1326 may commence
the proceeding in the name of the corporation.
(2) The
proceeding shall be commenced in the appropriate court of the county in which
the corporation’s principal office, or, if none, its registered office, in this
state is located. If the corporation is a foreign corporation without a
registered office in this state, the proceeding shall be commenced in the county
in this state in which the principal office or registered office of the domestic
corporation merged with the foreign corporation was located at the time of the
transaction.
(3) All
shareholders, whether or not residents of this state, whose demands remain
unsettled shall be made parties to the proceeding as in an action against their
shares. The corporation shall serve a copy of the initial pleading in such
proceeding upon each shareholder party who is a resident of this state in the
manner provided by law for the service of a summons and complaint and upon each
nonresident shareholder party by registered or certified mail or by publication
as provided by law.
(4) The
jurisdiction of the court in which the proceeding is commenced under subsection
(2) is plenary and exclusive. If it so elects, the court may appoint one or more
persons as appraisers to receive evidence and recommend a decision on the
question of fair value. The appraisers shall have the powers described in the
order appointing them or in any amendment to the order. The shareholders
demanding appraisal rights are entitled to the same discovery rights as parties
in other civil proceedings. There shall be no right to a jury
trial.
(5) Each
shareholder made a party to the proceeding is entitled to judgment for the
amount of the fair value of such shareholder’s shares, plus interest, as found
by the court.
(6) The
corporation shall pay each such shareholder the amount found to be due within 10
days after final determination of the proceedings. Upon payment of the judgment,
the shareholder shall cease to have any interest in the shares.
607.1331 Court
costs and counsel fees.
(1) The
court in an appraisal proceeding shall determine all costs of the proceeding,
including the reasonable compensation and expenses of appraisers appointed by
the court. The court shall assess the costs against the corporation, except that
the court may assess costs against all or some of the shareholders demanding
appraisal, in amounts the court finds equitable, to the extent the court finds
such shareholders acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with
respect to the rights provided by this chapter.
(2) The
court in an appraisal proceeding may also assess the fees and expenses of
counsel and experts for the respective parties, in amounts the court finds
equitable:
(a) Against
the corporation and in favor of any or all shareholders demanding appraisal if
the court finds the corporation did not substantially comply with ss. 607.1320 and 607.1322;
or
(b) Against
either the corporation or a shareholder demanding appraisal, in favor of any
other party, if the court finds that the party against whom the fees and
expenses are assessed acted arbitrarily, vexatiously, or not in good faith with
respect to the rights provided by this chapter.
(3) If
the court in an appraisal proceeding finds that the services of counsel for any
shareholder were of substantial benefit to other shareholders similarly
situated, and that the fees for those services should not be assessed against
the corporation, the court may award to such counsel reasonable fees to be paid
out of the amounts awarded the shareholders who were benefited.
(4) To
the extent the corporation fails to make a required payment pursuant to s. 607.1324, the
shareholder may sue directly for the amount owed and, to the extent successful,
shall be entitled to recover from the corporation all costs and expenses of the
suit, including counsel fees.
607.1332 Disposition
of acquired shares.
Shares
acquired by a corporation pursuant to payment of the agreed value thereof or
pursuant to payment of the judgment entered therefor, as provided in this
chapter, may be held and disposed of by such corporation as authorized but
unissued shares of the corporation, except that, in the case of a merger or
share exchange, they may be held and disposed of as the plan of merger or share
exchange otherwise provides. The shares of the surviving corporation into which
the shares of such shareholders demanding appraisal rights would have been
converted had they assented to the merger shall have the status of authorized
but unissued shares of the surviving corporation.
607.1333 Limitation
on corporate payment.
(1) No
payment shall be made to a shareholder seeking appraisal rights if, at the time
of payment, the corporation is unable to meet the distribution standards of s.
607.06401. In
such event, the shareholder shall, at the shareholder’s option:
(a) Withdraw
his or her notice of intent to assert appraisal rights, which shall in such
event be deemed withdrawn with the consent of the corporation; or
(b) Retain
his or her status as a claimant against the corporation and, if it is
liquidated, be subordinated to the rights of creditors of the corporation, but
have rights superior to the shareholders not asserting appraisal rights, and if
it is not liquidated, retain his or her right to be paid for the shares, which
right the corporation shall be obliged to satisfy when the restrictions of this
section do not apply.
(2) The
shareholder shall exercise the option under paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (b) by
written notice filed with the corporation within 30 days after the corporation
has given written notice that the payment for shares cannot be made because of
the restrictions of this section. If the shareholder fails to exercise the
option, the shareholder shall be deemed to have withdrawn his or her notice of
intent to assert appraisal rights.